First year with RV, dreaming of full time someday...

[barefoot14]

Hi Everyone, I'm Pam and I live on the Eastern Shore of VA. My husband and I bought a brand new, small, lightweight travel trailer (Vista Cruiser 17RWD) last March and have 10 camping trips under our belt now, including VA Beach's First Landing State Park, Croatan NC National Forest, Huntington Beach State Park SC, and Pocomoke River MD State Park. We tow the trailer with my Toyota Highlander. Our Labradoodle Shiloh sleeps in the shower and loves camping. It's tight, Jim sleeps on the dinette/bed and I at the other end in the regular size bed. We enjoy getting away from the stress of work so much that we are already talking about moving up to one a bit larger. Beyond that, we are even talking about someday being full time RV'ers, as dealing with 8 acres of lawn and garden is getting old. I own a national specialty foods business (Blue Crab Bay Co.) and the past few years have been the hardest of my 28 years since starting it on my kitchen table in 1985. (I turned 63 yesterday, Jim is 70.) To avoid thinking about business, I spend my evening hours researching full time RV'ing in search of that perfect RV...also wondering how I would manage it if I outlived Jim, could I do it alone. It seems from my research that YES I CAN. Thanks for the inspiration, ladies. Question - which is best for full time RV'ing, a 5th wheel or a motor home? Any recommendations on some that are well-built, well-insulated, easy to maneuver and not too big (I don't want to drive a bus). Waiting for someone to make me an offer I can't refuse so we can hit the road! Thanks for listening!!!

[Olive600]

Welcome from Texas. I have a small RV and am a newbie, so I can't answer any of your questions. You'll find women here who have both types of rigs and full time. So you'll get all kinds of info. Happy birthday! Have you gotten your national parks senior pass? I just got mine, I turned 62 last month, and can't wait to use it. Hope to meet you on the road some day.

Nikki

[avalen]

welcome
there is no best, its whats right for you and what makes you comfortable, what you can or can not live without.
Go do some shopping of other rigs different than your own, it will give you some ideas of the type of space you
require for full time living. Sit in the different ones and see how it feels and imagine where the hubby will be
and where the dog will be, etc. In the meantime, we love pictures and stories and look forward to your sharing.

[BirdbyBird]

Welcome to the forum. Research research research....... Keep using your imagination and try to actually get inside as many different rigs as you can. Think about storage and how you want/need to use the inside space. Think of how you want to travel in and/or park your house on wheels. Individuals/couples have all full-timed in all kinds of rigs. It is a personal preference that you end up making. Don't be afraid og purchasing used if you do your homework on potential systems and issues....

We love to "ride" along as you sort through what works for you. And retirement is a wonderful choice when you can make it. Life promises us nothing for how long we get to explore our dreams. Money is a necessity but lots of money does not make up for the lost of time when the life throws unexpected roadblocks in your way....

[MelissaD]

Hoosier Welcome

The only thing I can add is, talk to others about what they like and dislike about their RV's. Most people are eager to share what they have learned. Look at how you want to live and use your RV and the experiences gained with your present TT and build on that. Take a walk through the campground and look at what others do for ideas and chat with those willing to say hi. Met some nice people on those walks.

[cpatinjones]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

[IrishIroamed]

Hi Pam from Illinois - love that Shiloh sleeps in the shower. How cute.

[barefoot14]

Hi Pam from Illinois - love that Shiloh sleeps in the shower. How cute.

[avalen]

awwww Shiloh is just adorable

[carolb]

Welcome Pam, DH & Shiloh! As you've found, most of us are "alone," & you can surely do it if something ever happened to Jim In the meantime, enjoy the road together, & hope to meet up with you someday!

[Rufflesgurl]

Welcome to the forum from the central coast of CA!

Linda

[WickedLady]

Welcome to the forum, Pam, from WA state. Glad to see you have mastered the fine art of posting pictures already. We love pictures!

[barefoot14]

Welcome to the forum, Pam, from WA state. Glad to see you have mastered the fine art of posting pictures already. We love pictures!

Posting pics is a bit tricky, I'm still not sure how I did it!!! Trial and error....would be helpful to have exact way to do it (I got confused by the Img and URL link above this posting....they didn't seem to help!)

[Bethers]

Welcome, Pam, Shiloh and hubby. Shiloh is adorable!

As to what is best - as I read from others - there is no "best". There is a "best" for each of us after we research and know our likes/dislikes, etc. I, personally, don't want to have to go from truck to tt or 5th wheel and for ease of maintenance and some other issues, have chosen a Class C as best for ME. However, everyone's reasonings, likes and dislikes are totally different. So pick our brains, read our previous posts and find what are the most important things for you.

And while I hope you won't have to do this alone, YES YOU CAN! if the time comes and you need to.

[JudyJB]

If you full time, you will need to ask yourself what your travel style is. Some people stay a long time (several months) in one place and like a 5th wheel so they have a vehicle to drive around. Others, like myself, keep on the move, staying only a few days in each place. I chose a Class C and do not pull a vehicle. I use my electric bike for short excursions, and do my errands between campgrounds. A few others choose to tow a vehicle, but I did not want to keep hooking and unhooking and having more trouble getting into and out of things like gas stations.

I also bought big enough to sleep grandchildren and sons and wives. Others buy smaller because they do not plan on taking anyone along with them.

Another thing is that a lot of us have modified our vehicles in some way. I took out the dinette and put in my recliner because I needed a comfortable chair. Others have replaced sofas with desks and chairs. Look at those possibilities as you shop.