Motor H Ome for $450,000!!!
 

Just visited Costco and they had a motorhome in the parking lot that was on sale for $450,000. It was pretty fancy inside with a diswasher, two sinks, lots of finery, leather,etc. but do people really pay that for this sort of thing? What is the point? Is that roughing it, or camping to anyone's mind? wow! But don't they depreciate faster than a snake in the grass? And what about fuel costs in the future. You folks who have one, tell me what you like and why you buy? You can stay in a lot of nice hotel rooms for that kind of money.

I can't answer that samting, but funny that it was parked in Costco.. sort of a tease wouldn't you say?

My poor relations only own the lowly Class A type, which aren't shabby either..

I'd rather own a private jet myself, but to each their own.

Lots of people love motor homes and I have even considered getting one myself - but the cost factor is the obvious drawback. Like a lot of travel decisions, I see it as a lifestyle rather than financial choice. Over the long term it really would be cheaper to stay in moderate priced hotels, unless you use the RV constantly. People tell me it forces them to travel or go places they would not usually go.

I can't resist getting in on this one. We spend our winters in the south and bought a townhouse there. When we were driving there one winter we passed a lot of beautiful motorhomes. My DH asked if I would ever be interested in doing that. I replied that I can get into enough trouble with him with a little back seat driving. Trying to park one would really be a nightmare. A little later when we stopped for gas there was a huge motorhome just maneuvering up to the pumps. The wife was out directing - the screaming and yelling that ensued was hilarious. I just looked at my husband and said "I rest my case!!"

I'm sitting in my motorhome right now. Of course a $450K expenditure is a luxury, just as a $450K home is in most parts of the country. There's no need to justify the purchase of luxuries that you can afford; we don't challenge people who buy homes or cars that are larger or more comfortable than absolutely necessary.

Many RV owners aren't "campers", they are "travelers" who want all the comforts of home and would never dream of undertaking more rustic forms of camping-style adventures.

I love being able to travel wherever I want, whenever I want, and have all my stuff with me. When I read the threads about gross hotel rooms, lost reservations, or surly hotel staff, I can just laugh!

As for the driving, parking, gas stations, etc., there are plenty of appropriate driving schools for RV owners and those who don't take advantage of them are an embarassment and possibly even a menace, just like unskilled auto drivers are.

Sounds like one of the kind they use for movie or TV stars on location. Not supposd to be roughing it - but as close as you can get to a deluxe hotel suite on the shooting site.

Home and Garden channel has a program every year..forget what it's called...on the latest and greatest in recreational vehicles. Yes, people do buy them, some are custom made and run up to a million dollars, and yes it's a life style.

Also, there are many retired people who have sold their homes and their motor home IS their home. With the internet, etc, it's easy for them to keep in touch, they do internet bill pay etc. and if needed have a PO box, mail drop in some fairly central location. They travel around, meet others like themselves and seem to just have a ball.

That is not my style, but these people love the life they have chosen to live.

Definitely a lifestyle choice and you either getit or you don't....I don't!

And RV-ing is an American phenomenon....you just don't see RV vehicles in Europe or anywhere else in anything like the numbers over here. Is it because the US is big so there are plenty of places to go without crossing borders/ hitting the ocean...?

I crave new experiences when I travel so staying in the home from home doesn't do it for me and I really like living out of a suitcase/ backpack for a week or so without the so called creature comforts of home....

I've never camped and I'll never have an RV and I think there's a link between the two.
I think RV owners are often ex-campers that have reached their golden years and now need more that a tent.

Are there any young RV owners out there? Any RV owners that weren't campers?

I don't qualify as "young" any longer and I do not own an RV now either, but I did when I was young. Unfortunately, it was no palace on wheels but it was comfortable and the family enjoyed it immensly.

As others have said, it allowed us to go places and see things with a modicum of comfort and we used it a lot. We were a family that would not have tent-camped so it was either the RV or hotels. With $0.25 per gallon gasoline back then and no need to continually eat out, the RV was less expensive than the same trips would have been in hotels.

