How do you know what is best for you? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

TnT · RV-Dreams Community Member

How do you know what is best for you?

TnT · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hey, I just realized that we can probably get a truck or MH altered so that my husband can drive with hand controls like people in wheel chairs have. I am still interested in what you guys think if we don't do that though.

Thanks again, Tracie

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

A truck with an automatic transmission is no different to drive than a similar car, as far as the mechanics of doing it. Of course, a truck is bigger, so it requires some adaptation of driving technique.

One good thingto think about when trying to determine what type of RV is for you is to consider how often you will move. If you intend to stay in one place for weeks at a time, rather than move every few days, then many people consider a trailer to be the best choice for them.

But in the end, after you consider all the "factual" information, it usually comes down to personal preference as to what RV is for you. You just need to look at lots of them....

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Some things that made us decide on a MH over a FW:

- storage space is better on MH's. Our DP has a huge basement that holds all our belongings
- didn't like the idea of using a big truck to go sightseeing or grocery shopping
- ability to use the bathroom while traveling (really helps when DW has a 30 minute bladder)

When DW and I started discussing going full-time we had the same questions as you. We decided to buy a used class C so we could learn the ropes of RV'ing. After 2 years of taking trips in the class C we discovered that we loved the RV lifestyle. The items above were used to narrow our choice down to MH's. After that it was just a matter of looking at coaches that could we would be comfortable living in, and, that we could afford. MH's prices start in the low 100's and go easily into the million's of dollars.

I believe that purchasing a used class C gave us the knowledge we needed to make informed decisions, but there is also the option to rent. If your thinking MH's might be what your looking for then see if you can rent one in your area.

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

My first thought for you was a Class C also. Another thought - in a Fifth wheel you will always have steps up into the bath/bedroom areas. This can be a burden for some disabilities.

We have a Fifth wheel because of the space and storage and hubby just CAN NOT LIVE without a pickup truck. However, we used to have a MH and sure did like being able to use bathroom and kitchen area without the hassel of stopping and parking.

Phyllis

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

What and how do you drive now? Driving a MH or fiver is really no different, all you have to become accustomed to is the additional length. They all seem so BIG and intimidating when you first see them, but after you've been driving them for a few weeks they become second nature.

Which you choose is purely a personal preference as to what you feel most comfortable living in. You have to picture yourself in this environment every day when you wake up.

Some of the things that made us decide on a fiver were
- We liked the "home" feel of the living area with a large picture window to look out
- we were able to easily reconfigure the interior furnishings to our particular liking
- our island kitchen is a pleasure to cook in
- we saved at least $100,000 over a comparable MH
- our maintenance costs are much less than with a MH
- if we have a mechanical breakdown our home doesn't get taken away
- we were able to easily store 3,500# of our "stuff" in our 3 large basement compartments

No right or wrong, just what feels good for you. It's very akin to choosing a ranch or colonial stick house. Which are you?

TnT · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks everyone, I think we lean toward Fred's thinking the most. At this point in time, we really are not planning on a lot of long distance travel like most of you do. We will likely take a long trip once in a while, but for the most part will just be staying in a park as long as we are allowed and then moving to another nearby park to do the same thing.

What we are up to is this...

We would like to live in CA near Terry's family, we would like to live on several acres with trees and water - and that ain't going to happen there! LOL We love camping and the out of doors and have talked for years about living in an RV. So we are thinking we can live in an RV and "camp" on those several acres with trees and water.

My husband used to drive the church bus in CA, so with the information you guys have provided, I think he can drive a truck with a rig.

Thanks so much everyone! This is such a great forum. I hope we make it to the rally and a bunch of you are there so we can meet.

Tracie

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tracie and Terry,

Something else to consider is what it requires to maintain or hook-up a unit. I cannot tell from your posts to what degree Terry is limited in his mobility. While I haven't moved up to the bigger unit yet, I suspect that a large fifth wheel would be similar to our 26 footer. In it, once I hook up the pickup to the trailer, I have to slide into the back of the pickup to hook up the "trailer brake safety cable". We were advised to never attach that cable to the fifth wheel handle.

If one has a motorhome and wants to pull a "toad", then there is a procedure to follow to hook the toad to the motorhome. As for that one, those that have motorhomes can best advise you of types of tow bars that are easy to work with in hooking up.

While it was mentioned by Phyllen that one could use the bathroom or kitchen without having to stop, I must caution that doing that could be dangerous. If one is standing back in the kitchen of a motorhome and the driver has to hit the brakes, then whoever is in the back will be propelled forward violently.

One thing about Howard and Linda's site is that by reading the archives of their journal entries, you can learn a lot about different aspects of the fifth wheel experiences that they encountered. Howard is not proud and willingly tells of the mistakes he has made while traveling, hooking up, and on other topics as well.

You have found a good source of information, though. Both from Howard and Linda's experience and from all the different forum members.

Good Luck and have fun!!

Terry

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:

Tracie and Terry,

Something else to consider is what it requires to maintain or hook-up a unit. I cannot tell from your posts to what degree Terry is limited in his mobility. While I haven't moved up to the bigger unit yet, I suspect that a large fifth wheel would be similar to our 26 footer. In it, once I hook up the pickup to the trailer, I have to slide into the back of the pickup to hook up the "trailer brake safety cable". We were advised to never attach that cable to the fifth wheel handle.
Terry

FWIW, we have a Reese Signature hitch in the truck and I insert the safety pin after we are connected and loop the safety cable on the release arm of the hitch by standing on a collapsible step stool which I place at the side of the truck. There are some physical things, albeit not too difficult, that have to be done either with a fiver or a toad on a MH, that only you can assess the difficulty of for you husband. I'm sure you can get a dealer to demonstrate these things to you.

Fred

TnT · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks Fred. Terry has difficulty walking, from a spinal cord injury. He can't feel the bottom half of his right leg, that is why he drives with his left foot. Otherwise he is strong on the top half of his body. Terry is 57 and I am 49, so hopefully we have a few years left in us to enjoy this type of life.

The more we talk, the more we are considering purchasing some "raw" land somewhere that we can call "home" a few months out of the year outside of CA so it will be affordable. If we can actually find property in Northern CA that is reasonable, we might actually live there full time. I don't mean on the piece of property, just in CA.

Oh, there is so much to figure out and plan! I respect all of you who pressed through all these issues and are helping all of us newbies.

Thanks so very much! Tracie

Mallo · RV-Dreams Family Member

A different point of view.

Go and sit in them.

Sit in pop ups

Sit in truck campers

Sit in travel trailers

Sit in fifth wheels

Sit in Class B's C's and A's

In each one start with the basics.

Can we stay in this for a week while it rains.

Can we run our business from here.

Can we cook and eat a meal here.

Is this a place we can call home.

Some of those on the list you'll stick your head in and say no chance. Just move to the next one.

Look at a lot of RV's if we had bought the first RV we decided was perfect for us we would now be hating it. After we fell for each one we tore it down looking for the flaws based on how we live until we found units (about four) that no matter how much we tore at them we could still answer the question "Can I live in this?" with a yes.

Mallo

TnT · RV-Dreams Community Member

GREAT suggestion!! It will be fun looking too, since we will not feel the pressure of buying one yet. We will have to look for some RV shows to go to. Thanks! Tracie