Beginning RVer
I am a 61 retired school teacher. My husband is 62 and retired from the Air Force. We live in San Antonio, TX.About 4 years ago, before I retired, we decided to sell our home which we lived in for 27 ...
Forum Discussion
We are not fulltimers but longtimers(7-8 months per year in the RV.) we have had four RVs since 1998.
We LOVE RVing and are toying with going fulltime for a few years. Family issues keep me close to our "home base." I am excited for you as you ponder if this is for you. Lots to learn and I encourage you to become informed before you purchase, not after!! Here is a long list of things to considerm some thoughts and I sure it is not complete.
For fulltime RVing I would recommend you look at Class A MH. Better visibility when driving/parked, front chairs turn around(most) and become part of the living space, and usually much better storage and access.
Most Class Cs will have an overhang bed, some will have a rear bedroom. I want and need a bed I can access day and night and walk around/easily change sheets.
Most Class As tend to ride a bit better and yes they may need some extra items added to really drive well (trac bars, safety Plus etc.) just as all Cs do.
You need to start looking with the checkbook left at home. Salesman will often tell you what you want to hear which is not always the best for you. Do your research on quality/longevity of different manufacturers. Quality can go up and down over the years.
Get into as many RVs as you can and spend some time looking around. Check livability - where do you sit, eat sleep. Storage - where will everything go - upper cabinets may be plentiful but will likely be much shallower than house cupboards. Clothing - where does it go and how much? How much safe carrying capacity do you have? Storage tank capacity - fuel, grey/black/fresh. How accessible are the dumping pulls and hookups? Bathroom/shower - big enough to be comfortable in?
Owning an RV can be an expensive proposition. Some mechanical skills are a bonus........ wish I had some. Will you tow a car? Can your current car be towed? Setting up any car for towing will cost between $2-5k depending upon what you will need. Where will you travel and park? Fuel and overnight fees can rack up quickly. There are some ways to reduce that - weekly vs daily stays, some membership options, staying at Walmarts that allow overnighting as well truck stops, ways to pay less at commercial parks and the list goes on.
Read about and understand the weight capacity of the RV. Read and understand about tires - good looking older tires may be unsafe due to interior cracking. 6 New Tires can be very costly. Tire manufacturer matters.
You may feel overwhelmed at first but as you gain knowledge, you will narrow in on what may or may not work for you. We all started knowing nothing and some knowledge has come through the school of hard knocks and this forum! Ask questions? Verify the answers, especially from salesmen.
If you get ready to buy, understand what a fair price is. I like to hang out in the service area of the RV dealer for a while and listen in on the phone calls and walk up customers. It gives me an idea of what kind of customer service a dealership offers. I have simply asked owners coming in how things went after they signed on that pricey dotted line. Sometimes very revealing.
Best of wished for a grand life adventure. Ask more here and good luck!
Private message me if you have any specific questions and I will do my best to share our RV life experiences. Happy Trails!!
We LOVE RVing and are toying with going fulltime for a few years. Family issues keep me close to our "home base." I am excited for you as you ponder if this is for you. Lots to learn and I encourage you to become informed before you purchase, not after!! Here is a long list of things to considerm some thoughts and I sure it is not complete.
For fulltime RVing I would recommend you look at Class A MH. Better visibility when driving/parked, front chairs turn around(most) and become part of the living space, and usually much better storage and access.
Most Class Cs will have an overhang bed, some will have a rear bedroom. I want and need a bed I can access day and night and walk around/easily change sheets.
Most Class As tend to ride a bit better and yes they may need some extra items added to really drive well (trac bars, safety Plus etc.) just as all Cs do.
You need to start looking with the checkbook left at home. Salesman will often tell you what you want to hear which is not always the best for you. Do your research on quality/longevity of different manufacturers. Quality can go up and down over the years.
Get into as many RVs as you can and spend some time looking around. Check livability - where do you sit, eat sleep. Storage - where will everything go - upper cabinets may be plentiful but will likely be much shallower than house cupboards. Clothing - where does it go and how much? How much safe carrying capacity do you have? Storage tank capacity - fuel, grey/black/fresh. How accessible are the dumping pulls and hookups? Bathroom/shower - big enough to be comfortable in?
Owning an RV can be an expensive proposition. Some mechanical skills are a bonus........ wish I had some. Will you tow a car? Can your current car be towed? Setting up any car for towing will cost between $2-5k depending upon what you will need. Where will you travel and park? Fuel and overnight fees can rack up quickly. There are some ways to reduce that - weekly vs daily stays, some membership options, staying at Walmarts that allow overnighting as well truck stops, ways to pay less at commercial parks and the list goes on.
Read about and understand the weight capacity of the RV. Read and understand about tires - good looking older tires may be unsafe due to interior cracking. 6 New Tires can be very costly. Tire manufacturer matters.
You may feel overwhelmed at first but as you gain knowledge, you will narrow in on what may or may not work for you. We all started knowing nothing and some knowledge has come through the school of hard knocks and this forum! Ask questions? Verify the answers, especially from salesmen.
If you get ready to buy, understand what a fair price is. I like to hang out in the service area of the RV dealer for a while and listen in on the phone calls and walk up customers. It gives me an idea of what kind of customer service a dealership offers. I have simply asked owners coming in how things went after they signed on that pricey dotted line. Sometimes very revealing.
Best of wished for a grand life adventure. Ask more here and good luck!
Private message me if you have any specific questions and I will do my best to share our RV life experiences. Happy Trails!!
