i'd rent only if you plan 1-2 trips per year...if you're the type who'd use it at least once a month that would get expensive..in that case i'd buy a used one that has pretty much leveled out in depreciation. sammy, doesn't sound like dad used it enough to justify the expense of such a nice rig. most important issue to decide upon is HOW OFTEN YOU PLAN TO USE IT..period.
ryan

+1 on the travel trailer vote. I have an 18 foot 1979 Mallard travel trailer. I can tow it anywhere with my Tahoe, it fits my wife, my daughter and my two dogs easily and comfortably. I replaced the tires, the heater and thats it. Oh yeah, it was $1600 including a brand new awning. Yeah its old, but if it sits for 7 months, I don't even sweat it. It has follwed me anywhere i have needed it to, inicluding some pretty rough dirt trails to get near sweet off highway vehicle and fishing spots.

My grandparents have a class c winnebego, but they are retired and that thing has gone everywhere.

Bill

bill's doing it right on the econo.. :) you can do this frugally if you don't have to have all the gadgets. besides, gadgets get kinda old after you've written that monster check for them. most of the fun is getting to the park, getting set-up, and walking around waving and saying hello to other campers and rv'ers.
ryan

I've always wanted one of those 6 wheel GM's from the '70.
Perfect period piece for towing a mid-year!.
Or how about putting the car in the back?

Actually Wayne that's not always the case. Many times the manufacturer owns them and the dealers simply provide the showroom. This is also common for heavy equipment and big rigs. The carrying costs would simply be too high for the dealer to run on a line.

So when the dealer sells one they forward the % of proceeds to the mfg. There are time limits/penalties involved to incentivize the sale of the older units though.

I'm sure someone said it already, but NEVER buy these new unless you're made of money. The depreciation in the first 5-10 years is HUGE, well over 50%. We bought a Class C that was 10 years old and only 50k miles for 1/3 the new cost.

Some new carpet and curtains and tile, looked as nice as some of the newer ones... (Had to get rid of the 80's look fabric)

Go to www.rv.net you'll find everything you need there. It's like the pelican site for RVers.