RVs vs Hotels

[76 Hondo]

Here’s my take, number one didn’t want to jack either one of the other travel threads.
Wife and I looked at RV’s, I wanted Super C and just couldn’t justify the , I retired March 29, 2024, and on April 30th left on a road trip, with a list of bucket list items to see in this country, not any reservations, stopping to see things along the way, stopping to see friend and families along the road. Staying with friends and family was a spilt between hotels almost evenly 37/38 days. Hotels we used an app that when we were ready to stop for the night,Wife looked what was available and the rating 80-100% never a problem, a couple when we had to get off the road because of weather were a little less than we would have liked.
Our trip started in So. California to AZ. side trip to see my Cousin who lives in Tucson, but was at his vineyard So. of Tombstone! He said we had to make a family reunion in Nebraska in June,OK .
Carlsbad Caverns, San Antonio, Corpus Cristi, Houston, Space Center, New Orleans, Bourbon Street, Flora-Bama Bar
Panama City, Sanibel & Captiva Islands, Key West, Georgia, Knoxville, Virginia, Civil War/Revolution War sites, Harper’s Ferry, Arlington Mt.Vernon, DC, Maryland, Philadelphia, Shanksville, Pittsburgh, Niagara Falls, Chicago, Wisconsin, Minnesota, No. Dakota, So. Dakota, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Sturgis, Deadwood, Nebraska, family reunion, back to Iowa more family reunion, headed back west through Iowa and Nebraska to Wyoming, Devils Tower, into Montana, Billings-Bozeman, Glacier National Park, Idaho Flathead Lake, CDA, Washington, Oregon, back to California!!!
75 Days 13850 miles!
Home 1week and just got back from a cruise to Mexico with our Granddaughter.

 

[dezertrider]

We prefer to use the RV. We have it down to a science now. The RV is loaded with all the same things the house is. We duplicated everything so there is no need t "LOAD" the RV. We have 3 dogs that the wife wont leave in doggy day care so this is another reason we use the RV when traveling.

We have had 12 RVs between the wife and I. We love the class "A". We get to camp and there is no setting up. Push a couple of buttons, hook up the utilities and pull out 2 chairs unless the dogs are hanging ouot with us then is pull out 5 chairs. Everything has a place and I like to keep setting up to a minimum

 

[Singleton]

We prefer to use the RV. We have it down to a science now. The RV is loaded with all the same things the house is. We duplicated everything so there is no need t "LOAD" the RV. We have 3 dogs that the wife wont leave in doggy day care so this is another reason we use the RV when traveling.

We have had 12 RVs between the wife and I. We love the class "A". We get to camp and there is no setting up. Push a couple of buttons, hook up the utilities and pull out 2 chairs unless the dogs are hanging ouot with us then is pull out 5 chairs. Everything has a place and I like to keep setting up to a minimum

This is why we switched from a ToyHauler to an RV with an enclosed trailer. The camp setup and packup in the ToyHauler was a PIA. Easy 90 minute to unpack toys, reconfigure interior, etc. Packup was 90-120 minutes. The Tetris game for packing made my wife say F it and told me to look for an RV.

We were going to wait 3 more years then get the RV. BUT a good friend said the following one night while drinking in Havasu. ”Your truck and ToyHauker will be worth less in 3 years and the RV will be 30-45k more if you buy new.” Within 90 days the truck and ToyHauker was sold and the RV purchase agreement was signed

 

[RiverDave]

This is why we switched from a ToyHauler to an RV with an enclosed trailer. The camp setup and packup in the ToyHauler was a PIA. Easy 90 minute to unpack toys, reconfigure interior, etc. Packup was 90-120 minutes. The Tetris game for packing made my wife say F it and told me to look for an RV.

We were going to wait 3 more years then get the RV. BUT a good friend said the following one night while drinking in Havasu. ”Your truck and ToyHauker will be worth less in 3 years and the RV will be 30-45k more if you buy new.” Within 90 days the truck and ToyHauker was sold and the RV purchase agreement was signed

Your friend is smart

 

[dezertrider]

This is why we switched from a ToyHauler to an RV with an enclosed trailer. The camp setup and packup in the ToyHauler was a PIA. Easy 90 minute to unpack toys, reconfigure interior, etc. Packup was 90-120 minutes. The Tetris game for packing made my wife say F it and told me to look for an RV.

