Hi! We are Katie and Justin. We've been reading some good information here, so we figured it would be a great place to introduce ourselves, explain our situation, and ask for advice. We thought about putting this in the beginners forum, but we figured since we would be jumping into full-timing, we'd get more relevant information here.
First, about us. The one doing the typing is Katie, so first person refers to her. We are in our mid-twenties, no kids, two small dogs, and a need to travel on a full-time basis. And by that I mean that my new career becomes more profitable the more I can travel. For the moment, I am having to travel alone and leave Justin at home with the furry kids. We don't like it. So, our lease is up in 2 months, and we are loving the idea of buying an RV and all hitting the road together!
Some points about us and our needs/situation/etc:
Money is not an issue, but we would like to bank as much as possible and keep our expenses down. We MAY try our hand at boondocking some of the time... we'll see. Safety is a big priority for us. Anyway, budget tips are greatly appreciated.
We will be moving probably an average of 2 times a week. Yes, that much. And mostly staying in/very near city areas. That's where my business thrives.
Justin will be quitting his job to be able to come with me, and while we don't need more income, he would like something to occupy his time. This is a difficult one for us to find a solution to, since we won't be longer than a few days or maybe a week in any one place. And no, he cannot do what I do, nor can he "partner" with me. Are there volunteer opportunities he could look into? Little jobs that might only last a couple of days? Any other ideas that might occupy his time and help him feel productive?
We want a motorhome. I'm leaning toward a Class C under 30' but we are open to suggestions and advice. Here's our thoughts:
---Justin is 6'4", so I'm concerned about headroom and sleeping room. I'm not sure if those beds over the cab would offer enough room for him?
---Since we will be moving so often, we would like a motorhome over a 5th Wheel or TT because we want to be as comfy as possible while on the road, let the dogs roam, take a nap (not the driver, of course ), etc.
---We want something that will be easy for Justin to drive. That's the biggest reason why we want to keep it under 30'.
---We want our first to be as cheap as possible, because we figure we will make mistakes and could very possibly destroy our first coach making rookie errors. We'd like to get a "throw-away" so to speak, so that if we DO destroy it, not the end of the world, get another one. After 6 months to a year, get a newer, better model. Is a $10-$15k budget reasonable for such a thing, or would such a cheap coach be a horrible money pit? At what price point can we start feeling fairly comfortable about a coach lasting us a year of constant moving?
---Is there a checklist anywhere that can help us identify problems to look out for when purchasing used motorhomes?
Umm... I'm not sure what else to ask or tell you all right now, so PLEASE, say hi, give advice, ask questions. Help us get ready to be able to spend our lives TOGETHER again, instead of constantly apart. We are very close, and the separation is extremely hard on us both.
Welcome and you guys sound like you know what you need anyway!
These are in Texas, Class C motorhomes, used and the search critera is $15,000 to $20,000.00. Start Here!
You change change the search requirements...for example "King Bed" for the 6'4" dude!
Welcome and hope we can help ya!
My posts shouldn't be taken for factual data. They are purely fictional, for entertainment purposes and should not be constituted as actually related to scientific, technical, engineering, legal, spiritual or practical advice. Amen.
Good for the two of you for looking for a way to be together despite the demands of work.
thought I would give some suggestions about work for Justin. Does he enjoy computer type work enough to do freelance work of some sort via telecommuting? Does he have a hobby such as wood working that he could make small crafts, then plan ahead to one of your stops every couple months to sell his stuff at a craft fair? or sell online? As for volunteering, since you will be constantly moving, maybe he could hook-up with an organization that he could do some back-end work on the computer via telecommuting. otherwise when you pull into a campground ask the host/owner if there is a local place that could use a volunteer for a few days. There is a chance that the campground may hire him for the few days if they have outstanding projects. Is he interested in photography that he could spend the time in each city taking pictures, then sell them similarly to if he made a craft to sell.
Enjoy the beautiful country as you travel!
Good Sam Life Members. Camping with two young children in a 2007 Pilgrim fifth wheel (278BHSS) pulled with a 2002 F350.