It was a life-style choice that was right for us then. I rented an RV camper in Alaska last year and found that, now that I'm in my 60's, I did not enjoy that life style as much as I once used to. Now I think roughing it is staying at the Marriott instead of the Ritz Carlton.

I've known several older couples who after retirement, sell their homes and buy a motorhome. Then they travel around North America to see all the sights.

I think those are the folks that a $450,000 motor home is directed at.

Apparently, Walmart allows motorhomes to park in their parking lots for extended stays also. That image of a motorhome in the parking lot with the wading pool, beach chairs and barbeque isn't make believe... people really vacation at Walmart.

People buy the craziest things for the craziest amounts*.

I could see a retired couple with a good amount of money buying such an item if they plan on living on the road for a few or more years.....

But then again, a celeb could ask for that just for when they are shooting a film.

What is creepier at Costco is the coffins for sale...and yes, they have to ship it to you when you buy it, and YOU have to store it...well....until it is needed... :(

I don't begrudge anyone for doing what they enjoy.
Last summer we joined my partner's brother and his wife for a two day trip in their very luxurious motorhome. They had met us at Ashland, Oregon for the theatre festival, and then we returned with them for the drive to their home in Tahoe. We spent a night near Lassen.
They love it! But after spending an hour doing the disconnect so we could get on the road, an hour doing the reconnect that evening, and another hour the next day doing the disconnect I had had enough to last me a lifetime. Each time involves some contact with the nasty sewer line. No matter how you do it, the smell and the liklihood of some "splash" is inevitable. Our beds were really god awful -- if you got those beds in a hotel you'd raise bloody hell. Their bed is very nice, however. The bath and shower while adequate are not like staying in even a motel 6 -- no 20 minute shower if you want, and certainly no generous space to relax in.
They realize they weren't doing it for savings and were well aware that they could travel much cheaper other ways. Anyone who thinks the idea is to save money when traveling is probably kidding themselves. But that's not why they got one -- they love to travel that way. Meanwhile, they've now had it two years. This year the insurance went way up. They had to put new tires on the whole thing -- ouch! There were two major repair bills. Their storage bill for it when not using it went up. And the sites they stayed in have started upping their prices a lot. Then comes the high cost of gas this year. To make a long story short, they're thinking of giving it up. But of course you can only get a very small fraction of what you paid for it.

Meanwhile since Costco only takes American Express, I'm wondering if you can really put the full $450,000 on the AE card?

We don't regret our RVing years...three motorhomes overall. Sure, getting hooked up is a hassle, but most RVers are not operating on a schedule.

It was only when the annual use went down and the cost of operations went up that we decided to let it go.

"after spending an hour doing the disconnect so we could get on the road, an hour doing the reconnect that evening, and another hour the next day doing the disconnect I had had enough to last me a lifetime. Each time involves some contact with the nasty sewer line. No matter how you do it, the smell and the liklihood of some "splash" is inevitable. "

Yikes, if my RV involved all that, I wouldn't find it very appealing, either.

Most that own the large expensive class 'A' RV's are no different than others that travel. They just like to take their home away from home with them. Its not an uncommon thing to see a $500,000 motor home next to a tent camper in one of our National Parks or Forest Service Campgrounds. Each enjoying themselves in their own way.

I forgot my favorite part. Once we had hooked up, extended the extensions and awning, set up table and chairs, and done all our work, we sat down with drinks and some cheese. Just then another big one pulled into the space next to us and started its hookup. When the guy went to attach his line the open sewer smell chased us inside. The smell didn't go away for at least a half hour or 45 minutes. So much for our peaceful cocktails by the pretty lake.

Yuck. I avoid full-hookups areas for this very reason. the idea of having somebody's sewer pipe just feet from my picnic table is revolting, even if it didn't smell.

