Everyone told my parents not to buy an RV in 1989... they did not listen...It was the best decision of their life. They spent 19 years touring Canada and the USA. It defined them. They are both gone now, I plan to follow their path.
I realy hope you get the chance to do it. We lived in an rv for 8 years with 8 kids. It was the best time of my life. I plan to get back at it now that kids are grown. This video is skipping over a bunch of stuff and making it sound like a bad thing but it was amazing for us.
It's not an investment it's a lifestyle. If you like staying at home seeing how much money you have in the bank makes you happy . Not me. I say you only live once make memories.
@@soillife1 No I don't have to watch it again. I didn't miss anything. Whatever the cost or whatever happens on the Road it is what it is. You go with the flow. If you can't do that then it's not for you. You only live once.
Well said, Mate! 🇦🇺🥩🍺 We just decided to ditch everything & live for US! Any advice for a 1st time buyer? We like the Minnie Winnie 22R. It's a Class C
Thank you sir! In my opinion we need more of this, “Honesty is the best policy “ once that RV comes off the lot , they don’t care anymore. Thank you for making people Accountable for there choices. Right on!
I love having an rv. The freedom to come and go wherever you want, not worrying about Covid 19 because I don't have to be around others. BLM land and Forest service areas are free camping in beautiful areas. If you don't use it a lot then it isn't worth it financially. But worth it in relaxation, freedom, and enjoying life. I have a class b rv, sold my class c for the b and I love it so much. Great gas mileage and can park anywhere.
I agree with you, I do own Class A, 36 feet. I love and enjoy my Rv. Yes it is expensive, but I can afford it. I know well how to travel, over 35 years experience, we learned. I’m also very handy man, so it helps a lot. Rving is not for everyone. Great review.
Andrew all of your reasons are valid. We just sold an older Newmar MountainAire that we enjoyed part time for 6 years. It’s a lot of fun when the kids and pets can go along. But when it gets to sit for 6 months at a time it’s time to sell. Same thing goes for boats. Thank you for your videos and for your honesty. 👍🏻😎
I have owned BOTH a vacation cabin in the mountains and a RV. I would say that I prefer the RV. Why? Because it allows me to see things and places I would never get to while allowing my best friends (my 3 x dogs) to come along. In terms of upkeep they both were a pain in the ass.
I guess if you’re going to have a pain in the ass it might aswell be one on wheels that you can put wherever you want! A pain in the ass on the beach is much less so in my opinion.
Been there done both! We camp in a van now and yes it seems better to not be tied down to 1 location. Our mountain cabin was lots of works and high costs!!!
Hi, just curious. Would it be better use of money if you just drive to the places you want to see with your friends and stayed in local Hotels/Motels/Cabin/Airbnb? I have been thinking about buying an RV but my wife convinced me that there is no need to bring a house with you whenever you go. For same budget, a hotel can probably give you better bathroom/kitchen/bed than an RV. You actually have more freedom when you don't have to carry a house with you. Also, not to mention you have to handle the sewage and inefficient use of gasoline. I have concluded that RV would be worth it only if the place I go has super expensive Hotel/Model/cabin/airbnb and I do not plan to travel very far (perhaps within a state and neighboring states). But that is just my speculation, not from actual experience of owning an RV. I thought it would be nice to hear from someone with actual experience. Thanks.
My husband is a master Mobile RV technician. 20 yrs of service. $100 is cheap. He charges that but that includes diagnostics. Most techs charge that for just showing up. We live in Galveston county TX. If you’re in an RV PARK, ask at the office who they would recommend. We have RV parks popping up like crazy. Many are foreign owned. We’ve been RVing for 30 years. We love it!!
RV is the way to go. You don’t have to buy a very expensive RV just one that will allow you to take some vacation time off or go out on the weekend and be self sufficient. I love the RV life full or part time.
Have had 2 diesel pushers and a fifth wheel. All of your points are on the money. If you can afford to pay cash and the depreciation doesn’t bother you(goes down in value as quickly as boats), you will enjoy it. If you have to think about the money you’re going to lose, you’ll never enjoy it. We’ve met a ton of neat people, but as you say, we’re still working and can’t use it enough. It is a lifestyle choice. Here’s an example: purchased a used 40’ that we fell in love with for $150K. Put $20K in maintaining with some minor improvements over a 3 year period of ownership. We were lucky to sell it for $100K. Net loss $70,000.00! We’re not complaining, just showing the reality of ownership. ( I also did almost all of my own work). Just food for thought. Thanks again or a realistic viewpoint.
We bought our first RV (Motorhome) in 1987. Since then we have had 5 of them. Family has moved on and my wife and i are now in a 2004 Fleetwood Tioga 31W. It is now 16 years old still looks new. 48,000 miles. Bottom line beat thing we have done as a Family. Our 4 kids have really had a lot of fun traveling
The rv and boating industry shows just what a rich nation we are. The middle class owns a large percentage of the recreational vehicle s And Boats. God Bless America
I got used, had it inspected and did everything right, still ended up costing a TON OF MONEY compared to traditional travel, I shutter to b think how much I would have lost if I had purchased a new diesel pusher
We have had over 20 motor homes. (Once in the rental business) but there are some general rules. What we have realized is that the bigger the more problems. And when you are buying the dealer won’t tell you about the strange items that cost lots to repair or to find someone able to repair a problem... For the general RVer buy a class C used first. Those chassis are less troublesome. But in general things are built to fall apart...
There are plenty of older RVs that are sub 40k that are more enjoyable and cost friendly for all us poor boys. Plus they are so much easier to work on yourself. Andrew makes all the right points. Most are expensive toys for the rich boys LOL.
Brother - You are rock solid. My wife even enjoys your videos. Why do I say that? Because I obsess over something like a zillion hobbies and she indulges me. However, you are thoroughly informative and entertaining at the same time. Thanks for the content and all the best to you on your journey! Paul and Lisa - Austin, Texas
Here is my tip... Learn to do your own RV maintenance and use a good car maintenance management program ( I use Automotive Wolf car care software ) to track and monitor it all. It also tracks all my parts, expenses and creates a detailed vehicle maintenance log. After RV'ing for over 10 years I've saved thousands by doing most of the maintenance myself and there is a lot of it on an RV! A small roof leak can cost you thousands in repairs so I check my roof at least twice a year. Keep on top of the maintenance and you'll save money and be RV'ing for years :)
I would never buy an RV, just to take it out on weekends!! What a waste.. no amount could ever make financial sense. However, if it full time.. this is another story. I feel it’s like an apartment... on wheels. Personally I’ll be buying a 500k renegade, to live in! It’s a crazy idea, but I understand all these rules, and he’s 100% right!
All valid points! I hate to poopoo the RV lifestyle though. I bought a 20 year old coach, it’s paid for, and I love it. But I also have had to spend money to fix things. It’s no Prevost but it’s nice and it gets me out camping.
good way to think when your young.. But a lot of us have our homes paid for, money in the bank , and would love to see the country . I am not going to sit home and have my kids get all my Money … just some LOL someday your going to say ,, DAMN I have maybe 10- 20 years to LIVE , then you will have a different outlook
Gus, you’re right. For baby boomers (or anyone else) that are set with a paid for home, and can pay cash for their RV, have time to travel because they’re retired it’s a great option. We love RV travel, plane travel and world cruse ship travel. Like the estate lawyer said, Go first class because your heirs will Hahahha.
I would say.... spend your money instead of watching it loose its value on your retirement investments. There are wonderfull rv communities.... Life is short..... write a new chapter in your life.....buy an rv and go explore
Your reasons are logically correct. Attractive RVs' RUclips ads trap people to buy them. But they really cost a lot of money and finally end up in a loss of money.
Everything he says is true. We bought a four year old Tiffin Allegra after we retired. We did 4 to 6 week trips every year for about four years. You have to plan every step of your trip months in advance, be prepared for something to break (always happens), cooking in advance and buying food for four weeks can be a nightmare. Storage, insurance, repairs - there’s a lot more to owning an RV than just the initial cost.
Hi, you have confirmed me NOT buying a newer model. I agree with all 7 reasons. I am retired Military and can move but with 3 mid size dogs the many rules and maintainance...I will invest in dirt. Thanks!
There really should be a part 2 on this video cause there is a huge upside to this subject. There are people who have made smart decisions like stick to what they can afford, not some expensive Prevost bus. Boondocking as much as they can as supposed to staying in some $300.00 a night resort. Other tan maintenance costs and training yourself to be super skillful (cause owning a rig will force you to learn). If you want to buy an RV to live to avoid expensive rent it takes smart choices and planning. Shout out to those people who find it disgusting to stay in busy hotels where you don't know what kind of nastiness was going on in those rooms. So I'm not totally with you on this. There are hundreds of success stories from people who have pioneered the RV lifestyle and make it work cause they really wanted to be there. RV's can be fun and adventurous. It's important to do what you do Andrew for this channel and that's talk and consume the advice of people who can school you on the things you should know so you're not draining your finances. You are right to stress that you need a plan and steady income to finance that plan to be a successful RVer. My take away is...know what kind of RV user you are going to be. Thanks for sharing Andrew.
