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 w