After owning an RV for over 10 years my secret is to keep up with all the maintenance that's required and check the different systems frequently. I use a wonderful vehicle maintenance program called Automotive Wolf car care software that I use on my laptop and configured it to not only monitor my RV's maintenance schedule but also all the other little things that are needed to keep an RV in good shape like inspecting the roof for leaks every 6 months. The software also keeps track of all my expenses and trips so I know all the RV parks I've stayed at and whether it's worth returning there. If you really want to save money keep up with the maintenance!
I researched like heck on the internet and going to dealers but the best research I found was asking rig owners in a populous campground if I could look at their rigs and then I chatted with them. In this way I was able to "try on" a huge variety of rigs many I had seen on the internet. I was in my camper van at the time. I was looking ahead a few years of saving and trying to figure out what I would want. I ended up realizing that my van actually was perfect for me. I could go anywhere I wanted, even some 4 wd roads. I had all the same features, just at a more primitive level and I had none of the hasels of tanks, dumps, etc, and because it's a vehicle not an rv it's sturdier. Had I not been able to "try on" so many types of rigs I would have made a different choice. I also am better prepared for the day a change up is needed. Talk to as many owners as you can before making your decision. I'm not a full timer, but not a week ender either, I'm out in my van about 50% of the time so my needs are the same as a full timer in most ways. When I need more cargo space which is seldom (going to show in an art show) I tow a 5x10 cargo trailer, and I have a hitch hauler to stow extras like awning, wood, tables, etc.See as many rigs of as many types as possible and talk to owners more than dealers and remember that mobile living is so much more minimalist than your sticks and bricks living, even with the small van I at first took twice what was needed so if you go larger remember that volume wants to fill itself, don't yield.
Great to see you did your homework and research ahead of time and saved yourself an expensive upgrade! Always love seeing how people find the right RV for them - there really is no one size fits all!
Love that video. I now feel like we really dodged a bullet! We were actually in the process of ordering a new RV from the dealer 5 months ago, when at the last minute they told us the manufacturer had "all of a sudden" raised the price by $8,000. Thankfully, we walked away at the last minute and in January found a 1 year old Fleetwood Bounder with only 10,000 miles on it and saved $40K off MSRP. It definitely pays to take your time.... think and then re-think! ~Mel
Thanks for sharing your experience Mel! Yep, everything turns out as it is meant to - good not to rush the process as it's a big decision! Congrats on your savings!
Learning to work on you RV will save you big buck. I had a serious toilet plug on my RV which estimated in the thousands of dollars. We looked up the issue on RUclips, bought a $25 part and had it fixed in 20 minutes! Woo!
Yep, that's pretty common. Crazy. We heard a story recently of a Prevost owner who was quoted $20K to fix an electrical/power panel and one resourceful RV repair guy simply removed the panel and used a pin to hit the reset button. All fixed. Zero cost! Definitely pays to do your homework and look for a DIY fix before spending too much!
Hello!! I'm an avid reader, picked up your book Living the RV Life at a local library for a quick 📚read! I have found all this information very valuable as retirement is on the horizon 😀. I'm a wannabe of the RV Life, 🚌a wannabe of AT through hike!! 🚶♀️ The life of living freedom is so inspiring! Thank you for taking time to share your knowledge!
My wife and I considered RVing but couldn't help but notice all the RV,s you see setting in peoples yards that never seem to move. We built a nice log home 30 yrs ago on 4 wooded acres. I built a nice 36 X 26 shop with a car lift. I have always enjoyed classic cars dating back to the early 60's when I was a teen. So I spend a lot of time in my shop restoring old classics and then selling them to buy another to restore. When we sat down and figured the time and money involved in RVing we noticed we could fly to what ever part of the country we wanted to get a nice hotel room rent a car and spend 3 or 4 weeks away from home for a whole lot less than the expense of owning an RV and return home without owning a rig that would be hard to sell considering all the rv's for sale. A nice comfortable house beats an RV any day the way we figure. But RV on to those of you that chose that lifestyle. Its just not our cup of tea..
Yes George, so important you know what IS your cup of tea before making such an investment. It's sad to see so many RVs sitting in yards and storage areas unused. For us as full timers, we love the lifestyle and we are getting as much use as one can get from their RV, but you have to give up some things to full time too... like your amazing car shop - Marc would LOVE to see that and what you do there - restoring classic cars is a dream of his. The way you describe you like to travel, you are probably right about it being more affordable to fly and do hotel stays. And if you ever did get the urge to travel in an RV, renting one probably makes a lot more sense. All the best to you!
I am glad you know what makes you happy. RVs, boats and timeshares don't make sense if you are not going to use them. We own a timeshare and we get full use out of it and love all the locations we can go. I also have a boat and I am on the water as much as the weather will let me. I went fishing 2 days ago and if the rain lifts I will go tomorrow. You like fixing old cars. So you have this big shop, lots of tools and a hydraulic lift. For me, none of that would make sense. I do have a lot of tools that I have acquired over the years mostly as gifts of for a single project that I had to do at the time. My wife has five years until she is eligible to retire and once she does and our daughter is off to college we plan to down size to a 2 bedroom condo. Sell the tools and everything we don't need. We plan on letting our daughter live there while in college and we will go pretty much full time RVing.
RVing is not for everyone and it’s good you figured that out. It’s like owning a second home. It’s not for us. I’d rather RV to all the different places in this gorgeous country than have a second home in one place or stay in hotels, wondering what creepy germs are in the room or bed. I know whose germs and dust are in my RV’s bed and I like it that way.
Lots of good information here. We are not full timers, however, we have been RVing since 2001 when we bought our first tent trailer. Someone told us back then that when looking for an RV, buy your second RV first. Meaning if one is a bit less money, but the model up would suit you better, then get that better one. We did that with the tent trailer by getting one with a slide out, potty and shower, king beds. We took our girls everywhere in that thing and they loved it. We moved up to a hard sided trailer in 2007 and did the same thing. Then, starting in 2014, we started our hunt for a Class A. It took 2 years of research and looking. We love our coach now (purchased last year). It's really bigger than intended, but it will last us years as we start traveling more with all the storage. Thanks for all your videos and hard work. I really enjoy it. I see you're headed to the Pacific Northwest this year. Maybe we'll run into you. Safe Travels!!
Good to hear Kelly! It's finding the balance between not overcommitting with your first purchase yet creating space for the one you will evolve into as our styles and needs change over time... yes heading up to PNW later this year - would be nice to cross paths and say hi! Cheers :) PS. what coach did you end up buying? Brand, model, year?
We ended up with a 2016 Jayco Precept 35S. Overall, we are very happy with it and looking forward to weather improving in our area so we can take it out. Also, looking forward to a long trip in October to Zion!!!!
Great video: My summary - Buy your first unit knowing that it is an experiment. Buy it used and don't go for broke. Once you have experienced RVing for 12-18 months, you will know what you want or even if you want to keep doing it. I'm not full-timing (yet), but I spend $11,000 on a 13 year C-class, then upgraded to a new gas A-class 18 months later. The first unit taught me what 1000 RUclips videos can't (although those videos were VERY helpful.) Thanks again!
I full timed........ it's fun for about a year....when the real estate market crashed I bought a house in a vacation town located next to the national forest....it's like camping.. I have the views.... without the dust, mud, dramma of draining tanks....ect
Great that you gave it a try. It isn't for everyone. We do see a number of folks that only do it for a year or two. But, we are in our fifth year and have no plans to stop, and have met others who have full-timed for over twenty years . Sounds like you made a nice move buying in at the bottom of the real estate market for a nice home. Enjoy.
Thanks again! You and others videos and blogs have been helpful as we begin our journey And consideration of rigs. RV rentals have been a blessing to get time pulling or behind the wheel and have already begun a list of “wouldn’t buy that” “have got to add this” etc. One year back I wasn’t sure my wife had any true interest in a more substantial RV retirement. Our recent trip (all of November) and she is adding to the list of To Have, To Do Differently, and friends to sit with and hear about their experiences and ventures. FYI; I’ve just purchased, and already half way thru Mike Sokol’s “No-Shock-Zone” book. Things we were VERY lucky about on this month long journey without fully knowing the thorough electric pedestal check process to be sure we were electric-safe. Hoping to cross paths soon! Paul & Jan (Ft. Lauderdale)
When I purchased my first RV I already knew I was going into full time. I had enough money to make a good down payment on a new coach or enough to buy a used coach in cash. Having never lived in a RV. I decided to buy used. This way if I hated living in a RV I wouldn't have to try and sell a coach with a huge balance owed on it. I found a older 28ft. 1976 Chevrolet Sierra class A. At the time they were asking $12,k for it. I looked at many, many more but still really liked the old Chevy. I went back to the lot and found it had been marked down to $10k. I still wanted to look at some more after about two weeks later the Chevy was still on the lot. I went into the office and offered $6k cash. He came down I went up we settled out at $7,250. I went to the bank came back with the cash and drove away in my new home. I lived in the coach for 6 years then upgraded to a 36ft Gulfstream Sunstream Hi-Rise class A gasser. I've lived in this one for about 25 years now. The thing is if you find the perfect coach, trailer , 5th wheel. If the money isn't right you have to be willing to walk away. Let it sit on the lot for awhile or find a like model or make a offer in your price range. Don't get pressed into buying more coach than you can comfortably afford. Be willing to walk away. There will be another perfect coach, trailer etc. Just my experience and thoughts.
Hi Brian. Thank you for your awesome comment. Love that you made two great purchases, and we are so inspired and impressed that you have lived over 30 years in your RVs, and plan to continue to live in your RVs into the future. We love our RV lifestyle too. Excellent advice on not buying more RV than you can afford, and that there will always be another one if you are patient. -M
Great advice - thank you for taking the time to share this. I am counting down until my lease is up to do it right the second time around. We tried full timing and I went cheap on the 5th Wheel - bought off eBay from an RV dealer… and did not inspect - advertised as "Slight water damage" DO NOT BUY A RIG THAT HAS BEEN WATER DAMAGED!!! I worked hard trying to get rid of the odor and after four months got rid of the porta potty on wheels. That stink permeates everything eventually. Also, you may not need a tow vehicle at all if your work camping and going from site to site - you can hire a tow for a lot cheaper than truck payments, insurance, maintenance cost for a big truck. Just make sure you have the money in the bank for a tow when you need it. I owned a 2006 Ford F-250 with the 7.3-liter diesel - best engine ever made in my opinion but guess what, everyone wanted me to tow (or move) their rigs and when you say “No” folks can and do get pissy and take it personal. But if you say yes and something happens to their rig - YOU WILL BE HELD LIABLE. Do not do it on a wink and a nod if you do move someone’s rig. Lastly in case you didn’t hear me the first time - DO NOT EVER BUY A TRAILER THAT HAS HAD WATER DAMAGE! You can tell right away because it will smell like it has been smoked in which it may have. No amount of cleaning, air filtration, deodorants will conquer that odor if there is any moisture in the walls. It is not cheap re roofing a 40 foot 5th wheel and or pulling the walls apart to get the wet out. Don’t put your health at risk because hidden mold and mildew will eventually make you very sick. Stay safe - See you on the road Spring 2020!
