Day 3 of full timing & what we've learned so far....

CabinetmakerII wrote:
It's been a few more days... How's it going now? :-) We have been full timing for 1 year as of next month. We are loving it!

Still loving it! :C
But I have learned to look before I exit the coach. Somehow, someone turned off the electric steps... Men just are not designed to do the splits.... :E

Will be 4 years July 1. No S&B. Not slowing down any time soon.
Every day is a learning curve!
Following the thermometer.

TomB. wrote:
Our S&B home is being emptied as we speak.
We have our 32ft Winnebago sitting in our local campground, and DW is nearly stress free.
The first thing we learned was a 3BR home will not fit into a 32ft class a. Nope, not even close.
#2. The next coach must have slide-outs.
#3. The next coach must have 2 bathrooms.
#4. Keep a foot FIRMLY planted on the connection to the sewer when dumping the black tank... Don't ask me how I know this. :o
#5. Be open to new adventures, & great times.

Tom,

The fun has begun. Everyday will be a learning experience, at least for me, (seems like I forget more than I remember) so just take your time.

Ran across this list that I had just before we had our last Coach Built, took 5 years in the 37' gasser to complete this list.

Motor home specs

1. Diesel- 350+ Cummins w/engine brake, 40’+ with great ride, Warranty-reputation. Organized manuals
2. Large LR slide or two, enough space to seat 8 in comfort & room.
3. Bedroom slide or two with make up area. Clean bright mirrors.
4. Private W/C With room to use & sturdy stool.
5. Wood cabinets all wood, light cherry or similar. Matching coffee table.
6. Aqua hot heat
7. Closet space for two. Separate if possible.
8. Interior storage in Kitchen area. - Slide out shelves. – Under-counter mounted sink.
9. King bed. Comfortable with Black Out Shdes.
10. Quiet generator. Really quietttttttttttt. Auto start Generator?
11. 2000 ++ watt inverter with proper batteries. – Outside electrical outlets on each side of coach.
12. Dual pane windows.
13. Heat pumps A/C. good insulation for winter use.
14. Winter options. Insulation and tank heat 0 F this will be used in the winter.
15. Front and rear caps insulated helps to not have extra large front window, front electric shades.
16. Hydraulic levelers.
17. Chairs with good view of TV. TV at rear of coach.
18. Small dining/computer station, desk, no booth. Could be freestanding table.
19. W/D with closet over top. Splendide's new Splendide 2100 and Comb-o-matic 6200.
20. Large shower/tub with seat. Large enough for me.
21. Awnings all around and extra one on curb side to cover whole coach. Power awning?
22. Leather and fabric Good colors/patterns.
23. CCC and weight distribution on wheels? 3000#+
24. Rear TV - location of TV in main saloon? Build in later?
25. TV Satellite? Motion? Sound system? CD? DVD? Plasma TV?
26. Tile in the entrance area/space? Ability to keep clean.
27. Keyless front door?
28. Outside lights-docking-spot-security
29. Would like to be able to access the doors under the slide outs? Storage bay slide out tray (Joey Bed)?
30. Hide a bed (air mattress)?
31. Regular sized pilot/co-pilot seat with headrest? (30”) Power footrest?
32. Driver’s seat 360? Height of drink holder next t the pilot /co-pilot seats?
33. Electric & Water reels?
34. Solar Panel? size______
35. Storage under bed and over?
36. Heated mirrors?
37. Water filter? Insta-Hot?
38. Refrigerator size. 4 doors? Ice Maker? Stove? Standard electric refrigerator? Dish Washer (fisher and paykel)
39. 10,000 LB hitch?
40. Auto air dump? Line to fill tires?
41. 3m front mask?
42. Front view Drivability? Mirror location? Prefer them to hang.
43. Good mood lighting & regular lighting to be able to read. Dimmers for lights?
44. Wire the Toad
45. Brake system for Toad
46. What type of paint is the full body paint? Poly or epoxy?
47. Just a note about the night stands next to the bed both need electrical outlets 1-clock 2-light 3-box of Kleenex 4-water 5-magazine or book 6-place for all of this while traveling 7-pictures

BOL,

TomB. wrote:
Our S&B home is being emptied as we speak.
We have our 32ft Winnebago sitting in our local campground, and DW is nearly stress free.
The first thing we learned was a 3BR home will not fit into a 32ft class a. Nope, not even close.
#2. The next coach must have slide-outs.
#3. The next coach must have 2 bathrooms.
#4. Keep a foot FIRMLY planted on the connection to the sewer when dumping the black tank... Don't ask me how I know this. :o
#5. Be open to new adventures, & great times.

