18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

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18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

October 09, 2018, 11:26:49 am

I thought I would share this article I found on MSN this morning for others to comment, if so inclined...…………..

Gary

18 Reasons You Really Don't Want to Buy an RV

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #1 – October 09, 2018, 11:52:16 am

MSN isn't exactly a bastion of journalism for me but the slideshow to me reeks of resentfulness for those who are "privileged" enough to have an RV. If they really wanted a "scoop" - they should have a real RV writer write about the pitfalls while extolling why they do it anyway.

You linked to the last page of the slide show - here's the first

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #2 – October 09, 2018, 01:36:14 pm

Another RV article of, by, and for the clueless who cannot spell 'common sense'.
Particularly liked #10 'Sometimes things are Cramped" - if the guitar player was concerned about space, he'd have a uke.

Thanks for a chuckle.
Joel

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #3 – October 09, 2018, 02:04:14 pm

Next article: 18 Reasons Why Not to Click on Slide Shows!

Gave up after the second slide had nothing that we didn't know *before* we bought the RV. Common sense is right...

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #4 – October 10, 2018, 08:59:16 am

For too many, the romance of RVing is a lot like puppy love, all reason is abandoned. They buy the dream, often when they can ill afford the expense. They are underwater on the note by the first year, the RV has been waiting for service for weeks/months. Some have sold their home to afford the RV. Yet, most will buy another one hoping for a better outcome. Others resign themselves that RV's are nothing but trouble, but slog on. The ones I pity are first time buyers, they are like lambs to the slaughter when they go on an RV lot.

Always thankful we found a Lazy Daze.

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #5 – October 10, 2018, 01:01:52 pm

Quote from: Don Malpas - October 10, 2018, 08:59:16 am

The ones I pity are first time buyers, they are like lambs to the slaughter when they go on an RV lot.

Speaking of leading lambs to slaughter, the Pomona RV Show is running this week.
California RV Show – Everything you need to know about the California RV Show
Plenty of salespeople asking, "what would it take to send you home with a new RV today?

Larry

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #6 – October 10, 2018, 02:13:48 pm

I think that's actually a pretty good list of things to be cognizant of when considering taking up some form of the RV lifestyle. It's certainly not cheap and there are many pitfalls.

And comparing the situation today with that of 14 years ago, when we bought our LD, I find it more difficult and somewhat less rewarding now. There is much more "competition" all around, many more RVs and their owners on the road, less campsite availability and campgrounds are more crowded with less considerate people when you finally arrive at your destination.

Of course much the same can be said of other recreational pursuits and there are certainly still many rewards to be found in RVing. But I'm happy to have potential new entrants check their list of positives off against a list of negatives, perhaps weeding out some of them. The fewer on the road the better as far as I'm concerned.

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #7 – October 10, 2018, 03:38:21 pm

Quote from: Larry W - October 10, 2018, 01:01:52 pm

Speaking of leading lambs to slaughter, the Pomona RV Show is running this week.
Larry

I think I'll wait for Quartzite, thank you.
JOel

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #8 – October 10, 2018, 04:56:12 pm

Quote from: Larry W - October 10, 2018, 01:01:52 pm

Speaking of leading lambs to slaughter, the Pomona RV Show is running this week.
California RV Show – Everything you need to know about the California RV Show
Plenty of salespeople asking, "what would it take to send you home with a new RV today?

Larry

I noticed Leisure Travel Vans will be there which may be the only manufacturer to consider.

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #9 – October 10, 2018, 05:58:26 pm

I personally had seen a Leisure Travel Van (built in Canada) at a local dealership some years ago. I liked the layout but walked away after discussing weights and measures with the salesman. You should know that it is built on the commonly used Sprinter chassis with it's inherent weight limitations. The posted weight limits are for the bare bones unit. Generators, if added, are added to the weight along with all the other extras one decides to include with their order or decide to add later. The math just didn't add up. Once you add a generator, fill the water tank, add groceries, clothes, stuff and junk you are at or above the limits.

YMMV,

Gary

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #10 – October 10, 2018, 09:00:21 pm

My wife and I traveled to the Triple EEE - Leisure van factory - about 125 miles from our home - and really enjoyed the factory tour. Their fit and finish is very nice and their finishes are very modern - almost Airstream like. Huge factory.

