The wife and I have decided to take the plunge (eventually) and go full-time in an RV. I am retiring in 4 years, and the plan was to take three years and go to all of the MLB ball parks in an RV. But the plans changed when the grandkids came along, and now we have decided that we will move closer to them, but we will still go to all the ballparks, sandwiched in around 4 years on the road. I have plenty of time to map out our travels, but we would love to hit every state in the Lower 48; the length of the trip seems to lend itself to that kind of optimism! I plan to use forums like this to read about topics that I wouldn't have thought of, and to get ideas for what to do, and what not to do.
Since we have only recently decided this to be the course we want to take, we haven't gotten all that far along as yet. We have narrowed the choice of vehicle to 5th wheel or Class C, with the 5W currently nosing ahead; I expect that another year of testing will shake out a winner. Of course there are advantages and disadvantages to everything, but so far it looks like the 5W will fit our purposes best. We have already started looking at our 'stuff', making preliminary mental lists of what we would sell, keep, or pass along; so far, there aren't a lot of furniture items that we would want to keep, but I suppose that the hard part will be the keepsakes and trinkets that we accumulate throughout our lives that will be the hardest to part with. Each of us was divorced in the past, so that helped... lol
Since we are not planning on doing this indefinitely, I am thinking that it won't make much sense to buy a completely new rig and eat the depreciation that will come with using it for a shorter time, rather than buy a newer used rig that has already seen the worst of the depreciation, hopefully without getting too much use; like boats, I can't imagine that there aren't plenty of folks who go in whole hog, only to find out that it really isn't for them. My plan is to sell the house after we buy the rig, so that we (read: I) can make whatever improvements/changes/updates that we want while I still have my shop, and then sell the house in the spring, during the busy part of the real estate year.
Although there is more research and testing to be done, I am leaning towards a Dodge truck for the puller; I know that there are plenty of folks that are set on one brand or another, but my research indicates that while every brand has it's plusses and minuses, the Dodge seems to have the best motor/tranny combo; their problem is the rest of the truck not having the best fit/finish/durability. I can do some of that, but I can't do motor/tranny work, so... we'll see. I also plan on doing the majority of the maintenance myself; the wife will help and have to know how, just like driving, but that doesn't mean that she necessarily will have to do much of it.
We plan on taking our Lab, who travels exceedingly well. The back seats will come out of the truck, and a carpet cover put in, along with a safety screen. She is a very friendly non-barker, but I will have to look into which campsites don't allow animals, so that we can plan our trips accordingly. The biggest drawback to her coming along, I think, will be having to give her more baths, so that the back doesn't start to smell too much like dog. I'm sure that she wouldn't mind, but... lol
We are quite excited about taking the step; my wife thought about it, and she loves the idea, and it is something that I have always wanted to do. My dream was always to travel the entire US using only blue roads (which should say something about how old I am; how many people nowadays even know what those are?); that may not be entirely practical with a 33-36' 5W, but that doesn't mean that we'll be on the interstates all the time either! I learned to love travelling back roads: I don't think that there is a better way to get a feel for the area than going through small towns, finding the out of the way treasures that won't ever show up on the big list of tourist attractions. It can be a bit of a gamble in hidden little restaurants, but for every upset stomach with a door on it, there are more that are so good you wonder why anyone in town even eats at home!
I know it seems like a long way off right now, but one thing I have learned over the years is that time goes by much faster than you thought it would; what you were waiting and waiting for can come up on you before you're actually ready!
manycats said
05:59 AM May 12, 2015
Welcome to the best forum for learning RV dream info. No question is left unanswered and you'll find the friendliest and honest people. Enjoy your planning and remember to consider that Jello and Murphy are always there.
BiggarView said
08:03 AM May 12, 2015
Welcome aboard. As Dyana just said, you've come to a great place with friendly folks.
Quite a difference between a 5er and a class C, but then there are no carved in stone rules on what is right for your situation except what you make. 30 MLB parks in 4 years will certainly have you moving a fair bit, but since they're all in or near large cities, plan for those higher CG expenses. Also you'll probably have more FHU sites so lower fresh, gray and black water capacity in a class C will be less challenging than it otherwise would be. You might find storage of your gear more problematic though.
We are on a similar time frame as you for start date but we don't plan on covering such a diverse range of locations in such a short (to us) time span. Good luck with reseach!
