RV poll

[Omy]

I'm a 4 and a 6. I really want one right now so I can travel and explore in a socially distant sort of way. It's not practical at all since we have no place to store it. I'm very interested in everybody's perspective on this...thanks.

[Uturn]

I have rented both trailer and motor RV's.  I doubt that I would ever use one enough to justify a purchase, unless I was FIRE and traveling full time.

Edit to add:
I highly recommend renting before buying.  I can almost guarantee that your actual wants/needs will change after renting vs what you think you want/need.

[HPstache]

We have a tent trailer and would like to upgrade to a hard side.  +1 to renting before you buy, RVShare is a nice website for doing so.... I have been on both sides of the RV rental transaction.

[ixtap]

We plan to travel by RV when we get tired of travelling by boat. We are leaning towards trailer, so that you can unhook the tow vehicle and go explore. Trailers also tend to have higher tankage than similar sized RVs.

[chemistk]

In the next few years, we hope to get a lightweight popup - I've always enjoyed camping but some of the worst camping days when I was younger (both in about a decade with BSA and camping multiple times a year as a family) were the sweltering, humid, and/or torrential downpour days/nights. It royally sucks when a family of 5 has to sit in the hot humid tent in an hour-long rainstorm and watch everything get progressively damp because water is coming between the tent and the tarp.

Being up off the ground is my #1 priority, second is having places for the kids to sit and do something in the rain, and third is to have A/C for those hot, hot summer nights. My third point is my wife's #1 point and the biggest reason she's always stayed away from camping - she enjoys it, but doesn't do well with heat (swelling, rash, insomnia).

My parents actually admitted that there were times they really wish we had a small RV when we were young, but they had neither the vehicle to tow one, the space to store it, nor the patience to keep it clean and maintained.

When I retire, our dream is to kit out a reasonably priced and sized fifth wheel and travel around the country for weeks or even months at a time.

[Segare]

We bought one in 11/2019, it is a 1999 Class C for less than what many spend on cars. We were somewhat frugal and paying down our house, but not into the Mustachian FIRE stuff yet.  I had mentioned to the DW's family that we would visit in a few years a few years ago. We now want to travel with our dogs and I boycott the airlines. So we was going to rent an RV. The wife saw some used online and we figured for 2 to 3 times the cost to rent one we could buy one. We bought one for ($7300), about 3 X the cost to rent one for the 2 weeks, and have put another $6000 into it since then.   We do love it, we try to use it every six weeks mostly to places close to home, it is good to use it vs it sitting. 
A twist to the story, the desire to shave time off of my working years so we could travel in the RV more is what made me look into this stuff, the Mustachian FIRE stuff.  My son had told my about Mr. Money Mustache a couple years ago.

[ixtap]

Our current plan (subject to the vagaries of life and our own whims) is to get an RV when we get bored with the boat. Unlike @spartana , I automatically included all categories and so checked want, even though we are leaning towards trailer.

Like @Segare , we found out about FIRE because we were looking into how to manage our finances for an extended sabbatical to cruise our boat. Our plan at the time was to save up 10x in taxable and plan to return to work when that was running low. The principles of FIRE showed that by working a few more years, we wouldn't have to worry about what returning to work looked like.  Learning about the mega backdoor Roth meant less in taxable, so in the end, we are really just working longer to achieve the same initial goal...

[Omy]

I'm using the term "RV" very loosely....anything mobile with a bed, kitcheny stuff and toilet. I would probably be more interested in a leisure travel van than a huge motorhome, personally.

[bogart]

We bought a used, ~30 foot hard-sided travel trailer about a decade ago when DH RE'd and with a preschooler and a couple of dogs in our household.  We already owned a half-ton truck equipped to tow it.

We used it extensively (maybe a month a year -- ~10 days around Christmas, some spring break and other shorter trips, and one longer or 2 shorter trips in summer time) and loved it.

As the kiddo got older, we found it too small, plus of course it aged.  We replaced it about a year ago with an even larger travel trailer that has slides, a private bedroom for the kid, an outside kitchen.  Love it.  Clearly not the inexpensive way to camp, but no way would DH camp that way.  And it means we can go without thinking much about weather ... we camp year-round (in the US south east).  It's wonderful in the pandemic, we plan meals, buy all the food we need before we go, and -- just go. 

If you're considering something with its own motor (a van or motorhome) the suggestion to rent probably makes sense.  If you're considering a trailer, I'd recommend buying something used, camping in it for awhile, and figuring out what about it you don't like, then replacing it (if needed). 

We do find that with our crew, driving more than about 5 hours on any given leg of a journey is pretty exhausting, and that it's not worth stopping somewhere if we don't spend at least 2 nights there.  We don't boondock.  We stay mostly in state parks, and pay anywhere from $15 -- $40/night.

[Omy]

DH is concerned about towing a trailer (neither one of us has towing experience) and thinks he'll be more comfortable driving something 25 feet or less. And we don't currently have a vehicle that can tow a trailer. Are these issues we should try to get past to expand our options?

[deborah]

I’ve rented in several places. You can often get cheap RV rentals when you do a relocation. I like to vary my trips and when you rent you can get exactly what you need.

For instance, I rented a 2 person RV from Seattle to Anchorage for 18 days for 25% of the normal price. Then I used the Alaskan Marine Ferry to go down the inner passage, staying a few days at each stop on the way. I went 5000 miles in the RV and saw a lot!

Because I live in Australia and had never driven an RV before, or driven on the opposite side of the road, I decided to hire an RV to relocate from Sydney to Alice Springs. It was $100 because I chose to extend it by 2 days to five, and visit Uluru. That RV was 4wd and could go on dirt roads.

