Mountain Camp vs Travel Trailer

Travel Trailer, Fifth Wheel Trailer, Mountain Camp, and Teardrop Trailer Cost Comparison

This Mountain Camp vs Travel Trailer cost and pricing guide will help you. Budget and plan for the cost of ownership associated with your trailer purchase.

Costs of a Travel Trailer: Three Things to Consider

There are three things to consider when researching the cost of Travel Trailer and Sheep Camps:

  • The initial price of the Travel Trailer
  • The resale value of the Travel Trailer
  • The cost of ownership associated with the Travel Trailer

The first thing we are going to do for this Sheep Camp Travel Trailer cost and pricing guide is. We are going to divide up the many different types of Trailers into 3 categories. These categories are very broad but serve their purpose in our comparison

  1. Travel Trailers
    • Travel Trailers
    • Toy Hauler Trailers
    • Hybrid Trailers
    • Fifth Wheel Trailers
    • Fifth Wheel Toy Haulers
  1. Sheep Camps
    • Sheep Camps
    • Range Camps
    • Sheep Wagons
    • Sheepherders Wagon
  1. Little Guys
    • Teardrops
    • Folding Trailers

Now let’s look at the initial cost of Three different categories (to get an idea of how much to budget for each.)

Keep in mind that the prices stated in this Sheep Camp and Travel Trailer cost and pricing guide can vary greatly from region to region. Price is also determined by trailer size, manufacture, dealer etc.

Let’s look at each with their advantages and drawbacks to learn more.

Category: Travel Trailers

Travel Trailers – Price Range $16K- $40K

Advantages:

Large range of lengths, weights and floorplans available. Many include Slide-outs and decent amounts of interior and exterior storage. Some include outdoor kitchens. Some travel trailers can sleep a lot of people. All sides are hard sides. This provides better insulation in contrast to traditional pop-ups or hybrids. Except for a few very small campers. These include full kitchens and bathrooms. Require less set up time than a pop-up or hybrid trailer. Generally, 30amp electrical hook-ups. Smaller travel trailers can fit in most campsites.

Drawbacks:

Built to be as light as possible, often at the expenses of structural integrity. Depending on the size and weight. They can be towed by several different type vehicles. Because of the wide range of travel trailers available, weights vary. Make sure that your vehicle rating is more than the weight of the trailer when it loaded and full of water. Larger travel trailers may be limited in the number of campsites they fit into. Rubber Roofs and Slide-Outs tend to be problematic. Trailers with fiberglass sides tend to delaminate and are expensive to repair

Toy Hauler Trailers – Price Range $25K – $80K

Advantages:

Toy haulers provide room to carry motorcycles, golf carts, ATV, or Side X Side vehicles or other toys. This area often converts into extra living or sleeping space. Ramp sometimes converts to patio. Include all the amenities of other travel, many include Slide-outs,

Drawbacks:

They tend to be heavier than their traditional counterparts because of the ramp and your toys. limited exterior storage. Interior exposed whatever the toys bring in. For example, Fuel fumes, mud, water, etc. Rubber Roofs and Slide-Outs tend to be problematic. Trailers with fiberglass sides tend to delaminate and are expensive to repair

Hybrid Trailers – price Range $20K – $40K

Advantages:

Hybrid trailers are a cross between a pop-up camper and a travel trailer. However, there is more space than a pop-up but at a lighter weight than a typical travel trailer. Fits into most campsites. Tent enthusiasts keep the feel of sleeping under canvass. Full bathroom and kitchen facilities. Many include Slide-outs. Requires less set-up time than a pop-up camper. Equipped with two standard propane tanks (compared to one tank on a pop-up). Electrical hookups are 30amp.

Drawbacks:

Built to be light as possible many times sacrificing structural integrity. Requires more set-up time than a traditional travel trailer. The canvass areas must dry before taking down. Limited exterior storage. Rubber Roofs and Slide-Outs tend to be problematic. Trailers with fiberglass sides tend to delaminate and are expensive to repair

Fifth Wheel Trailers – Price Range $25 – $150

Advantages:

Lot of space! Large fifth wheels have more living space than any other type of RV. Wide variety of sizes and floorplans available including Slide-outs. Connects to the inside bed of your truck giving you more control. Lots of storage. Some include outdoor kitchens and outdoor televisions. Most fifth wheels use 50amp electric service.