-- Edited by biggaRView on Tuesday 12th of May 2015 08:06:21 AM
signcut said
09:35 AM May 12, 2015
Well, there was the allure of not having to get out of the tow vehicle to get in the RV, but the biggest issue that we were looking at is/was living space; although neither of us really 'needs' a lot of room, it seemed that spending extended periods in a smaller space would work better if the space was a little larger... lol We have looked at a lot of different 5W's and not as many Class C RV's, we have to go to a few more expos for that, and maybe a trip to a dealer to keep getting more information (unfortunately, none right near where we are).
For the Great North American Baseball Tour, we are going to break it down into regions, and space the games out by about 10-14 days, so that there is no hurry from one stadium to the next, and we can spend some time meandering, whether in the city or on the way to the next stop, or just sitting and relaxing. The whole key to us is that we enjoy our time, rather than feel rushed and harried trying to get to the next stop; we plan on taking time to smell the roses, but we aren't going to grow any!
There are some definite places that we want to go, but while we don't want to rush, we don't want to spend too much time in any one place either. I guess you can say we'll be slow-rolling stones... lol
signcut said
09:36 AM May 12, 2015
I do know Murphy all too well, up close and personal. On the other hand, I don't think I'm getting the Jello reference...?
-- Edited by signcut on Tuesday 12th of May 2015 09:39:47 AM
BiggarView said
09:47 AM May 12, 2015
Seemingly, RVers make plans using jello. Being flexible in your planning is practically a mandatory character trait.
Barbaraok said
10:08 AM May 12, 2015
Why did you rule out a Class A?
When we were planning we thought that we'd see everything in 4 years (a month in each of the lower 48, so to speak). Nine years later we have been in 46 of the lower 48, but still have a lot to see and have always left each state with things on our 'to see' list left to see.
One thing you might think about doing while going to all of the major league parks, is to look at attending minor league games - we have had great fun at these games. They are family oriented, lots of fun during the games, and once in a while we remark on a player and sure enough, a couple of years later we get to see them in the majors. One of the reasons we stay in Mesa in the winter is that the Phoenix area now has 12 teams who have spring training in the area - so we spend the month of March going to spring training games around the valley.
Barb
BiggarView said
10:22 AM May 12, 2015
Barb's right. There are some great used Class A rigs out there very reasonably priced that would provide more storage, greater water carrying capacity and better living accomodations etc. than a class C... FWIW. To each his or her own.
I also agree AAA ball and other minor league venues are great entertainment. For us, I'd love to see a couple of the shorter track NASCAR events but I'd take a 1/2 mile dirt track local event or a demolition derby over it anyday.
-- Edited by biggaRView on Tuesday 12th of May 2015 10:25:41 AM
Someday said
01:49 PM May 12, 2015
There obviously is more than one camp (pun intended) so to speak on type of RV, but I'd third why not a Class A, considering you referenced you don't wish to stay in any one place for very long?
Again as Brian referenced generally more storage capacity, typically larger tanks etc. FWIW: We had a fifth wheel from 1999 to 2002 when we got our A gas, and love it, but of course to each their own. For sure if we were to go from A to B and locate ourselves for several weeks or more at a time then for living space as it being a more parked type home, we would likely consider going that route again, although hubby says, nope DP next time (LOL). For us being very nomadic in our travels, I have to admit it is nice when we pull up somewhere to stop and it's raining to not have to go outside right away and still be able to prep a meal or otherwise and even afterwards maybe decide hmmmm, lets carry on a bit further or wait the weather out.
Just saying might be worth considering as an option based on how you intend to travel, taking any toys/hobby items, and how much downtime in any one specific location you realistically think you'll be.
As Always, To Each Their Own. Isn't it great to have so many options?
signcut said
09:39 PM May 12, 2015
We decided fairly early to rule out Class A's, not because of their limitations, but because my wife will be unable to drive one. She would have some issues with a Class C, but in going with a 5W, she will be able to drive the rig if it comes down to it. Since this is a joint venture, it's important that we are both comfortable with what we have, and I'd be happy in a 5W.
We do love minor league baseball, and go to see games regularly; there is a Double A team not far from us. We both love the game, but don't go to see MLB much; we use DirecTV's Season Ticket instead... lol
We do hope to see all of the states in our travel time, but if we don't, it won't be a great disappointment; my wife has already done all 50, and I have seen about half, so while it's a goal, it isn't set in stone. There are a few 'must see' items that are already on the list, but we are more about just meandering along with fewer set destinations. I always joke that that way, we can always go to see the world's biggest ball of ear wax, or whatnot. The list has national parks, museums, and some landmarks that may or may not be normal destinations, but that we have always wanted to see.
