In a recent survey by RV.net, the majority of comments came from those relatively new to RVing and who were looking for RVing tips, how to fix things, where to go, what to pack, anything that might help a new RVer to better enjoy the RV Lifestyle. So, acknowledging that the majority of my recent blogs have been about Green RVing, on this post I will offer some of my own personal thoughts on RVing based on my 40+ years of RVing, ten years as General Manager of an RV rental and sales company, 16 years as a fulltimer, and 9 years as a travel writer, photographer, and seminar leader on RV travel and lifestyle.
- Avoid the temptation to buy an RV with the same floorspace and amenities as your house. You will find, after you get used to the downsize, that you can go a lot more places, visit far more campgrounds, and manoever through far more gas stations, parking lots, visitor centers, national and state parks, than you could with a larger rig. And you will also find that you won’t miss the space.
Learn to use the features of your rig that enable you to camp without hook-ups. You will find as your travels expand, that there are far more campsites that do not have hook-ups than do. And even more that have only partial hook-ups, such as water and electricity only, or maybe one but not the other. You will find also that most of these no hook-up campsites are in more natural and scenic settings, with more space not only in the campsite, but also between neighbors, offering more privacy.- For the ultimate RV experience try boondocking (without any hook-ups or other amenities) in non-designated campgrounds on our public lands, such as in our National Forests, on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, almost all of which is in the eleven western states and most of the southwestern deserts. Once you get the hang of it, you can find isolated campsites just far enough off main roads where no lights obscure the star-filled night skies, where the sound of traffic is non-existant, and where your only neighbors are coyotes, elk, and great-horned owls.
- Keep your onboard stuff at a reasonable amount–yeah, I know, everybody can define “reasonable” as they want. My guess is that most RVs are overloaded, which can result in decreased performance and stopping power, additional stress on the suspension system, and other potential problems. Many RVers follow the rule that if you haven’t used it in a year, off it goes. This, of course, does not apply to safety gear like fire extinguishers. A similar rule is that if you bring something aboard than something has to go off to accommodate it.
- Stay loose. By following a pre-arranged travel agenda you will miss so much. Learn about the area you are in, and what attractions or personal interests would be worth visiting or exploring before moving on. Keep your daily travel miles low so that you can get into campgrounds early enough to avoid the necessity of making reservations, just in case you did find something interesting along the way to stop at. This also leaves time for needed relaxation, and a chance to visit the sights and scenery of the immediate area. And if you find something unusual or intriguing to visit only 25 or 50 miles into your trip–take it. You may not pass this way again.
- Make notes in a journal or campground guidebook or record the GPS coordinates as you travel, especially when you find a perfect NFS campground or hiking trail that you won’t remember exactly where it is when you pass through years later. There will be times also when you just cannot alter your travel plans to explore some offbeat place you notice. Write it down. Believe me, even if creeping senility is not yet a problem you will not remember all this stuff the next time.
- Most important, enjoy your travels. Turn back stressful encounters, long and arduous travel days, loud or boisterous campgrounds, and traffic snarled rush hours around large cities. Travel the two-lane backroads of America, stop in the small villages and towns, walk the streets, talk to the locals–they can often steer you to stuff not in the guidebooks. Happy travels.
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Bob Difley
Glad you’re happy with your rig, Gypsy, but I wonder whether it will be your final rig. But even that is not important. What is, is that you are happy now, and enjoying the RV Lifestyle. Happy Travels.
Martha Federle
I definitely plan to get the Rand McNally Truckers Atlas. I bought my first RV, a 2004 Nu Wa Hitchhiker, about 2 months ago and so far I’ve been very happy with my choice. It is 34′ with 3 slide-outs, and gives me enough space to live full time with my 2 dogs. I think I might feel cramped in something smaller. While I always liked the layout of the 5th wheel I might have considered a class C more seriously except for price. To get what I wanted would have put me into debt and at my age I wanted to get out of, not into debt. Only time will tell but with a bit of luck this will be the only RV I ever own, and I will love it right up to the end!
gypsy
Bob Difley
For those of you who don’t know, the “Old Ranger” is Mike Steffan, a venerable RVer from when Moses was knee high to a grasshopper. Whhe he gets back to his blog it is orth checking out. whatever there is to do or about RVs, he’s done it, perfected it, and written about it. He is one you want to put on your “valued sources” list. Bob
Bob Difley
If any of you ever manage to run into Fred on the road somewhere, be sure to stop and plumb his engineering brain for his wealth of data and hands on info. (who else would cut into the sidewall to build their own extension?).
Old Ranger
Howdy Bob!
As another “OLD” RV’er I completly agree with your comments. Somthing that I tell folks in my siminars is that no matter what you plan on getting for your first RV – – you will change your mind within a year or so. Until folks are actully on the road for a while they don’t have a frame of referance to base their planning on. Because of this I normally say to get an older RV, one that you wont be upsidedown in from the payments. That way you can spend your first year traveling and liveing in it and then decide what you really want for a full time rig.
Glad to see that your still scribbling away. I’ve had to take a break on my BLOGS for a while, but there will be time in the near future – so we can get back to having fun together again. Tell Lynn that I tried some fancy “Green” eating the other day – – – dang near died!
Later – –
The Old Ranger
Ron Butler
Great comments in your opening article Bob. We were newbies to rvs 4 years ago and luckly had some good friends that have been rvers for 40 years and I found the rv.net site. I couldn’t agree with you more on your statements. We ended up with a 33′ Class A with a single slide and have been very comfortable the past 3 1/2 years as we have fulltimed. We preferr to stay in national and state parks and/or boondock as much as possible. A bigger rig wouldn’t fit in some of the great national or state parks that we have been in. Remember, you usually have the whole outdoors to roam around in, so you don’t usually need all that elbow room inside. A good book or movie and popcorn takes care of the days you can’t get out!!
To the fellow that is single now. Jan. ’07 my better half had to fly back home to the Seattle area from Orlando to take care of her mom and best friend. I “single-handed” from there for 4 months back to Boise ID. where I picked her up again. I missed sharing the experiences with her but found out that I could do it on my own if needed. Besides, now I have a good excuse to go back to those same places and show her!
The Rand McNally Truckers Atlas is great! Don’t be afraid of the “roads less traveled.” We use them as much as we can.
Fred
Holy Moly! I am overwhelmed with all the terrific advice. I just want to add one thing I did not see here.
Thanks for a marvelous article Bob. I’ll bet you feel more comfortable with this one. Chuckle, chuckle.
Your needs for what type and size of RV are also going to be predicated by whether you are still a working stiff or are completely free to spend your time the way YOU want.
If you still work you probably won’t travel more than a month in any given year and maybe some camping at nearby state parks. If you are free like Silver Gypsy, you will get to know your RV very intimately.
We are retired and have several arrangements for paper mail and bill paying, and other needs like maintenance prescription refills.
We rarely reserve or stay on any schedule. We might be in Oregon one month and in Nova Scotia a month later.
As far as my fifth wheel being my castle, it is 32 foot with one slide, but I wish now I had a bedroom slide. My camper is only three years old and is paid for and I have added a lot of personal comfort things. I will be cutting into the bedroom wall and making my own extension to be able to put in a king size bed.
I also added a substantial solar charging system. Yes, it cost too much, but it is the trade off to be independent.
Happy camping everyone!
Bob Difley
Thanks TXBrad – All good points. I’ve often though of buying a flat bed trailer to load up with toys, like a tiny electric vehicle, bikes, kayak, ATV, etc. as well as a small storage pod for winter/summer clothes and other things that don’t need to be in the RV itself. Trouble is, there are so many good ideas out there it’s hard to make up my mind. Hey, why not try them all! I’ve still got a bunch of good RVing years ahead of me to do that. Bob
Bob Difley
Rufi – Logical thinking. And here are a few more advantages to small size: Cheaper to heat and cool, easier to park, easier to turn around, easier in and out of gas stations, will fit in a lot of forest service campgrounds where larger rigs will not, better gas mileage, a good reason to reject no-account relatives from inviting themselves along on camping trips, fewer tires to wear out and replace, easier fit into driveways of friends you want to visit, smaller area to wash, fewer windows to keep clean–I’m sure there are more. And at any point you can decide to trade either up or down, after you try out what you have. Happy travels. Bob
TXBrad
Say Bob: Since we solved “Global Warming” , reports of coldsnow winter; a good time to plan research an RV. IN looking for an RV, a good time to visit shows & Dealer lots. Many giving up an RV, will adv. in local newspaper to sell. These can be seen & talk w/ owner. Looking at any dealer lot or RV park, one will see many, many different RV’s which indicates how people’s needs, budgets, wants, etc. vary. Renting an RV is also a way to ” Try Out” class B vrs class C.
TOWS: In addition to a small cartruck , consider a golf cart, ATV, scooterscycles.
bikes. These can be towed on a small trailer or many RV’s now have a “garage”. Again, needs type travels. My wife has an issue walking long distants, we bought a used golf cart & 5×10 trailer ( grandkids love to drive!)
Yes, Bob it is electric and chrages @ 120. TXBrad
Rufi
I take solace in reading the sage advice that suggests that ‘bigger’ isn’t necessarily better, at least when it comes to RVing. I say this as a newbie who purchased a 26′ Class A last fall, just when the weather began to get too cold to venture. As I contemplate our first trips for 09 I’ve often thought that perhaps I should have gone with a more spacious rig, but the advice to enjoy the benefits of a smaller RV provide a level of comfort. Although time will tell, at least I won’t regret the itch to upgrade in size before we enjoy what we’ve got.
Edie Zaprir
Bob, great advice. We just spent 6 months in a class B and a small toad. When we stayed one month in a place, the RV was small and I was wishing I had a C. When travelling, nothing beats a class B. Stll, it was good to have the toad for going to check out places. We will keep the B for now, it’s also good for quick trips but probably when we are back on the road fulltime, I just might get that C. Please write some more advice for us newbies !!!
Edie
Harry Gudell
John Shelton – A Thank You to you for your great insight ,and your words of wisdom are hereby filed away for future reference.
Harry
Harry Gudell
Bob – Thanks for your quick answer to some of my questions , and your answers sound real good. I’m going to follow your suggestions with the lists and the toad. Thanks Again !
Bob Difley
Martha and John – Sorry, I neglected to say that Demopolis is in Alabama on US 80 west of Selma.
Bob Difley
John Shelton – All good advice. I have recently started thinking along the lines of a truck and camper towing a travel trailer for the same reasons you outline. After my 40+ years and your obvious years of experience, if there were any absolutes we would probably have come across them. I know a woman (maybe you have all read her travel stories, she writes under the name of the Silver Gypsy) who traveled solo for nearly 30 years after her husband died in a 26-foot Class-A motorhome with no tow vehicle–and visited every state of the US and Mexico as well as all the Canadian Provinces! Then she sold her MH and bought a fifth wheel. You flow with the times and the conditions, and enjoy every step along the way.
Bob Difley
Harry – To make things even more confusing to you–but also to show that you are perfectly normal–I still am asking those same questions about rigs after all this time. I think it helps to make a list of advantages and disadvantages with each type of rig. then talk to lots of users of these rigs and add their comments to your lists. . There is no right answer, just the answer that is more right for you than the others. And over your lifetime of RVing you might go back and forth depending on the current situation or needs. Such as you may go large at first because you are used to the space of a house, then downsize when you discover that all that space and size has its price, then go larger again when your grandkids want to travel with you, then down again when they become teenagers and establish their own lives. I would give serious consideration to two factors with the current situation in the country today. First, as alternative fuels hit the market, most of these will be usable in diesel engines, not gasoline engines (though gasoline-powered vehicles are cheaper. It kind of depends on how long you think you will be keeping the rig. Secondly, I feel like a fish out of water without my toad. I don’t like to drive my motorhome (even a Class B) around sightseeing. I’m afraid that without the ability to just jump in your toad and go would get you out exploring more than if you had to start putting stuff away before going somewhere. However, keep going at it the way you are. We all went through this period of ambiguity and managed to survive. You will too.
Bob Difley
Martha and John – One of the publications that I find useful is the Rand McNally Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas (mine is the Large Scale–helpful to aging eyes), which is for truckers, whose rigs are quite larger than yours. It is a US road atlas, but includes all low clearance restrictions, construction hotlines, and other information helpful to truckers, and to those with large rigs. Remember that the goods shipped around this country go by big rig, they supply even the little towns, so you are pretty much safe wherever you go on designated (US, Interstate, or local State) routes. If there is a problem, signs will direct you to bypasses. And local knowledge is always helpful. If you want to head out on some small county road, stop at the local diner or gas station and ask about your route. You will find people very helpful and pleased that you are visiting their town. You will also, often, find that they will direct you to local points of interest that you would no otherwise know about. My wife and I were once traveling from Georgia to California and were passing through the small town of Demopolis in late afternoon and found a Corps of Engineers primitive campground just above the Demopolis Lock and Dam on the Tombigbee River. As we always do in new places, we went for a bike ride to check the place out, stopping to talk to locals asking them about their town. We found so much interesting history and historical places to visit, we ended up staying there for several days–and I even sold an article about Demopolis to Woodall’s Southern RV Magazine! You never know what you will find of interest until you get off the beaten track. And Martha, take the time to learn how to back up, turn around, all that you can with your rig (there are driving schools for RVers that can give you more formal training). It also opens many doors to your adventures that will remain closed until you get comfortable–and competent–with your rig. Happy Travels.
John Shelton
Bob, I guess I am not as “new” as some of your readers. I tent camped for something like ten years during the 60’s and into the 70’s before I built my own slide-in camper from 2×4’s ripped into 2×2’s and covered with nothing but 1/4″ plywood and a coat of white paint. This lasted only a few years and was replaced with a used “store bought” Frolic slide-in camper. I have owned a class C motorhome and several travel trailers. For myself, and the way I like to travel, I find a fullsize van and a travel trailer in the mid 20′ size serves my needs with the most advantages and the least disadvantages. If money were no object, I would have a dual-wheel tow truck with a slide-in and pulling a conventional travel trailer. The tow vehicle would serve for day trips and overnights away from home base and the trailer provide room for comfortable living the rest of the time.
The main thing that people new to the RV scene need to know is that all forms of RV’s have certain advantages and certain disadvantages. No “form factor” is all good and no bad. One just has to decide what model offers the MOST good and the LEAST bad for how they wish to use it. (I may get bombarded for what I am going to say here, but it is what I feel to be good advice.) Unless someone really knows what they want from experience or from many years of observation, their first RV usually should be a used RV that is old enough to have depreciated a substantial amount yet new enough to not be a pile of junk that proves to be a money pit. The less that is invested in an unsatisfactory type RV the easier, and less painful, it is to unload and replace later.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Bob Difley
John – Great to hear from you. I knew you were up in Washington, but we haven’t been up there in the last two years. And knowing you, one of these days soon, you will decide you want to wander again and will show up on my doorstep–wherever that may be. Thanks for the comments. Bob
Harry Gudell
Guess it would have been a good idea if I printed my E-Mail address, boy as I get older, the mind keeps missing things.
[email protected]
Harry Gudell
There you go, see Martha is having the same thoughts that I have regarding hauling a 5’er.
Harry Gudell
Hello Bob,
Thank You for this great information, I will be retireing in a few years ( would have been sooner, but oh the stock mkt.) and am looking forward to following everthing you said today . But I am always in a quandary as to, should I get a MH, if so a diesel or gas, an A or B or C. Or should I go with a trailer or 5’er. Maybe go for a Class B and not haul a toad. I am reading every bit of RVing info.,blogs, tips, etc. etc. that I can focus my eyeballs on. I eat, drink & sleep thinking of the open road and meeting all of you great RV’ers. If there is anyone that is out on the road and might have some insight for me, I would be forever grateful for any and all words of wisdom that they may be willing to pass on.
Martha Federle
I love the idea of traveling some of the backroads and towns, but as a relative newbie hauling a 34′ 5th wheel, how do I know that there will be enough room on the streets through the towns, whether there will be a low bridge to pass under, and things of this nature. I’m a little nervous about going off the beaten track, especially until I can learn how to back this rig up properly!
gypsy
john Christman
Bob,
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL photo! And I see that you still have the same cozy motorhome as the last time I saw you. Your article, as usual, is right on target.
I hope someday that I will again get the desire to fire up the engine and head to your stomping grounds, but for me at least, living/traveling alone no longer do I find it exciting. No one to share your special finds with becomes more of pain. I’ve been parked now going on 2 years in a wonderful campground–out in the “country” not quite like you, but then I’m also super close to everything and body that I enjoy. To each their own as they say. I guess I’ve lost the wanderlust!
Keep sharing your great photos and maybe someday you’ll see me knocking on your door–if I can find you!
Your friend, “Gypsy John”