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04-17-2018, 08:00 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 10
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Living full time in hot and cold weather
Hello, my husband and I will be buying a 5th wheel in about 6 months. We will be living in it full time in the DFW area for 2 years until we retire. We love both the mid bunk 5th wheels, looking to buy a year or 2 old. But we’re wondering how a 5er will handle extremes in weather as far as comfort for us, meaning 100+ in the summer and down to 20’s sometimes in winter. We know to get one that’s rated for 4 seasons but that doesn’t mean it will be comfortable for us, especially in the long hot summer.
Thanks for your help and opinions.
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04-17-2018, 08:13 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Sedona, AZ
Posts: 3,012
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Get as large and as many air conditioners as you can. Whether that is one, two or three will depend on the size of your 5er.
__________________
Shell Bleiweiss
2014 1/2 Thor Challenger 37KT
Sedona, AZ
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04-17-2018, 08:17 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 140
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aamechs2
Hello, my husband and I will be buying a 5th wheel in about 6 months. We will be living in it full time in the DFW area for 2 years until we retire. We love both the mid bunk 5th wheels, looking to buy a year or 2 old. But we’re wondering how a 5er will handle extremes in weather as far as comfort for us, meaning 100+ in the summer and down to 20’s sometimes in winter. We know to get one that’s rated for 4 seasons but that doesn’t mean it will be comfortable for us, especially in the long hot summer.
Thanks for your help and opinions.
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Having 2 ac's is almost a must for any 5th wheel that will have a mid bunk on account they are usually at least 35 ft. long. I know in the DFW area of Texas is gets really hot in the summer. Now in the winter around DFW is does get cold but usually not for a really long time. On our Alpine it has propane heater along with the heat pump in the main AC to help along with a electric fire place. Using the electric heat will defiantly help from using so much propane in the winter..... If you park it in some shade will help with cooling also......
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04-17-2018, 08:53 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Tucson
Posts: 1,419
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Frankly, I don't believe an RV is ever meant to be used in extreme conditions. Stick-n-brick homes have 4 to 6 inches of insulation minimum. RV's have maybe 2 inches and it's usually just cheap Styrofoam. On that note, we used to take our Voltage to the lake during triple digit summers in Phoenix, to do some boating. The three air conditioners worked overtime to barley keep the trailer comfortable. RV's have wheels and are meant for use in favorable conditions.
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04-17-2018, 09:04 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dallas,OR
Posts: 4,584
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Why would you want a mid bunk? Do you have small kids with you?
As for floor plans? Go shopping and play house in those models you think you like. Spend time pretending to make a meal, watch TV, pay bills, take a shower, use the toilet. Well you get the idea. Doing this will point oit real quick your likes and dislikes. Once you have settled on a floor plan, start shopping. Weekend RVs are just that weekend. More expensive models, besides fluff tend to be more geared to long term living with more creature comforts. Of course their heavier and more expensive. So plan accordingly.
RV living especially in the extremes is not cheap by any means. You could expect to pay 250 dollars or more a month in a long term park for electricity during the summer and the same for propane to heat in cold weather. What ever your electric rate is for your home, you can about double it in an RV park.
IMHO you might be better off staying where you are until aboit 6 months out. Make your decisions and buy then.
__________________
Don and Lorri
Resident Dummy.
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04-17-2018, 09:49 AM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 10
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We are about to be empty nesters, our youngest are seniors this year (twins) and we want to sell our much too big house on 3 acres but we really don’t want to rent for 2 years, hence the live in our 5er until we retire then we’ll use those wheels to follow the good weather. We like the mid bunk so the twins can come stay during college breaks if they want. Although it would be cosy, the lift on top of the mid bunk gives both their own sleeping space. Then later it will allow our grandkids to come visit.
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04-17-2018, 10:14 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
KZ RV Club
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 201
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Welcome to the group. My DW and I are listing our home this week. We live in McKinney, TX and plan to go full time then. My youngest is a freshman in Arkansas and we plan to travel for a few years. We have looked at Keystone Alpines they may not have s&b insulation, but are well insulated. Cedar creek from forest river is another. Good luck happy searching. There will probably be another big show in DFW this fall. Regards, Ron
__________________
Regards, Ron
2018 Ford F350 4X4 6.7L CC LB SRW w/factory gooseball
2019 KZ Durango Gold 380FLF w/16K Reese Goosebox
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04-17-2018, 10:38 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,643
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The heat will depend on how you are acclimated to it. In the NW we struggle when it gets 90. To you that might just be a slightly warm day.
