RV vs. Motel: Not cheaper!

[colourful64]

Personally i am not a campfire.person.. I woukd rather a concrete "jungle camp"..

[The_Rhino]

GLAMPING means that after exhausting ourselves swimming, hiking, biking, fishing, etc. we can fix an easy meal (outdoor kitchen) & rest in our comfy beds... Not having canvass sides, like popups & hybrids, means we can sleep through the night - even when heavy rains force our tent-camping neighbors to pack & go in the middle of the night. (Our TT is pretty quiet with the windows closed & A/C fan running - we don't even hear next door neighbors come & go - and you know how loud some can be especially when they are cursing at the rain & their kids who are running every which way in the dark...)

Friends & family claim they could never afford the camping lifestyle, but they routinely drop $35K on new mid-size SUVs or minivans... For LESS than that price/payment we have a (slightly used) roomy 2-slide TT & (used) 3/4 ton TV combo. I'm very happy we skipped the "entry level" popups & hybrids & went straight to something we will keep a while...

[pgandw]

Glamping vs Camping....

We'll take the other side of the equation.

As I found with owning boats, the bigger the boat, the less it tends to get used. Watching the RV storage lots, I think the same holds generally true for RVs. People on this forum are likely an exception, being more dedicated to using their RVs than most.

Understanding our interests and available time, we bought the 17ft A-frame (2014 Rockwood A122) that stores in the garage, ready to go. 30 minutes to pack food (in coolers) and clothes for a weekend, which go in the minivan tow vehicle (also fits in the garage, which is a good thing in the Colorado sun and winters). Add the EZ-up for the picnic table, 2 folding chairs, hook up the camper, and we are on the road.

30 minutes at the campsite for complete setup (or teardown). We can fit into any site with reasonable road access - don't need hookups unless the temps are too hot to be comfortable without air conditioning (then we only need 20A electric). This lets us take the secluded and shaded sites in the back - if we want - with privacy from the neighbors.

For us, camping is about being outdoors. We cook, eat, and lounge at or near the picnic table, and the minivan is readily available for sightseeing or traveling to the marina or any other day or night activity. The A-frame provides a dry, peaceful place to sleep at night, or read or talk while waiting out a thunderstorm.

Our next trip will be to Lincoln, Nebraska for dinner with our son, and attending a U of Nebraska baseball game and spring football scrimmage. We chose to camp because availability and price of hotels for the long weekend more than makes up for the cost of the campsite and extra gas used while towing. Also, we can take the dog in the camper vs finding a neighbor to take care of her ($15 per day).

Different strokes for different folks...

Fred & Patty W
camping Colorado one weekend at a time
2014 Rockwood A122
2008 Hyundai Entourage (minivan)

[The_Rhino]

I think it's great that folks enjoy camping with smaller gear & maximize their fun fitting-in places where the big rigs won't fit... However, I don't think it costs any less anymore... IMO it's hard to find a used popup/hybrid that doesn't have leaks... When we were looking at them, I couldn't find one without prior damage...

IMO today's NEW popups & hybrids are pricey because they do try to pack them full of features, including slide-outs... We started-out looking at new popups ($13-$15K) and Hybrids ($15K-18K) but then realized we could have a (used) full-size TT with 2 slides for not that much more... My (used) 2011 Ram 2500 actually cost less than a (used) 2011 Accord, so IMO it just comes down to gas.

I burn about $800 more per year on my daily commute than when I had the Accord... IMO that's a small price to pay to tow what I want. IMO our minivan will also live a lot longer because towing is hard on them... (We have 180K on the Odyssey with no issues whatsoever...)

[Dodge Guy]

I priced out a trip down to Disney world 3 ways, take the trailer and stay at Stone Mtn, Fort Wilderness and a KOA on the way home, drive the minivan and stay in a hotel/motel each way and stay at a Disney World hotel or fly and stay at a Disney hotel. We took the trailer. In the end it was only $300 more with the trailer, the big thing was I wasn't limited to a balcony and could take a walk through the campground, not much of a walk in a hotel. And for the extra $300 we got to see Stone Mtn.

