How insane is this?

Oh Wood Glue, I confess we are way over thinkers; so this may be a real challenge for us! But I am so tired of feeling my things own me instead of the other way around. DH goes in an out of being ready for this; really liking Trilogy has helped him. Knowing a quality product exists; that would fit our needs and wants!
I am the DW and confess also that DH prefers not to ride with me as I tend to lead foot! So Pappappy will see if that church lot practice will help me. Lord, please protect the churches when it's time!
Thanks one and all for so many good tips. NuWa was on my list to check out before we make our final decision, but is a 3 hour drive to do so and hadn't exhausted the possibilities in Portland metro as yet!
So when a mfg goes orphan, if your still under your 1 year warranty, I assume tough luck for you and your depreciation hit on your unit doubles am I right?

Have been considering a Cruise America rolling into Arizona deal ($30/nt to try out the lifestyle, then get a rolling out of Arizona deal ($12/ngt to get back home, but timing didn't work this year ( an units avail bigger and grubbier then we liked and now the convenient choices are gone and it's hotter in the dessert at this time then I like anyway. I prefer 70-85 degrees when I can get it! We might be rolling oftener then I like to keep close to tthat small range, but suppose you figure your circuit with time and experience; and laugh along the way when the plans fall short of expectation. A good blog I follow is Aroadlesstraveled.us. Bet everyone has their favorite blogs?

Make it an awesome day one and all and thanks again for the encouragement and wonderful ideas! It's another rainy Memorial weekend in Oregon, I'm surprised! NOT! That being said there is hope for a sunbreak today and tomorrow; we learn to subsist on those. God's blessings to everyone for a joyous day! LO in Sherwood

Go for it. If you don't like it you can buy a smaller, easier to care for home wherever you want. If you don't try, you'll never know what this freedom is like.

Go for it with a good exit plan to return to a stick home if it doesn't turn out to be as you'd expected. We full timed for five years, and would have continued if the housing market had not gotten to a point where it was a buyers market and started feeling like having a home again.

When people ask me about full timing (Been at it for 16 years) I tell them there are two choices.. either you love it or you hate it.. and you both better have the same opinion. kind of liking it just doesn't work when you full time.

We went from a 3,000+ square foot home to fulltime in a large, 43 foot, Class A diesel pusher. However, due to home owner's association, we sold the house about five years before going fulltime and lived in a 1,000 square foot apartment. That allowed us the time to downsize (twice) and get used to smaller spaces. We both have been camping since we were very little, in everything from tents to trailers to Class C motorhomes, so we knew what to expect on that front! Good luck to you!

X2 to what eycom said:

You can't put too much thought into the construction of any RV. To my way of thinking, it should come above and beyond floorplan! Afterall, it will be your house!

And no, I don't think it's insane to want to hit the road after being stationery a large part of your lives. It will be the most rewarding chapter, if you hang around this forum and keep reading up on all the finer details on RV ownership!

WoodGlue

Just for clarity purposes here:

When a brand name is identified as an orphan, means they are out of business/production and no longer made.

Mind you, in many respects, that has no bearing on the quality of the product they did make. Many of these higher quality manufacturers simply just could not sell enough of these high end, higher costing fifth wheels to make ends meet.

Add Nuwa to the list as an orphan also.

Full timing isn't for everyone. That said, it offers a freedom unlike anything I had ever experienced in my adult life. I would simply offer the advice of looking at RV Consumer Group. They rate new and used RVs with regards to safety, economy, and reliability. Some folks don't place much stock in their evaluations. The fact that they've been around for 20+ years is a testament that many find value in their information. It does cost to acquire that information, as they receive no funding from advertisement in the RV industry. But, it's a pittance relative to the overall investment you will be considering.

As an aside; New Horizon and DRV are probably considered "top-of-the-heep" full time 5th wheel manufacturers today due to their offering of semi-custom work and quality. A little lower tier would include Excel, NuWa, Carriage (orphan), and Travel Supreme (orphan), to name a few. Teton, also an orphan, would fit in there as well. Those manufacturers have enjoyed a reasonably good reputation over the years and have been popular amongst full timers. A gently used unit will cost less than new. All will require a stout truck.

You might want to look at some full timer's journals or blogs for your edification. A good one to start with would be RV-Dreams. The Payne's are pretty forthcoming in their lifestyle and expenses as full timers. Of course, yours can vary. Good luck. It's an exciting time for you.

As far as towing is concerned, Practice, Practice, Practice, and you'll be an old hand at it in no time. Find a big parking lot (a Church, during the week, for example), and bring some things such as lawn chairs or something to try and maneuver around. Have DW help you with backing (Walkie Talkies are handy, but you should also learn hand signals)
Remember, everyone that you might consider as an EXPERT with these rigs, had to learn, just as you are going to have to learn.
Finding someone (a friend?) who has one, or has towing experience will be helpful too.

As far as trying not to kill each other....well, a large 5er, will give you plenty of room, even two bedrooms, if it comes to that:) The fact that you've been with each other for 31 years (I just passed the 33 year mark:)) means that you can probably work around a small "home"....even if you have been used to much larger. Was your first house/apartment 5000 sf?? I think not. You'll do fine!!

Good luck with the sale.....

Hi,

I suggest you rent an RV for a month long trip. Get one smaller than the one you wish to someday own. See how it goes. Pretend you have to trim you belongings to what fits.