Chickery's Travels

Chickery's Travels logo. A blue-green Earth globe with continents surrounded by dots with an arrow denoting movement or travel and "Chickery's Travels" as part of the dotted circle. Next to this is a photo of their blue and white Arctic Fox 5th Wheel with the awning out.
  • Home
  • Campground Reviews
    • Alternatives To National Park Campgrounds
    • Best Luxury RV Resorts For All RV Types
    • Best Waterfront Campgrounds For Every Budget
    • Alabama
      • Gunter Hill Campground (Montgomery, Alabama)
    • Arizona
      • Best Campgrounds in Arizona
      • Aspen Campground (Payson, Arizona)
      • LazyDays KOA (Tucson, Arizona)
      • Lost Dutchman State Park (Phoenix, AZ)
    • Arkansas
      • Catherine’s Landing (Hot Springs, Arkansas)
      • Downtown Riverside RV Park (Little Rock, Arkansas)
    • California
      • Best Campgrounds in California
      • Crescent City Redwoods KOA (Crescent City, California)
      • Sea Breeze RV Park (Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station)
    • Delaware
      • Cape Henlopen State Park (Lewes, Delaware)
    • Florida
      • Best Campgrounds in Florida
      • Blue Angel Naval Recreation Area (Pensacola, FL)
      • Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Southeast FL)
      • LazyDays RV Resort (Tampa, FL)
      • MacDill AFB FamCamp (Tampa, FL)
      • Military Camping in Key West
      • Patrick AFB FamCamp (Cocoa Beach, FL)
      • Rainbow Springs State Park & Campground (Ocala, FL)
      • Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness (Orlando, FL)
        • Halloween at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
        • Chickery’s Travels Podcast Episode 5: Fort Wilderness Campground Review
    • Maryland
      • Cherry Hill Park (College Park, Maryland)
    • Michigan
      • Port Huron KOA (Kimball, Michigan)
    • Nevada
      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
      • Boondocking Near Las Vegas
    • North Carolina
      • Outer Banks West / Currituck Sound KOA (Coinjock, North Carolina)
    • Oklahoma
      • Oklahoma City East KOA (Choctaw, Oklahoma)
    • Texas
      • Best Campgrounds in Texas
      • Alsatian RV Resort (Castroville, Texas)
      • Maverick Ranch (Lajitas, Texas)
      • Texas Wine Country Jellystone (Fredericksburg, Texas)
    • Tennessee
      • Crossville I-40 KOA (Crossville, TN)
      • Midway RV Park (Memphis, TN)
    • Virginia
      • Fort Belvoir Travel Camp (Alexandria, VA)
      • Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA (Broadway, Virginia)
      • Luray KOA (Luray, Virginia)
      • Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA (Monroe, Virginia)
      • Shenandoah River State Park (Bentonville, Virginia)
    • Washington
      • Crescent Bar RV Resort (Quincy, Washington)
  • USA
    • Arizona
      • Apache Trail: A Crazy, Scary, Beautiful Drive
      • Lost Dutchman State Park (Phoenix, Arizona)
      • Phoenix Faves
    • District of Columbia
      • Budget Friendly Fun in Washington D.C.
      • Favorite Hikes near Washington DC
      • Indoor Skydiving and TopGolf: Just Another Day of Family Fun!
    • Florida
      • Best Walt Disney World Festivals For Adults
      • Blowing Rocks Preserve – Jupiter Island, Florida
      • Bok Tower Gardens
      • Daytona Beach – The World’s Most Famous Beach
      • Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
      • Gasparilla – Tampa’s Pirate Invasion
      • 3 Days on the Nature Coast 
      • Florida Freshwater Springs on the Nature Coast
      • Halloween at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
      • Kennedy Space Center – Cape Canaveral
      • Island Hopping at Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks
      • Must See Sights in St. Augustine, FL – America’s Oldest City
      • Rainbow Springs State Park & Campground (Ocala, Florida)
      • Sunny Sarasota
      • Tampa
        • Get Back to Nature in Tampa Bay
        • Take Me Out to the Ball Game – Spring Training in Tampa, FL
        • The 5 Best Beaches in the Tampa Bay Area
        • Why We Love Tampa
      • Tarpon Springs – The Gulf Coast Town with Greek Flavor
      • Top 5 Things to Do on Florida’s Space Coast
      • What Not to Do When Kayaking on the Weeki Wachee River
      • Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
    • Georgia
      • Visiting Atlanta? Don’t Miss These Civil Rights Museums
    • Illinois
      • One Day In The Windy City – Chicago Itinerary
    • Maine
      • Coastal Maine Vacation
      • Monhegan Island Maine
      • Two Days in Acadia National Park
    • Nevada
      • Planning an RV Trip to Nevada
      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
    • Tennessee
      • Burgess Falls: 3 For 1 Waterfall Special
      • National Civil Rights Museum – Memphis, TN
      • Window Cliffs, TN – I’m Not Afraid of Heights, But I am Afraid of Falling!
      • WWII History in Tennessee
