Skid Row Joe
Texas and on-the-road
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Joined: 04/26/2006
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2007 Keystone Fuzion wrote:Considering full time living in five years, What's the pro's and con's. What is the greatest advantage fith wheel or motorhome, besides the cost difference in purchase and upkeep? What are the diffence in safety concern? Any regrets on saleing house to go full timing? Getting ready for long range goals in GEORGIA, thanks.  The only regret I have is I wish I would have done it sooner! I'm a motorhomer - don't want to fool with the hitching, and all that jazz. Plus, I don't have any desire to own a pick up truck - nor drive one. And - I want my refrigerat/freezer, bathroom and leather couch right there - within a few feet for rest breaks, etc.
On the type of rig? Motorhome is much easier to live out of day to day on-the-road. Travel trailering and fifth wheeling is not for everybody. Especially if you are elderly, fragile, or inactive. There is a lot of doing associated with trailering in a pick up truck, versus motorhoming. Shop around and give it all a try is my best recommendation.
“I want to die in my sleep like my Grandfather... Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.”
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Rick & Cheryl
Texas
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Joined: 09/28/2007
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Absolutely no regrets selling the house. Sooner or later we would have needed to sell the house which was twice the size, both in sq ft and lot size, than what we actually need/wanted. Not having the worry when on the road is also a blessing, not having the expense of utilities, property taxes and general maintenance is a big plus as well. We think of it as transfering a non-appreciating asset with lots of expense, to an interest bearing asset that has no expense.
The second part of your question is much more difficult to answer. Each couple will have different issues and needs to consider, and there are many reasons to buy either type.
Now for my opinion. We liked the 5th wheel floor plans better than MH plans. Partially due to placement of the tv, partially due to more counter space (easier to get an island in a 5th wheel), and since we sit for the winter months, and rarely move more than once per week during the summer or move more than 400 miles, set up/tear down issues didnt play a big part in our decision. Storage space in our 5th wheel is more than adequate, and there was no way we could haul what we have in a 5x10 storage spot that DW has refused to give up.
Were we moving every 2-3 days, (very few actually do) we'd want a MH. If we boondocked a lot (lots do), we'd want a MH. If we needed special use vehicles off road, cycles, golf cart, and etc) we'd want a MH. If we needed/wanted a better mileage car for long side trips, we want a MH. And last, if DW wont drive a truck, I'd want a MH.
Each couple just has to be able to project their use, needs and wants, then determine what fits from a style and budget, and what makes the best decision. Its also not uncommon for couples to switch from a MH to 5th or 5th to a MH, it all depends on the individual situation. Since you already have an rv and TV, I'd suggest you give what you have a go for 6 months or a year, and after that time, you should be able to make your own best personal decison, unless money doesnt matter and in that event, making a mistake wont be a financial hardship.
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2gypsies
You're Not Goin' Find Us!
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Joined: 04/02/2003
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Sold the house & everything in it 15 years ago and absolutely no regrets - don't even want to think about stopping. We volunteer for national, state parks and misc. other gigs so we're kept busy. When we're ready for a break - we take it. No long-term commitments for us.
We started out with a 33' 5th wheel which was our home for 8 years. Friends got us into Jeepin' so we got our motorhome and Jeep. Each one has pluses and minuses but we'd lean more toward a motorhome - comfortable driving and a car rather than a truck to sitesee.
One recommendation is to join the ESCAPEES RV CLUB. You can even do it now - lots of excellent information on their web site and their forum. www.escapees.com We have made many very good friends through that organization which is geared to full-timers. We didn't join it for their parks even though they are very friendly and nice, we joined for meeting folks doing the same thing we are doing. We also use their excellent mail service. Half the fun is in the planning - enjoy and good luck!!
Full-Timers for 15 years
2004 40' Newmar Dutch Start Diesel Pusher
2004 Jeep Liberty
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Bomerica
Montana
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We sold our home 8 monthes ago and have been full timing in our 38 foot Intruder. The biggest thing I miss is our former home had a fenced yard and dog doors for the yappers to "walk" themselfs. Second would be endless hot water from the on demand water heater we had. Third is our motorhome does not have a washer / dryer. Despite these few things I would do it all over again. Both the bitter half and I think of our accomadations as home and have no desire to get a stick house again.
