Need Some RV Input

Focault's Pendulum

[Focault's Pendulum]

I turned fifty this past year....and the wanderlust has me firmly in its grips. I'm starting to plan for retirement (very early I hope) and am pretty sure an RV is in my future.

I'm still unsure as to Class A or Class C. I would welcome any input based on personal experiences.

Also....I plan to make this puppy, my actual home. So, it would be interesting to hear from anyone in regards to budgets, operating costs on a year round basis, lifestyle, downsides...upsides...etc.

As a matter of fact...I would appreciate any input, or advice, at all.

Quick background on me. NJ resident. I'm a former solo backpacker and section hiked the AT, The Jockey Hollow, every trail in NJ and most in NY, just about all in Pa. I figure I got about 8,000 miles underfoot.
I mention this, because, while not adverse to campgrounds , I don't mind the adventerous route.

Logistic info would be extremely helpful.

Finally, I am planning this as a solo venture....but wouldn't mind taking a babe along with me. That was not a solicitation.

[federal]

Don't have a lot of experience with RV's but I found this website that appears to be pretty good.

http://www.rvforum.net/

[Tennessee_Bob]

You better get your aging butt down here then so you can try Big Ed's. He wasn't a native to this area - and the pizza's are legendary. He passed away a couple years ago, and his son David runs the place now - I'll let him know what you think the pizza is like. :)

[yetidog]

Never owned a motor home, but a lot of travel trailers. We greatly enjoy the lifestyle. Check out RVnet.com to get more information than you can use. Just an observation, but mpg, convenience and motor home deprecation would incline me towards either a travel trailer of 5th wheel.

[Lokibob]

If you are handy with tools and have a lot of drive, building an rv out of an old greyhound bus is very rewarding.

I know a full timer who spent a lot of time building his RV (got the shell for $2k, put $25k into the engine and transmission rebuilds) and spent another $25K building his RV his way. They have been living in it full time 10 years now.

Last time I talked to him, he said he was going to Branson for the music fest, then to the gulf coast. I asked why the gulf coast, his answer "For the good food".

[Focault's Pendulum]

Actually, right now would be a good time to get one, as they have a bit of a surplus of inventory - I don't have connections good enough for discounts..

I'm looking at an 03 leftover, Class C, brandy new. I like it. Heated pipes and such. I would have to store it, except for small trips for about 2 years.

28Foot, with a Queen BR seperate in the back. Pretty much loaded with what I expected, plus a few things more than I realized possible. Two flat screen 15' TV's, plus a not bad looking sound system.

Would appreciate your input.

[CurlyDave]

Go sign up at www.rv.net

They have a very active forum and you will learn a lot just by reading the posts for a few days or weeks.

The other thing to do is start reading Tioga George's blog: http://vagabonders-supreme.net/blog/blog.html He has been more or less doing what you describe for the past few years and has written pretty extensively about it.

If you are going solo for sure, a class C is fine. If you ever want to have another person with you, a medium-size class A is going to be a lot easier to take long-term.

We bought a 30' class C last June, primarily for touring and having a base to look for retirement property. We got the class C because DW felt uncomfortable at the thought of driving anything bigger. There are two of us and two Labrador Retrievers -- the class C is big enough for a few weeks, but would probably wear on us for much longer. The longest trip we have taken was about 2 weeks. We have spent a week at a time in it several times this summer.

With gas prices going up, there should be some good deals on very recent used models soon. If you are really going to live in it, fuel prices should not bother you a lot. Tioga George drives an average of less than 30 miles per day and makes it from Mexico to Canada in under 2 months. Think along the lines of about 8 mpg.

I personally would stay in the US because of firearms restrictions in both Canada and Mexico. But, a guy could spend years wandering the US and never see the same place twice.

You can get both satellite TV and satellite internet for the right price.

[Rebelbase]

Plan on parking the RV a lot unless you have an unlimited fuel budget.

[Focault's Pendulum]

You better get your aging butt down here then so you can try Big Ed's

I cannot believe you had the audacity to actually post your picture on your homepage!!!!

Your headshot, looks like my butt, twenty years ago!

[Tennessee_Bob]

Your headshot, looks like my butt, twenty years ago!

And do you know how hard it was to get a picture of your butt from twenty years ago? I had to borrow the time machine out at ORNL, then convince you that you really did need that exam!

You think that's good - check out where it's hosted through :)

[Focault's Pendulum]

Hey!! Thanks! I apppreciate the post! That was the kind of info I needed.

Tennessee_Bob on the other hand...jut wants me to come down and put him out out of his misery,

[sit-rep]

IMHO...

Forget the RV, and get you a big truck...I mean a big one. About an 8 X 20 sleeper with ALL the comforts of home. Drive, drop and hook for atlas van lines or a similiar company and travel the country getting paid big bucks to do it. A 170,000 dollar truck with a 294" wheeel base(Tractor) will pay it'self off in three years and you'll still pocket close to 100g a year...

For what it's worth...

[Kansas Democrat]

Class C Motor homes get about 7 - 9 miles per gallon. You must be very rich or full of folly.

