What have you sacrificed to get back to FW?

[yoopermom]

I can't believe I've done this, but I've listed my beloved Class C 30' motorhome for sale and will use the $$ to buy a tiny popup to haul behind my new Subaru. To get from the northern border of the US almost to the southern, I have to be able to get better than 8MPG. I really discussed it with the family, and we decided we'd rather be at FW in a popup, than at local campgrounds all summer in the motorhome. I even asked them if they'd rather keep the motorhome and fly/stay at one of the values, and they looked at me like I was nuts! Does this put us in the top 10% of "Crazy for FW" people or what?

Terri da Yoopermom

[terri01p]

Well we have done without a big vacation this year in hopes of going to FW next year, I put all the money I would have used on a vacation up for next years.

I figure if we are going to pull the tt that far we might as well stay 14 days so we are cutting back this year to have everything paid for next year except for the gas, which I plan on putting on a gas card and paying off later.

We have also thought of getting a pop-up instead of our heavy tt but it's paid for so we will keep it for a while and just try and be happy, of course our truck gets 8 miles a gallon regardless of what we pull with it so...:worried:

[stacktester]

I think you're in a category that is going to be growing leaps and bounds to be honest with you. I have a 31' 5'er that is a year old and it sits more than anything these days because fuel is too much to just hook up and make a weekend trip. I'm not saying we're going to stop going, but when we go it will be longer trips and possibly do things on the way as well that we might not do as a single trip. When I had a smaller camper we would just pack up for a 2 night Disney stay once a month. Now it's every 3 months or more. The thing killing me is the camper sitting there doing nothing.

[yoopermom]

Exactly, Donnie, I can't stand to see it sit. We bought it when we thought we'd "travel the states". But, we started at FW, fell in love, and just went there year after year! Our hope is to sell it, buy the popup, and go to FW for at least two weeks next summer. We love the roadtrip down, it's really part of the "adventure".

The only good/bad part is that I filled the mh up with gas last summer before putting it away, so now I don't know if we should go on one last trip to use it up, or siphon it off and use it in the car. I should add $300 to the price of the mh if I leave it in there!

Terri

[tellnotails]

a little advice from a fellow michigander............siphon the gas out....::yes::

[auntie]

Seems I've been reading more and more of this lately.:sad2: I don't think you're alone. I'm glad that our tt is paid for. Honestly, we had been tossing around the idea of getting something new last year. For some reason we just didn't. I'm glad we don't have the payment now. We are seasonal for the most part, so we only really tow twice a year anyway. I have to say, I was surprised to see as many campers as I did in storage this year in our resort. Seems people are leaving them, and paying storage rather than towing home and back if they have another trip planned. Also...there is a wait list for the seasonal sites now. Even being seasonal...we aren't using our trailer as much as we used to. Gas is an issue. It's a good 3.5 to 4 hour trip(depending on traffic getting off L.I.). Some 250 miles. We used to shoot upstate on a Friday night and return on Sunday night...now..not so much. Since May 1st we've been there only twice, and one of those times was to set up for the season. My husband actually went himself Saturday..and came back this morning, just to do some work and check on things. We have a refrigerator issue.:( We're going to see how this season goes..but if we find that we don't get much use of trailer...we will bring it home in the fall, and maybe pass on next season. Rather have it sit in the driveway with no payment, then to pay the seasonal site fee and not use it. So even without towing, we have "issues" that are kind of new for us. We have a wait and see attitude right now. I don't blame you for opting for the pop up...sounds like a good idea. This way you can vacation where it is you really want to vacation, when you want to.. without the fuel being as much of an concern. Sounds like you made a good decision. :thumbsup2

[AuburnJen92]

Here is hoping you can get a decent price for your MH. As others have said, you are not the only one making this decision and there are many MH's on the market right now. Hoping the best for you.:hug:

[Disney Campers]

The thing killing me is the camper sitting there doing nothing.

Amen Brother, mine has been sitting for 8 monthes now - the longest it has ever sat still, we use to go almost once a month somewhere. We visited Lazy Days on Saturday, the use lot is packed, lots of used fifth wheels and HD trucks, never actually seen that many trucks at Lazy Days before.

