Where to retire?

[dovecanyoncat]

A 41fter sounds divine but towing it can be tiring. Mrs.49 is a keeper, especially doing the back-up work. Always fantasized about a 5th wheel: weight and hinge over the axle instead of the bumper. I just had too much work gear filling up the PU bed.

In the 70s I had a converted 34' school bus for woodswork (total old hippie cliche) but towed a Honda ATV in a tiny 7' trailer. Backing up that clutch-driven inverted-ass 41' combo blitzed on southern Oregon bud was ...... comedic.

[azcat49]

Wait, you let your wife drive?

Haha yep. Turned out the driving was the easiest part. The logistics proved to be the most challenging. Checking bridge heights, finding places to stay that would fit the size of the rigs that were nice places and locating gas stops ended up being the toughest challenges

[Carcassdragger]

Pulling trailers long distances stresses me out.

About 8 months ago I bought a 2016 Dodge Ram dually 3500 4x4 one ton diesel with a cabover Lance camper. All in pristine condition.

It's got a shower, toilet, stove, microwave, and queen size bed.

It's a 2016 with 26000 miles on it and got the whole thing for just over 70k.

Plan is to travel quite a bit when I retire. I think I can pretty easily jack the camper off the truck and just drive the truck around if we decide we want to stay in an area for awhile.

I want to put a rack onto the back to carry bicycles. I think this might work well for National Park visits.

[Merkin]

My folks spent many of their retirement years RVing around the country. They had all types.

My dad's favorite: Cabover camper

Not sure why, will ask him next time I think about it. But think it's just easier to get around with.

Note that in most states you can spend the night in rest stops at no cost. I also see free street parking on beaches between OC and SD, and between SB and Ventura.

[gouacats]

My wife has some weird phobia of trucks with cab over campers. I’m assuming she must have saw a tv show or movie as a kid that left quite the impression on her. Anyhow, that’s why we’re thinking campervan instead of truck with camper.

[Chicat]

My wife has terrible peripheral vision and worse depth perception. If we ever took an RV anywhere I’d have to do ALL the driving because about 7 minutes in she’d drive us off a cliff.

[Merkin]

One thing nice about 5th wheels, RVs, and cabovers is that you can stick your wife in the back to get her out of your hair.

Cannot do that in bumper mounted campers.

[wyo-cat]

My folks spent many of their retirement years RVing around the country. They had all types.

My dad's favorite: Cabover camper

Not sure why, will ask him next time I think about it. But think it's just easier to get around with.

Note that in most states you can spend the night in rest stops at no cost. I also see free street parking on beaches between OC and SD, and between SB and Ventura.

Smaller size and maneuverability?

That would be my guess.

[Carcassdragger]

One thing nice about 5th wheels, RVs, and cabovers is that you can stick your wife in the back to get her out of your hair.

Cannot do that in bumper mounted campers.

I don't think putting anybody in a cabover when underway would be a good idea.

Regarding peripheral vision, extended mirrors are a must. I also picked up a small solar powered wireless camera and mounted it on the back roof. Plug in the monitor to the cigarette llighter. When you turn on the monitor it activates the camera. Works great. I think it would be good to put on trailers too, just so you can see what's going on behind you.

[Merkin]

I also picked up a small solar powered wireless camera and mounted it on the back roof. Plug in the monitor to the cigarette llighter. When you turn on the monitor it activates the camera. Works great. I think it would be good to put on trailers too, just so you can see what's going on behind you.

I have one of those on my pickup truck. They work great, and only a 5-10 minute install.

[dovecanyoncat]

Pulling trailers long distances stresses me out.

About 8 months ago I bought a 2016 Dodge Ram dually 3500 4x4 one ton diesel with a cabover Lance camper. All in pristine condition.

It's got a shower, toilet, stove, microwave, and queen size bed.

It's a 2016 with 26000 miles on it and got the whole thing for just over 70k.

Plan is to travel quite a bit when I retire. I think I can pretty easily jack the camper off the truck and just drive the truck around if we decide we want to stay in an area for awhile.

I want to put a rack onto the back to carry bicycles. I think this might work well for National Park visits.

For the money, I think that set-up is the ticket. These camper vans on a Mercedes chassis .... some don't have a shower, and have a "cassette" shitter. Ew Hard pass. They can't fit into a conventional garage and start @ $100k. With any kind of real shower and black water accommodation they're $150k. (You could have hauled any trailer size you want. My last one was so sweet and quite light for its size.)

Do you think you really needed the dually? I get that the Lance is a quality unit and can weigh a lot, and since it sits up high you might need the lateral stability with that kind of payload. But they duallies out fast and sorta reduce the rigs utility when it's not under load. 10 ply/high load-rated tires ain't cheap are they?

[azgreg]

When I was a kid we had a 5th wheel and I traveled in the back all the time.

[UAEebs86]

When I was a kid my parents had one of these. There were two cot-like hammocks that swung down in the pop-up for me and my sister, and the couch below opened into a bed for my parents. Very tight space - if the weather was nice my sister and I would set up a tent outside instead. Great for long road trips to be able to spread out in the back though.