Thank you for sharing Shaun. You make an excellent point that folks don't talk about often. We have met a number of people over the years that do what you mention and skip buying the expensive truck, opting instead to pay others to move their trailer. This works great if you only move seasonally, or otherwise infrequently. And we definitely agree that water damage is something to avoid in an RV purchase.
Thank you both for your honest and straightforward comments and concerns for prospective full time RVers! We appreciate your efforts to genuinely inform people like my wife and me who are currently researching RV life.
I have been everywhere trying to get an answer to this question: what cargo carrying capacity is recommended for 2 adult and 2 kitty fulltimers. We are trying to get the right unit out of the gates. Thank you for this video. For those of us still trying to figure things out, it is invaluable!
There isn't a definitive answer to your question because I have seen 2 adults with cats that use up over 8,000 pounds of cargo, and other couples with 2 cats that live in a van or other small trailer with less than 1000 pounds of CCC. It all depends on how you travel, but I would imagine that most full timers can get by pretty comfortably with 3000 pounds of CCC between their RV and tow/towing vehicle. -M
Love the video. Got to see all the people I watch. We had a 2212 Lance Toy Hauler. It was 22' long. Had a kitchen, full bath - not wet bath, a queen bed, vacuum, 4 season & it felt like a real motor home (unlike most Toy Haulers). But when we took our two dogs with us (they are Australian Cattle Dogs), it was a bit cramped. Since we are planning to live in it full time, I couldn't see us doing that in it. So I was looking at an RV show & found 2017 295RL Evergreen BayHill. It's 34' long, a 5th wheel, has washer/dryer, huge residential refrigerator, a shower WITH a seat, vacuum cleaner, dishwasher (!) AND a KING size bed! It is 4 season, too! BUT he cannot carry his motorcycle as it currently is. We plan on putting a lift on the back. Now, I set & watch you all traveling & cant wait till we can do it full time, too!!!
Thanks again guys! RV dealer tried to hire me when he realized how much I know. I taught him a lot while I was looking. Great advice here. We're on our third travel trailer in 40 years, have done good with them, current one is 19 years old, still great! Got our money's worth from it! But now need something just a bit bigger since this is only 7'x25", no slides, which I don't like anyway, but Ethyl does. So, our next one will have slides.
Wow you won't know yourself with slides! Too funny, the dealer tried to hire you! Love it! Impressive you have only had 3 TTs in 40 years - we know people who have been through more than 4 in a year!
I am considering doing this but not full time ( I don't want to stay in winter months ) was to rent an RV different ones before buying one. That way you can get a feel of what type of an RV you might want to get. And this is exactly what I'm going to do.
Yes, renting an RV before buying is a great idea. And if you rent from a company like RVnGO, or other peer to peer rental companies, you can try out a much more broad selection than renting from a large company that mostly just has Class C
Great video. We are not full time yet. Been camping since I was born...a family thing. We have had tents, pop-ups and campers. We are 2 years from retiring...can't wait!!! Want to mention one thing...go with your gut! Spent 18 months looking for the perfect 30ft class A diesel (and other rigs) Had a list of features that were important to us. Then we found her...she was beautiful....she had everything we wanted. After kicking all the tires we asked the dealer for some time to talk. We sat in the rig and, well, we were not as happy as we thought we should be. AND we walked away. Then we really found our perfect rig....Ladybug, a 30ft limited classic 1995 Airstream. The moment we walked in...we were home. We did a total flip! Pay attention to your inner voice, even if you have spent alot of time looking....listen carefully.
Completely agree Susan! We ALMOST bought a 2014 Winnebago Sightseer 33c which was a nice coach - even made an offer! BUT at the last minute we changed out minds and went with a bunkhouse Tiffin 2012 35QBA gas coach which allowed us to have 2 separate office spaces and we LOVE it! Has been the perfect coach for us. You would have related to Spot the Scotts and their Airstream experience! Always gotta trust your gut!
When we bought our first motor home we had looked at many and even used a few. We had owned several pickup campers previously so we weren't totally new to the RV world. When we found the one we bought we New when walked into it. We loved it for the several years we owned it. Buy used especially if your New because you will probably discover you made some mistakes. Also when starting out you will probably pack double what you need.
We have found that RVers are willing to share and help each other out. We, too, have met great people and made life-long friends while camping. Great video!
We got a simple 22 foot hideout for$12K new and love it. No slide to break and works well for the Two of us. Replaced the bed mattress and that is it no other changes. We do not entertain in our camper it our private home away from home.
Great video, this should be on all newbies list of required viewing. We did all the sitting and fitting inside various RV's before buying. We are umm, "larger" people and it was important for us to have room. I cannot agree more that you need to take your time looking for an RV. For once I listened to my wife. she kept slowing me down so we could find the "perfect RV" the "one." We ultimately found it. Y'all rock. Keep on, keeping on.
Likely the best "if I had only known" videos we have watched. We are right in the middle of these devious and questions. House is for sale, "stuff" has been sold, now we just need an RV. Thank you so much!
You're welcome - and thanks! Take your time to find the right RV for you - we knew a ton before buying and yet continue to learn even more in the past 3 years and am sure that learning will never end. So many little idiosyncrasies of EVERY brand, model, year etc.. it can truly fry your brain! LOL
RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett Guess I should proof before I post..."middle of these decisions and questions." I think our biggest decision is motorhome+toad cost vs. truck+5th wheel cost. Even more, do we get a toy hauler 5th wheel or regular 5th wheel. Regardless, we know depreciation is a major cost to buying new, but we fear buying someone else's problems (and dirt). We see you guys have had great luck with a used rig, but are you the rule or the exception, or is it actually a matter of owning a Tiffin?
Yes these are all big decisions so don't tush it - take your time weighing them all up. Also valid concerns re buying used. Yes ours has been great but not without some issues - nothing terribly bad. We have had great luck BUT we shopped and researched VERY thoroughly and bought from a private party so knew most of the coaches history. Perhaps we are the exception rather than the rule MOSTLY we believe because of how thorough and detailed we are with our research and knowing what was important. We don't think it's about owning a Tiffin - though it is a good brand and of of the top few we would feel comfortable recommending - we do believe cheap isn't always good and good isn't always cheap. It is SUCH a personal, individual journey.... Are you guys on our email list at rvlove.com? If not, you'll want to see what's coming on Weds - I think it will help you with a LOT of the questions and concerns you have...
RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett thank you. Just saw this. The great and unique part of this journey is how individualized it is (and must) to be. That is also the most frustrating part. Trying to find that one needle in a haystack that puts all the check in the block. Hopefully that would happen on our first unit, but not likely. From what we've seen and heard, many full timers especially, are not "satisfied" until they get to their 2-4th rig! We are on your mailing list and excited about things to come!! Congratulations on this new chapter in your journey.
Great vid, thanks everyone! It's not at all surprising that the consensus seems to be to take your time and do your research! We spent over a year researching different classes, brands and models of rigs, and more than once we flip-flopped back and forth between a 5th-wheel and Class A DP. Two years later we're extremely pleased with our purchase - a 2004 Newmar Mountain Aire DP - and we can't imagine owning a better rig for us. We feel very fortunate that we "got it right on the first try." That's not to say there haven't been issues; we've had her in the shop fixing one thing or another pretty regularly, but she's never let us down on the road. So, if there were one thing I wish I knew before we bought her, it would be how to do more of my own maintenance and repairs. I'm pretty handy but I'm not a mechanic, nor have I ever owned or even driven a diesel before, so I don't have the tools, skills or experience to trust myself doing a lot of what needs to be done. I'm doing more and more as time goes by, but I'd still rather pay a professional to fix it right than to save money wondering whether I screwed something up :)
Good for you taking your time with the research... you made a good choice :) You can do courses to learn how to make a lot of repairs yourself, might be worth looking into those! Those labor rates can add up ($80-130/hr) - glad your research and diligence paid off :)
My problem has been moisture. I found out that vents and windows are the best solution for this! Keeping your vehicle dry will increase it's useful "life".
Yes, keeping ventilation is important. Also consider using products like DampRid when in humid environments. Running your electric heat pump (if equipped) can dry the air too.
Oh yes, This video is perfect for those considering buying a RV. They need to watch it again, take notes and then watch it again!! Very helpful information if you really do hear it. If not you will understand about 6o days into it...LOL So please when you sit at a booth/table or chair or on the couch and your first impression is "NO WAY"....Then walk...no matter how much you like the floor plan! But with me saying that, buying a RV is for most people a 70/30 or 80/20. What I mean is 70 to 80% of the RV you will love the other 20-30% you will not! At least that's what most people said that we meet. So yes, take your time! Marc and Julie.....Very good and helpful video guys! That's why we love your channel......and yes you guys too!!!..LOL Miss you all! Dave & Katie RN-RV Chronicles
Very good, yes so true! I would say we are about 95% happy with our RV, so we are lucky - then again, we created our own luck by being VERY thorough and diligent in our search... and we recommend others do the same! The only thing we wish was different about ours is having more weight carrying capacity - we have plenty of space but not the weight to accommodate it. If we could change one things about ours, that would be it. :)
we just purchased our first motorhome, have had two travel trailers. loved your discussion on buying. it took me over a year of researching motorhomes. When we went to the dealer i knew more than they did. after buying you will see their so called expert to teach you all about the rv. don't believe most of what he says. read the book... read the book.. i leave soon for my first trip. driving from Ga to Ca. So excited... thanks for all the tips...
