Anyone have an R.V.?

[*Robin*]

Hi all,

DH has just decided we MUST have an R.V. He travels a lot for work and DS and I plan to start traveling with him more often. My question is...those of you that have one...do you REALLY use it, and if you had the choice, would you do it again.

I'd also like to know if you have a R.V. or a Trailer. (I think that's what they're called)

He is going to have surgury for some herniated discs soon, then he wants to go looking...

Can anyone help??

Thanks!!!

 

[Serena]

I don't know what kind of help I'll be, but I do have an rv. We bought an old one from a couple that traveled all the time. They kept it in great shape, considering it's age and cried when we pulled away.

We have used it more than I ever thought we would too.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

We just returned from a week in our 27 foot travel trailer. We have such a great time in it, and always wish we could use it more often than we do. That silly work thing gets in the way! Right now we get about 3 weeks and several long weekends in it. We have camped in CO, FL and often go within about a 4 hour drive from home. It is so nice to have all of our own things when we travel instead of staying at hotels, and it is much less expensive too once you make the first investment. Any questions, ask away. Do some research because some sales people can be less than honest about what different trucks will tow.

 

[*Robin*]

Thank you guys!! (Serena, I'm in Indiana too!)

How hard must that have been to drive away with an elderly couple crying???

I'm really leary of such a HUGE investment. I was afraid it was one of those big boy toy things. You know, I've GOT to have one, then it sits in a storage unit for eternity!

I'm hoping to find a nice used one like Serena. but how about actually staying in them? Are they comfortable? Do they break down every 5 minutes? Can you really cook in them and all that?

DH says they're like little homes now, with all the luxuries. I don't need lots of luxuries, but I don't want to be stuck in a tin can while hubby is working all day either.

Now on the nicer side, it would be wonderful to avoid the hotels, and I can take my dogs anytime I want, and we can go anytime.

What do you guys hate most about it, and love most?

What do you not have that you wish you did?

You know, I always thought it would be neat do get an old Airstream and fix it all up kind of 50'ish.

Has anyone every seen the movie with Lucy and Desi Arnez, the Long,Long,Long,Long trailor? I saw that a couple of years ago and thought it was too funny...

Anyway, just consider me someone a bit terrified at the prospect, and would LOVE any guidance!

Thank you, thank you!!

 

[Krisu]

We have had our RV for 2 years now and love it! We have been out every other weekend this summer, headed to Boston on Friday for the weekend We also like to take our dog when we travel and last year spent a wonderful week at Fort Wilderness. I wish we had done it sooner!

 

[Serena]

Robin, Hi neighbor. lol It was hard driving away when they were crying, but they said if they had to sell it, they were glad to sell it to us.
Mine can sleep 5 people comfortably, and if neccessary 8, that includes the floor and we have done that once.

Like I said it is old, but they took very good care of it and my h is also a mechanic and he made sure it was in good condition. I hate the old toilet though, but it's better than an outhouse or a less than clean restroom somewhere.

When you get one, make sure they write directions on how to do things, you won't remember what they say on tips and tricks about things.
These people put little storage thingies everywhere to hold things.
Learn how to drive it yourself and to use everything. I never did, wanted to, but didn't.

 

[faith]

HI Robin! Have you considered renting one for your first trip? Might be the best way to see if you all enjoy spending time in one.

 

[camper]

We have a 22 ft travel trailer and love it! Of course our favorite place to camp is Fort Wilderness! We could never stay at WDW for 2 whole weeks without it.
I wish we could have gotten a bigger one, but that is all the weight we can haul with our vehicle. One with a slide out would be ideal.
If you haven't seen any for a while you will be amazed at how nice they are! Ours has airconditioning, a microwave, a gas stove, a bathroom, nice cupboards.
You can look at them by finding the web sites of some of the makers of rv's.
I consider it one of our best investments. I bet your ds would love it.
I always dreamed of having a motorhome, but I don't know if I would like having to take it with me every time I needed to go to the store. It would be fun to try it though.

 

[KimandBrian]

My dad bought an RV so he can travel when he retires. Rv's seem to be real comfortable and more homey these days. My dad has a big screen tv, his driver's seats are plush recliners, lots of storage and I found it very comfortable the weekend I stayed in it.

He is a superintendent for a construction company that sends him all over the states on different projects. Since he has gotten the RV he takes it wherever he is working even though the company would put him up in his own apartment. So he's definitely using it a lot more than he originally intended.

 

[Gette88]

We just got back from our first vacation in our new travel trailer (34 ft). We went to Cape May NJ & had a great time. We got a seasonal site there next year, from May 1st to Nov. 1st. We loved it.

 

[year2late]

What kind of gas mileage do those puppies get?

 

[Chattyaholic]

When DH and I were first married we started camping in a tent, a few years later we moved up to a pop-up camper, then 10 years ago my in-laws bought a new camper so we bought their old one, a 32' 5th wheel. They just bought another new one, so again we bought their old one, and sold OUR old one. This one is also 32' long, with a slide-out for the couch and dinette table/chairs so makes the kitchen and living room MUCH bigger. I absolutely LOVE this camper!! It's decorated in dusty rose and country blue, which are my favorite decorating colors. It has oak cabinetry throughout, carpet, a full bathroom (split bath - one side has the shower/toilet with a door to close that area for privacy and the other side is the sink/mirror) and a bedroom with queen sized bed, air conditioning, microwave oven, entertainment system (TV, DVD/video and a cassette music system with wired speakers in the living room and bedroom), the refrigerator/freezer can run on either electricity or gas, gas water heater and stove/oven, gas furnace, and even a doorbell!!

