need advice on RV vs. manufactured home

[benluong]

I am thinking about buying a travel trailer vs buying a manufactured home to live in. The town where I
am going to, the rent is simply too high and
the rental properties are in bad shape. It would be cheaper for me to live in a RV or a mobile home. I have read horrible stories from people getting new mobile homes, including walls falling apart, multiple problems with the builts as a result of manufacturing defects or damages caused during the transport.

I think a RV is probably better built, more sturdy, and may have better appliances. Is this true?

How long does a RV last? (if you live in it every day)

The only significant problem with the RV is that it is a lot smaller than a mobile home. But I don't mind if it is livable.

I would appreciate any comment from people who live in a RV full-time. What's your experience as compared to live in a brick home as far as daily routines go. Will I be better off
getting a manufacture home instead?

What specific brand of new RV should I buy given my intended purpose given above? I am looking at a 34 foot Menkenzie
Lakota travel trailer which I am going to get it from
http://rvwholesalers.com

Does anyone have any experience with the above model?

Does anyone have experience with the above wholesaler?

If I have to pay $2000 more, should I get it from a local dealer?

Any bad experience with the above wholesaler?

Thank you.

[benluong]

I am thinking about buying a travel trailer vs buying a manufactured home to live in. The town where I
am going to, the rent is simply too high and
the rental properties are in bad shape. It would be cheaper for me to live in a RV or a mobile home. I have read horrible stories from people getting new mobile homes, including walls falling apart, multiple problems with the builts as a result of manufacturing defects or damages caused during the transport.

I think a RV is probably better built, more sturdy, and may have better appliances. Is this true?

How long does a RV last? (if you live in it every day)

The only significant problem with the RV is that it is a lot smaller than a mobile home. But I don't mind if it is livable.

I would appreciate any comment from people who live in a RV full-time. What's your experience as compared to live in a brick home as far as daily routines go. Will I be better off
getting a manufacture home instead?

What specific brand of new RV should I buy given my intended purpose given above? I am looking at a 34 foot Menkenzie
Lakota travel trailer which I am going to get it from
http://rvwholesalers.com

Does anyone have any experience with the above model?

Does anyone have experience with the above wholesaler?

If I have to pay $2000 more, should I get it from a local dealer?

Any bad experience with the above wholesaler?

Thank you.

[Novi]

RV's are designed to be mobile. They deteriorate fast when sitting still. A park model is designed for staying in one place, or for long periods in one place, and they have a LOT more room to live in. Can't comment on the brand or dealer.

[JudyandJim]

Mobile Homes / Park Models / RVs... all have one thing in common:

If you buy a cheap one, it will not be of good quality, and will give you the kinds of problems you mention.

There are plenty of good manufactured homes and good RVs that don't fall apart.

If you are going to be in your new home for more than a year or two, then you will probably be happier in a Park Model, or a full size Mobile Home. And, if it is located in a good park, you should not experience any depreciation... it may even increase in value.

If, however, you think you would be moving it periodically, then an RV is a good choice. Just be sure to get one with dual pane windows and good insulation.

Good Luck

[zetron]

I have owned both a mobile home and motorhome. I would take the motorhome over the mobile home all the time.

A motorhome (RV) gives you freedom. You are self sufficent if you wish to leave someplace and go to another you can do so with ease.

If you have a mobile home and want to move, even across town; you will have to remove all heavy object from it transferring them in a moving truck and pay at least $1000 to have the MH moved and set up again.

A good RV should stand up much better to time and the elements than a mobile home. A smaller RV will give you the ablity to go into the back country where the large class "A" units cannot go.

David/zetron

[Sallys Mom]

I agree with zetron, especially since you are moving to a new town. I looked at the Lakota and with the triple slides a single person should have ample room. The appliances in an RV are a bit smaller than in a mobile, but are generally reliable.

Not sure if an the additional $2K would be worth it or not. I would depend on how far away you are from the dealer. I would think re-sale would find a larger audience with the RV because it could be easily moved. In California lots of people buy RVs as a type of "second home" and are always looking for good used ones.

[Eddielee]

As a kid I lived in a 22ft TT with my parents and 3 siblings - not good! I have friends that own two TT's. One in Mesa, AZ and the other west of Denver in the mountains. They spend 6 months in each and drive their CAR between them. When they bought them they had each dealer tow them to the site and set them up. Neither have been on the road other than that one and only delivery trip. Works for them. I own a double wide mobile home that my son and his wife live in. It has more floor space than my house and is a piece of junk. My home is 25 years old and rot free. The Mobilehome is 10years old and the entire floor system is rotted so bad they fell though by the front door. It is so bad it can't be towed - will have to burn it where it stands. Good luck with your decision (I vote for the travel trailer).

[CyberVet65]

I have lived in my RV for six months while the house was being built. Most RV's are designed to be moved occasionally and the high end "park models" are really well biult. Because they are designed and advertised as a "park model". But buyer beware. There are "entry" level units as well. Do a lot of research prior to making your decision.
Manufactured housing aka mobile homes aka "trailers" aka double wides. Again do a lot of research. There is NO and I mean ZERO manufacturing requirements for manufactured housing. They can be built with 2x2 walls or 2x4 walls or 2x6 walls. They can be built with odds and ends from a RV sale. One mobile home that I lived in was bought brand new. The screen door had to be custom made. The plumbing had to be replaced from the sink to the outside because nothing was standard "Home Depot" size.
Keep in mind that where the unit is built has a great deal to do with the quality of the unit.
Do some searching on lime for manufacturers like Champion or Fleetwood (entry level) of many other units.
Chet