Full-time by 2016?? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

marianne57 · RV-Dreams Family Member

RE: Full-time by 2016??

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just an update, the search for the truck has begun! We are sure it will take several months but we've started the ball rolling! Yahoo! It's starting to feel real, folks.

marianne57 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ran n Jo wrote:
Just an update, the search for the truck has begun! We are sure it will take several months but we've started the ball rolling! Yahoo! It's starting to feel real, folks.

YEAH for you all!!!!!!! There's one out there with your name on it just waiting!!! :) I know what you mean though....my countdown in my phone is 285 days until we list the house....really getting scary, but very exciting!!! Best of luck in your search and keep us posted please!! Take care!

MikenRobin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ran n Jo wrote:
Just an update, the search for the truck has begun! We are sure it will take several months but we've started the ball rolling! Yahoo! It's starting to feel real, folks.

This should be interesting...I know you two wont jump at the first shiny truck you see, there may be some research involved.

Please keep us posted.

Hope all is well.

Mike

Ou365 · RV-Dreams Community Member

We are planning to go fulltime in January 2016. We are picking up our new fifthwheel today. We close on our present house in two weeks. Six months away but we are going to live in our rv until I retire in January. Getting excited to begin our new adventure. Where are you planning on traveling too? Maybe we will see you on the road!

Curtis and Rhandi · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ou365 wrote:
We are planning to go fulltime in January 2016. We are picking up our new fifthwheel today. We close on our present house in two weeks. Six months away but we are going to live in our rv until I retire in January. Getting excited to begin our new adventure. Where are you planning on traveling too? Maybe we will see you on the road!

That is sort of what we are doing - we are living full-time in our RV right now - our house closes July 3rd - and October 1 is our go-date to hit the road. The living in the Fiver here in town has been good - able to figure out some things - things I thought FOR SURE I needed - I now find that I don't need at all! LOL Good luck! Hope to see ya on the road!

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

well we took the next step today( the point of no return)
The house was sold, money in the bank and spent most of it today. we ordered our new trailer which we hare having custom built and ordered the truck to pull it with

the clock is now ticking 10 months to go before retirement and we hit the Rd.

Curtis and Rhandi · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bobc wrote:
well we took the next step today( the point of no return)
The house was sold, money in the bank and spent most of it today. we ordered our new trailer which we hare having custom built and ordered the truck to pull it with

the clock is now ticking 10 months to go before retirement and we hit the Rd.

That's fantastic! Woo Hoo! I will be glad when the house is all done. I'm sooo over it! LOL Our first deal fell apart yesterday - but our backup is now under contract - so here we go again -still with the July 3 closing date!

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

The whole house thing was one of the most stressful thing we have been through,so happy we did it early and got it over with.
Good luck with the new contract.

Antoan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Bob and Anita Antkowiak here. We are also planning to be on the road in 2016. We attended the Spring Rally and knew we were on the right path for us. Bob recently bought the truck he will need to pull the 39' 5th wheel we are buying in December. That was big step #1! We will order the 5th wheel in December which will be custom built and hopefully ready sometime in March. Our plan is to have the house on the market early 2016, hopefully sell it furnished and be on the road in April. Downsizing has already begun which is an overwhelming process but we'll get through it. It's good to know you are planning on 2016 as well, I think it will be a great year!! Maybe we can get the 2016ers to meet up somewhere on the road and celebrate!!

Good Luck!

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats Bob and Anita welcome to the class of 2016, looking forward to hearing about you adventure.

what brand trailer are you planing to order and what did you decide on for a truck?

we just ordered a new Dodge Ram 5500 HD with a hauler bed

Antoan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Bob bought a new Dodge RAM, 3500 Turbo Diesel already prepped for the 5th wheel hitch. We are going to order a Mobile Suites 5th wheel from RVs for Less that is made for full timers. It's 39' with four slides so it's quite heavy. We are really excited about starting our new life. April 1, 2016 is our targeted retirement date, it can't come soon enough for us. Bob is already counting how many more times he will have to mow the grass before we are out of here!

