pawatt
Brainerd MN / Mission TX
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Sea Dog wrote:Fizz wrote:Juggler wrote: We like the rear living room style with the single big slide over the axles for the sofa and dining room table.
Just a note of caution here.
I'm not a big fan of large living room windows that look out the back. You see these mostly on 5th wheels. The problem is you are often parked back to back in these large Snowbird parks, all you see is the other guys large window.
To each his own!
This is the view from inside our fiver on our leased lot in Florida!
Nice, Looks like Gator Heaven.
* This post was
edited 07/29/10 08:08pm by pawatt *
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Jim,Rosemary, Sandy
Florida/Michigan
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We stayed in a park that had great pull through sites on the Gulf of Mexico but the utilities were on the wrong side for a fifth wheel rear window to be of value. But all you had to do was step outside to see the water. We do try for a perimeter site so we have fewer neighbors, especially since we travel with a dog (now 2 dogs)and some people don't like dogs, and then some people have anti-social killer dogs (both large and small). One of the advantages of snowbirds who go to the same park year after year is that they are able to snag a little bit better site each year they return.
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Granted
Northern Illinois
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My hubs retired last year and we really don't want to spend another winter in Chicago but can we really spent a winter in a Rockwood Signature ultra lite. No insulation at all really. Two of our grand children live in Vero Beach FL but we can't decide if we should even try a few winter months with our rig. We love the floor plan, plenty of storage, big bathroom, great windows but the insulation worries us. Anyone winter in a Rockwood?
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Geeze
Iowa
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My wife and I are a few years away from retirement but are watching these boards for snowbirding wisdom. Our feeling is that we will probably want to try several parks in a few different areas but untimately plan to settle in one spot. Since our daughter lives in the San Antonio area that is likely where we will settle. We love to camp and our plan is to start out with a good size travel trailer with a slide. We would spend one or two winters in that until we figure out where we want to settle. Once we have a spot figured out we will look a for a park model or mobile home in an RV park or retirement community. The travel trailer will stay in the North so we can camp during the summer months. I can't justify spending fifty or sixty thousand for a tow vehicle if we end up wintering in one spot. A four door half ton pickup with tow package and a fiberglass topper would suit the bill for us just fine. Back to the original question, I would look at insulation packages and would definately get a four seasons model with an insulated under belly. Plenty of counter space, decent TV viewing seating arrangement and a larger water heater if possible. If your on a budget stackable washer & dryer would save some money over using laundromats. Our views may change but that is what we are thinking right now.
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pawatt
Brainerd MN / Mission TX
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Granted wrote:My hubs retired last year and we really don't want to spend another winter in Chicago but can we really spent a winter in a Rockwood Signature ultra lite. No insulation at all really. Two of our grand children live in Vero Beach FL but we can't decide if we should even try a few winter months with our rig. We love the floor plan, plenty of storage, big bathroom, great windows but the insulation worries us. Anyone winter in a Rockwood?
I would, It would clearly beat spending a Winter in Chicago. It has a furnace? You could also run an electric heater if you need to. Our first Winter was in a Keystone Bobcat in South Texas, nearly nothing for insulation there & we had a blast. We didn't do much more than sleep in the trailer the rest of the time we were out exploring or in the clubhouse. We liked it so much we bought a used park model before we left. That was much cheaper & larger than buying a better RV.
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Rick & Cheryl
Texas
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Granted wrote:My hubs retired last year and we really don't want to spend another winter in Chicago but can we really spent a winter in a Rockwood Signature ultra lite. No insulation at all really. Two of our grand children live in Vero Beach FL but we can't decide if we should even try a few winter months with our rig. We love the floor plan, plenty of storage, big bathroom, great windows but the insulation worries us. Anyone winter in a Rockwood?
Go for it, you'll have a great time. If it gets cold, buy an electric blanket, 1-2 space electric space heaters,,and likely this winter wont be as chilly.
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IdahoGem
The mountains of ID, USA
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Ditto on some insulation--you may need it just to get down south, depending on what month you head south. One of my must haves was a walk around bed--I did not want to have to stoop to make a bed, and one of those beds with a Travel-Sac or such might work for weekend trips, but for months of making the bed--no thanks!
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mamestra
Campbell River, B.C. Canada
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One other thing make sure that your water heater has duel heating source, both electric and propane. When we are in parks where electricity is included we use the electrical element, when boondocking we use propane.
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tomman58
Southeast Michigan
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pawatt wrote:You may want to consider a 5th wheel, tows better, roomier, nice floor plans. We have had trailers & now a 5th wheel, like the 5th wheel much better.
I have seen very few snowbirds with bumper pull trailers.
I'll disagree to some level. There are plenty of us with TT. Ours is a 32' Jayco and we have a great time with it. I don't care for 5ers myself as I have a 2 level cover on the back of my pickup that has plenty of storage and we always have our fishing poles, golf clubs carts and other hiking and biking stuff with us in the back. I also wonder about getting out of a 5er if things went bad like a fire as you rely on getting out the window because your door is downstairs.
ANY trailer you get has to be one you can tolerate for 4 or 5 months of birding. We don't stay at one site as our son is in Tucson and our daughter is in Tampa. Generally I never even know the trailer is behind the truck as we plod along the highways. I lock on 65mph and put on an audio book and mosey along.
Go to an RV show and be picky as to what will work for you and don't settle for something less then you want.
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catkins
Western Washington
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When we bought this RV we did so with long term living aboard in mind. Two of my priorities were a double door refridgerator and double pane windows. Wise choices!! After one year of snowbirding, we know we will wander for a few years and spend additional time on BLM land in Arizona part of the winter. So, have now added solar panels and more battery capacity.
Everyone has different needs. Read and ponder comments but then sit down and make a list of "MUST HAVES" and "like to haves" then use as a check list when looking. Likely no rig will be perfect but this process can help you find the best fit!
In a few years we may be ready to drive from home to one place and stay put but, for now, we have wandering feet. Good luck with your search and your adventure!
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