Newbie seeking recommendations

Bordercollie wrote:
We met an unhappy couple who sold their home and "hit the open road". Man and wife were happy for some time, worked at state RV camps. Had a semi-permanent screened patio, she had a sewing machine, etc. Wife started to miss home living, friends, kids, BUT they could not afford to buy a house. "Wither thou goest" does not always work. Males may be fine with full timing, females may change their mind about it. Best to try some extended tours and staying put for some time, before selling your home.

We met some folks who had done the same in a nice class A after selling home. A few months in, the wife became disenchanted and wanted a house again. So they bought one and divorced (after 20+ years) within a year. Had to sell that house and the RV. Big expensive mess.

Knew another couple who bought a very pricey cruising sailboat, moved aboard and quit jobs. Guy was in heaven sailing around the Caribbean living his dream, not so much the wife. They sold the wonderful boat, which broke his heart, and moved back ashore, back to jobs. Sadly the wife died a year later.

So I agree with your advice.

Here's a question you should ponder; are you all comfortable sleeping and being in the same room 24/7? That is what you'll essentially be doing in a C. How old is your daughter? Might it be wiser to go full time after she is away at college? If you really want full time with a child, you should really consider a Class A. Kids need private space and increasingly so as they get older.

It is important to understand what kind of camping you want to do. The wife and I have two dogs (the little one is 20 lbs, the youngster is 70 lbs). We watch dogs belong to family and friends and we often add a third pup to a camping trip (with the owners knowledge). We sometimes travel with or meet up with our grown daughter. We started RVing a little over 4 years ago. We are not considering full timing but are considering long trips (more than a month).

A important consideration for us was CCC. I mention this because once you start adding space (a bigger RV) and slides the CCC goes down. The more of each of those the faster the CCC goes down.

Because we like to go to places where often we can not fill up CCC became a more important consideration than floor plan (mostly we would grow into anything we purchased having never owned a RV). I like to travel with a half tank or so (~25gal) of fresh water. If I am traveling to a location with no water (dog show, friends farm, and some out of the way campgrounds) I carry a full tank of water.

We have a Lazy Daze Mid Bath. So far we have never been overweight and the two of us, the two dogs and often times the daughter do not pack light. That weight includes wine, beer, milk, food, toys for people and dogs, and clothing. The rig is very comfortable and the big windows makes the inside seem larger than it is (especially on rainy days). An RV with limited interior space like ours would not suit everyone, but it allows us to bring what we want. That is why I say think long and hard about how you want to camp.

We met an unhappy couple who sold their home and "hit the open road". Man and wife were happy for some time, worked at state RV camps. Had a semi-permanent screened patio, she had a sewing machine, etc. Wife started to miss home living, friends, kids, BUT they could not afford to buy a house. "Wither thou goest" does not always work. Males may be fine with full timing, females may change their mind about it. Best to try some extended tours and staying put for some time, before selling your home.

You'll want slides. When you full time, MOST people want more space. Unless you are a looking to completely emulate Henry David Thoreau and be super minimalists.

Bordercollie wrote:
A lot depends on your personality and tolerance for inconveniences.

This can not be emphasized enough.

It is best for newbies to RENT for a weekend or two first.
Actually being there gives you a much better perspective.

My DWs tolerance for inconvenience is a BIG FAT ZERO so I take the RV to races alone......or with my daughter and occasionally other friends.

There is lots of information available on this and other forums, finding it will take effort in itself. General advice, buy 3-5 years old if buying used.
Our fridge, roof AC unit, house batteries, charging system and fresh water pump died at around 10 years. Have a used rig thoroughly inspected by a pro truck mechanic and an RV repair service, if possible. Get written parts and labor estimates for replacements or repairs needed. Water leaks in roofs etc. are expensive to repair, don't buy a rig with stains or mold smells. Slides are nice but some are in the way except when extended, they can have leaks and mechanical problems. RV tires need periodic inspection for sidewall cracks and may need replacement after 5 years for safety and reliability regardless of tread depth and new appearance. Extended warranties are expensive and full of loopholes, better to save money for maintenance and replacements and repairs as needed. You can save about 1/2 the cost of RV repairs if you have the time, tools, skills, work space and help needed to do most repairs and maintenance yourselves.

Most RV's use the same brands of air conditioners, furnaces, appliances, awnings, etc., and the same Ford E-450 chassis. Almost all Class C RV's are the same width and height. Lengths vary from 22 feet to around 40 feet. Class C's need to be around 27 feet long to have a rear bedroom with RV queen sized bed. Most Class C's have dinettes or couches that convert to small uncomfortable beds. Sleeping in the overhead bed is OK for kids, most adults do not enjoy sleeping in the overhead which involves climbing down a ladder in the dark without waking your bed partner then climbing back up and getting back to sleep, bad for people with arthritis, etc.

Owning an RV is like owning a cabin cruiser or an airplane. It's a hobby in itself. Living in an RV is like living in a very small apartment. A lot depends on your personality and tolerance for inconveniences.

My personal experience:
With more than 2 people, you need slideouts......especially if you intend to try and keep it for full time.

I have a 28" C with no slideouts. With 2 people, we are constantly running into each other in the narrow isle.

Beyond that, it's all a matter of personal preference and budget.
Nobody else can tell you what y'all will like and not like.

Unless you have money to burn, new is probably not a good idea......because I suspect that you will want to get something a bit more roomy if and when you do decide to full time.

Dick_B wrote:
Full time in a Class C?

Why not? I've met people who full time in a class B.

Full time in a Class C?