Thanks I've looked at this video and I was like ehh, because if it something someone wanna do they're going to go for it regardless of what they have to go through have a rv is freedom
You're not going to save any goddamn money living in an rv. You are gonna easily spend more money than if you live in a single family house. How much fucking traveling are you ACTUALLY going to fucking do in it? If you're mostly stationary why the hell would you buy a travel trailer? If you have to talk about a budget this fucking bull shit is not for you. Sorry but the rv industry has fucking lied to you, as well as the assholes on social media.
I love to travel. I love seeing whatever is over the next hill. I've visited every state except Alaska, spent time in almost every national park and spent a lot of time on the road. I've also been enamored with RV travel for a couple of decades. But I've decided that the very best way for me to travel is in a nice car spending nights on the road in hotels and motels and eating out most of the time. Here's why I think this is a better decision that RVing..... 1. Staying in cities where many of the glamour sights, sounds and experiences are located just works better for me. "See the USA in your Chevrolet" really works for me. 2. After spending a day inside a vehicle getting from point A to point B, the last thing I want to do is spend the night in the same place I spent the day. Hotels and Motels have great facilities, they have great wifi, they are located near or inside about any place you ever want to go, the usually give you a light breakfast and the variety of experiences you can have in hotels and motels is superb. 3. Many of the best and most famous National Parks have terrific, near legendary hotels that are as much a part of the visit as anything else in the park. 4. There is no comparison between the comfort, economy and reliability of a car and that of any style, sort or model of an RV. 5. I save so much money doing traditional traveling vacations that spending a week or two in any location is easily affordable using just the money I've saved by not having an RV. 6. The much ballyhooed 'lifestyle' associated with RV travel is crazy. Hook up your sewer. Hope for Wifi. Pay too much to park. Spend a night in a Walmart parking lot? Pot luck suppers with strangers over and over? Doing your laundry where? Park in the desert for weeks courtesy of the BLM? Crowded parks in Florida, Arizona, Texas and anywhere you really want to go? 7. Miami, Tampa, New Orleans, Austin, El Paso, Santa Fe, Chicago, NYC, Boston, DC, SFO, Seattle, St. Louis, Nashville.......America is full of great cities with history, culture, and lot of things to do. Where the heck are you gonna park an RV when seeing the cities that make America great? RV? Not for me.
This is a great video with great information. We have a class a and financed it AND we knew what we were getting into. It will be paid for in 5 years and we anticipated all the costs to own, maintain and store. *We bough used and God Bless the first owner, they took a bath. I wish everyone considering getting an rv would watch this and get a pen , calendar and calculator out. We love ours and wouldn't trade it for anything, but we knew what the expenses would be in advance.
When people say you "you could have bought a house for the price of that RV" my response is always "but then I'd have to live in a house". Of course it isn't an investment.
I've been following many of the RV'ers on RUclips, and I've basically come to a similar conclusion on buying an RV. As nice as the new ones look, I think you should have the price of a new RV saved, then find a used one that you like, have it inspected, fix anything that needs it, maybe do some upgrades, and you'll still spend less than new (I think). You should have plenty of money left to maintain it. More importantly not fall into a hole moneywise.
This presentation makes sense and we all must come to terms with "cost of operation" contrasting to the freedom of ownership. What is the intended use? Today, with many loosing their homesteads with this plandemic, there are many reasons to insure sovereignty by being creative. RV-ing (includes trailers and 5th-wheels) does not mean traveling, it can be as simple as a means of controlling your life/environment. The RV is used as a home, a much smaller vehicle is used as a means to purchase groceries and to do task. This configuration means the RV stays mostly anchored while you use a much more efficient means to navigate. Points to Consider: Is renting an apartment or house considered building equity? Can you remove most of the ongoing expenses considered a "Monkey on Your Back" by creating an alternative life style like that of a mortgage or renting? Can the investment you make in the acquisition of an RV with upgrades be realized as equity and therefore be a justification to sell for more? The problem is there are too many factors that are not within the model of the depreciation of a car or truck. When talking about an RV/Motor-home, the major differences is you are dealing with functions which a mobile house will give you such as: (a) Solar system with good components that is matched for the needs of the appliances and your particular life style, (b) The configuration of gray/black and water tanks, (c) Does the RV have a deck and awnings? (d) Are the floors quality wood or carpeted (do you like dark wood or light wood)? (e) What generation of air-condition is being used? (f) Bathroom amenities - is there a toilet which is electric (or must you be mindful of having to dump the black tank several time a month? (g) Does the RV have dual tandem rear wheels? (h) Do you like the kitchen cabinets layout, color and builtin appliances (does it have a full separate freezer compartment that runs on either electric or propane)? (i) What condition is the roof? (j) The overall looks/design of the RV. The list goes on and on. There are many RUclips videos with RV-ers testimonies that they wished they had done this earlier. About devaluation: A RV- has many duties it has to perform. The amenities /features or upgrades are the fundamentals to convenience, operating expenses and or safety. There are so many variables, a blue-book price many times is not relevant. Can we also include a tiny house as an RV. If so, can you get your investment back on a tiny house? These are all questions to ask yourself. Thumbs up. see - Don't buy a RV before watching this video! ruclips.net/video/nwrwBCekVec/видео.html
Never say ,"it bad to buy an RV"" don't say the due to your reasons because, others buy for long traveling reasons and others buy because it nice to have one...This two have different benefits.. Am a farmer, from my site to the house is about 60 miles away ...so my buying RV is right or wrong.. I can stay there and monitoring my farm and working hard at the some time.
Wise words for those looking at joining this lifestyle. One thing you need to know every RV purchase comes with a free lifetime membership to the "Problem of the month club" that you can not cancel.
Big fan of your last point. Financing or even paying cash for a depreciating asset (if you can call it that). I was at a recent RV show in Houston. Found a 900k Newmar with a show price of 550k. With that kind of spread the market must be flooded with RV's, and resale value expected to perform like a junk bond that just went into arrears.
Great video and interesting. I don't have $200,000 cash so I decided to finance at 5 percen interest, which is not too bad. Tax write-off and plan to pay it off ASAP. I guess I'm just addicted to having a coach and enjoying it with my family. My personal opinion is that if it's not going to break you then go for it and enyoy life/vacation in the comfort of your own home on wheels.
LM The problem is you never know if or when it's going to break you until you actually have the RV and are possibly out on the road 1,000 miles from home. I had a small class A a few years ago. I bought it used and it was in top shape. However, it was constant upkeep and maintenance. Everything on a motor home is expensive. Not just the parts but the labor. We never went on a trip without something expensive going wrong. Sold it 3 years later for about the same price I paid for it which was probably the only redeeming value. Have toyed with the idea of getting another one. But then I awaken back in the real world.
Good advice for those thinking of trying out RVing for the short or long term. One should weight all the pros and cons before leaping. Wonderfull video Andrew.
Andrew, this may very well be your best video to date; I respect your honesty. If you don't have a ton of money in the bank, this lifestyle makes no sense to me. Of all the germane points you mentioned, I believe that: 1) not being on the same page with your RV partner, 2) not being mechanically inclined, and 3) having a tight, type A personality, are by far and away the most important points. For me it comes down to two simple facts: I am in no way mechanically inclined, and I believe you need millions, not just 2-300,000 in secured assets to even START taking this lifestyle seriously. That 300,000 will evaporate in no time. Superb video because it is much needed.
I love watching folks spend big bucks on enjoying the rv life style and " Living Free" but there are storage lots just chock full or rv's just sitting and depreciating because folks don't have the time away from earning a living to use the rv.
Matt Robin That’s one thing people I talk to say that is a very big problem. Working all the time. So before buying need to think how much time do I have to spend on camping traveling.
@@jameslowmanjr6141 I hear all the time about people who buy new RVs and who try to get work performed under the manufacturer's warranty. The dealer has their RV more than they do. I equate owning an RV with owning a plane, especially and expensive Class A. Being retired I could probably afford to buy any RV up to a 40 footer. It would be nice to travel around and not have to worry about hotels, restaurants, and everything that they entail. But then I hear all of the negative stuff about them and have decided that my SUV or a plane, Hampton Inns, and Cracker Barrel, will do just fine.
Thank you for talking me out of it. Saved 40 grand from not buying a truck and another 60 on a camper. Best Fiancial advise I’ve gotten all year, and it was free lol
We full time in a 1973 GMC coach. In the last year we’ve visited 41 states and 5 provinces. Yes it’s definitely a lifestyle, we boondock most of the time ( 2 nights in an RV park in 2019), and it can be less expensive than a traditional home , but as stated it requires planning and flexibility.
