About the Blog: We started RVing in 2019, but did not decide to start blogging about our experiences until 2021. So, we have some catching up to do. We’ll sprinkle in some new present-day stories as they happen. But if you have time, start at the beginning. You’ll learn (and hopefully laugh) a lot.
Looking for a particular blog topic?
Meet Me in St. Louis…In the RV…For Biking and Beer
"Meet Me in St. Louis" is a 1944 MGM romantic comedic musical that tells the story of a father and his four well-to-do daughters (including Ester played by Judy Garland). The family may have to leave St. Louis for New York, thereby missing the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. This classic film includes a prototypical-boy-next-door love story, but ends with the family overlooking the fair as thousands of inventive outdoor lights are turned on. Our weekend in St. Louis where we met some friends in our RVs was a little different.
When: Friday, June 7, 2019 to Sunday, June 9, 2019 (two nights)
Where: Sundermeier RV Park (St. Charles, MO – a suburb of St. Louis)
Cost: $59/night for pull-through sites with full hook ups
Biking: Katy Trail (sorta); Fox Hill Park Trail; Boschert Trail
Beer Rankings: (1) Friendship Brewing; (2) Third Wheel Brewing; (3) Ferguson Brewing; (4) Narrow Gauge Brewing; (5) Exit 6 Brewery.***
"Meet Me in St. Louis" is a 1944 MGM romantic comedic musical that tells the story of a father and his four well-to-do daughters (including Ester played by Judy Garland). The family may have to leave St. Louis for New York, thereby missing the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. This classic film includes a prototypical-boy-next-door love story, but ends with the family overlooking the fair as thousands of inventive outdoor lights are turned on.
Our weekend in St. Louis where we met some friends in our RVs was a little different. Yes, there would be four girls. But, we were all already married (to each other), and the plan was to celebrate one of our birthdays while biking and beering. We were going to try to stay classy (not classic). And, technically, we were staying in the affluent suburb of St. Charles too.
Sunday breakfast at Sundermeier RV Park in St. Charles Missouri
We stayed at the Sundermeier RV Park, which is conveniently located right by the Katy Trail. The park has all-concrete pads, but the sites are pretty close together, typical of what we have found in urban RV parks. We booked two sites next to each other, one for us and another for our friends and their RV. There were few permanent residents, and lots of folks coming-and-going like us. The convenient location alone, however, makes the park worth staying at again.
Biking in St Louis / St. Charles:
Unfortunately, the Katy Trail was closed because of significant flooding and it was raining on-and-off most of Saturday. Thus, on Saturday morning, we biked (sometimes in the rain) along the city streets and walked around downtown St. Charles. 100+ unique shops, restaurants, galleries, and cafés decorate this beautifully preserved historic district. St. Charles is the type of place for a good mother-daughter outing or “girls” weekend.
On Sunday, we had breakfast outside (it had finally stopped raining!) and we headed out on our bikes. The Katy Trail was still closed because of flooding, so we biked along the Fox Hill Park Trail and Boschert Trail. Why you ask? Dogs! The day before, we had discovered that the city had commissioned 25 statues of Seaman, the Newfoundland dog who accompanied Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition. We had taken some photos of some of the Seaman statues in downtown St. Charles, and had plans to conduct our own expedition by bike to find others. We were largely successful except for the Newtown statue. (Newtown is a pocket of newly constructed homes just off the highway in St. Charles). We probably spent 30 minutes or so biking up and down those Newtown residential streets trying to find dear Seaman. The map below shows our bike route and some of the touristy photos we took of us (mostly Lana) with the Seaman statues.
St. Charles — One of many statues of Seaman (the Lewis & Clark dog) scattered throughout
Kudos to St. Charles and other cities for helping us and others discover parts of their community with public art! We’ve enjoyed finding Buckies in Madison WI, Jayhawks in Lawrence KS, and Black Squirrels in Marysville KS to name a few.