If you plan on living in it for two years plan on some sort of carport. That will help with the heat by keeping it out of the direct sunlight.
It sounds like you are falling into the trap of we will buy the RV that will do everything we want the first time. Planing on grand kids when they are years away will not work. After spending time in your first rv you will learn what works and what does not and most likely will trade to another unit before the grand kids arrive.
__________________
Professional mechanic.
2018 Ram 2500 HD Mega cab.
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04-17-2018, 11:40 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: winnipeg mb
Posts: 84
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forest river riverstone models have 3.25 in walls and a mid bunk they are really well built.
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04-17-2018, 11:52 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dallas,OR
Posts: 4,584
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aamechs2
We are about to be empty nesters, our youngest are seniors this year (twins) and we want to sell our much too big house on 3 acres but we really don’t want to rent for 2 years, hence the live in our 5er until we retire then we’ll use those wheels to follow the good weather. We like the mid bunk so the twins can come stay during college breaks if they want. Although it would be cosy, the lift on top of the mid bunk gives both their own sleeping space. Then later it will allow our grandkids to come visit.
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IMHO that is a HUGE mistake. Having part of your RV that is unused 98% of the time is simply foolish. Sorry to be so blunt, but its time you hear it. Buy an RV for YOU. The kids can sleep in tents or on a sleeper sofa. Grandkids? Honestly there so far away its highly unlikely you will still have the first RV by the time they could travel with you.
You need to sit down and honestly evaluate your life goals and pick an RV that meets your goals. Not someone elses. Heck, by the time your kids graduate and start a family you may no longer be RVing.
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04-17-2018, 12:14 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 10
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Lol the twins are the last of 7 kids! We already have 16 grandkids. The midbunk will double as my craft room when no one is using it.
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04-17-2018, 12:25 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 10
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We are set on the mid bunk for many reasons, only some listed above. We have both camped all our lives, had a 32 ft boat that we stayed on a lot and have friends with various rvs.
I’m just trying to figure out if it will be hot in the summer and cold in the winter no matter how well insulated it is. I’m ok with a high electric bill as long as I can be cool in it. We’ll be at a long term RV park which does have some shade but a carport isn’t possible.
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04-17-2018, 12:37 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,810
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We FTd for 7 yrs and spent time in both extremes temperature wise.
TWO 15K A/C Units for 100*F Plus temps
High BTU Rated RV Furnace.....40K BTU
Highest R Value and LOTS of Propane for those Cold Temps
We spent 2 weeks in below 0*F temps.....as low as -19*F for couple of nights
Stayed roasty toasty because we used electric space heater along with the RV Propane heater........and ability to get propane cylinders refilled routinely/frequently (30# every other day during THAT extreme cold temp)
Yes there are 4 season rigs.
Look for HIGH R Values
Enclosed Underbelly with HEAT source to underbelly
Dual Pane Windows
Attic Venting........Roof Venting that allows air circulation in/out of area between ceiling and roof (just like a S&B attic)
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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04-17-2018, 01:07 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Foretravel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Home is Where WE PARK IT...
Posts: 6,050
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IMHO...
An RV in the TX/AZ summer are nuttin more than a "Dutch Oven"
Go for 2 preferably 3 15k (with heat pumps) A/C units
(no one has ever said that they wish they had fewer A/C units or smaller furnaces.)
As for length(s)
With 4 occupants (for 2 years minimum)
At least a 38' to 42'
For ease of cooling (and heating) the fewer slide outs the better.
DUAL PANE WINDOWS ARE a MUST!
As is a fully enclosed AND HEATED! coach under belly
The largest fresh/black/gray tanks you can find
A continuous hot water heater....or at a minimum a 10 gal, hot water heater.
With All this being said (gross loaded weight & size of 5'r + 4 "Adults")......
You will need the equivalent of a F-450/4500 duelly or better for safe transport..
Keep in mind..
Your 1st coach is a learning tool..
BUY USED! & buy one with everything you "think" you want and will need..
As You will make mistakes and have booboo's We all have.....(sometimes more than twice..)
Within a year or two you will discover..about the RV
What you love about the RV...
What you can kinda-sorta tolerate with the RV..
And what you absolutely hate about that !@#$%^%$#@! RV.
Then you can go get what you should have gotten in the first place..
Happy Hunting
Remember..Every day you put off retiring..is just one less Day of being retired
__________________
Retired truckdriver,
'02 Foretravel... "This Shack will do"
being pushed by an '06 Scion xB
SKP's of Box Elder, South Dakota
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