Raoul Béhem 38,000 miles, $16,000. Because we have a good solar system on our bus we are able to heat, cool, and enjoy life without the need for a generator nor plugging in. We travel for work( we teach detailers how to improve quality and efficiency), doing it without the bus ( flights, hotels, shipping of products, rental cars, restaurants would be cost prohibitive.
Yvan Lacroix Thanks for replying. Retiring soon and considering selling/donating stuff and moving FT in RV . Travel expenses mentioned make sense for you because it’s business. Agree that is definitively less expensive than hotels and restaurants. Good luck.
Rvs are not an investment they are a recreational toy like a boat unless you live in them full time and still not an investment. I am retired and havent regretted it.
A good quality used travel trailer can significantly cut the costs of owning an RV. Used Fiberglass travel trailers generally hold up fairly well and are light enough to get decent towing fuel economy.
Andrew I agree with a couple of things you said and I disagree with a few. My wife and I financed a Newmar Dutch Star 42 foot pusher in January 2012. It is one of the best thing we have done as a couple. We are not retired and we have approximately four weeks of vacation per year. We take one big trip per year and at least on local trip per month. I agree with what you said about cost but man if you love being on the road to see this beautiful country then it is worth every dime. I am not rich by any means but I dont lose any sleep at all over the cost of owning my coach. Keep up the great work and I hope to see you on one of my Az trips to visit my brother.
all great points ,...I can do my own work and repairs,...looking for something diesel and just about fully depreciated,...just to visit distant family who have farms etc where there is plenty of room,....oh and if I can't pay for it I won't buy it,.... still going to be an expense but I also want to live in on my property while building a new house,....I hope I have thought it out,....
You can rent them by the week, this is the best way for short term use. Use it for your vacation and no license plates or maintenance or storage. I buy older travel trailers, my current is 1987 bought for $1,700 needed new holding tanks which I was able to do myself. Last one was an 84 that I used for 10 years bought for $1,500. Have always done all my repairs. I use it from end of may through October selling at fairs, festivals etc. Then use it for my office while selling Christmas trees. I pull it with an E250 van currently which carries the merchandise that I sell. All business expenses covered on this. I do some shows that are basically boondocking and occasionally Walmart or other parking lot. Get tired find a parking lot or truck stop or rest area,no problem.
i want an RV so bad I've been watching your vids for so long now and i agree with you, RV life is not cheap especially full time, gas money alone is equivalent to rent money in some areas lol like California where i live its expensive......
My 2001 fleetwood discovery custom....I bought cheap cash...l over 5 years I have put about 15-17,000...including must do battery's, tires new fridge coils ect...and a complete interior remodel.....full timing for three years now love it....
I plan buying a used Class A and tour the country. Plus I'm one would like to outfit a ruif with enough solar and battery bank to boondock more than anything. Great insight Andrew!
You nailed it! Being of steady but modest income, my thinking was house or RV, pick one and live in it full time. Chose the RV lifestyle 10 years ago and never looked back. But beware, full timing in an RV and actually moving the damn thing will eventually cost more than the house for all the reasons you enumerated.
Andrew, I really enjoy your channel and that is where we are in making an informed decision. Your insight and honesty speak volumes of your character. We love to travel and explore this beautiful country. I'm looking at a 5 year time period and being on the road 150 days a year. I'm getting ready to lay out the hotel, fuel, depreciation, maintenance, and other cost to see if it is all worth it. Once again, thanks and keep up the good work, maybe we'll cross paths one of these days.
Thank-you for the TRUTH Andrew!! I've RV'd with the family for 24 years in my SAME 30ft unit (Beautiful) and I had 1.5 saved for a new one. Now I'll re-think this!
I find I like to drive and see the country. I usually get in a site for a month because it’s less expensive but find myself getting tired of it sooner and maybe leave a few or couple days early. That’s still less expensive than just staying a week or two. I spend 6 months out of California in winter when I go. I Also got a 2380 model so the house part is pretty small but I get 15 to 17 miles per gallon in my Ford transit. I also got a great by because it had been in 3 shows and had a few dings. All in all I love RVing. I did pay cash. My husband passed away and knew I needed one and he left me the money. I payed $59,000. And it’s not that more than a truck. But I have my bed, bathroom, tiny place to cook, and relax. I did great I think I love our country and the views are breathtaking.
Everyone has their own opinions on RVs and RV life, I give you all 👍Up. I understand everyone needs to go out and do what you want to do even if it's just to say you did it. I thought about it for a minute but weighing all expenses and families concerns, I set it aside. I do want to thank you for keeping it real. There are some folks out there that have not thought about some of what you brought up. Listen, Learn and do whatever pleases you! Godspeed ✝💚💃
All excellent points. I've said to my wife many of times, I wish we didn't love RV'ing so much we could buy a small place on the water, cabin, or something not too crazy to vacation to. But for us it would be very boring. We like movement and the change of scenery that comes with it. My recommendation is to make sure everyone saves (as much as possible, maxing out 401K's or IRA's, etc) for retirement first, then buy an RV and enjoy, with (some) piece of mind...:)
That's a good point on the retirement funds! We're full-time RV'ers, and our travels are funded by pensions, NOT retirement funds, we don't even touch those. We financed our rig short-term, took the funds from the house, paid off the RV and the rest went into a sizeable emergency fund. By the time we HAVE to start drawing on our retirement funds we'll have more income than we ever had in working life. We were already RV'ers, small cheap stuff for the weekend type of trips...NO WAY would I invest the kind of money I did on a weekender rig. Start out small and cheap before taking a deep dive, learn how to actually camp before you step foot in an RV.
Dave Ramos That’s just what we did. Just bought a new 5er and big truck and will be retiring and going full time in a few months at age 56. Life is too short!
I guess the only way to go is MB, Transit or Ducato RV's. Since they're built on the same chassis as the van, they're more reliable. My MB is now around 180,000 miles and with no problems. Fuel is less than utilities. 5th wheels, diesel pushers and big C's are for people that decided to live that kind of life and have infinite pockets. Thanks for being that direct and honest. I know a couple who have already spent 3 million and haven't seen anything but a few states! My RV van was 70 grand and is holding up without a hitch.
Thanks for the candor. I am approaching retirement and am considering buying an RV. It would be more like a We Roll than a class A or B, or C. I like staying out a week to 10 days, then coming home.
All great tips! I’m trying to talk my husband into renting a gorgeous home a couple weeks at a time rather than getting stuck with the monthly or perhaps daily expenses of rv’s. You also made a really good point about someone who is OCD. We travel a lot with horses and the stress gets really hard on him. Of course, it’s always more stressful with live animals onboard and breaking down in bfe. Thank you!!
Excellent points. There are THOUSANDS of RVs sitting in storage that hardly ever get used because people don't realize that leaving for the weekend in Friday traffic to spend a day at an RV park and drive home Sunday is a horrible way to spend a weekend.
SINGLE MAN HERE. RETIRED. I BUY NEW EVERY THREE YEARS WITH WARRANTY. I BOONDOCK AND HAVE PASSPORT AMERICA AND TWO OTHER THINGS WHERE I'VE ALREADY PAID MY DEBTS AND HAVE A CREDIT SCORE OF 840. AMEN
I am not an RV’r. Good video. I agree with everything you said. I can travel in my Avalon a long time and stay at Hilton’s a lot cheaper and more trouble free than owning any kind of an RV.
It would have been helpful to list a few of the cost you mentioned. Also one way to pay for finance could be > buy a house in a good location > rent the house > rental income should pay for house mortgage and potentially RV finance. Your house/property appreciates in value and pays for both. Risk > tenants wreck things, don't pay, move out, gap before new tenants, income tax on rent.
I know your posting is older, but that is exactly the same page I'm on. I have several rentals. 1 pays for my house, another pays for my car and the other's pay for repairs and water bills, etc. I want to get an RV (used one to keep the cost down) and I told my wife I need to by another rental so it'll pay for the RV. Been a landlord for 9 years now and tenants wrecking things or not paying is due to not picking the right tenant to begin with. Trust but verify, screen and screen again for the perfect tenant!
I've owned 3 class As 2007 Wennebago Tour 2013 Newmar King Air 2017 Entegra Cornerstone I totally agree it's very expensive toy my Tour was 89k the King Air was $229k Entegra was $399k The thing people don't think about all the proper set up things you need to buy. These RV dealers my give you these cheap ass starter kits believe Me buy the right stuff it's not cheap . As far as making payments depends how much you make on your retirement . All my riges are paid for I agree you need to have Tools and be Mechanivly inclined you don't need to be a master Mechanic . I tell people to buy from a good dealer I only deal with one myself I live in the Philippines 4 months of the Year in my Class A 8 months I have nice home in the Phils
Good list Andrew and all good advice. My wife and I are still working and not retired yet so only able to use our RV for weekend getaways and maybe a week of vacation here and there. Our goal is to use the RV at least 2 nights per month, sounds easy but I assure you its not, there is so much that can get in the way. For 2019 we were right on our goal of 2 nights per month. I purposely try not to add up the expenses because I know it doesn't make financial sense. The only way it makes sense is if you truly enjoy the adventure, outdoors and maintenance aspects of RV'ing. Great Vid!
