4 ms·

>Do you already have a tow vehicle? That's probably where you need to start, if you plan > to go the travel trailer route. If you plan to live in the trailer fu

>Do you already have a tow vehicle? That's probably where you need to start, if you plan > to go the travel trailer route. If you plan to live in the trailer full-time, you > probably need a big truck to haul it; I've got a diesel F250, and it works great. With >a weight distribution hitch it'll comfortably haul more than my house (which is probably >about 9000 pounds loaded with tanks full). Yep I have an older F150 XL pickup. It is harsh on gas consumption and with towing the trailer that will get quite a bit worse but the savings can be substantial in the long run I suppose (as opposed to living in an apartment/house) I live in Canada and would like something that is easier for 4 season usage. I can make do with warm clothes and down blankets etc but for example while working on my laptop in the winter, it will be easier without gloves ;-) I can do without buying new but I am not too mechanically handy and do not want to spend a lot of money paying someone else to fix any issues with older trailers. However, I would definitely be down for buying something older if it is in good shape.

narrowrail 10y ago
I live in the SW (in the Rockies), which is the summer home of many RV-ers. At this point in the year, many people put their RVs up for sale. Just this weekend, I saw 3 used RVs that looked to be ~10 yrs old (1 looked 3 yrs old). All were about ~30ft in length w/ the side slide-outs that allow for more room. I'd check craigslist in these RV-heavy areas first.
SwellJoe 10y ago
You'd want what is sometimes called a four-season RV; you're going to need a bigger truck. They tend to be among the most expensive options; they're heavier, and more densely insulated. But, keep in mind that one of the benefits of living in an RV is that you can follow good weather. No reason to freeze your ass off, if you can just drive a few hours to a lower elevation. Arctic Fox is among the best known four-season RVs. I don't know of any other manufacturers who specialize in that area off-hand. Modern RVs are better insulated than older RVs, in the general case, especially when comparing similar quality levels (e.g. a new Airstream or Winnebago will be better insulated and energy efficient than a similar model made 25 years ago...but, 10 year old models are probably comparable to current models, and will often be obtainable for 1/3 the price). With a travel trailer, there's much less concern about needing to be handy than there would be a with a motorhome. While things are going to break, and things are going to need work, that's true of new or old RVs. My motorhome (which was 7 years old when I bought it) constantly needed minor repairs. Likewise, my 32 year old Avion also constantly needs minor repairs (and it needed and still needs some major repairs). Sticking with ~10 year old trailers is probably the right time frame for someone who has no desire to have a fixer-upper (I don't recommend fixer-uppers, no matter what, as they always cost more in the end). But, if you start searching well before you want to leave, you can be extremely picky and you'll find someone that has loved their trailer, and kept it in great condition. A lot of trailers only see seasonal use...so they've only been lived in for maybe 6 months, even if they're 10 years old. If the owners winterized them properly, and kept them covered or at least protected from direct sun and such, a ten year old unit can be damned close to new. Higher quality trailers hold up better to aging than cheaper ones, so look for the high end brands (there's too many of those to list, but if you spend a few weeks checking out RV dealers, and RV shows and reading some forums, you'll get a feel for the ones that people really like).

narrowrail 10y ago

I live in the SW (in the Rockies), which is the summer home of many RV-ers. At this point in the year, many people put their RVs up for sale. Just this weekend, I saw 3 used RVs that looked to be ~10 yrs old (1 looked 3 yrs old). All were about ~30ft in length w/ the side slide-outs that allow for more room. I'd check craigslist in these RV-heavy areas first.

SwellJoe 10y ago

You'd want what is sometimes called a four-season RV; you're going to need a bigger truck. They tend to be among the most expensive options; they're heavier, and more densely insulated. But, keep in mind that one of the benefits of living in an RV is that you can follow good weather. No reason to freeze your ass off, if you can just drive a few hours to a lower elevation. Arctic Fox is among the best known four-season RVs. I don't know of any other manufacturers who specialize in that area off-hand. Modern RVs are better insulated than older RVs, in the general case, especially when comparing similar quality levels (e.g. a new Airstream or Winnebago will be better insulated and energy efficient than a similar model made 25 years ago...but, 10 year old models are probably comparable to current models, and will often be obtainable for 1/3 the price). With a travel trailer, there's much less concern about needing to be handy than there would be a with a motorhome. While things are going to break, and things are going to need work, that's true of new or old RVs. My motorhome (which was 7 years old when I bought it) constantly needed minor repairs. Likewise, my 32 year old Avion also constantly needs minor repairs (and it needed and still needs some major repairs). Sticking with ~10 year old trailers is probably the right time frame for someone who has no desire to have a fixer-upper (I don't recommend fixer-uppers, no matter what, as they always cost more in the end). But, if you start searching well before you want to leave, you can be extremely picky and you'll find someone that has loved their trailer, and kept it in great condition. A lot of trailers only see seasonal use...so they've only been lived in for maybe 6 months, even if they're 10 years old. If the owners winterized them properly, and kept them covered or at least protected from direct sun and such, a ten year old unit can be damned close to new. Higher quality trailers hold up better to aging than cheaper ones, so look for the high end brands (there's too many of those to list, but if you spend a few weeks checking out RV dealers, and RV shows and reading some forums, you'll get a feel for the ones that people really like).