How to get started.

[skylark]

Hello everyone. I'm waiting on the sale of my land so I can buy my first rv. I'm thinking a class c might be the way to go. It's not too overwhemingly big to drive, but it is big enough to live in & be comfortable. I'm planning on heading ot the southern California area. My son lives in Los Angeles. I'd appreciate any advise you girls will give me. I'll be alone. Thanks, Skylark.

[Cedar518]

I guess the first thing to do is to think about exactly how you are going to use your rig. That will help you decide on what size. A lot of women who travel solo a lot prefer C's. they can just start them up and drive away if they aren't comfortable somewhere. For me, I'm a camper, ... I know my destination and I go there and camp at a campground or bluegrass festival. I'm not staying in Walmart lots or similar boondocking places. So a travel trailer works better for me. That's what I mean about thinking how and where you want to use it.

Then I guess it's just start shopping,... go to all the rv shows you can,... haunt the dealer's lots, ... soon the right one will be there for you. Good luck,.. the "search" is part of the fun of it all!

[mitch5252]

..

Skylark, there was a thread a short while ago about why did you choose the rv you did. Interesting answers. You might glean some useful information:

http://www.womenrv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2487&hilit=+choose

..

[retiredhappy]

Another thing to think about - unless you have a 19' to 22' B, you're gonna need to tow a car if you're going to be a fulltimer. There are only a very few automatic cars you can tow wheels down - I tow a Saturn. Chevy Cavalier can be towed wheels down BUT you have to stop every 200 miles and start the engine to run the fluids around.

I feel my 30' Class C without slides is plenty big enough for me and my two Labs.

Go look at RVs, tell the salesman to leave you alone while you look, sit at the dinette, lay on the bed, pretend you're fixing dinner, pretent to watch TV (some are so awkwardly located you can't view comfortably, sit on the toilet, stand in the shower. Is there enough food storage cupboards, a pullout pantry? You can't really decide with a salesman hovering over you. Fortunately, if you're a solo woman they tend to leave you alone anyway cause your decision making man isn't with you.

[Cedar518]

Fortunately, if you're a solo woman they tend to leave you alone anyway cause your decision making man isn't with you.

Now isn't THAT the truth! Years ago when i had a boat I also had the same experience. And two years ago when i was shopping at a home show to replace windows for my whole house. Amazing that when they saw a woman looking at things they thought i was just killing time or not serious. Fooled them,... after i had ordered the windows for my whole house I went back to the display where the salesMAN was that had ignored me and said,... "You just lost a big sale!"

I agree that you should do all those things,.... even step into the shower to see how tall/roomy it is. good luck... and have fun with the process!

[OutandAbout]

Skylark, I would make a list divided into must have, want to have, like to have options and then go shopping. This can be very useful when looking so you don't get too overwhelmed by all the neat options. Why pay for something you don't want or will not use, or use it to upgrade options. Go shopping and have fun. Linda

[cat]

Skylark,
A lot of good advice from the ladies. I bought my class B about 3 months ago. I looked and researched for about 2 yrs. At the top of my "must have" was an enclosed bathroom even tho I will most like travel alone most of the time. But the times I will travel with a friend, the bathroom privacy was important. I'm older and on the small side and felt overwhelmed when I drove the smallest class C and knew that I wouldn't be able to tow. I also knew that I would be more a traveler than camper, but with the B I could camp for a few days. I, like the others, like the safety of not having to get out of the cab to enter the RV. The B is small, but big enough for my needs. Would love to be a full-timer one of these days -- I can only dream for now.

Mitch,
Thanks for posting the tread on why you purchased the Rv you did, great reading.

blessings,
carol