Personal Finances

by Ronaleen R. Roha

To celebrate his tenth birthday four years ago, Joseph Wingenback wanted to take a few friends camping. So he and his dad, David, and a few of his buddies headed off to Big Meadows, high in Virginia's Shenandoah Mountains. The weather was nearly perfect-crisp April air-until a surprise ice storm whipped through.

Did the storm put a damper on the campers' weekend? Not on your life. The weather outside may have been frightful, but they cozied up and enjoyed a hot meal inside the heated 18-foot recreational vehicle they had towed behind their station wagon.

Is this roughing it? Not really. Can it be fun? The Wingenbachs sure think so. Can it be an economical way to travel? Yes, it can.

STARTING OUT - David, his wife, Margery, and their two sons, Joseph, now 14, and Thomas, 10, hit the road in one of the none million recreational vehicles on the nation's highways. The RVs range in size from tow-behind, pop-top campers to self-propelled "land yachts" with price tags that can top $40,000.

Like many young families, who make up an increasingly large percentage of RV aficionados, the Wingenbachs started out with a used trailer. They bought their 18-footer in 1987 for $800 after seeing it advertised in the newspaper. It was "primitive by some measures," says David-it didn't have air-conditioning or a bathroom.

First-timers may choose to borrow an RV or rent one from a dealer who also handles rentals. One company, Cruise America, of Mesa, Ariz. (800-327-7799), rents RVs at about 100 locations around the country. Weekly peak-season rates range from about $600 to about $1,200, depending on the kind of vehicle. Off-season rates may be discounted by as much as 50%.

If you'd prefer to buy an RV, you can check out the choices at a show. For a free schedule of RV shows, write to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, Dept. SL, P.O. Box 2999, Reston, VA 22090

RV ECONOMICS - In 1993 the Wingenbachs moved up to a more luxurious, 25-foot vehicle. The Wilderness model, for which they paid $3,000, has a bathroom and air-conditioning, along with a full-size bathtub, kitchen and TV hookup (although the Wingenbachs never take along a television).

They bypass commercial campgrounds and head for camping facilities in national and state parks instead. "We prefer simple campsites that are more natural and scenic," says David. And they're less expensive as well. Nightly rentals are rarely more than $20 at a national or state park. By contrast, commercial campsites often cost around $25 to $30 per night in peak season.

The Wingenbachs eat out once in a while, but they bring most of their food from home. On a typical trip, towing the trailer adds the price of about an extra half-tank of gas to their costs. When they're not on the road, they park their RV in a mini-storage facility for $25 per month.

Counting all their expenses, David figures "we are still way ahead of all the money we would have poured into motels." And they enjoy the convenience of having their car, a Ford Country Squire station wagon, for side trips along the way.

A FAMILY AFFAIR - The Wingenbachs, who live in Winchester, VA., travel anytime from April to November, usually for a weekend to a week at a time. They plan their route at the library with the help of campground guidebooks. They're limited by the amount of time they can take off from work, so they tend to stay within a 500-mile radius of home. David is a sales representative, and Margery is a teacher and children's librarian.

Meeting campers of all ages and from all walks of life is a treat. But the Wingengachs agree that the best part of their trips is spending time together as a family. They tote along bicycles, fishing gear, Joseph's sketch pads and even their tow dogs, Coco and Olivia.

The Wingenbachs tried tent camping but found that by day's end the wonders of nature had become less alluring. "I prefer a nice comfortable bed," David admits. Purists may scoff at calling RV life "camping," but Margery firmly believes that "if our forebears could have done it [this way], they would have."

Reprinted by permission from Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.