Best RV is a rental car and a hotel room. Cheaper, easier and more relaxing
Rent or buy RV
- Thread starter WhyMe
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Triple_Se7en
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Originally Posted By: WhyMe
thinking of taking the family on 4-6 week trip to see the south west US next year. i have been looking at RV rentals and they are 1k or more a week. i have been looking at older RV's for sale and there seem to be plenty in the 4-6k $ range. yeah they are older ,but most have low mileage.
thinking of buying one of these instead of renting. after done i can try to sell it of donate it to a charity. i do have a space to park it.
So what so you guys think of this?
Wish I had $10-12K to throw around like that. Sounds like a vacation to remember for the rest of your lives.
Go for it! Just remember that the RV you will purchase will likely sit on your property with a For Sale sign on it - for a long-long time. You will likely lose your shorts in resale of it.
If all that's OK with you (mucho dollars spent on that trip also), then go for it.
thinking of taking the family on 4-6 week trip to see the south west US next year. i have been looking at RV rentals and they are 1k or more a week. i have been looking at older RV's for sale and there seem to be plenty in the 4-6k $ range. yeah they are older ,but most have low mileage.
thinking of buying one of these instead of renting. after done i can try to sell it of donate it to a charity. i do have a space to park it.
So what so you guys think of this?
Wish I had $10-12K to throw around like that. Sounds like a vacation to remember for the rest of your lives.
Go for it! Just remember that the RV you will purchase will likely sit on your property with a For Sale sign on it - for a long-long time. You will likely lose your shorts in resale of it.
If all that's OK with you (mucho dollars spent on that trip also), then go for it.
Try a different place to rent because that price is a ripoff.
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Rent. A $6k motorhome will break down and ruin your vacation.
Yeah, nothing but headaches and repairs.
Rent. A $6k motorhome will break down and ruin your vacation.
Yeah, nothing but headaches and repairs.
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Rent. A $6k motorhome will break down and ruin your vacation.
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't forget, you going to be DRINKING THE GAS.
Rent. A $6k motorhome will break down and ruin your vacation.
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't forget, you going to be DRINKING THE GAS.
Originally Posted By: double vanos
Rent. If you think a car looses value over the years, an RV will rip your heart out.
This, also anything that sits a lot like an RV will be hard to keep mice out of. My grandparents are retired and have owned a few different smaller RVs. They use it more than most people with full time jobs probably would, and they still have issues with mice.
Rent. If you think a car looses value over the years, an RV will rip your heart out.
This, also anything that sits a lot like an RV will be hard to keep mice out of. My grandparents are retired and have owned a few different smaller RVs. They use it more than most people with full time jobs probably would, and they still have issues with mice.
We're enjoying the Holiday week in our RV, pulled by our dedicated tow vehicle, and riding our dirtbikes. For occasional use, renting may be the way to go. If you're like us and get away whenever possible, renting might not be as appealing. Of course the RV, truck, and dirtbikes are depreciating assets. But their cost is acceptable to us, based on the experiences they allow us to have.
Stay home.
I purchased a 1994 Fleetwood Southwind (GM P30 chassis 454wTBI) back in Sept 2014 for $8500 with just shy of 45,XXX miles on it. Now have 57,XXX miles on it. I do most if not all the work on it myself. Exception being the fridge which I had replaced for ~$2K.Other things that I've done to it since purchase:
1. Cooling hoses
2. Aux fan motor
3. TPS sensor
4. Idle air control valve
5. Idle speed actuator
6. PCV valve
7. Purge valve
8. Trans fluid, internal wire harness, Shift solenoids A&B (4L80E trans)
9. (x2) 6volt Deep cycle batteries
10. (x1) 12v chassis battery
11. Air filter
12. O2 Sensor
13. LP tank regulator
14. Full tune up (wires, plugs, rotor, cap)
15. Ignition coil
16. Alternator
17. Chassis lube
18. Rebuilt axle shaft
19. Fuel filters (chassis & generator)
20. Belts (x3)
21. DRAC module
22. Fuel pump relay
23. T stat
24. New toilet
The majority of the above items I did over the previous 4 years by just picking several things to do each year as preventative maint. It adds a piece of mind that they won't be an issue o pop up during a trip. The RV itself had the roof redone just prior to my buying it (which was a plus on my behalf). When not in use it gets stored in gravel lot covered.