[zolotiyeruki]

For those who have owned and/or extensively used an RV, could you help me understand the economics of it?  When I've looked into renting one, I've seen numbers around $200/day.  Add campsite fees and buckets of fuel, and I'm having trouble understanding how an RV would be preferable to renting a hotel room (or a suite, or a timeshare with a full kitchen, or an AirBnB) and renting a car.

What am I missing?  I mean, I love the idea of having your own space and all, but the more I look at it, the better other options seem, from both a cost and convenience point of view.

[HPstache]

For those who have owned and/or extensively used an RV, could you help me understand the economics of it?  When I've looked into renting one, I've seen numbers around $200/day.  Add campsite fees and buckets of fuel, and I'm having trouble understanding how an RV would be preferable to renting a hotel room (or a suite, or a timeshare with a full kitchen, or an AirBnB) and renting a car.

What am I missing?  I mean, I love the idea of having your own space and all, but the more I look at it, the better other options seem, from both a cost and convenience point of view.

It's not about saving money over staying in a hotel room... it's about the camping "experience".  I will say that $200 is top of the mark for a trailer rental, we rented a beautiful one 3 times this summer that fit our family of 5 for $70/night, it was 3 years old.  If you really wanted to justify it, you could start with $70 an night and factor in the cost savings of cooking your own food vs. usually having to eat out when you're at a hotel.

[PDXTabs]

I'm way more interested in something like an Airstream basecamp and a tow vehicle.

[Car Jack]

Before buying an RV, watch Steve Lehto's videos on youtube.  He's a consumer/lemon law attorney.  He points out lots of problems that can come up, like the fact that once you drive off in your RV, you're essentially on your own.  Calling for repairs, warranty or not is often met with laughing on the other side of the phone.

On the camping experience.....when I was younger, I was into the van scene.  My van was equipped with a bed, sink, drawers for clothes, refrigerator, all the audio stuff and of course huge tires and molded in fender flares.  I pretty much was at "Truck Ins" every weekend when it wasn't freezing.  Since I started with an actual van, and built the inside as I wanted it, there were no surprises.

[socaso]

There are so many people in my neighborhood who have RV's and they never leave the driveway. I've lived in my neighborhood over 4 years and have yet to ever see one drive down the street. My parents had one and although they used it some they sold it after a few years due to very infrequent use.

I'd still rent one for certain types of vacations. I'd be more likely to use a pop up.

[the_fixer]

I have had a pull behind trailer for years and always enjoyed it but after this last summer I am seriously considering selling it due to how crowded everything is and how hard it is to get a site. Every year it gets harder and harder to find a site.

Before you buy check availability in your area, if it is too difficult it might not be worth owning one.


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[bogart]

To reply to various points that have been raised up-thread --

DH and I both had experiences towing trailers before buying the camper, so that wasn't an impediment.  We like the flexibility of arriving, hooking up (water hose, electric wire, sometimes sewer, stabilizers down, camper level, awning out ...) and being able to drive away without having to deal with the camper.  Others clearly prefer motor homes (though many tow small cars or bring bikes ... we do also often bring bikes, too).

I very much doubt that RVing makes "financial sense" the way my household does it, though of course it would depend what you're comparing to.  If I were single and solo, the van (or car) + tent would appeal to me just fine -- I have done that and appreciate the low cost and flexibility it offers.  But I also appreciate the advantages of having what's pretty much a fully equipped home on wheels.

I would not stay in a hotel during the pandemic.  My understanding and observation is that RVing has become wildly more popular during the pandemic, largely because of, well, people who feel the same way.  My sense is that it has definitely become harder to get sites (at least in state parks, which is about the only place we camp) because of this.  That said, we haven't been unable to find spaces or been unhappy with what we've found.

For me, a hugely nice part about the camper is that we drive 4-5 hours (sometimes less), arrive wherever we want to be, and then stay there.  This has become literally true during the pandemic -- before that, we'd usually go out to a restaurant one night per trip, and sometimes explore nearby museums, or play mini golf with the kiddo, or whatever.  Now we pretty much stay put (in this regard the drive-the-truck thing is less important now, though on our last trip we did drive once to a nearby disc golf course).  So every morning we get up where we want to be, eat breakfast (indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather), go hiking/biking, eat lunch, more of ditto, supper, and then enjoy a campfire and head to bed.  We are also much less connected to the internet and other video media when we camp, which I really like.  Of course, if you prefer hotel/in-town amenities, well, this isn't that (and if/when that's what we're looking for, we don't camp).

[use2betrix]

My wife and I lived full time in a 42’ 5th wheel for 5 years. It was very practical for my work as a contractor. We lived in around 6 states over that time. Over a dozen cities. It worked for our lifestyle, but I would never want a trailer that big as a “camping trailer” they are big and cumbersome and the quality of most “stick built” trailers are complete garbage.

In 2017 we bought an old military M416 trailer with rooftop tent and did a two month, 6000 mile camping trip where we stayed in it every night but three. That was the opposite extreme but we learned the many pro’s and many cons of different setups. We used that trailer for about a year and a half on many more camping adventures.

A year and a half ago, we purchased a 2016, 17’ Casita. For us, it is the perfect trailer and a blend between our two previous. We’ve probably towed it around 6k-8k miles so far, and camped in it around 30-40 nights. It’s small enough that it’s a total breeze to tow. We take it to cities a few hours away for long weekends. Much cheaper than hotels and since we have a big German Shephard, it makes it much easier than getting hotels.

