Old School

The motorhomes I've looked at in previous entries have all been based on a Sprinter chassis. This has been my focus because nothing comes close to their fuel efficiency. However, I did begin to wonder if I was being penny wise and pound foolish: Are there other choices that I'd be more comfortable in, and is miles-per-gallon really such an important consideration? Those are issues I consider in this post.

Broader Horizons

In previous posts, I've looked at several options for my retirement motorhome. Some have been too small, some too closed in, some too expensive, but nothing has been just right - I'm beginning to feel a bit like Goldilocks. So far, I've only discussed models from Leisure Travel Vans, but my search has ranged more widely than that. In this post, I look at a couple models from more mainstream RV manufacturers.

We interrupt this program...

Breaking news: When I visited Sportsmobile last June they said the plan I presented probably exceeded the load capacity of the Sprinter chassis I had chosen. I went to work trimming weight off the plan, the result of which you see in the "Fulltime Planning" post earlier on this blog. Yesterday, I got up the nerve to email them this revised plan and their response today is that it is okay to build.

Serenity Now

In my quest for an RV that would be just right for me, I had passed over the Free Spirit SS because I couldn't use the bed without extending the slide-out, and the Free Spirit (no SS) felt cramped to me. Maybe it was time to take a look at a couple of the larger models from Leisure Travel Vans.

Paths Not Taken: Free Spirit

Blogs and forum postings by others have been invaluable to me as my plan developed. Notable among these are David Elmore's very detailed and thoughtful plans for his Sportsmobile, Chumley's thoroughly documented (and not entirely positive) experience having his Sportsmobile built, and Andy Baird's entertaining and helpful tips for life on the road. I have no illusions about being as helpful as these, but I ought to at least offer back what I can to those interested in the preparations leading up to RVing. One thing I can contribute is my take on the RVs I considered on my way to the current plan. Just because they weren't right for me doesn't mean they wouldn't be perfect for someone else. Elements of each of them have left a lasting impression on the choices I've made.

The Big Picture

Time to take a step back and give some more context. What's the timeline? Where will I go? What will I do?

Fulltime Planning

When I realized that I could retire earlier than I had expected, the most significant thing holding me back was the lack of a plan. I knew that simply staying home and puttering around the house could easily become a lonely, drab existence. Past notions of touring in a motorhome now seemed within my grasp - but what kind?

The Path I've Taken

My earliest memory of being intrigued by the itinerant lifestyle is as a teenager. I was an avid fan of science fiction and wondered, if I were to write my own sci-fi story, what would it be? I don't know where the idea came from, maybe something I read in Popular Science or Boys' Life, but I imagined a lifestyle in the near future when people wouldn't be tied to living in one location for any length of time.