a newbie rolls in here.

[Retro70s]

Hi everyone, I'm wanting to change my life and be a lifelong rver from now on. And I'm going to be asking lots of questions.

 

[Arch Hoagland]

Welcome!
Have you ever owned or used an RV in the past?

 

[JudyJB]

Big question --- Why do you want to do this? Do you have the travel bug, as I do? Or are you trying to save money? Or do you see this as a way to live a healthier life?

There are lots of reasons many of us choose to live full time in a motorhome, but not all of them are realistic. I can tell you, and I'm sure others will agree with me, that it will be a lot more expensive than you think it will be. Also, things will constantly be breaking. Are you handy at all at fixing things? (Note, it is not the engine or chassis parts that will break most often. Appliances and RV systems are cheap, junky, and fall apart easily, so be prepared.

 

[Larry N.]

Welcome to the forums. Judy asks some excellent questions. It looks as if you have a couple of posts elsewhere around here, so hopefully you are getting some needed answers.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Welcome to the forum. One of the best on the net. I would suggest you get an RV and go camping from home for a few years. By then, you will know if it’s the right decision to go full time. You will learn allot in those couple years. Not cheap owning a RV. Constant maintenance to keep it up. You’re on the right RV forum. Saved my bacon many times asking questions here. Don’t be shy. Ask away. Allot of seasoned RV’ers on this forum. You may not like some of the answers but they are telling you the truth. Welcome aboard and good luck on your decision.

 

[CamperAL]

Hello Retro70's,

I'd suggest that you research the various types of RV's and types you might want to travel in. Make sure you get one big enough for your needs and a layout in the RV you can live with.

Rather than buy one at first, I'd suggest you rent an RV to get an idea of what they are like so you don't invest dollars in one you don't like. Can be a big waste of money.

You can camp out in the rental at home and get an idea of what you need when you camp as well as finding out if you like the layout of the rental.

Be careful of dealerships as they often just want to sell
you a RV and don't have your best interests at heart. Ask questions here as there is a wealth of information with many seasoned travelers here.

 

[Retro70s]

A big convincing point for me about Rvs instead of apartments is that I'd be an owner instead of a renter that could be evicted due to my slobbish tendencies. (I actually do get fussed at a lot)

 

[UTTransplant]

You can definitely get evicted from an RV park if your “slobbish tendencies” extend to the outside of your rig, or even if they are visible through windows and such outside your rig. Plus RVs of any type need to be maintained both inside and out or water damage can occur. And that isn’t even counting how much less robust to scrapes, dings, etc. the interior finished are in an RV!

 

[Vanbrat]

While it may seem to be a downer or something don't forget to have an out. If the poop hits the fan and you can't do it anymore then what?

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

Welcome to The Forum.

It seems to me the OP might be looking to get into RV'ing/camping for all the wrong reasons. It's not like the videos you see from Go RV'ing commercials all the time. As others have pointed it, there can be a ton of maintenance and expense to owning most size campers. Campground costs are going up, and they may or may not be cheap, depending on the amenities required.

If the OP has sloppish tendencies, there is less protection from being evicted than most states have for apartment dwellers.

Should the OP still decide to give the RV route a try, research, touch, and feel will be his/her best friend. Scour the internet for articles and information on different RV types and what each offers. Check out YouTube, there are many, many excellent RV videos there, and don't forget to check out some RV traveler videos while there to see some of the trials and tribulations involved with RV'ing.

One thing I wouldn't suggest is renting an RV. It is extremely expensive, renting a small Class C to park in your driveway for a weekend would tell you zero about RV life, and cost you over $500. A recent statistic came out that 44% of new RV owners will change from their initial RV purchase to another more suitable model that will fit their needs better within 2 years. Why? Because now they have gained experience and knowledge of what they want, and what they can do without. Renting for a weekend or even two weeks would be no more than going on a Caribbean Cruise, and think when you come home, you'll want to buy a cruise ship.

 

[DutchmenSport]

Please do a search on the internet: "RVing etiquette" and become familiar with what the unspoken expectations are among fellow RVers and the communities to which they belong. These are not "laws", but they are "expectations" of behavior. When you RV, you are part of a community, it's a community that cannot afford black eyes.