Full-timing in a TT.....where should I start looking?

[AllenTC2]

So I very recently exposed myself to RVs (no, not like that) and was really blown away with what I saw/learned. The idea of full-timing in an RV has become (in my mind anyway) a viable option for my retirement...which will happen in 6 years (best case scenario). I have been leaning primarily towards a Class A, but I've had many opine that maybe what I should be looking at is a travel trailer and something to pull it.

1) I have very VERY little experience towing anything, and I can't say the idea is super appealing to me. But I am willing to listen to advice. LOL

2) I currently have a Subaru Forester which I'm pretty sure can barely toe the line ().

What manufacturer and/or models would I be smart to look at? I was looking at <30' Class As, what would that be in trailers? Do I need some uberexpensive diesel pick-up to tow it?

Thanks in advance for your input!

[falconbrother]

We just out of a motorhome into a travel trailer. If your plan is to roll a lot and see the country the motorhome might be the better choice. But, if you plan to travel and stay in one spot for a while before moving on then the TT might be the better choice. The motorhome had a lot of storage, way more than the travel trailer. The motorhome was fully self contained in all kinds of weather. The generator would run for days on a full tank of gas, like three and a half days or so..maybe more depending on how hard it was working. And that still leaves like, 1/3 tank of gas to run the motorhome to the gas station. It's great..except that if you don't use it a lot it's a lot of wasted cash. 7 tires = $2,700.00, 2 oil and filter changes, Insurance, 9 miles to the gallon, lube the chassis, brake jobs, exhaust gaskets, etc, etc.. I liked traveling in the RV but, that whole drivers seat area is wasted space at the campground. That's where we kept the dirty clothes bag.. So, we had a 28 footer. The usable space was really about 23 - 24. The motorhome would cruise down the interstate at however fast you would like to risk it and while pulling a toad.

We had a TT years ago and have the current one. I don't really like towing all that much. But, when it get's set up at the campground it's a vacation home. It acts more like a home, feels more like a home, etc..

I think that Subaru will have to go. It won't tow anything worth doing any extended camping in very well. You may also consider a class B van. It's kinda hard to know what you like till you've tried it. At one time we had a cabover truck camper. It was awesome for what it was designed to do. But, I can't see ever doing that again. Crowded, kinda like luxury tent camping. In the TT my wife can go to bed and I can stay up and watch TV, whatev's.

[fallsrider]

To start with, I wish you well in doing your research. Hopefully, you will find out exactly how you want to live full-time in an RV over the next few years.

My advice comes with the caveat of not having anywhere near the experience as a lot of these folks, and I've never full-timed. But I do have 4 years of TT experience, and 3 years of pop-up experience before that. I am a fan of TTs, whether they be traditional trailers or 5th wheels. Motorhomes work for a lot of people, but I see two major disadvantages (at least to me). Others have mentioned the cost. It is much higher on MHs, I believe. The second disadvantage is mobility once reaching your destination. You would have to tow another vehicle behind your MH to get out and see things, so why not tow a trailer instead?

I also like having a tow vehicle to drive around for sight-seeing, visiting attractions, etc. It might be a 3/4 or 1 ton truck, but it still gets you around without disconnecting from your campsite. And it is always available for use when you get back to your home base, if you keep one.

I wish you well in your search. As others mentioned, getting something smaller and trying out camping before you retire is a good suggestion.

[gmw_photos]

I'll be the old curmudgeon/kiljoy here.

My take on it is this: don't do or buy anything right now that you "think you might want" in six or so years. By then, your view of what you want to do in life may in fact be very different than what you think now.

When I was working, I thought I wanted to buy a RV. But I waited until after I retired ( saved my money for the RV in the meantime ), and then took 18 months before I finally settled on this RV that I am sitting in right now.

I did not want to do what many do, and that is, buy something, use it for a while, then sell/trade it ( at a loss usually ) for something different. I wanted to make the right choice the first time. I did, mostly because I looked at about a jillion different RV's before deciding. Six years later I still love this travel trailer.

And you are right about the Subaru. Forget it....it ain't gonna pull anything you will want to spend any time in ( IMO ). Here's a little hint on that general subject: "choose an adequate tow vehicle". It just ain't worth jumping thru a bunch of hoops trying to make some danged sedan or little SUV into "the tow vehicle it was never intended to be". If you are full timing or doing extended trips, you will want to take quite a few little extra bits and bobs to make life easier, and it all weighs something.

