Frustration

[AZGramTN]

I am so bummed, I've been looking for over 3 months and just don't know whats the matter other than I don't have the guts to plunge in. I've gone from a little 24 foot Thor that I really really wanted to now I'm looking at 30 Class A's. I'm typing with my contacts in so I can't see real good the typing so bear with me. Anyway where is the best place to store a Class A since I can't get it in the driveway, What about insurance and it will be a used one so what about insurance and are they any of you in TN. that want to adopt me for a few weeks to teach me the ins and outs? Gosh the list keeps growning and I've already put 8 years on hold so help me, I'm so confused.
Jeanine in Cleveland, TN

[Carolinagal]

Hello ! Not sure I want to adopt anyone , BUT. I don't live far from you and would love to meet up and be glad to help you find answers or info you need. I've been on the road a few years and may have some of the answers. I will be home soon, will PM you later .

Welcome to the forum, thinking you're a newbie, I'm so out of touch though so not sure, a big welcome anyway !!!

CArol

[BirdbyBird]

Welcome to the forum. You definitely Have changed you ideas .... And that is okay as long as you know what attracts you to the different units and why you feel comfortable ( that imagination of I can see myself using this unit). There will be a learning curve to what ever you end up with or in.....

[Bethers]

What Tina said, and definitely take CArol up on her offer! Ask yourself why you're changing your mind about which type of rv. Nothing wrong with doing it, but make sure you understand yourself why and what so that you can be happy. We all have different answers to lots of those questions. I have a Class A I love, but will probably always stick with Class C's for reasons on my "must" list. But I never say never And I just happen to love my little Class C ... however it's aging (faster than me) so in the next year or two, will be in your predicament again.

[mtngal]

LIKE Carol's offer too. Sometimes just saying stuff out loud can be so helpful!

[grammynmaggie]

Take CArol's offer I say also...she has a wonderful
little class C and that might help you also..see how
she lives in it ,, etc, I ended up with a 29 ft class C
I wanted a about 24-25 ft class C...I love my rig
but wish I had what I originally wanted...welcome to
the forums donna aka grammynmaggie

[ialwaysneedaroadtrip]

I am so bummed, I've been looking for over 3 months and just don't know whats the matter other than I don't have the guts to plunge in.

I'm a newbie here, too, but I just brought home my OWN (not the "family's...but mine) Class C, yesterday. 4th RV...but 1st one for just me.

I panicked and freaked all day, everyday...thinking all kinds of crazy thoughts....and lost sleep. Honestly, if I hadn't gotten on this forum, in the beginning, and saw with my own eyes how many women RV alone, and from the same age group as me...I would have never done it.

Even though I was scared inside...I never let it show to either DH (and he was against this from the start...and I think right now is waiting for me to fail), or any of the salesmen (never any saleswomen...right?) I had to talk to. Of course, my whole adult life I have been hard on salesmen...maybe cause I had to work with them a lot when I was very young...and they were quite abusive...I tell ya, but I think having that disdain for them really helped...no joke!

I tried everything I could to calm myself down (exercise, herbs, supplements), and when I finally managed that...even if it was just for a few minutes...I let the "good" thoughts in. I imagined being able to go to places I love...whenever I want. I imagined being able to visit my aging father...whenever I want (even tho DH didn't hesitate to point out how me and my father don't get along as well as I would like ). And getting to travel with my DD, which she is looking SO forward to. AND getting away from DH whenever I want

I also talked to my DD about it. She is way more rigid and unbending about stuff than me. And she would be able to look at something and go, "Ah...no." Then, on a more favorable unit she would point out something that she knew about me that would work in that unit. That lead me to hang onto that little revelation and apply it to the next better one I saw. It was giving me confidence, little by little.

I talked to my Dad...he is a nervous/anxious type just like me...and he said learn everything you can first. What's funny is that he's always been that way in his own life...and so have I since my 20s (I'm 55 now), and he said that to me anyway. But just him saying it out loud was a sort of validation that I was on the right track.

Yes, I looked at "impossible" stuff, too. But I would imagine myself in the unit, and go...Ok...that's never going to happen! And it was always logical reasons as to why. I think that was the key for me...what is logical...and what can I really control. If neither one was happening...I got better about ignoring the "wrong" units.

What also helped was actually picturing in my head driving the unit...what was the environment like, what was the weather like...what sort of places was I driving the unit into...how did I handle that? What about when I actually parked and hooked up.

Have you RV'd before...or is this a completely new experience?

[Olive600]

I'm a newbie, too. I sure wish I'd taken three months to investigate what I really wanted, looked at all kinds of rigs and gone for test drives. I didn't. Sometimes when I'm contemplating a big change, I mistake the anxiety that change provokes for the anxiety that means I'm doing something wrong. Most of the time I'm not doing anything wrong; I'm just experiencing the natural anxiety of change. It sounds like buying an RV means big changes for you. How about being a little kinder to yourself? You're exploring and the more of that you do, the better your decision will be. You'll know when it's time to "plunge in". And it will be scary as all get out if you're anything like me (and everybody I know.) One small step at a time works for me. And sometimes I have to walk away from the process for a little while. Without knowing you or your situation, this is the only free advice I can offer: start small. As you get more experience, you can upgrade if you want. You haven't "plunged in" it's because you haven't found what you want. Sounds smart to me. Good luck. I think you'll be fine. When you find the rig you want, go see Carol. Road sistahs are a good thing.

