A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

Hi, my name is Nora, my traveling companion will be my Yorkie Gidget.
I used to rv with my husband years ago, he did all the tech stuff.
I am now selling my home and plan to fulltime Rv, since I don't feel comfortable driving a big rig any more, I am thinking of purchasing one of the new propane free Roadtreks, all solar and battery powered.i would love a bigger rig, but would need a companion, don't want a romance, so my choice would be a gay guy(no chance we would get romantically involved and we could have a great time.However since it would be hard to advertise for that, I am back to the smaller rig.Any ideas or tips would be greatly appreciated, safety when traveling single, etc.this should happen by fall. I do have several places to land for visits across the states.Current reside e Seattle, Washington.
Nora

Welcome, Nora...

Hi Nora - welcome from Illinois. Don't sell yourself short. You'd be amazed at what you can probably drive. Lot's of ladies here had no experience with driving larger rigs, jumped in with both feet, and don't regret their decision. You can also always take a driving class.

Have fun & keep us informed of your progress.

Hoosier Welcome

We have several members on the West Coast that possibly you could get together with before you buy your rig. Talk about pros and cons of different rigs for full timing. Everyone's comfort size is different but I can tell you after training 20 plus truck drivers over the road, the limiting factor was drive attitude. If they thought they could not do it, then it normally proved itself true. If they thought they could and a little work they normally succeeded. So while a 40' Class A might not be a good choice you, you might find a Class C a better choice than the Roadtrek for full timing.

Once again, welcome Nora and please ask questions if you have any.

Welcome to the forum. I was going to add encouragement similar to Melissa's. The skill to drive different rigs is learn-able not genetic. Really think about day to day life, where you plan to travel, what sort of campgrounds and other places and how you imagine utilizing the interior space. Yes, there are folks that fulltime in RTs but don't choose it as a default vehicle. If you can make it to any gtg'ers or attend any kind of opportunity to peak inside rigs and observe how others use their space for living. The more ideas you observe and research you do the better match you can make for your own. We have ladies here that fulltime with their sewing machines and even their looms..... (Some of us travel with multiple dogs. ) Most rigs have their pluses and minuses but don't let the length and fear of driving it be the deciding factor. Same with towing a small vehicle or not towing. You can do any of these things if and when you choose to. Now go forth and research and explore the possibilities!

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Hello and welcome. I have a Roadtrek and love, love it BUT not sure I could fulltime in it altho we do have several ladies who do. If you're going to boondock a lot then solar would be great. I have two coach batteries and a generator and can boondock for several days but usually I'm in a park that has electric and water, at least.

I started as a complete novice with a 19' class B van. Traded it for a 30' Class C and towed a car. Fulltimed for three years then downsized to a Roadtrek and stopped fulltiming.

Enjoy the process of RV hunting.

Welcome to a great forum and place to find lots of great info from some great ladies. Did I mention how great I thought these ladies were? I started out 2 yrs. ago with a 22' Sportsmobile which is a van conversion that is self contained. It was OK for about a yr. but was cramped, didn't have a shower and didn't have a regular RV entrance door that closed, just a sliding van type door. I wanted to maybe do some fulltiming and/or Workamping and have 2 cats so needed something bigger but didn't want a big pmt. I was fortunate to find a 24' 2001 Chinook Destiny for a great price right here in my hometown. It was a one owner and had been cared for meticulously with lots of upgrades. The owner and I have become friends and he still comes over and works on small things for me. I had been looking on the Internet for several yrs. and went back and forth about what I wanted when this one appeared so I just jumped in. No slides, which would be nice to expand the living space, but one less thing for me to deal with.

I retired last summer and have taken my first Workamper job near Durango, CO. which starts May 1. Everyone on this site (and other forums as well) are a wealth of knowledge and all the info u find helps one come to decisions about many things. I also belong to a Chinook Group forum that I get emails from daily. If I have any questions about that type of coach someone has already experienced what I am inquiring about and again those folks are so helpful. That is what I love about RV'ing. People are so willing to help and share their experiences!

Good luck in making ur decision and finding what suits you. I remember thinking I would never make a decision. I did so much looking at specs of EVERYTHING that sometimes I knew more about different types of RV's than the salesman did.

Happy Trails!
Pamela

Welcome, Nora, from the central coast of CA. Sounds like you have your plans in place. I don't fulltime but have a 35' Class A diesel and it is perfect and roomy. The thought of driving such a large vehicle was intimating at first but hey, we learn fast!! You can do anything you want. Good luck in your search.

Linda

Travelingusa wrote: my choice would be a gay guy(no chance we would get romantically involved and we could have a great time.However since it would be hard to advertise for that, I am back to the smaller rig.
Nora

I said the same thing when I found out my childrens father decided to be gay, he shoulda told me before we got
divorced cause I could have been quite content with that notion.
anyway...Welcome, from Arizona

Hello everyone! I am not intimidated by the size of the bigger rigs,I have driven semis, so that really wasn't my issue. I like the new road trek, no propane at all, can park anywhere, Runs strictly on solar and battery, I have had a Road trek before. I have always had huge houses and stored so much stuff, mostly others, I am now going to minimize.I have at least 5 places across the states east and south where I can land and live if I decide to.for me the bigger the rig the more "stuff".my biggest concern is traveling alone, but I have never been a scaredy cat, just cautious.i hope to be on the road by fall.
Nora

Welcome! Most of these gals travel alone. However, they get together with others on this forum for GTG's or to travel together for awhile. RVers are very friendly people and you can make friends just about anywhere you go/stay. You are only as "alone" as you want to be.

Safety doesn't seem to be a real issue as long as you use common sense and trust your instincts when stopping somewhere. If something doesn't feel right or someone near you doesn't seem right, move on.

As far as boondocking, some of the gals on here have put solar panels on their rigs, so you have that option if you want a larger RV. Sounds like you are familiar with the RT and know what you want tho. Everyone on here has something different and has different reasons for their choices. We don't judge There are a few RT fulltimers on here I believe.

Good luck with your search and new adventures coming up! We love to hear about and share in each others adventures on here (especially love photos!).

I have thought a lot about the features of that Roadtrek. I am not sure myself if I would buy one yet because some of the features that it uses such as the EFOY fuel cell are not common place yet so may not live up to expectations. However that is an option so you could rely on the other features. It does have a nice solar panel. I am curious how they can carry 8 batteries on that chassis since my Sprinter is maxed I believe with 2, but perhaps they save weight in other ways. They sure are pricey though! But very nice. We have been happy with our Mercedes diesel engine. Last time we went over the Sierras to head south on a trip I got 28 mpg out of the diesel but the new Sprinters have the larger diesel engine so don't do as well. I will love hearing as you go through your decision making. Welcome.
Velda

The one I am cosing has agm batteries or optional lithium.i just like the fact of not dealing with propane

As far as weight, you aren't dealing with the propane tank so that's a weight consideration, the lithium batteries weigh 380lbs less, faster charging time and longer life