Hi Ruby, I just joined as well. "71-female-single" and wanting to rv-GOOD ON YA!!! My one suggestion would be to have a very good travel plan like A.M.A here in Canada. Breakdowns can always happen so you must have a good company [nationwide] to help out. I would also advise you to stay in places where security is present [this can be joining others, rallies, occupied secure campgrounds etc.] The most important thing is to be where ever you feel the most relaxed and safe, if that is a campground with 1000 other campers that's great and you will meet many others who prefer the safety in numbers. Go with your gut and have a wonderful time with your life travels- you deserve a break to enjoy friends and family. Good luck to you....Deb

Ruby,

I apologize for not welcoming you sooner, but I'm on vacation in Colorado and running around with family and everything else we are doing, I'm having a time finding time to do it all.  Welcome to the RV Dreams forum family.  You will find the folks here to be knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and downright encouraging for others.  Feel free to ask questions as we always welcome those as well.

Your situation bring to mind my grandmother on my dad's side of the family.  Back when I was between 14 and 16, she turned 80 years old.  When I woke up the day of her birthday, my mother said that Grandma had called and wanted me to give her a ride on my motor scooter.  So, I drove up to see her and we drove around until she said she was ready to go back home.  The next year, at age 81, she wanted to ride a mule, so we found someone that had one that was pretty gentle and took her for that as well.  The whole point is to not get the idea that "something can't be done."

Good luck.

Terry

(continued) ....go on and on. (my computer has a habit of "sending", before I'm finished.
Thanks for your input...........Sincerely, Ruby

Ruby,

My last experience with a Toyota RV was one called a Chinook, but that was way back in the '80's.  As campers go, it was OK, but for an RV in which one will stay long term, it would never have done.  The one we experienced was Jo's parent's RV, and Jo was driving it one day toward her parent's house.  A near collision at an intersection caused Jo to swerve and when she did, the RV rolled over.  Our thought was, and still is, that theirs was too top heavy for such a small truck frame.  In fairness, that RV was built on the frame of the small Toyotas, not the larger trucks like Toyota builds today.

However, it wouldn't hurt to keep in mind that factor of one being top heavy.  Like I said, I've not looked at the newer Toyota RV's so I can't say if they are good or not in that respect.  If you are looking at the Class C's, I can't help a lot, but I do know that I see several called a View or what is called the Minnie Winnie.  (Who knows, those may be one and the same thing.  That's how little I know.  OK.  Never mind....I just looked and the View is made by Winnebago.  However, here is a link to a young lady who purchased one of those some time back and is RV'ing in hers.  If you read through her blog from earlier, you can get a good sense of her comfort and pleasure with the View.  I've personally been too busy with other things to have time to keep up with blogs like I used to do. 

Lynne and Millie's Winnie Views

If you do take an interest in the View, you could contact Lynne on her blog and I'm sure she would be more than willing to answer questions and give advice.  Oh, and her photography is darn good too.

Oh, and Pieere here on RV Dreams also has a Class C.  His is an '88 model and looks sharp.  He could probably be of help as well.  I'm sure that there are several others with knowledge of the C's, so I apologize for not mentioning them here as well.  But, they can chime in for themselves and offer welcome and advice.

Terry

Well, I was working at a company that sold factory direct and a gentleman in his mid-80s called to order. Well, he knew what he wanted and why, he planned to work in a volunteer program where he would travel and use his carpentry skills on churches in need of those services. Now, his children called, more than once, telling the owner not to sell him a trailer but that really isn't how things work and I am sure he would have found someone else to sell him one. He picked up his trailer and traveled for sometime. Only issue he had was one day he called as he had stuck his slide into an embankment and they talked him through it.

We had one of the micro-minis in the mid-90s and my husband did not like how it handled and although I can't remember some of the issues with the micro-minis, that could probably be researched, there were more than a couple. I couldn't find it but I saw a youtube of an lady, retired, and she had one of the van campers and had installed cameras in probably 3 or 4 places, it was set up really great and I don't think she had a single blind spot. I do see blogs with singles and couples living full-time in a van. Class Bs are nice but pricey because of their popularity. You might look at the Coachmen Starflight which I think is cute and functional or maybe one of the sport Class Cs which are around 21 to 23'. There are always good deals out there but you have to be ready to go when they come to the surface.

Hi Terry and Jo - I've been thinking about the "top heavy" aspect of the Toyotas, and have seen one that looks like it would never tip over - a Dodge Transvan. Of course I would have to look for one to  "come out of the woodwork". But, I have time.

Thanks for your input.........I have financial things to straighten out, so will keep looking and studying as things come together.

Thanks, again, Ruby 

Betty, Well, I don't know what's wrong with my computer.!! The cursor jumps all over, and I have to keep going back to fix my words......sometimes - like now - I've started over three times.!!
Anyway, what I've been trying to say is: St. Louis area is one place I'll be going when the time is right.....I have friends in Washington, MO - and they travel a lot. I'm just finding out all I can about RV'ing. In fact I just ordered two books from Amazon. One is about choosing the right RV, and one is about the lifestyle. Can't wait to get them. I think I'll need to pair up to start with. I understand there are a lot of solo Grandmas out there, who may be able to "show me the ropes".
Thanks for writing, and good luck on your new adventure.....Sincerely, Ruby