In the last issue, I discussed some of the hidden costs of RV ownership. This time I will cover things to think about when considering RV ownership that some people, even experienced RVers, learn the hard way.

Much like car buying, if you purchase a vehicle new, it depreciates at least 10 percent as soon as you drive it off the lot. For an RV, especially a high-end motorhome, this can be significant. A vehicle will continue to depreciate until it levels off after several years. By then, the value may have dropped 60 percent or more. This is one of the reasons purchasing a used unit generally makes financial sense. Of course, buying used does bring risk, so you want to make sure the unit is in good condition.

You need to be able to park and store your RV in a safe and legal location. Depending on where you live, you may be able to park your unit on your own property, but for others this can be a challenge. Most municipalities forbid RV parking on the street, although there will be exceptions to this. Regardless, I would not plan on parking an RV long-term on a public street. If you don’t use your RV year-round, street parking requires, at the very least, that the vehicle be insured. Therefore, street parking, even if legal, can incur extra costs.

Some neighbors are very sticky about RVs being parked on the street and will report them. You should also consider the security of the RV. This is your investment, and having it broken into and/or vandalized is frustrating and expensive. I did cover RV storage in a previous article, but it bears repeating here. Retail vehicle storage availability is becoming rarer, but there always seems to be “want ads” for people offering storage space on their private land. Take advantage of this. Another possibility for locating a storage spot is neighbor.com, a storage-sharing website that connects hosts to those looking for storage solutions.

To avoid having uninvited pests visit your rig, remove food from the RV while it’s in storage, and consider setting traps or using nonlethal methods to deter rodents. Use steel wool to block all outside entries into the RV that are larger than ¼ inch in size. Clean your unit prior to putting it in storage, and visit the RV regularly to look for signs of pest inhabitants, such as droppings in cupboards, etc. During use, avoid storing food outside, as it can attract larger, more dangerous pests.

In terms of using the RV, one thing to consider during the purchase phase is your personal ability to drive/handle the unit. Whether it is a motorhome or a travel trailer, are you comfortable maneuvering it, especially in the city? The good news is that practice helps.

Unlike most stationary homes, an RV is a very small space; so, while RVing provides a great opportunity for your family to bond and spend time together, the opposite can also be true. Any family disagreements can be exacerbated by the limited space. Identify ways to “cool off” should this occur. If the weather is good, go for a walk outside, make use of RV park spaces (game rooms, lounges, etc.), or simply kiss and make up immediately.

If you are camping off-grid or boondocking, or even staying in an RV park, evaluate your personal safety. Never park overnight in an area you deem to be unsafe, nor one that makes you uneasy. Always move to a location where you feel safe and secure. Not all RV parks are in safe locations, so talk to people, observe your surroundings, and trust your gut.

This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of “other” things to consider with RV ownership. But with time, RVing will become second nature, and for the most part, common sense will always prevail.

Steve Froese is a longtime member of FMCA, a nonprofit organization for owners of recreational vehicles, and writes the “Tech Talk” column for Family RVing magazine. He is an experienced RV owner and a certified RV technician in both the United States and Canada. Steve is also a licensed professional engineer in British Columbia and a busy professional musician.

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