We are Paul and Jo. Not yet at full retirement age, but feel it's time to get out of the rat-race and experience more of what the world has to offer and work on our Bucket list! We love hiking and exploring new areas.Being on the move is nothing new to us as over the last six years we have moved four times due to job situations.We have now found ourselves with no jobs, no kids (at home), no pets and no debt except for monthly living expenses, currently in a rental home.  Don’t own anything besides our older paid off vehicles, furniture and stuff… lots of stuff!Where and how did we accumulate all this stuff? So the plan?Get rid of the stuff, furniture and cars then buy a fifth wheeler, towing truck and hit the road.Do workamping along the way to bring in enough money that will supplement our very small pension, to help pay for camp sites, food, gas and see the beautiful USA.

 

Our rental lease is up in December, can we do it by then? Is this possible?I have been lurking on this site for the last 6 weeks and it seems I keep coming up with questions then find the answers only to come up with more questions!I want to thank Howard and Linda for all the information that I have gathered so far from this wonderful forum.

 

Should we buy new, have the security of the warranties or buy used and hope that everything will be okay?On our first adventure of looking we thought a 2011 Keystone Montana 3615RE, with either a Ford 250 Diesel or a Chevy Silverado for towing.But those are both new and would really take a big chunk out of our bankroll.The goal would be to pay in full for the RV and tow vehicle so we stay debt free. Do we drain the savings to buy what we really want or settle for something that is just okay. We have definitely decided on a fifth wheeler.We figure this will be our home for the next 10, 15, 20 years.

 

Any suggestions? Warnings? Advice?

 

Have company this weekend but next week will be looking at more fifth wheelers and tow vehicles.

 

Jo

-- Edited by Paul and Jo on Friday 23rd of July 2010 10:33:08 AM

I think what applies to cars/trucks applies to RV's as well. Anything that depreciates is best bought used. It may take a little more patience to wait for something that you are looking for and also have it thoroughly checked out. Afterall, it's going to be your house! Is December a hard deadline? Have you spoken to the landlord about a month to month lease after December? We rent out a townhouse and have done that for the tenants plenty of times. Rental demand is high in our area so I see no reason to force a good tenant out if they are willing to stay on a month to month basis with an agreement of a one month advance notice when they would move out so we can get ready for another tenant. This may be the leeway you need to gather more funds and not be under so much pressure to get out by December.

I feel, not from experience, but gut feeling that what you are wanting to do is very doable. I am also wanting to do the full-time thing and workamp to fill in where my retirement leaves off. I have decided to by used on both the 5er and the TV, there are a lot of nice easy used late model 5er's and TV's out there you have to look and take your time. Check them out close.

Check the classifieds here,Bob has a very nice lightly used setup for sale at a reasonable price.

We bought used, both truck and 5th wheel.  We have had to put some money in both but feel that it is better to make some minor repairs and not break the bank buying new.  
As for a time line.. once our house sold we managed to get everything done in 4-6 weeks. That includes finding the rig and selling/hauling off personal items.  We are also not quite retirement age and are on a pretty strict budget.  Work camping will really help your budget as our largest expense is campground fees (and diesel).  We have been on the road since July 6th and even though it has been quite a transition we love it. Good luck!

Thank you for the encouragment.  We are heading out this week to look at a few more fifth wheelers and get a feel for what we may want/need.
Jo


-- Edited by Paul and Jo on Saturday 24th of July 2010 10:26:53 PM

Sounds like the perfect time to pull the pin and go for it!
I echo the thoughts of buying previously owned. Take your time and look, look and look and ask lots of questions.  I can guarantee that you will find the answers here.

HI GUYS  MY NAME IS ROY FOSTER AND YOU CAN REACH ME AT ROYBOY7649@YAHOO.COM, IM NOT SELLING ANY THING BUT YOU GUYS 'S STORY CAUGHT MY EYE. LET ME EXPLAIN SOMETHING FOR YOU FOLKS. IM EMPLOYED AS A PROJECT MANG. FOR A COMPANY THAT OVER THE LAST 8 YEARS HAS BEEN DRIVEING THE POWER STROKE'S, ( FORD MOTOR) THE NEW DURA MAX, WITH THE ALLISON TRANS. AND THE DODGE CUMMINGS, (((  I LOVE FORD PRODUCTS GUYS BUT WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLES WITH THE NEW POWER STROKES , AND THE 2 NEW CHEV DURAMAX'S,THERE TRANSMISSIONS ARE GREAT BUT THE MOTOR HAS MAJOR FUEL ISSUES!!!! THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY NOW HAS GONE TO ALL CUMMINGS AND I HAVE TO ADMITT ONE THING , SENCE 2006 YR PICK-UP IN THE 2500 AND 3500 CLASS TRUCKS MY GUYS HAVE NOT BEEN STRANDED ONCE WITH THE DODGES! WE PULL HEAVEY 32 FT  GOOSE NECKS ONE WAY FROM IA. TO CALI. TO NY STATE ALL OVER THE MID WEST FROM TEXAS TO CANADA AND THEN HOME EMPTY, WE INSTALL SIDE WALL CURTAINS ON DAIRY BARNS.! AGAIN IM A FORD LOVER BUT MY GUYS DRIVE ABOUT 70,000 MILES A YEAR ON THE COMPANY'S 5 HEAVEY DUTY 3500 PICK UPS, IM IN A 2006 CREW CAB SHORT BOX WITH A LITTLE OVER 200 THOUSANDS MILES ON IT AND BESIDES TIRES AND OIL CHANGES AND BRAKES, IVE ONLY HAD A PUSHER PUMP IN THE FUEL TANK GO OUT AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME 600 MILES. IF YOU DECIDE TO BUY A DODGE DONT GO OLDER THAN 2006 OLDER ONES HAD TRANS. PROBLEMS. I HAVE A OLDER GEORGIE BOY UNIT AND WHEN I UP DATE, I WILL BUY A GOOSE NECK AND WHEN I GET WHERE I PARK IT I WILL THEN HAVE A PICK-UP TO LEAVE THE SITE TO DO WHAT EVER I WANT TO DO . GOOD LUCK GUYS  ROY FOSTER