About a month ago, we asked readers to respond to the poll question: Do you see yourself still RVing in five years? The results are shown below:
Heartfelt comments
While the poll responses were pretty straightforward, the comments really touched my heart. My husband and I are also reevaluating our RVing future. Perhaps that’s why our readers’ reactions so deeply resonated.
Optimistic
Nearly half of the respondents (43%) plan to continue RVing unless something major changes. Their comments were uplifting and delightfully optimistic.
Here’s what Donny had to say: “We have a 2003 40′ Allegro Bus, a 2000 24′ Dynamax Isata, and a 2000 21′ Coachmen Starflyte… none of them are aging out as they were built good back then. I’m a 1952 model and not aging out yet, so we plan on RVing for at least 5 more years.”
Roy shared: “My wife and I are both in our 70s but in relatively good health. Aside from arthritis, we get along fairly well so I see no reason to stop.”
Betty Studzinski shared: “I’m 78 and barring health issues, which I have none currently, I will be towing my Casita another 5 years and loving it.”
And then there’s Ernest (Skip) Dalle Molle: “We’re now on our ‘third last RV’…if health permits, there may be a ‘4th last RV.’”
Don commented: “In 5 years I will be 89. If possible, I will use my 20-year-old E-450, hoping it will not fall apart then.”
DW/ND seems hopeful: “Hmmm… at 88 with a ’94 Class A, and now alone – seems improbable; on the other hand, who knows? God be willing and the creeks don’t rise…. as the saying goes. Still in good health and have a good energy level. If I can figure out this cooking thing, I may survive!”
I hope to see you on the road or meet you in a campground, DW/ND. You can figure out the cooking. Just keep it simple. 88 is only a number, right?
Finally, Ron Hall chimed in: “I’m 76, wife 68, and we plan to go as long as we can. Aside from my wife’s arthritis, I’m in good shape [and] see no reason to quit, unless something fails us.”
Cheers to the 43-percenters! Here’s to many more years of RVing for you!
Cautious
About 30% of RVers who voted come from the “not sure” and “probably not” response choices. I understand their ambivalence.
For KellyR, the poll’s timing seemed a bit unfortunate. Here’s the comment: “You would have to ask this question right after my birthday! This is just one more thing I didn’t need to be thinking about. LOL Burnout? Never. Cost? I’ll just reset my priorities. That darned age and health question, however…. I’m not the one that can answer the question five years out. I don’t know how long they can keep patching me up and replacing parts in order to keep me going.”
Echoing KellyR, Linda commented: “At 76 and facing major surgery on my back, I’m not sure how many more years I’ll be traveling. Hubby is younger and in great shape. We just bought a new 45’ Class A and the goal is to have at least five more years (also our third ‘last’ coach), but it’s all dependent on health.”
Jeanette Dickson is choosing to RV closer to home: “At 85 years old, I’ve made my last trip across the country, but still healthy (no meds) and able to do summer trips. Hate to give up ‘Minnie’ because of all the 20 years of fantastic adventures we have shared… ‘she’ is like family!”
Aww, Jeanette, I hope you continue to take summer jaunts with your Minnie.
Uncle Swags is sure about one thing. It’s just not about RVing: “I didn’t think I would be RVing 10 years ago, so as to what I am going to be doing in five is anyone’s guess. I’m just not going to be working, that’s for sure.”
Good for you, Uncle Swags! Good for you!
Hanging up the keys
11% of our poll participants plan to put RVing in their rearview mirrors. A mix of emotions filled their comments.
Ron L told us: “I’m in the process now of hanging up my spurs… selling the motorhome and RV resort lot. It’s just not fun anymore with the high fuel prices and California’s insistence on removing all internal combustion engines from the face of the earth.”
J B responded: “Agreed. It’s been a helluva ride though.”
It sounds as if Roger V. will continue to travel, but it just may be a little different: “We’ve been traveling in a 21′ Class B for the past eight years. Class B’s just make everything easier and simpler as long as you can enjoy the limited-space lifestyle. At 70 now, I can’t imagine dealing with any of the large RVs. Our health is good, thankfully. Now that we’ve completed our RV travel bucket list and more, though, we may not keep it much longer. There are lots of great travel options out there that don’t require the care and feeding of an RV.”
Roger is right! The “care and feeding of an RV” can definitely put a dent in the joy of travel.
Matthew Colie isn’t accustomed to agreeing with other commenters. He says: “This is different. I am so used to writing here as the Odd-Man-Out that I am wondering what happened. We have a 50+yo classic that we love, but this year has been my medical stuff year and, as a result, she never even got the spring service… I really don’t want to explain my year as I detest ‘organ recitals’, but if I can’t get healed up for next year, this may be the end of our travel times. I dread the thought.”
I dread it, too, Matthew. That’s what makes hangin’ up the keys for good so gosh darn hard!
No guarantees
Of all the comments, one really hit a nerve for me. It gently reminds all of us that life holds no guarantees. Each day is a blessing to be cherished.
I quoted Roy earlier, but here’s how he ended his comment. (Pay close attention to the last sentence.)
Roy said: We know all things are subject to change. Our plans are written in sand.
##RVT1187
One of our sayings is: We make plans and plan to change them.
We had planned to be on the road for the foreseeable future full-time. On 9/11 my husband had a widow maker heart attack. We thought we would have to stop. He is doing well and we are on the road, just a little slower. He is 77, I’m 75.
Every spring an event has forced us to reconsider this question. Each time we decided to go a few months longer, which stretch into a year. Our initial 6 month tour is now at 42 months.
