Introduce myself

[BirdbyBird]

I believe that you will be able to "hear" your grandson cheering you on and over those mountains. Take that as literal or metaphoric mountains. It works either way. As others have stated, use common sense and good driving skills and you probably won't even notice some of those "hills". I also remind myself of the thousands of others that are out there on the road before me. (Having a decent road side service also helps my confidence." Go forth woman. Find a floor plan that seems to work for you and hit the road. You can decide the to tow or not to tow question later with some deeper personal experience to evaluate the choices. And don't be shy about joining any of the GTGs with or without a rig. As some of the ladies may jump in and share, we welcome anyone interested. Some have joined us by tenting, staying in park cabins or nearby motels. It is a grand way to learn about this traveling or lifestyle choice by wandering in and out of other's rigs and learning what might work or not work for you. There is no perfect rig for all and most of us will admit that there is no perfect rig for each of us for all time. But we often find what works best for some stage in our lives and in our pocketbook......

[Acadianmom]

I went West about 30 years ago in a 24 foot motorhome with an engine that wasn't big enough for the weight. Having spent most of my life in mostly flat Louisiana I didn't know how to drive in the mountains. There were many white knuckle moments. Looking back on it we were darn lucky we didn't have more trouble. I now have a 23 foot motorhome on an E-450 chase. In 2006 I went from Louisiana to Seattle, down through California and back to Louisiana. The bigger engine and more experience made all the difference. If you stick to interstates and major roads you shouldn't have any problems.

Once you start traveling, going to a few get togethers and join some clubs you will make friends to travel with or meet up with. My husband is in a nursing home so I don't feel like I can get too far from home. I belong to several women only clubs and when there is a campout near enough I go.

I have driven my small motorhome in major cities with no problems. I don't like it but can do it. I try to get what ever I am going to need before I get to the campground. I have gone sightseeing in my motorhome without much trouble. A lot of places have bus and rv parking.

There are only a few times I have been afraid of the weather. Most campgrounds have bath houses and a few on here have gone to spend some time in a bath house. There are times I am afraid in my house and wish we had built a tornado shelter. Pay attention to the weather and get off the road if you are worried. You will feel the wind in an rv.

I think you will find that used Class C's are less expensive than used Class B's and the B's will usually have a lot more miles. I have bought 2 used Class C's that didn't have many miles. I think people buy them and find out they want more room or buy them and don't use them. I think most Class B's have wet baths and that's not something I want.

Martha

[JudyJB]

As you have noticed, we all have different opinions on the "best" rig and a lot of other things, but we recognize that everyone has individual needs. I bought a 32' Class C bunkhouse because I wanted to have my kids and grandkids join me. As it has happened, one of my sons bought his own trailer and so we do tandem camping a couple of times a year. The other son and his wife prefer a hotel, but I sometimes join them in National Parks with my RV, and the kids can stay with me if parents wants some peace.

Here are my opinions on your questions:

1) Driving in the Rocky Mountains - scary at first, especially on two-lane roads, but freeways are always easy. After 5 years of full-timing and 111,000 miles, I will tackle almost anything. Now that does not mean I will ENJOY tackling anything because I still have an occasional white-knuckle section of road, but I will get to where I want. Actually, wind is more of a problem than mountain roads, and I will not travel in high winds, especially if they are side winds. I watch the weather and change plans if I need to in order to be safe. E-450 engines, by the way, really are tough and built to last. Plus they are powerful enough to pass trucks on your way up a mountain. Maybe not pass cars, but certainly pass truckers!

2) Are we safe in our RV's when storm come through? Maybe, maybe not. Again I watch the weather, and I have a radar app on my phone (NOA Hi-Def Radar) that shows me where storms are in my area. I have been known to get off the freeway or park somewhere until the storm blows over. A big advantage with a motorhome, also, is that it is easy to drive away from storms. (I did get caught in one fast-moving storm with 65 MPH winds. Big problem is that wind was coming from side instead of front or back and I was on a hill overlooking a lake in Kansas--not good place. I put my slides in and strapped myself into the driver's seat in case my vehicle rolled over, but it went by very fast and I was fine.)

