Size Motorhome for Full-timing

[JudyJB]

I am bored with doing nothing but cleaning my basement and grading the unending paper, so I have been thinking about something I am hoping you can help me with:

1) For those of you who are full-timing, what size motorhome are you living in?

2) Do you think the unit you have is too small, just right, not big enough?

3) If you are married, do you drive it yourself occasionally? Is it hard to drive something big?

I am thinking about Class Cs so I can have my kids visit and travel with me along with my grandchildren. There are a few that sleep 6 and are still about 25' long, but don't have much basement storage, which I think I will need because it will be a home, not just something for weekends and occasional vacations. I keep thinking something as small as possible will be easier to drive, but then I tell myself another 3-4 feet really can't make that much of a difference.

Thanks

[Excel]

I don't full time in my RV nor could I. I have a class C 26'10" RV. No slide outs. I have the rear side bed & the sofa makes into a bed. Over the cab area I have an entertainment center which I would not give up so that another sleep area could be up there. I use that area for storage of 'light weight' stuff....pillows, blankets, sheets, foam pad for sofa bed, sleeping bag, etc. I do not have any windows on my cabover as I know no matter how hard you try to maintain same so that leakage is not a factor, the vibration most likely will eventually cause leaks & I don't want to deal with that. But to get back to the point, there is no way in the world I could full time in my RV...I do have plenty of storage, but as I don't full time, I do have space to carry extra stuff. If I was full timing, there would be not enough room for the 'must haves' as far as I'm concerned. How others do it in small RV's is beyond me & I marvel that so many can. Heck, I'd probably have a hard time in a 40' with slides.... So if you're looking at 25' or so....with lots of guests possibly....hmmmm...I think I'd look at something like Birdie has...30' or so with a really super floor plan .... that might work...JMHO....

[kdmac]

As you know, no one can tell you what you need it all has to do with many criterion. Such as the following:

Do you like the freedom to get into small remote campsites and up roads that bigger rigs can't go? Then you may want a shorter Class C or B or small MH

Are you content with RV parks as your destinations? Then size isn't an issue

Do you stay put at your campsite or are you an explorer of the area? Then you may need to have a truck and pull a TT or 5er, or tow a car (toad) behind your Class C or MH

Will you have guests ona regular basis? You will want slides as that gives so much room to get around each other. (I would want a slide no matter what I had for the extra room it gives)

Would you be comfortable "hooking up and unhooking" a TT or 5er. I do believe the 5er's are easier for hook up.

Do you feel safer having your "driving cab" accessible to you without going outside if you wanted to get out of a place quickly? class C, B or MH
The freedom from hookup provided by a Class C, B or MH is truly wonderul. I would have one in a heartbeat if I didn't need to have a second vehicle (toad) to do my exploring. I can't afford that kind of set up...

There are so many other things that I have't even hit on. But, once you determine what you THINK you want for the way you plan to travel then I would go to RV lots and check out floorplans. I don't know this first-hand, only heard from people, that rear kitchens bounce alot and things break, you may ask those that have them if they find that to be true.

AS a fulltimer I can only say that bringing only what you need is the way to go...photos and important papers don't take up much room and can be transfered to CD's. But, selling stuff and or giving it away is the way to go...I gave lovely things to family members so they could enjoy them...to me they were just "things". So, you have to ask yourself if departing with a lifetime of "stuff" is ok with you

Your comments make me think you are like me and that is restless in the same place year after year, and new views and just the fun of a new "flavor" of place is so refreshing and knowing that anytime you want to go, you just go.

[Rita]

Hello, just spent a long time on line looking and comparing.
I like the idea of a Class A, thinking being up a little higher would be an advantage. Not a great big thing however.
Or does the Class C drive better and easier. Kinda thinking once one gets used to it, it would be okay.
Of course with an A, one must have something to drive, car etc, meaning we add lenth.
Do you ladies with a C have an additional vehicle also? Rita

[JudyJB]

Excellent things to think about. I am definitely an adventurer, as evididenced that I have several times gone abroad by myself. However, I am a very good "light" packer. Last trip to Scotland was one carryon suitcase that expanded to bring back souvineers, and a very small backpack to carry my meds and electronics, such as laptop and kindle. I lived with three pairs of long pants and 6 tops, which was one too many, for almost three weeks. One extra pair of sandals is enough.

I have two physical problems that I need to work out on a floorplam: a bad back that requires a recliner of some sort and a bed that I don't have to crawl on because of knee replacements. I think I could crawl if I really had to but maybe I could replace a corner bed with a single bed, leaving a bit of side space to scoot up on. Maybe I could also tear out a dinnette and live with just a sofa and a chair??

