Seems Like a Waste

[Oakman]

I know it shouldn’t bother me but it does. This RV has been sitting on the storage lot unused since the end of 2012. It seems like a sin to me to just let an RV sit and deteriorate like it has. Someone has been making the monthly payments for the storage area all these years so I know it isn't abandoned.

[d3500ram]

My father, who was the inspiration for me enjoying RVs and camping, built a Glen-L travel trailer from kit parts. It was as modern looking as any other TT from the early 70's. It was his retirement project. He and my mom used it to cross the country in many directions for some 15+ years.

After my mom passed, the trailer never saw the road again. Dad thoughtfully maintained and kept it registered and insured for another 20 or so years until he went to the campground through the Pearly Gates. Perhaps he someday thought he would use it again but he never did.

[wa8yxm]

I know of two cases where a unit sat.. and sat.. And sat.. Without anyone in it for years.

One, the owner who parked it on a 99 year lease site died, and his family was arguing over his estate (Gready )@#$@# that they were) finally they settled and sold it,, Park manager said that inside it looked showroom new.

The other.> Well inside it was obvious the guy was a pack rat, but it sat so long all the batteries were flatter than pancakes.. Would not even take a charge.. I worked with park personnel to bring the slides in and moved it off site to storage, and finally the family came and got it. Do not know if they sold it or simply moved it to a different storage. nice RV once I got the battery replaced.

It was a Workhoerse with an 8.1L Vortec, same as I drive.. That thing had sat there, with OLD GAS for at least 5 years.. Fired up and ran like new.

[Gdetrailer]

azdryheat wrote:
Yes, it shouldn't bother you.

^^^THIS^^^

What someone else is doing or not doing with their property is none of anyone else's business but the owner's.

Life has a way of interfering with plans, and you don't know the story other than it has been sitting there..

Death, Cancer/health issues, kids growing up, change of job, loss of job and many other reasons often can foul up the best of intentions.

Time to move on and quit worrying about something that you have no control over.

[jplante4]

Add airplanes to that. Cost of ownership goes up, value of plane goes down. Can't afford to fly it, can't get a decent price when you sell it.

When I was looking I went around to all the local airports looking for ramp queens. There were about 100 planes sitting unused on 10 local fields. I contacted every owner (the airport needs to have contact info and it's public information) and to the one had no interest in selling or partnering. What a waste.

[Matt_Colie]

I have a boat in one of my lots. It had been there for years. The owner set up automatic payments for the storage. I don't bother him because he is in bad shape and I know the kids don't care about his boat. I can't do anything about it until the payments have stopped for a year. That is just how it is.....

Matt

[azdryheat]

Yes, it shouldn't bother you.

[colliehauler]

It looks like at one time someone cared enough to put boards under the tires. Hard to say what the story is. I know a lot of people who retired late in life with big plans only to have health issues that prevented following their dream.

My Dad and Mom (RIP) were those people. They bought a motorhome with plans on travel only to have health issues intervene. The motorhome sat in the drive for years before the realization that they would not be able to use it and sold it.

I imagine that same scenario is played over and over.

[lhenry8113]

We had a similar situation-our 5'vr sat in the driveway with no use for a few years. Reason-my wife had a pretty brutal type of cancer and then after the cancer a tough physical therapy. Even though we have medical ins. there was still and out of pocket $$ expense. This took about 2-3 years and than the residual effects linger on. We recently traded in the 5'vr and bought a small Class C and are anxious to get camping again. I know folks looked at our 5'vr sitting in the driveway and were saying "what a waste-they should get rid of it"-but, the folks that know us were a bit more understanding-Lars

[pnichols]

Never mind the waste of the coach part. It's a travesty to waste that great Ford E450 chassis and those wheel covers!

We're very fortunate being able to store "our baby" right in our back yard mostly in the shade and where we can take nice care of it between trips. It knows that it's loved.

[centerline]

I agree... RV's and Boats... they get the same treatment.

too many people have an odd way of looking at the value of a quickly aging "Toy" that they dont use anymore. rather than sell it at its fair market value so someone else may be able to take care of it, they would rather hang onto it hopeing to get top dollar for it, OR, thinking that "some day" they will fix it up and use it again.... all the while it is deteriorating to a point where it has very little value left...

its a shame people cant see that selling an item they havent used in quite some time, EVEN at below market value, is a much better choice in EVERY respect, than letting it set out in the weather and degrade to the point where it ends up having to be sold at salvage price...

[DiskDoctr]

I would imagine a storage lot with enough room can make decent money racking up storage fees and if unpaid, place a lien on the RV and later sell it for a profit.

Not saying that is the case, but know some lots behind mechanics' garages that do it 😉

[IBcarguy]

I found an old boat in a storage yard several years ago and the manager there wouldn't give me any info but took my name and phone#. A few weeks later I got a call and ended up buying the boat. They were happy to get rid of it and end the storage fees....you never know unless you ask.

[Colo_Native]

The lot I store mine at has dozens of RV's that have expired tags and I wonder why people don't sell them a lot have flat tires and broken vent covers. It seems stupid to me that they would keep paying each month but It's there money not mine

[myredracer]

You just never know what people's personal circumstances are and it could be due to any number of reasons like health, financial, family issues, work commitments, etc. and the owner could be hoping/planning to get it back on the road one day. The owner could have quite the total in storage fees. I look at that photo and don't see a camper - I see leaks, rot and mold.

Being in a rural area, there are lots and lots of RVs parked on properties around here out in the open that haven't moved in many years and have plenty of dirt, algae and cr#p all over them. Some people sure have different strategies/ideas/plans for long term storage.

[midnightsadie]

stop and ask, we,d like to know the rest of the story.