I'll be buying my camper cheap next year when everyone is back to work or out of work... either way they will be cheaper next year when the market is flooded.
As for your adventures i have looked into the same. Better to buy or hotel it.
we looked at renting 1. NO DOGS! so that killed it. But we had did some research for the one we were interested in. The gas or diesel cost would have been approx $600 - $1k, depending how much we traveled up the west coast. Cleaning fees, blah, blah as you included. Compared to good hotels with amenities and no time frame to return it, or have to worry about cleaning or NO Pets. The hotels rentals won out.
It did give us more toy money to enjoy our trip with.
The Great Kazoo's Feedback
"when you're happy you enjoy the melody but, when you're broken you understand the lyrics".
Don’t forget to add in the costs of an RV spot at a campground or RV Resort. Depending on where you park it for the night you could be paying more than hotel rooms just for that alone.
This is all a lot of help guys, I appreciate the feedback. Of course the plan is dying quickly but that's ok, better than regretting an expensive choice.
We rented a travel trailer in the Black Hills over July 4th. We rented from someone local to the Hills and he delivered it and set it up at our campsite. Cost was a little more than a hotel but we were able to put the kids to bed and sit around the campfire. The first couple nights were rough but we got it figured out.
It was a less expensive way for us to test drive a camper we thought we wanted to buy.
There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.
The Great Kazoo's Feedback
"when you're happy you enjoy the melody but, when you're broken you understand the lyrics".
From my experience.
Rented an RV in Alaska. Cost was more then car plus hotel once you factor in the spot fee. But we could take brakes and eat Luton some scenic places by pulling over. This was great when our kids were smaller and required frequent stops.
We looked local and the cost did not add up. Even with renting two rooms or a suite with a kitchen the cost for the RV alone was greater than rooms. Plus the thing eats gas like crazy so there is that cost.
As far as rental or buy: Coworker has a 26 or 30 foot RV. His conclusion was that if you only use it five times a year or so, renting is cheaper. No idea about his math on that.
We bought a 16 ft travel trailer new in 2007 when we still lived in Arvada. The size was fine for my wife and I, plus 1 or 2 small kids. We sold it last summer, as it was far too small with the kids now being teen or tween age, plus we had to store it in a lot because flat parking space is at a premium here in the foothills. I didn't really enjoy the towing process, and probably would have preferred putting the $$$ towards an older F350 and a used slider-in camper. With that combo, we could could work around the size issue with supplemental storage.
Lessons cost money. Good ones cost lots. -Tony Beets