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Old 11-13-2013, 04:29 PM   #15
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Tom:

When you say you want to live in it for 6 months a year, do you mean stay in one place, travel in a limited area, or do a lot of travel (i.e. over 5K miles per year)?
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Old 11-13-2013, 05:05 PM   #16
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Bluepill,
We are currently have a place in the Keys, but are selling it and will be based in Park City, UT where we have a house and would like to live in the rv 6mos or so, but we would want to travel more than 5k miles per year. I see it like this, why have a home stuck in 1 location when you can be in any location.
From the recommendations,we are seriously considering a used rig, but need the size of a 40+ footer.
Is it detrimental traveling many miles on the rig, besides gas?? Also, we are concerned that the coach can withstand very cold temps as we might be using it in sever climates.

Thanks, Tom
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Old 11-13-2013, 06:28 PM   #17
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We are one of those that purchased our retirement MH a year old to see if the DW would enjoy traveling. If she didn't care for it, we wouldn't be out the first year, hard hit depreciation and it wouldn't hurt so bad if we sold it after our first year....that was 10 years ago. This time we ordered new with everything just they way we wanted it and in "our" colors.

As for the cold weather travel, I do not believe there is a better insulated MH on the market than the Entegra. Our Travel Supreme was unbelievable how easy it could be heated. In 10 year we were just on our 3rd tank of LP. We heated the TS with a space heater and we have been in some cold weather.

Like you we decided on a MH instead of a summer home in GA or TN and are glad we made that choice. We travel by The Weather Channel and follow the fall colors home.
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Old 11-13-2013, 11:04 PM   #18
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FWIW, we were able to find an independent agent who specialized in RV insurance. They found us a policy that gives us full replacement for less money than the quotes we received by bundling car/motorcycles/house. If you decide to order, shop till you drop to get the best rate. And double check the rating on the insurance company involved in the quote. Your insurance is only good if the company actually pays their claims.

We opted for covered storage with power but rented two spaces so we could have the slides open if we wanted to do any work inside the coach. Double the storage costs but worth it for us. Our old coach was stored outside, this new baby gets a little extra TLC.
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Old 11-13-2013, 11:38 PM   #19
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Rent one before you buy.

Before we decided to buy one we rented a 31' Motor Home and drove it for about two weeks going from one R.V. park to another it was a lot of fun and it didn't take too long for us to get use to hooking up and unhooking.
You might want to rent one for a week or so just so you will get an idea of what is involve in traveling in one.
We have had a M.H. séance 1989 and traded up in 1997 which we still have.
We have travel cross Country a couple of times, Cal. to N.Y. the first time was for 6 months and now we belong to a couple of R.V. Groups that go somewhere at least once a Month.
Just a thought.
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Old 11-14-2013, 05:45 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by taraf View Post
Bluepill,
We are currently have a place in the Keys, but are selling it and will be based in Park City, UT where we have a house and would like to live in the rv 6mos or so, but we would want to travel more than 5k miles per year. I see it like this, why have a home stuck in 1 location when you can be in any location.
From the recommendations,we are seriously considering a used rig, but need the size of a 40+ footer.
Is it detrimental traveling many miles on the rig, besides gas?? Also, we are concerned that the coach can withstand very cold temps as we might be using it in sever climates.

Thanks, Tom

What we learned from our "Dream Trip" (See sig line)

1. Our 37 foot MH was large enough for everything we needed for a long time on the road (4 seasons worth of clothing) for two of us and a small dog. If I could find a more efficient floor plan in a 34 or 35 footer, I would go for that, since we barely fit into a few campgrounds, and the 37 ft. length just barely fits into a double length parking lane at shopping centers.

2. The smaller (6.7L/350HP) diesel was adequate for towing a 5K Lb. SUV, and MPG ran about 9.8 average.

3. We bought 3 years old with 11K miles and saved quite a bit over new.

4. It can get quite chilly inside when the temperature is below freezing and the winds are blowing if you have the slides extended, since they have almost no insulation in their side walls.