Drawbacks:

Can be very large. Must be towed with a truck. Because of their size, campground choices are limited. You lose the ability to carry a lot in the bed of your truck because of the hitch mount. Unless you own property, you’ll probably be paying to store it. Rubber Roofs and Slide-Outs tend to be problematic. Trailers with fiberglass sides tend to delaminate and are expensive to repair

Fifth Wheel Toy Hauler Trailers – Price Range $40K – $180K

Advantages:

These trailers provide room to carry motorcycles, golf carts, ATV, or Side X Side vehicles or other toys. motorcycles, golf carts, four wheelers or other toys. This area often converts into extra living or sleeping space. Ramp sometimes converts to patio. Include all the amenities of other travel trailers or fifth wheels.

Drawbacks:

Tend to be heavier than their traditional counterparts because of the ramp and your toys. Exterior storage maybe limited. Interior exposed whatever the toys bring in. For example, fuel fumes, mud, water, etc. Rubber Roofs and Slide-Outs tend to be problematic. Trailers with fiberglass sides tend to delaminate and are expensive to repair. Next up in our Sheep Camp and Travel Trailer cost and pricing guide

Category: Sheep Camps

Sheep Camps – Price Range $20K- $60K ( We have seen camps with special items or features that have gone higher than this.)

The difference between Sheep/Range Camps. And Sheep/Sheepherders Wagons is the frame type.

Advantages:

Custom built for your needs. Two sources of heat (wood burning stove and forced air furnace) and light (12vdc LED lighting and Gas Light). Built for reliability and durability. Solar System standard on all camps. Well thought out floorplans, great use of space. interior and exterior storage space. Heavy-duty construction, and better insulation than all other classes; True 4 season trailers. Except for agricultural camps. Most camps are built with bathrooms along with fresh, grey and black water tanks. Easy set up time Electrical, water and sewer hookups. Camps fit in most campsite. Best option for Boondocking and off grid living. Built for outdoor living. Heavy-duty frames that include rear hitch receiver. Rodent Proof.

Drawbacks:

Requires a vehicle with higher tow capacity. Because of the custom aspect, weights vary. Because of the focus on reliability and durability Sheep Camps weigh more.

Category: Little Guys

Folding Trailers – Price Range $14K- $30K

Advantages:

Very lightweight. Easy to pull by almost any vehicle. Very affordable. Can store in your garage. Compact size will fit into any campsite. Can move within the campsite to maximize space, view and privacy. For tent enthusiasts, you still have the feeling of sleeping under canvass. But with the convenience of a camper. Traditionally soft sided, but some manufacturers make a-frame or hard-sided pop-ups.

Drawbacks:

Requires a lot of set-up and take-down time. Very limited storage. May not have shower or restroom facilities. Very small fresh water, grey water, black water tanks. Typically comes with one battery and one small propane tank.

Tear drop Trailers – Price Range $14K- $80K

Advantages:

Teardrop trailers are the smallest and travel trailers. Compact, lightweight and easy to pull by many vehicles. Tear drop trailers may include a kitchen, bathroom. Couch, dining table, and bed (in various configurations). Many include air conditioners. Fit into any campsite and can moved to make the best use of your campsite. All sides are hard sides.

Drawbacks:

Small space. Very limited storage. Water, grey and black tanks may be small. On some models, kitchen is outside only. May be uncomfortable depending on your height. These Trailers generally have a base price and then you add the things that should be include. You can soon find out that the trailer you thought was $20k is now $80k with the options.

Resale Values – Travel Trailer (This applies to every trailer discussed in this pricing guide except for the Sheep Camps)

RVs do depreciate quickly. You can expect to lose approximately 21% of the total purchase price of the RV the instant you drive it off the lot.  