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dale51
Somewhere in the U.S.A.
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Joined: 10/17/2009
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Definitely agree that it would be worth your time to check out Escapees. Also look into attending seminars such as Escapee's RV boot camp or Escapade or with RVSEF or Gypsy Journal rallies. There you will get to learn a lot and talk with others who are already on the road. You might also enjoy checking out the Gypsy Journal site for information as well.
No regrets in selling our sticks and bricks. Love the freedom of fewer possessions.
In our case we chose a 5th wheel (custom by New Horizons) which, because it is heavy, we tow with an MDT. We have a lot of storage this way and don't worry about being out of our home if our engine (truck in our case) needs repair. We also don't move every couple of days but sit for at least a week or two and stay in one spot for winter months.
Dale
2009 39' New Horizons Fifth Wheel
2005 Freightliner Sportchassis M2
Our Nomadic States of Travel
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sonicsix
Jerry n' Cynthia
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Joined: 10/11/2008
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We're full-timing in a 19' travel trailer with no slides and we're having a blast! We spend more time outside than inside so the space isn't really an issue. We have all the things a big rig has, just less floor. 
http://RVRoadTrip.us - Full-timing in a 19' travel trailer!
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2Trekkers
Surf City, NC
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I'm a motorhome fan. I like being able to park almost anywhere, press a few buttons to level and a few more buttons to extend my slides, and I'm home! My drinks are cold in the fridge, and satellite TV is ready to watch, and I don't have to go outside. Reverse the button order, and I'm ready to leave.
Another reason: I like driving a fuel efficient car to the local sights and grocery store. My big motor stays at home. With 5th wheels, you're driving your big motor around, burning fuel, putting on miles, and decreasing value.
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sonicsix
Jerry n' Cynthia
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Joined: 10/11/2008
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Hi Matt and Betty
I know how excited you must me. We just started full-timing this past May. We are having a wonderful time. You can look at our blog site to see how all our preparations went. Good luck and happy travels.
http://rvroadtrip.us/
Cynthia
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EelKat
Maine
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2007 Keystone Fuzion wrote:What's the pro's and con's. What is the greatest advantage fith wheel or motorhome, besides the cost difference in purchase and upkeep? What are the diffence in safety concern?
Can't answer those questions. We lived in a car. No motorhome, not trailer, nothing. Three people, 2 (big) dogs and a 3 cats in a 4 door sedan, for 9 years straight. =P That was 34 years ago, and I was the kid.
I've been part-timing in my car off and on ever since (34 years total).
I've am planning on going back into full timing next year. Spending this year getting everything in order. I've got a friend who's letting me keep my car (the very same 1964 Dodge we lived in all those years ago) in his garage and things I want to keep but can't take on the road, in his attic.
This time around I'll be living in a 1992 Volvo 240. I'm currently looking for a lightweight travel trailer (probably around 12') for the Volvo, so that I can take a bed, a toilet, and a few days supply of food along with me.
For me a VolVo with a 12 foot trailer is all I need. It's just me and 5 cats, so, I don't have a need for anything bigger. I'm one of those people who would rather sleep on the ground in a sleeping bag, than sleep in a bed, so I would only need the bed when it rains. I don't need a stove because I tend to eat stuff raw (apples, nuts, sandwiches, etc), and whenever one is around, I tend to do all my eating at SubWay anyways! LOL!
I'm very much an outdoor person, so I don't need a house, seeing as I never stay inside. That means I also don't need a TV, chairs, table, and practically everything else that comes with a big camper/trailer/motorhome. I'm never indoors long enough to use them, so why get a camper that has them?