Hello Karen, Congratulations on your recent purchase. Great to hear your research was paying off in that you knew more than the dealer, and maybe even the tech. Hope you have a great first trip. Thank you, -Marc
Thanks again for a good video. The one thing that stood out to me from all of the couples was the choice in RV and taking time to do the research and make sure that what you get is really what you want because it is expensive to constantly change RV's.
Definitely - take your time! It's a big outlay! We made a great choice with our first unit but many don't.... it literally pays to take your time - and we keep still learning, every day!
My advice for full-timing would be to go smaller and simpler. A 28ft "bumper-pull" and a 1/2-ton gas pickup turned out to be our ideal setup. Simplified everything, greatly reducing stress and headaches.
Wish they could take us in and showed us what they were talking about. Space was surely the main concern. The couple that spoke about the maintenance. What kinda tools did you took with on the next trip 🙂
space concerns are a bit relative. as for tools, very basic tools can handle the vast majority of challenges with an RV. But it is tough to recommend a list of tools because it will vary a lot depending on what type of RV you travel in, and how long you are gone. If you are a full timer, you will of course want to carry far more tools, than a weekender that can just fix things when they get back home. -M
Planning on going full time summer 2019. So we started with a very affordable 30 ft trailer and an old F-250 to pull it. It works great, but in four trips we learned several things about what we use and don't use for when we get a different unit to live in.
Great video and excellent advice. I remember the first small 26 foot class A we bought used in 1997. I told an older guy I worked with who had owned rv's for several years that we had found "the perfect rv". After he quit laughing and caught his breath he told me an old timer had told him that there was no such thing as the perfect rv and you would finally get the right rv for you by the third one. Man, was he ever right.
The top piece of information from this video, don't buy new and do your homework! We searched for 3 years before we made the plunge! Used, but top quality used!
Yep take your time and keep researching! We do have friends who have bought new and are pleased with their choice/decision, but for a first time RV, used is optimal as it's rare to get it 'right' with your first RV, plus needs change over time. Quality is always important
All my RV buddys had all sorts of reccomendations when we bought our first RV . Ignored them and bought an older class C for relatively little money , told them it was my learner . And learn we did , as a matter of fact it had so many things I didn't like it was a great learning tool . I put about 600-800 hours of my time and about $7,000 on repairs and upgrades . We put about 40,000 miles on it and kept studying everything out there . Then we downsized to a 19' Roadtrek and love it . No tow car and stealth camping is easy . Better built than many and easy comfortable to drive . Granted we are not full timers , but the lessons learned would have been nice before jumping in on the first one .
Thanks for sharing Henry! What a lot of work and learning - but glad you found your ideal RV. We've come to learn NOT to pay attention to the "advice and recommendations" of others but instead, to ask questions to understand their OWN needs and preferences and help guide that way - BUT sometimes experience is the best teacher :)
That was fantastic! Loved the last couple when she talked about the division of the work - hilarious, but true! We live on a boat and have a RPod trailer and she nailed it on the work load.
I’ve owned every type of RV. Tent trailer, campers, motor homes, trailers. We have a beautiful trailer now. But what I wish we had is a 36’ class A diesel. If they start putting the Ford 6.7 ltr in a C I could go for that.
My wife and I have had two RVs in the past that were used for weekend family camping. One was an older 26 ft Class A, the other a new (at that time) 29 ft 6 inch bumper trailer with a bunk bed floor plan. We are both now retired and intend to sell out, purchase a bumper trailer about 30 to 33 ft and take the long-term road trip to see the country. Presently, the plan is for just the two of us and no pets. We have started looking at floor plans and options to determine what we think we will need for living space. I have a new gas fueled truck with a high towing capacity. I am very handy maintenance wise. We are currently assessing what possessions we should do without, what to put in storage, and what current possessions we believe we will really need to live on. We have two daughters with families and grandchildren but our brothers and sisters are spread nearly coast to coast and North to South. Your candid comments about what you would give yourself for advice is helpful. Thanks for telling us.
HI MIchael, so glad you found it helpful. Sounds like you are on a good track with your plans already and of course, having family coast to coast and being a handy guy, traveling by RV makes so much sense! May we also recommend you pick up a copy of our book "Living the RV Life - Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road" - it is a roadmap for anyone considering the RV life, covers what you need to know, pretty much from A-Z. You can read reviews and find it here on Amazon amzn.to/2QhlLtT or at all good bookstores eg. Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Independent Bookstores etc.It will be an invaluable resource as you prepare to head out and explore all this beautiful country has to offer! Cheers - Julie and Marc
Good video, it is great to hear the experience from others on the road, sometimes Facebook does not help with too many comments that are not related to the original subject, but all of these points are very good points and definitely some that I have found to be key to my journey and I am not even full time yet.... I spend about a year researching and determining what kind of RV would be our full time RV, we had already had a Popup and a TT so it was Class C, A or 5th wheel for our life style we did decide on a 5th wheel, but finding the right one with a good manufacturer and then a somewhat good dealer that will support your needs after the sale was important. I agree with the getting the truck thing right, I have had to upgrade my truck from a 3/4 to a 1 ton DRW feel much safer and comfortable in the bigger truck and the MPG is about the same as far as I can tell. Well we continue our journey of getting things ready for our departure, we still have years to go but we are taking is slow and making sure that all things are good to go.
Hi Russell, great the video was helpful and we are very encouraged to hear how diligent and thorough you are being with your research, right down to the dealer support. You are among the rare few...great to see you are also investing in a capable enough truck for your needs... It takes a long time to properly prepare for the full time RV lifestyle and yes it can take years - but great to see you are well on the way already!
Yep, it's rare for people to get it right first time and 3 years in we still love ours too.. we don't need to change, but someday we might want to just for a different experience.
I think this is the best rv video I've seen. Thank You. And thank you to your interviewees. You all made me think more about what I need to do going forward. Again, thanks!
Glad you found it helpful Don... this is but scratching the surface of what one needs to know before buying an RV but it's a great start and yes, everyone's contribution was great! Good luck and you are welcome!
Great video! Thanks to you and all your friends who contributed. We watch you all regularly and always learn valuable information. Just weekenders and short trips for us for now but hope to see you all on the road in the future.
Hi Guys, great video and information, right on time. Finally, found our rv.. we are working on it to make it more accessible inside. Two more weeks and we will be hitting the road..😊😊😊😊😊🎉🎊🌠🎉🎊
We had a blast collaborating with you on this video! Fun to see how many of us had the same thing to say but all in different ways! See you down the road!
Hi Marc and Julie, Love your Videos, Thank you so much for your time.. I contacted you about the Tow Dolly.. Well you helped so much.. I bought a 2006 Mini S , Convertible, All Silver.. and we are Flat Towing it behind our 40' Tradition.. Its awesome and we love it!
I have a 15 year old Honda Element with 200,1500 thousand miles on it. While driving I listen to recorded novels and histories. This has enabled me to listen to King Lear and Hamlet and many other of the great Shakespearean plays several times. Also, I have listened to In "Search of Lost Time," by Marcel Proust in its entirety two times. Listening to music while driving on long trips is a colossal waste of time. Listen to great works of literature as you tool down the highways and byways of this great land of ours. and edify yourself.
Yes audio books are great for long drives, we like music too, and often we like to just drive in silence.... driving is relaxing and great for all of these things, podcasts too!
Yup... You guys are"on spot" . I've been watching allot of RV vloggers for a year now. I agree w/ EVERY Thing that was said. Nice group too. Thank you for all the great info again.
Thank you so much! This is really helpful. RV is not an investment in any way. Yes! Quality used then make it your own...that way you don't waste too much money if you want to try something different that looks better to you! We will have a very small inexpensive home as home base and start slowly. This is not for the faint of heart....takes putting up with major obstacles. You are all courageous!
Alice, everything you said is SO true! Especially the line "this is not for the faint of heart... takes putting up with major obstacles." LOL Made me laugh - it's true but the pros outweigh the cons! Thanks for sharing!
i went with a 22 foot alpenlite 5th wheel. anything bigger was just extra storage space. to make up with the loss of storage space i went with a large storage pod on top. if i had a choice? i would go with an RV that had 2 x 4 walls and insulation. that extra inch and 1 half of insulation makes a world of difference. we lose 4 inches of interior space but it is well worth it as apposed to the cost of energy needed to compensate for thinner walls.
Totally hear you on the insulation! SO many people don't give enough consideration to that. And good point re the bigger the RV = just more storage... Did you weigh your alpenlite with the storage pod on top to ensure you are still within safe weight for your RV/vehicle?
unladen weight is 3,400. have not had the chance to scale it when its loaded up yet. i could add 4000 pounds before i am over weight. bad part is i like collecting rocks. hope i do not pull a Lucy. haha " Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz movie the long long trailer."
As a young family celebrating our first full-time year, we wouldn’t have given our younger selves the advise to GET THE WARRANTY haha. Thanks for sharing this! Great advise!
humm i been wondering WHY no one on the subject of living in a RV doesnt make a video so simple as. try living in a RV before you sell your home ? right in your drive way. Done Dennison
Really GREAT advice: Do your research! We loved our small trailer + low price only to find out that there had been quite a lot of water damage that the previous owners - locals - didn't disclose. The signs were there - we just didn't know how to recognize themselves. The upside: We're remodeling the interior to really fit our needs. The (wine) glass always seems to refill itself! :-)
LOL there is always wine in the RV life! Yes your experience is not an uncommon one unfortunately - while there can certainly be good deals to be had out there, it's worth keeping in mind that "good isn't always cheap and cheap isn't always good" - but glad you have managed to turn lemons into lemonade with yours.
Wayne Tomchick glad you enjoyed the video. We didn’t rent ourselves before buying our first RV or even going full time! But it is definitely good advice that we generally offer to others! We have had two RVs now and bought both used. Been great decisions for us: that said, we do know some folks who have bought new and it’s been the right decision for them. They bought well and got good deals, good units.
Fantastic video! Thank you so much for that. I've been following you guys for quite sometime already and every time you get better and better. My wife and I are on the verge of investing in an RV, not sure yet if seasonal or full time, but just wanted to let you know that this video came just in the perfect moment. Again, thank you so much for sharing this with us!!!! All the best to you all, Eduardo.
Thank you so much Eduardo! We appreciate that... always on a quest for improvement :) Happy you enjoy the videos and you find them helpful. All the best to you too!
