Does anyone still have their first RV as their Primary?

[ie2special]

Everyone seems to tell me that they trade up later....

When we started looking we looked at our needs now, in 5 years, 10 years, and on.

weren't right for us in styling (except forest river Charleston/Berkshire but handful of people had not nice things to say about them, pretty but not quality)

so do we get the lower quality one now, and plan to trade it in in 5-10 years or do we get the one I know we'd be in love with?

Does no one really have their first?

[laj]

got my first and have no intention/ need to trade. like mine way better then the new ones. have no emissions on engine, love my floor plan, and nothing comes close to fit& finish jmo

[Petro]

My first RV was 22 years ago. It was a 1987 Pace Arrow. I am on my 5th & last MH which should last longer than me.

Don

[OrngTrillium]

If you haven't owned it your first season yet does that count as the first? Everyones case is different. Ask yourself. Do I know i'll enjoy camping/RVing? Will my financial/life state be the same now as it is in 10 years? Do I have certain needs/wants that must be fulfilled and probably won't change (Ie small/large, wood), Am I a person who changes with the latest fad/ re-decorate my Sticks and bricks often? Some people are consistent and know what they want right now. If your mind is made up then it's a simple decision. Others are in one place (for example financial) and may be in a better position later (start sooner but cheaper vs wait till you save type situation). Or maybe you'll see a show/someone elses unit/see one while in servicing and realize that the Country Coach Verandah is a must have and your Alpine Coach can't hold a candle. You don't need the Ultimate Driving Rig, you want that deck!

But even if you purchase your first RV last it may change. You may decide that you can no longer handle the 45 ft quad slide DP. You might decide you cannot live with Cherry wood and absolutely need to change to Olive green shag/knotty pine etc. Or you may end up with a "temporary" first unit that you'll fall in love with and keep forever.

Right now we have a goal of a newer/larger/higher quality unit but want to get our feet wet. Will it be the right decision who knows?

[RickO]

We still have our first coach but we bought a new 40DP in 2007.

My reasoning was, that if I bought a "starter coach" I don't think I would have enjoyed the lifestyle enough to keep going in it. It worked for us but it is an expensive leap of faith.

Rick

[Ramets]

Yep, we still have her. A 2000 Newmar Dutch Star pusher. Have done remodeling inside to suit us and our way of living. Have looked at many new units, but have never found anything to ring my bell. Besides ours is paid for and runs like a top. We've been from coast to coast, border to border, even Alaska. This will probably be our only coach.

[njs42]

This one is it, our first last and only. Planned it that way. I guess it makes a lot of difference as to what stage in life you are when you bought your first one. We were retired and had never owned one before. When we are done with this one we are done.

[Razzman]

For me it's not possible to forecast what will work or what my needs will be in 5 to 10 years. When i do or get into something it's all the way, if i don't like it then oh well. If it doesn't work out, so be it. I rode motorcycles off and on for 35 years, starting and stopping as my attitudes or desires changed. Same with boating, i used the snot out of both mine for 10 years until one day we both said were done and sold it. I started with a cheap boat to see and bought a $45K boat a couple years later. Sold it last year for 35K and now guess what? Thinking of getting a new bike! Will I? probably not but you get the point.

We bought our '06 Damon 37' SSDP 1 1/2 years ago and now are already looking at upgrading next year to a 42-43' tag as we plan on fulltiming next year after she retires and we want more room and amenities. Will it be new? no. I'm a 75%er now, i live in it during the week so i don't have to commute and it fits my needs to a T in this situation and traveling for a week. Two of us and two dogs fulltime? Nope. Evaulate your goals and try it out for awhile and see if it's for you. My recommendation would be to find a nice quality used rig in the '02 up range. The quality on some are amazing and they look very nice. You could do this without breaking the bank. If it's not for you then at least your not buried in it with some serious depreciation to boot.

[vincee]

Tough call, but the thing OrngT. said that may be the key to your decision is "are you and your's the type that have to have the newest and latest, Now". In my opinion, I would try the lifestyle out with a used rig that has the features and floor plan that appeals to you now as a starter. This will give you first hand "experience and hands on use knowledge" instead of gathered opinions. Then if you are in this for the long haul you would be better positioned to make the dream coach move.

In regards to the Charleston/Berkshire rig, what Forest River gives you is a heck of a lot of features as standard equipment through out their product line at price points that are hard to match when comparing how much you get per dollar spent. Every RV manufacturer out there will have their detractors with one thing or another. The Berkshire wouldn't be a bad starter diesel coach to get your feet wet and as stated above move on to a higher end rig later. Whether it would be a Forest River Berkshire or just about any other brand you can go to their manufacturer forums and hear directly from the folks that own these rigs.

Good Luck on your decision and keep us posted to the "why's" of what you do.

[mel s]

Originally Posted by ie2special

Everyone seems to tell me that they trade up later....
When we started looking we looked at our needs now, in 5 years, 10 years, and on.
weren't right for us in styling (except forest river Charleston/Berkshire but handful of people had not nice things to say about them, pretty but not quality)
so do we get the lower quality one now, and plan to trade it in in 5-10 years or do we get the one I know we'd be in love with?
Does no one really have their first?

ie2special
We're still using our first "real coach". (which we got in '01).

BTW, our first MH, (a '75 Minnie Winnie class C lost in a fire in 1998), would be nearly 40 years old now.

Mel
'96 Safari Sahara, 132k miles, (105k mine)

[autofish]

Not my first RV but my first DP. 13 years new now and plan to keep at least 10 more years works fine so way trade.

[Clayobx]

Nope sold the pop up many years ago. Since that time a 39' class A, now 44 ' class A, one more to go if health and wealth hold out!

[deandec]

Yes, 12 years and 70,000 miles on our first rig. It is now 19 years old with 94,000 miles.

No plans to change.

[ie2special]

Wow, more of you have them still than I thought!!