About 2 weeks ago, after alot of decision makeing, we have decided to go Rv'ing. My husband Justin and I own a business. When we started our business, wanted to give our children the best life possible so for years, we worked and worked and worked, spent way to many hours getting our business to what we thought it had to be to be successfull and after all of that, we found out we didn't want the "rat race", "keeping up with the Jones's" lifestyle. We put our son in private school for 3 years, paid alot of money only to find out that it didn't really suit him. We moved to a nicer neighborhood so that we could have better public schools and what we thought, would be better people to live around. All we have seen is that the richer they were, the more spoiled the child. Our children started to pick up things that we didn't like. For example..."If he can have it, why can't I" behavior, and we noticed the parents worked so hard and didn't really have time for their children. So...... We have decided, as a family, it's time for a change of lifestyle, one that more suits who we are.
So with that......... when our lease is up in October, we will be buying a travel trailer that suits our needs and will not put us into debt, live in it in Houston, (and travel) until the rest of our small debts are paid and then we are off. We have found a way to still run our business from the road and still be able to travel. Our family and friends asked us this question and after expaining it to them, they are actually excited for us, the excact opposite of what we thought they would react.
We have so many questions, since we have decided, we have been researching so many sights, spending countless amount of hours looking up as much as we can and wanted some feedback on what's a good brand to buy for a F150 3/4 ton 3 valved to pull. It is said to be able to tow 8400 lbs. I know that everyone that we talk says to get a 5th wheel but we do not want to go into debt to get a new truck and a larger house. We are ok with livng in small spaces, and a smaller travel trailer does not bother us but it's so hard to find, ratings and reviews of travel trailers. Does anyone have any advice on which ones to look, which ones to avoid, which ones have problems. Anything would help. We do not want to get one and find out we don't like it b/c it starts to fall apart.
53 Merc said
02:25 PM Apr 23, 2010
Sounds like you are entering this with both eyes open. Good luck. I have to confess ignorance, since I have never heard of an F150 3/4 ton 3 valved. ??
Since you have time, begin by looking at rigs that fit your need, make lists of each unit with pro/con. After you grow tired of looking, select the rig with the most pro(s), and go back to them and sit a while, imagining how the kids would fit, how you will fit, how the storage will accomodate your "must haves", etc, etc.
Don't be bashful in asking questions here, you will find it is open and kind.
Just DO NOT make a quick decision, rather make a decision for you, not what some salesman wants to sell.
Since you are in Houston, go to PPL at 59 and 8, look at everything, then start research. PPL has a web site ( http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/used_rvs_for_sale.htm ) with inventory and prices. It will give you a good idea of what is available used. Might be able to find a fit.
rjenkins said
07:07 PM Apr 23, 2010
i will let the experts on this forum comment on the options available to be FT RV'ers since i am still just a wannabe but i do want to commend you for making the decision to live with less and simplify your life.
it took a very nasty divorce that basically depleted 20 years of savings and house to realize that life is not about material things but rather how you intereact with people, nature, and whatever religious beliefs you may have.
i have never been happier with so little. i no longer stress on needing to have a larger home, a faster or newer car, a bigger boat, etc. i still work full time at the same job, but my outlook on life is so much different after i have been humbled from losing so much financially.
this forum is a stress relief for what i have always wanted to do and by reading so many of the blogs from the rv-dreamers at this site, it has convinced me it can be done and with much more fulfillment than living in a conventional home.
one of the posters on here has a quote at the end of his notes that i love....'small home, large yard', that says it all.
good luck in your endeavour, it sounds like you have a plan
Jim01 said
07:14 PM Apr 23, 2010
First of all, welcome to one of the friendliest forms on the Internet. Everyone here will be more than happy to try to help you fulfill your dream.
I think that the small size of a travel trailer that your truck can tow will not be your problem. The problem is that most if not all travel trailers have virtually no storage, and very little load carrying capacity.
Do your research carefully and make sure the trailer can safely handle all the items you will need to take with you to full-time. It's amazing how much all the items you need weigh.
