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Old 05-19-2016, 07:18 AM   #1
ClockDr
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Lots of full timing questions

Wife and I have committed to full time 1 year in a fifth wheel. Have pretty much decided on a used Montana around years 2010-2013. I am thinking about one in the 35-37 foot range. Would this size range be comfortable for full timing but not be a pain to pull down the road? Have looked at several floor plans and like the High Country 343RL. Anyone on board here own one or familiar with it? Any tips, suggestions, ideas what to look for would be greatly appreciated. Most of my info has been attained from RV forums. Plan to head out to local campgrounds this weekend and talk to some Montana owners. Great site here. Thanking everyone in advance for your feedback.
 
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Old 05-19-2016, 07:47 AM   #2
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Welcome to the Forum from a 3 time happy Montana Owner ,My first 5er we fulltimed in was a 34 foot Monty and me and my wife felt it was a little too small,Doable but a little cramped for us once we stepped up to a 39 footer it was just right and I got used to towing the extra length of it pretty quick and have had no problem fitting in 90% of campgrounds,only thing that I had a big problem with at first was with the 34 footer We had a F350 V10 Gas truck that towed it fine but when you step up to the bigger boys we HAD to get a Diesel for two reasons as the Gas motor SCREAMED for mercy towing the extra weight AND we were overweight with the 39 footer ...Just my 2 bits
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Old 05-19-2016, 08:30 AM   #3
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I am not a full timer but live in mine 7 to 8 months a year. This is my third rig and find the 39 foot to be very livable. I did have to upgrade to a F350 from the F250 but it was worth it. As said before you must have a deasel to pull this type of RV just to big and to heavy for a gaser.
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Old 05-19-2016, 08:39 AM   #4
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Ours is 39+, we could likely function with a 37', but as full-timers, don't want to feel crunched for space. And as the others say, you've got to have a diesel to pull these bigger rigs.
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Old 05-19-2016, 11:44 AM   #5
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We've full timed in ours for about 5 years now and wouldn't go back. No problems with handling on the road, tows much easier than our old 18' TT.
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Old 05-19-2016, 12:39 PM   #6
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I'm NOT a full timer but the 343 looks like a good full time 5er. It has a nice bed room, bath, kitchen, and living areas and big enough to live in. The HC are very nice campers and about a ton lighter than the Montanas.
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Old 05-19-2016, 01:52 PM   #7
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We do full time in a 36 1/2 foot Montana. 2 adults and a dog(lab). Have plenty of room and our V-10 gasser pulls it fine.
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Old 05-19-2016, 02:14 PM   #8
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Sounds like you are new to Rving. Before you jump in to the fulltiming lifestyle, you might want to go on a two three week road trip with a rental to see what you are getting into and whether both of you like the lifestyle.
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Old 05-19-2016, 03:45 PM   #9
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I have a 2014 HC 343rl. I really like it and so far no complaints. If you have questions let me know. Lot of smarter people on here than me and I have learned a lot about tire, surge protectors.
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Old 05-19-2016, 03:47 PM   #10
Virginia Young
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We were non-campers prior to going full-time. Our original plan was to full-time for a year. We bought a 30' TT to start. That lasted 7 weeks, then we went to a 39' Montana. We loved it and had no problem living in it, even though we previously lived in a 2100 sq. ft. house. We now have a 40' Big Sky and are pushing the two year mark for full-timing. Wouldn't trade our experience for anything. We will get another house some day. Hubby wants one. It really doesn't matter to me. I'm fine in the fiver.

Edit: Oops. We are pushin 3 years - not 2! Time really does fly, when you are having fun.
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Old 05-20-2016, 02:52 AM   #11
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Like the Youngs, we had never owned any type of camper prior to buying our first used Montana. The month we bought the first one we began a full time adventure that lasted 3 years and covered about half of the U.S., ending with us trading for a 2014 the last year. We no longer full time but live in our 2014 about 3 months a year.

