Buying a camper in retirement ... dumb idea?

[Trailwalker]

We use our camper trailer a lot as part of our retirement plan: reverse snowbirds in the summer and shoulder season exploring. We bought used. The warranty on new can be a trap. Many see their campers in the shop for long periods for warranty work, fixing things that weren't properly finished during the manufacturing process. I love waking up in nature and appreciate sleeping in my own comfortable bed, as compared to hotel rooms.

 

[Aerides]

If you like the lifestyle and you think you’ll use it, why not. On the other hand we live in a neighborhood where people have RV garages and the RV never seems to leave the garage. There’s a lot of expense in the vehicle, but also the added cost of that third, tall bay to just have it sit.
I would think renting is better or do what we do, get a nice hotel room.

$45k (plus storage rental space, plus gas) over 5-7 years gets a lot of very nice hotels.

 

[Teacher Terry]

The one advantage if you’re going to visit national parks is that if you own your own RV, you can be right inside the park. That saves a lot of driving back-and-forth.

I know some of the parks have their own hotels in them, but they are very expensive. However, what I found out is that I had to book a year in advance for a campsite when we wanted to go to Yellowstone and the grand Tetons.

 

[G-Money]

Hotel cost is mostly irrelevant unless the singular basis for wanting to own an RV is to save money on hotels.

This is why so many people about-face after the first year of ownership.
It's expensive
It isn't always cheaper than staying in a hotel
There can be storage costs
Insurance costs
Fuel costs can be formidable
Most RV's are poorly built

..Why would anyone want to own one?

Maybe because the ability to take life on the road, sleep and cook in your own space, the ability to travel comfortably with a pet, sleep/eat/shower comfortably where there aren't hotels, and experience travel through a very unique lens is something only having an RV affords. I think the OP gets that, having rented RV's previously, and having already put a deposit on one.

Yellowstone is a great example. We stayed at Fishing Bridge after the park was renovated not long ago. What a privilege. What an amazing location to be able to park an RV for a week.

 

[TripleLindy]

I’ve gone through the mental gymnastics of an RV purchase for nearly a decade now. Came close several times, but never pulled the trigger. Considered Lance trailers, popups, Airstream and even diesel pushers - kinda the whole gamut. I briefly looked at the Sol Horizon. The trailers were going to require a tow vehicle (except for the popup), so that added a significant amount to the purchase. We have a Yukon that has a towing capacity similar to your Ranger, but knowing that we preferred mountain destinations, I wanted more capacity and really wanted the safety of HD diesel braking systems. And total carrying capacity when considering tongue weight meant that I’d be weighing every Cheeto that we packed if I towed with the Yukon.

We ultimately discovered that we could scratch our outdoorsy itch by staying in lodging inside of the national parks. We’ve stayed in wonderful places: Jenny Lake Lodge, Moraine Lake Lodge, Old Faithful Inn, Zion Lodge, El Tovar Hotel, Many Glacier, a VRBO rental inside of Yosemite, and probably more that are escaping me at the moment. We have October reservations for the Ahwahnee in Yosemite. These lodging options put you right in the middle of the action - walk out of your door to some of the most beautiful places on earth. Yes, some are very expensive. We paid around $1500/night at the Moraine Lake Lodge. But we still haven’t come close to what we would have spent on any type of RV, especially considering storage and maintenance. Assuming 5 years of ownership, you’ll be spending more than $65k. That’s 130 hotel nights at $500/night. And the hotel options come with zero headaches associated with ownership.

TLDR, in the end, I realized that RVing is a lifestyle that requires an element of commitment. I would have eased into it, but my wife wasn’t as keen. Just realize that there are options, including continued rentals. We have good friends who bought a 5th wheel/HD truck based on a cancer diagnosis. They use it once or twice a year. ~$200k in initial cost + storage, maintenance, insurance, fuel, RV site costs - that’s a lot to pay for the lifestyle.

 

[flyoverstate]

There are people who want RVs to camp at commercial campgrounds, where a nearby hotel might work, but they have various good reasons for not wanting that experience.

Then, there are people who want a more rugged RV to stay places where there are no nearby hotels. These are places 99% of people don't go and wouldn't have any interest in going. That is us. The rugged RV can also stay in a campground or at a state park (some state parks have *awesome* campgrounds). We are in Western CO.

