Let’s face it: These are difficult instances. And after per week on the current Hershey RV Present in Pennsylvania, the place we talked with a whole bunch of actual RVers, there are some actual RV worries for 2023 clouding the longer term for a lot of.

Not that any are prepared to toss within the towel. To an individual, everybody we talked to deliberate to do their finest and Maintain Calm and Camp ON – because the foolish T-shirt says.

However in contrast to many so-called RV trade leaders, who all the time spin a rosy future, actual RVers are reasonable and candid about all of the challenges they see forward over the subsequent 12 years on this post-COVID world, the place quite a lot of points are complicating their RV journey and tenting plans.

You may meet many of those we met on this week’s Episode 414 of the RV Podcast. You may watch our YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel video model under.

Should you choose an audio-only model, the RV Podcast is obtainable in your favourite podcast app or might be by means of the participant under.

Maintain studying for an inventory of the to 5 main RV worries for 2023 that we heard about probably the most:

RV Worries #1: Inflation is impacting the RV Life-style

Everybody cited inflation as probably the most worrisome problem on the horizon. Those that have retired and are on mounted incomes have been affected probably the most however value hikes over the previous yr in meals, well being care, taxes, RV and different insurances, upkeep, utilities, campground charges and even leisure have many saying “ENOUGH.”

Jim, together with his spouse Pam are each academics. “We journey all summer season lengthy in our RV,” stated Jim. “This summer season value us about 40% extra. We weren’t residing extra extravagantly. We boondocked as should as we might and, if something, we in the reduction of a bit in comparison with final yr. However 40% is manner uncontrolled. We’re anxious about what 2023 will deliver.”

Sue, who simply retired from her job as a nurse to start a yr of solo journey, touring in her new 21-foot journey trailer, determined to carry off promoting her home and going fulltime. “I’m anxious now whether or not I can afford to journey as a lot as I hoped and I’m going to carry o to my home simply in case it doesn’t work out.”

Leonard, a longtime RVer, stated it finest. “Ever because the COVID lockdowns, all the pieces appears to have doubled in value.”

Real RVers talk about their RV worries for 2023

RV Worries #2: Excessive Gasoline Costs are a Main Problem for RVers

Whereas all the pieces is pricey, the inflation that’s most impacting RV journey lately is seen on the pump.

Although costs appear to have slowed or even have come down a bit, RVers instructed us their gasoline costs will maintain them staying longer in campgrounds and never touring so far as they’d hoped in 2023.

“We now have to get a deal with on gasoline prices,” stated Terry, who has a Class A Allegro Purple diesel pusher. “My final fillup was over $6 a gallon. I’ve a 90 gallon tank. Do the mathematics. However darn proper we’re going to chop again on the miles we drive.”

(We did: That’s $540!!!!)

RV Worries #3: Lengthy RV service waits and elements shortages

The trade nonetheless can’t appear to get a deal with on lengthy service waits for RVs. And though I hear the trade executives claiming the elements shortages are significantly better proper now, that message doesn’t appear to have tricked all the way down to actual RVers.

Time and again we heard complaints about this challenge.

RVers stated elements shortages have been being blamed by the sellers for delays in service.

One RVer, Ron, stated he watched certainly one of our current podcasts about the need for RVers to be able to do their own maintenance and repairs. He stated he simply enrolled in an RV Maintenance and Repair Home Course.

“I’m not about to surrender tenting,” he stated. “So I’m going to be proactive in coping with the problems that come up and deal with them as finest I can.”

Real RVers talk about their RV worries for 2023

RV Worries #4: The dwindling variety of privately-owned campgrounds

The Mother and Pop campgrounds of the previous are being devoured up by large companies. A number of RVers complained about this and famous how this development is inflicting them to seek for new locations to remain.

One couple talked a few Pennsylvania RV park they’ve loved over the previous few years. “It value us about $100 an evening,” stated Christine. “That’s costly, however it was proper on the water, and we didn’t thoughts.”

However then over the previous yr, the small non-public campground was acquired by a significant company.

“They added the phrase ‘resort’ to the identify and raised the speed to $300 an evening,” stated her husband, Todd. “Similar facilities, they only mainly tripled the worth. It’s a disgrace. We’ll by no means return.”

RV Worries #5: Nationwide Park entry hassles and boondocking pressures

We heard lots about this. Ever since COVID and the explosion of latest RVers, crowds at Nationwide Parks have grown to the purpose that the Nationwide Parks Service has instigated timed entry permits at the most well-liked spots.

“Neglect about getting a tenting reservation at a significant Nationwide Park,” stated Jimmy, who, together with his spouse, Carrie, and their two youngsters, had a bucket listing of nationwide parks the place they hoped to camp of their Cogar fifth wheel. “You may’t get a reservation until you e-book the yr earlier than. Perhaps. And now it’s nearly not possible to even enter the park as a result of all of the permits have been issued lengthy earlier than.”

Different RVers, who hoped to do extra boondocking subsequent yr to chop prices, famous that they’re usually having to look a lot more durable for an unoccupied spot in state and nationwide forests that enable dispersed tenting. “Even locations like Harvest Hosts refill lately,” stated Cora, an RVer from New Jersey.

Real RVers talk about their RV worries for 2023

The Good Information? RVing continues to be one of the simplest ways to get away

As we famous, none of these we talked to stated they have been planning to give up.

Adapt is the phrase they use time and again.

A number of cited the cliche “The place there’s a will, there’s a manner.”

And there could also be some knowledge to be realized from the previous.

Mark Koep, who runs the campsite reserving web site CampgroundView.com, shared that when he and his household determined to go fulltime as RVers, it was over the last recession.

“It leveled off,” stated Mark. “We realized to regulate. And I feel it can occur for many Rvers the identical manner now. RVing continues to be the very best life-style to decompress and construct nice household recollections. My recommendation to everybody anxious concerning the subsequent yr is simply to make the very best of it. RVing already is the very best. Be good and luxuriate in it.”

So, the place to subsequent?

Take a look at this Southwest Journey Information Bundle (Arizona, Utah, & Colorado)

Real RVers talk about their RV worries for 2023 1

When Jennifer and I journey to the southwest, we’re frequently amazed on the majesty and sweetness this nation has to supply. And it’s actually onerous to remain in only one state! So we created this Bundle for you in case you prefer to journey as we do. 

We put collectively our Southern Utah Guide, Colorado Guide, and our NEW Arizona Guide into this 3-State Bundle at a really diminished value!

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All together these guides are over 300 pages of content! 




Mike and Jennifer’s Favourite Locations in Florida – all 3 ebooks!

Real RVers talk about their RV worries for 2023 2

We RVers might wander far and huge however it’s true for many of us that we find yourself with some favourite “Go-To” locations – locations that draw us again time and again.

Florida is a type of locations for us. And we all know it’s for a lot of RVers seeking to get away and discover throughout the winter. 

That’s why we’ve created three guides, overlaying Florida’s Atlantic Coast, the Gulf Coast, and the Keys. 

Every of those guides is a seven-day guided exploration of one of many coasts. And every cease is a curated view of the very best issues that we’ve loved on this journey and wish you to expertise.

Altogether these guides are over 300 pages of content material! 




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