Taxes on RVs?

MomsZoo · #1 (**permalink**) 07-10-2004, 10:56 AM

My husband and I are looking into buying a 2003 32' motorhome, but we've heard from a couple of people about "personal property tax" on RVs and that, on newer ones, you may pay taxes as high as you pay on your home because it's considered a second home.

Does anyone have first hand knowledge of this? The motorhome itself is expensive enough, and that's not even including gas, license plates, and insurance. Leave it to the government to suck the fun out of everything! Someone please let me know if this is true and approximately what we can expect to pay. Thanks

Laenie · #2 (**permalink**) 07-24-2004, 08:06 PM

Hi Momszoo, what state do you live in? We have had a 31' RV for 4 years, I have never heard about taxes like that. I know that you can claim your RV as a 2nd motorhom on your income tax and it can help you in some circumstances if you are making payments on the RV. Our yearly expenses are pretty much what you would expect of any vehicle or 2nd home, we of course have to relicense yearly, keep insurance on it (you can get lower insurance rates if you store it 6 months out of the year), my husband does the yearly maintenance himself, there is a forum that he has belonged to since we bought our motor home. It is called RV.net, you might want to get onto some of their forums, I know they have been very helpful to him and he has made some good friends on the site. He is a moderator for the Class C's and we have even met some of them on camping trips. We started camping years ago with a two man tent, graduated to a large tent, then a pop-op, and an old Class A motorhome, a hard side trailer and then finally this Class C. We really enjoy camping, I think it has been a great investment for us as we use it quite a bit. That is one thing you need to think of before you purchase one, is how much you will use it. We actually rented two class C's at two different times to make sure we enjoyed traveling that way before we purchased ours. If you have any other questions I will try to be helpful, but check out that site, the people there are very willing to answer any questions you might have.
Happy camping!! Elaine

Raggd3 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-31-2004, 01:00 PM

Hi Laenie, When you go camping, do you travel far?

I belong to the Good Sam Club. Have you heard of them?
I'd like to chat with you sometime about your adventures.

Maryann

Laenie · #4 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 07:42 PM

Would love to chat, we really enjoy camping. We have traveled across the states from here in Michigan all the way to California and we also camp around here close to home. It just depends how long we have available and what we want to do. Our latest trip was up North here to a small town on the Betsie River. It is located right next to Sleeping Bear dunes which are great for climbing and a beautiful site!! We have a lot of friends that camp too and we have a blast getting together with them at campgrounds. One of our favorite parts is the campfire, we usually start one around dinner time and keep it going late while we relax and talk and the kids run around. And of course we toast a lot of marshmallows at the fire!! I'm not quite sure if I mentioned that my DH runs a chat on www.RV.net. He is the coordinator for the Class C forum. It is a great site and he has learned alot from all there plus he has made lots of friends. If you get a chance check it out. I think he goes by Hitech on the site but I will check w/him to be sure. Give me a holler and let me know when you plan to be online and we can chat.
Laenie

MomsZoo · #5 (**permalink**) 08-02-2004, 07:30 AM

Hi Laenie!
Sorry it took so long for me to respond, I was having 'puter problems, but I'm back now!

Anyway, thanks so much for all of your info... I've checked out rv.net and absolutely LOVE it! There is so much information there, it's terrific. And... we finally did it! We bought a 2004 Sunseeker on Friday. We camped in the yard all weekend so we could learn a little bit more as it's our very first camper... I'm so excited

I found out more about the personal property tax and it's not as bad as we initially thought so I'm happy!
We're going on our first trip this weekend, actually in your state... we're going to check out the jellystone campground in grand haven. I can't wait, i'm just tickled!!!

Raggd3 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-02-2004, 03:53 PM

Laenie, Thanks for the info. I will go to his site and see what's going on there.

I'm never quite sure when I'll get on, but I'll try to set a good time and let you know. It's been a little hectic the last 2 weeks.

Maryann

Laenie · #7 (**permalink**) 08-04-2004, 01:22 PM

Hey, you'll have to let me know how the Grand Haven Jellystone is, we've camped in quite a few and have always enjoyed them. They seem to have lots of fun things going on and they seem to al follow with good upkeep in the campgrounds.

I haven't been on much lately either, first we were in KY and then when we got back I seem to have a flu thing, been feeling quite yucky and out of it!!

Raggd3 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-05-2004, 06:45 AM

I have some help here today. 4 yr old dgd is putting in the smilies. So if some seem inappropiate that's why.

We are suppposed to leave for Maine this friday, but things aren't working out that way.

The poor camper is waiting, maybe we can go someplace closer.

Maryann

elrey · #9 (**permalink**) 08-27-2004, 03:33 PM

Hi. I just wanted to chime in here. We have a 1965 Winnebago travel trailer that we bought in April 2004. We bought it from an elderly lady. The thing had been parked in her driveway for years. The thing is loaded. Even a hot water heater. Shower. Everything. We put some money into it. New tires and rims,paint, new curtains, carpet and some elbow grease. We bought the thing for 200.00 and I dont think even with that , that we have 1,000.00 into it. We have taken it out a few times. We are just so busy working. Its hard to get away. We love to go to the Salt River and fish.

jnlowe · #10 (**permalink**) 09-09-2004, 11:09 AM

I have to agree with Laenie on the personal property tax and other tax issues.

We bought a 25-ft 2000 Coachmen Pathfinder (Class C) last summer. Sales taxes were high, but it was like buying a car in that respect. However, the notes on it were lower than any car we ever owned because of its being considered a second home and financing available at low homeowner rates over extended time periods.

We really liked the tax break, as well, on the interest paid.

Being our first, and since we are on the road a LOT -- mostly weekend trips, we sure enjoy our motorhome. It is fully loaded and sleeps 6-7 comfortably. I like the separate shower and bathroom availability because my husband HATES to stop for potty breaks on trips. It's a man thing, I think -- "conquer the road" syndrome or something.

We are very sad right now though -- DH got hit with an unfair major child support whack -- long story -- legal loopholes -- so we are paying out $2,000 a month in child support until next summer. YIKES!

That means we have to sell our motorhome and we had so much fun and made so many memories in it. It's actually really good on gas and EASY to drive. I can even drive it! Would have loved a bigger RV, but I would have been scared to drive it.

Anyway, we are sacrificing it at way lower than its value -- if any of you might be interested. Like a family pet, we know we have to get rid of it but we want to be sure it goes to a good home - you know?

Here's a pic of it -

Enjoy your RV's ladies!