Pt 1 Welcome to Trains, Planes and RVing

Pt-1 Introduction; A weekly series; on the story, adventure tips and tricks living the RV life full time with two cats while also still working and finding time to explore and play.

Planes Trains and RVing is a weekly journal of living the life on the open roads piloting our Vintage Motorcoach. Just my husband, two over-demanding cats and myself, Karen👋, sharing tips, tricks, ups, downs and some pretty awesome adventures along the way.

Welcome to Trains, Planes, and RVing. This mantra has become the guiding force of our RV travels. As we embark on this thrilling journey through my experiences of living full-time in a motorcoach with my husband and two cats, we’ll gradually uncover the story behind the title. Join me as I unfold the tales of do's, don'ts, laughs and tears while we navigate the winding roads of my adventure.

Before we dive into the journey, there a few questions that seem to pop up frequently in conversation such as 

You have no home?"

Wait, you gave everything up?

So, where do you call home?  

"Where do you get your mail?"

"What do you do in the winter?"

"Do you still work? How?"

"How do you travel with cats?"

“So you just wander around?

These were the same questions swirling

in my mind when my husband and I stumbled upon the opportunity to purchase our motorcoach. It happened quite unexpectedly. My in-laws, who had just concluded five years of nomadic living, decided to sell their coach.

“What do you think?" my husband asked me, and I must admit, panic and this incredible sense of fear was my first reaction. The thought of such a monumental change was overwhelming. I was terrified. 

Our coach is a 23 year old vintage top of the line 45 foot Class A Monoca Holiday Rambler Navigator 500 horse power diesel pusher with a million - mile chassis (pronunced chas-ee). I marvel at that mouthful and I am laughing with a little bit of pride as I write this. At the time of purchase, I was clueless about what all those specs meant.  If you are deciding to hit the road as a newbie, like me back then, you might need a little RV 101. But, then again, we had absolutely no idea what we were doing and about 4 years in, things finally started to click. 

RV stands for recreational vehicle. You might find it amusingly simple, but I confess, I was clueless about its meaning. Amidst the chaos of Covid, as we crossed into Arkansas, signs stretched for two miles, sternly declaring that recreational vehicles were unwelcome to stop or stay. The term sounded ominous and and quite frankly roused up a bit of fear, like, being a real-life apocalypse movie. What was so wrong with recreational vehicles that they can not stop? It was my husband, a seasoned adventurer in both RVs and the transportation industry, who enlightened me. "You are driving in one," he casually remarked. And just like that, the pieces clicked, and I finally understood the acronym “RV”. It’s OK, go ahead and laugh, I would! 

RV’s encompass a range of vehicles, from grand buses to compact camper vans to tiny humble tear drop campers. These recreational vehicles fall into three main classes: A, B, and C, distinguished by their chassis types.

Class A motorhomes encompass both motorcoaches and motorhomes. These impressive vehicles vary in size from 26 to 45 feet, offering a range of options to suit different preferences and needs.  

Motorcoaches, sometimes referred to as coaches, buses and motorhomes, are typically on the larger end of the spectrum, stretching from 40 to 45 feet in length. Easy to remember because a bus like a greyhound, city or touring bus is typically 40-45 feet long. A distinguishing feature of a 40-45-foot motorcoach is its three axles, which support its weight and movement. In contrast, under 40-foot motorcoaches typically have two axles. The motorhome’s  engine can be powered by either gas or diesel. However, in a coach where the engine is positioned at the rear, it's affectionately dubbed the "diesel pusher." Why?  Well, it's simple: because the coach is literally being pushed forward by the might of its diesel engine! 

Class “B plus” are  classified as motorhomes and come in lengths between 10-22 feet. They are larger than a traditional Class B camper van but smaller than a Class C RV. They can be diesel, but typically gas. 

Just to keep you confused, Class B, are more compact, built on van chasis camper vans,  17-19 feet in length with 2 axels and are typically gas. 

Class C motorhomes length is 20-32. These are distinguishable by their iconic look with the camper hangin over the front of the pickup truck they are attached to. While some can look like a motorhome with the overhang. 

The final category of RVs consists of various groupings that require a separate vehicle for towing. These include:

• Travel trailers: These come in a range of sizes, from tiny units to spacious models up to 45 feet in length.

• Toy haulers: Designed with a garage space for bikes, ATVs, and small cars, they can also serve as a balcony or extra sleeping space when empty.

• Fifth wheels: These RVs feature a unique hitch that hooks up inside the bed of a truck, providing stability and ease of towing.

• Truck campers: Typically mounted on pickup trucks, these campers overhang the back and front of the vehicle, offering compact yet functional living spaces.

• Pop-up trailers: Folding and collapsible, these campers are easy to store and transport, expanding into comfortable living spaces when unfolded.

• Tear drop trailers ranging between 10-21 feet, are the smallest on the market typically containing just enough room to sleep in.