I believe we know what we want. We have looked at quite a few motorhomes. We determined that we didn't want to tow a home but a toad no problem. We came up with the Winnebago vista LX 27N. Now we are looking for THEE home for us!
I can identify with lots of their comments, thx. I have bought a new 2016 RV, It took one year to get all the problems taking care of. Bernie in palm springs.
This video was great and covered some of the things my husband and I have learned over the last 6 months of owning a Class C RV. We have two young kids (8 years old and 2 years) so our RVing experience might be different than others. Last summer we took our first roadtrip from our home state of Washington to Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky to see family and friends. It was wonderful and we learned a LOT! We can't wait to hit the road again this year with everything we've learned. A couple of things that weve learned is that our RV is a gas HOG! Looking at the "real" fuel economy before purchasing might have changed which unit we purchased. Also, like some owners in your video stated, buying preowned can be better. We didnt, but scored a great deal... I guess we will really see what kind of deal when we decide to sell. The last big thing would be knowing the limitations of the unit you're buying. We LOVE to hike and our Class C isnt very capable of getting us to trailheads... or providing us the ability to motor around and explore as much as we would like. Purchasing a vehicle with great towing capabilities along with a towable unit might have been better. However, even with all of these factors, we still can't wait to hit the road again. Thanks for providing so many informative videos! Happy New Year!
All RVs look great with the slides out, but the real test is how functional they are with the slides in. Whether traveling down the road in a Class A or C, or pulling in a rest area or parking lot...can you prepare a meal? Can you use the bathroom? Can you take a nap or get some overnight zzzs? Can you use you dinette or sofa? I looked at a nice Class C that appeared to click off everything on my list until I found out that you have to fold the bed in half to close the slide. That was a major NO-GO.
Very true. Glad to see that you are considering livability with the slides in. We believe it is an important consideration. Some folks might not plan to use their RVs at all with the slides in, but we do all the time. Great examples of some of the many times we have enjoyed the functionality of our RV with the slides in. Our previous RV had four slides and provided surprising availability with them in, but our new RV has only 1 slide and everything is fully functional with that slide in. Very nice.
Love it. I am considering life on the road and have decided to start at the bottom, i.e. a car that I can sleep in. If I like full time life on the road , I may buy a small pickup with a camper. Go slow....start little....and move upwards, if you like it.
That is a safe financial approach to transitioning into a traveling lifestyle that is becoming increasingly common. Good to not over invest before you know if you like it.
We started out in tents, then a travel trailer, then a class c and now a class a. We were happy with each one but as our needs or wants changed so did the rv. Like was said take your time and know what both of you want and then find the right rv.
Gday Julie.. I'm an Aussie too ! :) my hubby Glenn and I are about to hit the road fulltime ..hopefully next month ..once our house sells.. would love to catch up sometime when we are both in the same area ! Havent come across another aussie/us couple travelling fulltime.. glad I found you guys ! :)
Bloody beaut mate! Would be great to catch up with another Aussie along the way - we'll have to have a barbie and a pav! Keep an eye out for us along the way! Seeyalateralligator!
Excellent advice from all! We are on our fourth in 12 years. Floor plan and quality of the build. We started out 16’ single axle. That lasted 4 years. It was a very well made travel trailer but too small. Traded for a 24’ that was special ordered, never set foot in it. Hated the floor plan pretty much from day 1. It was a rear kitchen with a 1/2 slide. Too much weight on the rear of the camper. That one lasted about a year. We finally learned to go sit in one. Imagine using it. #3 was a 26 foot Forest River. Great build quality and a good layout, we thought. We were planning on taking grandkids with us so we purchased a bunkhouse. After about 4 years and no grandkids we started thinking of trading for the perfect camper. We were camping at Camp Gulf in Destin Florida right on the beach. It is awesome and we go every year. The only problem with the bunkhouse was no rear window. So on our way home to Arkansas Jackie found our perfect camper. We now have a Windjammer by Rockwood. Rear living with a giant picture window. Only weighs 8k pounds at 31 feet.
Former business owner equipment trucks etc . Tow package on many trucks is the same thing as shutting of over drive . With pick up trucks if driving in town or towing shut over drive off saves transmission stops it from gear hunting
I love all the advice, we just can not make it on my military retirement by it self so we need to wait about six years, until were 62. I love watching all the vlogs for different Rv lifestyle, My wife thinks i'm addicted to it ( maybe) but it make my heart warm.
Lisa and Dan.... spot on. As we were FT-RVers who wud sell nearly everything to hit the road as workampers, actually did the opposite. We did alot of research before buying, looked at about (no joke) 30 different units. We started in a 1978 24ft (with 21.5ft living space) Wilderness travel trailer that we partially glutted and remodeled to fit our needs and most importantly our budget. Our next rig was a 1993 Cornado Class A which felt like a castle vs the trailer. But I say that to any other potential RVers, especially those without big $$. Slideouts are must but be very aware on the quality of the slide mechanism. If the rig will not be moving alot (weeks or months in same locale) pick a trailer or 5th wheel. Like others on this video said, think it through. Why?? (meaning just weekend camping vs FT living year round or partially/seasonally FT) things like do you need a 4season RV or if you plan to do alot of short-term staying throughout the country. Then maybe a Class A or C with a towing vehicle that you drive the smaller "toad" (your car, SUV,etc.) while RV is parked so you can not worrying about limited spaces at grocery store or the need to park and do alot of walking to get to the entrance of store, museum, etc.
I so agree with the lady who stated that living in a stick and brick she did most of the work and now it has reversed!! Both my husband and I laughed at that!
Omg I watch and follow all these people. Lol we have done tons of research and funny thing we found out, is that none of the dealers here in St. Louis carry the one we found we want so we will be going to Minnesota to look at the artic fox there. So what we have learned as of this point there is more out there than what the local dealers tell you, we have heard they must be new or never heard of them... so thank you for this video and we are still researching..
Yep don't rely on or trust what dealers tell you - it's your responsibility to do your research and make an informed decision and we are glad our videos help with that. We also bought our RV out of state - many do. Good luck!
Lol oh yea already figured out we know about them than any sales person.. which is frustrating but great info you all gave and we know there just some things we will never know till we pull the trigger. But the boss said we will be debt free and be able to work remotely. So thanks again
Very very informative video - Thank You! I noticed that all but you guys and Josh and Kali went through multiple rigs in a short period of time. I'm still happy with mine and it is working fine for me so I hope I got it right the first time for starting out. Almost a year in now and I still have empty space in here. Loving the life. Love when friends and family start off with "Where are you now?"
Yep we're almost 3 years in our Tiffin now and still love it - but we researched VERY thoroughly before buying and we know ourselves very well. Grateful for that... otherwise it can be an expensive exercise!
What a great video. Awesome couples, great advice. Nicely produced. I like your use of music, and lack of use when people are talking. That was a great video idea.
After owning an RV for over 10 years my secret is to keep up with all the maintenance that's required and check the different systems frequently. I use a wonderful vehicle maintenance program called Automotive Wolf car care software that I use on my laptop and configured it to not only monitor my RV's maintenance schedule but also all the other little things that are needed to keep an RV in good shape like inspecting the roof for leaks every 6 months. The software also keeps track of all my expenses and trips so I know all the RV parks I've stayed at and whether it's worth returning there. If you really want to save money keep up with the maintenance!
Agreed, regular maintenance is key.
I researched like heck on the internet and going to dealers but the best research I found was asking rig owners in a populous campground if I could look at their rigs and then I chatted with them. In this way I was able to "try on" a huge variety of rigs many I had seen on the internet. I was in my camper van at the time. I was looking ahead a few years of saving and trying to figure out what I would want. I ended up realizing that my van actually was perfect for me. I could go anywhere I wanted, even some 4 wd roads. I had all the same features, just at a more primitive level and I had none of the hasels of tanks, dumps, etc, and because it's a vehicle not an rv it's sturdier. Had I not been able to "try on" so many types of rigs I would have made a different choice. I also am better prepared for the day a change up is needed. Talk to as many owners as you can before making your decision. I'm not a full timer, but not a week ender either, I'm out in my van about 50% of the time so my needs are the same as a full timer in most ways. When I need more cargo space which is seldom (going to show in an art show) I tow a 5x10 cargo trailer, and I have a hitch hauler to stow extras like awning, wood, tables, etc.See as many rigs of as many types as possible and talk to owners more than dealers and remember that mobile living is so much more minimalist than your sticks and bricks living, even with the small van I at first took twice what was needed so if you go larger remember that volume wants to fill itself, don't yield.
Great to see you did your homework and research ahead of time and saved yourself an expensive upgrade! Always love seeing how people find the right RV for them - there really is no one size fits all!
Love that video. I now feel like we really dodged a bullet! We were actually in the process of ordering a new RV from the dealer 5 months ago, when at the last minute they told us the manufacturer had "all of a sudden" raised the price by $8,000. Thankfully, we walked away at the last minute and in January found a 1 year old Fleetwood Bounder with only 10,000 miles on it and saved $40K off MSRP. It definitely pays to take your time.... think and then re-think! ~Mel
Thanks for sharing your experience Mel! Yep, everything turns out as it is meant to - good not to rush the process as it's a big decision! Congrats on your savings!
RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett b
Learning to work on you RV will save you big buck. I had a serious toilet plug on my RV which estimated in the thousands of dollars. We looked up the issue on RUclips, bought a $25 part and had it fixed in 20 minutes! Woo!
Yep, that's pretty common. Crazy. We heard a story recently of a Prevost owner who was quoted $20K to fix an electrical/power panel and one resourceful RV repair guy simply removed the panel and used a pin to hit the reset button. All fixed. Zero cost! Definitely pays to do your homework and look for a DIY fix before spending too much!
Hello!! I'm an avid reader, picked up your book Living the RV Life at a local library for a quick 📚read! I have found all this information very valuable as retirement is on the horizon 😀. I'm a wannabe of the RV Life, 🚌a wannabe of AT through hike!! 🚶♀️
The life of living freedom is so inspiring! Thank you for taking time to share your knowledge!