The Casita is small but it has everything. Stove, sink, microwave, AC, bathroom/shower, bed, dinette, fridge/freezer, etc. We have a 3 week, 4000 mile camping trip planned for this Christmas.

It all depends on the lifestyle and what people are looking for. There are certainly pro’s and con’s to many different setups.

I still work as a contractor and if I got laid off tomorrow, we’d hit the road for a 6 month trip and we have the perfect trailer to do it.

It’s also nice on really long trips. Pull over at a rest stop, get in the trailer, sleep for 6-8 hours, hit the road again. If going to somewhere with hookups we can also use the bathroom in there instead of having to go into public restrooms.

[FINate]

I answered (4). Mine was a fully contained 20' travel trailer that slept 5. It was great for when our kids were babies/toddlers, don't think I would've gotten the whole family out camping without it. Lots of great memories. But RVs depreciate like crazy, are expensive to store if you don't already have room for one, and involve quite a bit more to get ready for a trip than many realize. This may sound weird, but I decided it was too much complication for the simplicity of camping.

Tent camping plus a 4WD truck gets me to the kinds of places I really want to camp, with few (if any) people and no giant RVs running generators. But if I ever get a hankering for the RV-ish life again, I'll likely go for an enclosed cargo trailer with some DIY amenities added: exterior propane tank, simple counter with removable camp stove, Fan-Tastic Vent, simple sink, water pump, removable fresh and grey water tanks, LED lights, battery, lots of tie down points for gear. I'd still sleep in a tent or in the truck... the trailer would be a place to cook and store things, and would always be ready to go with all the camping gear. While in bear country just lock it up at night.

[couponvan]

We are lusting after a Forest River GeoPro 19FDS model (it just came out this month). It can be towed by a mid-size SUV, is under $25K, and has a dry bathroom.  We have never owned our own RV before though.

I like the idea of the 19FDS murphy bed and the slide-out kitchen to make a small space seem larger and to use the space in two ways. I like their solar panels, larger tires, good water capacity, larger refrigerator, and exterior shower option as well as exterior cooking option.

My grandparents had an RV with a wet bath. It was gross getting your feet wet at night. You never knew what you were stepping in. The dry bath is my #1 must have.

That said, travel trailers are expensive, cost more than hotel nights on points, and are not practical brand new. I hope to find a cheap one after COVID clears up. DH thinks we're going to live in it full time. His vitamin drawer is larger than the storage capacity of the trailer. LOL. We have a 60" wide refrigerator/freezer at home and he doesn't like when he has to wait for what he wants to eat. Yeah. A small travel trailer is probably a pipe dream.

He thinks the GeoPro would look cool being pulled by a Tesla truck doing a symbiotic power relationship. We are in mid-life crisis mode for sure. The youngest will fly the coop in 2 more years.

[Dicey]

I'm using the term "RV" very loosely....anything mobile with a bed, kitcheny stuff and toilet. I would probably be more interested in a leisure travel van than a huge motorhome, personally.

Ha, we bought a used one right before the pandemic hit. Literally that brand. It's a 2012 with 25k miles on it and it cost a shitload of money, but we're FI. We had done our research carefully and waited for what we wanted to come up in the used market. We recently flipped a house and used some of the gains to purchase this rig for cash. We planned for it and we can totally afford it. We specifically chose our model because we want to visit State and National Parks, many of which have size limits.

That said, RV's are fiddly and shit breaks all the damn time. DH is a very mechanically inclined problem solver, so we will be fine, but I shudder to think what people spend on RV repairs.

[deborah]

For those who have owned and/or extensively used an RV, could you help me understand the economics of it?  When I've looked into renting one, I've seen numbers around $200/day.  Add campsite fees and buckets of fuel, and I'm having trouble understanding how an RV would be preferable to renting a hotel room (or a suite, or a timeshare with a full kitchen, or an AirBnB) and renting a car.

What am I missing?  I mean, I love the idea of having your own space and all, but the more I look at it, the better other options seem, from both a cost and convenience point of view.

When I travel, I use anything, and work out what's appropriate for the trip I'm doing.

I'm currently visiting Australian National Parks - during lockdown we've been able to visit only a couple of states. The places we're currently visiting are all very small, with nice small campgrounds, suitable for tent camping, and that's what we're doing - it's fantastic being the only people at a National Park.

If I'm in a foreign country, I like to stay in campgrounds with other people, especially as I usually go places on my own.

When I hired the RV to go from Seattle to Anchorage, I wanted to do the trip in April/May. Nothing much was open, and the campgrounds had minimal facilities (often no water or no toilets or something else wasn't available yet) because everything was just warming up. An RV was perfect for that trip - and I had 18 days, so I did a lot of side trips on the way. The RV gave be options if I got into a fix and couldn't find any open campgrounds. I stayed one night in a motel in Fairbanks when I couldn't find any open campgrounds there at all - because the RV was small, it was an option.

In Iceland, I hired a van with a mattress in the back and cooking facilities, because you can only really camp at their campgrounds, which all have really good cooking and ablution facilities. An RV would not have gone down a lot of the dirt roads I ventured into easily (they have good dirt roads that you are allowed to travel on in hired vehicles, and bad ones that you can't - I'd hate to see the bad ones).