I'll be following your adventure as well, really good to talk to folks following the same path!!

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Anita! I believe you were in the cabin near us at the rally? Really happy to hear you are moving forward. We have a similar timeframe and are planning to order our 5th wheel before the end of the year as well.

Jo

Antoan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi Jo! We were at the Spring rally but brought our rig. The RV we have now is not right for full time living so we are getting our new home in order! We have our fingers crossed that things come together as planned. Everything is depending on how long it takes to sell our house. We don't think it will be a long rocess but you never know. We will pay off the RV and the truck and start our new life debt free. Bob and I were talking about how fast the time is going. We remember when we were saying we had 3 years to be on the road, now it's just a few months...amazing but can't wait.

Keep us posted on your adventure, looking forward to sharing!!

marianne57 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Antoan wrote:
Bob and Anita Antkowiak here. We are also planning to be on the road in 2016. We attended the Spring Rally and knew we were on the right path for us. Bob recently bought the truck he will need to pull the 39' 5th wheel we are buying in December. That was big step #1! We will order the 5th wheel in December which will be custom built and hopefully ready sometime in March. Our plan is to have the house on the market early 2016, hopefully sell it furnished and be on the road in April. Downsizing has already begun which is an overwhelming process but we'll get through it. It's good to know you are planning on 2016 as well, I think it will be a great year!! Maybe we can get the 2016ers to meet up somewhere on the road and celebrate!!

Good Luck!

Hi Anita, and congrats on going in 2016. Yes, the downsizing is a tad overwhelming to say the least....especially after 39 years of marriage! :) Wish you the best and hope to see you out there too! It would be great to connect somewhere next year when we're all getting ready to head out. Maybe the spring rally will work :) Take care and yes...2016 is a great year!

Antoan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi Bobc! I've been following your posts on the sale of your house, all in all, is sounds like it went fairly quickly, although I understand how stressful it must have been. We have sold two houses together and both sold with-in the first week. We hope this house sells as quickly....so much is depending on how it goes. Now you can concentrate on your new life!!

We settled on a DRV 39' Mobile Suites, oddly enough, we looked at the RVs that were onsite at the Spring Rally in Tennessee this year and found it, the last thing we expected when we headed to the Rally in April. As soon as we looked at it we knew it had everything we were looking for as a new home. It's 22,000 lbs dry, Bob researched the truck he wanted to pull it and found the Dodge RAM Turbo Diesel dualie had the best towing capacity and would fit our needs. He just got it about two weeks ago and is like a kid with a new toy!! Now our sites are set on ordering the Mobile Suites RV in Dec and getting the sale of the house out of the way.

Stay in touch, hopefully those of us hitting the road in 2016 can meet up somewhere, as Marianne57 said, maybe the 2016 Spring Rally??

Antoan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi Ran n Jo!!

If a get together is planned in 2016, Bob and I are in, maybe meeting at the 2016 Spring Rally would be a start? We would also be glad to help with making plans.....can't wait!!!

Bob and Anita Antkowiak (Antoan)

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Antoan wrote:
Hi Bobc! I've been following your posts on the sale of your house, all in all, is sounds like it went fairly quickly, although I understand how stressful it must have been. We have sold two houses together and both sold with-in the first week. We hope this house sells as quickly....so much is depending on how it goes. Now you can concentrate on your new life!!
We settled on a DRV 39' Mobile Suites, oddly enough, we looked at the RVs that were onsite at the Spring Rally in Tennessee this year and found it, the last thing we expected when we headed to the Rally in April. As soon as we looked at it we knew it had everything we were looking for as a new home. It's 22,000 lbs dry, Bob researched the truck he wanted to pull it and found the Dodge RAM Turbo Diesel dualie had the best towing capacity and would fit our needs. He just got it about two weeks ago and is like a kid with a new toy!! Now our sites are set on ordering the Mobile Suites RV in Dec and getting the sale of the house out of the way.