Breweries in St. Lewis:
We visited six breweries during our weekend stay. This was a birthday weekend, after all.
En route to St. Charles on an early Friday afternoon, we stopped at Friendship Brewing just off I-70 in Wentzville. We learned that the owner had been collecting beer memorabilia for decades, and the venue is truly a gem for beer history lovers. The beer selection is outstanding as well, featuring both house beers and also various rotating guest taps. We both really liked the Berry Friendly, which has a raspberry flavor. The brewery also serves food, and has a large outdoor patio area. Because we visited in the middle of the day, we were able to park the RV in a nearly empty parking lot just across the street. I suspect that the lot fills up in the evenings when the brewery is hopping. Friendship Brewing was a place we planned to visit again, and did so just a month later.
Friendship Brewing in Wentzville Missouri — one of our favorites!
We had time to visit two more breweries on Friday. After setting up our RV, we stopped by Exit 6 Brewery. Located in a strip mall, this brewery had a sports-bar feel. The St. Louis Blues were in the midst of winning the 2019 Stanley cup, and that was all our bartender could talk about. We did pick up a few cans of their beer to share with our friends, but overall, the brewery was not particularly memorable.
Third Wheel Brewing is also located in a strip mall, but a compete delight. There’s a cute little red truck similar to the brewery’s logo parked near the sidewalk outdoors. We visited around happy hour, and the place had a great vibe. The brewery was in the midst of a week-long two-year anniversary celebration so there were good pint specials as well. Jen Norman was going to be playing there the next night (I learned later that she is a frequent musical guest) so we knew the owners had good taste in music. Lastly, the place had a kitchen window with very good food options. And, yes, the beer was good as well. I have the “Love at First Pint” special release IPA.
On Saturday, we started with lunch at Trailside Brewing, which is now the Schlafly Bankside Brewpub. The venue is a prime location right in the heart of St. Charles next to the Katy Trail and across from the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Museum. Since the brewery has changed ownership since we visited, I won’t discuss it further.
Next was Ferguson Brewing, an established craft brewery located South Florissant Road that started brewing in 2010. The place suffered during the uprisings after fatal shooting of Michael Brown in 2014 by a white police officer so merely driving through the area was a chance to reflect on how the nationwide Black Lives Matter Movement was integrally tied to this area. I felt completely at home in the brewery as we all bellied up to the bar that serves as the focal point of the brewery. I had the Pecan Brown Ale, and the Imperial IPA, and both were tasty.
We Ubered over to Narrow Gauge Brewing, which is affiliated with Cugino's restaurant. The place is more restaurant than brewery, and was absolutely packed on a Saturday afternoon. We were able to snag a few seats at the bar, and people watch. We shared a flight of some interesting beers, but I neglected to make note of what we actually drank. We ultimately Ubered home, and had an early night.
All in all, we managed to complete our objectives. We biked, we drank beer, and we had fun with our friends. St. Louis/St. Charles is a place we will definitely be visiting again. There’s a ton to do and see in the area besides bike and beer. Stay tuned.
****There are dozens of breweries in the St. Louis area. In a future post, I’ll review all of the ones we visited over the past few years. Thus, this ranking is solely based on this weekend visit.
Arrow Rock & Boonville Missouri: A SAD Camping Experience
Having successfully stayed at an RV resort (Cottonwoods RV Park), we were now ready to try something more akin to actual “camping.” We opted for the Arrow Rock state park near the historic village of the same name. The park was booked except for “electric only” sites. That meant that we would have to fill up our fresh water tank when we got to the campground. That also meant we would have to “dump” at the campground. Real camping!
When: Friday, May 31, 2019 to Sunday, June 2, 2019 (two nights)
Where: Arrow Rock State Park (mid-Missouri)
Cost: $28/night for electric only
Having successfully stayed at a comfy RV resort (Cottonwoods RV Park) located a few miles from our home, we were now ready to try something more akin to actual “camping” with our travel trailer, Sally. We opted for the Arrow Rock state park near the historic village of the same name. The park was booked except for “electric only” sites (no water or sewer connections). That meant that we would have to fill up our fresh water tank when we got to the campground. That also meant we would have to “dump” at the campground on our way out. Real camping!