We hired a SUV to go up the Dempster Highway to Tuktoyaktuk, and had sleeping bags with us in case we needed to camp. The highway had just been reopened after being closed for a week, so accommodation was somewhat iffy, and it was possible that the road would close again (it had closed for 8 hours a couple of hours after opening, so there was a good chance). Fortunately, Eagle Plains had beds when we arrived, otherwise we would have slept in the campground there (the campgrounds along the route had all closed except for the one at Tombstone). We had just spent a week camping in tents at Tombstone.

I like varying a trip - last time (visiting the north of Canada with a friend) we stayed in hotels, had sleepers when we caught the Canadien and the train from Churchill to Winnipeg, and camped in tents. When I visited Iceland, Greenland and Canada, I used a van in Iceland, and had hotels, a week on the ferry and self catered accommodation in Greenland. Because of this, there's no way I would buy an RV.

[Schmidty]

Grew up camping with them and have had many over the years as an adult.  Currently working on a vintage canned ham we found over the summer.  At 16' she's not too hard to pull around and we already had the truck to pull her.  Right now we are taking our time restoring her, gives us something to do during this craziness.  Although she needs some TLC, I feel we stole her for $300.  Storage is not a problem with 5 acres.  Plus, it gives me a place to go play (ie. get away from the hubby, haha) when I need quiet time.

Campgrounds sure got over-crowded this past year, hope they expand some.  Glad some people are viewing this as a viable vacation alternative.  Most of my great childhood experiences were from camping.

[uniwelder]

.....I hope to find a cheap one after COVID clears up......

Reading through, I'm surprised others haven't mentioned a buying strategy like this.  I was listening to a story on the radio about the huge surplus of RV's and trailers expected to be on the market another year or two from now.  RV manufacturers have been going crazy with demand and once Covid is over, a good percentage of those new owners are expected to sell.

My personal RV goal is to build a modular unit that fits my pickup truck ladder rack.  A hinged pop-up top on for the upper rack, panels around the sides, slide in kitchenette, and a rear door section.  When not being used, the pieces can be stored away more compactly than a full slide in truck camper unit.  It'll be relatively crude, but bridges the gap between tent camping and a dedicated van/camper.

[Segare]

Yes, rumor has it there could be a lot for sale in a few years. 
If one is serious about buying a used one (used does save you a lot of money), there are resources to help you to know what to look for.  Water damage from the roof or windows is big.

As far as the economics of RV'ing vs hotels.   As others have mentioned, we might not save money, but it is nice to pull in some where, enjoy the outdoors and the food you brought with you. We take our dogs with us now, so this is a big plus. I like waking up in the morning and making the coffee.   
On the two week trip we did a few months ago we stopped in a City park near Kansas City to go to this big dog park. It was about 10 minutes out of our way. We pulled in, walked in the back, made lunch, ate lunch and then took the dogs to the park. We had some time to spare before getting to our next destination. Eating cost can be less, but I suppose you can eat from a grocery store driving your car and staying in hotels.

[Omy]

In my perfect world we would sell our clown house next spring at a nice profit, buy an RV to live in for a year or two, and downsize to a house with some land and no HOA when we fell into it. Anybody have any success convincing their significant other of such a plan? He's open to buying one - but not as a home. I spent 3 years living aboard a small sail boat 20 years ago so I'm a bit more of a nomad.

[Catica]

Mini 4x4 camper would be good but anything bigger would completely strip me of freedom. It's a form of enslavement that impinges on my personal freedom, and I'm not talking from the economic point of view. I need my vehicle to be ultra-light, so I don't get bogged down and maneuverability is important for me too. There are weight restrictions, size restrictions, etc. I would be bound to camping at designated places for RVs. I don't want to waste time hooking things up, emptying the toilet, etc. That's such a waste of time for me.  And if someone tells me that they want a camping experience, it's not like you can access off the beaten path roads with an RV, even in the United States. But if the motivation is just to be at the main RV campgrounds then I guess it's OK, but personally, I don't see an appeal. Most of the locations where RV sites are located can be accessed by public transportation, and you can bring your tent and have a camping experience too.

[Catica]

In my perfect world we would sell our clown house next spring at a nice profit, buy an RV to live in for a year or two, and downsize to a house with some land and no HOA when we fell into it. Anybody have any success convincing their significant other of such a plan? He's open to buying one - but not as a home. I spent 3 years living aboard a small sail boat 20 years ago so I'm a bit more of a nomad.

If this is just about having a mobile space to live then that's a completely different concept, I have no qualm about that. It's like living on a boat or barge and that's great.

[use2betrix]

But RVs depreciate like crazy, are expensive to store if you don't already have room for one, and involve quite a bit more to get ready for a trip than many realize. This may sound weird, but I decided it was too much complication for the simplicity of camping.

That really depends on what trailer someone buys (in terms of depreciation) and also how they have it stored and set up (in terms of preparation to travel).

Fiberglass trailers (Oliver, Casita, Escape) all hold their value incredibly well. I paid $17.5k for my 2016 Casita a year and a half ago, and with the current pandemic and lead times I could easily sell if for over $20k if it was still stock. The current lead times on new Casita’s are over a year, and Oliver’s over 8 months. Even before the pandemic, they held their value notoriously well. My trailer that I got a bargain for at 2.5 years old was probably around $22k new, and I paid $17.5k. After that they depreciate much slower. For reference, my 42’ 5th wheels was $56k brand new in 2013, in 2018 I had a nearly impossible time selling it and finally let it go for around $25k..

