About To Be A Full Timer

[About To Be A Full Timer]

On 9/26/2017 at 5:09 AM, manholt said:

Thank you Tom.  You shed some much needed light on my own situation!  I spend most of my time in the Coach or outside the US, Linda also has a large DP and travel with me !  She has 2 ranches that we both love and I have the large (3,700+ sq. foot) house on Galveston, Island.  Plus a ranch of my own!  The Island house is For Sale, but that still leaves a lot of land and homes in Texas, from Three Rivers to Gilmer!

We have been talking of me selling my ranch and her giving the main residence to her son as a life residence, then it would go to her 3 Grandkids.  That would still leave the Barnominium as a home base!  I have no children.

My cousin say's you can't have to much land...true, but he does not travel by motorhome!  Linda and I love the RV life style...I'm over 50 years, she 34 years off Class A ownership and we are currently looking to getting 2 new ones.  She wants a 43', current 40' and I want a 40', current 45'....NO, I don't want a 2006 Phaeton!  I do think that, like you, if we get everything down to "One Tipi", it will be a lot less stress and a whole lot less expensive!

Is our thinking correct ?

 

On 9/23/2017 at 6:29 AM, manholt said:

Thank you, for staying in touch ! 

If you come across a coach that you and your wife (especially wife) want, then please list the make, year, model and VIN#.  We have members that can do a background check on any problems, like a accident in the past or engine problems, and give you a feed back.

Good hunting!

Thank you for the offer. How long would it take to perform this research? Is there a Fee?  What type of info would the check provide?

[Tiffin 32 Diesel Pusher]

We appreciate all the follow up. Months have passed since I started this thread, and we have narrowed down our purchased to a used Tiffin or Newmar.  My wife and I are having a disagreement about size. I have heard all too often not to buy too small. We have looked at 34 up to 40. I do believe we could live comfortably on a Tiffin red or Ventanna in these lengths

The source of our disagreement is based on my wife's desire to insure we can fit in National as well as State parks. I too want to visit and enjoy as many of these sites as possible. However when you look at the available inventory to purchase there is a much bigger selection of 38 to 40 feet than there is of 34 to 35 feet. Seeing as we cannot order our used coach from the used coach factory, we are looking for input from those of you who enjoy the parks. Do you believe a 38 to 40 foot coach would preclude us from a number of national and state parks? We would also appreciate knowing if you have a 38 to 40 foot coach , what is it about that size that you find more appealing or useful?

The Perry Georgia event is rapidly approaching. We will be attending  in the hopes of meeting and speaking with as many of you as possible. We will then be heading to Florida to visit LazyDays, Independence RV and and North Trail RV, in the hopes of finally making our purchase. We are very excited.

[About To Be A Full Timer]

We are selling our house, but we have an investment property in State College , PA, home of Penn State. I have owned it so long, it is completely depreciated from a tax stand point. That address needs to be our permanent address for 2 years and one day, to satisfy the IRS. Our goal is to spend as little time there as possible during this period. State College is beautiful in the summer, and we think we may summer there. Then based on our experience rv-ing, we will either go full time, or buy a place and use the coach whenever we desire. My wife is a Gardner, that will be her struggle.I am a Car guy with a few builds left in me, and that will be my struggle. What  won't be a struggle , will be traveling these United States, meeting folks such as yourself. That prospect is terribly exciting to us  

We have heard the common story of people starting with a smaller RV and trading up, or realizing they missed a requirement and trading. Our goal is to be one and done. Lot's and Lot's of questions.Our Goal is to own our coach by the end of March. It will be hard for me to wait that long. Will you be at Perry?

[About To Be A Full Timer]

Forgive me, not yet familiar with all the nomenclature. What is a "Fiver" "IMHO" Very much appreciate your input. I found out this weekend, we will not be full timers. We will be on the road 3 to 4 months at a time, followed by a few weeks to a month off the road, and then back on again.

To me, I think the needs will be the same as full time?

[Tiffin 32 Diesel Pusher]

We are in the process of buying our first coach. It will be a diesel pusher. I have just started to research the 32 foot Tiffin. Sounds like it gets good fuel mileage.

Any owners that can confirm that? How is the Navistar engine? We are looking to be on the road 3 to 4 months at a time. Is there enough storage ? Are the holding tanks large enough to boon dock for several days?

[About To Be A Full Timer]

Thanks for all the replys 

[About To Be A Full Timer]

Thank you all for your responses. We have not camped much, and I do not believe life in a class A diesel, is camping. We thought about renting, but it is expensive. We are so enamored with the idea of traveling the country, and have spoken extensively with friends who own coaches, we are ready to take the leap.  I am a car guy, I have modified and built many cars over the years. I think I will be able to handle some maintenance, and some , i may just pay others to do. Hopefully I will be able to handle the pesky issues on the road, that might keep us from moving on.

One thing that has not been addressed is the gathering in Perry , in March. Do you think there will be used coaches offered there?  I have heard so much about, how wonderfully and open this RV community is. We will not be there with a coach, but are hoping people will share their recommendations and experiences with us.

One more question, Thoughts on buying from a dealer versus private owner

[About To Be A Full Timer]

My wife and I are about to slide into retirement.

Several years ago we got the RV bug, while traveling with a friend. We have never owned an RV before. We are going to buy used, and work out of pocket, so the budget dictates the year we buy.

We are going diesel pusher. I have narrowed down my brands in the following order. Newmar, Tiffin, Winnebago, and Fleetwood.

Would appreciate any pluses or minuses you might know about these manufactures. I have found doing research, that to buy a Tiffin or a Newmar, we will have to buy a coach that is 1 to 2 years older than other brands.

Do you believe that the value of the Tiffin or Newmar, are worth the age trade off? If we buy a Newmar,in our budget, it will most likely have only 2 slides. Do you believe there is a noticeable, difference with 3 or 4 slides veruses 2?  

We are planning to attend the Perry Georgia event, and thought we would wait until after the event to purchase. We are thinking we might get to meet folks who would be able to offer advice about these questions, and possibly there might be some people selling their RVs there?

Lots of questions, greatly appreciate any advice.