Dreaming of an RV

[herbgeek]

One of my hobbies is researching RVs that I might want. I'll likely never do it (due to cost), but I like to dream of the possibilities. I would like to someday drive around the country for a summer this way.

I particularly like small footprint (aka Class B) Rv's versus the huge trailers with bump outs. But I wonder if the small area would have me and hubby at each other's throats. I think that having a compartment that could be closed off could be a life saver. :laff: I like the idea that he could be off watching a movie and I can be surfing the internet up front.

My current favorite is this one: http://www.pleasureway.com/plateauRB.php Page down for the floorplan on the lower right.

The things I like about this model are the penisula/extended kitchen work surface, and the doors that shut into a separate compartment. What I don't like is the cramped feeling of the rest of the vehicle when the door is closed. I go back and forth between a fixed bedroom and one that is a sofa during the day, and converts at night. I don't know if that would get old having to do that every day, but it does give additional versatility.

For RV owners: what features do you like and why? If you could add a feature to your current RV, what would it be?

[Alan]

We currently have this B+ model: http://www.canadream.com/rvSales.aspx?id=874
It's a 28 footer with 3 slideouts, and I have to admit, if we're out for more than a few weeks I start to feel really cramped in it.

Our plan is to start full-timing (or more accurately, half-timing) in a few years. We've decided that for months at a time living, we'll need a smaller Class A. This is the one that currently has my attention: http://romvt.home.comcast.net/~romvt/trek.htm It's about the same length as our current Class B+ although it's interior is designed in such a way as to provide much more livable and comfortable space. I do weekly internet searches of used ones with a diesel engine. When I find the right one, we're gonna make the step up.

[Kestra]

Count me in as an RV dreamer as well. Especially at this time of year. Just want to drive south. For shorter trips I think a class B would be good, but for half or full timing as we might do eventually I'm leaning towards a fifth wheel. Like the idea of being able to just drive the truck around so we can go to more touristy stops. And DH is good with the mechanical stuff so I'm not worried about the unhooking and what not. If it was just me I might already be living in a van.

For things I want, I agree about the separate areas. Have been looking at fifths that have a bedroom up front then a kids bunk room in the back with a door etc. We usually sleep separately but apart from that I think it'd be good to have our own space as needed. Washer and dryer would be great too. And solar panels. Might go to the RV show next year just for kicks. It's a long way off for us so who knows what RV changes will happen in 15-20 years.

[loosechickens]

Well, we lived in a VW Vanagon camper van for over two years, here in the U.S. and traveling and living in Mexico and Central America. We managed fine, although I will have to say that rainy season in Nicaragua tested even this very placid, companionable marriage.

When we got back to the States, and sold the van and got a truck and a 26 ft. travel trailer, we thought we had died and gone to heaven, because there were DOORS we could close for each of us to have some privacy and quiet. We could close the door between bedroom and living area, and one of us could have the radio on and the other could be reading in peace and quiet. It was WONDERFUL.........

A lot depends on where you travel and in what weathers. If you're in an area and time of year where you can spend a lot of time outdoors, then a van or other class B vehicle can be fine, but will be pretty "companionable" during a series of rainy days, etc.

Sometimes in the van, especially during rainy seasons, just the sound of the other person CHEWING was annoying, so having that blessed door between us in the travel trailer made it seem like the Taj Mahal for sure.

It's actually a good time to buy an RV now, prices are depressed beyong measure.....lots of people financially stressed and looking to unload units. Better deals from private owners than from dealers usually, but there are some real bargains out there right now.

[Stella]

I'm an RV dreamer too! DH and I have been discussing saving for a travel trailer. We have a large family, so we want one with a bunkroom in the back and a regular bedroom in the front. Kind of like this. (http://www.leescountryrv.com/bunkhouse-travel-trailers.html)

DH's work is somewhat seasonal and the ability to travel would open up some opportunities for him. Plus we just like to travel. We're homeschoolers so we have a lot of flexibility. If it allowed DH to take advantage of a couple of extra months of work it could easily pay for itself in a pretty short period of time. We have no house payment, so I think it may be feasible for us in the future.

