When shopping for an RV for a retirement home on wheels, there are many things to take into consideration. While everyone has different views on what the best RV for retirement travels might be, it’s all a matter of what your needs will be.
The term RV stands for recreational vehicle, which basically puts many things in one category. Motorhomes, travel trailers, pickup campers, 5th wheels and even some vans that are set up with the comforts of home.
The RV choice is always based on what kind of travels a person plans to do and how one wishes to live while traveling. Read on to find out what we got, and why and how we plan to travel.
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Best RV for Retirement Travels – for Us
Having room in our retirement home on wheels was something very important to me. Because we will have our 2 dogs, 2 guitars and an amp, and lots of stuff with, being crowded was not an option.
Over the last couple years we have looked at many RV’s and actually did buy one last fall, only to be very disappointed with many things about it. We started looking again and found the 2003 Itasca Horizon 40ft. by Winnebago.
The layout, the space, the storage, and basically everything about it has me so in love. It’s bigger than we planned on. And the price tag was more than we really wanted to spend. But the market is hot right now and we just grabbed when we could.
Check out my video walk thru.
Main Living Space
Because this is a diesel pusher, you come into it thru the door right in front of the passenger seat. The seats are huge, and plush and swivel around. Being this is built by Winnebago, it is luxury and built very well.
Check out the awesome main living area, that consists of the living room, dining room and kitchen areas. Lots of space, storage and just beautiful!
The big recliner that came with the RV is no longer. We sold it as it took up room that we wanted for our dogs bed. Maybe down the road we will put a new couch in. I’m not fond of the blue couch. As you see the RV has window valances and shakes. Well, those are now gone. Read my RV window makeover post.
Bedroom and Bathroom
A nice big bedroom and a very spacious bathroom was very important as well. Take a look at how nice and big the shower is, and how much room there is. Another feature we really like is the separate potty area, with it’s own sink.
There is plenty of storage as well in the bathroom and bedroom. Storage is important when you travel for an extended period. The best RV for retirement travels should have a fair amount of storage inside and out.
There was a washer/dryer combo in a closet in the bathroom area that we took out. The idea of having a washer and dryer is nice, but not practical for us. One can only use it if you have hook ups. They use a lot of water, and the dryer takes a very long time.
RV Exterior
When looking for RV’s the darker colors like the browns and blacks always tend to appeal to us, but yet like I said before, the pickin’s were slim and so we ended up with a blue and white RV.
The exterior of our RV is very nice. Just minor wear and tear, as it is 17 years old and that is to be expected. Overall the RV has awesome storage, awnings are nice, and the RV looks sharp.
Retirement Travel Plans
It’s really hard to make a plan, when there is so much to see and do in the US and the excitement is just bubbling over at this point! To say the least, we are ready to hit the road!
Retirement plan is to hit the road mid January and be gone for about 4 months or so. Honestly, other than that we really don’t have a plan. Scary, right? The USA has so much to see and do that we like to just wing it.
The reason we decided on the RV we purchased was because it is a diesel pusher and we wanted power as we will be towing a truck with our Harley in the box. Also, the room inside with all the comforts of home just had us sold!
Best RV for Retirement – 2003 Itasca Horizon
Like I said, we do love our new RV. However, that doesn’t mean we love every single thing about it and the fact that we did buy a 17 year old RV means it’s a bit dated in colors and styles. Let the redecorating begin!
Keep up with me and I will post all the fun changes I am making. I already ripped out the bedroom window coverings and ordered curtains. Also ripped off the ugly headboard and we might make a log looking headboard.
So much one can do, and this is going to be a blast! In all the RV’s we have had, we have never dug in and done any remodeling. Stay tuned for all that fun!
gloria patterson says
WOW that would be wonderful to have something likes this and and have lots of travel adventures. I am pass the ages of being on the road so much. I have friend that refitted a van and she is loving the life on the road.
Sheila says
I don’t think anyone is past the age for travel. There are so many ways to travel 🙂 Even in your own town.
I hope you can experience some travel fun 🙂
gloria patterson says
This would be great to have. Just being able to move around while driving would be great. New here……………. Are you on the road all the time or have a home base that you spend time at
Sheila says
Hi Gloria,
I love having an RV to travel in, because I deal with overactive bladder and having a bathroom on wheels is a huge plus for me. It’s nice to be able to get up and go potty whenever I need. Also, we have dogs with and the space is nice, and it’s nice as it saves us from spending to much on food while traveling.
We only travel a couple months a year to escape the cold and snow Minnesota dishes out. LOL!
Sue E says
My girlfriend and her husband have been traveling around the USA for 3 years now and they love it! He was a Chicago cop for 30 years and my friend, Cindy worked with me at a couple of different places. When their 2 children grew up and went out on their own, they sold their home & decided to travel the country. They come in around Christmas time for a couple of weeks with their dog, Moose and that’s when I visited with Cindy. They have traded up ⬆️ on their RVs, They love eating at the different restaurants. Everything nowadays are online. She told me that this is the way that they are looking for their final place to pick out their final retirement home to buy. They will not go back to Chicago! I don’t blame them! They are living their dream!!
Sheila says
This is now our 3rd year of winter travels and it’s coming to an end. We can only travel for 2 months, but that’s enough to get away from the major cold/snow part of the Minnesota winters. We hope to find a forever home somewhere warmer for winters, so we’ve been using the last 3 winters to really explore all the warm places.