We were going to wait 3 more years then get the RV. BUT a good friend said the following one night while drinking in Havasu. ”Your truck and ToyHauker will be worth less in 3 years and the RV will be 30-45k more if you buy new.” Within 90 days the truck and ToyHauker was sold and the RV purchase agreement was signed

Very Smart I was looking to get a stacker but my Bronco is too wide so we ended up with a flat bed trailer for all the off road toys. MUCH Easier!!!!

 

[RiverDave]

The only downside of the Rv and enclosed is they get LONG quick.. that said I’d go motorhome and enclosed every time I don’t give a shit how long it is.. when ya get there pushing three buttons and being done is way better than dealing with a toy hauler.

RD

 

[GreenEnergy28]

The only downside of the Rv and enclosed is they get LONG quick.. that said I’d go motorhome and enclosed every time I don’t give a shit how long it is.. when ya get there pushing three buttons and being done is way better than dealing with a toy hauler.

RD

^^^^ This 100%

Jacks down, slides out, satellite searching, done! Worry about the rest in the morning.

 

[Singleton]

The only downside of the Rv and enclosed is they get LONG quick.. that said I’d go motorhome and enclosed every time I don’t give a shit how long it is.. when ya get there pushing three buttons and being done is way better than dealing with a toy hauler.

RD

Tell me about it.
I am 65’ (plus or minus 10 inches) tip to tip.

 

[brgrcru]

We prefer to use the RV. We have it down to a science now. The RV is loaded with all the same things the house is. We duplicated everything so there is no need t "LOAD" the RV. We have 3 dogs that the wife wont leave in doggy day care so this is another reason we use the RV when traveling.

We have had 12 RVs between the wife and I. We love the class "A". We get to camp and there is no setting up. Push a couple of buttons, hook up the utilities and pull out 2 chairs unless the dogs are hanging ouot with us then is pull out 5 chairs. Everything has a place and I like to keep setting up to a minimum

Sound like us
Takes us about 20 minutes to set up or pack up
Never going back to the everything and the kitchen sink .
2 chairs, carpet , small table . Done

 

[EmpirE231]

We have a class A motorhome, and have had one for about 10 years or so now. 90% of its purpose is for camping in the desert. We do try to use here and there throughout the Spring / Summer for beach camping and soccer tournaments, but it isn't always easy. A lot of the times we give in and just rent a hotel.

Example this weekend, we have a soccer tournament in Irvine... I think cool, we'll stay at Newport dunes and use the RV. Only one spot available, beachfront and it'll be $1,100 for 2 nights. RV is dirty... so to get it washed and fueled up etc...I am $1500 in. Ended up booking a Marriott for 1 night in Irvine for $200 instead.

Sometimes it makes sense, and sometimes it doesn't. For some of these soccer tournaments, I gotta admit it is way easier to check into a room, treat it like a rental and not have to clean it... no hoop up / unhook etc etc. We do plan on using the RV for some cool trips soon (zion #1 on the list). But if it wasn't for our desert hobby, owning an RV would make no sense at all for us.

 

[RiverDave]

We have a class A motorhome, and have had one for about 10 years or so now. 90% of its purpose is for camping in the desert. We do try to use here and there throughout the Spring / Summer for beach camping and soccer tournaments, but it isn't always easy. A lot of the times we give in and just rent a hotel.

Example this weekend, we have a soccer tournament in Irvine... I think cool, we'll stay at Newport dunes and use the RV. Only one spot available, beachfront and it'll be $1,100 for 2 nights. RV is dirty... so to get it washed and fueled up etc...I am $1500 in. Ended up booking a Marriott for 1 night in Irvine for $200 instead.

Sometimes it makes sense, and sometimes it doesn't. For some of these soccer tournaments, I gotta admit it is way easier to check into a room, treat it like a rental and not have to clean it... no hoop up / unhook etc etc. We do plan on using the RV for some cool trips soon (zion #1 on the list). But if it wasn't for our desert hobby, owning an RV would make no sense at all for us.