[dovecanyoncat]

When I was a kid we had a 5th wheel and I traveled in the back all the time.

Yup, but we rode in cars without airbags or seatbelts. We rode bikes to school without helmets, or in school buses without AC, and got beat by teachers who made us write in cursive. Our parents cooked on Teflon and smoked during Pop-Tart breakfast, so why wouldn't they put us in the back of a 5th wheel with a leaky propane stove.

[dovecanyoncat]

When I was a kid my parents had one of these. There were two cot-like hammocks that swung down in the pop-up for me and my sister, and the couch below opened into a bed for my parents. Very tight space - if the weather was nice my sister and I would set up a tent outside instead. Great for long road trips to be able to spread out in the back though.

Tons of those old Toyota Chinooks are still on the road. Totally cool.

[Carcassdragger]

Pulling trailers long distances stresses me out.

About 8 months ago I bought a 2016 Dodge Ram dually 3500 4x4 one ton diesel with a cabover Lance camper. All in pristine condition.

It's got a shower, toilet, stove, microwave, and queen size bed.

It's a 2016 with 26000 miles on it and got the whole thing for just over 70k.

Plan is to travel quite a bit when I retire. I think I can pretty easily jack the camper off the truck and just drive the truck around if we decide we want to stay in an area for awhile.

I want to put a rack onto the back to carry bicycles. I think this might work well for National Park visits.

For the money, I think that set-up is the ticket. These camper vans on a Mercedes chassis .... some don't have a shower, and have a "cassette" shitter. Ew Hard pass. They can't fit into a conventional garage and start @ $100k. With any kind of real shower and black water accommodation they're $150k. (You could have hauled any trailer size you want. My last one was so sweet and quite light for its size.)

Do you think you really needed the dually? I get that the Lance is a quality unit and can weigh a lot, and since it sits up high you might need the lateral stability with that kind of payload. But they duallies out fast and sorta reduce the rigs utility when it's not under load. 10 ply/high load-rated tires ain't cheap are they?

Yeah, I definitely hear you on the dually. But the camper is quite large and the truck was a one ton with low mileage, so I went with it. Since I've gotten it, several other people with similar set ups have said they'd prefer the dually.

[Merkin]

Tons of those old Toyota Chinooks are still on the road. Totally cool.

I actually have a permanent search on Craigslist for one. But holding out for a 6 cylinder. The 18R and 20R 4 cyl engines are rock solid, but won't cut it out here in California with all the hills and mountains.

Like I said above, my folks had them all and think they had the Chinook the least amount of time.

[azcat49]

So with all this chatter I am thinking sell our house and downsize into something with no yard work or pool maintenance and find a new 6 month RV spot in some beautiful cool state and change it up from year to year.

Worst case is if we hate it, sell the rig and find a home in the place we liked the best

[UAEebs86]

Tons of those old Toyota Chinooks are still on the road. Totally cool.

I actually have a permanent search on Craigslist for one. But holding out for a 6 cylinder. The 18R and 20R 4 cyl engines are rock solid, but won't cut it out here in California with all the hills and mountains.

Like I said above, my folks had them all and think they had the Chinook the least amount of time.

Yeah we had the 4 and it was a dog on hills.

[Carcassdragger]

Tons of those old Toyota Chinooks are still on the road. Totally cool.

I actually have a permanent search on Craigslist for one. But holding out for a 6 cylinder. The 18R and 20R 4 cyl engines are rock solid, but won't cut it out here in California with all the hills and mountains.

Like I said above, my folks had them all and think they had the Chinook the least amount of time.

22R

[Chicat]

Please lord don’t let me die in Indiana. I have to get out of here as soon as the kids are gone.

[pc in NM]

Please lord don’t let me die in Indiana. I have to get out of here as soon as the kids are gone.

You think the kids will "leave"???

[UAEebs86]

For you guys with property up north, have you looked into tiny homes?

[wyo-cat]

Please lord don’t let me die in Indiana. I have to get out of here as soon as the kids are gone.

You think the kids will "leave"???

Mine are gone. 23, 23 and 21.

My 23 yo son had moved back to TTown and works at TMC. I had Brekkie with him at Seis Kitchen since I’m rolling out for a while for work. It’s nice having him back.

[azgreg]

For you guys with property up north, have you looked into tiny homes?

How far north?

[Chicat]

Please lord don’t let me die in Indiana. I have to get out of here as soon as the kids are gone.

You think the kids will "leave"???

When the new owners change the locks they’ll be left with very little choice.

[UAEebs86]

For you guys with property up north, have you looked into tiny homes?

How far north?

I meant like in your case, a tiny house instead of an RV or a full cabin build on your land in the White Mountains. We were just at the home show and they had a bunch on display. 160,000 for 720 sf, 200,000 for 900 sf at one vendor.

[azgreg]

For you guys with property up north, have you looked into tiny homes?

How far north?

I meant like in your case, a tiny house instead of an RV or a full cabin build on your land in the White Mountains. We were just at the home show and they had a bunch on display. 160,000 for 720 sf, 200,000 for 900 sf at one vendor.

