Tina-Jim

Greetings Guys, Thank you for the informative responses. We will watch the link "Nationalhdtrally.org", especially after April 1st. Momma and I really want to attend and learn. Our daughter is a "Deputy County Treasurer" here in Iowa. I have tasked her with digging into registration and licensing of an HDT as an RV. (inverter/Shore Power, etc.) Good Lord willing, by the time the Rally is going, we will be arriving with our HDT. My plan currently is to find and acquire a Volvo, then over the next year or so, convert it to an RV hauler. Attending the Rally will help us learn what modifications we HAVE TO MAKE and what modifications we SHOULD make. So that by the time we actually get the coach, the HDT will be ready, and I will have had all of the service/maint and mods completed... Well, that's the plan... Be safe out there, Tina & Jim

This is a very informational site. Thank you to all who have responded and taken the time to speak with me. Your knowledge and time are appreciated. Tina&Jim

Greetings All, We have so many questions... This is going to be in Kansas, correct? When? Where? For truly newbies like us, which days would be best for a couple is wanting to LEARN about FULL TIME RV'ing with an HDT? We do not HAVE a coach or HDT yet, nor are we likely to have them by October of '24. However, we do want to talk to experienced people: Get the tips, tricks, what to look for, what to watch our for, PROS/CONS, etc. We are 90% sure that the HDT/5th wheel combination is the way we want to retire... Thank you for your responses, Tina-Jim

Sorry, thank you for the correction. Newbs... Tina & Jim

Thank you Kirk W for the info and the link. Thank you Len P and SandSys for the comments. The Ray,IN. Will look at that link further. When searching for CLASS 6 / CLASS 7 trucks, the M2-106/112's frequently come up. *My understanding is this is based on the GVW (CLASS 6 =GVW 19501 - 26000 and CLASS 7 = GVW 26001 - 33000). Since the fifth wheel coaches we are considering are in the 22500 ~ 24500 pound range, with a pin weight of 4k, Class 6 MDT seems the most appropriate. ? Kirk W, maybe we should have a side chat. You indicated you Durastar 4400 wasn't enough truck... ? Thank you everyone for your comments, Tina & Jim

Greetings All, Thank you for the responses. I will try to answer the query's above in one post... Have not (yet) considered joining Escapees RV Club , just learning about this will investigate. We intend to sell everything (house, cars, etc.) and buy a crew cab MDT truck (Freightliner, International and KW are the current top contenders - not a class 8 tractor. Something along the lines of a M2-112, Durastar 4300 or T270). Not a big pick-up, not a 'true' tractor either. We are still researching which state would be most beneficial. SD has it's PROS, FL has some benefits, undetermined state of residency. The general consensus seems to be, *currently* California will let a pre-DEF truck in to visit. We had heard some rumors of Cali not even letting 'trucks manufactured before 2010' enter. Since Cali is one of the places we would like to visit... Thank you again for your responses. Tina & Jim

Greetings All, The bride and I are planning on becoming full timers in two years when we retire. We do not currently have an RV, however, do have two sets of friends who are currently full time RV'ers. The Bride and I want to go with a MDT (Class 6/Class 7). One question we have is regarding California's Certified Clean Idle laws. To visit Cali does our truck have to be CCI? Be a DEF truck? I am not finding a straight or clear answer to this in other google searches... Thought maybe we should ask people in the know... Be safe out there, Tina & Jim