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DianeDJ · 08-15-2015, 08:21 PM

My husband and I are planning to go full time soon, and have found what looks like a good deal on a Diplomat PAQ. We like having the dining table on the"view" side, but this model lacks a fair amount of overhead storage. I know that I'll be downsizing, but wonder if anyone else is full timing in this model?

RustyTools · 08-16-2015, 05:52 AM

No complaints here whatsoever, in 9+ years. We gladly traded a little less cabinet space for the views out the big windows. We travel to see the great outdoors, not peek at it thru a few little portholes. After moving up at least 6-7 times, we finally latched onto our '06 Endeavor PAQ - and are stopping with this one!

Yes, the somewhat diminished storage took a little getting used-to, but not by much. I took out the hide-a-bed and made 'pantry' storage under the couch (would have anyways: "Sorry kids/grandkids, we'd love it but y'all can't stay with us overnite, nowhere extra to sleep"); and when you think of it there's really not that much extra space you'd need overhead that you couldn't move elsewhere.

Wife made footstools that double as roll-around storage cubes, I took out the tube-type tv in bedroom and made a closet, etc, etc. I even made a desk/shelves in the Atrium. And don't forget all the room underneath - plenty there too. We have so much space & cubbyholes that we sometimes forget what/where we have it (or is that old-age?).

So, yes it can be done. Just don't try to bring the entire house with you... but then isn't downsizing a lot of what fulltiming is all about?

Go for it!

Interesting story about saving space: We had friends over for dinner the other nite (she's an avowed card-carrying OCD, and admits it freely). She happened to notice that I compress the toilet-paper rolls as flat as possible and then stack them in the bathroom cabinet (you can get at least a 6-pack in there that way, and I hate having to otherwise buy the 2-pack of TP). It freaked her out, and she even went to far as to take the 3 remaining rolls out of the cabinet and squish them round again, before putting back in the cabinet. She said she couldn't stand it.

nodine · 08-16-2015, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyTools;2699439
....
Yes, the somewhat diminished storage took a little getting used-to, but not by much. I took out the hide-a-bed and made 'pantry' storage under the couch (would have anyways: [I

"Sorry kids/grandkids, we'd love it but y'all can't stay with us overnite, nowhere extra to sleep"[/I]); and when you think of it there's really not that much extra space you'd need overhead that you couldn't move elsewhere.

.....

Rusty,

I like what I heard someone say about their coach. "Drinks for 6, dinner for 4, and sleeps 2".

Bob

RustyTools · 08-16-2015, 09:22 PM

Yeah, Bob, they say experience is the best teacher. We once had (but it was because of a very bad late-nite thunder/hail storm... lest you get the wrong ideas

) 14 people in a 27 ft class C. IIRC, it was 3 in the rear bed, one on each side of the bed on the floor, us 2 in the front overhead bed, 2 in the dinette/bed, and 5 more scattered along the floor. I'm not counting the one who started out reclined in the driver-seat but left sometime during the night.

Also, against my wife's better judgement, we did put my ex-boss up for one nite (another long story) on the couch. Fortunately, it was so uncomfortable that he decided to stay at the local Holiday Inn for the rest of the trip 'because he liked to use the gym each nite'.

6:4:2 is the way to go!

RustyTools · 08-16-2015, 09:24 PM

Yeah, Bob, they say experience is the best teacher. We once had (but it was because of a very bad late-nite thunder/hail storm... lest you get the wrong ideas

) 14 people in a 27 ft class C. IIRC, it was 3 in the rear bed, one on each side of the bed on the floor, us 2 in the front overhead bed, 2 in the dinette/bed, and 5 more scattered along the floor. I'm not counting the one who started out reclined in the driver-seat but left sometime during the night.

Also, against my wife's better judgement, we did put my ex-boss up for one nite (another long story) on the couch. Fortunately, it was so uncomfortable that he decided to stay at the local Holiday Inn for the rest of the trip 'because he liked to use the gym each nite'.

6:4:2 is the way to go!