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!!

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Post Info TOPIC: Making The Move to Living Our Dream


RV-Dreams Community Member

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Making The Move to Living Our Dream


So, we don't have the rig yet, but we've started a blog. It's very new, but we're sharing our baby steps toward our new life on the road. Please follow along and feel free to leave comments, suggestions, helpful hints on the blog site. thewilliamslivingourdream.com. Looking forward to hearing from you RVing pro's!! Thanks! smile emoticon



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2015 Jayco Pinnacle 38FLSA (Big Poppa)

1995 Winnebago Rialta (Baby B)

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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How exciting! Welcome and keep us posted


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Carol

Carol Kerr Welch

Wife to Jeff, "Mom" to Chuy; Retama Village Resident

2018 Winnebago Horizon 40A,  Jeep Cherokee Limited, Harley Davidson Trike 

Realtor specializing in RV and 55+ Communities in the Rio Grande Valley

 

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Nice start!  Looking forward to you hitting the road!



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Debbie & Steve McCormack...and Hurley too!

Our Blog: Down the Road

2013 Montana 3582RL

2013 Dodge 3500HD Laramie Longhorn Dually

Fulltime since June 2014



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Welcome aboard....sherev

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My Dreams...............Her Nightmares.

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Welcome aboard.

We've got our TV but not our trailer yet. We're looking at TTs as DW has problems with too many stairs.

So is that the model fiver you're planning on getting or is it just a stock photo? If not, have you decided on your rig of choice yet?

Chip

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1999 National Tropical Class A gasser

Toad - 2.4l Chevy Cobalt SS with 400k miles and counting.



RV-Dreams Family Member

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In a few days, it will be 1 year since we left our s&b house and 3 years before that when we started the dreaming & planning. I also kept a journal from the start and, I'll tell you, I'm so glad I did! It's really interesting to look back at how far we've come and how many obstacles we've overcome on the journey. If nothing else, it makes good reading material to put me to sleep!

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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



RV-Dreams Community Member

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Sushidog wrote:

Welcome aboard.

We've got our TV but not our trailer yet. We're looking at TTs as DW has problems with too many stairs.

So is that the model fiver you're planning on getting or is it just a stock photo? If not, have you decided on your rig of choice yet?

Chip


 Yes, the photo on the website blog is, indeed, what we're planning to purchase.  2015 Jayco Pinnacle 38FLSA - front living, 42.2 feet to be towed by a 2015 RAM 3500 diesel dually. The paperwork has been written and the orders will be placed as soon as the sale of the house closes (which, hopefully, should be in another couple of weeks).

We'll try to keep everyone updated with things as they happen.

Thanks, everyone, for the words of encouragement and support!



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2015 Jayco Pinnacle 38FLSA (Big Poppa)

1995 Winnebago Rialta (Baby B)

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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I love the floorplan of that Jayco with the front living room and that 18cf fridge, however the only thing that concerns me is that for a FT rig the CCC is pretty low. Does Jayco offer an upgraded suspension/wheel package to boost it's carrying capacity? It seems that on this model, if traveling with a full tank of water there is only 1,154 lbs of capacity left to carry all your worldly possessions. Most full-timers I've talked with recommend at least 3,000 lbs CCC for a couple. Remember, even after pruning your possessions to a tiny fraction of what you own now, they will still be quite heavy.

Let's look at some of the things that typically eat up an RVs CCC. In addition to the 732 lbs of water that Jayco can carry (necessary if you ever plan on boondocking or dry camping) there's another 60 lbs of propane (plus the weight of the tanks, if not included), and 50-75 lbs of batteries - more if you like to boondock. Next, add the contents of your fridge, a full ice chest, pantry, clothes (4 seasons worth), shoes, linens, foam topper for bed, window coverings/wall decorations, kitchen appliances (toaster ovens, blender, mixer, rice pot, coffee pot, slow cooker, ice maker, dishwasher, etc.) kitchen utensils, plates, glasses, pots and pans, misc. household items like lamps, chairs, washer/drier, etc., toiletries, medical supplies, cleaning tools, supplies and chemicals, folding chairs, recliners, floor/door mats, tarps, rope and chains, screen rooms/tentage, kids toys, adult toys (bikes, hobby and sporting equipt., fishing gear, guns and ammo), TV/DVD/satellite equipt., stereo/music gear, game systems/computers, printers, family heirlooms/treasures, a safe for valuables, guns and important papers, portable heaters, generator/spare fuel, solar panels (controller, inverter, cabling and extra heavy batteries), sewage and fresh water hoses and fittings, electrical cords, surge protector, leveling gear, water filters, macerator pump, portable dump tanks, water bladder, patio/camping lights, lanterns, tables, BBQ grill/fuel, tools (very heavy), spare parts for 5er and truck, pet supplies, cages, etc. Whew! Now you probably will only be carrying about half of the items on the list, but it's something to think about as things tend to add-up quickly and could easily sneak up on your meager weight limit - even if you travel with dry tanks and live a relatively minimalist lifestyle.