    • Texas
      • Best Eats in Fredericksburg
      • Enjoy a Bird’s Eye View of Texas Hill Country
  • RV Resources
    • 3 Simple Steps to Find the Best RV Campgrounds
    • 5 Years Full-Time RV: Lessons Learned & Biggest Regret
    • Boondocking – What We Learned From Our First Dry Camping Experience
    • Tips for Boondocking Success
    • Essential RV Gear
      • Essential RV Gear Guide
      • DIY RV Power & Solar Upgrade
      • RV Must Have: Tire Pressure Monitoring System
      • RV SnapPads Product Review
      • RVLOCK Keyless Entry Door Handle Installation and Review
      • Shop “RV Local” With TechnoRV
      • Top RV Gadgets & Accessories
      • WeBoost Cellular Booster Review
    • Living in an RV
      • 9 Lessons From 2 1/2 Years on the Road
      • Biggest Regret Full-Time RV Living
      • Dealing with my Biggest Full-Time Travel Struggle, Missing Family While Traveling
      • Downsizing: 3 Areas That Make The Biggest Impact
      • Full-Time RV: 2019 Year in Review
      • Full-Time RV: 2018 Year in Review
      • Full-Time RV Travel – 2017 Year In Review
      • How Full-Time RVers Celebrate the Holidays
      • How to Prepare for Full-Time RV Travel
      • Internet Solutions for RV Travelers
      • Learn How to RV Full-Time
      • Living in a Tiny, Traveling Home
      • Making Friends (and reconnecting with old friends) While Traveling Full-Time
      • Pros & Cons of Full-Time RV Travel
      • RV Organization & Storage Ideas
      • Short-Term RV Storage: Leaving The RV Behind
      • Top 3 Lessons Learned & Biggest Regret: 3 Years Full-Time RV Living
      • What We Wish We Knew Before Full-Time RVing
      • What You Need To Know Before Selling Everything And Moving To An RV
      • Why We Are Traveling Full-Time In Our RV
    • Maintenance Tips
      • DIY Power Upgrade – “Solar Ready” Arctic Fox Fifth Wheel
      • DIY RV Power & Solar Upgrade
      • Easy DIY Project to Protect Your RV Water System
      • An Easy Way to Protect Your RV Water Heater
      • How to Reduce the Likelihood of Tire Blowouts on your RV
      • Odor Free RV Black Tank Tips
      • RV Condensation: What It Is, What It Does, and How To Stop It
    • Must Read Books Before Becoming A Full-time RVer
    • RV Organization & Storage Ideas
    • RV Remodel
      • Planning an RV Remodel
      • RV Kitchen Cooking Videos
      • Painting Your RV Interior
      • Update the RV Kitchen – Backsplashes & More
      • Updating Your RV Window Treatments
      • RV Bedroom Makeover
      • RV Remodel Costs with Before & After Photos
      • Vintage Camper Renovation
    • RV Holiday Tour – Decorating Our Small Space
    • RV Hurricane Evacuation
    • RV Misery Can Be Overcome By The Generosity Of Others
    • Slow Travel
    • Small Kitchen Cooking
      • Cooking Videos
      • Eating Healthy on Travel Days
    • Staying Healthy
      • Traveling with Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and Other Chronic Pain Conditions
    • Trip Planning
    • Traveling with Pets
      • RVing with Your Cat
      • Traveling with Restricted Breed Dogs
    • Why I Prefer RV Travel Over Flying
    • Your Guide To Planning The Best Family Vacation This Summer
  • Travel Finance
    • 5 Tips to Save on RV Travel
    • 5 Ways to Fund Full-Time Travel
    • Full-Time RV Expenses
      • Annual Full-Time RV Expenses – The Big Three
    • Five Credit Card Strategies To Improve Travel
    • How Much Do Campgrounds Cost?
    • How Much Does it Cost to RV Full-Time?
    • How to Camp for Free
    • How to Start a Profitable Blog
    • How to Save Money on RV Fuel Costs
    • How to Save on Food While Camping
    • How We Earn A Living While Traveling Full-Time (And How You Can Too)
    • How We Paid $139,000 of Debt in 2 Years While Full-Time RVing
    • Learn How to Finance Your Dreams
    • The Top 7 Ways to Save Money While Traveling Full-Time
    • Roadmap to Financial Freedom
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report April 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report May 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report June 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report July 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report August 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report September/October 2018
    • RV Purchasing
      • RV Purchasing: Understanding RV Types
      • Benefits of Renting an RV
      • Should I Buy A New or Used RV?
      • The Costs of RV Ownership
      • The True Cost of Financing an RV
      • Why You Should Attend An RV Show
    • Save Money Using the Public Library (On More Than Just Books)
  • Military Travel
    • Guide To Using Military Campgrounds
    • Health Care for Retired Military Full-Time RVers
    • Why Military Retirees Should Fly Space-A
  • Videos
  • About Us
    • RV Shows We’re Attending
    • Contact Us
    • Follow Us
    • Why We Are Full-Time RVers