There are folks like us, then there are folks on here that have been full time forever. When we started we learned about 75% of what we needed to know from this forum. Ask away!!!!!
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Old 05-20-2016, 08:07 AM   #12
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The DW and I are not full timers but live in our Montana 3-6 months out of the year. In our honest opinion it is not so much how long it is but how it is laid out inside. We have a 2005 3295rk which is 35 feet long and it has more than enough room for us and the 2 dogs. We have plenty of storage and most cabinets are not even used or full. The others are correct the bigger the unit you have the more (bigger) tow vehicle you will need.
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Old 05-22-2016, 05:50 AM   #13
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1retired06 wrote;
"Sounds like you are new to Rving. Before you jump in to the fulltiming lifestyle, you might want to go on a two three week road trip with a rental to see what you are getting into and whether both of you like the lifestyle."

Buying an older unit, traveling for a while then deciding on a longer term investment could be very valuable. When I used to sell RV's I always recommended to new-bees they buy a cheap used one and learn, then buy the DREAM. If you purchase the used one carefully, you may be able to sell it for the amount you invested. That will never happen if you purchase new.

This concept is important. WE have a 34RL and love it. Pulling it is no problem, but small campgrounds are. Many campgrounds have site identifying posts at the front edge of the parking spur limiting the available radius for parking. This is an issue. The larger commercial parks usually have better parking angles, but that comes with a higher price. Older parks were designed for smaller units.

We live in the Monte and travel in a 27 foot Kit Companion. The Monte is much more comfortable. The Kit is great for traveling.
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Old 05-23-2016, 03:06 AM   #14
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1. used is a great start. we liked our 3150, a night trailer.
2. G rated tires
3. get an extra spring
4. you can stay at "some" walmarts and cracker barrels for one or two nights.

as for fulltiming, there are lots of different ways we full time it. will you stay in one place most of the year? others will move all the time. which one will you be?
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Old 05-28-2016, 11:47 AM   #15
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We are living in a 2012 3455SA, 37.5 feet, 4 slides. We purchased the Montana used from a private party and love it. The space is very comfortable for us and our 2 dogs. We manage quite well utilizing state, county and federal campgrounds as often as we can. We prefer the extra space, nature, and variety versus the standard rv park. We do utilize online tools to determine sites, for size, location, and accessibility. There are some locations that are just not suitable for our rig. Often times, when we are close to a destination, for example, we were recently by Zion National Park. We chose to camp 15 miles outside of the park and make day trips in versus camping cheek to jowl with the masses. But that's just us.
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Old 05-28-2016, 03:19 PM   #16
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We are long timers at about 9 months a year in the Montana including 6 months in Florida during the winter. You are going to live in the Rv 24/7/365 get as big as you can afford. Floor plan is critical. Our first Montana was a 06 3400 and our present Montana is a 13 3402 which is 99& the same floor plan so the floor plan was that critical to us. The 3402 is 40 feet long with 4 slides. Yes they are big. There are places you will not be able to put it. You will need a big truck to pull it but the Montana is going to be your home 24/7/365.
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Old 05-29-2016, 03:46 AM   #17
JandC
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Floor plan, lay out, and size are important when jumping right in to full time. We knew that we wanted a washer/dryer but didn't want to give up front closet space, nor did we want to add washer/dryer weight right at the front of our fiver. These considerations made us discard several of the Montana floor plans.

We settled on a used 3400RL and it worked great. But then we made the mistake of talking to Packerfan about his 3725, which led us to a dealership to "just look at one". We added a little over a foot in length, and we use all that space.

When living/traveling as full timers we tended to constantly add weight. We started out without bicycles but soon decided we needed them for example. Some folks may start without a generator but then add one later. IMHO it is better to start big with both the RV and TV.
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Old 06-13-2016, 09:37 PM   #18
ClockDr
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Plans are to stay around a month in an area then move on
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by mazboy

1. used is a great start. we liked our 3150, a night trailer.
2. G rated tires
3. get an extra spring
4. you can stay at "some" walmarts and cracker barrels for one or two nights.

as for fulltiming, there are lots of different ways we full time it. will you stay in one place most of the year? others will move all the time. which one will you be?
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Old 06-13-2016, 09:41 PM   #19
ClockDr
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Thanks everyone for the feedback. Great site here with tons of good info
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