Hi Everyone! My little girl and I got to go to our very first RV show last Friday! It was the Alabama Super RV Show in Huntsville. It was a small show - compared to many of them - but was a good way to "get our feet wet". We had a great time looking at all the cool stuff that is available. I can sure see how confusing it would be if we'd been ready to buy... how would you choose??! I was disappointed that there were not more Cs there, because I am still leaning that way. 5vers, TTs, and bus conversions dominated the show. Those things are huge!!
Anyway... we were excited to get to attend our first (of many, I hope) RV show, and I wanted to share our excitement with "the Family"! Hope you all have a great day!!
Kerri
contra said
06:17 PM Jan 25, 2010
Congratulations Kerri! You have made it through one of many initiations! :) You are correct - when first researching, it can be very overwhelming. We changed our minds often. On the way to one dealer, we had spent a good 30 minutes listing all of the pros of getting a motorhome over a fifth wheel and had ourselves convinced that that was our final decision. Within an hour at the dealer, we were back on the 5er bandwagon. We've been all over the board and just kept looking and reading and considering everyone's opinions (even if we didn't agree with them!). In hindsight, I understand now that it wasn't really important whether it was a motorhome or a fifth wheel or travel trailer, but it was finding something that met our criteria. And looking at units helped us narrow down that criteria. So my advice would be don't limit yourself. Keep your options open and look at everything, which it sounds like you did.
Good luck on your continued search and have fun dreaming of what your new home will look like!
Connie
Gary said
07:55 AM Jan 26, 2010
Congrats Kerri. Had the same experience myself in Virginia Beach. Wasn't much of a show but I did get to look closely at the Heartland Rigs. They had a Big Horn 3800RD there that isn't even on their site yet. Nice.
I wanted to see an Evergreen Ever-Lite 5er but there were none there. I am interested in that brand due to the weight of it (just a little over 7K lbs).
However, after seeing the Heartlands, my view is expanding. Research is fun.
KarenInTheWoods said
10:01 AM Jan 26, 2010
Oh how much fun it is to look. And glad your daughter got to come along and see too. Let her collect the brochures and if she's old enough, to take notes of what you like or don't like on various types of RVs.
Kerri said
11:18 AM Jan 27, 2010
Hi Connie... I know exactly what you mean. I have my heart set on a C, but fell in love with a TT over there, which I didn't think I would even look at! Thoroughly confusing, but fun just the same! I did as suggested here on this forum - sat in any of them that seemed to have the "it" factor and tried to imagine living there. Of course, the strangers walking through during this little exercise didn't help, but I got the general idea!
Wow Gary, I'd never heard of the Ever-Lite! Didn't know they made them like that! What kind of tow vehicle could you use on one of those?. Since it will just be me and my little girl, I am still leaning toward a C for ease of driving and parking if nothing else... BTW, I have a good friend living in VB - he is retired Navy too, currently working with HS. He really likes it up there!
Oh yes, Karen... she has her list of "must-haves" (one of which is the Monkey House - the cabover on a C - which will be her domain) and "don't-wants"! We homeschool, so everything is a lesson with us! lol I am under strict orders that I cannot purchase anything until she sees it too!... I actually found your blog somewhere else on the big wide 'net and really enjoy it. Did not know that you were "one of the family" here too! Cool - small world. Amazes me when I think of what Howard and Linda have pulled together here.
Thanks to EACH of you for you kind notes... We were so excited and wanted to share our fun experience! On the way home from the show, Katie asked me if I was going to tell the "Family" about our day! I often read things on the forum to her, and she talks about many of you as if she knows you. (She thinks Speedy is funny - which of course he is!)
And get this... she got a beading set for Christmas and is now making bracelets, "just like Ms Linda". How cute is that?? She made matching bracelets for me, her, and her two American Girl dolls, Molly and Emily. They are very pretty - turquoise blue and light pink. She has a good eye! Watch out Linda - you may have competition!
Hope everyone has a great day!
Kerri
Gary said
02:54 PM Jan 27, 2010
For the Ever-Lite 5er: www.goevergreenrv.com
I would think that you could pull them easily with an F-250/2500 (Ram or GMC type) but I'd have to do the homework again to make sure.
Sounds like you have a pretty strict set of requirements from the "youngster"!
Kerri said
10:03 AM Jan 29, 2010
I would think you could too, Gary. Glad they are making lighter-weight rigs for people who want them.
Oh yes... my little Monkey knows exactly what she wants! She has our FTing life planned out, including our first few destinations and stops along the way! It has been great for our homeschooling... She is studying geography and learning names of cities in other states - not just capitals! She is always checking out the weather in other parts of the country... Has a map that she is plotting points on... Has constructed a timeline... Is reading everything she can get her hands on (she is a struggling reader, but this is really building her confidence!)... Learning how to do research on the Internet (with my supervision of course)... Drawing "floorplans" and refurbishing ideas... Making lists of "things to do"... Going through toys like a tornado, getting ready for our first yard sale... Using reasoning and logic to determine what she can take with us on the road... We are having a blast and can't wait...
Now if we could only find a rig we can afford so we can get busy!
thebearII said
01:05 PM Jan 29, 2010
Kerri,
I'm guessing the Cs are becoming more scarce because fewer and fewer full size vans are being made by the auto companies. The vans that are being made have engines that are under powered for making a big sized C motorhome. That's why you see a lot of the smaller motorhomes based on the Sprinter or VW van. Or the big new super B's based on the Medium Duty trucks.
