I recently went to a family camp that had campgrounds, hotel-style lodging, and cabins. I stayed in the hotel, and friends drove their large motorhome and parked it at the campgrounds.

This was the first time I had been to a motor home camping place, and I was kind of surprised. The motor homes are really big and well-appointed these days, and I heard they can cost $75,000. Some even had satellite dishes. All the comforts of home, so I guess that is really nice. But on the other hand, that is a lot of money, the gas is expensive, you must pay to store and insure the motor home, they don't look easy to drive, and my friends were stranded as they had no car and moving the motor home daily was not practical.

And that is what causes me to ask my question: what is it about the motor home vacation that appeals to so many people? My friends sure were awfully happy in their motor home. I have some guesses. Maybe wait lists are longer for cabins and tents are too uncomfortable. Maybe there is a nice motor home culture because no one stole my friends satellite dish sitting right out in plain view. Has anyone done this kind of vacationing so that they can explain the mystic? Let's not turn this into a "why does everyone shop" kind of fight, but I would like to hear what you guys think.

I had alway been curious about this too. My sister and brother-in-law had one so I spent a day and night at an RV park with them. All of them had a heck of a time swapping war, hunting-fishing-traveling stories etc. Some made arrangements to vacation together the next year. They really do enjoy themselves. I can afford a motor home but it's not for me. I have a little pop-up Jayco trailer with all the comforts my wife and I want and it will follow my pick-up to out of the way places we like to go. Not to KOA camp grounds. I will be 70,going on 35, in October and we enjoy 4wheeling and climbing the highest peak we can find. We seem to stay young that way.

Anon, Good question.

When I retire I'd like to avoid the hassle factor that made me want to retire in the first place, so why would you want to drive that big thing around, through big cities, weather conditions, pay extra for camps/hook ups, etc.?

My idea is to buy the cheapest airfare, rent a decent car and really rough it by staying at Courtyard Marriotts vs regular Marriotts or JW Marriotts, and then touring various areas of the US.

Especially if the cost of a good MH/5th wheel is $50,000-100,000 with the climbing gas prices. You can stay in a lot of hotels and rent some nice cars, eat at some good restaurants for that amount of money.

To each his own! Give me a convertible Mustang or a Harley on Kauai any day!
Kal

I think it has to do with a "racial/cultural" imprint in our collective memories -- this is as close as we can get to emulating our ancestors' experience of crossing America in a covered wagon!

Ok...as the owner of a motor home, our second one in fact I'll try to address some of your queries. First of all remember, there is an ass for every seat...

Cost...you can buy a pop up for a few thousand dollars or go to the top of the line Prevost that will run you close to a million. (I DON'T have one of those!)

Storage...a lot of full time RVers don't store their unit. If the people are retired they usually use it most of the year.

Insurance..it costs only a little more to insure a motor home than a car. I think we pay about $80 a year over the cost of the car. If and when you do store it, you remove the liability insurance.

Ease of driving...actually they are very easy to drive. The problem is other drivers who think you can stop them on a dime and you can't. Pulling out in front of a motor home is like pulling out in front of a semi. It takes a few more feet to stop them. I wish people would remember this, it would make driving nicer. Also, when you are merging onto a highway remember that it takes a little more open space for that motor home to pull over in the left lane to allow you to enter. Sometimes it isn't possible.

As far as being stranded, if you are going on a long trip, it's a simple matter to tow a vehicle to use when you get where you are going.

In the campgrounds you will usually find very nice people. It is also a good way to travel around and see the country.

If you think of retiring and buying a condo in one spot that's fine, but this way we have a mobile condo and can spend a month here or there and not be restricted. You can find a nice campground at the beach and stay for a month at $30 a day as opposed to trying to stay in a hotel for the same amount of time for the same money. You can also cook your own meals and save on restaurants. This is especially good if you are on a restricted diet.

Another plus if you are travelling extensively, you have it packed with clothes to cover any type of weather.

I'm not trying to sell you all on motor homes, but they have advantages and I'm sure they will be bashed from one end to the other here. ( I read the SUV debate)

Our motorhome cost$ 35,000 -10 yrs ago and was paid for before we retired.
It sleeps 4 adults and can add two kids without feeling crowded..
I love to travel but can't always afford $ 100 to 150 per night.(tried motel 6 and hostels--not for me!
I would rather travel for 3 weeks than be limited to 10 days regarding the cost. On Oregon coast stayed in RV park for $30 per night with full hookups including Cable with beautiful view and beach access. Stayed in Best Western inSeaside Oregon at cost of $145-off season!View was not great & food was greasy!!
Also I don't have to pack and unpack every time we stay overnight
Food-much more economical to fix meals and can include local delicacies and eat when we want.
Now I know RVs are gas hogs!!!but even with the price of gas now, we can do more and see more for the same amount of money.
In 20 years of camping in RV and State parks I have never had anything stolen.
Some people tow a car , we don't as it really reduces the MPG.Our rig is only 23 ft. long and moving it daily is not a hassle.
For instance, tomorrow it is supposed to be 105 here. So in the morning, I am loading up grand children and going to the ocean for 3 days. Great county park for $6.00, beach out the door, ==food, gas and park fee for 3 days for 4 people will be about $100.I rest my case!!!

