I am a full timer who is starting our 8th year on the road. I have a
few comments that I will add to your list.
One thing I think would help answer your questions is to take
the "Boot Camp" that the Escapees will offer at their Escapade this
Summer. Or attend the Life On Wheels classes offered across the USA.
Either one could be done in a rented RV or from a Motel in the area.
A few of my comets follow
Don Hankins
--- In Diesel-RVs@yahoogroups.com, "northstatebiker"
<djohnsonhot@...> wrote:
>
> Here is a few general questions for a fella (and his superior) who
are
> retiring into a MotorHome in the next 18 months. I hope that some
of
> you will be willing to share some honest and supported facts related
> to each.
>
> First, my wife and I did live full time in our RV (a gas rig) back
> when I was in my 30's. We traveled around and pretty much "had it"
> with RV-ing because of the numerous troubles with that RV. So, we
> have the basics down - - but now things have changed:
>
> 1. I need a computer now. It is not a want. We pay bills and I
> move cash around using my computer here at home and on the road.
>
> My question: is there smaller and less expensive satellite based
> high-speed solution out there yet or is one coming? The huge
dishes
> I see are pricey and are often ground mounted. We don't watch TV
on
> the move so I can live with a separate dish that will seek a signal
or
> allow me to use a compass and elevation/azimuth specs.
I have a tripod Satellite Dish and have used it for 4-5 years. It is
great to have but if the decision was to be made today I would
consider the Verizon computer cards.
>
>
> 2. We are moving up to a 40-footer. I know, many will say that is
> either too big or small, but we know we can live with a 40 foot
coach.
>
The bigger the Coach the less places you can take it. Many of the
best roads in California have a 40ft limit. A 40 footer will not fit
in many National Parks.
> a. Which chassis, if you have owned more than a couple,
is
> the easiest to find service for and is the best ride?
I have heard of problem with all brands, I think each has it's own
benefit and each will do the job. I feel that there are more
Freightliner repair locations than any other brand.
>
> b. Are there folks out there living with 2 or more
> slide-outs and what are the pro's and con's of having more than 2
> (such as 4 slides?)
My last Coach had 1 slide this coach has 4. Each slide takes up
storage space and is something else to take care of before being able
to move in the morning. Each slide provides a larger living area, I
think the second slide in a bedroom can be lived without.
>
> c. What about tag axles? Any opinions. I would prefer
to
> not have a tag and a smaller/lighter/lower HP diesel.
I don't want a tag axle. If you are 40' or less it is not needed.
>
> d. For those of you who have owned BOTH the Cummins and
> Cat power plants, which is cheaper/better/less hassle, etc. I can
> live with opinions so long as they are fact-based...
My last 2 coaches had Cummins engines, this one has a cat. My next
one will have a cummins. Cat owners are very loyal to the brand but
I do not see why as most get less MPG than a cummins
>
> e. Has anyone tried to perform their own maintenance on
> the road and to what level have you achieved (oil changes?). I am
a
> self-maintainer for more than a couple of reasons.
I do most of the maintenance myself. Several Escapee parks are great
places to let you do some maintenance. Most commercial parks do not
allow you to do much work on your rig.
>
> f. Are there must-have accessories that are not on the
> general usually-owned items? Such as Electronic, security systems,
> etc.? What about often missed must-haves??
>
> g. Have you full-timers been to Mexico or Canada or
other
> places for wintering and summering breaks. Where have you laid
down
> roots outside of the USA? We have our eyes on Mexico and I know
this
> is a huge subject but some general information would be great. We
> have lived in several Latin Countries over the years so we have no
> fear of Mexicans or other Latin folks and in fact really enjoy those
> cultures (we lived in Spain and Portugal on our Honeymoon - - and
> stayed in France, Austria, Germany and Italy for the winter months
then).
>
I travel to Mexico most winters and have lead trips for the Escapee
Chapter 8 (The Mexican Connection). It is a great country that
should not be missed. But go the first time with a group ether a
caravan company or Chapter 8 or friends that have traveled in Mexico
a lot.
Mexican travel requires a Motorhome that does not have a Diesel
particulate filter which needs 15 ppm diesel fuel. This excludes all
2008 and many 2007 coaches that were not built on 2006 chassis.
> h. Has anyone launched a full-timer life-style and then
> regretted it completely? Meaning, maybe Mom got sick of the road
or
> you began to get tired of the lifestyle and ended it sooner than
> expected and what were your reasons to return to RV-ing as a
> hobby/recreation only? Include medical reasons and why treatment
> was not possible away from "home."
>
> i. This is a big decision: did you keep a "home base"
> (down-sized) for your Rig? Did you keep a garage or storage and
how
> much did stuff did you keep, if any? I have read the gamut. Back
> when we full-timed, I kept a car, two motorcycles, furniture and so
on
> because we were convinced we would own a home again. This time, we
> are not sure but are nervous about getting rid of a lot of stuff
that
> will be way more expensive to replace. I own a Whole house Genset,
a
> Diesel 4-wheel drive/PTO/Front bucket Tractor, and a Goldwing.
Those
> latter items would cost a bunch to replace later. However, this
is a
> teeter-totter thing. We want to full time for the right reasons
> (right meaning, we want that lifestyle) but are going back and forth
> with the "thing" thing. I meant that to be funny but really, I am
> serious about down-sizing. We have already begun with selling
three
> of my four motorcycles and we are dumping the Jeep G.C. and so
on. I
> have a utility trailer with 4 wheels which is a beauty and that we
> might keep for moving stuff later but that may be about it. We are
> pretty much dumping our furniture except Grandma's old trunk (that
> sort of thing). I have some electronics I will keep.....but, we are
> heading in the direction of a full dumping of the stuff that we know
> we can replace later.
>
> That's enough for now. We have plenty of time to work this out.
We
> want to eliminate any emotional attachments. Her Mom and Dad are
set
> for now and my parents are gone. I have a great Brother and
> Sister-in-Law who we will see a lot as time goes on. We hope to
see
> them yearly instead of every 5 years as it is now..and he retires
in 3
> to 6 years. That's one reason for freeing up from our home here.
>
> Thanks for any input and little tidbits would be great. I am
guessing
> that there are others reading this who are bending in our direction
as
> well.....so, I hope this serves the group. If a handful of folks
> here want to take on one or two issues at a time, that would be
great.
>
> I hope the subject works. This is a very compelling subject for
many
> people. The USA is in the midst of one of the biggest financial
> transitions in decades - - those of you who read financial
information
> daily will agree. We are making this move now because we want to
get
> on the road before fuel hits $5 to $6 a gallon or more and it will.
>
> We do have a campground membership and will likely keep busy doing
> seasonal work. If anyone has input there, that would be great. I
> have performed sales consulting out of an RV before and really
enjoyed
> that - - I have a bunch of management and sales experience as well
as
> management consulting work which has kept me busy over the years.
So,
> we plan to have something to do......while having some 4 to 6 month
> breaks to travel overseas.
>
> Thanks for any input!
>
> DJ
>
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