| A couple of years ago my wife and I decided we | | | | We currently have a fifth wheel. Ours is from Jayco |
| were going to travel the US in a semi-retired state. | | | | and is 38 feet long with 3 slides. One slide is in the |
| We kicked out the kids (all over 21), sold our home | | | | bedroom, the other two slides are in the living room |
| and purchased an RV. Well live situations change and | | | | one on each side of the trailer. After almost 3 years |
| we didn't get on the road, at least not yet. We | | | | in the RV as full-timers, we both love it. My wife likes |
| ended up staying in the area and taking full time jobs. | | | | to say it takes less than an hour to clean from front |
| But we decided at the time to stay in the RV as | | | | to back, floor to ceiling. |
| full-timers. | | | | Let's start with the financial side of living in a RV. You |
| The purpose of the article is to offer some insight as | | | | have the cost of the RV. These are to be treated |
| to the possibilities of using RV's instead of | | | | just like cars. If you buy new, you will take a beating |
| apartments and the advantages of Rving. First a little | | | | on depreciation. However, like a home, the interest is |
| background for those that are not familiar with the | | | | tax deductible. So the best deal seems to be a unit |
| Recreational Vehicle (RV) terms. RVs are classified | | | | that is a year or two old and financed. If you want |
| into several different categories. | | | | to buy new, figure a discount of about 25-30% off |
| Class A are the bus like vehicles you see traveling | | | | from the list price. Our unit was a 2003 still on the lot |
| down the road. These are also called Motorhomes | | | | in 2005 with the 2006 units being delivered. The |
| and for good reason. Class A's are the cream of the | | | | sticker price was over $65,000. We paid $40,000 |
| crop so to speak. They are the most expensive in | | | | saving us about 38 percent. Now at the time we did |
| terms of cost but have the most storage and | | | | not have a tow vehicle so the dealer delivered the |
| amenities. I have seen some really nice Class A's and | | | | fifth wheel to a near by campground. |
| when it comes time for us to upgrade or trade in our | | | | Oak Grove in Hatfield, PA is a year round |
| current RV we will be looking at the Class A again. | | | | campground. This is important. You want to find a |
| However, my tastes start in the $250,000 range, | | | | campground that offers year round operations. You |
| which is a little hard for me to justify. | | | | don't want to have to move out in the wintertime. A |
| Next are Class B, these are mini motorhomes. They | | | | lot of camp grounds close from November to March |
| are built on a light to medium truck chassis and can | | | | or early April. When we started there our rent was |
| be identified by the truck cab appearance of the | | | | $375 a month and included water and electric. Our |
| vehicle. In my opinion, these will not be suitable for | | | | only other expense was propane for heating and hot |
| full time use unless you really like small places. Some | | | | water. Oak Grove supplied 2- 100 lb propane tanks |
| newer Class Bs are including what are called slides | | | | and they automatically changed the tanks for us. This |
| which are sections of the RV that 'slide out' from the | | | | is really nice, kind of like automatic oil delivery when |
| body giving you more living space inside. Living space | | | | you own a house. During the warmer months we |
| is what you will be looking for in the long run. | | | | hardly use any propane, maybe a bottle every other |
| After the Class B comes Fifth Wheels. Fifth Wheels | | | | month if that. However, wintertime we will use 3-4 |
| are trailers that are pulled by pickup trucks. So to get | | | | bottles a month due to the heater. Currently propane |
| a fifth wheel you will also need a pickup truck of | | | | runs about $50 a bottle. So from the standpoint of |
| appropriate size. I would figure at least a ¾ | | | | renting an apartment to living in an RV expenses are |
| ton pickup. Fifth wheels offer an advantage over | | | | normally cheaper. My daughter pays $750 a month |
| Class A and Class B in that once you have the fifth | | | | for an apartment near us and we pay on average |
| wheel set up on a campsite, the truck is detached | | | | $425-450. |
| and can be used as a means of transportation. With | | | | Other benefits of living in a RV - people! The people |
| Class A & B RV's you will need to either tow or | | | | you find camping are the most wonderful folks you |
| bring another vehicle with you to get around. Fifth | | | | will ever come across. They are friendly, helpful, |
| wheels approach the Class A RV in amenities and in | | | | young at heart and just plain nice to be around. We |
| some cases have more space. Dollar for dollar you | | | | have been avid campers since before we were |
