Buying a camper in retirement ... dumb idea?

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albireo13

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Wife and I have been looking into buying a small camper for a few years and have never done it due to life reasons.
Now we are both retired. We have rented campers before.

So, we just put a deposit on a new camper trailer and are already having 2nd thoughts.
Issues ...
1. we can't keep it at home so will need to pay for storage
2. while we would use it, I am thinking we may not use it enough. TBD

Has anyone else done this and regretted it? Loved it?

We are going round and round on it and may back out on the sale.

Thx
 
I am 70yo and wife is 66yo. She just retired.

We figure we have a 5-7 year window of using one. Then we'd sell it off.

We like the idea but, then we also want to do international travel over the next few years.
 
Everyone has second thoughts and indeed, some things don’t work out. You’ll never know until you try. You’ve thought about it and have actually done some camping so I think this is one of those times where you just go for it. If it doesn’t work out, what’s the worst that will happen? In the end, you’ll have some memories. Enjoy the journey.
 
We have a flatbed camper that we can haul on my truck and still pull a horse or fourwheeler trailer but we don't camp like other folk unless our DD invites us to camp with them at a huge lake or such which might happen once a year.

We're remote, far away from others type campers.
 
As someone who owns 4 boats and built a custom camper, I shall not throw stones! Was it some huge fifth wheel monstrosity you are considering or some little fiberglass Casita (which have a high resale value) ?
 
Not a dumb idea as long as you use it. And hey if you end up not using it enough sell it off. We did the same thing with a boat although the carrying costs on that were pretty high. Other than storage and maintenance the camper trailer should be pretty affordable. My buddy in CA, is planning to do the same thing when he retires next year ( camper not a boat). Go for it ! If not now, when?
 
Good luck with whatever you decide. Similar age here just reverse. I'm 67 wife is 71. I purchased a tow vehicle two years ago and was planning on purchasing an Intech Sol Horizon or another Intech model. Wanted it small. We cruise once or twice a year and have pets that require care when we are away. Two things now look to change our plan. My wife requires walkers and a scooter for mobility 100% of the time. I took up golf again last year and now have a home course I play 3 times a week. While a camper would be nice for me to experience golf in other areas, it wouldn't be much fun leaving her at the campsite alone half the day. I'm perfectly fit to handle a camper for years to come so that isn't a deterrent. As of now a camper is on the back burner with us. Will stick to cruising for now.
 
Sorry to hear that.
Fortunately, we are both fit. We do a lot of hiking, biking, and some tent camping.
One thing that started this was that a good friend of ours was just recently diagnosed with a terminal illness.
This has made us think ... "now or never".
 
I understand the questioning your wanting one. I also believe you should buy one and enjoy it and make the time to use it. After 4 or 5 years you can still sell it.

It sounds like it has been a purchase you just didn't dream of last night and been debating it for sometime. You have rented them so you know what it is all about.

Good Luck in your decision.
 
Well for us sure.... we have been camping together since 1985. While working we still did 40-60 nights a year. Tents Pop-Ups hybrids regular campers and lived in a 36 Ft 5th wheel 7 years. At 63/58 we are now on #8, have a 32 Ft toy hauler and plans include bringing the Harley to Alaska.
My suggestion for you is to keep renting if your only doing short infrequent trips. I have a couple cousins that rent campers for our family reunion every year. They deliver, set it up and come get it afterwords. If you still want to buy, look around for a used deal. There are tons of folks that jump on the camping bandwagon only to jump back off.... Our TH was 2 years old, barely used and we got it for 1/2 the cost of a new one.
 
albireo13 said:
Fortunately, we are both fit. We do a lot of hiking, biking, and some tent camping.
One thing that started this was that a good friend of ours was just recently diagnosed with a terminal illness.
This has made us think ... "now or never".
Click to expand...
UGH... it does open your eyes. A near fatal and disabling crash for me, and DW cancer scare changed our retirement plans. She's cutting it 2 years early with a reduced pension. we can make more money, but can't make more time.
 