The drought will end for us in 2 weeks, we are finally headed to the fort then back again in Mid July.:cool1: :cool1:

[Momof626x3]

We did one close to home camping trip last weekend and that is it for camping until our big trip to FW in August. We're saving it all for that one trip, we'll be gone 2 1/2 weeks, and we are also going to make the trip down and back (from upstate NY) part of the adventure!

[auntie]

I was reading our local paper today, and noticed ALOT of campers/RV's for sale. :worried:

[yoopermom]

Luckily ours is paid for, because I know we're taking a bath on it. Better to have something we can use, though! Going to get back to FW one way or another (I think I can fit two sleeping bags in the back of the Subaru if need be...).

Terri

[AuburnJen92]

I was reading our local paper today, and noticed ALOT of campers/RV's for sale. :worried:

There are tons here too. Even the car lots have the RVs in them for sale now. Even though ours sits in the front driveway and I have a payment on it every month, I am still ok with it. We use it for different things other than camping (like taking it to softball tournaments) so we can still justify it, for now.

[ntsammy5]

Yeah, this is just the beginning too. If you're sure you want out, now is probably the time to sell -- prices will only go down from here IMHO.

[AuburnJen92]

I still live to close to FW for me to get rid of any RV I have! Plus, I have to have a getaway car for the hurricanes!;)

[ntsammy5]

I still live to close to FW for me to get rid of any RV I have! Plus, I have to have a getaway car for the hurricanes!;)

I know you don't want to get out! :cool1:

[des1954]

I still live to close to FW for me to get rid of any RV I have! Plus, I have to have a getaway car for the hurricanes!;)

:offtopic: We actually lived in our RV several times during the '04 hurricane season. When the electricity went out, we just stepped outside, cranked up the generator & lived the life of luxury!!! We even ran an extension cord to the fridge in the house so I didn't have to move any frozen or perishable food!!

There's an auto auction about 4 miles from our house that is LOADED with RV's of all kinds & boats. I've never seen that before!!!

Our MH is financed with Thor Corporation and when DH was unemployed, I called in the hopes that they could lower our percentage rate (when the prime rate was dropping). The answer was NO, as they only finance new MH's. I said that mine wasn't a new MH any longer & that they were still financing it. (That went over her head!) So then I said, "so, you'd rather I not make my payments and then YOU can own the MH?" Her answer? "If that's what you have to do!" Now I ask you.... how STUPID is that?

It's just about as stupid as most CEO's of major corporations receiving on average of a 3-5% pay increases last year!!

[AuburnJen92]

:offtopic: We actually lived in our RV several times during the '04 hurricane season. When the electricity went out, we just stepped outside, cranked up the generator & lived the life of luxury!!! We even ran an extension cord to the fridge in the house so I didn't have to move any frozen or perishable food!!



We had our pop up when we had the two hurricanes back to back and out of 29 days of power. Apparently the tree from the lot next door that was hanging on our service line to the pole wasn't on the priority list from FPL. Having a 10mo old and no power all month was not fun at all. I needed the MH then!

[cwgamer]

One of the biggest reasons we settled on a PUP over a nice TT was the low towage cost. That and storage. Pulling my PUP behind my Avalanche hardly seems to cost more gas than it would going down the highway with my tent thrown in the back. Owning a PUP defintely has some advantages.

[tellnotails]

pay cash for your toys............thats what grandma always said......:angel:

[christinou]

We did one close to home camping trip last weekend and that is it for camping until our big trip to FW in August. We're saving it all for that one trip, we'll be gone 2 1/2 weeks, and we are also going to make the trip down and back (from upstate NY) part of the adventure!
Wow, I was going to write the same post, we generally do a lot of week-end camping, and have only 1 so far, and are going also for 2 weeks in August from Upstate. We just cannot afford the week-end camping trip, they now cost us $100 in gas.

[phape]

Are you sure you've thought this through?... I totally understand FW as the destination all vacation plans revolve around, but I don't know how much Florida camping I'd plan in a pop-up without air conditioning... I guess it's for other pop-up campers to comment, but if you currently use a motorhome, I imagine you've taken the amenities for granted.

[auntie]

I'm not sure when the OP is visiting Florida..but I don't recall their mentioning that the pop up didn't have AC?...Many pop ups offer AC.

