We retired 9 years ago and have been RVing during this time. We had remodeled our house of 30 years for retirement but after several years found that it was just to big. To much to keep up, so we downsized to a smaller two bedroom home. We had a 40 foot motor home and liked it a lot, but this year we down size to a fiver. First it cost less, turn the pick-up when not towing only get 18 mpg, (our Jeep only got 19), 11 towing about the same as our MH. With the cost of diesel we have found ways to conserve, (like staying longer in one spot), but still want to RV.
I miss the MH, but we are pleased with the fiver. I don’t have as much outside storage as before, put I’m not taking as much STUFF. Inside we as much if not more, makes the wife happy. Driving it down the road, thou not as smooth is easy, and I’m getting the hang of backing it in. True the quality is not as nice as the HM, but it’s not bad for the price and we are enjoying it. The main difference we see is the fiver has more movement, we can feel it move just walking around inside. Didn’t have that with the HM and I know there are some things we can do to help, the fact is it’s not all that bad.
Over all I’m glad we are finding ways to conserve so we can still keep RVing for a few more years.
Jim & Jane
2008 Cardinal 30TS
Trail Air Pin Box, Air Suspension, Smartair Air Spring Self Leveling, Reese Signature Series 18K hitch
2008 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4x4 Duramax/Allison Ext Cab Long box Use And Promote CB Channel 13
i'm 72 and i feel that we will downsize to a short c with slides.i am on my 6th mh and hope i dont have to give up rving completely.not ready yet tho....
enjoy yourself its later than you think......al in coastal n.c.2003 32s fiesta.
We are not full-timers and will not be when we retire. For us, our coach is our summer vacation home (primarily parked at a terrific campground) and will become our "snowbird escape pod" when we retire in September, 2009. Should we decide that we want to spend more time traveling to see kids and grandkids (who "conveniently" live on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts!) and exploring the country in between, I think it highly likely that economic realities and physical limitations we force us to downsize to something more fuel efficient and convenient.
As someone who has endured multiple eye surgeries and now has 20/20 vision as the result of Grace and the skill of several amazing surgeons; as one who is experiencing the slow but undeniable deterioration of my physical capacities; and as one who is fully cognizant of the impact of the various meds I take to keep my "numbers" in the correct ranges, I fully appreciate Chuck's (Bagman's) comments and concerns.
My guess is that, with the exception of annual "snowbird treks" south in the fall and back north in the spring and occasional other trips of modest duration, we will choose a more "settled" lifestyle and keep the coach we now own and love. Of course, the ultimate decision will be made by my DW and is subject to change at any moment!
Bill
Bill & Ann
2007 Tiffin Phaeton 40QDH
2007 Jeep Liberty
Our "Cat Rescue Girls", Sadie and Aimee
We wont downsize as long as Im alive...and the wife and I talked about what to do after I die. I THOUGHT she might like something such as a "Born Free" sort of thing ( 1 piece FG body style) and she said no.she would keep what WE presently have and pay someone to teach her how to drive it.
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
2002 Jeep Liberty
Bill, we have the same MH as we have a 2004 Allegro Bay 37DB and my only complaint is the somewhat smallish shower enclosure! Other than that, it is a very livable MH for extended stays. Thanks for adding to this thread and to all the other posters, I appreciate your thoughtful comments. Chuck/Bagman.
I'm new to rv'ing in general. I bought a Fleetwood class c(no rear bed) v10 on E350 to see if I would use it and if I really liked to camp. Had a small area around bunk that hit a tree and I repaired it, but wanted something newer and cheap to test out, before I spent more. After going out several times in it I had to have something bigger. Was so cramped and beds felt horrible.
Went out and bought a 32 foot Itasca Sunrise and love it..took me a few days to get used to the turning and backing up..and watching the lanes on the highway, but overall very happy now and sleep better.
I do miss the excellent car like brakes on the class c and the 12+ mpg, but I take the new one a little slower and only lose about 2 mpg, well worth the confort.
I can see with age how much more difficult driving a big rig could be, I think if I was going to downsize for this reason my main objective would be to get the one that is not as wide(like the new dodge chassis ones). With me it's the width that is the main worry.
I dumped my first type A, to big and to much house keeping, we're long timers not full timers. For us the limitations of a 36 ft Mh were to much and the housekeeping made travel to much work for my wife. We currently have two type A motor homes, one 28 ft and one 31ft, neither has slides and both are paid off older gassers. While gas mileage could be better, the higher cost of gas is more than offset by having no payments and minimal depreciation.
With a smaller rig we can stay on the road for several months, go where we want and mostly dry camp/boondock, come home for a while and go back out as we chose. A hard choice will have to be made when I finish restoring the latest motor home, which one to keep. Keeping the total investment in a rig down allows for much less stress and worry. Having restored and upgraded the motor home I know the shape it's in and have what I want, I have no expectations of breaking even on either rig, but that was never the idea.
30ft motor home pulling a Suzuki Samurai, base cost of $9,000 for MH and toad, with another $10,000 of upgrades, mods and repairs. Mileage of about 12 mpg and goes anywhere I want.
We downsized eight years ago, but only because we bought a park model. If we still had our DP today, we would not try to sell it. For one thing, there are too many used Class A's on the market. For another thing, it was paid for and we'd probably have to spend more $$ moving 'down'. We would likely spend more time in one place and would enjoy the comfort and space of a big rig.
Husband: Derek
Dog: Bucky
RV: 2000 Aerolite 19RB TT
TV: 1996 Chevrolet Blazer 6 cyl. 4WD
This car used to be our toad, now is our TV!
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