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Originally Posted by JBBeaubeaux
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Other threads on this subject are worth the read if you haven't.
Enjoyed reading yours. And pics.
Which leads to a disquisition on a full timing subject per my experience, some years down the road. (Skip this as it's long; for that crowd).
The eye-opener for those of us without a National Trust estate, or that we keep the lesser Titians in the basement, is that most other folks would pay little for our "possessions". Our children would walk past most of them if they had been mind-wiped their parents had owned those things.
The example of a fire is a good one. Very little is valuable in the true sense. The rest should have been insured.
The RV irony is that the Erma Bombeck rule still applies: stuff accumulates to fill space available. And our kids still won't want it. Unless the RV is included.
Travel full time, and clearing out the RV storage spaces still has meaning. Acquisitive monkeys. The first few years are worst.
One learns, though, that "simplicity" isn't always intuitive, although I do think it's personal. Thus,
Case in point: Clothing. What's "simpler" than cotton? Now, besides the fact that no one has looked other than a fool in a tee shirt and blue jeans since they were nineteen, cotton clothing and RVng really don't go together. Hot in summer and cold in winter. Terrible in rain. Hard to launder, and let's include bedding and bath towels. Mildews. Short life. Takes up too much space to pack or hang efficiently. Etc.
Quite a few advances in synthetic fabrics in the past quarter century. Outdoorsman, military and law enforcement. Ive been transitioning over to such (work, in main, as I no longer need FR clothing) and the ease of laundering, very low space requirements (I'm 6'2" 200# and my clothes are big and long; plus that I must have four season gear to work outside; RV closets are small), very long life, unaffected by humidity and insect resistance really makes them a winner. For me. Retirement is years away.
I use that as preface as this trailer came already equipped with the optional Splendide washer/dryer. A good brand, but RV-sized usually means low performance. Especially drying times. I just figured I'd remove the thing as I've never found using a laundromat an inconvenience. Convert the space to another use.
Then a thread on this forum by a family of seven or eight having installed a dishwasher caught my attention. There's no lack of willing hands. What I hadn't considered was water usage. Storage for a service of six and used less water than washing by hand. Good reliability by those who've posted on same.
Then I got to thinking about an ice maker. I certainly get tired of buying more ice during that long season. It never seems to be a walk, but a drive. Buying yet another ice chest isn't attractive.
So those two things weighed on me: Having to drive to replenish a perishable before anything else was needed (bad type of vehicle wear: cold start and short trip), plus time away from where I'd rather be. And constant use of disposable dining items not quite right.
So the thoughts about the washer/dryer changed as well. This trailer also (not surprisingly) has the optional 95-gl fresh water set of tanks.
So why not use it?
I can't ever say I love time at the laundromat. Longest 2-3 hours x 2 in a month.
Easier to continue converting fabrics (towels and bedding; see marine supply and others) to those which will work well with that Splendide.
And though a built-in dishwasher and ice maker are fairly far down the list of things needing doing, I won't lose any significant space or pay any weight penalties of note. Easy to incorporate. An upgrade to the water heater (which already needs replacing) and a "big" water pump plus accumulator tank are easy to do. Enough that I could also add an external hose outlet for washing truck, trailer, what-have-you.
Same for adding extensive water filtration and softening.
("Huh, I think I just increased the attractiveness of this Silver Streak were I to sell it").
I sold myself on the idea that In needing a cabinet maker to install those appliances, I could finish it off with a drinks cabinet. I'd also no longer need a double sink. More counter space, which I really could use.
So, to the OP, don't be surprised that a few years down the road if "simplicity" is a bit different than where the thing started, ha!
At this point simplicity to me means I want functionality built-in. But it follows that an original interior is preferable. The more modifications, it's not uncommon to find compromises. Most restorations/renovations that are personalized miss the difficult choices done by full time OEM design staff. Easy to make mistakes. (A balancing act). What's great today isn't in five years.
Understand, though, that all this also must fit into what I consider to be genuinely important. Overarching. And that is maximizing dry camping ability. Big as my trailer is, two weeks is pretty easy (given short sleeve weather). A month, and one has to start making lists and testing. What is possible? Add in "hot" weather (needs AC) or "cold" (increased propane consumption; trailer skirting, tank heat, interior storm windows, etc), and it starts to become interesting as sub-sets of problems.
Having started and run three businesses I know none of this is surprising to you. Problems and their sub-sets. So I'd like to recommend a broad view of how an RV can be used. Not just as it first appears. Where you are now. How you "think" you will use it.
I'm third generation with these trailers going back more than fifty years. But my use is different than those ancestors. It's more important to me, for example, that I be able to "run the trailer" on propane OR
12V DC or 120V-AC. The most from each. Losing no functions. (Solar dead last as propane is rarely maximized).
The full panoply while parked with full hookups. Close to it with at least sewer. And maximize what is possible with nothing at all in the way of services when parked.
Call it redundancy.
As I said, my idea of simplicity is personal. As will be yours. But I'd sure like to emphasize large guiding concept over a narrow approach. I believe we all start from something narrow, to be generous.
I cast no aspersions in noting that many wish to have television and Internet access wherever and whenever. Many threads to this effect. No matter how outdoorsy one is, an illness and/or bad weather mean confinement. Don't skimp. Same for a full set of awnings.
I'm not in favor of carrying liquid fuel (generators) except what is already built in; safety primarily. What isn't integral -- or can't be made to be -- starts a downhill slope. Again, in my opinion. As simplicity determines.
One of the latest things is a smaller than normal "inverter " generator that with a solar electric system of a given size can run an AC unit. Lighter generator and less fuel. (This is advocacy for this forum. Some decent tech heads).
The folks who overwinter at Quartzite are inspiration for many ideas.
Hope you have fun with this use of concept as guidance and others as they occur to you. There are those who give up full timing after a few years. Seen all the national parks and visited all the relatives sort of thing. Every bucket list golf course.
AIR is a pretty decent enthusiast forum. More depth than at first glance. (The first couple of years). The itch to have a home returns prior to its need. Plan that, sure, as it's not good to fail on an exit. Always a sad story, that.
It's a whole new Forum when "new" is over. Is the recommendation.
Good luck.
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