Recommendations needed

Choosing and buying a used or new RV and modifying it for special use is a complex matter. Recommend you get (and take advice) from established rescue groups before making plans for rescue transporting and making contacts in other states to find dogs homes. Also, get advice on using/modifying an RV or other vehicle from rescue groups as well as interstate regulations. Single-handed transporting, camping, and exercising a number of dogs in hot or stormy weather may not be practical/doable. Admire your wanting to do this!!!

SusieMaria wrote:
Hello,
I just started a non profit animal rescue organization. My plan is to buy (or acquire) a small Class C RV to transport Phoenix shelter dogs to other shelters in states where they will get adopted more quickly. I will only be doing two to three long distance transports a year. I want something under 21 feet. Any recommendations?

I have never owned an RV before and I will be doing all the driving on my own. ThanksSue

If you are buying the RV so you don't have to stay at motels?

2 or 3 trips per year doesn't justify the cost of buying/maintaining/storing a MH.

Most CG's have number of dog allowed, weight limit of dogs, and banned breed restrictions.

IMHO, JMHO 'planning' on taking in dogs to ship to other states is not an appropriate way to practice rescue. It spreads infectious diseases, etc.,etc. Not to mention you need to look into 'interstate transportation of dogs'. Albiet you will not be regulated by the Federal AWA act, but if by chance you get pulled over with numerous dogs in your vehicle as shelter relocations and they see just one infraction, it will quickly come into question that you are in violation of not having a license for interstate transportation of animals. And being a non-profit is not going to get you out of it. Just saying.

I think a cargo van would be the best choice for you. It will be an empty canvas, and you can have several cages stacked together and held fast against the walls, plus it will be more economical than driving around a heavy motorhome, with too much wasted space.

Are you planning on carrying the dogs in the motorhome or having a trailer with the dogs? I'd think the latter would be handier overall. With a trailer, you might be able to use a class B rather than a class C. I'd think the driving would be less stressful, too, than with a number of dogs that may or may not appreciate each other or riding down the road in the same compartment.

If you're wanting to keep the length down due to concerns about driving, it's my experience/opinion that the length has not a lot of effect on how hard the RV is to drive on the road, although it does impact maneuverability in confined areas like gas stations etc. I have to pay much more attention to my width and my height than to my length. If there are other reasons, like how much room you have available for storage, that's a different matter altogether.

Plan on staying at Walmarts etc. for overnight stops

Most CGs have 2 dog limits.....and breed restrictions on pit bulls (which are abundant in Phoenix Shelters) plus rotties, mastifs, shepards, dobies etc.

Course you might get a spot in state/national campgrounds if handy/mot full

How many dogs do you expect to transport at one time? Will they all be small dogs or might you have large dogs also?

While the class C would offer the full kitchen and bathroom, as well as the cabover bed (allowing you to keep bedding, etc., away from the dogs), it won't be great if you need to crate the dogs.

A cargo van would be a much better choice for transporting in crates. You could use a mattress pad that can be rolled up during the day for a bed, but you'd be on the floor with the dog crates. You could have a cooler and a camp stove for a "kitchen", but wouldn't have a bathroom (you might be able to do a porta potty depending on how many dogs you're transporting.

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