When the children are all grown up and retirement is just around the corner, buying a recreational vehicle and traveling far and wide all over the country seems like a perfect option.
Around 10 million U.S. households thought the same thing and bought RVs, according to the RV Industry Association, and approximately 1 million Americans are living the full-time RV life.
But it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. For you to get an accurate picture of what RV living in retirement is all about, check some aspects you should consider before making a purchase, as explained by retirees who spend their time in RVs.
RVs Are Really Expensive
It’s always a good idea to set a budget whenever you plan on making a bigger purchase. But it’s an even better idea to get to know the options on the market before setting your budget.
When it comes to RVs, there are various types you should consider before making your choice.
According to Charley Hannagan, who has been RVing with her husband, Joe, for 5 years, “RVing introduces you to a whole new language. The cars that are towed behind motorhomes are ‘toads.’ ‘Sticks and bricks’ refers to a permanent house. ‘Class A’s’ are the bus-like vehicles, ‘Class B’ are vans, ‘Class C’ are the ones that have a truck cab attached to an RV chassis, and ‘fifth wheels’ are the big ones you see pulled by trucks.”
The most affordable method to experiment with RV-living is getting a trailer hauled behind a truck or SUV. A pop-up trailer’s price ranges between $6,000 and $30,000 while a conventional trailer can cost as little as $8,000 and reach $100,000.
If you don’t want to haul something behind you all the time, you can opt for motorhomes. The heaviest and usually the largest is Type A and it can cost around $60,000 and go as high as $500,000. Types B and C are smaller and priced between $60,000 and $150,000.