Again.. why does anyone like Newport dunes? It sucks!

 

[EmpirE231]

Again.. why does anyone like Newport dunes? It sucks!

For the price they’re charging, it definitely sucks.

 

[hallett21]

Outside of the obvious need for chains etc. Could you pull off a weekend in mammoth in the winter in a coach (30ft bus in my world lol) or Super C?

We always see RVs parked near Stump Alley, Main lodge etc.

 

[CLdrinker]

We tried the RV thing once. We rented a 5th wheel down in San Diego because my family is all into the RV shit. My wife and I don’t like glamping. She prefers room service, maids, and hotel bars. I think seeing nice hotels while being in an RV didn’t help. This was her assessment of “camping”

View attachment 1409457

Tits like that you better do what she says.

 

[c_land]

Outside of the obvious need for chains etc. Could you pull off a weekend in mammoth in the winter in a coach (30ft bus in my world lol) or Super C?

We always see RVs parked near Stump Alley, Main lodge etc.

Electric heater in the motorhome and heated or insulated tanks I think you could do it.

 

[Singleton]

Outside of the obvious need for chains etc. Could you pull off a weekend in mammoth in the winter in a coach (30ft bus in my world lol) or Super C?

We always see RVs parked near Stump Alley, Main lodge etc.

Insulated tanks and heaters running and you can do it.

 

[mesquito_creek]

Van life/RV ing is a life style choice… it definitely favors certain activities (off road and family with young kids).

If you are on the fence, rent rvs and use hotels. Once the time comes to go with an Rv you won’t run the numbers, just like when you buy boats or planes.

 

[RogerThat99]

I would rather stay in the RV than a hotel. The RV is more work, and sometimes there aren't any RV parks near where we want to go. I think some mobile home parks have a handful of RV spaces, but my wife would never stay there. Also, many full hookup RV parks are $150+ per night. I just paid $190 a night (with taxes) for a water spot on the coast. The days of $35‐$40 RV spaces are gone, unless you are staying in State Parks with no hookups.

 

[rivermobster]

Again.. why does anyone like Newport dunes? It sucks!

I went once!

And once was enough.

 

[Ducksquasher]

So here’s my thing with hotels. And really it’s any hotel and it’s the same for the lake house and why we don’t rent it. People are disgusting. And I don’t care how much money they have all people are disgusting. Something like 50% of men don’t wash their hands after using the restroom while not in public. Something like 90% of the 50 don’t wash them long enough or correctly. The people that clean hotels don’t give a shit. And that’s cheap hotels or expensive hotels. People picking their nose, scratching their balls, finger plucking their asses, touching the remotes, the lights, the fridge, the headboard it’s gross. I travel a lot for work and I’ve said this in another thread before but staying in a hotel room seriously grosses me out. Now myself and my boys are disgusting too, so don’t get me wrong but we are family so I’ll deal with it. But I just like having my own sheets, my own dishes my own whatever. I don’t think I’m a germaphobe but for some reason I think about that stuff.

Right there with ya!

 

[TPC]

Bed Bugs ya may bring home are forever. Long lines too:

 

[brgrcru]

Outside of the obvious need for chains etc. Could you pull off a weekend in mammoth in the winter in a coach (30ft bus in my world lol) or Super C?

We always see RVs parked near Stump Alley, Main lodge etc.

We do
No big deal
We stay at camp ground in town

They won’t let you stay near lifts
Those people get there super early in the morning
Makes it look like they been there all night

Now back 45 years ago
My parents and us kids stayed in our van
Either at main lodge or warming hut 2
Now known as canyon lodge

 

[SoCalDave]

My dad and neighbor used to pop the man hole cover in the street to dump theirs. They took a piece of 3/4" or1" Dia. Rebar, bent a short 90 degree hook on one end and welded a t-handle to the other. It was about 5+ long to give leverage. They would move it just enough to get the hose in, ( maybe shore it up w/wood blocks) pull the handle, dump, close, fill to flush some w/hose water, dump, repeat, done. Where there's a will there's a way....

We have a sewer man hole cover in the back corner of our property as well. Very convenient when we lived in our TT for 10 months while doing the addition to the house and also when we get home from camping trips.