Thank you for your wonderful comment. Wishing you every success and joy! -M
My wife and I considered RVing but couldn't help but notice all the RV,s you see setting in peoples yards that never seem to move. We built a nice log home 30 yrs ago on 4 wooded acres. I built a nice 36 X 26 shop with a car lift. I have always enjoyed classic cars dating back to the early 60's when I was a teen. So I spend a lot of time in my shop restoring old classics and then selling them to buy another to restore. When we sat down and figured the time and money involved in RVing we noticed we could fly to what ever part of the country we wanted to get a nice hotel room rent a car and spend 3 or 4 weeks away from home for a whole lot less than the expense of owning an RV and return home without owning a rig that would be hard to sell considering all the rv's for sale. A nice comfortable house beats an RV any day the way we figure. But RV on to those of you that chose that lifestyle. Its just not our cup of tea..
Yes George, so important you know what IS your cup of tea before making such an investment. It's sad to see so many RVs sitting in yards and storage areas unused. For us as full timers, we love the lifestyle and we are getting as much use as one can get from their RV, but you have to give up some things to full time too... like your amazing car shop - Marc would LOVE to see that and what you do there - restoring classic cars is a dream of his. The way you describe you like to travel, you are probably right about it being more affordable to fly and do hotel stays. And if you ever did get the urge to travel in an RV, renting one probably makes a lot more sense. All the best to you!
I am glad you know what makes you happy. RVs, boats and timeshares don't make sense if you are not going to use them. We own a timeshare and we get full use out of it and love all the locations we can go. I also have a boat and I am on the water as much as the weather will let me. I went fishing 2 days ago and if the rain lifts I will go tomorrow. You like fixing old cars. So you have this big shop, lots of tools and a hydraulic lift. For me, none of that would make sense. I do have a lot of tools that I have acquired over the years mostly as gifts of for a single project that I had to do at the time. My wife has five years until she is eligible to retire and once she does and our daughter is off to college we plan to down size to a 2 bedroom condo. Sell the tools and everything we don't need. We plan on letting our daughter live there while in college and we will go pretty much full time RVing.
some people enjoy the journey more or as much as the destination.
If RVing isn't your 'cup of tea' then why are you watching RV channels?
RVing is not for everyone and it’s good you figured that out. It’s like owning a second home. It’s not for us. I’d rather RV to all the different places in this gorgeous country than have a second home in one place or stay in hotels, wondering what creepy germs are in the room or bed. I know whose germs and dust are in my RV’s bed and I like it that way.
Lots of good information here. We are not full timers, however, we have been RVing since 2001 when we bought our first tent trailer. Someone told us back then that when looking for an RV, buy your second RV first. Meaning if one is a bit less money, but the model up would suit you better, then get that better one. We did that with the tent trailer by getting one with a slide out, potty and shower, king beds. We took our girls everywhere in that thing and they loved it. We moved up to a hard sided trailer in 2007 and did the same thing. Then, starting in 2014, we started our hunt for a Class A. It took 2 years of research and looking. We love our coach now (purchased last year). It's really bigger than intended, but it will last us years as we start traveling more with all the storage.
Thanks for all your videos and hard work. I really enjoy it. I see you're headed to the Pacific Northwest this year. Maybe we'll run into you. Safe Travels!!
Good to hear Kelly! It's finding the balance between not overcommitting with your first purchase yet creating space for the one you will evolve into as our styles and needs change over time... yes heading up to PNW later this year - would be nice to cross paths and say hi! Cheers :) PS. what coach did you end up buying? Brand, model, year?
We ended up with a 2016 Jayco Precept 35S. Overall, we are very happy with it and looking forward to weather improving in our area so we can take it out. Also, looking forward to a long trip in October to Zion!!!!
Try shooting in the shade with a reflector to bounce the sunlight back on your subject. It’ll keep people from squinting the whole time.
Thanks for the tip!
Great video: My summary - Buy your first unit knowing that it is an experiment. Buy it used and don't go for broke. Once you have experienced RVing for 12-18 months, you will know what you want or even if you want to keep doing it. I'm not full-timing (yet), but I spend $11,000 on a 13 year C-class, then upgraded to a new gas A-class 18 months later. The first unit taught me what 1000 RUclips videos can't (although those videos were VERY helpful.) Thanks again!
Thanks - excellent insights! Glad you found the way that worked for you! Awesome!
Not if it has two axles. 3 requires a class B license. Its not hard to get.
Thx for the advice...we just bought our first unit...used as an experiment...THEN if we like the rv living we plan to upgrade our RV
This is the golden rule of entering the RV lifestyle, after 2 yrs in a Citation 24st on a MB chassis. We are waiting for 2019 chassis for Homer II.
I full timed........ it's fun for about a year....when the real estate market crashed I bought a house in a vacation town located next to the national forest....it's like camping.. I have the views.... without the dust, mud, dramma of draining tanks....ect
Great that you gave it a try. It isn't for everyone. We do see a number of folks that only do it for a year or two. But, we are in our fifth year and have no plans to stop, and have met others who have full-timed for over twenty years . Sounds like you made a nice move buying in at the bottom of the real estate market for a nice home. Enjoy.
Thanks again! You and others videos and blogs have been helpful as we begin our journey And consideration of rigs. RV rentals have been a blessing to get time pulling or behind the wheel and have already begun a list of “wouldn’t buy that” “have got to add this” etc. One year back I wasn’t sure my wife had any true interest in a more substantial RV retirement. Our recent trip (all of November) and she is adding to the list of To Have, To Do Differently, and friends to sit with and hear about their experiences and ventures. FYI; I’ve just purchased, and already half way thru Mike Sokol’s “No-Shock-Zone” book. Things we were VERY lucky about on this month long journey without fully knowing the thorough electric pedestal check process to be sure we were electric-safe. Hoping to cross paths soon! Paul & Jan (Ft. Lauderdale)
Thank you. Glad to know that our content has been helpful to you. Wishing you every success and joy in your coming travels. -M
When I purchased my first RV I already knew I was going into full time.
I had enough money to make a good down payment on a new coach or enough to buy a used coach in cash. Having never lived in a RV. I decided to buy used. This way if I hated living in a RV I wouldn't have to try and sell a coach with a huge balance owed on it. I found a older 28ft. 1976 Chevrolet Sierra class A. At the time they were asking $12,k for it. I looked at many, many more but still really liked the old Chevy. I went back to the lot and found it had been marked down to $10k. I still wanted to look at some more after about two weeks later the Chevy was still on the lot. I went into the office and offered $6k cash. He came down I went up we settled out at $7,250. I went to the bank came back with the cash and drove away in my new home. I lived in the coach for 6 years then upgraded to a 36ft Gulfstream Sunstream Hi-Rise class A gasser. I've lived in this one for about 25 years now.
The thing is if you find the perfect coach, trailer , 5th wheel. If the money isn't right you have to be willing to walk away. Let it sit on the lot for awhile or find a like model or make a offer in your price range. Don't get pressed into buying more coach than you can comfortably afford.
Be willing to walk away. There will be another perfect coach, trailer etc. Just my experience and thoughts.
Hi Brian. Thank you for your awesome comment. Love that you made two great purchases, and we are so inspired and impressed that you have lived over 30 years in your RVs, and plan to continue to live in your RVs into the future. We love our RV lifestyle too. Excellent advice on not buying more RV than you can afford, and that there will always be another one if you are patient. -M
Great advice - thank you for taking the time to share this. I am counting down until my lease is up to do it right the second time around. We tried full timing and I went cheap on the 5th Wheel - bought off eBay from an RV dealer… and did not inspect - advertised as "Slight water damage"
DO NOT BUY A RIG THAT HAS BEEN WATER DAMAGED!!! I worked hard trying to get rid of the odor and after four months got rid of the porta potty on wheels. That stink permeates everything eventually.
Also, you may not need a tow vehicle at all if your work camping and going from site to site - you can hire a tow for a lot cheaper than truck payments, insurance, maintenance cost for a big truck. Just make sure you have the money in the bank for a tow when you need it. I owned a 2006 Ford F-250 with the 7.3-liter diesel - best engine ever made in my opinion but guess what, everyone wanted me to tow (or move) their rigs and when you say “No” folks can and do get pissy and take it personal. But if you say yes and something happens to their rig - YOU WILL BE HELD LIABLE. Do not do it on a wink and a nod if you do move someone’s rig.
Lastly in case you didn’t hear me the first time - DO NOT EVER BUY A TRAILER THAT HAS HAD WATER DAMAGE! You can tell right away because it will smell like it has been smoked in which it may have. No amount of cleaning, air filtration, deodorants will conquer that odor if there is any moisture in the walls. It is not cheap re roofing a 40 foot 5th wheel and or pulling the walls apart to get the wet out. Don’t put your health at risk because hidden mold and mildew will eventually make you very sick.
Stay safe - See you on the road Spring 2020!
Thank you for sharing Shaun. You make an excellent point that folks don't talk about often. We have met a number of people over the years that do what you mention and skip buying the expensive truck, opting instead to pay others to move their trailer. This works great if you only move seasonally, or otherwise infrequently. And we definitely agree that water damage is something to avoid in an RV purchase.
Absolutely wonderful advice from different perspectives which makes this video so great!
- Jay & Jessica -
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it. -M
Thank you both for your honest and straightforward comments and concerns for prospective full time RVers! We appreciate your efforts to genuinely inform people like my wife and me who are currently researching RV life.
Thank you for your comment and feedback. We appreciate it and love to know that our content is beneficial to others.
I have been everywhere trying to get an answer to this question: what cargo carrying capacity is recommended for 2 adult and 2 kitty fulltimers. We are trying to get the right unit out of the gates. Thank you for this video. For those of us still trying to figure things out, it is invaluable!
There isn't a definitive answer to your question because I have seen 2 adults with cats that use up over 8,000 pounds of cargo, and other couples with 2 cats that live in a van or other small trailer with less than 1000 pounds of CCC. It all depends on how you travel, but I would imagine that most full timers can get by pretty comfortably with 3000 pounds of CCC between their RV and tow/towing vehicle. -M
Love the video. Got to see all the people I watch. We had a 2212 Lance Toy Hauler. It was 22' long. Had a kitchen, full bath - not wet bath, a queen bed, vacuum, 4 season & it felt like a real motor home (unlike most Toy Haulers). But when we took our two dogs with us (they are Australian Cattle Dogs), it was a bit cramped. Since we are planning to live in it full time, I couldn't see us doing that in it. So I was looking at an RV show & found 2017 295RL Evergreen BayHill. It's 34' long, a 5th wheel, has washer/dryer, huge residential refrigerator, a shower WITH a seat, vacuum cleaner, dishwasher (!) AND a KING size bed! It is 4 season, too! BUT he cannot carry his motorcycle as it currently is. We plan on putting a lift on the back. Now, I set & watch you all traveling & cant wait till we can do it full time, too!!!
