New vs. Used vs. Restored Vintage?

[JeffS]

All options are on the table re our first AS. Interested in knowing if anyone has comments on: (1) benefit of new over used - i.e., is depreciation hit worth less risk re condition/ and (2) for small (16' to 22') units is there a "sweet spot" model/year range for a fully and well restored unit that may realize appreciation vs. depreciation?

[DKB_SATX]

This is a VERY personal choice. I'm not going to attempt to offer a balanced guideline, just to share my own opinions and why I have them.

I like vintage trailers for a number of reasons. They tend to be lighter at a given length, somewhat simpler (depending on the year and model, of course) and my partner and I each prefer the shape of older narrow-body trailers.

I like 70s trailers because they have fairly big windows, are usually air conditioned (essential here in Texas, less so in northern California), and are relatively plentiful and affordable.

I like Argosy trailers because the first nice trailer I happened to come across in my price range was my '75 Argosy24, and I got spoiled to the panorama windows to the point that my second trailer is a rear-bedroom Argosy with pano windows on both ends!

Finally, the vintage trailers give me something fun to do. If I run out of things to fix/upgrade, I can just camp more!

Of all of these things, really only the lighter weight of a vintage trailer is something I would try to defend as a definitive advantage. The rest are preferences, so you have to think about what yours are.

[Foiled Again]

Matthew McConaughey has paid BIG DOLLARS to have a couple of units custom restored. Other than that, they all depreciate. I just bought a loaded one year old Airstream (25ft Eddie Bauer) and saved a bundle!

I've also bought two others - new - and won't be doing that again. Buying a great lightly used unit requires that a lot of stars have to align. In my case it was a lemons to lemonade thing. But I smile every time I think of getting solar, a Hensley hitch, etc., etc., etc., basically for free.

Really used - "restoration projects" are loved by some, and become money pits for others. Many times the person who starts the restoration sells it in mid stream to someone else with the energy time and money to finish it.

Happy trails whichever path you take.

Paula

[GeGe]

I found that a 25ft gives the room you need while easy to pull and fits into a lot of the national park spaces. Larger and you re really limited. As far as old vs new, it opens AirstreamIng to individuals that cannot afford the new pricetag. Gege's 2cents