We are Elgin and Cathy Davis from Missouri.We began this lifestyle this past October with a lot of information from this forum and different blogs that we have read and a lot of help from my brother who has been a full timer for a couple of years now.

My husband has dementia...which means I handle a large portion of the responsibilities and all of the driving. We  have a 36ft.Mobile Suites and pull it with a Ford 450.   It is a BIG truck, but I think I have it  mastered, but still a little apprenhisive about pulling the trailer. We are in Llano Grande Resort in Mercedes Texas right now. We followed my brother down here with a lot of help from my brother-in-law and his wife.(my brother-in-law did most of the driving). I had planned on taking the RV driving school in Mission while we were here but they are not offering it in Mission  or anywhere in Texas this winter. And I was sure I saw it on their web site before we left Missouri. But I am going to take a few lessons from my brother in the Lowe's parking lot before we leave here the end of March.

We have been camping in trailers for a couple of years now, but never pulled it anywhere...we kept the trailer at a lake in SE Missouri. And whenever we were at the lake, Elgin seemed to do better. It is a simple life style and the people are friendly and helpful...a lot like the world use to be.

We have been in Texas since the first of December and have met a lot of great people....we have no regrets  about leaving our former life style and look forward to doing this as long as we can. I started a journal about our adventure..if you would like to read the web site is   www.mytripjournal.com/thedavisdream   . We hope to travel more as I get comfortable with pulling the trailer. We look forward to meeting all of you....

Hi Cathy and Elgin, Welcome!! My wife, Evin, and I are about to "pull the trigger" on buying a Dvr Select Suites 36RESB3 or 4. We are a little stuck right now because of recent issues with my parents. My mother, who is 82, has dementia and my father is having a real tough time coping with the changes in her behavior. We just moved them into a retirement community near us where they are, for now, in independent living. But it looks she will soon have to go to assisted living. We almost bought a Dobletree in early 2008 but Evin's dad came to live with us and then he had a stroke. We just got in from a week in the Elkhart area and visited 6 RV plants (Drv twice). Was that ever an eye-opening experience. Drv won our business hands down. Now there are so many "which options" issues to find answers to. Such as: 1) generator or not, 2) satellite or not, 3) upgrades on tires, brakes and axles, 4) F350 DWD 4x4(?) or F450, 5) whether or not to buy Pressure Pro tire monitors, 6) whether or not buy a bike rack, 7) washer and dryer or not, 8) extended warranty or not and if so, WHO? from, and so on. My list of questions continues to grow. We have spent months in rvs that someone we knew owned but have never owned or pulled one ourselves. So, your attitude, bravery and guts inspires us. We look forward to reading your journal. Lots of luck. Steve C