There are many great options out there, so we help make things simple.
When choosing an RV, camper or trailer, there are a few things to consider: How far do you want to drive? Are you looking to rent every so often or purchase one and go as you please? Do you need an RV or can you pull a camper behind you? All important questions to get you started.
Related Topics (ads)
Recreational Vehicles vs Campers
In the camping world, few debates are bigger than RV vs. pull campers. People have been arguing about this as long as there have been campers – the 1900s – when recreational vehicles first hit the scene. Each vehicle has some unique benefits depending on your situation and camping habits. So how do you know which setup is right for you?
Initial Considerations
The first questions to ask yourself is how often will you use your RV and how many people will be coming along? Motorhomes are much more expensive than their towed counterparts. A new Class A rig can easily cost more than $180,000, making it a very serious investment. Class B and C rigs are considerably less expensive, but they can still cost as much as a small apartment. Travel trailers can be found for around $20,000, and popups start as low as $5,000. If you’re only going to be camping a couple times a year, ask yourself if the extra creature comforts are worth it.
On the other hand, frequent flyers (or people living entirely in their RV) can usually benefit more from a large motorhome. The extra space is especially important if there are going to be several people camping at once. Motorhomes also provide much more storage space, making it easier to stay on the road longer.
Think about whether you have a vehicle capable of towing a trailer. It’s easy to be drawn to the lower price points, but if you don’t own an SUV or truck, you’ll have to factor in that cost. It takes more than pulling power, too. Even if your vehicle can pull the weight of a trailer, that doesn’t mean it can safely stop with the extra weight.
The larger the trailer, the bigger the truck you’ll need. Popups are light enough for most trucks and SUVs, but typical trailers will need a full size truck, at least. Fifth wheels demand even more and have to be specially mounted to the bed of a heavy-duty truck. You also must be able to pull the trailer the right way. For many people, it may be easier to adjust to driving an RV.
A Breakdown of the Pros and Cons
RVs are:
- More expensive up front.
- More luxurious.
- Easier to drive in many cases.
- More expensive to maintain.
- Offer more storage.
Towed campers are:
- Smaller.
- Less expensive to buy and maintain.
- More difficult to park.
- Less comfortable.
- More fuel-efficient.
Either option will get you outdoors and with your friends / family, so you can't go wrong. Spending time with the family and building fun memories will be guaranteed on a fun adventure!
Related Topics (ads)
Motorhomes vs Travel Trailers: 6 Pros and Cons
#1: Price
Upfront, a motorhome is going to be more expensive. Motorhomes at a bare minimum are $50,000. Even used will cost a lot. I would suggest that you buy this if you are seasoned veterans with RVs and traveling with them.
#2: Gas
A motorhome is powered by a diesel engine. It depends on the size but in a class C motorhome, you can get about 15 miles per gallon (mpg). Which is not incredible but it is something and that’s about as good as you are going to get. Surprisingly, this is faster than pulling a trailer which I will be talking about in a second.
#3: Insurance
Simply put, the bigger the rig the more it will cost. That’s just the general rule of thumb. A motorhome will cost more than a travel trailer, no questions asked.
#4: Depreciation/Worth
It’s just a given that your motorhome and trailer will depreciate. When was the last time you sold a vehicle for higher than you paid for it? It’s just going to happen but which one is worse off?
Both can just end up sitting and doing nothing. This investment will not make a return.
#5: Maintenance
Other things that will cost you money are how much maintenance are you going to have to do on the thing. Once again it costs more for repairs on a motorhome than it will be for a travel trailer.
#6: Amount of Use
How much are you going to use your RV? Cross country? The occasional camping trip a couple of hours away? These are real things that you need to consider before buying an RV.
If you are seasoned and you like to travel far and wide a lot, get the class C motorhome or any motorhome. You can live in it. It is comfortable and homey. They are made to feel like a mini home.
This is great for traveling over long distances and you don’t have to find somewhere to stay. You can get up and leave whenever.
SEARCH FOR ANSWERS:
sources: mountcomfortrv.com, camperreport.com