And we had our own bed and no one poisoned us while we were sleeping!

[rockfordroo]

IMO it's hard to find a used popup/hybrid that doesn't have leaks

I've got one without leaks.

[TreeLady]

I like being outdoors. That is pretty much it in a nutshell for me and DH.

Some trips warrant a motel. They are convenient.
But, when time allows, an RV and the outdoors is better than anything.
Always can find ways to cut costs. I am happy to camp in state parks at a lesser price.
Spring is here in Ohio. Ready to get the camper out of storage, cleaned up, loaded up and hit the campground!!! And I am lucky enough to be retired so I can go whenever i
want.

Karen

[The_Rhino]

Spring is here in Ohio. Ready to... hit the campground!!!

We're from the Akron area & are meeting some other families at a nearby campground this weekend. We never got-away like this before we had he TT... The cost for 2 nights won't be any more than we spend eating-out 2X... In fact, we're actually eating-out less throughout the winter because we figure each meal is another night's stay at a campground...

[vinmaker]

There is no question that camping is more expensive. But it is a lifestyle we all love.

Me. I like small as I prefer to pull a smaller unit than a bigger unit. But at $18K for the pop up and $40K for a used SUV to pull the unit. It sure gets expensive. I envy the tradesmen who already have the F350 for a TV. For them the biggest part of the equation is taken care of. For the rest of us? We have to pay dearly for what we love.

Vin.

[OldCoot]

This is worse than trying to compare apples and oranges. The two are not even remotely related. Each lifestyle has it's benefits and disadvantages.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

This is worse than trying to compare apples and oranges. The two are not even remotely related. Each lifestyle has it's benefits and disadvantages.

I haven't been in this thread in a long time, but this times a million.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

This is worse than trying to compare apples and oranges. The two are not even remotely related. Each lifestyle has it's benefits and disadvantages.

Hey, maybe we should debate how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. I'll say 50!

[Boso]

I could travel all around the world on planes stay in good hotels rent cars and still would not spent as much money as I have spent on rv's and accessories since 2003 but I'm still doing it


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[Roving Ron]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Hey, maybe we should debate how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. I'll say 50!

You can fit 100 if you have a weight distributing pin head!! 😜

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Roving Ron

You can fit 100 if you have a weight distributing pin head!! ��

Don't forget the air bags.

[klspahr]

We bought our motorhome for work. We have been using it most weekends. My wife performs at shows and festivals - we generally leave Thursday or early Friday and stay on site at the show. It has been great to walk out the door when the show closes, go a couple steps and we're 'home'. We save on food by cooking instead of going to a restaurant for every meal. Like many said before, it is nice to sleep in a bed you know, we've had some rooms in the past where you wanted to sleep standing up. We now feel like we have the freedom to travel farther and longer than before. We're planning trips to Florida in the fall and of course all of January and February.

We found a barely used Freelander for a good price. Other then replacing the original tires from 2006, this thing has been trouble free. We will be happy if we at least break even when all is said and done, but I'm pretty sure it will make money if there are no major repair needed in the future.

But best of all, we are really enjoying our new lifestyle!

[hockeytownmom]

Family of 7 - it's A LOT cheaper for us... especially at Disney which is my obsession.

[TreeLady]

This really works well for you. A space of your own to escape to after a busy
weekend.
Definitely a plus for you both. And cost effective.

Karen

[OKI Marine]

It's what I like to do. I know what I have invested in my RV and Truck and am quite content. Those that knock it seem to be the ones that will come around and ask to borrow it for a weekend.

[captnrick3]

My wife and I both traveled extensively on business during our working years and looked forward to weekends in our RV. Now retired, motels are not an option, we would not trade our RV for anything (except maybe a new RV which we just did). Hate living from a suitcase, packing and unpacking, sleeping in others beds. Cost does not come into the equation.