So I'm stationed at Fort Lewis and I just entered the full time lifestyle, and what a bumpy road it has been. First off, I believe I purchased the wrong rv (2015 Keystone Hideout 308bhds) to start full timing. Two slideouts, not nearly enough storage and not an ounce of insulation I know this is going to be a rough winter. So next year this time I am planning to trade this one in and go for a front living room arrangement. I'm looking at Wana rvs in Indiana for my next purchase. Unfortunately, they do not accept new rvs as trades. I'm just stressed out. DW doesn't like that the dogs are under her feet all the time, the kitchen is right across from the ONE sofa we have, the air conditioner feels like it's blowing out heat, and the no space among other things! We love the full time lifestyle, just chose the wrong fifth wheel. Any of you fine ladies and gents know of any rv wholesale dealers that will accept a new trade?

Most any dealer will take your trade. You just may not like the offer.Check with Thunder RV in Lagrande,OR for what they can do in trade on a new Arctic Fox.

Don advise isn't bad, but start local. Go to Sumner RV, just up the road. Maybe also go to Apache RV in Everett (Apache RV in Tacoma can't sell Arctic Fox trailer due to Sumner RV)If you owe on the current rig, you are unlikely to get a trade in large enough to payoff the loan.Also "wholesale" dealers is just a sales ploy. But the dogs under foot......

Personally I don't like "front" living quarters. But Thunder RV has the initial production unit of Northwoods new monster. Big enough to have a separate kennel areaDesert Fox35-5SG

I wish you the best in getting what you want. Thank you for your service.

Can you handle the truth?Do you want to hear the truth?I vaguely heard you say yessssss in the background,You, and particularly your wife, are not cut out for this experience. You and others have already outlined more issues than most committed couples do in a lifetime. And 99% of those were not confined to an RV (Doesn't matter how BIG that puppy is)After all of the time that we have spent out here, we answer the same questions ad infinitum. And the answers are always the same:1) Would we do it again? Unequivocally YES2) Do you have to be best friends first? Once again, a giant YEP!

Need a better fifth wheel fir full timing | Good Sam Community

GoinThisAway
Explorer
Aug 01, 2015
steadypraying426 wrote:
Unfortunately, they do not accept new rvs as trades.

Unfortunately, your "new" rv stopped being new as soon as you drove it off the lot. Newer maybe, but not new. So you'll likely have to take a sizeable loss to change to another unit so soon.

In the meantime, there are some things you can do to make your life in your current unit more comfortable and I'm sure folks here will share a lot of tips. Here's one my Dad learned that may work for you. If you sit near a large window install a baseboard heater under it and run it on low. This stops the draft that can make sitting next to a window uncomfortably cold.
CarlT100
Explorer
Aug 01, 2015
GoinThisAway wrote:
steadypraying426 wrote:
Unfortunately, they do not accept new rvs as trades.

Unfortunately, your "new" rv stopped being new as soon as you drove it off the lot. Newer maybe, but not new. So you'll likely have to take a sizeable loss to change to another unit so soon.

In the meantime, there are some things you can do to make your life in your current unit more comfortable and I'm sure folks here will share a lot of tips. Here's one my Dad learned that may work for you. If you sit near a large window install a baseboard heater under it and run it on low. This stops the draft that can make sitting next to a window uncomfortably cold.

I bought three small electric heaters. We use one in the garage (which is our dinning room), one in the living room/kitchen, and one in the main bathroom - which we only turn on when we shower. These heaters plus the furnace kept us warm and comfortable in 20F weather. The heaters also cut down on propane usage. The furnace did not run nearly as much as it did without the heaters.
billy79
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
We went full time as of May 1 this year, so been at it about the same amount of time.

We went with an Artic Fox 29-5K and I must say that we LOVE the build quality of the AF. The factory tour in La Grande amazed me. We hit the road from N. Idaho but first saw this rig last fall at the Seattle RV show and then ordered it from Sumner RV in Sumner...not far from you.

I can't offer a ton of advice, but just wanted to echo what some here said...and that is that Artic Fox's are great rigs (though heavy) and that Sumnner RV is a great dealer to buy from. We also talked to Mike at Thunder RV in La Grande a few times and he is a great guy as well.

If you want to stick with it and get a new rig I would just say to walk through as many as possible. My wife and I went to three large shows and walked countless dealerships. Sometimes it was uplifting and exciting and sometimes near dreadful...but we saw enough variety that we knew that we made the right choice for us and that there wasn't something better out there (for our needs in our price range).

My other big tip would be to truly try any rig on for size. Sit on the throne and pretend to wipe (I know it sounds silly but that is how you are going to know if there is enough room). Sit in the couch and see if you can relax while your wife prepares dinner or vice versa. Try to picture yourself living in it as you spend time in it at the dealership.

The rigs that we liked the best we spent 3 and 4 hours in (And sometimes going back to do it again)....and I think that is why we were "lucky" enough to get a rig we are so happy with on the first go.

Also the Grand Designs rigs are well bit and have really nice interiors.

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