Want to buy an RV? Let’s talk….
I’m a thinker.
I like to pre-think situations. It’s a strength of mine. So when we started looking at trailers/RV’s, my mind went spinning, thinking through future situations and uses. I’ll spare you some of the spinning, but here are some of my thoughts:
- How many people (and of what size) are going to sleep where in the RV? I know this seems basic but John is very tall. A lot of the campers have very small main beds. We still like each other (most days) and want to sleep in the same bed. A smallish, enclosed bed wasn’t going to work for both of us. Also, we didn’t want to have to make up a bed every time one of us wanted to sleep (or make the non-sleepy person go to bed because the table needed to be made into a bed). We have a grown son who may go with us on trips. While I imagine he’ll sleep in a tent outside, it would be nice to have a space that he could crash if he wanted to. Buy an RV that can sleep your family comfortably!
- Where are you going? Again, somewhat basic….but let’s talk this through. If we were interested in going from pre-set campground to pre-set campground, bathroom space, inside space, entertainment options, shower space could all be viewed differently. But while there will be some trips to campgrounds, the bulk of what we’ve dreamed about is camping in areas not in campgrounds. That means that we need to be self contained with enough space to enjoy each other if we’re stuck inside for several days. It meant we went a little bigger than we first thought we would because imagining one of us using the table as a desk meant few options for the other. We still want to like each other at the end of the trips so having space to be close but not too close is important to us. If we’re going to buy an RV, we want it to make our lives better, not more frustrating!
- Storage space…. how much space do you need? How much stuff do you need? What is necessary and what makes life a little more bearable versus what is just extra stuff? We looked at campers with so much storage space that it was crazy. Not unlike looking at furniture in a large warehouse, your sense of proportion can get very thrown off. You start to yearn for bigger and bigger storage areas, pantries, and pass throughs. There are so many posts talking about the limited space in campers, it convinces you that you need bigger and more. It is true, it’s not as big as your home. But if you’re not living in it full time, your need to have a bunch of stuff with you is diminished. Everything I’ve read says that it’s totally natural to over pack. I can see why. Who knows what you’re going to need and what you’ll actually use until you are truly in action. I could change my tune in a while but for now, we have more storage than we need for two people.
- Living space …. when you’re not outside, who and how many will be inside the camper? Does everyone have a place to sit. If you have small children and dogs, is there enough floor space for shoes and feet that someone can move through the camper easily? If no, what is the solution? Again, John is very tall with long arms. Bumping his head on things makes him immediately angry, something I’d like to avoid while staying in close proximity to him. I vetoed the purchase of one 5th Wheel because while the kitchen/living area was great on space, he couldn’t stand up straight in the bedroom, nor was there enough room on the side of the bed. I totally could see him hating that bedroom very early in our ownership. Again, we wanted some space to be able to not be right on top of each other. Buy an RV with enough space to live a normal life in!
- Kitchen area…. who are you cooking for, how often and what are the prep needs? We’re only two. I will say that the kitchen in our camper is woefully lacking in prep space and counter tops. But I don’t plan on cooking for 20 in there. We purchased a cutting board from IKEA to cover the stove top and a cover for over the sink to help with prep space. We’ve considered adding a portable island if we find we need more space. For now, for us, I think there’s plenty of space.
- Doors, steps and handles….. You may not have thought about this one. After climbing in and out and in and out of various campers, I became very aware of the steps and handles. Some are very poorly set up. Our rig has the axle flipped so it sits a bit higher. Our stairs have three treads making it very comfortable to step into the camper. Some only have two and the first step can be very high. The handles on the outside of our camper were the small plastic typical camper handles. They are okay if the rig is leveled and your hands are not full. For a relatively small cost, John ordered new larger handles which we’d enjoyed on other models. Our camper also has two doors. I like that I can get out of the bedroom without having to go out the window. In that thinking ahead time of mine, if we have visitors staying with us, John can still get up early to go take pictures without having to climb over our guests to get out. This is a big plus for us!
- Is it usable when the slides are in? Some of the campers out there have great slides. When you are looking at them, the slides are pushed out giving you the feeling of space. But what if you get to your camping site and you’re too tired to level and set up? What if the weather is too bad? What if you are sick and just can’t? I’m amazed at how many rigs are pretty useless when the slides are in. When the slide is in, can you: use the bathroom? Get to the refrigerator? Take a nap? Get to critical panels? Spend the night in it? Also, be aware as to what cabinets are not accessible when closed up. Don’t store anything critical (or close to critical) in those cabinets. Buy an RV that you can use in all conditions, not just the perfect ones!
- What extra things do you need to bring with you? Are you packing a generator? Solar panels? A pack-n-play? You know (or should know) you need multiple hoses and a drain hose and an electrical hook up cord (along with various adapters). You’ll want leveling blocks, a shovel, a broom (to clear off the top of your slide before you pull it in), tongue blocks, and other tools to maintain or fix your rig and/or truck. These things need a place to live when not in use that will not be in your way inside.
These are just a few of my thoughts. I hope they help you think through your choices and dreaming!
-Melissa
