Hey HighwayRanger. What is the latest on breaking in the new class C? Have you had any revelations about whether to go with a 5er or motor home?

We are at Cloudland Canyon in the extreme northwest corner of Georgia this weekend. After making the tow up here, through the steep and winding roads, and then trying to find a spot big enough to get in in this state park, we are getting very confident that we do not want a rig any longer than it absolutely has to be.

Our current 5er measures 35'. We are going to set a limit of 36' for our next one (that is actual length, not brochure length). Shorter if we can get all the features we want in something smaller.

It is beautiful in places like this and I do not want to be limited in getting to them by having a rig that is too big. We would have missed a great weekend if we could not have fit in here. I can easily see myself staying in places like this up to the maximum time limit and they kick me out.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jperry29,

Well I have decided to move up my retirement to 2010 (Jan)... crunched the numbers and fiqured why wait... as much as I like my job, when I turn 65 I will have worked for Uncle Sam for 47 years and it is getting harder and harder to want to get up in the mornings... so I guess I will be moving to the class of 2010.. now I gotta get real serious about narrowing down my list of fulltime rigs and downsizing the homestead.... catch ya on the road..

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quote:

Originally posted by jperry29:
Hey HighwayRanger. What is the latest on breaking in the new class C? Have you had any revelations about whether to go with a 5er or motor home?

We are at Cloudland Canyon in the extreme northwest corner of Georgia this weekend. After making the tow up here, through the steep and winding roads, and then trying to find a spot big enough to get in in this state park, we are getting very confident that we do not want a rig any longer than it absolutely has to be.

Our current 5er measures 35'. We are going to set a limit of 36' for our next one (that is actual length, not brochure length). Shorter if we can get all the features we want in something smaller.

It is beautiful in places like this and I do not want to be limited in getting to them by having a rig that is too big. We would have missed a great weekend if we could not have fit in here. I can easily see myself staying in places like this up to the maximum time limit and they kick me out.

We're looking to be on the road in '09 and are learning as much as we can. Would love to hear what it's like (the good, the bad and the ugly) traveling with 2 large dogs. We have a German Shepherd and like you want a rig that go as many places as possible.

This is my first post on a forum. We are planning to go full-time in 2012 maybe a littler sooner, depending on DD college and perspective buy out of our stick house. We are taking a 5 week trip next month so we will get a little practice in.

Sorry about the delayed response jperry29!

We just got back from about 2 weeks in the Class C, our first long vacation. It was great! We split the driving into two 4 hour days, slept at a Flying J Travel Plaza at midnight, and rolled into our campground the next day by noon!

Half way there, we found a CampingWorld and replaced the two coach batteries. The dealer didn't PDI them worth a damn, and 2/3 of the cells were dry! We got a great deal on two 6V golf cart batteries and we were good to go (I had been wanting to buy some anyway......)

We're still stewing over the motor home vs fifth wheel decision. We still have plenty of time, so we'll go to the Pomona show again this year, and are going to start going to manufacturers to take tours of both styles of RV. We're also going to take the LOW course in AZ next March, which may help us decide. Otherwise, we'll just keep looking. It will really come down to what exactly is available for the 2010/2011 model year. We do know that we want either a 40' moho (due to easier drivers license requirements) or about a 36-37' fifth wheel with MDT/HDT.

Either style of RV we buy will have big tanks, lots of batteries, room for a roof full of solar panels, a Fiberglas roof, great insulation, double pane windows, full-body paint and a rich Cherry wood interior.

Owning the Class C has helped us see what it is like to travel in a motor home vs a trailer. Another great opportunity to sort through the options of both!

Sorry for the long gap on replies, lots of work, little R&R.

Tom & Erin: We have traveled with two fifty-pounders (always Siberian Huskies) for more years than I can remember. While they have been a big part of our family life, and not regreted having had them, when these two are gone, there will be no more.

