Glad I found this forum. Bob and I relocated 4 years ago from Louisiana to Michigan due to a job transfer with General Motors and now we are seriously looking at retirement this year. I am not sure we want to RV full time but want to RV "lots of time". We have children in LA, TX and FL and miss seeing them on a regular basis but don't want to stay with them on a regular basis. So along with our black lab Belle, we want to visit and play and travel. Right now we are looking at a large 5th wheel like the Montana Mountaineer with 4 slides. We like the creature comforts and are looking at the Front Living Room arrangement. Planning to attend several area RV shows Jan and Feb.
Anyone have any recommendations on these larger 5th wheels?? Thoughts on joining a RV club for discounts at camps, etc? I am concerned about parking/staying in safe RV parks and how to best plan the stops and stays.
bigboomer said
06:09 PM Jan 3, 2013
Charlotte,
Welcome. You found a really good forum. We love our Montana and how well it is built. I suggest you visit the Montana Owners Club forum http://montanaadministrator.forumco.com/ to get feedback on your many questions and concerns but I can tell you Keystone/ Montana are very customer oriented and listen to the feedback from its owners. Depending on the shows you can get some really good deals. One thing to make sure of is whatever trailer you are looking at to make sure the truck you tow with can handle the weight. For full timing either the regular Montana line or the Mountaineer line are good rigs with the regular line having more options and upgrades http://www.keystonerv.com/montana/.
In the 12 years we have been RVing I cannot say that we have had any issues in 99% of the campgrounds we stayed at. I would suggest to use http://www.rvparkreviews.com/ as a quick guide to where you might want to stay but not as the gospel. Most RV'ers you will find belong to Good Sam or Camping World, RV Priority, etc. These will offer you discounts for products you will need but sometimes just shopping online or visiting Wally World will get you the same.
Good Luck,
Les
Lucky Mike said
06:19 PM Jan 3, 2013
Welcome to the Forum!!!!!............Passport america is a must have,it will pay for itself in the first couple of stops........I stay in national forest areas and blm.......to save alot I also do alot of boondocking
Terry and Jo said
07:46 PM Jan 3, 2013
Bob and Charlotte,
Wow!!! With a transfer from Louisana to Michigan, I imagine I would consider either retirement or a job change every time it got cold.
Welcome to the RV Dreams forums. You will find a lot of knowledgable folks here with information and experience with just about every kind of RV. Good luck with your research and planing. Feel free to ask all the questions that you have. The only dumb questions are those that aren't asked in order to get an answer.
Terry
WestWardHo said
10:13 PM Jan 3, 2013
Welcome Bob & Charlotte,
Well, we're on our third rig and planning for the fourth and we won't be full-timing until summer. Our first two were travel trailers where I learned to love the lifestyle. We wanted to go more and longer so we moved up to a 36 ft. Fifth wheel. Now we're planning to go full time and can live in this one until the budget says we can get the "final" one.
We looked at front living rooms and loved the set up - as long as you don't bonk your head on the overhead cabinets in the front as you stand up from the sofa. But as we thought about it some of our favorite campgrounds had great views out the back window which we thoroughly enjoyed. I didn't want to go sit on the bed to enjoy the big picture window so FOR US that was out. Plus we often watch the news while eating dinner.
As several have suggested on other threads here, consider buying a good used 5er to be sure that's what you like. If you trade up you don't lose so much. You might be like us and find you love it so much you'll go full time. As Lucky Mike often suggests spend several hours in the one you think you'll like and visualize all your daily activities, cooking, sleeping, dining, sitting, playing cards, grandkids visiting, etc.
Even if you never plan to full time, there is so much important safety and fun information to be learned at an RV Dreams Rally so we recommend you work one in your schedule.
Glad I found this forum. Bob and I relocated 4 years ago from Louisiana to Michigan due to a job transfer with General Motors and now we are seriously looking at retirement this year. I am not sure we want to RV full time but want to RV "lots of time". We have children in LA, TX and FL and miss seeing them on a regular basis but don't want to stay with them on a regular basis. So along with our black lab Belle, we want to visit and play and travel. Right now we are looking at a large 5th wheel like the Montana Mountaineer with 4 slides. We like the creature comforts and are looking at the Front Living Room arrangement. Planning to attend several area RV shows Jan and Feb.
Anyone have any recommendations on these larger 5th wheels?? Thoughts on joining a RV club for discounts at camps, etc? I am concerned about parking/staying in safe RV parks and how to best plan the stops and stays.
Charlotte,
Welcome. You found a really good forum. We love our Montana and how well it is built. I suggest you visit the Montana Owners Club forum http://montanaadministrator.forumco.com/ to get feedback on your many questions and concerns but I can tell you Keystone/ Montana are very customer oriented and listen to the feedback from its owners. Depending on the shows you can get some really good deals. One thing to make sure of is whatever trailer you are looking at to make sure the truck you tow with can handle the weight. For full timing either the regular Montana line or the Mountaineer line are good rigs with the regular line having more options and upgrades http://www.keystonerv.com/montana/.
In the 12 years we have been RVing I cannot say that we have had any issues in 99% of the campgrounds we stayed at. I would suggest to use http://www.rvparkreviews.com/ as a quick guide to where you might want to stay but not as the gospel. Most RV'ers you will find belong to Good Sam or Camping World, RV Priority, etc. These will offer you discounts for products you will need but sometimes just shopping online or visiting Wally World will get you the same.
Good Luck,
Les
Bob and Charlotte,
Wow!!! With a transfer from Louisana to Michigan, I imagine I would consider either retirement or a job change every time it got cold.
Welcome to the RV Dreams forums. You will find a lot of knowledgable folks here with information and experience with just about every kind of RV. Good luck with your research and planing. Feel free to ask all the questions that you have. The only dumb questions are those that aren't asked in order to get an answer.
Terry
Well, we're on our third rig and planning for the fourth and we won't be full-timing until summer. Our first two were travel trailers where I learned to love the lifestyle. We wanted to go more and longer so we moved up to a 36 ft. Fifth wheel. Now we're planning to go full time and can live in this one until the budget says we can get the "final" one.
We looked at front living rooms and loved the set up - as long as you don't bonk your head on the overhead cabinets in the front as you stand up from the sofa. But as we thought about it some of our favorite campgrounds had great views out the back window which we thoroughly enjoyed. I didn't want to go sit on the bed to enjoy the big picture window so FOR US that was out. Plus we often watch the news while eating dinner.
As several have suggested on other threads here, consider buying a good used 5er to be sure that's what you like. If you trade up you don't lose so much. You might be like us and find you love it so much you'll go full time. As Lucky Mike often suggests spend several hours in the one you think you'll like and visualize all your daily activities, cooking, sleeping, dining, sitting, playing cards, grandkids visiting, etc.
Even if you never plan to full time, there is so much important safety and fun information to be learned at an RV Dreams Rally so we recommend you work one in your schedule.
Have fun, it's a great adventure!
Sherry & Jesse