Many good points in prev posts... all taken to heart
In my current S&B setup I have 1200 sqr ft... I use the 3x3 area where the computer is.. a 3x5 area in the kitchen. the bathroom and the bed... I cycle between these 4 spots and the rest of the space is a place for stuff to be and a path to the four living spots... Over the last two years My existence has taken a very small and simple footprint.
If it were not for the ability to file for SS next summer, I would not take this path. If it were not for the ability to sell my home and have enough funding to make it happen, I wouldn't/won't do it. My recording gear wouldn't fill a small tote, my music collection will fit on one hard drive (two fro safety sake) I will sell the awesome turntable and my home stereo including the awesome 1979 Genesis-II speakers... I imagine kitchen gear will take some room.. .lol... the one of everything kitchen,and only one...
I really do not think I will have an issue with volume of stuff, but am prepared to be proven wrong.. remember.. I packed and lived on a Motorcycle for weeks at a time on a couple of occasions.... I already know how to live small and simple... and unless I am monetarily forced to, I will chose to live a bit better as I approach the eventual end on my existence...
My "home office" is basically the same space I will use to video edit, record and mix/master... it takes no more space than the desktop computer will.. fyi I am a computer tech and build my own...
I absolutely agree that there some folks in the full time RV world that.. well let us say they don't exactly have money issues... they don't live with in constraints, and they never seem to end up having to suck it up.. they always find the solution that saves the day without having spent a ton of cash, ....... and then there are those that have heavy sponsorship.... some in this nomad clique look to be making some serious money with their channels.
The maint $$ difference between a class C and A is negligible given a std engine configuration. At 6'4" I am not designed for a class B or a van.. I want to be able to stand up and swing my arms a bit.. when I sleep it is often on my stomach and I take up a good 7 feet when doing so.... I prefer a shower head not be poking my rib cage..
.. a van is just not enough physical space..... a van does not have enough room for a fair sized solar array/charger/controller/batteries... there is a weight consideration too.. A's carry a lot more than C's.. C's tend to have less extra capacity than A's and they offer no advantage other than the "van front end" over an A.. gas mileage isn;t better, and there is less space.. I will give you that suspension and drive train will take more upkeep, but this is the only area I can see at this time where a C has it over an A. a 24'+- C class has the same wheel base and ground clearance as a shorty A .. ( and man are there some seriously Loooong class As out there.. )
Also understand that when I say Class A, I mean one of a 158" wheel base and shorter than 29'... and aiming for a 24'er.. which when compared to a Class C, offers a lot of advantages and no disadvantage... now then.. once you exceed the 158" wheel case.. yer screwed... turning radius, rear overhang, added weight etc etc etc... so when I say Class A .. don't think Leviathan, think class C with a full front end instead of the proboscis hanging over the cab ( that will leak and be a pain in the ass) ...
I predict that no matter how well I prepare.. I will not be prepared. One cannot fully prepare for an experience one has never had. I am doing all I can to mentally cut the path, but until I am walking the walk.. it is all talk.
So that brings up being realistic and not being a "pie in the sky" dreamer... The big unknowns will be the health of the rig and the health of me. In buying a used rig, it will be a crap shoot.... hopefully I get the one owner dream that that seller wants to go to a good home that will care for their baby.. that is the aim and that is what I am putting out there... Having done gobs of homework on buying used and being a bit of a handyman, I think i am better prepared than most.. I have changed a car engine out with hand tools. I have reroofed a house and installed skylights.. I have R&R a forced hot water heating system in a house. I have built a two flue chimney, I stripped down a motorcycle and installed additional fuse and ground blocks and wiring loom.. I have built hundreds of computers and repaired thousands... I've plugged tires...my job history includes work with metals.plastic and rubber parts and peices for Industry .... all that said.. I think I am well prepared for the challenges of RV living.... and for the challenges of known unknowns and the unknown unknowns...
Like my prep for my previous Cycle trips, i have been exploring every avenue of thought process I can find... My biggest known is engine trouble. Most of the rest of potential mechanical issues should be able to be ID'd and sorted in advance... bad tires should never be an issue that catches someone off guard.. a proper inspection of all systems will ID many of the potential issues....
The hard point for a class A is finding the right shop that will work on it as evidence dby many posts that address this issue. To me, thi sis the only real *Gotcha* for my choice of vehicle....
cheers