RV Shopping: A Long and Winding Road

As of this writing (April 2017), we have not yet moved into our RV, nor have we taken it anywhere. It's currently in our driveway being rewired, painted, prodded, destroyed, reconstructed, and when all is said and done, it may not be the right fit for us. So... disclaimer aside, my main take away from the road to RV life so far is this: research, research, research.

Since summer of '16, we've researched and shopped RV's to the point that I joked with friends and family that we were either preparing for our next home or our next career. Both turned out to be true... with a background in electronics and aviation maintenance, Chris took a job as an RV tech in January, so we've both seen things not covered in the hundreds (or thousands?) of hours of YouTube videos we've watched lately. It's been a great learning experience and I think we ultimately made a great (for us) decision, purchasing a 2002 Thor Signature 30RK.

Getting to that decision took... awhile... and it involved a lot of cursing and lists and riding around RV lots in golf carts. We went to our first RV show in July, way before we seriously considered full time RV living, and gravitated to big ol' rear living 5th wheels. Chris lives in his rocker/recliner and is kind of obsessed with rear living models because of the big windows and space for his chair.

After we came back from our Sturgis trip, he became kind of obsessed with Casita travel trailers because you can pull them with almost anything. We visited the factory and showroom in Rice, TX. I didn't want anything to do with the Casitas, but I went along because it meant a trip to Texas. I only took one picture though. I was NOT into it. They're very well made and people have done some super cool and creative things with them, but... too claustrophobic for me in a full time situation.

Then we were onto travel trailers. We both really liked a front kitchen Salem, enough that we started a list of modifications we'd make to the new model off the showroom floor. I loved the desk area in the bedroom and the large kitchen, plus the sliding glass door option and spot for Chris's chair.

Then Chris kind of had a slide-related freak out and decided he was absolutely against them. He really tried to sell me on a 20-some foot Murphy bed rear bath model. I just wasn't feeling it. I kept thinking... what if one of us is sick? Or snoring? There's literally no where else to go. This guy would have been really flexible and easy to tow, but... no.

Then came some legit pro and con lists. I was trying to use logic to convince myself on the little travel trailers. It didn't work, but I enjoyed using my colored pens.

We looked at Class B's, we flirted with Class A's. Some of us got hangry after hours on the sales lots.

We binge watched Josh the RV Nerd's YouTube RV tours. We watched so much Less Junk More Journey, The Freedom Theory, 188SqFt, Drivin and Vibin, etc etc etc that we feel like we know them now. 

We wound back around to Coachmen 5th wheels at a second RV show. Watched most of an episode of Snapped in one just to get that authentic 'at home' feeling.

Then... a smaller Jayco travel trailer. We came very close to buying a 2520RL. I'd made some peace with it. We measured one and did some planning. Chris envisioned replacing the sofa with his rocker/recliner and a desk/countertop combo with a view of the mountains.

But... I still wasn't 100% into it. Blame all of the aforementioned YouTubers. I really wanted a reno project. I didn't want to spend a ton on a new one and still hate the interior. So, we started looking at used campers. Some broke my heart. So. Much. Water. Damage. Guys - it's everywhere! It's definitely worth hiring an inspector if that's the route you choose. I was glad to have Chris with me who knew what to look for and determine how big of a fix might be involved. I had heard that older trailers were built a little better and I think it's true. It's just easy to let maintenance and small leaks get away from you and then they become big problems. Great buys to be found though and the old guys were a lot more interesting to look at!

This is the road that ultimately led us to Martha Jane. From first RV show to purchase, about eight months of pretty intense research. I agree with the sentiment that if you think too much, you're never going to do it, BUT... I've learned so much in this search and I feel like we made a really informed choice. Fingers crossed we picked a good fit! //Allison