$200 per night sound about right for total cost?

[mfschu]

I'm estimating the total cost for an Escape 21 and would like your input on if this accurately represents the cost to own and use the trailer. We are figuring on using the trailer 25 nights per year. We are coming up with a Cost to Own of about $4,000/year. Based on using 25 nights per year that's around $200 per night. I have not included Opportunity Cost for the ~$35K purchase price which would add another $50-$80 per night.

Yearly Cost to Own Annual $'s
Depreciation 1,500
Maintenance 1,000
Insurance 400
License 100
Storage 1,000
Yearly Ownership Cost to Own $4,000

Estimated Cost per Night
$4,000 Cost to Own / 25 nights per year use =$160 per night
Campground nightly fee $40 per night
Estimated Cost per Night ~$200

[padlin]

For me
Depreciation per year $1000
Maintenance, $400
Insurance, $250
Registration, $50
Nights camping per year 100

$1700/100= $17

Nightly camping fee, $30

$17+$30= $47

You need to camp more.

[Jim Bennett]

Your maintenance, and to some degreecost seen quite high, and I would think most here don't pay for storage.

I just did a a quick thought process myself. Not counting this year I am at an average of 90 nights a year in the trailer for the last 3 years.

In CAD
- insurance $550
- maintenance $400
- depreciation $800
- fun modifications and miscellaneous $250
- other stuff $200
TOTAL $2,200 CAD or $1,670 USD
DAILY $24.44 or $18.55 USD

Heck, even take that up to $45 a day to cover some campground costs (which really are not part of the trailer cost) , and I am one happy camper. [emoji16]

[steve dunham]

I think your numbers are a little low , you need to also factor in fuel / vehicle costs .
So far in 2020 I would estimate our cost for a night of camping is closer to $400 / night but I don’t plan on sitting at home and counting my pennies..
Life is too short

[Donna D.]

I've purchased a number of things in my life, that if I considered 'per use' cost, I'd probably have a stroke. We often talk about priceless memories. IF Ten Forward gets me to places I can make those memories, why should I be concerned with the cost? I can't take it with me, I plan on spending it and enjoying it to the maximum.

My Mom passed at age 92. She told me at about age 85 you'll probably stop making new memories... other than those involving friends/family. She was talking about traveling. I plan on adding a LOT to my memories. Money in the bank doesn't give me any . Ten Forward costs me money every day it sits. Storage fees, insurance and the tires are aging. I'd truly like to wear it out!

[padlin]

If I added in everything, like food, gas, TV, souvenirs for grand kids, I couldn't afford to camp. I think the common view is that camping is cheap, ya right.

Even backpacking is expensive when you 1st start.

[ksitte]

In mid-July, we were able to do a quick trip from Montana to Minnesota to visit Karen's Mother, now in memory care. Since COVID-19, she had been under a complete lock-down, seeing no one other than staff at the facility. The Center briefly opened up to off-site contact, provided we did not enter the unit, masked up and took other precautions. We took her for several walks and to our campsite for dinners over the course of three days.

What a relief to zip through three states, touching only the gas pumps! No gas station or rest area restrooms. No planes. No motels. We were able to use our own facilities and do our own cooking, of course.

To us, the mathematical calculations don't do justice to the joy of the outdoors and freedom of movement our Escape brings us.

Seeing her Mother's face? Priceless.

[gbaglo]

To make it really add up, you should include the cost of the vacant home you've left empty to go camping.

[Donna D.]

I just read the same thread over on the CasitaForum "Anyone else keep track of the rate per night using the Casita?" Someone made a good observation... "Your simple formula is too simple. Subtract the projected resale value first, then do the division...." I agree. Try to figure out what your trailer will be worth if/when you sell and then figure out nightly use costs.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Subtract the projected resale value first, then do the division...."

Agreed. I paid $900 CAD for a tent trailer. Used it for more than 20 years, and sold it for $650.

[sunrisetrucker]

Originally Posted by mfschu

I'm estimating the total cost for an Escape 21 and would like your input on if this accurately represents the cost to own and use the trailer. We are figuring on using the trailer 25 nights per year. We are coming up with a Cost to Own of about $4,000/year. Based on using 25 nights per year that's around $200 per night. I have not included Opportunity Cost for the ~$35K purchase price which would add another $50-$80 per night.

