RV Products

 This is a list of items you will need or might want. Click here for larger image.

AirCard: A cellular computer Internet connection.

Air Hose and Connectors: For filling of tires. 

BBQ: Get a new small unit, not your large one from home. 

Bicycles: You're missing the boat bike, if you don't bring these.

Chairs and tables: Outdoor chairs and tables are a must. 

Cleaning products: You need many for every different surface. 

GPS: Optional, but we would not be without it. 

Kayaks: Optional, but great fun on lakes and rivers.

Ladder: You need one for maintenance high up on the walls.

Level: Optional, we bought the best, you may not want to!

Long TV cable: Get a long (30-50 foot) cable, you'll need it. 

Notebook Computer(s): For all your communication needs. 

Power: 30 amp cable, 50/30 and 30/20 adapters : Must have!

Products researched and not purchased: Here's a list!

Soda Maker: Make your own soda for cheap!

Sewer hoses: The hoses you are given are not adequate.

Storage Boxes: Proper storage adds joy to your travels.

Tool box: You will need a lot of hand tools for inside repairs.

Walkie Talkies: Great for parking at sites and more ... 

Water filter: Clean water is good for you and your tanks.

Full Timing Costs

The Motorhome: Obviously, you must purchase your motorhome. We built our own house in 1977 and our motorhome cost far more than our house. Beyond the motorhome, there are many more items you will need to purchase. The MH was expensive, but we encourage you not to scrimp on accessories. The amount you spend on smaller, more compact, RV-designed items, the more you will save in storage room and time.

The Toad (tow car): Your vehicle may not be able to be towed. If it cannot, budget for a vehicle that can be. The alternatives, are a car dolly or trailer, are burdens that can really take the fun out of moving around. They take extra time and require that you find parks that have room for these items. Our "Toad" is a 650cc Suzuki Scooter. For that we had to purchase a carrier and pay for mounting alterations. With a vehicle you will need to purchase tow bars, an in-vehicle braking system and dirt and gravelshields. Air tire monitor systems will keep you from dragging around your car with a low tire.

Accessories: You might be surprised at the accessories that you need. Click here to see many of the products that we rate.

Modifications: You can have dozens of modifications made, from simple issues of changing furniture to adding solar panels, a window and other items. All of these cost more than they would in your home. Don't assume anything will be cheap!

Food, fuel and RV Parks: The largest part of your monthly expenses will be these items. The good news is that traveling by RV is far cheaper than traveling by cars or airlines and hotels and eating in restaurants.

Activities: You can spend nothing or thousands on activities. Be aware that many things that 20 years ago were free, now are available only for a fee. Like visiting Four Corners. It was free when we were kids, now it costs $3.00 per person (08-2012).

Maintenance: If you want your MH to last for 10 or 20 years, you have to take care of it. Maintenance includes, but is not limited to: oil changes, filter changes, battery maintenance, washes, checking tire pressures, chassis lubes, roof sealing, slide out lubrication, cleaning levelers, tightening bolts, interior cleaning, black/gray tank flushing and cleaning, fresh water tank cleaning, etc.

Driving Tips

We found it amazing that one of the first things many salespersons asked was "do you want to take it for a drive?". Driving a large Class A motorhome can be frightening and it takes a while to get comfortable. Here are a few things that helped us.

1. The MH is wide. You must drive close to the road center line, about one foot closer than a car. Move to the left and find a spot on your dash that lines up with the center line. If you can't find one, put a piece of tape on the windshield. Soon, you will get used to being "left" and no longer need to focus on it.

2. When turning left, you need to drive straight until your head is lined up with the center line of the road you are entering. It feels weird, but it works. Once out that far, turn hard left and you will find that your back wheels will not clip the center line, divider or a vehicle in your path.

3. When turning right, you must drive straight until your head is lined up with the curb of the road your are entering. "Cheat" over one half lane to your left, basically taking two lanes. Watch for bikes or small cars trying to pass on the right and wait for these people to get out of your way. Once past the curb, turn hard right, but watch the curb. It is closer than when you are turning left. If the road you are turning onto is narrow, wait for all cars on that road to clear out.

