Welcome. You have a LOT of learning to do during the next year, so you've come to the right place. We researched for three years before we bought our full-time coach.

The answer to your last question is the easiest, so I'll answer that one first. The three States that are most popular with full-timers who don't have a "sticks and bricks" (S&B, = house/apartment) are Florida, South Dakota, and Texas. Those three have no State income tax and recognize your mail forwarding address as your legal domicile. You can pick any State you want, but the others usually have something that makes them difficult or impossible to use. Escapees has quite a bit on this subject.

Choosing the right coach is difficult. It seems that full-timers tend to go with travel trailers the least, maybe 10% of us, with fifth wheels (aka 5'ers) and motor homes about evenly splitting the majority. Each type has advantages and disadvantages, and you will have to make the decision yourself based on your own needs and wants.

First of all, buy USED. Very few people get it right the first time, and the depreciation right out of the door is usually pretty strong. Unless you are really wealthy you don't want to take that kind of bath.

Second, buy a high quality coach, even if your budget requires it to be a few years older. Generally a high end coach, since it cost more initially, will have been cared for better than a lesser one. In addition, it will be better made. Look for a brand and model that is full-time rated. That is more of an advertising term, but generally if a manufacturer is willing to say it is made for full-time use it probably will stand up to more use than others.

Third, buy the floor plan that suits your needs. If you like to cook inside, but eat outside, you probably don't want a coach with a rear kitchen and front door. If you like to sit inside and look outside pick one that has a large window opposite where you will be sitting. A little thought goes a long way here.

Finally, what type of coach. As I said, each has advantages and disadvantages. Travel trailers are generally lighter, which means that they can be towed by a large SUV or "half ton" pickup. I say "half ton" because those old ratings have no meaning anymore. The "half ton" trucks are Chevy/GMC/Dodge 1500 and Ford F150. Toyota and Nissan also make them, but I don't know their different models. They are also generally built closer to the ground, so there aren't as many steps to get into or out of one. Airstream is the brand everyone knows, and even their largest models have only two steps to get in. The disadvantage of the travel trailer is the lack of outside storage space. Most people use the bed of the pickup to haul stuff.

Fifth wheels have been referred to as apartments on wheels. Those with front living rooms let you look out OVER vehicles, but only to the sides. Front bedroom models generally have the bathroom on the upper level as well, while front living room models put the bath on the main level. 5'ers that are designed for full-time use are generally pretty heavy, 15,000 to over 20,000 pounds gross weight. That means that you are looking at F350-class or heavier trucks.

Don't overlook motor homes. Diesel pushers have just as much room as 5'ers, but all on one level. They have at least as much outside storage as 5'ers, but you may climb one more step to get in than a 5'er. Most, if not all, will have generators, which means that you can have the roof air conditioners running while you are traveling, and every one I've seen has the bathroom, kitchen, and dining area available even while slides are in. That is usually NOT the case with 5'ers. A MH uses a lot of fuel while going down the highway, but usually about the same as a truck pulling a large 5'er, and they can tow a fuel-efficient vehicle for most of the running around.

We're full-timers, currently in a Foretravel MH towing a Jeep. We put about 5000 miles on the MH, but about 15,000 on the Jeep in the past year. With a towable, either a TT or 5'er, those 15,000 miles would have been on the same vehicle as we would use to tow the coach. Yes, any truck will do better without 10-20,000 pounds tagging along, but run the numbers.

Not every vehicle can be towed behind the MH with all four tires down, but you can easily check to see if your present vehicle can be. Keep in mind, though, that changing vehicles will cost $1500-2000 for a new base plate, whereas when you trade trucks you can use the same hitch, whether TT or 5'er.

A TT will let you use the entire bed of the truck for stuff, and you can cover it. A 5'er has a large, heavy hitch in the middle of the bed, and the bed has to be open when you are towing. Stuff that is loose in the bed WILL blow around, and sometimes out.

What to get? Your choice. Generally, a towable is recommended if you are going to stay parked for more than a month at a time, while a MH is the suggested coach if you are generally going to move at least every 30 days or so.

