About Miranda
Miranda is a 1997 31′ long Glendale Royal Classic class C RV .
Finding information about this RV hasn’t been easy. Glendale made Royal Classics until 2004. The newer models maintain the same layout as the older models, but have updated electrical systems, better insulation, and other little tweaks that make the older RCs like Miranda difficult to compare, other than superficially.
I contacted Glendale directly and someone managed to scrounge up the old brochure that isn’t really all that informative since it is inaccurate. For instance, according to that brochure, Miranda has a Ford E350 chassis when in reality she has an E450. This makes sense since longer class C units require the bigger E450 to support the house and provide a greater GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating).
- Miranda’s Specs
When shopping for my coach, I toured an E350 with a layout similar to Miranda’s and instantly saw the difference simply in the size of the basement storage compartments compared to Miranda’s. They were much smaller, probably since the E350 had a much smaller carrying capacity (750lbs to Miranda’s 1,500 lbs).
Miranda has some standard equipment that would be considered add ons or luxury items on other coaches, such as the Kohler generator, roof air conditioner, oak floors, and neo-angle shower. She also has a rare layout that isn’t even mentioned on the brochure or on the detailed floor plan I found.
- Miranda’s Layout
Rather than having a rather standard back bedroom with large wardrobe and queen sized bed, the back room has wraparound upper cabinets and two twin beds with a night table between them. This layout, combined with her high carrying capacity and immaculate state are what led me to choose this coach.
Looking at the picture, it’s easy to see that the 31′ Royal Classic has four separate rooms and a total of eight clearly delineated spaces:
- Loft;
- Cockpit;
- Basement (exterior storage compartments).
The rooms are truly that, spaces separated by doors. Between the study and the dressing room there is an accordion-style door. Between the kitchen and the dressing room, there is a solid wood pocket door. The toilet has a proper, solid door on hinges.
I am someone who feels more comfortable if her home has a lot of rooms, even if they are small. I feel less confined if I have a sense that I can travel between distinctive spaces. With this layout, I knew that I would not feel cramped. With a few modifications, I could turn the back room into a study and therefore live in a different space than the one in which I would bathe, eat, and sleep, giving me the illusion of having a two-bedroom apartment!
Finally, the burning question. Why did I name my rig ‘Miranda’? It comes from a movie called Serenity. In it, Miranda is a planet where its inhabitants died from being meddled with by their government. The name will remind me to rebel against conformity, to be true to myself, and to present a positive example of the nomadic, full-time RVing life, lest there come a day [when] there won’t be room for naughty men like us to slip about at all.
You can know all the math in the ‘Verse, but take a boat in the air you don’t love, she’ll shake you off just as sure as the turning of worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells ya she’s hurtin’ ‘fore she keens. Makes her home. (Captain Malcolm Reynolds, ‘Serenity’)
I just discovered your site. Nice work. For Miranda’s modifications, search for Andy Baird’s website. He lives fulltime in a Lazy Daze motorhome and has made many modifications which you might find useful.
Norman
Hi Norman,
Thanks for visiting! Andy and I are good friends. It was actually him who inspired me to buy a class C-type RV and to turn the back room into a computer room!
[...] About Miranda [...]
Hi – i followed you here from unclutterer. I love your setup-it seems so cozy,practical, and,uncluttered!
I just wanted to mention that Miranda was also the name of a character in an original Star Trek TV episode. She was the ambassador from a very peaceful planet and Kirk fell for her. On that show one of the characters said “Miranda means the beautiful one has come” I’m not sure how true that is but I’ve loved the name ever since and named my first cat Miranda.
Hi Jessie, thank you for visiting!
“Is There No Truth In Beauty’ is one of my favourite episodes of the original Star Trek series (I’m a geek!). Miranda actually means ‘worthy of admiration’, but that didn’t come into play when I named my RV. It’s funny, but Miranda is one of my least favourite names of all time and, yet, it was the perfect choice for my Royal Classic.