It's quite the journey in itself finding the right setup to suit your needs isn't it! Good luck!
Thanks for sharing the opinions of so many RVers as they have experienced things that I may dodge in my near future because they cared to share.
Glad to have been able to share with you, and help you learn from our collective experiences.
Great video. I had no idea that RV hopping was such a thing. That's good to know as we do our research.
Glad it was helpful!
Of all the RUclips videos, the rv and off grid are the best. You never know what or where you will see. Happy trails friends. Thanks for the videos.
Glad you enjoy them! Happy TRails!
Thanks again guys! RV dealer tried to hire me when he realized how much I know. I taught him a lot while I was looking. Great advice here. We're on our third travel trailer in 40 years, have done good with them, current one is 19 years old, still great! Got our money's worth from it! But now need something just a bit bigger since this is only 7'x25", no slides, which I don't like anyway, but Ethyl does. So, our next one will have slides.
Wow you won't know yourself with slides! Too funny, the dealer tried to hire you! Love it! Impressive you have only had 3 TTs in 40 years - we know people who have been through more than 4 in a year!
I am considering doing this but not full time ( I don't want to stay in winter months ) was to rent an RV different ones before buying one. That way you can get a feel of what type of an RV you might want to get. And this is exactly what I'm going to do.
Yes, renting an RV before buying is a great idea. And if you rent from a company like RVnGO, or other peer to peer rental companies, you can try out a much more broad selection than renting from a large company that mostly just has Class C
Great video. We are not full time yet. Been camping since I was born...a family thing. We have had tents, pop-ups and campers. We are 2 years from retiring...can't wait!!!
Want to mention one thing...go with your gut! Spent 18 months looking for the perfect 30ft class A diesel (and other rigs) Had a list of features that were important to us. Then we found her...she was beautiful....she had everything we wanted. After kicking all the tires we asked the dealer for some time to talk. We sat in the rig and, well, we were not as happy as we thought we should be. AND we walked away. Then we really found our perfect rig....Ladybug, a 30ft limited classic 1995 Airstream. The moment we walked in...we were home. We did a total flip!
Pay attention to your inner voice, even if you have spent alot of time looking....listen carefully.
Completely agree Susan! We ALMOST bought a 2014 Winnebago Sightseer 33c which was a nice coach - even made an offer! BUT at the last minute we changed out minds and went with a bunkhouse Tiffin 2012 35QBA gas coach which allowed us to have 2 separate office spaces and we LOVE it! Has been the perfect coach for us. You would have related to Spot the Scotts and their Airstream experience! Always gotta trust your gut!
When we bought our first motor home we had looked at many and even used a few. We had owned several pickup campers previously so we weren't totally new to the RV world. When we found the one we bought we New when walked into it. We loved it for the several years we owned it. Buy used especially if your New because you will probably discover you made some mistakes. Also when starting out you will probably pack double what you need.
Very good advice and we agree 100%
We have found that RVers are willing to share and help each other out. We, too, have met great people and made life-long friends while camping. Great video!
It's a great community!
We got a simple 22 foot hideout for$12K new and love it. No slide to break and works well for the Two of us. Replaced the bed mattress and that is it no other changes. We do not entertain in our camper it our private home away from home.
Sounds like a great fit for your needs. Thanks for sharing.
Great video..TY…we are 3 yrs out from full timing..doing our homework 👌
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it, and wishing you every joy when the day comes. -M
Great video, this should be on all newbies list of required viewing. We did all the sitting and fitting inside various RV's before buying. We are umm, "larger" people and it was important for us to have room. I cannot agree more that you need to take your time looking for an RV. For once I listened to my wife. she kept slowing me down so we could find the "perfect RV" the "one." We ultimately found it.
Y'all rock. Keep on, keeping on.
Fantastic to hear Charlie that you slowed down and found the right on! Happy for you!
We got it right the first time, but that's because we had so many resources including ya'll! Thanks for the great videos.
Excellent! Love to hear that :) What did you end up getting? New or used?
Used 2000 Lance Truck Camper. We wanted to get on the road as quickly as possible!
Likely the best "if I had only known" videos we have watched. We are right in the middle of these devious and questions. House is for sale, "stuff" has been sold, now we just need an RV. Thank you so much!
You're welcome - and thanks! Take your time to find the right RV for you - we knew a ton before buying and yet continue to learn even more in the past 3 years and am sure that learning will never end. So many little idiosyncrasies of EVERY brand, model, year etc.. it can truly fry your brain! LOL
RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett Guess I should proof before I post..."middle of these decisions and questions."
I think our biggest decision is motorhome+toad cost vs. truck+5th wheel cost. Even more, do we get a toy hauler 5th wheel or regular 5th wheel. Regardless, we know depreciation is a major cost to buying new, but we fear buying someone else's problems (and dirt). We see you guys have had great luck with a used rig, but are you the rule or the exception, or is it actually a matter of owning a Tiffin?
Yes these are all big decisions so don't tush it - take your time weighing them all up. Also valid concerns re buying used. Yes ours has been great but not without some issues - nothing terribly bad. We have had great luck BUT we shopped and researched VERY thoroughly and bought from a private party so knew most of the coaches history. Perhaps we are the exception rather than the rule MOSTLY we believe because of how thorough and detailed we are with our research and knowing what was important. We don't think it's about owning a Tiffin - though it is a good brand and of of the top few we would feel comfortable recommending - we do believe cheap isn't always good and good isn't always cheap. It is SUCH a personal, individual journey.... Are you guys on our email list at rvlove.com? If not, you'll want to see what's coming on Weds - I think it will help you with a LOT of the questions and concerns you have...
RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett thank you. Just saw this. The great and unique part of this journey is how individualized it is (and must) to be. That is also the most frustrating part. Trying to find that one needle in a haystack that puts all the check in the block. Hopefully that would happen on our first unit, but not likely. From what we've seen and heard, many full timers especially, are not "satisfied" until they get to their 2-4th rig!
We are on your mailing list and excited about things to come!! Congratulations on this new chapter in your journey.
Great vid, thanks everyone! It's not at all surprising that the consensus seems to be to take your time and do your research! We spent over a year researching different classes, brands and models of rigs, and more than once we flip-flopped back and forth between a 5th-wheel and Class A DP. Two years later we're extremely pleased with our purchase - a 2004 Newmar Mountain Aire DP - and we can't imagine owning a better rig for us. We feel very fortunate that we "got it right on the first try."
That's not to say there haven't been issues; we've had her in the shop fixing one thing or another pretty regularly, but she's never let us down on the road. So, if there were one thing I wish I knew before we bought her, it would be how to do more of my own maintenance and repairs. I'm pretty handy but I'm not a mechanic, nor have I ever owned or even driven a diesel before, so I don't have the tools, skills or experience to trust myself doing a lot of what needs to be done. I'm doing more and more as time goes by, but I'd still rather pay a professional to fix it right than to save money wondering whether I screwed something up :)
Good for you taking your time with the research... you made a good choice :) You can do courses to learn how to make a lot of repairs yourself, might be worth looking into those! Those labor rates can add up ($80-130/hr) - glad your research and diligence paid off :)
My problem has been moisture. I found out that vents and windows are the best solution for this! Keeping your vehicle dry will increase it's useful "life".
Yes, keeping ventilation is important. Also consider using products like DampRid when in humid environments. Running your electric heat pump (if equipped) can dry the air too.
Oh yes, This video is perfect for those considering buying a RV. They need to watch it again, take notes and then watch it again!!
Very helpful information if you really do hear it. If not you will understand about 6o days into it...LOL So please when you sit at a booth/table or chair or on the couch and your first impression is "NO WAY"....Then walk...no matter how much you like the floor plan! But with me saying that, buying a RV is for most people a 70/30 or 80/20. What I mean is 70 to 80% of the RV you will love the other 20-30% you will not! At least that's what most people said that we meet.
So yes, take your time!
Marc and Julie.....Very good and helpful video guys! That's why we love your channel......and yes you guys too!!!..LOL
Miss you all!
Dave & Katie
RN-RV Chronicles
Very good, yes so true! I would say we are about 95% happy with our RV, so we are lucky - then again, we created our own luck by being VERY thorough and diligent in our search... and we recommend others do the same! The only thing we wish was different about ours is having more weight carrying capacity - we have plenty of space but not the weight to accommodate it. If we could change one things about ours, that would be it. :)
RN - RV Chronicles : Thanks! Getting ready to downsize and try this for one year.
Emily! That made me laugh so hard... 20 years and he may have caught up! I can't wait for the break, lol
Oh that cracked us ALL up - that was gold :) Good for her... your turn next! LOL
that moment is priceless!
The truth in a joke is what makes it funny.... I'm a man and I agree!
we just purchased our first motorhome, have had two travel trailers. loved your discussion on buying. it took me over a year of researching motorhomes. When we went to the dealer i knew more than they did. after buying you will see their so called expert to teach you all about the rv. don't believe most of what he says. read the book... read the book.. i leave soon for my first trip. driving from Ga to Ca. So excited... thanks for all the tips...
Hello Karen, Congratulations on your recent purchase. Great to hear your research was paying off in that you knew more than the dealer, and maybe even the tech. Hope you have a great first trip.
Thank you,
-Marc
Haven't been around much on YT since going fulltime.....but...I do miss you guys. Always love your videos....thanks! :)
Hi there! So glad you are enjoying life on the road! Thanks for the positive feedback - safe travels! :)
Thanks again for a good video. The one thing that stood out to me from all of the couples was the choice in RV and taking time to do the research and make sure that what you get is really what you want because it is expensive to constantly change RV's.
Definitely - take your time! It's a big outlay! We made a great choice with our first unit but many don't.... it literally pays to take your time - and we keep still learning, every day!
My advice for full-timing would be to go smaller and simpler. A 28ft "bumper-pull" and a 1/2-ton gas pickup turned out to be our ideal setup. Simplified everything, greatly reducing stress and headaches.
Simple is better for many. Less to go wrong. Thanks for sharing.
Last couple was amazing! In 20 years will be even)))
Yes, Tim and Emily are awesome.
Really helpful!! Thanks so much for doing this. There's nothing like first-hand advice from real people.
