My wife Melissa and I are ready to buy our first RV. We are considering a class C or class A but need more research and insight to make a decision.  We're in our early 40's and have decided not to wait for retirement to live the life we want. We want to hit the road and be free from the rat race that has consumed our lives up to this point. We will work along the way doing 13 week assignments in different parts of the country and play in between.  We have the ability to take free housing during these assignments or choose a housing stipend if we choose to stay in the RV so we will have options as we begin this process. Eventually we plan on rving full time. I guess our start date will be unrealistic is many eyes as we plan on starting August 2015 but as long as we get an RV to live in on our first assignment in September we will take things in stride. We don't want to buy the biggest, best and most expensive RV yet. We want a starter RV that will allow us to see what we want and dont want and then we will upgrade. We would love some insight on anything you think we would need to know or pay attention to or learn or buy, etc. We have already started downsizing and are in the process of renting out our house in a few months. We just want out now so we're all in. Anyway, hello to all. I hope to gain much knowledge from this forum. -Patrick and Melissa

Thank you Barb.  We appreciate your time. We definitely like the idea of a Class A but have reservations because of how huge they appear.  Im only 5'6 so I feel tiny standing next to one.  Are they difficult to drive.  I've towed boats and driven large ryder trucks but never a 35ft Class A.

Thanks- Patrick

Welcome, Patrick and Melissa.

You have definitely found a good source for learning about RV'ing and the RV lifestyle.  So, be sure and ask questions, keeping in mind that there are no dumb questions.  The only dumb ones are those that don't get asked and one then makes an expensive or time consuming mistake.  To assist you in your research, use the "Search" feature in the blue bar at the top of the forum pages.  Type in a topic and you are on your way to learn a lot of things, many of which you may not have even thought of the questions.

As for choosing an RV, consider the lifestyle that you plan to do with your RV'ing.  If you will be moving often, motor homes may be the best way to go because it is easier to set up and then pack up.  If you plan to stay in one area for a longer period of time, sometimes a towable, like a fifth wheel, could be better for you.

Be sure and go to as many RV shows or visit RV dealers as you can.  Looking at each one, pretend to cook a meal, take a shower, sit in the furniture as long as possible to see if it is really comfortable or not, and don't forget that the very foundation of the RV is the frame, suspension, axles, wheels and tires.  Look to see that you get quality in those components.

Good luck with your research and planning, and we look forward to your questions.

Terry

I would agree with Barb, Class A for what you describe, some good used ones out there at reasonable prices too.  As to the largeness vs 5'6" fear... try this perspective, the rig, while easily double your height and 6 or 7 times length-wise it probably weighs nearer to 200 times what you do, and anybody else for that matter, so your height and weight worries are only in your head, you are no different from that point of view than anybody else. Getting behind the wheel and developing some confidence there will go a long way to putting the fear aside. Like many newbs (myself included) you are used to the world of the the tiny daily driver, new skills and abilities will be learned. What's really going to blow your mind is your newfound awareness of overhead clearance.  

You've driven a large rental truck and towed, you're already halfway there. Bernie recommended training... good advice. We've done several Class Cs, done some towing albeit pop-ups, utility and uhaul trailers, and a few large rental trucks and towed a car, so we have perhaps a bit more experience than you but we plan on getting some more advanced training for both of us as the future rig will be a significantly larger arrangement than anything we have ever driven before (she can't do all the driving  right? LOL)

Let the good times roll!

Brian

Yes, you don't have to be BIG to drive a large motorhome..........Hahaha.

The big thing is to be familiar with your air-brake system. Be knowledgeable enough to perform your pre-trip inspections. Again that will come with proper training. Not hard at all.

Thanks Bill!

Have you considering renting or borrowing each one for week before you decide? We have had a bumper pull trailer, borrowed a friends Class C, owned a fifth wheel, and we are on our 4th Class A. The decision was a process for us even though a friend kept trying to tell us this is where we would end up.