Good luck in your search,
Jim
Mike and Terri said
11:09 PM Apr 23, 2010
Welcome Jennifer and Justin and family, You have found a wonderful forum here. Ask many questions, take your time, and enjoy the journey. You will know when you find the right trailer. --mike
OFBG said
06:41 AM Apr 24, 2010
Welcome. We have been full timing for 5 years and have enjoyed every single minute of it!
One thing to be careful of, make sure the brakes on your truck are adequate for the trailer you purchase. Even though the trailer will have brakes some are just too much for a 3/4 ton truck.
As others have already stated, storage will be a big issue. We have a 43 ft motorhome and the storage is still a concern. We are constantly re-evaluating our priorities on what is a must have and what isn't. We have gotten to the point that if we buy something new, something old must go!
It sounds like you are entering this with your eyes wide open and doing the necessary research and planning. Not many people get, or take, the chance to live this lifestyle. Bobbie and I have found nothing else that compares. Even though it was a huge step for us we have never regretted it.
Good luck.
Steve
Spirit of 76 said
09:33 AM Apr 24, 2010
Welcome! It is both exciting and overwhelming once the decision has been made to full time (FT). We will be hitting the road in 2011 with our 3 yr old (now 2) and will be "roadschooling" her too.
What is your business? I assume by your name it is related to drywall.
I have very little knowledge about TT because I do not consider them suitable for FTing. I assume you are looking at them (in lieu of 5th Wheel or Motorhome or Class C) for budget reasons so I will not try to talk you out of it. I will say that if I were looking for a TT for FTing I would look at Airstreams.
bjoyce said
01:53 PM Apr 24, 2010
About the only place to get ratings is RV Consumer Group. You can get their ratings for 1993 to 1999 for free, but newer info requires joining. Joining is good because they have some nice books worth reading including one titled, "How to Select, Inspect, and Buy an RV" that is very worthwhile.
On a personal note the only two brands of travel trailers I have seen fulltimers in are Airstream and HI-LO. I have encountered a couple people in Scamps and Casita trailers, but they were all practicing for RVing overseas where the RVs were very small.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Saturday 24th of April 2010 01:54:30 PM
Drywallmom said
09:55 AM Apr 25, 2010
Thank you so much for the information.
53 Merc - I am not sure on the truck, that's my husbands forte. It is ingornace on the truck on my side. All I can ever remember is that I know it's a 09' V8, long bed, tow package from the dealer. It has an extra 3rd valve that lets in more gas if needed. That is all I know about it. We just bought it last year, before we knew that we were making this decision.
rjenkins - I am glad that we are doing it. We mostly want to get the rv and live in it around Houston and then once our last bit of debt is paid off, we want to go full time. We want to start around Texas since that is where our business is and then venture out more.
Jim01 - That is one of my concerns. Space and weight.
Mike and Terri - Thank you, I hope so, we have looked at soooooo many trailers. They are all starting to look alike.
OFBG - Thanks for the advice. I'm glad that both Justin and I are minimalists already. My little girl is going to have to get used to it. She loves her clothes. She changes them out 4-5 times a day and that's going to have to change.
Spirit of 76 - It's nince to see younger people with kids doing this. My husband and I own a drywall repair service company in Houston. If you want to look it up, it's www.tracydrywall.com . My husbands side of the family has been doing drywall for 3 generations, on both sides.
Bjoyce - Thank you for the website, I will check it out and for the brand names, I will check them out also.
DorisandDave said
03:14 PM Apr 25, 2010
Welcome Drywallmom. We have learned so much here and everyone is soooo helpful. Good luck with the RV search and remember on this forum it is " Ask and you shall receive......lots of answers!"
