Sorry in advance for the spam.
Hi all,
I’m a potential first-time RV buyer (looking at next summer, ideally) who grew up RVing with my parents (we had a Dolphin C in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s and later on a class A behemoth). I lived in it when I was a kid for several months at one point, so I’m not entirely new to things. When I was a kid, it was a dream of mine to own one of those tiny campers with the bed over the coach that were prevalent in 1990 or so, but I probably need a little more space than that, realistically speaking.
I’m in a place that I can afford one, and it’s practical for job purposes et cetera for extended trips, though not fulltiming (renting out the house when I’m away). I’m interested in the 21’ no-slide 2100 for a couple of reasons:
- The rear-entry floor plan seems roomier.
- The discrete kitchen space seems roomier.
- I’m just one person; I don’t mind unfolding a bed and stowing it away, so a permanent bed is unnecessary.
- The maneuverability of a 21 foot RV appeals to me (as a petite person who currently drives a Mini Cooper; I’d be lost in a 30-foot thing just owing to my size, and my driving habits).
There are some questions I am thinking about, though. Some of these may be feasible ideas, and some may be less than feasible. I’m just spitballing to see what works. This is for me, a solo traveler at the moment who doesn’t intend to fulltime but who does intend to drive distances.
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Dinette: I’d rather have a single seat at the dinette (facing the TV) and turn the other dinette booth (which contains the furnace underneath) to a desk setup. The floorplans show a window stretching this length; would it be possible to build a desk/eating table out of the dinette that ends below the window? Ideally, I’d like it to contain a sewing machine inside it; as is, the space beneath the dinette is wasted space. (I’m a knitter/sewer and would need crafting in my RV.) I realize this will eliminate the ability of the dinette to turn into a bed; I’m not bothered by that since it would be for solo travel. Alas, it’d probably affect resale value should I sell it, though.
Sofa/Wardrobe: Can you cut the wardrobe in half and make half of it into a longer sofa a la the 60“ that’s in the 2400? With that I would just need a dual-fold sofa (as I’m under five feet and can fit lengthwise on a 60" sofa; I know from experience as I own one) to sleep comfortably. Something like
this is what I have in mind, though that’s wider at 84“. Alternately, a superlong (72"?) sofa in the 2400 would work too if it just folded out once, and would be comfortable for two. I’m basically looking to avoid the slide, both for practicality and for weight limits.
Kitchen: I am short. The convection microwave is high. Especially in the 2100 (since I assume the 2400 can put it in the extra counter space), is there any place the microwave can be put where someone of my height can reach it? Similarly, can the overhead cabinet heights be lowered (giving more cabinet space!) for someone of my height?
Passenger seat: Unnecessary. Can something else be put there that doesn’t impede the passenger side exit (since I assume that the passenger side exit is a requirement and/or sealing it off is too much work)? This would probably involve messing with the chassis, though, so disregard if it's a massive expense.
Satellite internet: Does anyone have this? What do you pay per month? HughesNet seems to be the only game in town from a bit of Googling, but my parents have it and, at least at their place, it’s pretty terrible. Supposedly there’s also Dish-brand satellite for RVs, but I haven’t seen any facts and figures on that. I was thinking of the automatic dish and adding solar panels so as to defray power consumption overall. I have a Karma Go mobile hotspot that runs off the Sprint network as well, but I’d like the option to Netflix/Hulu if I want, since I’d have it anyway.
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Alternately looking at a 2400 (same floor plan, but with longer sofa and non-permanent table which I’m assuming could be done into a desk/dinette too instead). I like the extra cabinet space/the flexibility of putting a smaller wardrobe into the 2400, but I’m concerned about maneuverability in a 24’ length compared to a 21’ length. Is there a difference in those three feet? I would not be towing anything.
Also (though this has nothing to do with a floorplan), I am younger than the retiree RVer crew (just turned 35 this month). While I love meeting people of all ages, how much of a younger crowd is there in the RV community these days? I just hung out with kids/teens as a kid/teen, so don’t have a sense.
Lastly, what would you consider crucial for a solo RVer, and what can I live without? Bluetooth/navigation/backup and leveling jacks are critical for me, as is the collision system; if I keep the passenger chair I’d like to be able to swivel it; I want wood floors and insulated windows as well for as much homeyness as I can. Do I need 50 amp shore power with a second AC, or just the shore power, etc.? Would things like maintenance-free batteries simplify my life as a new RVer? And, as the most fantastical question I can think of, is it possible to shorten the entire build by a few inches, as it’s custom-built and for a tiny person? A 6’ interior height (making the whole thing 9’6“ total exterior height) would be more than sufficient.
Thanks for any thoughts/ideas/spitballing. If anyone is in upstate NY (Glens Falls to Poughkeepsie, out to Oneonta or Syracuse), I’d love to take a look at either the 2100 or 2400. Thanks!
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