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We recently posed a very important financial question to our community of road warriors. The topic of RV depreciation is one that every owner must eventually face, whether they want to or not. It’s the financial elephant in the room, or perhaps more accurately, the slowly depreciating elephant in the campground. We asked you to share your personal strategy for handling the inevitable drop in your rig’s value.
This poll was conducted exclusively in our weekly newsletter, where our most dedicated readers share their insights. If you’re not subscribed, you’re missing your chance to influence our findings, so be sure to sign up and vote in the next one! The results are in, and they tell a fascinating story about how we view our home-on-wheels.
Here is a breakdown of how you, the readers, responded to our poll on RV depreciation strategies.
| RV Depreciation Strategy | Percentage of Votes |
|---|---|
| Buy new and keep forever | 33% |
| Buy used and upgrade frequently | 11% |
| Buy certified pre-owned | 11% |
| I don’t worry about depreciation | 45% |
The “What Depreciation?” Brigade Takes the Crown
A whopping plurality of you have chosen the path of blissful ignorance. Your strategy is essentially to not have a strategy, and we have to respect that.
It seems a large portion of the RV community views their rig not as an asset, but as a priceless vessel of freedom. Who has time to worry about spreadsheets when there’s a perfect sunset to be watched from your awning?
This group likely believes that the memories made are worth more than any potential resale value.
The “Till Death Do Us Part” Planners
The second-largest group is in it for the long haul, literally. You buy your dream rig new and pledge to drive it until the wheels fall off.
This is a romantic and practical approach. It’s the automotive equivalent of a storybook marriage, for better or for worse, through good mileage and bad.
You’ve decided that the initial financial hit of buying new is worth the decades of loyal service and avoiding the hassle of ever selling.
The Cautious Shoppers and The Frequent Flippers
The remaining votes were split evenly between two very different tactics. One group seeks the sweet spot of certified pre-owned, wanting some reassurance without the new-car price tag.
The other group, the used-upgraders, treat RVs like trading cards. They enjoy the thrill of the hunt for the next great deal, constantly moving up the ladder.
Both of these strategies show a keen awareness of the market, just with different levels of commitment to any single coach.
Conclusion: Freedom Outweighs Finance
We believe the results lean so heavily towards “I don’t worry about depreciation” because, for most RVers, this lifestyle is not an investment in the traditional sense. It’s an investment in experience, family, and adventure. The constant calculation of a rig’s falling value can put a damper on the very freedom it provides. The “keep it forever” crowd understands that the cost-per-smile is the only metric that truly matters over time. Ultimately, the poll suggests that while some people play the RV market, most are just here for the ride, and they consider every mile—regardless of its impact on a Kelley Blue Book value—worth every penny.
