RV owners - please tell us what it's like
 

I'm thinking I'd like to buy a used RV before I retire. Traveling across the US in an RV with a small crossover SUV in tow sounds like it can be a lot of fun. I could put our bicycles on a hitch off the SUV and the kayaks up on the roof. We'd pull into an RV park and jump into the car and just roam. Sounds like a lotta fun but I'm sure there are headaches.

RV owners, please tell me what it's really like? I'd like a motorhome that can climb the Sierras or Rockies with ease while towing a vehicle in the middle of summer. How much would something like that in great but used condition set me back? What's the average cost of RV storage?

How's this?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/rvs/1266506681.html

The RV you linked is gas, front engined. I think most people with experience will tell you to get a diesel pusher in anything over 30-35ft

Get one, and you will drive 55.

Look how much I learned already just from the first response. Thanks!

lol

Yes you want a diesel pusher with an Allison Auto tranny.

If you like having to set up all your crap every night and don't mind using a mediocre bathroom all the time its fine. I mean if you are going to go and stay for more than a night its great but if you are going to move everyday its cheaper/easier to stay in motels. I mean you have to figure time to get the RV in place and set up and all your stuff unstowed etc.

I guess it really depends on what type of traveling you want to do.

almost new RV's are dirt cheap in Fla


ps: AirStream is still the best afai know

Do the math.

Factor in depreciation and gas and insurance etc. You could probably spend almost two full years is 4-star hotels for the price of the RV you are considering...

It's not all about the dollars and cents; you can't fling open the door of a 4-star hotel and cook breakfast outdoors next to a mountain stream with only the sounds of birds and the stream in your ears.

I'd like to have a small trailer and pull it behind my truck.


KT

Yes but a 4 star motel doesn't shuck a belt on the way to said mountain stream and leave you stranded. I wouldn't even consider it if you aren't a fairly ingenuitive DIYer. There are lots if things that can and usually do go wrong with these things. It's a house on wheels. Now imagine what would happen to the plumbing in your house if you say twisted it from each end or bounced it up and down. There are sone safe guards built in sure but the crap still breaks. The beds usually suck too FWIW

Do a Private Party rental for a week or a month and give back when your done.

Some things you should rent and not own. (boats, planes, women)

Hmm, RV rental eh? Sounds like a plan.

or - get a trailer and tow it behind a diesel pick-up.

There are TONS of costs involved in owning an RV!!! And when things break...

Wife and I have joked about buying a used pop-up trailer. It is a really sick joke!!!

Like people have said, RV'ing is fun but if you do not get something fairly new you will have some minor (in most cases) problems. Growing up we had an old camper and broke down a number of times. The last time we broke down we were in Georgia and the crankshaft cracked. We had to rent a car and drive back to MA.

+1

On the other hand, sometimes you can't find good hotels close to the places you want to visit.

An option to consider is renting. Ooops. I see that was already suggested! My BIL wants to do what you've proposed, cantdrive, and his wife is not so hot with the idea. I mentioned renting, but he's still stuck on the ownership idea. At least he's thinking about a used RV.

I want to do this when I retire.

My main concern is how the heck do I get my bills paid?

Although many have already mentioned renting another option is renting! Only you own it and a rental company rents it out when you are not using it. All damages are covered by the rental contract and fixed to like new condition every rental. Here in Canada it also qualifies as a taxable write off of some sort. I have friends who did this for about 10 years on several different rv's and never really had to make any loan payments. They now own a brand new diesel pusher with two slides for almost nothing. This one they do not rent though.


Might be an option

There are some other similar threads here so be sure to search for them.

Number one rule, Fer God Sakes, don't buy new! Whatever you do... These things depreciate faster than any other thing on the road. Buy even 1-3 years old and save 40%/

Not sure how long of a trip you are planning... A week or amonth? Rent. A year? Probably should buy. Lots of deals to be had. My family loves the RV, though 90% of our usage is at the racetrack 3-6 hours from the house. Someday the wife and I would like to see the country in one.

That's the other thing, remember that once you park in an RV park, you're stuck so you might need to tow-behind a car if you wnat to go sightseeing. Diesel pushers are the nicest, but come at a high premium. Towing through the mountains basically requires one. We have a front-engine gas and even though we tow a 24' trailer, the midwest is so flat it's okay.

I want one of these.

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/ima...artrailer3.jpg

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/ima...artrailer7.jpg

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/ima...artrailer8.jpg