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The glossy brochures show it perfectly—your RV parked beside a pristine mountain lake, morning coffee in hand, nothing but birdsong and adventure ahead. It’s a seductive fantasy that captures millions of Americans every year.
But what happens when that romantic notion collides head-first with reality? A brutally honest confession from a Colorado couple on Reddit’s r/GoRVing community has become a must-read cautionary tale for anyone considering the RV lifestyle. Their story?
They bought a camper in March, fell out of love by August, and learned some expensive lessons along the way. If you’re dreaming of hitting the open road, buckle up—this is the reality check you need to read before you sign on the dotted line.
The Honeymoon Phase: How It All Began
Like so many would-be RV adventurers, the couple (username: writergeek) started innocently enough. Beautiful Instagram photos. Inspiring camping subreddit posts. Gorgeous mountain vistas. They imagined themselves escaping to nature, finding peace and quiet, creating lasting memories.
“I admit that I was sucked in by the romantic notion of buying a camper and enjoying the great outdoors,” writergeek confessed in their now-famous Reddit post.
They attended an RV show “just to look”—a classic mistake that will resonate with anyone who’s ever walked onto a car lot. One week later, they drove home with a Flagstaff A-Frame Popup and a fresh loan. The adventure was about to begin!
Or so they thought.
The Hidden Costs: When $60 Becomes $Thousands
The sticker shock started immediately. Beyond the loan payment, the expenses piled up faster than firewood at a campsite:
💰 The Startup Costs That Nobody Warns You About:
• Storage: $60/month (and that was after the first storage facility rejected them for size issues)
• Registration: Nearly $1,000 in Colorado (taxes and fees included)
• Essential Equipment: Ball hitch, brake controller, leveler blocks, better drill
• Camping Gear: Kitchen equipment, storage solutions, foam mattress topper, bedding
• And the list keeps growing… every trip revealed something else they “needed”
Reddit User Response: “Don’t take this the wrong way but it sounds like you didn’t do much research on the subject. I did a LOT of research and everything you mentioned was there to be found. I knew there was a high upfront cost as you need to buy a bunch of stuff. I blew $3000 easily after spending $60K on an RV.”
The comment stings, but it’s true. Research matters. According to data from Outdoorsy, new RVs can depreciate 10-15% in the first year alone—and that’s before you factor in storage, insurance, maintenance, and all those “small” purchases that add up.
The Booking Nightmare: Six Months or Bust
Here’s something the brochures don’t show: trying to actually reserve a campsite.
The couple quickly discovered that popular campgrounds with electric and water hookups required booking at least 6 months in advance. Six months! That means committing to a weekend in July while it’s still January—long before you know what your work schedule, family obligations, or even the weather will look like.
writergeek explained: “Unfortunately, booking 6 months out means you have no idea what your schedule at work or otherwise looked like. That meant releasing/selling sites and not finding any availability for any nearby dates unless it was in the middle of the week.”
And boondocking without hookups? That defeated the whole purpose of buying a camper with amenities. As they put it: “Might as well be in a fricken tent.”
The Statistics Back This Up: According to the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, campers are typically booking 4 months in advance at minimum, with popular destinations requiring even more lead time.
The Reality of RV Travel: It’s Work, Not Vacation
Let’s talk about what a typical RV trip actually involves:
📋 Before Each Trip:
- Plan and buy food for the entire outing
- Prep meals that can be stored/cooked easily
- Pack personal items for yourself
- Pack for dogs or kids
- Load the RV with everything
- Hitch and check the trailer
⛺ At the Campground:
- Navigate stressful towing conditions (other drivers “just suck”)
- Back into a camping spot (learning curve: steep)
- Level the camper (harder than it looks)
- Set up camp (it’s actual work)
- Deal with: screaming kids, barking dogs, partying neighbors
- Face unpredictable weather
🏠 After You Return:
- Unhook everything
- Unload the RV
- Do mountains of laundry
- Clean and restock
- This takes up “the first half of the week”
Another Redditor shared: “The preparation both before and after camping is something the wife and I enjoy doing.”
But that’s the key—you have to enjoy the process, not just the destination. For writergeek and his wife, the work-to-enjoyment ratio didn’t balance out.
Watch This Before You Buy: Expert Perspective
Josh the RV Nerd breaks down 8-9 essential tips for first-time RV buyers—lessons learned from years in the industry.
The Peace and Quiet That Wasn’t
One of the biggest disappointments? Campgrounds are crowded and noisy.
Forget the serene nature escape you imagined. Modern campgrounds are often packed with:
- 🔊 Screaming and crying children
- 🐕 Constantly barking dogs
- 🎉 People partying late into the night
- 🚗 RVs and generators running all hours
“There is no peace and quiet,” writergeek lamented.
And the weather? Rarely cooperative. They specifically chose waterfront sites in Colorado to relax by the water, only to discover that higher elevation means freezing water and frequent afternoon hailstorms. Many trips were spent huddled inside the camper, staring at the walls they’d paid good money to tow there.
Supportive Comment from RageAndRiceCrispies: “You really don’t have to justify yourself here. You guys tried it and realized it’s just not for you and that’s totally fine! Spur of the moment tent camping and hotel stays are much less work and stress!!!”
The Shocking Truth: 70% of RV Owners Regret Their Purchase
Here’s the statistic that should make every prospective buyer pause: According to RV experts MJ and Izzy of Endless RVing, a staggering 70% of RV owners regret their purchases (RV Travel).
