AZ park models vs. on-site storage of 5er

A few of the RV parks we stay at on the way to California have storage available, I noted that Fortuna de Oro in the Yuma foothills have RV's stored, but they are out in the open, unprotected from the sun.

Still, there were 5ers and diesel pushers stored there, and there were sales of units advertised by the resort (both RV's and park models), both on sites and in storage.

Ok. This snowbird season will help us decide.

Snowman9000 wrote:
J&J, I have considered a simple version of a Class B for such "touring". Extended stays would be at rented condos or homes. It might be more sensible than hauling around a klunky RV and trying to stay at RV parks.

Keep us posted on your choice. We're like you, and are in a transition phase when it comes to snow birding.

The big difference is we're gone for six months, so renting vs owning becomes a bigger decision for us. Would be nice to leave something for the kids that still had value and was desirable on the resale market.

J&J, I have considered a simple version of a Class B for such "touring". Extended stays would be at rented condos or homes. It might be more sensible than hauling around a klunky RV and trying to stay at RV parks.

We purchased a park model last year. We've been fulltiming for 9 years and decided we wanted just more room in the winter. Now we stay in Mesa for 6 months, then use the motorhome to roam the other six months. All the winter stuff is left here in the spring, so the RV isn't as heavy now. :B And should something happen to either one of us, the other one has a place to go and sit for a year or so while figuring out what they want to do.

The MH is stored onsite at our park during the winter for $66/month. Other storage areas in the Mesa area seem to charge between $60-$100 a month, depending upon whether they are covered or not.

Lots of people here do the same thing. I'm not sure why people limit themselves to just 3 months, though I noticed more coming early this year and then flying back 'home' for Christmas.

Barb

For only three months it seems to me that you have the perfect rig (with a tow car though.) Gas is cheap compared to a few years ago, so savings will not be found there if you downsized to using only a car.

I'm guessing you're attempting to gain more living space. For only three months I would think that renting a couple of different places (a month each) and using that small C with a tow car to get to them would be a great way to enjoy the winter. Don't rule out casino hotels either. You can get some great deals on those and there are many out west.

To answer your question, we sold our Class A and bought an older 5'ver that we leave south. Costs $80/month (with a roof) for storage and $100 to pull. We drove down in an SUV for the first two years. It was a very budget friendly way to go. What we found out is we missed the freedom of an RV. We now have in addition a small 5'ver to enjoy on the trip down and back. Not very budget or "KISS" friendly.

If I had to start all over I would do exactly what I told you. You'll have the freedom of the Class C. The ability to rent wherever you want with the least amount of effort.

I'm betting it will also be much cheaper in the long run. Park models and old 5'vers are not great investments, plus I see a shrinking snowbird population that will even consider this as a viable winter option. You may take a beating on a park model and write off the 5'ver.

You could rent a Park Model here in Yuma on a private lot and if you like the area you could leave a deposit for the next season. The rates are $500 a month and up. If you had a RV that you want to leave on the lot for the summer the cost would be 0 and up. RV sites on private lots go from $150 and up

There are so many RV parks in the area and each would have different prices. Obviously, you've stayed in some. Why not start calling around to get a definite answer on prices?

If you're going to leave it set for nine months in Arizona, I'd suggest getting a trailer or 5th wheel and you'd need a truck to tow it around or buying an older Park model. It wouldn't be good for a motorized vehicle to set that long. I'm sure a storage place would be able to move it on site for you, also.

After travelling AZ for several years, we decided to sell our truck and camper and buy an inexpensive 5th wheel. We have a favourite spot where many friends stay and store our 5th wheel for $50.00 a month in a nearby storage park when not here. It costs $75.00 to haul our trailer to the park and set it up. It's the same price when we leave and have it moved to storage. We no longer need a heavy duty truck and don't have to haul anything back and forth to Canada.

The prices will vary from park to park. In the park I am in now, the cost to leave your 5th. wheel for the year is approx. 4K per year. To rent a park model, the average cost is $1800 to $2400 per month. I have looked at buying a park model for the 3 months a year but I don't like having to pay home owners fees for the whole year when I am not here. Most larger parks with full facilities, pool,exercise facility, golf course, tennis courts, pickle ball courts parks average about $850 per month + monthly electricity. Generally you have to leave a deposit a year in advance if you want the same site every year.

Snowman9000 wrote:
We are growing weary of taking our RV from IL to AZ (Phoenix and/or Tucson) and back for our snowbird trip. As of now, we only snowbird for less than 3 months. I expect that to grow but that is not a sure thing.

We have a small C, and don't really want to trade up to a big MH. We had fivers, and don't want to tow them across country, either. We could afford to have a decent used fiver sit in AZ for 9 months, then use it for 3 months. How do the parks look at a 3 month renter? How much is it, roughly, to have them store it for the other 9 months, and also move it on and off the lot? How much does it deteriorate from spending all year in AZ?

Would buying a used park model make any sense for a 3 month user? I'm wondering if it would cost all that much more annually than the above idea. Ignoring the purchase prices. Ongoing costs bug me, purchase prices not so much, because that's a one time decision.

I suppose there are park models for rent? What's the monthly rent on those, in season?

Then there is always the condo route.