Question for all you experienced RV guys...

Mods feel free to move this if it is the wrong section to be asking...

So I am a recent retiree seriously contemplating buying a Rockwood Geopro BHS for traveling and camping/hunting/fishing etc with my wife and friends. My experience with RV camping is close to zero other than I’ve stayed in a few on various occasions that belonged to friends but I really don’t know much about it - and that’s being generous.

I was always under the impression that camping in an RV campground was way cheaper than staying in a motel but I just checked the price of a KOA RV campground near Emigrant Montana near an area I like to fish and was floored when I saw the prices! They want $113 dollars a night for a 21 foot camper with two adults! Add another $20 bucks for a “premium” spot which gets you water, electricity and WiFi...LOL.

For that price I could stay in a nice hotel room every night and not have to worry about the hassle and expense of towing a trailer half way across the country. Can some of you experienced guys clue me in? What am I missing here? Is that just an anomaly or is that pretty much the standard rate for these places? If it is, I think I might just stick to tent camping and just hit a hotel when I’ve had enough.

Edited to add, never mind. I think I found what I need, thanks...

 

You buy an RV for the life style and not to save $$$ in hotel accommodations. If traveling less expensively is a main consideration then an RV is not for you. I personally like the RV lifestyle and all the places I can go with my trailer much better than staying in motels and eating in restaurants. Just the cost to buy a small to medium size RV would pay for 150 or more nights in a motel. Then you have the expense of insurance, maintenance, camp ground fees, cost of gasoline and remember you will get maybe 10 or 11 mpg while towing. And there are other expenses too. So get an RV cause you want to enjoy all its benefits and the great lifestyle or get a tent or go the motel route.

 

I think KOA is the Hilton of camping. At least price wise in my few experiences with them. And that was just tent camping. Interested in other's experiences as well.

 

Location location location and season season season. I’ve been on the road a little over two months now with my trailer through west coast and south-west state, never paying more than $40/night for water and electric hookups and often much less than that.

 

We like to stay in state parks. They generally run $25-$40 and less with an in-state senior discount. They’re usually located in scenic locations with hiking trails and other outdoor recreation. Another option is Corps of Engineer campgrounds which are usually on lakes or rivers. We only stay at KOAs or private CGs as a last resort.

 

Campground? You have a fully self contained trailer perfect for boondocking. I haven't paid a campground fee in I can't tell you how long. Besides campsites in campgounds like KOA and state parks are usually stacked one next to the other and is that really camping?

 

Plus that spot is on the way to Yellowstone.

 

Definitely not my idea of camping and yes, you’re right, boondocking is exactly what I want it for. But eventually on extended trips wouldn’t I need to hit up a regular campground to clean out and refill the tanks, perform basic maintenance, etc?

Again, I’m not experienced in this. Just trying to learn what I can before diving in.

You’re the first one I’ve ever heard say that. Everyone I know says RV camping is way cheaper than going somewhere and staying at hotels. Every other house in my neighborhood has a camper in the driveway and that is about the most common reason given when asked besides the obvious fun of just camping.

I totally agree with you that the primary reason is lifestyle, but unless you’re pretty close to being independently wealthy, I don’t know too many people that can afford to camp an entire season at the prices I mentioned...

 

Thank you, I didn’t think those prices I quoted could possibly be the norm.

 

rvdumps.com

 

Stay away from the KOAs. With precious few exceptions they are overpriced, overcrowded, and not at all scenic. Start with the state and municipal parks, they are easy and cheap enough. Also keep an eye on hipcamp.com, there are some true hidden gems on that site. As you gain confidence, start equipping your trailer to be completely off grid. The less dependent on hookups you can get, the better the camp experience. Private vistas that dont look like a gravel lot behind the interstate, and for free (or cheap).

 

You can travel the country and stay in hotels for about the same price as towing a travel trailer around, you just lose some freedom on choosing where to stay. If you're towing the trailer with a Tacoma and doing 500 miles in a day you're already in the hole for about $30 in extra gas money. The cost of that trailer if you use it 100 times in a year is $220 a night. Even if you keep it for five years and use it 100 nights every year it's still a $44 nightly cost without any maintenance expenses figured in.

