I say “Yes lets go” my wife says “not so fast Sparky”!

[Mondooker]

For a number of years I’ve been reading up and doing my do-diligence on motorhomes and the motorhome life. Any time I come upon an interesting article I read it to my wife so she learns as I do. I’ve also shown her motorhome brochures on Diesel Pushers in the 32 to 36 foot range. She likes the look of the motorhomes and all they offer but is not sure its for her.

There seems to be two reoccurring themes and both have to do with her being a home body! We enjoy travel and enjoy each others company and have always enjoyed “road trips” together. Her concern is an extended period of time (summer months) in something that isn’t home. The concern being that even as nice as motorhomes are you could not make one homey!

I don’t completely get that but then again I was never a mother and had the responsibility of making a house a home. And frankly she’s very good at it! But there is one thing I do know and that is there are those out there reading this who know exactly what I’m talking about and I’d love hearing from you!

As a sidebar, I was looking at the Thor website last evening and happened to click on the “Diesel Club” video. Its funny how things hit you sometimes because I was watching the video and saw that 99.9% of the members are older and retired! Watching it made something explode in my mind, “Retired folks just like us do motorhomes”! I knew that of course, but the video really put it into perspective. This is done by people like us who are our age, there is great power in that for me because I know if they can do it, so can we!

We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, you guys already did it!

I look forward to hearing from you and by the way. Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

[azrving]

Letting her stay home may be a good option. It would save a ton of money on the RV. Maybe consider converting a van for yourself or perhaps a TT that you may already be able to tow with a current vehicle.

There are people out here doing this in ever way imaginable. I met a guy from Canada who sleeps in his mini van. He has a new utility trailer with 300 watts of solar and a dorm frig. He carries a nice Honda quad and rides all over the desert.

It would be a low cost way for you to be sure its for you and could be a very low dollar option if you just want to take off at times and camp in Florida etc.

[pop-sicle]

I am going out on a limb here but if I were reading between the lines my guess would be your wife is not just a homebody but probably has strong family values and she might feel that leaving the home front in a motorhome a little more permanent for a lack of better words, she is ok with those weekends away from home but to set off for multiple weeks/ months as a lot of rv'ers do could be the catch.

Pick out some great things to do in an RV
Wife and I took our first big retirement trip in Oct to Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 500 hot air balloons going up in a two hour period.

http://www.balloonfiesta.com/guest-guide/faqsa


Anyway good luck with your search as to whether motorhome is in your retirement journey.

I see you just joined yesterday welcome.

[tahiti16]

One for her to keep in mind is it is much cheaper to redecorate the interior of the motorhome than a house!

As others stated pictures can be added either just standing or hung up when parked or fastened securely to ride along.

Another since roadtrips are good for her remind her that her home will be with her. No hotels no packing and unpacking except to begin and end the trip.

Just some of the things we like about our motorhome and we have been gone up to 8 weeks with me working from the coach.

[rexlion]

I have never had difficulty feeling 'at home' in the travel trailers I've owned. But my wife simply doesn't care for RVs. She doesn't like to travel very much, but when we do travel she thinks a nice hotel room and eating out are treats. Well, until the restaurant food starts throwing her gut for a loop! Then she's ready to head home. So, mostly, I travel alone (with her blessing). At first this felt awkward, but then it became truly liberating and exhilarating. The RV became my 'man cave' and I could eat what I want when I want it, stop or go when and where I want, etc without having to run everything by the wife and come to a compromise.

Don't be afraid to buy an RV. Give her the opportunity to decide whether she'll enjoy it. If she does, great! If she does not, let her stay home while you go traveling... and DO NOT feel guilty, but feel liberated!

[ncrowley]

I am the wife, and I feel that my coach is my home when I am not in my sticks and brick home. I like traveling and hotels are definitely not like home. If your wife likes traveling, then the chances are much better she will like traveling in the RV a lot better. If she does not like traveling at all, then the RV is probably not for her. You do not need to be out for weeks at a time to enjoy your RV. Our trips are usually 5 - 7 days in length with a few at three weeks thrown in. You can do whatever you want.

I find that sleeping in my own bed, with my own bathroom, and being able to cook my own meals to be very important to me when I travel. You very much make it your home.

Renting one tells you some about the RV experience but they are not nearly as nice as one you would purchase. A rental RV may turn her off.

Do not purchase a new RV when you start out. Purchase a good quality used one. You will learn what you like and don't like without spending a lot of money.

[DutchmenSport]

If your wife is not 100% with you, your life will be miserable. The finest RV in the,world will never fix it, if she is not mentally on board.

[Mondooker]

Thank you all so much. I read you're posts to my wife and she said "seems like a lot of people like us out there"! I take that as a good sign. So far she's not been too keen on MH rental but said she would look at what i decide on. So there you go, not a tacit approval but I'll take what I can get.

We will be keeping our home so that has not been an issue.

Thanks again

[azrving]

You live in the wrong state. Move to northern Michigan and she'll be an easy sell for 6 or 7 months.