If you think you want to do something with an RV in the next 6 years, I'd just rent something to see if you even like the experience.

Best of luck to you and as always thanks for your service in our most excellent military.

[kerrlakeRoo]

To be honest , for a single guy, a TT makes a world of sense I think, you can get a mid size unit 25' or so and be very comfortable. If you look on You tube you will find a ton of people living, albeit not always in the manner you would prefer, but living in minivans, so a 25'TT is well within reason for many. To use a Pickup for towing will give you the ability to take along a few toys which could be dirt bikes or a street machine, because Of your age when you retire, you will want to do things. So the truck gives a lot of flexibility.
If you are unsure about towing, learn, you said you have six years left in the service. I was In for 20 years, there were always people who I worked with at different units that were moving, so offer to drive a u haul truck and trailer and for one of them when they move.
Rent a truck, U-haul for a 4 hour rental charges $20 to rent a pickup, plus a mileage fee, the second time you do it, rent the cheapest trailer, do it on a Sunday and go to a local high school parking lot and learn to back up the trailer, with a mile of space around you and lines drawn on the pavement its the perfect way to start getting familiar.
You have the time, you could, if you decide the truck and trailer is the way to go, buy the truck in the next year or two to have it paid off before retirement, another potential cost savings, post retirement.

In answer to your secondary questions, you dont have to go "Uberexpensive" I would try to get a 3/4 ton truck, 4x if you want to off road some, but all the bells and whistles are just that, bells and whistles.
As to cost of a trailer they run the full range from very inexpensive (and therefore higher maintenance) to ultra high cost with proportionally lower maintenance down the line (hopefully). Much of the maintenance is the same with all. appliances, tires, batteries cost the same for basic or for premium, so find a middle ground.

If you are still thinking you want to go heavy boondocking look for larger tanks to maximize your flexibility.

Just get out there and try things, gain experience, and then you can make a better decision.

[coolmom42]

For something big enough to live in, I would want a 3/4 ton or at a minimum half ton with a heavy duty package.

My personal preference for full-timing would be a front walk around bed, mid-bath, center sofa with U-dinette opposite, and rear kitchen. Rear kitchen gives a good kitchen space.

If kitchen space is not that important to you, look for a rear living model.

[DutchmenSport]

rav wrote:
I would also (JMHO) suggest you find a starter camper and do some camping to see how you like it, learn to pull and back up and learn all about the systems.
after a few years of weekend camping and a few long trips you will be able to make a more informed choice of what you will need for full timing.

I 100% agree with this advise as the first move you should make.

If you have a smaller car or truck now, there are small pop-up's and small trailers that can be towed with your current vehicle. These campers may be very small, but it will give you a good basis to get some initial experience to help you narrow down what you like and don't like, give you the experience how to tow, back-up, and begin to learn the ropes.

You may find after your first or second trip, this lifestyle is really NOT what you though it would be. But then again, you may fall completely in-love with it. If it's NOT for you, you are not so deeply invested it's impossible to sell out. On the other hand, if you are hooked, (line and sinker) then you've got something to negotiate with a bit later for trade in.

Use this camper a couple years, and then about 2 or 3 years before you retire, trade for a larger model that will suit your full time experience. The trade in value will help (maybe not much, but it will still help). And then you'll have another year or 2 to be come 100% comfortable with the new camper / and / or rig, know it's strengths and weaknesses, and give you at least a good year to outfit it with your basic essentials so you can discard everything else.

And possibly, after a year, you may find the second one isn't really right either. It's a growing, evolving process, and needs and want's change. But you need to start somewhere, and somewhere is right now so you have adequate time, money, and resources to change your ideas as you gradually move into the RV lifestyle, rather than taking a plunge 5 years from now, just to find out 6 weeks later you don't like it at all, or it's just much more than you anticipated.

Remember, you also experience in trip planning, keeping supplied, dumping your holding tanks, and finding campgrounds that provide water and electric (or other sources for this). If they don't have water on site, how do you transport it? Lots and lots of things to consider that get ironed out only by experience. I'd just hate to see you jump in and then be so overwhelmed or frustrated you give it up.

So now is the time to start!

Edit:
Just went back and read the post that happened as I was "manuscripting" my masterpiece thesis (above).