Thank you
Probably one of the better (and simpler) informational videos I've see. Thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Wish they could take us in and showed us what they were talking about. Space was surely the main concern. The couple that spoke about the maintenance. What kinda tools did you took with on the next trip 🙂
space concerns are a bit relative. as for tools, very basic tools can handle the vast majority of challenges with an RV. But it is tough to recommend a list of tools because it will vary a lot depending on what type of RV you travel in, and how long you are gone. If you are a full timer, you will of course want to carry far more tools, than a weekender that can just fix things when they get back home. -M
Planning on going full time summer 2019. So we started with a very affordable 30 ft trailer and an old F-250 to pull it. It works great, but in four trips we learned several things about what we use and don't use for when we get a different unit to live in.
Great idea - always worth starting with something low cost to start until you get clear on what is really important to you!
Great video and excellent advice. I remember the first small 26 foot class A we bought used in 1997. I told an older guy I worked with who had owned rv's for several years that we had found "the perfect rv". After he quit laughing and caught his breath he told me an old timer had told him that there was no such thing as the perfect rv and you would finally get the right rv for you by the third one. Man, was he ever right.
Haha funny! And very true :)
This is great info. As a totally green, future nomad, I'm most grateful for these interviews and this sage advice. Thanks for posting.
Glad you found it helpful
The top piece of information from this video, don't buy new and do your homework! We searched for 3 years before we made the plunge! Used, but top quality used!
Yep take your time and keep researching! We do have friends who have bought new and are pleased with their choice/decision, but for a first time RV, used is optimal as it's rare to get it 'right' with your first RV, plus needs change over time. Quality is always important
All my RV buddys had all sorts of reccomendations when we bought our first RV . Ignored them and bought an older class C for relatively little money , told them it was my learner . And learn we did , as a matter of fact it had so many things I didn't like it was a great learning tool . I put about 600-800 hours of my time and about $7,000 on repairs and upgrades . We put about 40,000 miles on it and kept studying everything out there . Then we downsized to a 19' Roadtrek and love it . No tow car and stealth camping is easy . Better built than many and easy comfortable to drive . Granted we are not full timers , but the lessons learned would have been nice before jumping in on the first one .
Thanks for sharing Henry! What a lot of work and learning - but glad you found your ideal RV. We've come to learn NOT to pay attention to the "advice and recommendations" of others but instead, to ask questions to understand their OWN needs and preferences and help guide that way - BUT sometimes experience is the best teacher :)
That was fantastic! Loved the last couple when she talked about the division of the work - hilarious, but true! We live on a boat and have a RPod trailer and she nailed it on the work load.
Oh yes Emily cracked us all up! Too funny!
I’ve owned every type of RV. Tent trailer, campers, motor homes, trailers. We have a beautiful trailer now. But what I wish we had is a 36’ class A diesel. If they start putting the Ford 6.7 ltr in a C I could go for that.
My wife and I have had two RVs in the past that were used for weekend family camping. One was an older 26 ft Class A, the other a new (at that time) 29 ft 6 inch bumper trailer with a bunk bed floor plan. We are both now retired and intend to sell out, purchase a bumper trailer about 30 to 33 ft and take the long-term road trip to see the country. Presently, the plan is for just the two of us and no pets. We have started looking at floor plans and options to determine what we think we will need for living space. I have a new gas fueled truck with a high towing capacity. I am very handy maintenance wise. We are currently assessing what possessions we should do without, what to put in storage, and what current possessions we believe we will really need to live on. We have two daughters with families and grandchildren but our brothers and sisters are spread nearly coast to coast and North to South. Your candid comments about what you would give yourself for advice is helpful. Thanks for telling us.
HI MIchael, so glad you found it helpful. Sounds like you are on a good track with your plans already and of course, having family coast to coast and being a handy guy, traveling by RV makes so much sense! May we also recommend you pick up a copy of our book "Living the RV Life - Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road" - it is a roadmap for anyone considering the RV life, covers what you need to know, pretty much from A-Z. You can read reviews and find it here on Amazon amzn.to/2QhlLtT or at all good bookstores eg. Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Independent Bookstores etc.It will be an invaluable resource as you prepare to head out and explore all this beautiful country has to offer! Cheers - Julie and Marc
Excellent advice! Great energy.
How exciting watching you live your dreams.
Thanks so much!
Good video, it is great to hear the experience from others on the road, sometimes Facebook does not help with too many comments that are not related to the original subject, but all of these points are very good points and definitely some that I have found to be key to my journey and I am not even full time yet.... I spend about a year researching and determining what kind of RV would be our full time RV, we had already had a Popup and a TT so it was Class C, A or 5th wheel for our life style we did decide on a 5th wheel, but finding the right one with a good manufacturer and then a somewhat good dealer that will support your needs after the sale was important. I agree with the getting the truck thing right, I have had to upgrade my truck from a 3/4 to a 1 ton DRW feel much safer and comfortable in the bigger truck and the MPG is about the same as far as I can tell. Well we continue our journey of getting things ready for our departure, we still have years to go but we are taking is slow and making sure that all things are good to go.
Hi Russell, great the video was helpful and we are very encouraged to hear how diligent and thorough you are being with your research, right down to the dealer support. You are among the rare few...great to see you are also investing in a capable enough truck for your needs... It takes a long time to properly prepare for the full time RV lifestyle and yes it can take years - but great to see you are well on the way already!
I'm looking to convert a box truck or a shuttle van, but I think this info is great for anyone looking to get on the road. Thanks!☺
Great to hear - yes no matter what your situation or budget, there's always a useful nugget here and there to learn from everyone. Good luck!
Thank you for all of your candid advice!!!
You are so welcome!
We have been full timing for 13 yrs now and watched this out of curiosity. This is a great video and so correct! Great job!
Thank you. And very cool that you have been full timing for 13 years!
Thanks for doing this video. Very helpful to hear others’ feedback.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you.
Great video, made me feel lucky. After 3 years I'm still happy with my RV, every else has changed.
Yep, it's rare for people to get it right first time and 3 years in we still love ours too.. we don't need to change, but someday we might want to just for a different experience.
Most professional presentation I've seen yet! Thanks for the reinforcement of thoughts. Charan's on the Run!
Thank you
I think this is the best rv video I've seen. Thank You. And thank you to your interviewees. You all made me think more about what I need to do going forward. Again, thanks!
Glad you found it helpful Don... this is but scratching the surface of what one needs to know before buying an RV but it's a great start and yes, everyone's contribution was great! Good luck and you are welcome!
Great video! Thanks to you and all your friends who contributed. We watch you all regularly and always learn valuable information. Just weekenders and short trips for us for now but hope to see you all on the road in the future.
Sounds great ! Thanks!
Hi Guys, great video and information, right on time. Finally, found our rv.. we are working on it to make it more accessible inside. Two more weeks and we will be hitting the road..😊😊😊😊😊🎉🎊🌠🎉🎊
Oh Nos that is great news - would love to hear what you ended up with!? Two weeks - wowsa! Super happy for you! Hope to see you down the road :)
We had a blast collaborating with you on this video! Fun to see how many of us had the same thing to say but all in different ways! See you down the road!
Safe travels!
Where do you dock.
RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett b
Pau Hana Travels You said the 3rd rig was a 43’ “something”, but the wind picked up and I couldn’t understand what you said.
Hi Marc and Julie,
Love your Videos, Thank you so much for your time.. I contacted you about the Tow Dolly.. Well you helped so much.. I bought a 2006 Mini S , Convertible, All Silver.. and we are Flat Towing it behind our 40' Tradition.. Its awesome and we love it!
So cool Doug! Glad we were helpful. Nice choice of MINI and coach! Keep on rolling and enjoying! Maybe we'll see you out there!
I have a 15 year old Honda Element with 200,1500 thousand miles on it. While driving I listen to recorded novels and histories. This has enabled me to listen to King Lear and Hamlet and many other of the great Shakespearean plays several times. Also, I have listened to In "Search of Lost Time," by Marcel Proust in its entirety two times. Listening to music while driving on long trips is a colossal waste of time. Listen to great works of literature as you tool down the highways and byways of this great land of ours. and edify yourself.
Yes audio books are great for long drives, we like music too, and often we like to just drive in silence.... driving is relaxing and great for all of these things, podcasts too!
Yup... You guys are"on spot" . I've been watching allot of RV vloggers for a year now. I agree w/ EVERY Thing that was said. Nice group too. Thank you for all the great info again.
You're welcome!
Terrific video! Y'all are special people, indeed, inspiring others to live the dream.
Aw shucks, thanks!
Thank you so much! This is really helpful. RV is not an investment in any way. Yes! Quality used then make it your own...that way you don't waste too much money if you want to try something different that looks better to you! We will have a very small inexpensive home as home base and start slowly. This is not for the faint of heart....takes putting up with major obstacles. You are all courageous!
Alice, everything you said is SO true! Especially the line "this is not for the faint of heart... takes putting up with major obstacles." LOL Made me laugh - it's true but the pros outweigh the cons! Thanks for sharing!
i went with a 22 foot alpenlite 5th wheel. anything bigger was just extra storage space. to make up with the loss of storage space i went with a large storage pod on top. if i had a choice? i would go with an RV that had 2 x 4 walls and insulation. that extra inch and 1 half of insulation makes a world of difference. we lose 4 inches of interior space but it is well worth it as apposed to the cost of energy needed to compensate for thinner walls.
Totally hear you on the insulation! SO many people don't give enough consideration to that. And good point re the bigger the RV = just more storage... Did you weigh your alpenlite with the storage pod on top to ensure you are still within safe weight for your RV/vehicle?
unladen weight is 3,400. have not had the chance to scale it when its loaded up yet. i could add 4000 pounds before i am over weight. bad part is i like collecting rocks. hope i do not pull a Lucy. haha " Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz movie the long long trailer."
Thanks for the information. Really helps in my study. 😊
Glad it was helpful! Happy to be able to help others. -M
As a young family celebrating our first full-time year, we wouldn’t have given our younger selves the advise to GET THE WARRANTY haha. Thanks for sharing this! Great advise!
Thank you
humm i been wondering WHY no one on the subject of living in a RV doesnt make a video so simple as. try living in a RV before you sell your home ? right in your drive way.
Done Dennison
You might want to sell your house to fund the RV in the first place.
