New Member Intro

[christine1952]

Hi. My husband and I were snowbirds going south for the winter in our 2007 Country Coach Intrigue 45'. My husband passed away last August after 32 years of marriage. I would like to continue to travel in our RV but I have only driven it on long straight stretches of roads. Being 45' it is pretty intimidating. So, I could learn how to drive it better or get something a lot smaller and create new memories. Would love to hear what you all think. Do any other ladies drive big rigs?

[Azusateach]

Welcome! I think you've found a super place where you can share your thoughts and ideas for creating new memories, either in your current rig or in a new one.

You might think about wandering around RV sales lots to see what they have. Sit in various models and see how they feel.

You might also decide to drive your current rig for a season to see how you like it before doing anything.

Lots to process, I'm sure. Take your time, ask lots of questions, and lean into the experience. It's tough, creating your new normal. But this is a great group of women who've travelled the same road as you.

We're glad you found us.

Laura

[IrishIroamed]

Hi Christine,
Sorry for your loss. I don't have an RV (yet), but since you've driven in the past, it might just take a little more practice. I agree with Laura & wouldn't rush into anything.
Welcome to the forum!

[BirdbyBird]

Welcome to the forum. I am glad that you have found us especially as you start figuring out your next moves. (((( hugs ))) for your so recent loss. You will find we all drive all sort of rigs and all sort of sizes. Maybe you can get a driving course for your rig. At least then you may be more comfortable driving it to warm weather this year as you decide if you really want to keep something that large or consider downsizing. There are so many ways to travel. You are already familiar with the pluses and minuses of a larger unit. Now you get to think if there are other places you may want to explore.....

[Bethers]

Ditto what's been said.

And welcome! Glad to have you with us.

[christine1952]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and suggestions. They are appreciated.

[Aggiemom]

Welcome to the forum. And you have my deepest sympathy on your loss. I too lost my sweet husband suddenly a little over a year ago the very week that we had planned a family 50th wedding anniversary celebration.

We had RV'd in a fifth wheel (which I helped drive) and I decided that I wanted to continuing RVing, but not in anything that had to bend in the middle to back up! So I bought a 32 foot class c. which is a little longer than I first wanted. It handles on the road very well, and in tight places like gas stations and camp grounds I just have to be careful. I decided that hitting someTHING In a gas station was better than hitting someONE on the road. I am not set up to tow, so I haven't tried that yet.

I think we have found some nice friends on this forum.

[MelissaD]

Hoosier Welcome

I've driven vehicle from motorcycles to semi's. It mostly boils down to experience and time to get use to a given vehicle. As for an RV, its a balance of living space vs maneuverability. Figure out how you wish to use it and then go from there. Larger if you tend to sit for a month and smaller if you move often. State and Federal parks also have size restrictions to think about. You have the experience to know what you like and don't like for features. Use that experience to build on.

Once again welcome and maybe we'll see you down the road.

[Olive600]

Welcome, I'm so sorry for your loss. You'll find lots of wisdom and experience on this forum.

[WickedLady]

Welcome from WA state. Your decision will depend on what you want to do. Go fulltime? The larger rig will be nice to have. Go south and stay in one place? Again the larger rig will be comforable to live in. A small rig is easier to get around in if you want to travel the country. Take your time to decide.

[cnq50b]

Welcome Christine.

So sorry for your loss. This is a great group with lots of advice, compassion & laughter.

I can't offer much advice on your rig, but these gals are right - give yourself some time to figure it out.

I even questioned my van when I drove it home for the first time - pretty much white-knuckled most of the way. and it's little compared to what you have! Now, however, I'm as comfortable with it as my minivan. And its such a joy to be able to just take off & know that I have everything I need with me.

Hope you can meet up with some of these ladies - they're terrific!!

[MandysMom]

Welcome and I am so sorry for your loss. I agree with others, take your time. Take a driving course if you can, good whether you change RV's or not. I had driven a small Toyota van and the only one who worried when we got the 22 Ft SPrinter Leisure Travel Van, was husband. I figured it was just a slightly larger van. I did fine with that jump, but not sure I would want to drive a huge one like you had. We have a 40 ft bus convsersion, which I drove once in a parking lot, and decided I needed more practice and not with husband in the bus to learn. Also did not much like all the stuff to watch in a OLD (1976 chassis) bus. I do hope to get larger than my van (plan to keep it) and smaller than the 40 ft and learn to drive it and keep it if I end up alone in future. I would say, take a class, drive it for a while, see how the driving and space go for you, but I am pretty sure after a while I would go for a smaller rig, maybe 30 to 34 ft. Plenty for full time, small enough to do state parks in most cases.
Velda

[cpatinjones]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

[tlsmith]

good morning Christine, yes I drive a 31 ft Itasca Winnebaggo, it was scarey at first but after driving to Tenn just once I got use to the way it handles, once at the camp resort setting up was a breeze, my partner and I went this direction with the motorhome cause we thought it would be to difficult to unhook a hauler and get it balanced, as we are getting older and unable to handle all the up and down, doing this and that with the getting the hauler ready to hook up. Well after spending a week in the motorhome it was everything we needed and wanted to be comfortable. I think for us the 31 feet is perfect and easy to handle.

[carolb]

Welcome Christine Sorry for your loss, but glad you found us. You'll find many have been in your shoes--a great group of ladies & excellent info....Happy travels