How do I pick the right RV for my family?

[HendricksFamily]

Good Morning-
My husband and I are in the beginning stages of research and shopping for an RV that will suit our family. Our family is us, 2 kids (13 & 9, boy and girl) and our easiest kids our 2 Spaniels. My overall goal is to build better family relationships and spend our free time away from the technology that seems to continuously invade our lives. I want to escape, see our amazing country and spend quality time with the people that matter most.
We are currenlty working the pro's and con's of purchasing a Class A or a 5th wheel and appropriate hauling pick-up truck. As is true with any relationship, husband is leaning towards one and I the other. What I would really like to gain from this forum is the opportunity to talk with RV'ers who own each and talk about how you are using it and what you like and dislike about your choice. It would be most helpful to talk to similar style families but of course any advice would be amazing. I am reading a ton of blogs but I am finding that most of them are full-time RV'ers and that is not what I am going for. We want to be casual weekenders initially exploring the areas within a 2-4 hour radius of our home in Southeast GA where my husband is stationed. I thank you all in advance for your wisdom!
Sincerely,
Amy (The Mom)

[gazingm42]

We upgraded from the tent trailer to a full size travel trailer a few years with several of the same goals. Since we live in "God country" when it comes to camping and the great outdoors, I want to make sure my family can enjoy it more.

DW doesn't camp on the ground ever since the bear night, about 22 years ago not a
good story to bring up with her. So the only way to get her back out is in a trailer.

We have 2 kids as well which one get technology disconnect issues when we travel. So I just make sure we go far enough in the mountains that we can not get internet :))))

We elected to Travel trailer vs a motor home simply as we love to explore on our day trips, bike, hike, etc. We want to leave our camp home at camp and not
take the MH with us.

[bigred1cav]

Get the one that fits your desire for use. If you want camping get a trailer. If you want convenience get a Class A. In a class A you will basically pull in to your area punch a few buttons hook up water etc and be ready. A trailer takes more time and effort.

I urge you to use the military Posts in the US South they will give you wonderful staging areas at very low costs. Saving money for those expensive kids trips where dollars slip through your hands like water at a fountain.

We use a Class A as we do not camp nor do we wish to camp had enough camping when in Army. We are tourists and want all our comforts with us.

The white beaches of the Florida Red Neck Riviera are probably in your time frame and many military camps are nearby.

[wbwood]

I wouldn't rent it out either. Most people get an RV so they don't have to share a bed or bathroom with others. If finances are a concern, then look cheaper and/or used.

[wannavolunteerF]

Since you are a military family, don't forget to check out military campgrounds. They have some great locations managed by local MWR's, and not all are directly on base. You might even consider staying at the one on your base as your first outing, to learn how to work things in a location that you are comfortable with. You will have active duty and retired military people camping there that will be glad to help a new RV'er out.

[HendricksFamily]

Lol thank you all for your brutal honesty. Poo is a definite concern.

[Roy_Lynne]

No, you really don't want to rent out your RV because it is such a big investment. Would you really trust a strange, who may or may not even know how to operate an RV use your rig. They might smoke and even if they tell you they don't someone in their family might. What if they use the toilet and don't clean it out. Its a big deal cleaning the septic of your own family, what about strangers poo. And sleeping in your bed, bedbugs are a big issue and you don't know. What if they break down in another state and since it isn't theirs, they just leave it for you to deal with.
Also talk to USAA and they will surely discourage you. There are things with an RV that you just have to do to care for it, that renters would ignore.
You said that your husband was handy Then don't get a new RV, go as cheap as you can and then rebuild it to suit you. There are some awesome deals out there. Look for something with bunk beds cause each kid is going to need their own space and fix it up the way you like it.

[2gypsies1]

Great that you've made a decision! However, really think hard about your 'renting to others' plan. Insurance? Repairs while on the road? Caring for it? Rental RVs take a lot of abuse.

[HendricksFamily]

I cannot thank you all enough for your kind and honest words. This purchase is defenitly a process and one we are not taking lightly. I feel like I research a little more each and every day. We have pretty much settled on a MH as it is very important to my husband and kids that they be comfortable on the actual road trip. Fortunately my husbands Navy career has tought him to be a mechanic so the additional maintenance does not bother him. We have also decided that we will rent our MH to other military families to offset some of our costs. It's not an ideal situation but one that greatly appeals to us financially. As DH starts his transition back to civilian life (retirement in 2017) our plan is to use the MH for weekend trips and family vacations. Ultimately working up to the post Navy retirement summer on the road! We are currently looking at a Thor Windsport 34J model. As far as we can tell now, it has everything we are looking for and while a pricey purchase it is well within our budget as is the insurance, gas and CG fees etc. Have not signed the dotted line just yet but hopefully by this fall we can share pictures of our first adventure!

