Using the RV on short stops

My wife thinks that being able to use the bathroom while driving our classA is worth the price alone.

We go into our fifth wheel almost every time we stop. The bathroom, bed, frig, and 2/3 of the countertops are accessible with the slides in, so we find it very useful without putting the slides out. On really hot days it does get warm in there, so we often make a sandwich or a wrap and head for a picnic table or some shade. We don't have a generator or large solar array, so overnighting this way during the summer is not an option for us. We often leave the trailer on the truck for overnight stops in campgrounds, though. I just get it level enough for the frig and slides and stabilize it with the landing gear. Next morning, we just pull in the slides and move on.

Be aware that overnighting is not allowed at all Walmarts depending on city ordinances and/or local management. You can search the web for a document that lists them all and says whether it's allowed or not.

Rob

Access varies on different models. Without putting out a slide, I can get to my refrigerator, bathroom and bedroom. We stop for bathroom breaks and meals inside. AC isn't an option on the road with a trailer unless you have a generator to run it, and that's not part of the standard equipment on them.

Overnighting you can generally put out the slides and leave it hooked up.

My personal opinion after 4 1/2 years full-time in a 36 ft TT, 40,000+ miles towing through 45 states - a motorhome, Class A or C is easier for short stops. We’ve traveled a few thousand of those miles in the company of friends with Class A or Class C units.

While you can move around in them, many it is just a barely 18-22 inch wide aisle. Many motor homes have the same issues with no access to the fridge, sink, stove that 5er and TT have.

But almost all of us have figured out exactly how much the slides have to go out to reach those, and the bathroom.

The easiest type RV to use on short stops is one with no slide outs. The hardest is a unit with deep slides on both sides (like we have). Slides also mean more stuff has to be moved and secured before the rig can be moved, and more setup time at the destination.

Heat/ cooling while traveling:

No motor home dash AC or heat can handle the entire rig while traveling. Many folks use a heavy comforter or blanket, or even heavy lined drapes right behind the seats to keep the driver comfortable. A great many people with units which installed generators will run that AC while on a he road using the generator for power. A couple folks I know say that is the only time they use the generator.

A few days ago there was a thread on this forum about using a generator in the bed of the pickup to power a 5er or TT AC while heading down the road. There were several positive replies from people who do that.

We’ve developed a process for short overnight stops. Whenever possible we want a place where we do not have to unhook the truck and trailer for one night stops.

We can use s Walmart or truck stop parking lot if we can get next to the edge and extend our kitchen and bedroom slides out over the curb. We will not extend the dining area slide.

Naps: We do not stop for them. We try to keep our drives down to 200 miles or less per day. That way we can get a good night rest, leave about 9 am so we miss the school buses and any work related traffic. We are usually in the next campground by 3 pm.

Yes, we’ve done some long day-day-day drives but try our very best to avoid those.

Lots of Questions - So a few answers. I have a 28' TT
1. Yes we use ours on the road. Mostly in Rest Areas we will pull over for lunch, etc. We can put the slide out but usually don't need to. Have pulled over in for a quick potty stop, but usually just use rest areas, McDonalds, whatever for a potty break.

2. We have stopped at rest areas and spent the night. Just kept the trailer hooked up to the truck. If it is hot weather you will want to be able to run the AC so in such cases we just got a campsite for the night, kept the TT hooked up, just plugged in, put the slide out, carried on as normal. We have done long trips of 3 days of driving doing over night campsite stops.

3. Also have used Walmarts for overnights.