We think we're ready to start RVing

My parents rented a travel trailer on the Oregon Coast. The rental company even brought it out and hooked it up for them, and then picked it up after the end of their visit. This was a nice way to try out just "living" in the trailer, without having to worry about the "scarier" stuff like towing, hooking up, dumping, etc. Might be something to start with if it's available in your area.

I'm gonna go against the grain and not recommend renting. Renting isn't a terrible idea and could be helpful so I wouldn't recommend against it necessarily. But depending on where you live, renting may not be very available and it can be pretty expensive. And it isn't convenient either because you have to completely pack and unpack before and after the trip. This can be a real drag for just a weekend getaway. Plus, it sounds like you don't have the truck to tow a rental anyways. So you would need to rent/borrow a truck too. So I'm not so much for renting.

However, I would recommend looking at as many RV's as you can find before you buy. When you are in them, really imagine using every function of it from the bed to the bath to the kitchen. Also, if you know people with RV's, or even people here, talk to them about things they like and don't like about their unit and what they wish they had or didn't have.

For example, our camper has almost no counter space. There is barely anywhere to set a coffee maker. And if you do squeeze it in, then there is no place to set a toaster for breakfast. If you think you could set it on the stove or the table, make sure there is a plug. Ours doesn't have one. If you don't drink coffee, maybe this doesn't matter to you. Another thing, look at the bed. Many have no place to set your glasses or phone, especially if the bed is in a slide. Also, many beds are short. It might be listed as a Queen size. But it is likely an "RV Queen" which is about 6" shorter. I'm 6ft tall and my feet hang off the end when I stretch out, which is annoying. Check to see if there is actually room to use the commode without your knees hitting the walls and is the shower big enough. Its these little things that maybe you don't think about. These are some things you might find while renting. But then, maybe not since it isn't really your RV anyways. And you aren't likely to rent the exact RV you are considering buying.

Rent before you buy it isn't for everyone

Rent first to test the waters. Might turn out that you really don't enjoy it. If you buy make sure you purchase a tow vehicle that not only meets your current camper, but the one you will purchase next. Old saying in the camper industry. "I wish I would have purchased my last trailer first." :C

This is going to sound a little redundant.

Go back an read "Old-Biscuit" Again.
If you don't understand it all, come back and ask questions.
Note some consensus:
- Weight is and easy way to end up in trouble.
- Rent First.
- If you do buy, try to buy used.
(If it shows any water leakage, walk away.)

RVs are a wonderful way to travel.
- You never unpack
- You know where the nearest bathroom is
- You don't have to find a place that serves what you like

Now, look at the picture in my signature file. That is a 40+yo coach that is about half way along a 3000 mile excursion (We live in Michigan and that is Crazy Horse) that was a month on the road.

What ever you want to do, come here and ask any questions you can imagine. We all started somewhere.

Matt

It's a great way to travel and a wonderful lifestyle, but it's a lot to get into. A lot of costs and lot to learn which takes place over a long period of time. RVs depreciate a lot in value so it's not good to buy a new one and decide you want out in a year or 2. Consider renting one for a trip to see what you think.

Tiny rental condos at the beach aren't the only lifestyle that has drawbacks.

Camping in paradise can be frustrating when someone pulls in next to you with too loud music and a continuously barking dog left in the trailer all day long while they're out having fun.... Or so many boats/offroad & onroad vehicles that you can't even park in front of your own RV.... there are many things that can lessen the enjoyment of camping. Picking where you camp can lessen some of these, but if you're looking for hookups, you'll likely encounter some of these issues ... we had an issue at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores last winter ... and South Padre Island was worse.

Not trying to discourage your adventures, just make sure you have all the facts before you embark.

Rent before you buy, try out the adventure and drawbacks and then decide if buying is right for you.

I agree on the renting, especially since you haven't done this before. I had an RV before DH and I married, but he didn't have that experience. We both tent camped so we knew for sure that we wanted something off the ground, but not a tent trailer. It took us 5 purchases of various sized RVs before we found our perfect one that we've now had since 2010. Our first was in 1998, a used 19' TT that we towed with an F150, slowly because even at that size, we needed more of a truck. We then purchased an F250 in 2000, a V10, 6.8L and it towed the 19' like a dream. We upgraded to a new 25' TT in 2001, then to a 27' TT in 2003, and again upgraded to a 32' TT in 2006. That one was pushing the capability of the truck. So we enhanced the truck with a lot of mods for more towing power and it helped, expensive, but less so than purchasing a new truck. In 2010 we purchased our current RV, a 35', and by the time of this purchase, we knew what we really wanted and what we didn't want. Even with our experience, we really took our time to try various fifth wheel and Class A RV's out in the lots, slides in, slides out, access, amenities, etc. We even almost purchased a Class A thinking that's what we wanted and opted out of that completely for various reasons. Best of luck to you in your journey of discovery and have fun along the way as we sure have! Even with our first one, with a corner bed, we laughed each time one of us (on the inside) had to get out to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, but it was better than a tent. More so, when it was raining hard and the tenters were packing up and leaving, we were drinking margaritas and playing cards!

Buying a mistake is very expensive. Do the rental to confirm or say no way to the activity.

If the decision is a yes to the activity thoroughly run the numbers for your truck. Load it up as you think it would be for camping, plus some, & go get weighed. You probably will not like the number you are left over with but at least do the exercise before spending money on any trailer.

Research is free or very cheap. Be brutal about it. Don't let emotion sign the bottom line.

Do not purchase a trailer that would be right at the max your vehicle will tow. Have a little extra towing capacity. Get a load level hitch with a sway bar. You will be much more stable. Renting a trailer is a good idea to test things out. We purchased a trailer many years ago and it looked really good in walking through but it was not good when we were in it for any period of time. The viewing of the TV was awkward and there was not enough floor space for us to get around each other and the dog. For example, many smaller trailers have beds that are in a corner and you cannot walk around them. That can be a problem if the person on the wall needs to get up and it is also hard to make the bed. How usable is the trailer with the slide(s) in? Also, buy a quality made trailer and lightly used, if possible. Never trust ANYTHING the salesperson tells you. Check out everything yourself and get all the weight numbers yourself.