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OK Roselyd…back when I was young, poor and good looking, my wife and I decided to drive our old Honda Civic down to Florida for a nice summer vacation. Our car had no A/C…
By the time we got to North Carolina, we were going down the Interstate with all our Windows down. It was hot, but we managed. When we hit Georgia, the windows were down and the vent was on High and we were boiling in the car. As we crossed into Florida, I knew for sure what Hell was like.
We didn’t have much money but we rented a car with A/C and salvaged our vacation.
Good luck on your new home!
Full-time RV living in Florida?! Make sure your air contitioners are in A1 condition.
You’ll need blinds. Forget curtains; you need something to keep the sun from broiling the interior of your RV…
Last bit of advice: try to find a spot in the Keys. It will be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Very, very nice! The only thing that looks out-of-place is the A/C unit on the roof…could you paint it silver?
At 6’5″ tall, only a Class A or a 5th wheel would allow you to stand up straight inside. Forget about any other class unless you want to live like the Hunchback of Notre Dame…
In the USA, church parking lots are also available for overnight stays in smaller towns. Call ahead to ask permission.
I’ve never seen a mobile home of any sort having 2 external water connections. If you have two connections, perhaps your 5th Wheel has been modified by the previous owner?
OK…thanks to both of you. My RV is stored outdoors for the winter now, under an RV cover. I won’t be able to get to it until mid-January (I live in the arctic and my RV is 1000 miles south of here). Both my coach and vehicle batteries were fully charged when I parked the RV in late September. I pressed the disconnect switch but didn’t do anything else (apart from normal winterizing the plumbing). This is the first winter my RV will be parked outdoors without shore power. It gets down to -20 F at the park site but average temps are closer to 5 degrees F.
Anyway…my fingers are crossed and I hope that helps!
Greg,
if you are patient, another good motorhome deal will come around. A lot of people don’t care about getting the maximum amount of cash for their goods, including me.
You may also want to consider buying a used motorhome from a dealer where it will come with a guarantee. Also, motorhomes that used to belong to smokers are usually much cheaper than others on a dealer’s lot.
Happy hunting!
An inspection takes much longer if the Customer is present because of chatting, the inevitable questions and so on. So, if they let customers be present during the inspection, they would have to charge much more. Ask if their waiting room has a window onto the garage floor.
What are the important criteria for you and your wife? Do you want to travel often or stay put? If you plan to travel, do you prefer the wilderness or are you more city folk? Do you need luxury or are you fine with roughing it?
and so on and on…
Good idea! …but aren’t cell ‘phones mostly in our pockets & purses, away from the light?
How about a system like certain Swiss watches that power themselves by the movement of your arm…?
OK…I was driving this morning and was following a Winnebago Vista. The older Vistas were small Class C’s built on a VW Vanagon chassis. You could stand up straight in a Vista. Also based on the Vanagon was Winnebago’s Rialta; the Rialta is smaller than the Vista and you couldn’t quite stand up straight. Either one would be more suited to live in than a Westy.
Hmmm…a Westy is OK if you are young and carefree, I guess…it’s just too small for me. Even Pippi tools around in a 34-foot motorhome and she’s young enough to be my daughter…’nuff said!
Westfalias are good for weekend camping but who would choose to live in one?
It is possible to live or camp in a van but a van is too small…for me. If you want to stay with as compact a vehicle as possible and still want to stand up straight inside – all 6’3″ of you – and want to save on fuel, look towards one of the Sprinter-based products.
A 6’3″ guy living in a Westfalia…might as well buy yourself a staright jacket…!
All the RV parks and state parks I’ve camped in have been safe. People leave their bikes out unlocked. BBQs, folding chairs & tables, and whatnot are also outside and unprotected. I do the same and have never had any problems.
I’m presently at a campground in Bar Harbor, Maine. A neighbor here leaves the door to her travel trailer open all day while she & her dog go off somewhere. I’ve been here 2 weeks and the only time she closes her door is at night. An RV park like this one has a lot of visitors and staff going about their day, so a crook would probably shy away from “working” here.