In terms of getting ready for a trip, it really depends on the set up. Our trailer is at an enclosed storage unit. We keep things like phone chargers, all toiletries, tooth brush, tooth paste, dishes, etc. at the trailer all the time. When we want to go somewhere, we drive 15 minutes to the storage unit, bring our clothes and food, hook up and go. By the time we get to the storage unit til we hit the road is maybe 15 minutes. Once we get to a campsite, it usually takes around 20-30 minutes to get the jacks/chocks down, and everything all hooked up to water/electric/sewer, and unpacked.   

My grandparents had an RV with a wet bath. It was gross getting your feet wet at night. You never knew what you were stepping in. The dry bath is my #1 must have.

We have a wet bath and I have never experienced that lol. After we both shower, we use a squeegee to push the water down the drain, then have a treated wooded platform that goes on the floor afterwards that is completely dry. I agree that a dry bath is better (we’ve had both) but to me, it wouldn’t be a huge dealer breaker if everything else was right.

[use2betrix]

For reference, here’s our 17’ trailer. We’ve done a LOT of aftermarket work to it.

[Omy]

In my perfect world we would sell our clown house next spring at a nice profit, buy an RV to live in for a year or two, and downsize to a house with some land and no HOA when we fell into it. Anybody have any success convincing their significant other of such a plan? He's open to buying one - but not as a home. I spent 3 years living aboard a small sail boat 20 years ago so I'm a bit more of a nomad.

If this is just about having a mobile space to live then that's a completely different concept, I have no qualm about that. It's like living on a boat or barge and that's great.

Agreed, but DH isn't on board as he has never lived in a small, efficient space. His version of perfect would be to go on vacations (short and extended) but not to live aboard. He doesn't like the idea that your "house" can break down or crash. Not sure how to get him past this.

[Omy]

For reference, here’s our 17’ trailer. We’ve done a LOT of aftermarket work to it.

Wow...love it!

[use2betrix]

In my perfect world we would sell our clown house next spring at a nice profit, buy an RV to live in for a year or two, and downsize to a house with some land and no HOA when we fell into it. Anybody have any success convincing their significant other of such a plan? He's open to buying one - but not as a home. I spent 3 years living aboard a small sail boat 20 years ago so I'm a bit more of a nomad.

If this is just about having a mobile space to live then that's a completely different concept, I have no qualm about that. It's like living on a boat or barge and that's great.

Agreed, but DH isn't on board as he has never lived in a small, efficient space. His version of perfect would be to go on vacations (short and extended) but not to live aboard. He doesn't like the idea that your "house" can break down or crash. Not sure how to get him past this.

If it’s a trailer you tow, it can’t totally breakdown to the point that it’s unusable unless you get in a crash. And if you get in a crash, it means you’re driving somewhere, so you’d already be in a crash with your other vehicle which would cause enough headaches within itself.

This style of camping is not for everyone.. Some people feel that “need” a new 40’ 5th wheel. Others are happy with a tent. We’ve tried them all and for us, the current setup is great. We do have our first kid on the way, so we’ll see how that works. Our dinette can turn into a bed, however. Between our 90lb German shepherd and a new kid, we’ll likely spend more time outside. If we really wanted to do extended trips and after much trial and error it didn’t work, the only trailer I’d consider is a 23’ Oliver (crazy expensive) and it’s still the same floor plan. Just a bit bigger with more floor space and storage.

[use2betrix]

For reference, here’s our 17’ trailer. We’ve done a LOT of aftermarket work to it.

Wow...love it!

Thanks! My parents are retiring early next year, and they loved it so much they ordered a Casita themselves! They ordered last June and are picking it up in January!

[FINate]

But RVs depreciate like crazy, are expensive to store if you don't already have room for one, and involve quite a bit more to get ready for a trip than many realize. This may sound weird, but I decided it was too much complication for the simplicity of camping.

That really depends on what trailer someone buys (in terms of depreciation) and also how they have it stored and set up (in terms of preparation to travel).

Fiberglass trailers (Oliver, Casita, Escape) all hold their value incredibly well. I paid $17.5k for my 2016 Casita a year and a half ago, and with the current pandemic and lead times I could easily sell if for over $20k if it was still stock. The current lead times on new Casita’s are over a year, and Oliver’s over 8 months. Even before the pandemic, they held their value notoriously well. My trailer that I got a bargain for at 2.5 years old was probably around $22k new, and I paid $17.5k. After that they depreciate much slower. For reference, my 42’ 5th wheels was $56k brand new in 2013, in 2018 I had a nearly impossible time selling it and finally let it go for around $25k..

Agreed, brands and how they are taken care of matter a lot. But will add that right now is an unusual time for RVs. For those thinking of getting and RV, if you can, I would wait until fall 2021 or spring 2022 as there may be a glut of used RVs hitting the market after the pandemic.

We had a Lance, a quality brand that holds value fairly well, which we got at a steep discount during the Great Recession. Over eight years it lost about 1/3 of its value, or about $1k/year by my back of the envelope estimates. We stored it outside because indoor storage would've been prohibitively expensive in our area. We used it 5-6 times per year for the first 5 years. By my accounting for depreciation+storage+maintenance+insurance, this means our coast was around $500/trip. All things considered, not bad. Eventually we started using it less, in large part due to the time to get it ready (more below), so more like 2-3 times per year, which meant each trip was equivalent to around $1600. This was part of the motivation for selling it. For the sake of simplicity I'm completely ignore the opportunity cost of having ~$20k sitting in a trailer.