Arrow Rock is located on the Missouri River just north of I-70. The trip would be just a forty-mile drive from our home in Columbia, Missouri. Our plan was to stay relatively close to home in case something went wrong.
And it did.
The drive was capital S - Sucky.
We drove on I-70, which was the first time pulling the travel trailer on the interstate. It was a Friday afternoon, and traffic seemed more congested than usual. Moreover, our $500+ Andersen “no sway” weight distribution hitch system did not seem to be working. Nearly every time a semi-truck passed us or we exceeded 55 mph, we fish-tailed. I was white-knuckling and exclaiming “oh my God!” (plus expletives) nearly the entire time. Kasie kept her composure for the most part, but rightfully yelled back “yes!” ever time I asked “did you feel that?” This did not bode well for future trips.
Site 28 was Awful to level.
Likewise, our first experience leveling Sally at the campground was capital A – Awful.
We picked Site 28 near the end of a loop, thinking that would be sort of like a “pull-though” site because of the turn. The site looked deceptively level, and we neglected to notice several tire ruts. After about an hour of trying to level the trailer, we decided to move just a few sites over to Site 31, a traditional back-in site. Kasie drove the truck like a pro, and we were able to turn and back the camper in and level it in just 15 minutes or so. The entire process was exhausting though.
We were capital D – Disappointed.
Once we got settled, we were excited to explore the historic village of Arrow Rock, which was within walking distance. We were looking forward to grabbing a bite and some beer at the J Huston Tavern, which was built in 1834. We were capital D – Disappointed. Little did we know that the tavern was closed after suffering $80K in damage from fire just a week before. There was another restaurant nearby, but there was a paper posted stating that the cook had broken his hand (or something to that effect) so it was closed as well. The nearby Boardwalk Canteen seemed promising, but this deceptive name was only a vending machine space. Alas!
Overall, it was a capital S.A.D. day.
We went back to the trailer for the night and wallowed in our sadness. That same night, we also ordered a new Husky 32217 Center Line Hitch on Amazon.
The next day was better. We drove to the Booneville Katy Trail entrance and biked about 12 miles south to Pilot Grove, where we had a Busch Light and Sam Adam’s (their idea of “craft beer”) at Deon's Bar and Grill. We were the only people in the bar, other than the bartender’s son. We chit-chatted and drank our beer. I love small towns and bars like Deon’s.
After quenching our thirst, we rode back to Boonville, and stopped by the ever-popular Maggie's Bar and Grill. There was not an empty seat inside, so we first sat in the tin-roofed, beer-signed patio area in back. When a spot at the bar opened up, we went back inside to cool off. The service was slow, but the bar food was amazing! You won’t go wrong with the fried pickles and patty melt at Maggie’s.
Deon’s in Pilot Grove (just off the Katy Trail)
After biking and eating, we traveled back to Arrow Rock, walked through town again, and then just hung around the campground. The college softball world series was on TV so we set up the TV outdoors.
The Next Day: Issues with our RV Hitch (more SADness)
When it was time to leave the next day, we ran into another problem. The trailer had been backed in so that the truck at about a 30-45 degree angle with the trailer when we unhitched it. We learned that with the Andersen hitch system, the trailer could not be properly reconnected unless the vehicle was at the same angle. It therefore took us about 30+ minutes to maneuver around, get the hitch in place, and actually get out of the site. Overall, I think we spent nearly 2 hours packing up and leaving the site.
By the time this trip was over, we were wondering if we had made the right decision to get an RV. We would be getting a new hitch to try out in a few days. Rather than give up on RV-ing, we were also already thinking perhaps we needed a different kind of RV. The sway was a big problem. We wanted an easier set-up/take-down. We had another trip to St. Louis planned in just a week, but the search for our next RV was already on.
