Well, we put our fiver away into indoor storage 2 weeks ago after an interesting season.We took the fiver out of storage in early April and got sideswiped by a new driver one week later on the way home from our first trip out at Easter. $5k damage and a lot of fun with insurance companies and a less than stellar repair facility as I'm sure as you can imagine. It took 3 trips back to the facility to get the unit repaired properly.We didn't get out as much this year due to my wife taking a 7 month long upgrade program for her career. Great outcome for her and she did excellent in the program, but we spent much more time at home than we normally would have.Mid August I noticed some cracking in the frame of the trailer which I diagnosed to a lack of crossmembers between the axle areas. $1,100 later we had 6"x4" structural tubes welded in (x3) with gussets to the frame and the cracks repaired to correct the issue.We also have a few new people in the neighborhood who park all over the street which makes it a real PITA to get the trailer in and out of it's parking spot on pretty much most trips.We both still work full time and have a 7 year old son. We all love getting out but a weekend trip is a lot of work for the amount of time that we get to spend out.All of this combined with the cost of the maintenance, insurance, fuel, etc. is starting to make me wonder if this venture is still worth it. We have owned an RV since 1996 and truly enjoy getting out on the rig but sometimes it is certainly trying.What are other's experiences? I'm looking for a good conversation here so please keep nasty comments out of it. Thanks!

7 year old son?i'd be trying to make time to get out.my grandson turns 4 next aug.and i'm looking forward to teaching him to camp/fish and hunt.being from the lower mainland you know it's a whole different world in a few short hours of driving.i have 3 sons and they are all avid outdoorsmen due to our commitment to getting out as much as possible when they were young.but nowadays their lives are getting too hectic,that's where i come in.

Did the whole camping/RVng thing as a single person , then as a married couple then as a family UNTIL son reached 11-12 rs of age.Then weekends were taken up with soccer games, swimming meets etc.LIFE got in the way' so we sold the RVThen much later on...single againI got back into camping...first via motorcycle trips/then truck with camper shell Then WE started tenting camping then back into a 5th wheel then hit the road in new 5vr FtNow back in a S&B and campingLife goes in circlesBorn------ LIVE -----DieWhat you do in between is what you do based on needs/priorities/wants The 'other' options you have no control over so enjoy LIFE as needed

Might want to consider something a bit smaller and travel closer to home. That should reduce the effort and cost involved. It should also make it easier to get in and out of the driveway.Also, if you are willing to pick up the slack, the wife could study in the RV while you take the son on hikes. She still get's some recreation in.Of course, if you are simply done with it, no amount of convincing will change your mind but it really is about if you want to make it work.

In your situation and comments, I would say; no it is not worth it for you. If you enjoyed a two week vacation in the summer, and a few week ends here or there, or used it for snow birding I would say yes it is worth it. Like some one above said; Why not get rid of it and get a smaller 25 foot travel trailer and trade that monster truck for a regular eight cylinder gas one.Jack L

blofgren wrote:We both still work full time and have a 7 year old son. We all love getting out but a weekend trip is a lot of work for the amount of time that we get to spend out.What are other's experiences?Pretty much the same except our boys are now adults so it's just the two of us camping these days. Doing this for a couple of decades now, as you have, we've got the entire process down pretty well to a fine art but that said there are times it now seems to be more trouble & expense than it's worth. When our boys were younger and we could do longer road trips whatever it took to make it happen did justify the effort, but these days not so much. :( We still both enjoy it once we're on-site but all the before & after, no matter how finely tuned it's now become, does have us increasingly thinking of alternatives like more road trips without the camper and international travel, and less camping. However, in your case I'd say the difference is your son who still has enough years left before secondary school (and all the time consuming activities that involves) to still make it worth the effort, my only question being why for just 3 people going on short weekend trips, you need such a large rig and a truck to tow it with when a simple 20 footer towed with a nice 1/2 ton would be more than sufficient. :)

Is it worth it? | Good Sam Community

bcbouy
Explorer
Oct 29, 2017
7 year old son?i'd be trying to make time to get out.my grandson turns 4 next aug.and i'm looking forward to teaching him to camp/fish and hunt.being from the lower mainland you know it's a whole different world in a few short hours of driving.i have 3 sons and they are all avid outdoorsmen due to our commitment to getting out as much as possible when they were young.but nowadays their lives are getting too hectic,that's where i come in.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Oct 29, 2017
Did the whole camping/RVng thing as a single person , then as a married couple then as a family UNTIL son reached 11-12 rs of age.

Then weekends were taken up with soccer games, swimming meets etc.
LIFE got in the way' so we sold the RV

Then much later on...single again
I got back into camping...first via motorcycle trips/then truck with camper shell
Then WE started tenting camping then back into a 5th wheel then hit the road in new 5vr Ft
Now back in a S&B and camping

Life goes in circles
Born------ LIVE -----Die
What you do in between is what you do based on needs/priorities/wants
The 'other' options you have no control over so enjoy LIFE as needed
valhalla360
Navigator
Oct 29, 2017
Might want to consider something a bit smaller and travel closer to home. That should reduce the effort and cost involved. It should also make it easier to get in and out of the driveway.