• Camper vans: highly popular, these are typically converted vans equipped with living amenities, providing a convenient and versatile option for travelers. There are also 

• Schoolies - converted school buses

• 4x4 campers kind of like huge jeeps, Hummer-type vehicle for going deep into the wild 

• Converted vehicles such as trucks and even ambulances-anything goes here.

And, before I get yelled at on the camper vans, there are some mean looking Mercedes out there that are like a luxury camping van. 

And, finally, the chassis. The Chassis is the supporting frame and structure that the RV sits on. It is like your car. If you were to look underneath your car you would see a metal main frame that attaches to your wheels. Then the car is built on top. The same thing with the RV. So, the best exampple I can give you is a Greyhound bus. If you look at the back of a Gryehound bus you will see the iconic logo of Gryehound. Below it you will see the word “Prevost”. The Greyhound bus sits on top of the Prevost chassis. And, by the way, Prevost is the highest entry point into the RV world and they are coached indeed. Second, I believe is Country coach as they are built upon a Prevost chassis.

Our 22-year-old vintage Class A Coach – the epitome of luxury in its heyday, crafted by Monaco, christened as the Holiday Rambler Navigator, boasts a mighty 500 Cummins diesel horsepower engine. Now, don't get me wrong, she's a powerhouse on the open road. But when we tackle those winding mountain routes, it feels like we're in sync with the plight of a truck driver, inching along like a sluggish transport truck at a leisurely 10 mph in a 50 mph zone mentally chanting Thomas the Engine's mantra: 'I think I can, I think I can, I think I can….'" And, sometimes a little prayer to the man upstairs promising to do right if he just allows us to-make-it-to-the-top-of-the-hill. 

Our diesel pusher propels us forward on our million-mile chassis promising years of reliability as we traverse the highways and byways of the USA, soaking in all the adventures that await us. 

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This free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code QBCBW to get 15¢/gal of gas or fuel on your first purchase. I use this every time I fuel up my car and sometimes my motorcoach. Oh and I have used it in restaurants and grocery stores. Effortless-cha-ching!

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You did what?

Now that you know a little lingo, let’s move on to “you did what?” Indeed, we did! We sold our house, our SUV, and practically everything we owned. It was a decision met with bewilderment from friends and family.  It did not make sense to keep our home, who was going to live in it? The kids were all grown. We thought about using it for a rental, but as previous owners with tenants, um, no thank you! We just did not want the hassle. 

We had to give up our SUV. I say give up, because I did not want to give up my reliable heated leather seat luxury. We soon learned, there are only certain vehicles that can be towed behind an RV unless you want the hassle of a dolly. We ended up with a non-heated old cloth seated 5-speed Honda that in my opinion, identifies as a Jeep. I was pretty happy to be driving stick again and having a ball off roading. That is until I unexpectedly found out a year  later in the manual it is not intended for off roading. Darn it, ignorance is such bliss. There is a jeep in my future, I just know it.

As we began the process of selling off our belongings, we made the decision to park our newly acquired bus in a local RV park to immerse ourselves in the concrete wild side of life. However, our initiation into this nomadic lifestyle didn't exactly go as planned. In that first month, we experienced every type of weather imaginable, with the exception of snow. From howling winds to swirling dust, from lightning to wild rain storms – it was a whirlwind of nature's fury that we hadn't quite anticipated. Sleep eluded us both, and we found ourselves taking turns on the couch, restless and unsettled.

Today, even if a train were to rumble past, blowing its horn, the cats and us sleep right through it.. A windstorm thrashing against our coach has somehow transformed into a soothing lullaby, as if Mother Nature herself was gently rocking us to sleep  like newborns in a cradle.

We do travel down the road with our two cats, who were 10 years old at the start of our adventure and were not thrilled with the idea of a new lifestyle or accommodations. However,  today, at 15 years old, they have become remarkably adaptable to staying in friends' homes, hotels, RV repair lounge areas and accompanying us on our travels. I'll admit, there were some missteps in the beginning, but I'll save those tales for another chapter. 

Next time, I'll rewind and share the story of how I believe a soul's cry set this adventure in motion. Why Wait, you can read it now.

Love my work? Buy me a coffee to keep the creativity flowing! ☕️ Or, a couple of gallons of diesel will do the trick! 🚍⛽️ Thanks for your support!

If you enjoy my work and want to keep the creative engines running, consider buying me a coffee. Or, a couple of gallons of diesel? After all, even creativity needs a bit of a fuel boost now and then! ☕️🚍 Whether it’s a coffee to spark new ideas or diesel to power through the tough spots, your support means the world to me. Thanks for keeping me inspired and on the move!"

My goal is to release new posts weekly on Wednesdays at 7:00 am. And, I'll strive to stick to this routine. If you have any questions or comments, please share them in the comments section, and I'll be sure to respond. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I can't wait to continue sharing my adventures with you. 

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