Why'd You Pick The RV You Picked?

[mitch5252]

.

While pondering Shirl's roof replacement, I was thinking, "Wow, that's not too much less than I paid for my entire little trailer."

That statement led me to remembering my thought process when choosing what type of RV would best serve our needs, which led me to wonder why each of you choose the type of RV you have or want to have...(even full-timers have a choice of large motorhomes or large pull-behinds.)

So, I'll start. Got a beautiful little red sports car for my 50th birthday present. Moved to Tennessee. Got a mutt. Had to make sure the mutt was comfortable, which she wasn't so much in the back seat of the Jag. Traded in the Jag for a Toyota Sienna Limited van.

Went on a road trip in 2006 with Hubby and Mutt in new van to Montana (my dream state). Saw soooo many beautiful campgrounds out west that made me drool. But of course, we couldn't stay in those lovely campgrounds...we were hoteling it. Mutt also made choices limited! And side-tripping and day trips were difficult with the little beast. So, that trip started me thinking - C A M P I N G in a self-contained little hotel room!!!

So, I researched and read and researched and read, and read some more, from the fall of '06 until we got our little trailer in August 2008.

My thought process - Hubby would NEVER let me take another beating on a trade in! Plus, money is not so plentiful since I no longer work. So, I was pretty much stuck with the van as a tow vehicle. I did not want a motorhome because this would be our first RV and a motorhome could be an expensive mistake. Plus, no car to sightsee, unless you pulled one and we didn't have one to pull. Class C - same problem. The Class B motorhomes - I just couldn't see paying that much for a big van that wouldn't get that much use. And again, have to pull up stakes to go sightseeing. Pop-Up or Chalet type - didn't want to have to set up in inclement weather.

So, for me - the only option that sounded right was a travel trailer and it had to be a lightweight one at that! The Sienna has a tow capacity of 3,500#. If major damage occurs on the "living quarters" (cross fingers that's never an issue...), I don't have to trash the van, too (as when you have something in which the engine is intricately connected to the living quarters). A BIG part of the decision also had to do with our 20-year age difference. I needed something I could handle on my own in the future, if the need ever arose.

That's how I ended up with a travel trailer. I'll be interested to hear your stories.

Whew - that was a mouthful...sorry it was so long!!!!

.

[retiredhappy]

I sold a little rental house and bought a used 1989 Ford Falcon Class B Van. Caravaned a few time with my neighbors and found I LOVED rving but couldn't take both dogs at the same time and didn't like putting my bed up every morning. In 2003 I kept going to my local dealer and looking at a 30' Gulfstream Ultra Supreme Class C 2001. Finally traded the van (they gave me more trade-in than I paid for the van). My neighbor and I took a trip to California, Nevada, New Mexico without a tow vehicle. If we wanted to sightsee had to rent a car - expensive. Bought a 1974 VW Bug and my daughter painted hippy flowers and peace signs all over it. Towed it for a couple of years and finally got tired of no AC and constant shifting (I did the voom-voom thing when I was in my 20's) so traded the Bug and my Dodge in on a Saturn to tow. Then in 2008 I rented my house and went fulltime. Sometimes I wish the rig was smaller and could just pull off and boondock easier like Beth can but when I'm workamping for six months I'm real happy to have the room and a queen sized bed especially since both dogs sleep with me (I never get cold in the winter). I chose NOT to have slides - just more to go wrong and added weight. My dogs are really good - if you're walking thru they get on the sofa and out of your way. I decided on a Class C because of the safety factor - when I boondock at a reststop and anything makes me feel uncomfortable I can get in the driver's seat in my PJ's and drive off. I'm really comfortable living in my RV and dont miss my house at all.

[jemek]

I grew up tent camping and truck trailer camping. Then as an young adult back to tent camping...well about 10 years ago. I took a GF and her kids tent camping..they were not a camping family. It rained all 3 days...it poured. All the ground tarps were pulled out from under the tents and we used bungi and ropes to make as many rain flys as possible. We had an older tent at that time. It was 3 room huge things..but it started leaking badly. There were puddles.

I came home from that trip and told DH...I am done. I want a tent trailer. So we went out and found a good used tent trailer...used it for a couple of years and it had it share of issues...one is was just as much work as tent camping. Then the issue with Kodie and her sleeping...everyone went to bed at the same time as Kodie or everyone stayed outside til Kodie was asleep. This was just a basic...beds and sink. I wanted more.

Then the shopping for a TT began. I also knew exactly what I wanted...I wanted a quad bunkhouse model with a solid door. It had to have a slide out.
So thus that is how we ended up with a 31ft TT. Towing was not a big issue as we had a Suburban at that time and now have a Dodge Ram. Now we know that we keep this one for about 6 more years.