April 1, 2019 by Guest Post 4 Comments

Choosing the Right RV

There are so many different options when it comes to RVs, that it can be very daunting to make a final decision. Choosing the right RV is a very personal and will greatly depend on your travel style. We’re in the process of purchasing our second RV after five years, and hope that sharing our experience will help you.

Budget 

Before you even start looking at RVs, take a good honest look at your budget. A realistic budget will help you narrow down your search. After all, there’s no point in wasting your time looking at rigs you can’t afford. However, don’t forget the saying, “you get what you pay for.” We don’t want you to pay too much for your RV, but you do want to get the best quality even if it means sacrificing space or another wish list item.

Click here to download your FREE RV Shopping Tips!

Layout Tips

How many does it need to sleep on a regular basis?

I add “regular basis” because when we first bought our toyhauler I felt we needed the garage bedroom suite for our sons (ages 18, 22, and 24) when they came to visit us all the time. In reality, we go visit them more than they visit us, so our new RV will only need to sleep 2 and when the boys do come to visit us, we’ll rent a cabin like these cool ones at the Tucson LazyDays KOA.

Did you know you can rent cabins at KOA campgrounds like these at the Cabins at the Tucson Lazy Days KOA?

Do you need a separate sitting and work space?

Our toy hauler had one long sofa and no dinette. I really didn’t think that one out. As a full-time remote employee, I didn’t find it very comfortable to sit on the sofa while working. We ended up taking out the sofa and replacing it with theater seats and a dinette.

We changed the furniture in our RV during the remodel.

How do you feel about your kitchen being in your living room?

Many layouts, particularly in smaller RVs, have the kitchen on one wall and the living room on the other.

Many layouts, particularly in smaller RVs, have the kitchen on one wall and the living room on the other.

Is a “walk around” bed really important?

It is to us, but may not be for you. Sean requires a CPAP machine, so we even look for a nightstand and 12 volt power plug on at least one side of bed.

What can you access with the slides in?

For folks who like to stop at rest areas, access to the kitchen, bathroom, and even your bed is important even when the slides are in.

Water Holding Tanks 

If you are planning to spend your RV travel in campgrounds, tank capacity may not be an issue. However, for boondocking or dry camping, you’ll want to be aware of how much fresh water you can carry in and how much waste water (black & gray) you can carry out.

Power 

Again, this is more important to those who want to camp off grid. Many RVs are coming solar ready or with lithium batteries. If yours doesn’t, but you’re interested in making the switch, check out our DIY Power Upgrade and Solar Power series.

Not sure?

If you’re not sure how important something is to you, we recommend you rent before you buy. While it may seem like rentals are expensive, they are reasonable compared to how expensive a mistake purchasing the wrong RV can be.

We also recommend renting from a company called Outdoorsy. It is a peer to peer rental company that has all types (and floor plans) of RVs allowing you to find the closest thing to the RV you think you want.

You can even find Fifth Wheels and Truck Campers WITH TRUCKS to rent to help make the decision before you have to go out and buy a truck. Another option that some owners offer is delivery of travel trailers to nearby campgrounds.

Does Size Matter? 

A lot of RV buyers are only think about how they will use the interior of the RV when considering size, but here are a few other considerations:

  • Maneuverability – Larger RVs can be difficult to maneuver in big cities and even limited on some roads. When we were towing our 44′ Fifth Wheel, we always used Google Maps to look at the entrance roads to campgrounds to make sure they were not too narrow.
  • National & State Parks – One of the primary concerns for RV size comes into play when you want to stay at National & State Parks. While we never had a problem finding private RV resorts that could accommodate our large size, this limitation was one of our main reasons for wanting to downsize.

Compromise

You probably won’t find the perfect RV unless you are going to have it custom made especially for you. We recommend making a list of your must-haves, then prioritize your wish list. This will help you make the best possible purchasing decision.

Watch the video below where we talk about our list and the top 3 choices of RV’s for our upcoming downsize.

Don’t forget, you can make cosmetic and even furniture changes fairly easily. Click here to see all the changes we made to our Fifth Wheel.

Purchasing a used RV will save money up front if you want to make a lot of modifications. Click here to read our article, Should I Buy New or Used?