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #11 – October 19, 2018, 11:30:47 pm

Some of us have been 'forced' into permanent RV living because of lack of/too expensive housing , especially in small tourist towns with low wages for service workers. I am a chef , so technically I SHOULD be able to rent , but housing just became almost impossible. All the long term rentals went Air bnb, rents escalated to insanely expensive levels while any long term housing became ever more difficult to find.
I'm from Taos , NM. The rent for a crap RV lot with dirty bathrooms right next to the really ghetto and crime area where homeless people are plugging in their cell phones at night on the lot, Cost -$635 a month. The better one is $680 plus electric at extra high kw charge.
Lots in Santa Fe , NM with full hook ups are about $1000 a month. This is Florida rates at high season!
I guess people are paying this?
I bought a NM State park Annual pass, $180, then electric and water hook-ups are just $4 per night, w /Sewer hook-ups $8pn.
You can stay 14 days, must leave for 7, but you can hop State Park to State Park and many lifers are doing this.
It's best though to leave very early am to get a non reserved spot. We came into Elephant Butte State Park after dark and there was nothing, even though these Parks have closed their restrooms and showers for the winter.
I'm in Caballo State Park NM right now and it's extraordinary. But one bath/shower house already closed for winter, one still open. There are three State Parks close by you can jump living each 14 days. Dump station avail.
I have met people living in these 3 State Parks for 15 years. I find it kind of sad. Their RV's are road hard and not really working well. Too many of us in all the US have found ourselves , luckily not homeless, but in a kinda WOW what happened? scenario.
So Rv'rs are out there in droves now, not just for enjoyment but out of necessity. Millennial kids are going remote in the
Van-agon Movement too. They cant see paying 2-3 weeks salary for housing and are going mobile.

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #12 – October 20, 2018, 10:31:44 am

Seems the homeless problem and RV/Van living are becoming more and more mixed together. It's a sad problem that in this great country with great wealth we have folks living hand to mouth. I don't understand what is going on. I have no answers. This I do know most RV's and Van are not made to live in 24/7 without large amounts of upkeep and money.
Here in Portland we have changed some laws/rules to let folks live in RV's on the streets. That's only a very short term solution.

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #13 – October 20, 2018, 10:34:12 am

Quote from: zentaos-Patricia - October 19, 2018, 11:30:47 pm

Some of us have been 'forced' into permanent RV living because of lack of/too expensive housing , especially in small tourist towns with low wages for service workers. I am a chef , so technically I SHOULD be able to rent , but housing just became almost impossible. All the long term rentals went Air bnb, rents escalated to insanely expensive levels while any long term housing became ever more difficult to find.
I'm from Taos , NM. The rent for a crap RV lot with dirty bathrooms right next to the really ghetto and crime area where homeless people are plugging in their cell phones at night on the lot, Cost -$635 a month. The better one is $680 plus electric at extra high kw charge.
Lots in Santa Fe , NM with full hook ups are about $1000 a month. This is Florida rates at high season!
I guess people are paying this?
I bought a NM State park Annual pass, $180, then electric and water hook-ups are just $4 per night, w /Sewer hook-ups $8pn.
You can stay 14 days, must leave for 7, but you can hop State Park to State Park and many lifers are doing this.
It's best though to leave very early am to get a non reserved spot. We came into Elephant Butte State Park after dark and there was nothing, even though these Parks have closed their restrooms and showers for the winter.
I'm in Caballo State Park NM right now and it's extraordinary. But one bath/shower house already closed for winter, one still open. There are three State Parks close by you can jump living each 14 days. Dump station avail.
I have met people living in these 3 State Parks for 15 years. I find it kind of sad. Their RV's are road hard and not really working well. Too many of us in all the US have found ourselves , luckily not homeless, but in a kinda WOW what happened? scenario.
So Rv'rs are out there in droves now, not just for enjoyment but out of necessity. Millennial kids are going remote in the
Van-agon Movement too. They cant see paying 2-3 weeks salary for housing and are going mobile.