We do indeed love the idea of doing this in our own quirky way, and meeting other people doing the same thing, only different... :)
signcut said
09:44 PM May 12, 2015
I do have a tendency to plan farther ahead, although I am generally more detailed in preparation than in travel plans. Flexibility isn't exactly my middle name, but it is something that I've grown quite used to; I learned early in the military about that whole 'best laid plans of mice and men' thing...
Jello for dessert!
lol
-- Edited by signcut on Tuesday 12th of May 2015 09:44:52 PM
bjoyce said
10:10 PM May 12, 2015
signcut: Your wife has not met my wife or Barb, who both drive Class As often.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Wednesday 13th of May 2015 09:18:55 AM
TRAILERKING said
10:23 PM May 12, 2015
You'd be surprised but it would be easier to handle and maneuver the Class A around than the 5W. Just get the proper training. There are many women driving semi's down the road everyday. Some of them are better drivers than the men out there.
The Restless Youngs said
11:08 PM May 12, 2015
Welcome!! Currently in a North Carolina with a small group of RV Dreamers and there are four of us (women) who are taking driving lessons--two in (45ft) Class A's and 2 in (40 ft) 5'vers. Both A's and 5'ers have their challenges and advantages when it comes to driving but I don't think driving the 5'ver is any easier than the A's or vice versa--just different.
Since I am one of those in the Class A, I find the 5'ver a bit more intimidating from a prep and driving (parking) perspective, but just one opinion. I can tell you however--from a pure driving perspective--I am very happy we are in the Class A. Point I'm trying to make is that I wouldn't narrow out a class A (over the C) if your wife driving it is your only concern. Like Trailerking said, with proper training it's all possible.
NWescapee said
11:11 PM May 12, 2015
Flexibility is something you will quickly learn in this life, recovering Type A personality here, almost 2 years on the road and I still plan, just hold those plans very loosely knowing a repair or family issue can cause a change in plans. Have fun planning, learn to laugh when plans change.
Barbaraok said
11:21 PM May 12, 2015
If one can drive a truck pulling a 5th wheel, then they will have NO trouble with a Class A. Actually easier to drive, much better vision than either a Class C or 5th Wheel, length will be about the same. It is just practice. Don't rule it out because of fear of the unknown.
Barb
Someday said
10:40 AM May 13, 2015
We had 5er and F350 Towing from 1999 to 2002 (3 years almost to the day). I (wife) drove that every so often. Since 2002 until today have 36ft (actually measures close to 38ft) Gas A MH, and drive that with hubby and without hubby. Find the A way way easier to drive than the 5er and Truck ever were. In all honesty I can't say I "enjoy" driving anything other than a mini cooper (LOL), however can and do it without issue and for sure A way easier than towing a 5er was.
Just my 2 cents on actually having driven both FWIW.
signcut said
01:33 PM May 13, 2015
Well, it really boils down to the fact the the lovely wife has some trouble with depth perception, and while we/she contemplated a Class A, she simply felt that she wouldn't be comfortable with it. She isn't exactly raring to drive a 5W either, but she's driven a truck and trailer before, so she will if it comes down to it.
I'll be doing pretty much all the driving (which I'm fine with; as an emergency driving instructor, I'm more relaxed behind the wheel than riding most of the time), but our bottom line is that she will have to be comfortable with driving if something happens. We did look at Class A's, and we know that they certainly have their advantages, but decided on a different course.
If we end up staying on the road beyond our initial plans, then it may be time to re-evaluate, but for our purposes, it seems like a good enough fit. I do appreciate all of the input; it speaks well of folks to have concern for someone that they haven't even met... :)
-- Edited by signcut on Wednesday 13th of May 2015 01:34:24 PM
-- Edited by signcut on Wednesday 13th of May 2015 01:34:56 PM
The wife and I have decided to take the plunge (eventually) and go full-time in an RV. I am retiring in 4 years, and the plan was to take three years and go to all of the MLB ball parks in an RV. But the plans changed when the grandkids came along, and now we have decided that we will move closer to them, but we will still go to all the ballparks, sandwiched in around 4 years on the road. I have plenty of time to map out our travels, but we would love to hit every state in the Lower 48; the length of the trip seems to lend itself to that kind of optimism! I plan to use forums like this to read about topics that I wouldn't have thought of, and to get ideas for what to do, and what not to do.
