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We're seriously thinking about downsizing some, and moving to where it might be a little warmer than MN. Plan on traveling with RV 3-4 times a year at few weeks to few months each time for a total of about half-time (DW insistent about not FT :)

 

Question for group is about where we can find RV communities? Would like a RV garage/port so I don't have to winterize. A ~2bedroom house with shop for me and quilting room for DW. No exterior maintenance. And a friendly community.

 

Looked at Retama in RGV and liked a lot but it's a long way from everything. Going to look at Lake Whitney in TX and the Gardens in TN. Don't really want to go to FL. Any other communities we should consider?

 

Thanks in advance for all suggestions.

Ron

Ron and Pat, and 2 Portuguese Water Dogs

2013 Silverado 3500 SRW Duramax w/SuperGlide

2005 NuWa HitchHiker DA 31.5 LK w/MorRyde IS

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Let me suggest that you check out our home-base community that is just west of Tyler, TX. At present there are two homes for sale, one undeveloped lot and one lot that has an RV pad & storage building.

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

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Thanks Kirk. We planned on swinging by Livingston in ~late March but hadn't realized there was more than rv lots there. Will add it to our list. Look forward to seeing it and meeting you in a month or so.

Ron

Ron and Pat, and 2 Portuguese Water Dogs

2013 Silverado 3500 SRW Duramax w/SuperGlide

2005 NuWa HitchHiker DA 31.5 LK w/MorRyde IS

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I recall folks talking of places like you want in Tennessee but don't recall the name. Try Google. It would be a good year-round temperature with mild seasons.

Full-timed for 16 Years
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Motorhome
and 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

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Thanks 2gyps, I've enjoyed many of your posts and advice (and Kirks too).

 

The Gardens in Crossville TN is the one I've found in TN, although I think from some comments there might be some others there too. I also understand there are a number of NOMADS there that I plan on contacting if we like what we see there.

 

Still looking to see if there are other options...

Ron and Pat, and 2 Portuguese Water Dogs

2013 Silverado 3500 SRW Duramax w/SuperGlide

2005 NuWa HitchHiker DA 31.5 LK w/MorRyde IS

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The way you answered it looks like you think Kirk is at Livingston. As he said he is near Tyler which is on about the level with Dalls but farther east. I brought that up in the interest of clarity. If I am in error just ignore it. I think that you still might have to do some winterizing anywhere in TN; and possibly a little up in Kirk's area. I have been wintering basically at Memphis Tn the last few winters and there is some winterization here. I sure none of it is like where you are from.

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Thx bigjim. I did think Kirk was in Livingston, I guess he'll need to provide me more info so I know where to go.

 

Regarding winterizing, I am under the impression that with a rv garage I'll be able to come and go without winterizing (maybe need a small heater on some days). This probably won't be a deal breaker either way but will have some bearing.

Ron and Pat, and 2 Portuguese Water Dogs

2013 Silverado 3500 SRW Duramax w/SuperGlide

2005 NuWa HitchHiker DA 31.5 LK w/MorRyde IS

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There is a home community adjacent to the Escapees Rainbow Plantation in Robertsdale, AL with homes with RV ports of various sizes and prices when one goes up for sale. I don't believe it's actually park of the Escapees but they share some facilities.

There is also a RV/home community in Cleveland, GA called Paradise Valley. http://www.pvc4u.net/ Greg

Greg & Judy Bahnmiller
Class of 2007
2014 F350
2007 HitchHiker Champagne

Both sold 2/19, settled in Foley, AL after 12 years on the road

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We actually love AZ. Lived there in the 80s. But right now we'd like to be closer to relatives in MN and OH.

 

For the sake of completeness please also reply with known communities in AZ or FL so others may benefit from this thread in the future.

 

Thx

Ron and Pat, and 2 Portuguese Water Dogs

2013 Silverado 3500 SRW Duramax w/SuperGlide

2005 NuWa HitchHiker DA 31.5 LK w/MorRyde IS

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. I did think Kirk was in Livingston, I guess he'll need to provide me more info so I know where to go.

Where we live it is a co-op type of community and is organized similarly to the Escapee co-op parks but it has no connection to Escapees other than the fact that the majority of residents are or once were members of Escapees. Several of our lot owners still have a domicile there, but we are roughly 150 miles almost due north of the Escapee HQ. I sent you a PM on the subject.

 

There is a home community adjacent to the Escapees Rainbow Plantation in Robertsdale, AL

I don't know if those are the homes Greg has in mind, but there are homes on deeded lots adjacent to Rainbow Plantation in AL and also at Rainbow's End in Livingston that one can buy on the real estate market. When those two parks were begun the Escapees did sell subdivided lots to their members that were deeded and which shared utilities from the park. Due to complications that arise when you supply utilities and such to property that can be sold on the open market to people not members of the club, that practice was stopped and they created the co-op parks to continue to make a place for a fulltimer to land when he stops traveling. They don't make any more of those today either as the organization has evolved to be much larger and somewhat different today.

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

            images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqFswi_bvvojaMvanTWAI

 

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Why have you eliminated Arizona from your considerations? We spend the winter here and then travel April until middle of October.

