Brockc wrote:
Appreciate all the input. My interest in an older unit is related to a couple of things?
1. I like the older look of the 60s-90s units. Specifically the mid 70s-80s.
2. I am less reluctant to renovate, change, or make improvements on an older unit because of a much lower investment. They have already depreciated as low as they are going to go. A new unit such as the one I just sold still retains a high level of value in the current market where families with children are concerned.
3. Having owned TTs for 25 years now that included models between 1995 - 2013, I consider the older units to be much stronger in terms of structural integrity.
The 2013 that I just sold was like trying to keep a shoebox safe, dry, and protected from the elements.
I know there re some very fine newer units on the market, but well above a price point that I am willing to pay. All I need is a unit that does not leak, is clean, and has a bed and AC. :)
The problem with renovating "older" units is you can dump huge amounts of cash and time into them and yet you still have a RV worth only scrap price and huge amounts of your lost time.
Sure an older unit has depreciated, but no matter how much lipstick you put on the pig, it will never increase in value.
For instance, my current TT is a 1984 26ft Komfort brand, I bought it about 10 yrs ago for $700. Total gut job inside and out. Had severe water damage. Took 9 months and $3500 in materials and hundreds and hundreds of hrs of my time. It is currently worth $700 if I were to try to market it.
Why?
AGE.
There is an extremely small fine line as to what folks are willing to pay for a 40yr old RV which has been fully renovated and only AS might get a better return due to its zombie cult like following.. HR, Aluma-lite, and other brands not so much.
Previous TT I bought was a 1981 20ft trailer, partial rebuild, wasn't planning to sell but the 26ft trailer popped up and gave me more room.. The 20ft TT we paid $1800, put $1800 in materials to rebuild, took six months. Used it 5 camping seasons.. When it came time to sell, well once again, AGE played a huge role in price.. After 6 months listing it for sale, finally got a real buyer, offered $1800, I took the offer.. I lost $1800 in materials plus hundreds of hrs of my labor.
Your looking at RVs as an investment that gains value. This is not the case.
Can you save money buying an older unit?
Sure, in most case but only if you do not overpay and have to dump tons of money into it (but those ARE rare).
Are older units "built better"?
Nope.. In fact some of the older units may have inferior materials, insulation and even build quality not to mention weigh a lot more which has nothing to do with build quality.
In a lot of cases, the only big change to RVs has been color choices, the 80's outside often were brown tones, inside yellow and brown wallpaper with squared windows, mid 80s gave radius windows.. The 90s brought the ugly green "jungle print" interiors with lighter outside paint jobs.. The early 2,000's brought you a new color of "jungle print" wall paper and white outside with huge ugly swoopy graphics..
In other words, pretty much cosmetic changes..
As far as finding the elusive non leaking RV goes, your not going to find one. They ALL leak or WILL leak.
It is the nature of the beast, RVs unlike a sticks and bricks is constantly being twisted. It must be flexible, if it wasn't it would literally rip it's self to pieces as you drive. That movement takes a toll on any place where water can get in.. It is your responsibility to check all the caulking and joints once a yr or more often and replace any cracked, dried or failed caulking. Older units are no exception to this.