Since we have only recently decided this to be the course we want to take, we haven't gotten all that far along as yet. We have narrowed the choice of vehicle to 5th wheel or Class C, with the 5W currently nosing ahead; I expect that another year of testing will shake out a winner. Of course there are advantages and disadvantages to everything, but so far it looks like the 5W will fit our purposes best. We have already started looking at our 'stuff', making preliminary mental lists of what we would sell, keep, or pass along; so far, there aren't a lot of furniture items that we would want to keep, but I suppose that the hard part will be the keepsakes and trinkets that we accumulate throughout our lives that will be the hardest to part with. Each of us was divorced in the past, so that helped... lol
Since we are not planning on doing this indefinitely, I am thinking that it won't make much sense to buy a completely new rig and eat the depreciation that will come with using it for a shorter time, rather than buy a newer used rig that has already seen the worst of the depreciation, hopefully without getting too much use; like boats, I can't imagine that there aren't plenty of folks who go in whole hog, only to find out that it really isn't for them. My plan is to sell the house after we buy the rig, so that we (read: I) can make whatever improvements/changes/updates that we want while I still have my shop, and then sell the house in the spring, during the busy part of the real estate year.
Although there is more research and testing to be done, I am leaning towards a Dodge truck for the puller; I know that there are plenty of folks that are set on one brand or another, but my research indicates that while every brand has it's plusses and minuses, the Dodge seems to have the best motor/tranny combo; their problem is the rest of the truck not having the best fit/finish/durability. I can do some of that, but I can't do motor/tranny work, so... we'll see. I also plan on doing the majority of the maintenance myself; the wife will help and have to know how, just like driving, but that doesn't mean that she necessarily will have to do much of it.
We plan on taking our Lab, who travels exceedingly well. The back seats will come out of the truck, and a carpet cover put in, along with a safety screen. She is a very friendly non-barker, but I will have to look into which campsites don't allow animals, so that we can plan our trips accordingly. The biggest drawback to her coming along, I think, will be having to give her more baths, so that the back doesn't start to smell too much like dog. I'm sure that she wouldn't mind, but... lol
We are quite excited about taking the step; my wife thought about it, and she loves the idea, and it is something that I have always wanted to do. My dream was always to travel the entire US using only blue roads (which should say something about how old I am; how many people nowadays even know what those are?); that may not be entirely practical with a 33-36' 5W, but that doesn't mean that we'll be on the interstates all the time either! I learned to love travelling back roads: I don't think that there is a better way to get a feel for the area than going through small towns, finding the out of the way treasures that won't ever show up on the big list of tourist attractions. It can be a bit of a gamble in hidden little restaurants, but for every upset stomach with a door on it, there are more that are so good you wonder why anyone in town even eats at home!
I know it seems like a long way off right now, but one thing I have learned over the years is that time goes by much faster than you thought it would; what you were waiting and waiting for can come up on you before you're actually ready!
Welcome aboard. As Dyana just said, you've come to a great place with friendly folks.
Quite a difference between a 5er and a class C, but then there are no carved in stone rules on what is right for your situation except what you make. 30 MLB parks in 4 years will certainly have you moving a fair bit, but since they're all in or near large cities, plan for those higher CG expenses. Also you'll probably have more FHU sites so lower fresh, gray and black water capacity in a class C will be less challenging than it otherwise would be. You might find storage of your gear more problematic though.
We are on a similar time frame as you for start date but we don't plan on covering such a diverse range of locations in such a short (to us) time span. Good luck with reseach!
-- Edited by biggaRView on Tuesday 12th of May 2015 08:06:21 AM
For the Great North American Baseball Tour, we are going to break it down into regions, and space the games out by about 10-14 days, so that there is no hurry from one stadium to the next, and we can spend some time meandering, whether in the city or on the way to the next stop, or just sitting and relaxing. The whole key to us is that we enjoy our time, rather than feel rushed and harried trying to get to the next stop; we plan on taking time to smell the roses, but we aren't going to grow any!
There are some definite places that we want to go, but while we don't want to rush, we don't want to spend too much time in any one place either. I guess you can say we'll be slow-rolling stones... lol
I do know Murphy all too well, up close and personal. On the other hand, I don't think I'm getting the Jello reference...?
-- Edited by signcut on Tuesday 12th of May 2015 09:39:47 AM
Seemingly, RVers make plans using jello. Being flexible in your planning is practically a mandatory character trait.
