Motorhoming-The Dream vs Reality

[Bordercollie]

I was watering my parched lawn when a young woman came up and asked if we wanted to sell our Class C. She mentioned that she had enjoyed camping as a child and wanted to have her kids experience it.
It was obvious that she had the desire but no understanding about the total cost of motorhoming. I said that we might want to sell in the future and would be asking some $20-$30K. She was surprised, seemed to expect a much lower asking price. I tried to advise her to save her money and buy as new a rig as she could afford based on our personal experience.

The RV shows on TV understandably emphasize the fun and memory making aspects of RV'ing. They are sponsored by RV manufacturers. They often promote 45 foot Class A rolling palaces and seldom feature Class C's. They sometimes mention miles per gallon and never go into total cost of ownership of new and used Class C's.

It's up to us to advise beginners about buying new versus used Class C's without being a "wet blanket".

[pnichols]

If folks think that motorhoming is a somewhat "expensive hobby" - try boats or planes as a hobby!

For general ground travel comfort and convenience, a small-as-you-can-tolerate Class C is hard to beat versus motel/hotel travel.

With our Class C, we do/enjoy such things as:

- Pull over as needed to go potty ... the passenger can even "go" while the rig is going down the road. BTW, this becomes more and more important the older one gets.

- Pull over as needed for a quick rest or meal.

- Camp all over with or without hookups in one's own familiar (and clean?) environment.

- Attend various events with all the comforts right with you.

- Explore out in middle of nowhere with a bed, a refrigerator, a stove, a heater, an air conditioner, a shower, a lunge chair, a table, etc. always with you.

It's mostly a recreational hobby for many to own and operate an RV, but comparing it to what other hobbies can cost it isn't that much out of line.

[rockhillmanor]

bukhrn wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:

PSW wrote:
Hey folks, buy these babies for FUN and ENJOYMENT and to make family memories. They cost a bunch of dough to own and operate .....We have owned Class B and C motorhomes for well over thirty years and I have never found them to be economical, but I wouldn't take a fortune for the fun and memories we have had during our 40s, 50s 60s and now starting our 70s....Paul

X2!

Really the short answer to someone inquiring, is to compare the RV to like any other sport or hobby. Like a boat, race car, 4 wheeler, cycle, golfing, etc etc.

It's a hobby that brings one pleasure and costs money.

:C

X-3, If you're worrying about the cost of RV'ing, perhaps you shouldn't be doing it, as you will never justify it from an economical standpoint. The economy of it isn't why we do it in the first place.

:B

[toedtoes]

TyroneandGladys wrote:

gbopp wrote:

tjfogelberg wrote:
At some point, quality hotels and resorts look attractive!

Yes they do but, when you're rolling down the highway and hit a 5+ mile and several hour backup of stopped traffic, the food, water and toilet onboard make the motor home priceless. :C

And if it is an older motorhome it is much more believable that the reason you pulled off the road on to the shoulder and turned off the engine started the generator and are in the back under AC is that "it overheats in stop and go traffic." And you do not need a tow truck since it will not overheat once traffic starts flowing again.

Any RV parked on the side of a highway or freeway is likely broken down. People don't pull over like that for breaktime - they turn off the highway/freeway for breaktime.

[toedtoes]

KelliApp wrote:
This is a super discouraging topic. We just bought a 96 Coachmen Santara. We were thrilled to find something well maintained and in a size we like for a price low enough that we could pay cash. It's sitting in our driveway and we are having a great time updating and personalizing it.

I hope the reality does not destroy the dream. We've dreamed of this our entire adult lives. We don't so much hope to save money on travel, but more we like the certainty of having what we need right there with us and not having the hassle of hotel rooms and luggage. We think the idea of parking and relaxing in our own space but in a new environment sounds exciting!

Kelli

You're doing it for the right reasons and not expecting it to be a "cheap and easy way to travel". Not wanting to deal with hotels, luggage, etc., is reasonable. Thinking that RV travel is going to save you enough money to retire early is unrealistic.

[bukhrn]

rockhillmanor wrote:

PSW wrote:
Hey folks, buy these babies for FUN and ENJOYMENT and to make family memories. They cost a bunch of dough to own and operate .....We have owned Class B and C motorhomes for well over thirty years and I have never found them to be economical, but I wouldn't take a fortune for the fun and memories we have had during our 40s, 50s 60s and now starting our 70s....Paul

X2!

