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.