Solo Women - How do you travel

[gcal]

A recent post made me wonder what kind of rv/van the solo women here have. If I were widowed, I might get a smaller moho, but I would not even consider a trailer at my age. Spring loaded leveling bars can be a dangerous hassle and a FB acquaintance just posted about her husband breaking 3 bones in his hand while hooking up his 5th wheel. I might get a small class C and keep our little toad, or I might sell everything and get a class B, but not a trailer, especially in my senior years. 

I follow several  solo women on Youtube. The ones who successfully live their traveling ambitions all seem to have vans or moho's, some with toads, some without. But they don't have trucks and trailers. One popular older YouTuber in particular has a strong desire to travel. But she seems to be frustrated and trapped in her current CG by her reluctance to face traveling without someone to help her with the rigors of dealing with her trailer. I think if she had a little class C, she'd be happily on the road, already.

 

[StarEcho]

 Spring loaded leveling bars can be a dangerous hassle and a FB acquaintance just posted about her husband breaking 3 bones in his hand while hooking up his 5th wheel. 

I'm 55 and travel alone  most of the time (well, with my dog) and I pull a 19' trailer.  I found the trick to using the weight distribution/sway control hitch bars is to put the hitch on the ball and raise the tongue jack until the bars clear the brackets.  Then I just slide the bars in and clip them up.  Then I lower the tongue jack for traveling.  I do the opposite to unhitch.  I never use my "cheater bar" to lever the bars up or down.  So for me at least at this stage I like having my Suburban and trailer and don't find them to be difficult.  Now that said, if I had a disability that would be different.  And for many of us, as we get older, we develop some type of disability or other.  Knees, hips, back, joint problems, blood pressure, diabetes, etc.  So in my opinion, it's health, not age in particular that determines what type of vehicle/rv is best for someone.  I also think that if you really want to do something, you find a way to do it.  A way around obstacles.  My husband is not able to travel with me for another 7 years or so, but he doesn't begrudge me traveling, so since that's the case and I really want to travel, I found a way to overcome obstacles in dealing with my trailer.  I found ways to make it easier for me physically.

It's kinda funny but I foresee that when my husband can travel with me, we'll be using a class A and a toad because to me that seems like more of a hassle than a trailer!  LOLOL

 

[Bast]

Hi
I will probably be traveling alone and am looking into buying a roadtrek. They seem to combine the best of both a van and a motorhome.
Bast

 

[mockturtle]

While I find my Tiger to be near perfect, I used to tow a 19' lightweight trailer with an SUV and it wasn't at all difficult to hitch and unhitch.  Backing up takes some practice, of course.  Have a look at the small fiberglass trailers like Casita and Escape.  RV Sue has full-timed in a Casita for years  http://rvsueandcrew.net/.  A trailer may be the most cost-effective but a small one-piecer is probably the easiest to travel in.

 

[Yogidog]

Gcal, I had a Ford.high top conversion van I loved and felt very safe in, I could just get up and pull away if it didn't feel right. I could.go about anywhere without attracting attention,.stealth, campgrounds.booDock. gas.mileage was.reasonable. I also like relatively small because it limits how much I have to take care, can spend more.time in my surroundings

I am now going to be in a truck and really don't like the idea of.getting out.and.going to the back at Walmart truck stops in the east. I am sure boondocking in West whole.different story. But I am a big.one on facing my fears and nothing ever happens but I am scappy and have a wild looking dog.
Great u have.options, ii think we all find onesthat fit our needs and personality for me being clear on what I want out of.it.the.prioritizing the list really helps. 
Wishing u good fortune!

 

[VanGrrl57]

I'm living in my 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager van. I'm doing some work on the van but nothing too major. I am also single by choice right now and that's okay. If the right guy comes along, well, who knows?   