1. Cooling hoses
2. Aux fan motor
3. TPS sensor
4. Idle air control valve
5. Idle speed actuator
6. PCV valve
7. Purge valve
8. Trans fluid, internal wire harness, Shift solenoids A&B (4L80E trans)
9. (x2) 6volt Deep cycle batteries
10. (x1) 12v chassis battery
11. Air filter
12. O2 Sensor
13. LP tank regulator
14. Full tune up (wires, plugs, rotor, cap)
15. Ignition coil
16. Alternator
17. Chassis lube
18. Rebuilt axle shaft
19. Fuel filters (chassis & generator)
20. Belts (x3)
21. DRAC module
22. Fuel pump relay
23. T stat
24. New toilet
The majority of the above items I did over the previous 4 years by just picking several things to do each year as preventative maint. It adds a piece of mind that they won't be an issue o pop up during a trip. The RV itself had the roof redone just prior to my buying it (which was a plus on my behalf). When not in use it gets stored in gravel lot covered.
I would rent. RV's have the worst re-sell of nearly anything on planet earth and are just one HUGE maintenance hassle unless you are really into the RV'ing thing and love working on trailer/RV gadgets.
If so then buy a very nice used one that already took the massive depreciation hit.
If so then buy a very nice used one that already took the massive depreciation hit.
Buy it, you know you want to! There are so many retirees who'll drop 80-140k on a brand new one and then never drive it and then break a hip and really never drive it.
Keep it cheap and know your market and you'll be able to flip at zero cost to you.
Watch for roof leaks, mold, and mouse damage. Everything else can be fixed with a wrench.
Keep it cheap and know your market and you'll be able to flip at zero cost to you.
Watch for roof leaks, mold, and mouse damage. Everything else can be fixed with a wrench.
Originally Posted by WhyMe
thinking of taking the family on 4-6 week trip to see the south west US next year. i have been looking at RV rentals and they are 1k or more a week. i have been looking at older RV's for sale and there seem to be plenty in the 4-6k $ range. yeah they are older ,but most have low mileage.
thinking of buying one of these instead of renting. after done i can try to sell it of donate it to a charity. i do have a space to park it.
So what so you guys think of this?
If that's it.. no don't. Their money pits.. it's a rolling house going over roads worse than the gravel roads I grew up on. Low mileage older RV's will always have problems. Now if you said you'd want to keep it and travel further go ahead and buy. But just for that period of time just rent for the piece of mind you won't have to fix anything. A motor, transmission, fridge, AC will cost +$1k easily.
We've had ours for 5 years but has had roof issue's I've finally corrected. Nothing major besides that yet although the transmission is going. If I didn't do any of the work our RV would really be expensive with all the small stuff I've had to fix.
thinking of taking the family on 4-6 week trip to see the south west US next year. i have been looking at RV rentals and they are 1k or more a week. i have been looking at older RV's for sale and there seem to be plenty in the 4-6k $ range. yeah they are older ,but most have low mileage.
thinking of buying one of these instead of renting. after done i can try to sell it of donate it to a charity. i do have a space to park it.
So what so you guys think of this?
If that's it.. no don't. Their money pits.. it's a rolling house going over roads worse than the gravel roads I grew up on. Low mileage older RV's will always have problems. Now if you said you'd want to keep it and travel further go ahead and buy. But just for that period of time just rent for the piece of mind you won't have to fix anything. A motor, transmission, fridge, AC will cost +$1k easily.
We've had ours for 5 years but has had roof issue's I've finally corrected. Nothing major besides that yet although the transmission is going. If I didn't do any of the work our RV would really be expensive with all the small stuff I've had to fix.
My dad has a 1990 with about 90,000km on it. They bought it about 6 years ago. It was well looked after by the 2 previous owners, and it was safetied when they bought it and it didn't need anything other than tires in the first year. (Not cheap on an RV, and they usually crack and need replacement long before the treads are actually gone) They drove it around and put about 12,000km on since they have owned it and have put in about $6,500 into it with tires, new batteries (main/auxiliary), repairing the on-board generator, tuning up the engine, brakes etc. a new alternator and some other minor stuff. Oh and repairing the back brake lines that corroded away and the hydraulic stabilizers that seized up.
If they had to do it all over again they would have just rented it for the weeks they wanted to go away to the various KOA campgrounds. If they used it more than a couple times a year it would be worth it but now it mostly just sits and the novelty has worn off and they will never recover the money they put into it and paid in the beginning because it's such an old model. It has a nice 454 in it though.
