Full Time RV Life

Since this commonly asked question can be a touchy subject with some people, it needs its own section!  Many people seem to think that the one that they have is the best one.  Even if it is the best for them, it's not for everyone.  Everyone has different tastes and needs.  Whatever you buy - enjoy it!  Since we’re talking full time RVing here, let’s start with three basic models.  I’ll list the advantages and disadvantages of each as best I can.  These are just my and some of my friend’s opinions.

 

There are several things you should know before you start. 

1. Some manufacturers rate their products (or certain models) as recreational vehicle only.  That means if you live in it full time, you void the warranty (See Trailer Life Feb. 2009 pages 15 & 16).  Can you still get warranty if they find out you are full time?  Maybe.  I’m sure some do and some don’t.  This is just something you should know. Some might consider that if an RV isn’t rated for full time, it may not be built as well and therefore not take the wear and tear of using it every day.  

2. The second thing you should know probably isn’t as common as the first, but it happened to us.  We bought a new motorhome and decided to upgrade within 5 months.  The manufacturer wouldn’t transfer the warranty to the second owner because the vehicle was resold.  They simply canceled it. I asked them if that was legal and they said that is just their policy.  Let me just say that we were creative with the situation....

3. Buy the rig you really need (or want) if you can afford it.  Trading often will cost you much more in the end.  We purchased a new starter motorhome to use for recreation. Within five months we decided to go full time and upgraded.  Although we used the rig for five months and put 5,500 miles on it, we sold it for $1,000 less than we paid for it.  Normally that just doesn’t happen.  We had gotten a super deal when we bought it.  Count on losing thousands of dollars when you trade.

4. Live within your means.  This obviously means different things to different people.   An Amish friend once told me, “Sometimes I get my wants and my needs confused."  That’s something we can all relate to at one time or another.  You may have the money to trade every year.  Congratulations!  That is great!  Or you may have to buy used.  No problem - have fun regardless of what you buy.  I am surprised at how many people I’ve heard say, “I bought more than I can afford, but we’ll worry about that later."  It’s probably not my place to go on about it.  All I’m saying is, if you have discretion, use it.

5. "Upside Down" is a term you may not understand in this context.  It is what happens when you owe more on an RV than it’s worth.  If you put 20% down on a $100,000 unit, that’s $20,000. You now owe $80,000.  The day you drive the rig off the lot, it might not be worth much more than that.  If you get a long-term loan, you are paying mostly interest and very little principle at first.  When the worth of the RV becomes less than you owe, you are upside down.  It would be logical to try to avoid this - we’ve listened to people tell some real horror stories.  It is important to remember that the worth of a stick-built home will usually go up over the years, but EVERY RV WILL GO DOWN IN VALUE.  Understand this and don’t get in over your head.

 

Travel Trailer (TT)

This is a pull type bumper hitch unit.  You may think you can’t full time in one but we have met people who are doing it.

• Low cost

• Lightweight

• Low Height

• Easy to get into small camp spaces

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• Can sway and be trickier to tow than a 5th wheel

• Longer towing length than a 5th wheel of the same square footage

•  May lack in basement storage

• More involved to set up than a MH

• Can you back a trailer up?

 

5TH Wheel​

• Efficient use of space above tow vehicle

• Lower cost than motorhome

• Easy to tow (doesn’t sway like travel trailer)

• Lots of basement storage

• Makes sense if you already own a truck to tow it

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• Bedroom & bath are usually up some stairs

• More involved to set up than a MH

• The truck used to tow it is a bit large and unwieldy for everyday driving

• Can you back a trailer up?

 

Motorhome (MH)​

• Easy set up.  There’s always the person that says a TT or 5TH wheel is as easy, but it’s just not so.  If it’s raining, I pull in, put the slides out, set the automatic jacks and I’m done.  I don’t even have to go outside.

• You can access food, restroom, bed, and rear TV while traveling (this may be a factor for you if you have medical needs)

• Usually a generator is standard equipment which can be a plus

• Generally have longer engine & transmission warranties than pickup trucks

• Lots of basement storage space

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• 2 engines to maintain (MH & towed vehicle)

• More expensive to purchase than TT or 5TH Wheel

• If drive train broke down and your MH is in the shop, where would you stay? (Although most shops usually will have the MH outside at night so you can sleep in it)

• May be intimidating for some to drive

 

There are several factors that could help you decide.  If you travel a lot, a MH is very convenient due to the accessibility to things while driving and easier set up.  If you travel a little and stay set up a long time, then a 5TH wheel or TT may be the ticket.  Cost is also an issue.  I think we could have bought a pickup and 5TH wheel comparable to our MH in quality for about $70,000.00 less.

