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Picture this: You and your partner are standing in an RV dealership, staring at what could be your ticket to weekend adventures and cross-country road trips. The shiny exterior beckons, the floor plan looks perfect, and the salesperson is ready with a pen.
But instead of excitement, you feel a knot in your stomach. Should we really do this? What if it sits in storage unused? What if we regret it? If this sounds familiar, you’re experiencing what thousands of first-time RV buyers go through—cold feet. And you know what? That’s actually a good sign.
It means you’re thinking carefully about a significant investment, and you’re not alone in wanting to hear from real owners before taking the plunge.
A Reddit user named daReallMVP recently posted this exact dilemma in the r/GoRVing community, asking: “Do you ever regret purchasing an RV? Do you get to use it as much as you’d like?” What followed was a goldmine of honest, unfiltered feedback from 282 experienced RV owners—some singing praises of their purchase, others sharing cautionary tales, and many revealing the real realities of RV ownership that dealerships won’t tell you.
The Good News: Most Owners Don’t Regret It (With Caveats)
Let’s start with the silver lining. Despite a somewhat alarming statistic suggesting that 70% of RV owners regret their purchase according to some industry reports, the Reddit thread tells a much more nuanced story. Many owners expressed zero regrets—but their satisfaction came with important lessons learned.
One deleted user who’s on their third camper summed it up beautifully:
“All of that said – we are on camper number 3. We do not regret any of it. It has been the best way to travel. My kids have grown up camping… We’ve been to Disney World, Outer Banks, South Dakota, Wyoming, Arizona…, all over the US.”
Another owner responded 42 years later to share this touching perspective:
“I just wanted to say my parents did this with us when we were kids – went all around the US in a camper in the summers. I’m 42 now, and some of my best and fondest memories of my childhood were in that camper.” —TheQueenofDaydreams
The takeaway? RVs create memories, not just trips. But here’s the catch—you have to actually use them to create those memories.
The Reality Check: Usage Patterns Matter
Here’s where the conversation gets interesting. According to the latest 2025 Go RVing demographic profile, the median RV owner uses their vehicle for 30 days per year—that’s a 50% increase from just 20 days in 2021 RV Industry Association. Owners report taking an average of 9 trips annually, with each trip lasting about 3-4 days.
But Reddit tells a different story for some folks. The thread’s top-voted comment (83 upvotes) painted a familiar picture:
“We bought our current travel trailer in 2017. At first we were taking 5-6 long trips per year. The problem we are running into now is our kids are getting into the teenage years… The camper sits in storage most of the time.”
The Three Phases of RV Ownership:
| Phase | Typical Duration | Usage Pattern | Satisfaction Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honeymoon | Years 1-3 | 5-6+ trips/year | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ High enthusiasm |
| Adjustment | Years 4-7 | 2-4 trips/year | ⭐⭐⭐ Reality sets in |
| Recommitment or Exit | Year 8+ | Either increase or sell | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ or ❌ Decision time |
The Biggest Challenge: Booking Campgrounds Has Become a Nightmare
If there was one universal complaint across the thread, it was this: Getting campground reservations is incredibly difficult.
Multiple users expressed frustration:
“On top of that, it is increasingly hard to book a campsite for a weekend get away. We have to book 6 months to a year in advance. We can’t just say ‘hey, nothing is going on this weekend… lets go to our local state park…’ because our local state park campgrounds have been booked for at least 6 months or a year out.”
Another Colorado-based owner added:
“We are sick of the 6 month in advance reservations, never getting spots where we want to camp. And Friday and Sunday traffic is a killer.”
Why is this happening?