Good reasons. Collectively, it's why I rent Class A's. Still more expensive than most vacations, but really fun and at the end you drop it off with no further financial or lifestyle impediments for the rest of the year.
I agree with your points. I bought a used one for a great deal. It has a couple of things that need to be fixed but nothing major. I bought mine for the purpose of going racing. It’s cheaper for me to stay at race track with my crew. Hotels are usually 40-45 minutes from race track and on a long race weekend (Thursday to Monday) the hotel gets expensive upwards of $1500-2000. The added benefits are trying to wake up your crew early in the morning after the guys went drinking after racing is done for the day. Now I don’t have to do that they are all at the track and ready t work lol.
Basically This RV's are totally Awesome!!!I totally Love them.The main thing is can you afford to pay for it cash? are you organized,would you know how to take Excellente Care Of One?Wisdom would say please just make sure that you can do this!!!I know that I would absolutely Love to have one to Bless my family but I am not yet prepared to handle this kind of cost.,well this is a vihicle for very wealthy people for the most part.So let's be humble and simply be thankful and content for now to settle for a small special RV that we can afford. There are many many options to travel with your family in a way that will bring Love into the Awesome plan's.All you need to do is to research what will work best for your little family!!!enjoy your travels friend's.Thank you Sir for the opportunity to share a special comment that totally agrees with all that you have shared with us as well.🌲🎶⛅🕊🎶🌲
Thanks Andrew. I wish we could have seen this before we bought ours. Financed that is. And yes, 400 a month to store indoors. And lots of issues. It's crazy how much it is. Greatly appreciate it.
I love my little Roadtrek 170 RV. Paid cash, fits in my garage and is so easy to drive and park. I would never want a class A or C, way too big for me.
Adding to my previous comment. Have you ever thought about doing a video about renting from a RV sharing platform or putting your RV into a sharing platform? This could be a good alternative to buying or perhaps helping defray expenses. Thanks, Adam
Thank you for the common sense tips! I have heard stories about people who retired and purchased an RV to travel, only to find out they didn’t have the money for the gas to move it, so they live in their children’s driveway...
We had a 24' Class C, its another vehicle BUT inspections more $, insurance more $, AAA roadside assist. $, it leaked, constant repairs on solar, mechanical, plumbing, propane, 8 mpg = $200/day, mountains were no fun, expensive camping so just rent a cabin or get a tent....
Was great before the energy crisis in 1974, RV with air gave us 15 mpg with 30 cents per gallon gasoline. No microwave back then, but a propane range with an oven. Camp grounds were plentiful, state was a dollar per night two if you wanted electricity. All had dumping tanks. Refrigerator worked of 120VAC or propane, freezer was 10 degrees below zero. Up here gas was as high as $4.55 per gallon with 7 mpg? Cheaper to fly. With these new ones, sure don't want to have a road failure and can cost you 40 bucks a night at a camp ground. Many roads don't even have a shoulder where you can safely pull over. Good old days, should go backwards, not forwards.
Love the 7 reasons NOT to RV. I know this post is 2 years old but wanted to add my 2 cents. My opinion, financing; with a vehicle depreciation of 6 percent per year and money available at 2 percent, and an investment portfolio that can net 10 percent, even if you consider the effect of inflation, it’s probably better to keep your principle earning and pay the loan interest. I agree that if you don’t have the cash, you shouldn’t buy, but if you do have the cash, financing could be more financially prudent. Andrew! Love your channel! Keep it up. Matt
All great tips. I think there is an uptick in people buying these since the pandemic. People feel safer to invest in their own traveling hotel-vacation without having to fly or be where others have sneezed on (haha). That being said..good advice on the financing piece and also spaces avail at places to park them. We were looking into possibly purchasing (for cash) a decent 5th wheeler but then you need to buy a truck to tow it..and the prices of those suckers aren't cheap either. So what would have been a $20K purchase would end up being an $80K+ investment. Then insurance. Then you have to pay for a place to park it when not using it or even when you DO use it. I have a friend and she and her hubs just bought a very expensive luxury motorhome. I mean. VERY expensive. She grew up RVing so perhaps thats something that despite the price and devaluation the minute you take it off the lot-they can afford the loss should they decide to stop doing it. As much as originally I thought it was a good idea to look into the RVing lifestyle..I think we'll just rent one for a week or 2. MUCH cheaper and no commitment.
Purchased a nice class C in 1974 21 footer during the energy crisis, 3,000 miles on it, got it for $3,000.00, did get 17-18 mpg with 35 cents a gallon gas. Put over 80,000 miles on it, state parks were a buck a night, private around five bucks. Sold it in 1987 for $6,000.00, kept it nice and neat. Was actually large enough six kids. Now at times gas was over $4.50 a gallon, state parks, 30 bucks a night, private, even more, can't maintain it yourself, RV shops charge 125 bucks per hour. Driving a compact car, get 50 mpg, Air BNB, around 20 bucks a night, don't have to clean it up when you get home or empty those holding tanks, but haul all that stuff back into your home. I miss the good old days.
Great points. The most important issue is to have an exit plan. If you finance, especially a new one, put at least 20% down, and have 20% in the bank for when you want to sell it. Keep really good service records, and when you are not using it, store it indoors. Spend time learning about how to use and maintain all the systems. RV's are very complex and the more you understand them the better you can take care of them. Hopefully, when you are ready to exit out, the next buyer will appreciate and understand the value of your love and attention that was given in keeping it in top notch condition. Which should result in as good of price as possible.
Andrew - of late, you seem to be star-struck and into hanging with the folks who can afford to pay cash for multi-million dollar motor homes. We enjoyed your videos a lot more when you were into detailing RV’S with Big Tony and had a bit more humility. Your videos have kind of morphed into a mobile version of lifestyles of the rich and famous. We enjoy watching these videos knowing we can’t afford to replicate what we are seeing. On the other hand, we love our Winnebago, know it is a depreciating asset that, due to it being a gas model, is relatively cheap to operate and maintain, is totally affordable (even with a loan payment) and the experiences we’ve had and plan to have with our kids and grandkids are priceless. There are four much older motor homes parked near us and the folks seem to be having a great time. There are lots of ways for people to enjoy the RV life that don’t require going deeply into debt and don’t have the diesel bus maintenance and repair overhead. There are aspects of your public service announcement that are valuable, but your frame of reference is a bit narrow.
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Everyone told my parents not to buy an RV in 1989... they did not listen...It was the best decision of their life. They spent 19 years touring Canada and the USA. It defined them. They are both gone now, I plan to follow their path.
Happy for your parents and good luck to you!
Amen
Good story. But the story kinda has nothing to do with RV. The key point is they traveled around Noth America.
@@usarmycol6087 how about you cry somewhere else debby downer
I realy hope you get the chance to do it. We lived in an rv for 8 years with 8 kids. It was the best time of my life. I plan to get back at it now that kids are grown. This video is skipping over a bunch of stuff and making it sound like a bad thing but it was amazing for us.
It's not an investment it's a lifestyle. If you like staying at home seeing how much money you have in the bank makes you happy . Not me. I say you only live once make memories.
You missed the point of this video.
Watch it again and pay attention Btanman
@@soillife1 No I don't have to watch it again. I didn't miss anything. Whatever the cost or whatever happens on the Road it is what it is. You go with the flow. If you can't do that then it's not for you. You only live once.
Well sun
Your a little sensitive.
Maybe ADD
Try concentrating on Andrews video and his overal objectives.
Your taking this way to personal sun.
OK Nolife1
You're so Smart. Pack your tent up and have a happy New Year
Well said, Mate! 🇦🇺🥩🍺
We just decided to ditch everything & live for US!
Any advice for a 1st time buyer? We like the Minnie Winnie 22R. It's a Class C
I work for a self serve storage company. We store your albatross 11.5 months out of the year. Its between 200 and 400 a month if you want it garaged.
Thank you sir! In my opinion we need more of this, “Honesty is the best policy “ once that RV comes off the lot , they don’t care anymore. Thank you for making people Accountable for there choices. Right on!
I love having an rv. The freedom to come and go wherever you want, not worrying about Covid 19 because I don't have to be around others. BLM land and Forest service areas are free camping in beautiful areas. If you don't use it a lot then it isn't worth it financially. But worth it in relaxation, freedom, and enjoying life. I have a class b rv, sold my class c for the b and I love it so much. Great gas mileage and can park anywhere.
Yes class B also my choice plus I can park them anywhere
Hey a a minimalist
I agree with you, I do own Class A, 36 feet. I love and enjoy my Rv. Yes it is expensive, but I can afford it. I know well how to travel, over 35 years experience, we learned. I’m also very handy man, so it helps a lot. Rving is not for everyone. Great review.
