Are you a spontaneous, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of person? Do you love travelling from place to place, taking in new cultures and meeting new people? If so, you’ve probably thought about buying an RV so you can travel your summers away, but is it really the right choice for you?
Before you spend thousands of dollars on a mobile home, make sure you know what you’re getting into first.
Usage
Do you actually like travelling that much? Does your work allow you enough annual leave to really get the most use out of your mobile home beyond a week here and a week there? If not, it’s probably not the right choice for you. RV’s are expensive, so to make the outlay worth it, you’ll need to use it regularly throughout the year, or at least for the duration of summer.
Those who freelance, work from home, work part time or who are retired are best suited to such a purchase, and given you can use it in abundance, it will more than pay for itself over the course of the years.
Maintenance
Going on vacation is great because you don’t need to worry about cleaning the bathroom, changing the sheets or tidying up, but you need to remember that these services are not applicable in an RV. You’ll be responsible for all the cleaning whilst you’re away, as well as the maintenance in between trips, such as a caravan drain down, sterilizing the water system and routinely checking the power supply for safety. For some people, this is a small price to pay for the freedom they will be afforded, but if you’re used to going on vacation and not having to lift a finger, this may not be the option for you.
Storage
It’s no secret that RV’s take up a lot of space, and when they’re not in use, they need to be stored somewhere safe. Unless you have a gigantic front yard or driveway, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to keep your mobile holiday home at your house, so that means you’ll need to rent a location on a park. This can be expensive, what with site fees and regular visits required. This is something you’ll definitely need to consider before you buy one.
So, there’s a lot to think about before you take the plunge, but if you do bite the bullet and go for it, what can you get in return?
Flexibility
If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s to appreciate the place we live. International travel is yet to fully recover and many people won’t be thinking about vacations abroad for a long time to come. This is where having an RV is an advantage. Even if flights are grounded or money is tight, you can still enjoy a long overdue break away. You can leave when you want, come home when you want and extend your holiday without having to pay any more money. It’s a win-win situation!
Pets
Around 67% of all American households have a pet of some description, and for almost every single one of them, their pet is their family. The hardest part about going on vacation can be leaving pets behind. It seems unfair, plus it’s expensive to hire someone to look after them. You do have the option of taking your pet on vacation with you, but this is a logistical nightmare and so isn’t a very popular option at all. Well, if you have an RV, this is no such issue. Simply pack them in the back with the rest of your family and never worry about saying another goodbye to them again!
There’s certainly a lot to be weighed up when it comes to buying an RV. We hope this has helped make your decision a little more informed and easier.
Infographic created by Water My Battery, State-of-the-Art Golf Cart Battery Water System