~1 year from retirement
Getting close to retirement and trying to decide what our next RV might be. We love our truck camper but wish we had a comfortable place to relax. The dining room booth just doesn't cut it for us on ...
Forum Discussion
Howdy Mike! Nice to see you here and commenting.
Congrats on the upcoming retirement. Boy, retiring, selling your home and everything and heading out to Full Time in a RV/Camper is a really big step. I wish you all the best. Like you are doing, research as much as you can before you make that step and drive out of your drive way for the last time.
As you already know I have been full timing exclusively in a Truck Camper for more than 10 years now and certainly have made lots of mistakes and have learned a lot, thus the reason I now instruct at RV Shows during the winter months. One of my topic presentations is how to get started in an RV and Full Timing.
One of the first points of discussion, in my presentations, is selecting the best RV for you to Full Time in. You are getting a lot of great advice here, but will it ultimately answer your question. What I challenge my audience is; "What are your plans during your full timing? What are you going to do and where do you want to go?" None of which you have shared or others here, yet.
As an example if you plan on avoiding campgrounds and populated areas, like I do, and travel the back roads and boondock then a smaller more maneuverable vehicle, with a better height clearance is a priority. (I often include this example for those that visit families and frequently park in friends/family driveways.)
If you are looking at visiting state and national parks, then a shorter vehicle is a must as many of the campgrounds were designed and built in the 1940s to the 1960s. Thus lacking drive through, narrow & short sites with minimal to no hookups. So my recommendation is to look towards shorter (31 ft or less) Class C, Motor homes and 5wheels. As you know I have a bit of National Park experience on this topic too and talk to many that try to make larger RVs work, unsuccessfully.
Larger Motor homes and other RVs often need more room to maneuver as well as dedicated Elec/Sewer/Water hookups and are then relegated to RV Parks. There is a group that wants and desire the largest and ones with the most slides RV. If that is what your priority is, by all means get what you want and desire.
While this is very simplified explanation, deciding on what your use is beyond a serviceable kitchen may be necessary.
Do stay in touch with me and hopefully our paths will cross in the coming months and years. As well as stop in at the NPS location I find myself in each year.
All the best, Mike!
b
Congrats on the upcoming retirement. Boy, retiring, selling your home and everything and heading out to Full Time in a RV/Camper is a really big step. I wish you all the best. Like you are doing, research as much as you can before you make that step and drive out of your drive way for the last time.
As you already know I have been full timing exclusively in a Truck Camper for more than 10 years now and certainly have made lots of mistakes and have learned a lot, thus the reason I now instruct at RV Shows during the winter months. One of my topic presentations is how to get started in an RV and Full Timing.
One of the first points of discussion, in my presentations, is selecting the best RV for you to Full Time in. You are getting a lot of great advice here, but will it ultimately answer your question. What I challenge my audience is; "What are your plans during your full timing? What are you going to do and where do you want to go?" None of which you have shared or others here, yet.
As an example if you plan on avoiding campgrounds and populated areas, like I do, and travel the back roads and boondock then a smaller more maneuverable vehicle, with a better height clearance is a priority. (I often include this example for those that visit families and frequently park in friends/family driveways.)
If you are looking at visiting state and national parks, then a shorter vehicle is a must as many of the campgrounds were designed and built in the 1940s to the 1960s. Thus lacking drive through, narrow & short sites with minimal to no hookups. So my recommendation is to look towards shorter (31 ft or less) Class C, Motor homes and 5wheels. As you know I have a bit of National Park experience on this topic too and talk to many that try to make larger RVs work, unsuccessfully.
Larger Motor homes and other RVs often need more room to maneuver as well as dedicated Elec/Sewer/Water hookups and are then relegated to RV Parks. There is a group that wants and desire the largest and ones with the most slides RV. If that is what your priority is, by all means get what you want and desire.
While this is very simplified explanation, deciding on what your use is beyond a serviceable kitchen may be necessary.
Do stay in touch with me and hopefully our paths will cross in the coming months and years. As well as stop in at the NPS location I find myself in each year.
All the best, Mike!
b