Andrew all of your reasons are valid. We just sold an older Newmar MountainAire that we enjoyed part time for 6 years. It’s a lot of fun when the kids and pets can go along. But when it gets to sit for 6 months at a time it’s time to sell. Same thing goes for boats. Thank you for your videos and for your honesty. 👍🏻😎
Good info
I say go for it as you could be gone any moment. Having memories is more important than money.
I have owned BOTH a vacation cabin in the mountains and a RV. I would say that I prefer the RV. Why? Because it allows me to see things and places I would never get to while allowing my best friends (my 3 x dogs) to come along. In terms of upkeep they both were a pain in the ass.
Rebel Lucy you made me laugh. I also have 3 buddies to tag along. And a Harley. Toy Hauler seems to be a good choice.
I guess if you’re going to have a pain in the ass it might aswell be one on wheels that you can put wherever you want! A pain in the ass on the beach is much less so in my opinion.
Been there done both! We camp in a van now and yes it seems better to not be tied down to 1 location. Our mountain cabin was lots of works and high costs!!!
Instead of a cabin, we went with a condo. Less maintenance hassles.
Hi, just curious. Would it be better use of money if you just drive to the places you want to see with your friends and stayed in local Hotels/Motels/Cabin/Airbnb? I have been thinking about buying an RV but my wife convinced me that there is no need to bring a house with you whenever you go. For same budget, a hotel can probably give you better bathroom/kitchen/bed than an RV.
You actually have more freedom when you don't have to carry a house with you. Also, not to mention you have to handle the sewage and inefficient use of gasoline. I have concluded that RV would be worth it only if the place I go has super expensive Hotel/Model/cabin/airbnb and I do not plan to travel very far (perhaps within a state and neighboring states).
But that is just my speculation, not from actual experience of owning an RV. I thought it would be nice to hear from someone with actual experience. Thanks.
My husband is a master Mobile RV technician. 20 yrs of service. $100 is cheap. He charges that
but that includes diagnostics. Most techs charge that for just showing up. We live in Galveston county TX. If you’re in an RV PARK, ask at the office who they would recommend. We have RV parks popping up like crazy. Many are foreign owned. We’ve been RVing for 30 years. We love it!!
RV is the way to go. You don’t have to buy a very expensive RV just one that will allow you to take some vacation time off or go out on the weekend and be self sufficient. I love the RV life full or part time.
You just convinced me to buy an RV.
I so much enjoy mine
Bottom line: If you have the desire, $ and time, buy a used quality coach for cash. Maintain it well and enjoy your travels!
Have had 2 diesel pushers and a fifth wheel. All of your points are on the money. If you can afford to pay cash and the depreciation doesn’t bother you(goes down in value as quickly as boats), you will enjoy it. If you have to think about the money you’re going to lose, you’ll never enjoy it. We’ve met a ton of neat people, but as you say, we’re still working and can’t use it enough. It is a lifestyle choice. Here’s an example: purchased a used 40’ that we fell in love with for $150K. Put $20K in maintaining with some minor improvements over a 3 year period of ownership. We were lucky to sell it for $100K. Net loss $70,000.00! We’re not complaining, just showing the reality of ownership. ( I also did almost all of my own work). Just food for thought. Thanks again or a realistic viewpoint.
After driving trucks over 42years dont buy a RV if your used to driving a freakin prius and dont know how to back up !!!!!!!!
We bought our first RV (Motorhome) in 1987. Since then we have had 5 of them. Family has moved on and my wife and i are now in a 2004 Fleetwood Tioga 31W. It is now 16 years old still looks new. 48,000 miles. Bottom line beat thing we have done as a Family. Our 4 kids have really had a lot of fun traveling
Some great advice, especially about having your spouse "on board" and being realistic about having time to actually go out and enjoy the RV.
To rent it first, then make a decision to buy if you really want it.
Buy used. Many well maintained RVs out there.
exactly only buy used let someone else take the major part of depreciation. smart move.
1+
The rv and boating industry shows just what a rich nation we are.
The middle class owns a large percentage of the recreational vehicle s
And Boats.
God Bless America
I got used, had it inspected and did everything right, still ended up costing a TON OF MONEY compared to traditional travel, I shutter to b think how much I would have lost if I had purchased a new diesel pusher
I agree. I see plenty of well maintained rv's for under 50 to 70k.
We have had over 20 motor homes. (Once in the rental business) but there are some general rules. What we have realized is that the bigger the more problems. And when you are buying the dealer won’t tell you about the strange items that cost lots to repair or to find someone able to repair a problem... For the general RVer buy a class C used first. Those chassis are less troublesome. But in general things are built to fall apart...
There are plenty of older RVs that are sub 40k that are more enjoyable and cost friendly for all us poor boys. Plus they are so much easier to work on yourself. Andrew makes all the right points. Most are expensive toys for the rich boys LOL.
add to that insurance + maintenance + fuel + parking cost; it is cheaper and much less cumbersome to travel first class.
Excellent, honest, unbiased advice from a very knowledgable person...
Brother - You are rock solid. My wife even enjoys your videos. Why do I say that? Because I obsess over something like a zillion hobbies and she indulges me. However, you are thoroughly informative and entertaining at the same time.
Thanks for the content and all the best to you on your journey!
Paul and Lisa - Austin, Texas
Here is my tip... Learn to do your own RV maintenance and use a good car maintenance management program ( I use Automotive Wolf car care software ) to track and monitor it all. It also tracks all my parts, expenses and creates a detailed vehicle maintenance log. After RV'ing for over 10 years I've saved thousands by doing most of the maintenance myself and there is a lot of it on an RV! A small roof leak can cost you thousands in repairs so I check my roof at least twice a year. Keep on top of the maintenance and you'll save money and be RV'ing for years :)
I would never buy an RV, just to take it out on weekends!! What a waste.. no amount could ever make financial sense.
However, if it full time.. this is another story. I feel it’s like an apartment... on wheels.
Personally I’ll be buying a 500k renegade, to live in! It’s a crazy idea, but I understand all these rules, and he’s 100% right!
All valid points! I hate to poopoo the RV lifestyle though.
I bought a 20 year old coach, it’s paid for, and I love it. But I also have had to spend money to fix things. It’s no Prevost but it’s nice and it gets me out camping.
good way to think when your young.. But a lot of us have our homes paid for, money in the bank , and would love to see the country . I am not going to sit home and have my kids get all my Money … just some LOL someday your going to say ,, DAMN I have maybe 10- 20 years to LIVE , then you will have a different outlook
Finally, an appropriate response. Thanks! :)
Gus, you’re right. For baby boomers (or anyone else) that are set with a paid for home, and can pay cash for their RV, have time to travel because they’re retired it’s a great option. We love RV travel, plane travel and world cruse ship travel. Like the estate lawyer said, Go first class because your heirs will Hahahha.
Same boat as you.
I would say.... spend your money instead of watching it loose its value on your retirement investments.
There are wonderfull rv communities....
Life is short..... write a new chapter in your life.....buy an rv and go explore
Your reasons are logically correct. Attractive RVs' RUclips ads trap people to buy them. But they really cost a lot of money and finally end up in a loss of money.
Everything he says is true. We bought a four year old Tiffin Allegra after we retired. We did 4 to 6 week trips every year for about four years. You have to plan every step of your trip months in advance, be prepared for something to break (always happens), cooking in advance and buying food for four weeks can be a nightmare. Storage, insurance, repairs - there’s a lot more to owning an RV than just the initial cost.
most of people with RV are trying to escape the suburbs and find themself staying in an RV park which is a miniature version of a suburb.
na man not me , I have been rving on and off for 30 years NEVER STAYED AT A RV PARK ,,,, we boondock 100% of the time ,,, I just dont like people !
I agree
Hi, you have confirmed me NOT buying a newer model. I agree with all 7 reasons. I am retired Military and can move but with 3 mid size dogs the many rules and maintainance...I will invest in dirt. Thanks!
I'll give you 100 reasons why. It changed my life😃
Buy an RV storage compound, that's where the money is!! Happy New Year Andrew!
Or a REPO company.
Or stock
Winnebago up 8 percent last week.
That's one person's opinion
Not all RVs are alike. Like saying don't buy a house
If you have had a bad experience push on it's a personal opinion
No, no; now it's "Happy life, no wife".
😂😂
Truth
Mr. Mike ALSO HAPPY LIFE NO HUSBAND... 🤓
God Bless you Mr. Mike aka red pill bro
I agree
There really should be a part 2 on this video cause there is a huge upside to this subject. There are people who have made smart decisions like stick to what they can afford, not some expensive Prevost bus. Boondocking as much as they can as supposed to staying in some $300.00 a night resort. Other tan maintenance costs and training yourself to be super skillful (cause owning a rig will force you to learn). If you want to buy an RV to live to avoid expensive rent it takes smart choices and planning. Shout out to those people who find it disgusting to stay in busy hotels where you don't know what kind of nastiness was going on in those rooms. So I'm not totally with you on this. There are hundreds of success stories from people who have pioneered the RV lifestyle and make it work cause they really wanted to be there. RV's can be fun and adventurous. It's important to do what you do Andrew for this channel and that's talk and consume the advice of people who can school you on the things you should know so you're not draining your finances. You are right to stress that you need a plan and steady income to finance that plan to be a successful RVer. My take away is...know what kind of RV user you are going to be. Thanks for sharing Andrew.