Stay in touch, hopefully those of us hitting the road in 2016 can meet up somewhere, as Marianne57 said, maybe the 2016 Spring Rally??

Anita,

I have to question the 22,000 lbs dry comment above. On DRV's website for Mobile Suites it shows two different 39' fifth wheels, neither of which were listed as 22,000 lbs. The 39RESB3 was listed at 15,000 lbs dry and the 39DBRS3 was listed as 15, 750 lbs. What could possibly be going on that you were informed it would be 22,000 lbs dry weight? Did they perhaps mean that the 22,000 lbs would be the GVWR for the trailer? Even if it is true that the GVWR is 22,000 lbs, that's still an awfully large number in my estimation. Most in the 15,000 lbs dry weight category end up having a GVWR of around 18,000 to 19,000 lbs.

I don't remember the dry weight on our 2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3, but our GVWR is only at 18,500 lbs.

Terry

Antoan · RV-Dreams Community Member

I checked the specs again, the weight is 22,000 lbs loaded.

jt · RV-Dreams Family Member

We where going full timing in 2016. W are now going full timing the first week in Oct, 2015. The house should be gone and away we go.

jtjt

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats JT

marianne57 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats jt and good luck!!!

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats jt!

-- Edited by Ran n Jo on Tuesday 7th of July 2015 05:00:19 AM

Antoan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Congrats JT, best of luck getting on the road!!

mds1 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bobc wrote:
well we took the next step today( the point of no return)
The house was sold, money in the bank and spent most of it today. we ordered our new trailer which we hare having custom built and ordered the truck to pull it with

the clock is now ticking 10 months to go before retirement and we hit the Rd.

Bobc;

What are you living in now that your house is sold and are awaiting delivery of your RV? My wife and I are still considering our options, such as selling the house early and downsizing to less costly housing. We are also torn between this and keeping the house to enjoy it for a few more years.

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are renting a farm house for the next year. We wanted to get the house done early. So that when I retire nexT year we are ready to go and don,t have to wait on the house. We got lucky and sold the house in 4 days, but you never now, some times it take 6-12 months to get a house sold. So we sold now and ordered our truck and trailer once the house sold so we will carry now debt and be ready to go the day I throw the keys on the table. It does feel good to not have to worry about the house anymore.and this makes the purge a little easier and gives us more time with getting rid of everything

jt · RV-Dreams Family Member

We were going full timing in 2016. Now we are going on Oct 1, 2015. USA here we come.

jt

Jake62 · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are right behind you JT.

I submitted my retirement papers and we leave DC in mid-October to full-time. But first, we need to locate & purchase our DP and trade-out our mini-van for a Jeep for our TOAD.

Hope to see many of you on the road ...

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ran n Jo wrote:
Just an update, the search for the truck has begun! We are sure it will take several months but we've started the ball rolling! Yahoo! It's starting to feel real, folks.

We found our truck! I started a new thread on this but wanted to make sure to update our fellow 2016ers as well. We won't have it for a while since there is some work to do on it but it's ours! It's a 2011 Volvo 780 and it is currently black and reddish orange but we plan to paint it at some point. It's named Storm and is listed on RV Haulers.ca if you want to take a look.

Now we have to update our licenses so we can drive it! In PA we just need to do the non-commercial class A and the air brake test.

We're so excited!

Steve and Liz · RV-Dreams Community Member

Ran n Jo wrote:
Ran n Jo wrote:
Just an update, the search for the truck has begun! We are sure it will take several months but we've started the ball rolling! Yahoo! It's starting to feel real, folks.
We found our truck! I started a new thread on this but wanted to make sure to update our fellow 2016ers as well. We won't have it for a while since there is some work to do on it but it's ours! It's a 2011 Volvo 780 and it is currently black and reddish orange but we plan to paint it at some point. It's named Storm and is listed on RV Haulers.ca if you want to take a look.
Now we have to update our licenses so we can drive it! In PA we just need to do the non-commercial class A and the air brake test.
We're so excited!

Congrats!! Looks like a great truck and in great shape even if the current color is not to your liking. The interior looks very clean.

