I was watering my parched lawn when a young woman came up and asked if we wanted to sell our Class C. She mentioned that she had enjoyed camping as a child and wanted to have her kids experience it.It was obvious that she had the desire but no understanding about the total cost of motorhoming. I said that we might want to sell in the future and would be asking some $20-$30K. She was surprised, seemed to expect a much lower asking price. I tried to advise her to save her money and buy as new a rig as she could afford based on our personal experience. The RV shows on TV understandably emphasize the fun and memory making aspects of RV'ing. They are sponsored by RV manufacturers. They often promote 45 foot Class A rolling palaces and seldom feature Class C's. They sometimes mention miles per gallon and never go into total cost of ownership of new and used Class C's. It's up to us to advise beginners about buying new versus used Class C's without being a "wet blanket".

Bordercollie wrote:It's up to us to advise beginners about buying new versus used Class C's without being a "wet blanket".It is.. except when YOU are trying to sell!

I have to chuckle at this. In our GMC motorhome (1973~1978/23&26long)group, we always caution people that a reliable and ready to travel GMC will cost 25K+$. That is all at once or as a kit. We do about 10K a year and I plan on about 1k$ for basic maintenance and I don't pay for storage. Matt

Absolutely good point. As an accountant, I calculate "CPN", something most folks will never comprehend. (Cost per night).My Used Class C runs roughly $125/ night with 90 nights of use annually. In other words, about $1,000 per month on average.Folks don't add up depreciation (loan payment for most), camping fees, insurance, license, gas, chassis maintenance, coach maintenance, and storage!I suspect many don't camp even near 60 nights annually. Their CPN is much higher.At some point, quality hotels and resorts look attractive!

In our clipper group (1973 - 1980), we mention costs for reliability. Like Mike_Collie, we consider $15K+ to be about what you end up spending to get a clipper that can go anywhere without issue. The actual purchase cost is between $500 and $6000 - the rest is repairs, replacing, updating.I don't think buying used is a bad way to go - but I do think it's not as cheap as some folks think. I also think there are a lot of folks who think full-timing is going to save them tons of money - but it's not realistic. Some folks can do it on the cheap, but it takes a special mentality (like the "go to Europe on $20 per day" folks), the majority of people aren't going to be happy cutting that many corners.And you're not living free when you're making others pay for your utilities and land you sit on - you're just deferring your expenses to others.

I've been reading the posts on this and several other RV related forums. About 7 years ago I began to notice and increase in new to RVing posts. With many of those being folks wanting to fulltime in an RV because living costs have gotten so high. You could tell from the information they provided and questions asked many of these folks were living paycheck to paycheck and had gotten in over their heads and were looking for a less expensive housing solution and not so much an RV lifestyle.Sure you may be able to save money by living in an RV versus renting an apartment or a house but there can be large unplanned expenses that you need to have the money or at least save for. $1200 refrigerator, New roof $2000-6000, Tires & Batteries every 4 to 5 years...etc. Monthly space rents can be close to rates for an apartment.

Motorhoming-The Dream vs Reality | Good Sam Community

westernrvparkow
Explorer
Jul 28, 2016
Tiger4x4RV wrote:
I agree with the above cost discussion, but here's another idea. Was this person really wanting an RV? In my old neighborhood, people came door to door all the time wanting to buy our RV's. I think that some of those folks were dealers or flippers, although they often told the story about wanting to give their family an RV experience.
If their money is good, I couldn't care less about why anyone is buying anything I am selling. Well, maybe if I was selling a few tons of Ammonium Nitrate along with 100 gallons of fuel oil I would have some fleeting qualms about the buyer.
gbopp
Explorer
Jul 28, 2016
tjfogelberg wrote:
At some point, quality hotels and resorts look attractive!

Yes they do but, when you're rolling down the highway and hit a 5+ mile and several hour backup of stopped traffic, the food, water and toilet onboard make the motor home priceless. :C
Tiger4x4RV
Nomad
Jul 28, 2016
I agree with the above cost discussion, but here's another idea. Was this person really wanting an RV? In my old neighborhood, people came door to door all the time wanting to buy our RV's. I think that some of those folks were dealers or flippers, although they often told the story about wanting to give their family an RV experience.
the_bear_II
Explorer
Jul 28, 2016
I've been reading the posts on this and several other RV related forums. About 7 years ago I began to notice and increase in new to RVing posts. With many of those being folks wanting to fulltime in an RV because living costs have gotten so high. You could tell from the information they provided and questions asked many of these folks were living paycheck to paycheck and had gotten in over their heads and were looking for a less expensive housing solution and not so much an RV lifestyle.

Sure you may be able to save money by living in an RV versus renting an apartment or a house but there can be large unplanned expenses that you need to have the money or at least save for. $1200 refrigerator, New roof $2000-6000, Tires & Batteries every 4 to 5 years...etc. Monthly space rents can be close to rates for an apartment.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Jul 28, 2016
In our clipper group (1973 - 1980), we mention costs for reliability. Like Mike_Collie, we consider $15K+ to be about what you end up spending to get a clipper that can go anywhere without issue. The actual purchase cost is between $500 and $6000 - the rest is repairs, replacing, updating.

I don't think buying used is a bad way to go - but I do think it's not as cheap as some folks think.

I also think there are a lot of folks who think full-timing is going to save them tons of money - but it's not realistic. Some folks can do it on the cheap, but it takes a special mentality (like the "go to Europe on $20 per day" folks), the majority of people aren't going to be happy cutting that many corners.

And you're not living free when you're making others pay for your utilities and land you sit on - you're just deferring your expenses to others.
tjfogelberg
Explorer
Jul 28, 2016
Absolutely good point. As an accountant, I calculate "CPN", something most folks will never comprehend. (Cost per night).

My Used Class C runs roughly $125/ night with 90 nights of use annually. In other words, about $1,000 per month on average.

Folks don't add up depreciation (loan payment for most), camping fees, insurance, license, gas, chassis maintenance, coach maintenance, and storage!

I suspect many don't camp even near 60 nights annually. Their CPN is much higher.

At some point, quality hotels and resorts look attractive!
Matt_Colie
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2016
I have to chuckle at this.

In our GMC motorhome (1973~1978/23&26long)group, we always caution people that a reliable and ready to travel GMC will cost 25K+$.
That is all at once or as a kit.

We do about 10K a year and I plan on about 1k$ for basic maintenance and I don't pay for storage.

Matt
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2016
Bordercollie wrote:
It's up to us to advise beginners about buying new versus used Class C's without being a "wet blanket".
It is.. except when YOU are trying to sell!

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