VERY well said!
Yes, nicely said.
Thanks I've looked at this video and I was like ehh, because if it something someone wanna do they're going to go for it regardless of what they have to go through have a rv is freedom
You're not going to save any goddamn money living in an rv. You are gonna easily spend more money than if you live in a single family house. How much fucking traveling are you ACTUALLY going to fucking do in it? If you're mostly stationary why the hell would you buy a travel trailer? If you have to talk about a budget this fucking bull shit is not for you. Sorry but the rv industry has fucking lied to you, as well as the assholes on social media.
I love to travel. I love seeing whatever is over the next hill. I've visited every state except Alaska, spent time in almost every national park and spent a lot of time on the road. I've also been enamored with RV travel for a couple of decades. But I've decided that the very best way for me to travel is in a nice car spending nights on the road in hotels and motels and eating out most of the time. Here's why I think this is a better decision that RVing.....
1. Staying in cities where many of the glamour sights, sounds and experiences are located just works better for me. "See the USA in your Chevrolet" really works for me.
2. After spending a day inside a vehicle getting from point A to point B, the last thing I want to do is spend the night in the same place I spent the day. Hotels and Motels have great facilities, they have great wifi, they are located near or inside about any place you ever want to go, the usually give you a light breakfast and the variety of experiences you can have in hotels and motels is superb.
3. Many of the best and most famous National Parks have terrific, near legendary hotels that are as much a part of the visit as anything else in the park.
4. There is no comparison between the comfort, economy and reliability of a car and that of any style, sort or model of an RV.
5. I save so much money doing traditional traveling vacations that spending a week or two in any location is easily affordable using just the money I've saved by not having an RV.
6. The much ballyhooed 'lifestyle' associated with RV travel is crazy. Hook up your sewer. Hope for Wifi.
Pay too much to park. Spend a night in a Walmart parking lot? Pot luck suppers with strangers over and over? Doing your laundry where? Park in the desert for weeks courtesy of the BLM? Crowded parks in Florida, Arizona, Texas and anywhere you really want to go?
7. Miami, Tampa, New Orleans, Austin, El Paso, Santa Fe, Chicago, NYC, Boston, DC, SFO, Seattle, St. Louis, Nashville.......America is full of great cities with history, culture, and lot of things to do. Where the heck are you gonna park an RV when seeing the cities that make America great?
RV? Not for me.
This is a great video with great information. We have a class a and financed it AND we knew what we were getting into. It will be paid for in 5 years and we anticipated all the costs to own, maintain and store. *We bough used and God Bless the first owner, they took a bath. I wish everyone considering getting an rv would watch this and get a pen , calendar and calculator out. We love ours and wouldn't trade it for anything, but we knew what the expenses would be in advance.
...I have an SUV as my main vehicle. You throw a tent and sleeping bags in the back and you go. It's the better way to travel if you ask me...
It takes a special kind of wife to buy into that lifestyle.
Camping and RVing are two COMPLETELY different things and ways of life. You can't even compare the two.
When people say you "you could have bought a house for the price of that RV" my response is always "but then I'd have to live in a house". Of course it isn't an investment.
RVs I see that I want to get is only $20,000
I've been following many of the RV'ers on RUclips, and I've basically come to a similar conclusion on buying an RV. As nice as the new ones look, I think you should have the price of a new RV saved, then find a used one that you like, have it inspected, fix anything that needs it, maybe do some upgrades, and you'll still spend less than new (I think). You should have plenty of money left to maintain it. More importantly not fall into a hole moneywise.
This presentation makes sense and we all must come to terms with "cost of operation" contrasting to the freedom of ownership. What is the intended use? Today, with many loosing their homesteads with this plandemic, there are many reasons to insure sovereignty by being creative. RV-ing (includes trailers and 5th-wheels) does not mean traveling, it can be as simple as a means of controlling your life/environment. The RV is used as a home, a much smaller vehicle is used as a means to purchase groceries and to do task. This configuration means the RV stays mostly anchored while you use a much more efficient means to navigate.
Points to Consider: Is renting an apartment or house considered building equity? Can you remove most of the ongoing expenses considered a "Monkey on Your Back" by creating an alternative life style like that of a mortgage or renting? Can the investment you make in the acquisition of an RV with upgrades be realized as equity and therefore be a justification to sell for more? The problem is there are too many factors that are not within the model of the depreciation of a car or truck. When talking about an RV/Motor-home, the major differences is you are dealing with functions which a mobile house will give you such as: (a) Solar system with good components that is matched for the needs of the appliances and your particular life style, (b) The configuration of gray/black and water tanks, (c) Does the RV have a deck and awnings? (d) Are the floors quality wood or carpeted (do you like dark wood or light wood)? (e) What generation of air-condition is being used? (f) Bathroom amenities - is there a toilet which is electric (or must you be mindful of having to dump the black tank several time a month? (g) Does the RV have dual tandem rear wheels? (h) Do you like the kitchen cabinets layout, color and builtin appliances (does it have a full separate freezer compartment that runs on either electric or propane)? (i) What condition is the roof? (j) The overall looks/design of the RV. The list goes on and on.
There are many RUclips videos with RV-ers testimonies that they wished they had done this earlier. About devaluation: A RV- has many duties it has to perform. The amenities /features or upgrades are the fundamentals to convenience, operating expenses and or safety. There are so many variables, a blue-book price many times is not relevant. Can we also include a tiny house as an RV. If so, can you get your investment back on a tiny house? These are all questions to ask yourself. Thumbs up. see - Don't buy a RV before watching this video! ruclips.net/video/nwrwBCekVec/видео.html
Never say ,"it bad to buy an RV"" don't say the due to your reasons because, others buy for long traveling reasons and others buy because it nice to have one...This two have different benefits..
Am a farmer, from my site to the house is about 60 miles away ...so my buying RV is right or wrong..
I can stay there and monitoring my farm and working hard at the some time.
Wise words for those looking at joining this lifestyle. One thing you need to know every RV purchase comes with a free lifetime membership to the "Problem of the month club" that you can not cancel.
Haha.
Good one 😀
Big fan of your last point. Financing or even paying cash for a depreciating asset (if you can call it that). I was at a recent RV show in Houston. Found a 900k Newmar with a show price of 550k. With that kind of spread the market must be flooded with RV's, and resale value expected to perform like a junk bond that just went into arrears.
Great video and interesting. I don't have $200,000 cash so I decided to finance at 5 percen interest, which is not too bad. Tax write-off and plan to pay it off ASAP. I guess I'm just addicted to having a coach and enjoying it with my family. My personal opinion is that if it's not going to break you then go for it and enyoy life/vacation in the comfort of your own home on wheels.
LM
The problem is you never know if or when it's going to break you until you actually have the RV and are possibly out on the road 1,000 miles from home. I had a small class A a few years ago. I bought it used and it was in top shape. However, it was constant upkeep and maintenance. Everything on a motor home is expensive. Not just the parts but the labor. We never went on a trip without something expensive going wrong. Sold it 3 years later for about the same price I paid for it which was probably the only redeeming value. Have toyed with the idea of getting another one. But then I awaken back in the real world.
Good advice for those thinking of trying out RVing for the short or long term. One should weight all the pros and cons before leaping. Wonderfull video Andrew.
Andrew, this may very well be your best video to date; I respect your honesty. If you don't have a ton of money in the bank, this lifestyle makes no sense to me. Of all the germane points you mentioned, I believe that: 1) not being on the same page with your RV partner, 2) not being mechanically inclined, and 3) having a tight, type A personality, are by far and away the most important points. For me it comes down to two simple facts: I am in no way mechanically inclined, and I believe you need millions, not just 2-300,000 in secured assets to even START taking this lifestyle seriously. That 300,000 will evaporate in no time. Superb video because it is much needed.
I love watching folks spend big bucks on enjoying the rv life style and " Living Free" but there are storage lots just chock full or rv's just sitting and depreciating because folks don't have the time away from earning a living to use the rv.
There are 3 storage lots, very large ones, near where I live and they are full of RV's that go nowhere
Matt Robin
That’s one thing people I talk to say that is a very big problem. Working all the time. So before buying need to think how much time do I have to spend on camping traveling.