[prstlk]

We are 1/2 way through year 2 of ft. The stick and brick is long gone. The one thing I can tell you without a doubt, rvs are not for everyone. Whether ft or vacations long and short.
There has been some discussion about renting, both pro and con. The one thing I would tell by best friend or worst enemy is.... Do not under any circumstances buy a new rig. If you love your first rv and keep it forever. You will be in a very small minority. Most change rigs several times before hitting on the "right one". All rvs are an abundance of compromise.
If you plunk down 150k on a new rig, go 200 miles, one night, and she absolutely hates it.....it will be expensive and not good for martial bliss.
Here are 2 ideas that might help. In both cases you should start with a single goal of finding out if you both enjoy the lifestyle. Worry about how you enjoy the travel not if it's homey enough. That will come later. If you love it like we do (the lifestyle) making it a home comes later.

1st way, rent. Rent a large enough rig to get at least one slide. Go some place cool Green Bay in winter is not it, nor the Grand Canyon in August. Make sure to insist on a thorough walk through so you have a good grasp of how the systems work. Nothing will sour a newbie like no hot water, no heat, or can't get the tv to work.

2nd choice. (This is how we got back into rvs after a long hiatus)
Bought a 6 year old 3/4 ton diesel pickup. Bought a used 28 ft 5th wheel, total investment 15 k. Drove 13k in 3 months, saw a shuttle launch, a Nascar race, kill devil hills and much more. We began upgrading after that. The point our loss at trade in was minimal.
Lastly watch RV with Robin Williams it will help with emotional side of rv ing and what's important in life!

Good luck in your ventures

[Dutch_12078]

We have a pink magnetic heart shaped sign in our coach that one of our daughters gave my wife. It says "HOME IS WHERE MOM IS". We both love living in our motorhome, and have added many little touches that make it ours.

[korbe]

Mondooker wrote:
......Her concern is an extended period of time (summer months) in something that isn’t home. The concern being that even as nice as motorhomes are you could not make one homey!

My first thought is that it's nothing tangible that makes it "homey". It's just a feel that may, or may not evolve.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Easy to make an RV feel like home by adding your own touches. Pictures, decor, quilt on the bed etc. Some people even have house plants. We looked at many RV's before we found "the one" that felt like home. I would rent one for a couple of weeks and stay close to home to see if it's for her. It's not for everyone. We are fortunate that both of us like the lifestyle and the adventure.

[Grandpere]

Well people it does not always work out like most of you have said. I bought a really inexpensive MH with the thought that if DW got out in it she would like it and we could travel and see all our children, grandchildren, and our Great granddaughter. Well it did not work. DW will only go, grudgingly, for one month out of the year and that is it. She will not go on weekends, or other short trips. So I am glad we spent a mere pittance on our MH because it just sits. She absolutely hates being in the MH. Now she likes to travel but her idea is staying in motels (ugh, I hate them) and eating out. So I thought OK we will eat all our meals out. Did not make a bit of difference she still hates traveling in the MH.

So I highly suggest either renting one or buying an inexpensive one to start and see what happens. If she likes it, great sell the cheap one and go for the gusto, if you are as unlucky as I am, and there are others who are in the same boat as I am, you are not out much and can recoup some of your expense if you bought.

[Busskipper]

Mondooker wrote:
For a number of years I’ve been reading up and doing my do-diligence on motorhomes and the motorhome life. Any time I come upon an interesting article I read it to my wife so she learns as I do. I’ve also shown her motorhome brochures on Diesel Pushers in the 32 to 36 foot range. She likes the look of the motorhomes and all they offer but is not sure its for her.

OK the only way to find out if she will enjoy it or not is to do it – if it’s not for her you will find out very quickly, so rent a coach and try it – Suggestion – needs to be to a place you BOTH enjoy (insert SHE enjoys) Needs to be with people she Enjoys – and in a Coach that is nice enough that it’s fun, and she enjoys.

There seems to be two reoccurring themes and both have to do with her being a home body! We enjoy travel and enjoy each others company and have always enjoyed “road trips” together. Her concern is an extended period of time (summer months) in something that isn’t home. The concern being that even as nice as motorhomes are you could not make one homey!

That is just False – we both enjoy our time in the Coach as much as our time at home or the Beach House – the things that make it even more fun are the weather and the People (in our case Granddaughters) Part of the problem here is the simple fact that we have done this for most of our adult lives, not always in the motorhome but we traveled, a lot, the major issue was we do not enjoy hotels. That’s just part of what makes the Coach so enjoyableand Homey

I don’t completely get that but then again I was never a mother and had the responsibility of making a house a home. And frankly she’s very good at it! But there is one thing I do know and that is there are those out there reading this who know exactly what I’m talking about and I’d love hearing from you!

If she likes it she will have no issue making it a HOME. My DW made the drapes, hung pictures, brought her own books, lamps, cushions, dishes, and everything She wanted.
So it was not ever an issue, it is a second home.