No way am I going to list our secret dispersed National Forest and BLM spots. But I'll give you some state parks: Golden Gate, Ridgway State Parks in Colorado, and Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah. All three have hiking and mountain biking right out your camper door. At Ridgway you can stay in a site with full hookups and walk five minutes or less to fantastic trout fishing, At Dead Horse Point you can walk to one of the most photographed overlooks in the USA, then hop on your ebike or mountain bike and ride miles of great trails. Golden Gate is a fantastic park in Fall, with great hikes through the aspens, and some really rugged MTB trails open to ebikes.

Add to that the developed national areas, like Great Sand Dunes, Colorado National Monument, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Hovenweep, Capitol Reef (one of the coolest campgrounds anywhere), Arches. Mesa Verde has a kind of "meh" hotel in the park, but the others do not, and it is many miles to hotels from some of them.

Some people are not "campers" and I get that, but you simply are not going to get the same experience in a hotel, even one in the middle of a park. There are lights, noise, and other "urban" intrusions.

 

[skyking1]

We have camped for a couple of decades now. I think you answered your own question by renting 4 seasons in a row.
I would look at A-frame pop ups. We checked out the Aliner Evolution and it would be a breeze to tow with your ranger or a larger SUV.
Dry weight of 2390
stowed height of only 69" this is the big deal. No big sail behind you, steering your lighter tow rig.
It stows in a typical garage. This might alter things for you.
It has a Heat Pump that is built in to a seat at the back, taking care of air-conditioning and providing heat when you are plugged in.
Your own shower.
Evolution LG - Aliner

There are lighter and less expensive models.
We gravitated to this one because It replaced the functionality of our much larger 5th wheel.

 

[jazz4cash]

You get to a stage where regret of not acting outweighs the potential regret of acting. Go for it. With these products regret is more likely if you don't research what to buy and who to buy from. You have experience and you are doing your research.

 

[skyking1]

No way am I going to list our secret dispersed National Forest and BLM spots.

That is why we camp, to get right into the middle of things. I have a list of those kinds of treasures.
One of our fun finds are numerous county parks that seem to fall under the radar in most searches.

This is one of those county camp sites with power, sitting on the Puget Sound

We parked and set up, and the osprey was fishing right out there close by.

 

[Dreamer]

We bought a new 21ft camper when my daughter and her spouse were going on a month long camping trip with our 3 young grandchildren. Our son-in-law is a pretty good negotiator and we were ready to sign and he got us an additional $1000.00 off the price. We had never had a camping experience, except for tent camping a few times when we were younger. We were now in our late 60s and early 70s. We already had a Toyota Tundra, so that was fine for the trailer. I consider that a big vehicle and don't like driving big vehicles, so my spouse did all the driving and most of the setting up. We went on the month long trip and I enjoyed it and have great memories. My spouse did not enjoy all of the work. My daughter and I cooked together, so I even enjoyed that and cleaning up. We came home and put the camper up for sale. We only had 1 person interested and turns out that he wanted to rent it for a reserve weekend. We passed. My son-in-law told us to bring it out to TX and he would be able to sell it fairly quickly. We did take it out and we would stay at different campgrounds for 2 or 3 days and go sightseeing. Enjoyed the trip, but found out something was wrong with the shower, so had to use the shower facilities at the campgrounds. When we got to TX, we had an RV maintenance person come to their home and fix it, $700 and something dollars. My son-in-law sold it fairly quickly and he said that they were older people, but had previously owned different campers. They were amazed at the condition and said that it looked brand new. We, of course, lost money and I insisted on giving my son-in-law a thousand dollars for selling it for us. All in all, I am not sorry that we bought it. The 2 trips that we did do, have provided great memories for me and was a great experience. However, my DH says that his idea of camping is a Hampton Inn at the end of the day. My DD and her family have had a 5th wheel and a Class A that they traveled in for 7 months. They said that they will probably buy another RV some day again.

 

[dickoncapecod]

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

Campers are easy to buy and impossible to sell.
Regards, Dick

 

[38Chevy454]

Well, we put a deposit on it but are going to back out of the deal. The more I look at it and think about it I feel that it will not be a fun tow with our Ranger. The Ranger handled a little Guy Max before but, this is a bit heavier and the wind profile is much larger. I am not into "white-knuckle" driving.
We are going to look at other options.

We could do a tow vehicle upgrade but, not an option due to budget.

