I posted a while back about going to an RV show and loving all the options. I'm a current PUP owner looking for more room but want to downsize F-150 to a jeep, not lock in the need for another truck, and realistically an F-250.The catch like most know is making the numbers make sense. I had decided to push purchasing a C to the right a couple years because of the increased tow rating of 2014/2015 E-450's and was trying to get used in the $40k range.I've decided to use rentals as a long term strategy based on the following calculations. Would love feedback.After depreciation, insurance, maintenance, storage, a $45,000 RV would be $5,000/year investmentSo, with $5,000/yr investment, why not just rent when I need a Class C? I've checked a couple quotes and I'm around $2500 for 10 day trip. I can get a Class C for $4500 for a 21 day trip MD to CA although I'm not sure about mileage allowance on that. (we camp on cross country military moves. One perk to the frustration of repeated moves)I have a PUP that a properly equipped jeep will pull for weekend trips and I'm fine with a PUP for such camping. I'm just tired of it for longer trips. I can rent a Class C for 3 weeks per year for less than my calculated $5,000/yr ownership cost. I can pocket the extra when my schedule is too busy. I can also adjust the size of the RV based on the trip. Smaller if going to a State or NP (preferred vacations) or bigger if small campsites aren't an issue. would probably upgrade to a newer PUP and still buy a Class C at retirement or close to retirement but I would go in to the purchasing decision with a much better understanding of needed options.Thoughts? And are rentals equipped/allowed to pull a TOAD if I set a Jeep up accordingly?

Just one clarification...putting money and/or buying an rv is not an investment in any sense of the word. They are money pits which depreciate in value and you rarely get back what you put in it. There are of course, exceptions, but it does not happen often. I think for some people, the better course would be to rent, and you would come out ahead because rv'ing is not cheap.

Oh, I agree. I used the word "investment" as cash outlay. "Expense" is definitely better choice. My investments are in my retirement accounts.

What would you gain by "downsizing" your F150 to a Jeep? Better mileage? If so I would challenge that notion. Larger SUVs don't get much better, if any better mileage than a late model half ton. In fact my Sierra crew cab with a 5.3, 4 speed, and 3.73 gears gets better mileage than my old Trailblazer with I6 got, and the Sierra is only two years newer. Certainly you would lose some capability by going to a Jeep, but perhaps gain great off road ability. That said, consider keeping your F150 and looking at hybrid trailers. You can get a good used one for a mere fraction of the class "C"s you are looking at. And more than likely spend far less per year than renting. And it's yours.

For many of us, owning the RV rather than renting is a quality of life type issue. Mine is completely outfitted and loaded for my comfort with all the doodah that I need or want to maximally enjoy a trip. I can pick it up and go very easily and have to load very few things. I know the level of cleanliness and the level of maintenance. These are important factors to me. If I cared less about them I would definitely go with your logic. Renting releaves you of the duties and costs associated with storing an RV during down times.

Answer on downsizing is truck is I'm at 130,000 miles now. I know trucks last much longer these days but I expect to be ready to purchase in 2-3 years. - Definitely want 4x4- I like a fully equipped vehicle and need extended cab minimum for family- When I was looking at TTs, 3/4 ton needed for most TT in 26-30 unless you go hybrid or light due to TW problems mostly.- Since I no longer own home and likely won't until retire from military, don't use bed of the truck. Only truck feature I use is towing my PUP.So, loaded 3 yr old F-150 or F-250 4x4 with 80,000 miles seem to still be $50,000+3 yr old Rubicon or Sahara with less than 50,000 miles, $25-30,000I paid $25,000 for my F-150 Crew Cab Lariat with premium sound and navigation, 55,000 miles. I frankly shocked at how much a 3 year old used truck is these days. And, I've driven a truck for ever so I don't have a problem driving a larger parking spot but they are making parking spots smaller and smaller in some areas a Jeep has a smaller footprint. Not the reason I want a Jeep, but it doesn't hurt that it makes a great TOAD and since I keep vehicles for 10 years, I would still have it when I was ready to buy a Class C.

Rental as long term strategy? | Good Sam Community

cgmartine
Explorer
May 01, 2015
Just one clarification...putting money and/or buying an rv is not an investment in any sense of the word. They are money pits which depreciate in value and you rarely get back what you put in it. There are of course, exceptions, but it does not happen often. I think for some people, the better course would be to rent, and you would come out ahead because rv'ing is not cheap.
OutdoorPhotogra
Explorer
May 01, 2015
Oh, I agree. I used the word "investment" as cash outlay. "Expense" is definitely better choice. My investments are in my retirement accounts.
Campfire_Time
Explorer
May 01, 2015
What would you gain by "downsizing" your F150 to a Jeep? Better mileage? If so I would challenge that notion. Larger SUVs don't get much better, if any better mileage than a late model half ton. In fact my Sierra crew cab with a 5.3, 4 speed, and 3.73 gears gets better mileage than my old Trailblazer with I6 got, and the Sierra is only two years newer.

