Has RVing lost its allure? If so, why? There are many potential reasons. Here are just a few.
Covid frenzy
Many, many folks purchased an RV during the Covid pandemic, in an attempt to vacation while maintaining a safe distance from others. Now that Covid restrictions have eased, people are eyeing an easier, more glamorous way to travel. Once again cruise ships and all-inclusive resorts hold greater appeal. In two words: black tank.
Poor construction
The word is out! Thanks to newsletters like ours and others who refuse to be manipulated or bullied by RV manufacturers and retail conglomerates, folks are catching on. RV construction is not what it used to be. There are horror stories about incorrectly installed electrical, water, and heating systems; defects in components; inferior RV materials; and overall slipshod workmanship. People are getting the message, and getting out of RVing.
Too many repairs needed
Poor RV construction often translates into so much money spent and precious time lost. Folks with RV issues soon discover that repairs cost money. Lots. Of. Money. What’s more is that every day their RV is in the shop is one less day they are camping. The current lack of experienced and knowledgeable repair folks just adds to the problem.
Aging out
The Boomer Generation may simply be aging out of the RV life. Health and mobility issues can take away much of the joy found in RVing. Boomers are discovering alternatives to their beloved RVs: vacationing in other ways, purchasing a stationary RV park model in a warmer climate, and simply staying home. Has RVing lost its allure? Many Boomers are saying “Yes.”
No new innovations
A young potential buyer at our local RV dealership toured three RVs displayed on the showroom floor. “They’re all the same,” she complained. For the most part, she’s right. Many floor plans have seen little in the way of major changes for the past several years.
Overhearing her complaint, a salesperson reacted: “You only have so many square feet to work with. There’s not much space to change things up in a major way.” Maybe. But did you read Tony’s review of an RV with a hidden room?
Underused
Remember driving away in your new or new-to-you RV? I do! We were so excited and eager to start adventuring. We immediately set out on what would become a seven-month trip away from our stix-n-brix home. We were retired, after all! But not everyone is retired. Nor can everyone work remotely. The dream of RVing every weekend soon diminishes and you’re camping once a month. Then it’s once every three months … until you realize that your RV does more “sitting” than adventuring. Has RVing lost its allure? Yes! For those many would-be campers who can never find a good time to get away.
Rude campers
Other RVers say RVing has lost its allure because things have changed from what they used to be. “Folks are downright rude,” opined one long-time RVer. “They don’t know or care to learn basic campground etiquette. They refuse to follow the rules or even be polite. Civil society isn’t civil these days. So, I’m done.”
Campground crowding and fees
Overall, campgrounds are seeing less crowding than during those wild Covid days. However, national parks and other hot spots remain difficult to reserve. Even if you do score an RV site, you’ll need to brace yourself for the increased fees.
Wi-Fi issues
Our society has become highly dependent upon Wi-Fi. Yes, even RVers want to stream a movie once in a while or call to check on the grandkids. Many of us bank online or need good connections for Zoom calls or other remote work. RVing quickly loses its allure with unreliable Wi-Fi connections.
Inflation and rates
Increased camping fees also contribute to RVing losing its allure. When energy and other costs rise due to inflation, campgrounds are forced to pass along their higher rates to RVers.
Interest rates might also be to blame. Coupled with higher overall RV prices, the amount of interest paid often disqualifies a would-be RVer. The higher cost of living (food, fuel, health costs) also means more RVers defaulting on their RV loans, too.
Has RVing lost its allure for you and your travel companions? Vote in the poll and then explain your vote in the comments that follow. Thank you!
Has RVing lost its allure for you?
Explain your answer in the comments below.
##RVT1140b
RV’ng has not lost its appeal on my family. We look forward to camping every year. My problem is the manufacturer of my RV. Poor workmanship, faulty material, and lack of customer service makes the experience that more difficult. I own a 2021 VIBE and its slide-out seals have failed twice and required replacement. I had to fight to have the first failure covered under warranty. Little over a year, they failed again and now I am fighting for the cost of replacement. It’s a problem, but will not interfere with our time for fun and sun. RV’ng has brought us so many great trips and memories that I will continue until I can no longer travel down the road. Until then, happy trails, happy smiles.
