More on Class B Extended Living

"We have a 5th wheel........We are considering a Roadtrek as an adjunct to our fifth wheel since there are a lot of spots in US and Mexico (particularly Yucatan) where a large fifth wheel will not go.......Reed and Elaine"   That's a reader's April 17 comment to my post of February 24, 2015.

We began with the Roadtrek, Reed and Elaine are taking the opposite approach. However, they know where they want to go. When we began our planning we weren't so sure. We wanted real experiences to validate our ideas and assumptions. We also wanted the possibility of setting up "bases" in several places in the U.S. where we could stretch our legs and relax, and use the Roadtrek for the explorations from these places. Because we had a nebulous plan, we really weren't sure of how it would turn out. But we decided the explorations would come first in the Roadtrek. We would learn from our experiences and discover the locations for our bases.

And so it has been. About 18,000 miles later we know where in the Midwest and where in the Southwest we will be. We are no longer tied to our sticks and bricks condo. Our bases provide mild summers and mild winters within short distance of so much to see and do. As one said "Getting there is all the fun" and there are a lot of choices in RVs and we researched just about all of the Class Bs and Cs out there. We decided that most important was to get something that would work for the intended purpose and our intended lifestyle. We wanted a 3-1/2 season exploration vehicle designed for use on paved or gravel roads. We intended to use it to create our future. Because we had so little practical experience we first rented a Sprinter based van and I've published some detailed information about that on my personal blog. However, these are all personal observations viewed from the lenses of our personal intentions.

We never expected to live in the RT for extended periods, although an Alaska trek is on our list of possibilities. Such a trek would require about 6 weeks. Our recent 90 day trek stretched to a 110 day experience which certainly tested our concept. There are "tiny homes" and the Roadtrek is miniscule by comparison. However we are still smiling after that 110 day experience.

90 days in a Roadtrek

Enjoying the hotel fireplace

We got the Roadtrek because we wanted to explore and we wanted to see the US and beyond. We wanted something that would facilitate the next step.

In a few days we'll pass the milestone for the longest trek to date. 90 continuous days. G gets the credit. I continue to work so I leave the Roadtrek for a few days or whatever, drive and fly other places to do my work while she remains in the sun. When my task is done I return to G and to the Roadtrek.

Now, we didn't purchase it to live full time in it. It is our exploration vehicle. But along the way in our first two years and 16.000 miles we decided we really like trekking. More than we expected. Even more so, we like the mild summers and the warm winters we have encountered. A lot!

Along the way we found some places we'd like to spend a significant amount of time, and use for larger explorations. Milder summers, warm winters and access to all kinds of outdoor places. However, we don't necessarily want to drive 1000 miles to see a National Park. So we decided to "build" some mobile bases. One is a wonderful site upon which we put a travel trailer (TT).  It is the perfect summer location. Adjacent to one of the nicest State Parks in the area and we walk to Lake Michigan. Good dining, craft beers, lots of hikes, things to do and the entire Great Lakes within easy trekking distance.

However, winter is another matter. We decided we'd like to spend winters in warmer climes. So we have been also searching for another mobile base in the Southwest US. It should provide an easy trek north into Colorado, Utah and beyond when it warms. It would be possible to trek east to Florida in the winter if we want lots of water and to visit friends and relatives in that direction. We found such a place. Lots to see and do, National and State Parks and some great bike trails right outside our door. Good food, too. We're currently looking for something larger to put on that site, but meantime we Roadtrek.