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!!
Last week we bought a 2011 F350 4x4 diesel with only 40,000 miles. The truck was sitting on the lot when my husbance went to look at the new ones. It had the exact options that we wanted (basically loaded, leather interior (heated & cooled), Nav, backup camera, towing package, etc.) was in the exact color we were looking for (white) and only had one original owner. Bought, traded and serviced at the same dealer, with the service record intact. We saved over at least $20,000 on what a new one would have cost, and everyone knows a diesel with 40,000 miles is "just breaking in". This one has the new motor design and is very fuel efficient (getting 20 mpg), has a great towing capacity, and is very quiet. It's so nice to ride in that we don't want to take our car anymore, we are looking for excuses to use this instead! My husband is in love! Since we picked out our future home at the Hershey RV show in September, this is the perfect first step. We decided on a Heartland Bighorn 3010re. We really like the size, layout and quality features. We are hoping we can get the RV some time next year so we can start part-timing, and be full time by Fall 2015 (depending on how quickly our home sells). I feel like we are living the dream now!
Sounds like a great find on the truck. I have a 2010 F-350 and wish I had the 2011 or later, they get better mileage with the 6.7 in the newer ones. Maybe you can get the same kind of deal on a 5th wheel too! Wouldn't that be great.
Red - we agree, I don't think wso would have purchased it if it was not the new motor.. The better fuel efficiency and the remarquite "quietness" is amazing. I too hope we can get a great deal on the rv. We saw a 2012 model (leftover) in TX (I think) for a great price but i. Didn't have any space for a washer/dryer, which is a deal breaker for me. So we will keep looking. Maybe next year we will get a good deal on a 2013 leftover, since that is the year heartlandstarted to make washer/dryer standard.
Sounds like you're on your way. We had a Heartland and really appreciated the factory support and the unit. Are you certain you want a washer and dryer? The do take up a lot of space and we've found campground laundry rooms to be terrific. It's a great way to chat with others and learn about the area you're in and do multiple loads at one time. At first I thought I wanted one but we've talked to more people that took them out. Just our preferences, not necessarily yours. 😄
Congratulations on your truck!
Sherry
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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
Sherry - thanks for your input. We aren't sure about the washer/dryer either but want to at least haVe the option. I lived without one at home for 12 years & that was my least favorite chore. Since this whole adventure is designed to "simplify" our lives I'm not sure I want to return to those days though. About the heartland choice, their reputation for customer serviceI was definitely a big part of the decision. Our neighbors have a BC & their frame broke in 4 places on a recent trip.Even though their rig is 6 years old headland took it back to the factory & took it completely apart & repaired it (and several other unrelated minor things) at no cost! I think that Made our choice for us. Thanks for your well wishes!
I can totally relate to home living W/o a washer and dryer but it's different when you're on the road. No, or very rarely, lugging stuff to ugly Laundromats in small towns. I thought all new rigs came with laundry hook ups but I'm often wrong.😄
That's terrific service from Hearland! Love those stories.
Sherry
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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're with you on the washer and dryer Sherry. If you're in a private campground they normally have laundry facilities and if you're boon docking you don't have the water to spare. We would rather have the storage space. We have met people that wouldn't be without them however they said they were doing laundry almost daily because these units are so small.
Congrats on the truck Judy...sounds like you got a good one.
We love our washer/dryer so much we wore one out and just replaced it with a new one. The new one, a Splendide 2100XC, will wash and dry a bit larger loads than our old 2100 so we will need to do less loads per week.
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Bill Joyce, 40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com Full-timing since July 2003
Just as a "heads-up" for those debating a washer and dryer in their RV instead of doing the laundry at an RV park laundromat. If anyone has an allergy to pet hair, you might want your own washer and dryer. A number of folks I've talked with state that using the RV park laundromat may expose someone to the pet hair when others (pet owners) wash their clothes in the same machines.
This might even be more of a problem than washing at a laundromat that is NOT associated with an RV park. But, either can expose one pretty badly if one has allergies.
Now, having continued this thread down a "tangent direction," but with good reason to, I now need to remind all to keep the comments on-topic with the original post, which was more about trucks.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Sunday 13th of October 2013 01:58:24 PM
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Terry and Jo
2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3 2008 Ford F450 2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout
We're like you…got the hookups put in but are using the space for storage. We figured we might want to eventually add the W/D but like others have found out that doing all the loads at once is more efficient…not to mention the RV W/Ds generally take much longer for a smaller load than what you're used to at home.
We just get quarters from the bank a hundred bucks worth at a time and usually do 2 or 3 loads every 8-10 days…about half the time in the park and the rest of the time at a local laundramat.