 

[BajaMike]

Hit this as your first stop. Easily do 3-4 days. Had a blast!

Tico Time River RV Resort | Where the Mountains Meet the Beach!

This 64-acre Animas Riverfront property is the only Costa-Rican Resort in the U.S. Located just 20 minutes south of Durango, Colorado.

ticotimeresort.com

Durango easy 2-3 days.

Ouray 2-3 days.

Some pics from our 2022 trip.

View attachment 1409041
View attachment 1409042
View attachment 1409043
View attachment 1409044
View attachment 1409045
View attachment 1409046
View attachment 1409047

Great pics!

 

[scottchbrite]

Tits like that you better do what she says.

I can promise you it ain’t because of them tittes. Its because she’s pretty much the bread winner, which allows me to be a hood rat public servant and live an ok life. I just spent a week in Costa Rica with our family in this pad thanks to her.

 

[RVRKID]

I prefer RV over Hotel Rooms most of the time, thing I like about the RV is pack your clothes and stuff when you leave and unpack when you get home. Don't have do at home when you get to the hotel when you get to your room then when you leave and when you get home. I also like having all the food and drinks we want all day long and not have to pay hotel/ resort prices for every meal/drink out. Still got the slide for the back room when you have kids or guests with you for privacy and having a bath and 1/2 makes it even better.

 

[whiteworks]

Had a few day window to sneak off with the wife and kid, it’s fucking hot everywhere except for the beach or maybe mountains in SoCal right now. So we booked a room at a resort in Palm Springs for a few days, will eat out a nice places in the evenings and sit by the pool or chill in a cold room during the day. It’s 110* out, pool Is nice, bar is close. I can’t even imagine sitting in an 80* rv trying to pretend it’s not hot LOL

If it’s over 85* outside you won’t find me doing RV trips. Sometimes you need a different size hammer o get the job done.

 

[brgrcru]

I went once!

And once was enough.

It’s kind of like channel on a big weekend

 

[bowtiejunkie]

We do hotels. Stay at Marriott or Hyatt properties as to this point, room is free with reward points from business travel. I'd do a travel trailer, but never had space to park one at our house. Mostly just do a single 10 to 14 day road trip each year with the kids and don't stay at any one hotel longer than a few nights (usually just one night). Not much other travel. Wife and I will do resorts without the kids, again on points for free. This all works for our budget, which is pretty small. Would love to have other options, but in the end, the kids get to see the USA in a GMC Sierra

 

[McRib]

Had a 5th wheel at the islander for a good 15 yrs. Weekend warrior status! Sold the trailer last season and have found hotels are waaay cheaper when you include storage, spotting in each direction, and space rent. The only way to save money was to tear down myself and spot my shite back in storage but it wasn’t worth my time and SWEAT. I store my boat local and hotels and airbnbs have been more financially feasible based on my amount of trips. Being an every OTHER weekend warrior changes things. Had I had been an every weekend type they the numbers MIGHT have made sense but looking back I’m not so sure.

 

[Singleton]

Had a 5th wheel at the islander for a good 15 yrs. Weekend warrior status! Sold the trailer last season and have found hotels are waaay cheaper when you include storage, spotting in each direction, and space rent. The only way to save money was to tear down myself and spot my shite back in storage but it wasn’t worth my time and SWEAT. I store my boat local and hotels and airbnbs have been more financially feasible based on my amount of trips. Being an every OTHER weekend warrior changes things. Had I had been an every weekend type they the numbers MIGHT have made sense but looking back I’m not so sure.

I did the math, a summer season spot at the Islander breaks even at 9 (3 night trips) trips mid-April to mid-October.
When I did the math, I used $250 a night and 150 cleaning fee.

 

[whiteworks]

Day 2 of resort pool, I’m fucking bored out of my mind. We did hit up LG’s last night for an amazing dinner, I’d say that’s been the high point of this little getaway. Woke up this morning and was ready to head home and get to work on some projects, 24 hours to go

 

[Justsomeguy]

Ah the joys of rv. I got intermittent brakes happening. Thought I had it figured out with a practically broken wire. While brakes are much more sensitive to gain now, they still go out. I will find it. Eventually