... and want to full-time for around 5 - 8 years all across the country, what would YOU get? And why?

I'd keep what I've got and have a lot of fun with that $200,000! Very happy with my current rig and very desirable for full timing.

DutchmenSport wrote:I'd keep what I've got and have a lot of fun with that $200,000! Very happy with my current rig and very desirable for full timing.I was hoping to hear from someone who wants to buy a new/used MH... ;)

Arrrgh....why do people who don't own motorhomes get involved on this forum? I owned four fivers in the past but don't get on the fiver forum.Anyway, I'd take the $200,000 and buy a 2-3 year old lightly used DP with most of the kinks worked out. A tag-axle Tiffin, Winnebago, or Newmar would be at the top of my list due to their company viability, and the recent models would give you the more recent electronics. But there are many options, and you'll certainly hear them here. From motorhome owners, hopefully.

I would spend some of the budget on another slightly used Newmar product! I would conserve a decent amount to cover the expected maintenance over the next five years and enough to cover an Engine or Transmission replacement,not that it is a likelihood ,but because that's how I think.If there was a balance it would go towards insurance and fuel!Of course if I had enough cash reserves beyond the 200 K I might be tempted to buy something a little newer and shinier!

I always liked the Alpine motorhomes, They came with high enough HP to get them up the grades of western Washington where they where built until a few years ago.They came with dual fuel fillers that are tucked behind the grill, so you slide out the generator, and expose both fuel fillers. I liked the idea of pulling up towards the pump and being able to see the fuel filler locations as you get close to the pump. Motorhome Magazine did a write up on the Alpine RV back in the 90's I think. Another orphan coach (they both went out of production during the economical problems of 2004 - 2006) is Country Coach. My friend has one, and I really enjoyed driving it! Well built, and they also made Provost conversions too.You can find a lot of RV's at RV search.comI toured a Fleetwood 'Discovery' in 2004, at a FMCA show in Pomona. Two dealers offered to sell me the coach for $107,000 while the retail was around 167,000. My guess is that both dealers did not need to pre-buy the coach, and had very low overhead to cover when selling me the coach, so they could make a great deal at the show. I did not buy, because I had no idea what the dealership would offer me for my 97 Bounder, and could not possibly know my payment until later. Anyway I took a test drive, with a Fleetwood design engineer driving, and he demonstrated the air brakes. First he took the RV to about 35 on a empty back road near the Pomona Fairgrounds. Applied the brakes normally. Then took it up to 35 and pulled the "Parking air brake". This slowed the motorhome very quickly, but does not lock up the brakes, we needed to hang on, but not to tightly. Next he took the RV back to 35 and applied the brakes as hard as possible, letting the ABS brake the RV as quickly as possible, telling everyone to hang on tight this time, Good thing we did, the brakes work fantastic!So it is good to know that in a emergency, such as the driver passing out, you can pull the parking brake on that RV at full speed, it will stop. . .A couple of years later, I saw a similar Expidition RV on sale for $115,000 at a dealership, about 2 years old, and I was thinking that if I had bought that one at the show, it still would be worth about what I paid for it 2 years later, because the show price was such a great deal, and also wondered how much of a bath the owners who paid retail price had to take to sell a $167,000 RV for $115,000 a couple of years later. Even if they paid a 'sale' price of $147,000, they would have lost about $32,000 in addition to any sales tax, and whatever fees the DMV would have charged the new owners. I still plan on buying a new RV, yet will get the dealership to offer a lower price because I understand how the pricing system works. I will shop dealerships out of state, and over the internet to see who offers a great price. I might not make a friend with the nearby dealership, but will save thousands on the purchase price.As for full timing:Many who full time do it because they want to see this wonderful country of ours! That is why I full timed for a year. I had a great time, stayed in many great National Parks, and BLM land that was low cost or free. I still have a bunch of places I want to see, and want to spend a summer at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. There is about 100 square miles to explore there, forests, deserts, and some wonderful meadows to park in while seeing it all!Check out FreeCampgrounds.comThey list many great places to camp. Along with some such as 'Joes Tire Shop' - we parked there overnight and got something fixed in the morning. I did not post any parking lots to park in, that is easy enough to find. I listed BLM sites, and some great campgrounds that are free or less than $10. Some like Forest service are $15, but you get 1/2 off with a 65+ senior card discount, or handicap discount. I want to explore Moab, and the many great dry camping areas on the bluffs that overlook the Colorado River. A lot of RV's that I saw there in 2002 looked like they where having a great time!My RV is set up for dry camping. It has a 100 gallon fresh water tank, 59 black, 42 grey (is that backwords or what??) and 4 golf cart batteries. To this I installed a 400 watt solar system, satellite dish, and several other things. My solar system cost me about $3,000, but has saved me $10 a night in camping fees more than 300 times in 1994 - 2004. Another 300 times in 2004 - 2007 while I was full timing, and more since that time. Now you can buy a 400 watt solar system for less than $750 that my original pair of 45 watt panels cost me in 1994! SunElec.com Look for 12 volt nominal panels, that actually put out nearly 21 volts peak. Wire this to a PWM solar controller, and install them on the roof, with wires going down the refrigerator vent (if you have a propane refrigerator). Then to the controller, then to the batteries. For panel mounts, I cut some 2" angle aluminum from Home Depot to 6" long with 3 screws #10 into the roof, and 5/16" hole for a 1/4" bolt into the solar panel frame. Some rubber roof sealant finished the job, and sealed the screw holes. Good luck on finding something!Fred.

