Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
I'm looking for an RV that will provide me with a temporary shelter while I detox from mold that was in my house (and community).
The thing is, most of the brands that are good for mold allergies come in trailer form, and I'm SCARED to tow, having never done anything like it before.
Is it as hard and scary as it looks? I won't have any men available! Can you answer asap?
No it is not hard to learn. I have drove our truck and Airstream for years. We just got a fifth wheel this last year and yes it is a lot bigger but I am extra cautious and taking it slow. Find a friend that has towed and ask him/her to take you out a few times to practice driving. Your dealer (if you purchase from one), should have someone that could take you out. They should also give direction and practice backing and hooking up. Until you are comfortable, try to find a pull-in site rather then back-in. There are even some decent videos on You Tube you can watch for direction on hooking up and backing. Practice, practice, practice. You can do it. Remember to leave lots of room when passing, use your mirrors frequently, especially in turns. If you aren't traveling, but staying put in one area on a semi-permanent site, once you get the trailer there and set up you won't have to worry about it. A different story of you will be moving it frequently. Again, go slow, and practice in a large lot if you can. Think positive.
Thanks for the suggestions. If I got a molded fiberglass trailer, say, a Casita, would that be easier to travel around with? I will look up the "school."
Margaret,
When you are traveling, pull into a rest stop or a truck stop and park with the "big boys". In both of them you can pull into a drive-through spot and park. We use them all the time when traveling; we can pull in, use the restroom, get gas and grab something to eat in the trailer.
A girlfriend has a Casita, always travels by herself and had never camped before. She has pulled it from one coast to another traveling to dog shows. Of course, she always seems to call me to advise her where to stop for the night because she isn't a planner when it comes to driving, so she gets along and then says "help, where should I stop along such and such road." LOL, I keep telling her I'm going to quit taking her calls because she needs to learn to find her own campsites. She also does not like to back-in, so she always wants to find a campground with a pull through.
You definitely need to learn to back-in, but you can learn. Again, it just takes practice. I am still learning and practicing with our fifth wheel as it is quite different to back with it versus our Airstream. I would recommend checking into RV driving school. Never having drove a truck pulling a trailer DOES NOT mean you can't do it. Yes, you can!
This same girlfriend is going to sell her Casita because she wants to get a bit bigger trailer. She is on the west side of the USA, but if you are interested, PM me and I can check with her if she still wants to sell. She has the 17' and got it with all the options.
You can do it. With trailer in tow, head for a big, vacant parking lot. For us it was the Iowa state fairgrounds. Then keep turning and backing up. In an hour or two you’ll have the basic idea.
You can do it. But to move toward confidence and skill, get yourself and your rig (if you can) to RV Driving School. They be good, patient, helpful folks. That’s Judy and I did. And we both picked up some basic knowledge … surprised me a bit, since after two years of pulling a fifth wheel I thought I knew my stuff.
You can do it. As for having a man around, nope. I’ve known several women, Judy included, who can handle the RV life just fine without a guy handy. When it comes to driving skills, even in big heavy duty trucks, gender is a non-factor for competence.
__________________
Bill LeMosy
2001 Volvo VNL 610 with Smart car bed
2013 Smart for Two Passion
2007 New Horizons Summit 38, MorRyde IS and pin, Dexter disks
"There is no path. Paths are made by walking." – Spanish poet Antonio Machado
You can do it. With trailer in tow, head for a big, vacant parking lot. For us it was the Iowa state fairgrounds. Then keep turning and backing up. In an hour or two you’ll have the basic idea.
You can do it. But to move toward confidence and skill, get yourself and your rig (if you can) to RV Driving School. They be good, patient, helpful folks. That’s Judy and I did. And we both picked up some basic knowledge … surprised me a bit, since after two years of pulling a fifth wheel I thought I knew my stuff.
You can do it. As for having a man around, nope. I’ve known several women, Judy included, who can handle the RV life just fine without a guy handy. When it comes to driving skills, even in big heavy duty trucks, gender is a non-factor for competence.
Trikester,
I think RV Driving School, along with the big parking lot, are great ideas!!
A salesman/dealer also suggested the idea of a big parking lot.