Our campsite at Arrow Rock State Park.
We were already thinking we might need a different RV…..
Our Second “First” Camping Trip
Now that we had all of our camping accoutrement purchased and had the travel trailer dewinterized, we were FINALLY ready to camp.
Sorta.
Because we were newbies, we wanted to ease into “camping.” That meant staying at an RV park just seven miles from our house in Columbia, Missouri. If something went wrong, we wanted to be close to home, especially because we were bringing the dogs with us.
When: Saturday, May 11, 2019 (one night)
Where: Cottonwoods RV Park (Columbia, Missouri); Site 44
Cost: $47/night ($42.50 with Good Sam) for pull-through with full hook-ups
Now that we had all of our camping accoutrement purchased and had the travel trailer named (“Sally”) and dewinterized, we were FINALLY ready to camp.
Sorta.
Percy felt right at home at Cottonwoods RV Park in Columbia
Because we were newbies, we wanted to ease into “camping.” That meant staying at an RV park just seven miles from our house in Columbia, Missouri. If something went wrong, we wanted to be close to home, especially because we were bringing the dogs with us.
Cottonwoods RV Park is very nice RV park with a good mix of long and short-term residents. The sites are all very level, usually with paved/gravel pads. There’s a pool, gazebo, laundry, and a nice store (with local craft beer from Burr Oak Brewery and Logboat Brewing). Little did we know that Cottonwoods would be one of the nicer RV parks we would stay in over the next few years. Their slogan is “A Nice Place for Nice People.” They let us stay there anyway.
In all seriousness, Cottonwoods made for an excellent first-time RV campground experience. The manager told us about all of the facilities, and made sure to let us know that there would be a free Mothers Day breakfast the next morning. We joined about 30-50 other folks with heaping plates of crock-potted goodies, including some biscuits and gravy that deserved second helpings. If this was what RV life was about, I was sold!
The RV park staff was not the only ones who wanted to make sure we had a good time. Our friends Scott and John decided to stop by the park and check in on us Saturday evening. Then, our friends Ashley, Stacy, and their two-year-old also swung by for a few minutes. It was nice to have guests in our new little “home.”
At some point, I’ll do a separate post on biking, bucket lists, and beer in Columbia, Missouri. There is a lot to see and do here (and we l.o.v.e. having our “sticks and bricks” home here). But the bottom line is that if you are ever traveling to CoMo, Cottonwoods is a nice option, and I would recommend it.
Our First Camping Trip!
In my last blog, I covered some of the basic travel trailer “accoutrement” that we needed to camp (e.g. weight distribution hitch, TPMS, etc). I ended that blog by noting that after purchasing nearly $2500 in stuff, “we were ready to actually start camping!”
I lied.
When: Saturday, April 6, 2019 (one night)
Where: Our friends’ farm (north of Columbia, Missouri)
Cost: Priceless
Our first camping trip to dewinterize our travel trailer, Sally, at our friends’ farm.
In my last blog, I covered some of the basic travel trailer “accoutrement” that we needed to camp (e.g., weight distribution hitch, TPMS, etc.). I ended that blog by noting that after purchasing nearly $2500 in stuff, “we were ready to actually start camping with Sally!”
I lied.
Before we could start camping, we had to dewinterize the RV. Luckily, our good friend Scott (an experienced RVer who owns a barn with electrical and water hook-ups) offered to help guide us through the process. There was a catch though. We had to drive the RV on dirt/gravel country roads 20 minutes north of town (past Hallsville) to his farm and camp there for the night. Yes, we both lost our RVirginity to Scott.
In all seriousness, Scott was incredibly generous with his time. We later learned that is true about most RVers. The RV community is filled with wonderful folks who want to share what they have learned. Indeed, once you get someone talking about their RV, it’s pretty hard to shut them up. Let me say that again: “once you get someone talking about their RV…..”
