Class A motor home

[cooperhawk]

If we are north in the freezing zone we winterize and use the campground shower until we get south. Otherwise we keep the water tank full and the water heater on. We always use the shower in the MH as well as the toilet.

Our unit is pretty well insulated and we have spent time in the snow and temps in the twenties with the water heater on. It usually happens when we are on our way south.

[Sir Henry]

If we are north in the freezing zone we winterize and use the campground shower until we get south. Otherwise we keep the water tank full and the water heater on. We always use the shower in the MH as well as the toilet.

Our unit is pretty well insulated and we have spent time in the snow and temps in the twenties with the water heater on. It usually happens when we are on our way south.

Thanks. I talked to the salesperson about this and he said they don’t need to be winterized if you are living in them. He did mention it takes shore power or a lot of fuel idling if you aren’t driving. I think what he was telling me is I don’t have too but it’s a good idea.

[cooperhawk]

Fuel cost per mile: I’m wondering how far I can go with a monthly fuel budget of $1K. What is the cost of diesel in your area? What about DEF costs?

Diesel here is around $3.50 a gallon. We get 8 MPG towing a car. We don't use DEF so I can't answer that.
$1000.00 should buy somewhere near 300 gallons. At 8 MPG you should get 2400 miles.

What we do is make a long trip out of getting south of the snow line and then we take our time. We stay a few days and then move a few hundred miles to our next stop. In other words we just roam around and don't put on many miles after we get south.

[cooperhawk]

Thanks. I talked to the salesperson about this and he said they don’t need to be winterized if you are living in them. He did mention it takes shore power or a lot of fuel idling if you aren’t driving. I think what he was telling me is I don’t have too but it’s a good idea.

If you're talking about the Forza I believe they have the Aqua Hot system which heats the floor and puts some heat in the compartments. We don't have that, but our heat is ducted under the floor as well so it puts heat in the compartments.

We just carry some gallon jugs of water while we're winterized and still use the toilet and heat water on the stove for washing.

[Sir Henry]

Fuel cost per mile: I’m wondering how far I can go with a monthly fuel budget of $1K. What is the cost of diesel in your area? What about DEF costs?

Diesel here is around $3.50 a gallon. We get 8 MPG towing a car. We don't use DEF so I can't answer that.
$1000.00 should buy somewhere near 300 gallons. At 8 MPG you should get 2400 miles.

What we do is make a long trip out of getting south of the snow line and then we take our time. We stay a few days and then move a few hundred miles to our next stop. In other words we just roam around and don't put on many miles after we get south.

I think I’ll adopt that style. It’s how I travel in my teardrop. I figured $4.00 per gallon and 6 mpg. So $1000 will only buy me 250 gallons and at 6 mpg I can go 1,500 miles. I like you figures better.

[GeoBoy]

Gene, if your set on a motor home look at these, www.renegaderv.com .

[Sir Henry]

Thanks. I talked to the salesperson about this and he said they don’t need to be winterized if you are living in them. He did mention it takes shore power or a lot of fuel idling if you aren’t driving. I think what he was telling me is I don’t have too but it’s a good idea.

If you're talking about the Forza I believe they have the Aqua Hot system which heats the floor and puts some heat in the compartments. We don't have that, but our heat is ducted under the floor as well so it puts heat in the compartments.

We just carry some gallon jugs of water while we're winterized and still use the toilet and heat water on the stove for washing.

I think he said it did have the Aqua Hot.

[cooperhawk]

If you buy something like that spend a week hanging around the dealers area checking out all the systems.
That way if something needs updating or work you're where you need to be.

[Sir Henry]

Gene, if your set on a motor home look at these, www.renegaderv.com .

I like their slogan “meant to be driven”.

[cooperhawk]

I really like the so called "Super Cs", but that cab foreword does take up some living space and it's not as quiet as
a rear engine. Other than that they probably are easier to transition into as it's more like driving a truck.

[Sir Henry]

If you buy something like that spend a week hanging around the dealers area checking out all the systems.
That way if something needs updating or work you're where you need to be.

When I tool delivery of my teardrop it was an all day class. One on one as I was the only one taking delivery. Finally around 8 pm I said “Cary I gotta go”. He is know for keeping you late.

[Sir Henry]

I really like the so called "Super Cs", but that cab foreword does take up some living space and it's not as quiet as
a rear engine. Other than that they probably are easier to transition into as it's more like driving a truck.