[reader99]

FWIW, I've heard that South Florida is a good place to find good used RVs. The old folks get done traveling and sell the RV when they settle down.

[Kestrel]

We currently have this: http://www.northwoodmfg.com/index.php?page=model&make=arctic&id=217 .

It works really well for us. Plenty of room, and a rear bathroom! One of the things I insist on is a big bathroom. DH is extremely handy and has fixed up a lot of little things on it, and I keep finding things for him to do :-D ... We've not made more than a couple of week-long trips, but we're enjoying it.

About 20 years ago we lived in a 34' fifth-wheel for two years, and we loved it! Never traveled with it tho; it was parked the whole time. After that we had a 20', I think, motorhome, and took a couple of month-long trips in it, and had a great time. After moving to Boise we sold the motorhome and bought a 27' fifth wheel, which just didn't work for us, and sold it about a month later. We bought the Nash trailer about two years ago.

[boss mare]

I show horses and the rig that I used to have was a pick up with a camper and a bumper pull horse trailer The problem with that and would also be if somene had a motorhome with out towing along a car is that once you park, if you want/need go to the store or elsewhere, you need to pack it all up and move the whole thing to go. I currently have a a pick with a gooseneck horse trailer with living quarters which I can unhook the truck and I am more mobile if need to be
The other thing is maintance: especially leaking roofs...My current trailer had ended up with leaking from the side seams The caulking had gotten brittle and old the leak was beween the outside wall and the interior was never wet looking but it all pooled on the floor underneath between the plywood subfloor and linomuioem ( sp?) I ended having the entire interior taken out ( cabinets stove shower toleit etc for them to replace the entire floor people area The horse part had aluminmum floors with rubber mats and was fine

[Kathy WI]

A couple months ago I bought a school bus that has been converted to an RV, also known as a "skoolie". I love my bus more than life itself. Before buying it, I looked at different kinds of RVs online and was checking Craigslist for months. I started jonesing for an RV after a trip to San Diego last summer where we saw lots of old (70's) Class C motorhomes everywhere. I thought that I would like a Class C because it's just enough space for our family of three, and it's easy to find used ones cheap, anywhere from $1500 to $5000. Then I looked at a few of them that I found on Craigslist. A lot of older motorhomes have leaky roof problems, and the roofs have to be resealed regularly. It's really hard to tell with an older one if the roof leak has been fixed and the water damage to the ceiling is old, or if it still leaks. I'm not trying to be a big downer, really! It's just that once I started looking at older used motorhomes, a lot of stuff seemed really complicated, like figuring out the electrical systems, what runs on batteries and what runs on the generator, plumbing system (somebody else's used RV toilet...eww).

The reason I got interested in skoolies is that I really like designing my own space. With the motorhomes, everything is built in and you can't really change anything; all the upholstery is matchy matchy and you're stuck with the arrangement of furniture. If you do a skoolie yourself, it's like a blank slate, and you can do whatever you want. The one I got was already converted, but it doesn't have plumbing, a generator, or anything like that, which I like because I don't want to deal with that stuff. Most people do put plumbing and battery/generator power in, some do solar panels. You can do as much or as little as you want. Another advantage is that everything is made of metal and the roof will not leak.

I definitely like the idea of having a separate bedroom and not having to take apart a dinette or unfold a couch to make a bed every time.

Here's how the bus was when I got it: http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/hh192/BlueJalopy/Bus/?action=view&current=BusBefore.jpg

And here's how it looks now: http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/hh192/BlueJalopy/Bus/?action=view&current=BusAfter.jpg

I think it will be a work in progress forever!

[Stella]

Kathy that looks like fun!

[boss mare]

Something that looks fun to me. These women fix ujp old vintage travel trailers and do things together Once I get some of goals completed on Cooper ( the horse in my avatar picture ) I think I would like to look into some other activies like this : www.sistersonthefly.com

[Marianne]

I was shocked when DH told me that he'd love to try the full time RV life. It took a few months for me to get the idea worked through my mind, maybe I still am debating the entire thing. Big step, ya know? We have friends that are now RV'ing full time and they love it.