Nikki

[bluepinecones]

Another vote for taking CArol up on her offer. She has over 20 years experience and has been a big help to me as have so many others here.

I had no RVing experience or any kind of camping for that matter. Last year I bought an RV for my 70th birthday. I'm here to tell you, if I can do it you can too.

My first love in an RV was a little Borne Free unit however the sewer connection was so low and under I knew I'd never be able to hook it up.
After a year or so of casual looking, stumbled into a unit with connections I could reach (Freedom Elite by Thor). Bought it. I still cannot back up without help and it lacks a lot of things I would have liked to have but I still love it. At my age, it is likely to be the only one I'll ever have but I'm proud to say I do not regret getting her.

[mitch5252]

..
I have no words of wisdom to offer you.
I just wanted to pipe in and say, "Aren't the ladies here incredible?"
Little balls of encouragement and positivity from every corner of the country.

..

[Redwahine]

I'm still a newbie! I don't really have any words of wisdom. A year ago I found this forum amd asked questions like what should we get? Class A, B, C TT or 5er? Everyone is so supportive and full of great information. But as they pointed out, we are all different and have different styles, wants and needs. We spent over a year looking, thinking, putting it "on the shelf". I met up with some of the gals from the forum and asked gazillion questions. Then an auto accident tipped our hand. Truck totalled. DH wanted a new truck so we up sized big enough for a 5er. Got a 5er that I loved. Had Momty for 5 months. Made several trips including a month long journey out to AZ. I enjoyed her. But I would enjoy tent camping DH did not like the hook in and unhooking. So In February we traded it doe a class A. Love her. Still learning how to use all the systems. If it were just me, I'd have something smaller. My point? ( if there is one). Spend some time with Carol. Know that your experience is universal and that like many on this forum you may change your mind and change your rig. It is all part of the experience.

[Dell]

I am fairly new to the RV experience also. My husband and I bought a 32 foot class A Bounder with the dream of traveling around the country. A divorce ended that dream as a couple, but not for me as a single. It took me six years of studying various rigs, going to every show in Tampa held twice a year, before I settled on what I felt I could be comfortable with which was a class C somewhere between 23-25 feet. I had several brands picked out and monitored several sales sites, mostly Lazy Days in Tampa. After I retired, however, I got anxious and desperate and in the end threw all my caution to the wind, buying the first class C within my price abilities that came in to the facility. It wasn't on any of my lists! I now have a Winnebago Minnie Winnie Class C size 24 feet. It might not have all I wanted...yet...but I will make do and make it work. I have been to a couple of get-togethers with this group and can tell you they are a wonderful bunch of supportive people with willing advice and help. My own advice: go back and look at the Thor that you really, really wanted. Like the mantra of Lynn and Larry Pardey (living on a sailboat): "Go small, go simple, but go." 8-Dell

[Olive600]

Another vote for taking CArol up on her offer. She has over 20 years experience and has been a big help to me as have so many others here.

I had no RVing experience or any kind of camping for that matter. Last year I bought an RV for my 70th birthday. I'm here to tell you, if I can do it you can too.

My first love in an RV was a little Borne Free unit however the sewer connection was so low and under I knew I'd never be able to hook it up.
After a year or so of casual looking, stumbled into a unit with connections I could reach (Freedom Elite by Thor). Bought it. I still cannot back up without help and it lacks a lot of things I would have liked to have but I still love it. At my age, it is likely to be the only one I'll ever have but I'm proud to say I do not regret getting her.

Woohoo! An RV for your 70th! That makes me grin like a doofus. Wow. Just plain wow. This getting older thing is great because of women like you. I hope I get to meet you on the road. What a great place this forum is.

Nikki

[Olive600]

I am fairly new to the RV experience also. My husband and I bought a 32 foot class A Bounder with the dream of traveling around the country. A divorce ended that dream as a couple, but not for me as a single. It took me six years of studying various rigs, going to every show in Tampa held twice a year, before I settled on what I felt I could be comfortable with which was a class C somewhere between 23-25 feet. I had several brands picked out and monitored several sales sites, mostly Lazy Days in Tampa. After I retired, however, I got anxious and desperate and in the end threw all my caution to the wind, buying the first class C within my price abilities that came in to the facility. It wasn't on any of my lists! I now have a Winnebago Minnie Winnie Class C size 24 feet. It might not have all I wanted...yet...but I will make do and make it work. I have been to a couple of get-togethers with this group and can tell you they are a wonderful bunch of supportive people with willing advice and help. My own advice: go back and look at the Thor that you really, really wanted. Like the mantra of Lynn and Larry Pardey (living on a sailboat): "Go small, go simple, but go." 8-Dell

Amen, Sistah!

[ialwaysneedaroadtrip]

Hear! Hear!