Decisions, decisions.
Despite over two weeks of dry weather, after nearly a month of nonstop rain, our ground here is still muddy, mushy and like quicksand in areas!
We knew it was supposed to start raining again today (which it is, it rained all night) so on Sunday we went ahead and hooked the RV up to the truck and pulled it down to the driveway. The gravel pad and the gravel drive in front of the shop are not packed yet, and we were afraid with any more moisture, we wouldn’t be able to pull the unit out.
Friday morning we head for Missouri, where we are going to drop the RV off at the dealer for repair. After it is fixed, Jim and I have decided we are going to trade it in for a full 4 season unit, as we don’t think it will do well down in New Orleans during the heat and humidity of summer. Some of you may remember me whining about how hot it got inside the unit during the summer here in Arkansas…. Louisiana will be much worse.
We’ve already researched 4 season units in the past, I’m just refreshing myself on what’s changed. Pricing, build quality, customer satisfaction and floor plans have us deciding between a Nuwa Hitchhiker Champagne, a New Horizons Majestic, or a Peterson Excel Limited, in that order. I’m pretty certain we’ll go with the Hitchhiker, but the floor plan we like won’t be available until Spring.
What we absolutely flipped over on this floor plan was a combination of the rear kitchen, with a rear access door, and the full enclosed side bathroom. Our CedarCreek 37CKQS has the typical split bath, shower and sink on one wall, center aisle, toilet closet and w/d on the opposite wall. While that layout looks a little nicer, a fully enclosed bathroom is so much more functional. Whenever Jim would be on backshift during an outage, he’d have to try and sleep while I showered, dried my hair, did laundry, etc.
But the rear kitchen with a separate door, oh my! How positively wonderful when it’s raining out and we have wet dogs to bring inside. If you’d like to see a video of the unit we’re looking at, it’s the 2nd one on this page, the 37 CKRD. The Hitchhiker is also perfectly sized for our F450, although the Peterson Excel is a good fit too. I think the New Horizons may be a bit too much trailer for our truck, we’d need Tiny (our Kenworth T2) back to tow it!
It’s my job as always, to do all the research… so that’s what I’ve been busy doing. Jim thinks that after he’s finished with the Louisiana job, even though we should be based back here in Arkansas, he may have to start traveling more. A better built RV would make the drastic climates certainly more comfortable, as we never seem to end up in any place typical for RV’ers. 
I went through the video, nice couch. I like the floor plan. We have a rare kitchen in our small Fifth Wheel, love it. We won’t ever “live” in ours per say, so we don’t need the space you and Jim do so I’m fully content with a much smaller model.
I’d love a smaller model Cindy, these big ones are such a pain to park. So many campgrounds you can’t fit into. However, when you are living in it, that “large” space is only 400 square feet, and can become claustrophobic in a hurry!
If we decided to do this, we will custom order one from the factory, and we’ll order it without a sofa or chairs, as we’d prefer “real” furniture to “RV furniture”. Been there…
CJ, That underbed storage would be perfect for fabric storage & that desk space might work for a sewing center. I know it’s not “home” but RV’s are really classy now. Looking forward to your future updates. Diane in CT
I hear ya about “RV” furniture.
And if I were living in an RV like you and Jim, I’d definitely be going “BIG” like you two. Sometimes BIG is BETTER. LOL
Diane, the floor plan in our current RV is about as ideal as it gets for sewing on the road. One thing I decided was that should we upgrade, I’m not lugging my sewing equipment along. I will take my 630, and a single project to work on, with just the necessary items to complete it.
In this floor plan, there is no place at all to sew, other than on the kitchen table. And I’m okay with that I think. I’d like to spend more time doing things when away from home, I enjoy photography, and perhaps I’ll spend some time learning to digitize.
Okay – I’m sticking my big fat but in here, CJ. ONE PROJECT??? But I noticed you didn’t say what things you’ll buy while in the RV. LOL
Okay, I’m going to go put my luggage in the truck to head to the airport. That way you can’t club me over the head. LOL
CJ,
We have the 30″ Hitchhiker and we love it. We are not full-timers but do spend a couple of months in Arizona. I love the enclosed bathroom and have my washer/dryer in there. Our friends have an Excel and they also like it. We looked at New Horizons but it was just too heavy for what we wanted to do. Good luck with your choice and your new adventures.
Jane
Nope Cindy, I’m going to be good about sewing related stuff while in the RV… mostly!
Jane, I’m really keen on the enclosed bathroom. That makes so much more sense to me.
The Excel 36TKE floor plan is one I’ve been in love with since they released it a few years ago, if we didn’t have dogs I’d want it in a heartbeat! But we do, and always will, and therefore, I like the Hitchhiker plan better. LOL
Leave out the TV and fireplace and put in more storage. I assume you won’t get the desk — so that would be a small spot for a sewing height surface.
I used to sew on the counters in the bedroom of a 29 foot travel trailer when we were on the road. (First DH was a medical building construction superintendent.) Did that for 3 years. I was always amazed what I could accomplish.
We had cats…not near the work of dogs. No laundry on board, but ya hadda love the laundramat in the coal mine areas of Virginia. Just buy black clothes! he he. But beautiful country and marvelously nice people!
I think you will make an awesome digitizer — and From My Studio already gives you the perfect company name!
Stay in touch!
The TV maybe… the fireplace no way! We used to think they were a joke, but we had a fireplace in our current unit and loved it! But when it quit, we had cabinet doors made and I added (gasp!) more sewing stuff.
We have to have a desk area, Jim often brings work home, and a place for a computer, although I’m not sure I want that roll-top desk, they’re aren’t overly functional.
Of course, my mind balks at spending that kind of money on another unit period.
I am sorry you have had to make the decision to go back on the road but hey life happens and I am sure you will both make a success of this new venture as you have with others in the past. The important thing is that Jim still has work and hopefully the whole financial crisis will come to an end and you may be able to reappraise things to suit yourself better at a later date.
I love that RV and wish I could twist my hubby’s arm hard all the way up his back to get one and spend some time travelling around the USA when he retires. Some hopes of that but heck I can but dream. He has voluntarily gone over to a four day week now and plans to go down to a three day weeks next year and then retire the year after. I think that is a great way to retire, gradually and then you don’t have so many days to fill as if you were retired in one fell swoop. Doncha Think?
Yep Maureen, that pretty much sounds perfect to me!