As a sidebar, I was looking at the Thor website last evening and happened to click on the “Diesel Club” video. Its funny how things hit you sometimes because I was watching the video and saw that 99.9% of the members are older and retired! Watching it made something explode in my mind, “Retired folks just like us do motorhomes”! I knew that of course, but the video really put it into perspective. This is done by people like us who are our age, there is great power in that for me because I know if they can do it, so can we!

We may be a little Older but not OLD and we may be almost retired but still involved. Family is a big part of all of these decisions, that and their location.

We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, you guys already did it!

Don’t think we reinvented it either – really it’s just doing the things you enjoy.

I look forward to hearing from you and by the way. Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Merry Christmas to all,

So reading through this I never really found the QUESTION? So I took the liberty to look at your recent posts;

Mondooker wrote:
I want to buy a small DP somewhere in the 30 - 34 foot range and so far have come up with the following. Not sure yet about new or used!

First Coach – I would suggest used – I have yet to meet or talk to someone who was totally happy with his first unit – so find what you think you like and if it work – GREAT – if not great you will still have some choices you can make without spending and losing a fortune.

33’ Thor Palazzo
34’ Forest River Berkshire & Legacy
31 to 34’ Tiffin Alegro
34’ Winnebago Forza & Solei

With a motorhome that size is it reasonable to go without a TOAD? Let me share my thoughts and you tell me if I’m out to the lunch bunch?

Before you start – the toad is the best thing you can have, so DO NOT go toadless, JMHO.

I don’t want to see the USA in my car, I want to see it from the big windshield of my motorhome. And I’ve not been many places where you couldn’t find a place to park a motorhome to walk downtown and see the sights for a few hours. Or pull into a grocery store parking lot for food etc. I can understand the inconvenience of hooking & unhooking the lines of the motorhome but pulling a TOAD can have its own inconvenience right?

While you and I may enjoy the USA out that big windshield you will not even scratch the surface of what is out there without a TOAD. I spent the first couple hundred thousand miles Toadless – saw what I thought was a lot – then the last couple hundred + thousand miles with a Toad and have still only scratched the surface. It takes me all of 4-FOUR minutes to hook up or unhook so there is nothing but CONVIENCE – IMHO.

We would most likely be on the road a few months a year stopping at places of interest for a week or so. We also have friends and family around the country, most where we can park the motorhome during our stay. From what I’ve seen and checked out so far the 30 to 34 feet should give us enough room without giving cabin fever yet small enough to get in and out of places.

The only way to find out if the unit is the right size is to live in it – in 7 RV’s over the last 50 years we have never gone for a size reduction. We are now in what we like to call a Condo on Wheels – We are still part time – we still have a house – we have been fortunate enough to have seen a lot of this country and we have never had an issue with any location – The DW loves it but still needs the House – so until I get really lucky we will likely continue the commute from Maryland to Colorado. Personally I sleep better and am more relaxed when we are in the Coach, so I would have no issue going full time for the next 5-10 years.

I hope I’ve given enough information so you know our plans and thought process. So how bad is it really to not have a TOAD? I know I’m talking theory here, what’s the real world view I need to be looking at?

We have traveled for thousands of miles and back and never used the toad – but just knowing it’s there makes everything easier/comfortable. Most of our exploration is now in a sort of Hub and Spoke exploration mode – park the Coach and then head out in all direction exploring – we have always had a 4 wheel drive vehicle but now we are looking at upgrading to a Jeep that can do real off roading – if you look at some of the pictures of the 4X4 trails in Colorado you will see why – This will also tie into why I think it is almost impossible to not have a Toad.

Thanks so much

Tried to provide just a little insight – there are many who’s advice is much more informed than mine but until you get the chance to talk with them it’s really hard to totally understand this RV thing – I am not the norm – we still fly a lot - we still have a few anchors – so just tried to give you some insight – there is no right way to do this – you need to find what WORKS for YOU and then the rest is easy – Go at it slowly with an open mind talk to as many as you can – you will be surprised at how many will sit and talk for hours about their adventures.

Hope this is of some help.

BOL,

[Executive45]

Think of it as a "condo on wheels". Also, she sounds like a 'friendly' kind of person. You'll find that you'll meet more and more interesting people while 'on the road' then you'll ever meet in a stix n brix home. My wife has made our 'home' more homey than our stix n brix ever was. She still does her hobby stuff, it's just in a corner instead of a room. You'll find we adjust. I can't build my street rods anymore while traveling so I had to adjust also. Now I play pickle ball, shuffleboard, horseshoes and pool. Someone else takes care of the pool/spa and the gardening. Seventh year full timing and hope to have many many more.....:W...Dennis

BTW, we also take the oldest grandkids with us for their summer vacations. They love it and so do we. They've visited 42 States so far, which allows us to connect with them and provides an excellent opportunity for them. Think up close and personal with the civil war from Vicksburg to Gettysburg, visiting the White House and D.C. attractions, 42 State Capitols, Smithsonian Institute and they've even seen space launches from Cape Canaveral...Their parents fly them to wherever we are when they get out of school then fly to wherever we are to pick them up. Usually they use their vacation time to visit with us for a week or so depending on where we are. We enjoy the connect, and so do they......Dennis