Look for a model that allows good access inside with the slides retracted. Some designs are beyond stupid in this area.
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Old 11-14-2013, 06:45 PM   #21
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We started out with a DP (diesel pusher ) and used it for 5 years but then started having trouble with it and traded it for a 5 th wheel and used that for 8 years which it was 40' and we loved it but it really eats up the real-estate parking and towing so now I went with a gasser for where we are in life now because we only put a average of 5 to 7 k a year on one I could not justify the cost of a diesel again not just price of fuel but the maint. And break downs will almost buy you a new 5 r ....... But I can say one thing for sure I have never made money on these rvs but will always love rving
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Old 11-14-2013, 07:21 PM   #22
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It sounds like a 45 footer will be very limited then, in where it can go. Is there that much of a difference between where a 35' can go vs a 45'?

Tom
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Old 11-14-2013, 07:40 PM   #23
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45 vs 35-40

taraf

Answer: Yes. A longer RV limits where you can go. Many State parks and National parks post limits of 35-40 ft. The reality is some of those parks have sites for 45 footers and others have sites for the 35 footers (like Tetons NP). Most of these parks also have sites for 40-40footers but not as many. The reality is you accept what you want for living space vs some limitations on parking.
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Old 11-14-2013, 09:41 PM   #24
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"4. It can get quite chilly inside when the temperature is below freezing and the winds are blowing if you have the slides extended, since they have almost no insulation in their side walls."

Not my experience with Entegra...slides out windy and below 30 degrees...nice and cozy - reason: best in class insulation. This is a prime reason for purchasing a new (or late model used if you can find one) Entegra. JMHO
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Old 11-15-2013, 11:45 AM   #25
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Quote:
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"4. It can get quite chilly inside when the temperature is below freezing and the winds are blowing if you have the slides extended, since they have almost no insulation in their side walls." Not my experience with Entegra...slides out windy and below 30 degrees...nice and cozy - reason: best in class insulation. This is a prime reason for purchasing a new (or late model used if you can find one) Entegra. JMHO
Just spent a week in 18-30 degree weather (Kansas / Missouri)

No issues with a warm and cozy coach.

Curt
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Old 11-15-2013, 04:50 PM   #26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bluepill View Post


4. It can get quite chilly inside when the temperature is below freezing and the winds are blowing if you have the slides extended, since they have almost no insulation in their side walls.


Look for a model that allows good access inside with the slides retracted. Some designs are beyond stupid in this area.
#4 really depends on who built the coach. I never experience a problem in some very cold windy weather with the Travel Supreme. However we had dinner in a friends brand X coach in Colorado and we all had light jackets on with the furnace running. That coach was COLD!

As for the slides in suggestion...100% right on. We cancel a contract on a different model TS because of the floor plan was not functional for traveling when the slides were in.
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Old 11-16-2013, 08:37 AM   #27
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So, when you want to go visit a National Park, say Grand Teton, etc. what do you do, call ahead? What if they say they don't have space for a 45'?? In reality how often does this happen?
Is Boon-Docking a reality with these big rigs? I'm trying to get a sense of expectations when we hit the open road.

Tom
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Old 11-16-2013, 09:02 AM   #28
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Big rigs do limit you somewhat with state and national parks, but that doesn't prevent boon docking. IMHO, boon docking has a lot of factors, the biggest being electric, and the second, dumping/fresh water. And, yes, with a 12500 Onan generator, and now some with solar panels, the electric challenge can be met. The rest must be planned for in duration of stay and availability of dumps. Some parks are going to be tight in getting in, and some don't accommodate 40+ rigs. OTOH, there generally is an abundance of commercial campgrounds in the general area. For instance, we spent three weeks in the Black Hills in one park, using the toad and MC to visit all the area had to offer. We plan to do the same in southern Utah this next Spring.

You really have to weigh what you want in a camping experience. You can put a tent everywhere, but you're going to need a port potty and a gas stove. You can buy a Prevost, and you're probably not going to want to be anywhere other than a resort type campground.

For us, as full timers, I guess we wanted the amenities of what I'll call a nice, moving condominium. We have not felt constrained by campground size yet, but I do a fair amount of planning, even if I expect a night or two of boon docking. I fully expect to do some boon docking out West next summer, because some of the places we will visit have no facilities.
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