Convince Us We NEED an RV!

[2tiggerriffic]

You guys are great! Thanks so much for the input...We are going to the show in Hershey. I'll keep you updated. (We do have APs, so we could get so much more use out of them!) And it's so hard to find hotels to accomodate all of us anymore, that this seems to be the way we want to go.

May be a little late on this but were gone to James Island in Charleston this weekend. My DH and I never weighed the cost of hotels when we purchased our pop-up in '97, we went to a tent model RV afterward for 6yrs and now are in 31ft travel trailer w/slides. The thing I love the most about camping is being FREE. Freedom to roam outside and kids playing and bike riding or
whatever outside. You are not cooped up in a small room wondering what are we going to do, where to go just to get outside. Camping is outside and alot of campgrounds have so many amenities now, you never have to leave. Plus the best thing is being with your family together.

I do agree to ask around, look carefully at the different RV's and layouts inside. Use the internet for different brands, layouts and look at GVWR on the trailer. Dealers are the most important, we were lucky with that when we purchased our Rockwood even though he was 120 miles away. He was a small dealer but honest. In fact we didn't have a vehicle to tow the TT with at the time and we were already looking to purchase a vehicle for me (DW) at the time so I ended up with a new camper and truck AND LOVE THEM BOTH. Never thought I would see myself in a truck but now I do. When I went looking at campers I looked for floor space, that was my biggest thing when purchasing a camper. I wanted us to be able to sit inside and move around without being on top of each other.

One more thing I agree with is renting first. Just do a weekend getaway, close to home and see how you like camping. We know people that went out and purchased huge campers, motorhomes and didn't like it and then had to sell. Actually, that is what we did. We rented a pop-up several times before purchasing.

Good luck to you and your family on your decision.

 

[AlyLynn]

Everyone's input has just been overwhelming! It's exactly what we needed! Just some info: DH tent camps with DS. I grew up camping in a trailer, any time my parents could go, so we have a little experience. As many of you have mentioned, I can't take being tied down to hotel rooms that can't accomodate the size of our family. We planned on taking 2 days coming home from Disney, this past trip, but wound up driving straight through because we couldn't find a hotel with suites! DH has been doing research, but we don't have any friends who RV, so you guys have been great. The kids range in age from 2-13, and with 4 of them, this seems the best way to go. I'll let you know how the show goes!

 

[bradisgoofy]

We currently own a Fleetwood Class A 39' Diesel Pusher, having trade-in our 36' fifth wheel for it. One more resource, once you have decided what type of camping rig and then maybe a brand, check http://www.rv.org for more information. Buying the CD would be well worth the money.

 

[dtum]

Have to agree...camping all the way. DH and I started in a tent 30 years ago, moved up to PUP when DD and DS came along, but we had always dreamed of a fifth-wheel. This year DH found the fifth-wheel that we had always wanted on e-bay at a dealer in GA. We drove from OH to GA to buy it and love it. There was one year when we went on vacation without TT and came home with bedbugs from the KOA cabin we stayed at..after that we (especially me) couldn't even consider a vacation without a trailer.

Even our kids, no grown, still love to camp and it's great fun for all of us to go in a big bunch with our grandson and introduce him to camping. For us, it's the only way to go.

True, it 's a lot of $$, but don't buy new-the depreciation in the first year will kills you. Find a dealer who will let you stay a few days nearby to work out any bugs - where we got ours they actually had a KOA on the property and we stayed for two days, they fixed all the little problems we found.

You also have to consider your tow vehicle. PUPs are towable with many more vehicles and a fifth-wheel or big trailer. We never looked at a Class A or C because then we would need to tow a car behind.

Buy what you can afford, but don't buy the cheapest thing you find because TTs are truely "you get what you pay for."

Best of all...the memories you create (even if you only use it once/twice a year) will stay with you forever.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

Also, Remember:

You will probably want to carry insurance on it.
You will want to have a roadside assistance ex.GoodSam, AAA
Will be buying "extra" stuff for the RV ex. chairs, bedding etc..
Some cost might be tax deductable

It is so nice not to haul stuff from the house. I like having the RV stocked with its own stuff!!!

We have a Cougar Keystone. It has 2 sets of bunks. We have 2 sets of twins.... They have model now where each bunk is a slide out and makes a huge room! If I was looking again I would probably go for it! Once you make a purchase you probably will not want to upgrade later so try to make the best decision. They do depreciate so a lot of money can be lost upgrading.

At the last RV show in Atlanta we picked up a book from a couple that has all the Walmarts and Sams Club's in the US w/ phone numbers so you can call and see if you can park for the night. We plan on doing that on our next trip to WDW. That would save $30-$40.

Our first trip to FW was on a military discount and camping was $24/night! We stayed 10 nights for $240!!! That is great!!! ha!

There are 6 of us so no matter what we would be in a suite or 2 rooms almost anywhere. RV works great for us.

Carrie

 

[mike k.]

We have 4 children, love to travel, and drive to Disney from PA between 4-5 times a year! The kids hate flying, and I hate the stress of staying in hotel rooms with 4 kids! The Fort has become a family favorite, and DH and I are throwing the idea of an RV around seriously. Any thoughts on the subject?
Thanks!

As soon as you buy one, two things happen instantly. First, you wonder how you've done without one for so long(am I right fellow fort lovers) and second you start figuring out how big your next one is going to be
Happpy trails
Mike

 

[bradisgoofy]

As soon as you buy one, two things happen instantly. First, you wonder how you've done without one for so long(am I right fellow fort lovers) and second you start figuring out how big your next one is going to be
Happpy trails
Mike

Oh so true, Mike

 

[kmccain]

You guys are great! Thanks so much for the input...We are going to the show in Hershey. I'll keep you updated. (We do have APs, so we could get so much more use out of them!) And it's so hard to find hotels to accomodate all of us anymore, that this seems to be the way we want to go.