In terms of getting ready for a trip, it really depends on the set up. Our trailer is at an enclosed storage unit. We keep things like phone chargers, all toiletries, tooth brush, tooth paste, dishes, etc. at the trailer all the time. When we want to go somewhere, we drive 15 minutes to the storage unit, bring our clothes and food, hook up and go. By the time we get to the storage unit til we hit the road is maybe 15 minutes. Once we get to a campsite, it usually takes around 20-30 minutes to get the jacks/chocks down, and everything all hooked up to water/electric/sewer, and unpacked.   

Maybe I'm just one of those weirdos that reads and follows manuals, but my setup time was always much longer, even though we kept the RV stocked and mostly ready to go. The big one was sanitizing the water tank/lines. But also, getting the fridge to temp before adding a bunch of perishable foods. Checking tire pressure and lug nut torque (lots of lateral pressure on travel trailers), getting a full charge on the batteries (we boondocked, no hookups), checking/filling propane tanks, then doing a quick check of all the systems. I didn't mind the work, but definitely a lot more than 15 minutes to get it ready. I would typically get the trailer the day before to prepare it. Setup at camp was, like you say, 15-30 minutes to level, extend awning etc. Getting it ready for storage after the trip was less involved, but still took time: clean, dump grey/black tanks, empty water tank (while driving), park, disconnect battery.

Now, for tent camping I keep all my camping gear organized in big totes that I just throw in the back of the truck.  About 15 minutes to pack the gear, plus grocery shopping and clothes (which we also did with the RV). Add ice and perishables to the ice chest, fill a couple of 5 gal containers with water, and ready to go. Interestingly, setup time is very similar, around 30 minutes. I can setup my tent in ~10 minutes, 10 minutes to unload the totes and organize the kitchen area, and another 10 minutes on miscellaneous tasks. So for my situation this is less time and expense than towing a trailer, but of course with many fewer creature comforts. But that's fine with me, compared to backpacking (my real passion), all car camping is ridiculously luxurious!

[use2betrix]

Maybe I'm just one of those weirdos that reads and follows manuals, but my setup time was always much longer, even though we kept the RV stocked and mostly ready to go. The big one was sanitizing the water tank/lines. But also, getting the fridge to temp before adding a bunch of perishable foods. Checking tire pressure and lug nut torque (lots of lateral pressure on travel trailers), getting a full charge on the batteries (we boondocked, no hookups), checking/filling propane tanks, then doing a quick check of all the systems. I didn't mind the work, but definitely a lot more than 15 minutes to get it ready. I would typically get the trailer the day before to prepare it. Setup at camp was, like you say, 15-30 minutes to level, extend awning etc. Getting it ready for storage after the trip was less involved, but still took time: clean, dump grey/black tanks, empty water tank (while driving), park, disconnect battery.

Since we keep ours at an enclosed storage unit, we also have a 120v outlet to plug into. This keeps the battery topped off and leave the fridge on electric. As soon as we disconnect it, we switch the fridge over to propane to keep it cold. We use the trailer enough that I’ll check the tire pressure every couple months (we typically use it monthly). I’ve only had to add air once. Haven’t checked the lug nuts in a while but will before our big 3 week road trip in a couple weeks.

Regarding the tanks, it’s a bit more work before you leave but not terrible. We usually drain the black water, fill up the toilet several times and dump it until the water is pretty clear. Then dump the grey which also cleans out the hose.

We spent about 3.5 weeks and 3000 miles through Baja with this set up, camping on the beach every other night. Between setting up the tent, inflating the sleeping pads, pillows, getting food prep ready, etc., our camper is much quicker to set up and break down.

[Dancin'Dog]

So many options.....


They aren't mainstream, but I've seen small trailerable houseboats.  They can be used as campers while on land.  Anchoring out on the water is free.  You'd never have to worry about reservations or vacancies.  :) 


I'm not sure if they're available in the US, but if you search "Houseboat/camper" you'll see info about them in Australia and Europe.  They're probably built better than an average RV since they've got to float & endure in a marine environment. 


From an accounting perspective all of your expenses are 1/2 price, because 50% is for the RV and 50% for the boat.  And if you can park it at home it's also a guest cottage, so that becomes 1/3's!!  ;)  "Where do I sign up??!!"

[UponStars]

I voted for both having one and wanting a different one.  I see a lot of comments mentioning storage and that was a huge factor in our current choice for an RV.  We purchased a small hardside pop-up, an A-frame, for a couple of practical reasons.  One we can store it in our standard size garage and two it doesn't have canvas/soft sides anywhere.  We had an older tent pop-up for a few years and just never enjoyed the musty smell and feel of the canvas and the insulation is basically nonexistent.  We live in the midwest and do most of our camping in the summer, so the air conditioning was a big plus.  I've spent plenty of nights sleeping in a tent without any a/c and it's doable, just not as pleasurable.

We mainly use our camper as a mountain biking basecamp.  We travel to state parks all over the midwest specifically to ride mountain bike trails so we spend very little time in the camper or even at the campsite.  I "want" something bigger for the rainy days when we're stuck at the campsite and for handling longer trips to more remote locations.  Like others on here, we have also talked about spending our first years post retirement living in an RV, hitting all the riding destinations around the US and staying ahead of the cold weather. 

[Spicolli]

For the people who say why would spend the money on an RV when they could spend their vacations in a hotel for cheaper, I would say that most hotels are in developed areas and you don't get to just go out your door to enjoy nature. Being able to enjoy a cup of coffee while sitting in a lounge chair looking at some beautiful scenery with my dog by my side is pretty special to me. It's also nice to have everything set up the way you want it (bed, pillows, games, movies, etc). The negatives are of course the expense and the time/hassle of maintenance. I enjoy hotels too though. Currently without a RV but figure to get one in a couple of years when I retire...should be good timing too for getting a bargain on a saturated post-pandemic market.

