Let's Go RVing!

 After our last camping trip, we were sold.  RV Camper life suits us.  The search was on for our very own!!  Searching for and purchasing a travel trailer was a lot more complex than I thought it would be.  I assumed you go to the dealership, look at the options and pick one.  Nope.  There are a million different manufacturers and every model is just a tiny bit different - there are no standards or general assumptions based on an identical floor plan.  The floor plan may be the same but the beds, doors, sofa, refrigerator, etc, etc, etc are all totally different.  Not to mention the holding tank sizes, outdoor kitchen amenities, outdoor speakers, awning size, etc, etc, etc.  All of this leaves you finding the PERFECT one and then having to search the entire state or country for THE ONE you want.  Totally insane.

We narrowed our choices down to 4 different models we would be happy with and had some basic requirements in mind.  I wanted 3 bunks so each kid would have their own bed which wasn't doubling as a couch or table during the day.  If we have visitors, no problem to use those sleeping places, but for every trip?  no thanks.  Very few models have 3-4 individual bunks, so that narrowed our selection considerably.  We also were looking for a dinette area that would seat 5 people for rainy days or card games.  Additionally, we wanted a unit that had decent sized holding tanks.  

After finding the 4 options, we started searching and calling dealers in the area.  We found one location in Georgetown and went to see it.  It would have worked fine for us, but the quality left a little to be desired and Todd was worried about the length and weight (oh yea, you have to find one that your car can actually tow too!) being too much for the Armada.  So, x'ed that one off the list.  Two of the models were located no where in Texas and driving to Pennsylvania to get a camper seemed silly (we will drive cross country for a dog, but not a camper people - we have standards)...  

Finally (4 days into our search - which isn't long by any stretch but it consumed us for those 4 days) we found one located in San Angelo that checked every box.  Todd wheeled and dealed and worked his magic to get the price in line with our budget and off we went!  The girls schooled from my parents' house that day and Todd I drove 3.5 hrs one way to get this thing.  

Welcome to the family Forest River Wildwood 273QBXL.  

Here's the interior!

Three bunks in the back with a kid sofa that lays to a bed.

The couch and dinette area is one of my favorite features.  Lots of different configurations and storage!  You can remove the middle cushion for more space, add to dinette side for larger seating area, flip to couch side for a chaise lounge or fold the entire thing down flat to sleep (theoretically) 4 adults.  Plus, it comes with LOTS of storage bins and space.  WIN

The ride home took forever but the camper drove great.  I had a blast getting everything set up and looking cute for our first trip!

It's a whole new chapter of camping memories for us and we could not be more excited! We'll still tent camp occasionally, but having the camper gives us so many new options!  Hooray!  Bring on the FUN!