My husband has decided we need an RV. He will be doing insurance claims during hurricane season (if anything hits) and thinks it would be less expensive than sharing a place like he did last year. I think there is a lot of upkeep/maintenance expenses involved. We have never gone camping so I don't think the family would use it over 1-2 times year. I would prefer to rent one and let him try it out for a weekend first.
Any ideas on how much they are to keep up and how much parks charge to park at night? It would be a small class B that you drive (not pull behing a truck). I was told some parks are as much as $45/night. He could stay in a cheap hotel for that!
Thank you all so much for all the great responses. I have sent them to my husband to read. I just don't want to get in over our heads and take on a "second home or third car". I'm sure it would be alot of fun if you overlook the work involved! It was great to hear direct from the source.
We have an RV and we love it for long trips. For short trips we use a tent. There are six of us. There are camping fees and gas expense. Unless you love travelling, would not recommend getting an RV for business as I think the expense would be about the same. It would be nice not to have to pack and unpack at different places and dry docking in a parking lot can save you a few nights but you would still be paying on the RV.
We do! Ours is a 45ft long deisel pusher. It weighs 45,000 lbs. Before that we had a class B, before that a 22ft pull behind class C(my nostalgic favorite).
There's my qualifications! Ha!
My husband travels frequently & stays in hotels about 160 nights per year.
He can not use our RV for work......or he would.(which is why I'm reccomending that your husband should-since we know A LOT about hotel travel)
We home educate, so RV when possible(we are vacationing in Creede Co right now, Big Bend this past February, Hill Country of Texas in Fall, 6 week trek of southern US, 6 week trek of East coast & Smokey Mountains, etc).
We belong to Good Sams, it pays for towing, emergencies, etc. Well worth the small annual fee.
Also we belong to internet RV clubs for our particular brand of RV---gives us instant friends who could help us in a pinch--either on-line, the phone or in person. I'd highly reccomend joining a group.
We overnight in (free/no cost)friends driveways, truck stops, rest areas, Walmarts, etc... only once in a 'Blue Moon'. Also ALL texas rest stops now offer free wi-fi.
Most places cost $10-18 per night with cable/internet hook-ups. We have paid up to $36 for RESORT RV accomodations.
Good Sams publishes a book of ALL RV places nationwide, lists ratings of facilities, options, prices(it's cheaper to buy the book (called Trailer Life)if your're a Good Sams member---)$14-24
Your hubby could set up an office on the kitchen table that stays conveniently set up. Use his OWN shower/toilet/bed. Eat his own food(sandwiches, fruit, healthy snacks & homemade meals when he's not too tired,) and NOT high calorie/fried hotel/motel food. Big plus plus!(our RV bed is fabulous & I love sleeping in it) You can help him pack it & give him some loving family touches/treats...... He won't HAVE to chat with co-workers while checking in/out. IF an appt. takes too long-- he won't care, check out time is typically later than motels. RV parks include state/national parks. The birds/trees are so relaxing.
RV's are super cheap right now. HINT-Buy privately from elderly folks that were ex-military..... will be well maintained & spotless! They are easy to find, due to gas prices. Get one w/ stackable washer/dryer... awesome(but RV parks also offer showers, laundry facilities, etc)
Renting is a wonderful idea so that he can get used to 'bulky' driving, set-up/tear-down checklists, etc.
Will he be towing a car? If not, then I'd get a Class C that the car/truck tows the RV, so he has a vehicle to go around in to all types of insurence claime areas.
Hope that helps. T. <>-<<
PS--- he can use it as a tax write-off, plus more, call you accountant
The ONLY reason to buy an RV is because you LOVE traveling, camping, etc. The initial cost is high for obvious reasons, insurance is expensive, they get horrible gas mileage, there is expense for renting a place to park them overnight and the upkeep is similar to a house. Need I say more?
When traveling to FL after Katrina, I could not stay in any hotel in LA , AL or MS because the hotels were full of adjusters and construction workers. We have a 5th wheel and I research on mapquest where the campgrounds are and if you are going to spend $45 a night I personally would expect Disney World. KOA's are around $30 with pool, store and playground. FL state parks are about $14 - TX about $20 - OK we paid $18 last month. When adding up how much a hotel with meals and gas costs VS campground, my own meals (eating out 2 - 3 times) and gas, ---when out over 5 days it is cheaper for us to take our RV. I agree, rent one and see if he can get all his "things" in one and simulate his "job" for a long weekend. Also, go to a bookstore and look at the camping books (woodalls is one) and see how much campgrounds charge. I hope you enjoy your time out camping!
PS - Also, where would you store it? Make sure you figure that in your costs!