[cwgamer]

Living in Florida myself, mine certainly has AC. Pretty much #1 priority on the list as we searched for a PUP. When we first started looking for a camper we weren't really sure which direction to go in. All the types have their good points and drawbacks. We settled on a PUP because of low towage costs, ease of storage (a driveway and good cover), and last but not least cost for the unit itself. Without a lot of effort you can find a good used Pop-Up with varying amenities from about $2,500 to $6,000. Mine cost me $3,200 and it has AC, a shower, inside/outside stove, awning, holding tank, water heater, and sleeps 6 quite easily.

It all depends on how much time you actually spend inside I guess. We figured most of the time we'll be off doing something, or sitting outside anyway. Kind of why we go camping in the first place. ;)

I sure did see some nice Class A's, C's, and TT's in our search though....maybe in a couple years. May really be able to get a good deal on one then, though who knows.....with gas prices...may only be able afford to 'camp' in the driveway then anyway. :eek:

[Skyw]

I usually stay in the cabins. We don't even know if we can go this year. My vacation fund is going to gas and groceries now. DH and I are trying to figure out how to stash $200 a month again. We might not go out to eat as much and buy are food from Walmart (not krogers). I just don't think that will be enough.

[Pirate-Jeff]

If you guys still need someone to sacrifice I VOLUNTEER my Ex-Wife. :rotfl2:

[2goofycampers]

pay cash for your toys............thats what grandma always said......:angel:

Dave Ramsey fan are we?

[yoopermom]

Just reporting in to tell you that Craigs List is a little overwhelming, lots of responses! I do have it priced VERY cheap (don't want to break any DISboard rules, let's just say that it's half what we paid for it eight years ago:mad: ). And, yes, we'll only buy a PUP with a.c., because I'm a spoiled girl! I keep telling people coming to see it that it's not perfect, but it's cheap, so hopefully they'll be realistic in their expectations...

Terri
Who'll hopefully be PUP shopping soon!

[TG4AKV]

In Michigan, there are many RV's and boats for sale. The high cost of gas has made it impossible for some people to enjoy a weekend away camping or boating. I've also noticed that a number of campgrounds are offering "package" type deals where you can stay for a couple of weekends but the campground will store your RV for you through the week in between for free so that you don't have to haul it back home. It sounds like some of the campgrounds may be having a pretty tough go of it this year and are coming up with some creative options to try to get people to come out.

[BigDaddyRog]

Ive noticed the great deals here (in Louisiana) as well, plenty to choose from and priced VERY reasonably. I can finally afford to buy something nice enough with the price drops...but Im not sure I'll be able to afford to tow it anywhere!!!!

[Escape Artist]

...And, yes, we'll only buy a PUP with a.c., because I'm a spoiled girl!...

Terri
Who'll hopefully be PUP shopping soon!

I just wanted to mention that adding AC to a pup is not a big deal. Ours didn't have AC when we bought it in Northern California (we didn't need it there; we didn't even know people *put* air conditioners on popups!), but when we moved to Texas, my dh really wanted it! Each of the RV places we talked to said they could install it, and I *think* they told us that the factory doesn't install them anyways, it's actually the dealer that puts it on before customer delivery. (Note...we had a bad experience with Big Corporate Camping World...the local mom-and-pop trailer dealer that's been in business as long as I've been alive has been much better to work with.)

So if you buy a used pup with no AC, you can have one installed, and then you have a new (vs. used) AC unit, on a used (vs. new) pup. I wouldn't avoid a trailer with a floorplan that I liked because it doesn't have AC...that's fixable!

My other popup buying tip...the one option I wish I would have gotten that I didn't is...a slide out! It gets a bit too cozy in there with 5 of us, and often two dogs, too.

Good luck with your RV sale...hope it goes as painlessly as possible, so your pup shopping can begin! :goodvibes

Sue in Texas
...who loves camping in my popup, it feels like I'm playing house!

[njcamper95]

Due to gas prices we put off all our camping trips and extended our disney trip we usually do 10 days we upped it to 15 the cost per day isn't much and since we have Ap's already from last Nov we figured we would just use the time we would have used on other trips in disney instead i get lots of time and saved a few days from last year that i have to use so we decided to take advantage of our disney passes and since we are already spending the money to get there why not stay longer