I was previously camping at Wompatuck State Park near Boston. The campsites there are much more secluded than where I am now, so common sense would lead you to be more cautious anyway. Even so, as I said earlier, I’ve never had any problems while camping at state parks.
Consider adopting a dog for companionship, as a way to meet people, and to ward off potential bad guys. If you don’t like dogs, get yourself a BEWARE OF DOG sign and stick it in your camper’s window…think of it as insurance!
Ahhhhh….OK! Now I understand…thanks!
(When I store my motorhome for the winter, I remove every battery, even the vehicle’s battery, so drain from smoke deterctors/clocks and so on wasn’t an issue.)
Ah, yes…Pippi is right. Doing all my errands by bike isn’t for me. I tow a car as well. My wife and I like to cycle, so we do as much of that as possible while camping. I don’t think I’d like to depend totally on a bike to get around…
OK…not all 3-axle 5th wheels have a garage at the end. Actually very few have a garage (these are called “Toy Haulers”)
If you want to buy from Camping World, go ahead. They are a chain of franchisees in the USA. I have dealt with Camping World before and consider them to be a reputable company. American companies are much like Americans themselves: honest, friendly & reliable.
Just be aware that for $10,000, you are going to buy a camper that will need some fixing, and maybe a lot of fixing. Also, Pipi’s video on adding insulation will come in handy in your climate.
Roman, if you are looking for a lot of space in a fifth Wheel, these models should satisfy you because they are the biggest of the big:
Keystone FZ412
New Horizons Majestic F39RLQSS
NuWa 38 CKQGAll the above have 3 axles and are between 12 and 13 meters long. Do you want something this big, or do you want a smaller fifth Wheel?
My brother-in-law buys used motorhomes, RVs, and boats from the USA and imports them into Canada. Most of these are bank repossessions, all are recent models and nothing is priced as low as US$10,000.
(Private Explorer: that plane is more of a flying tent than a motorhome. My wife hates flying and hates camping in a tent…so the Private Explorer only seduced me.)
Yes, it is always a good idea to bring your dog’s health records when you travel. Since we are Canadians and usually cross the border into the USA with our motorhome, we MUST bring our dog’s heath records, otherwise the border guards would not let us into the USA. Some, not many, campsites in the northeast USA have asked us for proof of various canine vaccinations. KOA seems to be more interested in this information than independent campgrounds.
PS: another good reason to bring your pet’s medical history: we were vacationing in Virginia when our dog got sick and we had to take her to the vet. Having our dog’s medical history made the vet’s job easier… and CHEAPER!
No, Chris. A dog License is not proof of a rabies vaccine in all jurisdictions. Where I live, a dog license is just a disguised tax. I don’t have to prove anything about my dog’s health when the license man comes around…he just wants his $28.
I put my dog into daycare in NYC for 3 days and they also asked for proof of vaccines.
Yes, Roman, you are right that this site is about motorhomes, not aviation. Did you know that Winnebago once built a helicopter motorhome? About seven were built and those still flying have since been converted to other uses. Also, a fixed-wing aircraft was made during the 1990s, called the Private Explorer. That airplane was a rudimentary motorhome: it had a double bed, a stove and a tiny refrigerator. I even considered buying a Private Explorer…
and again!
I found yet another airport, due South from 1 & 2 above. There are large jets parked there and its runway is aligned 05/23.
Airport 3 above has several large helicopters parked there.
Hello again! I went to Google Earth and saw Khabarovsk City. I found 3 airports:
1. a large one with runway alignment 05/23
2. a smaller one just north of the big airport with runway alignment 06/24
3. a small airport in the middle of nowhere with runway alignment 04/22.
Which one is your airport?
Ok…there is a UK company that makes fifth wheel campers. The company is called Calder Leisure and on their website, one of their fifth wheelers is being towed by a Toyota HiLux.
I’ve never seen a fifth Wheel camper on my travels to Europe, so maybe they are mostly in the UK.
Such a vehicle will not be able to house you confortably during a Russian winetr, so you will have to modify it to suit your situation.
By the way, I live in the arctic part time. I know how cold it can get (-50C is common) and I could not see myself living in my motorhome. during an arctic winter.
