Okay that one posted so here's the rest... again.
After having checked out the regular boxes we both think doing this is an vintage AS MH would really add to the flavor of this adventure. I love the look of these things, from the outside at least. Having read some of the maintenance threads and just what may be needed to keep one of these beasts properly fed I have some questions for my hopefully soon to be fellow streamers.
1. Are we nuts? Have at it from both the No's and the Yes's.
2. These things look like they take up a lot of your time to keep running, (and maybe not). Most of the owners have the luxury of a garage and full set of tools/equipment and time to source parts and do it themselves. I won't. I like to tinker and am handy but pulling an engine or tranny is way out of my league. How does a F/Ter get the repairs done? At the shop? do you live out or a rented box while it's in for repairs? Will the parks let you replace that generator or polish the unit in your space? do vintage owners get cut some slack because it's all part of the package?
3. To those of you who own one, would you cut your ties and F/T in one? KMPro, I read your great thread on getting your rig up and running and I can jsut see myself on the receiving end of a failed suspension, now what? Your wisdom is much appreciated.
4. How much would you set aside each month for repairs/maintenance/replacements, assuming a shop had to do the majority of the work? I can swing $500 a month considering what we save from not having a stick house any more. Probably could swallow $1K a month but really, would it take that much to keep it running?
5. After about a year we would probably look at modernizing the beast after getting to know what it is we need/miss/want. So to put in new cabinets/applicances/fixtures/flooring, good quality but not high end stuff what are we looking at for a 30+ rig? Pro does the work. 20K in the range or are you LOL?
6. We have a large dog, very well behaved. It stays in the house while we are at work and gets out when we get home. Seems to be okay with this arrangement, no complaints from her yet. Can you leave a dog in teh moho withe the AC on as needed throughout the day? Parks okay with bringing dogs in? F/T'ers with dogs please let me know your experiences.
7. My wife is a massage therapist, and a very good one at that. Do the parks let you set up a tent and hang a shingle in your space? No biggie if they don't just want to see if this is possible.
8. Got my eye on an 87 345 with over 50K in mileage, sounds like it's in very good shape and has been cared for, but I realize there will be things to replace from day 1. Owner has had it for 4 years and had a 310 before that, says take care of the normal wear & tear parts and the rest is not a big issue. Wow, just what I want to hear. Is this really possible?
So one way or another, it looks like we are going to be FTing within the next year. Both of us find this lifestyle very appealing are self employed and are setting things up so we can be absent and still have an income.
We've made plenty of big leaps in the past and while not always successful in one way have been so in others including just the experience of making the leap. So maybe it's all in the frame of mind. You want it to be a burden it becomes one more so than if you take it all in stride and realize it's part of the rules of the game. I guess some forethought into the matter also helps your chances of suceess.
So I hope to be getting to post here more and more with tales of the adventure, but if plan A begins to have more possible pain than gain, then maybe I'll be posting about trailers next. I hope I don't have to go on other SOB forums for advice though.
Gary & Sonja
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