Here goes….I have been lurking and drooling long enough. I took a leap of faith and signed up for the Spring 2011 rally and thought I better introduce myself. If everything works out the rally will be my maiden voyage and I will be traveling from Texas which is my home base. Since I have family in Knoxville the rally location will work out well. I am still deciding between a 5th and a TT. I know that a MH is more popular with single ladies traveling alone but I really like having the separation. Just one of many decisions in front of me!!Look forward to meeting all of you.
Terry and Jo said
12:23 PM Oct 4, 2010
Dang!!!! ANOTHER Texan!!!!!
I'm getting outnumbered on here.
Welcome, Pamela. Let an Okie be the first to say that. If you've been lurking long, you know that there are a lot of friendly, helpful folks here.
Feel free to ask questions regarding your possible choices. We like to think that new members bring new perspectives and sometimes, new questions. We will hopefully make you feel right at home.
Terry
miles of smiles said
01:21 PM Oct 4, 2010
Thanks for posting. I am at work pretending to work while planning my escape so I was excited to get my first post!!! I feel so official. Here is the question I am having trouble with: how difficult is it to drive and park a 35' 5th wheel by yourself? I can go smaller but that is the one that makes my heart flutter.
Terry and Jo said
01:38 PM Oct 4, 2010
Well, to be honest, I'm pretending as well.
As for your question, there are a lot of ladies out there that are solo'ing. I think there is even a thread category for those soloing. With the driving part, let me link you to a thread that I started that regarded Jo's first drive with our new Mobile Suites:
First of all, fifth wheels are easier to drive and park than travel trailers. As I referred to in the above linked posting, once you get your unit, take it to a big empty parking lot and practice backing in between traffic cones. Then, put out 4 cones and practice backing into the rectangle created by the 4 cones. (Some large church parking lots would be a good practice area. But, you might clear it with the church people first.)
If you know someone that already has a pickup and trailer about the same size as your interested in, see if you can get with them and drive a little before doing your own.
Whatever you do, don't worry about it too much. Just be careful ALWAYS!!!!
Terry
miles of smiles said
01:46 PM Oct 4, 2010
I just read the link. Thanks that is very encouraging.
I wonder how many of us are at work pretending to work? My boss thinks I am smiling at him but I am imagining myself driving into the rally:)
Terry and Jo said
02:00 PM Oct 4, 2010
Pamela,
The rally is only a bit over 6 months away. I guess I should caution you to not get in too big of a hurry to make a choice of RV. Now, it may be that you have been looking for quite some time, and if so, that is good.
In addition to participating with this forum and website, look for an owner's group for the brand of RV you are looking for and read through their forums. That is, if they have a forum. By doing that, you will get an idea of any problems that people are having with their RV's. And believe me, if there are problems with RV's, people tend to talk about that on forums than they do the good things.
Here is a link to a forum that appears to be sponsored by Heartland for the Bighorn. I don't know if Heartland is controlling any of the content. I would prefer a forum which an owner's group themselves started:
Glad you took the Leap of Faith and signed up for the Rally. You'll gain tons of information there and meet a great bunch of people.
Looking forward to meeting you.
Jim
Readytogo said
03:55 PM Oct 4, 2010
Welcome. We are signed up for the Rally in April. Reading your post made me laugh. I work out of my home. I don't have to even pretend I'm working. We have 2+ years before we can change our lifestyle. We will still have to work but won't have to make the money we are now. We are so looking forward to it.
janni said
04:00 PM Oct 4, 2010
Hello and Welcome. I know all those feelings you are having and isn't it GREAT!
Waggin Tails said
08:44 PM Oct 4, 2010
Welcome Pamela,
Great bunch of people here. I'll add to Terry's comments and say WOW another Houstonian. My wife and I grew up in Houston. Graduated from Westbury High School. We go back to to pre Astrodome.
Travel safe and enjoy the rally.
GiniaJ said
08:38 AM Oct 5, 2010
Welcome Pamela (miles of smile....laughed at that nickname as that's what I call our youngest grandson, Miles) from a pseudo Texan (Dad was a native from Sour Lake near Beaumont) that moved here first 15 years ago and loved it. Left twice but came back again. So, guess that makes me a Texan at heart? Anyway, enough about me. You will love this site. So many good people and so much info. Before you know it, you will be on the road and enjoying it too.
Seems like you'll find tons of support, info and caring from these folks. I am a newbie to here, but already am addicted to reading all of the posts. We are living the life now and currently settled for 3 months in Bradenton, FL in a great RV park behind my daughter's house.
miles of smiles said
03:35 PM Oct 6, 2010
Thanks for all of the warm replies. I look forward to getting to know all of you and putting a face with a voice for those that attend the rally.
jb said
05:19 PM Oct 6, 2010
Welcome.
We have done both a tt and a motorhome and like both for different reasons. It is a personal choice. If you are not ready to buy before the rally you can always rent a unit. It actually is a good way to evaluate what you really want.
We will be at the rally and look forward to meeting you.