If you had a budget of $200k.... | Good Sam Community

mowermech
Explorer
Aug 10, 2014
I would find a good 2004 34 foot DP with Cummins engine and washer/dryer, and a low mileage 2004 Dodge 1500 to use as a toad.
Why 2004? So that next year I could take advantage of the PERMANENT registration offered on vehicles 11 years old or older.
Then I would find a good used street-legal ATV, 400 CC or larger.
mci7
Explorer
Aug 10, 2014
Sounds like a dream on thing, For me with a budget between $0.00 to $2,000,000.00 would not change a thing. My old Foreyravel 500 hp is as good as it gets. PTL
Dave M
ncrowley
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2014
I would get as high a quality diesel pusher as you can. Newmar, Country Coach, Tiffin. If you want to old, Newell, Prevost, etc. For full time, I think something 38 feet or better although some do it in less space.
bigred1cav
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
I'd buy a condo in Naples, Fl for the winter.
Idahosrt10
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
Buy new and in a few months all the bugs will be worked out. 2015 Winnebago Forza , 2015 Fleetwood Excursion, or lastly 2015 Thor Palazzo. (not 2014)
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
Acei wrote:
... and want to full-time for around 5 - 8 years all across the country, what would YOU get? And why?

I had twice that amount and I still bought used. Let the first owner bite the bullet on the insane amount of depreciation there is on a MH.
So when I go to sell it when I am done I can get what I paid for it.
Thereby considering my retirement RV'ing in a nice MH essentially free!

I buy all my vehicles cash that way. So technically I have owned and driven them all for free. I refuse to waste money for interest and/or depreciation.
bshpilot
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
Peralko wrote:
Like the paint job!
Don't all of these also have a steel-sprung front end, as opposed to the air bags on DPs?
Engine access is another big plus for these rigs, as is the fact that the entire chassis and cab is built by the same manufacturer--kind of like a Prevost.

yes, most are (2 leaf) front sprung & air ride rears, all have 4 point hydraulic levelers.

I've heard one (here) call it a refrigerator paint job - but imo (and I'm bias) it doesnt age (or fade) - its a bit industrial sure, but that also keeps most thieves away...campers are always curious to know "what is that" or is it a "toy hauler" - theyre often surprised when they see the inside (i don't know why or what they think is in side (cardboard boxes) !?!? or milk crate seats ?

i see a lot of folks say claim that the ride is (or must be) rough - but i wonder if any of them have ridden in one...cause min isn't....yes its firm but no where near rough.

their frames are purpose sourced/build from the HD Truck industry, not modified - so the slides are generally deeper....although it seems pushers have caught up to the larger / deeper slides.

at the same time only in the past couple of years has there been a demand for 4 & 5 slide Truck Conversions.
Peralko
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
Like the paint job!
Don't all of these also have a steel-sprung front end, as opposed to the air bags on DPs?
Engine access is another big plus for these rigs, as is the fact that the entire chassis and cab is built by the same manufacturer--kind of like a Prevost.
bshpilot
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
Francesca Knowles wrote:
That Haulmark (above) is a sweet rig. And not that it matters, but it's also one of those that perplexes me as to "designation"- is it a class A or a class C????

not considered a class A - since they are always diesel, but not a pusher either.
bigger than the largest Super C - most consider it to be a TRUCK-Conversion coach.

listings generally appear in the DIESEL COACH sections of the for sale ads or sometime the fall under the "race coach" category. The king pint/5er type are generally called TOTER Homes.

configurations include FULL HOUSE or some form of a REAR garage w/ lift gate...ive seen garages as small as 8 ft & as large as 14 ft and some even have stacker lifts in the rear garages.

weight is about 30+k (loaded) w/ capacity for about 40k more in tow.

some advantages:

10+ mpg all day long at 72mph
40k lb towing capacity
larger motors (13L or more) 450-650hp 1650+ tq,
stronger trans (12 or 13 speed - dry clutch automatics...no clutch pedal & no tq converter)
TWO driven axles (w/ indépendant lockers & ability to lock axles together as well)
200+ gal of fresh water
bunk / storage over cockpit
lots of basement storage (compared to even a super C)
solid sheet aluminum roof
60K mile oil change interval
lower service/labor rates

potential cons:

10 tires total (vs 8 on pusher some pushers)
no pass thru storage
generator often placed under bedroom, but can be placed under soft @ front
slightly noisier (compared to a pusher) while driving, since motor is not in rear
10.5 gallon oil change/capacity
...
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Aug 09, 2014
That Haulmark (above) is a sweet rig. And not that it matters, but it's also one of those that perplexes me as to "designation"- is it a class A or a class C????

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