Want your opinion

[colliehauler]

I have a seasonal trailer that's 16 years old. It has the perfect floor plan for me. At 16 years it will need some work before long such as replacing the roof and taking all the windows out to replace dried sealant. It also has a soft spot in one slideout so would need to replace the floor in the slide. I could get all this done for around 10k. The alternative is to purchase a new trailer (same floor plan) for 63k.

The cons for keeping the old trailer is all the appliances are 16 years old but still work just fine. Other then the slide floor the trailer is in very good condition.

The cons for a new trailer is questionable build quality and cost along with having to remodel to suit my needs. Would tear out entertainment center and fireplace and have a custom entertainment center built. (If I can't get the factory to deleate). Would also replace the factory furniture with leather home furniture along with the replacing the mattress.

The third alternative is to have New Horizon custom build a trailer to exactly what I want but cost would be 150k plus.

I have always been frugal with my money but realize I won't live forever. This trailer sits on a seasonal lot and won't be towed.

What's your opinion?

[Krusty]

I am in the same situation. I have an older trailer on a seasonal lot. The trailer is getting old and starting to need a bit of work, but it is still in good shape and still does its job well. I don't see myself replacing it for awhile.

[colliehauler]

Sandia Man wrote:
Being frugal ourselves the obvious choice for us is repair what you have. The only reason to have an RV is to be mobile, a prefab unit is cheaper and better constructed for the long haul, there are plenty of used and repossessed units on the market where they include delivery and set-up.

We have a ranch that we are looking to do the same, we have 33' TT toyhauler there currently but it doesn't cut the mustard for truly comfortable long term stays, will be used as extra sleeping quarters and storage for ATVs/UTVs once we get prefab delivered.

Whether now or in the past, with very few exceptions, RVs are constructed as fast as they can push them out the door, pandemic hasn't changed much in that respect. Plenty of new RVs on the lots in ABQ area, although I prefer buying gently used, last July found a creampuff class A.

I have a 5th wheel TH for travel. The seasonal has to be a RV for zoning. My current seasonal is 35' with 7' ceilings and feels like a small home. Not against buying used but want the same floor plan I currently have.

[Sandia_Man]

Being frugal ourselves the obvious choice for us is repair what you have. The only reason to have an RV is to be mobile, a prefab unit is cheaper and better constructed for the long haul, there are plenty of used and repossessed units on the market where they include delivery and set-up.

We have a ranch that we are looking to do the same, we have 33' TT toyhauler there currently but it doesn't cut the mustard for truly comfortable long term stays, will be used as extra sleeping quarters and storage for ATVs/UTVs once we get prefab delivered.

Whether now or in the past, with very few exceptions, RVs are constructed as fast as they can push them out the door, pandemic hasn't changed much in that respect. Plenty of new RVs on the lots in ABQ area, although I prefer buying gently used, last July found a creampuff class A.

[colliehauler]

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
IF you own the lot, and know you will not be towing the trailer, have you considered a small house?
From log to trailer type units many possibilities, more solid construction in many cases, and can have an empty interior to build out as you wish.
Some are made on skids which can be dropped off onsite, others are on trailers.
One site, by no means a recommendation, but may give you some ideas.
tiny house

I don't own the lot but have been there 15 years. For zoning it has to be a RV.

[qtla9111]

Same here. Our 2008 works great for us. A 24ft with two ample slideouts. I can't find the source of one soft spot and another in a wall I took apart, cleaned out, and redid (small and easy fix).

I hate the roof air and always have. Too big, too noisy and I can't run it on my Honda 2000. I want to remove it and put in a dome, remove the microwave, and put in a window unit in the cabinet.

It probably needs a leak test and it needs a new awning. How much is all this versus a new travel trailer? I like what I have and am willing to spend a couple of thousand to have it last another 5 to 7 years (or more).

If I were to buy something new, it would be custom. No roof vents, no roof air, antennas, refrigerator vent or decals. A clean flat roof and clean sides.

[chops1sc]

We are going through this same scenario. Our 1995 5ver needed A LOT of work. I figured we could fix it for far less than a new camper would cost us (we really don't know how much its going to cost). Ask me in a year if it was worth it, LOL!

[Dave_in_TN]

If your current trailer is 16 years old, that puts its construction pre-2008 great recession. It's at that point, IMO, that build quality in RV's took the first big hit. Then more recently it seems to have declined further, based on anecdotal evidence at least. You could spend $63k on a new unit, then additional money to personalize it, and end up with a nightmare of dubious construction issues, leaks, and who knows what else. If it were me, with the seasonal situation you laid out, I'd stick with what I know, which considering how it seems to have held up was built fairly well.

[bgum]

No brainer@
Fix what you have.

[wanderingaimles]

IF you own the lot, and know you will not be towing the trailer, have you considered a small house?
From log to trailer type units many possibilities, more solid construction in many cases, and can have an empty interior to build out as you wish.
Some are made on skids which can be dropped off onsite, others are on trailers.
One site, by no means a recommendation, but may give you some ideas.
tiny house

[Mickeyfan0805]

I honestly can't fathom paying 150k on a trailer - so that would never be on my radar. If I were in your shoes, for a seasonal, I'd likely go the repair route if everything is in good shape. 10k is a drop in the bucket compared to the costs you are suggesting for buying new, and even if every appliance goes down and has to be replaced, you will still have saved some 40-45k over a new. If there are other reasons to upgrade, go for it. If you like what you have, however, why spend an extra 40k trying to replace it?

[colliehauler]

Mieekamp that is the direction I'm leaning for the very reason you mentioned. The one I have now has the perfect floor plan for me. I've had a custom entertainment center built and put in home leather furniture. It's just getting long in the tooth.

One draw back to new trailer is its 220v and all I have is 120v at my site. New Horizon has the quality but at a premium cost that's hard to justify for 60 days a year.

[mleekamp]

Considering that right now, and into the forseable future (well into 2022 ? longer?) that RV's, all kinds, are flying off the lot if they land there at all. Everyong is buying new / used RV's, and there are many 1st time buyers.

I mention this because finding exactly what you want in a new one could be tricky, but you could most likely order one. I won't speak to build quality -- you and all of us know about that already....especially when folks snap up new ones faster than they can deliver. I actually thougth our local RV dealer was going out of business since it's been 6 months or so since I've seen inventory...yes, there are units there, but when it's a dozen vs. the 200 or so they normally have. Quite the opposite for them...they are booming and can't keep them in stock.

Maybe that is pointing out what you already know? Point is, maybe staying the course with your current model, with some maintenance, is good for now. Maybe not all maintenance, but enough to enjoy it.

Just my 2 cents!

[Grit_dog]

I’d say there’s 100s of other options between sinking $10k into an old trailer (and however many hours) to end up with an old trailer that from the sounds of it won’t be worth $10k when you’re done, and $63k for a “new” one.
Idk how you could actually spend that much, responsibly, on a TT unless you literally got the biggest Arctic Fox or Grand Design unit they make.
I’d sell the old one for whatever I could get for it and go get a newer trailer.
With a budget of $30-40k you could buy 95% or more of the relatively new, used TTs on the market.
Frugal and a $63k TT don’t belong in the same sentence imo.