I don’t have any photos or video of that first dewinterizing process. We flushed the pink antifreeze out of the tanks, made a small fire, and drank some beer. It was uneventful, and I never anticipated that just two years later, I would be blogging about the experience.
It apparently takes at least four dogs to supervise the RV dewintering process.
I do recall that because we did not have a sewer connection (only electric and water), neither Kasie nor I showered. I also opted to do my morning “business” in a field behind Scott’s barn, rather than go to his house. This was oddly liberating in some ways. Yep, there I was, not too far from the dogs in their little pen – each of us doing our business and being super proud of the business we had done.
Like I said: classy.
Travel Trailer Names and Accoutrement
Before we could start camping, had first had to name our travel trailer. Of course, the trailer was a “she.” Somehow, we ended up with “Sally.” Yep, Sally was our first RV.
We also had to buy a lot of stuff for Sally, including (1) the hitch system, (2) leveling equipment, (3) safety items, (4) internet devices, and (5) dog accoutrement.
WE HAD FINALLY PURCHASED OUR FIRST RV! Now what?
Before we could start camping, had first had to name our travel trailer. Of course, the trailer was a “she.” She had a big “S” as part of her logo. Somehow, we ended up with “Sally.”
We also had to tow Sally from the dealer near the Lake of the Ozarks to home in Columbia, Missouri. Our good friend Scott offered to make the drive with Kasie in his huge truck because we were (1) in the process of getting a huge truck ourselves and (2) waiting on some RV “accoutrement” before we could start actually start camping.
Even without the new truck, all of the stuff that Sally needed was not cheap. Sally was a well-kept lady, and we ended up spending around $2500 overall. I’ve tried to highlight some of the major items we purchased for the travel trailer in this blog. This included (1) the hitch system, (2) leveling equipment, (3) safety items, (4) internet devices, and (5) dog accoutrement.
Our First RV Hitch System
The biggest expense was the Andersen “no sway” weight distribution hitch system, which was around $500.
Spoiler alert: we didn’t like this hitch. We had a lot of trouble finding a hitch that worked for us. For more info on WHY on all of our hitching troubles, check out our blog:
Let's Get Hitched! (I Towed You It Wouldn't Last)
Leveling System in our First RV
Like most travel trailers, the Sally would need to be leveled wherever we went. Because were both novices at leveling, Kasie did a lot of research on line to try to find gadgets that might make the process easier. As a result, we opted for the following two products:
Levelmate System. The device works via blue tooth with an phone app, but the calibration was performed with a simple $6 bullseye level. This would take the guess work out of knowing when we were level and provide instant feedback.
Beech Lane Levelers. These curved polymer levelers function like a ramp for the tire. The levelers are placed on a rubber grip map that rests on the ground to provide more traction. Once the tire is driven onto the leveler to the desired height, then a chock is used to keep the leveler in place. This system is far superior to a block of wood or plastic. These are pricey, but in my view, worth it. Plus, they come with a lifetime warranty!
Saftey Items for Our First RV
We also invested in several safety items. Some items were necessary, and some were were just to put our minds at ease that were were doing everything we could to minimize things that might go wrong.
Surge Protector/EMS. This was a “must have.” This device constantly monitors current coming from the electrical pedestal and shuts down if there is an issue. We opted for a portable surge protector with a digital display that would provide error codes to help troubleshoot if something went wrong. The device also shows how much power the trailer is using, and we also thought that type of information would be useful for us to know so that Sally’s brain was less likely to get fried.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ("TPMS"). Every blog/vlog/friend said this was a trailer “must have.” Blow-outs are apparently a frequent issue withy many travel trailers.
Various Vent Screens. Apparently, mice, birds, insects, and other varmints like to crawl in any orifice or opening that is not screened on the RV. In my mind, that certainly meant hungry bears and perhaps even tiny alligators would utilize these openings too. What is baffling to me is that these vent screens don’t just don’t come standard in RVs.
