Greetings from Southeast Texas - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Summersquash · RV-Dreams Family Member

Greetings from Southeast Texas

Summersquash · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for all the encouragement. We will get it right eventually. We have had everything from pop ups to motorhomes in the past, but have never really found the right setup to take care of all of our wants and needs yet. I gues there is no one unit that can carry everything we both want. We just will have to learn to simplify our life a little bit first. Brenda

-- Edited by Summersquash on Thursday 12th of September 2013 11:42:28 AM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Brenda,

Welcome to the RV Dreams forums. Not only is this a good source of information with regards to researching for an RV, it is also a good source of information about the lifestyle of RV'ing, both part-time and full-time. While Jo and I have not yet started to travel (not retired yet), we are looking forward to when we can and get to have about all of America as our back yard. If you haven't noticed it yet, a number of the members here have links to their blogs in their "signatures" at the bottom of the message boxes. If you follow some of those, you will get a good idea of what life is like through the eyes, ears and noses of others.

Good luck with the research and planning. Glad to have you as part of the "family." Ask away with questions, and also utilize the "Search" function in the blue bar above to help find forum threads discussing those topics of interest.

Terry

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Brenda,

Welcome to the forum. You're going through the emotional process that many of us went through in deciding on this lifestyle. Folks on here live every kind of life one can imagine. Some keep homes, some keep lots, some travel and wonder if they'll find someplace they like better, some live in their RV but aren't on the road yet and some are part-timers. You will figure it all out and know what's right for YOU. And you can change your mind and/or your direction.

You might want to read Howard's journal www.rv-dreams.com/our-decision.html and then Linds's thread on the emotional aspects: rv-dreams.activeboard.com/t8381121/emotional-transition/.

You'll find you're not alone and many here share your thoughts.

Sherry

Summersquash · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi everyone. Well it has been nearly 6 months & our home is finally selling. I don't have to wait till I retire to hit the road. As I stated in one of my earlier post I planned to retire in September, but was recently laid off after 26 years for the same company. Kenny went into the hospital two weeks ago for his second total knee replacement and naturally while he was in the hospital our house sold. I am now scrambling to find a place to stay, storage for belongings, and prepairing for estate sale to get rid of 41 years of stuff. After getting all those things taken care of and hubby back on his feet we will start the process of finding a fifth wheel. Any suggestions on the best brand of fifth wheels for full timing. We have a Dodge 3500 dulley so it should pull most fifth wheels. Any suggestions would be .
Wish us luck. Brenda

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

It doesn't sound like you have time to study deeply and think long and hard about what to get. My advice is to find something used and decent at a price you can afford for a fifth wheel that will not be "the one".

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Following up on Bill's suggestion about a used trailer, you might check out Rolling Retreats in Elk City, Oklahoma. They are a DRV Suites dealer that started out buying Suites at auction and then fixing them up and cleaning them. They are now a full dealership for DRV and have a great reputation.

The DRV Suites models are good full-time units with the Elite Suites and Mobile Suites having 3 1/4 inch walls. We've been in our Mobile Suites now for almost 3 years in temperatures from a low of 8 degrees and highs of 115 degrees and were still comfortable.

Terry

Summersquash · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are thinking about a good used one and I will definately check out The Rolling Retreats. We have looked at some of the newer RVs in our price range and they seem to be so cheaply made. I think one has to look beyond the "Bling" and be sure it is solidly built. I think we know what we want in a fifth wheel but it is hard to get everthing in one unit. I like a large kitchen area for sure, & comfortable seating and good bathroom. I could go on and on about what I think I need. If only it all could fit in something 40' long or less. We are really loking forward to this new time in our life. Will keep you posted when we finally make it all happen. Thanks for the input. Brenda

VanMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Brenda,

I don't remember welcoming you in September so, Welcome to the forum.

Dittos on Rolling Retreats being a great place to work with. It was going to be a month before we could make the 400 mile trip to purchase our 5th wheel and they held it for us. They are now storing it until we can get a truck.

Since you live in Texas, you might check out PPL Motorhomes in Houston. They also have a lot of 5th wheels and I have heard good things about them.

Good luck.

Summersquash · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi, Vance & Maria,

Thanks for the welcome. I check PPL online all the time. Actually they had a 2010 cameo carriage that I really liked. I had already told Kenny( My husband ) that it was probably the one and as soon as he was able to drive again we were going to look at it. Of course it sold the next day. We have been there several times. They have lots to look at. We will definately look there as soon as he can travel. It's only about 120 miles from our home.

suse1023 · RV-Dreams Family Member

well dh and I made the leap ourselves last july first and we bought an 02 carriage cameo which we love living in.
it's laid out nicely and once I replaced the recliners, tossed the sleep sofa and bought my own bed it's dang near perfect.
do watch for the cabinet over the sink, ours is 16 inches deep and it is impossible to do dishes without stooping and/or banging our heads.
we intend to take it out someday.
otherwise it really is very easy to live in.

have fun!

Summersquash · RV-Dreams Family Member

I really wouldn't mind finding a good used RV without most of the furniture and redecorating it myself. I really dont like a lot of the loud fabric choices that some come with. I know I can upholster the valances or just take them out. Will give me something to do.

LandL Partners · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats on the home sale and hopefully a fast recovery and rehabilitation for Kenny! Ive been putting off a knee scoping to remove some fragments from an old break, afraid as soon as I'm laid up the house will sell and well be packing and moving, but if that's what it takes to get a contract I just might have to reconsider :~)

TheHarveys · RV-Dreams Family Member

You might check out the used trailers on the Space Craft RV site , http://www.spacecraftmfg.com.They currently have a beautiful 40' Teton Home fifth wheel for a good price. Not sure what you are looking for exactly, but it is hard to beat the quality of a Teton Home.

Summersquash · RV-Dreams Family Member

Really not sure what we are lookingfor either. Have amy of you owned a toy hauler. I, personally havent found many that I care for, but we have a UTV that would be nice to have with us, and the extra storage space may be nice. Of course you have to give up one thing to get the other. I like a well laid out kitchen & comfortable recliners. Sometimes that is what you have to sacrafice for the extra hauling space.

This is Kenny's 5th & hopefully last knee surgery. He now has 2 new knees. Should be good to go.
I will check out the spacecraft site. Very exciting to finally be making some changes. We were feeling kinda like our life was passing us by. It may be hard to get everything in place but looking forward to it. My older sister & brother in law have been full timing for the last 9 years. They love it.