going full time in Pensacola - RV-Dreams Community Forum

poppadog1955 · RV-Dreams Community Member

going full time in Pensacola

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

My advice is read blogs and technical articles, watch videos of the same, have civil discussions and think hard about what you are learning. Lots of opinions out there, but no one else can make the decisions for you. Some will try really hard to make decisions for you, but you have to resist.

Offtosmelltheroses · RV-Dreams Family Member

bjoyce wrote:
My advice is read blogs and technical articles, watch videos of the same, have civil discussions and think hard about what you are learning. Lots of opinions out there, but no one else can make the decisions for you. Some will try really hard to make decisions for you, but you have to resist.

I second that, wife and I are preparing for a late 2016 departure, so probably not as big a time crunch as in your case. I have however, learned so much just from reading the forum, posting an occasional question, (always with quick responses), and doing searches on other questions as they occur to me. I've spent hours upon hours in my spare time going through each of the various categories, and recently just started at the beginning and reading each and every post in each category. I'm nowhere near done, but I'm amazed at how little I knew and how much I've been able to gain just from the info on this forum. The folks here are the best. Bjoyce is right. Dig in, read everything you can, and in no time you'll be ready to "head off to smell the roses" wink

Jim

-- Edited by Offtosmelltheroses on Monday 6th of July 2015 03:40:10 PM

Camper_Boy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi,

We recommend a 5th wheel for full time living and travel. We are currently near Panama City Beach, Fl volunteering at the Camp Helen State park. My rig is for sale as we will switch to a motorhome shortly. If you want to come visit and discuss full time living we would love to meet. Our rig was solely used as a home for our family for almost 3 years now, so we can shed some light in your direction. Bjoyce is right...lots of good information here, but face time is invaluable. Good Luck and safe travels.

Sushidog · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome to the forum, Poppadog1955!

Though a trailer proponent myself, if I were in your shoes I'd look at a class A or C, so the doggies can have more space while traveling, especially if they are larger breeds. This way you can have your pick-up as a toad and can even load the bed with a motorcycle, ATV, boat, etc, if you want to take some toys with you and need the room. Regardless which direction you decide to go, I'd rather get a quality used unit, especially if it's my first, than a new one (even if you have the resources) to avoid the rapid deprecation all new units have - just in case your first FT RV isn't your last. However if your DW falls in love with a particular fiver, then that's the way you must go. Sometime life's decisions are simple for a guy. ;)

I'm in a similar situation. You might say I'm a Poppabird1956, as I'll be taking my bird with me (along with DW, of course) when we go FT in about 3 years. We chose to go the other route, with a light weight rig, a TT pulled by a 3/4 ton supercab. Though our bird is small enough to ride up front along with us, mostly out of her cage. We chose a TT over a fiver because DW has a problem negotiating too many stairs, (plus has difficulty climbing in and out of a high truck) something to think about as we all age.

Chip

-- Edited by Sushidog on Monday 6th of July 2015 05:30:55 PM

marianne57 · RV-Dreams Family Member

poppadog1955 wrote:
First post on this forum. My wife and I sold our house a lot faster than we thought we would and now we are almost homeless we have decided to go the RV way. So a couple questions have come up we have been looking for a while now and have determined that either a motorhome or 5th wheel are the way to go. On the 5th wheel I'll need to purchase a tow vehicle as well as my current truck wont pull much weight. so many questions. so little time interested in any and all opinions on this subject we don't plan to go far as we are both still working for a couple more years. we also have two small doggies that are like our children. Thanks in advance.
Michael and Mimi Matthews
Pensacola, Florida

Bjoyce is right........read, study and then make your decision with what your gut tells you and what you feel comfortable with! No right or wrong from what we've learned so far, but the support is here for anything you decide on! Good luck and welcome!!!

dewwood · RV-Dreams Family Member

This is just a thought, if you are planning on being more or less stationary for an extended time you could have a dealer or someone you know stage a fiver for you. They could put it where you plan to call home for a while and that would let you have more time to worry about a tow vehicle. As others have said, it is a personal choice on type of unit that will work best for you.

poppadog1955 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for all the good advice. I think I found a fiver with tow vehicle going to check it out this weekend. A 37.5 ft Cameo 06 model looks clean nada is about 4th truck is an 05 Feb dually with a Kellan man suspension 6.0 diesel. Anyway let you know what I find out. Asking 45K for both the truck only has 78000 miles on it looks new and as a diesel mech that's just getting broke in.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Michael and Mimi,

First of all, welcome to the RV Dreams forums. This is a good source for information on both RV's and the RV lifestyle. There are countless little things that one doesn't think about that may very well come up in a forum discussion that one will find to be valuable information.

As you've stated that you will have a couple more years before you actually start to travel, if you were to get a fifth wheel and truck and still had a second vehicle, it could come in handy for that configuration of an RV. Jo and I have lived full time in our Mobile Suites for a bit over 4 years now, with almost all of that time sitting in one place or another and not traveling. More than once, we've been glad we had the two vehicles, when we each had to go separate directions on given days.

Someone suggested a Class A or Class C so your pets could have more room to roam while traveling. I'd be leery of pets being loose while traveling, because if one had to make a sudden stop, those pets (or any humans not belted in) could become projectiles in a hurry.

Good luck with your research and planning.

Terry

el Rojo and Pam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Check around and see if you want a 6.0 Ford diesel. Many had problems with pistons blowing apart. It's my understanding there are after market fixes. I'm no expert but Howard "owner of this forum" had to replace his, maybe he could chime in as what to look for.

As far as the MH or 5ver choice here's our experience;

We had MH for 25 yrs during our working life and switched to a 5th wheel right before we went FTing. We now have a toy hauler, this works best for us. Gives us a garage/shop to spread out and work on things and carry our ATV with us. Our 2 down sides is the length of the trailer 43' and having to drive a 1 ton dually on the smaller "narrower" roads in downtown areas. Many of our FT friends have 2nd cars to avoid this issue.

Hope this helps.

poppadog1955 · RV-Dreams Community Member

So now I have another question 1. can you carry a small car in a toy hauler? 2. How would you manage two cars with a 5th wheel other than two drivers. (On the road that is). 3. The 6.0 did have some issues I'm aware of I'm a diesel mech by trade. But this truck seem to have been well cared for butI think I can handle any repairs. thanks again

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

1. Depending on dimensions and weight capacities, yes, one could carry a small car in the garage of a toy hauler. What kind of weight (cargo carrying capacity) can the RV handle and still allow one to have the other normal items that a full-timing couple would want to carry?

2. If the towed vehicle is light enough for the RV's frame to handle the weight, one could tow a small car behind the RV, but in many states, you could be limited with regards to your total length, and some states don't allow double-towing at all. Many of the RV'ers have a philosophy of driving a minimum amount of distance in a day when moving, so it wouldn't be a big deal if both vehicles have to be driven. Jo and I are static full-timers for the most part, but when we do move the RV, we limit our distances and she drives our Expedition. We have a pair of walkie talkies that have just about a one mile range on flat ground. When we do move, the system works for us.

Terry

el Rojo and Pam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yes I was referring to two drivers, but most toy haulers could handle a smart car.

poppadog1955 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Well its done! Living in the 5er, had the truck bullet proofed, replaced the rear tires on the dully, and been in it for the last two months, and loving it. It is nice to go home and sit down and go..... well now I don't have to cut grass, clean the pool, tend the garden. I do miss the garden it was kinda my therapy. but I do have a bay leaf tree. I take with me. Thanks for all the advice. Guess ill head to another thread now and begin to ask questions about the 5er.