After a month or so, you will be whipping into gas stations and campsites and getting much more relaxed.

And I also do not tow. I can take my motorhome into shopping centers, grocery stores, and most big chain stores. Lots of tiny towns have street parking on main street or side roads. And almost every tourist place has big vehicle parking. For example, tomorrow I am going out to pick up some Amazon packages that are held at a larger strip mall, then heading to the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens, which has fantastic big vehicle parking. I might stop at Walmart on my way back to pick up one thing. At 32', some places are a little tricky, like the Hoop Dancing Competition this weekend at the Heard Museum in downtown Phoenix, but I will either rent a car or park in a park'n'ride lot and take public transportation. And in the meantime, I use my electric bike around the campground because I cannot walk long distances.

[monik7]

Welcome from the San Francisco Bay Area. I’m so sorry for the loss of your grandson. There is nothing worse than losing a child or grandchild.

I bought my RV new in 2012 and I had had no RVing experience prior. My rig is 25 ft. and considered a B+ or C. I did not tow for the first 4 years and it finally registered in my head how much I was missing on my travels. I felt stuck in campgrounds and unable to visit the surrounding areas and attractions. I didn’t want to hassle with renting a car. So in Feb. 2016 I got a tow car and I’ve been so happy with the decision. Now I can stop at a campground and use the car to visit attractions as far as 100 miles from the campground. I find that so much better than having to unhook electricity, water, and sewer connections just to go to the grocery store or see an attraction and then have to hook up again upon return to the campground.

So get out there and investigate different setups. You’ll know the perfect one when you walk in. Also, feel free to join in on any get togethers to meet others with the love of RVing.
Sandi

[BarbaraRose]

So, it is somewhat with a broken heart that I am ready to fulfill my dream of purchasing an RV and hitting the road. Maybe to feel the freedom and connect with a higher universe, maybe to honor his life by finally living mine with abandon, maybe to fulfill my dream of at least ten years, maybe because I am not living - but merely existing - and clearly I am in touch with how short life is and that we will all be leaving this planet, so why not hit the road, see the country, meet people, be kind and helpful - just like my grandson was.

This is a great attitude and reasons to go ahead with your dream!

Going over mountains, you are better off on the freeways as they are less windy (ie: curvy), and have several lanes so you can stay in the slow lane and feel less stress from others wanting to go faster. Driving a Class C isn't much different than driving a car other than you have more wind resistance to deal with. I just pulled a 20' travel trailer from Minnesota to San Diego with no problems (other than issues with a bad tow vehicle). There are several ladies on here who live out west who can tell you the best routes to take thru the mountains.

Good luck on finding your dream rig and hitting the road! I am sure your grandson will be riding shotgun with you! The ladies on here have lots of experience (and opinions ) so ask away!

[Bethers]

Actually, interstates are NOT the place to be in adverse weather... They are, in most cases, windier, not less so. Watch the weather!

[Colliemom]

Welcome from Michigan. Am so sorry to hear about your grandson. As others have said, Class B’s aren’t cheap. But you never know what you might find. I don’t know what partvof Indiana you are in, but if you get to MI. I’ll be glad to mert up someplace.

[BarbaraRose]

Actually, interstates are NOT the place to be in adverse weather... They are, in most cases, windier, not less so. Watch the weather!

Beth, that was "less windy", as in less sharp curves, not less air blowing. I agree that the wind can get bad thru the passes. Yep, always check the weather no matter which roads you are planning to take.

[SoCalGalcas]

A little late, but, Welcome. I live in San Diego. Which ever direction I go, I go over a mountain! ( well, of course, not WEST). Don ‘t worry about mountains. Go slow, and, learn about “shifting down”. I fulltimed for 16 years alone. Am now a part timer while living in a condo. I love to show off my hometown, so tackle those mountains and start your wonderful adventure!
You will be thrilled with the results!
Lyn

[Colliemom]

I too am so sorry about your grandson, but he set the bar for you and you sound like you are ready to reach for it. Like you said, life’s short, we only pass this way but once. I’m in northern Michigan. If you ever want to comecup this wzy, give me a holler.