Need some advice please...

[bghouse]

I tried doing searches here but it keeps telling me searches like "class b", "class c" and "roadtrek" are too common and it won't search - lol

I've been sending myself around in circles trying to figure out what I want to do, and figured if I explained maybe you gals can help me out. I just spent the weekend driving from Baja up to San Diego to get away for a bit, and then back down again. There was a small rv show in San Diego, which frankly just confused me even more - haha.

Here's what I know to be true... I love the driving! I really, really, love being in motion. I have this tiny Chrysler Crossfire, so it's an easy car to drive. But more it's about the moving I think. I even find highways and interstates interesting - there is something to constantly see. I know some people find it boring, but I love to move. I also like to explore. I love the idea of stopping at a new place, walking everything from shopping plazas to grocery stores. Museums are fun, walking around and seeing things are fun. I just love to experience new things. I also know I feel trapped all the time lately, trapped in one place, and I hate it. I'm at a crossroads where I need to do something different and adventurous with my life.

I've already sold all my stuff - 2x in fact in the last 5 years. Once when I moved from Los Angeles to Washington, and the second time last November when I decided I would move to Rosarito Beach, Baja California and the only thing that could go was what could fit in my tiny car (I am a master at packing with duffle bags - lol). I just turned 50 last December. I have some blogs and websites I work on, so I have my computer gear. Other than that I have clothes and vitamins and a few cookbooks. I already digitized music, videos, books, etc.

All the advice I've gotten so far is to go bigger when full timing - Class C or small Class A. And I've looked at those like crazy. And yet, there is this part of me that wonders if I wouldn't be happier in a Class B or something tiny like the Winnebago View. It seems like if I can stay tiny, then I can drive more and park to explore in the cities I see, etc. I can drive into a town and explore, as opposed to being in a campground all the time.

I know I want to be able to do a lot of walking or maybe biking, although I haven't been on a bike since being a kid. But I've put on extra weight and need to get healthier It doesn't have to be hiking, I'm just as happy spending hours walking around stores and downtown streets. But I'd also like to be able to sit outside at a campground and maybe meet some people - I've been very alone since I was laid out from my corporate job back in 2012 - doing online work and not spending face time with people. I'd like to change that.

The things the hold me back on the Class B is whether a single gal can truly full time in there and be comfortable. Is the convertible couch / bed comfortable to sleep on - or is my body going to hate me? Am I crazy to think that I'll be able to hook and unhook from the same campground to go exploring? Like if I stayed in place for a couple of weeks? Could I put a bike on the back of a Class B to have more options to get around maybe? Is there any storage space to speak of? I know I need to go see more units, but I don't want to spend a lot of time if this is totally ridiculous for full timing.

Or do I really need to focus on the View with it's slightly bigger size? I haven't been into a bunch of them, but did check them out last year and really liked the few I saw. Can they still manuever into a parking lot easily? Do they get the nice gas mileage it seems to say online? Can I drive it to go to a laundry mat or get my hair colored (still not ready to go completely gray - lol).

I'm currently on the West Coast, where I've lived for the last 26 years. Could either the class b or the View take me into say Colorado with no problems or do they not do hills well?

I know I really do not want to drive a truck and tow a TT or FW. It's just not me, and I checked out a ton of both before realizing it wouldn't be right for who I am. Should I plan on RV driving school with the View or a Class B? Is that needed?

Okay - whew, wow I just typed a lot.... Sorry about that So I'll stop before I end up writing a book....

Looking forward to any and all advice, and thanks in advance!

[BirdbyBird]

Short answer. We make room for what is important to us as individuals. Yes, there are folks who full time in small class Bs and like them for May of the reasons you speculate about. There is no crystal ball that can answer what you will find enough. What you will find too much of a hassle. What you will find satisfactory for you. But you are not crazy to think either of those might work. And in general we get
good at spotting the parking lots that we fit in no matter what our size is. The smaller you are the more
choices.

[avalen]

Your on the right path as far as deciding what will
work for you. When I was was doing my research,
(years of it) I visited dealerships and physically walked
their inventory to get the feel of all the different sizes.
I didn't do a lot of RV shows.
I have a fifthwheel I live in, and bought a class a to
travel in. Both of them I outfitted the bed to suit my
needs and comfort. Memory foam and mattress pads
work great for me. Even now the market on memory
has changed with the new cool foam.
Keep looking, keep researching and you will eventually
find that one that calls your name.

