RVer wannabe

[Vapgirl67]

Hello all, very new to this world which I have dreamed of for many, many years. I decided to join a forum to learn as much as possible about life on the road. Absolute beginner here, just soaking up as much info, ideas, advice and warnings as possible. I aim to make this dream real, and to be on the road in a year or less. Thanks and nice to be here, Peace to all

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Hello all, very new to this world which I have dreamed of for many, many years. I decided to join a forum to learn as much as possible about life on the road. Absolute beginner here, just soaking up as much info, ideas, advice and warnings as possible. I aim to make this dream real, and to be on the road in a year or less. Thanks and nice to be here, Peace to all

Welcome aboard. Lots of knowledgeable people here and the best way to learn is to listen and ask.

 

[rjshiflet49]

Welcome and best wishes for your journey. Remember a few things...

1) Always have fun.
2) There will be issues...be prepared and roll with the punches.
3) Never quit learning.
4) Safety First in all aspects of RVing.
5) It's always going to cost more than you expected.
6) 99.8% of the people you meet RVing are going to be great. Don't let the 0.2% spoil your adventure.
7) Live by lists...packing list, setup list, store-it-away list, etc. Lists help you prevent missing a critical step.
8) Set realistic daily travel goals and don't push the limits.
9) Proper maintenance is crucial.
10) Enjoy the ride!!

 

[RobertE]

Take your time and watch some YouTube. I got a lot of good information there prior to buying an RV.

The first decision is what kind? We had a motor home years ago and while it was better constructed than a trailer, for us the major downsides were having to tow a vehicle and having another maintenance vehicle, plus insurance.

Second time around we elected to get a trailer for those reasons but mainly b/c we can unhook and have a vehicle to drive, and that vehicle is also my daily driver.

If you do elect to go with a trailer, be sure you have a vehicle that is capable. I see so many RV trailers being hauled by minivans, and small SUV's and unless it's a very small trailer or pop up that's not advisable.

 

[chims]

If you're new to rving and plan on towing a trailer, here are a few things to consider:

1. The tongue weight: The manufacturers are supposed to include battery and propane weight but I don’t think they ever do. Once you add two batteries and propane for two tanks, your tongue weight will increase by about 170 lbs. And this is before you've even loaded your trailer. The best thing to do is confirm this number with a tongue weight scale or at a CAT scale. You will want to keep your tongue weight between 10% - 15% of your fully loaded trailer.

2. Payload: You will eat up a good chunk of your payload capacity with your tongue weight (you will gain a bit of this back with your WDH). Payload will usually become an issue before towing capacity. If you have kids, spouse, pets, etc. this will also eat into your payload. You will also have to account for any cargo you might load into the back of the tow vehicle.

3. Tow Vehicle Wheelbase: The longer the wheelbase, the better. There are some rules of thumb out there for wheelbase to trailer length, 110" for 20 ft length, then add 1 ft for every additional 4 inches of wheelbase. I don't believe this is based on any science that I've seen. Most people only use this as a guideline and will often go over by a couple of feet in trailer length. Again, the longer, the better.

4. Weight Distribution Hitch: Get a good one if you have a short wheelbase on your tow vehicle. The WDH will dampen any sway but won’t eliminate it. If you are nervous when towing, you can invest in a Hensley or a ProPride which will eliminate the sway. Big bucks though. Important to note that a WDH will not decrease your tongue weight, it will only redistribute.

5. Trailer Weight: Most people will recommend that you keep your towing weight at 80% of your maximum capacity. If you will be towing mainly on flatlands, this won't be as big a concern. But it's good to have something extra if you're towing through the mountains.

6. GCWR: Make sure you’re not going over the rated GCWR of your tow vehicle. Always verify that the combined weight (vehicle + payload + trailer) stays under the GCWR and that the tongue weight doesn't put you over your payload capacity.

Just a few things. Happy camping!