RV comparison is as critical as comparing cars. The second biggest expense most people encounter in their life is a vehicle. We’ve all heard the saying that a car loses 25% of its value as soon as you drive it off the dealer’s lot. But this doesn’t just apply to the family car, though. Almost any form of transportation will trudge downward in value with each passing year: boats, motorcycles, work trucks, and, you guessed it, RVs.

If you’re in the market for an RV, chances are this isn’t what you want to hear right now. Right now you want to hear about the joys of RV travel and read about all the cool gadgets and features available on even the smallest camper these days. We understand, we’ve been there.

Putting it bluntly: an RV is an investment that will cost you more money than it returns. There’s no way around it. Buying a home is not only a wise investment, but it’s also a necessity. We all need a roof over our heads. Nobody needs a fifth-wheel or a diesel motorhome. Or do they? Life isn’t much fun if it’s all prudent investments and saving for a rainy day. A family vacation is remembered with much more fondness or contentment than financial wins or losses.

So let’s cut ourselves some slack for wanting to seize the day and live a little, shall we? Keep in mind, we’re not implying that you should stop by your local RV dealership with an open checkbook. Quite the contrary.