Last updated: 12/16/2009

Copyright © 2002-2009 John Mayer. All rights reserved. For reuse policy see About Us         Contact Us

Where Are We, and our travel plans.

It was always our dream to live and travel fulltime in our RV. Beginning in August of 2000 we started living that dream as fulltime RVers. It is a lifestyle that we enjoy and we do not see ourselves "coming off the road" unless medical conditions force us to.

This website is oriented towards "technical" issues related to the fulltime RV lifestyle - everything from selecting your tow vehicle, information on Heavy Duty Trucks (HDT's), electrical modifications to your RV, installation and use of solar, items to make boondocking more pleasant, cell phone selection and improvement, Internet access, etc.  While we do discuss in detail selection of tow vehicles, the other sections of this web site contain information relevant to motor home or trailer users.

This site does not provide general "lifestyle" information on fulltime RVing or determining if our lifestyle would suit you. For information on lifestyle aspects of fulltime RVing we recommend our friends Howard and Linda Payne's website, RV-Dreams and their daily blog, RV Dreams Blog. Also look at Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak & Alice Zyetz's excellent website at RVlifestyleexperts.com. In the Links and Files section on this site you will find references to other lifestyle-oriented RV websites.

The information in this website consists of a mixture of our opinions, and facts. Where information is opinion, it is either apparent, or I try to specify that it is opinion. Factual information on electrical implementations, etc., follows best practices and code, where applicable. If you are not sure, do your own research.

When planning for the fulltime lifestyle we had to consider what type of RV to use. For us, a fifth wheel trailer pulled by a truck was the best choice. We thought we chose the ultimate tow vehicle when we purchased our Ford F550. We were wrong!

(Click on the pictures below for larger size)

We now tow with a Heavy Duty Truck (HDT), otherwise known as a semi-truck or a class 8 tractor. Yes, these are the trucks you see towing freight all over the country. An HDT is truly the ultimate tow vehicle. It can tow any RV trailer on the market, stops easily with weight behind it, and is more capable in every regard than the typical RV tow vehicle. In addition, it is easier to drive than a crew cab dually pickup, is far more comfortable, and you never need be concerned with overloading it. However, an HDT is not for everyone!

For almost three years our Volvo 610 tractor was our only vehicle. We are often asked how we managed daily driving in such a large vehicle. The reality is that our Volvo tractor is not much bigger than a crew cab dually pickup (it is slightly longer, and the same width). We now have a Jeep for off-road use, which we tow behind our 5th wheel. You can read about towing doubles (also called triple towing) in the Legal Issues section. 

After several years on the road (towing with our F550) we realized that if we ever wanted a heavier 5'th wheel, we were going to have to upgrade the truck first. So we started researching Medium Duty Trucks (MDT's). The typical MDT you see is a small Freightliner or International converted for RV use. These are capable trucks, with many of the features of pickups that most people are familiar with. You should carefully consider their advantages when looking for a more capable tow vehicle. Take a look in the MDT or HDT? section for our view on the tradeoffs between them.

In the process of searching for our "ultimate" RV Hauler, we realized that for us a class 8 tractor would make a better hauler than an MDT.  What you see here is a result of our search - what we consider the Ultimate RV Hauler.

Our Volvo tractor is titled as a motorhome in TX. It is a 1999 Volvo 610 with a 182" wheelbase. It is pushed by a Cummins ISM with 400 hp./1450 lb/ft of torque. This is the smallest engine commonly found in an HDT! This tractor is considered a "mid-height" sleeper - it has 6' 7" of interior headroom, and is 10' 10" on the exterior. The exterior height is slightly below the trailer height, is more practical for bob-tailing around town than a full-height tractor (which is 13'+), and has the added advantage of keeping the nose of the trailer bug-free! To see more about our truck look at Selecting Your HDT and Our Truck Body.

Some portions of this web site document the conversion process of taking an over-the-road tractor and turning it into a dedicated RV hauler. We added a number of items to make the truck more comfortable, allow us to take overnight trips with just the truck, and to title the truck as an RV (instead of as a truck). Specific projects we did on our Volvo are shown in some detail. We hope this helps you with your conversion project!

While the truck conversion sections may not interest those choosing to RV with a motor home, the rest of the website contains information relevant to all RVs.

Information on selecting an HDT and converting it yourself is in the Selecting Your HDT section.

Use of Heavy Duty Trucks for hauling RVs has increased quite a bit in recent years. There is a national rally for heavy duty haulers held in Hutchinson, KS in early October every year. If you are thinking of using an HDT for hauling an RV, you should seriously consider attending this rally. It will provide a wealth of knowledge, the ability to see many trucks in one location, talk to the owners, and drive some of the rigs. There is no better way to understand the value of the HDT for RV hauling, or to learn as much in such a concentrated timeframe. All are welcome, and prospective owners are especially encouraged to attend. There are nearby hotels if you do not have an RV.

Probably the best resource on the web for info on HDT's is the HDT section of the Escapees RV Club forum: Escapees Forum.