albireo13 said:
It's a new Intech Sol Dusk, a 21ft camper. I have a 2021 Ford Ranger so, we only want a small/modest size camper.
Still, it runs about $45K new ... like buying a new car.
Click to expand...
Intech makes some of the best campers out there. Love the layout of that model. We have a Livin Lite Camplite 14DBS made by the previous company of Intech's founder Scott Tuttle. They are pricey but between the all-aluminum frame/chassis and fiberglass interior features, it will last a long time with no rotten wood issues. Our older Camplite even has a one-piece aluminum roof and solid aluminum structural flooring with vinyl over it. Bought it slightly used for just $12,000. We use it as little as 2 weeks in any year with plans up to 6-7 weeks on trips out west. Maybe consider a used one instead? Some people barely use them, and they are in excellent condition.
 
We bought a new camper so that we could easily bring our heavy Hobie kayaks on our camping trips. Putting them on the roof of our truck cap was just not working out.

The problem is that the RV industry is in chaos, there has been massive consolidation, and a lot of formerly reliable brands are now garbage. Look up the YouTube channel for Liz Amazing , for the horror stories.

Buyer beware.

If you are getting a trailer, don't buy one that weighs more than 80% of your vehicle's tow rating, when the trailer is FULLY LOADED, not dry. And honestly, I recommend going as large as practical on the tow vehicle. Sure, that F150 can tow 10,000 pounds in theory, but our F150 pulling 7000lb was a bit scary and really pushed the truck here in Colorado with the mountain passes. If you are towing flat roads and short distances, the 80% rule might work, but consider the terrain and distances.

We bought a new Super Duty along with the trailer. It was a good time to get rid of the F150, since it had 150k and was showing signs of expensive issues. We have a small farm and need a truck, so it is not just for the camper. Can't take the money with you, and we figure we have maybe 10 years to get the use out of them. Fortunately, where we live there is abundant camping, and we can go on short notice and find somewhere to camp. We've been going one or two nights per week.
 
We always had some sort of camper--the last was a motorhome that we traveled all over US and Canada. For the most part we loved it. BUT starting at age 65 it just became too much work--hitching and unhitching, dealing with the electric cord, water, sewer, backing into tight spaces etc. So we sold the camper and now when we travel we stay in Airbnbs. Much better for us in our 70s.
 
RVing is really a lifestyle choice. It enables you to go places that you can't with hotels. It's not necessarily lower cost, once you figure RV costs, increased fuel, camping fees, storage costs, insurance, and more.

That said, I have a bigger motorhome and use it many trips each year. I have storage at my house, and now the purchase costs are a long past sunk cost. So just insurance, registration and maintenance costs to keep it.

I say look at the purchase as the cost to do something you want to do. The worst case is after some time you decide to sell and take a bit of loss. But you have the memories and experiences that the trailer enabled for you.

Edit: have had a motorhome for probably close to 20 years, so had before retiring
 
I guess my question is whether you've tried camping yet? If not, I'd be iffy about committing to a camper - especially if you have to pay to store it.

DW's parents bought a nice camper. Nice enough to "live" in at least for several days. They used it twice before he passed several years laters. Mostly, it just sat in the back yard.

Also, I think you need to know your limitations. For instance, if the camper wasn't as nice as at least a cheap motel, I wouldn't be interested. I know the idea is to be out in nature and maybe get into the camper "life." But are you that type person? I'm not and I know it.

If you want it - do it. I guess if it doesn't w*rk out, you can sell it.

All the best to you in your decision. Please check back with any details!
 
We own an RV (motorhome) and it's been the focus of our travels for the last 7 years or so. We bought before Covid and have witnessed a lot of people get into the hobby, as well as get out of the hobby in that timeframe.

As mentioned, it all comes down to use. If you've already got a deposit down, try it for a while. If you end up not liking it, change course and sell it. I doubt if you do like it that you'll come up short on places to go and things to see with it. It's definitely a lifestyle, there's a lot of work involved, but it can also be highly enjoyable!

Even if you and your spouse have been together for a while, you'll find new strengths and weaknesses in each other while sharing life on the road. Continue to be patient, be kind.

