If you had a budget of $200k....

The RV Consumer Group 2002 model review has a lot to say about fulltiming; too much to repeat here. A few excerpts: `Fulltiming requires an RV designed for fulltiming if the adventure is going to extend beyond a couple of years....Most fulltimers ...opt for a travel trailer (TT or 5er ed.)..I recommend that most retired RVers who want units over 30 feet choose a fifth wheel because it's much more forgiving to road conditions, mishandling, and tired bones...a motor home is the most expensive way to full time.'

MeanderMan wrote:
Arrrgh....why do people who don't own motorhomes get involved on this forum?

:h

I'll bite: Because RVing is more about the lifestyle than the rig?

To the O.P.:

We've been looking into the fulltiming specifics, too. We've concluded that in the two hundred G territory, a Class A probably fits the bill better than a good quality trailer and tow vehicle combo. We'll be looking forward to seeing the recommendations of others!

I would go to DeMartini RV dot com and pick out what I liked!

LVJ58 wrote:

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

I would get one of these:http://www.rvonline.com/single-ad.asp?Recnumber=62891

WHY? Because they're the best


Good luck with your search...:)

This is a great choice. Other options are a 2006-7 Country Coach Magna or Newmar Essex.

I'd get a slightly used Entegra and chase the ideal weather around the country throughout the seasons. I don't own a DP but have become somewhat addicted to researching them in preparation for getting one someday. The Entegras have floor plans I really like and seem to be a great value.

If not that brand I'd opt for a 2-3 year old quality DP as opposed to something brand new. The depreciation driving it off the lot is more than I could stomach and I like the idea of getting something a bit broke in that has had some of the kinks worked out. Service history would be HUGE in my search.

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

I would get one of these:http://www.rvonline.com/single-ad.asp?Recnumber=62891

WHY? Because they're the best


Good luck with your search...:)

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.com

I 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.com

They 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.

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!

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.

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... ;)