Barbaraok,

 

We will possibly be looking at homes in the Winter Haven 55+ Gated Community in Sierra Vista, AZ the latter part of this year, first of next year during our first snowbird wintering over in the RGV. Do you guys have any personal knowledge of this area that would be of help. Since Sierra Vista is up around 4800 feet higher than Tucson, Green Valley, the overall slightly cooler temps sounds appealing. B) We intend to travel roughly May-Nov then settle somewhere warm for the winter.

2010 Newmar Dutch Aire 4304-Spartan Chassis-Cummins ISL 425hp-2013 Chevrolet Equinox AWD Towed-SKP# 120487-FMCA #402879-

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You can find Rv communities in all of the warmer in winter States. We have wintered in AZ and we now winter in Florida.Do not rule out any area till you have tried them out. We never considered Florida till we spent a winter here.

Helen and I are long timers ..08 F-350 Ford,LB,CC,6.4L,4X4, Dually,4:10 diff dragging around a 2013 Montana 3402 Big Sky

SKP 100137. North Ridgeville, Ohio in the summer, sort of and where ever it is warm in the winter.

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We will possibly be looking at homes in the Winter Haven 55+ Gated Community in Sierra Vista, AZ the latter part of this year, first of next year during our first snowbird wintering over in the RGV. Do you guys have any personal knowledge of this area that would be of help. Since Sierra Vista is up around 4800 feet higher than Tucson, Green Valley, the overall slightly cooler temps sounds appealing. B) We intend to travel roughly May-Nov then settle somewhere warm for the winter.

 

Sierra Vista is a nice modern small town. There are good medical facilities there and major shopping (WalMart, Lowes, Home Depot, a mall with Dillards, etc.) Because of its higher elevation it will be cooler there in winter but very doable. It rarely snows that low but you'll see some in the high mountains at the city - beautiful. If you're into birding it's a major place - lots of neat canyons. Hiking is good, too. I'd highly recommend Sierra Vista.

Full-timed for 16 Years
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Motorhome
and 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

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I have RV friends who live in Sierra Vista, AZ, and are very happy there. Health is keeping them from traveling much now so I'm guessing the medical facilities there are good as they are not the type of people to settle for less.

 

Linda Sand

Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/

Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van

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We are looking to down size also and looking for a RV friendly community. We have tried some searches and not coming up with much. We want a B&M home that is RV Friendly and I can still have a good size work shop. Any suggestions on what to put in on the search? Looking for something south of the frozen tundra of the north. Tenn.

South but not the west. Wife still has family in frozen Wis.

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As far as wintering goes, we've wintered in SoCal., Az., and Fla. The San Diego area has been our favorite, but it really hit the pocket book, but you won't find what you're looking for there homewise anyway. Arizona as far as temps go was close to perfect...BUT what we didn't like, was we could never open our windows because of all the dust in the air. Everything inside would get covered. I swear you could wash your car everyday to try and keep it clean. In Florida you have to be sure you get far enough south. Pretty much south of the I40 interstate that bisects the state is where you'll find nice winter temps. Of course the further south you go the better. By the way we're wintering in S.C. this year, and I wouldn't recommend it. I would rather be somewhere warmer, but circumstances dictate we stay here.

Fulltiming since 2010

2000 Dutch Star

2009 Saturn Vue

Myrtle Beach, SC

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We will possibly be looking at homes in the Winter Haven 55+ Gated Community in Sierra Vista, AZ the latter part of this year, first of next year during our first snowbird wintering over in the RGV. Do you guys have any personal knowledge of this area that would be of help. Since Sierra Vista is up around 4800 feet higher than Tucson, Green Valley, the overall slightly cooler temps sounds appealing.

You might also look at the Oro Valley and around Green Valley (which you mention). While Sierra Vista may be slightly cooler than those in the summer, it is not going to be that great a difference. I personally would be more inclined to judge that entire area on its merits, not on its weather, since in my experience the weather it "generally" the same. With the exception of the higher elevations in New Mexico and AZ. We like Sierra Vista and have spent a good amount of time there. I'd be a little wary of an isolated property near the border areas, and I'd certainly be armed if hiking in those areas. But other than that it is a very nice place.

 

You might also look at St. George UT area. It is a nice town. It has some active retirement communities, but I've not looked for "RV" communities in it - only the active retirement places. The air quality is outstanding, and the weather is four season but not really excessively hot in the summer...as the humidity is low. Better than Phoenix, IMO, since Phoenix is pretty polluted now. But not as warm in the winter.

Jack & Danielle Mayer #60376 Lifetime Member
Living on the road since 2000

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Very informative and helpful responses. Does anyone have any knowledge of rv storage places for the winter period,(say Nov-Feb,March)in theSierra Vista area as this does not seem to be an option for the Winter Haven community. We haven't made a decision yet and could very well end up elsewhere, but type of info received so far would be needed for all I would think.

2010 Newmar Dutch Aire 4304-Spartan Chassis-Cummins ISL 425hp-2013 Chevrolet Equinox AWD Towed-SKP# 120487-FMCA #402879-

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