The first question is do you plan to work in the RV, or just use it to travel to different cities where you work out of the RV???? 6"4", a class C I would suggest is too small, you need something with head room and the bed over the cab gets old very quickly. A Class A with a separate bedroom I would suggest would be much more comfortable. Full time, you need storage space, especially if you are working, again Class A. Take a course in driving RV's, it will pay off big time not only for you but the other travelling public. Get a quality unit, prices are reasonable and you will be better off in the long run.
Quote: We want our first to be as cheap as possible, because we figure we will make mistakes and could very possibly destroy our first coach making rookie errors. We'd like to get a "throw-away" so to speak, so that if we DO destroy it, not the end of the world, get another one. After 6 months to a year, get a newer, better model. Is a $10-$15k
I'll just add that you really can not 'destroy' an RV simply because you are new to RV'ing.
Why not skip that step and take that money allocated for your throw-away as you call it, and add it to what you had planned on spending for the next one?
Actually a new or newer one, if one can afford it, is the better way to go when you are a beginner RV'er. Less things to know about how to fix. Seasoned RV'ers are more equipped to deal with the older ones because they already know how to diagnosis problems and repair things themselves.
Welcome to the forum, good luck in your endeavors.
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us".
You can get a decent Class A For a little more. I wouldn't dip into the cheap coaches, you will be dealing with to many problems. Most dealers will not give you the full story and let you drive off with problems you are not aware of.
You still have to deal with your vehicle. It may be easier at first to not try to tow it behind the MH. It costs a lot to get the stuff together to pull a toad.
2000 Sea Breeze F53 V10 - CR-V Toad
Some RV batteries live a long and useful life, some are murdered. Get a Digital Multimeter and Learn How to Use It
Not to be negative, but if you buy an RV in that price range probably Justin will probably be kept busy fixing things. I like to think of these things as houses going down bumpy highways and roads. Things break and have to be repaired.
By the way, welcome to the forum.
Another thought is if you are going to park somewhere and do your job elsewhere, you will need another mode of transportation to carry or tow with you. If you are going to be going places where it gets very cold that brings on a completely new set of problems.
I am in no way saying this is a bad idea. I am just saying, ask more questions and give more details without giving out personal information.
I'm 6' and my hubby is 6'5. We do fine in a class C.
It's no harder to drive a 32 ft class c than a 30 ft. They are easy to drive. I forget whether I'm in our van or our RV (until I try to stop).
If money isn't a big object, spend more and get a newer Class C. You won't mess it up and I suspect your work doesn't allow you a lot of down time in one place for major repairs.
If you buy used, have it inspected by someone who knows Rv's. Watch for leaks.
We use a memory foam on top of the rv queen and let it wrap over the end, which cushions the long legs.
I am currently in the same boat as you . I plan on full timing and started out with thinking that 23 foot would be enough. I am 6'7" and most of the Class Cs are tall enough and the shower is big enough (just) to accommodate me. I looked at 40 or 50 homes in person and spent 100+ hours researching makes models online and posted questions in the RV forum (90% very helpful). I was convinced that 23 would be enough.I imagined rainy weather and living in it for 3 months and 6 months would I still have enough room? Then it was try a 26/27 footer. I found full time it would not be enough. Moved to 30 feet ,which usually has a separate bedroom. That seemed to be right size. Also moved up in price from 40 to 50 as the quality of what is available is better. Saw some RVs that would work. Then saw a 30 foot Class A and I investigated and like it much better than the Class Cs, which are very nice but do not have a lot of cargo capacity. Any way , investigate what your needs would be for LIVING in full time and you will find something! Good luck!
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We are in our mid-twenties, no kids, two small dogs, and a need to travel on a full-time basis. And by that I mean that my new career becomes more profitable the more I can travel. For the moment, I am having to travel alone and leave Justin at home with the furry kids. We don't like it. So, our lease is up in 2 months, and we are loving the idea of buying an RV and all hitting the road together! 
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