Doris
-- Edited by DorisandDave on Sunday 25th of April 2010 03:14:52 PM
-- Edited by DorisandDave on Sunday 25th of April 2010 03:15:15 PM
Terry and Jo said
07:30 PM Apr 25, 2010
Jennifer,
Much of what you are planning is going to depend upon what your pickup will actually handle as far as weight is concerned. I recommend that you go to your local Ford dealer and let them look at the "door sticker" that gives pertinent information as to the pickup's capacity. That sticker information includes the rear differential gear ratio, which is important, especially on hills.
Beyond that, it boils down to a lot of looking on RV dealer lots, RV shows, and the internet. While Jo and I will soon take delivery of a large fifth wheel, we were out at the dealer on Saturday and I noticed some new floorplans for travel trailers.
Having previously seen this forum thread, I looked at the new ones just for grins. One was interesting in that it had 2 dinettes. One was the normal dinette and the second one was in the back (bunkbed area) and was a smaller version, which was a good size for kids to play games on. It was a new Salem by Forest River, Model # 29QBDS. As yet, there are not specifications online for it, and it is likely that it isn't what you would want, having a capability of 4 bunks in the back. However, the point is to get out there and look. Here is a link to that model.
We also saw a brand that I hadn't seen before and looked at it. It was a Bullet Premier by Keystone. It had a "shipping" weight of 5280 pounds with a carrying capacity of 1780 pounds, thus a gross vehicular weight rating (GVWR) of a bit over 7000 pounds. It was nicely done inside and if I were looking for a small (33 foot) travel trailer, it would certainly be a consideration. The following link will take you to the model that we saw, which was a 288RLS. There are also some pictures of the interior there.
But, basically it boils down to the fun and frustration of looking and liking and looking and liking better, and looking and being overpriced, etc, etc. The main thing is to stay open minded as much as you can. While the two links that I have shown above are for new units, don't be afraid to go to a dealer's lot and look at used ones as well.
While many will say that they had no problems, I would be really careful with buying from a private individual. If you do that, have an RV technician look at it as well. Many a time a seller didn't mention a very serious problem with their camper.
About 2 weeks ago, after alot of decision makeing, we have decided to go Rv'ing. My husband Justin and I own a business. When we started our business, wanted to give our children the best life possible so for years, we worked and worked and worked, spent way to many hours getting our business to what we thought it had to be to be successfull and after all of that, we found out we didn't want the "rat race", "keeping up with the Jones's" lifestyle. We put our son in private school for 3 years, paid alot of money only to find out that it didn't really suit him. We moved to a nicer neighborhood so that we could have better public schools and what we thought, would be better people to live around. All we have seen is that the richer they were, the more spoiled the child. Our children started to pick up things that we didn't like. For example..."If he can have it, why can't I" behavior, and we noticed the parents worked so hard and didn't really have time for their children. So...... We have decided, as a family, it's time for a change of lifestyle, one that more suits who we are.
So with that......... when our lease is up in October, we will be buying a travel trailer that suits our needs and will not put us into debt, live in it in Houston, (and travel) until the rest of our small debts are paid and then we are off. We have found a way to still run our business from the road and still be able to travel. Our family and friends asked us this question and after expaining it to them, they are actually excited for us, the excact opposite of what we thought they would react.
We have so many questions, since we have decided, we have been researching so many sights, spending countless amount of hours looking up as much as we can and wanted some feedback on what's a good brand to buy for a F150 3/4 ton 3 valved to pull. It is said to be able to tow 8400 lbs. I know that everyone that we talk says to get a 5th wheel but we do not want to go into debt to get a new truck and a larger house. We are ok with livng in small spaces, and a smaller travel trailer does not bother us but it's so hard to find, ratings and reviews of travel trailers. Does anyone have any advice on which ones to look, which ones to avoid, which ones have problems. Anything would help. We do not want to get one and find out we don't like it b/c it starts to fall apart.
Everyone here will be more than happy to try to help you fulfill your dream.
I think that the small size of a travel trailer that your truck can tow will not be your problem. The problem is that most if not all travel trailers have virtually no storage, and very little load carrying capacity.
Do your research carefully and make sure the trailer can safely handle all the items you will need to take with you to full-time. It's amazing how much all the items you need weigh.
