CCallaway

Thanks for the great thoughts and links to the RV's. I guess I need to get out there and drive some different models. I guess it's nice that I can't really make a bad decision, just one might be better than another. I figured there was some wiggle room in the price and I will use 30% as my starting point.

Thanks to everyone for the info. I talked to a guy last night that has full timed for 4 years with 2 kids in a 5th wheel but is looking to purchase a 40ft Class A. He mentioned I would not like making up a pull out bed everyday. Probably right and would like to have a "fixed" bed for everyone. I am currently looking at the Renegade Valencia 38BB. Does anyone have any experience with the Valencia's? Thanks.

I will be buying either just for this trip. The children are 7, 9, and 11 and I know my window is shrinking on when I can take a trip like this. All our kids are really involved in sports and extracurricular activities and I just don't see us having time to take enough trips after this one to justify the expense/maintenance of keeping the trailer or motorhome. I have considered the cost and close one eye every time I think about it. I just sold my business and have a little money to play with and just think this would be a fantastic experience for the children. After the trip I will go back to work full time. Wise man told me one day that you can always make more money but you can never make more time. Both the Super C and the 5th wheel I was looking at had bunk beds. The beds in the 5th were not right on top of our bedroom which was nice. At the end of the day we plan on being on the road for 4-6 weeks, fly home for a long weekend, and then fly back out to continue our journey. My parents are in their 70's and in good shape but I want to come home to see them on a regular basis and probably fly them out to see us some also. Thanks for the comments.

I have not pulled a fifth wheel nor driven a truck as large as a Verona so I guess I'll be green either way. We probably will not spend much time in the southern states since we live here and have seen most everything already. We figure that gives us 50 weeks to see 40 states and will spend most of our time out west and not as much in the midwest. We have not planned the exact route or sights we want to see so I'm not 100% sure how long we will be spending in each campground but I don't imagine it will be more than a week in any one place. We live I the country and I already have a truck but not one large enough to pull a large 5th wheel. If I go the 5th wheel route I will trade my truck in on either a Ram 3500 or Ford F-350 and then after the trip trade back down to a smaller truck.

We are a family of 5 planning to full time for a year and see the lower 48. I thought I had decided on a Renegade Verona but started looking at the floorpans of 5th wheels last night and realized the I liked the living quarters better. I feel like a college professor in that I've read all the books but don't know squat. No offense to college professors. Other than living conditions I wonder about driving in the mountains in a 5th wheel vs Super C. Any input would be greatly appreciated.