Our RV is a 1989 Itasca Suncruiser by Winnebego. She is a Class A (which means she looks somewhat like a bus), and is 31' long. We're going to take you on a little tour of her in case you've never been in a motorhome or are just interested.
Her assets include comfy driver & passenger seats which swivel around when we aren't driving to become part of the livingroom. Also in this area are another swivel chair and a long sofa that makes into a bed.
High above the driving area is a small TV with side areas for stereo, DVD & VHS players, satellite TV receiver & our collections of movies, music, computer backups, etc.
Check out RV Travels for some of our RV adventures.
Back of the livingroom is a dinette on one side & small galley on the other with double sink, propane stove & fridge, and a microwave. There's an entrance/exit door between the living & dining areas.
Aft of these is an area that can be enclosed, with toilet & sink on one side, and shower on the other.
Finally there is our bedroom with a walk-around queen size bed. We've added a special foam pad to it & find it unusually comfortable.
Buddy sleeps on his cozy bed on the floor at the foot of ours.
As in our boat, lockers (or cupboards) are tucked in very well, but there is never quite enough storage space. Besides clothes, this locker also contains the desktop computer box & printer & allied equipment - believe it or not we have both a desktop & laptop computer aboard, which is how we've both been able to work on this website together.
Our RV is blessed with some good lockers in the "basement", which is an enormous help. Sandra is becoming adept at squeezing a surprising amount into these spaces, something Rod has learned over many years of living aboard sailboats. In fact, there are many similarities in living aboard boats & RVs.
One of the things one learns in both the RV and boat is how little one actually needs. We hesitate before adding anything that's large or breakable, or even heavy as the engine has that much more work to do the more weight we carry. As we expected to encounter every temperature from freezing to hot on our current trip, we carry clothes for all kinds of weather. For our pleasure, we carry a blow-up kayak (rather than our hard-sided single ones on our boat) so that we can take Buddy with us on the water. See Kayak to Morro Spit
For lounging out of doors we have two large recliner chairs.
We also have a great satellite receiver, and have splurged on a wonderful TV with 27" LCD (flat panel) screen. After much discussion, it has ended up on a shelf in the bedroom so we don't have to fight for the sofa in the livingroom, as lying prone on it is the only comfortable way to watch TV there. We feel quite decadent lying in bed watching this great TV.
Our little green '98 Saturn has proved to be a great "toad" (towed vehicle) for our Suncruiser, in that it's light and small. Our routine has become that we travel in the RV for big trips, towing the Saturn, then settle somewhere and take the Saturn for shopping and sightseeing expeditions. Since the Suncruiser gets about 7 MPG and the Saturn about 30 MPG, this works well. Rod has worked out a computer navigating system with a GPS for our boat, and adapted it for the RV.
Sometimes we "boondock" in parks and casino or Wal-Mart parking lots, etc. without power, water or sewage connections, but most of the time we're in RV parks with all of these 3 wonderful amenities, plus wi-fi internet when we're most fortunate. All in all, we find the Suncruiser very comfortable and livable.
Sandra must comment on how Rod's knowledge of computers, other electronics, wiring, etc. has contributed to our lives, both on land and sea. It also allows for things that are a joy and comfort for us, including a bunch of movie channels on satellite. Sandra feels quite fortunate about this, and says "thank you" to a very practical husband.
