Finally, if they last so long, why don't you see more?
I am not affilitated with Alaskan in any way but was a previous owner. I will try to answer your question from my experience. Alaskan campers are a niche market. Just because they last a long time does not mean they are for everybody. They are the Airstream of pop up truck campers and I am sure you don't see nearly as many Airstreams as you do other brands of travel trailers on the roads and campgrounds, either. Add to that the fact that so many want slide outs, full showers and dry baths, huge tanks, on board gens, A/C, large propane double tank capacity, etc. Those don't go on the backroads and jeep trails where the Alaskan campers can easily go. When you need 4x4 low range, the Alaskan is right there with the truck, not fighting it. And lastly, obviously there are many pop up campers that are much easier on the wallet as to the entry fee. But, as with Airstream that has still around 65 percent of every one made since the 1930's still on the road, so does Alaskan since their inception. It is a product that can go the distance and then some. The only RV I have owned for ten years was an Alaskan. All the rest shorter time periods. I never regretted owning the Alaskan for even one minute. And it is almost impossible to tell the difference from a drive by visual from a new one or one built in 1970. And that is good for resale. The interiors are more like a sailboat than an RV, a feature liked by many. Try one for a decade, you too will likely be a very satisfied owner.
