BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture RV Best bang 4 the buck-search for the starter camper

Hi All-

1st I want to say I never would have looked here to find the RV site. I had to search for it. I wuld have figured it out to be in travel not auto so that threw me for a loop... anyways.


I want to know if I could get some assistance. I have been wanting to get a RV for many years. I am at the point in my lif where my kids are almost out of the home and I want to start planning my travels and preparing.

I do not want tog et somethingtoo big that will be overwheling to a newbie- something up to 20ft I can pull. Where would you suggest I look to find my perfect starter ?


Thanks so much in advance for your help and suggestions.

Hi Maureen!

Thanks for stopping by the RV Forum. It would be nice to have the RV stuff in the travel section as well. It's very fitting!

What an exciting time for you! Searching for your first RV. I can totally understand wanting to get something that isn't too intimidating to drive. There are many, many towable trailers in your size range and they also have a large selection of ultra light-weight ones too.

As for internet searching, one of the best sites to begin exploring RVs for sale is on www.rvsearch.com.

Have you visited any of your local dealerships yet? There are some really cool, really big, really helpful RV dealerships all over the country. Where are you located?

Just got the August 2010 edition of Trailer Life in the mail and saw a relevant article on page 28 dealing with trailers. Four of the editors give their recommendations on trailers. One mentions a Dutchman Denali 260 FBX-DSL model, another mentions the Hi-Lo, 2009 TowLite 15T, another is a Lance model 1685. I know nothing about any of these, but the editors at Trailer Life are definitely experts in the RV world. See if you can get a hold of a copy and check it out! Or, it might even be on the Trailer Life website.

go to a rv dealer and tell them what u have and what u want. they will need to know how big of a truck u have to pull a trailer. 20 ft is a good starter size i have 5 years experience pulling a 25 ft trailer u should have a truck with a tow packege..lights hook up and a electric brtake hookup. good luck i can offerr more assistance or advice if youd like it.

Can you back a trailer? I can't. I'm also searching for a 'rig' and my choice in that regard is a Class C Mini Motorhome. Class C - that is the one with a truck cab in front. I also can not comfortably manage the wide cab of a Class A.

With a Class C, you just drive the truck and the rest magically follows you. : ) I am searching on the various RV web sites and have a couple of possibilities. I'm limiting myself to 24 feet because it's going to be used as our 2nd vehicle, meaning trips to the mall when DH has our car.

I'm also looking for something with possible bunk beds in the rear. The upper bunks would be used to hold animal carriers. Because I raise chickens and we chicken people travel around, exchanging birds. : )

If you look on line at the various interiors it will help you decide what EXACTLY you want. Like I want the stove in the corner because I'll never use it. The sink I want facing the front of the rig.

Can you compromise or are your wants cast in stone? A short rig with bunks is a rarity. I am seeing more units with a pair of sofas in the rear. I also may end up washing dishes with my head in the corner! I'm trying to hold the line on length however.

Are you looking at new or used? I'm going used only because I'm also holding the line on what I will pay. 15K tops. I hope some of what I've written will be helpful to you. Our first MH was purchased without knowing what we actually needed and we were so lucky that it turned out to be perfect. Our dtr. & family have it now.

Georgia