[AlmostThere]

Good question for those of us still looking as I flip flop daily in some areas. Here's a few things on my list that I'm pretty sure about sticking to;
1. I Know I don't want to tow anything.
2. I Know I want small, a class B or B+. I'm a minimalist in most areas and don't require allot of room.
3. I Know I want, like Karen mentioned, the ability to up and drive away should the need arise. And not having to get out to have a potty break if I don't feel 100 percent comfortable with the surroundings.Guess this is an extension of #1.
4. I Know I don't want to have to find the diesel pump and/or fight the big rigs, so i want a gasoline engine.
5. I'm fairly sure a generator isn't going to be a deal breaker as I'm not sure just how much boondocking I'd do and I think I'd rather have that space for storage. Also a generator is something else to have to maintain. Same thought on a slide, too.
Time will tell how this all plays out!

[retiredhappy]

I don't boondock a lot but its really nice to have a generator. I use mine to fix lunch when we stop at midday.

[Pooker]

I think just about everyone knows my story by now, but maybe not the early years.

We started out in an 18' 3 room tent with 3 boys - the youngest was 7 months old! Graduated to a tent trailer with 2 dinettes for quite a few years then a 21' travel trailer. When my DH lost his job at the age of 51, we decided to run away from New England winters and he wouldn't part with his sporty Buick, so the tt was out of the question. We bought a 20 foot Winnebago and tow dolly, put everything else in storage and hit the road west. Discovered we liked camping in a motorhome and having the car along was great for sightseeing.

We worked our way from the 18th hand Winnie through 3 more Class A's. Along the way, DH decided he was too old to get down on his hands and knees hooking and unhooking the tow dolly and many RV parks didn't have long enough sites to keep it attached in their pull-thrus and, of course, backing in required removing the dolly. So, we got the Blue Ox tow bar and started driving Saturns. We only towed for actual vacation trips, not on weekend campouts with our camping group. For the stay-put weekend outing, the drive-it rig is terrific. Our friends with tt's or fivers usually have to unhook. We just backed in and in 5 minutes were all set up. On trips, towing the Saturns was a snap. Only took a few minutes to hook up and when we arrived we could sightsee in a vehicle that got 30+ mpg rather than having to use a tow vehicle that only gets 9 or 10. Believe me, we put many, many miles on each of our Saturns sightseeing this gorgeous country of ours. That made the fuel cost important. So-o-o, when hubby died, I was left with a large Class A with 3 slides. Way more rig than this little old lady wanted to deal with, so I traded it in for something I could manage.

I like my little 26' Class C. Just this year I realized I would probably never tow the car so I got rid of the tow gear and assisted brake. If I were 50 instead of 70+ I would probably learn how to hook up and tow and would definitely do more traveling alone. But as it stands, I almost always go with someone else - on weekend outings with my group, vacations tagging along with friends (thank you, Sharon), or with a caravan of 4 or 5 other rigs. The way I travel these days is different from "the old days". I do dry camp or boondock a few times a year, so I fully enjoy Flitter's slide as well as her large tanks and generator.

I must say, I enjoyed each type of camping unit at the time. There is no vanilla one kind fits all in this lifestyle. We are flexible. That's why we are attracted to RVing. So we accommodate our rig to whatever lifestyle we need at that time!

Sorry, I got carried away talking!

Pooker

[OutandAbout]

Growing up my family did not camp. They didn't even get out of the city . I remember begging my parents to go with friends that did camp and became hooked. I also went to sleep away camp and did a lot of camping there. Fast forward - I always kept the idea of camping on the back burner and finally rented a class C a few times and decided I liked the lifestyle. I had a pick up truck, that I used for craft fairs and flea markets, so I had the tow vehicle. I realized that I didn't want to tow, too chicken, but wanted a small RV. I looked at small C's and liked them, but the truck was paid for. (big consideration) I thought about getting a shell for the truck and then discovered truck campers. They are small, had more than what I needed inside, and most importantly, I did not have to tow. The only thing I would like would be a way to get from the truck cab to the TC without going outside when its raining. Getting a truck with a sliding back window and slipping "gracefully" into the camper from the truck would be ideal, but is not something that I am able to do It's obvious there is no perfect RV out there, but mine works for me. Linda

[Bethers]

My criteria -

1st - I didn't want to HAVE to tow, which a trailer meant - so that took me to C's or A's (or B's - which I consider a C in the decision process). I ruled out A's in favor of C's just for less expensive maintenance and the ease of finding maintenance - from oil changes to other things (as I sit here having my breaks looked at - cuz they started making a terrible grinding noise yesterday).

