Motorhome!

[REWahoo]

Coal (black lab) and I are planning to head out on a long western road trip in a few days. I've been busy ordering/buying stuff that I want to take along.

Congrats! You got what you wanted and saved a bundle by buying slightly used.

Tell us more: Which chassis, Ford, Chevy or Dodge? Gas or diesel?

We're also heading out on a long western road trip later this week. I'll be watching for a black lab - and a new Bengal driver with a huge grin on his face.

 

[Lakedog]

Tell us more: Which chassis, Ford, Chevy or Dodge? Gas or diesel?

We're also heading out on a long western road trip later this week. I'll be watching for a black lab - and a new Bengal driver with a huge grin on his face.

Chevy extended cab, gas engine, with most of the options I would have ordered. I ended up paying $75k plus delivery cost so thought I got a decent deal. Here is the Bengal I bought - still shown on the company website:
Consignment Unit: 2011 Bengal Tiger 4×4 | Tiger Adventure Vehicles

Flag me down if you see us on the road someplace! Bengal with Alabama tag.

 

[REWahoo]

Sounds like you got an excellent deal!

I'll keep an eye out for you. Our truck is almost a twin - a white 2011 Chevy 2500HD, but the crew cab version. We're towing a Jayco Eagle 5th wheel.

 

[NW-Bound]

Very nice! What I like about this is the ability to get to the driver seat without going outside. The 4x4 drive is great. Looks like a good deal compared to buying spanking new.

PS. I just see that it has a compressor fridge and a 130W solar panel. Would be interesting to see if the high-efficiency fridge can be sustained with just the solar panel.

 

[Lakedog]

PS. I just see that it has a compressor fridge and a 130W solar panel. Would be interesting to see if the high-efficiency fridge can be sustained with just the solar panel.

According to the previous owner, the solar panel will keep the coach batteries charged with the fridge running (assuming at least a partial sunny day). I have left the fridge running where it has been parked since Friday and have not run the generator or connected to shore power (except briefly one day to try the AC and microwave). So far no battery or fridge issues. I will let you know how it does after I take my upcoming road trip.

 

[Cessna5354]

Sarah,
Thanks for the offer to advise me on Charleston. Called the hotel, and they suggested that I park at the Charleston Visitor's Center. That is 2 blocks north of the CC basketball arena.

Here is what I am looking to park, I will check with you closer to the event.

 

[jim747]

Chevy extended cab, gas engine, with most of the options I would have ordered. I ended up paying $75k plus delivery cost so thought I got a decent deal. Here is the Bengal I bought - still shown on the company website:
Consignment Unit: 2011 Bengal Tiger 4×4 | Tiger Adventure Vehicles

Flag me down if you see us on the road someplace! Bengal with Alabama tag.

Nice looking rig Lakedog. I'm envious of your ground clearance. My Roadtrek has only 9 inches of clearance so I have to be gentle when in rough areas. We are doing the Beartooth Hwy in WY/MT in a couple weeks. I'm sure I'll have to be careful in some situations.

Have lots of fun/safe travels.

 

[Sarah in SC]

Sarah,
Thanks for the offer to advise me on Charleston. Called the hotel, and they suggested that I park at the Charleston Visitor's Center. That is 2 blocks north of the CC basketball arena.

Here is what I am looking to park, I will check with you closer to the event.

Holy smoke, good call-she's a big one! I've seen quite a few band tour buses parked in that visitor center lot, as it is right next to our best downtown live music venue. Yours should be just fine there as well.


And I didn't realize the Tiger dealer was in SC-never seen one of them before, I don't think. Will look out for you and the dog if you get this way!

 

[Lakedog]

Nice looking rig Lakedog. I'm envious of your ground clearance. My Roadtrek has only 9 inches of clearance so I have to be gentle when in rough areas. We are doing the Beartooth Hwy in WY/MT in a couple weeks. I'm sure I'll have to be careful in some situations.