I saw a show on the tube, RV Crazy (?), something like that. Wow, what fun. Couple of people said to get the older models as they can be changed without compromising structural integrity.

[loosechickens]

Marianne.......check out www.escapees.com for lots and lots of information and links to the fulltimer lifestyle. The Escapees are a wonderful organization (we are lifetime members ourselves), and a great source of information, support and community.

[Spartana]

I've also been an RV dreamer and posted here many times asking questions to decide if it was something I wanted to do or not - especially since I will be a "Homeless Wanderer" soon. But in the end I decided against it. I have found that for me travelling alone with just a small dog, it is MUCH MUCH cheaper to go in my own vehicle (currently a Ford Ranger with a shell-thingie) and do a mix of tent camping, budget motels, and off-season vacation house rentals for longer stays. I have spent alot of time crunching all the financial numbers - including the costy to buy a used RV, nightly, weekly and monthly RV Park or campground rates including hook-ups, fuel (diesel and gas), maintenance & repairs, insurance and registration, possible storage fees when not in use, and the cost for the tow vehicle. And in the end RV travel was too expensive for me. Although if you are staying put for a month or longer at one RV Park or boondocking then that greatly reduces expenses. There is also the "hassle-factor" for me. I like just hoping in my car/truck and going with a few things. Stop when I want, park where I want, camp or motel it, etc.. NO hassling with a big rig and a tow vehicle. And if you saw my "Luxury African Safari" tent camping set up (only missing the white linens table clothes and porters fanning me with palm fronds while I sip my gin and tonic :-)!) then you'd see that "roughing it" ain't so rough! heck I even have a full size "real" bed! I only set this up if I'm staying for a week or longer in one place, otherwise I just stay in a budget motel or small tent if in transit. I also have a big screen room and this is something that can give you a bit of privacy and make your RV not feel so cramped if you are travelling with a spouse or kids. One person can stay in the RV watching TV while the other is in the quiet screen room reading a book while in a comfy chair - gin and tonic in hand :-)!

[Marianne]

Marianne.......check out www.escapees.com for lots and lots of information and links to the fulltimer lifestyle. The Escapees are a wonderful organization (we are lifetime members ourselves), and a great source of information, support and community.

I have looked at their site! :o) Our friends said they were told to join three RV clubs. That would pretty much give them discounts wherever they went. Unfortunately, I can't remember the other ones that were suggested...too early in the morning, the brain hasn't really engaged yet.

[freein05]

Spartana here are two blogs of older single women who live full time in their rvs with their dogs.

http://dewelldesigns.blogspot.com/
http://rvsueandcrew.wordpress.com/

[Spartana]

Spartana here are two blogs of older single women who live full time in their rvs with their dogs.

http://dewelldesigns.blogspot.com/
http://rvsueandcrew.wordpress.com/

Awesome websites and great photos - Thanks. But you're giving ne wanderlust :-)! It seems much more common now for single women - of all ages - to do full time RVing. I think it's a great way to live - especially if you are really active and like to get out in the great outdoors like I do. Nothing like stepping out your front door in a beautiful setting right at a trail head for a long morning trail run, hike or mountain bike ride. But I don't actually like to travel full time and like living in one place much of the year so am not really interested in doing RVing full time. But, even part time it WOULD be nice to have a place to leave the doggy unattended while I go off on my own (something I struggle with staying in a tent or motel - even some vacation rentals). I especially like the little 16 foot Casitas & Scamp trailers - or even a small pop-up tent trailer - since I could tow those behind my truck (has a V-6), park them for as long as I want, and just use the truck. Hmmmm... OK now you've got me seriously thinking about it again. Probably my only problem with owning any kind of RV is that I plan to rent small place (apt or condo in the city) for several months during the summer and the winter in different parts of the country (travel in the spring and fall) and would need to deal with the storage issue at each new place I went to. Plus I like the flexibility to just "go" on the spur of the moment very unencumbered, and to go places where you couldn't take an RV, so it probably wouldn't work for that reason anyways. Plus I don't cook or need all the storage and stuff in an RV either. Plus I like the social night life of being closer to a town instead of out in the boonies all the time. OK, have talked myself back out of it again - and who says women are fickle :-)!!