If you lease and only need somewhere to stay during deer season, would it be cheaper to buy an RV or just stay in an inexpensive motel?

After I retired, I sold my RV to my SIL because I decided to stop spending so much time at the lease throughout the year. While that may sound like a backwards approach, I decided I didn't require as much "off the job therapy" as I did when I was living the corporate/career life. I also felt I had been spending too much time and money throughout the year so I've just been staying in a local motel whenever I decide to hunt during the season. I'm the only person leasing the property and all I do now is show up and hunt. I've done the math and I can stay in the motel for ten nights ($70/night) for what I was paying just for year-round utilities at my old lease and have zero maintenance costs and hassle. I could but a new RV or build some type of cheap cabin but would seem to put me right back in the position of paying utilities and having to deal with maintenance. I also don't want to hassle with a generator and transporting water. My lease is a small one (80 acres) and I like to keep it as quiet as possible.

Am I missing anything? Are there any others who have found the motel approach works well for them?

I will add the motel costs are easier to recognize since I was previously paying for utilities on a monthly basis and not paying much attention to the annual cost.

TIA

Flip a coin

How far are you from the property in a hotel?

15 minutes from the hotel to the property and about an hour and forty-five minutes from the house to the property. There's also a McDonald's that opens at 5am that makes for grabbing a bite on the way in the mornings.

I can see the motel approach as being much outside the box from what I have always done in the past.

I tried the motel thing this season, but it didn’t work out. 2 hours from home to lease, 30-60 minutes to town depending on how nice a place to stay and road construction. The final straw was truck getting vandalized at motel. $350 to get window glass replaced and re-tinted. Took a while to find a used rv in my area, but got it hauled down and setup last week. Still working out some maintenance issues with the rv. Glad I don’t have to get up at 4 am now.

My biggest concern staying at a motel would be getting stuff stolen and/or your truck broken into.

Small RV or even a small shed with would be a good choice

I’ve done both, I much prefer the RV route.

Just rent an RV and have the best of both worlds

Does the motel have metal or plastic trash cans/burn barrels?

Good idea

RV puts you on the property with a more immersive experience, but since this is only for deer season, will cost you a LOT of money. Close motel will be cheaper for most folks.

RV gives you more freedom and privacy. Motel gives you more comfort.

RV requires upkeep., Motel does not.

RV can be accessed any time. Motel will require reservations.

My answer, many years ago, was to buy a very used and inexpensive travel trailer for the lease. I’d have gotten by even cheaper, but the wife got involved. She wanted creature comforts and a big bathroom. I’d probably take the same approach again.

For the situation the OP described, i would do a motel

Thanks for the replies.

As is the case with so many things in life, it becomes a matter of dealing with change. Over time, you begin to recognize there was a better way that brings benefits you would have otherwise missed.

I’d go the RV route. We had the same dilemma but ended up with a camper and love being able to stay on the property. Less time driving and more time to enjoy the property.

I prefer a tent.
Adios,
Gary

I would prefer the RV to stay on the property, even if it costs more in the long run. When I go out for a hunting and/or work weekend, I want to be in the woods the whole time. I have no interest in spending any time in town for that time or driving back and forth.

I did the hotel thing for several years on a lease near Childress. Land owner didn’t want RVs parked on his property. Worked out fine. Just a different routine. In some cases it was nicer because we could get a hot shower. The pop up I had back then didn’t have a bathroom.

You are the one that has to decide. What anyone else thinks means squat.

Get a nice blind and sleep in it. I have an 8x6 with a bed in it. Jet Boil for hot water and freeze dried food (mostly breakfast which is pretty dang good and MRE’s with a heater for dinner) Blackout curtains for night-time interior light and iPad use. External propane tank for Big Buddy and one of those toilet seat-5 gallon bucket things for #2. Driveway alarm at the feeder for night time hog engagements. I thinks it’s a great setup. If I’m at the lease, I’m in the stand for the most part. Alternatively, get a container done up as quarters.

I had a 5th Wheel trailer at the lease for a couple years, what a pain in the azz is the short story.

Charlie

Also if you have use for an RV outside of deer season then I would go that route. We use our camper year round at the campgrounds and beach. Deer season is the only time we don’t travel with it.

I did the motel thing for the one year we had a very small lease outside of Comanche years ago. Worked out fine. Since then we have a trailer pretty much set up permanently at our lease. I think the theft problem has gotten much worse concerning motel parking now.

Our campsite at one lease was a wood platform 8x10, with wood walls that were covered up to about 4 foot high. A tarp covered the roof and came down to create about 3 more foot of wall.. It was based on the bivouac camps of WWII in England, that were made out of shipping crate lumber and GI tent halves. We survived snow storms, rain, heat and rattle snakes in the "shed". inside were 3 cots, a Coleman stove, a lantern and a small cabinet area. A card table and folding chairs, that went from inside to outside depending on the weather. We scrounged the lumber, bought the nails and the tarps.

You can buy a hell of a lot of hotel rooms for the price of a trailer. Hot showers are nice too.

The thing i worry about now days with motel is BEDBUGS!!!! Just my