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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Introduce Yourself! -> New to full timing
Post Info TOPIC: New to full timing
Sexy painter


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New to full timing
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Hi, we are Joe and Virginia from Utah.  We started out Sept. 1st as a trial run into full timeing, We have a 31 ft Dutchman. When I bought the trailer we were only going out on weekends to art/ craft shows.  We have met  many people at the shows who are full timers and thought what fun! So, we decided to give it a try. We plan on 2 years because we have heard not to do less, than 2 years we wouldn't know for sure if this is what we wanted to do. We are now committed for that long because my daughter and her family are moving into the stix and bricks in January.

After being out we have decided that we need something bigger because our 2 dogs, a beagle and chocolate lab, take up a lot of room! My husband is an artist and I sew, so we do need more room to work. We can't decide what would be best for us, we need some input. I would like a bunkhouse but that takes away from the living room, so, I guess I need one with more counter space to work on. My husband doesn't want anything over 37' but, I want one larger thinking it would give us more living space.  What's a good 4 seasons 5 th wheel that will not cost us an arm and a leg. I'm willing to go with one a few years older. We have a 2007 drw dodge 3500.

We are having a great time! We have traveled to Colorado,New Mexico and Texas so far on this trip. We will be home next month for the holidays and to put our stuff in storage and down size. 

Thanks for any suggestion



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Alie and Jims Carrilite


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Look at the Montana 5th wheel line. They are a great price point unit that many people fulltime in. Another idea is to look at the Open Range line. For their price point, they seem well built, have good amenities, and a very loyal following.

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Alie & Jim

Morgan- DD

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Tabitha & Brooke -other furballs

FullTiming since March 2013
cherylbrv


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Seriously, I had the same dilemma.  I wanted a separate room for my office and felt a bunkhouse or toy hauler would be ideal but I wasn't willing to give up living room space.  I landed up using the dinette table as my office, which actually is meeting my needs quite well, although I know it wouldn't solve your space needs.  Sorry I'm not being much more help.



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Cheryl B. in her new RV

(well, not new any more! Full timing since 6/25/14)

2008 DRV MS 36TKBS3 (the CoW: Castle on Wheels), 2005 Ford F550 hauler (the Bull)

My blog is http://mitcheryl-rv-journey.blogspot.com/

My business: www.AZAdminSolutions.com
Camper Chronicles


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I agree on the Montanas and Open Ranges. Highly recommend you go to a rally and walk through all the models to decide exactly what you want. We needed up with an open range but also loved a similar Montana. There are so many choices and floor plans out there it's crazy but every floor plan comes with trade offs. Want a bigger kitchen you lose a bedroom. Want and outside TV you lose interior space etc, Only by walking the different models were we really to nail down what what mattered to us and what didn't. Took us two days of walking at least a hundred models but so worth it for our forever home and I am soooo glad we did it.

Trace


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 Trace 

Ford F350 Super Duty 4x2.  Open Range 386FLR

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Turtle


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Agree with others - you really need to look at different models and adaptations that can only be found where the masses congregate......we toured RV's at the fall RV-Dreams Rally in Goshen and saw some pretty cool ideas for adapting your space to suit your lifestyle. One couple ("computer geeks" - her description, not mine) had fitted their living room with recliners and, i kid you not, what appeared to be an 8' table in the center of their living room - for their work space. Pretty cool - worked for them. So, think outside the box - good luck!


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Diana and Jim


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Personally, I wouldn't go any bigger than either of you is comfortable towing. More does not always equal better. We are very comfortable in our 31 ft RL, but that's us. Is your 31 a 5th wheel or TT?

Jim

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Jim & Diana

2007 Colorado 31 RL  5th wheel

2008 F350 Larait SRW 6.4L Diesel, crew cab, long box - PullRite Superglide 15K hitch

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The Junkman


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I run a bunkhouse 45ft, 5 slide drv.. and I think space is tight..lol.

I have a 6ft long bunkhouse I use for a office and storage... that leaves 39ft of rv left.. still bigger than most rv's..

I wanted to do a voltage toyhauler for the added work space and storage.. but the quality seemed lacking for the money.. DRV just came out with a redesigned toyhauler , that I will look hard to flipping into one, in a couple years I think. The rear compartment is a much more flexible usable space than you find in and normal fifth wheel.. those are about 45ft too..

To me, the bigger , the better... but you need to be able to pull it, and drive it too..We move a month at a time.. 2 hours driving, and done. Still thinking about selling the truck and just have a transport company move my rig, 12 times a year.. I need to run numbers.. but I think it may be cheaper, and way less hassle.

We got he list down to..

redwoods
landmarks
Drv's..

toyhaulers
Voltage
cyclone
drv

those where our finals..



-- Edited by The Junkman on Wednesday 12th of November 2014 08:02:57 AM

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Sexy painter


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Thanks Jim for your input.



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Sexy painter


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Cheryl, I loved the cartoon! That does apply to us, Joe said we needed to pull a studio behind us. I have been sewing on the kitchen table, but I need more room, I like to spread out when sewing. I hate to pick everything up and clear off the table to eat, thats why I was thinking of a bunkhouse.



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Sexy painter


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Jim,

we pull a travel trailer, I understand a 5th wheel is easier to pull and manuver.



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Sexy painter


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Junkman,

 Someone said the toy haulers are not well insulted, we have looked at those on the websites. I would like a DRV  because I understand they are built better.



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Sexy painter


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 Trace

We plan on going to the RV show in Quartzite in January.  I hope not to get to over whelmed by it all!

 



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LandL Partners


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Welcome Joe and Virginia! Shows and rv trader are great ways to look at all the options and price points. We just have one traveling companion - lab/Chesapeake bay retriever mix who thinks she owns every flat surface Good luck finding the right home for all of you!

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Dwight, Vicki, and Mocha

'97 Damon Ultrasport
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