Renting vs owning?

[Dan-Hawaii]

We rented last year and it went well. We are looking at buy. Honestly it looks like it would be cheaper and easier to just rent.

Has anyone looked back and wished you were just renting?

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

In following your previous thread on the hassles of licensing a motorhome when you are a resident of another state, I wondered about just renting. In your case it would seem to make sense. I know a rented RV won't have all the things in it an owned coach would, but the trade-off for simplicity might just be worth it. I think it would be for us.

As to your specific question, we have never wished we were renting rather than owning, but our situation is not like yours.

TJ

 

[Dan-Hawaii]

In following your previous thread on the hassles of licensing a motorhome when you are a resident of another state, I wondered about just renting. In your case it would seem to make sense. I know a rented RV won't have all the things in it an owned coach would, but the trade-off for simplicity might just be worth it. I think it would be for us.

As to your specific question, we have never wished we were renting rather than owning, but our situation is not like yours.

TJ

I am thinking you might be right. Unless there is something like time shares on RVs.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

There are "fractional" RV ownerships available. Not much different than renting, however. Here's an example:

RV Fractional Ownership – Cypress RV Rental

www.cypressrvrental.com

It wouldn't be my cup of tea, but might work for you.

TJ

 

[Howard Freeman]

I'm also interested in the rent v. own question. Having driven from Texas's Hill Country the 9 hours to Ruidoso, NM, where friends of ours bought an RV Park, I'm now wondering about next time renting an RV and also saving on accommodations.

What would y'all say are the top three things a new renter needs to ask a rental company before making a decision on what vehicle to rent?


Howard Freeman
Curator, "Small Town USA"

Small Town USA | The best small towns in America

The best small towns in America and the best small towns in Texas, starting with Kerrville. Places to stay, where to eat, what to do.

americadowntown.com

 

[GlampDaddy]

Some years ago, we were going to start our RV adventures by renting a travel trailer. When we went to see it the cigarette smell was overwhelming. After a very short conversation with Mrs., we bought a new one instead. In the end, we want our own stuff and we to know where it is. But the biggest thing of all is the bed, wife doesn't want to sleep in other peoples' beds. I agree.

 

[GlampDaddy]

What would y'all say are the top three things a new renter needs to ask a rental company before making a decision on what vehicle to rent?


Howard Freeman
Curator, "Small Town USA"

Small Town USA | The best small towns in America

The best small towns in America and the best small towns in Texas, starting with Kerrville. Places to stay, where to eat, what to do.

americadowntown.com

Top three:
1) Who fixes it when it's broken on the side of the road?
2) Who pays when it's broken on the side of the road?
3) Will you bring me a new one when it's broken on the side of the road?
(I had a friend who rented a Class C - it broke, ruined his vacation, and he had hell getting his money back for repairs he paid for)

 

[Dan-Hawaii]

We rented last year from Best Time RV | #1 RV Sales and Rental | in Las Vegas and dropped I. Phoenix. Everything was great.

We rented the Minnie Winnie without a slide out.

It was great for about a week that we had it. It did NOT have a battery to run a cpap. I have since bought a cpap battery so that is not an issue for us.

If you are going to rent and use a cpap or you are going to be limited to parks with electric hookups.

The problems to watch for are:

1. Availability, that time worked but you are not always going to have a unit available

2. We had to set it up and did not have our own stuff

3. We had to take or buy more stuff because we could not just stick and leave stuff in the rv.

They did have drop boxes that people just left stuff in for the next renters we got things from and left things for the next renters.

 

[kangarooelaine]

The reason we want to buy instead of renting are:
- When we have rented in the past we don't always get the unit we signed up for
- We can't outfit the unit the way we want with all our own stuff instead of packing and forgetting things.
- We want to be a bit more spontaneous and have more adventures without planning
- We want to not worry about any damage our pets do to the unit. And we want to be able to customize for pets if we want to.
- We have canceled a number of rental reservations, buying 'forces' us to vacation
- We can afford it (personally, I believe that if you MUST take out a loan to buy then you should not buy unless it's going to be your home and you're a full-timer. Just my opinion but an RV is usually not a necessity and thus loans should only be used to be liquid etc, not as a way to afford the purchase)
- There are times we think we might just use it as extra space, not just to travel. Like as an office or a guest room.
- We want the flexibility of upgrades like an additional TV and solar and wifi extender etc

Bottom line is owning provides more comfort. I do not think it's cheaper, though.

 

[Dan-Hawaii]

The reason we want to buy instead of renting are:
- When we have rented in the past we don't always get the unit we signed up for
- We can't outfit the unit the way we want with all our own stuff instead of packing and forgetting things.
- We want to be a bit more spontaneous and have more adventures without planning
- We want to not worry about any damage our pets do to the unit. And we want to be able to customize for pets if we want to.
- We have canceled a number of rental reservations, buying 'forces' us to vacation
- We can afford it (personally, I believe that if you MUST take out a loan to buy then you should not buy unless it's going to be your home and you're a full-timer. Just my opinion but an RV is usually not a necessity and thus loans should only be used to be liquid etc, not as a way to afford the purchase)
- There are times we think we might just use it as extra space, not just to travel. Like as an office or a guest room.
- We want the flexibility of upgrades like an additional TV and solar and wifi extender etc

Bottom line is owning provides more comfort. I do not think it's cheaper, though.

All good reasons to buy. If we were not in Hawai'i, with the license issue, we would likely be buying.

Heck, right now if we go to the continent we have to quarantine for 14 days when we come back. At least there are worse places to be stuck.

Thanks

 

[AbdRahim]

It also, depends on personal idiosyncrasies. I don't like sleeping in someone else's bed. Did the hotel thing all of my career. No more when it can be avoided.

Also, how often are you going to use it. I have always been amused by the ones I see sitting in the driveway 50 weeks out of the year. Man that seems to be a waste of money - not to mention the difficulties that can occur from too little use.

Another question would be, how much time do you have to spend on routine maintenance, and repairs?

I personally did not buy one until well after I retired and am in it, at least 4 months of the year. It gets washed by hand and lightly waxed, at least 3 times a year along with minor repairs and maintenance - 2-4 days to complete. That is just me. When I trade it in 12 years or so, I want it to still look new.

Good luck with your decision.