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John McMennamy
USA
20 Posts |
 Posted - 09/20/2002 : 10:59:40
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I am resently using an Alpinelite 27' fifth wheel on assignments. In the past I used a 35' Alagro Bus and a 24' Sprinter fifth wheel. Both fifth wheels have been pulled with a Ford F150 suggessfully as long as you are not pulling over mountains. I plan to upgrade to a Dodge 1 ton dually and a 38 to 40' fifth wheel in the future as the wife and critters plan to tag along.
I find that adjusting out of an RV has it's benifits.
(1) Your equipement is always packed.
(2) Your expences are are about 25% less than living in an appartment or hotel.
(3) You do not have as many distractions and you meet a lot of nice people you would not normally meet in a hotel.
(4) Once the assignment has ended you can take a vacation before returning home, if so inclined at a lesser cost than staying at a hotel.
(5) It's tax deductible as a second home.
I know a lot of adjusters that use RV's on assignment and know there are a lot I do not know.
What is your view on using RV's on assignments? |
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Newt
USA
657 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2002 : 13:05:21
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A friend has a power stroke diesel and loves it. Dodge also has the diesel which is good in the mountains. The Ford V10 is a power house
and supposed to be good in the mountains. My son in law works for Ford and drives a diesel. My personal experience is a Ford 150 and I have a Holiday Travel trailer (heavy). The 150 range trucks don't pull a travel trailer anymore. So I made up my mind to get a pop-up or diesel. I think the gear ratio now is set up for hi-way. I'll bet you can get some views from people in the RV parks. I have been thinking about this for a while, and in the summer I think the Pop-up or crank down would work great for one person. I love camping any way.
Todd Summers has a nice rig, he had a picture here on the forum. |
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sbeau4014
USA
53 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2002 : 14:29:19
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| My wife and I fulltime in a 2001 Alfa Gold 40' along with our two lab dogs. The trailer weighs around 17,000-17,500 ad decked out and equipped and pull it with a 2001 Ford F-450 dually with a 7.3 power stroke with a preformance chip added. You can't beat the truck for it's pulling capacity and power unless you go up to the the small Freightliners, and the 450 crew cab is the same size as the 350. We find that our expenses on storm are at least 50% less then the the motel route, but we usually get places that we can pay on a monthly rate. Since we fulltime in the RV, we always take vacation time after a storm in way or another. No "house" to hold us down. It is a great life style and would recommend it to anyone. |
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Newt
USA
657 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2002 : 15:31:01
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Now thats living Steve, You get a bad neighbor you can move. My friend has the 350 crew cab, its a beautiful truck and a beautiful price too.
I think his trailer is only 27 feet, but nice with the slide outs. They only use theirs for camping.They do a lot of that. |
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Newt
USA
657 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2002 : 16:25:43
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| How many happy campers for going down to Boloxi, or Gulf Port and hanging out. They have got all the good casinos there. You could go down in a 75,000 dollar camping rig and go home on a 150,000 dollar greyhound. Might even get to ride out a huricane. |
Edited by - Newt on 09/20/2002 16:27:37 |
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John McMennamy
USA
20 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2002 : 21:44:22
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Newt my F150 is the big six with a 5 speed. It pulls my 27' just fine until you hit a steep hill. I like the F350 power stroke, but as a good friend of mine has a V10 and it sucks gas. Both are good motors but the V10 will drain the pocket book. I'm looking at the new Dodge crew cab dually with the big Cummings, a six speed and a 410 rear end. Leo & Charley Walter have a 1995 Dodge dually and a 40' Royeale.
Leo has 180,000 miles on the truck. Other than normal maintainmence he replaced the starter, the original brakes have been checked and are in good condition. He had a tie rod replaced just before he left San Antonio last month. A trip to Boloxi would be great. I usually stay at Casino Magic in Bay of St. Louis. They have a great RV park at the Casino maybe 300' to the door and an easy drive to Boloxi/ Gulf Port.
Steve my wife and I looked at thhe Alfa Gold last weekend and found a 38' with a great desk setup for the type work we do. It looks like the fifth wheel we will get when we trade. If you and the Mrs. are ever assigned to work in San Antonio, Alomo Fiesta RV park in Boerne is great. It is only 20 minutes from State Farm, USAA and 30 minutes to down town San Antonio. Dear roam around in the morning and evening. Nice place even when it's full. Wally World just down the street, a nice HEB 1 mile away and plenty room for big rigs. I spent 4 months there and love it.
