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

Have any of you second guessed your RV?
I have to be honest with you all, I did not
go to that RV show to buy. I went to look and
have a fun time dreaming. So how did I end up
on late Sunday afternoon with a 29ft RV?
Sometimes in the middle of the nite I wake up
a little scared at what I did. Am I the only one who
this has happened to? Did you wake up in the middle of
the nite like I have? wow ... then daytime comes and I
feel better. I keep telling myself that I am 67 yrs old and
if I dont do this now...time will run out on me. Do it Now or it
wont happen....Help!!

Can't speak for all but I know that particularly when I traded in the first RV for the slightly smaller one on 07....I also spent a sleepless night...wondering about my sanity or ability to make good choices.... I had driven to Indianapolis by car for a dog show in the beginning of Feb....much to cold for me to camp out in any parking lots that time of year. I had been looking on line for several months for a shorter RV and had even looked at another used BT Cruiser up in Richmond, IN...that the dealer thought was much more precious than my trade in that had 20,000 less miles on it. Anyway, one afternoon after showing I drove over to the RV dealer just to the east of Indianapolis that according to the internet had a model that I was interested in. It was a cold an snowy afternoon. I should have brought someone with me to pull me back from the edge But again like you, I knew that I had done some of my homework. I knew what the dealers were going to throw at me regarding price and trade in value..... At another level I just wanted it done and to get on with enjoying the traveling possibilities. There are worst risks to undertake in this life..... As long as you aren't starving the children or the dogs due to lack of money...I say continue on...discover what life has for you and what you have in store for the life ahead of you.

Believe me I have second guessed myself. I am still getting used to living in a much smaller space, but find that I am enjoying this more and more each day. I still get nervous when it is time to get out on the road, but figure that will get better with time and experience. I know if I did not do this now, someday I would wake up and wish I had taken the chance. There are so many places I want to see and enjoy. Without an RV, I would never be able to go everywhere I want to go. I say do what you want while you can and truly enjoy your life.

Don't you think that it's pretty normal that everyone has second thoughts and are a little nervous after they have made any major purchase? I always do...but then maybe I'm not normal!

Not to worry - give it a little time. I dreamt of having an RV most of my adult life. I had an aunt who full-timed & I always looked up to her - a more simple lifestyle, tying the family together with stories of relatives we didn't know we had, etc...
A few months ago I almost quit looking - just tired of the whole thing, but 4 people brought vehicles to my attention that very week. Went to holy hour (church) one night & wrote out my confusion - did I really need this? what were the specifics I needed/wanted & left it in God's hands. Came home that night, went online & checked my usual ebay searchers - lo & behold, my mega-van was there. Called on it the next day, had additional pictures taken, got more info - my tough as nails brothers even approved... Long story short - bought it, flew down to FL to pick it up - drove it over 1600 miles in 3 days to bring it home - utterly exhausted & then couldn't sleep! What the heck had I done!!!! What was I doing with this thing in my driveway. What possessed me... Such an investment, when would I use it, so much to learn about maintaining it, on & on & on...
It's now making more sense... Getting the van allowed me to drive most of the family comfortably to an event - had a blast - everyone was comfy & got to visit along the way. My kids are delighted I have it - encouraging me to get away, take it camping, get on the road...
Figured out last week how to cover the seats so Sierra (my GS) could come with me. Getting more & more comfortable driving it - everywhere!
I will get to travel someday - like the rest of you all... I needed to buy it while I was still working so when that big R (retirement) day comes, I'll have it.
Sometimes we just have to trust & enjoy the adventure!

You'll be fine. I was 63 when I bought my RV. I had never RV'd before. I had tent camped when my daughter was little. I had retired and had finished moving from CA to TX to be near my family. I had finished remodeling and decorating the house. Now what do I do with myself. I'm not a club joiner or a card player. My family had a life of their own what with working, raising a child and taking care of their own house and I wasn't seeing as much of them as when I came out for a week long visit. For whatever reason I started looking at Class B's on line. Drove with a friend to Kennedale and came home with a 1989 Class B van. Took maybe 4 or 5 short trips in it and found I loved RVing BUT wanted something bigger. Next thing I knew I traded the B for a 30' Class C. Was so scared to drive that huge (to me) rig that I had the salesman drive it to my house. Learned to drive it by taking a trip from Texas to California, Nevada, New Mexico and back to Texas. Decided I now needed a toad. Saw a 1974 yellow VW bug sitting at my granddaughter's bus stop when I picked her up. Next thing I knew, I owned it. Best things I ever bought. Rented house out and went fulltime for three years. Last year decided I was tired of fulltiming and bought a small mobile in a senior park and sold my Class C. Was without an RV for at least 3 weeks and bought a Class B for shorter trips. Getting ready to go to a GTG at Canyon Lake the end of this month. I'm now 71 - pushing 72 really hard. I feel like I still have a few good years left in me. I just move slower these days. I have met some really great, independent women on this journey and wouldn't change a thing.

My advise to you is get yourself and your rig to the first GTG you can.

