TheLostDutchman wrote:
So here is the story... We've been RVers since the late '70s.
Started in a van conversion,
moved up to a small class "c",
then up to a 30 foot fifth wheel.
My story - similar
We are shifting away from our current camping style - a good deal of which was spent primitive (dry) camping and trail riding in the back country interspersed with long, cross country sight-seeing trips.
How did this go? What did you find you Enjoyed - Needed? Would guess this has a good bit to did with the decision on the larger coach? IMHO, get the Coach YOU want not the one I want - this is your dream, so all we can do is share our experiences. Long trips are good in a Diesel - Power and air ride (Having had big trucks in my old life - Contractor/Roadbuilder - I can get down the road without 600+ HP) will get you down the road in comfort, let's you pull a toad that can carry you the last mile in comfort also, so you really don't need to get in that deep, so deep, that you do not fit.(JMHO) We Boondocked/no power in Yellowstone in Madison in late October, and fit.
We have now decided to go full time this year and pretty much stick to cross country sight seeing. We've spent several months shopping around and paring down the list of coaches we like and have narrowed it down to two. But they are both in the 40 to 45 foot range.
Which Two? - IMHO, the biggest thing is the Floor Plan - you've been doing this long enough that I'd guess YOU know what you need/want, so get it. How long do you plan to hang in one area? week? month? months? We have Granddaughter's in MD and Colorado, and have spent a Few Winters in Colorado, Loved It - but I had the coach designed for it/us and honestly if I had my way we would full time, with a commute between Colorado and Maryland.
We will probably move around a lot in the new rig, but stay in any given area long enough to really check out all the local sights and offerings. We may stay in one place a couple of days, or maybe a month. Just depends.
Nice thing about a 40-45' Coach is that they set up just as easily as a 30' Coach. You have to have Room to live if you do this for more than a couple weeks a year.
We keep hearing rumors that many people regretted moving up into units that big and that begs the question: How big is too big?
I'm just guessing you have heard even more about not going Big Enough! Think you know where I stand on size, only thing too big is 46' - not Legal.:-)
We really like the 45 footers but do not want to stay in big, expensive luxury resorts... not our style. And we will have a 4X4 toad that will get us to the places we want to see. I know we won't fit in most state and national parks, but should be able to find a suitable RV parks within a reasonable driving distance... Are we shooting ourselves in the foot here?
Thinking you have pretty much decided - Big Coach that works - Good COMFORTABLE Toad - Best of all worlds - so the biggest thing now is the TOAD.
Please share your experiences, thoughts, and advice... We only get one chance to do this right... can't afford a mistake. Thanks in advance.
Bill & Nettie.
