[jsb5717]

I think most of us don't buy what we like...we buy what we can afford to like. I'm guessing that's true of both campers and full-timers. If we had wanted to spend an additional $20k we would have looked in that bracket and would have likely bought a different trailer. Whether it would have improved our camping exerience is doubtful. We would have bought within our budget and gone camping with our friends and family and had a great time as we always have.

In our Montys there are a few noted differences between the Montana and the HC, like 12" frame vs 10" frame or hydraulic leveling and slides vs electric. Will these differences have an impact on the life of the rig?
Are there any differences in the overall construction? Walls? Roof?

Unlike a lot of trailers, both the Montana and HC are both warranted for full time use. That tells me that, at least in theory, that Keystone has built into both of these models a quality level that translates into durability.

A lot of the differences are only cosmetic. Most, if not all, of the daily use key components are the same: plumbing, water heater, furnace, electrical, television, sound system, AC, furniture. Even the OEM tires and base suspension are typically the same. How many buy a new $80K Monty and replace the mattress right away?

There's a lot to consider when buying a rig and staying within a budget...not the least of which is how you are going to use it. There's definately a difference between an occasional weekender and a full-timer. For us it's always been about being able to enjoy different scenery and experiences while still using our own stuff and sleeping in our own bed. For most of our 35+ years of camping we've enjoyed these things in very inexpensive used trailers. This is our first new rig and, with retirement now upon us, plan to do even more of the same.

Choosing a trailer is a personal decision and very subjective. We want reliability. We like the extravagance and higher end finishes (cosmetic) of the more expensive rigs but decided we don't need them to enjoy the trip. The HC provides good comfort, nice floorplans, easy towing. We're hoping for reliability...we'll see.