Add to your decision-making process is the number and ages of the people and pets that will be living in the coach, and their physical abilities. No one coach type is perfect for everyone, and sometimes people's needs change. As I said at the beginning of this epistle, we researched for three years before we chose our Foretravel. We've had it for three years now, and love it, but it is for sale. Why? Our needs have changed. We work for Laborers For Christ, which helps Lutheran congregations and related organizations with their building and remodeling projects. We tend to be in one place for anywhere from a few weeks to over a year, with most projects running 3-4 months. We're going to switch to an Airstream TT when our MH sells because of that change in our plans.

Lots of great input from Dave above. Specifically in regards to your hitch statement. If you are talking about a fifth wheel hitch, I think you will be just fine. I had zero experience with any towing and found the fifth wheel hitch to be one of the easiest aspects to learn. I especially like being able to look out the back window of the truck and clearly see how it is lining up.

If I was a new to RVing, 65 year old woman travelling alone I would consider a small motorhome (25 to 30 foot) instead of a trailer or 5th wheel.

There's less to deal with in setting up to stay or getting ready to go with a motorhome.

You don't have to get out and walk from the tow vehicle to the trailer if you stop for the night at a Walmart parking lot or rest stop.

Towing a car for sight seeing and running errands is nice to have but for the most part you can rent a car if needed or use public transportation.

Just my opinion...

If you do choose a travel trailer or 5th wheel consider getting one equipped with a self leveling system. It is more expensive but makes it a lot easier to setup camp or get ready to go.

While snow birding in the last few years, we've noticed so many solo women in Class C RVs...Lazy daze, Winnebago Views, and so on. I think there are a couple of reasons for making that choice: the relative ease of backing up into a site and the safety and convenience of already being in your rig. Stopping for a pee break or a meal or a nap is so easy.

Good luck on your choice.

Thank you so much for all your input. I hadn't really considered a MH but I will look it to it now. I am sure I'll have more questions in the near future.

"High end" manufacturers include Bluebird Wanderlodge, Country Coach, Foretravel, Newell, etc.

Check out www.remcoindustries.com/Towing/Store.php to see if your current vehicle can be towed. It will cost you $1500-$4000 to set a car up for towing, so you may decide that you will be money ahead to buy a newer vehicle first.

A MH has two areas of maintenance. First is the vehicle side, and how expensive it is depends on the type of coach. A diesel pusher will be more expensive to work on, but generally doesn't need as much work as a gas-powered vehicle. For example, most of us change the engine oil annually, whereas a gasser will need changes every few thousand miles or three months, whichever comes first. It helps to figure things on an annual basis.

You have quite a few options for insurance. Use the search function to find some threads on that subject.

"Home state" (aka domicile) is the State that you consider your legal home. Yes, your vehicles will be registered there, your drivers license will be from there, you will be registered to vote there, and you will pay their income tax. That's why Florida, South Dakota, and Texas are so popular with full-timers. Those three States have no income tax and they allow full-timers to use their mail forwarding address as their legal address.

As for diesel or gasoline, that's up to you. Diesel powered vehicles generally use less fuel than their gas equivalents, but it is more expensive fuel. A Class A is the bus style coach, and they come in front engine gas, front engine diesel, and rear engine diesel versions. The rear-engine models are called Diesel Pushers (DP) and usually have an air bag suspension. That makes for a more comfortable ride, and the Foretravels and Newells use the air bags for leveling. Other Class A coaches use hydraulic jacks for leveling.

Class B coaches are van conversions. I'm oversimplifying a bit here, but that will help you compare sizes. You will level one of these by driving up on blocks. Storage space is quite limited, and they can't tow as much as a Class A or Class C.

Class C used to look like a cross between a van and a pickup truck camper. That isn't the case with modern offerings. Some of these have slides and hydraulic jacks for leveling. They offer more storage space than a Class B but not as much as a Class A. As a class, they suffer from a lack of weight capacity. By that I mean that it is quite easy to put too much stuff in them, so that they are overweight.

Post the link here and we'll tell you what we think.

