Getting out to explore and enjoy the great outdoors is like a soothing cream being applied to the burns of work and city stress. Getting out in an RV will simplify life and allow you to properly balance your activities by what is good for you. Time to read, exercise, relax and talk with friends will make up a bigger piece of the pie. Yes you can still do some work on the road thanks to modern technology of mobile data, cellular boosters, and backup power.
So what is the biggest mistake that future RV’ers make? They over-think things! Yes the hardest part of the journey is walking out the front door. My advice is to just get started! I’ve owned a tent, a tent trailer, a hybrid trailer, and a light weight bunkhouse trailer with a slide. As I look back, I have no regrets!
The tent trailer and hybrid trailer were both fantastic for being open, airy, and would keep you dry through the rainy days. We always liked opening up the tents on these trailers on those hot summer days and let the summer breeze flow through while looking out over the lakes and ocean. Ahh those great afternoon naps!
I don’t know what RV is right for us? Most likely your first RV will be great for 4 to 6 years. Go to a couple of RV shows, make a list of what features you like, and start! Go get something that fits most of your needs, budget, and tow-ability and go do it! If you are buying new I recommend reviewing my post on buying on selling RVs (coming soon). It is so thrilling to get out your first few times in your RV. It surpasses that experience of replacing you car. Whether you get a tent trailer, a small fiberglass, or a 25′ trailer, you will have a lot of fun figuring it out!
What about depreciation? Yeah a little, but the savings over hotels, and the benefit of the experiences make me quickly not care about depreciation and I just factor it in to the cost of living. I will post later on buying and selling RVs. We decided early on that the most important investment for our old age will be memories over money. We accept that there will be a time when we are no longer able to travel and explore. At that time, we’d rather have albums of photos and memories over a pile of money.
What about maintenance? All assets require regular maintenance to prevent premature failure. The nice thing about trailers is that they are relatively easy to maintain. Also there are a hundred videos for fixing everything from hot water heaters to pumps. Also, almost all of the manufacturers put in the same equipment. Dometic or Norcold refrigerators, Suburban heaters and stoves… etc. You will need to winterize if you live in the colder climates and then in the spring do a season preparation.
Winterizing does not take that much time! The main goal is to prevent damage caused by freezing water in the water supply and drain pipes. I also recommend using an RV Cover to protect your RV from the damaging Sun’s ultraviolet rays. Freezing water and the sun are the two most damaging things for an RV.
So start now! Make it a goal to be out there RVing as soon as you can and Don’t Over Think It! Time is passing us all by and the sooner you start, the more memories you will have.