I do want to move around, but not too fast. in other words, maybe 2-3 days at a minimum and a week or so in national parks. I was thinking I could hook up and unhook fairly often, especially if I do some electric only camping, or even no electric occasionally. I'm not at all interested in the resort-type of RV parks!! Senior activities and pools are not my style, to say the least. Give me a state or national park with some scenery instead.

How short do you have to be to go onto smaller camps? Is it under 30 feet? I think I do like the safety of a driving cab being handy. I've been working two jobs forever, saving up money, and hope, hope, hope to keep teaching while I travel, so am hoping to afford a new, not-too-expensive Class C.

I probably won't have guests more than 4 weeks a year, but it is really important to me to be able to do that. I have friends who would fly out to spend some time with me. Keeping in touch with friends is important to me.

I used to own a full-size van, and based on complaints from passengers in the back, I think a rear kitchen would be a disaster!!

I am already doing some cleansing of my lifestime of stuff. Some family things I will give away, jewelry will go into a safety deposit box, and other stuff and furniture will go into storage until I decide where I finally want to live in a real house.

Thanks again. Hoping to hear from more people.

[longdog2]

Judy
I am not a full-timer because my husband doesn't like traveling as much as I do; however, I have a 30 ft Jayco Eagle 5th wheel with two slides which I could easily full-time in as it has lots of storage room both inside and out. Last summer I went to Florida and then on up to Michigan and back down to Texas over a two month span. I pull it myself with an F250 Super duty supercab Ford. Hooking up is not that difficult. In the past, we have also had a 30 ft class A with no slides which I also liked a lot. Again, I could have full-timed in it because it had plenty of storage inside and out (but not as much as the 5th wheel). I drove that myself as well and pulled a jeep behind it. Hooking the jeep up was a little more difficult with just one person but some of the newer hitches are much easier to do because they are very flexible. I enjoyed the panoramic view and didn't mind driving it but my husband didn't like driving it. Had a class C years ago and it was good too. Much more like driving a regular truck which a lot of people find easier than the class A. It was smaller and while it was great for weekends or a week or two, I don't think I would have liked the layout for full-timing. We have had travel trailers and liked those too. (You can tell I like to RV). I think the bottom line is that you have to figure out what is within your comfort zone so that you aren't afraid to drive it. Storage space is absolutely important even when you pare things down. You said that you traveled for three weeks with very little but remember--that was just a trip with a definite beginning and ending. You want to LIVE in the RV. Birdie and I have been out looking at class A and C motorhomes. She full-times now and is thinking about downsizing just a little bit from her 30 ft class C and getting a little different layout. The first thing she checks is the outside storage. Most of the smaller class Cs and some of the small class As have next to no outside storage.

Many state parks can handle 30 ft rigs with no problems--some can handle bigger. It depends on how they are laid out. Some of the really old ones do have smaller spaces. I think the exact same thing can be said about RV parks and BLM land. If you have any parks near you, no matter what kind, visit them and see what people are camping in. Lots of them will talk to you as RVers are generally a friendly group.

[Bethers]

It's really a matter of personal choice. When I started out everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) told me I wouldn't last a year in the little rv I purchased. Well, I purchased it in 2005 and am still in it. My 22' Class C. And I still love it as much as I did the day I purchased it. This year I've done a lot of thinking and when I do purchase again, I'll stay under 26'. Why? Because of the types of places I want to go to. Preferably, I'll stick to 24 feet or less. Now what would really be perfect for me? A Class B. But I realize that would be a little smaller than I want to full-time in, mainly because of storage and fridge size.

As to towing. I didn't not have a toad until this past Sept. Oh, for about 1 1/2 years I did have a scooter I traveled with on my hitch. Otherwise, it was just my Class C. I was happy that way. Am I happy with the toad. Yes and no. For my next trip to Alaska or to Baja, I would find a place to leave the toad behind, and then would have to travel back to that place to pick it up again. Not a problem when I go back to Baja, but could be a real pain with Alaska. If I were to workamp in AK, then it would be different and I'd take the car.

All I can do is emphasize over and over - that all of this is personal choice. What you ultimately decide has to be based on what you need and want. So, yes, listen to all of us, but weight carefully what we say based on what you like/disliked, etc and always remember, we are all right AND we are all wrong. In other words, there is not ONE single correct way to do this.

