We might be done RVing

[clifford j]

LUCAS OIL, glad you have peace of mind,,, BUT, don't leave us, we are your family always interested in hearing about what your up to.
God speed

CLIFFORD

[jamesham]

After this past winter Snowbird adventure, my wife and I have been thinking about the same issues you raised.

The packed warm weather campgrounds were like being crammed into a parking lot. Hearing the noise from the guy next to us with the big outside 70 inch TV with big speakers is not my idea of the Great Outdoors. The 3 dogs barking in the rig on the other side made it seem like a dog pound.

I think the weather is really about the same, the reporting is just better and more prompt. And I retired from the TV business so I am partly to blame!

There are few new campgrounds that are NOT time-share or purchase-your-own-lot situations. A few campgrounds limit the age, size, and type of RV that makes it even harder to find a place for our older motorhome.

Even at my advanced age, driving has not become a problem. But boondocking in strange places alone at Walmart is no longer on my list of things to do.

We have been thinking about buying a Class B conversion van and spending the nights in hotels in the location of our choice. But the price of those makes me think I could drive my toad and stay at the Hilton instead.
jh

[StageCoachDr]

I'm 76. My litmus test for getting out of RVing is - as long as I can put my pants on standing up, I will continue to pull my 5th wheel.


Your mileage may vary.

[lce3]

Originally Posted by Stovebolt-V8

Here is a link to the BEST thinking I know of "Don't Let The Old Man In"


https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php...PAXP-deijE.gif

This link didn't work for me. - Is it just me? I tried refreshing a couple of times.

[lce3]

Originally Posted by LucasOil

Such a joy to read the thoughtful and varied responses.
We made our decision and have sold the Tiffin and tow car, already!
Very strange feeling. Not sure how to travel without a MH. But off we go. Gonna miss the IRV2 community as well.

Wow! That was quick. Thought you might have second thoughts.

Since you first posted, we bought a home base and lost our fulltimer status. But not ready to stop entirely.

You had some great future plans as I recall. We can't do that because I gave up flying when the security issues got obnoxious. Rude people that ruined my trip one too many times.

Best of everything to you and safe travels whatever your mode of transportation!

P.S. I'm pretty sure that some people who gave it up still hang around the forum. You could wean yourself slowly

[jerryc1976]

Ive read your thoughts closely and wanted to weigh in:

I'm younger (65) but after 10+ years of boating, RV'g was really exciting as the "next step" and I "assumed" I would roll right in...

For me, I owned airplane(s) for 20 years, then got into boating for 10 years (decided boats just couldn't go where I wanted) and then to RV's. Rented a 45' DP for a month; scared hell out of me....felt like I was anchored... Went to a 35' gas unit; Better but still seemed too big. Now, we're in a 25' B+ with no slides but we pull a Jeep. I can go anywhere with this arrangement. For now, it's a great platform as we can easily go to hotels or McDonalds with little concern. Just can't back up....

So my thoughts on your comments:

1. Weather: as an "old pilot" and a yachter, I'm very good and respectful of weather; haven't seen much that really challenges me but I haven't been where you are so I understand.
2. Access to MH Parks: I just tried a 45 day trip to NC; SC; GA; and Fla in early Feb. I was very surprised at the difficulty to find availability as I ventured south. What I was told was the French Canadians (who usually go to Key west, can't find space so they've moved north due to the hurricane effects in the Key West areas)..can't quantify that but makes sense. Regardless, parks were packed in late season and it made the trip more stressful than it should have been.
3. Road Conditions: Not sure I agree. I've seen some beautiful roads and I've seen pretty bad ones (West Va).... Not sure this is an issue for the time but more for the area. I recall in the 60-70's trying to get from Va to Ohio was a real effort....
4. The "burden" I understand. I felt the same way after I got weary of flying, then weary of boating...etc.

Finally, I love the B+ (25' long) with toad... will it work in the next 3-5 years? Probably not... I'm already looking at options for "bigger".... Doubt I'll ever go above 30' with a slide or two though... I really like the maneuverability of my Sprinter right now.

Life is a process.. I've been thru air, water now land. Enjoy the ride.... Hope it works out for you. For me, I LOVE the process.....

[Bigd9]

When we leave for several months enjoying this and our neighbors beautiful countries, we contact our local sheriffs office (we are out in a rural part of the state) and tell them when we are leaving, and when we are expected back. Then we give then a short list of who is authorized to be at our home. They gladly make increased rounds in our area, even driving up our long windy driveway to check things out. Once the sheriff turned on his emergency lights to pull my son in law over because he saw him leaving our driveway and driving away! Our SOL was on the list, so after a good friendly conversation he let David go.

[minnow]

One of the things the wife and I had dreamed about was doing a cross country RV trip. Back in 2016, ended up buying a new truck and the dealer was located in Iowa; some 2000 miles from where we live. Decided to drive out sans the fifth wheel and then head out to the west coast and work our way back east. We were gone 5 weeks. Still didn't see everything on our list so another trip is planned for some point in the future.

