Early in May 2018, we purchased a used 20’ travel trailer. Rob has the idea we’ll haul it to Alaska and spend a couple months in it. I (Jean) think that’d be great, but won’t happen for a while since I’m still working! My hope was to do more short trips on a tiny budget.

Finding a used RV in good shape was HARD. Rob made several trips of over 2 hours each, only to find rotten floors or in one case, the AC and water heater were no longer installed and he couldn’t walk in because the floor was so soft at the door! So if you are in the market, ask as many questions of the seller as you can think of, but don’t be surprised when the “perfect condition” RV is actually far from perfect.

After about 6 weeks hunt and many trips, he found a very well cared for 12 year old Jayco, and brought it home. It even had all the manuals for EVERYTHING in sleeve protectors in a binder with it! That has already proved valuable, since there were a few things we didn’t know about.

First trip in the trailer. An overnight at a nearby trout park. Copy write-Jean Brandenburg

If you are beginning the hunt for your “home away from home”, here are a few things to consider.

1. Do you want to drive your RV or haul it?

There are cons to both. We didn’t want to buy another vehicle to pull behind a motorhome so we could go places once we got to an area, but you may prefer that.

If you want to haul a trailer, how big can it be and your vehicle still handle it? Are you good at backing a trailer? Rob grew up on a farm, so backing trailers is no big deal to him. Me? Nope. Doesn’t happen.

We decided against a 5^th wheel, since we were going small, we figured we’d need the extra storage of the truck bed. Which is a short bed anyway. 

2. How big? Do you want slide outs?

Your tow vehicle and your budget will probably dictate this. I thought the smaller the better gas mileage we’d get. I also didn’t want slide outs, simply because I want to be able to pull off the road and go in for lunch or to use the facilities. I know some slide outs can prevent that, or make it really hard. Plus they add weight (worse mileage) and are another place for leaks or malfunctions. That being said, if you will be spending significant days, each time you stop, slide outs make so much more room and can be amazing!

3. What are your “Must Haves”?

For us, we only had 1 major must have. A bathroom, with shower. Being a Geezer, we both get up at least once in the middle of the night, so.. .. ‘nuf said.

A large refrigerator/freezer was up there pretty high too. We plan to cook most of our meals while gone, and may be far enough in the boonies a grocery store may not be too easy to find, so I thought this was important. Especially, if we make that Alaska trip!

There was another almost must have, say 96% must, a bed that doesn’t double as something else and can stay a bed. I didn’t want to have to take things apart and wrestle with sheets or quit doing what I wanted if Rob wanted to hit the hay! A sub-must, (so a want) here, is a bed where one of us doesn’t have to crawl over the other to get up.

4. What are your “Wants”?

Is an air conditioner important? (YES! Can you say Hot Flashes?)

A microwave? What about an oven? Many now have a micro, but no oven. I wanted an oven, but it wasn’t a deal breaker. (see? a want)

A double sink would be nice. If I’m gonna do dishes, I really like a double sink. Many only have a small single sink.

A couch and not just a dinette would also be nice.

Do you need extra room in the bathroom?

Would you like an office area?

The sky is the limit now days! You just have to decide what’s important to you, and what you are willing to give on.

One note here.  If you are on the young side of Geezerdom, and/or in good physical condition, you have all the options listed here.  If you want the convenience/economy of taking your house with you, but have some or a lot of physical limitations, your choices will be more limited.  You may want to go with a motorhome, with lots of power options.  You can get power awnings, slideouts, jacks, levelers, and probably others I don’t even know about.  You would want to still consider length, but we have seen many campgrounds, even state and federal ones, with handicap sites.  Usually level and pull through, close to the bathrooms.  So RVing isn’t out of your reach!   You just still have to be aware of your limits and adjust your RV and plans to fit them.

In our new trailer, we got all our musts and wants except the sub-must. The double (-ish, it’s pretty small) bed is closed in on 3 ½ sides. BUT there is a twin size bunk above it. I volunteered for that. No ladder, and really no place to put one, but I installed a “handle” to give me something to help haul myself up there. Over our 2 week shake down cruise, I found my leg muscles getting stronger! Rob’s brother called it “campercise”. I have my own tiny window to watch the stars too. I just wish it was 6 inches further back, so I didn’t have to scrunch to look out. Lol Just can’t please me!

We hope to have many grand adventures in this new “home”. Stay tuned!