How we made our adventure, part 8

 

Roadtrek Office

 

Winter 2015-2016. 110 days in the Roadtrek. 

We began looking for a suitable  "Mothership" for the Arizona site - Step 2

In the early winter of 2015 we settled in and set up house keeping on the new site in Arizona.  I continued to perform my consulting work,  using the Roadtrek as an office. However, the shed could have been set up as an office. In fact, I continued to work for another 4 years.

While I was away on a business trip G began researching 5th wheel RVs at nearby RV dealerships. Upon return from a business trip, I joined her in the search.   I did a lot of online research of manufacturers, floor plans and we discussed pros and cons, ad nauseum.  We spent a lot of time at a consignment website.  Their floor plans, descriptions and prices were very helpful.  We decided if we couldn't find anything locally that we would head to Texas and see what was available.

However, after 110 days in the Roadtrek we were ready to return the Roadtrek to its primary role as exploration vehicle.

We did a lot of outdoor cooking. For one thing, we are both good cooks, and we have different styles and cuisines which complement one another.  G has an Italian background and I a German one.  We can both bake, too.  G favors the Mediterranean approach with olive oil, and I go toward butter.  But we're ambidextrous; for example, I make an awesome ratatouille and G's rum cake is very popular. 

Cooking outdoors reduced the clutter in the Roadtrek, and made housekeeping easier.  We could do clean-up in the shed. 

 Breakfasts were sometimes made indoors.  Mornings can be cool.

At those times we didn't feel like cooking, we could go to the resort bar and grill. Of course, there were lots of nearby restaurants, too.

 

 

Prime rib special at the resort bar and grill

We had the option of making some extensive modifications to the shed, but I didn't want to convert it to a living space.  

Shed

  We also did a good amount of sightseeing and exploring of the area.

Meanwhile, I continued my work related travel, sometimes by air and sometimes by rental car

Consulting, sometimes at the customer's site. Several locations:

Original material http://roadtrek210.blogspot.com/

 

How we made our adventure, part 9

 

Shopping

 

Shopping for the 5th Wheel for the AZ site - continued

We continued looking for a 5th wheel for the site. It was now spring 2016. We had agreed upon some criteria for that RV and were willing to accept trade-offs. A brief list, in no particular order:

1. We did not want a Park model at a resort. We would most likely keep a larger RV on the site for 5+ years, but we wanted the ability to move it, when or if, we decided to do so.

2. We had an ideal budget and a maximum budget.

3. Prefer 1-1/2 baths. Larger shower.

4. Prefer rear bunk/office area with no rear facing windows. Our site had a western exposure for the rear of RV.  In AZ the sun heat load can be a lot.

5. 37 ft. minimum length, 41 ft. maximum if it has rear bunk/office area.

6. We did not want a large residential refrigerator. These can be an issue to remove if there is a problem. Furthermore, if there is a refrigerator issue, it may be problematic getting a tech to work on it. A 120 V AC  only refrigerator with inverter acceptable.

7. Good kitchen with propane stove/oven and microwave. Food preparation surfaces. We wanted sufficient room for our cooking and baking.

8. 2-interconnected A/Cs and one to be a heat pump. 

9. Queen or king bed.

10 Prepared for laundry washer/dryer.

11. Outdoor cook station.

12.  The usual 5th wheel amenities including ceiling fan and 3 or so vent fans.

13. New RV preferred, rather than used.

14. Must fit within the confines of the site overhead structure and existing supports.

With spring 2016 nearly upon us, we had narrowed down our search after reviewing hundreds of floor plans and models. The most suitable from a criteria perspective was a Redwood Cypress and we had found a less desirable, but workable alternate. 

The Cypress was at the maximum length and budget. However,  it met all the other criteria. I took a lot of measurements to assure the site would accommodate it. The various supports of the site covering would have to clear the slides, entries and so on.  We could make modifications but it would be best if the supports weren't an obstruction. 

The dealer had two new 2015 models of the Cypress that we were interested in. By the time we had completed the measurements, one had been sold. We returned to the dealer, discussed the total cost, and decided to purchase the alternate. I told the dealer "We really want the Cypress, but we can't reach that price point." We had a budget and it would be too great a financial stretch. The Cypress was also a bit over 41 ft. in length. This was doable, but might require future modifications to the site supports and the lower bay covering.

The salesman and the manager held a short conference. They returned and gave us an adjusted price for the Cypress. It met our criteria! We sat down and completed the paperwork and arranged for the delivery. The dealer offered to include the delivery in the selling price. I don't own a truck and we didn't intend to move this RV for a number of years, unless we decided on a different resort. On March 24 the dealer set the Cypress up at a nearby KOA so we could try it for the night and determine any issues. We made a short list and established the delivery date. We had already notified the resort. On March 27 the Cypress was delivered and put on the site. 