Hi, my Dad has been an insurance adjuster for about 10 years or more now. He just got home from Arkansas where he had to stay there for 9 months! My Mom is so glad he is home now! I know he wanted an RV when he first started adjusting. I remember him shopping for one for ages. After all these years of being on the road, he's glad he didn't get one. For one thing, he sometimes has to drive 100 or more miles a day in rural areas. Not, a good thing to do in a class B. He just stays in a suite or extended stay place that has a kitchen or partial kitchen (they have extened stay rates) and there he has the comfort of sheets and towels taken care of. He also found it essential to have internet connection and multiple plugs for fax machines and stuff as well. He was in Arkansas during the spring with thunderstorms and was glad he was more safe in a strong building. He also found out he likes having more room to move around on those rained in days or Sundays. I know that after all these years of paying for rooms that he has not equaled the cost of paying for an RV yet. He drives a truck and has to have room for multiple ladders and tools, clothes, fax and copy machines, cooking things and extras. If you did end up getting an RV or somekind, just make sure there is room for the ladders. Good luck. Some adjusters do well in an RV and some don't!
WE have a popup camper that we store in our garage! We love it! We have the freedom to go on a vacation at a moment's notice and get away for the weekend and enjoy the great outdoors!! It's the best family time! So relaxing. Some of our best family conversations have happened around the campfire eating smores!! Great family memories that I cherish! I love that we have the home conveniences there -- toilet, water, electricity.
I've never been to a campsite that charged $45 a night! whoa! where's that place?!! Usually we pay $20/night. And there's usually a dump station somewhere on the camp grounds. And water/electric on your specific campsite.
There's been virtually no upkeep with ours since we purchase it brand new. We have to pay state registration on the trailer once a year - just like a car - about $50/yr. We also buy a State Park pass so we can get free day admission into all the state parks for a year. Stocking the camper was a small one-time expense: buying pots and pans; bedding that stays in the camper, etc. Hubby usually cooks when we camp since I don't like lighting the propane burners.... he never cooks at home ... so I'm really happy when we go camping!!
We have a travel trailer that we enjoy using 3 -4 times a year. 45$/night is unusually high in price. Most places are in the $20 and under price range/night. Not so bad considering you have water and electricity included and if you're really lucky and can find a place with sewer access on the site, that's really great because you don't have to worry about filling up the gray tank with showers and washing dishes and then having to dump every few days. We really don't have a lot of upkeep expenses, if something needs done (my husband had to do some touch up caulking on ours not so long ago), it doesn't usually take much time or expense (if you buy one that is is good shape and then take care of it). You'll need to buy some toilet chemicals to keep the black tank from having odors but really, that's about it. Of course, ours isn't driveable so I imagine you could have engine issues like any other vehicle (so definitely get an inspection if you buy used).
Don't count out using it for family camping trips. Your kids will love it and I bet you would, too.
Oh, don't forget that if you don't have room to keep it on your property, you'll have to store it for about 30 -45$/month.
I LOVED having an RV when I was little. We drove everywhere! Even if it was just around the block when we were at home. It made a great playhouse in our driveway and felt just like home when we were on the road. It wasn't a big one like they have nowadays, but it was comfy for mom, dad, and us 3 kids. We could even bring our pets with us!
If your children are young now is the time to get an RV before they get too big, get busy with school and work, and before they don't want to hang out with Mom and Dad anymore. It is fairly easy upkeep. I knew how almost everything worked as a kid and could even empty the "toilet" by myself. It is a great bonding experience and learning experience. You can stop when you want, eat where you want, sleep when you want, I have sooo many good memories from our RV days. I hope you make the decision that best fits your family, but it can't hurt to rent one in the style that you will buy one and try it out.
My brothers have them but they camp as families. I know there is always something needing done on them. My sister bought one a few years ago and I think it cost $100,000 but I know if you can file the long way with taxes you can write it off as a second home. If he is self employed or contracted he can write off a lot of stuff off it. And you can always sell it if it does not work out. He also can cook intead of eating out which if done all the time gets old. G. W
My husband and I have a fifth wheel now (camper) and have had some type of camper since we met and love it! Our 3 y.o. loves to go camping and we have room for the whole family and then some. I would suggest checking out some options with a local dealer and would recommend Smith RV in Decatur if you live anywhere near here. They can show you some of the pros and cons of owning a camper/rv and how to maintain it. A properly cared-for camper or rv can be very low maintenance and lots of fun. You can load up and not have to pack and unpack while you are on your trip. You have all of the comforts of home and are in your own environment versus being in a motel. You don't have to worry about bed bugs, noisy neighbors, etc. It's a super cheap family vacation, too!
It's also useful in your situation where your husband can use it for work. It is also a tax deduction as a second home.
Happy camping!
Hi, I don't own an RV, but my friend and neighbor down the street does. It was bought new and they have had problem after problem with it. They have head it less than 2 years, I am fairly sure. Apparently, the type of problems they've had are not at all uncommon. Now they just want to get rid of it and have yet to find a buyer!
Other than that, I believe they really enjoyed having the use of it.
