I'd like to introduce myself to anyone who reads this :)
My name is Peter and I am still working full time (I am 61) and single.
I am reading the GreyNomad Times with great interest and try to learn as much as possible from the experience of other travelers.
So much about myself :)
I have a dream when I eventually retire in a few years: I want to buy a motor home and travel around Australia for 1-2 years:) :)
I am completely new and have never had a motor home before and have very little experience with this kind of lifestyle.
I have been told I should rent a motor home to "try before you buy" and that is exactly what I am planning to do before I retire and jump into the great adventure :)
The question I would like to put out there is (provided I am getting hooked): Is it worth buying a new or near new motor home or is it better to rent one?
Motor homes nowadays set you back thousands of $$. Is it more prudent to hire one (I am talking about a period of at least 1-2 years) or better to buy one but lose considerable on value when it comes to selling it again?
Peter_n_Margaret said
01:13 PM Jul 25, 2020
Renting for 1-2 years is not financially viable and I would buy second hand to avoid too much depreciation.
But definitely hire something for a week or 2 first so you learn what suits you and where you want to travel.
Cheers,
Peter
Possum3 said
01:23 PM Jul 25, 2020
Welcome Peter, If you need any technical or practical advice contact www.caravancouncil.com.au/ and download all their technical information and checklists free.
There is a great lot of helpful advice regarding selecting Motorhomes.
Of course you will need to plan your tripping around Oz - so purchase your self a Camps Book, 10 is current version and it is generally updated in Feb (Biannually). www.campsaustraliawide.com/shop-direct-and-save/ with it's Australian Hema Maps it is a great tool to assist in planning your adventure/s.
Tony Bev said
01:28 PM Jul 25, 2020
Hi Peter, welcome to the forum
Both Peter, and Possum, above, have given good advice
In my opinion, the reason to rent any type of RV (Recreation Vehicle), if you have never had an RV, is to make sure that you are happy, with whatever you are going to be travelling in
As we are all different, there are pros and cons, in just about everything we do. I can only tell you of my own experience
I purchased the 8 year old, at the time, motorhome (in my Avatar), for $60,000. I have had it for 6 years, and travelled 90,000 kilometres in that time.
I never considered hiring before buying, as I already had experience, in caravans.
Although I am only a part time traveller, the hiring cost, up to date, would have been approximately, well over double, the purchase price
Therefore (in my situation), it has been cheaper to buy.
At today prices of around $2,250 hire per month, for a motorhome of my size, (you may want a smaller one), a two year trip, would work out at about $108,000
Although this is cheaper than a new motorhome of my size, I point out, that there will be many second hand motorhomes out there, for a lot less than $100,000
Hope that you find the RV you are looking for, and that when you retire, there will be many happy road trips ahead of you
Dougwe said
05:23 PM Jul 25, 2020
Welcome to the gang Peter, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I won't get involved about a Motorhome as I chose a caravan because I would have had to tow a small car behind so thought if I am going to tow I might just as well have a caravan a decent 4X4.
Hello everyone
I'd like to introduce myself to anyone who reads this :)
My name is Peter and I am still working full time (I am 61) and single.
I am reading the GreyNomad Times with great interest and try to learn as much as possible from the experience of other travelers.
So much about myself :)
I have a dream when I eventually retire in a few years: I want to buy a motor home and travel around Australia for 1-2 years:) :)
I am completely new and have never had a motor home before and have very little experience with this kind of lifestyle.
I have been told I should rent a motor home to "try before you buy" and that is exactly what I am planning to do before I retire and jump into the great adventure :)
The question I would like to put out there is (provided I am getting hooked): Is it worth buying a new or near new motor home or is it better to rent one?
Motor homes nowadays set you back thousands of $$. Is it more prudent to hire one (I am talking about a period of at least 1-2 years) or better to buy one but lose considerable on value when it comes to selling it again?
But definitely hire something for a week or 2 first so you learn what suits you and where you want to travel.
Cheers,
Peter
There is a great lot of helpful advice regarding selecting Motorhomes.
Of course you will need to plan your tripping around Oz - so purchase your self a Camps Book, 10 is current version and it is generally updated in Feb (Biannually). www.campsaustraliawide.com/shop-direct-and-save/ with it's Australian Hema Maps it is a great tool to assist in planning your adventure/s.
Both Peter, and Possum, above, have given good advice
In my opinion, the reason to rent any type of RV (Recreation Vehicle), if you have never had an RV, is to make sure that you are happy, with whatever you are going to be travelling in
As we are all different, there are pros and cons, in just about everything we do. I can only tell you of my own experience
I purchased the 8 year old, at the time, motorhome (in my Avatar), for $60,000. I have had it for 6 years, and travelled 90,000 kilometres in that time.
I never considered hiring before buying, as I already had experience, in caravans.
Although I am only a part time traveller, the hiring cost, up to date, would have been approximately, well over double, the purchase price
Therefore (in my situation), it has been cheaper to buy.
At today prices of around $2,250 hire per month, for a motorhome of my size, (you may want a smaller one), a two year trip, would work out at about $108,000
Although this is cheaper than a new motorhome of my size, I point out, that there will be many second hand motorhomes out there, for a lot less than $100,000
Hope that you find the RV you are looking for, and that when you retire, there will be many happy road trips ahead of you
I won't get involved about a Motorhome as I chose a caravan because I would have had to tow a small car behind so thought if I am going to tow I might just as well have a caravan a decent 4X4.
No regrets.
Keep Safe out there.