Most campgrounds have areas with just water and electricity, and a separate dump site where you can go when your tanks are full (for me, that's once a week). And BTW, that "splash" is certainly not inevitable; I have't been splashed yet.

Here's something funny...we were in our little camper with friends and it was hot and sunny by the door, so we all went around back of the camper and set up a circle of chairs, chatting quietly. A lady came out of a huge RV and said "you are sitting in my shade". I said "your shade?" and she said yes. So I said, "well, we are pretty friendly, so come have a beer with us". She smiled a tiny smile, and finally relaxed a bit. When they moved the next day I told everyone "wow, she is leaving and taking her shade with her." Not funny, they said...cause it's hot now.

Well, I guess those "Pavement Princesses" are good for something, after all.

Just visit any NASCAR race. They had a tour of them in Charlotte a couple of months ago.

This thread is very interesting. My parent's own a camper ad keep it permanently at an RV campground in Vermont on Lake Dunmore. When my parents first drove me through the campground and said they were interested in buying this camper I laughed and really couldn't see what they found appealing about this place. Well, they bought the camper and the first year I went a couple of weekends with my now husband. It's now been about 5 years and a second camper later. We really enjoy it and try to go as often as we can. My parents usually go every weekend once the campground opens. It is so relaxing. Yes, driving the 1.5 hrs. to get there, opening up, draining the sewer, other people draining their sewers, neighbors coming and going can all be a pain but it seems to be worth it. There are other people on the same "road" who have permanent sites so it's like they've formed a small community who looks out for each other. They keep in touch when the campground closes, and we even had a couple at our wedding. One huge plus is that it really has brought my family closer together. There's been weekends that we'd have 3 families in one little camper and a few tents. It helps that the campground has 3 pools, a beach, a park for little kids, hiking trails close by and we're not far from shopping, either.

As a matter of fact, I'll be leaving tonight to spend the weekend there with my parent's. They've planned a little "block party" for tomorrow night. On Sunday, we will be closing it up until next spring. With the wedding and everything this past summer my husband and I didn't get to go as much as we would have liked but there's always next year.

I guess the point to my story is, I think the main reason people really enjoy this "lifestyle" is the relaxation and sense of community it affords.

Many years ago I went on a three-day trip in a motor home with my mother-in-law and the two children we had then. She had "won" its use for a weekend at a charity auction. Her driving training consisted of 30 minutes in a parking lot. For that reason I would not travel with her, or allow the children to be in the motor home while she was driving. Instead, I drove my own car behind her until we reached our destination---her family reunion a few states away. We slept in the rv while everyone else from out of town was staying in a hotel (not a fabulous one, but with a shower that wasn't claustrophobic). We ate most of our meals out, with relatives. Had we not taken my car she would have had to drive that monster into parking lots not intended for use by RV's.

My impression overall was, what's the point? As a lifestyle, I can see that some people enjoy it. As purely a travel method, it's fatally flawed. IMO

<""I'm sitting in my motorhome right now. Of course a $450K expenditure is a luxury, just as a $450K home is in most parts of the country. There's no need to justify the purchase of luxuries that you can afford; we don't challenge people who buy homes or cars that are larger or more comfortable than absolutely necessary."">

Absolutely.

I'll be in one when "the time comes". Probably not a 450K one, but I look forward to owning a Class A. I want to see more of Europe first, but plan to spend LOTS of time moseying around North America in a RV with my pups.

Maybe we'll have a RV forum by then!

Starrs, I have some friends who spent their early retirement years traveling all over the US, Canada and Mexico in an RV. They're much older now--so old they still call it &quot;trailering!&quot; Those memories are their fondest by far. But that's my point, that actually <i>living</i> in an RV and traveling as a lifestyle is very different than using an RV to get from point A to point B. (I'm certainly also in favor of people spending their $$ on whatever they fancy; our choices would probably mystify others.)

People own them instead of houses. It looks just dreadful to me, but it must be some people like them.

