Finally graduated to Class A

[WAFlowers]

I guess I should introduce myself since I've already started posting. My name is Bill Flowers. My wife and are are Canadian but moved to Florida for work 20 years ago. We are preparing for retirement in 2-3 years.

My wife and I have been RVing in one form or another for over 30 years. In that time we have owned, in order:

• A ridiculously small Bonair tent trailer; queen and single bed with the door at the back. At the time it was perfect for a young married couple with a baby
• A 2-room tent after our 2nd child was born
• A bigger tent trailer after waking up on the ground with a sore back one time too many
• A "cheap" 1995 Dutchman 5th wheel
• An even bigger tent trailer
• A very small 2000 Coachmen Catalina Sport 220rk Class C
• 2005 Keystone Montana 3400rl 5th wheel
• And now, a 2008 Tiffin Phaeton 40QSH Class A

Every RV except the Dutchman 5th wheel was purchased used, with no regrets.

We purchased the Phaeton last Fall. We had sold the Montana a week before Hurricane Irma went through. Thankfully our house wasn't damaged but we were without power for a while. When the power came back on my wife got busy on her laptop "looking for a portable generator", she told me. Eventually she showed me an ad for a Class A DP and said "This is the type of portable generator I want!"

We had planned to shop for a Class A later in 2018 but we found a 2008 for a good price that looked practically new inside and out so we grabbed it.

The next time a hurricane heads our way we'll board up the house, move the fridge contents into the RV, grab the dogs, photos and important papers and start driving days before the storm hits!

We are upgrading and modernizing the coach, having replaced the old TVs with new, bigger smart TVs, adding a TPMS, Silverleaf VMSpc, and more. Our Cadillac SRX will be our toad; I've got a Roadmaster Sterling Off-Road towbar and Roadmaster base plate which I will install. We will be getting an Air Force 1 put in it.

This summer our plans include a 4000+ mile round trip to go visit our daughter for the birth of our first grandbaby! Just yesterday we found out that it is a boy and will be named Finn William. I'll used by grandfatherly prerogative and call him Billy, just like my Grandad Bill called me.

When retirement comes (not soon enough!) we will be all ready to finally explore North America as we have long planned.

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi Bill! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Congrats on the new rig! Keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[WinnieView]

Welcome Bill, and to your wife too.

[momdoc]

Welcome. Lots of good folks and info here. Sounds like you have enjoyed the adventure, continue to do so. Congrats on the new rig.

[TonyDi]

Glad to have you here in the forum with us. You're gonna like it here.

Happy Trails!!!

[Stever53]

Hi Bill


Congrats on the new rig

this place is great

Safe travels

[Bosunmate]

Welcome aboard Bill!

Patrick

[NH Dave]

Hello and welcome!

Great story and may you keep adding great memories to it!

Congrats and many happy miles to you!

[nothermark]

Welcome aboard. You should not see many surprises with the house parts. If you are not a truck driver seriously consider one of the diesel school courses on how to live with your DP. They are different to drive and different to maintain compared to gas. The learning curve can be expensive.

[WAFlowers]

Originally Posted by nothermark

Welcome aboard. You should not see many surprises with the house parts. If you are not a truck driver seriously consider one of the diesel school courses on how to live with your DP. They are different to drive and different to maintain compared to gas. The learning curve can be expensive.

Thank you. I'm applying what I knew of diesel maintenance from our F350 7.3L to the coach and also sat through a Freightliner Camp Fireside which helped fill in some of the gaps.

My wife and I have both attended a Class A driving school. I seem to have absorbed the lessons and have logged almost 1000 miles. I'm now feeling quite comfortable even in heavy traffic with narrow lanes. Backing up is no big deal; we have to back into our storage site so I had lots of practice from the beginning.

My wife had logged over 10,000 miles pulling our 5th wheel - probably as many miles driving as I did - and is looking forward to future trips in our Class A.

[Mr_D]

from WA State. Come out and join us!!

[WAFlowers]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

from WA State. Come out and join us!!

Thank you. Once I retire in 2-3 years - still before 65 - we are going to do a grand tour of North America. We've mapped out a route to hit every national park, every significant state park, monument and major historical sites plus other places of interest. We'll go up through BC to see friends in Anchorage then across Canada too.

To do it right will probably take 2.5 years. At least, that's the plan while we are still young enough, strong enough and healthy enough.