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65CV · 10-03-2013, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCA and GPO

Where oh where is Pflugerville?
We are going to Big Bend in January...

We have spent the last three years in the Austin area and have been to Big Bend twice afterwards. I echo the recommendation for Marfa as a stop before or after.

Austin is a great town. I hope you have time to explore it.

I highly recommend Cottonwood Campground in Big Bend if you can dry camp or boondock. In January, Chisos Basin will be MUCH colder. Rio Grande Village is like a commercial campground -- great if you want hookups, but not our style.

We found Cottonwood to be 15 degrees warmer than Chisos. It has no services, but isn't this why we Airstreams?

See http://65tumbleweed.tumblr.com for our first two visits.

TCA and GPO · 10-05-2013, 06:25 AM

Thanks for the excellent tips! We will plan a stop in Marfa coming or going.
I had not heard of Cottonwood before. Loved the pictures. Just ordered a DeLonghi heater recommended in the "what did you get for your trailer today" thread.

louaxtjr · 10-05-2013, 07:55 AM

Congratulations on making the full-time plunge. Sounds like things are settling in for you. My wife and I spent a month or so camping out in our driveway before leaving the house. That experience was extremely helpful for us and the 2 cats. We are now over 2 weeks into our full-timing adventure and are staying in Kentucky while I am working for Amazon. We will be leaving for Arizona at the end of December.

We found the cats had a period of adjustment just like your dog, but they seem happy and content now!

mykabyka · 10-05-2013, 11:00 AM

[/QUOTE]
I'm trying to convince Frank just to get on the light rail and use it for his daily commute. I think this weekend we're going to ride it into Austin and have dinner and spend the evening hanging out downtown. Maybe he will find the light rail appealing. Fingers crossed.[/QUOTE]

My husband loves the light rail where were are, and uses it unless he needs the car for errands. He likes being able to read or do work email instead of driving.

B_Pi · 10-18-2013, 11:16 AM

I read Walden by Henry David Thoreau many years ago and took away the message of how carrying forward the accumulated stuff from family and life was so restricting. For what it is worth, we are all here temporarily and letting go of everything, even life itself is not an option - it is required. The love and memories will always comfort us...
My wife and I are just now planning an estate sale and renting a storage unit for one year maximum while we strike out on our full-time vagabond adventure.
Cheers and happy travels!

Frank&Mike · 10-27-2013, 01:53 PM

Last night was movie night at the RV Park central park. What a great time watching the movie with one of my new friends here at the RV Park. It's nice to see how people seemed so relaxed and enjoy this lifestyle. Today is all about relaxing in the Airstream.

Frank&Mike · 10-27-2013, 02:00 PM

For us, the 25 foot Airstream has proven not to be the right full-timing floorplan. So we've decided to use the Airstream only for weekend camping (like we did prior to selling the house) and purchase something else for full-timing. Attached are photos of what we are in negotiations on purchasing and hope to finalize the purchase tomorrow.

**blmitch5** · 10-27-2013, 03:15 PM

Nice! Now the 5th wheel will seem large since you started with the Airstream! Can you store your Airstream where your at?

Frank&Mike · 10-27-2013, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blmitch5

Nice! Now the 5th wheel will seem large since you started with the Airstream! Can you store your Airstream where your at?

The 5th wheel will indeed feel like a mansion compared to right now. We can store the Airstream here where we're parked, they have storage just 4 sites down from us and is monitored with video cams. So it will make it convenient to pack/unpack the Airstream for weekend trips.

Now we're going to have to purchase a different tow vehicle. I've regretted trading the F250 in August so I'm again searching for an F250 to trade the lifted go-cart, I mean the Z92 in on.

**blmitch5** · 10-27-2013, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank&Mike

The 5th wheel will indeed feel like a mansion compared to right now. We can store the Airstream here where we're parked, they have storage just 4 sites down from us and is monitored with video cams. So it will make it convenient to pack/unpack the Airstream for weekend trips. Now we're going to have to purchase a different tow vehicle. I've regretted trading the F250 in August so I'm again searching for an F250 to trade the lifted go-cart, I mean the Z92 in on.

l

LOL. The new Silverado has really great reviews and won't you need more than a F250 for the 5th Wheel? You can always do an Air Safe hitch like Jeff and Cindy.

switz · 10-28-2013, 08:42 AM

Looks like a 1 ton dually might be needed to safely move that 5th wheel.

Frank&Mike · 10-30-2013, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switz

Looks like a 1 ton dually might be needed to safely move that 5th wheel.

You are correct on what is required to tow the Mobile Suites. I was not aware how heavy the Mobile Suites are and upon further review, 16,400 lbs. empty weight, we have decided to no longer pursue purchasing the Mobile Suites. Disappointed because it sure is a nice RV. So back at "start" in reviewing something more suitable for full-timing.

Air Apparent · 10-31-2013, 10:05 AM

Fifth wheels built specifically for fulltiming are very heavy as they are built rugged. That why they can take the rigors of fulltiming.

Look at a New Horizons fifth wheel; you will need to stay at about a 30' to 32' length as they also are heavy but very well built.

Frank&Mike · 10-31-2013, 08:48 PM

We purchased the Mobile Suites today. Tried to find something we liked as much ... but with no success. The Mobile Suites kept rising to the top of our list. For now, it will be parked full time and as our daily residence, so this will give plenty time to search for an appropriate tow vehicle over the course of the year. The excitement is growing to take delivery.

**DKB_SATX** · 10-31-2013, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank&Mike

We purchased the Mobile Suites today. Tried to find something we liked as much ... but with no success. The Mobile Suites kept rising to the top of our list. For now, it will be parked full time and as our daily residence, so this will give plenty time to search for an appropriate tow vehicle over the course of the year. The excitement is growing to take delivery.

So, what size/plan did you buy? Are you going to buy an F450 to go with it?

Frank&Mike · 11-06-2013, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

So, what size/plan did you buy? Are you going to buy an F450 to go with it?

36RE3
No plans at the moment to purchase a different tow vehicle. But I don't want a dually. So if/when we purchase, it's going to be a F350.

Frank&Mike · 11-20-2013, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank&Mike

36RE3
No plans at the moment to purchase a different tow vehicle. But I don't want a dually. So if/when we purchase, it's going to be a F350.

Traded in the Chevy and returned to an F250. Had the 5th wheel hitch installed at time of purchase. What a nice feeling. Photo attached of our full timing unit parked in our site. Now we're just educating ourselves on the 5th wheel, having never owned one, before we tow it any distance for a weekend trip.

Our Airstream is probably happy that we're not using it full time and that we will resume using it for weekend camping and vacations.