When fuel prices spiked last year-followed by a sudden downturn of the economy-it put new RV sales into the proverbial toilet, which also caused some motorhome owners to consider selling the units they have. Although fuel prices have pinged up and down, motorhome travel still isn't exactly cheap, nor is the asking price for a new entry-level model. Add to out-of-pocket costs of upkeep and monthly storage and some suggest that it makes good economic sense to get out of RV ownership while you can.

Odds are that in the current economic climate, the decision to be without a rolling weekend home might be the right one. However, just because you have sold your RV or have decided not to buy until the economy recovers, you need not give up your RVcations. Instead of owning, why not rent?

Buy or Rent?
Apart from the fact that you can save money on the high cost of ownership, renting an RV has other advantages. For one thing, you may be new to RVing and not sure if ownership is for you, or perhaps you haven't decided which model RV you prefer to buy.

When you rent, you are essentially road testing a particular RV or motorhome for driveability and comfort. After a weekend or so in a rental, you may decide that while you enjoy the RV experience, you don't like a particular make or model.

Another advantage to renting is that is saves you time. Suppose you live in Chicago but plan a motorhome vacation in the Southwest. Sure, you could drive a motorhome from the Midwest to Arizona, but that takes a couple days each way out of your vacation. Instead, you could fly to Phoenix, rent an RV, and be at your vacation destination within a few hours of leaving home. Best of all, when you pick up the RV, the vehicle is fully prepped, the water tanks are full, and it is full of fuel. All you have to do is stop for groceries.

Taking an RVcation is generally less expensive than a traditional vacation. According to a PKF Consulting, an international consulting firm specializes in the travel and tourism industries, RV family vacations are, on average, 27 to 61 percent less expensive than other types of vacations studied. Even when factoring in RV ownership and fuel costs, their study reveals that RV family vacations tend to be significantly less expensive than other types of vacations, especially if the RV is a rental. In fact, according to PKF, fuel prices would have to more than double for the typical motorhome vacation to become more expensive than other forms of travel.

"This study reaffirms what RVers have long known, that RV vacations deliver greater economic value compared to other types of vacations," says Richard Coon, president of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). "RV vacations continue to be the most affordable way for a family to travel because of the tremendous savings on air, hotel, and restaurant costs. And these savings offset the cost of fuel."

While RV rentals have been around since the early 1970s, the economic climate of the past couple years has made renting more popular than ever. There's a wide variety of rentals available, from toy haulers and camping trailers to travel trailers, Class C motorhomes, and Class A motorcoaches. The bulk of the rental industry, however, is in the Class C category, because these cabover motorhomes are comfortable, easy to operate, and relatively economical to run.

Do the Math
Still not convinced that rental is better than ownership for many budding RVers? Let's look at costs. First off, new RVs are expensive. The average new Class C cabover base price is around $45,000 and it doesn't take very many ticks on the option list to easily push that price to $75,000 or higher. (Just adding an Onan generator to the package can add $6,000 to the final price, and a flat-screen TV could run you $1,500.) So the end result is a payment of $700-$800 a month for up to 10 years.

Next up on the list is insurance. Just as with your financed automobile, you will need a full coverage policy (comprehensive, collision, uninsured motorist, medical, and so on). Because RVs aren't actually driven all that much, the insurance payment is usually less than for a car. However, even including a two-vehicle, homeowner, nonsmoking discount, you'll still end up paying $80-$100 in most areas, and it could be higher if you live in a high-risk area.

OK, you are making the payment and have insurance. Now what about storage? Many neighborhoods don't allow parking an RV on the street on in the driveway, and since few of us have barns where we can park out of sight, it means we have to rent a parking space. Depending on where you live, the RV storage fee can be a lump sum or it may be calculated per foot. Either way, the monthly storage fees for a typical 32-footer will range from $60 to $200 for uncovered parking, and covered parking can range anywhere from $99 to $300. In major metro areas such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago, rates can be significantly higher.

Add all these costs up and it means that owning a new Class C is costing you somewhere between $850 and $1,200 a month, not counting maintenance and upkeep, before you even take your first weekend trip. That's about $15,000 a year. Since most folks only use their units 10-12 weekends a year, it is going to cost you essentially $1,250 every weekend you use the RV.

Renting, however, is much more affordable. The average rental cost for a Class C is about $150 a day plus $0.32 a mile, or roughly $80 for a 250-mile trip-typical of most journeys.

Insurance riders over and above the protection provided by your household or auto policies are approximately $15 a day, and parking in a campground with full hookups is about $25 a night.

So even with a 32 footer at seasonal peak, the cost for a weekend's use is still generally under $600 for rental, mileage, insurance, campsites, and fuel-or about half of the cost of just owning/parking your own RV for one month. Best of all, even though you are renting, you still get all the RV advantages: You can go where you want, when you want, and stay as long as you want. You can bring along as much stuff as you need for your trip, eat the food you like, and dress as casually as you desire.

Whether your own or rent, travelling by RV is less expensive than taking your car and staying in motels. The average motor lodge starts at about $150 a night for a family of four during peak season. Meals for a family of four at family-style restaurants average $150 a day, not including snacks and treats and the occasional beverage, plus you often have to stay miles away from any scenic areas you want to visit. And don't linger past checkout time or you'll have to pay for another night's lodging. Add fuel to this equation and you are easily approaching $700, even if you are driving an economical vehicle.