Community Forums

wwenstad1 · 05-17-2016, 11:45 AM

I have a 2015 Heartland Big Horn. It's a nice trailer, but like everything else there always somethings you would change. We bought this in July of 2014. How long should we keep this trailer? We have found other trailers that we like and I am bored with this one. We put a large down payment so would just like some imput. Thanks

cwsqbm · 05-17-2016, 12:29 PM

You're asking a financial question. The answer will be different based on each person's financial situation and comfort level with debt. Change when you are comfortable, although you'd be further ahead learning to be comfortable with what you have.

charliez · 05-17-2016, 02:24 PM

Depreciation on these things are killers. So you'll have to do your own math and make that decision. We had a popup for several years and it was great, till I took the boys up for a shower and there was a guy confused over which specific facility he should use, so that's was our decision maker. We wanted to bring our own shower. We've had the one we use now since 06 so 10 years and it's fine. Most importantly.. it's paid for.

jacknife · 05-17-2016, 03:06 PM

Forget trading . Try to sell privatly

nothermark · 05-17-2016, 03:17 PM

FWIW

If it is your first trailer consider how well it will fit your plans for the next 10 years with the idea of changing to something that would fit better. See if you can find the "dream machine".

If it the last in a string of units do as above along with considering why you no longer like the one you have.

As has been mentioned, these are not things that make financial sense to change for the new color scheme. It often takes a couple of years to smooth out the operation and/or to decide one has what one wants. The latter gives you some wiggle room for "cost of education".

les.warden · 05-18-2016, 07:00 AM

Really up to you. Cars for example, some trade every year, some keep them till the wheels fall off or they start to nickel/dime them. When we started, people said they got a popup but traded after 1 or 2 years to a TT. We decided to skip the popup and go straight to a 26ft TT with no slides. We had that for 16 years. Traded in 2011 for a new KZ 38ft 5th wheel with 3 slides (different truck of course). Now we're both recently retired. We plan on a year or two to see how much miles we put on it. Next move "may" be a MH. It just depends on the pros and cons. That's the way we roll. Hope this helps and stay safe in your travels.

Helipilot · 05-19-2016, 10:51 PM

What he said. We also started with an Excel 31' TT, (Up from a tent), great unit and we kept it for a long time. Last year we moved up to a crew cab one ton and a fifth wheel after looking and thinking for the past 4-5 years. We knew what we wanted but were waiting for the perfect unit for us to come up for sale by owner. Couldn't be happier.

These RV's are expensive and should be considered as a long term purchase amortized over several years. Best of luck in your decision!

V3600 · 05-19-2016, 11:04 PM

Of course you'll take a financial hit and is that worth getting what you want? Only you know that.

rarebear.nm · 05-27-2016, 10:23 PM

We spent a year thinking about what we wanted in a trailer and went to all of the RV Shows we could and stopped at countless RV dealerships in two states. In the end we settled on a 32 foot Excel 5th wheeler, bought it used from a nearby Excel dealership in New Mexico at a really great price. We have made a couple big mods like replaced the 6k axles for 7k with disk brakes. I'll never used electric brakes again! Since then we've made many other other smaller mods to make this unit just what we wanted and a have many to follow. Our plan is to keep this unit for a long time and enjoy our travels.

As others have said every one has different needs and resources.

Stickdog · 05-28-2016, 02:21 PM

Are you a full timer or a weekend warrior? If full time I'd say trade it if a weekender I'd live with it for a while.

MtnTrek · 05-28-2016, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwsqbm

You're asking a financial question. The answer will be different based on each person's financial situation and comfort level with debt. Change when you are comfortable, although you'd be further ahead learning to be comfortable with what you have.

Definitely a difficult equation to work out, noting that RV's are not a particularly good investment. They are more of a passion, hobby, lifestyle, _________, fill in the blank.

FWIW, Seems I read recently in a trade article that many RV buyers trade / upgrade in the 3.7 yrs. range.

OP, "We have found other trailers that we like and I am bored with this one." Providing you have the means, have no regrets. You can't take it with you. Although there is merit to being content for what we have, Our kids may not spend in a way that pleases us either...

Happy Trails!