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Topic: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming? (Read 27 times) previous topic - next topic
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CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Yahoo Message Number: 64849
Hi Lazy Dazers,

I am considering buying a Lazy Daze to fulltime with my dog and occasional family members/friends for about a year (or longer, if I can figure out a way to make a living) as soon as my house sells this summer.  I'm still about 20 years from retirement.  I'm having a tough time deciding between the 30 foot island bed (my first choice) and the 26.5 models.  I note the small CCC on the 30 footer, and wonder if any of you out there with 30 footers could comment on whether you have had weight problems, and whether you use it for fulltiming.  I have read most of the messages on this site that I could find on the pros and cons of both sizes, and am more confused than ever.  I also plan to pull a toad.

I like the idea of having a separate bedroom, although I know many of you say that the island bed models are wasted space most of the time.  I just don't want to have to put a bed together before I fall into it every night.  I also don't think I want to sleep over the cab, and thought I would prefer having the entertainment center above the cab.

By the way, I'm new to RVing, so I'm starting from scratch.  Any insight you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area (Concord), so if any of you are near me and would be willing to show me your LD, it would be wonderful.

Thanks!  Heidi
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fullt
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64850
Hi Heidi,

Glad you made it over here.
 I suggested Heidi come here after she posted her interest in a Lazy Daze on the Escapees forum.  I told her she'd get some good advice and hopefully an invite to see an LD in person.     I also told her what a charming bunch of LD fanatics/cult members we are!

-- Jonna in Tortuga, 2001 Teal RB Find us MAPhttp://map.datastormusers.com/user2.cfm?user=1013> Follow the BLOG herehttp://www.baddog.com/blog/blog.html>
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64851
Hi Heidi,
 I can't answer your question regarding the 30 footer CCD, but we live in Fremont and if you want to see our 26.5 Mid-bath, I'd be happy to show it to you.  Just reply to me by clicking on my user name and I'll get your email and contact you to set something up.

Mike S.
2003 26.5 MB Honda CRV toad
'06 30' TB Anniversary Edition
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64853
By the way, I'm new to RVing, so I'm starting from scratch.  Any insight you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Heidi
 Try renting a Class C and see what you think. You will not be able to rent an LD but you will still get the idea.
Spend a few nights sleeping in the overhead bunk. For a single person, it's very roomy and comfortable. We leave the overhead bunk always made up. I'm a big fan of naps.
Making the bed up is easy with a TravelSak or home made version.

30 footer will have enough cargo capacity only if you travel light.
Many full timers have problems overloading their 26.5 footers. 30 footers have much less capacity.

Larry
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64854
Quote
By the way, I'm new to RVing, so I'm starting from scratch.  Any insight you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Heidi
 Try renting a Class C and see what you think. You will not be able to rent an LD but you will still get the idea.
Spend a few nights sleeping in the overhead bunk. For a single person, it's very roomy and comfortable. We leave the overhead bunk always made up.
I agree - don't rule out the overcab bed until you've tried one.  Unless you like to sleep sitting up, it's an excellent way to have a permanent queen-size bed without sacrificing precious floor space.

Joanne in Boston 1994 teal TK
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64855
don't rule out the overcab bed until you've tried one.
 And I agree too. The main reason we moved "up" from our former RB (where we had the Entertainment Center instead of the cab-over bed) to our new MB... was so that we could have the bed which didn't need to me made every night and put away every morning. It just lays up there with its wonderfully comfortable new memory foam mattress topper (which, yes, does cut down a little bit on the already-limited head room) and down comforter. I simply will not sacrifice my down comforter and flannel sheets for some sleeping bag arrangement. To be sure, "making" the bed up there after washing the bedding is no easy thing. But the end result is well worth it. And I love being able to just reach up and crack open the roof vent for air and sky-view at night... except, of course, when it's raining.
 Is it a hassle to climb up and down the ladder to get to bed? Not really. My only complaint is that the ladder steps are only about an inch and a half deep, so they're not the most comfortable feeling in the middle of your bare feet.
 So, I too didn't originally think I'd like an over-cab bed arrangement, but I'm now an enthusiastic convert.  :-)

David
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64857
Quote
Hi Lazy Dazers,

"I am considering buying a Lazy Daze I'm having a tough time
deciding between the 30 foot island bed... and wonder if any of you out there with 30 footers could comment..."

Quote
"I live in the San Francisco Bay Area (Concord)"

Thanks!  Heidi
Heidi
 Well, this is your luck day! You won't even have to leave town to see my 30IB, perhaps right in your neighborhood.

Contact me off board at;  and we can arrange for a tour.

