New to the RV World with a Question
I have never owned or traveled in an RV so I am a COMPLETE NOVICE. However, as I am now retired and would like to travel with a friend and our little dog and since airplane travel is becoming more of...
Forum Discussion
Welcome! More research. Your probably in the ball park w/ a 23-26' Class C as a first purchase. It will be easier to learn, use & drive. Operating costs will be kinder, especially with the newer Ford, Dodge, or Sprinter chassis vs a V-10 gasser.
Now...look at the floor plans. Find some that are appealing and meet your needs. THEN, find one and take a walk through. Open doors, drawers, beds, shower, lav. Walk through how you expect to use it by pretending to wash the dishes, cook a meal, make coffee... take a shower, set up/break down the bed. Watch TV. Some designs look great on paper but are a big fat pain when you try to use it. Headroom OK? The bedroom set up is REAL important.....
Construction and assembly ... RVs are a box and almost all the parts are thrown in. Some re-assembly is required. Quality varies even within the same model by the same mfgr. Open the drawers. Dig into the cabinets. Dig deep into the compartments. Do things fit well? Any broken wood structure? Missing screws, bolts, small bits? Does the wall paper match patterns? Upholstery stitching perfect and true? You get the idea. Its in the details.
Sit in the cab awhile. You spend a hell of a lot of time there. Its got to be comfortable and the HVAC first class (cabs are like green houses!!) Seats perfect for a long sit? Controls handy & easy to use? Can you easily slip from the cab to the coach? Or, do you have to climb over, around, through a "dog house" between the seats???? Is it QUIET when running on the road and ideling?????
Does the coach AC cool adequately and distribute air well. Is it QUIET???? If ducted..do all the ducts work?
Generators come in flavors: gas, diesel or LP. For your proposed use an LP is likely the best choice.
IMPORTANT: On the driver's door sill is a data plate. You want to know the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, towing rating, & Combined Vehicle Weight Rating. On the passenger side door or sill is the Occupant & Cargo Carrying Capacity (OCCC). OCCC is how much the RV can carry (people, water, cargo). WHY????
You want a pretty big OCCC. Big as you can...RVer's take a lot of "stuff" and you dont want to be overloaded.
Then, you start looking at interior/exterior materials, colors, and the like.
We bought our second RV at CW. We didn't get a "deal". We got a fair price on a Sprinter based 4 Winds Ventura class B. The AC sucked here in Texas heat and sun. They replaced without charge with a larger unit. No fuss. Our next was from the local Winne dealer. Again, a good experience. It's all about how you approach things.
Now...look at the floor plans. Find some that are appealing and meet your needs. THEN, find one and take a walk through. Open doors, drawers, beds, shower, lav. Walk through how you expect to use it by pretending to wash the dishes, cook a meal, make coffee... take a shower, set up/break down the bed. Watch TV. Some designs look great on paper but are a big fat pain when you try to use it. Headroom OK? The bedroom set up is REAL important.....
Construction and assembly ... RVs are a box and almost all the parts are thrown in. Some re-assembly is required. Quality varies even within the same model by the same mfgr. Open the drawers. Dig into the cabinets. Dig deep into the compartments. Do things fit well? Any broken wood structure? Missing screws, bolts, small bits? Does the wall paper match patterns? Upholstery stitching perfect and true? You get the idea. Its in the details.
Sit in the cab awhile. You spend a hell of a lot of time there. Its got to be comfortable and the HVAC first class (cabs are like green houses!!) Seats perfect for a long sit? Controls handy & easy to use? Can you easily slip from the cab to the coach? Or, do you have to climb over, around, through a "dog house" between the seats???? Is it QUIET when running on the road and ideling?????
Does the coach AC cool adequately and distribute air well. Is it QUIET???? If ducted..do all the ducts work?
Generators come in flavors: gas, diesel or LP. For your proposed use an LP is likely the best choice.
IMPORTANT: On the driver's door sill is a data plate. You want to know the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, towing rating, & Combined Vehicle Weight Rating. On the passenger side door or sill is the Occupant & Cargo Carrying Capacity (OCCC). OCCC is how much the RV can carry (people, water, cargo). WHY????
You want a pretty big OCCC. Big as you can...RVer's take a lot of "stuff" and you dont want to be overloaded.
Then, you start looking at interior/exterior materials, colors, and the like.
We bought our second RV at CW. We didn't get a "deal". We got a fair price on a Sprinter based 4 Winds Ventura class B. The AC sucked here in Texas heat and sun. They replaced without charge with a larger unit. No fuss. Our next was from the local Winne dealer. Again, a good experience. It's all about how you approach things.
