Is a motorhome "Only For The RIch"?

[HOM]

There is an article in the December issue of Motorhome Magazine on page 6 relating to a question they asked in the September issue asking the question.

“Is it important to measure the cost versus benefits of owning a motorhome, or is it worth it at any price”?

In the Featured Letter area there was a response entitled “The RV life is not for everyone”.

I don’t think anyone would disagree that RV’ing is not for everyone. I don’t know of anything that “everyone” agrees on? OK, other than the disco era that everyone loved!

Here are the conclusions of the person who wrote the letter and I quote.

• “A major consideration is what we would have to do physically, with back trouble and limited energy and mobility, during the next five years.”

I think we can agree that physical issues would be an important consideration to the motorhome lifestyle.

• “The RV life is wonderful and worry free for the wealthy and the indebted who love it.“

The long and short of the story is these folks decided not to embark on the motorhome lifestyle because of the cost of ownership after the purchase of the motorhome. As said above “The RV life is wonderful and worry free for the wealthy”!

What do you good folks think of that?

HJ

[tahiti16]

The Texan wrote:
They are NOT cheap to own OR operate. The cost to own and operate a 5er or trailer is Waaaay less than a motorhome. It is all about ease of use, IMO.

The difference in cost depends greatly on whether the tow vehicle is used on regular basis besides towing, if not the costs can get very close.

People don't RV because it is the cheapest way to travel. That said our RV, a 36' class gas, gives us choices. We can eat in or out, we can camp near/on a lake or river where not hotels or motels are located, we can stay in a small little town or a fancy 5* resort.

Our bed is our bed and if there is anything in it we know where it came from! :E

As others have said you have to figure out what YOU want to do and then figure out what fits YOU and YOUR lifestyle not what works for someone else.

You can RV relatively cheap or you can spend obscene amounts of money to RV. Note "obscene" is usually defined as more than "I" would spend! :B Kind of like speed on freeway, those going slower are slow pokes and a pain while those going faster than "me" are lunatics!!! :B

[frankdamp]

Not only for the "rich" - people of moderate means can afford it, but it certainly isn't cheap enough for everyone.

After 3 years with a clapped-out Class C, we took a breather for a couple of seasons, then bought a fairly decent 2002 32' Class A. 2014 was our fourth season of ownership, but we never used it. In 2013, we did a couple of trips and realised that the cost of running the rig was just too much for our financial well-being. When a 10-day, 1200 mile trip costs $1000 just for gas and CG fees, that's beyond what our finances can stand on a frequent basis. Needing a new fridge that season ($1800) didn't help!

Our motor-home is at a nearby consignment dealer, whose estimated selling price was considerably higher than we anticipated. There are a few minor repairs needed for body dings and the generator won't start. We also have no idea what state the rubber roof is in. The dealer will give us a run-down and cost estimate of what's needed to get the rig to "excellent" (he said the interior already is). They can do the work, then deduct the cost from the selling price. Since the commission is a flat fee of $595.00. this looks like a workable solution.

One thing in our favor is that the S&B is in one of the nicest small seaside towns on the west coast. Being ex-pat Brits we can live with the wet & soggy winter weather and being able to walk to a salt-water beach in 10 minutes is priceless.

[JumboJet]

HOM wrote:
Although I'm new to the motorhome community I'm relatively well versed in boating. I lived in Florida for many years and new a number of folks who had everything from a Ski-do to an 80' Burger yacht. Most were not rich they just loved boating and did what they needed to participate in what they enjoyed.

And it is there that the boating and motorhome community share a constant theme!

HJ

Several years ago I had my best friend's sons with me as we were towing my boat to the lake. One of his sons said "I will be glad when I am old enough to have a job and invest in a boat."

I corrected him quickly that a boat is not an investment in itself, but an expense.

The pleasure derived from boats, RVs, etc. would be the reason for my "investment".

BTW - that son bought a house on a lake and a pontoon boat this year. His wife is a pediatrician.

[HOM]

When I read the piece in Motorhome Magazine that prompted this thread, I felt the guy who wrote it was ill informed. I unfortunately do not have a motorhome at this point but I do a lot of research and ask a lot of question. Some may say too many but that's alright because we all do things in our own way.

Although I'm new to the motorhome community I'm relatively well versed in boating. I lived in Florida for many years and new a number of folks who had everything from a Ski-do to an 80' Burger yacht. Most were not rich they just loved boating and did what they needed to participate in what they enjoyed.