Since you are looking at other options, see the sister site to this E-R one that has lots of good information on all aspects of RVing:
www.irv2.com
There are sub-forums for every type of RV. Also for different aspects of RVing.

 

[SnowballCamper]

Well, we put a deposit on it but are going to back out of the deal. The more I look at it and think about it I feel that it will not be a fun tow with our Ranger. The Ranger handled a little Guy Max before but, this is a bit heavier and the wind profile is much larger. I am not into "white-knuckle" driving.
We are going to look at other options.

We could do a tow vehicle upgrade but, not an option due to budget.

It is a real challenge to find the right camper. We shopped for a year before getting the first one. We had selected a truck camper, but then it didn't fit in the truck. There is so much out there, and a lot of crap, but the selection is overwhelming.

I think it is really important to figure out what kind of camping you want to do:

• National parks generally have small campsites but you get to be close to the attractions. So a small trailer lets you go explore without a big vehicle. There usually aren't any hookups, often shady sites in a region with trees, and restrictive generator policies (thankfully).
• National forest campgrounds are similar to NPs but with much larger sites, and usually a longer drive to see the attractions.
• I've found state parks to be a good balance of full hookup availability and a mix of campsite sizes. Here is were there is the most people noise in our experience (yelling kids, barking dogs, generators, etc.)
• The few private campground stops we've done had very nosey neighbors. And they cost more.
• Boondocking is the thing for us because we get the least noise and people with the most space.

Any of the above can be done with a tent to figure out what your style is. Then if/when you go back to shopping you have ideas about what is important, or better yet, what is not important. We've discovered

• Small size and off-road capability are very important
• entertainment devices (TV, stereo) are mostly a waste when hardwired in. We have a portable CD player.
• AC is not necessary, but good fans are
• Generator is not necessary, and neither is solar (we're not in one place long enough to need to recharge before vehicle recharging on the road)
• Composting toilet is way easier to manage
• Decent water capacity is important
• Only an outdoor shower is worth it
• outdoor lights are a waste, the headlamp is much more useful

Good luck on your adventures.

 

[Doribe]

We bought a new small pull behind trailer (21') and a tow vehicle when I retired. I loved it.

We took a 10 week RV trip down the East Coast stopping at most of the Civil War battlefields. We listened to an Univ. of Virginia history professor lecture series by Coursera. This in itself was worth the cost. We kept it about 8 years. The last two years we weren't able to use it due to hip replacements. We sold it. We had to store it off -site.

I think traveling with a small camper is ideal. I hope to get back in the game, but probably with rentals.

 

[Al18]

The Aliner popup trailers look very interesting. They are much easier to put up than the canvas side popup trailers of decades ago and are better insulated. The lightest model Scout Lite weighs just 1190 lbs and could be towed by most vehicles Scout Lite - Aliner

 

[freetodream]

We have owned 2 Scamps (made in MN) & presently own a 17' Casita (made in TX) over the last 20 years. They are fiberglass trailers which last a long time with much fewer maintenance issues.

Look for a used one. (Warning, they hold their value: purchased ours in 2011 & could sell it for a similar amount that we paid back then.)

 

[SnowballCamper]

We have owned 2 Scamps (made in MN) & presently own a 17' Casita (made in TX) over the last 20 years. They are fiberglass trailers which last a long time with much fewer maintenance issues.

Look for a used one. (Warning, they hold their value: purchased ours in 2011 & could sell it for a similar amount that we paid back then.)

I absolutely agree on the fiberglass (our first one was the 17.5 Bigfoot). But what I had to learn is that all the stuff inside (appliances, wiring and plumbing) was very much the same across the industry. That tends to be less true nowadays. If you have the skills or aptitude to deal with RV systems on your own, then a used fiberglass is probably the best value.

 

[skyking1]

I like them I think they're great. Unfortunately just like airstreams, they're just not big enough for me. I have to crouch to shower and use the bathroom, to go anywhere.

 

[finnski1]

Well, we put a deposit on it but are going to back out of the deal. The more I look at it and think about it I feel that it will not be a fun tow with our Ranger. The Ranger handled a little Guy Max before but, this is a bit heavier and the wind profile is much larger. I am not into "white-knuckle" driving.
We are going to look at other options.

We could do a tow vehicle upgrade but, not an option due to budget.

$45k (plus storage rental space, plus gas) over 5-7 years gets a lot of very nice hotels.