Steve you are right, my post was supposed to say 25% of living in an appartment or hotel. |
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Newt
USA
657 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2002 : 09:24:13
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| My 150 is the same, and it is a let down from the old '87 with four speed, it had the same trans as the 350 with the granny low, got better mileage too. I been to casino magic and saw their RV area, not bad at all and you can get some pretty good food, cheap. Its not so cheap if you gamble, I'm cheap so I don't contribute to the cause. If this huricane keeps building, its gonna go where it pleases and be hard to turn. Who knows? |
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Todd_Summers
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2002 : 10:39:12
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| Thanks Newt. The RV (resort) I am staying at is pretty nice. (They call it a resort so they can charge more $). It's around $500.00 a month plus electric, but has a nice pool and hot tub and laundry facilities. There are at least 12 adjusters here, that I have met. Working for Eberls, Worley, NCA, Farmers and State Farm. We all get together pretty often for bar-b-q and sometimes horseshoes. It makes for pretty good fellowship. Beats the heck out of a hotel or apartment. |
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visitcostarica
Costa Rica
15 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2002 : 17:43:46
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| I traveled with a Ford 250 diesel, mileage was only 15 mpg pulling a 36' Holiday rambler 5th wheel. I if I do it again, I think I will go with a Dodge 6 cyl diesel. I know I save a bucket full running out of the RV. |
Done climbing roofs...try climbing into a hammock in Costa Rica http://www.visitcostarica.net |
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adair
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 09/24/2002 : 13:04:09
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| We have been considering storm troopin' w/a travel trailer or an RV but are not sure of the logistics. How do you obtain internet and/or phone service for up/downloading files, etc. ? any advice would be appreciated. Thanks. |
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visitcostarica
Costa Rica
15 Posts |
Posted - 09/24/2002 : 17:59:01
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As soon as we hit town and moved into the RV park, we called the phone company to install the phone line, normally 3 - 7 days. You can interface through your cell phone with right modem and software. Get efax and a ATT one rate cell phone, it is one of the additional costs of doing the RV thing. I have transferred my ATT acount or bought another phone in order to get a local number. Costs 175 or so to cancel the phone contract after the storm but it can be worth the expense.
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Done climbing roofs...try climbing into a hammock in Costa Rica http://www.visitcostarica.net |
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John McMennamy
USA
20 Posts |
Posted - 09/24/2002 : 20:49:18
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Adair,
You can get a phone line as suggested or get Directway. Directway is a high speed internet connection using a satellite antenna. It's similar to direct tv and is owned by direct tv. You can receave satellite programing and internet in one antenna, with no phone line. It may also be tax deductible sence you need the internet in your work. The connection is suppose to be 10 times or faster than a land line. A lot of RV parks now have internet rooms or ability for their quest. |
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John McMennamy
USA
20 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2002 : 21:45:57
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I will be in Mobile, AL. 10/04/02 - ?. I will be staying at Paynes RV Park in Theodore.
If anyone would like to get together call me on my cell (972) 342-0415.
Johnny Mac |
Edited by - John McMennamy on 10/02/2002 21:46:59 |
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John McMennamy
USA
20 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2003 : 07:08:03
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| If you haven't alraedy, it's time to get the RV ready for storms. |
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KileAnderson
USA
875 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2003 : 09:52:43
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| John, do you know something that we don't know? |
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Michael Stueart
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2003 : 01:15:49
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| How do you have time to get you rig there? it is all I can do just to get to the orientation with out the slow down of pulling my trailor. I have a 26ft Terry Tarrace and enjoy camping. But with the delays of phone service, internet to download claims, etc.. how does one accomplish the logistics? I am very interested in taking my trailer while working. The cost savings would be great. Plus you know who slept in the bed before you when you take your own, have better cooking areas, lot of benifits. But the timing is what would bother me. Someone that does this alot let us know how it is done, Please......... |
Michael Stueart |
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Topic |
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How many adjusters use RV's on assignments?
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