@@jameslowmanjr6141 I hear all the time about people who buy new RVs and who try to get work performed under the manufacturer's warranty. The dealer has their RV more than they do. I equate owning an RV with owning a plane, especially and expensive Class A. Being retired I could probably afford to buy any RV up to a 40 footer. It would be nice to travel around and not have to worry about hotels, restaurants, and everything that they entail. But then I hear all of the negative stuff about them and have decided that my SUV or a plane, Hampton Inns, and Cracker Barrel, will do just fine.
They should rent them out if not using them. There are rvbnb platforms now.
Thank you for talking me out of it. Saved 40 grand from not buying a truck and another 60 on a camper. Best Fiancial advise I’ve gotten all year, and it was free lol
This may be one of the most honest videos I have ever seen. Thank you so much for your points to consider.
Thank you!
We full time in a 1973 GMC coach. In the last year we’ve visited 41 states and 5 provinces. Yes it’s definitely a lifestyle, we boondock most of the time ( 2 nights in an RV park in 2019), and it can be less expensive than a traditional home , but as stated it requires planning and flexibility.
Yvan Lacroix Curious, how much was your fuel bill for all this travel? For how many kms or miles?
Raoul Béhem 38,000 miles, $16,000. Because we have a good solar system on our bus we are able to heat, cool, and enjoy life without the need for a generator nor plugging in. We travel for work( we teach detailers how to improve quality and efficiency), doing it without the bus ( flights, hotels, shipping of products, rental cars, restaurants would be cost prohibitive.
Yvan Lacroix Thanks for replying. Retiring soon and considering selling/donating stuff and moving FT in RV . Travel expenses mentioned make sense for you because it’s business. Agree that is definitively less expensive than hotels and restaurants. Good luck.
Rvs are not an investment they are a recreational toy like a boat unless you live in them full time and still not an investment. I am retired and havent regretted it.
A good quality used travel trailer can significantly cut the costs of owning an RV. Used Fiberglass travel trailers generally hold up fairly well and are light enough to get decent towing fuel economy.
Andrew I agree with a couple of things you said and I disagree with a few. My wife and I financed a Newmar Dutch Star 42 foot pusher in January 2012. It is one of the best thing we have done as a couple. We are not retired and we have approximately four weeks of vacation per year. We take one big trip per year and at least on local trip per month. I agree with what you said about cost but man if you love being on the road to see this beautiful country then it is worth every dime. I am not rich by any means but I dont lose any sleep at all over the cost of owning my coach. Keep up the great work and I hope to see you on one of my Az trips to visit my brother.
You hit the nail on the head for me as well !!
Looking forward to that time out and enjoying it is so awesome. That at times makes it worth it! I agree too.
all great points ,...I can do my own work and repairs,...looking for something diesel and just about fully depreciated,...just to visit distant family who have farms etc where there is plenty of room,....oh and if I can't pay for it I won't buy it,.... still going to be an expense but I also want to live in on my property while building a new house,....I hope I have thought it out,....
Thank you sir, I can tell you are a wise man.
You can rent them by the week, this is the best way for short term use. Use it for your vacation and no license plates or maintenance or storage. I buy older travel trailers, my current is 1987 bought for $1,700 needed new holding tanks which I was able to do myself. Last one was an 84 that I used for 10 years bought for $1,500. Have always done all my repairs. I use it from end of may through October selling at fairs, festivals etc. Then use it for my office while selling Christmas trees. I pull it with an E250 van currently which carries the merchandise that I sell. All business expenses covered on this. I do some shows that are basically boondocking and occasionally Walmart or other parking lot. Get tired find a parking lot or truck stop or rest area,no problem.
i want an RV so bad I've been watching your vids for so long now and i agree with you, RV life is not cheap especially full time, gas money alone is equivalent to rent money in some areas lol like California where i live its expensive......
My 2001 fleetwood discovery custom....I bought cheap cash...l over 5 years I have put about 15-17,000...including must do battery's, tires new fridge coils ect...and a complete interior remodel.....full timing for three years now love it....
I plan buying a used Class A and tour the country. Plus I'm one would like to outfit a ruif with enough solar and battery bank to boondock more than anything. Great insight Andrew!
You nailed it! Being of steady but modest income, my thinking was house or RV, pick one and live in it full time. Chose the RV lifestyle 10 years ago and never looked back. But beware, full timing in an RV and actually moving the damn thing will eventually cost more than the house for all the reasons you enumerated.
Andrew,
I really enjoy your channel and that is where we are in making an informed decision. Your insight and honesty speak volumes of your character. We love to travel and explore this beautiful country. I'm looking at a 5 year time period and being on the road 150 days a year. I'm getting ready to lay out the hotel, fuel, depreciation, maintenance, and other cost to see if it is all worth it. Once again, thanks and keep up the good work, maybe we'll cross paths one of these days.
Thank-you for the TRUTH Andrew!! I've RV'd with the family for 24 years in my SAME 30ft unit (Beautiful) and I had 1.5 saved for a new one. Now I'll re-think this!
Excellent. Well done and so truthful. I would encourage everyone to listen to you. Pax.
I find I like to drive and see the country. I usually get in a site for a month because it’s less expensive but find myself getting tired of it sooner and maybe leave a few or couple days early. That’s still less expensive than just staying a week or two. I spend 6 months out of California in winter when I go. I
Also got a 2380 model so the house part is pretty small but I get 15 to 17 miles per gallon in my Ford transit. I also got a great by because it had been in 3 shows and had a few dings. All in all I love RVing. I did pay cash. My husband passed away and knew I needed one and he left me the money. I payed $59,000. And it’s not that more than a truck. But I have my bed, bathroom, tiny place to cook, and relax. I did great I think I love our country and the views are breathtaking.
Everyone has their own opinions on RVs and RV life, I give you all 👍Up. I understand everyone needs to go out and do what you want to do even if it's just to say you did it. I thought about it for a minute but weighing all expenses and families concerns, I set it aside. I do want to thank you for keeping it real. There are some folks out there that have not thought about some of what you brought up. Listen, Learn and do whatever pleases you! Godspeed ✝💚💃
All excellent points. I've said to my wife many of times, I wish we didn't love RV'ing so much we could buy a small place on the water, cabin, or something not too crazy to vacation to. But for us it would be very boring. We like movement and the change of scenery that comes with it. My recommendation is to make sure everyone saves (as much as possible, maxing out 401K's or IRA's, etc) for retirement first, then buy an RV and enjoy, with (some) piece of mind...:)
That's a good point on the retirement funds! We're full-time RV'ers, and our travels are funded by pensions, NOT retirement funds, we don't even touch those. We financed our rig short-term, took the funds from the house, paid off the RV and the rest went into a sizeable emergency fund. By the time we HAVE to start drawing on our retirement funds we'll have more income than we ever had in working life. We were already RV'ers, small cheap stuff for the weekend type of trips...NO WAY would I invest the kind of money I did on a weekender rig. Start out small and cheap before taking a deep dive, learn how to actually camp before you step foot in an RV.
Dave Ramos That’s just what we did. Just bought a new 5er and big truck and will be retiring and going full time in a few months at age 56. Life is too short!
I guess the only way to go is MB, Transit or Ducato RV's. Since they're built on the same chassis as the van, they're more reliable. My MB is now around 180,000 miles and with no problems. Fuel is less than utilities. 5th wheels, diesel pushers and big C's are for people that decided to live that kind of life and have infinite pockets. Thanks for being that direct and honest. I know a couple who have already spent 3 million and haven't seen anything but a few states! My RV van was 70 grand and is holding up without a hitch.
Thanks for the candor. I am approaching retirement and am considering buying an RV. It would be more like a We Roll than a class A or B, or C. I like staying out a week to 10 days, then coming home.
All great tips! I’m trying to talk my husband into renting a gorgeous home a couple weeks at a time rather than getting stuck with the monthly or perhaps daily expenses of rv’s. You also made a really good point about someone who is OCD. We travel a lot with horses and the stress gets really hard on him. Of course, it’s always more stressful with live animals onboard and breaking down in bfe. Thank you!!
Excellent points. There are THOUSANDS of RVs sitting in storage that hardly ever get used because people don't realize that leaving for the weekend in Friday traffic to spend a day at an RV park and drive home Sunday is a horrible way to spend a weekend.
Great video! Thanks for your experiences and insight.
SINGLE MAN HERE. RETIRED. I BUY NEW EVERY THREE YEARS WITH WARRANTY. I BOONDOCK AND HAVE PASSPORT AMERICA AND TWO OTHER THINGS WHERE I'VE ALREADY PAID MY DEBTS AND HAVE A CREDIT SCORE OF 840. AMEN
I am not an RV’r. Good video. I agree with everything you said. I can travel in my Avalon a long time and stay at Hilton’s a lot cheaper and more trouble free than owning any kind of an RV.
It would have been helpful to list a few of the cost you mentioned. Also one way to pay for finance could be > buy a house in a good location > rent the house > rental income should pay for house mortgage and potentially RV finance. Your house/property appreciates in value and pays for both. Risk > tenants wreck things, don't pay, move out, gap before new tenants, income tax on rent.
