I lived very comfortably in my 1997 30' long Fleetwood Bounder 30E. It did not have a slide, and I bought it brand new.
It has a 100 gallon fresh water tank, 59 gallon black, 42 gallon grey tank. I could stay in it for 2 weeks dry camping in the forest service, or BLM land without moving or dumping tanks, while taking daily showers of about 3 minutes each day.
So my recommendation is to go larger, and forget getting 18 MPG, you just will not get that kind of MPG while towing. And you probably will find that you only need to average about 5000 miles a year, so 8 MPG that my motorhome got was not really all that expensive afterall. So it used 600 gallons a year in gasoline, 6 quarts of oil and a $8 filter, 100 gallons of propane (give or take). I have a 400 watt solar system, they are very in-expensive now.
Sometimes I would spend 1-2 nights a month in hookup campgrounds, doing laundry at the same time. Or find a laundrymat in town, and take over 3-4 of the large tumbling machines for 1 hour, and the dryers for 30 minutes. All laundry done in 3 hours max, including time to drive to town and fold, and put away.
Does your plan include staying in hookup sites all the time? Do you almost require them to prevent running out of water after 3 nights showers? That is why I would recommend going larger - large enough that you can stay in dry camping 2 weeks at a time, perhaps 3 weeks if you can find fresh water while out sightseeing, and bring it back with 6 gallon containers.
My thought when I do retire is to get a 30 gallon fresh water tank and 12 volt pump, put it in the back of my car, and fill it someplace, bring it back to the RV and fill that tank.
Once I spent about a month in one location, I did feed the local plants with grey water (legal if you are not in a campground, and dig a hole so it will not attract flies). I had a Direct TV antenna and system to watch TV and enjoyed myself while full timing for about 1 year, most of that time without hookups.
Good luck on your decision. I was towing a van with a tow dolly while full timing. Once I had a job again I bought a Ford Edge (powerful engine and roomy inside, but at 4,200 pounds a little to heavy, and large as a tow vehicle). I would recommend looking at Honda CRV or other small car as a towed vehicle. I also have a Manx Dune buggy, but that is not really ideal when it is raining - no top. At 1,500 pounds, I don't need a braking system. With my Edge, I use a cruise control motor, and apply vacuum to it when I apply the RV brakes, so it pulls the cable, pulls the brake pedal to the floor. Works great. . .
Fred.
Solar?
SunElec.com If you check my prior posts, and search for solar, you can see how mine is installed, pictures, and description.
Money can't buy happiness but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a
Porsche or Country Coach!
If there's a WILL, I want to be in it!
I havn't been everywhere, but it's on my list.
Kangen.com Alkaline waterEscapees.com