Don't be intimidated by anyone wanting you to "get out of the way". You are bigger than them; take your time. Move slowly. If you do run over the curb, just do it slow and you will be fine. Hit it fast and all your dishes will crash to the floor! 

4. When turning left you must be in the rightmost left turn lane. When you come to a turn and you are not sure how many left turn lanes there are, take both lanes! Once you determine your lane, move into it. Again, you are big, don't let anyone intimidate you.

5. Don't turn into a driveway for fuel or shopping unless you physically  see your exit. You may get trapped and have to back up. With a tow car it means unhitching first. 

6. Brakes: Two panic stops in a row and your brakes might be toast! Allow plenty of room to stop. On downhills, use your exhaust brake; use your service brake to get well below the speed you want; then release the brake. When the MH speeds up above your desired speed, repeat the process. On extreme downhills, slow to a crawl and use first or second gear. You'll be fine.

New Owner Tips

Craig's Rule: 2-2-2: We met "Craig" on our second night of full timing. Craig had traveled extensively for years and offered his perspective, which we welcomed. Craig gave us a list of "must see" places in the USA. The best advice he gave us, we have dubbed as Craig's Rule: Drive less than 200 miles per day, get there by 2:00 pm and stay at least 2 days. We have used this rule and it is great! Violate it, and you will be tired, get less value at your RV park, or not enjoy your day. Try it, it works!

Don't pay after dark: We added our own rules. First is when you can't get to your destination by 2:00 pm and not even before dark, don't pay for a park. We did and we would pay, park, level, hookup water, sewer and electric, go to bed, get up, retract the levelers, unhook utilities and take off. Not smart! What is the alternative? Walmart and other empty lots, truck stops, rest stops, etc. Do this and it takes only a few minutes to get to bed. We get up early and move to the RV park or keep on driving.

Don't reserve: We move often, actually every few days. Occasionally, we stay a week or two. Early on, we reserved parks quite a bit. Now? We do not reserve unless we really, really want to stay somewhere, really badly. Why? Every "appointment" makes you either drive too fast or try to find something to do while you are waiting. For example, we made a manufacturer's service appointment months ahead. As the time approached we were one week early. We could not reschedule, so we had to "hover" around for seven days to make the appointment. When you have to, make the reservation. If not, don't.

Get one night first: When we reach our RV park, we pay for one night only . After one night, we decide how much longer to stay. In many areas, there are no nice parks and there is really nothing to do. So we move on. But given a great park or lots to do, we pay for another day or a week or whatever!

The First Few Months

Don't rush: So many buyers will find this hard to take. You are excited about buying your motorhome and you are running on emotion. No problem, it might work out. But unless you take your time, you may lose a lot of time and money by rushing. Rush into the purchase and you may buy a motorhome that you will soon learn is not what you wanted. Rush into traveling and you may get stuck with a breakdown and end up staying in a motel for weeks waiting for repairs. Take your time!

Have a great attitude: We have met many owners that just complain about everything. You've met people like this. If this is you, change your attitude or don't buy a motorhome. You will have problems. We have had many problems. But we are nice to our dealer, manufacturer and the repair centers we visit. And we have been treated great, 100% of the time. "What goes around, comes around." It is true and it will work for you.

Bring it home and test everything: We bought our MH home in April, 2006 and have never slept in our house since then. We camped in our driveway for four months and took only short trips. We tested everything. We tested the heat pumps in the summer and the generator, even though we had shore power. Stay close to your dealer, test everything and where problems arise, schedule a service appointment.

Load only what you need: When we drove to our dealer and picked up our MH, we took no food, a small bag of clothes, our notebook computer and a few kitchen items that we knew we would need. It was kind of like "roughing it" in the nicest home we have ever had. Once home, we did not "load it up". We only brought things out of the house when we needed them. What was left in the house after three months was sold, given away or taken to the dump. We are thrilled; we still have empty space and try not to fill it.

Schedule manufacturer service: It can take months to get a service appointment. Call your manufacturer fairly soon and make an appointment for repairs, it may be months away. Email them your list of repairs. Keep updating the list, removing items that have been repaired by you or your dealer and adding new ones. Trust us, you will have a nice list by the time your appointment comes up.