Step Rugs. I had watched videos of folks slipping and falling on the stairs to their trailers. Thus, a rug to provide some friction seemed like a good idea. Plus, the rugs could also be used to wipe down our shoes before entering.
Weather Radio. I grew up in Kansas, and Kasie grew up in Oklahoma. The last thing I wanted was for us to not know if a tornado or other adverse weather event was on the horizon.
Wheel Chocks. We didn’t want Sally to fall off some hill or be kidnapped. Thus, some locking chocks seemed like a good idea.
Internet in Our First RV
Even though we planned to be “unconnected” from work when we traveled, we still wanted the convenience of watching Hulu and Netflix, and Fox Midwest (for Royals baseball). Thus, we needed a good internet system. We had read that while many campgrounds offer wi-fi, the signal is usually weak. After watching All About RVs: WiFi Booster Set Up and Review, we purchased the Ubiquity Wireless M2 booster, a TP-Link router, some ethernet cable, a few clamps, and some PVC pipe to help get us a better signal for round $125. (This did not work very well for us so I won’t post more on it.)
Camping with Dogs: Assessories for the Dogs in Our First RV
Our dog wrangling pen consisted of 16 metal panels and some plastic lattice. Classy.
Lastly, because being able to take our dogs with us when we traveled was the main reason for purchasing Sally, we had to get accessories for the dogs. These included:
Seat Belt Adaptors. The adapters plug right into the existing seat bells and connect to each dog’s harness. Safety first!
Fencing. We have at least one ornery “runner” in our pack so if we opened the trailer door and she slipped by, we would be chasing her for hours. Thus, we needed to dog-proof an area around Sally’s exterior. We opted to buy 16 connecting metal panels that would enclose the area next to the Sally’s door. We used carabiners to connect these panels to plastic bendable white lattice from Menards cut and sized to run along the bottom of the RV. The fencing wasn’t classy but it was functional.
***(Sept 2021 update) We’ve actually replaced the original fencing with some Lighter weight fencing.
Calming Treats . We thought treats would help the pups adjust to the drive. They are pretty much asleep after the first fifteen minutes of the drive nowadays.
Noise/Sound machine. If we were gone from the campsite, we did not want our dogs yapping at every car or person who ventured near the trailer. We were hoping that some “white noise” might help the dogs not hear their surroundings.
Extra diapers. Usually, our dogs are pretty well potty trained. However, camping and RV-ing was going to be new to them so we did not know how they might react. I must admit that a dog in a diaper is cuter than I expected!
Spoiler Alert: RVing with dogs takes a lot more stuff than this. In fact, we now have a whole website page filled with RV dog gear.
***************************************************
Of course, there were other purchases we made as well -- like a small portable propane grill, coffee pot, and lots of foam noodles from the Dollar Tree. We were pretty sure we had most of the basic stuff covered. Now, we were ready to actually start camping with Sally!
Selecting Our First RV
After coming home to Missouri from our Florida vacation, we decided to purchase an RV in February 2019. Unfortunately, neither one of us knew the first thing about RVs.
Our last “camping” trip had been in 2010.
We knew nothing about RVs.
Were we ready to buy one?
After coming home to Missouri from our Florida vacation, we decided to purchase an RV in February 2019. Unfortunately, neither one of us knew the first thing about RVs. And, the last time we camped had been years ago on a “float trip” that was more about socializing with our friends and drinking cheap beer than camping.
We were beyond “newbies” to the RV world. We were “preemies” who needed lots of life support. Luckily, the internet is filled with all sorts of blogs and YouTube videos that make information readily accessible. On the other hand, there is SO MUCH INFORMATION and SO MANY “EXPERT” OPINIONS that it was hard to find what we really needed to know.
We started by just trying to understand the different terminology on the various types of RV options. Class A, Class B, Class C, fifth wheel, travel trailer, toy hauler, pop-up, etc. This was a whole other world and language, but we quickly got the basic nomenclature down.