Have lots of fun/safe travels.

Thanks jim747. I plan to spend some time in MT during my upcoming trip so maybe we will cross paths. I have been to Yellowstone a few times but have not driven the Beartooth Hwy yet so might check it out on my way to Glacier. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[Lakedog]

And I didn't realize the Tiger dealer was in SC-never seen one of them before, I don't think. Will look out for you and the dog if you get this way!

The company started out in CO but moved to SC several years ago. The original name was ProVan, as they used to be built on a van chassis. The current owner took it over 4-5 years back and has made lots of changes and allows more customization. I might be over your way after my western road trip since I plan to have a couple of options added to the Bengal (unless the initial road trip changes my mind about needing them).

 

[HFWR]

Our truck is almost a twin - a white 2011 Chevy 2500HD...

With lots of "towing capacity"...

 

[MBAustin]

We have joined the ranks of the RV-ERs

Took delivery today of our 2013 Born Free 26 Mobility. The "Mobility" means it has been customized to be fully accessible for DH who uses a scooter at all times. It's truly a dream come true for me as my parents were enthusiastic RVers after their retirement and I was looking forward to it as well. But DH's lack of mobility seemed to make that impossible (we last rented an RV in 2003 when he was still able to walk with a walker). I "got the itch" again this year and found that Born Free (a small family owned company in Iowa) could do just what we needed. Coincidentally (or maybe not), my parents' first motorhome was a Born Free (back in the early 80's).

Anyway, pictures are much better so here are a few (for anyone interested I have lots more but didn't want to bore everyone). We'll be taking it out for a shakedown night on Friday. Yippee!!!!

(Sorry that two of the pictures are rotated wrong, this is the first time I've posted pics and don't know how to fix it).

 

[Free To Canoe]

Nice!

 

[rodi]

Very cool - I love that it's accessible. I had no idea there were accessible motor homes.

 

[REWahoo]

Congrats from a fellow RVer. Looks like a great Class C with a world (OK, maybe just a continent ) of possibilities.

 

[travelover]

Cool, I've never seen an accessible RV before.

 

[brewer12345]

Sweet. I had no idea there were accessible RVs. Neato!

 

[Sarah in SC]

That is great RV and I think the lift is really cool, MB! Congratulations!

And coincidentally, our "new" short school bus is equipped with a chair lift, which is going to come in very handy for next summer's adventure, as a friend and wheelchair user is coming all the way from England to Mongolia with us. It will be nice to have an easy way for her to get in and out of the bus along the way. Plus we are carrying a piano, and would like to be able to put it outside at stops for playing.

It is a neat feature and I'm glad you were able to have them customize it for your needs.

 

[xyz]

Great Rig MB ! Enjoy..

 

[ls99]

Looks great, happy motoring and camping.

 

[Helen]

Plus we are carrying a piano, and would like to be able to put it outside at stops for playing.

I've got to know why you plan on bringing a piano with you, do you mind indulging me?

 

[Sarah in SC]

Well, we have a friend who is a professional piano player and will be riding with us. He wants to learn the national anthem of each country we pass through and play it at the borders. Isn't that a great idea? He is very excited about it.

I've been looking for smaller ones, though, and it is really hard to find anything less than 5 feet. The spot I have for it is just 55" wide. Worried that we are going to have to step down to a portable keyboard, which isn't nearly as cool!

We're also working on how to take a ping-ping table, but that is a whole 'nother story.

 

[Helen]

What a kick! You sound like you would be a lot of fun to travel with!

 

[Sarah in SC]

What a kick! You sound like you would be a lot of fun to travel with!

Lol, come along with us and find out! we will hopefully be planning our cross-country USA trip for May 2014! Unless you want a spot for the 'stans!

 

[xyz]

That's a great rig MB sure you will enjoy it !

Sarah, England to Mongolia? You need to start a thread on this. That sounds like the trip of a lifetime.. I Wally Byam kind of thing.