We hope to get on the road next year too. New coach coming in October and plan to put the house on the market next spring. We will see how it all goes.

Good luck and Safe Travels.

Steve

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks, Steve!

Yes, we will be ordering our 5th wheel in a few months and put the house on the market in the spring too.

I can't believe we are getting so close.

Jo

marianne57 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ran n Jo wrote:
Ran n Jo wrote
We found our truck! I started a new thread on this but wanted to make sure to update our fellow 2016ers as well. We won't have it for a while since there is some work to do on it but it's ours! It's a 2011 Volvo 780 and it is currently black and reddish orange but we plan to paint it at some point. It's named Storm and is listed on RV Haulers.ca if you want to take a look.
Now we have to update our licenses so we can drive it! In PA we just need to do the non-commercial class A and the air brake test.
We're so excited!

Congrats you two!!!! Sounds like you're getting closer and closer!!! Jo......are you planning on leaving your domicile in PA when you go? We were originally, but as we're getting closer to "16" and I've done some research, it looks like we may shift to Florida as a domicile because of insurance choices......well that and some of the taxes in PA. Just curious and congrats again on the new truck!!!

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congrats Ran & Jo.
would have liked to go the same way you did but the wife did not like the idea of getting in and out of the HTD. so we ordered a Dodge Ram 5500 HD.
we are also leaving in the summer of 2016

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

It's great seeing everyone's plane moving, and accelerating faster than anticipated!

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hello All!

Another status update on our progress. I've had the realtor in to tell me what we need to do to get the house ready to sell. The plan is to put it on the market February 1st. So I've been busy getting bids on the work needed. Hoping to get most things done before year end.

We had decided that we wanted a chase car so when my Pilot couldn't be fixed at a reasonable price last week, we pulled the lever on getting a Honda Fit. It was 6 months earlier than planned but at least we knew exactly what we wanted.

Yesterday we got our learner's permits for a non-commercial class A driver's license. We don't need it to drive the truck in PA but we will as soon as we attach the fiver. We are all registered for the HDT Rally next month and have reservations for a tour of the DRV factory immediately following the rally.

Marianne, we are currently planning on keeping our residency in PA at least for the first year. Our health insurance will be through Ran's retirement plan and PA is fairly retiree friendly regarding taxes. If we decide to change later, it will probably be to TX.

It seems like time is just speeding by and there is more to do every day! How is everyone else in the Class of 2016 coming along?

-- Edited by Ran n Jo on Friday 11th of September 2015 07:16:15 AM

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Whew, I can feel your excitement... we're not jealous at all... (HA)

MikenRobin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ran & Jo, so happy to hear the update.

We have bumped up our FT launch date to August 2016. The house goes on the market March 1st. We need to remodel the living room and dining room, then we are ready. We just purchased two lazy boy recliners for the rig (41st anniversary present to ourselves) and have spent the summer at our seasonal site on weekends. We cant wait.

Mike

-- Edited by MikenRobin on Friday 11th of September 2015 05:02:51 PM

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

7 months to go. Just sold our seasnal park model we had on cape cod.
So at this time we own nothing and have no dept.
New truck is due next month and the new fiver will be ready in January but we will not head out to Kansas to pick it up until March, the waiting is going to kill us.
We plan to retire may1 and spend the first 3 months local to do a good shake down on the new trailer and then venture out into the un-known world. Can not contain our excitement

marianne57 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi All, we're also prepping to list house in March 2016 so like Ran and Jo we're getting everything done as much as possible before the cold sets in. I'm not sure how the market will be then, but our realtor thinks early spring will be good. It seems a little down to me right now, looking at homes around our area, they seem to be sitting longer then they were late last year. Is anyone planning on going to the spring rally? Ran and Jo....Mike and Robin or Bob???

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

We won't be ready then. We will think about the fall or the spring of 2017.
Timing for this spring just won't work for us. But we do hope to get to go to one so that we can meet some of our wonderful RV Dreams friends.