I know your posting is older, but that is exactly the same page I'm on. I have several rentals. 1 pays for my house, another pays for my car and the other's pay for repairs and water bills, etc. I want to get an RV (used one to keep the cost down) and I told my wife I need to by another rental so it'll pay for the RV. Been a landlord for 9 years now and tenants wrecking things or not paying is due to not picking the right tenant to begin with. Trust but verify, screen and screen again for the perfect tenant!
This is your best video to date… absolutely correct on all points. Folks would be wise to heed this excellent advice.
I've owned 3 class As
2007 Wennebago Tour
2013 Newmar King Air
2017 Entegra Cornerstone
I totally agree it's very expensive toy my Tour was 89k the King Air was $229k
Entegra was $399k
The thing people don't think about all the proper set up things you need to buy.
These RV dealers my give you these cheap ass starter kits believe
Me buy the right stuff it's not cheap .
As far as making payments depends how much you make on your retirement .
All my riges are paid for
I agree you need to have Tools and be Mechanivly inclined you don't need to be a master Mechanic .
I tell people to buy from a good dealer I only deal with one myself
I live in the Philippines 4 months of the Year in my Class A 8 months
I have nice home in the Phils
Anything you finance will increase the cost 60 to 75% due to interest. Houses, cars, etc.
I waiting for the video 7 reasons why you should buy a rv.
Good list Andrew and all good advice.
My wife and I are still working and not retired yet so only able to use our RV for weekend getaways and maybe a week of vacation here and there. Our goal is to use the RV at least 2 nights per month, sounds easy but I assure you its not, there is so much that can get in the way. For 2019 we were right on our goal of 2 nights per month. I purposely try not to add up the expenses because I know it doesn't make financial sense. The only way it makes sense is if you truly enjoy the adventure, outdoors and maintenance aspects of RV'ing. Great Vid!
Good reasons. Collectively, it's why I rent Class A's. Still more expensive than most vacations, but really fun and at the end you drop it off with no further financial or lifestyle impediments for the rest of the year.
I agree with your points. I bought a used one for a great deal. It has a couple of things that need to be fixed but nothing major. I bought mine for the purpose of going racing. It’s cheaper for me to stay at race track with my crew. Hotels are usually 40-45 minutes from race track and on a long race weekend (Thursday to Monday) the hotel gets expensive upwards of $1500-2000. The added benefits are trying to wake up your crew early in the morning after the guys went drinking after racing is done for the day. Now I don’t have to do that they are all at the track and ready t work lol.
Basically This RV's are totally Awesome!!!I totally Love them.The main thing is can you afford to pay for it cash? are you organized,would you know how to take Excellente Care Of One?Wisdom would say please just make sure that you can do this!!!I know that I would absolutely Love to have one to Bless my family but I am not yet prepared to handle this kind of cost.,well this is a vihicle for very wealthy people for the most part.So let's be humble and simply be thankful and content for now to settle for a small special RV that we can afford. There are many many options to travel with your family in a way that will bring Love into the Awesome plan's.All you need to do is to research what will work best for your little family!!!enjoy your travels friend's.Thank you Sir for the opportunity to share a special comment that totally agrees with all that you have shared with us as well.🌲🎶⛅🕊🎶🌲
Thanks Andrew. I wish we could have seen this before we bought ours. Financed that is. And yes, 400 a month to store indoors. And lots of issues. It's crazy how much it is. Greatly appreciate it.
I love my little Roadtrek 170 RV. Paid cash, fits in my garage and is so easy to drive and park. I would never want a class A or C, way too big for me.
Can I ask what year it is and how much you spend on maintenance etc? It might help my decision. Thanks.
I just bought a 2 year old travel trailer for 1/2 of what it was new, still has original stickers on it. Definitely buy used just do your homework.
Adding to my previous comment. Have you ever thought about doing a video about renting from a RV sharing platform or putting your RV into a sharing platform? This could be a good alternative to buying or perhaps helping defray expenses. Thanks, Adam
Thank you for the common sense tips! I have heard stories about people who retired and purchased an RV to travel, only to find out they didn’t have the money for the gas to move it, so they live in their children’s driveway...
We had a 24' Class C, its another vehicle BUT inspections more $, insurance more $, AAA roadside assist. $, it leaked, constant repairs on solar, mechanical, plumbing, propane, 8 mpg = $200/day, mountains were no fun, expensive camping so just rent a cabin or get a tent....
Was great before the energy crisis in 1974, RV with air gave us 15 mpg with 30 cents per gallon gasoline. No microwave back then, but a propane range with an oven. Camp grounds were plentiful, state was a dollar per night two if you wanted electricity. All had dumping tanks. Refrigerator worked of 120VAC or propane, freezer was 10 degrees below zero.
Up here gas was as high as $4.55 per gallon with 7 mpg? Cheaper to fly.
With these new ones, sure don't want to have a road failure and can cost you 40 bucks a night at a camp ground. Many roads don't even have a shoulder where you can safely pull over. Good old days, should go backwards, not forwards.
There are Pro and Con for personal requirements to buy RV . Thanks for your good advice .
Love the 7 reasons NOT to RV. I know this post is 2 years old but wanted to add my 2 cents.
My opinion, financing; with a vehicle depreciation of 6 percent per year and money available at 2 percent, and an investment portfolio that can net 10 percent, even if you consider the effect of inflation, it’s probably better to keep your principle earning and pay the loan interest.
I agree that if you don’t have the cash, you shouldn’t buy, but if you do have the cash, financing could be more financially prudent.
Andrew! Love your channel! Keep it up.
Matt
All great tips. I think there is an uptick in people buying these since the pandemic. People feel safer to invest in their own traveling hotel-vacation without having to fly or be where others have sneezed on (haha). That being said..good advice on the financing piece and also spaces avail at places to park them. We were looking into possibly purchasing (for cash) a decent 5th wheeler but then you need to buy a truck to tow it..and the prices of those suckers aren't cheap either. So what would have been a $20K purchase would end up being an $80K+ investment. Then insurance. Then you have to pay for a place to park it when not using it or even when you DO use it. I have a friend and she and her hubs just bought a very expensive luxury motorhome. I mean. VERY expensive. She grew up RVing so perhaps thats something that despite the price and devaluation the minute you take it off the lot-they can afford the loss should they decide to stop doing it. As much as originally I thought it was a good idea to look into the RVing lifestyle..I think we'll just rent one for a week or 2. MUCH cheaper and no commitment.
This was exactly the video I needed. I was worried about many of these things.
One thing at the top of the list is health care for those who are retired. HVing to deal with prescriptions etc.. thanks Andrew for the videos
Appreciate your candor Andrew, helps folks get cleared eyed about the RV life right from the beginning.
Purchased a nice class C in 1974 21 footer during the energy crisis, 3,000 miles on it, got it for $3,000.00, did get 17-18 mpg with 35 cents a gallon gas. Put over 80,000 miles on it, state parks were a buck a night, private around five bucks. Sold it in 1987 for $6,000.00, kept it nice and neat. Was actually large enough six kids. Now at times gas was over $4.50 a gallon, state parks, 30 bucks a night, private, even more, can't maintain it yourself, RV shops charge 125 bucks per hour. Driving a compact car, get 50 mpg, Air BNB, around 20 bucks a night, don't have to clean it up when you get home or empty those holding tanks, but haul all that stuff back into your home.
I miss the good old days.
Great points. The most important issue is to have an exit plan. If you finance, especially a new one, put at least 20% down, and have 20% in the bank for when you want to sell it. Keep really good service records, and when you are not using it, store it indoors. Spend time learning about how to use and maintain all the systems. RV's are very complex and the more you understand them the better you can take care of them. Hopefully, when you are ready to exit out, the next buyer will appreciate and understand the value of your love and attention that was given in keeping it in top notch condition. Which should result in as good of price as possible.
Andrew - of late, you seem to be star-struck and into hanging with the folks who can afford to pay cash for multi-million dollar motor homes. We enjoyed your videos a lot more when you were into detailing RV’S with Big Tony and had a bit more humility. Your videos have kind of morphed into a mobile version of lifestyles of the rich and famous. We enjoy watching these videos knowing we can’t afford to replicate what we are seeing. On the other hand, we love our Winnebago, know it is a depreciating asset that, due to it being a gas model, is relatively cheap to operate and maintain, is totally affordable (even with a loan payment) and the experiences we’ve had and plan to have with our kids and grandkids are priceless. There are four much older motor homes parked near us and the folks seem to be having a great time. There are lots of ways for people to enjoy the RV life that don’t require going deeply into debt and don’t have the diesel bus maintenance and repair overhead. There are aspects of your public service announcement that are valuable, but your frame of reference is a bit narrow.
Andrews moved into a New Realm 👍😎😉
soillife1 - exactly! Just personal preference but I really liked the old realm with Big Tony!
Thank You Andrew. You made very very very great points.