My wife of 36 years and I have been full timing now since June 2006.  We were avid campers in Florida, for over 30 years.  When we were married in 1973,  and some of last remaining cash we had received at the wedding was used to buy our first tent!

Been camping ever since.   When weekend and vacation camping, my wife used to say that she could go camping all the time and never wanted to go home.  She got her chance! 

In January of 2006, I had a mild stroke.  Very mild, just can’t write longhand as well, short tem memory is shot, and sometimes need an afternoon nap. I was only 53.  It sure brought my mortality home to me!  I want to see this all of this great country before I meet my maker, so we went full time!  Sold the house at the peak of the real estate market, bought a truck and travel trailer, and paid off all our bills with the equity we had in our home.

We take a summer “run” to the northern states that we have not seen and then over winter in  a southern sate.  We camp mostly in state parks, two weeks at a time.  It just seems to fit our style of camping. Much longer than two weeks and we get “hitch itch”, and want to see what is around the next corner.  We like to explore local museums, and landmarks during our stay.  We also will “campground host”  for a few months in the winter.  Friends a family thought we were nuts, but the only regret we have is that we do not start sooner! 

We travel with 3 dogs and two motorcycles. (See Signature).  We use the motorcycles as “toads” and use them to explore.  The tow vehicle is used for shopping and laundry.  Too hard to do on the back of a bike.  

We have met some wonderful people, and places on the road and seen about one third of the U.S.A.  We are looking forward to seeing the rest.

Joe and Debbie Homich

Welcome to the friendliest RV site on the internet. The RV lifestyle is the only way to go. We, too, get "hitch itch" after two weeks.

Joe & Debbie, Welcome to the team. Sounds like you made a great life change decision a few years ago. We are about a year behind you in age and marriage..... unfortunately, we will be about 10 years behind you in our fulltiming efforts. Good luck in your travels.

Welcome Dog Folk! Our home is up for sale and were just waiting to cut loose soon too. Like you I'm planning on full-timing in a TT with a couple small motorcycles in the bed of the truck, and 3 animals (dog, cat and bird). I was looking at the CCC for your Outback, and at 1,700 lbs it seems a little low for our needs. We're looking at CCCs in the 3,000lb range. Is this a problem for you in any way? MY DW loved a KZ Spree 289ks we looked at with a slide-out rear bed similar to your unit and a 1972 lb CCC. It doubled as a toy hauler with a place for our bikes too. We dismissed it from consideration because of it's low load capacity. Were we wrong in doing so? Take care, Chip & Cindy

Welcome to the forum....love to run into motorcycling fans that are RVers as well. We travel with a 41' KZ Escalade toy hauler for our Harley trike conversion. Was out riding for 9 hours today...after a week of cold & rain. LOL!

Hi guys, hope you enjoy reading the forum. I am a newbie too, planning to fulltime around the US as long as a visa will allow next year. I have found everyone here to be wonderfully friendly and welcoming, and more than willing to share their wealth of knowledge. Look forward to hearing more about your adventures Katy.

Thanks for the advise, Dogfolks! Another unit we were considering is the 27 ft Hi-lo, as it's super safe and cheap to tow. We were hesitant because of it's 2121 lbs. CCC. But if you guys are getting by with only 1900lbs of cargo, we may give it another look. We could always put any overflow weight in back of the truck. Let's see: 600 lbs of bikes, 800lb tongue wt (loaded), 500lbs generator, gas and tools, 400lb fiberglass topper = 2,300lbs truck bed load add passengers for 2,700lbs total. Unfortunately this puts it out of the 1/2 ton range, necessitating a 3/4 ton truck. With a long bed 3/4 ton I'd have enough space and load capacity for another 750lbs of personal items, such as off-season clothes, more tools, etc. I wonder what the gas mileage difference is between towing a low-profile 6,500lb trailer with a 3/4 ton vs a 1/2 ton? The guys on the Hi-Lo site report 12-14mpg towing this trailer with 1/2 ton gassers. What kind of mileage do you get towing your Outback with your 3500 Dodge diesel?

Should be better with a low profile. The majority of gas is used pulling the "Box" though the air. When we were weekend and vacation camping, always wanted a Hi-LO because of the MPG. I have kept MPG figures since we started. Every trip. Honestly, we get an average of 12 MPG when towing. We normally tow on interstates at 62 MPH, on cruise control. The highest we ever got, and tied a few times, was 13.5 MPG. Around town, empty, we get 17-18 MPG. For your info, our trailer weighs 8100 Lbs. (CAT scale), Loaded and with 20 gallons of fresh water and other tanks empty. Hope this helps. Camp on!

Well I am a little late in saying hi but then I have been on the road. Sherri and I have been fulltiming for 3 years now and love it. Hope to see you on the road as we round the bend... Somewhere in Time Joe and Sherri

Same here, been on the move and am slightly behind on the forum. Great story, amd glad you are enjoying this great country. I think everybody that goes full-timing wonders why they didn't start earlier :) Enjoy the ride, safe travels, and hope to meet you down the road.

Sushidog,

SORRY TO MISLEAD YOU.

I was checking weight reciepts this morning.

The trailer weighs 6680 NOT 8100!!

The truck wieghs 8100.

-- Edited by Dog Folks on Saturday 21st of March 2009 04:49:58 PM

Welcome to the group! I think you will find the group insightful, friendly, entertaining and full of good ideas. Would be nice to meet up with you sometime. Randy and Pam