Rent or Buy for 10 month trip?

jwandvassie wrote:
Buy. After 10 months, you'll want to keep it.

Best answer!

Definitely look into a used rental. You might find something local. Also check into ElMonte RV and CruiseAmerica. They both have large fleets that continually turn over.

Be aware that there will be some maintenance you will have to do... you should look into re-caulking the seams. Many buyers invest a little in beefing up the suspension.

There is a long thread on here about buying a used RV, in the Class C section. Lots of good reading there FYI.

Buy. After 10 months, you'll want to keep it.

MickiJeana wrote:
Question is: should I buy a used RV or try to find a long term rental? I am a total newbie.

You obviously have not researched the cost of RV rental. If you had, you would know the answer to your question.

MickiJeana wrote:
I have a window of opportunity to be without a home, and travel while I work, from August to May 2018. Want to live in something like a 25' Winnebago Spirit and travel around the US. I would work out of my 'home'. After August would want to sell my RV, if I chose to buy one. Question is: should I buy a used RV or try to find a long term rental? I am a total newbie.

OK..in all honesty I think you are the only one who can answer this question since none of us knows what your mechanical skills are.

First, I would contact rental firms in my area. Count on paying a minimum of $100 per day and an additional $300.00-$400.00 for every 1,000 miles you travel. Renting it w/o fee added furnishings (linens, towels, dishes, etc) will lower your costs. You may find that the daily rate and mileage fee will go down for a long term rental. No need to figure out gas costs since it will be the same whether you rent or buy.

Second, price out a comparable used RV to the one you could rent, have it gone over by an independent qualified mechanic, and then compare prices with the rental costs subtracting the future resale price. You might even be able to buy a used camper from the rental company.

Since you are planning to work out of your unit check with your accountant and see if there are any tax benefits to either scheme.

Whatever option you take have fun out there.

We had the same decision and chose to buy and older gasser and resell it when we were done. I got about what I paid for it. Bought an older DP for retirement.

With rental rates averaging between 100 and 150 a day I think buying would be the way to go. And the fact that your trek would end in May means it would be easy to sell as camping season would be just beginning.

Look into buying a former rental. They are cheaper than new, would depreciate less and be very easy to sell.

For that amount of time I would buy. A rental would break the bank for that long a time period. Including maintenance, presuming you're going to take care of it properyly, you will find the cost per month to be about half or less of the rental rate. Plus you get to pick what fits you instead of making due with what you can get.