How Long Should my Class C Be?
I live in LA and have been thinking it would be good to find an RV 19 feet (or under) so I can park in a regulation parking spot. That being said, I CAN park on my block even if it's a little long...
Forum Discussion
From reading the forums, it seems that most people's RV ownership path includes several "upgrades" to bigger units until they find the right fit. But that's not always true, bigger for bigger's sake isn't best.
Could you rent a few different lengths for a weekend each and learn what you like/don't like? I rented first - with no intention of buying an RV, just thought it would be a fun way to travel on that particular trip. It was the standard 24' Class C floor plan. I liked the rear corner bed and having the overhead bunk for spare clothes and whatever. I also liked that the length felt roomy enough inside for two adults and two large dogs, even on rainy days, but still didn't feel too large to drive wherever I wanted. Was able to park wherever I wanted...and travel roads with length restrictions in national parks.
Fast forward five years and I bought a unit just under 26' because it has a unique floor plan that I really love (and the standard 24' floor plan is usually about 25' in actual length so this was about the same length I was anticipating). That's key: find a floor plan that REALLY works for your lifestyle and travel style.
I love RV shows just because I love RV-ing. One of the dealers knows me and teases me about when I'm going to buy a bigger RV. But I've never found anything that compares to the one I chose, because I went about it very thoughtfully and took my time considering at all my options. I think renting first gave me much better ability to do that. I hope it lasts forever, because I don't know what I'd want to replace it with!
Could you rent a few different lengths for a weekend each and learn what you like/don't like? I rented first - with no intention of buying an RV, just thought it would be a fun way to travel on that particular trip. It was the standard 24' Class C floor plan. I liked the rear corner bed and having the overhead bunk for spare clothes and whatever. I also liked that the length felt roomy enough inside for two adults and two large dogs, even on rainy days, but still didn't feel too large to drive wherever I wanted. Was able to park wherever I wanted...and travel roads with length restrictions in national parks.
Fast forward five years and I bought a unit just under 26' because it has a unique floor plan that I really love (and the standard 24' floor plan is usually about 25' in actual length so this was about the same length I was anticipating). That's key: find a floor plan that REALLY works for your lifestyle and travel style.
I love RV shows just because I love RV-ing. One of the dealers knows me and teases me about when I'm going to buy a bigger RV. But I've never found anything that compares to the one I chose, because I went about it very thoughtfully and took my time considering at all my options. I think renting first gave me much better ability to do that. I hope it lasts forever, because I don't know what I'd want to replace it with!