Um... the thing I think you should do right now, even though retirement is 5 years away, is get the bigger, heftier vehicle you know will tow any anticipated trailer. You absolutely cannot go too big when it comes to towing. And if you go full time, you definitely want something heftier than what you've got now. Start with the vehicle, then the trailer. Go tent camping a few weekends meanwhile, until you can purchase that first trailer. You'll learn a LOT.

[FrankShore]

1) Go to RV shows
2) The Subaru should be able to pull a smaller TT (Casita, Oliver, Lance)
3) I'd go for a 4 Season unit (Lance again has an excellent lightweight TT that can come as a 4 Seasons)

You might want to visit Lance Owners of American Forum and run the "Subaru" scenario through them and see what's the consensus.

[AllenTC2]

Yeah, I figured that. Heck, I think a pop-up tent trailer would be straining the Subi. LOL

[2oldman]

Thanks.

You won't be towing anything worth living in with the Subaru. Trailering can be a lot of work, so it's good to be in good physical shape.

[AllenTC2]

2oldman wrote:
I'd like a little more detail on 'blown away' and 'viable option.'

Well, the last time I set foot in anything RVish, I was in single digits age-wise. :B That was probably sometime in the early 70s, in a pick-up camper.

As far as viable options, I know approximately what I'll have financially as far as savings and my monthly military pension. I'm exploring possible options for my retirement, and given those numbers and my interests, travelling around North America full-time in some sort of mobile 'home' does sound appealing.

For those who suggested I get a "starter TT" now, for this purpose would a 'full-size' one really be necessary? Could I not conduct the same sort of experimentation with something I could tow with the Forester?

I do have some experience with living out of a vehicle. :B

[independent_TJ]

rav wrote:
I would also (JMHO) suggest you find a starter camper and do some camping to see how you like it, learn to pull and back up and learn all about the systems.
after a few years of weekend camping and a few long trips you will be able to make a more informed choice of what you will need for full timing.

l

yep yep.

[independent_TJ]

3 primary concerns of a first-time "tower":
1. Wide-turns
2. Reversing (steering a trailer in reverse)
3. Braking power to stop the tow-vehicle.

I am new to "rv's" also, and I love that I chose my first as a 28 foot travel-trailer. Used and needed cleaning, it was only $400. With all renovations/updates, it will be a small TOTAL investment of $800. I would recommend buying a CHEAP TT as your first.

1. You can rent a truck for any weekend trips to tow it.
2. Use it as a cheap opportunity to get familiar with appliances and features of TT's and RV's.....
3. Then decide if you would want something with more space inside, different features, or just a totally-smaller TT.

I have never had an actual RV, and they may be great....but I love having a CHEAP TT for "getting my feet wet" before I ever consider the larger expense of an actual RV.

[rav]

I would also (JMHO) suggest you find a starter camper and do some camping to see how you like it, learn to pull and back up and learn all about the systems.
after a few years of weekend camping and a few long trips you will be able to make a more informed choice of what you will need for full timing.









l

[jmtandem]

I agree with the above. Attend RV shows. For full time living and for just occasional recreational use the RV choice would be different. For full time living you need to look at the size of the fresh and holding tanks, the insulation in the coach, how much carrying capacity the coach has (gross weight minus dry empty weight) and something that will last longer than the payments. If you opt for a travel trailer start looking at Airstream or Arctic Fox. You will need a stout tow vehicle. A one ton would make towing easier while a three quarter ton vehicle would probably be the minimum I would consider. Spend time on the Escapees web pages as they have a vast amount of good information specifically for full time living. It is important to remember that when your motorhome is in the shop, should you opt for a Class A, so is your home. If your tow vehicle is in the shop you still have your travel trailer or fifth wheel to live in. If you are thinking travel trailer or fifth wheel look for 16 inch wheels as there are many more tire options available. Your first RV is typically the one that lets you understand what you want in the next RV so the advice above about trying to purchase a pre owned unit is valid. I would not want to live full time in anything less than 30 feet and larger would be better. While you did not specifically mention fifth wheels, there are many many people that full time in one. They tend to lend themselves well to full time living. Just some things to think about.

[the_bear_II]

Here's a great resource to answer a lot of your questions as well as provide info about things you didn't know to ask go to
www.rv-dreams.com and read through the blog and forum posts.

There are RV driving schools that will help you get comfortable with towing or driving a large vehicle like a Class A.

Rent before you buy to make sure RV'ing works for you. Take a weekend trip and then a couple of longer trips. A two week trip where you move from destination to destination every couple of days will give you a good picture of how much work is involved.