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!!
About four years ago, I joined this group. At the time, I was early-retired (53) and anxious for my husband to join me so we could sell everything and start full-timing. Then our world changed and (long story) - a few years ago we added three sisters (then 4,6 & 8) to our family that already included four adult children and five grandsons. Since then, we've sometimes taken up to six kids under ten camping with us for a week, stacking them like cordwood on triple bunks in the back of a living quarters horse trailer. Meanwhile, we have thought endlessly about the perfect camper, weighing the pros and cons of one type over the other. After a lot of discussion and visits to RV sales lots, we finally decided a Class C was the best way to go. Our reasons: we could seat belt and sleep 8-10 people, pull a variety of heavy things easily (boat, toad, bumper pull horse trailer, side-by-side), and don't have to drive around in a big dually when we're not using the rv. We opted for a C+ diesel because of our towing needs and also because we hope this rv will last us "forever", unless we are still rving when we might want to downsize into a less family-friendly rv. So..we finally pulled the trigger on a 2017 Dynamax Force 37Bh HD. Seemed like the nicest thing we could buy without spending a whole lot more. We opted for new because of the two year warranty and just didn't feel comfortable dealing with a private party for a purchase this major - that's just us. Next week, we fly to Georgia to take delivery - got the best price there and they even threw in the plane tickets. So now we are ready to begin our rv adventures...closer to home (Minnesota) this summer, then up to Alaska next summer. Not sure yet if we will store over the winter, or look for a warm place to set up (love Arizona desert!) and try to get down there a few times over our long, cold winter. Still some big decisions ahead, but we're getting started. Any suggestions for going through the pick-up process? Thanks to all of you for all the great advice I've read here over the years and for keeping our dream alive while we waited for the right timing!
When they do the walk through (PDI) with you, VIDEO it. From start to finish - get it on video, especially zooming in as they show you what knob to turn for x, what switch to push up (or down) for y, etc. You will find yourself referring to it over the first couple of years.
We spend each winter in Arizona - great place for a lot of nature studies and history for kids. Most parks cater to snowbirds, but not all. Just have to look a little, plus there is always boondocking options for extended periods of time.
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Barb & Dave O'Keeffe
2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID