Choosing the best RV for you and your family

18 Aug, 2019

Buying a RV

So, I tent camped for many years and I really enjoyed myself. It was family time out in nature somewhere…we got there, unloaded, put up our tents, set up camp, scoped out bathrooms and showers, and it was fun. The tents were cozy, when it was hot, it was hot inside, when it was cold, it was pretty cold inside too. I remember one time when I was camping and it got so cold, we just ended up sleeping in the car because it was warmer. 

And then…we heard about RVs. I was skeptical at first. It seemed like so much money to invest in something we thought we were doing just fine already.  I asked everyone I knew who had an RV about theirs and how they liked it. There are different types of RVs: the tent trailers, the tow behind, the fifth wheel, the all-in-one Class A, B, or C and more... And then there are options like slideouts, floorplans, and more to think about. Check out www.gorving.com for a more in-depth view.

Our very first RV was a tow behind. We had a 1-ton Dodge dually Diesel truck which we still have to this day, plenty of power to pull this.  At the time, I wasn’t patient, I didn’t do my research, I was told there was a deal, and I jumped on it. My kids were still pretty young. They were 9, 5, and 3 years old. I bought a used 16-foot tow behind. I was told the fridge and AC were new and there were receipts to prove it. My husband and I really didn’t know too much about RVs other than it was a step above tent camping. The seller needed money to pay for his daughter’s wedding and so we bought it for $1500 with receipts for the new appliances for almost $1000. We used it a couple of times and it was fun. It was like a new adventure, driving around with your house with you was great with the kids. And then…it rained. I did not know that RV’s come with an awning that slides out on the side. Apparently, this one had one but it had been broken off. The roof was compromised and after a few rains, the roof caved in. It was during a time when kids were in school and we weren’t using it, so we didn’t discover the damage until it was too late and then there was not much that could be done.

Lucky for us, a local RV dealer was willing to take it as a trade-in (for $300) if we bought a new one. We opted for an 18-foot tow behind travel trailer because the kids were getting bigger, and we liked the space. The only thing that I did not like was that this unit did not have a slide-out, (we did not know about slide-outs yet) and so from front to back there is just a skinny walkway and so if anyone has to go to the bathroom or move around, everyone has to sit down to get out of the way so that they may pass. We drove with this RV from California to Florida and back. It was great! Again, when you have kids, it’s so nice to have everything with you and to be able to cook your own meals and to pull over and use your own bathroom. After a few years, we started thinking about going bigger. This time, we did more research. We visited a few RV shows and Googled floor plans. Around this time, many RV companies were going out of business due to the recession and that was a consideration also.

If I may offer RV shopping advice – don’t settle. Research and find what you want and then get it. We are very happy with our current RV, but this is our 3rd one. I wish we had started off with what we have now. Storage – this is a HUGE factor since you are essentially bringing your house with you. Your RV will need to be able to store your cooking supplies, clothes, foldable chairs, fun stuff, and more. We travel in the RV and spend nights in there, but we do setup chairs to sit outside and a grill to cook outside. I like to cook outside because the kitchen is small and if it’s already hot outside, cooking makes it hotter. Also, what doesn’t taste awesome from the grill? Know what your vehicle can tow. Look at prices outside your area to see if there is a difference. We drove 5 hours north and saved about $10,000 for the exact model we wanted. For me, it was worth the drive. Go to a few RV shows and see what is out there. Look at the size, floor plans, and the options. Consider a used RV if it has everything you want, you could save loads of money. Everyone likes different things. Sometimes I wish we had gone with a toy hauler, but I am very happy with what we have.  

Check out this SITE for different types f RVs and a lot of useful information for people just starting out. 

Our current RV is a fifth wheel is 24 feet (switchbacks in our driveway limits the length we can have). We have had it for almost 10 years, and it is still fun to travel in it. It has a large slide out (I can’t believe that I RV’d without a slide!) which nearly doubles the living space, a gas faux fireplace, a bedroom with queen size bed up in the area that goes over the truck, 2 bunks, and a couch that turns into a full-size bed. Full bathroom with bathtub and shower. I like my kitchen on the side as you walk in vs. in the back because I have heard that dishes and such shift more when the kitchen is in the back, and it just flows nicely when you are picnicking outside, and you are going in and out for food supplies.

Our travels have slowed down a bit due to rigorous school schedules, but over the past 12 years, we have travelled to 29 states so far with our RV. The RV goes to 2 fairs every year when my kids compete in 4-H shows and I stay the week with them. It has all the comforts of home, and I couldn’t imagine going back to tent camping after owning an RV.