RVingAndMore.com

Don’t own an RV? No Problem!

RV ownership is a wonderful, wonderful thing. However, due to a myriad of reasons, RV ownership might not be in the cards for everyone. First, and most obvious (at least to me, Ms. Cheapskate U.S.A.), is the cost. RV’s can cost anywhere from $5,000, all the way up to $1 million. Then of course there is the required insurance, maintenance, living expenses, and all the fun little things that creep up along the way. After the financial issue, there is the storage issue, meaning, when you are not out RVing, where do you park the dang thing? Some neighborhood’s have strict rules against RV parking, and you may not want to park your RV at a lot away from your home. Also, storage at a lot normally has a monthly fee. So in a nut shell, RV ownership is a huge financial responsibility. Personally, I am not even close to being in the position to purchase and maintain an RV.

So, what is an RV lover to do when ownership just isn’t in the cards? Well, the first and most obvious answer is renting. I have rented many times now, beginning with a 24’ Class C RV that we took to Mammoth Mountain in Central California. Since then I have rented about 5 times, all classes, including a souped up 42’ (yes, you read that right, 42 feet!) luxury RV. I feel that even if you do decide to buy a RV, renting a few times is a great idea. After all, there is quite a considerable difference between a Class A and a Class C. To this day, I feel much more comfortable in a Class C. I feel it is easier to drive, and much easier to maneuver. Plus, an issue is how often you will use your RV. As a family with children, we are limited to the amount of time we can get away. However, retired couples who are able to vacation any time they want, are in an ideal position to own an RV. I also think it is wise to rent an RV so you can get a feel for the RV, as well as the upkeep. After all, the purchase of an RV is a true investment.

A newer option available to potential RV owners is a fractional share. This is basically a timeshare of an RV. You can choose anywhere from 2 weeks per year, up to 12 weeks per year. This option is still pretty new, with just a handful of companies offering this option. However, for some people it might just be the perfect situation. After all, you get to use the same RV each time you want to travel, which is something you often cannot do with a standard rental. Furthermore, you don’t have to worry about storage, upkeep, maintenance, as all of those services are included with the fractional share. Of course there is also a downside. You cannot just decide to hop in the RV and go. You must make arrangements with the servicing company, and stick by the their rules. Also, since the RV will be used quite frequently, it will accumulate miles very quickly, and this will lessen the value of your investment. However, as with any major financial decision, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons, and determine what is best for your family.

For our trip to Alaska, I hit the proverbial jackpot. A good friend of mine was going through a divorce, and he had no place to store his RV. He couldn’t sell it, and he didn’t want to deal with the upkeep either. So, he knew of our Alaska plans, and generously offered the use of his RV for our trip. I will be the first to admit that I am incredibly fortunate, as most people do not have this opportunity. Had I not been able to borrow this RV, our trip most likely would have had to wait until the next summer. Rental rates are highest in the summer, and that would be an enormous expense.

Our RV was a Fleetwood American Dream. It was absolutely incredible, and I still pinch myself to see if I was dreaming. It was a fantastic RV, and it’s large size (it was 40’) made it a very nice home away from home for our four months on the road. The American Dream is a Class A diesel pusher, with three slide outs. It was completely loaded, and an absolute dream. We did have a few “issues” along the way, including a time when one of the slide outs didn’t want to slide back in. And obviously mechanical issues such as that would never happen in a large city near an RV dealership or repair facility, but in the remotest area of the Yukon Territory in northern Canada!

Not everyone lucks out and is able to borrow an RV like I did. However, many people who own RV’s do not use them all the time. They have jobs, and responsibilities, and simply cannot go RVing every weekend of the year. If you know anyone who owns an RV, it might be possible to barter with them, or to make a trade with them. For example, if you have a timeshare, perhaps you could trade a week of your timeshare for a week using the RV. Or, you could trade a service. If you are a CPA, or someone in the service industry, perhaps you could exchange a service for RV time. The possibilities are endless. And the saying goes, where there is a will, there’s a way. Taking a trip by RV is just such a fantastic experience, so I suggest you find a way, any way, to make it happen! As you will soon read, our trip to Alaska was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. If you ever get a chance to do the same, please find a way to make it happen.

Please come back on Tuesday, September 9^th for our fourth installment, “Packing Lists, Route Planning, and Supplies, Oh My!” See you there!