How many years does a rig last full-timing?

[RickO]

With real estate, it's location, location, location.

With an RV, it's maintenance, maintenance, maintenance.

If not maintained, a new DP won't "last" three years. Things will break, come loose, rattle, and roll. It's a constant process to keep everything
in working order but, IMHO, once you begin to let one thing go... and then another... pretty soon you don't have a very nice place to live or travel in anymore.

I bought mine new, but I would recommend buying used. Find a good inspection service and perhaps even consider an extended warranty, but you'll most likely be far ahead buying used.

Best of luck.

Rick

[powerboatr]

Originally Posted by RickO

With real estate, it's location, location, location.

With an RV, it's maintenance, maintenance, maintenance.

If not maintained, a new DP won't "last" three years. Things will break, come loose, rattle, and roll. It's a constant process to keep everything
in working order but, IMHO, once you begin to let one thing go... and then another... pretty soon you don't have a very nice place to live or travel in anymore.

I bought mine new, but I would recommend buying used. Find a good inspection service and perhaps even consider an extended warranty, but you'll most likely be far ahead buying used.

Best of luck.

Rick

yup x2
they are just like anything else that moves, shakes, wiggles and has human interaction

keep up on the little things and the big things will most likely not happen
we have been in our 2008 since april 2009 it was new.
other than normal resealing of some little things, fluid changes and oh yeah we are due new tires this next feb..
humidity is a big thing to. in winter time, we use three dehumidifiers and make sure we have air flow around the places that are dark and isolated to prevent moisture build up to the point it runs off the walls.

[Walter5555]

My M.H. is 16 years Young and I park it on the side of our house so I can work on it when ever I want to or when I need to.
I must admit that it cost a lot to keep everything up to par because if you have a small problem now and you don't fix it now it will cost two or three times more to fix it later.
Case in point I spent close to $8,000.00 on it a year ago. Add new breaks all around and bearing, Air compressor, fuel pump, alternator well, you get the idea.
I could go on and on but you see what I mean.

Just a thought.

[Barbaraok]

Gosh, didn't know that we shouldn't be using our 11 year old coach to full-time - we've only been doing so for 7 years (bought the coach used). One thing to realize is that the people who come up with these "rules" are often people involved in convincing you to buy another coach. Like everything in life, if you don't take care of it, it will fall apart. Of course, it helps to purchase a well built unit to being with - - if not then it will likely fall apart faster.

Also realize that people who make the "only last xxx number of years" statement are probably equating fulltiming with just extended vacations - they are not. No one could keep up the pace of 'vacationing' for long if they are going to be successful full timers. And when you are living in your rig fulltime, your equipment is more closely monitored, you are more in tune with when something isn't running right and may fix/replace before it fails.

Barb

[Clay L]

We bought ours new in January of 2004 and have lived in it full time ever since. We have done a lot of upgrades and repaired whatever quit working.
It is still fine for full timing.

Some of our upgrades:
Replaced the toilet with a better quality one.
Added an additional medicine cabinet in the bathroom.
Residential faucets.
Laminate flooring throughout.
MCD American Duo shades throughout including motorized ones on the windshield.
Recovered all furniture including captains chairs with Ultra Leather Plus, also put new high density foam in the dinette cushions.
Recovered all valences with a fabric we like.
New HD 32 inch LCD TV with storage behind.
Replaced the old manual dish with a Winegard SK3005 HD automatic dish.

[TXiceman]

A lot depends on if you are starting with a true full-time coach or an entry level coach. It also depends on just how well you maintain things.

If you are just starting to look, you money will be better spent on getting a gently used higher end RV over a new entry level.

Ken

[Doggy Daddy]

There is no answer to this question as there are too many variables. Many were mentioned like type, size and quality of RV; quality of maintenance; size, weight, kind, and number of occupants; number and kind of pets; on road-off road; how often RV is moved and how long stationary parked; weather, location; subject to snow, hail, tornadoes, severe heat-cold-humidity; etc.

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

A lot depends on if you are starting with a true full-time coach or an entry level coach. It also depends on just how well you maintain things.

If you are just starting to look, you money will be better spent on getting a gently used higher end RV over a new entry level.

Ken

Good advise.

[Jake21]

We just celebrated our first year full timing in our 2002 American Eagle. We bought it last May with 56k on it from the original owner. That's 5000 miles a year for 10 years. We have put over 20k on it in 12 months. The list of repairs is pretty long, but now it is in better shape than when we bought it. I have a Yachting background and know that you must stay on top of every little issue. I can see how a low quality rig could show serious wear from some of the crappy roads we have traveled, so far, the frame and house have held up just fine. Most of the issues have been fairly minor. I think that using the systems frequently rather than not is better for them overall.

We had our Onan serviced and the tech told me the worst thing for the generator is lack of use. I think that holds true for most everything.

JJ
2002 Eagle

[CLIFFTALL]

Originally Posted by Jake21

We just celebrated our first year full timing in our 2002 American Eagle. We bought it last May with 56k on it from the original owner.

JJ
2002 Eagle

Yes. I remember it well. We met last Memorial Day in NM. Glad it has been a good year for you and that you are enjoying IRV2.
Cliff

[Dr4Film]

That statement HAD to of come from a RV salesman !!!

I purchased a 2002 second hand coach from the original owners back in December 2003. I've been living in it for 9.5 years now and most people when they see the coach think that it's only a couple of years old.

I take pride in R HOME and plan to have it until hopefully one of my sons will take ownership when I can no longer live in it for health reasons.

It won't be paid off for another 10 years so it had better last.

If you start off looking at RV's that will support the full-time lifestyle you should not have any problems providing that you maintain it and keep it in good shape.

If you abuse the RV then it may not even last 5 years no matter what you spent for it originally.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[Triker56]

Originally Posted by kyrv

I don't remember where I read this, I've been reading so much, but I saw one place kind of casually mention that if you are going to live full-time in an RV/motor-home it would 'last' only five years. What I'm trying to decide now, am I better buying a brand new one and trying to keep for 10-15 years (is that realistic), or spend way less for a used one, then get another used one in 5 years or whenever.

I bought my present Full time MH when it was 3 years & 11 months old.
It is now 14 years & 9 months old.
I plan to Full Time in it for several more years yet.

If taken care of they will last many, many years. I have replaced the couch & one AC unit. A lot cheaper then trading for a newer MH.

[laj]

sure hope they were joking when they said 5 yrs. bought mine when it was 7 yrs. old, it's just like new, less then 18k on it. everything functions perfectly in it, unless i upgrade to a prevost, don't know why I would, I have no intention or reason to buy another one. looking to get another 20 yrs. out of this one.

[denochs]

They probably are asking if it is a fiberglass roof. Big diff in rubber & fiberglass in both repair and replacement costs.

We ft in an 03 Am Eagle. Starting with an older coach that has more quality built into it may be your best bet. I have a sister that bought a new Fleetwood Discovery and she & hubby ft. Some of the cabinet doors are falling off the hinges.

Dave