Learn 9 tips to help you choose the right RV for your camping style. These strategies apply whether you are looking for a motorhome, fifth wheel, travel trailer, or even a tiny camper.

Filed Under: RV Purchasing, RV Resources Tagged With: Choosing the right RV, RV purchasing

February 22, 2018 by Julie 5 Comments

The True Cost of Financing an RV

When financing a new RV there is a lot more to consider than just the sticker price or monthly payment. In this article, I’ll discuss crucial factors such as depreciation and interest.

The bottom line for most people when purchasing an RV, or even a car, is the monthly payment. This was a mistake we made when we purchased our first Fifth Wheel brand new. If we could go back, we’d definitely do things differently. In fact, we’ve created a program where we share our process for paying off $137,000 in debt in 2 years while traveling full-time in our RV. 

Learn how to pay off debt, earn an income, and save money all while traveling full-time.

The Standard Purchase Methodology

The purchase price of our fictitious RV is $100,000. Using traditional thinking, we know that we can only afford a payment of approximately $750. So, we go to the dealership with that payment in mind, ignoring the overall complete cost. Predictably, after the desired RV is selected, the salesperson asks two questions.

  1. What monthly payment can you afford?
  2. How much are you willing to provide as a down payment?

This will typically start the “negotiation” process. As an example, let’s say the response is a goal of having a $750 monthly payment and a down payment of $5,000. Everyone knows what happens next – the salesperson cannot actually negotiate with you. There is a mystery person in a back office that every salesperson goes to. Does this master mathematician of pricing actually exist? Who knows, but the salesperson will come back with an offer. The offer will be amazingly close, but slightly more than what you wanted to pay initially.

The Offer

The salesman returns and asks if it is possible to put down a little more than planed. If so, the payment can be very close to $750. After a couple of rounds of negotiation with the mystery man in the secret room, the “negotiation” ends with an agreement to pay $763 per month after putting $7000 down. With the down payment and your “great credit score,” the loan is 5.25% for 15 years. So, $93,000 is financed at 5.25% with a monthly payment of $763 for 15 years. Sounds great, right? You leave the dealership happy with your purchase and the peace of mind of a 2-year warranty on your 15-year purchase.

What it Really Costs

Hopefully, the RV is everything it was expected to be and you want to keep it for many, many years. However, most RVs are traded after three to five years. In addition, the average RV can depreciate between 25% & 40% within the first one to two years. In this example, the $100,000 RV is only going to be worth between $60,000 and $75,000 very shortly after purchase. This can be considered a “good times with the RV” cost because it will never be recovered from a trade-in or private sale.

But wait, there’s more! Making the $763 payment every month will pay off the RV in 15 years. Along with the cost of the RV, the 5.25% interest rate adds up to an additional $40,000+ in interest. This means that the total cost would be $140,000 for a product that quickly becomes valued somewhere between $60,000 and $75,000. This is what the bank wants because it makes them the most return on the loan.

What Can Be Done

The most ideal approach to take to the purchase is to pay cash. But really, most of us cannot afford to pay that much for an RV in cash unless the money was accumulated and saved for several years. So, one option is to wait until the money is in the bank and then make the purchase. In this option, the $40,000 in interest is avoided, but the large drop in value from depreciation is not.

A second option is to buy a used RV that fits within the budget and allows for a cash purchase. The average trade-in time, as indicated above, is three to five years. Many of the RVs in this range have several years of use left in them. This method allows for someone else to “pay” the huge depreciation in the first couple of years. In this option, interest is avoided as well as depreciation. This really is the ideal option for RVers who want to be debt free and live on a reasonable budget.

Lastly, do the homework before making the purchase. The dealership and private seller will not talk about the historical depreciation of the RV model you are considering. This would not be counter to their goal of maximizing profit. Review what two- to three-year-old models are selling for. Also, scour the Internet for information on problems related to that model along with impressions from people that own it. The more information gathered before negotiating the purchase, the better the decision will be on price.

And if you’re interested in learning more about how to pay off debt, check out our Full-Time RV Finance program. 

Feedback

We are interested in your feedback/advice on the RV purchase. Please let us know if you have any tips or tricks you used when purchasing your RV.

There are a lot factors involved in financing a new RV. More than just the sticker price or monthly payment. In this article, we cover the crucial factors of depreciation and interest.

Filed Under: RV Purchasing Tagged With: chickerys travels, cost of RV purchase, cost of rving, financing a rv, financing an rv, financing an rv for fulltime living, financing an rv to live in, Financing RV, full time rv financing, full time rv living, full time rv living cost, full time rv living in a fifth wheel, full time rving, full-time rv, interest on new rv purchase, new rv depreciation, Purchasing a new RV, rv depreciation, rv financing, rv financing usa, RV Living, rv living full time, rv living full time cost, rv loan advice, RV purchasing, used rv financing

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