(or for those of you not planning to ever get another MH, what is the ONE thing that you want to add or wish you had?)
ok, start!
Mine...
- Bunkbeds!
SSSStefan
2002 Itasca Horizon 39QD with the Fatboy tires on the back!
2005 VW Passat TDI wagon - tow vehicle for the pup!
2005 Fleetwood Allegiance - popup camper
1966 GTO - super cool car as seen on Driven1
The most important thing you will ever do - Click!
DeWayne & Judy
04 3810 Dutch Star
ISL 370 9.3 mpg
Frank's autoformer
01 Sahara Jeep-toad
Blue Ox Aventa II
F 374382
This is not the "GOLDEN-YEARS", it is the "RUSTY-YEARS" !
An engine compression brake that actually works to slow the coach on grades. A second bathroom.
2008 Monaco Camelot 40PDQ, 4 slides, 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi Quadcab 4x4. Blue Ox, Garmin 7200 GPS, Doran Pressure pro on all 10, M&G Brake, 50 amp SurgeGuard, FMCA, Coachnet.
Once you're dead you have lost a very important part of your life.
All of my future RV's will have solar panels and a Olympic Catalytic Heater, because I love to boondock.
Third thing will be a inverter and enough battery power - 4 golf cart batteries is normally plenty without excessive weight.
Fifth thing is a large water tank, with a water pump accumulator so it is quiet.
Up to 7 already? A nice awning with the metal cover to protect it. My awnings are now 13 years old, and the metal cover protects them well when the awning is closed. So they still look good as new.
I could go on, such as a 1 gallon propane tank and portable BBQ. A built in BBQ might work great under some conditions, but what if the wind is coming from the wrong direction? And can you put it under the canopy when it is raining cats and dogs out?
I like the through rugs, because the dogs never seem to wipe their feet when they come in.
DSS system is what I use the most while camping. I guess I am using up all that solar power with the inverter feeding it to the TV.
I don't know if I would ever want bunk beds. I did have a cabover bunk in the class C and in my camper. I mainly used the cabover in the class C for storage, and to keep the TV up there. Kids make a difference, and makes it nice to not need to set up the dinette as a bed each night. The couch turns into a bed in a few seconds, it is easy.
I also have what I consider the ideal bathroom too. It has the shower on the drivers side, toilet towards the center, and the hallway towards the passenger side, with the sink and closet taking up 18" on the passenger wall. The hallway can be blocked off with two doors, making a really large dressing area. And the rearward door blocks off the back bedroom, while the forward door blocks off the front living area.
Another fifth wheel that I saw had a 8' square platform that folds up on the passenger side at the rear of the trailer. It has a fold down platform that allows putting in motorcycles, and the passenger side platform has a tent so it can become a porch. Nice in a area with bugs, so you can still sit outside. It would also be nice to hold a small electric car, something that would make a great vehicle for touring the local area. It is made by Glendale RV.
GlendaleRV.com also has a three bedroom two bath fifth wheel. In the back section, it has bunk beds on the passenger and drivers side that slide out, and a restroom in between that is 1/2 bath (sink and toilet). In the front is the traditional bath with shower.
You can find a lot of things in a RV. And if you can't find exactly what you want, you can take your design to Horizonsrv.com and they can make it for you!
If you were to ask me a couple of years ago, when my then 20 year old Winnebago was showing it's age, my list would have looked very much as what I see above. Last year I bought a five year old 38' Foretravel and crossed off just about every item on my list.
diesel with air ride and automatic air leveling (no jacks) ... and OUTBOARD air bags.
Allison transmission retarder (much better than a Jake Brake)
ABS disk brakes on all wheels
big inverter and lots of battery capacity
automatic satellite dish (happens to be in-motion)
large fresh water tank and better than city water flow with a quiet water pump
180 gallon diesel fuel tank
LP tap on the propane tank for the BBQ to use
gigantic walk-through bathroom with equally gigantic shower ( I could close both doors and have standing room for at least a dozen people in the bathroom, it's that big)
one-piece fiberglass roof (the Winne leaked)
Solid wood panels (the Winnie had wood grain vinyl that peeled)
Steel (semi) monocoque construction
I have room for a stacked washer/dryer, but prefer the closet space.
About the only items left on my old list that didn't get fulfilled are solar panels and Aquahot. I can add the solar later, and live without the Aquahot.
I find it interesting that some you mentioned Jake or engine brakes that work. When researching a newer motorhome to replace my aging Winnebago, I discovered the retarder. To my knowledge, Foretravel is the only manufacturer offering it, and it is one of the main reasons I bought a Foretravel. Retarders are much more effective than engine/exhaust/Jake brakes and most come with a joystick that allows you to fine-tune the amount of retarding while slowing or descending a hill. It's worth every penny.
Tom and Lynne
Tom is an Electronics Engineer, Lynne a retired teacher.
2003 Foretravel 38' U295
Same layout, but with a much higher pricetag. IOW same thing, but in "highline" class. I guess there is no practical reason to change, got this one just the way we want.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat