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Which RV will you
choose for full-timing?
Posted by Agnes on February 11, 1999:
We haven't yet decided
on the RV we will choose. Regarding size, my husband
would like to get
a 36' with a slide out. I would prefer to go no larger than 34'
and don't mind if
it doesn't have a slide out. Rich is over six feet tall and feels
confined in real small
spaces so that's why the difference. We plan to full time
so would appreciate
any thoughts from others regarding a good size and type.
Posted by Rik Roberts on March 08, 1999:
In Reply to: Choosing an
RV posted by Agnes on February 11, 1999
We have a 1998 36S
Bounder slide and I am 6' 3". Would never, ever
consider having anything
but a slide. Absolutely no problems after living in it for
18 months...both in
the snow and the desert heat. Rik
Posted by Linda on February 18, 1999:
In Reply to: Choosing an
RV posted by Agnes on February 11, 1999
When selecing our
fifth-wheel, I made my 6'2' hubby stretch out on the bed,
stand in the shower
and checked for headroom...we did this in every model we
looked at. To our
surprize, we encountered all kinds of variables! (I figured if
we were going to LIVE
in our RV, the BIG GUY needed to have a
comfortable space.)
We chose a Kit Classic Sky-Lounge, with the living room
up front, over the
hitch. We love it, and have happily been fulltimers since
1988. Linda Handie
Posted by Agnes on February 18, 1999 at 16:28:39:
In Reply to: Re: Choosing
an RV posted by Linda on February 18, 1999
Wow, fulltiming since
1988! I'm so envious! Rich is trying out the beds and
showers in every MH
we look at. We know that 5Ws offer a lot more space
for the size but have
decided that a MH is right for us. Now if we could just
decide on which one
and how much we want to pay for it! We set a limit and
then see something
wonderful and then start thinking, "Should we...." Last
weekend we saw a beautiful
1993 33' Beaver and, of course, it's over our
"limit" but..... We
also saw a nice 1994 Vectra that is within our limits but I'm a
little concerned about
the lack of counter space in it. I intend to cook nearly
every day so want
to have space in which to do it. Decisions, decisions. Sure
appreciate any advise
or suggestions. Thanks! Agnes
Posted by george on February 21, 1999 at 08:36:13:
In Reply to: Re: Choosing
an RV posted by Agnes on February 18, 1999
Agnes, As for cooking,
even fulltimers do most all outside on a grill or over a
pit in many cases.
Baking and such occurs inside and so too some defrosting in
the microwave. There
are many things to consider in a fulltiming RV, and much
of it is personal.
If you need lots of countertop space, I suppose that's
important. But don't
let it get in the way of living. Besides life is more that home
cooking. happy motoring,
George
Posted by Barb Hofmeister on March 14, 1999 at 18:29:46:
In Reply to: Re: Choosing
an RV posted by george on February 21, 1999
I do most of my cooking
inside and have in all of our motorhomes. Neither the
Mallard or our Bounder
had much counter space but we managed and I
cooked elaborate as
well as simple meals. I still say, "where there is a will there
will be a way." Barb
Posted by Agnes on February 23, 1999 at 10:01:38:
In Reply to: Re: Choosing
an RV posted by george on February 21, 1999
Thanks, George! Don't
worry, nothing will get in our way--we plan to start this
new adventure as soon
as we can. We know that we will have to compromise
on some things and
are prepared to do so. Guess I'll have to learn a new way
of cooking! We have
noticed that people even take their electric skillets out on
the picnic table.
We can hardly wait to begin learning all this new stuff! Agnes
Posted by Sherry on April 10, 1999 at 17:51:18:
In Reply to: Re: Choosing
an RV posted by Agnes on February 23, 1999
Adequate counterspace
is perhaps THE top priority I have when selecting the
ultimate RIGHT RV
for full-timing. We are still in the shopping stage, with 18
months before we hit
the road. We both love cooking, and would never
compromise on the
kitchen arrangement. The kitchen is always the first thing
we check out, and
if it isn't sufficient, there is no point in looking at the rest of
the RV! Yes, we cook
out a lot, but when full-timing, you can't expect to cook
out every meal every
day! Remember, this will be your permanent way of life,
not just a camping
trip!
Posted by Vickie on March 05, 1999 at 14:32:09:
In Reply to: Re: Choosing
an RV posted by Agnes on February 23, 1999
Hi fellow fulltimers.
We too are starting this year fulltiming and I wondered
what you do with a
grill between setups---pack it inside the home or dismantle it
for underneath storage
or just put in the back of the truck? We will be getting a
34-36'5th wheel trailer.
Any comments on pros and cons of 5th wheels. What
model is liked best
etc. Thanks for all the help.
Posted by RamblinReeces on April 05, 1999 at 14:45:17:
In Reply to: Re: Choosing
an RV posted by Vickie on March 05, 1999
Dismantle grill? We
carry a compact propane grill. Cook, cool down, close lid
and store. Works great.
Bonnie Reece
Posted by Barb Hofmeister on March 14, 1999 at 18:32:08:
In Reply to: Re: Choosing
an RV posted by Vickie on March 05, 1999
We just have a little
portable grill that is no problem to store at all. We put it in
one of the outside storage
bays when we are not using it. Barb
Posted by Pat Colwell on March 29, 1999 at 21:21:26:
In Reply to: Re: Choosing
an RV posted by Barb Hofmeister on March 14, 1999:
To all of you with
questions about which RV, size, safety, etc. let me
recommend the RV Consumer
Group at www.rv.org. I became a member and
it has been the best
one hundred dollars I've ever spent even though I have not
as yet purchased an
RV. Although not associated with Consumer Reports
magazine, the Consumer
Group deals with RVs in much the same manner,
testing, rating, advising
of models to steer clear of and much more. Check them
out; you'll be glad
you did.
Posted by Chris on May 12, 1999 at 19:10:16:
In Reply to: Re: Choosing
an RV posted by Pat Colwell on March 29, 1999:
Yes, the Court of Public Opinion on rv.org is a real eye-opener!!
Posted by Bev Austin on February 13, 1999 at 13:52:39:
Well, we're
looking for an RV now, too. I don't believe there is only
one right size. We
are wanting the 34 with bumpouts, but I'd like to have room
to later add a washer/dryer
setup. Don't think we will go that big, because of
the price. Price seems
to be the final determining factor for us, along with
manufacturer support
of the vehicles. This can be very critical, when you read
of some of the problems
people have, and the lack of concern on the part of
many manufacturers,
after the vehicle is out of their hands.
