Anyone have an RV?

[AngieDoogles]

Originally Posted by Janet

What a nice one Marilyn...I am so envious. Oh well, someday.......
At least the good thing is, I'm still too young to retire...LOL

That's a great way to look at it! If only everyone had that attitude...

[rivermom]

Congrats on your new RV Marilyn!! It's beautiful. My husband and I when dating did the tent camping thing. Had a ball. Then we bought a pop-up camper. Had a ball in that too. Later we bought a small RV. Yes, we had a ball in that too! So...Later we wanted a 5th wheel. Bought this beautiful new truck just so we could attach a 5th well. Well....The truck has a factory installed lift kit on it and is TOO TALL to get a 5th wheel for it.

Well, already my hubby loving the truck didn't want to get rid of it. So, we bought a RV that is a bumper pull. LOL - crazy things you learn along the way.

Anyway, this picture is a few years old but this is what it looks like.

[gja1000]

We have a 30 ft. fifth wheel and we LOVE IT! My husband is retired - I am not - but I teach and am off in the summer so we usually go to the mountiains of New Mexico or Colorado in the summer to get out of the Texas heat. We love it so much. We have 2 Yorkies so I love having the fifth wheel so that they can travel with us and we don't have to look for hotels that will allow them.

We have had the fifth wheel for 8 years and as I mentioned, we use it mostly in the summer, but we do take short trips during the rest of the year. Staying in RV parks is just the best, as they are usually out of town (or you can find ones that are not in town) and we love being out in the country - not to mention that our Yorkie boyz love being out in the country too! Everyone is so friendly and we have met some of the best people in RV parks.

We usually stay out 4-6 weeks in the summer and I love it but am ready for the roominess of my house when we return!

Like most everyone else, we started camping in a tent, moved to a pop-up tent camper and then on to the 5th wheel.

We will be leaving for a trip on May 25th - I can hardly wait!!!!!

[Marilyn]

Wow, y'all sound like camping veterans. I'm so looking forward to traveling with it. We won't be able to go for a while though. We, like Janet, are too young to retire, and this year are taking a 3 week vacation abroad, and I only get 3 weeks vacation where I work + 2 personal days & 2 floating holidays. Hopefully, next year we will be able to travel a bit during the summer. If I can talk hubby into it, I'd like to spend some time in Colorado or Wyoming in the mountains. If our girls are able, not taking summer courses or working, it would be great if they could join us. One of our daughters as I said earlier will be living in the RV while at college, so she may not relish a vacation in her home. Maybe we can get away for a weekend or something before moving it to her college.

I can't wait to get it to the RV dealer who is supposed to explain everything to us. We don't have a clue about the grey water and black water tanks, and how does the refigerator work? does it somehow switch from propane to electricity? The dryer runs on 110 power instead of 220. Does this mean it takes twice as long to dry a load of clothes?? I have lots of questions. We don't have a generator, and don't want to spend 2 or 3 thousand dollars on a quiet one, so will have to camp where there are hookups. So much to learn.

[Marilyn]

BTW, I've never really been camping before. We tried to tent camp on an island just across the ship channel on the Texas coast one time, and it was a disaster. My hubby's brother, his wife and small daughter were with us, and the little girl threw sand in our food, there were sand flees in our sleeping bags, and a terrible storm came upon us in the wee hours of the night. We packed up the tent into our boat and headed for shore.

Having a camper and traveling has always been my dream. I've wanted to do this since high school. Some people want a beach house or vacation home somewhere. I wanted one on wheels so we could see the world, or at least North America. I saw online where some people travel in Canada and Mexico with their RV's. Don't know when we can do any of this, we are always so busy making a living, but my E-Bay bargain will give us an opportunity to get our feet wet, and give our daughter a place to live that is easier on our pocket books. She's found a really nice RV park on a spring fed river in a pecan orchard with cable and wireless internet provided. There are about 100 spaces with students, professors and snow birds living there.

[rivermom]

Originally Posted by Marilyn

Wow, y'all sound like camping veterans. I'm so looking forward to traveling with it. We won't be able to go for a while though. We, like Janet, are too young to retire, and this year are taking a 3 week vacation abroad, and I only get 3 weeks vacation where I work + 2 personal days & 2 floating holidays. Hopefully, next year we will be able to travel a bit during the summer. If I can talk hubby into it, I'd like to spend some time in Colorado or Wyoming in the mountains. If our girls are able, not taking summer courses or working, it would be great if they could join us. One of our daughters as I said earlier will be living in the RV while at college, so she may not relish a vacation in her home. Maybe we can get away for a weekend or something before moving it to her college.

I can't wait to get it to the RV dealer who is supposed to explain everything to us. We don't have a clue about the grey water and black water tanks, and how does the refigerator work? does it somehow switch from propane to electricity? The dryer runs on 110 power instead of 220. Does this mean it takes twice as long to dry a load of clothes?? I have lots of questions. We don't have a generator, and don't want to spend 2 or 3 thousand dollars on a quiet one, so will have to camp where there are hookups. So much to learn.

Marilyn - you will enjoy so much your RV. And don't worry about all your unanswered questions. Your dealership will go over every inch of that trailer and show you how it operates. EVERYTHING from the grey/black water tanks, to the frig, propane, etc is VERY easy to operate. YOU don't need a generator as long as your sites have hookups. Even then, if no hook ups you will have a battery and propane to do what they call as "dry camp". During this time, you just reserve the amount of water you use, the amount of lights on, etc. It's a blast.

And having a shower/potty and all those extras (especially AIR CONDITIONING) you will LOVE!!!

Don't fret, you will be a veteran in no time and enjoy every moment of it.

[Janet]

There is nothing like camping Marilyn. I have never been afraid in a campground of any kind. We got rid of our pop-up tent camper because I was always fretting the babies would somehow get out. One of these days I would love to have a motor home (if we'll be able to afford the fuel). I wanted to get a 5th wheel, but hubby has a topper on his truck and doesn't want to take it on and off. He uses it to haul all the Scout camping stuff. So if I get a chance to get a good deal on a camper like Sheryl's then that's what I want until we can afford a motor home. I'll have to check out e-bay too.

[Marilyn]

We looked at pull behind trailers, and actually I think they are more practical. We could have pulled it with our SUV, and not needed a larger truck, however, hubby is tall, and liked the higher ceiling of the 5th wheel and the pulling stability, so in the end, this is what we settled on. For now, we kept the SUV and have the truck, too. We own one too many vehicles in my opinion, but in this as in many aspects of life and marriage we must compromise and realize that it's not really that big a deal. I'm happy with our RV and can't wait to try it out!!