[hawkeye-08]

We have a pickup with travel trailer. It works for us and a big part of deciding to go that way is the need to use the pickup as a family vehicle, not just dedicated to camping. If we did not need it as family vehicle, then we might have gone with motorhome.

[2gypsies1]

What kind of parks will you go? If it's RV parks there really isn't much for kids to do. You might want to zero in on state, national or any public park. Then have the whole family take up hiking, fishing, etc. to keep everyone occupied. Even though many campgrounds wouldn't have electric, all RVs are self-contained and you don't need the hookups. Make a game of conserving to see how long you can stay without running out of water, etc.

Have the kids take advantage of the Ranger Programs offered in many of the parks. Sometimes they could even offer to work alongside with the rangers doing things. Volunteering is great for kids - and adults.

[wbwood]

We like the versatility of our Class C....It's sort of the best of both worlds.

Campground on Blue Ridge Parkway.


Hilton Head Island Motorcoach Resort


Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach


Ridge Road COE (US Army Corps of Engineers)


Stone Mountain State Park, NC

[wbwood]

You mentioned getting away from technology, bonding and seeing this great country. You may not like my answer but here goes. We are a family of 4 (me, wife, 13 yr old daughter, 24 yr old son). Our son doesn't live at home anymore. We started off back in 2000 with a pop up. Our daughter was not even born then and our son was about 10 yrs old. We kept it a few years. It wasn't unitl 2010 (after son was out of the house) that we re-entered the RV world. We went straight to a 31' TT/F250 truck. The TT was a bunkhouse model. We figured our daughter would bring friends or son may come with us at sometime. We had the TT 3 years and neither happened. We also found ourselves limited with the TT. The main thing was that it was not really set up for much more than FHU type sites. We found ourselves wanting to explore more and get to places out in nature. We started planning. I bought a generator that we could use. I was looking at upgrading the batteries and etc. But we still had a setback. It was the size of the unit. While we could still find some campsites that we would fit in, we were more limited. We ended up trading in for a Class C. It's still a 31' model, but it is set up better for us and traveling. Even though we can tow a car (and sometimes do), there's a difference of backing in a 31' class c into a spot than maneuvering a 31' tt hooked up to a truck into some spots. If your towing with the motorhome, you have to unhook the car, before you can back in the motorhome. It's not feasible with a towable trailer (TT/5th wheel). You have to use the truck to do it. And then you are looking at a 20' long truck to try an park vs a car half the size.

My advice would be to get something more utilitarian. You sound like you want to get out in nature. Don't worry so much about the fancy stuff. Get the basics. Get something that allows you to remain self contained for longer periods of time. Something large enough, but also something smaller, more manageable and that opens up the possiblity to many more campsites. Invest in solar and a good size battery bank. Look at tank sizes (waste/fresh water). Looking at ways to fill up and drain.

While i wish our tanks were bigger, one of the first things I did to our Class C was install a 2nd battery and a couple of fantastic fans. I finally ordered a 100 watt solar panel (suitcase) the other day. My coworker just upgraded his class c with one that has a lot of fancy stuff. Part of me is jealous. Because I would like to have all that while sitting in a site at the Hilton Head Island Motorcoach Resort. But another part of me is thinking is that thsoe fancy things are just more stuff to service/maintain and a chance for them to break. Plus I would not use them when we are up on the Blue Ridge Parkway or a National Park.

[pitch]

With 2 kids and 2 dogs I would go for a passenger van or a suburban and a travel trailer. May not be as trendy and modern looking as a MH or a 4 door truck and 5ver,but in my mind it would be more practical.

[hyattjlbb]

Not exactly an answer to your questions but a thought to ponder. A wise person told me on this forum a while back: "When shopping for your camper and you are ready to go see it, take the whole family along. When you get there, pile everyone in and close the door. Picture that you are stuck in there during a rainy day. Can you live a day like this and not get on each others nerves? If so, you have found the correct size RV." Words to live by while shopping.