Posted by Dick on March 07, 1999 at 18:00:59:
In Reply to: RV Right Size
posted by Bev Austin on February 13, 1999:
I am also going through
the question of new vs used. I would probably buy the
same model and size
either way (will be about 3 years from now), but wonder
if the warantees,
etc. on the new unit and the comfort zone that would create
might not be worth
the expense. Then again, if we buy used, there may be a
few areas where we
won't get exactly what we want, but we would have extra
money to spend to
personalize the rig while spending about the same money
total as for a new
one! Another thing that may be a problem for us is that we
don't want the extended
width nor a slide out (looking at 33-34' motor homes).
The way the manufacturers
seem to be headed, we may not have much choice
in new units that
don't have either over 96" width or a slide. That could limit us
only to used rigs.
It is fun looking and we are enjoying camping and talking with
others in our current
24' class C rig. That is a good way to learn! Dick in
Auburn, WA
Posted by Agnes on February 17, 1999 at 11:43:56:
In Reply to: RV Right Size
posted by Bev Austin on February 13, 1999
Bev, I agree with
what you said about price! We go back and forth between
getting a used MH
or setting our sights a little lower and buying a smaller new
unit. We are trying
to be very careful to be sure that we are able to carry the
weight of the "things"
we'll want to take with us. Some of the units we look at
have very limited
payload capacity. We never realized the search would be so
hard! But, we're actually
enjoying it so we'll keep on until we find the right unit
for us. Agnes
Posted by Mario on April 13, 1999 at 15:49:23:
If you plan to boondock(dry
camp) for any extended period, be sure your RV
can handle the addition
of batteries. Most RV's under 32 ft. ship with just one
Group 24 battery which
will not handle extended boondocking. You must
determine where the
additional batteries will be located. Don't accept promises
or verbalization that
"it's no problem". Most deep cycle batteries measure
approximately 13"
wide, 7" deep, 10" high, with the 6V batteries even higher.
Take a ruler and measure.
If an 1000 watt or higher inverter is in your plans,
remember that the
inverter must be mounted within 10 feet of the batteries but
not in the same compartment.
Look before you leap.
Posted by Katy on March 13, 1999 at 20:09:51:
We're narrowing our
choices down and trying to decide between two Komfort
fifth wheels. One
is 30 feet and the other 33. Both have a LR/DR and bedroom
bumpout. The difference
is the 33 foot one has the rear bay windows with
recliners. We had
thougth we'd keep our maximum length to 30 feet, as we
want to camp in national
forests, etc., but now we're not sure. The weight is
almost the same for
both. Will three more feet make that much difference?
What would those of
you with experience say? Thanks for your help.
Posted by Randolph Davis on March 15, 1999 at 19:10:28:
In Reply to: RV Length posted
by Katy on March 13, 1999 at 20:09:51:
Katy, I have heard
several people complain about all the windows at the rear
of the fiver getting
very dirty and dusty. It's probably much like the windows on
station wagons and
vans. The dust from the wheels roll out the back and end
up on the windows.
I suppose it's okay, if you want to wash them regularly.
Posted by ebs on March 15, 1999 at 19:29:42:
In Reply to: Re: RV Length
posted by Randolph Davis on March 15, 1999
I've ordered
a 32ft Fiver with the BIG rear window. I want to see something
besides the
RV next to me when I'm in a campground. It shouldn't take more
that a minute
to spray the window off with the hose.
Posted by Randolph Davis on March 16, 1999 at 21:10:01:
In Reply to: Re: RV Length
posted by ebs on March 15, 1999 at 19:29:42:
EBS, That's true!
I just don't do windows in my anchored home. I prefer to
move instead. So I
don't think I would find myself doing the windows each time
I pulled into the
campground. They have a great view, though, and one of my
favorite 5ers has
a big rear window.
Posted by Karin Proctor on March 27, 1999 at 14:52:59:
In Reply to: Re: RV Length
posted by Randolph Davis on March 16, 1999
We also were worried
about length of 5th wheel that could be accomidated in
the west and National
Camp grounds. The model we have been looking at also
has a big window in
the rear. Our main concern was added heat in the summer,
and loss of heat in
the winter. I have asked motorhome users about the
windshield in the
motorhomes but have had various answers. They tend to
cover thiers all the
time. If that is the case then we figure why have a huge
window we can't use.
We figure not to buy anything bigger than 31ft. Is that to
big to get in places?
Posted by Ebs on March 27, 1999 at 23:15:15:
In Reply to: Re: RV Length
posted by Karin Proctor on March 27, 1999
We have a fiver with
the big rear window on order. Because, I want to see
something other than
another RV when I'm parked in a campground. I plan to
have the one way window
covering installed on these windows. I don't know
what it's called,
it's a plastic sheet that is applied to the glass. I've seen it on rear
windows of pickup
trucks and we now have the "smoke" type on the car we
have. Your dealer
can probably tell you where to get this done and it will keep
the heat from the
sun out.
Posted by Karin Proctor on March 28, 1999 at 20:41:52:
In Reply to: Re: RV Length
posted by Ebs on March 27, 1999 at 23:15:15:
I had
looked into that but was told it would not insulate the interior. So we
would
lose some heat in the cool months and air in the hot months.
Posted by Bob Griffin on March 09, 1999 at 12:06:52:
I too am curious what
everyone's experience has been regarding campground
length restrictions?
Ron and Barb started out with a "small" 24, then went to a
34 then a 39. In their
book there is a reference to length being more of a
problem now, but nothing
specific. We are "debating" between a 36' and a 38'
because of the difference
with inside storage. Seems as though the problem is
more in the state
and national campgrounds. I thought the limit was 35 in most,
not 36 as someone
posted? Does anyone have web pages that lists the length
restrictions for national
parks? I have looked at the national park pages and its
not obvious. I found
one reference to the 35' length limit, but didnt mark the
page and have not
been able to find it again. Thanks in advance... Bob...
Posted by Bill Firestone on March 21, 1999 at 21:08:18:
In Reply to: Campground
Length Restrictions posted by Bob Griffin on March 09, 1999
Bob, Ever since you
made this posting I have been thinking that someone
would reply to it,
but since no one has I will take a shot at it. My experience is
older than probably
a lot of other peoples (16 years in Alaska where things are
very different), but
may still be valid. I am quite sure that there is no uniform
size restriction in
any campground that is managed by a government agency,
(National Park Service,
BLM, Corps of Engineers, state, county or city
government. Size seems
to be more a function of when the individual park was
built. The older the
park the smaller the campsite. Older parks my have a limit
of anywhere from 20ft.
to around 35 ft. More recently built parks may be able
to handle 36ft. to
40+ft. A personal experience, in 1974 I then had what was
considered the largest
motorhome on the market a 28 ft'er. I wanted to stay in
a state campground
in Big Sur, CA, which I knew had a limit of 25 ft. When I
was registering for
a campsite I was asked how long I was and replied without
blinking 25 ft. They
looked skeptical but gave me a site anyway. Which I was
able to get into,
but it was tight. On the way to my site I saw several sites that
had long approaches
from the camp road that would accommodate a rig much
longer than mine.
So the next day when I decided to stay for a couple more
days I got the number
of a large site and reregistered and requested the bigger
site and had a great
time with lots of room. Sometimes sizes are set to reflect
the smallest site
so that workers don't have to guess if your rig will fit or not. So
within reason a rig
can shrink a bit if it need to. If you think you will be visiting
the older more secluded
National Parks I would stay with the 35 or 36 ft. size.
One other answer is
to camp at the closest comercial park and take the toad
into the park each
day. I hope this helps. Bill
Posted by Dick Feit on April 05, 1999 at 12:52:40:
It seems to me that
the general trend these days is for manufacturers to build
more and more wide
body models. I see in TL's Campground Directory that
some states like AZ
limit you to 8ft max. I would have thought that with the
popularity of AZ in
the winter that many wide body RV's must go there. Is the
8ft limitation enforced
or not? What experience has anyone along these lines
Posted by george on April 06, 1999 at 06:35:32:
In Reply to: RV Width posted
by Dick Feit on April 05, 1999 at 12:52:40:
Dick in an artical
at www.escapees.com they disect this subject. AZ and other
states do have such
laws but are not generally enforced. Please check out the
site. Its also a referenced
site here I believe. Happy motoring george
Posted by R Bellaw on April 08, 1999 at 22:12:04:
In Reply to: Re: RV Width
posted by george on April 06, 1999
I attempted
to find Escapees Web site info. on RV width laws and
enforcement,
but could not locate the article you mentioned. Please provide
additional info.
as I getting close to a wide body motorhome purchase and
don't want to
be unduly restricted in where i go. Thanks.
Posted by Mario on February 23, 1999 at 14:15:11:
We are going to buy
a Class C 27-31 Ft Motorhome in the next 3 months and
begin fulltiming.
A slideout has never been considered because we felt that it
was relatively a new
technology, prone to more mechanical problems, and
collected debris,
pests, birds, and related droppings. There are reports of
leaks, drafts, jams,
and odors etc. We wanted fulltiming to be as free from
mechanical problems
as possible. Now, in looking at Net Carrying Capacity on
the stickers, we were
appalled at the weight that these slideouts added and as a
result have seen a
NCC as low as 911 lbs on some units. That means that with
full freshwater and
fuel, the rig would be overloaded as soon as my wife and I
get aboard. Will some
of you fulltimers with slideouts share your experiences?
Thanks Mario
Posted by Gary Kirberg on May 13, 1999 at 18:41:01:
In Reply to: Slideout comments
posted by Mario on February 23, 1999
My wife and I are
looking for a fulltiming unit and both agree the living
room/dining slide
is a must. I will sacrifice the lost storage for the added room
and feeling of space.
I would, however, resist the urge for the double or triple
slide units as that
amount of weight is extreme. I have posted on this and other
forums inquiring about
slide failures/problems and have heard few major
problems.
Posted by Dick Davis on March 23, 1999 at 16:27:24:
In Reply to: Slideout comments
posted by Mario on February 23, 1999
We are not full-timers,
but we have a 1998 Allegro that we bought Dec. 29,
1997. Ours is a 33
ft. unit and has the couch/dinette slide. I can tell you! We'll
NEVER own another
motor home without one. The livability and room is
worth a sacrifice
in weight. With a full tank of water and gasoline and most of
our 'stuff' the unit
weighs in at 16,250 lbs. where its GVWR is 16,500. True we
are close to the limit,
but we love the slide. We've never had any of those
problems I've heard
about, some that you mention. True, it is 'more mechanics'.
But weren't your leveling
jacks a few years ago?? Each system must be
maintained. But I'll
gladly do that. The slide changes the MH to comfortable
place where we can
stay indefinitely.
Posted by Bob Griffin on March 09, 1999 at 12:46:55:
In Reply to: Slideout comments
posted by Mario on February 23, 1999
I do not have a slideout,
in fact I currently don't have an RV, it's been 10 years
since we had one,
a 27'. We are now in the market for a unit for fulltiming.
Initially, we thought
the slideouts were great, but then as we looked closer, we
have become less enamored
and for most of the reasons Barb listed. You lose
storage space and
it is a complicated system. There are manual overrides in
case the system fails,
but I have read that sometimes these fail and don't allow
you to close the slideout.
Also, these take a fair amount of strength to operate
manual overrides and
are usually accessed by crawling underneath the coach. It
is interesting that
the high line coach manufacturers resisted adding slideouts,
but the market expectations
had to be met and they started building these. Their
slideouts tend to
be heavier than the average motorhome slideout. Compare
weight of the unit
with and without a slide to see how the unit you are
considering stacks
up.For a galley slide, ask the salesman to show you the
access area to the
plumbing lines. Great engineering "trick", it is very clever, but
eventually wear will
cause a leak. When the slide is out the RV "insulation"
factors drop. Just
look at how thin the wall extensions and the slideout's roof
are. The other important
thing to look for is how they "lock" the slideout back
into the coach. Some
have built in mechanisms, others have manual locks the
owner is required
to lock into place before driving. But, all the owners I have
talked to love their
slides and can't imagine not having one. So far few
problems. But these
things are not that old. just my 2 cents....Bob
Posted by Barbara Hofmeister on February 24, 1999 at 23:18:24:
In Reply to: Slideout comments
posted by Mario on February 23, 1999
We don't have a slide
out but I wanted to respond and say that we did not
choose a slide out
for two reasons (and we have a diesel with a lot of carrying
capacty). Reason number
one is that slide outs cut down on the amount of
storage space available
both under the slide and in the cupboards in the slide (if
there are in fact
cupboards there). Number two reason is that they are one
more mechanical thing
that can fail. Perhaps because we started out with a 24
foot Class C (without
a slide) and did fine wor over three years, we felt that our
34 foot (non slide
out) was huge. I will add that those that have slides love the
extra space they get.
But if you are going to end up being overweight, I would
think twice. Barb
Posted by Sandi on April 03, 1999 at 13:11:58:
Hi there! My other
half and I are having a difference of opinion and are hoping
that you (everyone)
can help us to resolve it. We are planning on fulltimming
within the next 1-2
years. We've been doing our research and have looked at
hundreds of RV's.
Our problem? I prefer a class C and he prefers class A.
Since we will be fulltiming
he's concerned about being cooped up. I'm more
concerned with handling
and driving a class A. And wouldn't maintenance on a
class C be less expensive
than a class A? I have no experience with driving
even a van and we
want to share driving responsibilities. I have always
preferred small cars-didn't
even like driving my parents station wagon (too big).
I think that a class
C will be easier to handle and if it's a 30' wouldn't that give
us more opportunities
to park in the national campgrounds that have size
restrictions? He says
a class A will give us more living space and I can handle
the bigger rig with
some practice. Please help! We're youngsters (early 40's)
and are looking forward
to retiring early. We are planning on workamping to
earn our keep, as
well as finding out what types and kinds of services other
fulltimers are in
need of-but that's for another posting. Looking forward to
hearing from everyone.
Posted by Chris on May 12, 1999 at 19:41:03:
In Reply to: Difference
of opinion posted by Sandi on April 03, 1999
Sandi, if your biggest
concern is being able to handle the rig, don't worry about
it. I'm a bus driver,
and I can tell you that there is not much difference between
handling the two.
There are tricks to the driving, and once you learn those you'll
be fine. See if you
can find a bus or truck driver to give you lessons, or
consider taking a
school bus driving course. After a few weeks of practice
you'll be wondering
why you ever worried!
Posted by Elliott on April 19, 1999 at 12:36:24:
In Reply to: Difference
of opinion posted by Sandi on April 03, 1999
Sandi, Yep you have
to get the big rig. Think about it, the rig is parked alot
more that it is on
the road especially if you are fulltiming. If you get a quality big
rig it would actually
be easier and more stable to drive than a class C. Good
luck and happy motering.
Posted by Mario on April 05, 1999 at 10:14:54:
In Reply to: Difference
of opinion posted by Sandi on April 03, 1999
We will be fulltiming
in 9/99 and we have a 31 Ft. Class C for several reasons.
First and foremost,we
have young grandchilden and more on the way, who will
be with us occasionally.
Young kids just love the overhead bunk and it
provides a sleeping
area (also play area) for them while we still have a private
bedroom. This means
that the sofa doesn't have to be opened and the dinette
does have to be set
up as a bed. Secondly, the vehicle part of the Motorhome
is a Ford Truck that
is serviceable at any Ford Dealer. We see only one real
advantage of a Class
A and that's the picture window view out front. If you will
never have overnight
guests, then a Class A should be your choice. Mario
Posted by ebs on April 03, 1999 at 20:31:48:
In Reply to: Difference
of opinion posted by Sandi on April 03, 1999
Go for the class A
and visit Dick Reed at www.rvschool.com youll be happier
in the bigger rig
in the long run.
Posted by Tom Strauss on February 28, 1999 at 15:50:29:
We currently have
a 34' Southwind and are a little over two years from
full-timing. We are
thinking of moving up to a 40' pusher (somewhat like Ron &
Barb did in going
from the Bounder to the Dream). I would like to get some
comments from people
who currently own a coach in the 39 - 40' range.
Would you get this
size again? Why or why not? While some parks /
campgrounds have restrictions
on longer lengths, has a 40' coach, in reality,
restricted your plans
(do you find alternate sites and use a toad when faced
with length restrictions
...)? Does this length cause extra problems when doing
"2 lane road" excursions?
Yes, there will be some fuel economy penalty with a
40' vs a shorter,
lighter coach ... but are there other drawbacks that should be
considered? If there
are, how are you addressing them? Thanks. Tom & Fran
Posted by GEORGE on March 12, 1999 at 23:58:18:
In Reply to: Problems with
a 40 posted by Tom Strauss on February 28, 1999
I am new to the group.
I am looking for a RV. I would like to know which ones
to stay away from
and which ones are the good ones. Money is not a real
issue.I am thinking
in the 35 to 40 ft range. Although i would probaly like to
buy a new used one.
Please send me a copy of your response to muy e-mail
address Thanks George
Posted by george on April 06, 1999 at 06:43:00:
In Reply to: WHAT RV SHOULD
I BUY posted by GEORGE on March 12, 1999
Try the site
www.rv.org
and also www.rvamerica.com Both will provide
you
some much needed
information. happy motoring George. r
Posted by Gary on April 14, 1999 at 16:11:25:
I have read numerous
pros and cons of slideouts but my wife insists we have
one. The roomier feeling
is just too much for her to give up. My feeling is I
would rather have
a 28-30 foot 5th wheel with a living/dining slideout than a
larger unit without
a slideout. Towing, parking and maneuvering should be
easier. Have other
fulltimers out there made this tough decision also and what is
your feeling now?
Posted by Dave Jenkins on May 04, 1999 at 18:29:34:
In Reply to: Slideout Compromise
posted by Gary on April 14, 1999
A year after we moved
in and we're still grinning. Two slides, one in
living/dining room
and one in bedroom. 33' 5th wheel, and it works great for
us. Makes all the
differnce in the world. Ordered new, some custom work for
computer desk and
book shelves, and except for some little nit picks, we wish
we'd done it sooner.
Big mistake was thinking we could haul it with a pickup.
Going up is slow but
just a nuisance. Going down is downright dangerous as is
emergency stopping.
Legal ramifications as well as safety considerations. Don't
overload!! We decided
to work another year to be able to buy medium duty
truck which was ordered
last week. We're counting the days!
Posted by Dick on April 01, 1999 at 23:15:08:
Anyone
have any experience with the V10 in a Class A MH? Info such as
mileage,
pulling power, reliability, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by RamblinReece on April 05, 1999 at 14:03:39:
In Reply to: Class A MHs
with V10 Ford Engine posted by Dick on April 01, 1999
We have a 36' Bounder
with the Triton V10 engine. We love it. We get 8 mpg
in the hills and 10mpg
on the flat. We notice that the transmission gears down
sooner in the hills
than our last RV, but by doing that, it is doing its job and
taking the stress
off the engine. We have been on 18%grades and still had
plenty of power. We
researched the engine thoroughly before we bought it and
didn't find anything
negative.
Posted by Ed Richmond on April 03, 1999 at 06:35:45:
In Reply to: Class A MHs
with V10 Ford Engine posted by Dick on April 01, 1999
I have very little
experience. I just got a 33' Sea Breeze on the V10. I haven't
driven very many miles
yet, but I kept track on a recent trip of a little over three
hundred miles and
I got 7 miles per gallon, but I had also run the generator for
1/2 hour, so I don't
know how to figure in that part.
Posted by Roberta on March 14, 1999 at 10:09:42:
Hi, Just found your
website and have been setting here off and on for 3 days
reading it. It's great.
My question is "Do they make 5th Wheelers with twin
beds?" Which company?
We are going to buy one and live in it in preparation
for full timing in
5 years. Keep up the good work.
Posted by Helen on March 21, 1999 at 00:12:17:
In Reply to: 5th wheels
posted by Roberta on March 14, 1999
Roberta, Newmar provides
the option of having twin beds in their 5th wheels
and they have a website
with layouts. Their web address is: Newmar.com I
believe. Maybe this
can help you get started.
Posted by Barb Hofmeister on March 14, 1999 at 18:19:55:
In Reply to: 5th wheels
posted by Roberta on March 14, 1999
Yes, they do
but most often it is an option so the unit must be ordered. Barb
Posted by Katy on March 15, 1999 at 20:02:33:
In Reply to: Re: 5th wheels
posted by Barb Hofmeister on March 14, 1999
I've seen them listed
as options in several brochures we've picked up at the RV
dealers. Just start
canvasing the dealers or go to an RV show and you should
see plenty. In some
of the dealers web sites they have floorplans as well.
Posted by Terri on March 07, 1999 at 20:00:19:
Hi. I'm researching
for my first motorhome (probably Class A) purchase. I
really like the room
in a slide-out but would like to hear from people who have
them. Any leaks, wind
noises while traveling or problems? If you did it again,
would you still buy
it w/slide? Can you use the aisle with slide in, such at
reststops,etc w/no
problems? Any info is appreciated. Thanks! Terri in Mich
Posted by Ramblin Reece on April 05, 1999 at 14:31:53:
In Reply to: slide-outs-pros
and cons posted by Terri on March 07, 1999
We recently bought
a 36'Bounder with a street side slide that houses the dinette
and couch. We found
that the galley slides are not as large. We love it and
wouldn't buy a RV
without one. Our only regret is that we didn't wait another
year and get a bedroom
slide as well. The interior with the slide in is exactly like
an RV without a slide.
The sink, stove, bathroom and bedroom are completely
usable. There is some
loss in the outside storage but with 36', there is still
plenty. When the slide
is extended, the front area becomes a room. This is
particularly nice
when we have guests. There is no rattle or wind from the slide.
It extends and retracts
smoothly. We were advised by the dealer not to
purchase auxiallary
jacks. The slide is engineered to handle its own weight. We
heartly endorse getting
a model with slide-outs. Bonnie Reece
Posted by Katy on February 22, 1999 at 20:53:02:
We're scouting RV's
for fulltiming and are looking at two models. A Terry EX
and a Komfort. Both
have one large living room slide and a bedroom slide, and
are in the 28-30 foot
range. Has anyone had exceptionally good or bad luck
with either of these
brands. Any suggestion
Posted by Ebs on February 20, 1999 at 08:44:04:
Barb, I've ordered
the book. Just came from a huge RV show in Salt Lake
City today. Some nice
stuff there. Only saw 2 makes that appear real quality
built. (I'm a mechanical
engineer). Travel Supreme is great. But, I like the layout
bed/bath area and
rear living area the best in the Keystone Montana. However,
I've been searching
the net and have read some HORROR stories about
Keystone. Anyone out
there had any experience or heard any GOOD stories
about the Montana?
Posted by Chris on May 12, 1999 at 18:47:24:
I am leaning
toward a bus conversion rather than a manufactured Class A.
Anyone here
have experience with both types and a preference for one over
the other? Mine
would be an older bus, not one of those $500K jobs.
Posted by Katy and Gary on May 02, 1999 at 20:55:45:
We're full-time wannabe's
looking for a fifth wheel. We're debating about
upgrading from aluminum
to fiberglass and wonder about the pros and cons for
each. The fiberglass
weighs more and is considerably more expensive. It is
worth the extra weight
and money? What about repairs and durability for each?
We'd appreciate any
feedback from those of you more experienced and what
your thoughts are.
Thanks, Katy and Gary
Posted by Ebs on May 03, 1999 at 23:25:52:
In Reply to: Aluminum vs
Fiberglass posted by Katy and Gary on May 02, 1999
Just got a 32ft CrossRoads
Fiver fiberglass with gelcoat. Had the same
questions you have.
Decided that one good hail storm would be worth the
difference. also,
fiberglass is easier to repair and will probally look better in the
long run.
Posted by edward mabry on May 01, 1999 at 21:09:44:
i am about to purchase
my first motorhome. we will be using it mostly for
touring and every
so often we will be sleeping in it as well. i am seriously
considering the seabreeze
31' on a ford chassis. i would greatly appreciate any
comments about the
seabreeze and suggestions of a dealer i the mid-atlantic
area. we are in norfolk.
many thanks.
Posted by Mario on April 15, 1999 at 10:13:50:
I'm planning
to take factory delivery of a new motorhome. Has anyone "been
there and done
that". Appreciate any thoughts or experiences. Thanks
Posted by Sally on April 13, 1999 at 23:59:08:
I'm a single woman
and I just ordered a new 32' Allegro with the Ford V10
and without a slide.
It should be big enough for me and my two small terriers. I
plan on doing lots
of boondocking. I have a little over two years before retire-
ment but I'll move
into the motorhome as soon as my house sells. I can't wait!
Posted by Larry on March 16, 1999 at 20:51:08:
Am looking at retiring
in five years and have been considering a Trailmanor
(rigid wall swing
up type camper) for a semi-full time type RV. Any one else
out there have a Trailmanor
who is using it in a similar manor. I like the
manuverability of
a small camper. Any suggestions, comments. Thanks, Larry
Posted by Bill Bailey on April 17, 1999 at 15:11:22:
In Reply to: Trailmanor
posted by Larry on March 16, 1999 at 20:51:08:
We just retired and
purchased a 33/26 Trailmanor 1999 and love it. They are
easy to tow, hardly
know they are there. I use a 98 Tahoe with no problems.
They set up fast and
break down just as easy. The Gas used per mile is about
95% so it is not expensive
to tow. We just had our grandchildren spend a
week with us with
no problems and lots of room. Lots of storage also.
Posted by Larry on April 18, 1999 at 21:22:17:
In Reply to: Re: Trailmanor
posted by Bill Bailey on April 17, 1999 at 15:11:22:
Thank you very much
for the input Bill. Your experience has encouraged me.
Posted by Jerry Kreger on April 18, 1999 at 03:47:14:
Since the Vectra Grand
tour is being discontinued because Winnebago can no
longer get the P12
Chassis, we are looking at other coaches. The Bounder
Turbo Diesel 39Z and
Discovery 37V are in our price range. Neither has all of
the standard ammenities
of the Vectra and both seem to lack the superb
craftsmanship but
they both appear to be very good coaches. Both are
powered by Cummins
ISB turbocharged, aftercooled, 5.9L electronic diesels
(275HP). Does anyone
have any good or bad comments about these rigs.
Your replys will be
greatly appreciated. Our time is getting short and we'ld like
to start full-timing
in a new coach. We presently have a '93 Adventurer 34RQ
and it's been a wonderful
workhorse but we want more room and a little bit
more luxury. Thanks
for your help. Jerry
Posted by John Veach on May 02, 1999 at 10:47:39:
In Reply to: Bounder Turbo
Diesel or Discovery posted by Jerry Kreger on April 18, 1999
Maybe you can hold
out for a few more months. Winnebago is supposed to
come out with a pusher
in the Discovery price range for the 2000 model year. I
have heard that what
they are really going to do is just reintroduce the Vectra as
a pusher. Film at
11.
Posted by Jerry Kreger on May 06, 1999 at 18:56:33:
In Reply to: Re: Bounder
Turbo Diesel or Discovery posted by John Veach on May 02, 1999
John, When I talked
to the Winnebago factory rep, he told me, "that since the
Vectra Grand Tour
was unique to the P12 chassis and that it was totally
designed around it,
another chassis would not or could not be used". I told him
that I had heard from
several dealers that the Vectra was being redesigned
around the Freightliner
w/ a Cummins 275 and Allison 6 speed World
transmission. I specifically
asked him if it would be reintroduced as a diesel and
he emphatically again
said, "no". He said, "this just was not happening", Instead
he directed me to
the new Ultimate Advantage and followed up by sending me
a factory information
packet. This was a few months ago. Maybe they've
changed their minds.
I hope so! Thanks again for your comments, Jerry
Posted by Bob Schaefer on May 12, 1999 at 23:06:41:
In Reply to: Re: Bounder
Turbo Diesel or Discovery posted by Jerry Kreger on May 06, 1999
I'm the new kid on
the block and just starting my research for the big change,
but I came across
a coach a few months ago that really impressed me. It was
made by Harney Coach
Works and the model was the Renegade. It was a 37'
Diesel pusher. Does
anyone have any comments on that one?
Posted by ML Ballew on April 14, 1999 at 12:03:44:
We are debating the
advantages over disadvantages of twin beds in a 40'
motorhome. We understand
there is a 10" step up in the middle of the bedroom
with the twin bed
floorplan. Does anyone have twin beds and is this a big
problem?
Posted by Tom on April 22, 1999 at 20:22:19:
In Reply to: twin beds versus
queen posted by ML Ballew on April 14, 1999
We have twin beds
in our 94 Southwind. We like the extra storage vs the
queen in our previous
coach. I like not hitting my head like I did squeezing
around the queen bed.
(Since this is a Chevy,I can't address the step-up aspect
of a pusher with twins).
We are not to the full timing stage yet; we may rethink
this when we upgrade
to a pusher in the hopefully near future. BUT, for now
the twins have been
very handy. I've taken my Mom (90 this year) on a few
trips to see great
grandchildren, etc.. My wife or I sometime take mini-trips
with one of our teenagers,
etc. Tom
Posted by Ed Richmond on April 22, 1999 at 21:27:41:
In Reply to: Re: twin beds
versus queen posted by Tom on April 22, 1999
Tom, I am just starting
full-timing, and I have a 33' Sea Breeze. It is gas, Ford
V10, not diesel, but
it has the step up in front of the night stand between the
beds. The space is
used for a pass-through outside storage compartment. Like
you though I like
the storage inside the bedroom with twin beds. The overhead
cabinets go all the
way along three sides of the room. There is a space taken up
by a pass-through
compartment under the floor, but it is not annoying at all. The
one thing you might
not like if you boondock a lot is that the fresh-water tank is
smaller with single
beds because they put the fresh water tank under one bed.
Posted by SUE on April 11, 1999 at 15:39:35:
We're still several
years from retirement but it's never too early to dream. We
love to fish and have
a 16' Bass Tracker that we'd like to pull behind a 5wheel.
Our state allows 65'
and multiple towing but I've noticed that not all states are
as friendly. Surely
we're not the only fishing nuts that want to full time. How do
you do it? We were
thinking of a smaller 5W, especially since we'd be in state parks and
nature preserve type
areas. I know we could pull a boat behind a motorhome
but then we'd lose
the mobility of a vehicle and a motor home may be awkward
to maneuver on some
boat ramps. Thanks for your advise!! Happy traveling
In Reply to: Pulling a 5W
and a fishing boat posted by SUE on April 11, 1999
Sue, we will be fulltiming
next year. Just bought a 33ft Fiver. No way I'd even
try to pull a boat
behind this rig. Asking for too much trouble with the weight of
the trailer. We are
avid fishers too. We will be getting a Porta-Boat which will
ride under the trailer
and use a 3.3 gas motor or our electric trolling motor.
