Which is more important?

kohai wrote:
Rent an apartment/condo. You really aren't saving money with an RV. Your life will be easier and your kids will be happier.

THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^

WE (2 adults that REALLY LIKE being with each other) full timed for 7 yrs. in a 34' 5th wheel.

280 square feet total (8' x 34' with 2 opposing slides) which doesn't take in to account walls, cabinets etc.

Can't even rent a 2 bedroom apt that small.

Full Timing is a great adventure.
Wonderful lifestyle but should not be confused with living in an RV.
Not cheaper, higher maintenance, smaller living space, less storage

Just rent apt/condo/house and give your kids a chance at growing up without having to sacrifice
It's not as if you are traveling showing them the USA ----just cramming them in an RV parked on a small lot with limited resources.

Rent an apartment/condo. You really aren't saving money with an RV. Your life will be easier and your kids will be happier.

I'd focus on more family space. At the end of a long stressful day settling down in a comfortable location (living room) can be worth it's weight in gold. A bunk house will give the kids their own space to retire to as will your master bedroom but having a common location to simply relax and be a family would be my top priority.

With that much time on the road you'll probably go through an couple RVs. Most RVs don't wear as well as traditional homes plus your needs will change as time passes. Fortunately the kids are small now so a simple bunk house will give you a couple years to get the feel for what's important.

We have 2 daughters, aged 11 and 8, and we part-time, full-time. Explanation: from May 1 until Labor Day, we full-time in our RV, sometimes close to home, but for June and July, we are about 500 miles away from home.

We currently have a front bunkhouse fifth wheel, but I have been seriously looking at the Wildcat 323RBX. It has a front master with bath, decent size living area and a pretty large bunk area with a second, but small bathroom in the rear.

We have also looked at a SABRE 36QBOK, but think we like the 323 RBX better.

Although I think you have thought about this, actually living in a very limited space is not easy and can become very trying after only a few days. Personal space becomes a thing of the past. You might want to rent an RV for a week or two to actually "test the waters" of the amount of living, but more importantly storage space.

To add to toolguy5's post, I think there is a 5er that has a front BR along w/ a desk of somekind. With a rear BH, and door, kids can be "isolated" from rest of coach. As for the BH itself, w/ 4 kids, opposing slides will aid in the "more room for them" dep't. Plus a 1/2 bath either in BH or someplace else in coach will be a huge plus. All things considered, you're going to have to have a good size truck to pull this with and room for all of you (crew cab).

If I read the original post correctly, you would probably spend up to 9 or 10 years full time and end up with 4 kids, all of you living in the RV?

Never happen......I have no suggestions reference any type of RV.

If you decide to go full time in a fifth wheel. The best floor plan that may suit your needs would be one that has the master bedroom over the king pin. And a closed bunk entertainment room in the rear for the kids. This will give the kids the privacy they will want, as well as a place to be in rainy days.
This may also deaden the sound a little for your husband to sleep or study.
Down side is living quarters will be smaller.
Your best bet is to search as many floor plans as you can and get the one that best suits you.
I would also make sure it is a subzero unit this will help in the colder weather but not eliminate all of the issues that comes with cold weather. It does make things easier if you will in one spot for 2 to 4 years. You can do things to the exterior to help out. Skirting and heat tapes will help with freezing water.
Good Luck.

4 kids and 2 adults full timing, really? Not a chance would I try that. I have been camping with 4 kids for a week and that is enough. There is no place to get away even in a 5er. You might want to think longer and harder about things.

read and re-read toedtoes post. rethink this plan. back when I was in college half way thru pre-med would be after the sophomore year at which point I decided to change majors.
I would suggest a large TT or mobile home and pay to have somebody move it if you need to.
too small an area in a 5er, too many people for comfort, and as stated, a med student needs a private study. a private study area would be more important than whether the kids need more room or not.
bumpy

Have either of you ever spent time in an RV? I ask because as a premed, his ability to study without distraction AND his need to sleep during the day will be very difficult with 3-4 little kids in an RV and the very close neighbors in the RV park. There will be no sound dampening at all. As med school is difficult enough in the best of situations, this could be putting a lot more strain on him.

Other concerns to think about:

Harsh winters - RVs aren't built for cold weather; if there's a chance you'll be in a place with cold winters, you'll need to do a fair amount of work on the RV to make it habitable - especially with little kids.

Maintenance - who is going to handle maintenance issues with the RV? If the water heater breaks, will you be able to repair it yourself? If not, and you can't get a mobile mechanic to you, how will you handle the RV going into a shop for several days or longer?

Kids - as they get older and make friends, what will you do about sleepovers, play dates when it's raining - while your husband is trying to sleep after getting called in for a night shift unexpectedly, etc.?

Neighbors - RV parks do not have much, if any, space between sites. Sound will carry much worse than in a stick & brick (even apartment). When the neighbor chooses to work on his old truck less than 20 feet from your bedroom window while your husband's trying to sleep, how will you handle that?

As for your question, I don't think it will really matter either way. A bigger bunk room will only provide a false sense of privacy. You can't have privacy with a hollow wall (or a curtain) between you and your siblings. All the kids sprawled on the floor of the living area vs. all the kids sprawled on their bunks - it's going to be noisy either way.