My husband and I went to the Hershey show this past week with a list of possible contenders to start our serious quest of finding that right RV. After lots of questions and kicking the tires so to speak we have decided that DRV mobile suites was our choice. Having said that, the particular model we are looking at (new for 2015) is considerably heavier than what we have previously been looking at. Now the tow vehicle becomes both a financial and logistical issue.
My husband and I are photographers and plan to stay in one area for up to 4 months. We would then drive around the area we were staying at to do our photography. Having to do this with a 4500 now does not make for a practical option. Have any of you heard of many people who use transportation companies to transport their units from place to place if they only move two or three times a year? Even at the most we would only move every two months. It would seem to save a good chuck of money on the cost if the Vehicle, Maintenance, insurance and would not require an additional vehicle for local traveling. At least for now would rather not travel separately and again the cost would double for an additional vehicle for insurance and upkeep.
Does it make sense to use that tow vehicle money to put into the unit to pay for moving costs and other amenities like a ecosmart car to move us across the country or does that leave us possibly stuck some where with no local companies To move us? If we go with our own tow vehicle it would have to be lighter in order to use it on a daily basis once we get to a sight and we need to look at lesser models that that truck would accommodate. We would try to say away from weather prone areas at certain times of year so hopefully weather related emergencies could be less of an issue.
Any one out there doing this now? Any and all options would be greatly appreciated. Nothing is set in stone yet, so it is just another item on the perpetual checklist.
Thanks for taking the time. There is just not a lot of info on this out of the box approach.
Lori & Tom
and the kitty kids, Milo & Cali.
2-3 more years to full-time! :)
bjoyce said
10:07 AM Sep 14, 2014
My spin is most people find their "plans" change once they are on the road. So I would not lock myself into a plan that would be hard to get out of. You might find renting an apartment or park model and using a rental truck to move yourselves every 4 months will be cheaper.
LAM said
10:44 AM Sep 14, 2014
We still want to full- time so maybe a smaller/lighter combo or used might be the way to go. We are just weighing some options. Compromise is always an option, but we absolutely don't want to rent.
THANKS!
Hdrider said
11:41 AM Sep 14, 2014
I would be afraid that I would end up in a place I didn't want to be without and easy way to move on. And I guess being in a RV if you knew you would be moving every few months would make sense, No packing. And I certainly see 5th wheels sitting around that have a small car parked by them with no truck and I figured they must be doing something like you are talking about Or they are just staying put long term.
There is no right or wrong way to fulltime and everyone's idea of fulltiming is different.
The Bear II said
08:19 AM Sep 15, 2014
Yes we have met several folks who have their RVs transported to parks where they stay for 3 to 6 months. All of them were very satisfied with the service. But keep in mind these were older (70 plus) retirees pretty much settled in a certain lifestyle. Towing was no longer an option due to health and or failed eye sight.
Besides the companies that advertise as RV transporter you can also list your needs on Uship.com. On this website transporters bid for your move. The transporters are ranked by prior customers so you can get a good idea of the service you can expect.
kb0zke said
04:21 PM Sep 15, 2014
Welcome, Lori and Tom. Might I suggest a slightly different route for you? Consider a used DRV, a used heavy duty truck, and put a small car on it. The big truck can easily handle the load, and the small car won't use much fuel. The total cost may be about the same, but this gives you a few more choices.
LAM said
09:45 PM Sep 15, 2014
I think that may be the way we go. This was an option someone had brought up and it sounded intriguing. We keep flip flopping back and forth. We looked at Rolling Retreats website and they have some great deals. With all the news about wildfires I would hate to think about being stuck someplace waiting for a tow. Just another option to consider.
Thanks Everyone!
Terry and Jo said
10:35 AM Sep 16, 2014
Lori,
I think you are "evolving" to the right idea, so long as it works out for you financially. Our 2010 Mobile Suites suits us just fine in temperatures ranging from 5 or 6 degrees up to 115. (We're now in Colorado full-time, so we'll get more experience in that regard.) Rolling Retreats is a good dealership to deal with. Alicia and Slade will definitely be great people to work with both in trading and in looking out for things that might need to be fixed.
Terry
Gannet said
10:40 AM Sep 16, 2014
If you're only going to move 3 or 4 times a year I might suggest that you just drive your rig and your car. That way there are no compromises on either, and it is likely to be the cheapest in initial investment.
If you are set on being in the same vehicle when moving, I suggest a diesel pusher and tow what you want.
If money is a big consideration I'd strongly suggest buying your RV used. Better to have a used recent 5er, a used recent dually, and a used recent car than to have a new one of those and none or marginal of another.