VanGrrl57

 

[lterry]

I chose to look for a van due to my lack of confidence to drive and back up something bigger. I have a Roadtrek now. There have been enough little things for me to tweak and do to the inside (camper part and mechanicals) that to add to it with learning hitching, backing up, blind spots, an additional set of wheels - I'm afraid I would have given up or at least not enjoyed my adventure nearly as much as I have so far with my simplier setup.

Why I mention the extra wheels - all of them are additional expenses and worries. I only have four and they have been a bit of worry for me the past few days. Why? One of my entire wheels came off two days ago while I was cruising through a parking lot. Luckily I wasn't on a highway. This is evidently the biproduct of idiots not tightening the lug nuts well after turning your rotors. So the less things to break the better.

 

[DebC]

This is an interesting topic as I am in the planning stages of mobile living and I can't even get past what I want...a cargo van or a Class B.

Both have their pros and cons I'm sure.

For those of you who do own a Class B which is your mpg? 

I like the idea of building it myself because you control the quality of the build...but I'm also no carpenter so that's a bit of a concern.  Right now I'm devouring You Tube videos! 

Deb

 

[Queen]

I got 12-13 in my '99 Roadtrek 190, but beyond buying one with endless mechanical issues (it is now gone), at 5'10" I whacked my head on the cabinetry constantly. Next go round will be a converted cargo van.

 

[ggwoman]

Well, due to financial constraints, having a truck paid off and the need to make 4 animals feel at home, I bought a 21' travel trailer. I don't think hooking up the ball and hitch and sway bars should be too much trouble except if it's blasting down rain or something. Thanks to StarEcho for running the sway bar routine down. I only fear backing up because it's been so long and I have dyslexia which kicks up a storm when I get nervous. My lefts are rights and vice versa. I think I'll have to post directions adn arrows or somehting. oh boy.

 

[mockturtle]

Traveling solo with a trailer, the most important rule when backing up is: GOAL, Get Out And Look. Better to get out of the truck several times to view your logistics than to make a mistake.

 

[SoulRaven]

I am currently looking at teardrop or the mini trailers. I considered for awhile the separate egg trailers but they tend to have more maintenance issues than I think I could afford. I am definitely factoring in the cost of insurance/tags/personal property tax over the longer term. I have a 2007 Dodge Durango that is set up to tow. I really like the idea of the two separate units. Also, this would be something I could hang onto for short trips should I have to move in old people's housing at some point.

 

[ilovemyvan]

I got 12-13 in my '99 Roadtrek 190, but beyond buying one with endless mechanical issues (it is now gone), at 5'10" I whacked my head on the cabinetry constantly.  Next go round will be a converted cargo van.

Hello Queen and Debc,

Queen, I'm so, so sorry your Roadtrek turned out such a disappointment. You were so excited. I hope it didn't kill it for your wife. I remember she was border line as far as road traveling in a van. What a bummer!

Debc, we have a camper van, same MPG as Queen's class B. We only P/T, 3 weeks or so at the time. I don't mind going without all the goodies a class b has to offer because we P/t. In all honesty I would want a class b, if at all possible, if I was to F/T.

 

[Queen]

Queen, I'm so, so sorry your Roadtrek turned out such a disappointment. You were so excited. I hope it didn't kill it for your wife. I remember she was border line as far as road traveling in a van. What a bummer!

She was in the "NEVER EVER AGAIN" camp for the last five months, but as our neighbors have become more and more of a problem, I think she is sloooowly starting to consider it an option again. Although if she does, it will be a class C. Fingers crossed for me please, I am so ready to to be done and walk away from S&B!

 

[Cammalu]

I have been a camper for a gazillion years although not full time. I found myself starting out with a 32 foot travel trailer (married then) and I just didn't like the size and major hassle of it all. If we would just go to one park and snowbird for the winter in FL I was OK but every time we had to pack up and move I just hated it. I guess it wouldn't have been so terrible but we both had back issues. Hitching was usually a fight because one would be spotting "incorrectly". It was awful.

I then bought a camper for me because I wanted to do a lot more than just the Florida winter trip. I bought a sweet vintage Avion of about 22 feet. That was better but still there were physical issues with the set up.

