Winnebago from Avion from TelStar from Airstream

[pinckneymi]

We recently decided to RV full-time starting out in Texas on the Gulf Coast after recently selling our house in Michigan. (Finally sold it!!!)

We're still clearing out accumulations gathered thru the years. Plus selling our Avion trailer and TelStar motorhome. Just got the Avion posted on this and other websites. (Until we sell some stuff, we now own three RVs and two boats.)

MY QUESTION: What do you advise about choosing and establishing new relationships with doctors, hospitals, opticians, etc. in a totally new area? After living in Michigan for years, we were established with many health care providers, as most of us seniors do. So, in a completely new area, how do we begin to make wise choices for health care?

In case you're wondering how we ended up with a clunky, imitation everything on the Winnebago?

Reluctantly, we decided to abandon our Avion for a Winnebago Class A motorhome. We wanted a bigger, humungous RV unit as we begin to squeeze ourselves into its 37-ft quarters. The 14' slideout helps too. Regardless, that's a whole lot of squeezin' to go from a house, shed and garage packed with a many decades of possessions.

Way back when, I owned an Airstream too, but it was the smaller variety for towing behind a passenger car. Any RV was a step up from camping from a tent or from the back of a hatchback sedan.

We already miss the fit, the finish and quality materials found in Silver Airstream and Avion. We wish that we could have found even something close to that quality in a huge Class A motorhome (made by anybody).

[pinckneymi]

Oh, before I forget, do any of you fulltimers live in Corpus Chrisit?

[Secguru]

Respectfully, as a full-timer I think you will live to regret the decision on the Winnebago. Unless you are traveling nearly non-stop, any Class-A Motorhome becomes a burden to maintain in good working order. They do not like to sit still for long periods of time and things just go bad from disuse.

Packing up the Motorhome every two weeks to take it out for a 60 mile run just doesn't cut it when you find a site you like.

This is why most full-timers choose large 5th wheel trailers.

We started with a very high quality Rear-Diesel Class-A Motorhome and it took us about two years to figure out that the giant sucking sound we kept hearing was money being sucked from our wallets.

When we started full-timing, we decided on a 37' fifth wheel that we towed with a Freightliner FL-60 diesel tractor. We full-timed in it for five years. We loved the trailer and it allowed us to exercise the Freigtliner every two weeks without unpacking the trailer. Also, things last longer in trailers. They are less of a problem to maintain.

Having said that, after I was stationed overseas and started visiting the U.S. just once each month, we switched to our 34' Airstream. It takes MUCH less maintenance than any fifth wheel with slides. No worries about roof leaks, no worries about seals on slide-outs, just that wonderful corporate jet on wheels to welcome me home each month worry free.

My wife has since moved back to the US (didn't like the sand) and after living in the Airstream for about a year, we bought a home. Now our Airstream is parked under a canopy. We miss full-timing in both the fifth-wheel and the Airstream and will do it again after I retire in a couple of years. But I never regretted the decision to use a trailer rather than a Motorhome.

By the way, what do you win when you Winnebago?

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Secguru

By the way, what do you win when you Winnebago?

Cream cheese and lox?

I've said this about motor homes before. The "motor" part of a motor home is going to be an ongoing headache. If there is a problem with any part of the drive train, you are stuck. If there is a problem with the drive train of your tow vehicle, you unhitch and take it to the garage, where it gets fixed.
Other than that, we full-timed in our Airstream for a bit over 18 months, end for the most part enjoyed it. The biggest thing was to learn to be ruthless as far as keeping stuff.

[pinckneymi]

Your comments are appreciated. Yes, we primarily wanted to go 5th wheel for reasons you stated. BUT we usually have a boat in tow. We camp only to fish.

Plus, we just did not have enough loot available to get a 5th wheel and a truck. We do not have a truck. The Class A was probably half the price of a decent combo of used 5th and used truck. We needed to spend less money, so the Class A won out.

We plan to focus on Corpus Christi area, possibly forever, so we needed to have a quick escape potential in the event of hurricane warnings.

We also plan to take the monster for a short ride at least twice a month to keep things circulating. Most of the time on most days, we'll be driving our Dodge minivan. We considered dumping the minivan and buying a truck, but we'd have to take a heavy hit on the minivan. It's not quite one year old.

I have owned motorhomes for approximately 35 years, starting with Class B then Class C. Motorhomes are quick and convenient for stopping and shutting down for a short time or even for the night. We do not have to get out and go into the trailer. Also, since we did a lot of boondocking, we wanted to be able to turn the key and go in case we felt threatened. When you're in a trailer, it's difficult to make a dash for the towing vehicle if you want to get the yell out of there fast.

[Air Apparent]

The questions you are asking are covered extensively on the Escapees forum Escapees Discussion Forum (Powered by Invision Power Board). Escapees is an organization supporting fulltimers.

I don't agree with the statement that most fulltimers are in a fifth wheel. According to the escapees the breakout is 45% fifthwheels; 45% motorhomes; 10% other (travel trailers, etc.). Those in fifth wheels believe that they are the best choice for fulltiming and those in motorhomes think that motorhomes are the best choice. There are pro and cons to each. It is a matter of tradeoffs. However, I do beleve that a trailer / fifthwheel with tow vehicle is cheaper to maintain than a mortorhome and towed vehicle.

[DreamStreamr]

We're fourth-year full-timers, Escapees, and part of the 10% in tow-behind trailer. We have many friends who full-time in Moho with only one problem-- they have so much more living space than we do --ha ha.

We bought Skymed insurance for emergency medical transport back to our choice of medical care centers. In our case it isn't just our doctors who are in the Charlotte area but also many family and friends to help us if we were in trouble.

Otherwise, we shopped for Nd found medical care plans allowing us to choose providers across the U.S. We've used the discount a few times but hope we never hit the deductible limit. See our FAQ re health insurance here: http://dreamstreamr.com/2243.html#C7

regards, Jim http://dreamstreamr.com

[pinckneymi]

Disregard the title of this thread. We have decided to keep our Avion.

We had two buyers for our Avion and both saw it on this airforum! But we decided to keep it.

After owning a Winnebago for a couple weeks and while comparing the unit to our Avion, we decided to keep our Silver Avion. To make a long story short, the Winnebago simply was crap of the unadulterated variety. The fit, finish and materials of the '97 Winnebago absolutely did not compare, not even closely, to our '87 Avion. Yes, the Winnebago MH with its slideout and one more closet was roomier. But its advantages stopped there. We now have a 37' Winnebago Adventurer for sale.

Year after year, we bragged about the quality of our unit, perhaps so much that we could not tolerate anything less for our home.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by pinckneymi

Oh, before I forget, do any of you fulltimers live in Corpus Chrisit?

Several AIR members around here. Health care providers -- in general -- are not on a par with what it to be found in either Dallas or Houston. So choose carefully.

[Secguru]

I know you will be happy with your decision to keep the Avion. They are an astonishingly well built coach. On occasion, we have even considered exchanging our wonderful 34' Airstream for a 34' Avion. Their twin bed floor plan is wonderful and their suspension is simply the best.

You now have a coach that will last you the rest of your life with few, if any worries.

All the best,