Expect repairs and downtime. Just part of the adventure.
I’m a “Boomer” that considers my RV life as a “traveler”, not a campground camper. For all those reasons commonly mentioned about campground crowding, noisy, rude neighbors, price gouging, I rarely stay in a campground. I love to wander with no fixed plan. I’m always looking for what’s over that next mountain. I’ve been in 49 States and still love the act of discovery. Not knowing where I’ll overnight is half the fun! Bigfoot TT and Tundra owner.
Quite the opposite. We now have three RV’s: a destination trailer that will stay put while we travel back & forth from our S&B towing a Cargo Camper loaded with 2 kayaks and ebikes. And a third, a 5th wheel, we tow to sunny FL for the winter. Depending on the campground we can take either the Cargo Camper or 5th wheel to the numerous campgrounds when we’re home in spring & fall. The key is booking multiple days well in advance to give us a couple really good days to enjoy the great outdoors.
I said “no”, but things have changed over the years. When I was working full time and we had lots of energy, we would take one vacation day so that we could have a long weekend when others didn’t. We would run out to Jasper or Banff, and stay two nights with a big dayhike on our one full day there. We’d go about 6 times per summer.
Later, we found this was too hectic, and are now going out 3-4 times per year for 4 nights at a time. Plus, we plan to start snowbirding next winter! My semi-retired status allows that.
Who knows how it will evolve in the future?
Allure, or attractive, may have been the draw for many during the COVID era. Not being confined. Not why we have been RVing since 1994. We have always camped on cross country trips, visiting many of the finer views in the country.
Other than the scenery, another part of the experience has always been meeting others that love to travel.
RVing, frequently, can be work. Working to maintain and/or modify your choice of RV. Sometimes frustrating, but quickly forgotten once back on the way.
Perhaps, the content RVer might have more in common with the pioneers traveling in their Conestoga wagon. The trip is the experience.
I had to think this answer over a bit. Yes I’m a boomer, and my age is starting to make me wonder how much longer I will want to put up with all the topics you have listed.
Still enjoy RV’n but as an aging Boomer my body enjoys it less and less. Already figure we are on our last RV and probably a hand full of years before we hang up the keys.
Allure –
“powerfully attract or charm; tempt.
“will sponsors really be allured by such opportunity”. I think it depends on one’s age. If your older than it might be wanting the golden days like the classic car and if younger it’s toss it in the wind and enjoy it for the present. It’s like owning a home once you start pouring money into it the allure is gone. I allure because it seemed like simpler times. Easier working on the 65 f100 pickup.
We just changed the way we RV, by downsizing to a Truck Camper. It has opened our camping world and have made it so much more adventurous. Full timing for the last 8 years and we are finally seeing and doing the things we always wanted without a big rig hassle and without reservations.
We will continue rving but most likely won’t be purchasing a new rv as we had hoped. Looking at the new RVs at the Tampa rv show we observed the horrible quality of workmanship and materials. On one of the higher mid level fifthwheel trailers we looked at you could see the ground outside through a gap in the wall and floor in the hallway. This is outrageous for a new 2024. There were cabinet doors that would not close they were hung crooked trim loose and falling off. It was astonishing the poor quality from several manufacturers. None really stood out for us.
Yes as we are now in our late 70’s rving has lost some of it’s allure. We find it harder to travel and will probably sell our motorhome in the next 2-3 years or before if we have any serious health issues.
Agree. Health issues have impacted our RVing. We have been in a Class B since the 90s; maybe ahead of the curve! We have slowed down, but not stopped; occasionally check into a motel or hotel instead of a campground, yet the true outdoor experience keeps calling…
It has not lost its allure, just morphed. 5th wheels, to Class C, to small teardrop trailer with off-grid capabilities. Long trips are replaced by mid-week trips to Ky parks.
