Why'd You Pick The RV You Picked?

[Nasoosie]

Linda, did I understand you to say one of your Honda 2000 generators will run your AC? I am not sure what power my AC takes, but I can find out. Not that I ever need it up here in the cold country, but some day, if/when I head south, it would be nice to know I could use it if I had to. I also have the Yamaha 2400, which is every bit as quiet-running as the Honda, but I just can't lift it by myself. So I use that on my screened-in porch for a backup in the winter if my power goes out. The Honda is wonderful, as I can manage it by myself. If the Yahama had a cart with wheels, however, I could get a ramp for the truck and my front steps to the house, and probably be all set for doing whatever came along.

I love reading this thread, but just don't have the time to write my saga yet!

[OutandAbout]

Soos, It turns out that my camper has a Polar Cub AC unit (7000 or so series) which the Honda can run quite nicely. The BTUs of the unit are 9,000 or under. The AC units of 11,000 cannot be run be one Honda 2000. I have read that some Yamaha 2400's can also run the larger AC units, but one has to try it. (maybe a good test during the GTG? I'm sure at least one of the men could be convinced to move it to the trailer with a promise of some of the "recipe", or after a taste. ) Hope this helps. Linda

[rvgrammy1953]

Mitch....we started camping in a tent when both of us still worked....Great set up.....for a year...then we decided that we'd like to get a camper, not anything too big....just something for a weekend outing or for a few weeks of living in the great outdoors....so off to the RV show we went and bought...Shamus, the Shamrock....

He was a cute little hybrid camper.....and right after his purchase, Ernie's surgery on his leg led us to the decision to retire from our jobs and hit the road as full-timers.....which was our goal for quite awhile.....so for 2 years we lived in Shamus, traveling and enjoying life....then in the fall of 2006, we started shopping for something a little larger as we were tired of carrying totes with extras in them.....we looked at almost everything...TT, class Cs, class A's, and 5ers.....but in the spring of 2007 we found our little Dream Home....a 27ft. light weight 5th wheel....has the space we wanted, the TV space that Ernie wanted..at eye level, not on top of the fridge, and more counter space for me.....we love our 5er, and will probably buy another when the time comes...( in fact, we looked at a Carriage Cameo while up state last month....maybe in 3 years, we get a little bigger.... )

Our present home....The Dodge 5th Wheel.....

[Nasoosie]

Thanks, Linda. I called my RV dealer, and my AC is 13,500 output, so Honda 2000 won't run it, but Yamaha 2400 will. The chances of our ever needing AC up here are infinitessimal!!

Thanks fo the info!

[Getupngo]

I had wanted a motor home for a long time ... but my husband (the original granola cruncher) pooh-poohed it. After he died, I bought a Class B (let's not go there) and QUICKLY moved up to a 21-foot Class C (no slides). Loved it, until I started traveling for months at a time, and found that the eensy little closets on either side of my bed and four tiny drawers weren't cutting it. The "C" developed a significant roof leak one winter, and in the spring I discovered water pouring out of the bottom of the windows.

That gave me a great excuse to trade it in and get what I had been coveting ... a big (to me) Class A. Wardrobe space was a BIG consideration, plus I wanted some slides for additional living space. I lucked onto a 35-foot, 2-slide Holiday Rambler with 17K miles on it. It has nice wardrobe space, a large double fridge (with ice maker) AND hookups for a washer/dryer unit (which I installed). If I ever full-time, I'll get a satellite dish.

I love my "Escape Capsule." I feel very secure traveling in my rig (I was always afraid in the "C" that anyone with a slim jim could get in) and the V-10 easily tows my car. It's also much more stable on the road. In high winds my "C" rocked violently from side to side, and the MH would be blown almost into the next lane each time a semi went by. In my "A" I don't even feel it. Once going across West Texas I remarked to myself with surprise that it wasn't windy. Then I got out at a rest stop, and was almost blown off my feet. But I couldn't feel the wind while driving.

So, for me, the "A" is my choice. I spend about 6 months out of the year in it, so I love the room and always being at home, regardless of where I am.

Oh, and the generator? When I'm traveling in hot weather, I run the gennie so I can cool the rig with the roof air. It uses less gas to cool the interior while driving than running the dash air -- which does diddly squat if the whole rig is hot.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.