We started with a process-of-elimination strategy for our first RV. We quickly settled on some type of “travel trailer” for a few reasons.
Why We Chose a Travel Trailer as our First RV
Cost.
We wanted to spend under $20K because we had no idea if RVing was something we would like. Thus, we quickly excluded the Class A, B, and C options.
Ease of Use.
A travel trailer seemed much easier to use than a fifth wheel. The idea of having some specialized hitch in the back of the truck bed seemed daunting.
Size.
People say that size matters. Well, in this case, we were thinking that meant the smaller, the better. We planned to use the RV only on weekends and vacations so reasoned that we would not need a lot of room. Most of the time, we would be exploring the town or nature. And, we anticipated that we would be using the RV about 1-2 weeks at a time at most.
Weight.
We were limited by what our truck could tow. Our Toyota Tacoma could pull 6800 lbs, but if we upgraded to a Ram 1500 Big Horn / Lone Star, we could tow 8240 lbs. (We multiplied those numbers by 80% to come up with what we considered to be our actual “safe” tow capacity).
New.
With our budget and the foregoing criteria, we could afford something new. We had read enough online to know that “new” is not necessarily better because (1) “they just don’t make them like they used to” and (2) “it takes a while to work out all of the kinks” in a vehicle. Yet, with this being our first foray into RV purchasing, we felt like buying new from a local dealer would be better than buying used from some random seller on Craigslist or RV Trader.
What Manufacturers Make Travel Trailers?
Next, we really did a lot of online research on brands. We were surprised to learn that the RV market has consolidated in recent years. The major players seemed to be:
Thor Industries.
The brands include Airstream, CrossRoads, Cruiser RV, DRV, Dutchmen, Entegra, Erwin Hymer, Heartland RV, Highland Ridge, Jayco, Keystone, KZ, Redwood, Starcraft, Tiffin (as of 2020), Thor Motor Coach, and Venture.
Forest River.
The brands include Coachmen, Dynamax, East to West, Forest River, Palomino, Prime Time, and Shasta.
Winnebago Industries.
The brands include Chris-Craft, Grad Design, Newmar (as of 2020), and Winnebago.
From what we could tell from online reviews, no one liked Thor if something went wrong with the RV (which often does, even when the RV is new). Although there is truth to the adage “you get what you pay for,” the Winnebago brands seemed like they were quite expensive and that we were paying a premium for just the brand name. Thus, we focused our search on the Forest River brands for our first RV.
What RV Floor Plan / Layout is Best for First-Time RVers?
There isn’t really a “best” layout for a first RV. The desired layout all depends on how someone plans to use the RV. Our criteria for the floor plan was as follows:
A bunk house layout.
The plan was not to sleep in the bunks or make the dogs sleep in the bunks. Instead, we wanted a place to store our bikes inside the RV. That likely meant finding a travel trailer with a really large outdoor compartment that could hold the bikes (note: this does not exist) or devoting part of the interior living space to store them. Kasie thought that we could take out a bunk in the bunk house floor plan and use that for storage.
Total length less than 25 feet.
That number was sort of arbitrary, but in general, we were thinking that smaller was better.
Murphy bed.
A murphy bed is a bed that is a bed that is hinged at one end to store vertically against the wall. We wanted to save space, and we felt like a murphy bed would help with this goal.
Outdoor kitchen
We grill out occasionally. An outdoor kitchen felt like bonus if we could get one.
No slides (if possible).
I was scared of slides. To me, that was just one more thing that could go wrong on the RV. I could picture us being stranded on some highway with all of the dogs because of what I called “spontaneous slide extension syndrome.”
Other Issues to Consider When Purchasing a First RV
At this point in our search, we did not care or ask much about basic things like holding tank capacities, solar-readiness, or batteries. We figured we would always stay at campgrounds where we would hook up to water and sewer. And, at least back then, these other items seemed like things that only full-timers needed to be concerned about.
