We’ve got a guest post today from my Dad, who recently ended a 606-day stint as a Fulltimer with my Mom. I asked him to reflect on his journey, and this is what he wrote back:

“After our full time journey in our RV, it was good when we were finally be able to settle back home in Central Arizona after visiting 26 states over the course of 606 days.

Would we do it all over again? It’s hard to say. We experienced the majesty of driving the coast of Big Sur, and we walked among the mighty redwoods of Northern California. We huddled in our 5th wheel as a Category 2 hurricane passed over our campground on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and we marveled at the splendor of the mammoth caves in Kentucky. We spent way too many noisy nights at “Camp Wal-Mart”, and way too few glorious nights at 5 Star RV resorts. We dined at 68 different Cracker Barrel restaurants, and used our oven in our RV exactly once. We had no traffic incidents, accidents, dents, flats, or scrapes, but we blew out our black water holding tank in a campground in Jacksonville, Florida because I wasn‘t paying attention to details! Our 2004 Ford 6.0L diesel blew a head gasket just outside of Truth or Consequences, NM and left us stranded there for 6 weeks, But… Truth or Consequences ended up being the best town we visited, with absolutely wonderful people, great BBQ, and delightful hot spring soaks under star studded nighttime skies! Through our journey, there were times we cried tears of laughter, and there were times when we cried tears of despair.

Our GPS was the best investment we ever made, and $4.00/gal diesel fuel was the worst.

We walked the quiet Florida beaches at sunrise, and held hands under the starry skies in Texas. The last night we spent in our 5th wheel was our second best night, and the day we sold our RV was actually sweeter than the day we bought it.

So… would we do it all over again? We’re just too close to look at the whole experience objectively, but IF we did it again, we’d do it a little smarter next time, a little sweeter next time, a little less hurried next time, we’d be more prepared next time, with a much bigger budget, and we‘d do it in a quality Class A RV with a small car in tow.”

A big thanks goes out to my Dad, Nick Spencer, for so graciously contributing his thoughts to FulltimerBlog.  Thanks!

-Brad

All of us have been through this before… you decided to get an RV but are overwhelmed by the sheer number of styles- let alone makes and models. There are too many “ifs, ands & buts” to make a clear decision this early in your learning curve. So, how do you choose the best one?

In my opinion, the 5th Wheel (or Fifth Wheel) offers a lot of advantages that the other styles do not. Actually, I believe there are 4.5 compelling reasons to consider a 5th Wheel over the main competitors; Class A B and C’s, Travel Trailers, Campers, Camper Vans, Slide-Ins, SURV, or Buses.

Without further ado, here are the 4.5 Reasons to Buy a Fifth Wheel as your RV:

1. You don’t have a cabin ruining your space.

You are only using the cabin while you are driving, which is a rare time in most RVers vacation. So, why have your whole RV built around your cabin? Why not make better use of that space and put a couch or desk up there instead? In a 5th-Wheel, you can!

2. More layout options:

Since you don’t have all of the engine, transmissions, and more, you can design your space to work better for you. There are so many ways a fifth-wheel can be set up, you can find a style that suits you better than in a classic RV.

3. No Need to Tow Another Vehicle:

You have a separate vehicle already with you all the time. All you have to do is unhitch your 5th Wheel and you are off the grocery, a restaurant, or a night on the town. Never worry about your tow dolly, a car-in-tow, or pulling a second vehicle like you would have to with an RV.

4. Provides Better Value:

You already have a truck, so why buy a whole new engine, transmission, and all of that? Using your truck to pull means there is one less vehicle to worry about in your life. Less worry means more time to sit back and enjoy your new 5th Wheel.

4.5 Easier to Inspect and Buy:

You don’t need quite as much information when looking to buy one of these used. Actually, as long as you use your noggin and a good Used RV Buying Guide, you should have no trouble getting a good deal on one of these. But, make sure to get a good buying guide or you might get a lemon!

A few years back I had the bad luck of going to a campsite that made my question my decision to be an RV lover. Despite all the research I had done, when I reached the campground we were headed to after a LONG day on the road, we discovered a campground that didn’t even resemble what we had been told.

The “hotel-like amenities” was more like a wooden shed. The “pool and pond” was more like a dirty lake that even the kids were afraid to enter. The “restaurant” made McDonald’s look like a 5-Star restaurant, and the noise from a near-by freeway was unbearable.

It was anything but relaxing. And- there was a no-refund policy.

My point is, you’ve got to do the right kind of research before you commit to a place to vacation- even if it’s just a weekend. In order to research right, you’ve got to know what to look for. Without further ado, here is my 4.5 Tips to Finding the Best RV Campground for Your Road Travels:

1. Ask Question On The Phone About Price, Discounts on Long Stays, and If They Can Accommodate the Size of your RV:

These are all crucial questions that you can ask. Also, consider asking for a reduction in price if you don’t need cable, internet, or a dump station.

2. Do They Allow Pets?

If you’ve got dogs (or any type of pet) in transit with you, you need a place that will allow pets. A complete write-up on tips and tricks for RVing with pets is something you should really check out if you travel with dogs and other pets a lot. One great place to read up on traveling with pets is here.

3. What Activities Do They Have?

They might have a pool, lake, activities department, arcade, restaurants, or hiking trails. But you’ll never know if you don’t ask. And planned activities can make a rainy weekend still a bunch of fun for the kids.

4. Do They Have Internet?

This might not seem like a big deal- but my business is run from computer, and Internet is crucial for me to receive Email, surf the Web, and get news. If you don’t use the internet in your RV yet, you are missing a whole part of RVing. If you want to learn more about using the Internet in Your RV, check out this guide.

4.5 Do They Accept Mail?

If you are going to be at the campground for a long time- like over a winter- does the campground accept snail-mail? Some do, some don’t. Getting this figured out may save you the need to get a PO Box each time you move locations.

A great question I recently heard is:

“What is the best model to buy if I want a 5th Wheel RV?”

My Two Cents:

5th Wheels are something that you have to pick based on some of your priorities. For instance, I found someone that just loves their Montana Fifth Wheel because it has a large desk…

I would suggest going out to the RV Dealer and looking for one yourself. See what fits you right. You are the one that is going to be using it, and each and every person lives in their space differently.

Have you thought about buying used? You can save a lot in depreciation and the first owners have usually corrected the things that inevitably gone wrong in the first few monthes or years of the 5th Wheel’s life.

Whether you decide to buy used for new, it’s always wise to educate yourself on how to buy an RV with wisdom and save a few bucks.

There are two great books on the subject:

The first book is the Used RV Buying Guide. The guy who wrote this has been working on RV’s for years and even has a “Spot the RV Problem” quiz on this site.

The second good buy is Malia’s RV Checklists which cover everything you need to know BEFORE and AFTER the RV purchase. Very good information at this site.