How many RVers here?

[ckelly78z]

We currently have a Diesel Limited Excursion pulling a 32' travel trailer, and love it. We mostly do State Parks for their large size spaces, cheaper prices, and quiet demeanor.

When we F.I.R.E., I would love to downsize into a 22-24' Class C motorhome, and pull a small cargo trailer with our kayaks, and dirt bikes/bicycles, have some solar on the roof, and be able to boondock in remote areas.

 

[rk911]

Good advice; I can't imagine living in one of these things let alone raise kids! What a state of affairs that folks resort to this.

some by necessity, many by choice. not our cup of tea but in a normal year we're on the road 5-6 months. I can't imagine staying in hotels, eating every meal at a restaurant and packing/unpacking all the time. diff'rent strokes.

 

[Teacher Terry]

We bought it used with 32k miles on it so not a expensive mistake. We are it’s third owner. Our 4 old dogs never barked. Now we have 2 young ones and couldn’t leave because of barking. Some parks only allow 2 dogs and don’t allow certain breeds. Some parks don’t allow your RV to be over 15-20 years old. We traveled twice for a month and it was a lot of work. One day a hose got loose and the carpet was soaked for days until we drove again with windows open. Occasional stuff like that is no fun. No slide outs because it’s old so with a 27 ft just one long hallway. You are either in bed, sitting in the booth or sitting in the one living room chair. Our month trip last year was 2k cheaper with the car and I didn’t cook like I did with the RV.

 

[NW-Bound]

After 2 months in the motorhome, we started to miss home. We would miss home even sooner if doing a road trip with a car. The exception is doing road trips in Europe, where there's enough change in scenery and culture to keep us occupied.

About trouble with an RV, everyone runs into this. If it's not one thing, it's 'nother. As long as I do not get stranded, I can deal with it. That's why I like to have two motorized vehicles so I can run for help. No cell signals in places we visited in Alaska. No motels. No towns. No nothin'.

 

[rk911]

DW and I travel quite a bit and we have discussed this option many times, but always decide to stick with hotels and a car. In addition to Terry's points, we take the car places that a motorhome type cannot go, and it is also easier to park.

we tow our 4x4 Jeep behind our motorhome so, in our opinion, we have the best of both worlds. these days my wife has mobility issues so we tend to prefer established parks and campgrounds over boondocking.

 

[rk911]

After 2 months in the motorhome, we started to miss home. We would miss home even sooner if doing a road trip with a car. The exception is doing road trips in Europe, where there's enough change in scenery and culture to keep us occupied.

About trouble with an RV, everyone runs into this. If it's not one thing, it's 'nother. As long as I do not get stranded, I can deal with it. That's why I like to have two motorized vehicles so I can run for help. No cell signals in places we visited in Alaska. No motels. No towns. No nothin'.

we've had mega-trouble with our current MH...99% of which were caused by sloppy workmanship, cheap parts (thanks, Lippert) and non-existent quality control. with one or two exceptions everything our dealer has fixed has stayed fixed.

 

[RonBoyd]

We have a 2008 Roadtrek 210 versatile (I only mention that in case you want to look it up). We have put 210,000 miles on it. If you want to see the USA, I can't recommend a Class B more highly. We have camped in Key West, on the beach in downtown Los Angeles, visited every major National Park (and most of the others) -- places we would never have gone to without an RV. We have now been to every mainland State except Alaska. And we have been surprised many times at how pleasantly surprised we were with some States -- Nebraska, for instance, has so much to offer.

My only caution would be that you should make sure you and your partner are 100% compatible. A Class B doesn't allow for much "personal" space. As you have probably figured out, we are "Travelers" not "Campers" -- the two types of RVers. I doubt that a Class B would be that good for "Campers"... unless the two people are very tolerant... extremely so even.