Whole different lifestyle. Personally, I would rather sleep in my immaculately clean camper than some half-cleaned hotel room. Also, some of the places we camp are priceless compared to hotel rooms.

 

[FD1000]

Camping is a lifestyle choice, and it's simply not for us.

We have no interest in driving an RV, towing a trailer, or sleeping in a small, confined space. In fact, if we won an RV for free, I would probably sell it the next day.

That said, we do enjoy staying in unique accommodations when we travel.

For example, in Australia we stayed in a cabin that was more than 600 square feet, with two bedrooms, a full kitchen, all the amenities, and a nice porch. It was located close to a small local town, giving us easy access to restaurants, shops, and attractions.

The cabin was larger, more comfortable, and less expensive than many motels we considered. It gave us some of the benefits of a camping environment, nature, peace, and space, without the inconveniences of an RV or traditional camping. Basically, it wasn't camping .

 

[richardsok]

I hate to say it, but ......

For the RV life, the most important consideration is to have a partner you trust will face any obstacle, problem, sacrifice or delay with a cheerful and helpful attitude.... and be happy with glass-half-full solutions. I love my spouse. I really do. But I cannot trust her to be supportive and positive on the road on out in the boondocks.

She is only happy in the better class of hotels -- so that's where we stay -- because money's not an issue and, after 20 years of marriage, I am fresh out of patience with complaining. She likes her things "just so." I like the idea of camping or RVing but for us it's not in the cards.

There. I said it.

 

[RetiredHappy]

Camping, tent or RV - never done it and never going to happen, simply because I like the comfort of a nice and comfortable spacious place, with nice long showers and a toilet that I never need to "suck" out the waste. We go downstairs to a full-service restaurant, with no dishes to wash.

Camping is a lifestyle that some love but it is simply not for us. In OP's case, I believe renting remains the most optimal solution.

 

[TripleLindy]

Well, we put a deposit on it but are going to back out of the deal. The more I look at it and think about it I feel that it will not be a fun tow with our Ranger. The Ranger handled a little Guy Max before but, this is a bit heavier and the wind profile is much larger. I am not into "white-knuckle" driving.
We are going to look at other options.

We could do a tow vehicle upgrade but, not an option due to budget.

I didn’t see this post until after I posted. I was going to comment on the limited towing capacity of your Ranger, but figured that you had towed with it before since you mentioned rentals.

If you’re really into RVing/camping, take a hard look at popups. The high wall units are pretty nice and have AC and heat, when needed, and some have shower/toilet. Most are under 4k lbs GVWR. When the bunks are extended, you’re looking at a 25’+ camper, but in a much smaller towing profile. The downside (from my perspective) is the very limited water and waste tanks. Long stays would probably require a trip to the dump station in the middle of the stay. Of course, you could avoid that if you utilize the campground facilities. If interested, check out popup portal - a forum primarily for popups.

But now that you’ve “saved” $65k, I’d highly recommend a few trips to high-end park properties like the Jenny Lake Lodge and Moraine Lake Lodge. Even after paying more than $1k/night, you’ll be on the positive side of the ledger. And you’ll enjoy areas that no camper can even get to. Jenny Lake only offers tent camping and Moraine Lake can only be accessed by a tour bus unless staying the lodge. Both are gorgeous properties with wonderful, luxurious cabins and outstanding restaurants.

 

[TripleLindy]

I hate to say it, but ......

For the RV life, the most important consideration is to have a partner you trust will face any obstacle, problem, sacrifice or delay with a cheerful and helpful attitude.... and be happy with glass-half-full solutions. I love my spouse. I really do. But I cannot trust her to be supportive and positive on the road on out in the boondocks.

She is only happy in the better class of hotels -- so that's where we stay -- because money's not an issue and, after 20 years of marriage, I am fresh out of patience with complaining. She likes her things "just so." I like the idea of camping or RVing but for us it's not in the cards.

There. I said it.

Man, you nailed it. I would have bought one and probably spent more than necessary just trying to make things as nice as possible for my wife. That’s why I was looking at diesel pushers. But in the end, I could tell that she was going along reluctantly. No need to insert friction into our relationship at this stage, so luxury hotels it is!

 

[AudiDudi]

That is why we camp, to get right into the middle of things. I have a list of those kinds of treasures.
One of our fun finds are numerous county parks that seem to fall under the radar in most searches.

<snip>

City parks and fair grounds can also be good. Also COE camprounds.