How much have you spent on the RV lifestyle?

[NJKris]

First off, not interested in defensive replies like, "it's my money, I'll spend it how I like" or "The memories I have with my family/grandkids are worth more than money". Blech. If you are embarrassed looking at final number, then don't post. This thread is just for those who want to see where they fit in the big picture.


Your reply should cover: Approximate outlay on initial setup (out the door, tax included), EXTRAS you got that you got primarily because of RV, approximate fuel and park fees, How long you've been doing it. Maybe divide it out over number of years to figure out an annual cost to date.


This thread is not for squeamish! Maybe moderators should put a warning on it, that figuring this out may cause heart failure or something!


I will begin! All figures in USD.


TT - 20,000 (new)
TV - 30,000 (3 yr old used)
stuff - 5,000
fees and fuel - 6,000
Total is $61,000, so over 3 season so far, $20,333 per year to CAMP!

[rsdata]

All figures approx...

$15K new in 2014
$34 New to me RAM TV in 2016
$3K spent in first three years on goodies and tires
$16K on campground fees in 6 years ( 2020 did not camp at all)
Extra towing FUEL Who knows??? 3K/yr X 5 years X $3/gallon = $45,000

in the neighborhood of $70 to $115 K to enjoy the retired, but warmer then home outdoor lifestyle in 5 years or about $20K per year

[GravelRider]

Hmmm. I've owned mine for about a year now.

TT - $18,000
TV - $0 (already owned the same truck I'm towing with)
Camping stuff, generator, etc. - $5,000
Fuel - $3,600 (12,000 miles, average $3/gallon, lose 10 mpg towing)
Campground fees ~$1,200 maybe. We camped about 40 nights last year, and 15 so far this year. We mostly boondock or stay in state parks, but we've done some occasional expensive RV parks too.

So total of $27,800 over our first year. As the years go on, the yearly cost will drop (unless we continually upgrade TT/TVs!

[NJKris]

That's my goal, to keep using it over next 7 years, so my 'amortized' cost over a 10 year period is not so bad. I have a feeling we will upgrade to a 25' unit when wife retires, which will require a TV upgrade too. Still 4 years away.

[jd4010]

Figures below based upon our current rig which is now in it's 3rd season with us:

5er: $65k
TV: $80k bought in 2017
Fuel for camping (2019 to present): $4,015
Camping Stuff (2019 to present): $7,459
Camp sites (2019 to present): $11,013

#s are courtesy of Quicken (I track every penny).

Thanks for making me realize how much we've spent in the past few years! And people say camping is cheap!!!!! Ugh....

[NJKris]

It IS cheap if you do it the way we did as kids, in a tent with a Coleman lantern and stove! BTW, I did the Quicken track every penny one year. It was a horrifying eye opener.

[kenandterry]

Originally Posted by NJKris

It IS cheap if you do it the way we did as kids, in a tent with a Coleman lantern and stove! BTW, I did the Quicken track every penny one year. It was a horrifying eye opener.

Take a spin in your Corvette Kris. It’s like a reset to your system.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.


All better now.

[NJKris]

Ken, how right you are. I think it's been 4 weeks. But when you push that button and the engine roars to life, and the top goes down, the smile creeps across my face!

[heavynlori]

Camper 32k (current unit is 3rd one since starting)
Truck 36k
18 yrs @seasonal - $1k at start per yr to $2k last yr
Elec @ seasonal avg $50 month
Landscaping at site $500 yr avg includes decor, mulch, yard care, shed, tools, hoses, etc
Outside furniture and cooking supplies @ seasonal $3000 total
Firewood $200 @ year
Gas to/from - WAY TOO MUCH plus mileage on vehicles
Food - doesnt count - ya gotta eat no matter where u are

I will stop now….the cord on the calculator is starting to overheat !

We are no longer seasonal and using most of stuff at home now and using $$ to snowbird in FLA for 3 months this winter

[MT Biker]

Purchased Trailer new in 2016 ML23FB $20,000.00
Paid that off in 11-months
Had a RAM 1500 that was paid for that we initially towed with for 3-years,
Traded that in on a 2019 F-250 6.2 Lariat that after trade / taxes etc cost right around $46,000.00
Paid that off in 12-months
Between a Honda EU2200i generator and all the other crap we have accumulated for the trailer over the first 5-years of ownership I would say we spent right around $4,000.00 (you notice it all when you start trying to find stuff in all the compartments! )
Hard to say how much we have spent on camp sites over the first 5-years (we have only been out once so far in our 6th season) but I would safely say somewhere in the ball park of $10,000.00.
We have never stayed at any State / National parks (Just did our first trip this year dry camping at only $18/night! we will be doing more of this in the future), so all of our stays have been at resort style campgrounds with full hook ups and up here in New England they run anywhere from $55-60/night up to $125/night.
I don't count what we spend on food as we would be eating anyway even if we where not camping.