- Corporate consolidation of campgrounds driving up prices
- Post-pandemic camping boom creating sustained demand
- Popular destinations booking out immediately when reservations open
- Limited infrastructure expansion despite increased RV ownership
Workaround solutions mentioned:
✅ Consider a seasonal site or permanent spot
✅ Explore boondocking on public lands
✅ Join Harvest Hosts for alternative camping locations
✅ Be flexible with destinations—less popular parks have availability
✅ Travel mid-week instead of weekends
Money Talk: It’s NOT a Money-Saver
Let’s address the elephant in the RV—financial expectations. One user put it bluntly:
“Don’t spend more on your RV than you can afford to wave goodbye to. And indeed, wave goodbye to the money as you write the check, so you won’t be disappointed later with inflated expectations of resale value. Also, if any part of your plan is ‘save money’ then stop right now. Owning an RV is about having fun, not saving money.”
The hidden costs of RV ownership:
- 💰 Storage fees ($50-300/month depending on location)
- 💰 Insurance (varies by type and value)
- 💰 Maintenance and repairs (expect surprises)
- 💰 Campground fees ($35-60+ per night at state parks, more at private)
- 💰 Fuel costs (dramatically reduced MPG when towing)
- 💰 Depreciation (significant, especially first few years)
However, one owner offered this comparison perspective:
“I kept coming back to how much it cost to take a Disney trip with the family. Between flights, resort cost, and tickets for the four of us, the cost of the camper is only three week-long Disney trips. Looking at it that way, it was a more palatable purchase.” —DSC9000
The Convenience Factor: Is It Really “Easy” to Use?
daReallMVP asked a crucial question that many first-timers wonder: “Could you share some insight on how difficult travel is with children? My wife & I both work pretty intense jobs and are not sure how hard it really is to ‘pack up’ and get away.”
The answer? It depends on how you set up your system.
An experienced owner shared their efficient approach:
“We pretty much keep the camper stocked with household items (kitchen supplies, linens, etc…). When we prepare for a trip we buy food & whatever we need to resupply and head out. We don’t really do much packing other than clothes and whatever the kids want to bring along.”
But others weren’t as optimistic:
“Packing up and unpacking for a weekend trip is almost not worth it, IMO… You get like 1 full day away but have to spend time planning meals, shopping, packing, unpacking, cleaning the camper, etc.” —shades9323
The verdict: If you’re working intense jobs and need spontaneous getaways, RVing might feel like work rather than relaxation unless you:
- Keep the RV perpetually stocked and ready
- Have storage at or near your home
- Accept that weekend trips require effort
- Consider a seasonal site for reduced setup/teardown
Life Stages Matter: The Kid Factor
Young children (ages 2-12): Multiple owners said this is the GOLDEN AGE for family RV trips. Kids are excited, flexible, and don’t have conflicting schedules.
Teenagers: This is where many owners hit a wall. As one parent lamented:
“The problem we are running into now is our kids are getting into the teenage years. Their interests are moving away from camping and into other things. It is hard to coordinate a long trip around their schedules.”
Empty nesters: Many owners mentioned selling their RV once kids left home, then buying another one later for retirement. The usage patterns and RV needs are completely different.
The Convert Story: From Anti-RV to Enthusiast
One of the thread’s most compelling responses came from DSC9000, who wrote a “novel” (his words) about his transformation from staunchly anti-RV to passionate owner:
“I was staunchly anti-RV since my wife and I got married. Not just anti-RV, outright anti-camping… An RV? Get real. I can’t store an RV at my house, so it’d need to be kept at a storage facility. Typical camp weekend: Thursday: Drag camper home from storage and get it packed up… Doesn’t sound like much fun to me.”
But after joining family camping trips following a personal loss, his perspective completely changed:
“When the weather broke in 2022, we started shopping. It was a shock to my wife but she was game. Ended up with a Grand Design 21BHE… It’s been great. My kids love it.”
His advice? Try it before dismissing it. Rent an RV, camp with friends or family who own one, and actually experience the lifestyle before writing it off.