Steve S.
Lazy Bones
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64860
Quote
thought that the extra cabinet storage would be nice.
Did you do the two couches in the rear of your new Mid bath
I will admit that not having all that great cabinet space when one has the entertainment center is a real loss. We had to do some serious downsizing of "stuff." Nevertheless, it's all worked out, and there is a place for everything we ended up with.
 Yes... the two sofas in the rear. When you back into a wooded or beach area, that lounge with the wrap-around windows is just fabulous. Personally, I think the two sofas "looks" better, and the alternative is a real space waster. Lots of throw-pillows and an "ottoman" for a foot-rest makes it all very cozy and comfortable. My so-called "ottoman" is actually the base unit for the Bose 3.2.1 GSX sound system that I've installed. It fits unobtrusively between the sofas with its back to the rear wall. A cushion on top, and it makes a very good foot rest. I use one of the two little cushions that are provided for the dinette when you pull out the bench by the door. So the foot-rest matches the sofa upholstery. Looks perfectly natural, and, as others have also noted, the Bose sound system is incredible. If ever I need to use the sofas as a king bed, it's an easy matter to unplug the Bose base unit and move it temporarily up front between the driver and passenger seats.
 We also like the bathroom better in this floorplan. And, frankly, it feels nearly as "open" to us as the RB did. So we like it... a lot.

- David Walker
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enou/ Now overcab bed/ladder
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64861
Not really. My only complaint
 
Quote
is that the ladder steps are only about an inch and a half deep, so
they're not the most

Quote
comfortable feeling in the middle of your bare feet.
David, I thought so too.  I found something that works well as a fix.  Go to the local hardware and get about six feet of foam pipe insulation.  I think it was for 3/4" pipes (?) but you can check out the other sizes.
It is slit lengthwise to fit over plumbing pipes but it will also fit right over the top of each rung on your ladder.  A piece of duct tape or the equivalent will keep it from rolling or slipping off each rung.
Feels great!

Tom Riley
'04 26 RB

Fort Bragg, CA
Overcab bed/ladder
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64866
Quote from: David Walker"

My only complaint  is that the ladder steps are only about an inch and a half deep, so they're not the most comfortable feeling in the middle of your bare feet.

David,
 When I bought my LD, the former owners had already made a modification to the ladder by taking a 1 x 3 and attaching it to the metal step with a sheet metal screw and covering the wood with carpet.  Works for me--no complaints.

Kathi
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64868
Quote
Hi Lazy Dazers,

I am considering buying a Lazy Daze to fulltime with my dog and occasional family members/friends for about a year (or longer,  ! Heidi
Heidi, I hope you will not mind if I respond directly to your recent post on the "lifewithalazydazerv" discussion group.
You have already received some good responses and may receive more.  My wife and I have twenty years of rv experience behind us and we are still learning.
We too listened to the numerous LD owners who found the couches to be easily made into beds and easily turned back into couches each morning and they also found them to be very comfortable for sleeping.  We should have known better but we ordered a 2003 26.5 RB with entertainment center.  We were confined to sleeping on the twin couches.  We did not find them comfortable or easily made/unmade.
In fact, we quickly got to the point that we just left them made up as beds, 24 hours per day.  That was unsightly in a brand new motorhome.  In less than a year we decided we had the wrong floorplan.
We sold it for nearly as much as we paid for it and ordered a 2005 30'Twin Bed model which we have now owned and enjoyed for a little over a year.  We are not full-timers but we do go on the road for two to two and a half months at a time and travel many thousands of miles per trip (Tacoma to South Carolina and back, etc). We are convinced that the 30' Twin Bed model is the only LD floorplan which would work for us.  But that is just our opinion and it is based on oure physical needs, personal habits, and the way we travel.
My wife retires earlier than I do and also enjoys napping and reading in bed during the daytime. I like to get up early in the morning and read.  We also need some privacy on long trips.
We are constantly aware of the more limited weight carrying capacity of our thirty footer and so we rarely fill the water and gas tanks all the way to the top and we try to dump as often as we can.  We limit the amount of junk that we carry along with us and we put the heavy stuff in the trunk of our toad.  But, FOR US, that is a very small price to pay for the privelege of privacy and comfort.
Our bedroom is not wasted space in the daytime any more than it is at night.
Here are a few considerations for you to think about as you try to anticipate your needs and the way you will use your LD: When traveling with friends and relatives it might be nice to have individual sleeping areas separated by a convenient bathroom in between.  If you select the thirty footer, that means they will be sleeping on the couch because the overcab bed is not available in the thirty foot models (a weight consideration).  If they are young and healthy they might find the couch to be just as comfortable as others in this group have found them.  If not, they might not wish to spend long periods of time with you.  This might be good or bad.
The folks in this discussion group will give you good and honest answers but those answers only apply to the way they use their own motorhomes and their own personal needs and desires.
If you are looking for a new LD, consider the twin bed option as well as the island queen.  It offers more flexibility in traveling with relatives and friends.  If you are looking for a used LD then your dicision is going to be affected by what is available.
Best wishes in your search.
Nate Walker Tacoma
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64870
Well said Nate,

I've been meaning to respond to this line of posts, but haven't gotten around to it and now I don't need too, because you stated  it so perfectly.