When we were planning we thought that we'd see everything in 4 years (a month in each of the lower 48, so to speak). Nine years later we have been in 46 of the lower 48, but still have a lot to see and have always left each state with things on our 'to see' list left to see.
One thing you might think about doing while going to all of the major league parks, is to look at attending minor league games - we have had great fun at these games. They are family oriented, lots of fun during the games, and once in a while we remark on a player and sure enough, a couple of years later we get to see them in the majors. One of the reasons we stay in Mesa in the winter is that the Phoenix area now has 12 teams who have spring training in the area - so we spend the month of March going to spring training games around the valley.
Barb
Barb's right. There are some great used Class A rigs out there very reasonably priced that would provide more storage, greater water carrying capacity and better living accomodations etc. than a class C... FWIW. To each his or her own.
I also agree AAA ball and other minor league venues are great entertainment. For us, I'd love to see a couple of the shorter track NASCAR events but I'd take a 1/2 mile dirt track local event or a demolition derby over it anyday.
-- Edited by biggaRView on Tuesday 12th of May 2015 10:25:41 AM
Again as Brian referenced generally more storage capacity, typically larger tanks etc. FWIW: We had a fifth wheel from 1999 to 2002 when we got our A gas, and love it, but of course to each their own. For sure if we were to go from A to B and locate ourselves for several weeks or more at a time then for living space as it being a more parked type home, we would likely consider going that route again, although hubby says, nope DP next time (LOL). For us being very nomadic in our travels, I have to admit it is nice when we pull up somewhere to stop and it's raining to not have to go outside right away and still be able to prep a meal or otherwise and even afterwards maybe decide hmmmm, lets carry on a bit further or wait the weather out.
Just saying might be worth considering as an option based on how you intend to travel, taking any toys/hobby items, and how much downtime in any one specific location you realistically think you'll be.
As Always, To Each Their Own. Isn't it great to have so many options?
We do love minor league baseball, and go to see games regularly; there is a Double A team not far from us. We both love the game, but don't go to see MLB much; we use DirecTV's Season Ticket instead... lol
We do hope to see all of the states in our travel time, but if we don't, it won't be a great disappointment; my wife has already done all 50, and I have seen about half, so while it's a goal, it isn't set in stone. There are a few 'must see' items that are already on the list, but we are more about just meandering along with fewer set destinations. I always joke that that way, we can always go to see the world's biggest ball of ear wax, or whatnot. The list has national parks, museums, and some landmarks that may or may not be normal destinations, but that we have always wanted to see.
We do indeed love the idea of doing this in our own quirky way, and meeting other people doing the same thing, only different... :)
I do have a tendency to plan farther ahead, although I am generally more detailed in preparation than in travel plans. Flexibility isn't exactly my middle name, but it is something that I've grown quite used to; I learned early in the military about that whole 'best laid plans of mice and men' thing...
Jello for dessert!
lol
-- Edited by signcut on Tuesday 12th of May 2015 09:44:52 PM
signcut: Your wife has not met my wife or Barb, who both drive Class As often.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Wednesday 13th of May 2015 09:18:55 AM
Since I am one of those in the Class A, I find the 5'ver a bit more intimidating from a prep and driving (parking) perspective, but just one opinion. I can tell you however--from a pure driving perspective--I am very happy we are in the Class A. Point I'm trying to make is that I wouldn't narrow out a class A (over the C) if your wife driving it is your only concern. Like Trailerking said, with proper training it's all possible.
Barb
Just my 2 cents on actually having driven both FWIW.
Well, it really boils down to the fact the the lovely wife has some trouble with depth perception, and while we/she contemplated a Class A, she simply felt that she wouldn't be comfortable with it. She isn't exactly raring to drive a 5W either, but she's driven a truck and trailer before, so she will if it comes down to it.
I'll be doing pretty much all the driving (which I'm fine with; as an emergency driving instructor, I'm more relaxed behind the wheel than riding most of the time), but our bottom line is that she will have to be comfortable with driving if something happens. We did look at Class A's, and we know that they certainly have their advantages, but decided on a different course.
If we end up staying on the road beyond our initial plans, then it may be time to re-evaluate, but for our purposes, it seems like a good enough fit. I do appreciate all of the input; it speaks well of folks to have concern for someone that they haven't even met... :)
-- Edited by signcut on Wednesday 13th of May 2015 01:34:24 PM
-- Edited by signcut on Wednesday 13th of May 2015 01:34:56 PM