RV Wish List help needed

[Roadweaver]

Yesterday my daughter and I went to the PA RV show. After looking at all the RV's I have decided on the Nexus Viper 29v. Since they will customize it I need some suggestions. This will be my home these next few years. What do you have in your RV that you feel you could not live without and what do you wish you had. I need to send them my list and they will let me know if possible and then how much. I forgot to add, i was thinking instead of the sofa and dinette, i would get the dinette and two recliners with a little flip up table. My only concern is can two adults sleep in the dinette area when my daughter and son-in-law come to visit? thanks in advance.

[Acadianmom]

If I was full timing I think I would like an oven instead of the convection/microwave. I still don't get along with my convection oven.

Since I have knee problems the last time I replaced the toilet I picked the tallest one Camping World had in stock and it's on a 2" riser so it is more the height of a handicap toilet. I hate the ones that are so short.

I have a heat strip in my air conditioner and wouldn't be without one. Since I'm in the South that is usually the only heat I need and it's so much more convent than an electric space heater. I never have liked the RV furnaces. Mine would run until I was baking and then not start again. Hopefully they have improved.

I like the floor plan you picked. Looks like it has a lot of storage and space.

Martha

[dpf]

We don't full-time and we bought an "experienced" 5er from snowbirds who were retiring from snowbirding. It has central vac and I love it. I would have never ever considered it as something I wanted or needed. But it is so handy and I don't have to lug along a vacuum or take up storage space for a vacuum because it's tucked in under the sofa. So that's my two cents.

[Rufflesgurl]

Agree with Pat - Central vac. I don't even have one in my stick house but I sure love it in the RV. Also, the ice maker in the freezer gets used a lot. Outside shower is handy too. Enjoy

Linda

[Roadweaver]

Thanks all for your replies, keep it coming. I did add to the initial post about my thoughts on sleeping arrangements. I never sit on the sofa at home but always sit in my chair. I never thought of central vac or heat strip. This so exciting. The plan is to send him my list and we will talk price and such. In January I will go to the factory to finalize everything and make any changes. My lease is up in March but I do not retire to June so I hope to pick up my home the middle of March. The company wants you to stay at their RV park 3-4 days and take some day trips then meet with them each morning about changes or problems before you take it home.

[Bethers]

I can't imagine 2 adults sleeping on a converted to bed dinette. Maybe that's a larger dinette than usual - but they are usually small beds.

I might like the central vac, but wouldn't pay extra for one (that's something that if it came on a used unit, would be nice , to me). I disagreed about the convection v the regular oven. Prefer my convection oven. Even with the amount of boondocking I do - I don't use the regular oven. If it needs an oven, it has to wait till I have hookups so I can use the convection one. So, this is totally going to be which YOU prefer. All these things are so dang subjective.

I would want solar power, with enough batteries - to almost never (or never) need a generator. That is the way I went with this rig, finally, and would never want to go back. As green as I can make it. If the rig has a generator, I'd want Onan over Generac. (for service reasons) and would want it to be run on gas, not diesel. If it doesn't have a generator or solar, you have to get one or the other - Honda makes great generators, also.

[sharon]

Solid flooring instead of carpet, especially if you have pets, satellite if you enjoy tv, I prefer the convection/micro over the oven, plus that gives you more storage space. I burned everything in the rv oven and they arent big enough to do anything with. Extra batteries if there's room, onan genny, solar panels, inverter, (at least a 1500), electric drivers seat (cause I'm short ). Go with your first choice of chairs over couch if you're willing to sleep on the dinette for the short time family will be with you. If it's a jackknife sofa it's not big enough for 2 people anyway. You'll be spending more time in it than family, so make it comfy for you and then deal with the rest. When family goes with me I sleep on the very uncomfortable sofa and give them the bed.

I'm sure I can come up with more, just give me a little time! Gosh, we just love spending other folks money!!

[Barbzeee]

Well guess I have to put another penny in the slot again LOL... now you must realize these are our preferences..and some of us can go to "Extreme Measures"..hahaha...

My choice is always and will always be..Dinette and Sofa... all the years I've been using my RV and people that have always wound up sleeping in and sharing space..(dog shows, horse shows, trips across the US and Snow birding) these features worked the best !...Unless you have "Stick People"..it can be rather uncomfy and down right "getting in your face when they wake up ".. LOL...people can get grouchie without a good night sleep !!!