Here's the thing, not having the RV to tow, set up, break down every day or every few days gave us lots more time for sightseeing. And we won't be taking the RV with us when we do the 2nd leg either.

Been RV'ing for over 30 years and we use it less and less every year. Last year we used it just twice and one of those times was at a campground just 10 minutes from the house for a weekend meetup with some friends.

I look at our 2015 fifth wheel and 2016 Ram 3500 diesel and think there's a heck of lot of dollars tied up in something that is not being used. Wife is still on the fence but I'm ready to sell it. To me it's no longer enjoyable and between the traffic and overpacked campgrounds the whole RV lifestyle has changed for the worse.

[Jchemie]

I agree with you on over crowding in camp grounds, constant bad weather thru the middle of the country, and the state of road conditions all over. Funding for road repairs is scarce, that’s a common fact. Cities & states budgets are streched thin. Over crowding? You bet. Lots of new people getting into RV’ing. But I’ve noticed the weather is getting wierd and more violent. Back this up by reading blogs from weather forecast specialists, and I mean not your local newscast bobble heads. They too will say it is changing.

[deemeehan]

Jerryc1976 wrote:
“2. Access to MH Parks: I just tried a 45 day trip to NC; SC; GA; and Fla in early Feb. I was very surprised at the difficulty to find availability as I ventured south. What I was told was the French Canadians (who usually go to Key west, can't find space so they've moved north due to the hurricane effects in the Key West areas)..can't quantify that but makes sense. Regardless, parks were packed in late season and it made the trip more stressful than it should have been.”


Jerryc1976, not sure where you got the info about the Canadians being unable to get into their “usual” Key West spots due to Hurricane Irma. I live on Cudjoe Key (about 20 mi N of KW), and there is only ONE local campground that still hasn’t reopened. That’s the Sugarloaf KOA. Boyd’s, El Mar, Bluewater, Venture Out, Big Pine Fish Camp, Geiger Key... they’re all back in business and packed for the season. If anything, it’s because many of the locals who lost their homes in Irma bought travel trailers and 5ers to live in while they rebuild. But I can assure you our snowbird neighbors from across the border are still very much a part of the Key West winter landscape!

[zzotte]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

I certainly understand where you're coming from. My only suggestion would be to not rush into a decision, but maybe lay back and take it easy for a while to see if you still feel the same.

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

I totally agree with you, this spring will be our start of full time RVing and we are 67, one must have other things to do periodically other then just RVing in my opinion, for us full time RVing it’s just another home and our life style continues just in different places, so my suggestion is just take a little break go cruising or something and then go RVing.

Zzotte

[Catch14me]

We have been RVing for over 40 years and have also witnessed the increase in campers and the population in general. We still enjoy it but I can relate to your comments. I think when the weather improves and we get out again we will be fine. We enjoy a car trip every now and then and don't miss the RV trip when we go.
I think the expense and upkeep of the RV has gotten old but after being gone a bit coming to our house, unpacking, and catching up is the most difficult part.

[Bigd9]

Originally Posted by Grandpa5x

It's been a long time since I've been on a train and several years since my last bus ride, but the bus was not a pleasant experience. Anymore the bus is the garbage dump of everybody that can't fly. The bus was cramped, smelled bad, and rough riding. Now a tour bus might be a lot different, I've never been on a tour.

In our past life, Sharon and I used to do guided tours for senior citizens all over this world. Tour buses and trains can be very nice, or in some countries maybe not so nice. We forewarned our clients and made sure the bad experience of a bus became a exciting memory of their tour. Probably why we plan to do that when our RV days are over.
BTW, I went to college a bit north of you in Cookeville back in the early 70's.

[Superslif]

Much younger in our 50's and feel we have the best of both worlds. We live in a lower real estate area, with average taxes. During my working years got out 50-60 nights a year. In retirement now can do the 1-4 month long trips. As the poster above our city will do a "vacation watch" and my brother will cut the grass every two weeks and check on the house.

Personally I have not seen much accessibility issue differences over the last 20 years. Only if you expect to drive up to a popular area / campground and get a site without a rservation. But that has been the way it was in the past too. I find it easier to plan a trip with the advent of the net. There are so many websites out there that the info is at your finger tips.

Our 6 week trip to New England states / Acadia NP. / New Brunswick Canada last fall everything was reserved ahead of time except 4 nights that the USFS campground didn't take a reservation. If it's a popular place (Acadia National Park) I'll make that reservation the max 6 months out.

Yes, there are some driving situations like :driving around Chicago going out west. Answer: we leave NE. Ohio at 6pm, that puts us near Chicago at midnight of 1am, then stop at a Walmart.

I don't get crazy bringing the whole house. Once backing into a site it takes us 20-30 minutes to be fully set up, cocktail in hand and reading my newspaper. Reserving ahead and planning I'm able to reserve some nice waterfront sites. Favor State, National, BLM, USFS campgrounds over private ones.

If I had to put one "stressful" thing about RVing that rattles my feathers, re-fueling might be one of them...You think you have a game plan pulling into a gas station, and out of the blue dingle-berry #1 pulls right in front of you not realizing towing a RV requires just a little more room to get around.