We are so close to purchasing a 36ft fifth wheel and F350 but are worried about travel budget. We are new to RVing...only having a pop-up before. My wife and I are semi-retired and both want to quit our jobs for a year and travel. We've done some research on costs but there are always more. Our budget will be about $3500.00 for travel expenses such as fuel/food/site rent. For those that have done this full time..is this doable or are we way off-base in thinking about it? I know site fees will take a big chunk of this and there is so much to see.

A lot will depend on how far you plan to drive as well. This year the fuel costs may be on your side if they stay down. I would think that budget is do-able if you are talking about a monthly budget.

We FTd for 7 yrs. on less for ALL expenses........but we were debt free.CG Site fees can be controlled by.........weekly and monthly rates vs dailyBy location....'Destination Areas' always higherMemberships can also be utilized.Passport America....$44/yr. 50% discount off daily rate........Restrictions on use BUT use it a couple of times and you break even.Thousands Trails Zone.......no long term commitment Pick area of US for 1 yr. Just need to use it frequently to get $$ worthC2C, RPI, AOR Affiliate have to have 'home park'......need to USE a lot to recoup buy in. Only worth while IF you buy RESALE but site fees $10/15 per nightFuel costs can be controlled along with the CG weekly/monthly stays and shorter travel distances between locations.

Fuel, vehicle maint and such is going to cost close to 50-65 cents per mile.By working at campground selection - most folks can average $20 - $25 per night for full hookup sites, unless you over age 62 and willing to use Corps of Engineers and other federal parks. That can drop the average down below $17 - if you are willing to use sites without sewer hookups.Where you plan to travel makes a big difference. In the central US there are thousands of COE sites at hundreds of campgrounds. In the northeast - fewer federal sites, many are US Forest Service without hookups.Out as far as the Rockies and west coast - the number of federal campgrounds goes down, but the number of federal boondocking sites goes up. The 5er size, weight and truck will limit the number of federal campgrounds you can visit.Many commercial RV parks in Colorado and New Mexico has better rates if you are willing to stay a month, or a week. Always talk to the CG before you arrive and make certain you know the rate. Compare two or three whenever possible.If you are talking $3,500 per month - it's doable. You can't stay a high end resort RV parks often, but that's not a bad budget.

$3500 is the monthly budget just for RV associated expenses. There are no other bills that will come out of that amount. We appreciate all the info and advise

gosh, we, sometimes, can't live on $10K a month. It just depends.how much will your truck/rv payments be? medical? insurnaces?how much actual driving will you do? we can run well over a $1K a month in just diesel fuel. add RV parks that can run over $50 a night and suddenly you are pushing over $3K a month easily. (lots of rv parks that are popular, ie. key west, can run you $2.5K a month just for the park.)to help your budge you can workcamp, use walmarts when traveling and eat in and not out like we do. and watch your drinking, you can easily run into high costs for liquor.

Budget Question | Good Sam Community

Hvymtlc5
Explorer
Jan 05, 2015
$3500 is the monthly budget just for RV associated expenses. There are no other bills that will come out of that amount.

We appreciate all the info and advise
PawPaw_n_Gram
Explorer
Jan 05, 2015
Fuel, vehicle maint and such is going to cost close to 50-65 cents per mile.

By working at campground selection - most folks can average $20 - $25 per night for full hookup sites, unless you over age 62 and willing to use Corps of Engineers and other federal parks. That can drop the average down below $17 - if you are willing to use sites without sewer hookups.

Where you plan to travel makes a big difference. In the central US there are thousands of COE sites at hundreds of campgrounds. In the northeast - fewer federal sites, many are US Forest Service without hookups.

Out as far as the Rockies and west coast - the number of federal campgrounds goes down, but the number of federal boondocking sites goes up. The 5er size, weight and truck will limit the number of federal campgrounds you can visit.

Many commercial RV parks in Colorado and New Mexico has better rates if you are willing to stay a month, or a week. Always talk to the CG before you arrive and make certain you know the rate. Compare two or three whenever possible.

If you are talking $3,500 per month - it's doable. You can't stay a high end resort RV parks often, but that's not a bad budget.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jan 05, 2015
We FTd for 7 yrs. on less for ALL expenses........but we were debt free.

CG Site fees can be controlled by.........weekly and monthly rates vs daily
By location....'Destination Areas' always higher

Memberships can also be utilized.
Passport America....$44/yr. 50% discount off daily rate........Restrictions on use BUT use it a couple of times and you break even.
Thousands Trails Zone.......no long term commitment Pick area of US for 1 yr. Just need to use it frequently to get $$ worth
C2C, RPI, AOR Affiliate have to have 'home park'......need to USE a lot to recoup buy in. Only worth while IF you buy RESALE but site fees $10/15 per night

Fuel costs can be controlled along with the CG weekly/monthly stays and shorter travel distances between locations.
SrFoxmexico
Explorer
Jan 05, 2015
A lot will depend on how far you plan to drive as well. This year the fuel costs may be on your side if they stay down. I would think that budget is do-able if you are talking about a monthly budget.

Forum Discussion

Budget Question

About RV Newbies

Related Content

Newbie power question

Another solar question.

Budgeting

Expedition or Excursion $6000 budget

Budget temp sensors (data storing)