People kept encouraging friends and family to start RVing, and now the birds have come home to roost with hard to get camping spots, slow to nonexistent RV service and on and on and on…
Camping has not caused us to loose our allure for it but it is certainly a different world today. Yes, we have seen it all from rude campers to overpriced “so called resorts”. We try to avoid them when we can. Turning to boondocking opportunities allows us to enjoy locations without the usual hassles. Since we do not use the amenities in any campground we do not miss them when boondocking. We are travelers looking to enjoy the new area and indulge ourselves in the history of the area. Let the familes with kids and dogs enjoy the campgrounds. For us, boondocking allows us to continue to enjoy our RV’ing life style without the usual hassles. #roughingitsmoothly
RV companies are not innovative in designing RV’s anymore. It’s cheaper to just build a box and people will still buy them. Look at some of the old RV’s. One company had one with a roof top canvas room. Another had a fold down patio on the roadside. Airstream had a Class A motorhome with a roof top deck. Plus many other things.
Hey, if all of you stay home to watch television and your computer, there may be better campsites to choose from. If you yearn for the good old days, some dealerships still sell Popup trailers that are easy to tow.
We have a small Class C that can fit in any cg. In Sept., we got a FC-FS dry campsite in a USFS cg. 3 miles from the West Entrance to Yellowstone NP for $12/night. So, no, we are definitely not ready to give up RVing despite being in our late 70’s.
I answered no, however some aspects have made it less alluring than it once was. Cost being a major one.
Regretfully, I answered “yes,” but we are hopeful for change. Covid and the last three years of politics have drastically changed Americans’ way of life. Prices of everything we need are inflated. Everything we love is slowly being chipped away. In the past few years, my husband & I have traveled only six times with our 2011 Airstream (no worries about it breaking down!). 2021 and 22 were terrible in our northwest area to find camping spots. It was scary how many people! Those were the strangest and most disheartening trips of all our 40 years of RVing. 2023 was better with fewer people camping, albeit with ridiculous (and unnecessary) diesel costs.
Greed has caused the loss of allure …RV sales has turned into another get rich scheme for corporations.Just plain old greed.
Get over it!
I said yes, however not enough to make us stop camping overall. But the fight to reserve camping spots is ridiculous, especially when dealing with govt websites. Private camp grounds not so much. Once I’m in my spot I’m a happy camper. But getting to that point is the most frustrating. Safe travels everyone.
This is a tough question. We love our MH and still love RVing. What (for us) has changed is the amount of money it costs now to travel. We like to glam it up in our MH and stay at full hookup locations. With the cost of food and fuel tho, especially on a fixed income, it is very hard to enjoy even just a casual weekend.
There are many reasons for owning and using a recreation vehicle. Camping, ‘travelling turtle’ (haul your home with you), with or without amenities are all valid RV uses. This industry was founded with a key word in its title: family. And the people running RV clubs, campgrounds, RV parks/resorts, RV dealerships, and yes a RV related newsletter, were more often than not, families serving other families. A whole lot of those families that served families took busman’s holidays.
Sure covid was a recent factor in the issues reported in this newsletter. But the far larger issue in my opinion is that the corporate world has replaced so many of the families who served families.
We continue to enjoy the lifestyle and we’ll always remember the reasons we got into it years ago- independence and freedom as well as having your own things along to enjoy.
18 years in and just getting started…..
I am still as interested in RVing as ever, but wife’s health issues have put a dark cloud over our travels. It is a difficult issue for me, but the MH is in storage mode for the foreseeable future. Hope springs eternal …
I answered NO but I must admit that it is waning .
Age and health are my main concerns of any RV’ing in the future. Since wife has developed dementia, and my knees are complaining constantly, our annual trip to the Oregon coast for the summer has, I think, come to an end. Our coach is still in absolute perfect condition and will not be difficult to dispose of to others who are in need of one….as is our RV resort site. The resent acceleration of rv costs for overnight is also a concern. This will probably be our last summer doing this trip we’ve been doing annually since 2007.
Age and health issues have taken us off the road. We full-timed for 10 years, volunteer camp hosting for 6-9 months each year. We really enjoyed the lifestyle but are unable to do so any longer.
We still love it, but we stay away from corporate entities. Big corporate campgrounds, Camping World, etc. We stick with smaller campgrounds or National or state parks. We have our RV worked on by our small local place. Doesn’t solve everything, but it makes a big difference in our experience.