[monik7]

If you look at the pic at the bottom of this post you can see I have an Itasca Navion iQ. Itasca was a model made by Winnebago and the Navion is basically the same as the View. In five years I have put 41,000 miles on it and have visited all the states west of the Mississippi except for North Dakota. I sleep in the queen bed in the slide in the back and there's a convertible sofa in the other side but I have not slept on that. I do not full-time but I feel I could easily do that in the Navion. I travel with my two dogs and my cat and we do just fine. I don't feel I could full-time in a Roadtrek or other similar smaller RVs, but I feel the Navion/View is perfect. Send me a PM if you need more info.
Sandi

[JudyJB]

You've done a great analysis on how you want to travel and what interests you.

Bs ARE easier to park, but I have almost never had serious difficulty parking my really big (32') C. Today, I had a dentist appointment in a small, very busy town--narrow roads, etc. The dentist has a small parking lot, which is too small for me, but I was easily able to park on a side street and walk to the dentist. (You will find that whatever size you buy, you will always be parking at the far end of the lot, hence getting a lot of exercise.)

There are two big problems with full-timing in a B: 1) lack of storage space, and 2) having to make up a bed every night. (Oops, also a very small refrigerator and maybe a shower where it gets the whole bathroom wet every time you use it.) I told myself I needed three things: a real bed I could comfortably sleep in and keep made up, a comfortable place to sit and work, and a real bathroom with a separate shower. My problem was a bad back and not being able to crawl over stuff because of fragile kneecaps. You are lucky because you are younger, but you have the same concerns about the bed that I had. The View is nice, but there are other Cs that are about 22 feet long that might do.

I have also parked in large grocery store parking lots and ridden my bike places, but I can't really remember a place where I absolutely could not park even my large motorhome somehow. Never had a museum I could not park at, either. I do explore and drive around, not stay in a campground all the time.

So maybe a small C is better for you if you are concerned about the bed. A memory foam addition, however, will make even a B bed comfortable, but have you tried sitting in a B for a long period of time?

[Acadianmom]

I agree with Judy about the lack of storage and the wet bath in a B. I have a 23' motorhome that is kind of a cross between a B and a C. I love to drive it and can park it just about anywhere. I have a small bathroom that has a separate shower and 2 sofas that make beds. Sleeping on a sofa is a killer on my hips and back. I have memory foam on them but it has to stay all the time because there is no place to store it. I feel like I could take long trips but not get rid of everything but what I could carry. I know someone that is full timing in a truck camper. I guess you can do what ever you make up your mind to do.

It sounds like getting something that you could put solar panels on would help you travel like you want.

Martha

[Bethers]

To be honest, I may end up in a B in the future. I love the versatility of them. I definitely would not go bigger than I currently with my 25' C. I full-timed in a 22' C for 9 years and never needed anything bigger. It had more versatility than my current rig and I was more comfortable being without another vehicle. I never had any problem leaving my campsite for the day, btw. The rv had problems and I do like my current rv. More storage has proved to be a problem for me. I've purchased "things" I really don't need and have been purging again.

My only negative to a B or van camper would be the fridge size, but I believe I would get used to that.

All this said... We are all so different. Many would go stir crazy in the B. Read what we say, then think about what will work best for you.

We have a forum member who recently traded in her larger Class A for a B. She's full time. She's having to figure out storage, etc. She doesn't come on the forum often, but I'll ask her tomorrow to do so when she had time and give you her perspective.

[bghouse]

Thanks everyone, it's really helpful. For me, cost is also a major factor in this game - and of course whenever I see something and go "yes" - my budget screams "no"

Been watching some totally inspiring videos today about women who are full timing in Roadtrek 170s or 190s and Truck Campers. I'd never even wondered what was INSIDE a truck camper before - hahaha.

I've also been making notes of suggestions online for things - like one gal in a roadtrek that does a membership at planet fitness to both exercise and have showers. Another that likes the van to get into town and go to Libraries to work on her computer. Definitely all food for thought...

