How long until stuff wears out.

[norty1]

Our 2011 rig is wearing out.
This last trip, we started getting leaks from the shower faucet set and one side of the bathroom faucet is very hard to turn on/off. I took it apart and it is a Phoenix brand. It has some type nut that I have no way to access to get the cartridge out.

I have ordered the shower replacement from Amazon and plan to get a lavatory faucet today from Lowes before out next trip.

I am sure that these items are not meant to last much longer than they do.

[Mark S]

Interesting that you bring this up. I was just wondering, on a much larger scale, at what point do you change RVs. I am nowhere ready as mine is only 2 years old, but was wondering what is the optimal point to trade to new.

[DocBrown]

Nothing lasts for ever. Just like your house or vehicle you will have to make repairs if you keep it long enough. Replacing faucets on an 8 year old rig doesn't sound out of line.

You trade or sell your unit when you are ready. That's different for each of us. My dad has a '77 Jayco TT that he bought used around '95 or '96. He just maintains it. I helped him put a new toilet in last year. We kept our first two trailers (pop-up and 17 ft hybrid) for 10 years each.

[Johnny Lightning]

I'm betting that most folks buy a new RV when they want one, not when they need one, although they will probably justify the purchase by saying we need a new RV. And that's OK most folks replace things when they want something new. That said I would think that the time to buy a new RV is when the old shell, not the appliances, is beyond reasonable repair. Things like the frame is cracking in multiple places, the walls are coming apart, the entire roof needs replacing. Most of those kinds of things can be postponed for a long time with diligent maintenance, especially the roof. Just my couple of pennies.

[ALJO]

Maintenance is the key point to keep things in a good state. How longer you keep something how cheaper the operating cost. The biggest thing is people are tired at looking at the same thing. Some buy new because they can easy afford the new smell, but the problems with new RV's are the same. A well maintained RV is cheaper to buy.

[jloco]

My 2016 took about 2 seasons to get all the bugs worked out. It's 3rd year, 2018 was pretty much issue free. As a seasonal camper, the trailer has traveled from point of manufacturer to Cape cod, about 800 miles, so it has virtually no road wear. I plan on keeping it at least 10 years, God willing!

[Jagiven]

I think a bit depends on how they are used! Caring adults or reckless kids. My brother never maintains a thing, hence he always is having issues with stuff, and gets so frustrated that it does not work like new.

They are like a rolling earth quake as they go down the road.

My biggest thing I have begun to notice on my 2012 is caulking. I finally used Eternabond on the roof. But I also noticed the sidewalk caulking has started to have issues, so each year I inspect and apply a bit more caulk, as needed.

[TCNashville]

My 2012 is holding up well. Of course I only use it 6-7 times a year and as stated above have applied Eternabond in all the right places on the roof. This is the first winter I haven't covered it so we'll see how it holds up.

[dhinkle57]

I'm too old and fat to crawl around on my roof so every year I have my son check for cracks in the calking and re-calk as needed. A couple times a year I wax ours and while I'm up close I check the calking around the windows, doors and corners.