Lots of people have lots of money to spend on things that are of dubious value. My wife ane I have have done the financial analysis of owning a motor several times and the answer comes up the same each time. Don’t buy one. We did our analysis based on using the RV 60 nights a year (which is a lot) and compared it with car camping (tent) or modest hotels (or a combo). With depreciation, storage, gas, RV park fees and maintenance (an RV is a complicated piece of machinery), we decided that the best option for us is, in order, car camp/hotel combo, or rent an RV if necessary.
We have gotten really good at it and can set up our camp faster than someone in a RV.
Everyone is different, but this is our best option.
Mrs. abb and I have a theory about folks who use trailers and RV’s instead of staying in a hotel: they’re people who have to tote all their ‘stuff’ with them when they travel.
I guess it is less a matter of money than it is priorities. I did a similar analysis when I bought my first rv (used) many years ago and have returned to that analysis for each of the 10 5th wheels and travel trailers I have bought (new and used) since. Use is the key and I suppose the luxury trailers and trucks make sense if it is a desired full time (or close to it) lifestyle. I will say that unless an RV is basically your home, there is probably no worse big money purchase given depreciation alone.
I might also say that one of our best vacation trips was two weeks out west alternating tent camping and hotel stay days.
But we were a lot younger then....
I agree. We have fallen for the cult of consumerism as a society.
I ran into an old couple in the White-Inyo range a few years back with a small RV who’s retirement appeared to consist of just living from it and conquering peaks. They were in their late 60’s or early 70’s by my guess, and they destroyed us going up that mountain. That was probably an excellent investment on their part with the return consisting in part of peak health.