| will get more living space in a fifth wheel than a Class | | | | married. I used to sneak down to DE where my wife |
| A. | | | | (girlfriend at the time) and her family were camping |
| However, you do need an expensive tow vehicle | | | | and pitch a tent, then make myself part of the |
| (truck) which has to be considered as part of the | | | | family. In the almost 40 years we have been |
| purchase. The fifth wheel is also part of a class | | | | together and camping we have never met anyone |
| considered as 'Towables'. The next 'towable' is the | | | | that was rude, a thief, or not willing to lend a hand if |
| travel trailer (TT). These are similar to the fifth wheel | | | | asked. In fact we have had more offers of help |
| except in the connections to the tow vehicle. With | | | | without asking than anytime we lived in a house or |
| TT you connect to a hitch that sits near the bumper | | | | apartment. |
| of the vehicle. Hence, just about any vehicle has the | | | | It's funny, but when I traveled and stayed at hotels, |
| capabilities of towing a TT depending on size and | | | | you almost felt like a ghost or leopard or something. |
| weight of course. Class A, Fifth Wheels and Travel | | | | Heaven forbid if you said 'hi' to someone in the |
| Trailers are the 3 main RV that you will find people | | | | elevator or hallway. But when camping, everyone |
| living in on a fulltime basis. After the TT comes the | | | | waves as you walk by, some will offer drinks or |
| camper class. These are light weight RV really not | | | | have you sit by the fire and chat for hours. Its like |
| suitable for full time, however, I have met people | | | | we are all family. |
| that are full-timers in pop-ups, truck campers and | | | | Speaking of fires, what is it about a campfire? To sit |
| even tents. The top of the line for the camper class | | | | down at night around a nice campfire is so relaxing. |
| is probably the truck campers. | | | | Nothing needs to be said, just watch the flames and |
| These are units that slide into the bed of a pickup | | | | it seems all the stress just floats away. But |
| truck. In general, the max length is no more than 12 | | | | campfires have another benefit, food. Nothing tastes |
| feet from front to back and maybe 10 feet side to | | | | better than food cooked over an open fire. Try |
| side. They are very compact. These offer the | | | | doing that in an apartment. |
| ultimate in freedom, in that they are quick to setup | | | | Rving has another benefit, vacations. If you live in an |
| and take down so that you can move quickly from | | | | apartment, you vacation consist of going to a |
| place to place. However, just like the class A & | | | | destination, finding a hotel/motel, eating out every |
| B, your home is also your transportation, unless you | | | | meal, and taking enough clothes with you for the |
| bring another vehicle with you. The last group of | | | | length of the vacation. When you live in a RV, your |
| towables is the popup or tent trailers. These have a | | | | home goes with you. 30-40 minutes to pack the RV, |
| study box frame and as the name implies pop up or | | | | disconnect the utilities and hook up to the truck and |
| lift up to raise the roof over the frame. This class of | | | | you are on the road. When you get to your vacation |
| campers usually have soft sides made of cloth. I | | | | destination, another 30-40 minutes and you are ready |
| have used popups for years as an alternative to | | | | to enjoy the sites. Meals are not a problem, you |
| hotels while on assignments around the country. Even | | | | have a complete kitchen already stocked just like at |
| did some camping in the middle of winter with snow | | | | home, since it is home. On a special diet? No problem, |
| on the ground in a popup. Needless to say, a heater | | | | you normal routine is uninterrupted. Clothes get dirty, |
| was required and it ran all day and all night. At night it | | | | a lot of RV come with washers and dryers, so you |
| wasn't able to keep up with the cold so the morning | | | | can do your laundry while relaxing in the evenings or |
| was a little fun getting out of bed. It was 20 degrees | | | | before you get started for the day. Rving is usually |
| outside and about 50 inside. | | | | cheaper too. When you compare the expenses you |
| That is a basic overview of the types of RV's | | | | will find the RV trip is a lot cheaper than hotel |
| available. As mentioned before, Class A, Fifth wheel | | | | restaurant trip. |
| and Travel Trailers are the units that most people will | | | | These are just a few of the things to consider when |
| find suitable for full-time living. | | | | you look at living in an apartment verse living in a RV. |
| Our experiences with living full-time in an RV. | | | | I hope you have found the information useful. |