Good luck in your search,
Jim
You have found a wonderful forum here. Ask many questions, take your time, and enjoy the journey. You will know when you find the right trailer.
--mike
On a personal note the only two brands of travel trailers I have seen fulltimers in are Airstream and HI-LO. I have encountered a couple people in Scamps and Casita trailers, but they were all practicing for RVing overseas where the RVs were very small.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Saturday 24th of April 2010 01:54:30 PM
53 Merc - I am not sure on the truck, that's my husbands forte. It is ingornace on the truck on my side. All I can ever remember is that I know it's a 09' V8, long bed, tow package from the dealer. It has an extra 3rd valve that lets in more gas if needed. That is all I know about it. We just bought it last year, before we knew that we were making this decision.
rjenkins - I am glad that we are doing it. We mostly want to get the rv and live in it around Houston and then once our last bit of debt is paid off, we want to go full time. We want to start around Texas since that is where our business is and then venture out more.
Jim01 - That is one of my concerns. Space and weight.
Mike and Terri - Thank you, I hope so, we have looked at soooooo many trailers. They are all starting to look alike.
OFBG - Thanks for the advice. I'm glad that both Justin and I are minimalists already. My little girl is going to have to get used to it. She loves her clothes. She changes them out 4-5 times a day and that's going to have to change.
Spirit of 76 - It's nince to see younger people with kids doing this. My husband and I own a drywall repair service company in Houston. If you want to look it up, it's www.tracydrywall.com . My husbands side of the family has been doing drywall for 3 generations, on both sides.
Bjoyce - Thank you for the website, I will check it out and for the brand names, I will check them out also.
Doris
-- Edited by DorisandDave on Sunday 25th of April 2010 03:14:52 PM
-- Edited by DorisandDave on Sunday 25th of April 2010 03:15:15 PM
Much of what you are planning is going to depend upon what your pickup will actually handle as far as weight is concerned. I recommend that you go to your local Ford dealer and let them look at the "door sticker" that gives pertinent information as to the pickup's capacity. That sticker information includes the rear differential gear ratio, which is important, especially on hills.
Beyond that, it boils down to a lot of looking on RV dealer lots, RV shows, and the internet. While Jo and I will soon take delivery of a large fifth wheel, we were out at the dealer on Saturday and I noticed some new floorplans for travel trailers.
Having previously seen this forum thread, I looked at the new ones just for grins. One was interesting in that it had 2 dinettes. One was the normal dinette and the second one was in the back (bunkbed area) and was a smaller version, which was a good size for kids to play games on. It was a new Salem by Forest River, Model # 29QBDS. As yet, there are not specifications online for it, and it is likely that it isn't what you would want, having a capability of 4 bunks in the back. However, the point is to get out there and look. Here is a link to that model.
http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?location=rv&unittype=&page=floorviewertt&model=29QBDS&choice=salem&nav=rec&name=1912&series=TTrailers
We also saw a brand that I hadn't seen before and looked at it. It was a Bullet Premier by Keystone. It had a "shipping" weight of 5280 pounds with a carrying capacity of 1780 pounds, thus a gross vehicular weight rating (GVWR) of a bit over 7000 pounds. It was nicely done inside and if I were looking for a small (33 foot) travel trailer, it would certainly be a consideration. The following link will take you to the model that we saw, which was a 288RLS. There are also some pictures of the interior there.
http://keystonerv-bullet.com/index.php?page=floorplans&coast=&model=288RLS
But, basically it boils down to the fun and frustration of looking and liking and looking and liking better, and looking and being overpriced, etc, etc. The main thing is to stay open minded as much as you can. While the two links that I have shown above are for new units, don't be afraid to go to a dealer's lot and look at used ones as well.
While many will say that they had no problems, I would be really careful with buying from a private individual. If you do that, have an RV technician look at it as well. Many a time a seller didn't mention a very serious problem with their camper.
Good luck and have fun.
Terry