Repeat after me:

"Less is More".

After 7 years in a 31 foot travel trailer we were ready for a change.

Definitely.

So, this spring we upgraded to a 27 foot travel trailer.

31 feet was just too big to get into many of the places we want(ed) to go. Even this is larger than we wanted but we compromised; it has an on-board 3K generator.

"Less is More".

We have even less external storage than we had previously. OK - cannot haul so much excess "stuff" with us. Somehow we manage to survive.

"Less is More".

This still gives us much more than we had for the previous 7 years when we were traveling on two motorcycles; you know, like a bathroom!

To each his own. I understand why some folks want a 45 foot motor home with a Lexus in tow or a heavy duty truck with a 5th wheel.

"Less is More".

Regards,

Jim

Valkyriebush wrote:
We went from a 32 footer to a 40 when we sold house and went full timing for five years. That may be your next move. Took me five years to sell my 32 footer. I wasn't gonna give it away. Hind site say's I should have took the trade in offer. Live and learn. RVing is not stress free, I might add. lol

Just tried to sell my fiver so I could upgrade from another private seller. Mine didn't sell, his did. Took 2 years to sell my last park model and it was priced very low and in near perfect condition. It's not very easy to get rid of of these things when the time comes. Plan accordingly...

B.O.

My wife and I and two cats traveled full time in a truck camper. We carried way more stuff than we needed. After the first 2 years we bought a house and only travel about half a year. For last year's trip we left half the stuff at home. This year I will cut back by half again. As someone mentioned above: less is more.

After 3 years of full-timing we have almost filled up the storage facility we rented near our daughter's house to store souvenirs. When my wife sees something on the road she likes I encourage her to buy it. And it doesn't take much encouragement, let me tell ya! I buy tee shirts, cycling jerseys & books. Each visit to my daughter's results in our recent purchases going into storage. Gonna be like Christmas when we come off the road. It was a very difficult transition for my DW to accept that all those items she wanted to have "... just in case..." could not fit in our 37'er with 3 slides. And, yes, 2 bathrooms. I learned the hard way to invest in the very best dump hose possible. Bought a midpriced Camping World one that looked fine. One of those all in-one-types. Hose split from the connector on its first use at a very cramped site in Mission Bay San Diego just as our neighbor and guests were sitting down to dinner. Very embarrassing experience.

retispcsi wrote:
We bought a sewer pig. It is a plastic pig you can fill with water, sand etc. It goes over the end of the sewer line and keeps the little fella from popping or pooping out. Cuter then a brick and a great conversation starter. You know us full timers will talk about anything.

At Deer Creek Valley RV Park (Kansas) think we saw you or a another person with one of those .. never did get up the nerve to ask, but do remember seeing one ..

Where did you get yours ?

BTW finally visited all the states in the continental North America and only took us 11 years ...

BTW it took us 5 years to give away the "rain gear" of rain proof boots, rain suit, and hat. We no longer do volunteer work which requires us to be out in the rain for any length of time. And some cold, cold weather gear also went to either other volunteers or the Goodwill type thrift stores.

If we do not anticipate needing something again or have not used it in two years, then out it goes. Sometimes we may not use something for a year, but at year two, it is needed, that is why the two-year criteria.

And since a few years ago when there was a non-profit yard sale which gave us the opportunity to give them two pickup loads of "stuff" out of our rented storage unit, we now have half the size storage unit ... saved a bunch by down-sizing for sure and felt good doing it.

Our only 'will not quit buying' is paperbacks, as we can trade them at a bookstore located in our home base town, so do pack them along with us, or we simply trade with other volunteers, although some have shipped to friends who enjoy a certain set of authors' books.

We now volunteer only for Oregon State Parks even though we are Washington residents, but that is our choice. Whatever way a full-timer choses to live their lives is a privately made choice for sure, but for us to stay active during the winter months in a mild climate is our choice.

Best of luck and safe journeys in whatever you choose to do to live. Shalom.

We have been full time for about 8 years. We traveled a lot before full time, so not much changed except we sold the stick and brick house and that gave us more freedom.
We do love this life but it is not for everyone, and both husband and wife must want to do this for it to work. We both are happy with this life.
We have had four 5th wheels and the one we have now we bought for full time. We researched what would work for us and floor plan was important to us. This one is a 38 foot Carriage and very heavy! We pull it with a 2 ton 5500 dodge diesel truck. We usually get around 11 mpg towing, which is not too bad for what we are dragging around. Have traveled coast to coast and explored the northern USA and down to the southern states. Thinking of writing a book .