-- Edited by Gannet on Tuesday 16th of September 2014 10:43:03 AM
-- Edited by Gannet on Tuesday 16th of September 2014 10:43:38 AM
NWescapee said
05:08 PM Sep 16, 2014
Keep in mind it's not just fires that might make you want to move quickly. Last year in Colorado we were there, the flooding started and we were told to evacuate. We've also moved earlier or later than expected due to ice, high winds, etc. I would hate to be at mercy of the transport company scheduling and then be confronted with any kind of weather event or natural disaster.
LAM said
01:20 PM Sep 17, 2014
Terry,
Our son lives just outside of Colorado Springs and just got a new house on 5 acres, so he has plans to set up a place for us to stay we we are out there. We have pretty much made our minds up that we will go with the Mobile Suites. We just need to how the budget stacks up to decide on used or new. H
Lori
Terry and Jo said
09:58 AM Sep 18, 2014
LAM wrote:
Terry,
Our son lives just outside of Colorado Springs and just got a new house on 5 acres, so he has plans to set up a place for us to stay we we are out there. We have pretty much made our minds up that we will go with the Mobile Suites. We just need to how the budget stacks up to decide on used or new. H
Lori
Lori,
Well, we will be here for anywhere from one to three years. Jo has one sister in Peyton (east of Colorado Springs) and another sister in Canon City. Since we are all now retired and have more time, we thought it would be good to move here and have some "sister-time." Plus, it lets me get out and take more photographs in Colorado. I "almost" can't wait for the first good snowfall as I've never taken pictures of Colorado with considerable snow on the ground.
As for the Mobile Suites, we really like our 2010. Whether you choose to go new or used, be sure and check out Rolling Retreats in Elk City, Oklahoma. Alicia and Slade are great people to deal with and they are also great friends. They even drove from Elk City to Oklahoma City when we did our change-over from an RV refrigerator to a residential one. Slade wanted the experience of doing that, just in case he had someone else that wanted something similar done to their coach.
So, if you ever get out to see your son, get in touch with us, and we'll try to link up and socialize.
Terry
BiggarView said
07:02 AM Sep 19, 2014
When we first started exploring RVing FT, we considered the hire to move option, but we quickly decided we'd be moving too often to make it a viable consideration. As to your not "renting" thought... I would add this perspective, very nearly all RVs new or used will depreciate in value which, combined with campground fees, from a financial aspect more less is the same as "rent". The value of your ability to move from place to place and enjoy what a location has to offer is something only you can put a price on. Sounds like you already think its worth it so I won't belabor the point.
The recommendation by others of buying a higher quality used RV and appropriate quality used tow vehicle may be the best practical solution for you, but you should be prepared to have a healthy reserve fund for potential repairs and maintenance which can get get into the thousands very quickly from all accounts. Don't want to scare you, but keep it in mind. You don't mention any previous RV encounters so I'd also advise renting an RV for some practical experience living in a small space to help you identify potential problems and irritations as well as the positives. We have rented a 30 and a 32 foot class C and learned quickly that that is not enough space, for us. let alone family for anything more than a few days. If we opt for a MH it will definitely be in the 40' plus range, however we are leaning toward a 5er and after looking at a DRV 38 RSSA with many upgrades (suspension, tires, residential fridge, theatre seating to name a few...) it has become the bar by which we are comparing others, not saying others cannot fill the bill, but timing and budget will play a large role in our final decision. Good luck with yours.
FWIW, Brian
PS: I see you've been around here for a while, so you've probably heard most of this before if you have been actively following this forum.
My husband and I went to the Hershey show this past week with a list of possible contenders to start our serious quest of finding that right RV. After lots of questions and kicking the tires so to speak we have decided that DRV mobile suites was our choice. Having said that, the particular model we are looking at (new for 2015) is considerably heavier than what we have previously been looking at. Now the tow vehicle becomes both a financial and logistical issue.
My husband and I are photographers and plan to stay in one area for up to 4 months. We would then drive around the area we were staying at to do our photography. Having to do this with a 4500 now does not make for a practical option. Have any of you heard of many people who use transportation companies to transport their units from place to place if they only move two or three times a year? Even at the most we would only move every two months. It would seem to save a good chuck of money on the cost if the Vehicle, Maintenance, insurance and would not require an additional vehicle for local traveling. At least for now would rather not travel separately and again the cost would double for an additional vehicle for insurance and upkeep.
Does it make sense to use that tow vehicle money to put into the unit to pay for moving costs and other amenities like a ecosmart car to move us across the country or does that leave us possibly stuck some where with no local companies To move us? If we go with our own tow vehicle it would have to be lighter in order to use it on a daily basis once we get to a sight and we need to look at lesser models that that truck would accommodate. We would try to say away from weather prone areas at certain times of year so hopefully weather related emergencies could be less of an issue.
