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!!
My husband and I have been Rving for several years. We do enjoy it. Now we are retired and thinking of going full time. this pass summer we workcamped in MN and SD. did not enjoy the MN work camping, but really enjoyed the time in SD. We have a home in SC and since we have been back we are thinking of selling and just living in our MH. However we came across a snag as my husband wants a bigger RV and I don't want the expense of a newer RV, insurance, taxes so forth. We enjoyed the freedom of no yard to mow, smaller place to take care of and being able to move down the rode when we got tired of one place. I don't have a problem of selling and putting what we want to keep in storage until we get to the point we can't RV anymore, but my husband wants a diesel 40 ft and I don't want the bigger debt knowing that we won't get our money out of it later. We are 66 and 63 yrs old... has anyone else had this problem and how did you settle it?
First welcome aboard. You will find lots of friendly fellow "dreamers" and tons of useful info and advice.
It sounds like you already own a MH so before you rule out the possibility of a 40' diesel MH, it would help to know what you currently have and then perhaps some options might present themselves to accomodate both of your needs and desires.
-- Edited by biggaRView on Tuesday 29th of July 2014 08:21:44 AM
I don't know much..But have no issue telling how I see it..
I have had the same feeling about buying a new DRV.. Why buy new when I can buy used and let some one else take the hit ?.. I will get killed on resale later.. That's one side of it..
The other is .... You only live once.. I like to make the best of it.. We take it one day , month , year at a time. It was a stretch for us to buy this 130k rv. but we wanted to make sure we liked it. Afterall we expect to live in it for some time. As long as you have the money in your budget to do the other things you want do, or will work for additional funds.. Write off the depreciation as a "rental fee" on the camping. And live ..
We looked at some nice used diesel pushers in the 170k range.. they can be had as low as 70k for like 2005 ( btw, someone told me not to get a rear radiator one ) We even came real close to a brand new one .. But decide on a drv fifth wheel in the end.. Brand new, more stuff in it than a used pusher, and more living area, and in my case with the bunk house, more storage.And I get to keep my dually with us, which is important , as we will be making money with it on the road..
I think once you get into the mindset that it is what it is.. and you want what you want. it's easier to go out and have fun.
As the storage think goes.. we are dumping everything.. Furniture is cheap to replace at auctions etc.. I have nice stuff.. but in 5-10 years in storage, it's not worth the money I would spend to store it.. Unless you have someplace for free..
That's my .02
Good luck and welcome again... very helpful people here..
__________________
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" - Dr. Seuss
hey thanks everyone for the good advice. Gives me plenty to think about. We currently have a 36 ft RV with 2 slides. It's a gas which doesn't bother me, but my husband is stuck on a diesel. I like ours as it seems more like a efficiency apt when set up then a MH. Ours only has 35,000 miles on it, 2004 Damon Intruder with the ford workhorse. We pull our F-150 4x4 with no problem. We are currently looking for another work camp for the winter. Thanks again for all the input.
Welcome. We had a class c an wanted to start full timing. So we went to the Hershey rv show in 2012 looking for a 5th wheel or a diesel pusher. So after four 12 hr. Days of looking. We left with a class A gas home with two slides a bath an 1/2. 37 ft. So I guests I'm saying just do your research.
Since you already have a MH, one which you like and the DH(dear husband) not so much or he wouldn't be considering the diesel, try seeing his side, and likewise for him. Life is compromises occasionally(OK a lot of the time) Your current set-up is 10 years old and with low mileage... how well have you maintained it? If you start full-timing you might incur some major repairs or parts replacements. A set of tires alone could easily set you back $2,500 or more. Would he or you be willing to look at a good older(not new), well maintained, higher end unit? There will be trade offs in any choice.
You mentioned debt. Many on here will recommend going into this(full-timing) debt free. I agree. Of course, it's not always that simple. Your financial situation will dictate what you can, or cannot do. Going into retirement, likely on a fixed income, if you have other assets... great, if not then taking on debt without weighing risks is not a good strategy. You and your DH will have to sit down and crunch numbers until you both understand and agree on the best course of action. Seeing numbers builds confidence in your choices.
As to putting things in storage, unless you have a really low cost place to do that, consider the idea that you'll be paying $100/mth +or - for the duration of your travels. 5 years on the road could cost you $6,000 or more, If you value these stored items then don't forget the cost of the insurance on them also. Again, you have to decide whether its worth it.
How are we going to do it when we finally hit the road? We've worked out a budget we can both live with. There's room in it for changes. We also have worked out what we can buy price-wise based on our assets and pensions, and if nothing changes by the time we are ready, we'll put the "plan" into effect. A lot can change, and so all budgets and price points are moving targets. We also like having a financial safety net and that should be figured into any budget or purchase calculation.
Good luck with your research and adventures.
FWIW and certainly JMHO, Brian
-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 30th of July 2014 08:04:22 AM
) Your current set-up is 10 years old and with low mileage... how well have you maintained it? If you start full-timing you might incur some major repairs or parts replacements. A set of tires alone could easily set you back $2,500 or more. Would he or you be willing to look at a good older(not new), well maintained, higher end unit? There will be trade offs in any choice. 
