Forum Discussion

Foodsman's avatar
Foodsman
Explorer
Apr 28, 2014

Thinking of "Full Time" with your help

Hello folks.

This is my first post so be gentle...

I’ve read many posts on different forums on a great deal of issues and hope I’ve learned enough to not ask too many dumb questions. Now there are some of you who will say “there is no such thing as a dumb question” and more times than not are the same ones who will say “hey this guys a real dummy”! :)

I’ve been reading all kinds of information about Full-time RVing, Gas vs Diesel Pusher, Motorhome living, Full-time RVing, Motorhome slide-outs etc.

I’ve looked at a number of manufacturers websites to familiarize myself with the brand and learn as I go about different coaches. So far I’ve looked at the following...

• American Coach: - Revolution - Tradition
• Fleetwood: Providence
• Itaska: Ellipse - Meridian
• Monaco: Diplomat - Dynasty
• Newmar: Dutchstar
• Thor: Tuscany
• Tiffin: AllegroBus - Pheaton - Zephyr

We will purchase a 43 to 45 foot DP (the 45 is preferred) and will pull a Toad. I’m not against a used coach and plan to look at used Prevost’s. I’ll not limit our used coach search to Prevost, I just know it’s one of the top of the line buses!

My wife and I are retired and intend to sell our home and become full timers. We’ll spend most of our time in the west between Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana for the spring and summer and Florida/Arizona in the Fall and winter.

We plan to drive around 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year, going to a set location and stay there 4 to 6 weeks. We’ll spend over half our time with family and friends hooked up to their power. The other half of the time between RV parks, WallMart as we travel and some boon-docking on BLM and National parks.

I remember when I was 2 weeks into Ranger training when our drill instructor said “you guys know just enough to get yourself killed”. That’s how I feel with RVing... I know just enough to get myself in trouble. But I can tell you I read a lot and do not ask a professional, someone who has been there, and then ignore their recommendations!

Any pearls of wisdom you would like to share I would love to hear! And remember “there is no such thing as a dumb answer” so be careful less I say “hey this guys a real dummy”! :)

Thank you,

Harry
Class A
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Apr 28, 2014
    To clarify what Old-Biscuit said, you can plug your motorhome into a regular house outlet with the proper adapters. However, just because you plug in doesn't mean you can power everything in your motorhome. A lot depends on how your motorhome is set up. In mine, if I have 15 amp power, the only thing I can't run is my air conditioners. But I do have to plan right too. For example my water heater and the fridge can both be either run on 110volt AC, or they can be run on the 12 volt system using gas. So when I only have 15 amp power I usually switch those over to the 12 volt system. If my wife turns on the hair dryer while the coffee pot is running and the TV is on, that's sometimes enough to pop the breaker. So you just have to watch things.

    On my heaters I also can run my 12 volt furnaces, or I have portable electric heaters too. So if I only have 15 amp power I use 12 volt heat. So in the winter only having 15 amp power really doesn't slow me down much. Now I do know some of the motorhomes you're talking about do come in all electric models. They have residential refrigerators and heat pumps and everything runs on electricity. So if you get one of those you'll have to pay attention to power if you only have 15 amp service.
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Apr 28, 2014
    Foodsman wrote:
    Regarding "because I don't want to have the road restriction issue" do you mean side roads or are there road restrictions on a state by state basis I'm not aware of?

    As for the "50amp power supply" wow, I sure never thought of that... Not being able to hook to power with friends and family never accured to me. Any alternative?

    Thank you


    California has road's that are restricted to vehicles over 45 feet. Highway 1 along the coast, many of the two-lane mountain passes, and roads such as that.

    The alternative on the power is to run your generator, but when you're outside of somebodies house that may get annoying, and expensive on the fuel. I don't know if it's difficult, or even possible, to tap into somebodies electrical panel and install a temporary 50 amp receptacle or not. If you are staying with the same set of friends and relatives you may just be able to go ahead and install a 50 amp receptacle at their house so it's there for your use.

    You also need to figure out a way to dump your holding tanks if you're at somebodies house. Many houses have sewer cleanouts installed outside and you can dump into one of those.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Apr 28, 2014
    Power cord adapters are available ....50A to 30A and 30A to 15Aso with those 2 adapters you can plug into friends/family regular 110V outlet which can be enough to power converter/charge coach batteries (so that the 12V DC stuff has god power and batteries stay charged).
    The 15A outlet will limit your running 110V AC items.

    One other item to consider is a Progressive Industries 50A Surge Guard/Protector.

    It will protect your rigs appliances, circuit boards, electronics etc from mis-wired power sources, open neutrals, open grounds, high/low voltage excursions and surges when using unknown power at various campgrounds.
  • the_bear_II's avatar
    the_bear_II
    Explorer
    Apr 28, 2014
    Check out this website for detailed information about full timing and RVing

    www.rv-dreams.com

    Lots of great information from a couple that had no RVing experience but have learned the ropes after 8 years on the road.
  • past-MIdirector's avatar
    past-MIdirector
    Explorer
    Apr 28, 2014
    You don't need a huge rig to full time. We are comfortable with a 36' Bounder with 2 sides. There is a lot of places we go that anything over this size will not fit in. I've always had gas units (40 years) from the beginning when we were in the military since we hardly ever drive the motor home over 9000 miles a year. When you're parked the tow vehicle gets the mileage not the rig. You drive the rig from point A to B and park it while there a good all around tow vehicle is important for not only going to town but also exploring the area!
  • Foodsman's avatar
    Foodsman
    Explorer
    Apr 28, 2014
    Regarding "because I don't want to have the road restriction issue" do you mean side roads or are there road restrictions on a state by state basis I'm not aware of?

    As for the "50amp power supply" wow, I sure never thought of that... Not being able to hook to power with friends and family never accured to me. Any alternative?

    Thank you
  • Foodsman's avatar
    Foodsman
    Explorer
    Apr 28, 2014
    No we are new to all that is RVing. We plan to drive a few coaches within the next few months and rent one for a couple weeks. But this has been a plan of ours for a good while now.

    As for unlimited funds I'm not sure I even know what that means in this day and age. We will keep our purchase new or used to around $300/400,000. So a Prevost would have to be a number of years old for sure.

    Harry
  • msmith1199's avatar
    msmith1199
    Explorer II
    Apr 28, 2014
    You're already looking in the right direction for the correct rig for full timing. I currently have a National Tropical 35' DP. It's great for what I do with it and has plenty of room for our two week trips. But if I was going to full time, I'd want more room. I probably wouldn't do the 45' myself, but that's only because I don't want to have the road restriction issue. The main things I'd look for in a full time coach would be at least three slides, a king sized bed, and lots of basement storage with easy access to it, like those big pull out drawers.

    Now on one thing you said, you say you plan on staying half the time with friends and family hooked up to their power. Keep in mind that a rig of your size will need a 50amp power supply if you want to run everything in it, especially your air conditioners. Most houses do not have an RV outlet like that unless somebody has installed one. Most house outlets are 15amp outlets. I keep my motorhome plugged into a 15 amp outlet but if I try and start one of the AC's it blows the breaker. Right now my motorhome is in my shop and I have it plugged into a 20 amp outlet and I can actually run one AC unit from it, but I have to switch the frig over to gas or the breaker kicks if both run at the same time.
  • HappyKayakers's avatar
    HappyKayakers
    Explorer
    Apr 28, 2014
    Have you done any RVing at all? Since you're looking at Prevosts, should we assume that you have unlimited funds and won't need to workamp or volunteer?

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