2nd - I didn't want anything big. I'm not a minimalist, but didn't see the need for more "space" - especially for a separate bedroom that is only used for sleeping. So, I was looking for something that felt spacious enough for me - in a small space. Now, after I started looking, using these 2 criteria - I added other things.

The add-ons:

1. I didn't want to climb up to an overhead bed, nor use a sofa or dinette for a bed, so even though I wanted SMALL, I wanted a "down" bed.
2. I DID want a generator.
3. I preferred a Ford over a Chevy (others will prefer Chevy over Ford, etc - that's just me.)
4. I had to have a self-contained bathroom - which knocked out many B's at the time.
5. I don't buy new - so needed to find a well-maintained, good price on a used model.

That's about it when I started looking. And after several months - when I walked up to this rig and inside it - I knew it was going to be mine. Only 22' long, a down bed a generator, Ford engine, bathroom better than I had even hoped, storage better than I hoped.

IF, when it's time to change motorhomes, I'll be looking for something as close to what I have as possible, as I never do see anything better.

Now for the good news, they just told me the breaks is minor . Yippee! All these gravel roads got gravel in the front - but hasn't done major damage. Whew. Hope the price to fix reflects that.

[Shirlv]

I picked a Class C mostly for safety. My husband was a hunter, fisherman, loved the outdoors. We went tent camping, he hated it and I loved it. We never went camping again. Shirl tucked that little someday away too. Forty years later, no husband and ta da, a rv. I didn't know anyone who rved so I went to a Life on Wheels seminar to get the facts and see if I really wanted to do this. I came away convinced. A young friend ask me at what age will I stop. I will stop when I feel I am no longer a safe driver or it isn't fun. What a fun topic.

[BirdbyBird]

Have always loved camping and have always wanted to travel but time and money always seemed limited as the kids got older. The RV was a retirement purchase for myself with the plan to travel by myself with the animals. I had worked for FMCA for a year in 1973 right out of college and even attended a Rally! So you can say I've been thinking about the possibilities for a long time. Even though I have not been able to take off and do the long trips YET, b/c of family illnesses and some economic issues, just about the time I think I am crazy for making a payment on a RV sitting in the driveway, I know that it sitting there is keeping me positive and sane..... I will be on the road. I wanted something with an engine that could be fixed in most any town...class C. I liked the Ford engine of the first 25 ft MH but when I traded down I ended up with a smaller CHevy 350 engine on a 22 ft'er.... am getting better gas mileage, have plenty of power still and since I have long legs I really appreciate the extra leg room in the Chevy cab (It also does not get hot like the Ford passenger area did. I like being able to pull over most anyplace and take a potty break without leaving the vehicle. Easy access to cold drinks during driving and gasing up breaks. I feel safer with the ability to drive off with a minimum of fuss. I like that the dogs are all with me riding safely and can be left in the MH for stops in various weathers much easier, either with the fantastic fan on or the generator and the AC. I downsized and, yes, took the dreaded hit b/c I looked around the larger Jayco and just saw dead air and wasted space following me down the highway. The slide that my DH thought was so necessary....well really wasn't and like others stated was just one more things that could go wrong. I miss the cab over bed not for myself but it would be nice to have it to offer a guest. I took the couch out and had a 32in bed put in...much more comfortable and takes up less room in the aisle. I took out the dinette and have recently purchased a comfortable padded office chair that I can tilt back and rock.....works enough like a recliner for me and can be adjusted to my long legs! Plenty of available floor space to accommodate various dog crate combinations and any other "stuff" I want to bring...depending upon the nature of the trip. As I travel more for longer trips.... my longest so far has only been two weeks.... I know that I will continue to contemplate the potential benefits of more space, play "...what if you were full-timing?" game in my head, towing vs not towing....but for now I am very comfortable driving and parking it in town or city or restaurant parking lots. It is 22 ft long and 8 ft wide yet has enough room and ceiling height so that I don't feel closed in! It fits in most any campground!...except the fancy high end ones.... but then I'm not missing any of that..

Have to say, I am most tempted to consider other possibilities when I see the size and layout of Cedar's baby or the little Casita.... but, the easy of set up after a long drive or in the rain and....the potty stops.... did I mention having a bladder of a certain age? Ready to read everyone else's ideas and reasons.