AlyLynn - How did you make out at Hershey?

 

[AlyLynn]

Hershey was amazing! We got there 3 hours late due to a flat tire, and only got to spend 3 hours at the show, so we drove home, got home around midnight, and got up and drove back the next morning! DH and our 4 kids had a ball! We were so close to buying one, but decided to wait--DH has to get a vehicle to pull it! You guys warned me about that! Anyway, we opted to stay away from a motorhome at this point, I am really more comfortable with the travel trailers, and the whole family agreed. We are actively looking for a vehicle that can tow, and hold all 6 of us, 'cuz we really want one now! I just wish we could have taken advantage of the deals at the show! Thanks for all of your help!

 

[AlyLynn]

I forgot to add that the kids didn't ask ONCE to go to the theme park! That's how much fun they had!

 

[loriandmatt]

I just wish we could have taken advantage of the deals at the show!

We were also there at the Hershey RV show and can i tell you some of the deal specials were amazing!!!!! DH and i decided that we are going to take actions over the next year to line up all the elements (tow vehicle - need a new truck anyway), expand our driveway for a parking space for the RV and scrape up the money so we don't have to finance as much) and go to the show next year ready to make a purchase.

We fell in love with the Jayco Jay Feather expandable (the new term for a hybrid) and with the Cub/Kodiac. Keystone had some unbelievable deals on TT demo/show models also.

now we just have to decide if we want those bunk ends or not. We love them in our pop up, and are not sure that we want to get rid of them.

 

[louise1928]

Hershey was amazing! We got there 3 hours late due to a flat tire, and only got to spend 3 hours at the show, so we drove home, got home around midnight, and got up and drove back the next morning! DH and our 4 kids had a ball! We were so close to buying one, but decided to wait--DH has to get a vehicle to pull it! You guys warned me about that! Anyway, we opted to stay away from a motorhome at this point, I am really more comfortable with the travel trailers, and the whole family agreed. We are actively looking for a vehicle that can tow, and hold all 6 of us, 'cuz we really want one now! I just wish we could have taken advantage of the deals at the show! Thanks for all of your help!

Hello

My husband and I were at the same RV Show on Saturday. We had a great time!!! What a great experience!! We were in and out of so many RV's, by the end of the day we were both exhausted. We plan to attend again next year!! Have fun shopping for your trailer. We are contemplating the same thing, but without kids. Our children are adults now! We will probably rent one next year!

 

[wrongagain]

There is nothing better than going back to your own kitchen, bathroom, bed, in your own little house,... your rv.
I hate the whole hotel experiance, and I hate to fly.
Try it, you'll like it, rent one for a week, it will show you if you need a bigger or smaller size without the commitment of buying.

 

[pammypooh]

Our RV is the best investment we ever made. It has given us the freedom and opportunity to travel cross country. My girls are 10 & 11 - they have been to Florida 4 X - 5th time coming up in a week! We have been to Maine twice, plus all the way to CA and back. They've really been able to see the country. I never had that opportunity growing up and I really love being able to travel with them and have them experience the wonders of our beautiful country. I know at some point it will not be "cool" to travel with the folks, so we are going to enjoy this while it lasts. We also use our RV for tailgating at Penn State games. Nice bonus! We bought used, so we could get bigger and a diesel rig. DH is very mechanical and loves to tinker with his big toy. Good luck in making your decision. I love our RV, even though I am not a real outdoorsy gal!

Pam

 

[loveDmouse]

Is the Hershey show always the same time of year? We want to go next year. Found out too late this year to go.
Thanks.

 

[Gillian]

I want to go next year too! And then maybe buy the year after that, if we're able. DIS meet maybe?? The PUP is fine & fun for now, a great learning experience, but we'll need more space eventually. And a bigger fridge for DS who is starting to eat like a boy (finally)!

Are the RVs outside? Just wondering because the fumes get to me more indoors.

 

[DisneyRulz07]

is the wilderness lodge the only place in Disney that you cant park? Im in the same boat. I just spent a lot of money on the CR and it was good but my friend has a class A that i've borrowed on occassion. I would have rather been in that with my twin girls.

 

[kmccain]

Is the Hershey show always the same time of year? We want to go next year. Found out too late this year to go.
Thanks.

Yes the Hershey show is always right around the same time. I have reservations at Hershey Highmeadow for next year, Thursday September 11-Sunday September 14th.

Since they moved to Hershey, we have been going down on Friday and going to the show Friday night on a preview plan for $5 a person. We got almost half done in a few hours because there weren't any crowds. The kids can do the same thing at the park and it is included in their ticket for the next day.

Then we go all day on Saturday. It is so crowded on Saturday! There were a lot that we couldn't even get in! We decided to go Thursday night next year and go all day on Friday.

We just have a ball looking at them too! We really enjoy chatting with everyone too.

If you are thinking about staying down there, you better call and get a reservation. I know they were almost booked full. The number for Hershey Highmeadow is 1 800 Hershey. They have a bus that takes you back and forth to the show. You can also stay in a overnight parking for $20 a night but there isn't any hookups. The bus picks up from there also.

Hope this helps! Can't wait til next year!

 

[loveDmouse]

Thank you! I will start looking at places to stay.

 

[AlyLynn]

You guys have been such a great help so far! We have it narrowed down between 2 trailers. A 2008 Jay Flight 26BH, or a 2007 Jay Flight BHS. The price would be about a $3,0000 difference. Is the space worth it? Anybody have experience with either trailer? With 4 kids, I like the idea of more space! Thanks for everything!