In our years of camping with medium/large dogs in tow we have learned that where you go and activities you want to do can be quite restricted. Our camping trips have shown us that, while we can work around these obstacles for the few weeks a year that we camp, we are going to need significantly more freedom/flexibility in our fulltiming life.

Cynbran: Congrats on your first post. I think most of us in this graduating class have "IFs" that will determine the final date of fulltiming. Like you, we have two that need to finish college (one is starting her 3rd year, the other his 1st) . At the rate the older one is going the younger one will finish first!

Taking 5 weeks in a row sounds wonderful to me. I hope we get to do that in a year or two. For now our longest single trip has been 17 days.

HighwayRanger: Glad to hear you had a good trip. I hear you on the decision thing. I am glad we have that one behind us, it was agonizing while we were undecided. I still do not know if we made the right decision but having decided, good or bad, feels better.

I am right there with you on the configuration. Big tanks, big batts, solar, and artic pack. We just decided on the full body paint this spring after our rig has now gotten to the age that the vinyl trim is so horribly stained that it has to be replaced because it is not cleanable without damaging it further. We still have not found a middle ground on interior decor. But what the heck, the offerings five years from now will probably be a lot different than today.

HighwayRanger,

Are you any closer on that decision of what to buy?

Yes, and no!

The short list is getting shorter, but still consists of fivers and motorhomes. We're down to about three of each. Now, it's up to them to keep updating their products until we're ready to buy. Hopefully none of them will slip out of contention, but it would be easiest if one of them percolates to the top of the list, that way we can just roll right into the purchase. One of the fivers is currently in the overall lead!

Roy

Well class of 2012, we have nearly finished our first year since HighwayRanger made the first posting for this class.

We have had a few long range planners throw their hat in the ring. I expect more will come along as time passes.

In an earlier post I talked about stretching another 5 years out of an already 10 year old van. It seemed like a good idea almost a year ago but I may have to rethink this one as it seems to be going downhill at an accelerated rate.

But hey, we are only 5 weeks away from being able to say it is only 4 years till graduation! That's 20% of our lead time gone. Did you get the prep work done that you wanted to do?

I started some of my planned home remodeling by putting in a new wood floor in my entrance way. It was a small project, but it was a start. The wife has continued to be dilligent about getting her decades of teacher's aides out of the basement. We will have to take the work up a notch now that there is "only" 4 years left.

So, Roy, what are your top rig choices at the moment??? Realizing, of course, that they change over time....

well we are retiring on Jan 15 2012 and will be at Quartsite,just can't wait for it to happen.we will have a 5th wheel,tractor,atv and my boat just won't be able to give up my toys.

Well we set the date... at least mentally, I will quit working on 12/12/12, I figured it was double the trouble of 666.

Looking forward and can't wait.

It's a plan! Now that you have put a stake in the ground you can start working out a schedule for switching to fulltiming.

Welcome to the forum, keep hanging out here. It is a great resource.

Sorry for the late reply, Jack. The contenders are:

Fivers:
*Teton Royal 39'Laramie
*NuWa Hitchhiker Champagne 38LKTG
*Travel Supreme fiver of some sort
*Perhaps a New Horizons fiver

***MDT/HDT required for any of the above.***

Or

Motorhomes:
Tiffin Allegro Bus 42QRP
Newmar Dutch Star / Mountain Air
Travel Supreme moho of some sort

Longshot: Winnebago Vectra 40TD

Check back in a year, and I'll revise the list!

R

This message has been edited. Last edited by: HighwayRanger,

I just discovered class of 2012 and read many of the posts. 06/2012 will be our date. Turn 66 in March and will quit my job in June. We have already bought our 5ther and truck. Have taken a few trips and plan on more. The big thing for my wife is getting rid of stuff. Don't know but if nothing else, store for a couple of years and then decide what. It don't matter with me, as long as we can say good bye to the old and hello to the rest of the country. There is so much I've never seen in our great country. I can't wait to travel and see many of you along the way.
It can't come any too soon.
Have a great journey on the way there.