Searching for the RV

We had been investigating RV's since Fall of 09. The first place we went was the Hershey trade-in show, where the used units traded in for new units during the Hershey RV Show two weeks earlier are displayed. We were leaning toward a Class C at the time and We looked at almost every RV between 22 and 36 feet, and amid the horrorshow of cigarette burned drivers seats and pet stained carpets, we saw two nice units, both Winnebagos, but not worth the asking price.

We decided to rent an RV close in size to what we wanted to buy, just to see if we liked the RV lifestyle. I began looking locally for a 30-35 ft Class A RV that we could rent. After corresponding with three companies in our general area, we were the most comfortable with a place called Martin's RV Rentals in Lititz, PA.

In May of 2010 we rented was a 2010 Damon Daybreak 35' for a trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, about 1200 Miles. It was expensive, but the RV was brand new and we had a great time. So we decided to buy.

Next were the Internet classifieds. The best were rvsearch.com, motorhomeclassifieds.com, and rvt.com, but I had over 20 total. I also read 3 or 4 books on RV's and RV purchasing so I would have some idea what I was talking about.

Based on our research and recommendations, we decided that we wanted a 30-35 ft Class A Winnebago. We were kind of pre-sold on Winnebago partly because of the company's reputation and customer service, partly because literally half of RV manufacturers were in serious financial trouble at the time.

Unfortunately, we had a budget. If we paid too much for the RV, we wouldn't have enough money left over for the trip. Buh-bye diesel. We saw a 2008 Winnebago Voyage 33' that was too expensive, a 2005 Winnebago Sightseer 30' that the owner pulled from consignment, a 2004 Winnebago Brave 32' that the owner wouldn't budge from what he owed the bank even though he was never going to get it, and a few others. But the Pièce de résistance was a 2004 Itasca Suncruiser 33' that I found in Florida and flew down to see, and possibly buy. My friend Brian went with me. The “looks like a new coach” had some problems, including body damage, generator issues, and remnants from where someone had spray painted an obscenity on the side. So I swore not to look at anything more than 200 miles away.

Fast forward two weeks to December, 2010. I am on a plane to Eunice, Louisiana to look at a 2004 Winnebago Adventurer 35'. I had seen it on Ebay and it had a phone number so I called. I got a really good vibe from the owner. He is a 84 year old Cajun fellow who is in the auto parts business. The RV was mechanically sound and well maintained, the price was right, so the deal was struck.

We flew down to Louisiana the second week of January and drove it back to Pennsylvania. Everything was an adventure. Every light, alarm, swithh, etc takes on a new meaning when you are the one who has to deal with it. But we made it back ok.

We made some modifications including replacing both TV's and adding a cell phone antenna, along with about a million small modifications and a bunch of repairs and maintenance. We worked the bugs out with trips to local campgrounds, the Poconos, Acadia National Park in Maine, Gettysburg, and Cuyahoga National Park in Ohio.

So all that remained to do was sell our house, put all our stuff in storage, and quit our jobs. No problem. We must be nuts.

and learn to drive RV (actual photos from TN)...

Hatching the Plan

One night, Cheryl and I were watching Ken Burns' “The National Parks: America's Best Idea”. This was about the third episode we had watched, and we were mesmerized. Then Cheryl posed the question: “Wouldn't it be cool to get a motorhome and go around and see all the National Parks?'

So, for better or for worse, this whole thing was her idea, with help from Dayton Duncan, whose book the Ken Burns series was based on, is aboard.

“Cheryl's Best Idea” began to take on a life of its own. We began talking about it daily, discussing how we could do this. We had wanted to relocate, so the original plan was 8 months on the road and then take up housekeeping elsewhere. As circumstances changed, the start was delayed three times. The length became a year, more or less, depending on what happens between now and then and how frugal we are.

So after the initial delays, a timetable was set. It was a real right-brain decision because it flies in the face of the adult-onset insecurities we have developed over the last 25 years or so. But the uncertainty is part of the allure.