For someone who thought they read through ALL of the HDT forum, I somehow missed this post until stumbling across a link to it elsewhere.
I'm a 40-something guy working at Microsoft In Redmond, WA, and I've had the itch to drive a truck since I was perhaps three years old. I've got some classic books from when I started to read, talking about Big Al's Trailer Truck, and such. While I was in college, I got my CDL class A with tank and double/triple-trailer endorsement. I've never driven professionally, but I've put it to use for several years as a volunteer FF/EMT while living in Texas. I've got a long way until retirement, but BIG plans nonetheless, and I'm intending to get into the HDT/RV world in a rather unique sequence compared to most of you:
1) In perhaps two years, sell my "extra" vehicle, a 2001 Ford Excursion, which we use to haul our gorgeous tandem bicycle, and get an HDT. It'll probably be a Volvo 780: Volvo so Mrs. Peety will be willing to drive it occasionally, and a 780 so there are lower windows on the sleeper box and I can use the workstation area for extra people at times. I'll drive the HDT to work 1-2 times per week, just because I can. I'm thinking I'll put an APU on the rig, so I can keep the cab cool while I'm at work.
2) We'll rent a 5er now and then for certain adventures, but more often than not, we'll just go do things in the HDT that we couldn't do in a car/SUV (or the Excursion), like take our two dachshunds with us on road trips or even just be able to go to a bicycle ride and have the convenience of a cooled cab when we finish the ride, and a place to change out of bike clothes with headroom AND privacy.
3) After I win the lottery, or if I can truly get ahead of my retirement savings efforts, I'll go purchase (brand-new) my dream truck, a sparkle blue Kenworth W900L with an 86" Studio Sleeper, a 600HP Cummins, and an 18-speed automated Eaton. After that's happily on the road, I'll work with Featherlite to build a 53' travel trailer with a master bedroom over the kingpin, who knows how many slide-outs for the living/sleeping areas, and a ~18' car carriage area on the back of the trailer either over or under a "bunkhouse" area for the kids (who haven't been created just yet, but soon). I do plan to register this rig as commercial to enjoy the longer length laws available to me.
So for now, I'm just soaking up all that I can on HDT conversions, and saving my bonuses and such with a target of October 2016 for a HDT. I might leave it tandem with commercial fifth-wheel for easier resale, but we'll see what comes of it. My wife and I are into bicycling, with a rather custom daVinci tandem that allows either person to coast; nonetheless it's probably the most teched-out tandem out there. We're also into photography, sometimes spending $1000 or more to rent extra photo gear to take along on various cruises.
Anyhow, that's the basics of "me". I'm really looking forward to contributing what little I can, and soaking up what everyone else brings to the forum. Hi!