Porta-Boat has a web
site:www.Porta-Boat.com Thought about the inflatables.
Sat in one, don't
like it, too clumsy and akward in my opinion. Porta-Boat is
also available at
Camping World. Good Dreams, Ebs
Posted by Dave Jenkins on May 02, 1999 at 13:34:50:
In Reply to: Re: Pulling
a 5W and a fishing boat posted by Ebs on April 12, 1999
Take a look at an alternative
way to haul your boat along. www.boatcarrier.com
A careful look will reveal
a similarity in last names. My brother and his son. In my
case, the price to have
a rack built for a medium duty truck was more than the boat
cost, so we sold the boat
and bought a Porta-Bote. Good decision for us so far.
Posted by Katy on March 15, 1999 at 21:04:37:
We're looking for
a fifth wheel and are confused about the weights. We have a
3/4 ton Dodge with
a V-10 engine. it lists the maximum weight as 13,600
pounds. Do the FW
weights include the hitch? Does the hitch count toward the
13,600? We've tried
asking the RV dealers, but all they say is not to worry, it
will tow it just fine.
After a dealer said that about a 39 foot FW with triple
slides at an RV show,
I stopped trusting what they say. Can anyone out there
help or refer me to
a good article, etc. that explains this. Thanks for your help in
advance.
Posted by Chuck Mercer on March 18, 1999 at 11:37:49:
In Reply to: Fifth wheel
weights posted by Katy on March 15, 1999
Take a look at the
link I posted. There's a nice discussion on 5th wheel
weights. While you're
there, poke around some of the other articles...very
informative. Finally,
take a peek at their Information Resources page and go to
the Life on Wheels
area. You'll find some good discussions there about weights
and other things.
Here it is: http://www.rversonline.org/ArtWorry.html Good luck.
Posted by Randolph Davis on March 16, 1999 at 21:03:57:
In Reply to: Fifth wheel
weights posted by Katy on March 15, 1999
Katy, You are right
to be concerned. I checked my Dodge towing and payload
rating guide and it
does indeed list 13,600 as the maximum trailer weight for
your vehicle. This
is the total weight the engineers say the truck is safe to tow.
That means you should
not tow more than a total of 13,600 lbs. The dealers
are right, it will
tow it okay. That is, you will have plenty of power on the
straight and mild
hills. If you are going to do any mountain towing, however,
that may be a different
story. More importantly, the engineers are also saying
that they cannot assume
that your truck can safely stop more than that weight in
an emergency situation.
A lot of serious RVers would say you should only tow
about 75% of your
maximum weight. This means you would only be able to
tow a fiver that weighs,
loaded as you would pull it, 10,200 lbs. So this really
becomes an issue of
safety. However, if we continue to violate this we will
undoubtedly be fussing
one of these days when RVers have to get commercial
driver'r license and
stop at all the weigh stations.
Posted by Tom Herman on March 16, 1999 at 12:39:55:
In Reply to: Fifth wheel
weights posted by Katy on March 15, 1999
I don't know about
Dodge pickups in particular, but I've been investigating
buying a new Ford
Super Duty to pull a 5W and I can tell you how they arrived
at their 14,600 pound
rating. They claim that their rating assumes a standard
cab w/o options, a
150 pound driver, an automatic transmission and (I believe)
a full tank of gas
(29 gallons). Everything else reduces the 5W tow rating. This
includes passengers,
options, and tow equipment (such as the hitch, electrical
connections, etc.).
I'd guess that Dodge has a similar assumption in their towing
ratings. Hope this
helps. Happy Trails.
Posted by Otto CO on March 21, 1999 at 18:37:13:
Would like some input
on the Fleetwood Bounder model 34V. After looking at
many units, we really
like this one and would like to hear the pro's and con's of
this unit or the Bounder
line in general. We are in the early planning stages of
going fulltime. We
are hoping to have all the details worked out by October of
this year. Plans call
for selling our townhome and other "worldly" possessions.
We are getting more
and more excited about this as we think and talk about it.
Thanks for any input
you care to give.
Posted by Woody Webster on April 16, 1999 at 15:00:42:
In Reply to: Fleetwood Bounder
posted by Otto CO on March 21, 1999
Our Bounder gave us
5 years of dependability, power, livability and just plain
fun. Fleetwood has
constructed a wonderful vehicle. A tour of the Paxinos
factory convinced
us of that! We traded it in Jan 16 on a new American
Tradition just because
we wanted to. Ours was a 37x with a sink in the
bedroom !! and a back
door in the bedroom. Only reason we traded was ? I
don't know! Anyhow,
I guess we'll enjoy the 102 body and the diesel pusher
and the living room
slideout. Bounder just reinvented the diesel pusher. If you
haven't looked at
this beauty, try it. We almost bought one instead of the
Tradition. LazyDays
RV in Tampa will bend over backwards to make the sale
to your liking. They
saved us over $8000 compared to other dealers. It was
worth the drive from
Maryland. Best wishes and let's stay in touch - we're
selling out, too and
full-timing Aug 1.
Posted by Barb Hofmeister on April 02, 1999 at 09:25:13:
In Reply to: Fleetwood Bounder
posted by Otto CO on March 21, 1999
If you read either
or both of our books, you will get a good idea of what the 34
J Bounder is like.
We loved it and still remember fondly our years in that
motorhome. In fact,
if they had had the new Ford chassis when we were
shopping for our third
motorhome we would have chosen a Bounder again.
They were a little
overweight before the new chassis. It is a very liveable coach.
Barb
Posted by Larry Monday on April 21, 1999 at 23:34:32:
In Reply to: Re: Fleetwood
Bounder posted by Barb Hofmeister on April 02, 1999
Before you buy I would
suggest that you check out the RV Consumer Group
Web site first.They
have a dandy RV rating book that you will I am sure find
particularly iteresting.