And it is there that the boating and motorhome community share a constant theme!

HJ

[AggieDad]

Only for the rich? Hah!

We're two retired teachers, and in this country that is the very definition of NOT rich. But we have been RVing for some 14 years. I only wish it were longer.

But do you look at a cost/benefit analysis to justify owning one? No way. If you want one and the travel opportunities it offers, you find a way.

[ct78barnes]

No not Rich but we have a couple next door that there little kids think we are Rock Stars because it is sitting in our drive way. We bought it new 3 years ago full body paint Gas Sightseer. I still work as a blue collar steel worker we make payments every month and get to use it 6 months a year and now in storage for 6 months. I do have second thoughts all winter but from April 1 till November 1 we use it every other. weekend. Both daughters are through school and are teachers one married. We are both 55 and have fun with our Winnebago club and traveling around 5 to 6 thousand miles a year. If our life was different and we had grand kids to spoil then it might be different.Everybody is different and we can thank GOD we live in a free country where we can live free and do what we want to.I have guys at work that go out and drink every night some gamble there free money I chose to travel in my motorhome .I think owning a motor home is more of a hobby and life style chose. I try to do all my service and I like to tinker with stuff so to each his own.I have owned a rv of some kind for 20 years starting in 1994 in a pop up and now a 36 ft motorhome.I have a life time of memories .The credit card company says price less I have to agree.

[etruitt]

After retiring and getting our children through college and gone their seperate ways DW and I all of a sudden had a little money left over at the end of each month (after paying mortgage and bills) and it scared the hell out of us because we didn't know how to live with "extra money" so we went out and traded in our travel trailer for a "new to us" DP motor home. If I live to be 87 it will be paid for. If not I hope our children enjoy it. We however are enjoying it now and hope to for many years to come traveling cross country every year that we can. Good luck and happy travels.

[WILDEBILL308]

I don't care what THEY think.....Let them eat cake.
Bill

[JimM68]

peaches&cream wrote:

mowermech wrote:
Define "rich"!
If you look at "world wide", nearly everybody in the United States and Canada is "rich".
If you narrow it down to your locality, very few people are "rich".
We are certainly not "rich", but we are comfortable.
We are driving our 4th (and last, probably) motorhome.

2 mil. in the bank and everything paid for would put you in the lower part of the middle class. :S

I was going to read every word of this before adding my 2 cents.
Then I read the above.

DAMMIT, I thought I had "made it" but I guess not....

[tatest]

peaches&cream wrote:

mowermech wrote:
Define "rich"!
If you look at "world wide", nearly everybody in the United States and Canada is "rich".
If you narrow it down to your locality, very few people are "rich".
We are certainly not "rich", but we are comfortable.
We are driving our 4th (and last, probably) motorhome.

2 mil. in the bank and everything paid for would put you in the lower part of the middle class. :S

Exactly. It is where I am. "Rich" in this country is an income of at least $500,000 a year, and you are not really rich if you have to be working, or at least don't have the assets to generate that income. "Poor" in this country, for an individual, of less than $24,000 a year. With that, you can still live in a motorhome. Most of us are somewhere between poor and rich, and you will not find very many truly rich people living in motorhomes because more often they own homes or lease property everywhere they want to be, and don't waste their time traveling by road.

[tatest]

No. Considering that usable motorhomes are readily available for a few thousand dollars, and our standards for "poor" and "rich" are both quite high compared to that cost, they are not just for the rich. Indeed, fulltime motorhome living is quite popular among the economic homeless, those who do not have the resources and credit to buy a sticks and bricks, nor the income to pay rent in the places they prefer to live.

To live a middle class lifestyle, moving around in a motorhome, may or may not be more expense living that lifestyle in one place. That all depends on where that one place is, because I can rent four times the space of my motorhome for $400 a month or less in some places in the U.S., and in others I can't gat half that space for any less than $2000 a month, and you would not have RV living in those places either, unless squatting on public streets.

[mike_brez]

prstlk wrote:
You never see a hearse with luggage rack
jw

[prstlk]

You never see a hearse with luggage rack
jw

[jobythebay]

Norm & Deb wrote:
Havin owned a diesel pusher for 14 years since buying it new all I can say is "ya better bring some money to town" if you are gonna buy, use and maintain one. Sometimes its a nightmare and sometimes its heaven, pretty much like life in general. On balance, ya I would do it again, differently perhaps, but would still do it.

What would you do differently?