I like your article on this subject! I am part of the baby boomer generation and riving isn’t what it used to be.
We are considering hanging up the keys for good!
Things are too crowded and way too expensive these days.
God bless those who continue to travel!
May you have safe travels ✝️
Going RV camping is taking longer than I expected, my Ford Lighting truck only goes 200 miles while pulling my 5’ver. I then have to recharge for a day before going on to the next charging station. Trip planning has gotten tricky, where as I have to plan my route from charging station to the next one. Traveling from TX to WI took me 13 days last summer, it’s cutting my summer time up north shorter these days. I’m hoping Ford comes out with it’s new truck that gets 400 a day, but I hear that they maybe rethinking their battery driven trucks and cutting their losses, bummer! All in all my RV’ing is quieter, and when leaving the campground early in the morning, I don’t disturb anyone.
I love hearing my engine when it is working hard and feeling the transmission shift up or down to select the best gear for my speed and power demand. It is music to my ears and we are not up early morning since we drive no more than 300 miles per day, choosing to sleep in and leave near check-out time. I hope more early morning travelers will choose EV’s so as not to disturb others in the campground or RV park and as their preferred vehicle choice.
Still love the RVing and camping lifestyle, and can’t wait to get back at it in a few months or so.
I voted ‘no’ because it hasn’t lost its allure for me and our RV trips are some of my best memories. But at the same time I do not get to do it anymore and live the lifestyle vicariously. My husband has developed physical issues (first knee replacement on Mon) that made it next to impossible to continue, though if that were the only thing, we’d have found a way. Add the cost of gas, rising park costs, and most importantly, the cost of the non-stop poorly done repairs and the time the RV spent in the shop while we continued to pay space rental, etc., and we very, very sadly decided to throw in the towel. So the allure and desire are still alive, but the wherewithal has left the building.
Hoping his knee surgery goes well, along with a speedy recovery. Keep living vicariously through your fellow RVers, Janet. There’s more than one way to enjoy the ride!
My wife and I grew up camping and backpacking. At age 71 we still like to get out but, want the comforts our TT provides. How much longer will we camp? Likely as long as our health allows. Living in NorCal we can camp year round and see some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.
Not ready to quit, but aging out. We are looking forward to another round trip crossing of the continent – it will be our 23rd this Spring and Summer. We still love living in our 36′ DP and traveling in it. It is getting on, its a 2012, and we are in our early 80’s. We love our SKP Coop but we can see where the ability to enjoy its amenities is waning and we have watched too many others start to fail and not know when it is time to execute Plan B.
My last husband and I loved traveling and living Full
Time in our 39.5′ MH for several years. Then the health problems that come with aging started taking place and we ended up selling the MH to pay for his Assisted Living. After they almost killed him in 2.5 months, I took him out, moving into an Independent Senior Living facility where I took care of him until he had to be hospitalized for a condition that finally and sadly took his life. At 83 yo now, I don’t have the energy for it any longer.
Sorry to hear of all the challenges you and your late husband had. I hope you can find something else that interests you.
I voted yes, but only because I remember what camping used to be. I was fortunate to retire early and my wife and I are now full-timers, and I still plan to be for a while yet.
That said, as recently as five years ago you couldn’t walk around the campground without getting into several friendly conversations before you made it back to your site. Now, blame whatever you want (Covid, politics, people on phones), but people are afraid to talk to strangers. Unfortunately everyone is a stranger until you talk to them!
I do miss what camping used to be, and for that reason it has lost its allure.
We try for one week camping per month. Usually can do that 10 months out of the year. Being retired, we’re very flexible. Just finished a tough one at the beach. Seriously cold (in the teens). Propane regulator failed. But we’ll keep going out.
Thank you, Gail! RVing? No, not at all. RVing with the new dog? Well, that is still an open question. We may have the way-wrong dog, for RVing or anything. He is still a work-in-progress, so we are not without hope of RVing with him. There just is little optimism. 🙁
I voted “Yes”. We have been RVing since I retired 17 years ago. After wintering several times in Arizona and traveling to all 48 lower states and Canada, we are slowly phasing out. We’re now 80ish and RVing is physically harder each year. Also, reservations are increasingly complicated and difficult to get, park rates have skyrocketed and we can’t afford to upgrade to a newer RV and toad. We would like to do shorter car and rail travels, spend more time with our many grandchildren and get more involved in local volunteer and hometown activities. However, we also love our many friends and activities of our SKP chapter and don’t want to lose them. It’s decision time for us.