Up to you but it does come down to whether you will go away at least a months worth of time a year in it. If the answer is no, then rent it because all the costs add up. Like towing package if you break down (more than a typical AAA package), insurance, licensing, repairs and maintenance. The repairs usually come from age not from time used because the thing sits idle a lot of the time stuff seizes, corrodes, or just stops working. It's constant upkeep with the older RV's.
If they had to do it all over again they would have just rented it for the weeks they wanted to go away to the various KOA campgrounds. If they used it more than a couple times a year it would be worth it but now it mostly just sits and the novelty has worn off and they will never recover the money they put into it and paid in the beginning because it's such an old model. It has a nice 454 in it though.
Up to you but it does come down to whether you will go away at least a months worth of time a year in it. If the answer is no, then rent it because all the costs add up. Like towing package if you break down (more than a typical AAA package), insurance, licensing, repairs and maintenance. The repairs usually come from age not from time used because the thing sits idle a lot of the time stuff seizes, corrodes, or just stops working. It's constant upkeep with the older RV's.
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Originally Posted by StevieC
My dad has a 1990 with about 90,000km on it. They bought it about 6 years ago. It was well looked after by the 2 previous owners, and it was safetied when they bought it and it didn't need anything other than tires in the first year. (Not cheap on an RV, and they usually crack and need replacement long before the treads are actually gone) They drove it around and put about 12,000km on since they have owned it and have put in about $6,500 into it with tires, new batteries (main/auxiliary), repairing the on-board generator, tuning up the engine, brakes etc. a new alternator and some other minor stuff. Oh and repairing the back brake lines that corroded away and the hydraulic stabilizers that seized up.
If they had to do it all over again they would have just rented it for the weeks they wanted to go away to the various KOA campgrounds. If they used it more than a couple times a year it would be worth it but now it mostly just sits and the novelty has worn off and they will never recover the money they put into it and paid in the beginning because it's such an old model. It has a nice 454 in it though.
Up to you but it does come down to whether you will go away at least a months worth of time a year in it. If the answer is no, then rent it because all the costs add up. Like towing package if you break down (more than a typical AAA package), insurance, licensing, repairs and maintenance. The repairs usually come from age not from time used because the thing sits idle a lot of the time stuff seizes, corrodes, or just stops working. It's constant upkeep with the older RV's.
The cost for renting an RV for just 1 week can easily be $2000+ (fuel not included) RV towing package can be had thru AAA RV or GoodSam. I have both for less than $200 per year. In the unlikely event I need a tow GoodSam tows to nearest service center (no extra charge or fee) regardless of distance. The early to mid 90's RV's are very popular for Australians and Europeans who come to the USA and travel by RV. They generally will purchase one split there trip into segments then ship it back to their home. And it still ends up being cheaper than if they purchased a similar aged RV in their home country. Ran into (2) Australians recently who said they easily go for 100K if purchased in Australia...come to the USA and a fraction of the price even after additional cost of converting the RV for home use and shipping fee.
My dad has a 1990 with about 90,000km on it. They bought it about 6 years ago. It was well looked after by the 2 previous owners, and it was safetied when they bought it and it didn't need anything other than tires in the first year. (Not cheap on an RV, and they usually crack and need replacement long before the treads are actually gone) They drove it around and put about 12,000km on since they have owned it and have put in about $6,500 into it with tires, new batteries (main/auxiliary), repairing the on-board generator, tuning up the engine, brakes etc. a new alternator and some other minor stuff. Oh and repairing the back brake lines that corroded away and the hydraulic stabilizers that seized up.
If they had to do it all over again they would have just rented it for the weeks they wanted to go away to the various KOA campgrounds. If they used it more than a couple times a year it would be worth it but now it mostly just sits and the novelty has worn off and they will never recover the money they put into it and paid in the beginning because it's such an old model. It has a nice 454 in it though.
Up to you but it does come down to whether you will go away at least a months worth of time a year in it. If the answer is no, then rent it because all the costs add up. Like towing package if you break down (more than a typical AAA package), insurance, licensing, repairs and maintenance. The repairs usually come from age not from time used because the thing sits idle a lot of the time stuff seizes, corrodes, or just stops working. It's constant upkeep with the older RV's.
