Planning Retirement

Hi all...so glad to find this website! I'm retired AF and will finish a 2nd retirement in 5 years. Plan A is to travel the US for the first 2 years of full-time retirement using our famcamps. While planning, I'll be asking advice from all you seasoned traveling vets out there. My first question is: RV or 5th wheel? Please give me your thoughts. Thank you all for your service!

Welcome to the site. BTW - a 5th Wheel is a "RV" (Recreational Vehicle), but we know you meant motor home.

This is a personal choice. I prefer a motor home for different reasons: 1) The wife can get up and go the bathroom and get food without stopping, 2) we can get to the bathroom without pulling out slides, 3) very easy to setup and park, 4) I can tow a smaller vehicle for getting around. I prefer not to have a large truck to drive around.

Others prefer a 5th wheel, as they are a bit more like a house inside once they are setup. Some don't want to worry about and maintain two engines.

To me, the difference is how long you stay in one place. If you'll be moving every couple weeks or more, then the motor home is easier. If you'll be staying in one place for longer periods of time, the 5W makes more sense.

I'm sure others will chime in and you'll get all kinds of responses. Welcome!

As Larry stated – “It’s a personal choice”! Things you might want to consider based on your statement you plan to fulltime for a period of time:

Which to buy – Gas or diesel motorhome. Even cheap Diesels start at near $200K new and go up from that price very quickly; Gassers are a bit cheaper, but still start at the 100K range new.

Which to buy – Fifth wheel or travel/destination trailer – both require a towing vehicle. The larger/heavier unit you buy, the larger/more expensive the tower. Fulltime quality fifth wheels can be had for under $100K, travel/destination trailers for less. Depending on what tow vehicle you will require – Pickup or Medium duty?

You’re planning ahead, which will give adequate time to weigh all the options, choices. All prices stated are for new units. Used may be the way to go as there are most certainly quality, gently used units out there at a substantially lower cost.

Good Luck with your plans.

John

Thanks so much for the welcome Larry and John...and, yes, I did mean motorhome. :blush: ...this is new to me but seems to be all I think about these days.

Which one I buy may depend on resale value...any experience with that?

Hi there. Like you, we are in the planning stages. Right now it looks like January next year we will start working 4 weeks on and 2 weeks off. During that two weeks off we are going to start traveling and see how we like the RV / camping routine. I've been thinking about this for some time now and looking at my different options. So far I've decided on a Class B van size. There are some astoundingly nice ones out there. Of course, they come with an astounding price tag too. I'm looking at 10-year-old models, VERY nice, with low miles for around $20k. 90% of the time it will just be me and the wife, so it should be plenty big enough. Happy trails.

Hope it's ok to post this here. There is a facebook group devoted to RV values, etc.