As for my set up being cozy, practical, and uncluttered, I’ll just be truthful and say ‘sometimes.’
I’m really due for a massive reorganizing session, but that will only happen once I do my renos.
Cheers!
[...] About Miranda [...]
[...] About Miranda [...]
Wow Miranda, it is wonderful to come across someone who resonates so greatly with my path. I am in the process of shedding everything in my 3 bedroom house + garage (I am a huge packrat) so that I can put it on the market in a few weeks. I purchased a 34′ Travel Trailer which is waiting for me in SE Oklahoma. The really weird part? Is that I named her Serenity after the Firefly series/Serenity movie. It blew my mind that you had named your RV Miranda!
Heather, that is just too funny!
Originally, I wanted to call my RV Serenity, but it just didn’t work with my personality. I actually dislike the name Miranda, but that just made so much more sense. My Firefly/Serenity-loving friends all cheered and clapped when I declared I’d settled on Miranda; didn’t even have to explain why I picked that name.
Hope that you start a blog so I can follow your travels!
As for decluttering your house and ridding yourself of your packrat ways, I feel obliged to remind you that my ebook about doing this is on sale for a few more days.
*AND* your name is RAE??
That’s my middle name, same spelling. Neat!
I think naming her Miranda is brilliant.
I definitely plan to blog the process, just need to dust my old blog off and give it an overhaul.
Can’t wait for that book to come out, I could sure use help in this process! *Stares wide eyed at room full of stuff and boxes* So nice to meet you!
Heather, Rae is the name I call myself, but it’s not my legal name. At least, not at the moment. I’d like to change my legal name to Rae one day.
My book is available now! You misunderstood my comment; the book is normally 10.95USD but I’m having a holiday promotion where you can get the book for just 5.95USD. http://travelswithmiranda.uskeba.ca/?p=1109 for more details.
Oh whoops, I did misread your comment.
I bought it and I can’t wait to read it! Hopefully it will give me some motivation to help me get through this process. I get rid of so much stuff everyday and it blows me away how much is left. My packrat days are numbered!
Thank you for buying the book! I hope you find it useful and that your journey to a decluttered lifestyle will be as rewarding as mine.
Thanks Rae. I bought it, but how do I actually get the book? I didn’t get a follow up email or anything showing me where to download them.
Hey Rae!!
My favorite movie in the ‘verse is “Serenity”….I’ve got 17 months left before I implement my “get out of Dodge” plan and hit the road. I was worried about leaving my 3 fabulous cats behind but have taken heart that you travel with cats. Do you have any advice? Mine run free on a farm right now and I”m worried it will be cruel to take them on the road with me.
Thea, my cats have always been of the indoor variety only, so I don’t have much advice to offer. I think it would be very hard on your cats to be confined to an RV. A compromise could be to start leash training them now and then tethering them outside your site when you’re parked. You have to watch out for wild animals and also follow park regs (many parks have 2 pet limits). While I have heard some some outdoor cats transitioning well to RVing, I doubt I would have hit the road had mine been used to roaming free.
My last name really is Zinger but Zoe is a nickname. I won’t change it legally but am slowly switching people over.
I too love Serenity. The writing is superb – some of the dialogue is stellar (pardon the pun). The TV series ‘Firefly’ that spawned the movie, or was it vice versa, didn’t last a season but every episode was a treasure.
There is a scene where an evil minx atempts to seduce Mal (having just tricked him into becoming her husband) and her speach is one of the most rivetting pieces of erotica I could ever imagine.
I would have wished a lighter less burdoned name for your beautiful Classic. Freedom is a state of mind – Governments had no power over Nelson Mandela, more than proving the point.
All the best Zoe
Hi Zoe, thank you for commenting! Great pun.
Firefly the series spawned the movie, with the latter only being made because of fan fervour. It’s a miracle that we ever got Serenity! I love that ep (Our Mrs. Reynolds), probably my second favourite after Trash. I still maintain that Miranda is the perfect name for my rig because she serves as a constant reminder of just what it is I seek to do with my one wild and precious life.