days out camping goal

2BLAZERS wrote:
I don't think I would or could ever compare my camping nights to hotel nights on just the $$$$ only. Camping gives me campfires, ATV riding, outdoor sports, friends for life, etc...the thing we do is camp in our TC and ride quads. Nothing like (this weekend for example) of riding quads and camping with 30 friends (and families) at Morrow County OHV park for four days. $200 of diesel and ATV fuel is cheaper then the Hilton in Hawaii.

Hilton would not compare. A few hotel nights like in Vegas are enjoyable but I'd rather be camping.

If you were nearing retirement and needed a cost-basis to decide if you should make a large purchase like an RV what would you compare with?

I couldn't use campgrounds... I'd never stay in one... many would have to add their costs to the equation.

We have been more successful than most... in nights out and places visited... it is nice to have a grand plan beyond a few weekend a year.

I don't think I would or could ever compare my camping nights to hotel nights on just the $$$$ only. Camping gives me campfires, ATV riding, outdoor sports, friends for life, etc...the thing we do is camp in our TC and ride quads. Nothing like (this weekend for example) of riding quads and camping with 30 friends (and families) at Morrow County OHV park for four days. $200 of diesel and ATV fuel is cheaper then the Hilton in Hawaii.

Hilton would not compare. A few hotel nights like in Vegas are enjoyable but I'd rather be camping.

I built my first cabover TC and hauled it on my daily driver for 32 years...the appliances were terriably expensive... we had kids, house payments etc.

We could afford what we had... and used it. I drove the truck and homemade camper to college every day (full time student)... studied or napped between classes... and then on to work, I worked from 4 pm 'till midnight in a chemical plant (pipefitter) and had lots of compulsary overtime.

That camper had more than 60 nights in Fort Wilderness alone... kids choice. We ranged from the Florida beaches and Key West, north to Canada and west to the Mississippi River...

We never counted... just go, go, go as much as possible.

======================
And yes...

I imagine that I could get a pretty penny if I needed to sell my current truck and camper even now. I have maintained them well.

I seriously doubt that I ever will... it looks too good in the carport :B

sleepy wrote:

Note: If I was working full time I doubt that I would buy a new RV of any kind... cost too much $$$ and too much depreciation. TC's seem to hold their value better than most.There is just no way I could justify it for 4 to 6 weeks/year.

But Sleepy, what is the price of the enjoyment that we have gotten out of our 350-400 nights we've already gotten out of our rig? What if I get hit by a bus tomorrow?

My parents worked and saved and waited their whole lives to retire a little early, buy a new truck and big 5th wheel and travel the country. He got termianlly sick one year into retirement after a grand total of 1 trip out went in their new rig.

For you it has worked out tremendously (and I think you also did manage to enjoy a lot of life when you were working) but it doesn't always work out that way. Too many people never get the chance that they "deserved". So I'd simply add that it may be "risky" to go out on a limb and pay a lot of money for a rig such as ours....but I wouldn't tell somebody else not to do it if that was their dream.

For the record I don't really like the financial comparisons for things like a diesel over gas engine or motelling it versus camping as ultimately it's more about what you enjoy than the cost. But having said that....we have about 375 nights in the camper, at $65K, or $173 dollars per night. But you also have to remember at the end, that we actually own something with residual value. And the memories we have now? Priceless.

Of course, looking at your wording more carefully, you DID say a "NEW" RV. So maybe I mistook your comments a little. Or a lot. :) Doh! I can hardly see ever buying a brand new RV or vehicle for that matter! Never have done it (excepting on new dirt bike.)

So never mind me while I go back to reading more carefully..... :o

Fancy trucks and high end campers are VERY expensive when new (but hold their value pretty well)

I (we, Janet and I) did the math:

And use does count!

I was past 60 years old... to commit more than $100,000 was a BIG deal in late 2002.

$$$$$$$ for new Truck Camper
$$$$$$$ for new Truck
$$$$$$$ cost of money (interest on a loan or lost interest on savings)
$109,000

I planned to quit working by the time I was 65 years old.

Question: How could I place a monatary value on owning the T/TC?
We decided to compare the T/TC's use to hotel rooms... I started refering to our days as nights (just like we would when we stayed in hotels) At he time Hampton Inns averaged about $100/night including taxes. (Bed bugs are free at all hotels and motels)

Prices have gone up... and we now have our 1007 nights of T/TC useage.

At this point: we have about $108/ night staying in the camper.

$109,000/1007= $108.24

Of course I have added mods... solar, inverters, etc... now we must whittle their costs down too:W... Janet... we need more nights out.

The travels have been priceless... each and every "night" and day... 49 states. much of Canada... the wonderful people that we have met and introduced to you on the TC forum.

So... yes, I think it is good to collect information before you make decisions and set goals for the future. Our investment has been accounted for, our travel goals have been met... now for the bonus's.

Note: If I was working full time I doubt that I would buy a new RV of any kind... cost too much $$$ and too much depreciation. TC's seem to hold their value better than most.There is just no way I could justify it for 4 to 6 weeks/year.

we keep a camping log book that we enter our thoughts about where we are and what was around also.
i like to have goals, so my goal works. another reason why...it lets me tell my wife.."...but honey, we need to acheive our goal. dont you want to acheive our goals?" when she says we should stay home the next weekend and do chores. lol

I count more as a side effect of wanting to keep track of where we've been and the site spots for reference later on when wanting to go back to the same park/site or for remembering when/were pics were taken.

We used to sort of target 60, but after 4 years in our current rig we were just shy of 300 nights, so almost 75. Last year was a bit less (started spending more time on maintenence of our house and property mostly)...more like 50.

This year? We just hit 20 so are running behind pace. With that good chunk in early July for the Glacier Park trip we ought to be back on pace for at least 50 or 60.

Why keep track? Anything you like doing enough, that takes sacrifice of other options (really, anything) can use the positive reinforcement of goals and counting. It takes effort to do these things and it is easy to decide to stay home and sit on the couch.....or watch dust settle on the good china....or as the song goes "watching Sunday sports in your boxer shorts...." So why NOT count?

Right now we're at 50% occupancy since getting our rig on 5/14/13. I'm sure the % will change as we're still both working full time, but have just left the camper on making it very easy to throw in a 1/2 gal of milk, coffee creamer and go! Good luck Sleepy & Janet, hope you get the green light!

We try to go out 3 weekends every 2 months year round. Extensive yard work and a big garden sometimes bite into that plan but with a good task manager (my wife), we generally are successful. No big TC trips this year - just the numerous weekends at nearby state parks.

John