[Liz]

I agree with what everyone said....it depends.

I am full-timing in a 22' Class B and love it. It's just right for me and the type of traveling/camping I like to do. I may not always feel that way, but so far it holds everything I need. In fact I'm carrying way more than I need of some things, like clothes.

Like Beth, if and when I think I need something larger, will still probably stay under 25'.

[JanetA]

Gee, I LOVe THIS KIND OF TALK ! ! ! !

[OutandAbout]

I also agree with the other ladies comments. I would add that you should look at the CCC, the cargo carrying capacity, of the RV. Some A's and C's don't have much at all and the size of the RV is not the factor, as a lot of smaller RV's have larger CCC's than some larger units. They are just too heavy with all the equipment and options built in. Before you add your stuff, you need to consider the #of people, water, gas, whatever toys/hobbies you will bring etc., all of this will affect the amount of CCC your RV will have. The CCC info is listed the specification section of the RV's brochure. Linda

[Acadianmom]

If you have knee and back problems you will have trouble making up a corner bed unless you use a sleeping bag. I had one 20 years ago and had problems then. A twin mattress might help but sometimes these beds have the outside corner cut off. My favorite floor plan was a 27' Class C I had. It had twin beds in the back, a center split bath and a front sofa and dinette. I think I could full-timed in one like that. I liked having a separate bed room. I haven't seen a motorhome with that floor plan recently. Some floor plans have a dinette and a small chair. You might be able to replace the chair with a small recliner. I would take a sofa over a dinette. The dinettes are not comfortable to sit at for very long. In some you might be able to remove the dinette and put a recliner but you would have to check. Sometimes they put tanks and other things under them.

I have a 23' Class C or B+ now that I like to drive but have very little storage. It fits me since I do more traveling in it than camping. I don't know that I would ever full-time so I could get along with this one for a long time. I don't think I would ever want to go over 30' or even that long. I have never driven a Class A but know women that do. I would just worry about having to park one.

Martha

[JanetA]

I admire all the gals that pull a trailer but I would NEVER own one by myself. I like the idea of being in my rig all day long and the safety of being able to jump in the drivers' seat and drive off w/o getting out to do so if I felt uneasy for any reason.

LOoks like we are gonna be doing a LOT of looking and shopping before we buy,,, huh?

Good luck to you! I still have a couple of years before I can begin,,, due to my 89 yr old mom still being in my care.

Janet

[JudyJB]

I agree with you, Janet! I have trouble just backing up my minivan. Way back when I was married, I tried backing up a trailer a couple of times, and it was a disaster!! The safety is also a major consideration. Also, my mother passed away last year after a long and very difficult bout with dementia.

I found a couple of models with sofas or u-shaped dinettes and chairs I could replace with a recliner. One is the Forest River Sunseeker 2650S. It is 28" long and actually has a separate bedroom. Because of the bedroom, it has 104 cu ft of basement storage. http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/defaul ... eries=Ford

There is another about this size, the Thor four Winds 25C, but it has a corner bed and much less underneath storage, only 69 cu ft. I like the U-shaped dinette on this one and was thinking I could replace the dinette top with a smaller one so I have more leg room. http://rvusa.com/rvs/indiana/tiara-rv-s ... s-c-152301

Jayco has one about the same size also with a ushaped dinette and a corner bed, but it has not much underneath storage. I wonder if there is more under the bed, however???? It seems to have a wider slide. http://www.jayco.com/php/products/floorplans.php?id=239

Guess I need to get out and try to find these models in dealers!

[Bethers]

I don't need a lot of storage, but wouldnt get a model with less than what I have now. That said, you need to look at the inside storage and the outside storage. I just saw a rig that looked great - with lots of outside storage. But there wasn't anyplace in the kitchen for food. No where. No overhead storage above the table. Only one oversink cabinet and a small under sink cabinet. I guess they would have to use the bedroom cabinet for food? Was really weird. Then last year looking at a RT with someone, she commented it had very little outside storage. It had a ton more inside storage. Was simply a trade off. Personally in that little rig, I prefered the inside storage as long as there was room outside for the "outside stuff".

Yep, it's why it's important to see as many of them as you can.

And by the pictures, please do not figure you can change things out. Often a sofa or dinette bench can't be removed - some can, but many cannot.

[JudyJB]

I'm going to start doing some searching at dealers. Problem is local ones don't seem to carry much inventory and want you to order sight unseen!! I am not going to be ready for a year and a half anyway, but it would be nice to actually see units in person so I can check out what the storage and trim level really looks like.