If only that Prize Patrol Van would find me

[bghouse]

I've been reading some older posts on boondocking here, and also continuing to look at the small RVs. I'm still unsure about the whole black / grey tank thing and wet bath is both weird and kinda cool all at the same time.

I have to admit that I've taken long hot showers my entire life (don't hate me please) - so the concept of saving water in the shower is going to be something i have to work hard on until it becomes natural.

I had been planning to let me hair keep growing out, but now I'm wondering if I should be trying to keep it shorter to save water? I have super curly hair and short styles look awful on me - lol. I cut it really short in December 2015, and it's only now looking halfway normal again - haha. But I'm not seeing how to do it with longer hair and small tanks...

I saw some other blogger mention that they got a membership to something like planet fitness for showering. I guess I'd feel compelled to exercise also - lol.

Any advice on showers, wet baths, etc?

[snowball]

I boondock in Quartzsite AZ..in a 5th wheel ...once I get there and the 5er is "planted" it doesn't move
cause I am lazy and also have way too much stuff and once it is in place stuff comes out that I don't want to have
to move every other week...I have a barrel for fresh water that I can do...I also have a barrel for black water
but the pump broke and I haven't replaced it....that said I have a honey wagon come and pump me out...I do use a
dish pan and dump water from washing dishes outside...as to the shower we have always even when hubby was alive and
the pumped worked... gone into the local laundromat and taken showers...yes I can take it at the trailer but then I wouldn't
be able to let it run....and run....however you do get used to it ....the shower in the trailer....things work out if you want them
too...and you see people with long hair and short hair and in between...I'd continue growing it out and if you don't like the
way you have to deal with it then you can always cut it later...
sheila

[Wanderer2]

Hi! I am new at this but it took me a long time to figure out what I wanted. I finally settled on a 23 ft Coach House.(Like a Class C but no overhang in front) I love the versatility of it. I can drive in cities comfortably althought would never venture into Atlanta or a huge city. It is small and yes I miss my nice long hot showers. I think that I am still adjusting. Sometimes I think that I went too small. I am still modifying it to suit me. I took the dinette table out as I am short and it was too high to work on my computer. I made a daybed out of the dinette and it is now comfy and big enough for me. I now work on my laptop on a bed tray and it works fine. I am going to modify more to suit myself. Lack of storage is a pain sometimes. Did I get the right rv? I think yes for now. I do miss having a car. I am taking my time making it work for me. I think that any rv has it 's plus's and minus's. I am still learning about what I really need, After 6 weeks out, I purged and reorganized .Budget and how you want to use it are important factors. I am full timing. Good luck in your search and drive a few.

[bghouse]

Congrats on the Coach House. I've looked at that model also.

I have the same issue with the laptop, I need a height lower than any table.

I'm also looking B, or maybe a really, really short C. I'm the type though that wants to drive through the big city just as much as seeing the national parks. I like the energy of the city sometimes, and the peace and quite of nature other times. I do love watching the sunset, seeing stars and night, and sleeping in the quiet (which I don't have since I moved here in Baja and it's hard to adjust to).

I will be full timing also in this plan - crossed fingers...

[OregonLuvr]

I just do not think that there is the "perfect" RV. I am on my second Class A. Have had Class C, B, Camper, tents thru my lifetime. I love my Class A now, I traveled for my work and lived in it most of the time except for when I had a week off or so to come home to the sticks and bricks. Now that I am retired I could have a smaller RV for sure. When I went and looked at them I could not find one that would work for me that I did not have to throw more cash at. So I opted to do some upgrades to mine (new tires, new satellite dish, flat screen tv's, remote control Fantastic fan, and MCD blinds.) It is still big but comfy and cozy. I tow my SUV so I usually park somewhere and go exploring usually within about a 150 mile radius will work for me.

karen

[Rufflesgurl]

Karen - For your MCD shades did you get the white solid shade plus the black sun block shade on each window? I have a 2016 Winne. Navion 24G but it didn't come with the black shades in the bedroom.

Thanks,
Linda

[OregonLuvr]

Linda, yes I got the Day/Night shades. More $$ of course but I wanted them. I love them tho much better than those stupid string shades that were always having issues.

karen