[FINate]

Since we keep ours at an enclosed storage unit, we also have a 120v outlet to plug into. This keeps the battery topped off and leave the fridge on electric. As soon as we disconnect it, we switch the fridge over to propane to keep it cold. We use the trailer enough that I’ll check the tire pressure every couple months (we typically use it monthly). I’ve only had to add air once. Haven’t checked the lug nuts in a while but will before our big 3 week road trip in a couple weeks.

Yep, having power while stored makes all the difference. We've decided it's not worth it unless there's room for one at our house (there's not) where we can just leave it plugged in. Out of curiosity, how much per month are you paying for enclose storage plus power?

[E.T.]

I rented an RV (30' Class-C) and drove it about 5000 miles to transport some at risk family members this fall and I chose option 7. I don't want anything to do with one.

It served it's purpose and it was very easy to stay completely isolated during the journey to protect our family but I would never voluntarily drive one again. On the positive side, it was very comfortable even for my elderly passengers and we were easily able to make our own healthy meals every day of the 14 day trip entirely from the supplies we brought with at the start of the journey. On the negative side it was fairly expensive compared to air travel and an AirBnB and we were entirely at the mercy of weather / driving conditions. I had to dodge snowstorms, fires, and gale force winds and had to navigate steep inclines and descents with a very ungainly vehicle. It did drive better than large moving trucks I've driven previously but it was still easy to get caught in precarious driving conditions with little warning. I say this as a very good driver with no history of accidents and several cross-country moves in big trucks. I even had two people on the ground assisting me with forecasting and route planning and it was still frequently difficult / dangerous driving even though I never left the major interstates. I think with climate change those risks will only increase so it may be something important to consider for future RV owners. If you are staying very local and just enjoying a stationary trip, then you probably won't run into the same issues I did. But at that point, I'd think a nice AirBnB would be cheaper and just as fun.

[seemsright]

We have a pop up trailer. It is the only thing that will fit on the side of the house due to roof pitch.

We love the thing. Hubby is a big camper and there is nothing better than camping during the warm months.

We have that thing tricked out..hubby has this and that on it. He has made cubbies, he has wired it with usb so it will charge all of his toys...mainly his gadget for his RC car. This year I want to get fancy lights for the bottom of it that change color. So it can fit what ever we are doing during a trip....necessary nope...but fun. With the kayak rack for our truck...we are in summer heaven. Nothing better than camping, paddling and campfires.

It has been a great tool to have to have. And has been a joy as our 10 year old has gotten older.

It is expensive...so hubby bikes to work all spring, summer and early fall and we put a part of the gas money we save towards camping every year. And we have a huge fund this year due to covid...this next summer will be fun.

[Dave1442397]

If you're thinking about buying an RV, I'll second watching Steve Lehto's videos.

https://www.youtube.com/c/stevelehto/search?query=rv

Personally, what I'd really (money no object) is one of the fancy Prevost bus conversions, although I could do without the glitzy interiors that many people seem to like.

In the real world, I'd want a conversion van. https://www.rvingknowhow.com/van-conversion-companies/

[PDXTabs]

We are lusting after a Forest River GeoPro 19FDS model (it just came out this month). It can be towed by a mid-size SUV, is under $25K, and has a dry bathroom.  We have never owned our own RV before though.

Now I want a Forest River RV No Boundaries NB19.7.

Thanks a lot! ;)

[use2betrix]

Since we keep ours at an enclosed storage unit, we also have a 120v outlet to plug into. This keeps the battery topped off and leave the fridge on electric. As soon as we disconnect it, we switch the fridge over to propane to keep it cold. We use the trailer enough that I’ll check the tire pressure every couple months (we typically use it monthly). I’ve only had to add air once. Haven’t checked the lug nuts in a while but will before our big 3 week road trip in a couple weeks.

Yep, having power while stored makes all the difference. We've decided it's not worth it unless there's room for one at our house (there's not) where we can just leave it plugged in. Out of curiosity, how much per month are you paying for enclose storage plus power?

We pay $160/mo for a fully enclosed/locked 25x14 storage. It’s a couple year old facility that is also gated and requires a key code. Has electric and water. Was $130/mo but went up recently.

We live in a 2 bed apt w/ 1 car garage, so the extra storage space is nice.

[FINate]

Since we keep ours at an enclosed storage unit, we also have a 120v outlet to plug into. This keeps the battery topped off and leave the fridge on electric. As soon as we disconnect it, we switch the fridge over to propane to keep it cold. We use the trailer enough that I’ll check the tire pressure every couple months (we typically use it monthly). I’ve only had to add air once. Haven’t checked the lug nuts in a while but will before our big 3 week road trip in a couple weeks.

Yep, having power while stored makes all the difference. We've decided it's not worth it unless there's room for one at our house (there's not) where we can just leave it plugged in. Out of curiosity, how much per month are you paying for enclose storage plus power?

We pay $160/mo for a fully enclosed/locked 25x14 storage. It’s a couple year old facility that is also gated and requires a key code. Has electric and water. Was $130/mo but went up recently.

We live in a 2 bed apt w/ 1 car garage, so the extra storage space is nice.

That's not bad for what you get. Five years ago the going rate in our area was $120 for outdoor, gravel, uncovered, no power. Just looked again and now the same place is $150! If I recall correctly, enclosed with no power was around $200 back then, and places with power were quite a bit more. This was a very HCOL area, so prices were less further out, but then we'd be dealing with a 60+ minute drive each way.

