[Land Yacht]

We have owned coach 555 for 2 years now with the last year full-timing while working. We tend to go to nice RV parks and stay in a location for a month. We then use spare time to explore in our toad in about a 3 hour driving radius. Seems like most full timers move more often, but this works for us since I am still working. I recently moved to 1/2 time working but we still plan to maintain this regiment.

Concerning a toad, we chose a truck with enclosed bed for additional storage. I also carry a kayak, and now would like a Razor. The best thing I did was to spend the extra money for an Airforce One toad braking system. Just 1 airline between coach and toad allows quick disconnect. More than once I was not able to make a super sharp corner and had to cut loose the toad to back up.

Concerning costs, I agree with others have a bucket of money for upgrades after purchase, then $1000 per month and you will be fine. Being handy you can probably do it for less.
Our upgrades include 365 front wheels and tires, all new air bags, AGM batteries, and wood floors instead of carpeting.

[Jdllmt]

We have owned coach 555 for 2 years now with the last year full-timing while working. We tend to go to nice RV parks and stay in a location for a month. We then use spare time to explore in our toad in about a 3 hour driving radius. Seems like most full timers move more often, but this works for us since I am still working. I recently moved to 1/2 time working but we still plan to maintain this regiment.

Concerning a toad, we chose a truck with enclosed bed for additional storage. I also carry a kayak, and now would like a Razor. The best thing I did was to spend the extra money for an Airforce One toad braking system. Just 1 airline between coach and toad allows quick disconnect. More than once I was not able to make a super sharp corner and had to cut loose the toad to back up.

Concerning costs, I agree with others have a bucket of money for upgrades after purchase, then $1000 per month and you will be fine. Being handy you can probably do it for less.
Our upgrades include 365 front wheels and tires, all new air bags, AGM batteries, and wood floors instead of carpeting.


thank you for the reply. Very helpful. I was thinking of a jeep if I did get a TOAD, but your idea of a full size truck with enclosed bed makes a lot of sense too. 

Also, thanks for the budgetary advice as well. Oh, how many slides does yours have?

[Nebster]

If your top priority is safety, a Prevost conversion with zero slides will be the best by a fair margin. Once they start cutting slide room holes in its shell, it gets a little murkier, but probably it is still a fair bit better.

Newells feel more like homes and are I think better on balance for living in full time, but it's mostly in the details and anyway I might be biased.

If I were by myself, long term, I would definitely think about zero slides. But I would probably instead get something a lot shorter and with slides, because I'd trade the simplicity of no slides (but still plenty of space for me, by myself) for the ability to get in a lot more places at 40 or even 35 feet.

[ccjohnson]

As for safety of a slide model, check with Newell factory on how they are made. Newell builds from the ground up. Slide holes on a Newell are not "cut outs". They are engineered and designed as an integral part of the original frame and construction. Not add on's to a product not specifically designed to have holes cut out of the sides.

[NotSoFast]

Hi Charlie,

A bit late to the discussion but have just finished a 4 month journey through out the West with my new used Newell (2008) and here are what I think matters. I spend most of my time alone with my small dog and we travel allot. We also spend time on my sailboat so small spaces are not new to us. Even so I find full timing can be tiresome especially in a small coach. I chose the 45" 4 slide Newell because you will feel at home when parked. I have friends who do short jaunts in Sprinter type motorhomes but after a week or two they are kind of cooked. Years ago I had a 40' coach conversion with no slides and its not the same level of livability. You will feel the difference and its a big one after time passes. I tried very hard to find a workable coach in the smaller sizes. Two problems came up. Terrible construction practices and horrible design and execution. Most RV stuff such as ovens, Refers, Water pumps, heater, etc. are built to be very lightweight and inexpensive. You will have problems constantly with those. Much of the equipment put into Newells are worth the price of admission. Sub-Zero refer, Head Hunter toilet absolutely the best toilet I have used, Aqua-Hot very much worth the money. the large rear bathrooms are a very big positive and I enjoy it and the very large shower compared to most other coaches. I was also impressed with the reaction I got from a female friend when viewing the Newell after looking at a series of different Prevost coaches at a local dealer. She loved the Newell layout and finish and not the Prevost. I found that interesting.

For me it came down to the Newell or one of the Prevost conversions. The only Prevost I would consider were the ones still in production which leaves allot of whats out there off the list. Personally, I liked the Liberty and the Newell but realized the Newell had more going for it. The next problem will be finding a used coach you really like. Most of whats available are coaches that are a bit dated and not very appealing. The really nice ones go quickly and the dogs stay around forever. I missed several coaches which sold before I could view them. Spend the time to find the right one because it will cost you a bundle no matter what and you will have a steep learning curve. Be aware that Newell has no schematics or detailed plans for you to go to when trying to figure out a problem. I purchased a used coach from the factory so I could get a couple of years of warrantee and learn the systems. The factory does a very good job in providing phone support even in the middle of a holiday weekend at midnight. You will actually be able to talk with shop people and not phone center workers reading from a script. Even so, you will have allot to learn and some things will not be accessible for repair outside of a shop with proper lifts. I have my coach at the factory now having service and upgrades being done. Finding other shops to do other than simple work is very tough. Mostly they will look at the coach and scratch there heads. Also be careful in thinking you will be able to do everything yourself. Full timing with only the tools you can carry really limits what can be done. These coaches are complicated and problems will arise that take time to fix. The ability to be patient and thoughtful with your efforts to effect repairs yourself is a necessity. The factory has offered me good support but when I'm 2000 miles away in a place with little help available it will take time.

The last bit of advice I can give you is you will need a toad and preferably one that will do more then just move you around. I have a full size 4x4 Silverado and it has performed well in that it carries additional items can fetch food, gas and water but it is big and heavy. You won't know your even towing a full sized pick up from how the coach drives but it is now longer than some states allow. I understand California will ticket over length rigs but most other states don't seem to care. As I drive by myself that could be a problem. I'm thinking about finding a smaller toad. You also will need to prepare your journey in detail ahead of time. I use a GPS with the trucking data base built in and it has kept me off roads with low or under capacity bridges. Remember these coaches are tall and very heavy.

If I had my druthers I would like a shorter Newell. A few were made in the 40' range but hard to find. Having had the steering tag axel I would not have a full size coach without one. It got me out of many tight spots my older 40' unit would have had real problems with. I stayed in about 30 RV parks and camps this summer and had no problems other than overhead branches that needed to be trimmed. I now carry a tree saw.

Oh, did I mention the part about having a pile of money? No? well you will...

Best of luck.

Mike