Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
Hello all, we are so excited.... we've made the decision to become fulltimers when we retire in about 6 years from now... I know it's a bit in the future but we're planners and want to be ready well ahead. We have been looking at 5th wheels and know that is what we want. We'd like to narrow the field down a bit of what brands to look at. Our main concern is durablity, value and a home like feel. Plan is approx 45K-50K for RV. Any suggestions regarding what is important to look for?
Welcome to the forum, Bart. I'm fairly new here myself but I've picked up a ton of knowledge from the experienced full timers. My DW and I will be hitting the road in about 22 months and 28 days....but who's counting! She commented the other day that we have almost two years before we have to start planning!! Yikes! I set her straight real quick.
Go to the topic "Buying an RV" and then read, read, read. When your done, read some more. Like I've said before, this forum is like a good book, you just can't put it down.
It looks like your budget is about 5k more than ours. I'm planning to get a lightly used 2-3 year old unit so I can get a higher end 5er than if I bought new.
Like Gene said, hit the RV shows about twice a year. It's fun and it will keep the adrenalin up.
Welcome. Respecting your budget, you may want to consider a good used four season rig. Some features I find important are multiple windows that tip out (& up) so windows can be open in rain. Plenty of windows for light are important to me but not to everyone. Lots of kitchen pantry space and a larger 2-door refrigerator. If you like to cook, lots of counter space. Walk around room in bdrm. Storage space underneath. Electri awnings and electric or hydralic levelers. We don't have all that in our Big Country but we are part-timers .
Enjoy your search.
Sherry & Jesse
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I don't know where I'm going but I'm on my way. - Carl Segan
Our "Rolling Rest Home" 2013 Trilogy 3650RL dragged by a 2005 GMC Sierra 4x4 Diesel Dually -SOLD
We are currently fulltimers shopping for a truck and 5th wheel. We currently live in Kevin's "bachelor pad" TT pulled by my Avalanche.
Regarding your budget, one new 5th wheel we have been considering is the Columbus by Puma. They were new on the market in 2012.
We toured the NuWa factory the last week here in Kansas. The question I asked to have answered is "what's the difference between a $50K RV and a $100K one." (NuWa's are in the $100K range) I think Orville, our rep, did a good job of answering the question. Too much to go into here, but essentially quality of materials and the care with which they are put together.
Interestingly enough they also sell Columbus at their dealership. He said it's one of the best units in that price range he's found.
Enjoy shopping!
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Carol
Carol Kerr Welch
Wife to Jeff, "Mom" to Chuy; Retama Village Resident
We also are part-timers with a future planned for full timing.
We shopped til we dropped for sure. It was our weekend social event. Of course living in Florida RV prices are thru the roof and not very competitive.
We also visited RV shows every chance we had.
Our 1st RV was a toyhauler TT KZ MXT - we opted for this because he have a Honda Goldwing, we have 2 fur kids, both on the larger size and we did not want much carpet. It suited our needs wonderfully, and after a while we decided we wanted more living floor space than toy hauler.
We had no trouble selling the TT on our own, there were six people who showed up the 1st day it was listed. It went to a new home in Georgia. Hence we were without an RV for several months while we shopped for our 5th wheel.
We loved the KZ product line, also in the running was Carriage.....then we found Heartland and now we had narrowed it to three contenders.
Between researching in person and on the web we wound up purchasing our 5th wheel via the internet, sight unseen except for the web photos, talk about a leap of faith, but we saved a HUGE amount of money (double digits). We found Florida dealers were difficult to negotiate with and knew better than to pay MSRP from our research.
Gary took 4 days off work to drive to Michigan to pick up our new 5th wheel at Lakeshore RV, it had everything we wanted plus some. We were not necessarily looking for a fireplace but this unit had one, and guess what, we love it. It was so worth the financial savings to not only shop and price things locally but also closer to the factory as well.
We have owned our unit now since 2009 and we love it and camp every chance we can and we have had relatively few issues, nothing major at all.
In fact we camp over the holidays now rather than stay home we love it so much!
This is a wonderful forum, with lots of free advice and lots of experienced people who will share honest opinions. Take what you want and leave the rest, what works for some may not be your cup of tea, but you never know someone just might throw something out there you had not thought about.
Besides this forum I would also recommend following some blogs of full timers, another wealth of knowledge.
Yikes! I set her straight real quick.
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