With my DH being a farmer, the summer "camping season" is way too short! But, we do try to get away a few times during the summer. So far this year we've spent 5 nights up at Sault Ste. Marie (DH loves to watch the freighters), a week at a local campground, and 10 days in the upper peninsula. For my birthday (in two weeks) we're camping for a week, somewhere, not sure where yet. And I hope to squeeze in a short trip for our anniversary in September. Next winter, or the one after, we plan to spend a month in Florida and gradually start increasing the amount of time we stay down there. In 10 years I hope we can buy a brand new one, with double slide-outs. Some of them are just so beautiful, with fireplaces, huge windows in the back, etc.

 

[Serena]

Ours' gets 10 miles to the gallon and that's considered good for that old thing.

 

[Bichon Barb]

We just traded in our Coleman pop (after five wonderful years) for a 25 foot Outback with bed slide and side slide. The slides really add a lot of room. We tow it with a '98 GMC Yukon.

Robin, were you thinking of a towable trailer, fifth wheel (towable with a pickup truck), or a motor home?

On our last trip, there were a few Monaco Signature Series motorhomes. They were over 40 feet long!!! I looked them up on the web, as I was curious what they cost. Pricing starts at $479,000! We saw one where the couple was sitting outside watching a large TV. It had an outside storage compartment that held an entertainment center in it! Now THAT is roughing it comfortably.

I'm rambling. We try to go camping every other weekend. We've only taken two week-long trips--one to Maine and the other to Williamsburg VA. Hopefully next year we'll go to Cape Cod (or Ft. Wilderness - even better!)

 

[*Robin*]

WOW, what a great bunch of responses, thank you everyone!!

I had never thought of renting one, I didn't even know you could!!

Kim and Brian, My DH is a construction super for a national company as well and travels all over the country. He saw a co-worker who lives in Texas and had come to the office in Chicago, with his RV and fell in love with the idea. That's how this all started.

As far as what we are looking for...I have NO clue. He has a big 1/2 ton truck with a special tow package, and I would be just as happy with a tow behind, BUT he wants an RV (ok, whatever they call them that have the truck connected LOL!) and to buy a car instead of his truck because he feels he doesn't need it anymore. He seems absolutely convinced this is a good move, so I want to be as informed as possible. I just ordered the cd from goRVing...LOL I guess it's a start. We also have one of the biggest RV dealers in the country closeby (anyone ever go to Tom Raper RV??) so we thought we'd go there just to see all that is available, then start looking in the papers, and online etc.

I have a minivan, and with all the crap that's said about them, with 2 dogs and a son, I'm not giving it up for anything!

I do have one more question for you guys, did you ever think of bad guys being out there? You know, like those guys that go on shooting sprees and escape to the campgrounds? I have no idea why that keeps popping into my head, but it does.

DH says I'm just insane....

Thank you all so much, and like I said before, any insight is sooooo appreciated!

 

[Muffin]

Something you should consider between a self-contained motorhome and a travel trailer is having a vehicle to use when you are at your destination.

With a motorhome, you may want to tow a separate vehicle that you can use once you are hooked up at a campsite. With a travel trailer, that wouldn't be necessary.

However, it is nice to be able to use the bathroom (for the passengers anyway) or have something to eat without having to make a stop.

If you think you'll be spending extended periods in it, try to get one as big as you can. Also, seriously consider slide-outs, they make the interior so much more roomy.

 

[christinou]

We used to have a pop-up and now have a 28 ft class Cmotorhome, we love it and go away as often as we can....
We are leaving for Fort Wilderness in 10 days, yeah!!!!
It is very confortable, we have a queen size bed, and the bed in the cabover, which is terrific as we have 2 DDs, we also have a dinette and a sofa, very easy to cook in it, and a nice bathroom.
I would be happy to answer any specific questions that you have.
Of course after the pop-up we fill that we are in full luxury right now.

 

[*Robin*]

The extra vehicle is part of the discussion. He wants to sell his truck and get a car to tow behind an RV, I want to keep the truck and get a trailor. I hadn't thought about how nice it would be to be able to stretch out on a trip though. (Especially opposed to DH, DS, Me, and 2 dogs in the TRUCK! Yikes!!)

Can someone tell me the difference between a Class A and a Class C motorhome? Christinou? I just looked at some used ones online and love the idea of a bed over the cab as opposed to having to collapse a table every night. I don't get the classifications though.

Thank you!

 

[Lanshark]

Go to irv2.com and get into the forums. There's tons of information. I would love to have a class c someday. The idea of Dh driving down the road while I am able to go to the bathroom thrills me. Then again, it doesn't take much.

 

[Muffin]

Class C motorhomes always have the cabover bed. Their front ends look like the front end of a van. The interior driver/passenger area is smallish and exactly like sitting in the front of a van.

Class A motorhomes are the ones that the driving area is incorporated into the rest of the body. They usually have high, flat windshields. Some of these have captains chairs for the driver/passenger that swivel and become part of the seating area of the motorhome.

If you're set on towing a vehicle, you have to consider a trailer, a tow dolly or get a vehicle that can be towed directly on the ground. Trailers/tow dollys are a pain in backing up and tight turns. As long as you're planning to buy a vehicle to tow, some (maybe all )Saturns and AMC jeeps don't have to have their drive shafts disconnected.