What we have learned

Funny how people have different must have lists. More than half of the must haves on this list, I really don't care about.

I don't care about a kitchen in the RV. I don't care about counter space or being able to prepare a meal. My must have was an outdoor kitchen, we prepare 100% of meals outside, rain or shine. Its part of camping I love. I grew up tent camping, we had no choice but to prepare meals outside, so that's how I like it even today.

Don't care about the TV. We rarely use it. If we do, its just for the news, or mount it outside for a football game.

Don't really care about usability with the slides in. Although mine has access to everything with them in.

Everyone is different. They say your 3rd RV is the one you wanted first. Takes a while to decide what you want. I spent years tent camping with everyone else in our camping group having RVs, gave me great perspective so that my first RV was perfect for me.

I studied RVs for 5 years before I took the actual plunge into ownership. I had a list of "Must Haves" and actually wrote them down on a piece of paper. My list of "Must Haves" was very short, yours may be a bit longer based on your needs, and a long list of "Must Haves" will most likely increase your expense and your search time.

#1. Must be less than $30K
#2. Must have adequate kitchen space to store all necessities (including food) and be able to prepare a meal in the space provided.
#3. Must have adequate closet storage for full time living.
#4. Must have washer/dryer hookups

I got all of my "Must Haves" in my C Class except for #4. When I saw my RV, I was instantly in love. So, I guess, the washer/dryer wasn't really a "Must Have" after all, but more like a "REALLY Want". I haven't seen one RV on the road, in brochures, or in a park that I was jealous of. One day, when the time comes to put this RV out to pasture, I will find that "perfect" RV, but for now, this one is close enough to perfect for me.

musicman54 wrote:
when we go looking i just carry the checkbook and let her pick the one i like

Works that way with boats too. If the Admiral ain't happy, nobody is happy. Lots of guys buy without consulting the boss. Big mistake.

when we go looking i just carry the checkbook and let her pick the one i like

wbwood wrote:


Buy the smallest unit you can stand. The fact: if you can stand to be in small quarters for periods of time (sleeping, inclimate weather), then the better you will be. Generally speaking, it will probably cost you less (but not always). It will be easier to tow and to park. You will also have many, many more campsites to choose from. Especially if you like to camp in Federal or State Campgrounds.

I know a lot of people want the biggest RV they can find, but we feel the opposite. Our first TT was a little 19-footer and we took that thing all over the US on a 6000 mile trip with two teenagers. We were, um, cozy to say the least. When you live in such close quarters you get to know each other VERY well. But you know what? That trip drew us closer as a family in ways I never anticipated. We became real friends on that trip.

I wish we still had that rig. We traded it for a large 30-footer, which was a great trailer itself. But it never had quite the cozy feel that little one had.

We have our last TT now. 26-feet, no slide, perfect for the 2 of us. Of course, we're not full-timing--I'd need more space if we were. But it's perfect for the week-long campouts that we do. The small space encourages us to be outside as much as possible, so we stay active. There is nothing that I don't like about this little camper!

CA Traveler wrote:
Slides will contain appliances, etc or interior access will be more limited for most layouts. Weight and potential connection issues due to movement vs space are tradeoffs but if you want the additional space I just don't see any way to avoid appliances in a slide.

Our 30ft Springdale had no appliances in the superslide. Just the full size sofa and the large dinette.

One thread that I see throughout this discussion is that most folks don't get it right the first time.

You make a list of what you think is really important, and another list of things that are less important. Then, after a few trips, you realize that something you thought was important is not that big of a deal, and something you thought was trivial turns out to be a big deal, indeed.

Consider buying something used, then after a year or two, buy the "keeper".

We looked at every RV we could and made notes of our likes and dislikes, wants and needs. Our 3 RV was the one we that had it all.

So Look at new and old units, you will figure out what is the best for you.

Slides will contain appliances, etc or interior access will be more limited for most layouts. Weight and potential connection issues due to movement vs space are tradeoffs but if you want the additional space I just don't see any way to avoid appliances in a slide.

My kitchen slide might be an extreme example as it contains water, drain, propane, 2 120V circuits, numerous 12V wires including 2 light circuits, switches. Plus I added 2 wires.

The design is interesting: All of the wiring and plumbing is configured as a sideways U shape with the bottom leg secured to the main floor and the top leg secured to the slide and moves in and out. Everything on the U is super flexible material and hence there are 2 connections for every item on the U. ie The wiring/plumbing material on the U is not the same as the rest of the rig. Multi small stranded copper flexible wiring for example.

So yes there is flexing and additional connections. And the access is limited and on one side. I've opened a cabinet side for unrelated wiring access (I hate exposed wiring) and if necessary I could cut out the back of the bathroom cabinet for access to the third size.

Definitely tradeoffs for the floor space but one that I wanted to make.

DutchmenSport wrote:

CA Traveler wrote:

jbrad13 wrote:
Also, if you have slides, try to not have any appliances on them; i.e. refrigerator, sink, stove, etc

Why?

I'll chime in here.

My Outback does not have any appliances on the slides. the only thing in my slides are 120 volt electric plugs and 12 volt lights. I can see some issues with appliances on slides, and some of these have been addressed on these forums too.

1. Weight. The added weight of the appliances, entertainment centers, and cabinets make the slide mechanisms work harder than if they are empty, or have just furniture on them. You would think the manufacturers would produce adequate systems to handle the weight. But if you examine close, the same mechanism are used on the same style of campers with the different floor plans. The extra weight simply causes extra exertion on the moving parts. There's an added risk there.

2. Weight. When slides are out, the extra weight on the protruding slide could cause the slide tracks to weaken or bend. If you have the choice between a slide with appliances on it, or a slide that does not ... why take chances.

3. Moving parts. No, not the slide mechanism. I'm referring to electric wires bending and bending and bending every time the slide is extracted or retracted. The plumbing (if the slide has the kitchen built in), will bend every extract or retract. The constant bending and flexing of the plumbing, drains, water, wiring could cause problems after a while. Joints weaken, water lines and drains get pinched, and wires that bend back and forth enough break. Anything that moves is subject to failure.

These are my assumptions why some folks would be concerned about appliances on the slides. Some of these issues have been discussed on these forums too.

For what it's worth, my Outback has no appliances on the slides only a couch, 2 chairs, and a table. But I've crawled under the trailer and examined how all this works and is tied in together. The wires are held in place with a plastic support that bends. The wires all bend with it. I can see over time, where I will eventually have wire failure.

Just my suggestions why anyone would suggest do not get appliances on slides.

As Dutchman points out in the end you can have wiring or mechanical failure on the slides with or without appliances.
I have appliances on my slides and have had no issues.
Slides are about added space when set up.
While I do think access to bathroom and fridge with slides closed is a major consideration, overall slides are a wonderful thing.
Don't over think/analyze the slide issue. Slides allow for lots of additional space. Yes there is the risk that something could go wrong but the additional space provided by the slide supersedes the risk factor.
My advice is to live on the edge and enjoy all the space the slides create. For the record my current unit has 5 slides that create an enormous amount of additional space.