MikenRobin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Marianne,

We will not be attending the rally this year, we went last spring and really enjoyed it. It was great meeting all those that were focused on the same goal. We'll just have to meet up on the road!

Mike

Ran n Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Marianne,

We're not planning to go since we went last spring. We had a great time and it was very helpful. That will be just around our launch date. Hopefully we can meet up n the road.

Jo

Antoan · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi Marianne,

We hoped to attend the 2016 Spring rally but it looks like we aren't going to make it. We are prepping the house to have it on the market early next year. If the house hasn't sold and I'm still working I won't have the time to take off. I am so ready to retire but can't until the house sells and we can pay off the truck and RV. We plan to start or FT life debt free. However, we would love to meet everyone on the road somewhere next year.

marianne57 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Anita, we're not sure we'll be there either yet, but I'm thinking not. We're like you trying to get ready for listing in March of 2016. I also need to keep working until we sell. I'm praying that we're out of there by June but like you I can't retire until we sell. We're also paying off the house and remainder of our truck so we go debt-free when we start. It's exciting but I'm ready to go, and hopefully there isn't a big delay. I'd love to be spending next winter somewhere south. We just had a HUGE yard sale over last weekend and I'm down to bare bones in my cupboards and furniture. We have enough to show it, but it is really looking thin compared to what I had previously. Best of luck to you....I'll pray you sell quickly too, and can enjoy a quick retirement in 2016!!!

MikkiNJay · RV-Dreams Family Member

WOW!! Hello All! We're Jay and Mikki and our plan is to be F/T in a class A by July 2016... After reading all these posts I am feeling a little overwhelmed! You all have it down! I (Mikki) am retiring (sort of ) after 20 yrs at the same company next year and though I'm only 47 I plan to take some of my retirement money (yes, I know it's at penalty) to buy a used rig.

We're thinking my husband will still work awhile, he knows that I'll have some make over stuff to do in a used unit ;) and we want to keep a steady income while that is going on. With the housing market here in Maine we will be lucky to break even on the house sale and we don't want to carry a debt...that's why we're buying used (or that's the plan). I'm hoping we can make it to the spring rally to learn as much as we can before we make an actual purchase.

It's wonderful to read about so many of you starting out next year too...and so many of you with brand new homes! Exciting! Maybe at some point down the road we will go that way too...I love the layouts of the 5th wheels but hubby has been a driver most of his early life and is all in favor of a class A...all good I guess as long as I can make it home!

I hope you don't mind if I lurk and learn all I can from all of you that are moving along at a faster rate! :)

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome Mikki. There is a lot of great info here, just read,read, and read, we changed gears about 10 time before we went past the point of no return(place the order for the new truck and trailer) just keep a open mind and as every here will tell you most plans are made in Jello. Good luck.hope to so you on the road. pS we are from Ma.

MikkiNJay · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks!! Hey we're neighbors already! That does bode well for down the road! smile

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome aboard, wish we could go in 2016... in good time.

As to your proposal to fund your rig through your retirement savings (assuming you are referring to IRAs etc)., better that you stop contributing to your retirement account and directly save what you need for your rig. (depending on how much you'll need). Pulling money out of tax deferred accounts will be taxed not only at your top tax rate but that additional penalty is onerous. Think in terms of upto 50% tax & penalties combined (depending on your top taxable rate). I suggest you resist the urge to pull from such accounts if possible. Now if it's in a Roth you might have some options depending on how long those funds have been in such an account.

FWIW Brian

MikkiNJay · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank you Brian! yes, I know it's rough...will be about a 35% hit for me on the funds I take early. I actually have a pension that I can't contribute to. I do have 401k that I am not longer funding extra and I'm putting max into my health saving account...it's certainly not ideal but we do what we do...

marianne57 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Mikki and welcome to the 2016 gang! Sure hope we can do some time in your great state of Maine....it's definitely on our list. Neither one of us like the warmer areas so hoping to stay more north. Good luck with all of your planning and hope everything works out for you. Please keep us posted on your progress! Take care!