[DaMa]

I am considering a van camper.  I've been thinking I might get one in 1-2 years when the prices bottom out.  My plan is to rent one for a weekend sometime next summer just to try it out.

My son is also thinking he'd like me to a buy a van and do the conversion himself.  He wants some sort of camper for summer.  I want one mainly for winter travel.   Problem is he's 6'6" and has 1 child and plans for another.  Putting the extra seats in really decreases the usable space. 

DH and I camped as kids and took our family camping until the kids were grown.  We made the usual progression from tent to popup to trailer.  We had plans to do some sort of RV, but hadn't gotten there yet.

I'm in research mode now.

[Cadman]

What you ultimately choose really depends on what your camping goal is.

1. A self-propelled RV means more expensive registration, insurance, maintenance, and limits where you can fit/camp. Sitting around most of the year unused, is hard on rubber and fuel systems unless treated. Consumables, like tires, are also pricey. Most RV's are pretty large, so factor in storage costs. And once you're set up, you can't just un-hitch and go exploring, or drive out for supplies, without tearing down camp or at least somehow securing things that might "walk away" without a camping presence. When it comes to state and federal parks, you'll find yourself among all the other big rigs with LED lights, blaring music and outdoor flat panel TV's with nary a tree between sites.

2. A small camper van is obviously more efficient, gets into those tent and small trailer sites, and delivers most of the benefits of the large RV's, but the compact space isn't for everyone, and you might have to give up some luxuries like a shower.

3. I personally prefer a small travel trailer. Cheap to insure and register. You can fit one in indoor storage* easily enough. Once set up and leveled, the tow vehicle can roam. And little mechanical maintenance to worry about. Edit to add: 16' and smaller fits nicely in many tent and pop-up camping loops, which are usually more secluded and weeds out the "bigger is better" crowd.

Regardless, most RV's and travel trailers are built as cheaply as possible by unskilled labor. Warranty and support is terrible, and if you're not handy, options 1 an 3 could end up being quite expensive. My advice is to never buy new, but look for something gently used a couple years old. This way the bugs are worked out and the recalls have been taken care of.

*Exterior leaks are extremely common, even on brand new units. Just a little water can destroy your trailer or RV, but you may not know it until fiberglass panels begin to delaminate on the exterior, or corners begin to pull apart, so leaving one parked outside for the UV to attack butyl joints so the rain runs in is a bad idea. The problem is so extensive that new trailers come with a sticker advising the owner to inspect (and maintain) all seals and joints every 30 days! On a 16' trailer, I can manage that. On a big RV where it might take a day to even wash the thing myself, I doubt it.

[Dancin'Dog]

What you ultimately choose really depends on what your camping goal is.

1. A self-propelled RV means more expensive registration, insurance, maintenance, and limits where you can fit/camp. Sitting around most of the year unused, is hard on rubber and fuel systems unless treated. Consumables, like tires, are also pricey. Most RV's are pretty large, so factor in storage costs. And once you're set up, you can't just un-hitch and go exploring, or drive out for supplies, without tearing down camp or at least somehow securing things that might "walk away" without a camping presence. When it comes to state and federal parks, you'll find yourself among all the other big rigs with LED lights, blaring music and outdoor flat panel TV's with nary a tree between sites.

2. A small camper van is obviously more efficient, gets into those tent and small trailer sites, and delivers most of the benefits of the large RV's, but the compact space isn't for everyone, and you might have to give up some luxuries like a shower.

3. I personally prefer a small travel trailer. Cheap to insure and register. You can fit one in indoor storage* easily enough. Once set up and leveled, the tow vehicle can roam. And little mechanical maintenance to worry about. Edit to add: 16' and smaller fits nicely in many tent and pop-up camping loops, which are usually more secluded and weeds out the "bigger is better" crowd.

Regardless, most RV's and travel trailers are built as cheaply as possible by unskilled labor. Warranty and support is terrible, and if you're not handy, options 1 an 3 could end up being quite expensive. My advice is to never buy new, but look for something gently used a couple years old. This way the bugs are worked out and the recalls have been taken care of.

*Exterior leaks are extremely common, even on brand new units. Just a little water can destroy your trailer or RV, but you may not know it until fiberglass panels begin to delaminate on the exterior, or corners begin to pull apart, so leaving one parked outside for the UV to attack butyl joints so the rain runs in is a bad idea. The problem is so extensive that new trailers come with a sticker advising the owner to inspect (and maintain) all seals and joints every 30 days! On a 16' trailer, I can manage that. On a big RV where it might take a day to even wash the thing myself, I doubt it.

Good summary.


Speaking of leaks, I purchased a new enclosed 6x12' utility trailer about 24 months ago.  It hasn't been used much, but last month I used it and the next day I went to grab something I'd left after unloading it.  When I climbed in it seemed brighter inside than usual, and when I looked up at the skylight/vent it looked clearer than I'd remembered.  Hmm?  It wasn't clearer, it was gone!  The plastic vent cover had blown off on the trip.  I got a ladder & climbed on top to check it out.  The bit of remaining plastic along the hinged side was as brittle as an eggshell.  What garbage!  The trailer's floor & interior would have been trashed if I'd just parked it for the Winter without noticing. 


I got on eBay to shop for a metal replacement and only found one listing for a metal cover, but dozens for the crappy plastic type.   


I hope this vent isn't used on camping trailers, but it really wouldn't surprise me if some do.  It was the only brand that I saw listed on eBay, besides the fancier power-vent brands like Maxx Fan.  Beware if you have one of these.