dream or nightmare

[PNW Judy]

Having slept in my share of pull-out beds and/or beds made from the table/seating area, I have always had a comfortable night's sleep. I'm not convinced a fixed bed is needed for that. For myself, the minimal time to make-up/take-down the bed at night is more than worth it to get more maneuverability a smaller rig allows. But, again, your call.

My ideal travel combo is a regular car pulling a teardrop trailer. You can drive a vehicle you like, the trailer is lightweight and doesn't add much to fuel consumption; you have a comfy bed/kitchen/storage that stays dry and secure; you can add the screenhouse or large tent to put up if you're staying in one place for awhile and want more room for changing clothes or whatever; and it's small enough to take through congested traffic with ease and other "tight" areas like you might find in national parks, etc. And, compared to the price of an A, B, or C RV, they're very reasonably priced. You can also leave it at the campsite while doing daytrips in the car.

Just something else to consider.

[Southwest Dave]

As you can see, different people will offer different options but the only way to find out what suits you best is to try things for yourself.
I would refer you back to post 2 and 3 where we suggested dipping your toes in the water as opposed to diving in the deep end.

One question [and an important one I.M.O. Have you any experience of camping, whether under canvass or a motor home or are you looking for a financial alternative? Perhaps renting, or at least going to a specialist [American ] R.V. dealer here in the U.k first and having a good look around will give you an idea of what your living will be like.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for "living the dream" and think it will be wonderful, but you need to know what will work for you, as it is a huge commitment. I love camping, under canvass and vans, but it isn't for everyone. If it's more for financial reasons [i.e Motel rooms being "dead money"] then I would definitely do a trial run. If you are campers as such then any of the options mentioned could work, if you are looking for a "motel on wheels" with comforts, I think your initial choices will work for you.

You could rent rooms the entire year for a similar outlay on an R.V. and although you won't have the re sale value when done, the fuel savings and other associated costs against a smaller vehicle could be significant.

[ferrydreamer]

Yes we have camped a bit, and are not really looking for a "hotel on wheels" As i said earlier we just want to arrive and wander about a bit. We both feel that motels would not give us that freedom to just stop where we fancy.The cost is of course of great importance to everything, but again it has to be weighed against the experience. The amount of miles we anticipate covering,will i think almost make the cost of the RV at journeys end "dead money" anyway. any money we manage to get back will be a bonus.
We have looked at various vans over here and if all were the same price i am still not sure we would go for an A because of the overall size. It is looking more likely to be around about a 26-30 footer allowing for a fixed bed, what sort A or C will have to depend on initial cost and MPG as michael said in an earlier post stepping over a dollar to pick up a penny wouldn't be much of a saving if it screwed up the whole trip.

[Midwest Michael]

This might not be a decision you make until you are actually in the US and can test drive a couple for yourself. While reading about the differences in classes can give you some good information, it will never be the same as actually getting inside one.

When you arrive in the US, I'd plan on spending a couple of days looking and test driving RVs. That would really be the best way for you to know what exactly you'll have available, what will really work best for you, and to find one that will fit into your price range.

[Mark Sedenquist]

With the rising cost of petrol -- many RV owners are dumping their vehicles on the market at cost or at a significant discount and so the liklihood exists that you will be able to find an amazing "deal" on a lightly used RV.

Mark

[PNW Judy]

We both feel that motels would not give us that freedom to just stop where we fancy.

You will need to stay in campgrounds which can often be harder to find than hotels as there aren't as many of them. There are some limited other options, i.e. some Wal-Marts allow overnight parking, but not all and you will need to get permission from the store first.

Of course, camping, whether in a tent or RV, allows you to stay overnight in places with far more grandeur than most hotels can offer so it's still a great option. That's why I travel with my trusty tent.

But you need to plan for finding campgrounds and account for that in your budgeting. For the most part, full hook-up sites are usually $25-plus, and tent-sites without hook-ups are below that. But that's very general as prices can vary widely based on location, amenities, etc.

[Mark Sedenquist]

You will need to stay in campgrounds

Not really, for many travelers, RVs do offer the ability to boondock and not stay at formal campgrounds. There are some "rules" about boondocking -- here is a good overview about the practice of boondocking -- it is generally easier to do in the western part of the country, but you will find boondockers "camping out" in virtually every state in the USA.

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

Hi ferrydreamer,

Well you certainly have some ideas to think over there.

It will be great if you keep in touch and let us know how it all unravels, with choice of vehicle and the whole process of buying and registering it.

Of course, if there is any other info you want regarding this trip then just ask away.

Dave.

[ferrydreamer]

just one other query, can i drive any RV on an ordinary car licence. And of course i will let any one who is interested the outcome of all this.

[Midwest Michael]

We actually had a very recent discussion about the licenses and RV that you should check out.

But in a nutshell, An average license is all you need to drive an RV, and generally speaking, if you would be allowed to drive it in your home country, you should be able to drive it in the US.