Next was in house vacuum system..OMG.. no more lugging..love it, loved it and will always have it if I have carpeting !!! but if you are going to wood floors and no carpet save your bucks !!

I like my Microwave Convection oven..and it's true it's only on for the time you set..that's why I set mine longer just in case LOL...learned that one ...but I do also have an reg oven too...but I've only used it maybe 4 times other wise it's my pans and trays and what ever I can stick in it .

As for Ice maker.. I have a portable one and one in the freezer... I hate the one in the freezer cause it took up space and when you cook and make ahead meals you can run out of room quick...and a portable ice maker works well as you can bundle the ice in bags for later...again your choice... I had to add a freezer chest in my unit being I needed it.. psst I'm Italian and we make lots a sauce (gravy) hahaha... it's true we tend to cook big and I'd freeze up stuff so Ididn't have to do anything but heat and eat and stash goodies in the freezer as well for company

As for the heater.. I used a "cube" to just take the chill off..as I didn't like the heat strips.. and when I went to bed I use electric blanket...boy that does the trick...and a set of flannel sheets just in case..

For me it was always about making it simple and give me some room...as I traveled with several critters and once in awhile some humans...

As far as washers and dryers.. I had mine taken out as it takes for ever with them in the rig ..and I could get the close done faster and get to meet people in the campground or laundromat..

One thing for sure...Electric Awning..saves your arms..although don't hang stuff on it and forget cause you'll wind up with a few surprises..and I have mine with auto wind thingy.. but most of the time I turn it off cause some days just a hint of wind and that sweetheart is rolled up in a flash..Hence no lights hanging on mine ...but with a click of a button you can open and close yours...nice nice nice..

Last but not least on my list...Jacks.. Hydraulic...yeppers..no more blocks for me I did that way too many times...and a pain in the butt...and back up camera...ask to make sure you have them if not.. have them put on !!

Oh.. Generator all the way Onan...and gas for sure ..Ok I bent your eyes here..and I'm sure there will be alot more to post on their likes and dislikes...

Hope to meet you when you come to Florida.. I'm there from Oct till almost July..omg I'm moving in LOL

God Bless
Zeee and Critters 3..

[longdog2]

I like regular oven (for when you don't have electric) plus convection/microwave. If you can get an airbed sofa, they are very comfortable. I would go with that and recliners BUT check out recliners and make sure they are comfortable for you. Recliners are smaller in RVs than normal house ones. Dinettes are shorter than single beds but about the same width. Okay if you are willing to sleep on it when you have a duo company.

[Acadianmom]

I forgot something, a water heater that works on gas and electric. I have never slept on one of the sofas with the inflatable mattress but wonder how much trouble they are to put up and down everyday. The jackknife ones are a pain too. My motorhome has an electric sofa that's not too bad but I put a memory foam topper on it. It's between a twin and a full size. I never have measured it . It would be too small for 2 adults but an adult and child can sleep on it. Two adults on a dinette would be tight. If I had to choose I would take a sofa over a dinette. The dinettes I have had were not comfortable to sit at very long. I spend more time sitting than eating(most of the time). I would rather have a comfortable recliner than some of the chairs that come in motorhomes. If you get recliners I would buy my own, just be sure you can get them through the door.

I agree with Beth, definitely an Onan generator and 2 batteries even if you don't have solar.

I had a convection oven when they first came out and cooked in it all the time. The one that came in my motorhome seldom cooks things right. The edges of things cook faster than the middle which makes things rise funny. And I have to watch it close or things will burn on the bottom before the top is cooked. It's small so have to use smaller pans like a toaster oven. Surely there are convection ovens that cook better than mine.

Martha

[Pooker]

Congratulations on finding your favorite rig! For me it's the outside things some rigs already come with but I didn't have on mine: automatic everything! Bless my automatic push button awning every time I use it. In fact, I added awnings all around on every window and love them. Auto search satellite on the roof; I never could do the crank up, beep-beep for signal thing right. Wish I had automatic levelers (and wish they weren't so expensive to add). These days I seem to NEVER get totally level. And it's really hard doing that chore alone. I'd also wish for a heat strip and the electric option in the propane water heater - mine is strickly propane but I loved the previous one with the electric wand for quick water heating. I'd also suggest the biggest inverter and generator you can get. Makes roughing it much more enjoyable when you don't have hookups.