PS: Pipi has done a video on adding insulation to your motorhome’s walls…you’ll need to look at that.
OK…you want a trailer of some sort. The video you linked to shows what we call a “Fifth Wheel” trailerable home. To tow that, you need a pickup truck…now, I’ve been to Europe many times and have only seen one pickup truck. That was in Germany at a US Army base!
Is it possible for you to buy a pickup truck with the towing attachment for a Fifth Wheel? After all, you live very far away from where this type of vehicle is common.
Alternatively, if you go back to the SLR site I linked to above, you’ll see that they also make well-insulated trailer campers. For cold Russian winters, you’ll need that. I doubt that any fifth Wheel manufacturers make products for arctic conditions.
Also, Pipi did a video with the manufacturer of the XP Camper. Maybe she can link you to that video.
To meet all your motorhome requirements, you will need a lot of money…A LOT!
http://www.slrcaravans.com.au is an Australian manufacturer of off-road motorhomes. There are also a few American manufacturers of this type of vehicle. Whatever model you choose will set you back several hundred thousand dollars for a used machine. then you have to transport it to Russia. It would also be a good idea for you to make friends with a diesel mechanic.
A bike is an excellent way to stay fit. Maybe it would limit your RV park choices, depending on how far the grocery store is from where you’ll be staying. Alternatively, get an electric bike! While you are at it, get a baby carrier that tows behind your bike. My wife and I have one and we use it for groceries, picnics and so on.
Yes, the Airstream in the photo you posted is a Class A. It is a classy-looking motorhome. If that’s the one you intend on buying, you’ll have a stable ride thanks to the slave axle at the rear. (The downside of a slave axle is that it will cost you extra at toll booths…)
…and don’t listen to the naysayers. You want the motorhome, GO FOR IT!
There is nothing difficult about driving a big rig. Just be aware of its size and start off slowly & take your time turning at first.
It is easier to drive on an interstate than on a backroad simply because there is more space.
I drive a 30-foot Class C. Lastly, if I had to do it all over again, I would buy a BIGGER motorhome! 37 to 40 feet seems nice…
In all probability, all six of your tires are of the same age and all six would have weathered badly. Forget about rotating these tires and buy the best tires your budget will allow.
OK…and I’m sure that your dog is a lot more scary than you as well!
I used to work with prisonners from 2005 to 2010. These men were murderes and drug trafickers. Most were charming , well spoken and good-looking. Intelligent too! …and all were good manipulators…to this day – even though I know objectively that they were scum – I remember the good times I spent with them. (All but one man returned to prison after his release.)
So just be careful. Most men are nice but you have no way of knowing that until you get to know one really well.
I think your dog is fine. Just avoid men until you know them really well, and even then bring your dog with you if a man invites you somewhere.
Subscribe to a roadside assistance program; if your RV breaks down somewhere, you can call for service and won’t be at the mercy of whoever is passing by. While waiting for the tow truck to arrive, tell any “good samaritains” who stop offering help that your husband just went down the road…keep your dog by your side.
Don’t stop to help people with breakdowns on the road. Tell them you’ll send a tow truck to them.
Take up target pratice…
Oregon is the better choice for a home. Real estate prices are lower. Summer in the Rockies is a beautiful time for a leisurly drive on a winding road in your roadster. While driving around, why not stop in at an Oregon winery & have a picnic? Oregon wines are quality products and little-known.
I could go on but I’m sure you get the idea.
Thanks for this video. I always change my own oïl but never thought to fill the filter with oïl before screwing it back on. Good idea!
I always use full synthetic oïl. It is more expensive but it comes on special once in a while and I can buy it for the same price as a premium motor oïl.
Well…women have a lower accident rate which is why their insurance premiums are lower…and they have less accidents because they don’t drive their RV often! (Our RV is in my wife’s name to take advantage of the lower premiums…)
I rarely see an RV driven by a woman. Actually, I’ve seen it only once: a woman driving a pickup with a huge camper in the bed. She was alone with her blind dog, she drove all the way from Alaska and I met her on the ferry to Newfoundland. She really impressed me.
