The RV

When we were a family of four and we had first started thinking about this trip, we wanted to do it in this:

It was ideal – or so we thought.  It was small, lightweight and for the four of us, was everything we would need.

Then we walked into something that looked a little like this –

Our transportation needs changed in an instant!  At once we realized that we didn’t need to sacrifice our comfort to be able to travel.  So our search now has turned to an RV, at first a Class A, then a Class C and now we are back to a Class A.  Simply for the room and number of slides that we can get in a Class A versus a Class C, for us it makes sense.

Here we go – this is the first part of many, many, many more to come on the subject of the RV!

Selecting the Right RV for YOU

Selecting just the right RV for you and your family should be a family affair, after all, you are all going to be living in it together.

Only you can decide what is best for you, your life style, and also for your budget. DO YOUR RESEARCH – educate yourself before your start shopping.  Don’t be fooled by a gimmicky salesman who cares more about his paycheck than he does YOUR needs.  He doesn’t know you from Adam, nor does he care about your family, so be aware, be wise and take your time!  Don’t fall in love with the first RV you walk into, it’s easy to do, believe me.

Remember who will be doing the cooking and the cleaning and who will be doing the driving. We’ve based our needs and wants on what I need for the way we live and what Mario needs for the way we will drive, where and when we will be driving.

ALL new RV’s look lovely but not ALL new RV’s are suited for your lifestyle.

For example, we have to have an RV that has a bathtub, it will be a small one, but with little people around, that is of utmost importance to us.  As is storage, LOTS and LOTS of storage.  We will be homeschooling all three kids on the road so there has to be space to keep the school supplies we need at the time.one

The right RV for you is the one that you like—not necessarily the latest and greatest of those who don't understand the needs of a family just the latest and greatest gadgets.

There are so many different manufacturers, different floor plans, different models and different lengths that it can become incredibly overwhelming when you start out.  Take your time to figure out what works for you.  We’ve been looking for over two years now and still have not made any concrete decisions.

There are a few terms that you will need to know, terms that will for sure have an impact on the size and type of RV that you will purchase, especially when it comes to Weight Capacities. Think about it this way, you don’t want to fall in love with an RV with a Net Carrying Capacity (NCC) of only 400 lbs. when in actual fact you need at least 1,500 lbs. of "stuff" and may still need room for more!

The terms you need to familiarize yourself with off the bat are these:

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) – This is the maximum permissible total weight of a vehicle, including all fluids, passengers, and cargo. We have found that many newer RV’s have a GVWR of 18,000, 20,500, 22,000 or even 24,000 lbs. for gasoline models and diesel RV’s can be as high 60,000 lbs.

GVWCR (Gross Vehicle Weight Combined Rating) - The maximum permissible combined weight of a vehicle, including the weight of the towed vehicle.

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) – This is the maximum permissible weight that can be carried by an axle. The specifications should list a weight rating for both the front and rear axles. Older models have a front axle weight rating of 6,000 or 7,000 lbs. and a rear axle rating of 11,000 lbs. Adding the two axle weight ratings together equals the GVWR.

It is possible to overload either axle but still be within the overall GVWR for the vehicle. It is also possible to overload a tire or tires on one side and yet still be within the allowable axle rating. More on this later

NCC (Net Carrying Capacity) - The Net Carrying Capacity rating— also referred to as Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC)—is the weight of “stuff” that can be loaded into the vehicle and still be within the allowable GVWR.

You will find many a site on the internet where fellow newbies and RV enthusiasts alike share questions and answers, most brutally honest, about anything and everything regarding your potential purchase.  You will benefit from their experience so don’t take it personally!  Learn from those who have been in your shoes before, become education on what to stay away from as well as what you should be looking for.

Next up (when we post about RV's anyway) is Features of an RV ...