[carold]

We picked our Class C, because it had what we needed, was self-contained, I can walk around or lay on the couch while by DH drove (when I didn't). Moved to the Class A because my DH liked this one. carold

[Cedar518]

Oh, this is a cool thread. It's bringing back a lot of fun memories... so here goes....

Many, many years ago when i was a young wife and had three little ones, my husband and i took them to a 4th of july parade/fireworks. We were standing along the roadway waiting for the fireworks and parked across the street were people we knew in a truck camper. It was almost totally dark outside. The wife was standing in the open door of the camper and the lights were on inside. I knew at that moment that I had to have a camper. it just looked so comfortable and cozy. I was hooked. Without ever stepping inside one I had become an rv addict!

Friends of ours got a truck camper, and so did we. 1972 Wolverine. We had many caravan trips with them and other couples. Once we had four truck campers in a row travelling. We slept in the overcab, DD on the dinette set and two boys had a pup tent just outside the door. Lots of fun for several years. We saw a used 32' Prowler 5th not far from home,..."for sale".... that began the series of used 5ths. We'd buy, I'd renovate/restore the interior and we'd sell,... made money on the first, broke even on the second and after a divorce I was left with the 3rd 5th and no tow vehicle. Sold that.

Starting over. I had a small Dodge car so I had to have a camper,.... bought a popup. What a disappointment after having 5ths. But divorce does that to people. Popup wasn't my cup of tea. Sold it. Went to a tent while I started looking around. Eventually bought another popup,... I really liked that one. But it had soft sides,.. I wanted solid sides. Bought the '04 Chalet. That was perfect for a while. But as I aged I didn't have the upper body strength to raise the roof and walls. (Chalets are larger and heavier than the other a-frame brand Aliner.) And I wanted a real bathroom and awning and other creature comforts.

So...... welcome home 2010 Rockwood 1809S. I didn't want to buy new. I wanted to find a nearly new small TT, but nothing was available within a reasonable distance. Consequently I bit the bullet for another new rig. All these campers have belonged to me,.... I didn't mention a very brief 2nd marriage and another 5th as that belonged to him.

I really like this Rockwood, and for now it is just right. However as i age even more I will probably give up towing (i don't mind towing, it relaxes me!) and go to a small van type. Years down the road. Re: generator,... a must for me as many of the state campgrounds don't have hookups. I also do a lot of bluegrass festivals and when camping for days at a time a generator is very helpful.

so there you have it,... 38 years of RV history according to Cedar.

I

[AlmostThere]

Retraction: After someone brought up the subject of having to leave pets in the RV and needing the generator to run the AC for them, I now know I'll need to have a generator, maintenance and all!!

[OutandAbout]

Lenora, i think a generator is a must have. You don't always need it, but it is there if you do. They are cheaper than a solar set up, if you just need one to charge your battery. I don't have a built in, but have 2 Honda 2000i's. I would have gotten either a Yamaha 2400 or the Honda 3000, but could not lift/move them as required. I was told at the time that one would not run my AC, but it turns out one will run it. I also boondock quite a bit. I keep mine in the compartment for the built-in but need to remove it to use it. Maintenance really isn't that bad, just remember they are meant to be used. Doing so will keep large repair bills down. The most problems with generators come from not running them regularly. The built-ins are obviously more expensive, but with small units like class B's, you have the issue of storage of a portable unit when traveling. Hope this helps. Linda

[snowball]

We started out in tents for our family....went camping even though it was usually a garantee that it would cause rain after many years of tent camping and packing up wet we decided to get a pop up that we used for several years....then we got a 24 foot trailor...then we started looking for a trailor for full timing...for what seemed like years we looked and looked and looked ...did I say we looked and looked? I have a hard time looking at rv's even now and we've lived in ours for 2 years...DH wanted a travel trailor I have 'stuff' that I was not willing to get rid of...and most of them didn't have what I consided needs. Finally I convinced dh to look at a 5th wheel. then we debated back and forth for a long time of the merits between the two..at first being full timers was not my dream nor was it what I wanted and quite frankly I felt if I was giving up my home for his dream then it was going to be what I wanted....what gave me a sence of home...I wanted walls that had space for pictures we didn't like the 'bowling lane' effect (where the tv is far away usually by the freg) we both wanted the rear lv and the big windows....and a walk around bed and dresser. So then we bounced back and forth between a challenger and a mountair (step down from a montana) I did say we looked for what seemed a long time!!! I really like my home I have a few of paintings from our stick house a wall with all the grandchildrens pictures ect...I really like my home I'm very content in it with all my stuff....is this what every one needs or even wants no but it's what I wanted and totally enjoy oh we chose the Challenger
good luck in your search find what you need/want
sheila