Hidden Costs of RVing

I have to say there is an exception to every rule. As I look back over the last 6 years since I bought my MH and 10 years since I bought my popup I have not experienced any significant surprises.

Perhaps I just expected some things to happen but to be honest the RV owning experience to-date has been very smooth.

TOMMY47,

Non-mootorized trailers and RV's have a ONE TIME small license fee in Michigan that's good for as long as you own the unit. All motorized RV's, especially Class A motorhomes have a very costly license renewal each year you own it and yes it does go by a year and model chart. It's a vehicle not a trailer and it's a choice you make when deciding which RV you decide to buy.

I don't feel one bit sorry for et2 as it was his decision to go the high annual price renew route and he gets to pay the freight! Back years ago when we had our big Class A's, the license was over $800/yr and the insurance was nearly $2000/yr. By comparison, our big TC and the 5th wheel costs zero per year for license and each are approx $70/yr for the insurance premium as they are bundled with our vehicles and homes which saves us big bucks and give much better coverage. Some states do not allow this type bundling but Michigan does...

You all have touched on mine--new truck for a 5th wheel, concrete slab, trees removed, 30 amp outlet. Then there's the trailer TPMS, new televisions when upgrading from 1 trailer to another, modifications made to each new trailer, the list goes on. If you think back to your first one, remember the sheets, towels, pots, pans, plates, glasses, silverware, blankets, sewer kit---on and on.

With the boat I figured $5000 of 'who knows what it will be for' money per year. The 5er I figure $2000 for upgrades, repairs & maintenance. The truck gets another $2000 mostly for preventative maintenance covering tires, bushings, filters, whatever else might go wrong.

We are 15-20,000 mile a year travelers so bad stuff can happen. Better to replace before a catastrophic failure on a highway.

Having a brand new custom designed 2,000+ square foot building built for the RV. Making damn sure they measured the height of my MH for the door.......only to have them not figure in the 'incline' of the concrete driveway to the building. Proud owner of new $$$building that the MH doesn't fit into.

Moved and bought another home. Paid an electrician to put in 30 amp service shore station for MH. Even supplied the electrician a new RV plug. Went on trip, came back real late at night and plugged into my brand new shore power station.......to have it blow up everything in the RV.

Sold that house and went full time. My only problem now is where to travel to next and will gladly accept something as simple as a breakdown on the road. :C

I put in a 30 amp plug, bought tons of things for camping, had rv upgrades like extra master bedroom ac etc. heck there is tons of hidden costs in any and all hobbies. I chalk it up to enjoying the rewards of the money spent ;)

Biker1mike wrote:
I lost count of the money spent camping over the last 40 years. Every now and then we have 4 generations at the picnic table in a campground and that is worth all the money I've tossed into this hobby.

Where's that "Like" button? That's one of the nicest posts I've read on the forum lately.

Tires have not lasted as long as expected. The rest has been optional or normal maintenance so I don't count that as unexpected.

When I had a PUP the only decent surprize was that I needed a tote tank to capture & haul the sink water.

et2--How is your yearly license plate fee $1100 in Michigan?
Michigan bases the fee on original price of vehicle. My old Class C cost in the $40,000s when new . My tag fee is $125. Your MV must be in the $500,000 range.

Me, I get to deal with a homeowners association!