If you travelled over various road conditions for 1000 miles in a Class C or a similar sized Class A motorhome I think you would find the Class A easier to drive and more livable than a Class C. Plus the price of a Class C is sometime higher than a comparably equipped and sized Class A. I've driven both and prefer the manuverability and stability of the Class A.
TT are great because you get a lot more livability for you money. Plus you can always replace just the tow vehicle or TT if one becomes unuseable. You don't have the large expense of replacing both the living space and the running gear like with a MH.
After a few trips towing and parking....towing a TT becomes second nature. Plus you have to drive a 55 MPH so you get to see a lot more of the sights along the way.
Kerri said
08:17 PM Jan 29, 2010
Hi Larry... I always drive 55... I'm always hauling precious cargo! Everyone else can just breeze on... we'll just keep easin' on down the road!
Thanks so much for your note... You could be right about the scarcity thing... I personally don't think I'd want a rig made from a minivan!
You are right about the towable homes... replacing one without the other would definitely be less expensive. I've towed and backed boats (from fishing boats to pontoons) my whole life (way before I had a driver's license ), so I don't think it would bother me to tow and back a rig.... And I have heard many people say they like the As for the very reasons you mentioned... I may change my mind too, on down the road. As I told someone earlier today, I'd rather start out small and upgrade then start out with more rig than I want or need, and have to downsize. But that's just me!
Have a great evening!
Kerri
Terry and Jo said
04:40 PM Jan 30, 2010
Kerri,
We were at the Fort Worth RV show back toward the first of the month and saw a Class C on a Ford E450 chassis. Since we are looking at fifth wheels, we didn't stop to look at what it was.
Use your search engine and type in "class c on E450 chassis" and see what you get.
Anyway... we were excited to get to attend our first (of many, I hope) RV show, and I wanted to share our excitement with "the Family"! Hope you all have a great day!!
Kerri
Good luck on your continued search and have fun dreaming of what your new home will look like!
Connie
Hi Connie... I know exactly what you mean. I have my heart set on a C, but fell in love with a TT over there, which I didn't think I would even look at! Thoroughly confusing, but fun just the same! I did as suggested here on this forum - sat in any of them that seemed to have the "it" factor and tried to imagine living there. Of course, the strangers walking through during this little exercise didn't help, but I got the general idea!
Wow Gary, I'd never heard of the Ever-Lite! Didn't know they made them like that! What kind of tow vehicle could you use on one of those?. Since it will just be me and my little girl, I am still leaning toward a C for ease of driving and parking if nothing else... BTW, I have a good friend living in VB - he is retired Navy too, currently working with HS. He really likes it up there!
Oh yes, Karen... she has her list of "must-haves" (one of which is the Monkey House - the cabover on a C - which will be her domain) and "don't-wants"! We homeschool, so everything is a lesson with us! lol I am under strict orders that I cannot purchase anything until she sees it too!... I actually found your blog somewhere else on the big wide 'net and really enjoy it. Did not know that you were "one of the family" here too! Cool - small world. Amazes me when I think of what Howard and Linda have pulled together here.
Thanks to EACH of you for you kind notes... We were so excited and wanted to share our fun experience! On the way home from the show, Katie asked me if I was going to tell the "Family" about our day! I often read things on the forum to her, and she talks about many of you as if she knows you. (She thinks Speedy is funny - which of course he is!)
And get this... she got a beading set for Christmas and is now making bracelets, "just like Ms Linda". How cute is that?? She made matching bracelets for me, her, and her two American Girl dolls, Molly and Emily. They are very pretty - turquoise blue and light pink. She has a good eye! Watch out Linda - you may have competition!
Hope everyone has a great day!
Kerri
I would think you could too, Gary. Glad they are making lighter-weight rigs for people who want them.
It has been great for our homeschooling... She is studying geography and learning names of cities in other states - not just capitals! She is always checking out the weather in other parts of the country... Has a map that she is plotting points on... Has constructed a timeline... Is reading everything she can get her hands on (she is a struggling reader, but this is really building her confidence!)... Learning how to do research on the Internet (with my supervision of course)... Drawing "floorplans" and refurbishing ideas... Making lists of "things to do"... Going through toys like a tornado, getting ready for our first yard sale... Using reasoning and logic to determine what she can take with us on the road... We are having a blast and can't wait...
Oh yes... my little Monkey knows exactly what she wants! She has our FTing life planned out, including our first few destinations and stops along the way!
Now if we could only find a rig we can afford so we can get busy!
Thanks so much for your note... You could be right about the scarcity thing... I personally don't think I'd want a rig made from a minivan!
You are right about the towable homes... replacing one without the other would definitely be less expensive. I've towed and backed boats (from fishing boats to pontoons) my whole life (way before I had a driver's license
Have a great evening!
Kerri
We were at the Fort Worth RV show back toward the first of the month and saw a Class C on a Ford E450 chassis. Since we are looking at fifth wheels, we didn't stop to look at what it was.
Use your search engine and type in "class c on E450 chassis" and see what you get.
Good luck on the searching and researching.
Terry