Things I have but don't need or use: 1)the regular oven. I HAD to have a stove WITH oven when I was rig shopping but for the life of me I don't know why because I have never used it! But there are gals on this forum who use theirs all the time, so it's a matter of personal preference. I'm too lazy to cook/bake for one. 2)The day/night shades. Had them in almost all our rigs and hated how the strings break and how I rarely used the daytime part because I couldn't see out. Recently, I ditched all of them and made drapes. 3)Wish I had solid flooring instead of partial carpeting. Might look cozy, but it's a pain to keep clean even if there aren't pets. 4)For me the expense I paid for my backup camera was a waste of money because it is a "fisheye" lens and I have a hard time using it for backing up. Always looks like you're backing into a cul de sac and the image is tiny (which means I can see the picnic table as I hit it!)

You will find the things that work (or don't) for you. We all have different needs and wants. Enjoy!

Pooker

[BirdbyBird]

...and think about the "entertainment center" that comes standard......How important is TV viewing to you......How much space are you giving up...Is there enough for an adult to use as bunk space it needed (if the entertainment center was not added?) How would that open storage space be used more constructively with tubs of supplies...?????

[retiredhappy]

Be absolutely sure that the dinette makes into a large enough bed for two adults. I've never seen one that did - way too short for adults.

Never used my oven. Had a toaster oven that I always used along with my Foreman Grill and microwave.

Generator if not solar for boondocking and I often use my microwave when I stop for lunch on the road.

NO CARPETS!!!!!!!!! Especially if you have dogs.

Levelers (which I didn't have and wanted).

[JudyJB]

A couple of big questions:

1) Are you planning on camping where you will always have electric and full hookups? If so, then things like central vacuum systems and convection ovens may be important. If you plan on staying in national and state parks where there will be no hookups or power, then you may want a real oven instead of the convection oven, so you can cook on propane. Ditto for the icemaker and other items that need electricity. I like to occasionally bake things like cookies and muffins and roasts, and can do that on propane only because I have an oven.

2) How important is a comfortable bed for guests? Are you willing to give up your bed for guests? I bought a Class C because of the over-cab queen bed so I could have space for my adult married kids and would not have to give up my own bed. You may be able to get a larger dinette, but most are really meant for kids.

I dumped my dinette entirely because a recliner was critical to me because of my bad back. I knew a sofa and dinette would not be comfortable at the end of a long day, and being full-time meant I wanted comfort. My motorhome also has a set of child-sized bunks that convert to a two-person dinette, and that is fine for me.

It is all a matter of lifestyle and how you plan to full-time. Consider what you would live like on your own and with guests. Also consider what you would like to cook and how you would cook those things with and without electricity.

I have a small canister vacuum that works fine for me. When I am alone, which will be 95% of the time, I take my shoes off, so my motorhome does not get very dirty. I only need to vacuum every 2-3 weeks, but I also have no pets or pet hair to worry about. Will you travel with pets?

Power awning would be nice. Mine is manual and I need a stool because I am short to open and close it, but I have plenty of storage room and tuck it in an outside bin. (I also had to get dressed the other night very late when it got windy and I had to go outside to put in down, so an electric awning would have been very nice.)

120 plugs in all rooms is nice, and 12 volt recepticles for charging my electronics is also nice. I have three TVs, and could easily do without two of them!!!

[Roadweaver]

Your advice and insight is wonderful , some of the things I am hearing is giving me cause to rethink. It is not that money is no object because I have a small budget for this RV, it is just that since I am buying direct from the company they are willing to swap around things . All things I want will not be able to be done however, there are many things that you are saying that is making me have some second thoughts. I am making a list and checking it twice. I know that I will make some mistakes in my decisions but because of you, I think that it will be at a minimum. I do not have pets and will not be getting any. I know I will be staying in national and state parks so that needs to be taken into consideration, however in the winter from about October to April I will be in a campground in Florida. Decisions, decisions