I think, with 300 million folks here now, and China, etc., coming on strong as competition for Petroleum products (i.e., gasoline) this will become a self eating tiger! Only the very rich will be able to afford a lux RV such as the one mentioned...what do they get, 3 miles to a gallon?? And they begin to depreciate the moment they are driven off the lot, so one simply cannot consider them an investment in any sense, as one can a home. That said, and you still want to go, why not? But it doesn't make sense to me.

Yes, the gigantic ones get terrible mileage; my smaller one gets about 10 MPG. But many RVers stay in one place for days or even weeks, so the total cost of travel + accomodations can be more or less than auto + hotel. Like any other recreational option (sports, hobbies, even travel in general) there is no reason to seek a net economic benefit.

At 450K, I doubt the driver/owner is concerned about mpg. I wonder how the carbon footprint would compare to the 450K home they sold to hit the road? Factor in energy usage by the home and the gasoline consumed by two cars no longer being used (perhaps in long commutes to work) and would there be a significant difference?

A fleet of 450K RVs caravanning across the continent is probably NOT in the future for the majority of retirees (American or Chinese).

We have friends who sold their home and went RVing..for about 12 years. They loved it as they got to see a so much and their kids, who are scattered over the US. They finally sold it due to health reasons...she misses it, he does NOT miss the driving they did. She told me their RV would cost $250,000 to replace.

A couple of years ago in Ft. Myers there was a big RV/Camping show and they advertised a Million $$$ Motor home. No we did not go..couldn't afford it, so why look ;).

There is an exclusive RV park outside of Ft. Myers that only allows certain size RV's...no campers, no 5-wheelers, just the big ones, over a certain length. The lots, in the beginning were selling for about $60K. Not sure what all the amenities were that went with it. But that is high on the hog living!

I've visited one with swimming pool, club house, health club and a large social network. Not a bad gig at all.

One of my neighbors in the mountains has a deisel pusher he drives to the Keys each year pulling the big boat and they spend months at the military campground there. They have to move out and back in every week or so, but they really enjoy their life. Half the year, in a planted home in the mtns - the other half in a luxury home on wheels wherever they decided to drive to (usually the Keys).

samting, I don't understand the point of your post.

Are you trying to say that the luxury RV business will go down the tubes? If so, forget it.

There are still enough pro athletes, announcers, rock stars, millionaires, race car drivers, etc who have no problem paying these prices.

This industry is on the upswing, not the downswing.

And the average age of first time owners has dropped dramatically in the last decade. Baby boomers are buying more of them - and earlier...and not the pop-ups of the earlier &quot;camping&quot; generation.

Back when I lived in Texas, my friend's parents came to visit in their huge motorhome. We visited with them and I took the &quot;tour&quot;.

Having grown up in Hawaii (where motorhomes are nonexistent for obvious reasons) - I was absolutely fascinated with it.

They had a neat little plaque right outside the door to their motorhome - it was like a blank map of the continental US - and each state they visited had a colored insert placed in. I was quite impressed at how much of the country they had seen.

What makes you think that people in Europe don't own RV's? Following the Tour de France every year we have met hundreds of people who follow the tour in an RV. It's very popular all over Europe like all outdoor activities.

You just won't see them if you stay on the main tourist routes, but once you are off the beaten path you'll find that RVing is very popular.

My mother has a good friend whose most recent husband (ahem) is a retired pilot who owns several homes and a $500,000 RV, which was new almost 3 years ago. They have barely used it over the past year, citing the high price of gas. Rising fuel prices eventually affect everyone except perhaps, as someone pointed out, entertainers and pro athletes.

kswl

A $5OOK RV, several houses and cannot afford a few bucks for fuel to run the RV. And a retired pilot no less...... Remember that the next time you are flying. lol

Well, people have to economize somewhere :)

I cannot afford a $500K RV but I can afford to buy gas. We took a 12 week road trip this past summer, back when gas was more expensive and we drive a large van.