Alternative Approaches: Not All RVs Are Created Equal
A Colorado-based owner offered a different perspective on truck campers versus traditional travel trailers:
“We sold the trailer and got a truck camper. No reservations needed. Go wherever/whenever. Can tow toys behind the truck. Stored at the house. I can tow it with a tacoma. We take more trips now than ever before.”
Pros of truck campers:
- ✅ More flexibility for boondocking
- ✅ Easier storage
- ✅ No reservation dependency
- ✅ Better for remote locations
Cons:
- ❌ Less living space
- ❌ Typically no slideouts
- ❌ Limited amenities
- ❌ Payload capacity concerns
The Brutally Honest “Maybe Don’t Buy” Perspective
Not everyone was enthusiastically pro-RV. One user offered this reality check:
“Have you done much camping and road tripping in smaller vehicles? Have you learned lessons and tweaked your methods/equipment?.. Unless you ooze money, an RV is not a good early-roadlife purchase. Buy a van. Use your tent… Learn YOUR camping lifestyle before putting out that kind of money.”
This advice resonates because:
- RVs are depreciating assets, not investments
- They require significant ongoing costs
- Many people think they’ll use it more than they actually do
- Renting helps you figure out what you actually need
Statistics That Support (or Challenge) the Thread
Let’s look at what the data says:
📊 70% of RV owners reportedly regret their purchase according to Endless RVing creators MJ and Izzy
📊 But RV usage is actually increasing: from 20 days/year (2021) to 30 days/year (2025)
📊 RV ownership is getting younger: Median age dropped from 53 (2021) to 49 (2025)
📊 2024 RV shipments increased 6.6% to 333,733 units
What does this tell us? The regret statistic might be inflated or outdated. Current trends show people are buying more RVs and using them more frequently.
So… Should You Buy That RV?
After reading 282 comments and analyzing owner experiences, here’s the honest truth:
✅ You’re likely to be satisfied if you:
- Have realistic expectations about costs
- Can use it at least 20-30 days per year
- Have flexible work schedules or are retired
- Are comfortable with planning ahead for reservations
- Have young children or are empty nesters
- Enjoy working on maintenance and repairs (or can afford to pay for them)
- See it as a lifestyle choice, not a financial investment
❌ You might regret it if you:
- Think it’ll save money compared to hotels
- Work intense jobs with little flexibility
- Have teenagers with busy schedules
- Expect spontaneous last-minute trips to always work out
- Want pristine conditions without maintenance hassles
- Don’t have storage space near your home
- Haven’t tried camping/RVing through rentals first
The Final Word from daReallMVP
After receiving all this feedback, the original poster updated their thread:
“Edit: 8/31 Still haven’t been able to comment back to everyone thanks to all of you generously taking the time to leave feedback for us… We decided to move forward with our purchase, so wish us luck and thanks again everyone :).”
They had cold feet. They asked for honest opinions. They got brutally honest responses—both positive and negative. And they still decided to buy.
Why? Because after hearing from real owners, they understood what they were getting into. And that’s the real value of asking the hard questions before making the purchase.
Your turn: Are you experiencing cold feet about your first RV purchase? What questions do you still have? Drop a comment below and let’s continue this conversation!
Sources & References:
- Original Reddit Thread: “Do you ever regret purchasing an RV?” – r/GoRVing community discussion with 282 comments
- RV Travel: “RV buyer’s remorse: Why 70 percent of RVers regret their purchase” – Industry analysis of regret statistics
- RVIA: 2025 Go RVing RV Owner Demographic Profile – Official RV usage and demographic statistics
- ConsumerAffairs: RV Ownership Statistics 2025 – Comprehensive ownership data and trends
- RVBusiness: “Go RVing: RV Owners Young, Diverse, Using RVs More” – Demographic shifts in RV ownership
- RVIA: 2024 RV Shipments Report – Industry sales data
What are your thoughts on RV ownership? Have you experienced buyer’s remorse, or has your RV been the best investment you’ve made? Share your story in the comments below!
