Buying used doesn’t disqualify you from financing. Scotiabank, for example, will finance an RV that’s up to 12 years old. Ask your financial institutions about options.
Where do you want to go?
While an RV gives you the freedom of the road in exchange for the high price of gas, you’ve also got a lot of freedom in terms of where you stop for the night. Provincial parks and national parks offer sites especially for RV camping, often with hookups for water and electricity. And then there is a massive network of privately owned parks right across Canada. These parks offer a huge range of amenities, from the Cuban-themed Havana Resort (it offers everything you’d find at a Cuban all-inclusive) in Maricourt, QC; to the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts in Ontario and Newfoundland, with water-parks and mini-golf; and the most beautiful remote sites such as Meat Cove Campground on the eastern tip of Cape Breton.
Camping fees vary but, generally, you’re looking at spending between $30 and $40 a night to park in a campground. There are exceptions, though, CanaDream’s Gretzmacher says. “I recently stayed at a campground in an old-growth forest right on the ocean in Tofino, BC, and paid $120 a night. Whistler is also similarly expensive because there is so much demand,” says Gretzmacher. Consider, though, that staying at a hotel or resort in Tofino or Whistler could cost a lot more.
It’s worth noting some families camp at the same campground for the entire length of their stay, letting their kids roam safely and enjoy all the amenities, while parents get to just chill. You don’t have to plan a grand adventure with lots of driving. Mahony estimates 50% of the RVs owned by Canadians are permanently parked up at campsites, with owners heading there for the summer or weekends whenever they can.
Renting an RV
For our CanaDream RV trip, the total cost for a week in a swish Maxi Motorhome that sleeps up to four adults and two children (I’m travelling with my husband, teenage daughter, and sons ages five and seven) works out to $1,590, with taxes and insurance. Mileage of 100 kilometres per day is included, and the cost goes up if you are planning on putting more kilometres in. We are also getting “convenience kits” at $95 per person, which means we don’t have to bring our bedding and kitchen equipment from home. We will pay the extra $5 a day insurance that covers you breaking any mirrors or windows. (Be sure to check exactly what is and isn’t covered before signing any rental agreement, just as you would with a rental car.)
Because our RV has a full kitchen, I’m planning on cooking most meals onboard, hopefully saving a bunch of cash. Eating out usually takes a huge chunk of our vacation budget, and frankly, I resent buying my children meals they don’t eat, so I’m looking forward to saving money this way. I’ll splurge on the odd lobster supper and treats along the way, but we’ll buy the basics before we set out because the motorhome has a big fridge and freezer.
There are other rental companies, both national and local, so you can shop around. Another interesting rental option is peer-to-peer RVezy, which operates like Airbnb but with campers, and you’ll find everything from massive Winnebagos to vintage Airstreams and adorable old-school Boler trailers listed on their site. What’s cool about RVezy is that you’ll find people offering campers everywhere,and not just in major cities. They offer delivery to campsites, and often the pricing is lower because there’s a huge variety of rentals available. Fees can work out as approx 30% to 40% less than a conventional rental, says Michael McNaught, COO and president of RVezy. Insurance is also included in the rental price. “Another thing with RVezy is that the campers often come fully equipped and have extras like DVDs and board games,” says McNaught.
Wherever you choose to rent, be sure to ask about the company’s COVID cleaning procedures in advance. In theory, RVs are a super safe vacation option right now. “You can even pick up all your groceries before your trip and then you don’t need to interact with anybody except your family if you want,” says Gretzmacher.
Some other points in favour of tent trailers:
– they will fit in your garage if storage is an issue
– if you buy a bare bones one (we always preferred cooking with the Coleman outside) there is less to go wrong and you can purchase used for very cheap.
-easy to tow
-can pick up a camping chem toilet from Canadian Tire to avoid using outhouses
Reality check here, nowhere in this article was there any mention of vermin! Now, maybe the east coast doesn’t have any rodents (mice, rats, squirrels) but I find that hard to believe. These vehicles are manufactured with lots of small spaces where rodents can get into the floor structure and by extension the trailer itself. Just remember that when you park it for the winter it becomes a cosy convenient place for them to take up residence. It is very important when buying used from anyone including a dealer that you check the trailer out thoroughly. Take along someone who knows what to look for and open all the cupboards, remove access panels for the fridge, furnace and hot water heater as well as where the plumbing comes through the floor. My experience has been that unless you ask you won’t be told and even then you may not get a straight answer.
Honest to god, Moneysense. Maybe next time you should actually have someone with even five minutes of RV experience write the article about RVing! It would have so much more authority.
Would you have allowed someone who doesn’t own a single mutual fund write a piece about investing in funds?
And BTW, author, a 33-ft motorhome is a very large one to take out for your first run. Not that you’d know that …. because of course you have ZERO RV experience.
So disappointed.
Thanks for your comment, and we do appreciate hearing all points of view from our valued readers. For this article, we chose an experienced travel writer to explore the RV trend. Ms Augustine Brown has been published in National Geographic Traveler, The Globe and Mail, Canadian Geographic, The Guardian, and many others. This post was not intended to be a reference for those already experienced with RV travel, but rather a relatable introduction for those considering their first trips.
A banner year in the industry this year. So many folks are now chasing so few remaining overpriced rv’s and then trying to shoehorn themselves into non-existant camp spaces…especially here in BC.
I think people should give this year a rest and let their ramped up desire a chance to settle down. That way they won’t be so disappointed with their expensive purchase that will see so little use.
Been there, done that and glad we are now out of the Competition.
I’m pretty sure this would have been a much more effective article if was written by someone who had already rented the RV. Basically this author did some online research, made some phonecalls, then wrote an article. Any reader could have done that. Much more valuable are the tips you have AFTER the vacation, for the things no one told you. Having said that, you left out the issue of gas. When we rented an RV and did a long trip I could not believe how much money we spent on gas for that thing. In the end, it would have been cheaper for us to fly to Nova Scotia rather drive the RV. However the experience was fun. Also, I agree with the other comment here that 33 feet is pretty challenging for a beginner. I’d really love to hear how your trip went after you’re back.
And good luck getting quality sites now with so many newbies trying (rv) camping. For those looking for used rv’s….wait a year or two and there will be plenty for sale after the novelty has worn off.
A crucial element is missing from the piece: safety. How and where will the driver(s) acquire the skills needed to control an RV safely, particularly a bigger one? And if the chosen RV is a trailer, how can the driver be certain that the tow vehicle’s power, torque, braking, brake controller, and stability match the demands that the loaded trailer will place upon it? This includes doing the math and totalling up the weight of the trailer (including boats, bikes, etc.) and the people, pets, and gear in the tow vehicle, and ensuring that they do not exceed the capabilities of the tow vehicle. Do not take the word of the company renting or selling you the unit. Some of them will say anything to close a deal. There are RVing forums online with highly experienced members who will provide reliable advice to newcomers. After all, they and their loved ones will be sharing the road with those first-timers, and they want everyone to enjoy camping and return home safely.