Posted by Bob Phelps on April 16, 1999 at 23:04:41:
Dear Ron and Barb,
Read your Movin' On book. LOVED it. We discovered it
just as we had started
contemplating hitting the road full-time. You're going to
think we're out of
our cotton-picking minds, but we're going to start off in a
pop-up. We love our
Coleman popper that we've had for a year. We realize of
course that we'll
get sick and tired of the pop-up sooner or later, but then when
we buy our fifth wheeler,
we'll think we've moved into a covernous mansion.
That may be a few
months after we begin our new life, or it may be a week or
a year, depending
on how it goes. Here are a few advantages I see to starting
off this way: 1. It's
cheap and I still have about three years before I can touch
my retirement accounts
without incurring major penalties. We could buy the big
truck and fifth wheeler
now, but why not start out with what we already have?
2. We intend to sell
our home and just about everything in it. We will rent only
a very small storage
place to keep what we can put in a fifth wheeler and that's
all. So living in
the popup will force us to scale down to the bare bones. 3. We
just bought a Jeep
Cherokee with 3-year 36,000 mile bumper to bumper
warrenty that we can
rely on for some time. All that said and done, do we
sound totally insane?
Anybody ever try surviving for any length of time in a
pop-up? Bob and Linda
Phelps
Posted by Charlie Henry on April 05, 1999 at 21:08:40:
In less than 23 months
we will start full-timing and one of the motorhomes we
are looking at is
the Pace Arrow Vision (V10) by fleetwood. We would
appreciate any input
on how this unit performs. Thanks, Charle Henry
homepark@worldnet.att.net
Posted by Bob Griffin on March 09, 1999 at 11:59:48:
I too am curious what
everyone's experience has been regarding campground
length restrictions?
Ron and Barb started out with a "small" 24, then went to a
34 then a 39. In their
book there is a reference to length being more of a
problem now, but nothing
specific. We are "debating" between a 36' and a 38'
because of the difference
with inside storage. Seems as though the problem is
more in the state
and national campgrounds. I thought the limit was 35 in most,
not 36 as someone
posted? Does anyone have web pages that lists the length
restrictions for national
parks? I have looked at the national park pages and its
not obvious. I found
one reference to the 35' length limit, but didnt mark the
page and have not
been able to find it again. Thanks in advance... Bob...
rgriffin@cadence.com
Posted by Larry Ferris on February 11, 1999 at 22:39:30:
We are planning to
full time it in about two years. What is a good size or max
lenght for a RV class
A. We have heard that most parks and campgrounds the
maz RV is 36 FT. How
true is this? lgfvector@yahoo.com
Posted by Linda on February 18, 1999 at 04:39:22:
In Reply to: RV lenght for
full time posted by Larry Ferris on February 11, 1999
Dear Larry, It is
true that a lot of the older State/National Parks can not
accomodate RVs over
36 feet. My husband and I have been full-timers since
1988, and are more
than comfortable in our 30-foot fifth-wheel. The newer
models, with slide-outs
are even more spacious, and give you TONS of room
without having to
go for length. Remember, if you are going to live in an RV, it
should have plenty
of storage space, easy access to the systems and all the little
'goodies' that will
make you happy. Good luck, and feel free to E mail me if you
have any questions!
Linda HandieWmn@aol.com
Posted by Sharon on February 21, 1999 at 23:56:19:
I found your site
today! I'm so excited I don't want to go to bed and it's getting
late! My husband and
I are really impressed with the Alfa Gold 5th Wheel as
our full-time rig,
specifically Model 252 GF34RLT. We like the storage, the air
conditioner being
in the basement, the heat pump, and the computer/sewing
desk. We'd love to
correspond with other Gold owners. We're concerned
about the length and
weight. We have a 27' Prowler 5th wheel with super slide
which is our camping
rig. It's been great for camping and tows beautifully with
our Dodge 3/4 ton
diesel. We plan to full time starting in 2000! At this time
we're planning to
spend the first 4 months of 2000 traveling and then come
back to sell our house,
etc. We're wondering if we should just do it in our
smaller 5th Wheel
but are concerned about it being sturdy enough for all those
miles. We plan to
visit my son in Florida. Jsplam@aol.com
Posted by Randy Davis on February 22, 1999 at 19:35:43:
In Reply to: Alfa Gold posted
by Sharon on February 21, 1999
Sharon, I would probably
keep what you have now. I think you will find that
the weight of the
Alfa Gold is greater than what your truck is rated to tow with
the gcwr. The larger
fivers are nice, but most of them will require a truck larger
than a pickup truck.
ranbec@midwest.net
Posted by Barb Hofmeister on February 23, 1999 at 00:09:10:
In Reply to: Re: Alfa Gold
posted by Randy Davis on February 22, 1999
We agree. I
know that the nice new and big 5th wheels are tempting, but for
that one you
would need one of those big trucks. Barb movinon@movinon.net
Posted by Toni Warriner on February 23, 1999 at 17:08:05:
In Reply to: Re: Alfa Gold
posted by Barb Hofmeister on February 23, 1999
Hi, We are Alpha gold
owners and we absolutely love it. It is a 33ft with
double slide-outs.
Your are right about one thing. It takes a larger truck. We
have a 1 ton dually.
It does the trick, but we plan to put some dual exhaust
pipes on it to boost
gas milage and power. The rig you have sounds nice and if
I were you I'd keep
it. Good luck and happy travels. Toni gnugget@worldnet.att.net
Posted by jo on March 15, 1999 at 00:11:24:
My husband and I are
planning on becoming fulltimers in June of 2005. We
have been looking
at all makes of motorhomes and it appears that we like the
Winnebago Chieftan
35U model best. We currently own an Aljo 5th wheel,
30'. Anyone have any
experience with the Winnebago Chieftan? joella@inreach.com
Posted by John Veach on March 19, 1999 at 15:07:24:
In Reply to: winnebago chieftan
posted by jo on March 15, 1999
Jo, we have a 98 Winnebago
Chieftain 35wh. No slides on a Chevy chassis.
We really like this
MH. We have had 7 RVs of one kind or another, TT, Class
C Class A, and this
one is the best of breed. When we go fulltime in 32 months
and 12 days, we are
going to trade for a diesel pusher to get more cargo
capacity, but until
then the Chieftain is our baby. The workmanship is
outstanding, the service
we have received is wonderful. A few flaws, but no
more than any other
rig we have ever owned. I would recommend Winnebago
to anyone. John and
Libby Veach Blairsville, GA jrv@stc.net |