If we decide to keep the property outside Show Low my wife wants to build a complex of small buildings around a central fire pit. One building would be the kitchen and living room. Another would be another communal space with master bathroom. Then a couple more that would be bedrooms with half baths. Two or three of those. I don't know. An issue up there is water. I'm 1,000 ft over the water table so a well would be expensive. The other option is get water from the Stanford General Store. I can't remember what they charge though.

[azgreg]

All the buildings would be in the neighborhood of 200 sq ft.

[azcat49]

So you would run a septic tank and a generator for power? I like the idea of those small segments but I would want them connected with a walk way to each under glass

[azgreg]

So you would run a septic tank and a generator for power? I like the idea of those small segments but I would want them connected with a walk way to each under glass

Yes, you would need a septic system. There is electricity up there but I'd put in solar. I'd connect the buildings in some fashion as well.

[Merkin]

Aren't they planning to do helium mining fracking near Show Low? That might affect water supplies.

[dovecanyoncat]

Please lord don’t let me die in Indiana. I have to get out of here as soon as the kids are gone.

Look for your escape, but do not trust to the lord. He has forsaken these lands.

You think the kids will "leave"???

When the new owners change the locks they’ll be left with very little choice.

Smart. When the tent-city sprawls out on your yard you'll have already outsourced some wretched Boomer to scream GET OFF MY LAWN!

[azgreg]

How about an ADU in the backyard?

[azcat49]

I like those. Need to get one of my kids to buy a big enough property for us to fit that in. It would fit easily in our property now but none of the kids can buy our home

[Merkin]

Just order from Ali Express!

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568080 ... ry_from%3A

[azgreg]

I like those. Need to get one of my kids to buy a big enough property for us to fit that in. It would fit easily in our property now but none of the kids can buy our home

The laws for ADU's in Phoenix (and I believe the rest of the state) changed in 2023. For lots up to 10,000 sq ft. (mine's 8,500) the ADU can be up to 75% the size of the main house (mine is 1,380). What makes this idea appealing is my oldest son wants teh house. The only way that happens is if he buys it or inherits it when we die. We can continue to rent him and his friend the main house while we live in the ADU. The rent can go towards paying off the home equity loan we use to build it.

[azcat49]

Your idea there is what we would have preferred. Kids all own a home and I just don’t think renting it to strangers while putting an ADU in would work.

[azgreg]

If both of my boys had their own places we'd just move back into the house or sell it and buy elsewhere. My youngest isn't interested in the slightest in living in this house. My oldest wants to own it. I don't know if you remember or not but he was diagnosed with Autism about 10 years ago. Aspergers actually but they don't call it that anymore. Neither of them make enough to save up for a mortgage. The only way either can afford a house is if we give them one. So teh current plan (subject to change at any moment) is to build an ADU. According to the current law we're allowed livable/covered structure to occupy no more than 50% of the lot size (an additional 10% is allowed for an ADU). We're well within that with a max size of teh ADU being 1,000 sq ft.

[azcat49]

That sounds like a great plan. Generational planning for children that are challenged for one reason or another is always difficult. Says a lot about you and your wife. Well done

[azgreg]

Fucking kids talked to my son about the ADU idea and he doesn't like it.

[UAEebs86]

Fucking kids talked to my son about the ADU idea and he doesn't like it.

Doesn't want mom and dad to cramp his style?

[azgreg]

Fucking kids talked to my son about the ADU idea and he doesn't like it.

Doesn't want mom and dad to cramp his style?

He wants to buy the place outright himself and when he does he doesn't want a large structure in the backyard. I told him good luck. For some reason the country doesn't want young people to be able to purchase homes.

[Chicat]

Fucking kids talked to my son about the ADU idea and he doesn't like it.

Doesn't want mom and dad to cramp his style?

He wants to buy the place outright himself and when he does he doesn't want a large structure in the backyard. I told him good luck. For some reason the country doesn't want young people to be able to purchase homes.

Because the country is run by old people who want to own everything and then rent it out to young people at crippling prices.

[dovecanyoncat]

Where to retire? Anywhere but here, unfortunately.

[azcat49]

Fucking kids talked to my son about the ADU idea and he doesn't like it.

Doesn't want mom and dad to cramp his style?

He wants to buy the place outright himself and when he does he doesn't want a large structure in the backyard. I told him good luck. For some reason the country doesn't want young people to be able to purchase homes.

My real estate agent said generational homes bring greater values. Also, could he not VBRO the place or rent it after you guys are gone and offset his costs?

[azgreg]

Fucking kids talked to my son about the ADU idea and he doesn't like it.

Doesn't want mom and dad to cramp his style?

He wants to buy the place outright himself and when he does he doesn't want a large structure in the backyard. I told him good luck. For some reason the country doesn't want young people to be able to purchase homes.

My real estate agent said generational homes bring greater values. Also, could he not VBRO the place or rent it after you guys are gone and offset his costs?

ADU's can't be used for short term rentals but typical renting is OK. He just doesn't want it back there. We'll see what happens. We have plenty of time.