The cost for renting an RV for just 1 week can easily be $2000+ (fuel not included) RV towing package can be had thru AAA RV or GoodSam. I have both for less than $200 per year. In the unlikely event I need a tow GoodSam tows to nearest service center (no extra charge or fee) regardless of distance. The early to mid 90's RV's are very popular for Australians and Europeans who come to the USA and travel by RV. They generally will purchase one split there trip into segments then ship it back to their home. And it still ends up being cheaper than if they purchased a similar aged RV in their home country. Ran into (2) Australians recently who said they easily go for 100K if purchased in Australia...come to the USA and a fraction of the price even after additional cost of converting the RV for home use and shipping fee.
Last edited:
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I believe there is an old saying and it goes like this... If its got tires or [censored], your better off renting.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
In 2003 I purchased a Fleetwood Southwind 24 foot class A on a P30 chassis. 454/Turbo 400. I paid 4800 dollars for it.
We used about 10 times a year for 5 years. I did tires, u-joints, hoses and coach batteries. Was a solid RV.
Everything always worked. Never had any leaks you just have to take car it.
Sold that for 4200 dollars.
Purchased a 5th wheel kept the for 4 years. It was a 1993 Fleetwood Prowler 25 foot bunkhouse.
I had to replace the refrigerator control board, tires and fix a leak on one of the clearance lights. Paid 3800 dollars for it with hitch.
Sold it super to cheap to a family who I knew would use it as they had to downsize due to economic issues
.
My current trailer is a 2012 32 foot Keystone Passport. I have towed it about 35,000 miles. I had to fix the toilet, an awing, replace the tires
and repack the wheel bearings once.
Never really had any of the problems everyone here is complaining about and we love it as it gets my kids out and away from the electronics.
it gets all together.
I tow with the truck in my signature. Worth every penny to my family and I.
You are looking at about 6000 bucks for 6 weeks. If you are only going to use it once. Just rent, but if you are going keep it shop around.
They are not has hard to own as some people here are saying.
This past weekend at Ft. Flagler State Park in WA.
![[Linked Image]](http://i65.tinypic.com/2wfl2r7.jpg "[Linked Image]")
We used about 10 times a year for 5 years. I did tires, u-joints, hoses and coach batteries. Was a solid RV.
Everything always worked. Never had any leaks you just have to take car it.
Sold that for 4200 dollars.
Purchased a 5th wheel kept the for 4 years. It was a 1993 Fleetwood Prowler 25 foot bunkhouse.
I had to replace the refrigerator control board, tires and fix a leak on one of the clearance lights. Paid 3800 dollars for it with hitch.
Sold it super to cheap to a family who I knew would use it as they had to downsize due to economic issues
.
My current trailer is a 2012 32 foot Keystone Passport. I have towed it about 35,000 miles. I had to fix the toilet, an awing, replace the tires
and repack the wheel bearings once.
Never really had any of the problems everyone here is complaining about and we love it as it gets my kids out and away from the electronics.
it gets all together.
I tow with the truck in my signature. Worth every penny to my family and I.
You are looking at about 6000 bucks for 6 weeks. If you are only going to use it once. Just rent, but if you are going keep it shop around.
They are not has hard to own as some people here are saying.
This past weekend at Ft. Flagler State Park in WA.
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Originally Posted by jeepman3071
Originally Posted by double vanos
Rent. If you think a car looses value over the years, an RV will rip your heart out.
This, also anything that sits a lot like an RV will be hard to keep mice out of. My grandparents are retired and have owned a few different smaller RVs. They use it more than most people with full time jobs probably would, and they still have issues with mice.
I had mice in mine once, they got in through the defroster ducts. I put a low watt CF bulb under the hood and one in the dining area and no mice since. Been 8 years mouse free.
Originally Posted by double vanos
Rent. If you think a car looses value over the years, an RV will rip your heart out.
This, also anything that sits a lot like an RV will be hard to keep mice out of. My grandparents are retired and have owned a few different smaller RVs. They use it more than most people with full time jobs probably would, and they still have issues with mice.
I had mice in mine once, they got in through the defroster ducts. I put a low watt CF bulb under the hood and one in the dining area and no mice since. Been 8 years mouse free.
Alot of what's been said is true, but how many of the posters own/owned a RV? Renting is a good idea. IF you have any inkling that you'd use one multiple times for the next few years, then buying a GOOD used one would be a better choice. I spend half as many days/dollars maintaining my RV as I do enjoying it. I do use it as it now has 93k mi on it. Ford VS Chevy? The Ford V10 truely has it all over the Chevy. I have several RV friends that I travel with sometimes that wish they had the Ford chassis for the handling and gas milage.
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