And, like us, you will be able to say, "We been there." -- https://rvlifestyle.com/great-roadside-attractions-across-the-u-s/

 

[RE2Boys]

We are more "camper" than "RVer", if there is any real definitions regarding this way of life. AS you can see from the comments, there is a very wide range of styles and uses of recreational vehicles. About the only thing in common is you sleep off the ground and they have wheels.
We owned a 13 foot, canvas sided pop-up trailer for 18 years. Our two sons were 2 and 4 when we started traveling with the trailer and it has been anywhere from Maine to Florida to Colorado and Montana and Utah. Many weekends and up to three weeks living on the road. Just needed a minivan to tow. Sadly, some wood rot in the roof resulted in my wife and I deciding to "upgrade" just this year. Just today made reservations for a week in the Smokies in October(we live in PA).

Our upgrade still adheres to our camping philosophy of keeping it simple. We primarily like to stay in state parks and abhor resorts or RV parks full of Class A's, packed real tight, want to have space and nature around us. That said, we do pay for electricity 90% of the time. Never hook up to water (do the dishes on the picnic table).

Our upgrade is an A-frame, hard sided, pop-up similar to these: https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/camping-trailers/rockwood-hard-side-pop-up-campers. Air conditioned, furnace, stove, oven, fridge. water heater (but never used). I should note that 25 years ago, wife and I were avid backpacker so are accustomed to keeping thing simple. But my 70 year old back and knees likes the off the ground luxuries. We don't spend much time in camp as we are site-seeing or actively doing things, camp is where we fix simple meals and crash for the night. Tow vehicle now is a mid-size SUV, we get about 20 mpg on the interstate with the camper.

 

[MBAustin]

We bought a 26' Class C in 2012. We are out an average of 30 nights a year, mostly short trips but occasional longer ones - we're heading out in two weeks for a 3+ week trip to see Niagara Falls. So we'll probably hit 40+ nights this year. Don't miss staying in hotels at all, and I prefer cooking to eating restaurant food, so it's great for us.

I second the recommendation to rent for at least several days first.

 

[38Chevy454]

We have a big 44 ft motorhome, it's officially called a truck conversion. Like you see race teams use pulling big stacker trailer. It has a class 8 truck chassis, not a diesel pusher class A. We really rough it, LOL. Usually always tow a vehicle behind the mh to drive around once at destination. No stacker for us. We also take our 3 big dogs most trips. They love traveling and camping.
We've RV'd for approximately 10 years now. Plan for or some snow birding this winter. We lived in ours for 6 months when first retired as we waited for new house to be finished. Now take everything from weekend to 2-3 week trips.
It may not save money, but my comments are that we can go places and do things that are only possible with the motorhome. It's a choice that we decided is worth it for us. Only drawback for our motorhome is the size can limit some camping locations. We probably dry camp half of the time.

 

[Teacher Terry]

We originally bought the RV for the dogs. Last year we traveled with a 80 lb guy and 2 tiny ones. We stayed in motels. Glad things are changing.

 

[Octogirl]

We bought an Airstream Basecamp in 2018 and love it. So far we have only done 4-6 day local trips but having a great time ! We really like meeting others at the camp ground, then seeing the local sights. Of course, camping in TT is not for everyone.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

I picked up a 2006 Class B Sprinter (Great West) this spring. It has 100K miles on it, but the cabin still looks pretty nice. That said, it needs a little suspension refresh, which I'm tackling right now.

DW and I plan to tour the West with it; I'd also like a run at the Alcan, which my DM and DD traveled in the early '50s in a 1949 Ford Business Coupe (wish I could find one of those in decent shape too).

 

[RxMan]

My DW and I are seriously considering buying an RV when it’s time for me to FIRE or even before. We were looking at getting something in 5 years. We want to live in it full time and see the United States and maybe some of Canada as well. We’re even wondering about remote employment options to fund the lifestyle so we can hit the road sooner.

Not sure exactly what we would want but we both currently like the Class As the best so far. We’re actually going to the big RV show in Hershey, PA in the middle of next month to see as many different styles as possible.

