RV names

[AlmostThere]

Ok, I'm going to put my 2 cents worth in here;
Barbie, don't lock yourself into one type RV alone. I did that for over a year and got very frustrated. I thought I'd only be happy with a B van conversion motorhome. Thought anything bigger would be too scary to drive. They are very hard to find here in the NW and also very expensive! For the same price I could buy a small C or a B+ and have almost twice the amount of room inside. After only a month of looking I bought a 22 ft Gulfstream BTCrusier. I love it!
I am not a fulltimer and it's just me and my little dog, so having a separate bedroom wasn't an issue for me. I do love having an eating place always set up. In the Bs you normally take down the table to let the sofa down to sleep on, unless you have the twin beds but then you may have the table between the beds to contend with. I also love the two door fridge/freezer. Much bigger and it's at eye level. No stooping to get to it or the microwave, which in some Bs is under the sink area. Mine is over the stove, and I also have an oven. I prefer having a separate shower area. Most Bs you pretty much have a 'wet' bathroom.
This one came with a generator, which at first I thought I wouldn't need, but then reconsidered after some of the gals mentioned that if you travel with a pet and have to leave them in the RV it's nice to be able to use the generator to run the air conditioner when not hooked up at a campground. Also gives you more options on what you can use when boondocking. Something I haven't tried yet.
Ok, my 2 cents is up! Happy looking! It's fun!

[BarbaraRose]

Cedar, I totally get what you are saying. I did think about the fact that he has to give the final approval to what I pick out, since he is paying for it, and I have thought that I might want something different than what he wants to get for me. I am a very independant woman who makes her own decisions but when he offered to buy it for me, since I don't have the money, I thought it was a really nice offer on his part because he knows how much I want one. He really seems to want to do this for me, but now I think I do need to take more time to look and figure out just what is right for me, not what he thinks is right for me.

Barbie

PS> Birdie, I enjoyed the "Mary Kay" comment!

[Cedar518]

Cedar, with much respect for you and your opinion (and besides the fact that I like you ) I have to disagree with ya! Whatever she chooses will be "hers", because she chose it and he chose to provide the money for it. I see no difference in that situation and some where they purchased their rv's with money that they received as the result of death or divorce or even if a woman didn't work outside the home and they purchased a rv together, it wouldn't make it any less hers. Ya get my drift?

Yeah,... Vick, I get your drift. But it doesn't always work that way. Sometimes the "control" issue gets in the way. That's what I'm talking about. Not everyone has a relationship where that issue doesn't rear it's ugly head. If it will be registered in her name, if she will be free to use it whenever she wants to, and if the SO won't be throwing it in Barb's face that HE paid for it,... then it's a golden deal. And only the two of them know that stuff. That's what I was talking about.... Ya get my drift? (and in divorce or death the other person is no longer in a position of control on the woman's life.)

[mtngal]

Hi Barb, what great information! I agree with all who said don't be hasty to *buy* What I found when shopping was that rigs stayed on the market for sometime. A couple I even looked at twice as they didn't sell for many weeks. In addition to the online sites for consignment rigs, watch the big dealer site in cities for used units that they took on trade in. Many times they will have small Bs and Cs from people trading up to As. Sometimes it takes some digging to find out what's on their sites. And also, I had a couple salespeople who would call me if a small rig came in. Watch Craig's list for local city's (that's where I found mine, in bay area, while traveling home to CA). Finally be ready to (ir ask the seller) take the rig for a good pre-purchase inspection. It's nice to know alittle more about what to expect down the road. Have fun shopping, that's what I did all last winter!