2riker2go said
05:16 AM Oct 7, 2010
Welcome Pamela! :) My DH and I are also signed up for the 2011 rally, and we are so excited as well. That will be our first official RV event. We won't have our fiver yet at that point unfortunately, so we are staying in a cabin. I can empathize with the "dreaming about rving at work" situation - been there, done that!!
Denise said
06:53 AM Oct 7, 2010
Welcome from Texas!
We have owned both a motorhome and fifth wheel. We love the room we have in the fifth wheel. It takes some practice backing the thing up. But almost anything takes practice! There are many blogs out there are writte by single ladies out on the open road. They live in many different RV's. You just have to find what makes you comfortable.
Stay Safe
jagco said
09:46 AM Oct 7, 2010
Welcome to the forum. This is a wonderful group of people, that can help with just about any questions you might have about the RV lifestyle. If nobody here can come up with the answer, they will know where you can get the question answered.
We are planning to eventually full-time, but enjoy weekend camping in the mean time. Georgia is still working, and dreaming about RVing at work, while I am on disability and dreaming even more about it at home.
We presently have a very small, very old MH, but plan on eventually getting a FW down the road. One advantage to a MH that I would consider since you mentioned travelling solo, will depend on if you plan on doing any sleeping in parking lots, rest areas, or truckstops, along your way. Some people do that, some people don't. If you were ever to have someone do trying to break in, anything else that scared you there, you would be able to go from bed to driver's seat without going outside. I don't say that to stir up fear. I just try to be prepared for everything. I guess it's just the Boy Scout in me :)
Anyway, welcome again, and I hope you enjoy the rally.
laurly said
10:16 AM Oct 7, 2010
Pamela:
Welcome! Glad you are coming to the rally! We went to our first one in April of this year, and we learned so much, it was great. We are going to the rally as well, just to relearn some things. George and I had all but decided on a MH for our new home, but have made a decision to get a 5vr and truck instead. Now we research in a different direction :)
I research at work as well, I run the office, what are they gonna do :)
Looking forward to meeting you!
Laurie
Here goes….I have been lurking and drooling long enough. I took a leap of faith and signed up for the Spring 2011 rally and thought I better introduce myself. If everything works out the rally will be my maiden voyage and I will be traveling from Texas which is my home base. Since I have family in Knoxville the rally location will work out well. I am still deciding between a 5th and a TT. I know that a MH is more popular with single ladies traveling alone but I really like having the separation. Just one of many decisions in front of me!!Look forward to meeting all of you.
I'm getting outnumbered on here.
Welcome, Pamela. Let an Okie be the first to say that. If you've been lurking long, you know that there are a lot of friendly, helpful folks here.
Feel free to ask questions regarding your possible choices. We like to think that new members bring new perspectives and sometimes, new questions. We will hopefully make you feel right at home.
Terry
Well, to be honest, I'm pretending as well.
As for your question, there are a lot of ladies out there that are solo'ing. I think there is even a thread category for those soloing. With the driving part, let me link you to a thread that I started that regarded Jo's first drive with our new Mobile Suites:
http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=91511&p=3&topicID=37474607
First of all, fifth wheels are easier to drive and park than travel trailers. As I referred to in the above linked posting, once you get your unit, take it to a big empty parking lot and practice backing in between traffic cones. Then, put out 4 cones and practice backing into the rectangle created by the 4 cones. (Some large church parking lots would be a good practice area. But, you might clear it with the church people first.)
If you know someone that already has a pickup and trailer about the same size as your interested in, see if you can get with them and drive a little before doing your own.
Whatever you do, don't worry about it too much. Just be careful ALWAYS!!!!
Terry
The rally is only a bit over 6 months away. I guess I should caution you to not get in too big of a hurry to make a choice of RV. Now, it may be that you have been looking for quite some time, and if so, that is good.
In addition to participating with this forum and website, look for an owner's group for the brand of RV you are looking for and read through their forums. That is, if they have a forum. By doing that, you will get an idea of any problems that people are having with their RV's. And believe me, if there are problems with RV's, people tend to talk about that on forums than they do the good things.
Here is a link to a forum that appears to be sponsored by Heartland for the Bighorn. I don't know if Heartland is controlling any of the content. I would prefer a forum which an owner's group themselves started:
http://www.heartlandrvs.com/index.php?p=35&c=fifthwheels&sc=BH
Anyway, hang on and enjoy the ride.
Terry
Glad you took the Leap of Faith and signed up for the Rally. You'll gain tons of information there and meet a great bunch of people.
Looking forward to meeting you.
Jim
We have done both a tt and a motorhome and like both for different reasons. It is a personal choice. If you are not ready to buy before the rally you can always rent a unit. It actually is a good way to evaluate what you really want.
We will be at the rally and look forward to meeting you.
We have owned both a motorhome and fifth wheel. We love the room we have in the fifth wheel. It takes some practice backing the thing up. But almost anything takes practice! There are many blogs out there are writte by single ladies out on the open road. They live in many different RV's. You just have to find what makes you comfortable.
Stay Safe