We also did a lot of online research on local RV dealers. We quickly learned that no one liked the local Camping World (now known as Gander RV locally) if something went wrong. We had that confirmed by a dear friend of ours who had multiple repair problems with his trailer at the local Camping World. Thus, we started looking elsewhere in the state.
What RV Did We Purchase as our First RV?
We found a good option at AOK RVs near the Lake of the Ozarks (621 N Main St Gravois Mills, MO 65037), and made a drive down to look at it (as well as a few others). Within a couple of hours, we were the proud owners of a brand new 2019 Coachman Spirit Ultra Lite 2245BH. It checked all of our boxes: bunk beds with an adjacent rear opening that we could use to store the bikes, 25.42 ft total length, 4628 lb dry weight, no slides, murphy bed, outdoor kitchen, and fresh/gray/black tanks of 49/33/33 gallons (if you are curious).
But what sold us (or at least me) on this particular Coachman versus comparable RVs? The model came with silly (cheap) little things that were branded to make the camper more dog friendly. The $5 dog leash clip, a $20 “pet center” (two dog bowls mounted to retractable compartment), and “dog wash” (a standard outdoor shower area) made us think that this model was our destiny! Kudos to marketing folks at Forest River / Coachman that suckered us and other dog lovers.
So…Basically, we bought
a $20K-ish
dog house
on wheels.
(Coachman Spirit Ultra Lite 2245BH)
We don’t have a lot of photos of the travel trailer, but the dogs clearly knew how to take over the Murphy bed.
Why did you start RVing?
When people ask us how we first started RV-ing, the answer usually surprises them. The short answer is: “The dogs.” In this post, I’ll share the full story.
When people ask us how we first started RVing, the answer usually surprises them. The short answer is: “The dogs.” In this post, I’ll share the full story.
In February 2019, we had just spent about 10 days in the Orlando area for our annual winter get-away to someplace warm. We experienced 16+ hours of Universal Studios (determined to get our money’s worth), a short Caribbean cruise porting out of Port Canaveral, and three days of a college softball tournament at the ESPN Wild World of Sports.
As with all of our vacations, I found myself increasingly talking to Kasie about the dogs over the course of the trip. Even though we had the best dog sitter in the world, I could not help but worry and miss them.
Doing our best Harry Potter and Haggrid impersonation at Universal Studios in Orlando
Lana: “What do you think the dogs are doing?”
Kasie (exasperated): “Sleeping. Just like they were 15 minutes ago when you asked.”
Lana: “Do you want to turn on the security cameras and watch them?”
Kasie: “Not really.” (hands Lana her phone)
Lana (fidgeting to unlock Kasie’s phone): “Where is that app again?”
(Kasie points)
Lana: “I’m not seeing the dogs. I don’t think the cameras are working.”
Kasie: “Yes they are, you just have to be patient for the app to reload.”
Lana (a few seconds later): “Look at our cute babies.” (cooing noises)
Kasie: “What are they doing?”
Lana: “Sleeping.”
At some point during the vacation, we started thinking of some way to take the dogs with us when we travel. There was only one solution: buy an RV.
Hand-painted card from our dog sitter (February 2019). Yes, Brodie (far right) is eating poop.
Kasie, of course, just heard the word “buy” and she was on-board with the plan. Kasie loves buying stuff, especially new vehicles. I’ve kept her in check for most of our marriage. We try to keep a vehicle for at least 3 years (hopefully 6-7 years) before trading. So, when Kasie figured out that we would not only be purchasing a travel trailer, but that she might also have to upgrade her tiny Tacoma for a beefier truck to pull the trailer, she was full speed ahead. “You mean I get to buy two vehicles!!!!”
When we arrived back home to Missouri, we knew we had made the right choice. Our dear friend who had been taking care of the dogs had hand-painted a card of them welcoming us home. They missed us as much as we missed them.
In the end, we both love being able to spend time with the dogs when we travel. There is something about coming “home” and seeing those goofy faces and wagging tails that makes every day (even a great vacation day) just a little bit better.