Overview

• Marie L. Mangin and her husband bought a compact 1990s camper on impulse at an auto show for retirement travel.
• An initial overnight and a four-day music festival without water or electricity exposed severe space limits, with the 1.83‑meter husband unable to stand inside.
• The couple reported undisclosed defects, including a broken generator and a faulty microwave, compounding usability problems.
• After paying for tires, airbags and a windshield, plus insurance, maintenance and storage, they sold the van to a smaller couple and say they recouped their outlay.
• They now plan car-based road trips with budget stays, while financial voices such as Margo Armstrong caution that ongoing RV expenses often outweigh the benefits for many buyers.