Geez. Day One of preparing my condo for sale, I had a friend come over to help. We opened the closet, the ceiling was on the floor and the floor was covered in water. Roof leak. Not a disaster. minimal damage to the contents, but it's a round of repairs and insurance claims and inspections that won't help the process. Here I am reading up on RV's and getting scared of water damage, and it's happening right next to me.
So I've been researching a lot, trying to reconcile dreams with reality. What it comes down to is: I like a lot of places but I don't want to live in any of them year-round, so mobile living is my only choice.
Basic stats: Currently living in south Florida, over 60, single, semi-retired. "Semi-retired" in my case means that my income and vehicle budget are limited, but I still need a fairly big work space; a dual monitor setup plus 3-4 feet of counter space. I've been studying floorplans (and what's under them) looking for something that can be easily modified to suit. I'll wait until my condo sells before buying, which will be messy but it's the safe course.
I got started thinking about this when I realized that I could, in theory, pull a Scamp behind my 2012 Subaru Forester (2400# capacity). Obviously not a good idea, right at capacity, and the Forester transmission is useless under stress. I know what the mountains out west are like. In fact, that's why I'm doing this in the first place.
So I considered trading for an Xterra (5000#), and figured that 3000# dry weight was about the limit, maybe 22' length to the hitch. Ehhh... it could work, but not very comfortable. But I really want to stay with an SUV that can be a daily driver and can park in cities, I expect to do most of my driving unhitched. So for me, it looks like a used 4Runner/Pathfinder rated for 7000# is my best bet. I know a longer wheelbase would be preferable, but I'd really like to avoid it unless it's absolutely necessary.
So with a 7000# SUV, I'm guessing/speculating/hoping/praying that it can pull a trailer 4000-4500# dry, 5000-6000# loaded, 25'-26' to the hitch. Do those sound like reasonably safe parameters to work with? Assume the driver is inexperienced but careful and not stupid; I'll double-check the hitch weight and GCVW and axle loading, test the brakes, check the pressure in the footballs and all that.
I went through all the big-company trailer models, I liked some floorplans but not much else. I finally found the premium lines ORV and Nash, rugged build and real insulation. The Nash 22H fits my specs, so that seems to be the choice at the moment. The trick will be buying one from Florida; I want to keep my residency and storage here.
I have a zillion more specific questions, but I'll wait to ask them in the specific sections.
FWIW, Class C's don't appeal to me; I looked into Class A's but with my budget I'd be looking at a minimum 7-10 years old. Seems too risky, I'm not knowledgeable enough to buy wisely, can't afford expensive mistakes.
Travel-wise, I figure to start with an extended trip in the west, some desert, some mountains, some cities, and see where I feel like going from there. Lifelong friends and family are all on the east coast, but I love the west, so eventually I need to balance them without going back and forth constantly.
I want to be able to live without hookups for a bit, but traveling alone I'll probably stick to established campgrounds and parks more than isolated BLM lands. For whatever reason, I have a fondness for being near railroad tracks, so I've already bookmarked a few parks along mainlines in the western states, and I have some other favorite places from when I lived and traveled in the west.
I found this site through the Technomadia folks, I learned a lot from their content, and this seems like a nice civilized community to get started with.
Bob
http://bobk.com
-- Edited by bobk3d on Tuesday 15th of September 2015 05:14:07 PM
jrzygrl64 said
09:39 PM Sep 15, 2015
Personally, based on what you've said - I would re-look at Class C or small Class A. Seems the most logical choice to me - and tow a car. There are so many different types. Or consider a truck and small 5er. I don't know the exact numbers but I do know any truck can tow more weight towing a 5th wheel than a bumper pull. Might open a few more doors.
Howard said
06:54 AM Sep 16, 2015
Welcome aboard Bob.
Sounds like you are off and running with your plans. We wish you all the best as you get to know the RV-Dreams Community and ask your questions as they come.
Sorry about the condo leak, but perhaps that's a "good" start rather than a bad one. Perhaps that's one of those signs letting you know you're moving in the right direction. :)
PD CFK said
07:33 AM Sep 16, 2015
We have a fondness for the trains passing in the night also. You don't need to worry about trying to find parks close to them because most rv park have one close by! May you have good luck in your search for the right rig. Pat and Charlie
BiggarView said
08:20 AM Sep 16, 2015
Trains rule! Now if can figure out how to bring my miniature versions with me on the road.....
As Howard said, maybe this "bad" thing is a good thing in disguise.
Welcome aboard... pun intended
bobk3d said
10:19 AM Sep 16, 2015
Thanks for the replies. My goal is to leave Florida next spring, and the condo sale and RV purchase will presumably happen in the meantime. Maybe if it's an El Nino year, California will finally get some wildflowers again. For me, this is the second stage of downsizing, phase one was a couple of years ago, so it won't be very difficult this time, and the storage needs should be manageable. When I moved here, I was careful to only buy furniture that was cheap enough to donate or trash (sometimes they won't accept particle board furniture).
Being single, I probably have the best chance of building a mobile model RR. I once owned a small hobby shop, I know how that works. "If my wife ever asks what these cost, just say 20 bucks." That worked fine until his wife came in to buy him another one for his birthday.
Here's a neat link that's useful to both those who love trains and those who prefer to avoid them. It's an FRA database of every grade crossing in the US, by state and county. You can check any crossing and see how many trains/day pass through. Not 100% accurate or current, but it will tell you if a line is busy or not.