 

I’m just saying you won’t save any $$$ RVing over staying in a motel and eating out in restaurants. The initial outlay depending on what you want is probably $15000 to $20000 and more. If you go upscale a little 16’ Airstream is $30,000. That by itself would pay for many many many years of motels. Then there’s a big list of other expenses. I personally love RV life, it’s the way to go for me but I know the whole thing ain’t inexpensive.

 

KOA's aren't the most expensive private campgrounds but they're generally in the upper third depending on location. I'd compare them to the Chic-fil-A of the fast food chains where you can generally count on a consistently acceptable meal. Any upper tier private campground near a major attraction is going to be costly just as $150/night motel rooms adjoining Disneyland aren't too common.

We've had a camper for nearly twenty years and I think you're making a mistake in trying to justify ownership from a financial perspective. Look at the value of a five year old camper similar to the GeoPro you have in mind. How much did it depreciate? Factor in insurance, property taxes, licenses, tires every 2-3 years, additional wear and tear on your tow vehicle (brakes will need replacement roughly twice as often if you use the camper much), extra cost for gas when towing and likely $1K for the replacement of at least one major appliance. How much investment revenue are you losing by not having the funds spent on a camper? How handy are you? Campers require at least as much maintenance attention as a home. Take this estimate and divide it by the number of nights you expect to camp over that five years and, even without campground costs, I'd bet the figure would be close to or maybe even exceed what you'd pay for the same number of nights in a $150/night room. There are a lot of reasons to own a camper but the cost savings over hotel/motel rooms is way down the list for most of us. You also don't have to empty your blackwater tank when you stay at the Holiday Inn

Having said all that, if you like knowing who slept in your bed last night, being able to open the door to your room and step out to some awesome views, sitting around a campfire after a day of hiking, fishing or off-roading and being able to control (to some extent at least) who your neighbors might be - get that camper. We tented for thirty years and still do on occasion, but spend more time away from home since buying the Scamp. If you're retired, I'd think you're close to or beyond 62. Get the Federal geezer pass for $80 (one time fee) and have free entrance and usually half priced camping to any of our federal public lands. Most public campgrounds now have potable water and a dump station and many offer flush johns and hot showers.

 

Got to pick your spots better. You have high end campgrounds and regular campgrounds. We camp at the beach so we could pay $200+/night for a hotel or I can camp for $35/night (power and water) and I’m 30 ft from the water (they will pump your tanks for $15 if you need it). I could go down the road to another campground and stay for $80/night and I might get full hookups for that (basically add sewer at the campsite). On a 5 night stay I may get the tanks pumped 1 time then dump again when we leave. Locally at home I can go to a rest stop and they have a dump station you can use for free. Some places will give a discount if you’re a member of clubs like Good Sam’s etc.


We personally like the cheaper campground because it’s not as crowded and right on the water. One other difference is one has crushed oyster shells to park on and the higher priced one is paved. Different places will have different price points. You’ll find some in California that are $200/night overlooking the ocean. You can also find cheaper ones. I’ve been to some higher priced ones that don’t have fire pits for a campfire and if you want one you have to bring your own. Others have fire rings for you. But, in the end you can find one for the price you want to pay.

 

Hell you can stay at Disney World campground for less than that KOA. Lol

 

You in a tacoma or just hanging out on TW? Just curious. I wouldn't use a Tacoma as a dedicated tow rig for that. It can do it, but not comfortably for long trips.

Yes, it is not cheap to use campgrounds. Look for primitive camping, you won't have hookups though. BUT, sometimes some of the spots are not super friendly to bring in a camper that big. That's more bed-camping or "off road built" tear drops.

Long of the short: I wouldn't do it long term with a tacoma, it's not cheap and you get to see the countries best campgrounds, if that's your thing.

 

I think after considering all my options I’m probably going to go with this (No Bo 10.6). I can pull that almost anywhere my Taco can go and that’s ultimately what I want. It’s even got a roof top tent in addition.

 

We rv’d about 10,000 miles last year. We stayed in a “private” campgrounds twice. Once because our newbie rver family had booked there. Second time was at Disney World Wilderness Village, to be with grandkids. Both were like parking lots. Won’t do it again. Rates were crazy. Facilities dirty. We always stay in state or county parks. Except in the Smoky Mountain National Park. With my retired military discount or wife’s senior we never pay more than $15 a night. We boondock(out on own, no park) when we can, which obviously is free. But wife is not a fan of it.

 

Why not rent a travel trailer when you need one? We rented this one when debating what we wanted to buy.