New RV owner

[linann]

Hi Ethel,

Sounds as if you are full-timing now. Since most campsites have electric hookups, I wonder if you are boondocking? That would certainly make it more difficult to stay warm in the winter. Definitely think about traveling farther south. Many of the women on the forum travel south in the winter.

[Ethel]

linann, what's boondocking mean? Our only one, open year-round camp site is about 45 min. and they charge $41.00 a night with my Good Sams discount included.

Judi, don't have a Roadtrek (I wish) got a 26' Winnebago 2014.

bethers, how can you turn on your heat before getting up?

Anyone know why my propane works sometimes and not others? I get up put on the generator and then turn on the heat, jump back in my 'Coleman sleeping bag' waiting for the RV to warm.

Did that this morning at 1:30 am was freezing. Got up again at 3:30 am and all I got was cold air. The fourth try it worked. The temperature outside was 26 degrees.

[Lopo]

Ethel, I live in Florida and have for many years, on the Gulf coast south of St. Pete. There are RV parks around here, and some may still have spots for the season. If you give me your price range, I'll look around. This area might be more expensive than other parts of Florida, but I think you need to take US highways, like 301, and stay off I-95 and I-75 until you're a lot more comfortable driving, and get yourself to Florida. (I, for one, hate driving my car. Let alone my 20' class C, on the interstates,mgetting blown about or crowded out by the trucks. Yuck!)

I am thinking of a nice little spot where you could walk to the beach and take the free island trolley, but I don't know how much it is or what you want to pay. I do think you need to get yourself to Floridamand immersed in the whole lifestyle where you'll find lots of help and support. The RV'ing world is like learning to live in a different country! If you can give me a price range for monthly for the season, I'll stop over and check on the place I'm thinking of.

[daibraik]

Hi, Ethel, I'm new here as well, and new to solo RVing, but not picking out RVs. I have an almost 30 foot class A, my first class A (though I've owned a fifth wheel and a class C), and I was/and still am sometimes scared to drive it. It feels big, but from the side it looks kind of small (for living in). The front dash is big, and I know that many gals prefer the smaller cockpits as in class C's or the Roadtrek's. I often wished that I had bought one of those, so I could just "take off" and buzz down the road without worrying about whether my rig is between the lines. I find the more I drive it, the less I worry about being between the lines because I get the feel for the size of it. It's actually kind of neat to look out over the traffic, though I still struggle with depth perception behind me. If you haven't attended an RV driving class, and can't get to one, there is a series of videos online from the RV Driver Confidence Course that I found SUPER helpful regarding anything from adjusting mirrors to turning radius, backing in, reference points, etc. Here's the link to the first one, and you can find the rest from there. http://betterrving.com/rv-driver-confidence-course-part-1/. I have a piece of tape on my dash marking the right line on the road. You'll see why when you watch the video.

I do have some buyer's remorse myself, thinking I should have gotten a rig "closer to the ground" or a better quality, or maybe even bigger (longer). Even 30 feet can feel like a scrunch if someone is traveling with you or you have animals. Our last fifth wheel was 37 feet (3 slides), but my S/O drove that one primarily. That was actually good living!

I do get worried when I don't drive it, and the anxiety builds again, so I think I just need to keep driving it. That might be the case for you.

Weather wise, like everyone said, Florida, Arizona, Texas. Though they have all experienced cold temps so far this fall. I personally love the Gulf Coast of Alabama, spent several winters there in an RV (not solo).

But it's truly up to you what you want to do. If I really, really hated it, and could afford to have quite a bit of money added onto the next RV I purchase (being upside down on the loan), then I would trade it in, consign it, etc. Like a car, it's hard to trade in for something less expensive (smaller) though. And make the salespeople give you some lessons on driving the rig. They will. By the way, my S/O measured the front of my 30 foot class A. He said a class C was several inches wider. Hmmm...

Good luck with your decision and let us know how it goes.

And P.S., I just noticed one RV park advertised an RV valet. Oh, yes, please!!

Dawn

[carolb]

Welcome Ethel It won't take much for you to "figure out what to do next" now that your here! Many of us in FL, so come on down!

[chalet05]

linann, what's boondocking mean?
Anyone know why my propane works sometimes and not others? I get up put on the generator and then turn on the heat, jump back in my 'Coleman sleeping bag' waiting for the RV to warm. Did that this morning at 1:30 am was freezing. Got up again at 3:30 am and all I got was cold air. The fourth try it worked. The temperature outside was 26 degrees.

First, welcome to this great group, Ethel. I just got around to reading your intro.

'Boondocking' means no utility hookups. Also known as 'dry camping'.

It sounds like your furnace is not lighting. Unless there's a heating system I don't know about, you don't need to run the generator to run the furnace.

I hope you'll keep us up to date.

Oh, and I full time in a truck camper so obviously small space doesn't bother me!!

[BirdbyBird]

What Anita said. Your propane heater should work off propane and draw from your house battery for the blowers. (They do go through lots of propane...and you do have to recharge your house batteries or again you will have no heat.) Once you turn your generator on you should be able to run an electric heater of one model or another. I believe you mentioned earlier in one of your posts that you were not parked where you had access to electric. I can't imagine how much propane and/or gas (using the generator) you will go through in cold Maryland. For a couple of chilly days in southern Louisiana or chilly FL when they get unusual weather it is very doable but for three plus months.....I would not want to do it. Buying the gas to head south might be cheaper! I know that FL temperatures over all would be more comfortable.

I think you have some big decisions to make. Do you have access to a computer and the internet......you can research many issues on line including RV park prices in FL. Long term weekly or monthly rates are cheaper than the daily rates...