[Bhrava]

Also factor in how much you "would" have spent on hotels and meals had you done the same trip without an RV.

Had we gone to Bryce Canyon and stayed in hotels and purchased food, two rooms for the 5 of us, it would have cost us about $3500 without fuel costs. With the RV it was $1800 with fuel costs.

My first one was a TT that cost ~18K with the financing, Already owned the truck.

4 years and about a dozen trips all over, then sold it for $13K

So the trailer cost $5K, but other than a surge and voltage protector, a couple upgrades to it for roughly $1000, everything else spent for camping has relocated to the new trailer.

Doing a comparison of with and without, it was actually cheaper having the RV as it gives more flexibility, we make our own meals which is a huge savings with 5 people, and we sleep in our own beds.

Because of the VID and not even having the new trailer yet for a year, we have only done 4 weekend trips, so hard to evaluate costs, but if we did not have the RV, we would not have even taken those 4 weekend trips. SO there is that to consider too.

My new trailer cost $48K
We needed a second vehicle, so bought the truck used to tow it with, which came first, trailer was sized to the truck. It was ~$34K.

If I were to sell both truck and trailer I could break even today with the way the market is, then I would not be out anything at all. Crazy how the market is.

I have plans to keep both for 10 years, so it would break down to $8200 per year, so when I look at that, I better get some damned good use out of it. I already get good use out of the truck though, so really its $4800 a year.

[mikegernes]

2019 camper 97,000
2021 tv 79,000
We love camping.
I would say 200k easy.
Spending our childrens inheritance and having a blast!

[Guspech750]

My thoughts on our RV lifestyle.

[charles l]

Best guess over 125K in 4 years. That includes the rv, tow setup, old dolly, used JGC, gas, camping, spending money, accessories, upgrades to the rv, etc. I don't want to know. I just want to enjoy.

[Sunseeker16]

If you have to worry about it you can't afford it. New 2016 3010 DS List price $103,000, purchase price $86,000. Feed it when its hungry and pay to park it when you have to.

[Villagerjjm]

Since 1971: $102,233.86 and Worth EVERY PENNY SPENT !!!! No Regrets What So Ever!!!
I could write a book…..
….maybe I will !!

[Comanchecreek]

Couldn't tell you, don't keep track, it's what we want to do. Gotta live, and enjoy something. Been at it for 45 years. If you try to justify it financially it just won't be as much fun. The cost of something you love, just can't be justified with a number.

[jbflag21ds]

TT was 31k new in 2020

TV was 41k (was using existing SUV but I needed I truck, so this may or may not count)

7k in electrical upgrades (four LiFePO4, 3000w inv\chg, DC-DC, 400W solar, MPPT, wiring, fittings, breakers, fuses, switches, tools, connectors, etc)

1.2k for generator and related LPG gear to use house system

2.5k in toolbox, chocks, kitchen gear, rear cam, bedding, sewer gear and tote, cleaning and maintenance stuff, 30A extension cord, water hoses, filters, 30A EMS, linens, etc. All just for the trailer. I only unload food and clothes.

I estimate 3.8k in fuel (15,000 miles so far averaging 12mpg at $3 per gal avg)

No idea on campground fees but I'd bet 2k so far

So I guess about 90k since Sept 2020!

In not full time by any definition but I can work remotely so I can use my trailer often if I want as long as I get cell signal

[SlowJoe]

We've spent close to $40,000 for motorhomes over the last 10 years by shopping the used market carefully. That's the money I figure I'm out for sleeping in my own bed. The rest which is gasoline, camp fees, repairs, modifications, etc., I have checked several times and it is less expensive than traveling and staying in motels or hotels and eating in restaurants so I'm good with the fun we've had and the places we've been able to travel because we can afford it because of a motorhome.

[Bob2019]

I started a spreadsheet and the listing of stuff, buying a motorhome, gas, storage, license, sales tax of $4,065 alone, gas, park fees, EMS, battery monitor, and the list continues to amaze me. I have to look at it this way - If you have to ask or the cost bothers you, you should downsize. For me, I enjoy it too much to let it bother me anymore at my age.