We hope to probably get something used to save money. Ironically the new models we look at in Hershey next month may be the model year we end up buying when we’re finally in the market.

I understand that there are downsides to traveling/living this way but I honestly can’t think of a better way to see as much of the country as we’ll see when we hit the road. I’d love to see some national parks and really explore.

As we get within a couple of years away from buying something I will push the DW to take vacations and rent an RV to gain some experience and test the waters to see if we really enjoy it. We’d like to take a trip somewhere in an RV for the next solar eclipse.

We just thought with two dogs this would be a good way to travel. Our initial thought about getting a Class A somewhere in the 32’ to 35’ range was based on comfort features. Living in it full time means we’d want a dry bath and things like a king sized bed if possible. And being able to cook your own meals is a big plus. The plan would be to tow something like a Jeep behind it to explore the areas we visit.

We’ll see. These plans are a work in progress. My wife loves to travel but it’s been tough between finding the time and/or money to do it. I think she thought I’d immediately veto this living in an RV full time idea but I actually like the idea. I’m excited for the prospects of doing this for whatever that’s worth.

 

[NW-Bound]

I picked up a 2006 Class B Sprinter (Great West) this spring. It has 100K miles on it, but the cabin still looks pretty nice. That said, it needs a little suspension refresh, which I'm tackling right now.

DW and I plan to tour the West with it; I'd also like a run at the Alcan, which my DM and DD traveled in the early '50s in a 1949 Ford Business Coupe (wish I could find one of those in decent shape too).

Be sure to take the detour off the Alcan and go on the "Top of the World Highway".

The Sprinter probably can take you on the Dempster Highway, then on to the new "Tuk" road. I did not have time, nor the gut to take my class C and the toad there.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Be sure to take the detour off the Alcan and go on the "Top of the World Highway".

The Sprinter probably can take you on the Dempster Highway, then on to the new "Tuk" road. I did not have time, nor the gut to take my class C and the toad there.

Thanks, I'll check that out.

 

[Major Tom]

I won't be of much help, I'm afraid, as I purchased my used class B only about 6 weeks ago and, with the exception of one overnight stay in my SIL's parking lot, and a day trip to the Gilroy Garlic Festival, have not used it much yet. It's a 26 year-old van, with fairly low miles and in good condition. However, it is still middle-aged and, as such, going through a slight mid-life crisis. Some plastic and rubber parts, gaskets etc have decided to transition to the great RV park in the sky, so I've been effecting a few minor repairs. I'm making a few changes, and basically getting it ship-shape and ready for action.

Considering that I envisaged a happy life on the road with my newfound camper van, I've been having quite a lot of fun with it parked in front of my house. Most days, I'll spend an hour or two pottering around, getting to know the van, fixing the small things, figuring out how everything works, and making plans for future work. This afternoon, after replacing a broken cupboard door latch, and sourcing and ordering a couple of new kitchen drawer slides, I sat back on the sofa, with my feet up on the kitchen cabinetry, thinking to myself, "This is my van. How cool!" Nearly every time I head out to spend an hour or two in it, a neighbor will stop by for a chat. This little class B camper has been good for my social life - and I've hardly driven it anywhere yet.

Sometimes, if I have nothing else to do, I'll head outside and take a nap in it. Basically, this little RV gives me new things to think about and do. There is always a job I can be busying myself with in it, if I need something to do. For the jobs that are outside my skill set, it gives me new opportunities to spend money, paying others to do the work for me

Can anyone else relate to actually having fun with an RV without even driving it anywhere, or am I just a bit soft in the head?

 

[DrRoy]

we tow our 4x4 Jeep behind our motorhome so, in our opinion, we have the best of both worlds. these days my wife has mobility issues so we tend to prefer established parks and campgrounds over boondocking.

We have certainly seen that. Once though, because of a closed interstate in Colorado, we had to take a route to Aspen that had a 28' limit due to very tight turns next to a sheer cliff face.

