Kiplinger: 13 Reasons You'll Regret An RV In Retirement

[DallasSteve]

Kiplinger: 13 Reasons You'll Regret An RV In Retirement

I saw this article yesterday. There's not much new here. They raise some valid points, but if you can afford an RV and want to travel the country extensively it's probably cheaper than hotels + restaurants (but not by much). Maybe the main plus to living in an RV is you get to take more of your life with you than just what you can pack in an SUV. And if you decide to park it in an RV park to live in it, it's cheaper than an apartment in Dallas.

Steve

[TechWriter]

DallasSteve wrote:
For me (63) I may live in Latin America until 65 and then come back to full time on Medicare (which I hear is still somewhat problematic).

That's a long commute. Medicare problematic? That's not my experience of 4 years on it.

[DallasSteve]

TechWriter wrote:

DallasSteve wrote:
TechWriter

You wrote "Unless you have cash to spare, I don't suggest full timing for anyone under 65 who has to purchase their own individual health insurance."

How is that any worse than being retired and not yet reached 65 and not living in an RV? Does living in a house or apartment give you some magic solution to health care? I don't think the RV or living in it full time is the problem.

If you don't move anywhere, there shouldn't be a difference. In fact you could move to a state with better health care coverage.

However, the Kiplinger article was about full timing and moving around: "why not sell the house, buy a recreational vehicle and see the country?"

OK, That makes sense. I think what you're saying is really "Unless you have cash to spare, I don't suggest full timing and traveling a lot for anyone under 65 who has to purchase their own individual health insurance." For me (63) I may live in Latin America until 65 and then come back to full time on Medicare (which I hear is still somewhat problematic).

[wa8yxm]

I tried but the article is very hard to follow.. The first reason they gave

"RV's are Very Expensive"
My Sticks and bricks appraised vale and the new sticker on my Class a. nearly identical (less than 10% difference and I paid LESS than the house's appraised value)

Taxes on the house over 3 grand a year RV less than 500
Utilities 200-300/month (not counting phone which did not change)
V/s included in my membership fees (about 90/month summer0 and membership/parkign fees (about 200) in winter all around savings.

I can go on but suffice to say the RV is less expensive

True it depreciates.. but then the neighborhood I lived in did as well thanks to the neighbors and their side business. (The house next door was first shot up and then since nobody was home firebombed I got out just in time).

[magicbus]

harryjr wrote:
Gee. Next month they'll tell us that a $50K bass boat is more expensive that buying fish at the local market. I can hardly wait for that one.

:B

Dave

[CFerguson]

I didn't go there, but from the comments it sounds like just so much inane clickbait.

Its rare that you want to take financial advice from someone trying to sell you something if you want to be the richest guy in the graveyard. Or even before then.

[TechWriter]

happy2rv wrote:

I think the problem that most of us have with articles like this is that they aren't in any way balanced.

Disagree. I think the problem was that the article didn't say that RVing was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

[happy2rv]

Trekkar wrote:
Other than a poor choice of headline, the author uses quotes and ideas from RV'ers already on the road. (If not faked.)

This news source often deals with the money-oriented pros and cons of a subject, and this is not an unusual story.

Most of us here ALREADY know what these issues are, and have dealt with them one way or another. How many folks are there that tried it; weren't prepared for it, and got stuck with unfortunate decisions?

I think the problem that most of us have with articles like this is that they aren't in any way balanced. Anyone looking to purchase an RV, whether they are young or old, working or retired, rich or poor, and whether they are weekenders or planning to go full time, should do real research into all aspects of owning one and how it fits with their current or intended lifestyle.

The problem that I have is that the article pretty much took the approach that there were no expenses or downsides to NOT pursuing the RV lifestyle in retirement and by it's title and section headings implied that there was no upside to RVing in retirement. Both of which are flat out false. Even if you already own your house and intend to stay there in retirement, there are expenses, likely potentially increasing expenses as it ages. As for the upsides to RV living in retirement, I believe there are many more than 13. Having said that, I think we all know it isn't for everyone. I don't think its fair to suggest that owning an RV will bankrupt you. Sure it can if you are irresponsible, but so can a house or even an apartment.

[westernrvparkow]

Following the advice of true experts in money management will definitely increase your chances of dying rich. This is vitally important if your ultimate goal is to be the richest guy in the graveyard.

[Trekkar]

Other than a poor choice of headline, the author uses quotes and ideas from RV'ers already on the road. (If not faked.)

This news source often deals with the money-oriented pros and cons of a subject, and this is not an unusual story.

Most of us here ALREADY know what these issues are, and have dealt with them one way or another. How many folks are there that tried it; weren't prepared for it, and got stuck with unfortunate decisions?

[Cloud_Dancer]

What I know from MY experience is that, yes I bought a big new diesel pusher two years prior to retirement, yes we sold the brick houses, BUT we knew that our fulltiming years were for a specific purpose, AND that at some point we would insist on MORE living space. It's a good thing that we had the cash to build a house PLUS keep our diesel pusher (it's the best way for traveling anywhere in the USA).

[nightshift]

Garbage article, a topic assigned to a junior scribe to fill the net with more **** we don't need.

[nightshift]

jplante4 wrote:
I got a kick out of the pic of a person dumping the tanks. Gloves, long sleeve everything and - what is that? - a bee hood?

Ha! Should've been a Biohazard 4 suit to make it realistic.

[TechWriter]

DallasSteve wrote:
TechWriter

You wrote "Unless you have cash to spare, I don't suggest full timing for anyone under 65 who has to purchase their own individual health insurance."

How is that any worse than being retired and not yet reached 65 and not living in an RV? Does living in a house or apartment give you some magic solution to health care? I don't think the RV or living in it full time is the problem.

If you don't move anywhere, there shouldn't be a difference. In fact you could move to a state with better health care coverage.

However, the Kiplinger article was about full timing and moving around: "why not sell the house, buy a recreational vehicle and see the country?"

[DallasSteve]

TechWriter

You wrote "Unless you have cash to spare, I don't suggest full timing for anyone under 65 who has to purchase their own individual health insurance."

How is that any worse than being retired and not yet reached 65 and not living in an RV? Does living in a house or apartment give you some magic solution to health care? I don't think the RV or living in it full time is the problem.