Chip



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1999 National Tropical Class A gasser

Toad - 2.4l Chevy Cobalt SS with 400k miles and counting.



RV-Dreams Family Member

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You're spot on, Chip. We were leaning toward a nice higher-end fifth wheel, but with the optional equipment packages they include (and we wanted) we were left with 1700 lbs of carrying capacity. Not nearly enough for us to comfortably full time. So, we're going to order a new diesel pusher with about 8000 lbs of cargo carrying capacity. It will cost a bunch more money, but we need to be happy with the stuff we can take along.

Roy

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Let's Roll, America!

Fulltimer Class of Late 2015, with my beautiful bride, Lori.

2015 GMC 3500HD Denali DRW CC LB TrailerSaver TS3 Hitch

2016 DRV Mobile Suites 38RSB3, MorRyde IS, MorRyde Pin Box

 



RV-Dreams Community Member

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Sushidog wrote:

I love the floorplan of that Jayco with the front living room and that 18cf fridge, however the only thing that concerns me is that for a FT rig the CCC is pretty low. Does Jayco offer an upgraded suspension/wheel package to boost it's carrying capacity? It seems that on this model, if traveling with a full tank of water there is only 1,154 lbs of capacity left to carry all your worldly possessions. Most full-timers I've talked with recommend at least 3,000 lbs CCC for a couple. Remember, even after pruning your possessions to a tiny fraction of what you own now, they will still be quite heavy.



Chip


 Are you saying that the CCC that Jayco has listed for this model (3,255) is really NOT sufficient?



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2015 Jayco Pinnacle 38FLSA (Big Poppa)

1995 Winnebago Rialta (Baby B)

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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3255 is the total weight you can carry. Like most people you'll have to do some juggling to get everything onboard depending on your wants and needs, so you'll be subtracting 730 odd pounds for water if you will be carrying it (think boondocking), and propane, and optional equipment (like awnings, slide covers, etc) that you may add to the base trailer. In addition you may want to add some improvements to your rig like additional batteries, solar, perhaps a water softener, all of which will cut into your available weight for your food and personal gear. In most situations you won't be hauling full tanks of water around, but you'll need to account for it on occasion. You typically won't offload gear just so you can add water to carry. So, realistically, you have something under 2500lbs and maybe even nearer to 2000lbs or less remaining for your "stuff". Is that enough for your situation? Only you can decide that. Many on here are doing it, and I'm sure they'll chime in. Our planned situation appears to indicate that we'll need nearly every bit of 4000lbs for our personal gear and food, water, plus extra batteries, solar and such... so we are looking at rigs that can handle that. For example, the LifestyleLuxury line (on our short list) with upgraded 8K suspension allows over 4000lbs for CCC. To each his or her own. 

 



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Brian, Cindi & Josie (our fur baby)
2017 RAM 3500 Laramie 4x4 CCLB, CTD, Aisin, B&W hitch, dually
2020 Keystone Montana Legacy 3813MS w/FBP ,
MORryde 8k IS, Kodiak disc brakes, no solar  YET!



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Sorry I must have got the specs wrong. I thought the CCC for this Jayco was much lower. I must have looked up the specs on another model by mistake (or saw the actual weight sticker on one.)

I would look for a little more than 3255lbs CCC though, because many so called "options" like a spare tire, awning, propane, double pane windows, a second ac unit, etc. may not be included in the advertised weight. Be sure and look at the actual weight sticker on your unit before pulling the trigger.

Chip



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1999 National Tropical Class A gasser

Toad - 2.4l Chevy Cobalt SS with 400k miles and counting.



RV-Dreams Family Member

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That's a nice fifth wheel. We like the front living room floor plan as well because it make the trailer seem like it has three separate living areas. The living room layout in the Pinnacle is one of the better we toured. Like the fact it is a wide body also. Good selection!

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Mark from Missouri

www.ourfutureinanrv.wordpress.com 

2019 Ram 3500 Laramie Dually LB 6.7L HO Diesel Aisin Transmission 4x4 3.73 Gears 

2019 Vanleigh Vilano 320GK 35’ fifth wheel 16,000-pound GVWR



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Here's another nice 4-season fiver with a front living room/home theater. It has an amazing amount of storage space front and rear almost like a class A basement with 4067lbs of CCC. It's pretty light weight too - within the limits of my 3/4 ton.

www.highlandridgerv.com/Unit-Spec-Sheets/Roamer/RF346FLR.pdf

It's got too many steps for us, but it might be of interest to someone here.

Chip

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1999 National Tropical Class A gasser

Toad - 2.4l Chevy Cobalt SS with 400k miles and counting.

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