Hi Everyone,I'm deciding what type of RV to purchase. A little bit about me:50 year old womanDivorcedGrown KidsSelf Employed (can work from anywhere)Driving experience: Airplanes, Buses, Boats, Trucks pulling trailers, Cars, Tractors, Drove an older RV years ago. I'm mentioning this because I'm very comfortable behind the wheel.What I'm looking to do: I'll park and live in the RV for months at a time and would like the freedom to move back and forth from beach town to mountain town. I take frequent business trips (3 days at a time) sometimes on a weekly basis . . . I'm mentioning this because I may not run the water etc for a few days at a time.What is important to me: (this is what I've thought about so far)Efficiency (fuel, utilities, etc)Well insulatedNice appliances (love to cook) Easy hookup, easy maintenanceI don't need anything fancy, definitely want to start with something used, I don't need a lot of space but would like to be comfortable.Thoughts, insight, opinions . . . . . . .greatly appreciated.Thanks

So many ways to live in one of these critters. I'm very partial to my 2008 Vista Mini 4230 on the sprinter chassis (diesel, 25ft, 15+ mpg) but that's just me. Boondocks for 4 days easy. So my recommendation is look at floor plans to see what excites you and falls within your budget. Shop, shop, search, research and then do it some more. Don't limit your area searching either. I saved close to 20k simply by flying to the dealer and driving the rig home. Of course I also had two other dealers in the same area with similar rigs in case I needed a backup plan - I didn't, the dealer I worked with (Pedata in Tucson) even paid my airfare.

Go to some RV shows to check out different options available. You many not buy new but it should give you lots of ideas.When you leave for 3 days at a time, turn your water off and retract the awnings. You don't want to return just to find out one of your water pipes started leaking the first night or a gust of wind tossed your awning into your neighbor's yard.Self-employed, work from anywhere - via Internet? Carrying inventory with you? Providing services?

I would be looking for a late model travel trailer (or even 5th wheel) from one of the premium manufacturers of "4 season" trailers like Northwood Manufacturing with a suitable tow vehicle. As stated previously, since you are going to be living in it nearly full time, a floor plan that you like and find livable is very important. Start looking at different floor plans, and picture yourself living in each one. Try standing at the stove and sink as if you were cooking. Sit at the dinette, try the shower, sit on the stool, etc. to see what will work for your life style. If this is your only home, you will need generous storage, which probably means a little bigger.With a towable - as opposed to a self powered RV - you only have on engine and drive train to maintain, so normal day to day costs, as well as original purchase price, should be lower.Start kicking some tires - you will begin to start getting ideas of what make sense to you ...

One possibility might be a well made truck camper. You only have one vehicle, but you still can leave your home behind in camp while you run around in your truck. First, find the camper, then get the truck. Joy of this rig is that you will end up with enough truck to move up into hauling a trailer or a fifth wheel if you find you need more space. Many of the smaller rigs have very little counter space, and we both like to cook too so that is something to consider.

Stillpoint wrote:Hi Everyone,I'm deciding what type of RV to purchase. A little bit about me:50 year old womanDivorcedGrown KidsSelf Employed (can work from anywhere)Driving experience: Airplanes, Buses, Boats, Trucks pulling trailers, Cars, Tractors, Drove an older RV years ago. I'm mentioning this because I'm very comfortable behind the wheel.What I'm looking to do: I'll park and live in the RV for months at a time and would like the freedom to move back and forth from beach town to mountain town. I take frequent business trips (3 days at a time) sometimes on a weekly basis . . . I'm mentioning this because I may not run the water etc for a few days at a time.What is important to me: (this is what I've thought about so far)Efficiency (fuel, utilities, etc)Well insulatedNice appliances (love to cook) Easy hookup, easy maintenanceI don't need anything fancy, definitely want to start with something used, I don't need a lot of space but would like to be comfortable.Thoughts, insight, opinions . . . . . . .greatly appreciated.ThanksWith those kinds of creditials, why mess with a RV? Surely there is some guy out there who would love to hook up with you in a home.

RV Purchase Question | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

Artum_Snowbird
Explorer
Jul 28, 2013
One possibility might be a well made truck camper. You only have one vehicle, but you still can leave your home behind in camp while you run around in your truck.

First, find the camper, then get the truck. Joy of this rig is that you will end up with enough truck to move up into hauling a trailer or a fifth wheel if you find you need more space.

Many of the smaller rigs have very little counter space, and we both like to cook too so that is something to consider.
Bill___Kate
Explorer
Jul 28, 2013
I would be looking for a late model travel trailer (or even 5th wheel) from one of the premium manufacturers of "4 season" trailers like Northwood Manufacturing with a suitable tow vehicle. As stated previously, since you are going to be living in it nearly full time, a floor plan that you like and find livable is very important. Start looking at different floor plans, and picture yourself living in each one. Try standing at the stove and sink as if you were cooking. Sit at the dinette, try the shower, sit on the stool, etc. to see what will work for your life style. If this is your only home, you will need generous storage, which probably means a little bigger.

With a towable - as opposed to a self powered RV - you only have on engine and drive train to maintain, so normal day to day costs, as well as original purchase price, should be lower.

Start kicking some tires - you will begin to start getting ideas of what make sense to you ...
HappyKayakers
Explorer III
Jul 28, 2013
Go to some RV shows to check out different options available. You many not buy new but it should give you lots of ideas.

When you leave for 3 days at a time, turn your water off and retract the awnings. You don't want to return just to find out one of your water pipes started leaking the first night or a gust of wind tossed your awning into your neighbor's yard.

Self-employed, work from anywhere - via Internet? Carrying inventory with you? Providing services?
DKeppner
Explorer
Jul 28, 2013
So many ways to live in one of these critters. I'm very partial to my 2008 Vista Mini 4230 on the sprinter chassis (diesel, 25ft, 15+ mpg) but that's just me. Boondocks for 4 days easy.

So my recommendation is look at floor plans to see what excites you and falls within your budget. Shop, shop, search, research and then do it some more. Don't limit your area searching either. I saved close to 20k simply by flying to the dealer and driving the rig home. Of course I also had two other dealers in the same area with similar rigs in case I needed a backup plan - I didn't, the dealer I worked with (Pedata in Tucson) even paid my airfare.

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