 

[NW-Bound]

Major Tom, you should take the Roadtrek out for a few more short trips.

How about Point Reyes or Bodega Bay? Or Napa if you like to hang out where there are more human activities? In my RV trips, I alternate between nature and culture destinations to have a variety. You have so many choices around you.

 

[NW-Bound]

We have certainly seen that. Once though, because of a closed interstate in Colorado, we had to take a route to Aspen that had a 28' limit due to very tight turns next to a sheer cliff face.

I drove from Sun Valley, Idaho, through Stanley to Boise to spend some time in the Sawtooth Mountain area.

Highway 21 from Stanley to Boise was exciting enough for my class C with the toad, such that I had a nightmare the night after I drove through that segment.

 

[spncity]

We already owned a truck, so a used fifth wheeler seemed like the best choice for us. It's 37' long, lots of features like 2kw inverter, solar panels, all-season built. But we were planning on selling the house and full-timing for at least two years.

Then we didn't do that, because - - - grandbaby!

So, we've been on trips in the 2-3 month range. Love not having to unpack a suitcase. If we'd known we were not going to full-time, a smaller size would have been fine.

After we get this stage out of our system, I'd love to get a nice used RV in the Sprinter-type category for ease of parking in state/nat'l parks. Or if we got very industrious, outfit our own homemade RV so you know where all the wires and pipes and lines are.

Fortunately, DH can fix most anything - and there's usually something that needs to be fixed.

 

[kgtest]

13 year full-time RVers. Last spring, we bought a winter place in the RGV, since we have been going there nearly every winter. It needs some work.

We plan to spend 6 months in the RGV, and 6 months traveling in our RV. More or less......

We left Texas July 1, and are in the Colorado mountains until early September. Going to Northern Indiana, Southern Michigan until mid October. The heat in South Texas should be tolerable by then.

We have a 40ft fifth wheel, pull it with a diesel pickup. Days on the highway are a pain, but it's nice having the large RV when we are parked.

Having some skill at repairs will save a lot of money. Stay current on repairs, and recognize your limitations.

Also, I keep a spreadsheet of everywhere we have stayed since we started. Wife has minimum standards of electric and water for anything more than one night, so no boondocking.

Average lot rent over 13 years is $18.36 a night. Highest cost month for years was our first back in 2006. It's now our fifth highest.

Very interesting cost data. So For a time, it seemed being a newbie added some cost to that first year...but then it seems the price of it all, or else your quality of living increased putting that first year down into 5th highest.

So it appears the cost of RVing is going up?

 

[Teacher Terry]

3 years ago we paid 55/night to stay in Yellowstone and 75/night to stay in the Grand Tetons Park. In Denver we paid 55/night. I think the cheapest was at a lake run by the state near us at 22/night but no hookups at all.

 

[REWahoo]

Average lot rent over 13 years is $18.36 a night.

Made me look. Our average over the past 8 years is $22.82/night.

Since you are full timers I assume you stay in one location for a month or so and get a nice discount as a result. We don't stay anywhere longer than a week but frequent COE and National Parks which allow us to use our Sr. pass and get 50% off the rack rate.

DW isn't a boondocker so both water and electricity are a requirement.

 

[Janet H]

Another rver here in a vintage Airstream. The suggestion to rent is a great one. There are so many choices.. Small van, mid-sized motorhome, towables in various sizes and in my experience the sort of rving you want to do (kinds of camping) will drive the choices you make.

How you travel and your preferred destinations (posh resorts, busy family campgrounds, remote places, etc...) may drive decisions about what sort of rig to get.

When I "graduated" from tent camper to rv, we rented a variety of things for week long trips and rapidly crossed many options off the list. We started with a tent trailer (popup) and worked our way through some larger towables and then small to mid-sized motorhomes. There were valuable lessons learned along the way about travel habits and most especially finding a good fit for the right type of rv for the sorts of places we wanted to visit. This process was a little like Goldilocks finding the right bed but well worth it.