 

Trailer Behind Motorhome

Kim and I chose to purchase a trailer to pull behind the MH.  It is 102” wide and 20’ long.  It has a work bench with tool storage drawers, cabinets with lots of shop supplies, a hammock with frame, 2 bicycles, a mini golf cart called a Cricket, and our Mazda Miata.  We had our trailer custom built with a ramp door for the rear and a 4’ side door so a motorcycle or ATV will fit in.   We spoke to people with and without trailers and decided to go this route.  If you go this route, be sure to put a clear film on the front of the trailer to prevent stone chips.  If I had it to do over, I’d consider a taller stackable unit.  I didn’t buy one because of the expense and weight.  The trailer costs more than a tow set up for a car, but a car tow setup is about $1,000 for the tow kit and $1,000 for the braking equipment (that is necessary by law).  Our trailer has electric brakes and works off a brake actuator, which is actually really simple to hook and unhook.  The rear camera on the coach tilts down electronically so I can see to back up myself.  We ordered it with an electric jack so the coach auxiliary power raises and lowers the tongue with a flip of a switch.  A friend in the RV painting business in Goshen, IN painted the trailer to match our MH.  His name is Phil Herr and his number is 574-534-1784.  We like the trailer for several reasons:

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• Lots of storage space for tools (we don’t have a house, so this is my garage)

• Easy to back up (a towed car can only be backed a few feet)

• Our car is always clean when we arrive and not nicked up

• It just looks great!

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• More side clearance needed for turns than a towed vehicle

• More expensive than tow equipment for a car

• Need a longer space for the rig

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A lot of people wonder where we find a place to park the rig.  We traveled the USA for eleven months and never had to unhook the trailer at a campground.  How’d we do it?  We purchased the “Big Rigs Best Bets” book and it has been great.  They go to each park and measure every space so we know how long it actually is (many campgrounds are wrong in their measurements).  They also tell you the best directions to the park.  It’s a bit pricey, so just ask for it for Christmas.  If you’re like me, I don’t need anything else anyway. 

Incidentally, you might want to check state laws about overall vehicle length.  We are just under 65’.  That gets us by in most states.  I’ve met people who are over the legal length and have never been stopped, but I also met a guy who bought a new Toterhome rig (semi tractor with an RV built on) and trailer in his home town of Chicago, Illinois. On his first visit to his vacation home in Michigan, he was stopped by a policeman and told if he ever brought it back to that state, he would be ticketed.  He went back to the dealer and made him buy the trailer back.  There are many units going down the road over-length.  We just decided to stay under 65’.  In over 30,000 miles of travel, we’ve never been stopped.  Mirrors that stick out in front are considered a safety device and are not included in the length measurement.  You can go to towingworld.com and find the combined length laws of each state at http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm.

 

What did we look for in a Motorhome?

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We lived in Goshen, Indiana which is where 70% of the RVs in the world are made.  We had lots of choices.  I looked for a manufacturer where I liked the people who worked there.  Being local, I knew that not all plants have Amish employees as some people think.  I’ve met people who bought a brand because of the Amish craftsmanship and I know there isn’t a single Amish guy in the factory ( but I don’t tell them).  I wasn’t necessarily looking for “Amish craftsmanship” as much as I was a good crew of people.  Being from the area, there are certain brands I personally wouldn’t purchase.  I know of a plant that had a drug test one day for everyone and 70% of their work force failed - so they did nothing.  I wouldn’t purchase from them.  I would recommend going through the plant and getting a “feel” for the people who work there. I met a guy who had a motorhome, toured the plant, and then sold his motorhome because of the caliber of workers they had.  Kind of extreme, but if you get a chance, tour the plant before you buy.  We toured three plants, each about 20 minutes from our home.  Here is the list of things Kim and I wanted:

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• All the amenities I need, but I don’t care to pay for glitz

• One piece windshield (we had a MH without it and didn’t care for it).  The one piece windshield makes scenery look like a picture window instead of having a windshield divider and wipers in your view.

• Side swinging outer doors (instead of top swinging).  I don’t care to crouch under an open door.

• Smart steering wheel (don’t have to take my eyes off the road if the controls are easy to reach).  This includes cruise, wipers, and headlight / taillight flash buttons.

• I wanted to be able to see the gauges through the steering wheel (it’s amazing how many companies don’t design for this)

• At least 400 HP - I have a friend who owned a major RV company and has RV’d for many years.  He told me he always drove an RV that was underpowered and as a result, he was tired when he got there.  Lugging up hills wore him out as he was mentally pulling with the engine.  He didn’t realize this until he purchased an RV with a large engine and he now arrives to his destination less tired and fatigued.  A larger engine doesn’t necessarily mean less mileage.  I also figure it will be better for resale.

 

Note: It has been my experience that they don’t put big engines in less expensive motorhomes.  We had to find a MH that had what we wanted with the size engine we wanted.  Most manufacturers were putting a 330 HP engine in the price range we were looking at.  Our rig and trailer weighs in just under 40,000 pounds and we are very content with 400 HP.  With 1200 foot pounds of torque (this is the measurable twisting power of the engine), few grades cause the engine to lose momentum.  Our break in is still happening at 30,000 miles.  When new, mileage was 7 MPG and as the engine gets broke in the mileage is increasing.   Our last tank was 9.2 MPG.   We are content with that.

 

What about Repairs?

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Interior longevity is usually not as big of an issue as exterior longevity.  Tires need replacing regardless of tread in around seven years.  Roof joints need to be cleaned and caulked.  A motorhome is a car, power company, theatre, water company, and sewer company all at once - rolling down the road taking on .3 on the Richter scale.  Things will need attention periodically.

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