Also, if you are willing to pick up the slack, the wife could study in the RV while you take the son on hikes. She still get's some recreation in.

Of course, if you are simply done with it, no amount of convincing will change your mind but it really is about if you want to make it work.
NanciL
Explorer II
Oct 29, 2017
In your situation and comments, I would say; no it is not worth it for you.
If you enjoyed a two week vacation in the summer, and a few week ends here or there, or used it for snow birding I would say yes it is worth it.
Like some one above said; Why not get rid of it and get a smaller 25 foot travel trailer and trade that monster truck for a regular eight cylinder gas one.

Jack L
SoundGuy
Explorer
Oct 29, 2017
blofgren wrote:
We both still work full time and have a 7 year old son. We all love getting out but a weekend trip is a lot of work for the amount of time that we get to spend out.

What are other's experiences?

Pretty much the same except our boys are now adults so it's just the two of us camping these days. Doing this for a couple of decades now, as you have, we've got the entire process down pretty well to a fine art but that said there are times it now seems to be more trouble & expense than it's worth. When our boys were younger and we could do longer road trips whatever it took to make it happen did justify the effort, but these days not so much. :( We still both enjoy it once we're on-site but all the before & after, no matter how finely tuned it's now become, does have us increasingly thinking of alternatives like more road trips without the camper and international travel, and less camping. However, in your case I'd say the difference is your son who still has enough years left before secondary school (and all the time consuming activities that involves) to still make it worth the effort, my only question being why for just 3 people going on short weekend trips, you need such a large rig and a truck to tow it with when a simple 20 footer towed with a nice 1/2 ton would be more than sufficient. :)
mikebreeze
Explorer
Oct 29, 2017
I've been RV'ing for over 5 years now and retired for 2 years. Now that my income is less I will have to make a decision soon as to whether to continue this hobby. But I enjoy it and try to get out once a month in my rig.

As for the OP's predicament I agree with others' replies. Store the 5er off site, try getting a smaller rig, camp closer to home. As far as selling your rig that is your decision. I wish you the best.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Oct 29, 2017
Well think about keeping the 5er, packed and ready during the season. Cloths, non-perishable food, and other supplies ready to go. Then if you decide to go, tote and maybe ice chest to empty the house refer of desired foods for the weekend no need for shopping trip, and GO!
We had ours in a storage yard two miles from home easy out and in. We didn't have the 7 year old, but did have two Beagles, some extra work. Our best time from me leaving work (4 miles from house) to out the gate at the storage yard was one hour and fifteen minutes, this included stopping at the house, and airing up TV tires, and installing hitch in TV, getting the tote of refer food, and dogs and their bedding.
Halmfamily
Explorer
Oct 29, 2017
We understand what you're saying. The wife and I both work 50-60 hours a week and when the kids were young (Now 17 and 19) we had to schedule out our time for trips. We took many 4-5 day trips and would pull the kids out of school on a Friday if needed.

Time is too short, your child will be grown and gone before you know it. MAKE THE TIME as you cannot get it back.

I now go on 1 or 2 trips to the TNF by myself each year. Our son will join us when he can and we now take 1 trip to the Smokeys without the FW as we like to stay right in Gatlinburg.

Best of luck, it's a hard decision. Get your wife and son involved in the decision.
Fizz
Explorer
Oct 29, 2017
You both need a long sit down and discuss what's most important to your family, wants and needs.

We've been retired for 14 years. We have a cottage where we spend the summer. When we retired we bought a trailer and Snowbirded all over for seven years. Eventually we decided it wasn't fun anymore, been there, done that. We tent camped for twenty years before we got tired of sleeping on the ground and bought the cottage.
What I'm trying to say is don't get stuck in a rut. Figure out what you enjoy and aim for that.
richamor
Explorer
Oct 29, 2017
I read you post and I hear you've had an accident, maintenance and structural issues that were big wallet hits, the neighborhood is getting crowded, and life is getting a little busier.

Those are all ongoing issues that, especially that last one, will continue to grow. Life with a 7yo is one thing. Life with a 12yo is another and it can take your life completely over. As it should be but it can leave scant time for other pursuits. Maybe time to downsize a bit. A truck camper would give plenty of space for a weekend and be super easy to handle. Go so far as to consider tent camping. I see more and more of that and they all seem to be having a ball.
At the end of the day only you can decide what works for you and your family. I know you wonder whether it's worth it or not but I wonder if your 7yo wonders that.
Good luck to you whatever the final decision be. Just be sure involve the wife and son in the conversation. Their input may surprise you.