[Sparkle]

But you have to get out there and open the doors! If it has an engine, sit in the drivers seat. Beth and I are both short..er petite, and we have found rigs where the steering column gets in the way. I went into one rig with no driver or passenger door. I felt trapped! Sit everywhere in fact, even on the toilet. In one rig the door was almost pressed on my knees when I sat. I personally need closet space, so after the drivers seat, closets are next on my list. An end table at the bed was another must, for eyeglasses, drink, book. Some things can't be judged just by looking at a floor plan. So go to a show or dealer or two. At first you won't even know what questions to ask, but as you work through them, you will know what you're looking for. This is the most fun part! Enjoy it. And remember, if you like this life style, it probably won't be your last rig. I've had a Class A, 2 Travel Trailers and now I'm looking for a Class C. What's after that, well there's always a 5th Wheel.....

[mtngal]

Oh! I didn't mean to suggest NOT to look at in person. My online searches were just to find rigs, learn models, compare prices. The FUN part is getting inside. I agree about the 'end table' being important, but with a B, but not usually available.
My solution is a small plastic tray. Works great as long as I use a bottle of water instead of a glass!

[Bethers]

I'd love an end table, also - but that was one of my wants - not needs. After 4 1/2 years, it's still a want - but wouldn't be a deal breaker. That's what I mean about finding what YOU need. Cuz we all have different wants and needs. Oh, for my glasses, I bought one of the stick on the wall small things for remote controls. It's great for my glasses. And at the end of the bed, I have a magazine rack - fits some small stuff. So all I really am missing is the place for a drink. It's amazing what ingenuity can do to replace what we don't have

And yes, get inside as many rigs as you can. You'll have a ball at the shows - and remember there is one in your neck of the woods in Jan also - I posted both in another post in this thread.

[BarbaraRose]

Thanks! You gals are so full of great information! So many little details I never would have thought of! That's why I'm here . It also helps to get other womens' perspectives. Guys wouldn't be thinking about the same things. They have different priorities! I am looking forward to exploring all my options! I am also having fun reading lots of books. I just ordered a couple of books about Rving women and their adventures.

Barbie

[Sparkle]

I've been aware for some time about the book RV Traveling Tales - Women's Journeys on the Open Road, then found it in a yard sale, a signed copy, no less, for 10c. I am so enjoying it! It validates what I'm doing. If I wasn't doing this, after reading this book I would want to. It is very encouraging. I especially recommend it for newcomers. There is very little practical help in it, just feel good stories.

[BarbaraRose]

I ordered that "Traveling Tales..." book, and also the book "www.queenmotorhome.com" about two friends who run away in an RV together. I told my girlfriend in Florida that that would be us in the near future! Ha!

I spent the whole day on this site reading all the different threads. Very informative and humorous! I got lots of good tips on recipes, gadgets, books, etc. Now I am all caught up on what you gals have been up to! You all are crazy! But in a good way! I can't wait to meet you down the road someday! I sure wish I could get to Florida in January for the GTG.

Barbie
PS> You can get books very cheap on Amazon.com if you buy the used copies. One of the books I bought for a penny! (plus shipping).

[Bethers]

Good deal on that penny book, Barbie. Those are my kind of deals

And, yep, most of us are crazy and wouldn't want it any other way. I think I'm one of the more serious ones on the forum, but get me off it and watch out - they never know where I'm going to go - like through the Green Door in Algodones - where Jenny yelled "You areN'T going in are you?" then both she and Sparkle proceeded to follow me in Ha - one day that'll be you -

[Pooker]

For all you gals out there who wish you had a bedside table for glasses, water, etc. I found a tension rod shelving unit - it's designed to go in a shower - that has pie-shaped shelves that can be adjusted up or down the rod. By leaving one of the rod's sections out, it fits just fine in the upper right corner of my bed with the rod extending down beside the mattress to the platform underneath. Pole doesn't even get in the way of the overhead cabinet door. The shelves hold my clock, glasses, pen and pad, book, water, and anything else I want to store there. Shelves are small, but since they have a lip, things never fall off (well, I wouldn't leave a glass of water there, tho!).

Pooker

[Liz]

Great idea, Pooker!

[Bethers]

Evie, I want a picture, please. Sounds like a great idea - and one I just might copy.

[mtngal]

Very clever Evie!!!!