[Just A Nobody]

I spent 2 years as full-time RVer. I just stopped a couple months ago. I personally prefer class A. Get a slide or 2 because after a while you will want it. Automatic leveling jacks are nice but not necessary.

You will not necessarily have to give up cable. More and more campgrounds have it, even in the wilderness areas of Montana. Make sure it has a good generator, like an Onan, for those camp-outs at Wal-Mart and pull-offs in Idaho etc.

You will need a good cell phone company with a great plan, a laptop and a usb cable. Satellite systems are available where you can receive internet connection, IIRC. Those are very expensive, however.

Will you be towing a vehicle? Fifth wheels are really nice and roomy and much less expensive, but not as convenient in other respects. FReepmail me if there are other questions I can help you with.

[Just A Nobody]

Also, do you plan on being a "Point A to Point B" full timer, or see the country full timer?

Gas mileage will depend on a lot of factors. If you are towing, in the mountains, in the plains, all play into the equation. It is far less expensive to RV than to pay rent/house payment - PLUS - utilities. There are clubs where you can park for $10.00 to 14.00 per night, all utilities, except propane, included.

If you go to Mexico, La Paz, BCS is nice and very cheap.

[apackof2]

Its so funny you started this thread because I am planning to do the very same thing!

Although a Class A seems a little pricey for me and a little scary to drive over the Teton Pass!

Although to actually live in it I may need to think bigger than this:

I am looking at this, Expedition Package

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Go slow and take your time. Go to as many dealers and talk to as many people as possible. Spend a few hours going in and out of the various RV's. Take notes if you are starting to narrow it down to a few choice. Sit in it and look around very carefully. Look at it as if you had already bought it to see where would you store the items that you plan on bringing with you. Look at the floor plan to see how it is going to function for you. Do you like glitz and glitter or are you and your spouse more into functional and practical?

Once you narrow your choices down to a few models. Then rent those models( or as close as you can get) for at these a few days. Drive it several hours worth of driving to see how you like the handling, how the living arrangements work, etc. Make sure that you drive on a freeway, a busy town and a narrow country road to cover the gamete of what you will experience on your travels.

Cook in the kitchen, use the bathroom, the shower, find out how the gizmos and gadgets work. Use the rental to learn how an RV works especially the model you want to purchase.

Keep a notepad available on the trip to write the pro and cons as you experience them. While you are on the road, talk to as many people that have that type of RV. Be sure to ask them what they would like to see in the way of improvements for their rigs.

Renting will cost you some money, but it is far cheaper to rent an RV and find out that if won't work for you than buying one and losing all of that money.

Once you think that you have found the one that will work for you, rent it for a week for a major trip. Pack it as if you were going to live it in. See how and where everything is going to fit. It will take a considerable amount of time, energy and money to do this, but it will pay huge rewards in the long run.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Go slow and take your time. Go to as many dealers and talk to as many people as possible. Spend a few hours going in and out of the various RV's. Take notes if you are starting to narrow it down to a few choice. Sit in it and look around very carefully. Look at it as if you had already bought it to see where would you store the items that you plan on bringing with you. Look at the floor plan to see how it is going to function for you. Do you like glitz and glitter or are you and your spouse more into functional and practical?

Once you narrow your choices down to a few models. Then rent those models( or as close as you can get) for at these a few days. Drive it several hours worth of driving to see how you like the handling, how the living arrangements work, etc. Make sure that you drive on a freeway, a busy town and a narrow country road to cover the gamete of what you will experience on your travels.

Cook in the kitchen, use the bathroom, the shower, find out how the gizmos and gadgets work. Use the rental to learn how an RV works especially the model you want to purchase.

Keep a notepad available on the trip to write the pro and cons as you experience them. While you are on the road, talk to as many people that have that type of RV. Be sure to ask them what they would like to see in the way of improvements for their rigs.

Renting will cost you some money, but it is far cheaper to rent an RV and find out that if won't work for you than buying one and losing all of that money.

Once you think that you have found the one that will work for you, rent it for a week for a major trip. Pack it as if you were going to live it in. See how and where everything is going to fit. It will take a considerable amount of time, energy and money to do this, but it will pay huge rewards in the long run.

[KC_for_Freedom]

I am typing from my full tiime RV home right now, and listening to Fox news all via satellite

[KC_for_Freedom]

My wife and I read several books on "full timing" before we sold the house and hit the road three years ago. It has been great. We generally prefer campgrounds because we like our A/C and Internet.

People on a tight budget can find work. Adventure Etc. by working for the RV parks, and helping out in the National Parks. (We have not done this but they say the work campers get great support and good camps.)

Up till last winter, we had two border collies who loved traveling with us. They passed away due to old age and we are dog free and a little sadder now. But we are also much freer to change our plans. With dogs you need to leave them in the RV or take them with you. (Hard when hot). Most parks have rules about leaving dogs alone outside your
RV, and you need to take them on walks about every 4-5 hours.

BTW, we use a travel trailer, have our "fun" gear in the pickup. Four wheel drive and integrated brake. Working very well. About half the RV crowd uses motor homes, Most like power from a diesel pusher if they can get it. You should go to the RV shows and look over a lot of types before buying. Let me know if I can help?