I don't need a shower, because I tend to go from beach to beach and it's a simple matter to bath in a rinse off stall while wearing a bikini. And yes, I have even done that on Christmas day when the below zero wind chill on the beach was -48F. I go to Lobster Dips and Polar Bear Dips on New Years Day too. I got a thing for frigid cold North Atlantic waters. I'm a beach bum I suppose you could say. A good 3/4 of my time is spent at Old Orchard Beach, (off season and in the winter when the best sea shells can be found) where I have many, many, many relatives who let me park in their yards.
Also, in 34 years, I've yet to set foot in a campground.
But yeah, basically, it's about personal style more than anything else. What do you need? What can you live without? What will just be in your way? A lot of people are like me and would never spend enough time in the trailer/motorhome to warrant having anything bigger than 12'. Than again, there are just as many people who couldn't survive in anything under 30 feet.
There are a lot of things to ask yourself:
Is it just me? Is it me and my spouse? How many children are going to be living in it? How many pets? How much room does each person/pet need?
What about money? How will I earn my keep? Am I living off savings/pension? Will I work online? How will I get internet access? Will I sell arts and crafts at shows? Am I part of a traveling band? Will I work are carnivals and campgrounds? Do I need room to store products I sell? Me personally? I'm an artist and an author. I make 100% of my income online by selling my drawings, paintings, and photography via www.zazzle.com and by writing articles for sites such as www.squidoo.com and www.associatedcontent.com and I sew dolls and small cat/dog/pet quilts and other assorted small crafts through www.Etsy.com . All of my artwork is stored on the hard drive of my computer so there is no need of storage space, and the crafts that I make are small, so I keep them in a cardboard box that is about 3 feet square. I don't have any credit cards and I pay for everything online via my PayPal account or offline via cash on hand. Also, for those wondering how much I make: my income varies from $90 to $200 per month. The most I ever made in a single year was $2,800. My income is less than $3,000 per year and I get by quite well and never want for anything.
Will we be eating at fast food places or cooking our own meals? If cooking our own meals, will it be stovetop, oven, microwave, bbq grill, or campfire pit? Will we need storage space for food or will we be going from WalMart to WalMart and be able to buy what we need one day at a time?
Do we need a toilet or will there be enough rest stop places to go without. (I have an over active bladder problem and have to stop to pee about twice per hour - thus why a toilet is a MUST for me.)
What about health? After a 2 month long coma, my dad is disabled. He has diabetes, his medication has to be refrigerated. In spite of his disabilities, he's planning to get a motorhome when he retires, the need for refrigeration is a contributing factor that he has to look for when looking at RVs. Because of a heart condition and a bad leg, he can not be more than an hour away from a hospital. He has to map his travel plans around hospitals and Rite Aid/CVS locations. Because of his leg he needs a motorhome that can accommodate a walker and has a wheelchair lift - not easy to find. If you or anyone traveling with you has health issues, you have to look at what their needs are and base your RV buying decisions on those needs.
Than there is towing and drivability to consider.
For starters: What type of car do you drive? There's a big difference from a SMART-CAR to a Dodge Power Ram 1 Ton Pickup. What you drive now, will help you decide what you will drive once you start RVing.
If you want to keep your car instead of buying a pickup truck, that will seriously limit your options as anything over 16 feet will be way out of your towing capacity. If you don't have one already, can you afford a $20,000 - $40,000 pick-up that is big enough to pull your trailer? Or if you opt for a motorhome, will you be towing your car/truck/motorcycle along behind it?
What about gas mileage? There's a big difference from 50mpg to 5mpg. If you are going to drive a super sized motor home while pulling a car behind it, every day, do you have enough savings and monthly income to pay $100 or $200 or more for gas each and every day? I was pumping gas one day last summer when a guy in an giant mega sized RV was also pumping gas and complaining that he was paying over $500 a week for gas and was going to have to stop using the RV. What are your gas spending limits? What are the mpg rates for the car/truck and the camper you want? Can you afford to go as big as you'd like or will you have to go smaller just to be able to afford gas?