Any one out there doing this now? Any and all options would be greatly appreciated. Nothing is set in stone yet, so it is just another item on the perpetual checklist.
Thanks for taking the time. There is just not a lot of info on this out of the box approach.
Lori & Tom
and the kitty kids, Milo & Cali.
2-3 more years to full-time! :)
We still want to full- time so maybe a smaller/lighter combo or used might be the way to go. We are just weighing some options. Compromise is always an option, but we absolutely don't want to rent.
THANKS!
There is no right or wrong way to fulltime and everyone's idea of fulltiming is different.
Besides the companies that advertise as RV transporter you can also list your needs on Uship.com. On this website transporters bid for your move. The transporters are ranked by prior customers so you can get a good idea of the service you can expect.
I think that may be the way we go. This was an option someone had brought up and it sounded intriguing. We keep flip flopping back and forth. We looked at Rolling Retreats website and they have some great deals. With all the news about wildfires I would hate to think about being stuck someplace waiting for a tow. Just another option to consider.
Thanks Everyone!
Lori,
I think you are "evolving" to the right idea, so long as it works out for you financially. Our 2010 Mobile Suites suits us just fine in temperatures ranging from 5 or 6 degrees up to 115. (We're now in Colorado full-time, so we'll get more experience in that regard.) Rolling Retreats is a good dealership to deal with. Alicia and Slade will definitely be great people to work with both in trading and in looking out for things that might need to be fixed.
Terry
If you're only going to move 3 or 4 times a year I might suggest that you just drive your rig and your car. That way there are no compromises on either, and it is likely to be the cheapest in initial investment.
If you are set on being in the same vehicle when moving, I suggest a diesel pusher and tow what you want.
If money is a big consideration I'd strongly suggest buying your RV used. Better to have a used recent 5er, a used recent dually, and a used recent car than to have a new one of those and none or marginal of another.
-- Edited by Gannet on Tuesday 16th of September 2014 10:43:03 AM
-- Edited by Gannet on Tuesday 16th of September 2014 10:43:38 AM
Terry,
Our son lives just outside of Colorado Springs and just got a new house on 5 acres, so he has plans to set up a place for us to stay we we are out there. We have pretty much made our minds up that we will go with the Mobile Suites. We just need to how the budget stacks up to decide on used or new. H
Lori
Lori,
Well, we will be here for anywhere from one to three years. Jo has one sister in Peyton (east of Colorado Springs) and another sister in Canon City. Since we are all now retired and have more time, we thought it would be good to move here and have some "sister-time." Plus, it lets me get out and take more photographs in Colorado. I "almost" can't wait for the first good snowfall as I've never taken pictures of Colorado with considerable snow on the ground.
As for the Mobile Suites, we really like our 2010. Whether you choose to go new or used, be sure and check out Rolling Retreats in Elk City, Oklahoma. Alicia and Slade are great people to deal with and they are also great friends. They even drove from Elk City to Oklahoma City when we did our change-over from an RV refrigerator to a residential one. Slade wanted the experience of doing that, just in case he had someone else that wanted something similar done to their coach.
So, if you ever get out to see your son, get in touch with us, and we'll try to link up and socialize.
Terry
When we first started exploring RVing FT, we considered the hire to move option, but we quickly decided we'd be moving too often to make it a viable consideration. As to your not "renting" thought... I would add this perspective, very nearly all RVs new or used will depreciate in value which, combined with campground fees, from a financial aspect more less is the same as "rent". The value of your ability to move from place to place and enjoy what a location has to offer is something only you can put a price on. Sounds like you already think its worth it so I won't belabor the point.
The recommendation by others of buying a higher quality used RV and appropriate quality used tow vehicle may be the best practical solution for you, but you should be prepared to have a healthy reserve fund for potential repairs and maintenance which can get get into the thousands very quickly from all accounts. Don't want to scare you, but keep it in mind. You don't mention any previous RV encounters so I'd also advise renting an RV for some practical experience living in a small space to help you identify potential problems and irritations as well as the positives. We have rented a 30 and a 32 foot class C and learned quickly that that is not enough space, for us.
let alone family for anything more than a few days. If we opt for a MH it will definitely be in the 40' plus range, however we are leaning toward a 5er and after looking at a DRV 38 RSSA with many upgrades (suspension, tires, residential fridge, theatre seating to name a few...) it has become the bar by which we are comparing others, not saying others cannot fill the bill, but timing and budget will play a large role in our final decision. Good luck with yours.
FWIW, Brian
PS: I see you've been around here for a while, so you've probably heard most of this before if you have been actively following this forum.