Ten years ago we spent the summer in a small camper roaming around. We bought another camper last winter and expect to eventually full-time it. Basically, neither of us likes hotels. I get up very early and like to have coffee and I also don't wish to disturb my husband who prefers to sleep later. I've spent many mornings reading in hotel lobbies! It's also nice to have all the conveniences when you have to wait someplace...we can enjoy waiting for a ferry in Canada. We combine restaurant eating and cooking in our camper. It's fun to explore local grocery stores, visit farmers markets, and have a late night snack in our jammies. We have found that staying at B&Bs can be a happy medium if you have congenial hosts. Campers are more talkative. I rarely find a knowledgeable desk clerk and other hotel guests are all hidden in their rooms. It's a rare hotel room that has TWO comfortable easy chairs for tv watching.
We doubt we'll ever go with a motorhome and will probably stick with towing a camper.

2 years ago my (US) boyfriend suggested hiring an RV while we were in the States. Upon arriving in SF and never having seen an RV before, I admit, I was somewhat (OK - very) taken aback by its gigantic size, however, as boyfriend and I always split things 50/50 (including driving), I bravely drove 3 times around a huge car park until I'd mastered the skill of RV driving. I thought I caught on pretty quickly but boyfriend, for some reason, look a bit pale. If fact rather ill, like he'd just had a heart attack or something. I don't know why but that was the only time I got to drive. The keys were hidden for rest of holiday and I was told to "take it easy" and "don't worry, I'll drive this trip". Gee! - American men can be SO chivalrous - (particularly when they don't trust your driving).

I've been to the States many times, but that holiday was definitely different in a wonderful way. RV was easy to hook up (I supervised/he hooked - in fact I had a pretty relaxing time!), people at the parks were incredibly friendly, some kids taught me to make S'Mors (they though it great that there was someone on the planet who didn't know what they were),boyfriend and I could be untidy without feeling guilty, could move on or stay put as we felt like it, cooked or didn't cook as we felt like it, hadn't had to take stacks of camping gear with us (everything was supplied) - the freedom was wonderful. Personally, I think it's the freeedom and camaraderie that makes RV holiday so wonderful. I'd definitely do it again, it was a great holiday

Owning a RV had always been a dream on mine. My husband felt traveling with four kids in a box would be more then he could endure. The children are now adults and a few years ago my dear husband decided to fullfill one of my fantasies. We flew to Seattle, took the Shuttle to a RV rental place and rented a large bus like RV. Discoveries made.
1. RVing is a communal activity. They caravan around meeting people they met in past trips.
2. RV parks are in the woods, Motel 8 has better views. RV parks have views of other rigs.
3. Driving a bus on mountain roads is not fun.
4. This sucker was so wide, I could not even hold my husbands hand while driving.
5. RVers talk only about their "rigs" and the size of their "rigs" and where they have been with their "rigs".
6. It's another sub-culture that you have to be part of in order to enjoy it.
6. I wish we could have made this trip years ago so that I could stop wasting time fantasizing about a nightmare.

Herself, you sound like a spoiled little girl that wasn't invited to the party.

First off, how safe is it to drive mountain roads holding hands with your husband in any type vehicle?

Secondly, you think you can hop in as a newbie and pick up with people like you have been RVing all your life? Like any other sport/activity, you have to make friends and fit in.

I would suggest an attitude change first off, then maybe you can make strides to fit in to the camping community. Most campers are very nice accepting people. Maybe you didn't give them a fair chance.

Interesting thread! Some of you have made me re-think the idea. Maybe we can rent one next summer for a trial. When the time comes to retire it may become an option if we find it relaxing enough.
Between the way the airlines have treated us and the cost of hotel rooms- it does seem like it is becoming more attractive. My first instinct is to travel light- and it always seemed as if the huge thing would really limit you in a lot of places. Don't know if I
would like some aspects of it- but I'd be willing to give it a good try. Last weekend almost every third vehicle coming from Michigan / Ohio / Indiana west on I-80 was one of these.

If it will help any, a friend of ours drove a 34 foot unit cross country, visited all the sights, etc., and he said there was only one place on the whole trip where he couldn't go with his home.