That’s not a typo. 70 percent.
Why such high regret rates? The reasons mirror writergeek’s experience:
| Top Reasons for RV Buyer’s Remorse |
|---|
| ✗ Underestimating total costs of ownership |
| ✗ Buying the wrong size/type for their needs |
| ✗ Not having enough time to actually use it |
| ✗ Maintenance and repair expenses |
| ✗ Difficulty finding available campsites |
| ✗ Depreciation (RVs lose 20-30% value in first year) |
| ✗ The work involved vs. vacation expectations |
The Financial Hit: Depreciation is Real
Even if you decide RVing isn’t for you, getting out isn’t free. RVs depreciate faster than most vehicles:
- Class A Motorhomes: 20-30% depreciation in year one
- Travel Trailers: 15-20% depreciation in year one
- After 3 years: Your RV is worth approximately 30% less than purchase price
- After 5 years: You’ve lost 37% of the original value
Source: J.D. Power RV Depreciation Guide
Fortunately, writergeek sold their popup trailer “for not too much of a loss”—enough to pay off the loan and recoup registration costs. They were lucky. Many RV owners face underwater loans when they try to sell.
writergeek reflected: “We were pretty bummed and did not want to give up on making it work. Even making the decision to sell felt like failure. But, once we sold it, there was a huge sense of relief.”
The Silver Lining: Finding What Actually Works
Did the couple regret trying? Not entirely. They took away valuable memories and learned what actually makes them happy.
Their new vacation style:
- ✓ Throw clothes in a bag on short notice
- ✓ Get somewhere quickly (no stressful towing)
- ✓ Sleep in a real bed with amenities
- ✓ Restaurants and conveniences nearby
- ✓ Cocktails delivered to the rooftop hot tub
“That works,” writergeek concluded with satisfaction.
They used the money saved from loan payments and storage fees to book boutique hotel weekends every few months—more enjoyable, less stressful, and ultimately more sustainable for their busy work schedules.
bassnote1 wisely noted: “I’ve been camping in some form or another for over 50 years. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows for sure… I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you, reality has a way of destroying our fantasy.”
Key Lessons Before You Buy Your First RV
🔑 MUST-DO Before Purchasing:
- Rent first. Try different RV types for multiple trips across different seasons
- Calculate TRUE costs: Purchase price + storage + insurance + maintenance + registration + gear + fuel
- Research your area’s campgrounds and reservation requirements
- Honestly assess your schedule. Can you realistically use it 10+ times per year?
- Factor in the work. Do you enjoy packing, setup, maintenance, and cleanup?
- Consider your stress tolerance for towing and driving
- Think about weather in your region during camping season
- Talk to owners who’ve had their RVs for 2+ years (past the honeymoon phase)
🚨 RED FLAGS You’re Not Ready:
- You’re buying it “just to look” at RV shows (impulse purchase)
- You can’t take multiple consecutive days off work
- You hate crowds and noise (campgrounds are busy!)
- You prefer spontaneous trips over advance planning
- You want relaxation, not a “project”
- Your work schedule is unpredictable
Alternative Options to Consider
Not ready to commit? Try these instead:
🏕️ RV Rentals: Companies like RVshare and Outdoorsy let you test different models without the commitment
🏨 Boutique Hotels & Cabins: Often cheaper when you factor in total RV costs
⛺ Upgraded Tent Camping: High-quality gear without the storage and maintenance
🚐 Van Life: More flexible, easier to drive, better gas mileage, can stealth park
Final Thoughts: Is RV Life Right for YOU?
writergeek’s story isn’t meant to discourage everyone from RV ownership—11.2 million American households successfully own RVs (Consumer Affairs), and many love every minute of it. But it is meant to inject some reality into the glossy marketing.
RVing works beautifully for people who:
- Have flexible schedules and can take extended trips
- Enjoy the process of maintenance, setup, and camping logistics
- Don’t mind crowds or have access to less popular boondocking spots
- Have done their research and understand true ownership costs
- See it as a lifestyle, not just occasional recreation
As one commenter perfectly summarized: “Knowing what you do and don’t like to do is super valuable!”
The couple’s parting advice?
“I urge you to think it through.”
Sometimes the best adventure is discovering what kind of traveler you really are—before you’re stuck with a loan, a storage fee, and a camper you never use.
Sources & Additional Reading
📚 Original Reddit Discussion:
Bought & Sold a Camper in 5 Months, A Cautionary Tale – r/GoRVing Community
📊 RV Ownership Statistics & Costs:
RV Ownership Statistics 2025 – Consumer Affairs
The Hidden Costs of RV Ownership – Outdoorsy
How Much Do Campers Depreciate? – J.D. Power
💔 RV Buyer’s Remorse:
Why 70% of RVers Regret Their Purchase – RV Travel
Considering that RV Sale? Some Owners Are Regretting the Purchase – USA Today
🏕️ Camping Trends & Reservation Data:
ARVC 2023 Industry Outlook – National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds
Top Campground Industry Trends – RoverPass
💰 Cost Analysis:
The Real Cost of RV Ownership: 5-Year Analysis – John Marucci
The Real Price of Owning a Used RV – Campers Inn
Have you experienced RV buyer’s remorse? Or are you one of the happy campers who loves the lifestyle? Share your story in the comments below!