David,

I would add to your list of motorhome categories the Class B+. That's what I'm currently considering. Instead of looking like a van conversion, it looks more like a class C, and I've seen them up to 30 ft long. The thing I like about them is they've got the advantages of the class C (manuervable,etc.) without the big overhang above the ****pit cab. So they have a more streamlined profile. Instead of the bed over the cab (I don't want to climb a ladder to go to bed), it holds an entertainment center there.

I don't thing I am going to be able to afford Class A....out of my league! I will look into the Class B+, thanks. The ladder thing will not work for me.

Don't be too sure. Our 1993 Foretravel U300 40' Class A DP is for sale for $37,000.

libby22, my Foretravel is listed in the classifieds of this forum. Since I've mentioned it, this is a good time to put in a plug for that section of the forum. Those of us who have posted there are the same ones who have been posting here. Obviously, not everyone will find their ideal coach there, but it is a good place to start.

The classifieds are NOT the place for discussions, though. Please send a PM to the seller if you have questions, or ask them in the appropriate place.

One of my favorite web sites for shopping RV's is "PPL Motorhomes". I used it as a reference tool years ago when we were searching. They have about 650 RV's on their lots and they sell a couple thousand used RV's each year. It seems to be the best site for information and comparison shopping.

I've used their online parts service and was happy. I still go snooping on their site just for fun.

You will find many RV's in your price range and this will allow you to compare prices in your local area. One of the big questions you will have when you buy is, "Am I getting a good deal?". If you spend some time studying price, mileage and features you will be a more knowledgeable buyer when the time comes to spend your money.

Enjoy the search, it's part of the adventure.

Libby,
I agree with everything said above, and I'm not even FTing yet! (though I have been researching relentlessly and visiting dealers/shows for two years. I've even prepped my expense and income spreadsheets!).

I think you might consider a Class C motorhome for the reasons offered before. I think it allows a good bit of space for one person. A new 24 or 25 footer without slides can be had for within your budget, and I bet you could get a decent 28-30 footer with a slide for within budget. Check out dealers and then ask for honest opinions of experienced owners. Here's a site that list manufacturers:

changingears.com/rv-sec-manufacturers-sort-brand.shtml

I'd like to add that youtube is a fantastic resource for visuals and opinions.
www.youtube.com

In the search box, type in full time RV

You'll get a bunch of videos.

You may also go directly to any of several well know travel couple's web sites with lots of good honest info. Here's an example:

www.gonewiththewynns.com/

Good luck.
Frank

I'm going to take a bit of issue with one part of Frank's suggestion. Please do NOT buy a new coach. Very few people get their last coach first. Most go through 2-5 coaches in a fairly short amount of time as they figure out what they really need. We know a couple who purchased a brand-new diesel pusher motor home as they began their full-time journey. Less than a year after they bought their coach they traded it even-up for a 10-year-old Foretravel because they could see that their popular brand coach didn't have the quality they needed. Yes, a new Foretravel is more expensive than that popular brand, but that gives you a feel for how much depreciation there is. Do your bank account a favor and buy a used coach to start with. Do your research so that you have a pretty good idea of what you need and want. Then find a high-quality USED coach that fits your needs, wants, and budget. Remember to allow money for needed repairs and upgrades. Then enjoy that coach as you learn what you really need. Buy another used coach that comes closer to what you need, and repeat as often as necessary until you feel that you have it right. Then, if your finances permit, buy a new coach.

Bluebird and Country Coach are no longer making new coaches. Foretravel and Newell are sold factory-direct, should you decide to buy new. All four are Class A diesel pushers.

Since I'm not interested in Class C coaches I'm not up on which are the top brands. Jayco's two-year warranty is certainly a hint that they think they are up there. I believe that Born Free is another high-end C, but I may well be wrong on that.

Although I think a 5th wheel is the best "bang for your buck" in the RV world, the advice for a small motor home (in your situation) is great counsel. You need ease of operation and safety ... which are provided by a small motor home. Good luck in your quest!

Go to www.youtube.com and type in search window how to hitch up a fifth wheel.