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Re: not suiting my purposes, I'll be driving around quite a bit while staying in each location long-term and don't want to have to unhook it and use tons of gas to take the whole house with me every time I do. Also less of a "house-like" atmosphere for my pets and me. As for complications, I'm saying they're ALL complicated. I suppose with any rig there are ways to simplify by just "roughing it" in one or more aspects (using only electricity and campground showers/bathroom, etc.).
Hi Otterhere. Just to clarify for your research purposes, a Class B is the "van-type" RVs, typically 21-24 feet. My son is currently traveling the country in a Class B and having a blast. His has a stove, frig, hot water, bathroom, shower, 26" TV, DVD, heat and A/C. Try googling Winnebago Travato to see what they look like. They get around 18 mpg and can fit in a regular parking space so you can take it to shop or to the office you're visiting. They're a cinch to drive, it's just a big van with tons of mirrors and a backup camera. As for repairs, there will be nothing that requires physical strength, so rest assured. Other things will eventually break, but as someone said, there are manuals and you wouldn't believe how helpful the Facebook groups are when you have trouble. By the way, lots (most) of the people doing this seem to have dogs or cats with them. I've put a link below to a YouTube video of a woman who's been traveling alone in her Travato for the past few years. Maybe it will help in your research. Oh, by the way, since the advent of solar panels and lithium batteries, there are models which are all electric with no propane. Good Luck.
My 74 year old mom took off all the time in her class c RV, though she regretted selling her class b road trek. She just had to sell hers because of ongoing and likely permanent back problems.
But she RV’d for years, belonged to LOWs (Loners on Wheels) and she handled everything just fine. And she is 5 ft tall and tiny.
OP, I highly suggest you try out the propane. It's so easy. And it works great. And if you are ever somewhere with an electricity outtage, you will be able to use stove, fridge, and heat. And it can work for light, too.
Have you ever taken jugs to be filled up with water? It's about that hard.
Jug gets empty with propane - you unscrew the jug (tank), take it to be filled. Bring full jug back, screw it into place.
Voila!
And all propane appliances have a ton of safety features, so you can't blow yourself up.
So far, the poasters sound like RVing is all Peaches & Cream, but what about the dark side?
I traveled throughout the US and well into Canada in a self contained Campervan I converted myself, Camping on farmland, chasing music festivals for close to 10 yrs, had a blast, until I
graduated and bought a new 2017 Class C, you know the old boaters saying, well it holds true for RVs, the happiest day was when I got ‘er, and the next best day was when I dumped ‘er. Kept it for a little over a year, many problems, when I brought it in for service, the dealer kept it for 2+ weeks, what went through my mind was what would happen if I was traveling in the middle of who knows where, I had AAA Plus, they would tow me....but?????
I'd be more than happy to do entirely without propane. After all, if you're already paying for your utilities with an RV park site fee (although I understand many charge separately for long-term electricity), might as well use it rather than have to buy tanks of gas on top of it and risk your life besides!
Propane is a fact of life for RVers. Pretty much every stove and oven runs off propane. Same with the furnace, although you could always use an electric heater in more temperate climates. If you plan on being mobile you may not always make it to an RV park. If you boondock on BLM land, there won't be any hookups in most of them. Same with a Walmart parking lot, which may be your only option some nights. Propane is very safe, if properly handled and used.
My plan (I know; "best laid plans") would be to stay long-term in a succession of RV parks, following the weather, so I could see myself getting away with not using propane, if necessary.
I sometimes wonder if all these Millennials buying TINY HOUSES ON WHEELS realize that they have to deal with these same issues and then some (since they aren't really designed to be travel trailers)? They always show them just moving in and living without any mention of utilities and how they work in cases like this.
My plan (I know; "best laid plans") would be to stay long-term in a succession of RV parks, following the weather, so I could see myself getting away with not using propane, if necessary.
I sometimes wonder if all these Millennials buying TINY HOUSES ON WHEELS realize that they have to deal with these same issues and then some (since they aren't really designed to be travel trailers)? They always show them just moving in and living without any mention of utilities and how they work in cases like this.
Two-burner hotplate, microwave, and toaster oven -- all electric. Now you're cookin' with(out) gas."
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