RodgerS

Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly. Mae West

Yes, you are right Raspy that sometimes fellow travelers can be negative (which is sad). I do appreciate that some or many RVers can be quite emotional and act very quickly on their dreams. They may find it irritating interacting with someone like me who is slow to act and slow to just get out there. I did have one fellow who told me what to buy and to just do it. He wanted me to buy a used 40 foot diesel Country Coach motorhome. He was very persuasive, of course. It made a difference for me to rent a class C last year and take the wife on a 10 day trip, otherwise I might have made a huge mistake. Some have refused to rent saying it is too expensive, but at this point a bit more experience and a bit less logic/research seems to be very valuable. I spent $1,500 getting qualified during a 3 day workshop as a Mercedes Van build kit installer, which really helped me to understand not to go that route. The value of experience...

"At the very least you will need airbags or Timben bump stops – along with the severe lack of payload after considering tongue weight, have you considered this and their affect on offraod performance?" Nope, you got me there...will work the issues. Thanks.

Sorry, forget to include the power wagon in the above post.

A pic of Mace

Thanks Roguebooks for "My truck is tow-rated at 6,800 lbs whereas the truck you desire is only rated at 5,000 lbs which IMO is not enough for me to feel safe in." That is correct as I understand it, which is why I focused on the Elite size vs Elite II, and avoided the Honda Ridgeline. Stability, braking, diesel,and the tow hitch are all critical issues to be matched up to usage. Tough decisions that are a bit muddy. The ride ability of the truck is a big deal to me, so hopefully I can work it out with a Colorado or Ford Ranger 4x4, diesel. Yeah, may have to step up to a RAM 1500 or step over to a Tacoma or Ford raptor/Ram rebel. First the off-road experience, then the trailer, then change the truck if necessary. But I'm listening to all of you, which is why I registered in this forum early on.

Hello John E. Thanks for all your comments. To add a bit more information. I'm kind of using the words low to moderate somewhat arbitrarily. You could absolutely be smack on with your advice. I will know more once I take an off-road workshop and spend some time off-road doing some day trips. Then I will be better able to describe what I'm after. Experience trumps logic/research. Note: I will be able to look at the new Ford Ranger as well within the next few months...supposed to have increased towing capacity...but don't know if the ride will be as good as the Colorado zr2 I don't want to go far enough and rough enough where I need to be with other people for safety and off-road concerns. However, I'm hoping I will from time to time find similar focused people to caravan around with and would like some flexibility. No real clear focus on where I'm going, but I know what I want to do. Some fishing, some hiking with Mace, some on location art work. I'm in excellent shape from lifting weights and losing a few pounds. No physical or mental issues at age 68. Probably in State Parks and BLM land for a big portion of it. Yeah, I know the savvy advice...buy the trailer, then the truck, but I want to gain some off-road experience with my own truck. I have added your comments to my notes, in particular the hitch issues. Am prepared to change trucks if needed based on future experience. I will know a bit more after I see an Elite II. Airstreams under 23 feet are also an option. Don't care for the off-road campers/tents. But so far, am still focused on my original post choices...

By the way Raspy, I almost purchased a new 2017 Ram 1500 4x4 diesel a couple of weeks ago...$13,000 off MSRP. Took three demo rides...but I have been driving sports cars all my life. My current ride is a Mercedes CLK 350, so a medium sized truck at my 68 years of age, kind of pulls me away from full-sized trucks. However, great ride and great gas mileage. I have requested to go see a local owner's Elite II, since I have not found an Elite model nearby. That, as I understand it, would require a full-sized truck.

Per Raspy "But somehow it all sounds a little sad. "all?" The only thing I can think you are talking about is my wife not being hot on the idea. As Try2Relax said, "she wasn’t interested but gave the go ahead...she has since determined that she enjoys it quite a bit." So that may work itself out in time with my wife as well, once I get on the road. There is some difference between a class C rental RV and a truck (that rides good like the Colorado ZR2) pulling a quality trailer. My wife basically doesn't like big trucks but after I showed her a mid-sized truck she said she understood what I was thinking and was a bit more positive.

Yes on the diesel and probably worth waiting for the 2019 model to come out. Not planning on waiting forever, but a few more months is no big deal...sort of a spring/summer 2019 hit the road plan.

After 5 years of digging around the subject of an RV, I'm getting close to committing to a Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 and the shorter Oliver Elite. I have some previous trailering experience and a lot of RV technical training. Took my wife on a 10-day motorhome rental trip last year and found out she was not hot on the idea...she would rather we buy an SUV and stay in hotels. Since then she bought an SUV and is still working. She recommended I also buy an SUV or a class B van, but told me to do my thing...it's my separate money after all. Have pretty much killed the idea of a van and DIY build. As some have told me, Rodger, you will never hit the road. Well, there have been timing and responsibilities issues and I'm not stressed over it. My 98 pound Boxer is ready to go, now that I have trained him up with a remote collar. And I have had a good year of art training so I can do some pretty nice landscape art work when we get going. I probably will be pretty quiet as to forum interactions, but I will be floating through the posts meantime. Don't plan to say much until I buy an Oliver. "Mace" and I want to dry camp on low to moderate off roads and avoid the private campgrounds. The wife may show up for a short vacay if I find a nice spot...fly in for a visit. For sure, we will also do some overseas traveling as well. But like I told my wife, it is time for Mace and I to get out of town from time to time. Cheers.