Really the short answer to someone inquiring, is to compare the RV to like any other sport or hobby. Like a boat, race car, 4 wheeler, cycle, golfing, etc etc.

It's a hobby that brings one pleasure and costs money. :C

X-3, If you're worrying about the cost of RV'ing, perhaps you shouldn't be doing it, as you will never justify it from an economical standpoint. The economy of it isn't why we do it in the first place.

[TyroneandGladys]

gbopp wrote:

tjfogelberg wrote:
At some point, quality hotels and resorts look attractive!

Yes they do but, when you're rolling down the highway and hit a 5+ mile and several hour backup of stopped traffic, the food, water and toilet onboard make the motor home priceless. :C

And if it is an older motorhome it is much more believable that the reason you pulled off the road on to the shoulder and turned off the engine started the generator and are in the back under AC is that "it overheats in stop and go traffic." And you do not need a tow truck since it will not overheat once traffic starts flowing again.

[rockhillmanor]

PSW wrote:
Hey folks, buy these babies for FUN and ENJOYMENT and to make family memories. They cost a bunch of dough to own and operate .....We have owned Class B and C motorhomes for well over thirty years and I have never found them to be economical, but I wouldn't take a fortune for the fun and memories we have had during our 40s, 50s 60s and now starting our 70s....Paul

X2!

Really the short answer to someone inquiring, is to compare the RV to like any other sport or hobby. Like a boat, race car, 4 wheeler, cycle, golfing, etc etc.

It's a hobby that brings one pleasure and costs money. :C

[KelliApp]

This is a super discouraging topic. We just bought a 96 Coachmen Santara. We were thrilled to find something well maintained and in a size we like for a price low enough that we could pay cash. It's sitting in our driveway and we are having a great time updating and personalizing it.

I hope the reality does not destroy the dream. We've dreamed of this our entire adult lives. We don't so much hope to save money on travel, but more we like the certainty of having what we need right there with us and not having the hassle of hotel rooms and luggage. We think the idea of parking and relaxing in our own space but in a new environment sounds exciting!

Kelli

[PSW]

Hey folks, buy these babies for FUN and ENJOYMENT and to make family memories. They cost a bunch of dough to own and operate if, like our accountant friend's post, you look at cost per night you will really shutter. If you truly focus and worry about that kind of penciling .....you probably should think about Tom Bodet and the light on for you.

We have owned Class B and C motorhomes for well over thirty years and I have never found them to be economical, but I wouldn't take a fortune for the fun and memories we have had during our 40s, 50s 60s and now starting our 70s.

People are suddenly retiring as baby boomers or younger folks are salivating over low interest loans and all they see is the dream and cream and none of the $ ouch.

Paul

[azdryheat]

Who cares if the buyer understands or not, so long as they have the $$$.

[westernrvparkow]

Tiger4x4RV wrote:
I agree with the above cost discussion, but here's another idea. Was this person really wanting an RV? In my old neighborhood, people came door to door all the time wanting to buy our RV's. I think that some of those folks were dealers or flippers, although they often told the story about wanting to give their family an RV experience.

If their money is good, I couldn't care less about why anyone is buying anything I am selling. Well, maybe if I was selling a few tons of Ammonium Nitrate along with 100 gallons of fuel oil I would have some fleeting qualms about the buyer.

[gbopp]

tjfogelberg wrote:
At some point, quality hotels and resorts look attractive!

Yes they do but, when you're rolling down the highway and hit a 5+ mile and several hour backup of stopped traffic, the food, water and toilet onboard make the motor home priceless. :C

[Tiger4x4RV]

I agree with the above cost discussion, but here's another idea. Was this person really wanting an RV? In my old neighborhood, people came door to door all the time wanting to buy our RV's. I think that some of those folks were dealers or flippers, although they often told the story about wanting to give their family an RV experience.

[the_bear_II]

I've been reading the posts on this and several other RV related forums. About 7 years ago I began to notice and increase in new to RVing posts. With many of those being folks wanting to fulltime in an RV because living costs have gotten so high. You could tell from the information they provided and questions asked many of these folks were living paycheck to paycheck and had gotten in over their heads and were looking for a less expensive housing solution and not so much an RV lifestyle.

Sure you may be able to save money by living in an RV versus renting an apartment or a house but there can be large unplanned expenses that you need to have the money or at least save for. $1200 refrigerator, New roof $2000-6000, Tires & Batteries every 4 to 5 years...etc. Monthly space rents can be close to rates for an apartment.