buying our first rv
My wife and I are starting the process of buying our first rv . We've been going back and forth between motorhomes or fifth wheels/travel trailers . We're kind of leaning towards trailers w/tow vehicl...
Forum Discussion
If you have never owned an RV before, I advise getting something now and begin to experience the RV lifestyle by going on week-end camping outings and your next 2 week vacation. If you wait 2 years, buy an RV and try to full time immediately, you WILL find yourself with multiple challenges you've never anticipated and it can be overwhelming. Learning and adjusting over the next couple years will prepare you. Not only for camping, but you will need to downsize.... everything to, at most, a 40 x 8 foot box. You'll need to learn to downsize your water usage, your storage space, how much food you have in the pantry, clothing, tools, equipment, everything. Moving from a house or even an apartment to such a small space IS an adjustment. Sometimes it takes a couple years, just to figure out what is really needed in the camper for comfortable camping, and not be over crowded with useless junk you'll never use. This takes time to figure out. So right NOW is when you should be gaining your experience so you'll know how to handle everything when you do make the switch and won't be in such a state of chaos and anxiety.
To go full timing, you need to have your vehicles insured, bank accounts established, credit cards in place, other insurances worked out, and have a place of residence too. You'll have thousands of little decisions to make, just to get ready to hit-the-road. Waiting to figure it all out at the last minute will be overwhelming. And you still have the problem of disposing of your current belongings and downsizing to that 40 foot long box.
It would be good if you could get a camper now, even a used one to gain the experience and to be sure this is a life style you will be comparable with.
If, over the next 2 years, everything is really on-target, then look for a new camper. This will give you 2 years adjusting to the "cost" of RV ownership too. You may find out, it really is not as cheap as you may anticipate, and really won't be able to afford. Also, the next 2 years would give you an idea of the style of camping will suit your personal lifestyle also.... State Park, Boomdocking, Private Campgrounds, or Resort Campgrounds. It can also give you experience on WHERE to travel to also ... what part of the country suits you best? Of course, if you have the rest of your life to travel, you can go anywhere in time. But the next 2 years would give you a very good idea of what to expect.
Even if you pick up a small pop-up, you'll learn a lot of what you like and don't like, which will help determine your full time needs and dream.
Good luck. I just suggest, don't wait till the last minute to get experience that comes only with time.
To go full timing, you need to have your vehicles insured, bank accounts established, credit cards in place, other insurances worked out, and have a place of residence too. You'll have thousands of little decisions to make, just to get ready to hit-the-road. Waiting to figure it all out at the last minute will be overwhelming. And you still have the problem of disposing of your current belongings and downsizing to that 40 foot long box.
It would be good if you could get a camper now, even a used one to gain the experience and to be sure this is a life style you will be comparable with.
If, over the next 2 years, everything is really on-target, then look for a new camper. This will give you 2 years adjusting to the "cost" of RV ownership too. You may find out, it really is not as cheap as you may anticipate, and really won't be able to afford. Also, the next 2 years would give you an idea of the style of camping will suit your personal lifestyle also.... State Park, Boomdocking, Private Campgrounds, or Resort Campgrounds. It can also give you experience on WHERE to travel to also ... what part of the country suits you best? Of course, if you have the rest of your life to travel, you can go anywhere in time. But the next 2 years would give you a very good idea of what to expect.
Even if you pick up a small pop-up, you'll learn a lot of what you like and don't like, which will help determine your full time needs and dream.
Good luck. I just suggest, don't wait till the last minute to get experience that comes only with time.