Certainly you would lose some capability by going to a Jeep, but perhaps gain great off road ability.

That said, consider keeping your F150 and looking at hybrid trailers. You can get a good used one for a mere fraction of the class "C"s you are looking at. And more than likely spend far less per year than renting. And it's yours.
MobileBasset
Explorer
May 01, 2015
For many of us, owning the RV rather than renting is a quality of life type issue. Mine is completely outfitted and loaded for my comfort with all the doodah that I need or want to maximally enjoy a trip. I can pick it up and go very easily and have to load very few things. I know the level of cleanliness and the level of maintenance. These are important factors to me. If I cared less about them I would definitely go with your logic. Renting releaves you of the duties and costs associated with storing an RV during down times.
OutdoorPhotogra
Explorer
May 01, 2015
Answer on downsizing is truck is I'm at 130,000 miles now. I know trucks last much longer these days but I expect to be ready to purchase in 2-3 years.
- Definitely want 4x4
- I like a fully equipped vehicle and need extended cab minimum for family
- When I was looking at TTs, 3/4 ton needed for most TT in 26-30 unless you go hybrid or light due to TW problems mostly.
- Since I no longer own home and likely won't until retire from military, don't use bed of the truck. Only truck feature I use is towing my PUP.

So, loaded 3 yr old F-150 or F-250 4x4 with 80,000 miles seem to still be $50,000+
3 yr old Rubicon or Sahara with less than 50,000 miles, $25-30,000

I paid $25,000 for my F-150 Crew Cab Lariat with premium sound and navigation, 55,000 miles. I frankly shocked at how much a 3 year old used truck is these days. And, I've driven a truck for ever so I don't have a problem driving a larger parking spot but they are making parking spots smaller and smaller in some areas a Jeep has a smaller footprint. Not the reason I want a Jeep, but it doesn't hurt that it makes a great TOAD and since I keep vehicles for 10 years, I would still have it when I was ready to buy a Class C.
2112
Explorer II
May 02, 2015
We rented PUP's and TT's for about 6 years before we bought our first TT.

The TT's were going for $350 for a weekend back then. A monthly note + ins was about $300/month. For us it was a no-brainer to rent once or twice a year. I didn't have to worry about maintenance, leaks, tires etc. plus I wasn't paying for something that just sat in the yard.

However, there is a sense of pride owning your own, until it falls apart.
KristinU
Explorer
May 03, 2015
I think it depends on your intended usage. If you go on a single epic trip once a year, then I think the renting makes sense. For us, having our own camper outfitted with our own goodies, acoutrements and modifications, and packed with our preferred pastimes, clothing, toiletries and food allows us to take many trips a year of varying lengths for varying reasons. Picking up a rental and packing it up each time would just not make sense for our style, but your style may be totally different!
OutdoorPhotogra
Explorer
May 03, 2015
We do as many weekend trips a year as we can squeeze in (could be 4 could be 8) and make one longer trip a year with some them are epic - and much easier with an RV.

I already own a PUP so weekends are covered and no hassle with checking out and returning a rental for a weekend. I just looked at the math and for 3 weeks a year, whether that's two 10 day trips or a one big trip. I can come out ahead renting and just can't justify tying up the cash. Either way I look at it as a budgeted travel expense.

Will definitely buy when closer to retirement.
Mocoondo
Explorer II
May 07, 2015
Disclaimer: I rent motorhomes.

We have done objective studies time and time again comparing rental to ownership using average daily rental + mileage rates in comparison to known costs to own, maintain, insure, store, operate and depreciate an identical privately owned coach. Using a cost comparison approach only, If you cannot or will not use a coach at least 9,500 cumulative miles over a year, it makes better financial sense to rent vs buy. On average, you should plan to spend $1,500 per week for a rental in high season. Anything more than that and you are probably overpaying.

Of course, many people own without regard to expense comparison, simply because they enjoy the aspect of ownership versus rental. If you can get past that, rental makes a lot more sense than ownership if you do not plan to exceed roughly 9,500 miles a year. Once you cross that 9,500 mile threshold (all things being equal), then a solid case begins to develop favoring ownership as the more cost effective solution.

As a data point, the average privately owned coach is driven about 4,000 miles per year, so most owners are paying more to own than if they would have rented for the same amount of usage.
garyhaupt
Explorer
May 07, 2015
I concur...rent. On top of the miles/breakeven point...there is the sheer cost of replacement and or addition of stuff. Fridges go..furnaces...or, God forbid, a water leak. Then there is the power issue..solar or generator. Huge bux. Yes, I own..I never claimed to be money smart.

Gary Haupt