I voted No, but with the cost of everything across the board continually going up, it’s going to be a challenge, for me anyway, to travel with my RV. I have yet to retire, so the allure of RVing is not lost on me…yet. We’ll see what the next few years bring and if I’ll be able to continue the RV lifestyle or have to hang it up??
Not a yes or no question. “Kinda” would be my answer.
OK, this is probably just me, because I was an IT consultant for so long, but you are using the term “Wi-Fi” as a substitute for the “internet”. Wifi is a marketing term that was adopted to encompass the IEEE 802.11 networking protocol that defines a type of wireless networking. It is not, nor has ever been, the internet. Wifi is what you use to connect a wireless device on a local network to a router/modem that inturn uses satellite, mobile networks (LTE, 5G), cable, dsl or fiber networks to the connect to the internet.
Your article should be referencing an inconsistent internet connection, not wifi.
Marcus,
Thanks for that clarification.
I’m new to rving last year. I have an rv that is paid in full. All I need to do is repairs and travel. We book one weekend a month until we can travel further.
Welcome to the wonderful world of RVing, Shawn! We hope you have many happy and safe adventures in the years to come. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Greedy RV Parks raise prices and people don’t use the playthings provided. Over 1/2 don’t use pools, tennis courts. 5 to 8 hundred a month plus electric is theft.
No. We have been camping in a towable for the past 20 years. We are retiring in November. We have always used the camper as a way to summer vacation. Have mostly been going to the same place each year. We bought our first RV this fall and will get out on the road next winter. We will never be full time only expect to do 1, 2 maybe 3 months max at a time. But we will see how it goes. I have no illusions about the experience. We have loved it to this point. But if it doesn’t work for us I also have no problem doing what we have for the last 20 years. Maybe slightly longer or more often.
Hi, Rick. How exciting to look forward to your upcoming retirement (after all these years)! We hope you have many more happy and healthy years on the road. How fun it will be to have the flexibility to go out for as long as you want, and in your new RV! Take care, and have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Rving has gotten too expensive. Might as well stay in a hotel. Plus, many of today’s rivers are rude and could care less about campground etiquette. Not at all what it used to be. My wife and I are getting out of camping.
Amen! For the price of a site alone you can often get a decent motel room and not have to drive a massive RV around everywhere you go.
I’m done. Coach sat six weeks at a major Freightliner dealer in 2023 trying to get oil changed and dash A/C repaired. They also damaged the bodywork and it had to go back for another 2 weeks for paint! Then there are the labor increases… $230 per hour shop rate now. BTW, they were in over $2700 on the A/C (replaced every part, almost) but still couldn’t get the compressor to engage. We threatened legal action little diesel truck outfit found the real issue – the dealer was only putting in 25% of the needed refrigerant and the real, original failure was a little leaking $2 schrader valve. Exorbitant costs plus gross ineptitude are rampant in the industry. Very hard to get reservations too
My wife and I still enjoy RV camping, we just do it differently. We don’t travel far in the trailer anymore (we live in Florida). Now we use it as a summer cottage in the keys with our boat, and the rest of the year it is a guest house.
Mostly rude RVers and crowding. It sucks now because the industry took advantage of the almighty Growth and started selling RVs to every clod with a few dollars in their hand. Same reason most things suck these days. Too. Many. People.
1. We have a difficult time making reservations. Theres no such thing as just pulling in and having a campsite available.
2. Those who have reservations don’t show up, so campsites just sit empty and you can’t move to occupie one due to their reservation.
3. Rude people.
Things have definitely changed, but for the worse. Camper cost has risen to outrageous sums of money while craftsmanship has taken an all time low.
We’re done! Overpriced, overcrowding, tired of lack of sites due to long-term rentals who seem to be living in the campgrounds. We recently had to travel for family and had hard time because of not booking months and months ahead.
