Community Forums

jmcollins362 · 06-11-2019, 06:07 AM

Hey folks,
So retirement from this career is closing in and the RV shopping has begun. My wife and I will be not-quite-so full time on the road. It will probably be me more so as a post-retirement gig could take me around the country.
So immediate decision is style. I was originally set on a class A diesel with a small car flat towed. Lately I am thinking along the lines of a travel trailer. We shall see.
So I am here to soak up as much information and opinions as I can.
Thanks a bunch,
Joe

**Spdracr39** · 06-11-2019, 06:40 AM

Welcome ! I always recommend start with a used travel trailer to get a feel for camping. The learning curve is much shorter and the savings, if you decide you don't like the idea after all, is much greater. Once you have a feel for the way you like to camp you can apply that knowledge and get a class A that will meet your needs much better.

TonyMac · 06-11-2019, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdracr39

Welcome ! I always recommend start with a used travel trailer to get a feel for camping. The learning curve is much shorter and the savings, if you decide you don't like the idea after all, is much greater. Once you have a feel for the way you like to camp you can apply that knowledge and get a class A that will meet your needs much better.

Wise words ^^^^

Bigd9 · 06-11-2019, 09:09 AM

Congratulations on retirement! I remember the day I walked out of the office for the last time like it was yesterday. Everyone told me I wouldn't be happy. Well guess what, I never looked back.

I was raised in New Jersey, but due to work, we both left the state for Kentucky back in the early 70's. Been here since.

We started out like many others.Tent, pop up trailer, several travel trailers then several motorhomes. Since retirement we have been in all of the states except for Alaska and we have traveled some in Canada. It is a great life. But it is getting crowded out there. We have adjusted our travels to only go in early spring, and skip summer, then fall and winter.

Best of luck to you, and have a great retirement.

MSHappyCampers · 06-11-2019, 11:21 AM

Hi Joe! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Congrats on the retirement. If you plan to do a lot of traveling I would recommend the Class A!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

TriMoot · 06-11-2019, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigd9

Congratulations on retirement! I remember the day I walked out of the office for the last time like it was yesterday. Everyone told me I wouldn't be happy. Well guess what, I never looked back.

I was raised in New Jersey, but due to work, we both left the state for Kentucky back in the early 70's. Been here since.

We started out like many others.Tent, pop up trailer, several travel trailers then several motorhomes. Since retirement we have been in all of the states except for Alaska and we have traveled some in Canada. It is a great life. But it is getting crowded out there. We have adjusted our travels to only go in early spring, and skip summer, then fall and winter.

Best of luck to you, and have a great retirement.

BigD9: Yes, that's kind of how we want to do it. Be here in Spokane during the summer and some of the fall, but then travel the rest of the time with perhaps a larger chunk down in Florida as that's where I grew up. We have our 1st grandkid coming in September, and retirement will be sometime after that, so we're working to sell the big house, downsize, and then?....not sure yet, but most likely a modest home here in Spokane(ish...maybe Post Falls) and then be mortgage free and hopefully have enough money for gas and food....and maybe beer.

Anway, back to the topic on hand...Yes, our 1st MH was a class C and we loved it, but there's nothing like a BIG OLD windshield in a class A to really enjoy the view! Not to mention the room to carry stuff, TONS of room.

Good luck with retirement and planning. I'll be watching your progress and cheering you on!

Old-Biscuit · 06-11-2019, 11:39 AM

What is your RV background......novice/semi-experienced/experienced?

Novice/semi
RENT an RV and go on an extended trip

waterman480 · 06-11-2019, 01:20 PM

We went all in and bought a recent Class A (against our own advise to ourselves). We even had one rented to try it out, but found the "right one" for us - so bit the bullet. However, we did spend over a year looking at different models and layouts before doing so.

Some of our considerations included:

Wanting a shorty so that we could fit into National and State parks,

Something recent so we would have time before the 10 rule kicked in (not a deal breaker - but preferred)
A bed that could be used without putting out the slides (check this carefully if important)
Most important - something that would be comfortable if you had a week of rain.
We originally wanted a class B+, as I couldn't stand the overhang of a C. Ruled those out as too expensive and too little available available payload. (Something to be wary of)
We ended up settling on a Class A Itasca Sunova 30A layout, and gave up on good gas mileage, but paid half the price the original owner did 3 years ago.

No rig will have everything, and they all have compromises. Visit the shows and the dealers. Again and again, until you settle in on what is really important to you.

Good Luck!

waterman480 · 06-11-2019, 01:26 PM

and I forgot. Don't buy any accessories from the dealer. Amazon, etrailer.com, and RVUpgrades.com are your friends (as well as others)

PAtrailtrim · 06-11-2019, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterman480

and I forgot. Don't buy any accessories from the dealer. Amazon, etrailer.com, and RVUpgrades.com are your friends (as well as others)

Amen to that! Amazing how much stuff I have bought through Amazon to fix and fine tune the rig.

WantAB · 06-11-2019, 02:45 PM

Graduations on your retirement! I have 19 days, 7 hours, 14 minutes and 34 seconds until I retire. But then who's counting?

Bigd9 · 06-11-2019, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WantAB

Graduations on your retirement! I have 19 days, 7 hours, 14 minutes and 34 seconds until I retire. But then who's counting?

That's funny! Reminds me of the full screen countdown clock I had running on my computer at work for the last year I was there. The hundredths of a second were just a blur.

Congratulations on your retirement at the end of this month! You had better work hard between now and then to get all of the "honey do's" done because you won't have tome to do them once you retire!

momdoc · 06-11-2019, 07:28 PM

Welcome to forum and congrats on the retirement.

You are joining a good group of folks here with good information to share. Read the various threads here and ask questions as they come up. Try renting various rigs for weekend or short trips. Rent a travel trailer or two, a Class C and a Class A. This will help narrow the field. We started off with a Class C and after 18 months or so found it way to small for us. We upgraded to a Class A DP and we tow a small car behind. Works great for us.

Good luck and enjoy the adventure!