Anyone here own a mobile home or Class B or C RV & travel with it?
With kids spread out across this great country, the idea of avoiding airports along with an on board bathroom to allow unlimited Diet Cokes and ND football podcasts has an appeal.
Then the Baroness splashes cold water on me saying, “the price, the insurance, the gas, where do you park when you reach your destination (kids are in the cities), where would you store it, the upkeep, the repair….you could fly an stay in 5 star hotels for the next two decades for less money and none of the hassle”.
I counter again with “unlimited Diet Coke” plus I toss in the fact that she would be able to hang with a man who moves from town to town…a rebel….a loner…..a renegade. A man with an unknowable past and an uncertain future - a little bit broken, yet fixable. An individualist unaware of his rugged sexiness who knows only how to live passionately in the here and now.
I don’t know how to interpret here smile, so I am asking the board.
Replies to: Anyone here own a mobile home or Class B or C RV & travel with it?
Had this same exact conversation with my wife ~5 years ago.
She won. Hotels it is.
When we had all the kids in the house, we did a camper once...saved some cash, and had a different experience with the kids, but not sure it would be worth it now, with just the two of us.
Not your situation, I don't believe, but for those with preteens at home, I would definitely recommend going camping with the family a few times. Can be a hassle if you aren't used to it, and you will likely have to improvise when you forget things, but it does make for some great memories for them that they will take into adulthood with their families.
She's right. The benefits do not justify the cost.
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It's well worth the cost for visiting national parks and such.
For visiting cities, it would suck.
Rent rent rent…did I say rent? Most who buy have them sitting in a storage facility
Or on their property the vast majority of the time. You’re welcome.
I know....the Baroness is right. I was trying the Class B angle because
they are smaller. But in the end, they just don't make sense (until your on the road to an ND game, you just drank a large diet coke, and the next rest stop is 70 miles).
I plan to buy one like this at some point.
But I don't plan to take it anywhere near a city. I camp a lot.
If you do it, get a Mercedes Diesel.
Link: https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2016-Winnebago-Via+25T-5037613312
Friend of mine in Grand Rapids has 3 college kids and one of these and loves it
Kids are spread out at MSU, Indiana and Colorado, and he and wife travel around and stay in this thing during football season. He's a MI undergrad, so they also use it for tailgating at UM. I've been in it, and four of us used it once for an ND game. It was nice and pretty comfortable.
Anyway, he loves it, but says he'll probably get rid of it when last is done with school. He had to convince his wife to do it, but once she accepted it, she's been cool with it. He said it is perfect for weekend getaways, but longer stays could get a little cramped. Also, seems good for Summer and fall, but might be more of a challenge in winter, especially in snow.
They are in their 50s and he's said it would be tougher to do in 60s just because it is cramped, and requires maneuvering. Also, getting it where you are going isn't cheap. Single digits/low teens for MPG. It's also not super practical to drive around town in that it is fairly large to park.
So, I'd say you could swing it as an adventure for a few years, but depending on your age, duration of stays, and when and where you plan to travel during the year, there might be some downsides.
Link: Thought they were cheaper
Buy a beach house and then the kids will endure the airports to come visit.
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Yeah, buy a beach house, and make it available to board members!
That would be perfect!
Lawyer I used to work with gave good advice: have a home your kids want to visit when you are retired.
A beach house in Michigan? Uh, good for 2 months out of the year. Another waste
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Maybe if you weren’t flushing your $ in Cali taxes, you could afford it
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Love Lake Michigan, but a beach house is a total waste…
Baron said it’s nice 4 months out of the year and that’s being generous. The other 8 months?
And it’s not a question of affordability with me…it’s more common sense to not buy beach front property in a welfare state like Michigan.
Actually 4, but...
Still, incredibly beautiful year round
Snow ain’t beautiful…
Autumn is the best in Michigan. Summers are ok, minus the humidity, mosquitoes, and horse flys.
No humidity, no mosquitoes, horseflies for 1 week in early Aug. Snow - yes 4 months of it
On Lake Michigan. Going inland moreso. But you were from down south near Indiana so...not sure down there.
Grew up on Lake Michigan…
In South Haven. Great childhood, small town living, cold ass winters, fun summers…
And how is it that you ended up in the land of fruits and nuts (California)?
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Yes, you told me. Nice there, but come North my friend.
The water is much more shallow in the South Chippewa Basin - 250 to 300ft vs 600 - 800 ft deep in the Chippewa basin up North (Can you tell that I've fished?). This means cooler summer temps and warmer winter temps up North near shore along the lake. There are also more constant steady breezes up north - I have not noticed any bugs in a long time..
It's not night and day, but it IS different imo. I'll take that deep blue beautiful fresh water as far as the eye can see any day from either spot though.
Fall is best - it's spectacular right now.
PS - we also have good snow - last year was great.
Hah, not far from where my mother grew up. Close to the Fruit Belt.
She'd give me delicious Michigan peaches when we visited her. Now that the climate has changed, there's little or no snow there during the winters. I like all four seasons. I ski and do other stuff in the winter, but I agree, fall is the best. Summer may be my least favorite for the reasons you mentioned: the humidity, and, worst, the bugs. I can understand not liking winter, but I love the snow and we have fewer and fewer below-zero days. No question, San Diego is great. Not nearly as humid as some other popular cities.
We used to have a blast in the snow…
I remember the blizzard of 78 (I believe). We were snowed in for days. As a kid, it was a great time. We built snow forts, dove into massive snow drifts…
We didn’t understand that we were stranded without the ability to get food. Luckily we got dug out after about 4 days.
1978 was the year of the blizzard here in Wisconsin, too.
1979 was such a poor winter, that several ski areas here closed for good.
It used to be that we needed a foot of snow for school to be closed. Now, there are times that it's under six inches and they still cancel, not to mention closing due to the cold, which never used to happen. There was a night back in like 1982 when the mercury dropped to minus-30 and there was still school the next morning and kids were out at the bus stop.
78 was epic...only 2013 compares...but 78 was all at once.
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Oh...sorry.
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Sounds like a ball.
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Of course she's smiling.
You just described the man of her dreams. You better hope she never meets him.
RV's are the second worst big purchase after boats. My suggestion is you rent one for two weeks and then embark on the longest, most ambitious road trip you can think of. If you can survive that, then rent again and do another one. If that doesn't get the road trip bug out of your head, then think about buying an RV.
I've kicked around the idea
It does have that wandering, free, rebellious and Kerouac notion to it, for sure. But I keep coming back to all the things you cite. Ultimately I think it would be a huge pain in the ass and it would not save you any money. And I never want to have to pump my poop.
We free road travelers are not known for our pragmatism.
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Was expecting this photo...
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Ha! You thought I would lead with the cold, hard truth?
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