[mikepurvis]

Depending on your circumstances, it may not be possible to seriously consider it, but another alternative to rent-vs-buy might include various van/camper/coach options, which can be parked for months at a time at "seasonal" campsites, often for $500-1000/month.

Obviously equipment like this isn't going to appreciate either, and you'll be subject to all the same maintenance costs of owning, so in some ways it's the worst of both worlds— but it may still be cheaper than trying to rent if you can't or won't enter the market right now and mooching from family isn't an option.