Question from Joe:

Hi Fred
At some point each and every man must find his mind in an RV. And when that first thought floats to our lost mind, we next get to an Airstream Classic RV. Well here I am. Don’t know where I’d go, but alas I’m gone. Please coach me. I’ve never had an RV. I like the thought of pulling a convertible either on a trailer or tow. I’ve dogs and kids and an adventurers basic matrix. Diesel? No Diesel? Please tell me what to do….can’t afford much.
Thanks Fred.
Joe

Fred’s Answer:

This is a great question and requires a long answer!  Not every situation is the same so I will give you a few things to ponder.

1. Do you own a tow vehicle?  This makes a huge difference.  Having a truck or large SUV allows you to buy a used trailer.  Right now, many of the 1980-1995 Airstream trailers are a real bargain.
2. Where do you plan to “camp”?  If you will always be at parks, a trailer makes a lot of sense.  If you plan to “boondock” or “dry camp”, a motorhome makes sense although many trailer folks tote along generators.
3. Do you have somewhere to store an RV?  Many subdivisions do not allow RVs.  A storage facility will run you $40 to $100 per month.
4. How much time off do you have each year?  If you only have 2-3 weeks of vacation, I suggest just renting cabins or hotels.  You really have to have some time available to use the RV.
5. How old are the kids?  Teenagers are a lot less likely to want to go camp with Mom and Dad.  Also, the convertible sofas and dinettes are really made for little ones.  Most teenagers and adults find them hard to sleep on.
6. How many activities are the kids in?  If you are one of those folks with the kids doing things all week, an RV may not be for you.  If you like to spend time together and are not involved in 10 clubs, you will have lots of fun.
7. What kind of things are you close to?  I once lived in Jackson, Mississippi and there was NOTHING within 3 hours of Jackson!  Here in West Virginia, I probably have 100 places to go within 3-4 hours.
8. How much money do you have to spend?  The trailers can be much less expensive.  The Classic diesel motorhomes can run from $19,000 to $39,000 depending on the model and year.
9. How handy are you?  Most RVs, just like an older car, need some work to keep them going.  You either need a pile of cash or be pretty handy.
10. It sounds like you want a diesel classic motorhome.  The classic diesels from 1983 to 1991 do not tow much of anything without modifications to the hitch.  The factory tow weight is 2,000 pounds.  The 1994-1995 Classic diesel pushers can pretty much pull any car.
11. As far as pulling a car, most motorhome owners prefer to tow “four down” (a.k.a. “toad”) or all four wheels on the road with a tow bar rather than using a dolly or trailer.  The dolly or trailer is just one more thing to drag around.  First, the car is much easier to unhitch and drive.  Second, the car is pretty stable on it’s own four tires.

Having an RV can be a great or horrible experience.  You learn about AC and DC electrical systems, plumbing, heating, cooling, and gas systems.  It is a complicated rolling house. It will take you a few trips to really understand your RV.  Have a good mechanic check it out and also show you have the systems work.

I also highly suggest being active in an Internet forum such as Air Forums (http://www.airforums.com/) or the Open Roads Forum (http://www.rv.net/forum/).

The pets are fun to travel with.  My two dogs absolutely LOVED the motorhome.  My pointer mix would run and leap into the RV with such enthusiasm that she usually hit the dinette on the other side of the coach!  They loved going on walks on the trails in the state parks!  Smaller dogs are obviously better.  You’ll need to check with the parks in advance for pet restrictions, fees, and requirements such as paperwork.

I hope that helps Joe!