We did it! After MONTHS of planning, researching, checking & re-checking Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings, Combined Vehicle Weight Ratings, Axle Ratings, pin weights, searching for & finding the right fiver, endless [seemingly] searching for the right truck with the right transaxle ratio and right price, an hour long lesson on how to do everything in a fiver of which I absorbed about 10%, an exhaustive [yeah, right] 3 minute long road lesson on how to properly tow a big fifth wheel by the dealer, a 5 hour ride home in torrential rain & wind as an introduction to towing, ……………
…….we used it last night! We went all of 2 miles away from home & stayed in an RV park! IT WAS FUN!!!! Well, at least it was after making a few stupid rookie mistakes while parking it. BUT…….after finally getting plugged in, unhitched, cooled off, slides out……….I couldn’t stop smiling! We got a primo spot right on the water and once I was able to relax, I felt like Red, in the movie The Shawshank Redemption where in the end he’s thinking….
“I find I am so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it is the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain... I hope I can make it across the border [to lots of really nice places in my RV]. I hope to see my friend [make new RV-Dreams Buddies] and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.”
That was Carrie & I last night.
We’re back in the big house now. We’re already missing our little home.
Soon…..
Roz said
09:19 PM Aug 7, 2009
Sounds as if you are hooked!
Conger Rats!!!
Racerguy said
10:08 AM Aug 8, 2009
Congratulations Bob,What truck and trailer did you decide on? I always like to see what other people ended up with and why.
DreamerBob said
04:55 PM Aug 8, 2009
Thanks you guys!
I bought a 2006 Ford F350 Diesel Dually due to the 350's higher GCVWR of 26,000lbs. I was able to find one with the right transaxle gearing with only 30,000 miles on it & in excellent shape. And, it had a Reese hitch to boot! Having driven nothing but small convertible sports cars for the last 20 years, its quite a change but I'm loving it! It rides suprisingly well & looks & pulls great.
We pull a 2009 Carriage Cameo 37RE3 which is reeeeaaaallllllly nice. Carriage builds a great unit, we like the layout very much. It has a propane generator, 12 cu ft fridge, & two AC's. It seems that everyone who has one loves theirs. We now know why.
We can't wait to use it again!
Luvglass said
06:23 PM Aug 8, 2009
Except for the newer trailer, we have the same rig. I hope you're as happy with yours as we have been with ours.
Good luck,
dream reachers said
10:40 PM Aug 8, 2009
Congratulations Bob. It looks like all your planning, research and good shopping will be worth the wait. You made it through your maiden voyage and you are feeling the same excitment we had as we started out. Tonight my wife and I went out to dinner to celabrate our anniversary of fulltiming in our trailer for 2 years. We looked at each other and said "No regrets". I hope you you enjoy the adventure as much as we do.
Camper_Boy said
10:51 AM Aug 9, 2009
Congrats on the new rig and truck -- both sound very nice!! We also just bought a new 5ver and "almost new" F450 this summer, and are just getting used to both. Now you need a blog, so we can follow along on your journeys.
We did it! After MONTHS of planning, researching, checking & re-checking Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings, Combined Vehicle Weight Ratings, Axle Ratings, pin weights, searching for & finding the right fiver, endless [seemingly] searching for the right truck with the right transaxle ratio and right price, an hour long lesson on how to do everything in a fiver of which I absorbed about 10%, an exhaustive [yeah, right] 3 minute long road lesson on how to properly tow a big fifth wheel by the dealer, a 5 hour ride home in torrential rain & wind as an introduction to towing, ……………
…….we used it last night! We went all of 2 miles away from home & stayed in an RV park! IT WAS FUN!!!! Well, at least it was after making a few stupid rookie mistakes while parking it. BUT…….after finally getting plugged in, unhitched, cooled off, slides out……….I couldn’t stop smiling! We got a primo spot right on the water and once I was able to relax, I felt like Red, in the movie The Shawshank Redemption where in the end he’s thinking….
“I find I am so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it is the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain... I hope I can make it across the border [to lots of really nice places in my RV]. I hope to see my friend [make new RV-Dreams Buddies] and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.”
That was Carrie & I last night.
We’re back in the big house now. We’re already missing our little home.
Soon…..
Conger Rats!!!
I bought a 2006 Ford F350 Diesel Dually due to the 350's higher GCVWR of 26,000lbs. I was able to find one with the right transaxle gearing with only 30,000 miles on it & in excellent shape. And, it had a Reese hitch to boot! Having driven nothing but small convertible sports cars for the last 20 years, its quite a change but I'm loving it! It rides suprisingly well & looks & pulls great.
We pull a 2009 Carriage Cameo 37RE3 which is reeeeaaaallllllly nice. Carriage builds a great unit, we like the layout very much. It has a propane generator, 12 cu ft fridge, & two AC's. It seems that everyone who has one loves theirs. We now know why.
We can't wait to use it again!