We are full timers who volunteer at mostly federal parks; eg, CoE, NPS, USFS and NFW. Over the past 4 years, we’ve seen a lot of changes. The largest change we see rarely mentioned is the quiet closing of many national park campgrounds particularly CoE where there are multiple campgrounds around a large lake/ reservoir. In most instances, the Corp may try to get the state or county to takeover these parks but few states and counties are interested. Another change is that the supply of volunteers seems to be shrinking as more people sell their RVs or permanently park them … ie, they leave the road. In the face of all these changes, private parks are being bought-up by hedge funds.
I have a really small camper (20 ft.) My wife and I enjoy camping but in my opinion, people new to camping buy more rv than is actually needed. The cost of larger rv’s, gas and cost of larger trucks may be reason camping has become too expensive for most middle class Americans.
My wife and I have never owned more than a 20′ RV. There is no reason to. By the way, I’ve been camping for 70+ years, the last 42 with my wife.
The allure is still there but events of this past week may have changed things. I may now sit in the driveway and pretend and remember.
I’m very afraid to ask about the “events of this past week,” Kelly. I’ve been getting concerned because you haven’t commented for a long time. I hope all’s well with you and yours.🤞 You don’t need to tell me here, publicly. But you have my email if you want to get in touch with me to put my mind at ease. (But you don’t have to.) I’m just glad to see you on here again.👍😊 Take care.🤗 –Diane
We must be an anomaly or something. We have a 44ft 5th wheel. We’ve never had a problem getting a reservation, we mainly stay at state or county parks, or we boondock so, its not all that expensive – we dont like private campgrounds all that much – we do the bulk of our traveling in the winter so, its hardly crowded, and even in the summer, we dont have a problem getting into anywhere. Weve also rarely run into rude people, too.
Its a shame people are having their issues and I would be frustrated too but, maybe if they RVed a bit differently, it might be a more enjoyable experience for them. Im not saying our way is perfect but, its really not bad. We wish we could do it more!
We still enjoy getting away in having the time together.
Yes, losing the allure: Maintence issues, expensive repairs, flimsy construction, bad roads, campground costs, gas prices, difficulty getting reservations, plus getting older.
I suppose it has lost its allure in some ways. But the dog and I pretty much stay in the Northwest, somewhat close to home. I try to go to small campgrounds with no hookups. I’m looking for trails to walk with my dog and things to photograph. I don’t have a behemoth rig because I go to camp not to travel non-stop. I also am not using up much gas and energy because my trailer doesn’t cause any gas usage. I have to plan ahead some, but still getting along.
No BUT: I don’t enjoy paying top dollar for a “ resort” that is a dump and is definitely not a resort, being the over nighter in a park full of live-ins, barking dogs and sites next to dump stations!
I also don’t enjoy having to fight to get a reservation – especially in the parks when people are no shows to the nicest sites… I wish the National and state parks would penalize no- shows with steep fees so the sites wouldn’t be sitting empty.
Is the allure gone? Not at all. But ridiculous price increases at campgrounds cause a more definitive planning. We’re retired and financially comfortable but still get irritated at crazy prices. We’ve not experienced notable difficulty in getting sites but expect to this year. Our son in law is actively looking for the right used travel trailer or 5th wheel because they want to start going along on our trips.
We bought our first camper in 2019. We raise our grandson and we were getting too old to tent camp. Our grandson, now 8, loves the outdoors. We like a campground with a pool in the summer. We usually stayed at KOAs, but they are crowded, little space, rude kids on their phones, and costly! Nicer campgrounds with amenities run $120+ a night! They use to take a reservation fee, now they all want the total cost up front. If you don’t reserve a year in advance for holiday weekends, you’re SOL. We can’t afford to drop $1000s at once to make our reservations for the summer. Off season is no issue. We love camping, but higher gas prices and ridiculous campground fees makes it stressful.
We love waterfalls. We travel everywhere chasing them. We are retired and in good health – why not
That’s neat, Kim.👍 Have you been to Palouse Falls in Washington state? It’s a must-see. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I want to Believe.