The big countdown is on. After discussing this option for over 18 months, we've decided to give full-time RVing a go. We are C&J, a mild manner couple with 2 standard poodles. We'll be traveling about in our 5th wheel camper. Some of you may want to know a bit of our back story into RVing; this blog will cover some of that.
It all started about 5 years ago, we took a mini-vacation back to a romantic B&B. While there, we got talking with another couple who were also guests of the property and learned that he was a sales rep for A-Liner campers. We spent an afternoon discussing the units with them. On our return home, we decided to try camping for our own and located a dealer who rented units. We brought the rental A-Liner home and parked it in the backyard to give it a try. Our plan was 3 days in the yard and 3 more days at a local campground.
While in the A-Liner we quickly learned what features were important to us - a walk around bed, and coffee pot were the 2 we learned in the first 24 hours. The 3 days at home were fun and we headed down to the campground. About an hour after checking in the heavens opened and we had 2 days of continuous rain. Another item we realized was important to us was an awning. All in all, it was fun and the RVing bug had bit.
We started looking at used units on the web and saw a 21' travel trailer by Forest River. We checked it out and made an offer on the spot. Needless to say our offer was accepted and we now owned a trailer. I should point out that at this time we only had 1 dog, so space wasn't so much of an issue then.
We used the 21' TT a lot that summer and fall and realized we found an activity that both of us enjoyed. Over the winter a job opportunity opened up nearly 200 miles from home. It was just a seasonal 2 month position but housing was not included. Before even starting that assignment we realized that our little 21 footer might not be big enough for more than weekend use and started shopping.
In the spring we found our next unit, a 26' travel trailer with a single 18" deep slide made by Homestead. It worked out rather nicely, except we got the 2nd dog and needed room for a dog crate. Fortunately the unit had 2 recliners, so we put one in the basement of our home to give us the room needed for the crate.
The following year the seasonal job was expanded from 2 months to nearly 6 months and the decision to once again get a larger RV was made. This time we opted to go with a fifth wheel by Open Range. We purchased a 34' 5er with triple slides (full 36" depths). Opposing slides in the living / dining area gave us a spacious 15' width. We learned a lot with our 5th wheel and I'll cover some of those at a later date.
With the decision to go full-time in the RV, we once again decided that a different unit was warranted. We spent the winter researching our options and in March of this year placed an order for our "new home", Cameo by Carriage. Our dealer phoned us today to say production on the RV actually starts this week and it should be completed in a week. Then some general inspections, delivery and such and we could be 3 weeks away from taking possession.
The timing is coming together well for us as we close on the house the first week of May and our new trailer will be ready the second week. A week or two living in our "old" 5th wheel will cover us in the meantime. Looking forward to sharing more of our adventures (good and bad) as we travel the roads of life.
