RV RESEARCH THAT WILL PROBABLY NEVER GET DONE

RV RESEARCH THAT WILL PROBABLY NEVER GET DONE

When starting out on a lifestyle of full-time RVing, it's important to do lots of research. What type and model of recreation vehicle best suits your needs? Your budget? Your travel plans? When these questions get answered, the next step is to tour specific units. That stage of research requires different data: How long is it? How much space does it have inside? Is the cupboard and storage space adequate? What about visibility for the driver? How well is it constructed? What is the repair history on this model and type? Are there dealers and repair shops available on the road? What is its maximum safe weight carrying capacity? In what condition are the engine, the exterior body, the interior living space? And on and on the questions go.

There are commercial RV rating agencies that can help you made wise decisions about what recreational vehicle to buy. And, of course, there are professional driving schools that can teach you how to drive your rig and what hazards to avoid on the road. However, there is a type of RV research that is not available anywhere.

This month we celebrate our fourth anniversary as Full-Time RVers. I'd like to check research on long-term full-time RVing, but I don't think such data has been collected. So I am offering a first draft of a questionnaire that might provide some important answers.
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LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THE FULL-TIME RV LIFESTYLE
Questionnaire

BACKGROUND: How long have you been living on the road full-time?_____________

PART I: Effects on the individual. (Circle the answers that are accurate for you.)

1. Frequency of wanting to "go home" (even though you're already there!)
       Daily        Weekly        Monthly        All the time
2. How often do you talk to yourself (even when traveling alone.)
       Daily        Weekly        Monthly        All the time
3. How often do you wonder if you're on the right road?
       Daily        Weekly        Monthly        All the time
4.How often do you turn on the GPS to get some intelligent conversation?
       Daily        Weekly        Monthly        All the time
5. Frequency of forgetting what town/city/state you are in.
       Daily        Weekly        Monthly       All the time
6. Frequency of forgetting what day/date/month/year today is.
       Daily        Weekly        Monthly        All the time

PART II: Effects on relationships. (Check all correct responses your spouse will allow.)

1. Do you still have the same spouse as when you started?        Yes        No
2. Frequency of considering divorce (separation or murder).
       Daily        Weekly        Monthly        All the time
3. Frequency of forgetting spouse at rest stops.
       Daily        Weekly        Monthly        Every stop
4. Maximum length of period of not speaking to each other.
       One day    One week    One month   Currently
5. Average frequency of arguments:
       Daily        Weekly        Monthly        Constant
6. Average intensity of arguments:
       Mild         Moderate     Major           Ouch!
7. Stress points in your traveling marriage:

a. frequency of rest stops
b. travel speed
c. overnight camping sites
d. map-reading
e. route decisions
f. storage of personal possessions
g. Other

8. Do your children still speak to you?        Yes        No
9. Have old friends cut you off because they think you're crazy?        Yes        No

PART III: Effects on health (circle all that apply)

1. Constipation
2. Dehydration
3. Frost-bite
4. Back spasms
5. Stiff neck
6. Crossed eyes/double vision
7. Weight gain
8. Foot drop (right only)
9. Motion sickness
10. Swollen feet
11. Pressure sores (you know where!)
12. Wrinkles of the face and body
13. Finger spasms (in steering position)
14. Anxiety attacks
15. Directional disorientation
16. Nightmares when awake
17. Hallucinations of car horns or detours
18. Panic attacks re orange barrels
19. Brake-light fixation
20. Trouble making decisions (OK, so circle them all!)

PART IV: Effects on vehicle/s (check all that apply and circle approximate dollar value)

1. Number of flat tires/blow-outs:        1 to 10        11 to 20        More than 20        Too many
       Estimated cost:                            $50              $500            $5000 or up

2. How often has your vehicle/s been damaged:       once            10 times                 50 times
       Estimated cost:         $500           $5000          $50,000

3. Cause of vehicle damage:

my slow reflexes
other driver's stupidity
livestock/wildlife on highway
an act of God
none of your business

4. Has your vehicle ever been totaled?        Once        3 times        5 times        I forget
       Estimated cost:        $5000        $10,000        $50 from the junk yard

5. Average miles per gallon:        3        5        8        10+ with a tail wind
       Estimated total fuel cost:            $1500           $15,000           Only my banker knows

6. Other major repairs, such as Engine, Transmission, Brakes, Frame, Steering
       $50       $100       $500       $1000       $5000       $10,000

       Living components such as TV, toilet, refrigerator, carpet, etc.
        $50       $100       $500       $1000       $5000       $10,000

       All of the above        Bankruptcy

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Questionnaires modeled on this one would gather much informative data, especially if answered honestly by a large number of full-timeRVers. The responses might be so sobering that "newbies" considering the lifestyle would have second thoughts and stay put in their brick and mortar homes!

That would be a pity because life is a joyful and unpredictable adventure no matter what lifestyle we choose. So maybe it's a good thing that this RV research will probably never be done!

6 May 2009 - mshr

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