Thanks

Kate (who LOVES her red 30 TB)
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Overcab bed/ladder
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64872
It seems to me that I noticed the last time I was at the factory that they no longer cover the ladder with padding and carpet?  Is that true?  Our ladder is pretty comfortable to climb with bare feet as it is padded and carpeted.

-- Jonna in Tortuga, 2001 Teal RB Find us MAPhttp://map.datastormusers.com/user2.cfm?user=1013> Follow the BLOG herehttp://www.baddog.com/blog/blog.html>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Overcab bed/ladder
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64873
Quote
It seems to me that I noticed the last time I was at the factory that they no longer cover the ladder with padding and carpet?  Is that true?  Our ladder is pretty comfortable to climb with bare feet as it is padded and carpeted.

Jonna, the ladder in our LD is not carpeted or padded in any way.

Linda Hylton

2004 Red 23.5' TK http://map.datastormusers.com/user3.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Linda Hylton
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64942
We owned a 97 25.5 ft. MB for about 1.5 years and loved it. We now have owned a 2001 30ft. IB for just over 1 year, and love it even more and would't go back to the MB even if it were new! Even though many people here, are all horah- horah for the MB we are more so that way about the 30ft. IB. For us the MB felt more like a camper to us. The 30ft. feels more like a motel room on wheels. No more fussing with climbing or shifting to go to bed. The MB just simply felt more confining to us except the shower.
We don't fulltime but certainly would go bonkers if we tryed that in a MB.(Many would disagree) If we did fulltime we would ditch plunder to make the 30ft. CCC limitation work due to the added comfort level we enjoy.

Dan Hillman
Parker Co.

2001 30ft. IB red/white
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64969
Dan, We agree with you completely. We have had our 99' 26.5 MB for almost 3 years now. We really like it but it does close in on us after a week or so. We are going to the factory next week to order a 06' 30ft.
My husband was wondering how much "closet space" is there in the island bed model? Do you think it is adequate? Is it similiar to the 26.5 MB closet? The pictures on the LD web site only show small end tables on each side on the bed.
Gypsy

Quote
We owned a 97 25.5 ft. MB for about 1.5 years and loved it. We now have owned a 2001 30ft. IB for just over 1 year, and love it even more and would't go back to the MB even if it were new! Even though many people here, are all horah- horah for the MB we are more so that way about the 30ft. IB. For us the MB felt more like a camper to us. The 30ft. feels more like a motel room on wheels. No more fussing with climbing or shifting to go to bed. The MB just simply felt more confining to us except the shower.
We don't fulltime but certainly would go bonkers if we tryed that
in a
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64987
Quote
My husband was wondering how much "closet space" is there in the island bed model? Do you think it is adequate? Is it similiar to the 26.5 MB closet? The pictures on the LD web site only show small end tables on each side on the bed.
Gypsy

The closets are on both sides of the bed next to the mini end tables.I belive the total space of the two closets would be slightly less than the MB single closet partly due to the slanted bottoms. Also they are slightly more difficult to get into due to our having replaced the original foam mattress with a much thicker custom pillowtop mattress and a 2.5 in. memory foam topper. However there are drawers under each closet as well as under the sides of the bed base so overall there may be more actual storage space--- just slightly less in the closet area.
The space is plenty for us-- perhaps a bit squeeky if we were fulltiming?

Dan Hillman
Parker, Co.

2001 30ft. IB Red/White
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65042
Dan and Gypsy,
 This is very helpful information.  Dan, you said you don't fulltime, but do you ever have weight problems with your 30 IB?

Thanks,

Heidi
Re: CCC on 30 footer -- enough for fulltiming?
Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65050
Quote
Dan and Gypsy,

This is very helpful information.  Dan, you said you don't
fulltime,

Quote
but do you ever have weight problems with your 30 IB?

Thanks,

Heidi

Heidi, No, we haven't had any weight problems ? ? ? ? ??? We have never weighed it.
Guess thats kinda dumb on our part, however we have felt like we don't carry much extra stuff and junk that would cause an overweight problem.(other than the Twinkies and DingDongs). We still have quite a

few storage areas that do not have much of anything in them and we usually only go on weekend outings that do not require all the extra goodies.
HaRVey has almost "sports car like handling" (as one poster stated some time back)---a bit over the edge--But does seem extreamly stable even with full water tank and several bottles of purified water and several bundles of firewood in the outside storage bins.

Dan Hillman
Parker Co.

2001 30ft. IB Red/White
CCC on 30 footer - enough for fulltiming?
Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64938
Wow, thanks everyone for the wonderful responses to my post!  I wasn't able to get on my computer over the weekend until now and I was so happy to receive all of your advice and info.
 Jonna, you were right -- this is a great group.  Thanks for suggesting that I drop in.

