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The only advantage I've found to traveling with a travel trailer/RV is the ability to stay in places where there aren't any motels/hotels. Places like way back in the National Forests, National Parks, BLM land, etc.. Otherwise, by the time you figure in the cost of the trailer/RV, truck to pull it, and the cost to stay in campgrounds, you can pretty much stay in a very nice hotel for less.

I read an article about a couple who sold out and went RVing full time with a huge motor home. They did have a home base, though. They built a metal shop with doors on both ends for a drive-through. They built a platform that covered most of the shop that was the height of the MH floor. They set it up as a large livingroom, then they added a couple bedrooms and a bath. They'd pull in and run out a ramp from the MH to the platform. They used the MH kitchen, bedroom, and main bathroom so they never had to load or unload anything. When it was time to hit the road, they'd just drive out and down the road.

Skip the camper and stay in a hotel. You are hundreds of dollars ahead. I hate ours and it's about to cause a divorce. Drive right on by that camper sales place and do not turn in. In fact, give them the finger on the way by and keep on driving.

kwg

I'll take a camper any day over a hotel, more expensive or not. I hate hotels. I like my own space even if it has wheels under it. I also get sick of restaurant food.

New at this as well, having purchased a trailer last spring. Cookie loves it, and I'd still be happy with a tent as things are less of a hassle. We do mostly bush whacking which is dirt cheap (free) here in the west. Commercial camp sites are nice with all the facilities and hookups, but the prices damn near reach motel rates.

Our present issue is minimal battery life. Have two 12-volts, and with the unit sitting unoccupied and all shut off, they discharge in about 3 days. Even with the battery disconnect there are hardwired implements like smoke and CO detectors that are a constant drain. Need to take a day with someone that knows electricity and see if we can find the bleed or determine if we just have crappy batteries. Planning on switching over to two 6-volts in series, and then eventually going to lithium units, but that is near co-signer stuff. .

Back to the OP: A generator can be another significant expense and a little more labor as well.

We do have a snow bird friend that lives in his trailer and has things pretty well figured out. Lots of solar panels and the ability to run TV's, computers, etc via DC power. He's run down free sites on both ends and will at times sign up and get free sites plus services by becoming a camp ground host in remote areas. Picks up a little pocket change on those gigs.

1minute,

have you tired one of those solar battery maintainers?

I lived in an RV 8 months a year for 8 years or so until I retired in 2107. It kept enough of a charge on my motorhome battery it would start right up, Still using it to keep the tractor battery "topped up".

Geno

I use 2 6v golf cart batteries. They'll last far longer than 12v's. We had to replace our fridge last year. The new one has all kinds of electronic crap on it and uses far more power. The batteries used to last a week or more. Now it's more like 5 days, less if my wife runs the fan in the range hood. Fans pull a lot of power but the one in the bathroom is essential.

Also, on the power source topic:

I bought a small (1600w) power inverter generator at Northern tool for this type of use. Its their brand, Iron Horse I believe. It runs hours on a single gallon of fuel. Replace the o.e. Pull rope and you have a good ,reliable power source. Its about 40 lbs. just make a power cord that marries up between the main camper plug and the big plug on the gen.

Valsdad and Rock Chuck:

Appreciate the responses.

Purchased a small 50 watt panel last Christmas and plugged it into a controller. On bluebird days it can keep the charge up to snuff. On cloudy or overcast days, no, and I have to plug it in after just two to three days to avoid a complete drain. . Presently our charge assessment is based on some idiot lights where one presses a button and gets a full, 2/3, 1/3, empty reading. When I get through the warranty period I'll bypass or pull that system and just wire in digital voltmeter somewhere.

Do have a 3000 watt Honda generator and fire that up if we want to do TV, microwave, air conditioning etc We will likely get five or six 100 watt panels in the future. Cookie is very good at conserving power, making minimal use of the furnace, lights, water pump etc, but we feel we should be able to go two or three days without doing a full recharge.

Our unit is a bumper pull Minnie Winnie about 25 ft with a single slide out. Could probably sleep 4, and have enough seating that we can entertain up to about 7 for a sit down meal. Haul it around with a F350 crew cab diesel.

Have some small economic issues at the moment with a possible need to retrieve a son that's having difficulties nailing down his first million. Want to hit the road when we get that settled.

Yes, the bathroom is a big part of the RV. I'm not the fast rider I once was. I have to eat a lot dirt at the back of the pack now. A hot shower
is golden. I can do anything on 30 amps, not!!!

Rates at a privately owned campground that's within walking distance of Whittaker's Gun Shop. Just a little further up a ways is a pretty good size restaurant/antique/collectables/etc,, consignment shop, too:

http://diamondlakeresort.net/rates/

https://visitpreservationstation.com/

I guess I have been in a camper of some sort for 50+ years now. Had all types length makes,etc. Currently I have a destination series Heartland on property year round as my hunting camp. I also currently own a 42' motor home for mobile travel putting 25,000 miles on last year alone.There is one thing I have found out...There is nothing cheap about the RV life style!!! I'd sell the motor home but the wife loves it.
I would never sell my home and live in one on the road or parked. Well the house rent an apartment or condo so you have no maintaining the yard THEN get a smaller motor home and travel. I know with my 42' coach there are places that I can not take it legally....son lives in [bleep] usa and you can not drive a rig longer than 28' in that town!.

My parents were RV'ers for about 20 years. They had a bunch of different ones, bumper pulls, 5th wheels, and a couple motor homes. They finally settled on a bumper pull so Dad could take his car top boat for fishing. They got tired of the high cost of MH's. There was always something expensive to fix.

At one point, Dad put a propane conversion kit in his pickup with a large fuel tank behind the cab. Then they took a Good Sam caravan tour of Mexico with a tour guide. There were something like 30 RVers in the group. Mexico was in middle of an oil crisis with rock bottom prices. They were burning off gas just to get rid of it. Propane was a few cents/gal, so cheap that their 3500 mile trip only cost them $20 in fuel. You don't get that lucky very often.

We bought a big pull behind to take the kids. Bought way to big as we were damn near 60’ bumper to bumper. Room was nice but a pain to drive around and get in some parks. Downsized to a smaller unit with expandable ends. Fun but a lot of work. We got to see several places and still use it as it paid off but we know where we “want” to be. And will start looking for a cottage or cabin there as our kids get bigger. I have no intention of buying another RV.

YMMV
David

There would be a number of issues for us to work out before doing this. Getting a boat where we'd be going is just one of them. My wife has recently begun collecting some wall art and wants it to go with us.

The dog
The grandkids
Lots of things to work out

Including the mileage to all the places we'd like to spend time.

I've had 3 campers & I believe Floor plan trumps size every time.

A buddy told me he wanted this or that but they wee hard to find, so he settled on what they had.

Way too many dealers & brands out there to not get what you want.

Some hotels tack on another 30$ per night if you have a dog.

I'm RVing in AZ . Nice to pull up, start gen, run out slides.When boon docking. Have my stuff with me. I don't have to carry it in hotel rm. Too much, to do it, anyway.
When in campground less than hotel rm. Hook up electric, water ,sewer, good to go. Yes picking out the RV is key. Look at lots of them. Ck reviews. I like the flexibility to just hook up and go where the wind blows, or not.

"For sale- - - -small camp trailer.. Sleeps one couple, four good friends, or 14 drunks after a tailgate party!"

LOL!
Jerry

A friend had an old humpback trailer he called the motel 6. After a big rain storm during a field party, we called it the Super 8.