The bigger the camper/trailer the better your driving skills need to be. Some RVs are as big as an 18 wheeler. If you are going that big, you may need to get a bus driver or truck driver license depending on what state you register it in. How big of an RV can you reasonably and responsibly drive... really? Think about it: have you ever driven either a bus or an 18 wheel rig? Before you dish out a lot of money on a super sized motor home, you need to try test driving a few to see if you are personally comfortable behind the wheel of one or not. Some people are, some people are not.
Likewise, some folks are great at towing, while others are not. You may such at maneuvering a trailer and find a motorhome easier to do or the other way around. Until you get out there and actually test drive one of each, there really is nothing any one on a forum can recommend as to which is better because each person is different.
And than there is towing capacity. How important is it to keep the car you have now? If you plan to keep the car/truck you have now, how much can it safely tow? I have a Volvo. I love my Volvo. I've had it for years. It's maximum towing weight is 3,300 pounds. However, it's an old Volvo, it has problems...lots of them. I'm constainly having it worked on. It has fits of temperament whenever the temps hit 30F and every time we get a heavy rain. Every one is always telling me I should get a better car, or at least a better Volvo. But you know what? I like this car. I used to this car. I've also be told by mechanics that there is now way in hell that this car will tow it's recommended 3,300 pound towing capacity. They say 2,500 pound tops, and the more I can stay under 2,000 pounds the better. Will, that means I need a VERY lightweight trailer BEFORE I put anything in it, because it has to weigh under 2,500 pounds AFTER I load me and my stuff into it! So that drastically limits the trailer options out there for me. Now if having a big trailer with a lot of space was a high priority for me, I would have to sell the Volvo and get a car or truck with better towing capacity. But for me, keeping this car is more important to me than having a lot of space in the trailer, thus in my case at least, the smaller the trailer the better. I'm still looking at trailers at this point and right now Thor's T@B and T@-DAH are looking like my best options, because they are small, lightweight, designed to be towed by compact cars, and fit my personal needs. So, yeah, if you will be towing, you have to consider the car/truck you already have and wither or not you are keeping or trading, and match your trailer to what your car can handle. I mean, the last thing you want to do is overload your car and have to buy a new transmission!
As a general rule the more income/savings you have, the bigger you can go. But than again, why do you want to be a fulltimer? Are you planning to do a lot of wilderness boondocking? If so, a car and tent will suit your needs, as the dirt roads to get into the wilderness are not rv friendly (I know - been there, done that. Deep wilderness boondocking is my own personal style, thus why a car and a small trailer are personally best for me). Will you be going to a lot of state fairs and craft shows? If so, you'll need something with a lot of storage space, thus a bigger trailer or motorhome would be better for you.
So you see, there are a lot of variables you have to consider. Why do you want it? How much can you afford? What are your driving skills? How will you be using it? How many people/pets will be going with you? What health issues are there to think about? Where and how will you get your meals? Where and how will you sleep?
In short, no one answer is right for every one and you may have to buy and sell a few RVs to find the size and type that best suits your personal needs. What I did was to sit down a write of a list of everything I could not do without, and everything I could live without but didn't want to live without, and everything that would in some way effect my choice. In the end, I found out that for me a Volvo with a 12' trailer was more than I needed and would suit my needs perfectly. Only you can decide what it is that will best fit you.
Hope that helps.
2007 Keystone Fuzion wrote:Any regrets on saleing house to go full timing?
We didn't sell our house. Instead we rented it out, which gave us a monthly income while on the road. It also gave us the option to still have a house to go back too, should at some point we decided fulltiming wasn't for us, and we still had a permanent mailing address. (Our mail still came to 146 and the renter's mail came to the new 146-A.)
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Gone4Good
North East
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Joined: 08/25/2009
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Pros:
1) Go where you want
2) Do what you want
3) For as long as you want
Cons:
1) Space and amenity restrictions
2) Inevitable mechanical issues
For us, the pros far outweigh the cons, which can all be overcome with a little patience and flexibility.
Winnebago Sightseer 33C
Filled with the wife, cat, wine and beer.
Touring North America full-time
Blogging about it all here: http://wanderings2010.wordpress.com/
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