Fact #1: The best bang for your buck in terms of depreciation is to buy an RV that is 5 years old which has seen medium use–do not get one that has seen very little use.  Why you ask, an RV that has seen little use because they always have problems, i.e.., water left in the hot water heater result cracked tank or corrosion $1000 dollar repair.   Internal water damage, new rubber roof, can you say expensive. Rodent and insect damage.  We see it every day. 5 years is the point where the steep depreciation levels off.

Fact #2: Between 10 and 20 years you can find some good buys but rarely do these trailers last that long before getting significant water damage, etc.

Fact #3: In analyzing dozens of purchases to find averages, there is no significant difference in the depreciation of these trailers.   High-end fifth wheels and Teardrops do depreciate a little faster, due to the higher initial cost

Travel Trailer Depreciation

  • 1st Year –21% of the value is gone as soon as it’s driven off the lot.
  • – No significant difference
  • 3rd Year– 25% depreciation (meaning 26.7% of the price you paid new is now gone)
  • 4th Year – 29% depreciation
  • 5th Year – 37% depreciation
  • 6th Year – 38% depreciation
  • 7th Year – 39% depreciation
  • 8th Year – 40% depreciation
  • 10th Year – 45% depreciation
  • 15th Year – 72% depreciation
  • 20 year and older – The price tends to hover between $3,000 and $5,000 depending on how it has been kept up.  

Resale Values – Sheep Camps, Range Camps, Sheep Wagons and Sheepherder Wagons

No matter what you call them one thing that is consistent is that they hold their value very well and, in most cases, they will appreciate over time. 

Example #1: The Story of “Camp 216” back in 2015 We met David and Beth Pruett; the Pruett’s are some of the best people you could ever hope to meet.  We built them a Custom 25’ Legacy Range Camp. The Pruett’s used “Camp 216” up until 2018 when they sold their camp (Beth was Heart Broken) In 2019 they ordered and picked up their new X30S1 Summit Series Camp (Camp Liberty).

If you do a google search for “Camp 216” you will find a number of Youtube Videos that the Pruett’s have posted of “Camp 216” Anyway, the Pruett’s used “Camp 216” for 3 years and when they sold their camp, they made money. I’m am not at liberty to say how much, but the point is, based on the other categories of trailers they should have lost around 25%.

Example #2: A few years ago, I was approached by a gentleman that had an older Olsen sheep wagon that had been built in the late 1970s. This camp had some damage to it. I was asked to give him a quote for repairs and he also informed that he was interest in selling the camp. I told him that I would make some calls and see if I could help him get it sold.

Within a couple of days, he had sold the camp for $13,000. A few weeks later, I ran into one of the Olson brothers from Olson Brothers Sheep Camps. I asked Mr. Olson how much they sold camps for back when they were in business, he told me that they generally sold in the $5k-$6K range and that the most expensive camp they ever built was $10K.

So, let’s play with the numbers for a second in our Sheep Camp pricing guide. Worst case the camp was purchased for $10,000 and sold for $13,000 that’s a 23% increase on a camp that was used for at least 36 years. Best case the camp was purchased for $5000 and sold for $13000 that’s a 54% increase on a camp that was used for at least 36 years. In other words, this gentleman was paid somewhere between $80-$200 a year to use his Sheep Camp.

Cost of Ownership Associated with Each Category of Trailers

It would be impossible in this Sheep Camp and Travel Trailer cost and Pricing Guide to cover all of the variables associated with the cost of ownership as there are varieties of trailers. These include but are not limited too.

  • Initial purchase price
  • Financing
  • Amount of use
  • Insurance
  • Depreciation
  • Maintenance
  • Storage

For the most part all trailers and even the million-dollar motorhomes use the same appliances and accessory. Unfortunately, many of these parts have been designed to last the warranty period of the trailer. (There is big $$$ in the RV repair business). We have seen good life cycles on the major appliance. However, in contrast we have been very disappointed with faucets, shower valves, and heads, etc.  Wherever possible in the construction of our Sheep Camps, we have opted to use residential or commercial faucets etc.