Yearly Cost to Own Annual $'s
Depreciation 1,500
Maintenance 1,000
Insurance 400
License 100
Storage 1,000
Yearly Ownership Cost to Own $4,000

Estimated Cost per Night
$4,000 Cost to Own / 25 nights per year use =$160 per night
Campground nightly fee $40 per night
Estimated Cost per Night ~$200

You forgot to include the $250 a night for hotels and $100 a day for three meals for 2.

Subtract that from the $200 and you are saving $150 per day on your holidays.

Congratulations!

[felix2]

Originally Posted by padlin

You need to camp more.

You got THAT right! ROI all depends on use/hours of operation etc...


Aside from that there's a cost to everything. I did a breakdown of my brother-in-law's annual hunting trip, and his venison costs about $237 per lb. in the end. However he's not going to stop hunting, because he enjoys it all.

[C&G in FL]

Perhaps I am a bit cynical, but what does it matter if it costs $100, $200, or $400 per night. If you want to own, use, and enjoy an RV, in this case an Escape, then whatever the cost is is the cost of “doing business.” If I were worried about the cost, I would not have purchased it in the first place or spent bundles of money in modification to personalize it. And even worse, if I sat down and figured out how much it costs considering all the factors, I might have second thoughts. Just my 2 cents.......

[oldwave]

Over the three years I’ve owned my 21 the only maintenance I’ve done is wheel bearing lubrications for 220 and 60 dollars last week by my buddy. Driven about 25000 miles

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by ksitte

In mid-July, we were able to do a quick trip from Montana to Minnesota to visit Karen's Mother, now in memory care. Since COVID-19, she had been under a complete lock-down, seeing no one other than staff at the facility. The Center briefly opened up to off-site contact, provided we did not enter the unit, masked up and took other precautions. We took her for several walks and to our campsite for dinners over the course of three days.

What a relief to zip through three states, touching only the gas pumps! No gas station or rest area restrooms. No planes. No motels. We were able to use our own facilities and do our own cooking, of course.

To us, the mathematical calculations don't do justice to the joy of the outdoors and freedom of movement our Escape brings us.

Seeing her Mother's face? Priceless.

My sister and just returned this week from a similar mission. We both live in Washington and used my 5.0 as an isolation pod to visit our 88 yo mother in Colorado. We were both tested just before we left to set ourselves up as a family unit. (Our supportive spouses stayed behind) The joy on mom’s face with our visit made all the preparations and expenses worth it!

Then to feed our souls, we hit the Tetons, Yellowstone & Craters of the Moon on the way back. Icing on the cake!

[Small but Sweet]

For years before we bought the Escape my husband and I agreed that owning a camper just wouldn’t pencil out, versus staying in hotels. They this year we finally got it and lo and behold the pandemic comes along, and we have no other way to take vacations. We’ve taken five trips so far and love it so much. We also follow a special diet and we can eat well and safely wherever we are, this way. Last year we did a European cruise, the whole vacation for 2 probably came close to $10,000. So if we skip a few foreign trips the camper is paid for. “Swings and roundabouts” as they say in England.

[Ops]

Frankly...the cost vs benefit ratio is simple.

Just being able to Escape...
From the noise of the daily routine...
In your own 'space ship'...
To explore in whatever direction you so choose.

The above benefit wipes out any cost in my accounting of that ratio.

[Doug2000]

We have been lucky to do a lot of travelling. Cruises, Mexico, Las Vegas, Florida, California. But it's always so expensive. I figure I can have a higher quality RV trip which is 5x longer than if we take hotel trips.

Driving 25 hours to Miami in our Corolla spending 5 nights in hotels and 7 nights on a cruise ship $6000. Spending 18 days on the road travelling 8500km with our Escape, $2500.

What's it cost, $75,000 for a truck and trailer.

[gbaglo]

And, how many of those hotels are situated so that you can watch your friends canoe the lake?

[jennykatz]

We use our 2016 E21 to get away from the Florida heat and humidity in the Summer months .We stay near Chicago at a Sportsman club on a small lake for $ 10 a night BTW my kids live a few miles away from Sportsman club .Also going up to Chicago area we stay at State or Federal parks So usually 1/2 off about $10-20 a night .The benefits of being Ancient .
We usually get over 14mpg towing with our Expedition and usually stop near friends or family to make a mini vacation out of it . Storage is on my extra driveway Insurance is under $300 a year Maintenance is rarely needed this year I’ll have the bearings and brakes looked at .
Again this is also our Escape dwelling When Hurricanes come our way .Remember you can’t take it with you when we leave this Earth . Jim W