Agree with everything Wiz said. Just adding a couple of thoughts. Buying a bank repo can save you alot on an almost new RV. If you want a used starter RV at a good price. Check out models without the slides. Their value dropped a ton when slides came out. Lots of good deals on used RVs without slides. The same used RVs with slides will cost a bunch more. You can always trade up.
I don't like driveables because they break down a lot. Most every travel trailer and fifth wheel has all those things
We like the ability to unhook our trailer and have the F250 for day trippers. Also like having the pu bed available for hauling wood, boat in a bag and motor. Kid got me a Furrion observation camera (wireless) that I put on back.
I've already decided that if I could travel and not need a motel room it would be in an Air Stream trailer. Something about the appearance of quality construction plus the aerodynamics appeals to me.
There are advantages and disadvantages to every type of RV. The only right or wrong is what works for you. Like Hoopguru, I have a trailer RV. The PU bed is enclosed with a cap. That is where my dogs like to travel. Plus any gear is protected. Here is the most unusual RV setup I have seen. Campers on a pickup have very limited living and storage space. I consider them a weekend use RV. But I ran into a retired fella living full time in one, with his cat, for years. He pulled a large cargo trailer full of his stuff, including a 14' Gregor boat on it's own trailer, clothes, BBQ, and outdoor furniture. One wall was set up with a work bench and his tools. I asked what he did for water. He installed an outdoor shower to his cargo trailer, with a water tank inside. Then he explained he kept the small water tank inside the camper full of Mescal, on tap. Strange setup, and he was the worst fisherman ever. He only wanted to fish one way, no matter if everything else was working for me, fishing in his boat with him. Did I mention he was a retired life long Federal govt employee. He retired from the Fish and Wildlife dept. True story. RIP Chuck, we had a lot of fun times. And you did it your way.
It’s just so hard to get that motel room up to the mountain lake or to tow it somewhere filled with all the stuff I want to take with me on vacation. And you don’t need to use a black light in your RV to check for someone else’s bodily fluids on the bed comforter.
So true! During my working day's as a Road Warrior I stayed in lots of really nice hotels/motels/resorts over the years and the very first thing I'd do, is, a deep check for bed bugs. Ive changed many a room and even demanded a full refund if I discovered them little buggers or anything else dirty.
In 2029, I'll be buying a van, having it modded, retiring, and starting the snowbird life. At least that's the plan. A modded van gets a lot better mileage than most rigs, and fits in a parking spot. It's small, but my wife and I are backpackers, so we're used to sleeping in small spaces.
it's not bad. I mean, it isn't the most pleasant part of a camping trip, but it doesn't gross me out at all you'll have drain valves for both the black and gray water. In most RV's both tanks drain thru the same outlet. They are usually knife valves for the tanks. You pull into a dump station and align the tank drain with the dump station opening. You pull out your sewer hose and it should be relatively clean from the last use. Hook it up to the RV with the other end in the drain. Pull the black water valve and let it empty. Close the valve. Then open the gray water valve. This is the first stage of cleaning the inside of your sewer hose. You can manipulate the sewer hose a bit so the gray water drains along all the inside walls of the hose. Dump stations will have a faucet and hose to clean you sewer hose, inside and out. It's often non-potable water the whole process takes 15-20 minutes You'll get some whiffs of sewer, but it's not overpowering. A big reason for that is because you can, and should, put black water treatment in after each time you empty. That kills odors and breaks down toilet paper quickly. Some people put gray water treatment in but I never found it necessary. I use Aqua-Kem but there are a lot of other brands
I'm probably a little older than you and have stayed in many hotels and motels and I have never once had a problem with bed bugs. I may have been lucky and it might be due to the fact that I only stay in upscale places but I've never encountered one.
Ive had three different occasions over the years all High End Hotels, Embassy Suites (WA) Sheraton (WI) Hilton (CA)