Why 70% of Retirees Regret Their Camper Van Within 1 Year

Comments · 655

• AN

  @annettegibsongibson6232 · 5 months ago

  I’m a nurse. I always think of what will you do when sick (we all get sick eventually). Trust me, you want to go to a home, not a camper.

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• CH

  @cherylhughes2988 · 5 months ago

  I would never, as a retiree, sell my house to live in an RV. You need a home base. At the very least, buy a tiny home somewhere so you can get off the road when you've had enough.

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• FL

  @FlowerBoots · 4 months ago

  Selling your house to live in a van is a terrible idea. Van living only becomes great when the alternative is the streets.

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• HO

  @howesyourmac · 5 months ago

  I bought a new Class B van after my wife died and I retired. I traveled all over the US for a couple of years, met a wonderful woman and have traveled with her the past 4 years. Seven years and 80,000 miles later I still love it. I didn’t sell my house. We travel three or four months a year. So the video makes some good points, but it’s not all doom and gloom. I bought my van for $90K and I could probably sell it for $75K now. I’m happy with my purchase.

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• SH

  @Shaderunner7153 · 5 months ago

  I’m also alone so do not have to deal with another person

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• MR

  @MrBKuv · 4 months ago

  I dabbled with the idea of buying a van when I retired and I ended up living in a house on a hill that is paid for.

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• GO

  @goneretired7030 · 5 months ago (edited)

  One of the key things that folks thinking of getting an RV need to realize is that the more things you have, the more things that can break. &nbsp;I started out with a big class-A Diesel Pusher with all the gizmos. &nbsp;It had slideouts, full bath, and even a washing machine with dryer. &nbsp;It was a money pit. &nbsp;I now have a Promaster 2500 with a van build out with none of the fancy stuff. &nbsp;Why? &nbsp;Because I didn’t want to deal with things breaking. &nbsp;Oh I may have no plumbing and yes, it is rather primitive, but it takes me comfortably to all sorts of places.<br><br>Oh yes - I’ve never financed an RV, and mostly boondock.

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• KI

  @kimmer6 · 5 months ago

  I am living my Retirement Dream. &nbsp;I&apos;m on Fixed Income. I spent the last 45 years Fixing it so I would never have money worries. I have an old van...1988 GMC. Been in my family since brand new. I built it exactly the way I wanted it after mama passed away...400 watt Solar, 40 amp MPPT, DC-DC 40 amp charger, big 300AH LFP battery, &nbsp;2000 watt inverter, 120 volt 2 door fridge/freezer, built in microwave oven, permanent bunk with memory foam mattress, Chinese diesel heater, camping gear galore in a hidden slide out huge drawer. I have a 6 bulb chandelier to hang outside, too.<br><br>Will I ever live in it? Hell no. I will never do that. &nbsp; Nice lifestyle coaching you did in this video...you bring up some powerful points.<br><br>I spend 2-3 nights camping all over California once a month or so. &nbsp; Why keep an old van in tip top shape, food inside, water filtration kit, spare clothes, meds, etc? &nbsp; Because its my Bug Out Vehicle. Should a random Wildfire catch me by surprise AGAIN, &nbsp;I can get in it and be rolling in 30 seconds, ready for what comes. &nbsp;The spare keys are in a lock box behind the spare tire. Should I get slammed by an 8.0 Earthquake, I have a place to sleep and eat until things settle out.<br><br>Van life was OK for me in the 1970&apos;s. My college dorm was a 27 foot Dodge Travco motorhome for 3 years near Avila Beach, Calif. Even that motorhome felt cramped. No more. I worked in 17 countries after graduation and I&apos;m DONE with travel. &nbsp;I had 3 motorhomes... &nbsp;24 ft, and 2 x 27 footers. I got tired of paying monthly storage fees and didn&apos;t use them much. <br><br>Either you have too much time and no money, or you can afford to &nbsp;buy a 4x4 Mercedes Diesel Sprinter Van, one for each day of the week, but never have the time to leave the business and go anywhere. &nbsp; &nbsp;I&apos;m sharing this writeup while reminding my lucky self that I finally have the life that I want, and I didn&apos;t listen to some clowns tell me that I need to &apos;&apos;Purge&apos;&apos; everything and go minimalistic (after Ma passed away after a long illness). I ran 2 businesses, now its time sit in my folding rocking chair at some campsite and think about cooking some dinner. &nbsp;Sometimes I will spend the night in the van in my driveway. My back loves that mattress!

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• C1

  @C10-Guy · 4 months ago

  My parents thought it was a great idea to sell the house and buy a van. For months they talked about it and luckily it gave me time to talk a friend of mine into letting me rent his RV. Just to make it interesting I bet my parents they would not last five months together in a camper. I told them if they did I would not only support the decision, but I would actually buy them their dream motorhome. They left in my buddies motorhome and they weren’t gone one month before everything hit the fan. I wasn’t being mean I’m just happy. They did not sell their house and move forward with it. They truly believed they were different and they could do it. I love my parents and I’m happy things worked out.

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• MH

  @MH-jg4lq · 5 months ago

  They didn’t say how many couples nearly (or really) murder each other when they are cramped into such a small space for a long time together. I would think many relationships do not pass the RV stress test.

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• AN

  @antidesign2384 · 5 months ago

  Wtf? Carry the whole big house on wheels ? Thats insane! Travel lean or just use hotels

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• DE

  @den359 · 5 months ago

  Yes I would still make that purchase which actually happened to my wife and I at a loss of $15000.00. &nbsp;We owned a 35 ft fifth wheel. &nbsp;It was our second RV. &nbsp;Our first was a 28 ft travel trailer which we traded in a couple of years later due to towing issues. &nbsp;We kept our second RV for ten years in a 1000 trails RV camp site. &nbsp;It was beautiful. &nbsp;Our fondest memories were in that RV with our children and grandchildren. &nbsp;The difference with us is that it was not our primary home because we knew full time RVing was not for us. &nbsp;We took the loss because our lives were changing. &nbsp;We were building a new home during COVID and decided that the RV was an expense we no longer needed. &nbsp;Our difference was that we did as you suggested. &nbsp;We researched heavily and decided that the purchase was worth more for the memories we cherish rather than the monetary loss. &nbsp;Our situation is not for everyone but it was right for us. &nbsp;Thank you for your research. &nbsp;You made good sense for those first time buyers.

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