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RV Tips Blog
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Why We Chose a Motorhome
02-26-2018Author :Levi and Natalie Henley in Henley's Happy Trails
One of the toughest decisions an aspiring RVer has to decide upon is choosing a RV. Every traveler has a different situation that will influence their final decision. We chose a smaller Class A motorhome. Regardless if your circumstances happen to be similar or separate from ours, consider the following factors to help narrow down possibilities.
Price
The first thing we had to figure out when purchasing a RV was how much we could afford. Travel trailers and fifth-wheels are much less expensive than a motorhome, however we did not have a truck that could pull one. We found that purchasing the set (trailer and tow vehicle) would end up being equivalent to the price of a motorhome or Class C. We also had a reliable, economical car that we weren’t ready or willing to trade or sell.
Related Read: Buying a used RV: A Cautionary Tale
Comfort
Comfort is an important thing to consider when shopping for a RV to live in. Everyone has different comfort levels when it comes to the size of their RV. If the possibility of living in a tiny box no bigger than a bedroom sounds like a bad dream, then getting a small RV is probably not for you. We have four pets, one dog and three cats, so we needed something large enough for our family. RVs no less than 20 feet were considered.
Another thing to consider is how comfortable you are driving the RV. If the prospect of driving a 40-foot bus on a freeway scares you, you are probably not getting over that fear quickly. If you are unsure of how you will handle a large RV, a suggestion would be to rent one or find a friend who has one and is willing to let you take it for a spin.
Related Read: Ladies and Gents All Need to Drive the RV
Pets
Pet needs were a big consideration when it came time for us to choose a RV. Not only do they live in the RV with us, they travel with us as well. It generally isn't considered a good idea to have pets in a pull-behind type RV while you're driving down the road. Things can fall or move around without your knowledge; it’s a hazardous zone for anyone. Also, a travel trailer or fifth wheel is not climate controlled while you are traveling down the road. Your pets would be susceptible to any extreme temperature changes.
We decided that we did not want to go for a travel trailer early on, so that wasn't an option for us. The best option was to have the animals in the vehicle we were driving, and with four pets, the only vehicle that fit the bill was a Class A or C style rig.
Related Read: Safety Tips For RVing with Pets
Storage
The last thing we considered was storage space. Some people pack their possessions in a storage facility while they travel around the country in their RV. We wanted a clean break from our junk and did away with most of our belongings. There are many clever ways storage is built into a RV. The inside and underbelly compartments can make or break a sale. There were a number of RVs that fit the bill on our storage needs.
Making the decision
Ultimately, the decision was made when all the criteria fit. Natalie spotted an ad showcasing a used Class A motorhome at a local dealership one day. It was in our price range and looked pretty good from the pictures. I went down to take a look and it had everything we wanted. It was in our price range, had enough storage, was large enough for our furry family, and climate-controlled. Even better, we stumbled upon it right when we were ready to buy.
Blog Author Details
Levi and Natalie Henley are a full time RVing couple. Together with their three cats and dog, they travel around the country in their 2011 Sunstar Itasca seeking work camping gigs. They share their adventures, seasonal job experiences, and travel tips on their website, www.henleyshappytrails.com
One of the toughest decisions an aspiring RVer has to decide upon is choosing a RV. Every traveler has a different situation that will influence their final decision. We chose a smaller Class A motorhome. Regardless if your circumstances happen to be similar or separate from ours, consider the following factors to help narrow down possibilities.
Price
The first thing we had to figure out when purchasing a RV was how much we could afford. Travel trailers and fifth-wheels are much less expensive than a motorhome, however we did not have a truck that could pull one. We found that purchasing the set (trailer and tow vehicle) would end up being equivalent to the price of a motorhome or Class C. We also had a reliable, economical car that we weren’t ready or willing to trade or sell.
Related Read: Buying a used RV: A Cautionary Tale
Comfort
Comfort is an important thing to consider when shopping for a RV to live in. Everyone has different comfort levels when it comes to the size of their RV. If the possibility of living in a tiny box no bigger than a bedroom sounds like a bad dream, then getting a small RV is probably not for you. We have four pets, one dog and three cats, so we needed something large enough for our family. RVs no less than 20 feet were considered.
Another thing to consider is how comfortable you are driving the RV. If the prospect of driving a 40-foot bus on a freeway scares you, you are probably not getting over that fear quickly. If you are unsure of how you will handle a large RV, a suggestion would be to rent one or find a friend who has one and is willing to let you take it for a spin.
Related Read: Ladies and Gents All Need to Drive the RV
Pets
Pet needs were a big consideration when it came time for us to choose a RV. Not only do they live in the RV with us, they travel with us as well. It generally isn't considered a good idea to have pets in a pull-behind type RV while you're driving down the road. Things can fall or move around without your knowledge; it’s a hazardous zone for anyone. Also, a travel trailer or fifth wheel is not climate controlled while you are traveling down the road. Your pets would be susceptible to any extreme temperature changes.
We decided that we did not want to go for a travel trailer early on, so that wasn't an option for us. The best option was to have the animals in the vehicle we were driving, and with four pets, the only vehicle that fit the bill was a Class A or C style rig.
Related Read: Safety Tips For RVing with Pets
Storage
The last thing we considered was storage space. Some people pack their possessions in a storage facility while they travel around the country in their RV. We wanted a clean break from our junk and did away with most of our belongings. There are many clever ways storage is built into a RV. The inside and underbelly compartments can make or break a sale. There were a number of RVs that fit the bill on our storage needs.
Making the decision
Ultimately, the decision was made when all the criteria fit. Natalie spotted an ad showcasing a used Class A motorhome at a local dealership one day. It was in our price range and looked pretty good from the pictures. I went down to take a look and it had everything we wanted. It was in our price range, had enough storage, was large enough for our furry family, and climate-controlled. Even better, we stumbled upon it right when we were ready to buy.
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Author : Levi and Natalie Henley
Levi and Natalie Henley are a full time RVing couple. Together with their three cats and dog, they travel around the country in their 2011 Sunstar Itasca seeking work camping gigs. They share their adventures, seasonal job experiences, and travel tips on their website, www.henleyshappytrails.com/
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damcintoshNovember 23, 2020 | 08:01 AM
Another thing to consider is whether you get a gas or diesel rig. The diesel has several advantages over the gas engine, 1. the diesel is usually in the back of the rig so you don't hear the roar of the engine while driving. 2. Diesel engines last longer than gas and have better torque for climbing mountains, usually come with air rides and air brakes making coming down mountains safer. 3. Diesels get about the same fuel mileage as gas and if you look around you can get discount cards that the truckers use and the fuel may actually cost less than gas. 4. The ride, because of the airbags, is usually smoother than a gas rig. We have owned both and prefer our 42 foot Class A Diesel pusher over a gas engine. We are full time with my wife and German Shepherd and tow a Jeep. Just another consideration, price, if you shop around and decide to get a diesel there are some entry level diesels that are priced low and also used diesels are a good buy. We bought ours used with 13,000 miles on it, trading in a Class A gas Itasca 32 footer with 127000 miles on it. Now we have 70,000 on our Diesel and it is just getting broken in. Dave, Carol and Ginger (our shepherd)