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Originally Posted by inspireart
Now some questions. What is the life expectancy of a Mini-Lite? Does indoor storage preserve the life. Are most RV centers procificent at winterizing for outdoor storage? I live in the greater St. Louis area. So we have summer heat and cold winters.
Will the floor stand more than occasional use...
How does the vaccm-bonded laminated construction do in the real world. I had an old Explorer Motor Home and am not impressed with stick builds with aluminum siding and batten insulation.
The new construction seems a lot sturdier.
Please educate me. I am early in the decision process.
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The easy one first - indoor storage is by a mile, the best thing you can do to preserve your RV. The sun and the elements take a toll. Most of us don't have that luxury, but it makes a huge difference.
Yes, any RV dealer should have no problem properly winterizing your unit. And the better dealers will let you watch their tech do it, so you learn how to do it yourself in the future if you want to.
I don't think the floor will have any issues with frequent use, and the laminated side walls seem to hold up fairly well. Granted, there are always a few "lemons" regardless of manufacturer, but as a rule, the wall and floor should be free of issue for many years. I like the smooth fiberglass over the ribbed metal for looks and ease of cleaning, but either is OK. Trailers are built to be light weight and reasonably inexpensive - so within that realm, they are reasonably sturdy - but you'll never mistake one for a brick house.
Just as a rough guess - I would say a typical trailer should last more than 10 years without major issues. After that, it really depends on how well it was maintained. Some older rv's are in great shape for a lot longer. Others looked whipped and have major problems. But for sure, with older units you will have more maintenace.
Good luck in your search. We love our Rockwood Roo, and the Mini-lites and Ultra-lites have many happy owners on here as well.