thinking about buying r-pod
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Topic: thinking about buying r-pod
Posted By: pawntan
Subject: thinking about buying r-pod
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2015 at 5:59pm
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but have questions. and facing stiff resistance from spouse. I would like to justify the cost first compare to staying at hotel every year on vacation how much is the insurance on the average, can the insurance be turned off while the pod is in storage? since I have the rv in storage how do I ensure that all systems are working before I pick up the pod from the storage? it will be disaster to vacation schedule if on the start of summer vacation, when I pick up from storage some system is not working. where to perform system test since there is no campground around the rv storage. what do you all do usually? Teddy |
Replies:
Posted By: pawntan
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2015 at 6:02pm
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Spouse say the purchase is going to cost a lot more compare to our regular stay at hotel habit. I need to rebuff that theory
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Posted By: pawntan
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2015 at 6:03pm
| storage cost is 500/ year i already check |
Posted By: pawntan
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2015 at 6:05pm
| help me sway DW opinion please. Need to get kitchen pass to make this happen |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2015 at 7:35pm
I'm afraid she is right, there is no money to be saved. RV ownership is a premium lifestyle that offers the option to stay in places off the beaten path with all the comforts of home, just the way you like it. I know that's not what you wanted to hear, but it's true. Sorry.  ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2015 at 7:36pm
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I think if you are going to both enjoy a camper you both need to be in agreement in owning one. Campers are considered a luxury, in some ways they will save money and in some ways they will cost more. We enjoy our camper in that while traveling we are able to go into a rest area and take a nap and have a kitchen to prepare a meal and use the bathroom if needed. And we would much rather stay in a camp ground in our own bed than in a hotel. As far as which cost more I would think it depends how much you travel and how much you spend in buying a camper. With us owning a camper has cost us more than if we stayed in a hotel. For us it is a luxury in ways but camping is something we both enjoy. ------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: pawntan
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2015 at 7:47pm
| Judging from lst year hotel bill. it's about $3000. How is that for comparison ? |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2015 at 8:15pm
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Your fuel bill will double, you'll have to outfit your tow vehicle and perform extra maintenance on it, POD accessories with be thousands more, modifications even more $$$, and then there is also POD maintenance. Ever price RV appliances? Food, drinks, entry fees, camping fees, and there is still money flowing for excursions and seeing the sites, even when camping. I'm not saying it's not worth it, I'm just saying that I believe that using the principle reason and justification of saving money to purchase an RV is false. However, we love ours and are very happy to have it.
------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2015 at 8:15pm
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Welcome. I've seen lots of discussions on forums on the topic of "which is cheaper, hotels or camper". I've seen the numbers massaged both ways. You also have to consider the intangible benefits - always in your own bed and bathroom, no bed bugs, etc. Here's one point of reference. We recently priced out flying from MD to CA, hotels, rental car, eating out all the time vs. driving out with our camper. I literally threw out my notes last night but I just dug them out so I can give you my numbers. Drive to San Francisco, 55 hours (5 1/2 days), 2850 miles. 300 gallons of gas, $900 one-way @$3/gallon (I assumed it would be back up by summer) $100 for 2 nights at campsites (other nights at truck stops) Then drive to Seattle, Chicago, MD over 3 weeks 4074 miles including side trips 428 gallons of gas, $1284 $800 for campsites @ $50 per night, 16 nights (5 at truck stops) Normal home budget for food with most meals eat-in $3084 total for a little over 4 weeks, not including attractions Fly 3 of us one-way to San Francisco (my wife would fly in from a conference in FL so most of her flight cost would be covered so isn't counted here) $700, cheapest option which includes a layover, I was conservative estimating fees/taxes. Then drive to Seattle, Chicago, home over 3 weeks $2100 hotels @ $100/night for 4 people $1500 rental full-sized car for a month (tip - far cheaper than renting for 3 weeks!) $1000 additional for food since all meals are eat-out $5300 total for 3 weeks, not including attractions (and I think this is too low) I also priced out a 3-week one-way rental of an RV from San Francisco to MD which was $7100 including one-way fee, daily fee @ $241/day, and mileage fees. This doesn't include airfare to CA, gas, campsite fees, etc. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2015 at 9:38pm
Pawntan, lots of good advice, as usual Techntrek has good numbers. My Wife Donna summed it up the other day. My Bed, My Bathroom. National Forests have a lot of attractions, we Hike, Fish, relax around the fire and wind down ( Therapy ) now at $ 250.00 for Therapy , do the math.  ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: JStrube
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2015 at 11:38pm
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A camper has to be purchased because you want to camp. Not as a money saving venture, especially for one trip a year. Once you own the camper, the nights out will be cheaper than hotels, but unless you both enjoy camping, you will quickly be dumping the camper, or going out alone. Figure in purchase price and that can get you some nice hotels. ------------- 2012 181G |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 04 Feb 2015 at 10:34am
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If you don't want to camp, don't enjoy, or want to do the stuff it takes to keep the camper in shape and ready, then there is no way you will ever make the decision based on cost. If you take one vacation a year, using the camper, and it's not a "camping" vacation.. it's at best a wash vs hotels etc. But for most it's not about the money... it's about a lot of other things including a different from hotel/motel experience, having your own stuff, your own bed, your own bath, etc. ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 04 Feb 2015 at 8:31pm
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True on the purchase price, but you also need to factor in residual value down the road. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: codycountry
Date Posted: 04 Feb 2015 at 9:03pm
| Absolutely correct reply about the cost. Don't try to extrapolate the price to use. If you can figure out the view out the windows, then maybe you can make that work. It's a lot like a boat, you get one because you can, and because you want to. Rpod's hold their value very well, so if you don't like it, you will only be out a few nights at a four star hotel. Have fun with it and park it in places that you could never afford to buy, even if they were somehow for sale. |