RV After Cruising???

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by daletournier

The campervan thing is big on my list and I'm thinking it's getting closer, I was looking at van porn only yesterday.

https://www.fiatcamper.com/en/produc...ato-camper-van

I seriously considering this change.

Oh man, that’s a beauty. I only wish…

With my budget we’re looking at more like this:

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Oh man, that’s a beauty. I only wish…

With my budget we’re looking at more like this:

Lol.... Yep it's really cool, but I wouldn't spend that much.

Over the last 12 mths we have been passageing making with another boat and regularly "campervan" comes up on the radio while underway when we just aren't having fun.

A good mate of mine who cruised for years is now doing the "vanlife" in Europe, he's loving it.... regularly points out to me he hasn't dragged anchor once....... meanwhile I'm sitting out thunderstorms waiting for a window to head north up the Brazilian coast..... did I mention we got smashed on our last attempt and ran back with our tails between our legs yelling "Campervan".

[dannc]

Originally Posted by daletournier

...
A good mate of mine who cruised for years is now doing the "vanlife" in Europe, he's loving it.... regularly points out to me he hasn't dragged anchor once.......

In the last six months or so, a woman visiting Ireland was drowned when her RV was blown off a parking area and into the ocean.

We saw quite a few RV vans over there and the idea of touring land by RV is interesting. I don't think the huge US sized RV will work on those single lane Irish roads. Though, having said that, we where shocked to see semi's on some of those lanes!

Later,
Dan

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by dannc

I have always been intrigued by canal boats.

We did this aqueduct a couple of weeks ago, scary as hell. Step off the boat and its 126 feet to the valley below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgLKmYIdizE

[Tayana42]

We went the other way. First the RV then the cruising sailboat. For 13 years we had a VW Camper Van with pop top and side tent. It was our vacation home, camping tent, ski chalet, boat carrier, magic carpet to adventure and my daily driver. Of course during those years we sailed too but on a smaller car topper or a small trailer sailer. In some ways it was the best of both worlds. But, the years in Minnesota without heat or a defroster were challenging.

[ThereAndBack]

I've done both, cruised aboard for years, then went to a RV for 10 months full time on a trip around the USA.

A lot of people get really excited about camper vans. They're little better than camping in my opinion. Do you consider cruising in your boat camping? Then why do it on land?

I bought a small class A gasser that served extraordinarily well. A 28ft class A is bigger than a 35ft boat in interior space. You need less storage. And we put a bunch of solar on top and went boondocking the whole time. Our limiting factor was actually when the holding tank would fill up.

Land life is a lot easier and cheaper. Enjoy.

[Davy J]

We currently split our time between our boat and the RV. The RV is quite comfortable. It is a little bit bigger than a camper van though....

This is our land cruiser:

https://www.granddesignrv.com/showro...rplans/315rlts

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Davy J

We currently split our time between our boat and the RV. The RV is quite comfortable. It is a little bit bigger that a camper van though....

This is our land cruiser:

https://www.granddesignrv.com/showro...rplans/315rlts

Yeah, just a little .

I’ve never RVed before, so am still learning. I like the idea of a camper van, but am not sure if it is functional enough for our needs. I’m sure a Class C would work, but I’m not sure about the costs.

… so many questions. It’s like starting the cruising life all over again .

[northwestsailor]

I converted a 4x4 Sprinter cargo van into a camper van. Full Victron set up with 3000w inverter, 300Ah Lithium Battery, solar, shore power and alternator charging. Wallas stove for cooking and heat. Cassette toilet, AC/DC referigerator and full time bed in the back.

We love have it for breaks from the cruising life.

[Davy J]

I like the idea of a camper van, but am not sure if it is functional enough for our needs. I’m sure a Class C would work, but I’m not sure about the costs.

The only problem with a camper van, or any motorhome, is unless you are towing a car, every time you want to go anywhere, you need to tear down "camp" so to speak. We already owned a HD diesel truck so getting a large travel trailer was the easy answer. If you own a car, a class A is really the way to go.

[a64pilot]

Funny, my original intent on Retirement was an RV.
Idea was a Diesel pusher bus, at the time we had 36’ fifth wheel and years ago had a VW Westfalia, it’s the only vehicle I wish I still had.
Issue with RVing in the US is your pretty much going from one KOA to another. In theory you can stay in State Parks, but just try to get a reservation, they are booked usually months in advance, forget just dropping in and thinking your going to get a spot.
Yeah, I know about Walmart parking lots, but do you really want to overnight in one of those, much less stay awhile?

Issue with a bus is they are fantastic for traveling, but you have no dinghy if you will, so you need another vehicle to tow.
A fifth wheel is much less money than a Bus, and you have the tow vehicle to drive around, but when traveling you can’t be in the RV of course.

Regular Class A motohomes with the gas motor up front drive horribly, wind blows them around and get behind a truck and they shake like a dog had a hold of the front end.

Then I found out about Cruising, where you really can drop anchor most anywhere within reason, and stay a reasonable time, for free.
If you could do that with an RV it would make it a whole lot more appealing

Price a KOA, you’ll find most likely it’s about as expensive as always staying in a Marina is.

[dcstrng]

I think my wife would migrate to a Winnebago in a heartbeat, but her husband ain't interested in maintaining one... Motorcycle camping, maybe....

[Davy J]

Price a KOA, you’ll find most likely it’s about as expensive as always staying in a Marina is.

We haven't found that to be the case. With the KOA club discount, we paid on average about $ 35.00 per night traveling from Florida to Michigan and back. And in Ohio once, paid $ 12.00 a night at a county park.

[sailorboy1]

if you only are going to consider the cost, is much of anything worth it

just like in a cruising boat you get a RV to travel to see new things

what do a lot of boat cruiser do when they get to a new town, they go find a Walmart, so that part will be familiar :-)

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Davy J

We haven't found that to be the case. With the KOA club discount, we paid on average about $ 35.00 per night traveling from Florida to Michigan and back. And in Ohio once, paid $ 12.00 a night at a county park.

$35 a night, times 30 nights is $1,050 a month. That’s Marina money, expensive one at that. I’ve stayed in a many a KOA, been years though.