We're still researching motor homes, but I'm now leaning towards getting a trailer. Here's one we're seriously considering:
This is a 2003 27 foot Coachman Camper and they're asking $3,500.
I've found motor homes with similarly sized living quarters going for this price too. One we might look at tomorrow is a 1993 31-foot Winnebago.
But I'm leaning toward a trailer. My concern about motor homes is three-fold:
First, there's the issue of them having mechanical problems. As I told my wife, "With a trailer, you pretty much know what you've got and its status shouldn't change rapidly. If it's in good shape this year, it should be in very similar shape next year, and the year after that, and the year after that." The 2003 trailer shown above, if in good shape, SHOULD last us the rest of our lives. I can't say that about a motor home.
Second, motor homes must pass a safety inspection each year - even if they haven't been used. Motor vehicles therefore represent a significant ongoing expense. In order to pass the inspection, defects identified must be quickly corrected. I'm dealing with this with my pickup truck right now and it's not fun.
Third, we'd need to have a motor home insured. We won't be required to do that with a trailer.
The bottom line? We'd get more short-term bang for our buck with a used motor home, but we'd also have more hassles and expenses. Since we already own a truck, we don't have the concerns over a trailer that some people do - how to tow it. I think that's the way to go.
I'm surprised to learn, btw, that trailers seem to hold on to their value better than motor homes. I don't know what that 1986 Winnebago sold for when it was new, but it's going for $3,495 today. I bet it's lost 95 percent of its original cost.
Gold is $1,581/oz today. When it hits $2,000, it will be up 26.5%. Let's see how long that takes. - De 3/11/2013 - ANSWER: 7 Years, 5 Months
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