Hypothetically... 20 years from now...

webers3 said:

@faith

Haven’t really thought about how long I would expect the T@B to be usable, we bought it with a 3-5 year plan to travel, enjoy and then to re-evaluate. To me the frame, axle and the hitch are the critical parts that will need care and maintenance. There are many owners here with great knowledge and mechanical, electrical, plumbing and carpentry skills that are able to spot and repair major issues as they come up not to mention the great mods, I don’t have these skills so if anything major happens I have to find a RV dealer or a repair shop. Given the beating the camper takes on Northeast roads I would think at some point I should have the frame inspected to be sure it’s safe. The older the camper the more maintenance it will require, this is what I mean by great effort. Maybe some long time owners can comment on how they ensure that the critical components of their T@B are up to par, especially the frame.

Question you should ask yourself is:  would I buy a 20 year old T@B and why?

Thanks--that's helpful.  

I'm not planning on buying a 20 year old T@B.  This whole question is hypothetical.  I'm just interested in understanding how the building structure of the T@B compares to others.  Suitability for restoration, should it be necessary, is one way to conceptualize the differences.

My questions are intentionally nonspecific because I wanted to leave it open for different ideas and interpretations.  I'm not asking for advice on how to restore a 20 year old T@B.

The rest of you have had helpful insight, too--thanks.

Think of it as buying a dog. When you "invest" in a pet, you know that it will die at some point.  You consider food, supplies, medical attention, etc.  You consider how much enjoyment you will get from the pet, and how much it might cost in terms of money, time, attention, compromise, etc.  Of course no one can promise that your dog or cat won't get into an accident or develop cancer and die prematurely.  But most breeds have average lifespans.  We can say that certain breeds are more susceptible to certain diseases, and upkeep is likely to cost more.  Obviously this depends on how the pet is handled, cared for, living conditions, etc.  But that doesn't mean we can't have an intelligent conversation about the health and lifespan of Poodles vs. Pugs. 

German Shepherds tend toward hip problems, so old age might include that hurdle.  T@Bs tend toward _____ problems, so old age might include replacing XYZ.    

Once a GSD is 10 or 11 years old, you can expect the end to be around the corner.  Once a T@B has ____ damage, you can forget about trying to repair it; the end has come.

If it's hard to talk about in the abstract, then make up your own specifics and fill in the blank.

BTW, all this feedback helps me clarify my own thoughts & questions, too.  Again, I really appreciate it.

ScottG said:

...The body of the T@B is entirely metal framed, with shaped aluminum and fiberglass panels comprising the outer skin. These may pose a bit more a challenge to repair, but--on the other hand--such decay resistant materials are less likely to need it.

@faith, if you haven't found it already, there's some good structural information in the Resources library.

Thank you--I stumbled onto some of those posts via direct searches, but hadn't found the collection yet.  What you say clarifies what I've seen & read. I can't imagine how one would repair a sidewall, should something happen to it.  But then, I can't imagine what would happen to it, either.

Mouseketab said: Someone could veer over into your lane and hit you on the sidewall. Someone had their trailer in storage during a severe storm and another trailer was pushed into it, and cracked the sidewall. Someone else had trees knocked over onto their trailer and dented the tops of the sidewalls. (Also the roof)

Yikes.  Were they T@bs?  What did it take to repair them?