I like to begin with pen and paper. Write down what will make daily life comfortable. For me, kitchen counter space was non-negotiable and a bedroom I could make truly dark meant better sleep and better health. We spent six months reading reviews, studying floor plans, and watching YouTube walk-throughs before we ever stepped onto a dealer lot. By then we had a short list of brands based on reviews, warranties, and customer service, plus a clear picture of what would feel like home.
If you will tow, the math matters. Check that your truck or SUV can safely handle the weight of the rig plus the weight of your stuff. For travel trailers, learn about weight distribution hitches and sway control. Some rigs are fine behind a half-ton truck, some are not, and dealers do not always get the details right. They don’t always know what works. Read the numbers yourself and give yourself a margin so driving feels calm, not tense.
If you are looking at a motorhome, think about how you will bring a car. Flat towing a “toad” with all four wheels down is often the simplest. You line up, hook the bars, set the gear, and go. A tow dolly can work, but tight campsites make the extra steps awkward, and loading on a wet day can turn into lying on the ground and getting muddy. The easier the exit, the kinder it is to future you.
Health needs belong on your checklist. If you use insulin, plan a reliable spot in the refrigerator. Some rigs have full-size fridges, which helps. If you take daily meds, avoid storing them on outside walls that bake in summer or chill in winter. Think about the height of the bed. If it sits too high for easy in and out, add a sturdy step or choose a different frame. Consider bringing your home mattress if you will be full timing. Many RV mattresses are thin, and good sleep changes everything.
Decor and storage ask for honesty. If an object cannot ride safely while you travel, it needs a secure place or it needs to stay behind. Try a simple test. Pack the loose decor into a bin, then practice setting it up and packing it again. If the routine feels fussy every two or three days, you have your answer. I am speaking to myself here too. We travel with a full leather shop, which means move days take time. Beauty is lovely. Manageable beauty is better.
Small features can make a hard day softer. In our Grand Design Imagine the reading lamps offer a blue glow that is gentle on migraine days and switches to white when needed. Holding the button while the blue is on turns it off completely. It is a tiny thing, but tiny things add up.
Stairs deserve real attention. If you can choose solid aluminum four-step stairs, do it. They plant on the ground and feel steady. Many rigs ship with three steps that can float above uneven sites. We built an extra wood step for ours. The week I missed it; I broke my ankle in two places and twisted my knee. Packing and moving on crutches was no fun. Safe entry is not a luxury. It is part of choosing well.
When you are ready to shop, go see as many layouts as you can. Ride the golf cart if the lot is big but climb the steps and stand inside each space. Open doors. Pretend to cook. Picture where the coffee maker sits, where the laundry basket goes, how the trash can fits, how the dog bed tucks in. Motorhomes, fifth wheels, and travel trailers all solve space differently. I have noticed travel trailers and fifth wheels often leave more kitchen counters, which matters to me. Your must-haves may be different. Trust them.
Most of all, give yourself permission to enjoy the imagination. Picture future mornings in the rig you love. See the first trip on your calendar. Start a little bucket list so the research has a heartbeat.
Before you head out, I keep this pocket list in my phone: must-have comforts, brands to explore, towing math, bedroom and sleep needs, daily relax-and-recover needs, storage reality, a floor plan that fits real life, safe entry stairs, an in-person walk-through of every favorite, and a short list of first places you want to go.