Jim Hicks

Welcome Eric, I like your tastes.

Welcome back Jim. It sounds like you and I are thinking alike. I should be a year or two behind you, with a similar rig. Robin and I snuck out of upstate New York just ahead of an Irate Posse a few mponths ago. No plans on my part to go back, with the possible exception of fall foilage and snowboarding trips. I had the chance to go to the ECR this year and had a blast as well. Again, Welcome back!

but full timing is a whole other style.

It should be a blast. I still have a long road to get there though. I have a kid in college down there in your neck of the woods at FSU. We are counting on a college football comeback, now that Bobby Bowden is retired.

Jim

Hello Folks,

I've been lurking here for quite sometime now, and I thought I would finally introduce myself. I'm less then two years from my military retirement, and the wife is already military retired, and is going to school full time to become a nurse. In the short term we still have 1 more daughter that's a few years from graduating, and 1 daughter that graduates in June. The wife and I plan on full timing for several years so HDT is the way to go. The wife plans on doing the "traveling Nurse" thing in the future, and I think I'll do the working camping thing. My 5th wheel is only 14,000 lbs, but it makes sense to never buy another 1 ton and go with the Class 8. I seem to be searching everyday for the right truck, but common sense has me waiting for a bit until the time gets closer. I've been tempted several times to just pull the trigger, but with only the normal vacations for the next few years I know I'll need to wait just a bit.

I know it sounds strange, but I feel like I know all of you very well, and the wife is getting to know each of you when I mention your stories. I look forward to the day when I can say I finally pull the trigger, and I can finally meet up with some of you. In the mean time I've been adding the extras to my current truck that can be transferred to the HDT in the future -- I.E. -- Backup camera, Pressure Pro Tire Monitor, Looking for a diesel generator, & Air ride Hitch. Also been keeping my eyes open for that elusive Volvo 730 that seems to be in my future.

 

Ya'll take care and I'll keep lurking until I find something that I might know something about more then the experts.....

Welcome Jon, it sounds like you and I have a lot in common. I will be tracking your progress. Seems you are way ahead of me.

Jim

Canadian newby here ,been lurking for years just reading and learning.

Thought I would come into the light :-)

I dont have a big trailer never will ,when the wife retires we will 'snowbird' but not fulltime ,we dont need a HTD but Iam drawn by the saftey and reasonable (cheaper) cost of these units compared to a say 1 ton pick-up , and Iam all for saving money.

If any fellow ontario'ans know of a HTD rv converter I would love to know ,someone posted a link to a outfit in alberta and may stop in when Iam out that way next, but I thought the prices were a bit steep (up to 59,000cdn)and we need some competion up here.

I wont post much as I dont have any answers and most of my questions are covered in the excellent resource in the sticky

so thank you for that.

Welcome to the forum hone eagle. I would recomend you contact a member by the user name of PSD Tweaker. Rick is from your neck of the woods and hails from Quebec. He has a tremendous reputation as a great resource in the HDT arena. He is an HDT owner, and has helped many aquire the rig of their dreams. I would imagine he could steer you to the right places to get a rig converted in your own back yard. Good Luck.

Jim

Welcome, Jim!

 

As you already know, you've discovered a place where you'll find a wealth of knowledge about the style of RVing that you're pursuing.

 

Mark and Jack are extremely knowledgeable, and you'll find the to be quite helpful, no doubt, as will many of the others here. Don't hesitate to ask questions.

Thanks Phil, for making me feel so welcome. I already recieved very thorough responses from both gentelmen to my questions. I look forward to the great education I am going to get on this forum.

Jim

First Post everyone!

I could not stand lurking any more. I sent an E-mail to Mark Bruss and Jack Mayer with an introduction and a couple of questions. I thought I would share a similar introduction with you all.

I am a wanna be full timer and am devouring all of the information I can for my anticipated entry into the fulltiming lifestyle. It could be quite some time before I enter the lifestyle but am confident we will be out there with you guys one way or another.

My name is Jim Hicks and my wonderful bride of 26 years and my lifelong best friend is my wife Robin. We have two wonderful daughters. Our oldest is in the Air Force, and youngest is a sophmore at Florida State. I am a proud member of the United States Navy and have over 25 years of service to date. Once the youngest graduates college and we are truly empty nesters, our fulltiming lifestyle will begin. Possibly sooner, but we will play it by ear.

Robin and I will be entering the fulltiming lifestyle immediately after I retire from the military. The soonest will be Fall of 2011, but it will most likely be closer to my Daughters graduation date. Although I am currently stationed in upstate NY, I will most likely be retiring from Hawaii. Needless to say, acquiring our truck and trailer prior to retirement is impractical, so we will most likely be homeless when we leave Hawaii, while shopping for our truck and trailer. I would love to attend the HDT rally in Kansas this fall, prior to moving to Hawaii, but I think my work schedule will keep me from attending. I will keep tabs on the rallies in the future to see if I can get my schedule to line up. I would love nothing more than to meet some of you guys and get a better understanding of your rigs. Oh well, the fall Hershey Pennsylvania RV show, and the internet will need to suffice for now.

Are any of you HDT guys planning on being at the Hershey show this fall. If so can I arrange to see your rig?

My current thoughts/ plans are:

1) I will pay Cash for my truck and trailer.

2) Buy a Nice Used Volvo Aerocab HDT (Autoshift for wife). Volvo will be outfitted to carry my Goldwing. Model is yet to be determined.

3) Buy a nicely outfitted fifth wheel (35-40 ft) with four season/boondocking capabilities. Most likely a few years old.

Please bear with me as I ask my silly questions to those of you with experience.

Jim