Think back and remember your very first RV. Ah, the good ol’ days. Do you remember how excited you were when you got it? Your very first home on wheels! Oh, boy – the wide open roads, the empty campgrounds… Ha!
What type of RV was the very first one you owned, do you remember? Once you vote in the poll, will you leave a comment below and tell us if you still own the same type of RV (not the same RV, but the same kind). Perhaps you started with a pop-up and now have a large Class A. Or maybe you switched from a small Class C to a fifth wheel. Either way, we’d love to learn about your transition between types, or if you’ve kept to the same through your RVing ownership.
Grew up camping in my folks 60’s Travel-eze trailer. In the late 70’s (high school) bought and converted a retired International Harvester postal truck; that, and then tents, got me through to the trailer we have today.
We started in 1976 with used 11 1/2 ft truck camper. In 1983 we traded it in for small 5th wheel. We could not fit 4 kids in the truck camper. We moved up several times. We had small Class A but with problems. I am now alone and in a Class C that I like. Do camp with family at times.
I’m going to assume the Tent/Pop Up entry is NOT for free standing tents, and so my first is a 17 ft molded fiberglass trailer with a dedicated bed and plenty of windows. Before my health went south I was an ultralight backpacker and I was miserable thinking my camping days were over and I would not be in any shape to buy a motorcycle and an Aspen popup trailer-at that time my retirement planning centered around almost fulltime traveling,. But now I have heart problems, severe arthritis and chronic pain, and heat induced asthma, and spent most of 2018 and 2019 in hospitals- and my DH also in 2019 and 2020.. I’ve gone on a few camping trips in my Lil Snoozy (Grandmotherbear’s Den) and hope to go on many more
We started rving in 2001 with a 1986(?) Bluebird Wanderlodge class a we named Ribbit. Huge green bus decked out with all the bells and whistles at the time. Took it to Mazatlan for the winter and had a frog sitting on top of the world painted above the front windshield. Later custom carpet done by a family member who had a flooring business. Since have had every type of rv available except a 5th wheel. Now in a new 21′ class c. Wonder if Ribbit is still out there being used?! Memories!
Our first past the tent stage was a Palomino brand tent trailer we acquired sometime about 1984. Two burner stove and hand pump water faucet. Second was a Jayco tent trailer 1996 model. Quite an upgrade from the first. We are now in a 2015 Wilderness 27 ft travel trailer.
I’m in my second RV now (a 2015 Dynamax DX3-37RB I bought new in 2014). My first RV was a 2010 Casita Spirit Deluxe Travel Trailer which I bought new and picked it up at the factory in TX in August, 2010 (and then headed out to the Burning Man event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert). That little “egg” was a GREAT way to get started. I put 50,000+ miles on that little “egg” camper and, recovered most of what it cost me when I sold it. I would HIGHLY recommend starting out in a “fiberglass egg” RV. They’re lightweight and easy to tow. New, they start at around $20,000.00 which, if you decide to “graduate” to something bigger (like I did) you’ll recover much of your initial cost. As the RV life is NOT for everyone, starting small means you won’t take a huge loss should you start with an expensive RV just to find that RVing is NOT your “cup of tea”.
Went from a 2012 FR Rockwood Signature Ultra-Lite to a 2021 GD Reflection 320 MKS. In between we’ve had a 2016 KZ Durango (a piece of crap), and a 2017 Heartland Elkridge (disappointing quality). Reflection is not without it’s problems, but it has far less in quantity and quality, than the others.
Our first trailer was a 1997 Nash 25S, which we kept for 15 years. Loved it!
My first camper was a dark green 1966 VW Campmobile with a little white pop top. I paid about $1,600 for it. I was attending college in SoCal at the time and used it as my on-campus office during the day between classes. My wife and daughter traveled throughout the West and as far east as Wisconsin on our Bicentennial vacation in 1976. We had some great times in that old rig and I miss it.
Started with a used 1973 Bethany Pop-up. Bought it in 1981. Ice box, Sink had hand pump. 10-gallon fresh water tank. No gray water tank – used a collapsible plastic tank. In 1983 bought a Jayco 24-foot rear bunkhouse travel trailer. 1997 saw a 37′ Jayco Designer 5th wheel as we approached retirement. 2005 was a 38′ Jayco Designer Legacy 5th wheel with stackable washer and dryer. Perfect for 89-day trip to Alaska and 6-weeks to New England. Wife had a knee replacement after our return and had many problems resulting in an above-knee amputation. Next was a 38-foor Forest River travel trailer with 36″ exterior doors so a wheelchair would fit through. Had wheelchair lift arm that was great. She died from dementia/Alzheimer’s a little over a year ago. Currently have a 35′ 2015 Crossroads Cruiser.5th wheel. Bedroom a little tight but can’t afford a new unit. It works pretty good.
Hi, Tom. We’re very sorry to hear about your wife. But we’re glad to hear you’re still RVing. And, of course, we always appreciate your contributions to our comments. Thanks you! Take care. 🙂 —Diane at RVtravel.com
We camped several times with my in-laws in their 5th-wheel. We lacked an RV at the time and did without for several years, instead joining them on numerous occasions. When we finally bought one, it was a 43′ diesel pusher.
First “RV” was a Danish Fold-up tow behind. Towed all over Germany, Austria and parts of Switzerland behind a 1972 Honda, (not Civic), It opened like a book, and set up in less than a minute. Coleman copied the design and sold their version in the U.S. about 1975.
Good times for 2. European campgrounds are very different.
Started in Spring of 2018 with new Lance 855S. Traded up to 5th wheel in spring of 2020. Will not go fulltime but have most of 2021 reserved in different places in Southeast. We are members of a FCRV group and also meet back up with folks we have met camping the past 3 years. I’m retired and Betty has online business which also provides places to be for conferences in resort areas.
’65 VW bus. Empty except for bench seat. We added plywood shelves behind the seat, and bed. Coleman stove and icebox. Alaska to El Salvador, California to Florida. One quarter million miles when finally hit and totaled while parked.
My first camper looked just like the one in the picture-except mine was pink and white. My grandparents bought it new. A 1959 Rainbow.
My first recreational vehicle was a boat.
Yeah, my city defines RVs as including but not limited to kit airplanes, boats whether motorized or rowed, and self propelled or towed living accommodations- by that definition mine would be a canoe. None are allowed to be visible in our city.
When my in-laws bought a class C, we bought their class B, van camper. Easy to drive, easy to park, easy to make a decision to just go somewhere for a weekend. We loved the easy way to travel so much, that when that one bit the dust we bought another used class B.
First “RV” was a used, rental pop up. Kept if for a few years then bought a used bunk house travel trailer then a new 35 foot travel trailer. After that we bought a 60 acre, 110 site campground that we had for 10 years, sold it profitability. Bought a 40 foot Class A which we sold and purchased a smaller Class C which we still have and use. All this was between 1972 to present!
My first was a blue bird school bus that I converted to motor home. My first trip was from Maryland to Colorado. Loved it, but traded it for 30 acre in the co mts.
First RV was a brand New 22 foot 1975 Arabian 5th wheel .
Our first RV was a Volkswagen pop-up. Many miles with two pre- to teenagers. Wish we had it back now.