I've watched my fair share of spousal mental breakdowns while trying to back a trailer into a campsite. I think I'd make a great relationship counselor and backing instructor if I ever decided to butt-in, but I don't. Instead I usually just watch and shake my head. Patience, folks. Usually about 30 seconds in the untrained and newly-minted RV owners are making aggressive hand gestures, or the driver is jerking the trailer back and forth, and then the shouting starts. Just remember this. Stand in view of the driver's side view mirror. Point in the direction the trailer needs to go. Be intentional and be patient. Have an agreed hand signal for "stop, you're going to ruin the trip--and the trailer".

And that's it. The rest is cake.

For several years we've taken w*rk on the road with us for a month or two in the winter with permission from our employers. We like to rent an RV space down in the sunny/warm desert. That turbocharges our use, kicking off usually the first 60 days of the year. You might find enjoyment in doing something similar! You're mobile now, that's a super-power, achievement unlocked!
 
Koolau said:
I guess my question is whether you've tried camping yet? If not, I'd be iffy about committing to a camper - especially if you have to pay to store it.

DW's parents bought a nice camper. Nice enough to "live" in at least for several days. They used it twice before he passed several years laters. Mostly, it just sat in the back yard.

Also, I think you need to know your limitations. For instance, if the camper wasn't as nice as at least a cheap motel, I wouldn't be interested. I know the idea is to be out in nature and maybe get into the camper "life." But are you that type person? I'm not and I know it.

If you want it - do it. I guess if it doesn't w*rk out, you can sell it.

All the best to you in your decision. Please check back with any details!
Click to expand...
We've been traveling with a travel trailer for a few years now. Have been to 10+ national parks and have really enjoyed it. A 21 foot trailer is pretty small. It doesn't look like the Sol Dusk has slideouts. My trailer is about 24 foot and no slideouts and feels pretty cramped for the two of us and two dogs. When we go out on trips, our limit seems to be about 3 weeks before we want to get back home.
Couple things to consider-
- these things seem to always need maintenance. Perhaps with a brand new one you won't have issues for awhile, but we seem to always have some issue that requires a trip to whatever local camping supply store we can find. Leaking water pipes, leaking hot water drain plug (have had to replace a couple times), leaking low point drain plugs. I am handy and have been able to fix everything myself but I can imagine it would be inconvenient and costly to have an RV repair place come fix things.
- Set up and tear down is a lot of work! Leveling, hooking up water etc. If it takes say 5 days to get to your destination and you stop every night at an RV park, it gets tiresome.
 
The 3-3-3 rule is a good one if you can swing it. It's usually easier to swing when you're retired!

No more than 300-mile days when traveling. You don't want to exhaust yourself.

Arrive at the park by 3pm at the latest so you can relax and enjoy the evening after a long day, and also have daylight to assist parking and setup.

Stay for 3 nights minimum to reduce the exhausting overhead of setup/teardown.
 
In our early 50s we bought a used motorhome for 14 K with a very low miles when some friends were selling it. We mainly bought it because we had four dogs that we wanted to travel with.

Before retiring, we would go camping with friends probably about four times a year for long weekends. Occasionally, we would take a two week vacation with it.

By the time we retired five years later, the price of gas had really increased and staying at a decent RV park had become expensive too. While we did take it on some nice trips so we could take all four dogs between gas and the RV sites it was expensive. Then I cooked most of the time to save money and that didn’t feel like a vacation.

Our motorhome was 27 feet with no slide outs and traveling with three tiny dogs and one big dog felt cramped after a while. When we bought it, we thought we would travel for an entire year but a month was all I could handle. Even without the dogs, I don’t think I would’ve lasted much longer than that with the size.

Once we only had two dogs, we realized we could travel much faster and easier in our car and stay at decent hotels for the same price and eat out every day. That’s when we sold the motorhome for 5K. We were able to park it at our house, but we had plenty of repairs on it throughout the years.
 
No dogs, just the two of us. We have rented various campers for 4 straight years. A month ago we just finished a 19 day trip out west in Utah in a rented Campervan! Visited the big 5 Nat. Parks. It was a hoot and more cramped than a tow trailer. We stayed at campgrounds for sure. Only boondocked one night.

We loved a campervan and would prefer getting that but, it is waaay above our budget.
 
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