And upon further research, I realize I'll need something longer than a 4Runner/Pathfinder. See y'all in the Tow Vehicle section.
Terry and Jo said
09:39 AM Sep 18, 2015
I wondered about the 4Runner/Pathfinder option. You would have had to be prepared to get along with a pretty small trailer with those. But, that's the real benefit of joining a forum so one can ask questions about different options. The weight capacities of vehicles is definitely something one really wants to consider before choosing an RV. Generally, the folks here on RV Dreams tend to advise that one find the RV that they would choose, and then choose a tow vehicle capable of that RV's weight.
Welcome to the forums, and good luck with the research and planning.
Hi everybody,
Geez. Day One of preparing my condo for sale, I had a friend come over to help. We opened the closet, the ceiling was on the floor and the floor was covered in water. Roof leak. Not a disaster. minimal damage to the contents, but it's a round of repairs and insurance claims and inspections that won't help the process. Here I am reading up on RV's and getting scared of water damage, and it's happening right next to me.
So I've been researching a lot, trying to reconcile dreams with reality. What it comes down to is: I like a lot of places but I don't want to live in any of them year-round, so mobile living is my only choice.
Basic stats: Currently living in south Florida, over 60, single, semi-retired. "Semi-retired" in my case means that my income and vehicle budget are limited, but I still need a fairly big work space; a dual monitor setup plus 3-4 feet of counter space. I've been studying floorplans (and what's under them) looking for something that can be easily modified to suit. I'll wait until my condo sells before buying, which will be messy but it's the safe course.
I got started thinking about this when I realized that I could, in theory, pull a Scamp behind my 2012 Subaru Forester (2400# capacity). Obviously not a good idea, right at capacity, and the Forester transmission is useless under stress. I know what the mountains out west are like. In fact, that's why I'm doing this in the first place.
So I considered trading for an Xterra (5000#), and figured that 3000# dry weight was about the limit, maybe 22' length to the hitch. Ehhh... it could work, but not very comfortable. But I really want to stay with an SUV that can be a daily driver and can park in cities, I expect to do most of my driving unhitched. So for me, it looks like a used 4Runner/Pathfinder rated for 7000# is my best bet. I know a longer wheelbase would be preferable, but I'd really like to avoid it unless it's absolutely necessary.
So with a 7000# SUV, I'm guessing/speculating/hoping/praying that it can pull a trailer 4000-4500# dry, 5000-6000# loaded, 25'-26' to the hitch. Do those sound like reasonably safe parameters to work with? Assume the driver is inexperienced but careful and not stupid; I'll double-check the hitch weight and GCVW and axle loading, test the brakes, check the pressure in the footballs and all that.
I went through all the big-company trailer models, I liked some floorplans but not much else. I finally found the premium lines ORV and Nash, rugged build and real insulation. The Nash 22H fits my specs, so that seems to be the choice at the moment. The trick will be buying one from Florida; I want to keep my residency and storage here.
I have a zillion more specific questions, but I'll wait to ask them in the specific sections.
FWIW, Class C's don't appeal to me; I looked into Class A's but with my budget I'd be looking at a minimum 7-10 years old. Seems too risky, I'm not knowledgeable enough to buy wisely, can't afford expensive mistakes.
Travel-wise, I figure to start with an extended trip in the west, some desert, some mountains, some cities, and see where I feel like going from there. Lifelong friends and family are all on the east coast, but I love the west, so eventually I need to balance them without going back and forth constantly.
I want to be able to live without hookups for a bit, but traveling alone I'll probably stick to established campgrounds and parks more than isolated BLM lands. For whatever reason, I have a fondness for being near railroad tracks, so I've already bookmarked a few parks along mainlines in the western states, and I have some other favorite places from when I lived and traveled in the west.
I found this site through the Technomadia folks, I learned a lot from their content, and this seems like a nice civilized community to get started with.
Bob
http://bobk.com
-- Edited by bobk3d on Tuesday 15th of September 2015 05:14:07 PM
Welcome aboard Bob.
Sounds like you are off and running with your plans. We wish you all the best as you get to know the RV-Dreams Community and ask your questions as they come.
Sorry about the condo leak, but perhaps that's a "good" start rather than a bad one. Perhaps that's one of those signs letting you know you're moving in the right direction. :)
Trains rule! Now if can figure out how to bring my miniature versions with me on the road.....
As Howard said, maybe this "bad" thing is a good thing in disguise.
Welcome aboard... pun intended
Being single, I probably have the best chance of building a mobile model RR. I once owned a small hobby shop, I know how that works. "If my wife ever asks what these cost, just say 20 bucks." That worked fine until his wife came in to buy him another one for his birthday.
Here's a neat link that's useful to both those who love trains and those who prefer to avoid them. It's an FRA database of every grade crossing in the US, by state and county. You can check any crossing and see how many trains/day pass through. Not 100% accurate or current, but it will tell you if a line is busy or not.
safetydata.fra.dot.gov/officeofsafety/publicsite/Query/invdetl.aspx
I wondered about the 4Runner/Pathfinder option. You would have had to be prepared to get along with a pretty small trailer with those. But, that's the real benefit of joining a forum so one can ask questions about different options. The weight capacities of vehicles is definitely something one really wants to consider before choosing an RV. Generally, the folks here on RV Dreams tend to advise that one find the RV that they would choose, and then choose a tow vehicle capable of that RV's weight.
Welcome to the forums, and good luck with the research and planning.
Terry