How many days/nights do you use your RV a year?
 

The RV Industry Association published a figure that the average RV is only used for 31 days a year.


So far for us 12 .. but we have add 11 more by the end of July.

Just check the bottom of my sig line...
I spend many more days at our seasonal campground that aren't listed. Sometimes I just come out to spend the day and go home at night.

Heck we did 43 days just on our trip to Gulf Shores, AL in late winter/early spring. Since then we've added another 10 days.

You know...that to me has always been kind of a silly question. I tend to go for just thinking of getting away. We may only go a couple miles up/down the road, and only go for a 3 day weekend, but to me, it is just the fact that we "got away". Some trips are 2 nights, some are 4 or 5... but just the thought of being out there to me is all that matters.

I'd be happy getting a whole bunch of short trips as opposed to 1 or 2 long trips.... That is what matters to me.

But, in the end, I think we have gotten away about 7 times so far this year and each was a great escape!

We bought our V lite March 5th of 08, and so far, we have only camped 3 weekends! I know it sounds bad, but our 14 year old son plays baseball for 3 different teams/leagues. Little league, school ball, and travel ball. That really keeps us hopping !! Randy

So far we're at about 20 days and that's half a year. We'll probably have a bit more than 40 by the end of the year.

We spend a little over 100 days in our camper a year. :)

This is what got me into camping in the first place.... I used to live in Orlando and if you've ever been there, Timeshare properties are a huge thing down there. We visited a few to get some free tickets for some attractions and actually almost bought one at one point. For around $225 a month you can finanace a property and usually get 2 good weeks out the year and trade with other properties to go where ever you would like.
Well, we didnt buy and things change and we ended up moving up here to Knoxville,Tenn. about an hour from the Smoky Mountains and buying a house here. After things got settled a bit i passed by an RV dealer and started thinking about it. We ended up purchasing a pop-up ,then a 27ft TT and now a 33ft TT all within a year of each other. I only pay around $150 a month and I can use it as often or as little as i like. Even if it's for just a short weekend trip, it's there when i want it.
So that's kinda how i reason that it may not get used as much as i would like but for me, as long as i use it for at least 2 weeks out of the year i'm still coming out ahead of the timeshare deal.
This year i've used the new one 5 days and the old one that we traded for 3 so i'm up to 8 and i have at least 2 more weeks already planned out and reserved so i'll definitly be ahead for the year.

We use ours about 25 days a year. We try to go every other weekend for short trips and at least two long trips each year.

At least 14 nights per year...just ask my tax guy. If it was only 13, I would not be able to write the rig off as a second home.

Hey Travel... tell us more about that second home thing. Do you have to "prove" that it's used in business to qualify?

We camp from mid April to mid November, when it gets cold and I can't stay out side it's time to winterize. I prefer to be in my house where I have more room then confind in a box, after all I can't put my pool table in the camper!

Not enough!:crying:

Well, none so far, but then we pick up the new trailer July 5th.

We will be camping the night of the 5th and stay out until July 12th.
3 days Labor Day weekend.
4 to 5 days in October.
Might go somewhere weekend after Thanksgiving.
Week after Christmas go somewhere, maybe the Georgia Coast or Gulf Coast.

So you see, we're making up for lost time!!

Ask him again
 

My CPA says there is no day count. All that is required is the unit be "self contained" meaning it has a full bathroom and water/electrical such that you really could comfortably live in the thing for an extended period.

Ask your tax guy again. :cowboy:

Not that it matters, how they gonna prove whether you did or did not stay so many days??

Since Jan 1 of this year, we're at about 30. Plenty more to come in 08, we probably use it around 50 days per year.

Joe

Hummm...thanks Radio. She specifically asked me how many days and explained it needed to be 14 nights. In addition, you are correct, the rig needs to be self-contained, have a restroom, kitchen (or eating space), and (oddly enough) a closet.

There is no need to "prove" the use thus far. EandS...you're good to go in writing off the interest paid (and I think taxes paid) as a second home if you meet the above listed. Vehicle registration fees are deductable too. In California, our registration fees are outta control. Now...I'm not a tax guy or CPA, so you'll need to check with your own. Radio's CPA had a slightly different definition then mine.

Qualified Residence Interest Defined
 

I have been a Income Tax Preparer for a number of years. You can use the interest you pay; Qualified Residence Interest Defined "A qualified residence includes the principal residence of the taxpayer and one other residence (i.e. vacation home) that is not rented out at any time during the tax year, or that is used by the taxpayer for a number of days exceeding the greater of 14 days or 10 percent of the number of days that it is rented out at a fair rental value." ( Code Sec 163(h)(4)(A))

Booo-yahh...thanks Phil.

I think we were at 80 last year and are presently at 40 days camped for this year.