I lived on a boat for several years and cruised around many a place. Settled on an island (Oahu) to finish raising the gaggle of kids and parents, etc. Husband and I always talked about retiring and getting an RV and exploring the continent of North America . After 30 yrs, that marriage ended. I married again to someone that lived in TX and we talked about the same idea. Spent hours researching. Went to every RV show. Over thought the MH vs 5er question. We would settle on one, then found that DH did not fit. Didn't fit in the Driver's seat if the slide was closed. Then decided to try a 5er. Couldn't find a truck with the extras we wanted that had a bench seat that fit DH. Just got burned out and gave up on the whole idea. Then in August we had an accident that totaled our F150 truck. So we decided to buy a truck big enough for a 5er. Then a 5er that DH would not feel claustrophobic and could fit in the potty room. Found a new 2012 35 ft Montana at an awesome price. Drove to MS a week ago to pick it up. The second day we both looked at each other and voiced, "Oh my God. What did we do?" We were enjoying the adventure, but this thing is huge. Are we crazy? All the way home DH was justifying that now was the time. We are marginal handling the rig as it is. We have each been in a saving and growing our savings mode for so long that such a big purchase was against our nature. Again we had to justify that this is retirement. We are both 62. Now is the time to spend a little. Why else did we work so hard and be ridiculously frugal for so long? Then we couldn't back it up and get it in the drive way. It is too big. Luckily, our neighbor was able to do it! I love my Montana. i have to admit I think it is too big. Can't wait till our next outing to Canyon Lake for the TX gtg. DH keeps looking at it and shakes his head as if to say, " what did I get myself into?" So we are still going through the second guessing stage. I am hoping that with each outing, DH will gain more confidence and will be willing to take more trips.

Redwahine wrote:I lived on a boat for several years and cruised around many a place. Settled on an island (Oahu) to finish raising the gaggle of kids and parents, etc. Husband and I always talked about retiring and getting an RV and exploring the continent of North America . After 30 yrs, that marriage ended. I married again to someone that lived in TX and we talked about the same idea. Spent hours researching. Went to every RV show. Over thought the MH vs 5er question. We would settle on one, then found that DH did not fit. Didn't fit in the Driver's seat if the slide was closed. Then decided to try a 5er. Couldn't find a truck with the extras we wanted that had a bench seat that fit DH. Just got burned out and gave up on the whole idea. Then in August we had an accident that totaled our F150 truck. So we decided to buy a truck big enough for a 5er. Then a 5er that DH would not feel claustrophobic and could fit in the potty room. Found a new 2012 35 ft Montana at an awesome price. Drove to MS a week ago to pick it up. The second day we both looked at each other and voiced, "Oh my God. What did we do?" We were enjoying the adventure, but this thing is huge. Are we crazy? All the way home DH was justifying that now was the time. We are marginal handling the rig as it is. We have each been in a saving and growing our savings mode for so long that such a big purchase was against our nature. Again we had to justify that this is retirement. We are both 62. Now is the time to spend a little. Why else did we work so hard and be ridiculously frugal for so long? Then we couldn't back it up and get it in the drive way. It is too big. Luckily, our neighbor was able to do it! I love my Montana. i have to admit I think it is too big. Can't wait till our next outing to Canyon Lake for the TX gtg. DH keeps looking at it and shakes his head as if to say, " what did I get myself into?" So we are still going through the second guessing stage. I am hoping that with each outing, DH will gain more confidence and will be willing to take more trips.

Red - it's a good thing DH didn't see me trying to get in my driveway tonight with my little trailer. He would never try again. In my defense, I haven't pulled the thing in over 6 months and the last few times I backed in the driveway, I had used the neighbor's driveway to help. Today it was a 20 point turn (at least) but I did it without using the driveway across the street. I did have to start over a couple of times because I was just about bound up double.

So anyone wanting a show, be at the TX GTG when I get there on Thursday afternoon. It's liable to be a doozy!!! This weekend is supposed to be pull through so I won't get practice until I get home Sunday.

It's always harder when you haven't done it for a while. I found a video on backing up a semi-truck that I found helpful as the 5th wheel kingpin works the same way. I can email it if you would like it.

You are awesome~! Such great support here...not so much in
my family...you are just what I needed...can not wait to meet
you all in Jan. I do need some change in my life...I have been
in limbo since I retired 4 yrs ago...thats a long time....and I feel
it will enhance my life. So very glad that I am not alone in this
new adventure. You girls are something else!!
blessings
donna
http://grammyandthepapillonprinces.blogspot.com/

longdog2 wrote:It's always harder when you haven't done it for a while. I found a video on backing up a semi-truck that I found helpful as the 5th wheel kingpin works the same way. I can email it if you would like it.

Yes, would like info about the video on backing up

I don't think there is a perfect RV, but we all buy what we think we want at the time. It is a lot of money to spend, which creates a lot of the stress, at least for me.

I also had worries about doing the right thing, especially since I bought a new motorhome and committed myself to payments over a lot of years. I also bought a lot bigger one than most people thought I should be buying. My kids were convinced I would have an accident or be assaulted in a campground or get lonely and bored and regret the purchase.

After almost five months of driving from Michigan to California and spending a couple of months in the southwest, I just turned the odometer over past 10,000 miles today. I am getting much more comfortable with driving, even with some stressful moments today in downtown traffic, and I am getting very good at parking and backing into a camping spot. I have warranty issues and some things I wish were a lot better quality, but most importantly, it has become home. I am comfortable in it and feel I have everything I need, and I have the chance to do what I have always wanted to do, which is go wherever I want whenever i want.

Give it some time and a few hundred or few thousand miles, and things will get better.