I drove a Volvo long haul and it was quiet. I had a Crown Victory at the time and it was just as quiet. Fully loaded it road like a flying carpet. Empty it was like riding a bucking bronco.

[Sir Henry]

Should I be concerned about the door being in front or behind the passenger seat?

[cooperhawk]

I drove a Volvo long haul and it was quiet. I had a Crown Victory at the time and it was just as quiet. Fully loaded it road like a flying carpet. Empty it was like riding a bucking bronco.

In my younger days I too drove long haul semis. Everything from short nose diesels to cab overs. I drove them all. Transitioning to a MH should be no problem for you. It really is a big purchase, so take your time and get something that feels right for you. Lots of folks compromise and end up trading up in a few months. Remember, driving is a small part of it. In fact the smallest. It's your comfort when parked that's important.

I have a lot of friends who go to Arizona and set up on govt land. Then they can shoot guns, ride four wheelers, ect.
Also just outside of Phoenix I have friends who winter in the area and drive out to the desert to shoot.

I sure don't want to talk you into something that you will hate, so think long and hard about this. It's a life style change for sure.

[cooperhawk]

Should I be concerned about the door being in front or behind the passenger seat?

Our last motorhome had a mid chassis door and the present one has a passenger seat door. The passenger door has a sliding
floor that covers the space when on the road if someone is riding there.
It really doesn't make a lot of difference to me.

[Sir Henry]

I drove a Volvo long haul and it was quiet. I had a Crown Victory at the time and it was just as quiet. Fully loaded it road like a flying carpet. Empty it was like riding a bucking bronco.

In my younger days I too drove long haul semis. Everything from short nose diesels to cab overs. I drove them all. Transitioning to a MH should be no problem for you. It really is a big purchase, so take your time and get something that feels right for you. Lots of folks compromise and end up trading up in a few months. Remember, driving is a small part of it. In fact the smallest. It's your comfort when parked that's important.

I have a lot of friends who go to Arizona and set up on govt land. Then they can shoot guns, ride four wheelers, ect.
Also just outside of Phoenix I have friends who winter in the area and drive out to the desert to shoot.

I sure don't want to talk you into something that you will hate, so think long and hard about this. It's a life style change for sure.

Let’s see living in a nice motor home or being homeless. Yes this is a difficult choice. Just kidding. I am being forced into buying quickly however it’s not something that just occurred to me. My plan was to buy a house and then an RV. The RV most likely would be smaller like a C or maybe even a B.

So now that buying a home is off the table till spring I might as well enjoy seeing the USA especially the east and Wisconsin in particular. I may buy a home in the spring or just motor home it for three years and then settle down.

[cooperhawk]

RVing is a life style. We have never gone full time like you are contemplating, but I wouldn't mind. Problem is Carol still works and we are involved in family stuff on the holidays, so she wants to be here for them.
We, like JE Barr have a home base and only wander in the Winter, or to special events in the Summer.
JE has set places that they go to where they have friends and are comfortable. We don't, we just travel. We've never stayed in one place long enough to get acquainted with anyone. We do end up going familiar places from year to year.
Keep in mind there are two of us. If it was just me I'm not sure what I would do.

I do think most folks do as JE does. They develop friendships and return each year to familiar places. Carol and I enjoy each others company, (well most of the time anyway ), and we like visiting battlefields and other places of interest, so we roam.

[Sir Henry]

More choices.
https://www.poulsborv.com/diesels/

[cooperhawk]

So now that buying a home is off the table till spring I might as well enjoy seeing the USA especially the east and Wisconsin in particular. I may buy a home in the spring or just motor home it for three years and then settle down.

Wisconsin is really nice, but not in the Winter unless you like to ice fish. We have done the East a few times and it was great.
WE have started from Florida and done the coast roads, done the interior up through Mississippi, and also done the "Great River Road" from Louisiana up the Mississippi River to home. There is a lot to see.

[Sir Henry]

It’s not just me coop I have a cat.

I’m ready for a change in direction. I need an adventure. I need to go places I’ve never been before. If I’m to live full time in an RV I want it to be a nice one.

On Monday I plan on returning to the dealership and if the funds are available (I close tomorrow) I will drive one home. I don’t have time to kick tires. Watch for posts on Monday of particular RVs that I might be buying that day.

I know little about these big units and will read all comments.