One might argue “you don’t have to modify your rig if you choose the best RV to begin with.” Well thank you, Captain Obvious. Of course, selecting the right RV for your family to start off with is going to be key. However, there are often constraints prohibiting one from buying their top choice such as: cost, location of the rig, tow vehicle rating, cargo carrying capacity etc. We started off with a brand new 2016 toy hauler. We were convinced we needed a bathtub (for our young children), toy hauler bay (for work space), a new RV for the ‘warranty’ (to protect us while traveling), and large cargo carrying capacity/tank capacity (for boondocking).
It took us only a year of full time living to realize that we didn’t need the bathtub (used too much water when boondocking), the toy hauler bay office area was hot/cold and uninsulated, the warranty was junk and required long stays at repair shops to get anything fixed (in fact the entire new unit was falling apart and constructed poorly), and the only thing of our original list we still liked was the cargo carrying capacity, & tank capacity. We sold the toy hauler and our current rig is a used 2011 5th wheel with no warranty, with a bunk room in the back for the kids, a dresser in the front master bedroom that doubles as a desk workspace, the unit itself has decent tanks/cargo carrying capacity, and most importantly to us it is very solidly built and insulated for full time living.
Even if you start with what you think you want– your needs and desires change over time. What you once ‘had to have’ (ex. an outdoor kitchen) now seems like you’d really rather have something else (ex. washer/dryer hookup). Space is a commodity in every rig. Don’t be afraid to change things up to make your rig the best for you. Even small changes can have a big impact on your daily living and help make your house a home.
Great article. I have a question though. Other than faux wood foam tile flooring and Reflectix in the windows, was there any other insulating changes made in the bedroom? How much of a difference did these two changes make?