A couple of you suggested that I email you privately in order to see your rigs, so I will do that.

Someone (sorry, can't remember who right now) mentioned that they sometimes put things in the trunk of their toad as a way of dealing with the CCC.  Since I'm new to this and I'm not sure how this works, I'll ask what might be a dumb question.  Doesn't weight in the toad have to be considered as well?

Thanks again, Everyone!
Re: CCC on 30 footer - enough for fulltiming?
Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64949
Quote
Someone (sorry, can't remember who right now) mentioned that they sometimes put things in the trunk of their toad as a way of dealing with the CCC.  Since I'm new to this and I'm not sure how this works, I'll ask what might be a dumb question.  Doesn't weight in the toad have to be considered as well?

 Well, it does -- to an extent.  However, the only thing that comes out of the GVWR (or CCC) is the tongue weight the toad exerts on the rig.  The actual weight of the toad -- and the stuff in it -- come out of the GCWR.
So, theoretically, you could tow something that weighed 5,950# (GCWR minus GVWR, or 20,000# - 14,050# -- this is, of course, for the E-450 chassis).
In reality, though, you can only tow up to 3,500# or 4,000#, depending on which style hitch you order.  If you want to tow something heavier than 4,000#, you need to have a custom, frame-mounted hitch installed.

Linda Hylton

2004 Red 23.5' TK http://map.datastormusers.com/user3.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Linda Hylton
Re: CCC on 30 footer - enough for fulltiming? & closets
Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65004
We have been fulltiming since June 1005 in a 30IB. It is minimal, but adequate. It holds everything that we need, without exceeding the weight limits, but we usually travel with only 8-10 gallons of fresh water and empty holding tanks. With light objects over the cab and us in the seats, the front weight is pretty close to the weight rating for the front axle. With a full fuel tank and a full fresh- water tank and empty holding tanks, the back weight is pretty close to the rating for the rear axle.
I use the cabinet over the driver's seat for light things, e.g. envelopes, small parts, LD papers/manual, camera, vaccum, etc. My wife uses the space over the co-pilot's seat for some of her hobby stuff that is relatively light-weight. We carry spare pillows behind the tv.
Over the dinette are two small printers and some computer odds and ends. Books and manuals are stored in the dinette cabinet. Over the sofa are extra blankets, cereal, towels, etc. Spare shoes are in the cabinet under the sofa.  I keep a cardboard box behind my barrel chair with my current project papers in it, and my wife keeps a toolbox of stuff behind hers. One has to pull the chairs away from the wall to sit at the table anyway, so that really does not lose any space.
My wife uses the cabinet under the oven for her hobby stuff. The drawers under the refrigerator are used for maps, campground directories, travel literature, etc. The laundry hamper and my guitar stay in the shower. They are easy to remove if the shower is needed. The bedroom drawers are used fof small clothing items. The overhead cabinet contains hats, dress shoes, long johns, hoodies, etc.
The closet space is adequate. In my side I have an overcoat, black suit, ties, blazer, dress shirts, casual slacks and short- and long- sleeve shirts (both winter weight and summer weight and multiple types), golf slacks and shirts, and four jackets of various types, including a heavy-duty windbreaker/rain jacket. Belts are hooked on the hangers. By hanging the long items toward the outside and the shorter items inboard, the slope of the closet is no problem. In the bottom of the closet I have a small firesafe for critical items, extra jeans, and two pairs of western boots. To keep from digging, I usually have 2-3 pairs of shorts stacked on the firesafe. My wife has a similar arrangement in her closet, but chooses to keep her heavy winter coat in a lower storage compartment, rather than in her closet. It would fit fine in the closet, but she prefers to not cram things together.
When we travel, I take the guitar out of the shower and secure it alongside the bed.
We prefer the island bed for several reasons, not the least of which is that we prefer to sleep together and cuddle in the morning.
The bed does not get wasted during the day, because it is amazing how much of the time it is covered with something, e.g. loose clothes, un-folded laundry, a hobby project, etc.
In the two front curbside storgage compartments are my things for the motorhome, e.g. fluids, spare cord, windshield and tire boots, compressor, washing materials, brushes, etc. My wife uses the two rear compartments for her various needs, but I keep a one-step stool in there and place our outside door mat there when traveling. In the streetside front compartment are the dirty hoses, sewage connectors, electrical cord, and a small vaccuum. In the back compartment are lawn chairs, fishing poles, awning tools, fresh-water hose and filter, telephone and tv cables, small tools, and a short ladder.
What are the downsides?  My wife is only 5-2, so she complains about difficulty reaching the closet rod and complains about the height of the toilet seat.
Otherwise, we have been very pleased and cozy.
Foy Varner