Thanks for sharing your story, Patricia, and brava for facing your housing hardship head on and making it work for you.

Chris

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #14 – October 20, 2018, 04:43:43 pm

The slide-show was interesting, but as mentioned, maybe good for those who have a tendency to jump into things without much forethought. Below are my thoughts on the slides:

1.   Road Warriors Beware
   a.   I definitely didn’t get into RVing to “vacation on the cheap”. In fact I spent hours building spread sheets with estimates of the costs involved in owning, maintaining, storing and traveling in an RV and then compared those expenses to what it would cost for the same time, flying, renting cars and staying in hotel rooms. In the end, being able to sleep in our own bed at night and stay in places where you couldn’t find a decent hotel if you wanted one, made the choice an easy one…especially after we found Lazy Daze.
2.   RVs can be insanely Expensive
   a.   Everything can be insanely expensive. It’s not about cost, but value.   LDs are a great example of an amazing value for your money in RVing. They’ll last for years of great travel if you take care of them.
3.   Buying an RV Can Be a Minefield
   a.   Anytime you invest in big-ticket items you need to do your research.
4.   RVs are Gas Guzzlers
   a.   Wow, another amazing insight. So the 2,500-mile cross-country trip will run you $750 one-way? How much do two, round-trip air fares and rental cars cost?   And you are still sleeping in your own bed.
5.   RVs can be terrifying to drive.
   a.   From time-to-time, we need to step out of our comfort zone and learn new skills. Carpe Diem.
6.   RVs aren’t meant for Urban Exploration.
   a.   That’s why we have a toad. On our last trip we stayed at Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City, across the Hudson from Manhattan. We used NJ Light Rail, the Path Train, the subway, cabs and foot to get around the city. Having lived there in the 80s for eight years, it was fun to go back.
7.   You Can’t Just Park an RV Anywhere for the Night
   a.   And why would you want to? I guess the guy who wrote this didn’t spend enough time dealing with #16: Logistics for planning the trip.
8.   It’s hard not to feel cramped sometimes.
   a.   It is true that the space is small, but most of the time we’re out visiting our families, site-seeing or enjoying the great outdoors. Sometimes “other travelers living just feet away” can become our newest friends.
9.   You’ll have yet another insurance bill
   a.   Well, let’s face it, insurance, gas, storage, oil changes, tire rotations, etc. are just part of the cost of being able to go where you want, when you want and still sleep in your own bed, cook in your own kitchen and enjoy the beauty of our amazing country.
10.   Upkeep is Expensive, Too
   a.   Wow, this person is obsessed with money. Ok, I agree, it would be a good idea to pay off your student loans before you buy an RV.
11.   You’ll need a Place to Park an RV when It’s not In Use
   a.   Hmm…you actually need a place to park it when it’s in use, too.
12.   You’ll Be Buying Lots of RV Accessories
   a.   Part of the adventure of life. Work, buy, use, enjoy. Funny how it seems to happen even when we’re living in homes and apartments, too.
13.   RV life can be a social minefield
   a.   Life is what you make it.
14.   One word: Sewage
   a.   Two words: No sweat.
15.   RV Quality can be very poor
   a.   Of course, that’s why we own LDs.
16.   The Logistics of RV Travel Can be Exhausting
   a.   For me, it’s fun and exciting to plot out a great trip with mapquest.com, RV campground reviews and an idea of what new things we want to see and do. Planning and the anticipation of a great trip can be as fun as the trip itself if you approach it with the right mind-set.

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #15 – October 20, 2018, 06:30:56 pm

I hadn't looked at the slideshow of "18 Reasons You Don't Want to Buy and RV"; I did just now. Thanks, Gary, for the initial post and all the thread responders for their comments. I do enjoy a good laugh! Oh, my....

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #16 – October 21, 2018, 02:50:57 pm

DPhilbrick's post points up a limitation of the board structure. You can only give one 'like' for a post.
His deserves at least 2.

Joel

Re: 18 Reasons not to buy an RV on MSN this morning

Reply #17 – October 22, 2018, 04:10:48 am

There Joel, I gave him another like.

As with so much that fills the multiple information pipes, this article states the obvious for the oblivious.

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