This time, I photographed G accepting the keys:

 

Delivery

G accepts the keys

 

in place

 

Main living area

Bunk area rear wall, ready for me to install our tech.

The line-up. The Mothership had landed

Floor Plan - 5 slides, 1-1/2 baths.

We barely had time to set up the 5th wheel and it was time to depart AZ.  On April 10 we spent some time at  the Big Texan in Amarillo, en-route to the condo and our summer location. But, we were looking forward to winter 2016-2017.

 

Dining Hall at the Big Texan

 

 Original material http://roadtrek210.blogspot.com/

How we made our adventure - Part 7

 

Waiting for the Mothership

  

 

 

Arizona - Winter 2015-2016, the winter "lily pad" - Step 1.

During spring of 2015 I checked the Arizona resort website periodically. I was looking for a covered site that was available as an annual rental. These were rare.  Of course, I could lease and build on a site, but generally it is less costly to lease a previously owned site.

I saw one listed in June and told G. We reviewed the online description and photos. Without hesitation she said "Buy it!". We contacted the sales office, and discussed with the sales agent. We immediately gave our formal offer to management. Later that day sales called and asked if we really wanted the site; there were several other interested individuals. We said "yes".  When the sales forms arrived we completed them and faxed the contract. The other documents and payment were over-nighted to the sales office. Several days later we were informed that our contract and payment were accepted.    We now had our winter "lily pad".     In fall of 2015, when we returned we'd have a "permanent" site waiting for us.

How this works.  In this resort, one can get an annual lease for a specific site, if the site is available. The resort allows the lessee to add a covering, concrete pads, a 10x10 insulated air conditioned shed with hot and cold running water, etc. However, this is all subject to management approval.  If one decides to vacate then one pays the annual fee (lease) until a "buyer" for the site amenities is found; alternately the site can be rented to another or can simply be turned over to the resort. But, if the site is surrendered the resort doesn't pay anything for the site amenities.  If one finds a buyer, the buyer assumes the annual rental fee, and can purchase whatever is on the site from the seller at an agreed upon price.

We had "done the numbers"  and we knew the annual costs and we also knew that a "site" could be purchased at about the cost of 50% to build.

In November, 2015 I filled the Roadtrek with stuff.  Because this would be a 4-6 month stay we needed additional clothing, towels, blankets, cooking utensils and pots, tools, etc. Because I would be conducting my business from AZ I also needed to pack the necessary technology. I then departed alone to AZ to take possession of the site. G would follow later, by air. En-route I slept on the special cushion made  for  the passenger's seat of the Roadtrek.

A very full Roadtrek

Sleeping in the front seat

A few days later I arrived at the resort, registered and set up the Roadtrek.

Winter site

After checking the site out I sent G a bunch of detailed photos.  I left the Roadtrek behind, returned to Chicago via air and arrived at Ohare airport on November 23. Seven days after leaving I had returned.

Several weeks later G and I loaded the 2004 Malibu and we drove to AZ for the winter.  That auto has been in AZ ever since and we use it for local travel. 

On December 21, en-route to AZ we got a flat. A piece of angle iron hidden in a puddle at a gas station entrance scored the tire sidewall. I called around for a tire shop and found one nearby.  I explained the issue. They responded that they didn't have our tire in stock, but could have it within an hour. I ordered two over the phone.  The shop was about 30 miles away and so I emptied the trunk and retrieved the spare. The Malibu was stuffed. After retrieving the spare I put the damaged tire and our belongings hurriedly back in. We drove to the tire service center.

our tire replacement shop

damaged rear tire

packing after retrieving the spare tire

About an hour later and with two new tires on the front drive wheels I repacked the car. We were once again on our way. The rest of the trip was uneventful.

At the resort we put the auto alongside the Roadtrek while we set up the site. It and the Roadtrek fit side-by-side under the low bay of our covered site, leaving the tall bay available for something else.

We never intended to live full time in the RT while in Arizona. It was to be our "exploration vehicle", When we arrived we relocated the Roadtrek to the tall, covered bay, connected the utilities and set up housekeeping.  Photo on Christmas Eve, 2015:

We also began looking for something larger for the site.  Some of the neighbors found us to be a funny couple, with such a small RV on the site. I explained we had bigger plans for the site and put up a sign.

We then settled in and enjoyed the area and the resort.  I continued my work and traveled when necessary. I temporarily repurposed the RV porch left behind by the previous site occupant as a cook station.

  Original material http://roadtrek210.blogspot.com/