I looked into doing that and it was over $900 to rent a smaller RV for 3 days. Not a cost-effective option for us, unfortunately.
Really GREAT advice: Do your research! We loved our small trailer + low price only to find out that there had been quite a lot of water damage that the previous owners - locals - didn't disclose. The signs were there - we just didn't know how to recognize themselves. The upside: We're remodeling the interior to really fit our needs. The (wine) glass always seems to refill itself! :-)
LOL there is always wine in the RV life! Yes your experience is not an uncommon one unfortunately - while there can certainly be good deals to be had out there, it's worth keeping in mind that "good isn't always cheap and cheap isn't always good" - but glad you have managed to turn lemons into lemonade with yours.
Great video!!! excellent multi-view idea. LOVE IT! Thanks to Marc and Julie and all involved!
Thanks! We look forward to doing more of these!
Great video. Always rent before buying if you have never RV'd before. Always buy used.
Wayne Tomchick glad you enjoyed the video. We didn’t rent ourselves before buying our first RV or even going full time! But it is definitely good advice that we generally offer to others! We have had two RVs now and bought both used. Been great decisions for us: that said, we do know some folks who have bought new and it’s been the right decision for them. They bought well and got good deals, good units.
Fantastic video! Thank you so much for that. I've been following you guys for quite sometime already and every time you get better and better. My wife and I are on the verge of investing in an RV, not sure yet if seasonal or full time, but just wanted to let you know that this video came just in the perfect moment. Again, thank you so much for sharing this with us!!!! All the best to you all, Eduardo.
Thank you so much Eduardo! We appreciate that... always on a quest for improvement :) Happy you enjoy the videos and you find them helpful. All the best to you too!
great to have different perspective on RVing....you all travel safe!!
Thank you. Wishing you safe travels as well. -M
GREAT video! Thank you. If these couples are indicative of RVers, then RVers are my kind of people.
RVers are great people - we have met so many terrific folks, good souls out on the road. Come join us!
--"If these couples are indicative of RVers, then RVers are my kind of people."
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Very encouraging! :-)
Great post! Love that you put other’s perspective in your video
Glad you liked it!
I believe we know what we want. We have looked at quite a few motorhomes. We determined that we didn't want to tow a home but a toad no problem. We came up with the Winnebago vista LX 27N. Now we are looking for THEE home for us!
Enjoy the journey!
I can identify with lots of their comments, thx.
I have bought a new 2016 RV,
It took one year to get all the problems taking care of.
Bernie in palm springs.
Yes, sadly all too common. We hear this all the time - very frustrating and time consuming for folks but goes with the territory
This video was great and covered some of the things my husband and I have learned over the last 6 months of owning a Class C RV. We have two young kids (8 years old and 2 years) so our RVing experience might be different than others. Last summer we took our first roadtrip from our home state of Washington to Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky to see family and friends. It was wonderful and we learned a LOT! We can't wait to hit the road again this year with everything we've learned. A couple of things that weve learned is that our RV is a gas HOG! Looking at the "real" fuel economy before purchasing might have changed which unit we purchased. Also, like some owners in your video stated, buying preowned can be better. We didnt, but scored a great deal... I guess we will really see what kind of deal when we decide to sell. The last big thing would be knowing the limitations of the unit you're buying. We LOVE to hike and our Class C isnt very capable of getting us to trailheads... or providing us the ability to motor around and explore as much as we would like. Purchasing a vehicle with great towing capabilities along with a towable unit might have been better. However, even with all of these factors, we still can't wait to hit the road again. Thanks for providing so many informative videos! Happy New Year!
Thank you for your supportive comments, and for sharing your experiences to help educate others. Wishing you great travels in the year ahead.
Just about to dive into full-time RV life, this was super helpful!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it, and we are excited for you.
Great video! We follow many of the speakers on here and appreciate having their insight all in one spot like this.
Awesome!
All RVs look great with the slides out, but the real test is how functional they are with the slides in. Whether traveling down the road in a Class A or C, or pulling in a rest area or parking lot...can you prepare a meal? Can you use the bathroom? Can you take a nap or get some overnight zzzs? Can you use you dinette or sofa? I looked at a nice Class C that appeared to click off everything on my list until I found out that you have to fold the bed in half to close the slide. That was a major NO-GO.
Very true. Glad to see that you are considering livability with the slides in. We believe it is an important consideration. Some folks might not plan to use their RVs at all with the slides in, but we do all the time. Great examples of some of the many times we have enjoyed the functionality of our RV with the slides in. Our previous RV had four slides and provided surprising availability with them in, but our new RV has only 1 slide and everything is fully functional with that slide in. Very nice.
Love it. I am considering life on the road and have decided to start at the bottom, i.e. a car that I can sleep in. If I like full time life on the road , I may buy a small pickup with a camper. Go slow....start little....and move upwards, if you like it.
That is a safe financial approach to transitioning into a traveling lifestyle that is becoming increasingly common. Good to not over invest before you know if you like it.
We started out in tents, then a travel trailer, then a class c and now a class a. We were happy with each one but as our needs or wants changed so did the rv. Like was said take your time and know what both of you want and then find the right rv.
Yep that's what we find, travel needs and preferences change over time and therefore so do RV requirements
lethomps1 just sounds like a lot of money that transition each stage. Tents $1000. TT $15000. Class C $25000. Class A. $35000
Gday Julie.. I'm an Aussie too ! :) my hubby Glenn and I are about to hit the road fulltime ..hopefully next month ..once our house sells.. would love to catch up sometime when we are both in the same area ! Havent come across another aussie/us couple travelling fulltime.. glad I found you guys ! :)
Bloody beaut mate! Would be great to catch up with another Aussie along the way - we'll have to have a barbie and a pav! Keep an eye out for us along the way! Seeyalateralligator!
Excellent advice from all! We are on our fourth in 12 years. Floor plan and quality of the build. We started out 16’ single axle. That lasted 4 years. It was a very well made travel trailer but too small. Traded for a 24’ that was special ordered, never set foot in it. Hated the floor plan pretty much from day 1. It was a rear kitchen with a 1/2 slide. Too much weight on the rear of the camper. That one lasted about a year. We finally learned to go sit in one. Imagine using it. #3 was a 26 foot Forest River. Great build quality and a good layout, we thought. We were planning on taking grandkids with us so we purchased a bunkhouse. After about 4 years and no grandkids we started thinking of trading for the perfect camper. We were camping at Camp Gulf in Destin Florida right on the beach. It is awesome and we go every year. The only problem with the bunkhouse was no rear window. So on our way home to Arkansas Jackie found our perfect camper. We now have a Windjammer by Rockwood. Rear living with a giant picture window. Only weighs 8k pounds at 31 feet.
Yes it often takes several RVs to find 'the right one' for many folks... glad you found yours!
Former business owner equipment trucks etc . Tow package on many trucks is the same thing as shutting of over drive . With pick up trucks if driving in town or towing shut over drive off saves transmission stops it from gear hunting
Thanks for sharing.
I love all the advice, we just can not make it on my military retirement by it self so we need to wait about six years, until were 62. I love watching all the vlogs for different Rv lifestyle, My wife thinks i'm addicted to it ( maybe) but it make my heart warm.
Aw thanks Clint! Glad the content keeps you inspired until the time is right for you! :)
If the internet is down in certain areas an 8track player is a good music system to listen to in your RV, Sleeper truck,van,bus,5th wheel trailer,
Thanks for the input. -M
Lisa and Dan.... spot on. As we were FT-RVers who wud sell nearly everything to hit the road as workampers, actually did the opposite. We did alot of research before buying, looked at about (no joke) 30 different units. We started in a 1978 24ft (with 21.5ft living space) Wilderness travel trailer that we partially glutted and remodeled to fit our needs and most importantly our budget. Our next rig was a 1993 Cornado Class A which felt like a castle vs the trailer. But I say that to any other potential RVers, especially those without big $$. Slideouts are must but be very aware on the quality of the slide mechanism. If the rig will not be moving alot (weeks or months in same locale) pick a trailer or 5th wheel. Like others on this video said, think it through. Why?? (meaning just weekend camping vs FT living year round or partially/seasonally FT) things like do you need a 4season RV or if you plan to do alot of short-term staying throughout the country. Then maybe a Class A or C with a towing vehicle that you drive the smaller "toad" (your car, SUV,etc.) while RV is parked so you can not worrying about limited spaces at grocery store or the need to park and do alot of walking to get to the entrance of store, museum, etc.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thank you for sharing.
I so agree with the lady who stated that living in a stick and brick she did most of the work and now it has reversed!! Both my husband and I laughed at that!
Hahaa Emily is a riot - so true!
That was awesome 😁
Omg I watch and follow all these people. Lol we have done tons of research and funny thing we found out, is that none of the dealers here in St. Louis carry the one we found we want so we will be going to Minnesota to look at the artic fox there. So what we have learned as of this point there is more out there than what the local dealers tell you, we have heard they must be new or never heard of them... so thank you for this video and we are still researching..
Yep don't rely on or trust what dealers tell you - it's your responsibility to do your research and make an informed decision and we are glad our videos help with that. We also bought our RV out of state - many do. Good luck!
Lol oh yea already figured out we know about them than any sales person.. which is frustrating but great info you all gave and we know there just some things we will never know till we pull the trigger. But the boss said we will be debt free and be able to work remotely. So thanks again
Very very informative video - Thank You! I noticed that all but you guys and Josh and Kali went through multiple rigs in a short period of time. I'm still happy with mine and it is working fine for me so I hope I got it right the first time for starting out. Almost a year in now and I still have empty space in here. Loving the life. Love when friends and family start off with "Where are you now?"
Yep we're almost 3 years in our Tiffin now and still love it - but we researched VERY thoroughly before buying and we know ourselves very well. Grateful for that... otherwise it can be an expensive exercise!
I loveeeee this video. Great advice. I loved listening to all the couples...more of these videos please.
Glad you enjoyed it, seems this has been a popular one!
Great 👍 advice! These tips also applied to us when buying an RV for our weekend camping adventures! 🤗
Great to hear. Enjoy your adventures.
Man I feel like a genius I followed almost all of these advices on my first RV
good job
What a great video. Awesome couples, great advice. Nicely produced. I like your use of music, and lack of use when people are talking. That was a great video idea.
Thanks - glad you enjoyed it!
Great way to present the info!!!!!
Glad you liked it!