*What Color Is Your Parachute? For Retirement* has been n helpful.
When the poll came out I enthusiastically answered yes. definitely. Since then my wife has been diagnosed with ALS and it has advanced to the point that we will no longer be able RV as a couple.
Stay strong Lon and positive. I know it isn’t easy and it will get more difficult with time – a positive attitude and good health will be a major asset for both of you. Live every day to the fullest extent possible. Best to you both!
So sorry to hear this, Lon. Praying for both of you.
So sorry. My father and my brother had ALS. It is an awful disease with no cure.
I’m pretty sure our ‘thousand milers’ are over. We can do a lot of camping and boondocking here in NV without going that far.
Really enjoyed this. Excellent summary of many good perspectives. After submitting the comment you included above, several of our van group meetups for ’25 popped up and onto our schedule, so it looks like our dance card is full for another year! Our travel seems to be shifting away from rushing to see new sights and more towards reuniting with old friends.
Our closest RV friends (a couple years younger than us) have been FT RVers since 2016. Over the past week, they announced “one more year” of FT RVing. When visiting family over Christmas they plan on scouting for potential retirement communities.
While we aren’t rushing to stop our RVing, we too are starting to look closer at options. We own a historic home (35 years) that we only use in the summer, and just like people, old buildings require more maintenance. Time to start planning for a stable lower maintenance location when towing is more than we want to tackle.
We started camping together in the early 70s; been part of one camping club since 2004. Most members have ‘aged out’ in their mid 80s. As we break into the 80s ourselves beginning next year, we’ll go as far as we can!
It’s not as much fun as 20 years ago with the reservation mess at every park, traffic becoming absolute chaos, and prices across the board becoming insane.
That being said, as long as I can still find a remote spot in the desert, an occasional deal on gas, and maintain my health, I’ll keep going.
“We know all things are subject to change. Our plans are written in sand.” Watch and listen carefully as this applies to this once great nation also.
Keep the faith JB. Help is on the way, the nightmare is almost over.
I’m 86 years old. Have Been Rving and camping for over 50 years. I’m not ready to give up the keys yet. My wife can no longer travel, so I’ve downsized to a 21ft TT and a Pickup camper with solar in both to dry camp. In the summer I can get away for a weekend to drown a few worms. I am still in pretty good shape although a bit slower.
Mel
WE are both 78 and while we will continue RVing for the next year or so ,, it is highly unlikely that we will be doing this in five years. Loading unloading is an awful lot of work. We now take our 35 foot RV to a campground 52 miles from my home in New Jersey and park it there for two months plus. We pull it back to New Jersey on Labor Day. We enjoy your column very much! THANKS!
Loved reading your comment. Cheers Manny, hope you get a few more summers.
We sure do. We’re both 81 and some of our springs have sprang but we aren’t giving up without a fight. We have been married to each other going on 62 years and have had a lot of good times, with RVing being part of those good times. Going to enjoy it as long as we can and when it’s over we’ll treasure our memories.
I am 72, my wife is 71 and I just ordered a new 2025 Jayco TT. My wife says this will be my last new TT but we will see. We plan on traveling and rving as long as we are able to.
As we drove across the country for the 24th time this Fall we talked about the coming years. At 82 (both of us) health is becoming an issue. We each were still able to do our two hour turns at the wheel, but preparing for the trip was stressful and we needed more break time between travel days. We decided to release our site in the coop, sell the coach and become apartment dwellers. After being back in the coop for a month we realized that it is the perfect place to escape the Northeast winter with a community we are already part of and our plan is now to keep the site and maybe swap the Cl A for a destination trailer. Plans are always set in Jell-O!
Will be 78 in January, still young in my mind, (don’t go there it’s scary). As long as our health holds up we should be good for a few more years. That being said, yes it does take a little longer for set up & Tear down but we’re not in a hurry anymore.
We bought a new 2025 5th wheel this past summer……..he’s 83, me 73…..going cross country is off the list, but we keep going…..it just takes a little longer
No, it’s getting stupid expensive.
Not sure people over 80 should be bombing down the road in 20 tons of steel and shrapnel. Most have never driven anything like this.
Don’t count us elder out, we can still do things, sometimes a little slow.
we got our Jayco travel trailer three or four years ago because we wanted to do more with the grandkids and we just had a tent trailer. we are both still in pretty good shape but our trips are essentially planned when kids are out of school as many are, which takes planning to get the reservations you want. that means no long trips either. we are confined to Cali, Oregon or possibly Nevada and Arizona but in Northern Cali, we have beautiful mountains, the Coast is close and we have the Redwoods so im comfy with that until its time to wrap it up. even at that, the Rv can be used in case the world falls apart. our longest trip was the Crater Lake and that tested our distance trip.
Thank you, Gail! I hope that the answer y’all are able to reach is to continue RVing. Meanwhile, happy new year and safe travels! 🙂
My hubby is 72, and I’m 68. We’ve been living full time stationary for the most part in our 26’ RV for the past 4 years in an RV Park while we take care of some needed surgeries. My hubby is due for his 5th hip surgery (a revision of a hip revision) in April 2025. I’ve had 2 total knee replacement surgeries (2023 and 2024). After my hubby is done with PT in June, we’ll take a 1,200 mile trip to welcome a 7th grandchild and then return to where we had been living to welcome an 8th grandchild. After that we plan to travel to several places we hadn’t been to before and continue taking many more trips for as long as we are able.