Then I bought a tiny fiberglass camper that needed repairs. It was almost a perfect size for the camping I wanted to do. I started working on it then hubby got ill and after a long battle with cancer he died.

I still have all three campers. I need to sell and am waiting on a few broken bones to heal well and I'm buying a class B. I want to travel a lot and won't be sitting in any campground long term so something small will suit me perfectly. I moved my niece and her husband into my house so I don't have to sell anything to hit the road.

The B will also afford me the freedom to stop anywhere and eat or sleep without ever leaving the comfort and safety of my home on wheels. I'd like a 4wd as I plan to visit everywhere I can and won't be as limited on road quality.




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[ilovemyvan]

Hello Queen and Debc,

Queen, I'm so, so sorry your Roadtrek turned out such a disappointment. You were so excited. I hope it didn't kill it for your wife. I remember she was border line as far as road traveling in a van. What a bummer!

Debc, we have a camper van, same MPG as Queen's class B. We only P/T, 3 weeks or so at the time. I don't mind going without all the goodies a class b has to offer because we P/t. In all honesty I would want a class  b, if at all possible, if I was to F/T.

---I edited this post quite a lot but I messed up and It didn't take

The van average 14 MPG, oops!

I travel solo in the van every now and then. I know it's a personal hang-up but it's important for me to know that I can go from my bed to the driver seat without going outside. I never had to do this but It's good to know I could. I like to size of the van it's easier to drive than the school bus we F/T in. We pretty much share the driving 50 - 50. I found myself in a lot of white knuckles situations. I didn't know at the time but I have depth perception problems. Which means that everything is further than it looks to me.

Depth perception is more prevalent in ladies (guys have to deal with color blindness) I would strongly recommend a ladies that have problem parking a car to have their eye test for depth perception. Since I found out I'm braver park the car of the van. There is no remedies so if you have to problem you might feel more comfortable driving a smaller rig. I didn't like driving the bus, I was 'contently' out of my comfort zone. Not good when you want to feel free.

 

[Almost There]

After much deliberation I went with a regular van with a high top and did my own interior to MY specifications.

The reasons I chose the van as opposed to any other combination were (in no particular order):

- gas mileage - I like to travel without much consideration as to cost, with a Class A/C/trailer it would have been a constant consideration.
- I definitely wanted to be able to go from the drivers' seat to the living area without getting out.
-The high top was an absolute essential to me, I am old enough that stooping all the time just wasn't an option.

The reason I chose to build my own interior over buying a Class B is that I've never met a commercially made interior that I liked to be truthful. I like an open concept and an airy feel and they all seem closed in because Bs' have all the facilities of a C or an A crammed in to the space of the van.

I also didn't want to pay the higher price for a Class B and to get down to my price range I would have had to go older. The RV components usually are at end of life by the time you get in to an older vehicle at which point you're looking at big bucks to replace them or tote non-working stuff around with you.

In the end, I am totally happy with my decision. It drives well, gets reasonable gas mileage, I have everything I need in here and it's open enough that I don't feel crammed in.

 

[Belinda2]

I am currently looking at teardrop or the mini trailers.  I considered for awhile the separate egg trailers but they tend to have more maintenance issues than I think I could afford.  I am definitely factoring in the cost of insurance/tags/personal property tax over the longer term.   I have a 2007 Dodge Durango that is set up to tow.  I really like the idea of the two separate units.  Also, this would be something I could hang onto for short trips should I have to move in old people's housing at some point.

If you don't want to be very high profile, I would re-think that. I had an RV that was high profile years ago and it was definitely >>>NOT<<<at blessing.

 

[Belinda2]

Since 1988 I was in a car 2-5 days/ a week.
Currently, I am full-time in a minivan.

 

[ilovemyvan]

Almost there, I love your van. You did such a good job. It shows that you put a lot of thoughts into it. You worked and planned for this for so long, I'm tickled pink for you.

Nicole