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RV parks are usually just full of retirees, and they are also expensive ($100/night+ for the centrally located ones in cities). The nice ones usually put a limi

RV parks are usually just full of retirees, and they are also expensive ($100/night+ for the centrally located ones in cities). The nice ones usually put a limit on how long you can stay there too. I ended up boondocking most of the time but that gets stressful and old pretty quickly. Parks and BLM land seemed to have more younger people semi-permanently living on it though. One thing I noticed about budget RVs (newer ones at least) is that they aren't built to last. They are built with really cheap lightweight materials and probably won't last a few years of full time living, never mind water leaks and all of the other mechanical issues of having a home on wheels. The better built ones go up in price very quickly, to the point where you're at the price of a cheap home, but one which is guaranteed to depreciate quickly. A classic, well build RV might be a better bet. However, ultimately, a motorhome might not be a bad bet for some people's situations. Its certainly worth the experience!

SwellJoe 10y ago
"RV parks are usually just full of retirees, and they are also expensive ($100/night+ for the centrally located ones in cities)." I have never paid more than $100/night for an RV park, including in the most expensive cities in the country (Los Angeles and San Diego are in the stratospheric range of ~$70/night). Sure, there are "luxury" RV parks that are a bit more expensive, but the usual nightly rate is somewhere in the $30-$50 range. Weekly and monthly rates are much cheaper. Boondocking is great, and there's tons of great options, particularly in the west. But, you don't have to do that, if you like having hookups. It's possible to live month-to-month in some great cities for $300-$600 per month. I have spent as much as $1650 for a month in an RV park (again, LA and San Diego), and I've skipped staying in RV parks in some cities because they're so expensive (Silicon Valley falls into this category). "A classic, well build RV might be a better bet." Yes, that's usually my recommendation, when I'm advising people. There have been well-constructed RVs in every era since the 70s, but newer ones are very expensive. If you have some tolerance for, or enthusiasm for, doing DIY repairs, an old, high end, RV can be a good value. I've owned a motorhome and a travel trailer. I preferred the motorhome, but wouldn't have known it until I tried both...even having spent years in the motorhome. Now, I'm a year into living in the travel trailer, and have plans to get back into a motorhome, eventually. Motorhomes are a bigger initial investment and cost more to maintain, so, maybe not the best first choice for someone just starting.

SwellJoe 10y ago

"RV parks are usually just full of retirees, and they are also expensive ($100/night+ for the centrally located ones in cities)." I have never paid more than $100/night for an RV park, including in the most expensive cities in the country (Los Angeles and San Diego are in the stratospheric range of ~$70/night). Sure, there are "luxury" RV parks that are a bit more expensive, but the usual nightly rate is somewhere in the $30-$50 range. Weekly and monthly rates are much cheaper. Boondocking is great, and there's tons of great options, particularly in the west. But, you don't have to do that, if you like having hookups. It's possible to live month-to-month in some great cities for $300-$600 per month. I have spent as much as $1650 for a month in an RV park (again, LA and San Diego), and I've skipped staying in RV parks in some cities because they're so expensive (Silicon Valley falls into this category). "A classic, well build RV might be a better bet." Yes, that's usually my recommendation, when I'm advising people. There have been well-constructed RVs in every era since the 70s, but newer ones are very expensive. If you have some tolerance for, or enthusiasm for, doing DIY repairs, an old, high end, RV can be a good value. I've owned a motorhome and a travel trailer. I preferred the motorhome, but wouldn't have known it until I tried both...even having spent years in the motorhome. Now, I'm a year into living in the travel trailer, and have plans to get back into a motorhome, eventually. Motorhomes are a bigger initial investment and cost more to maintain, so, maybe not the best first choice for someone just starting.