The big difference in the different categories of trailers we are discussing is the manner and type of construction. This is where the Sheep Camps are hands down the best trailers available. They are the most durable, reliable and efficient trailers available, and consequently environmentally friendly (they are as green as it gets).

Let’s take a closer look.

Why Do Sheep Camps Have Better Resale Values?

First of all Sheep Camps retain value because of the quality of their construction. Therefore, there are very few used ones on the market because of their heirloom quality. Their owners do not trade them in or sale them. They are generally handed down from generation to generation. They are truly a once in a lifetime purchase.

Now I dont want to miss lead anyone. I have seen camps that have lost value due to the way they were spec’ed out. We have had customers that have done some pretty crazy stuff. $6,000 12v batteries, very very basic camps and very specialized camps. I will always advise a camp buyer that if they plan on ever selling their camp it needs to be spec,ed with that in mind. So that when that time comes to sale the camp will be even more appealing to as many potential buyers as possibles.

Why Are Sheep Camps So Durable?

Modern Sheep Camps are so durable as a result of of the way they are constructed, and the quality of the materials used.

The construction is very similar to that of a home. As with a home the foundation is very important. Peak Mountain camps are Stronger than the need to be. Built from the best material, higher rated axles, hitches, and jacks. Put together by highly skilled engineers and metal fabricators. They are then fully painted, powder coated, wired and ready to be built upon.

In contrast, the other Travel Trailers have light frames. Many that have sections that bolt together and become loose over time. Over the years we have seen many trailers with bent axles, and fatigued frames as a result of not have high enough weight ratings.

From there the camp is built around the frame becoming an integrated part of it increasing strength and integrity. Wall construction is composed of 3/4in and 1/2in materials, High Pressure laminates which are as beautiful as they are durable. This makes up the interior wall surfaces, cabinets and counter tops. This also becomes a integrated part of the camp increasing its strength and durability.

In contrast the other Travel Trailers. Use 1/8in composite sheets with a decorative paper. This is not only used on the walls but for much of the cabinetry as well.

Then its on to the exterior skin. We use the aluminum skin for several reasons. Its easier to work with, which saves you money. Easier to repair or replace. It is far better material than rubber for the roof. No worries about delamination, etc.

In contrast fiberglass tends to delaminate from the walls after time. If it needs to be repaired, it can be very expensive. The rubber roof was a great idea for the RV repair guys, probably not so much for the consumer. They are prone to damage, delamination, deterioration, etc. They are warrantied for up to 12 years, if you follow the manufactures guidelines. Unfortunate, I have never met anyone who has ever had this told to them by the dealer. Rubber roofs are very expensive to replace as generally there is water damage to the roof underlayment and structure.

Why Are Sheep Camps More Efficient?

Sheep camps incredibly efficient because of their construction and related R-values. This equates to less propane used, less strain on electrical systems (batteries, and converters). less maintenance on furnaces, water heaters, refrigerators and air-conditioning units. Furthermore it means that the furnace can be set at lower temperatures and run in shorter cycles or at lower speeds depending on the system. Consequently you have a warm and cozy camp on those cold days and a cool comfortable camp on the hotter days.

This makes for substantial energy savings.

We often have customer who come in complaining due to the forced-air furnace in their travel trailer and that is draining the batteries of the trailer. The problem is NOT with the force-air furnace. It’s the fact that the manufacture put the heater in a cardboard box and wants it to heat it. The forced-air furnaces have ratings between 16,000 and 40,000 BTUs most of the furnace we see are on the high end of this spectrum. According to Google an average home furnace is around 80,000 BTUs. Again the furnace is NOT the problem. Many manufactures are using a foil-faced bubble wrap and claim exorbitant R-values. Fact is according to the US Department of Energy these wraps have little or no R-value.

To sum it up, you will certainly have  less maintenance and repair expense with a Sheep Camp

Couple that with the better resale values, lower cost of energy usage, and you have, far and away, the most affordable best built Trailer to own on the planet!

We hope that this Sheep Camp and Travel Trailer cost and pricing guide has been helpful and finally wish you well as you search for the trailer that is the best fit for you.