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Mystery of the weird bed solved. I visited the factory yesterday, and today went for a test drive and found a salesperson in a different dealership who seemed more knowledgeable. Plus I took my tape measure. If you remember, the bed in the Fleetwood Tioga Ranger I have been looking at had a long, square piece of upholstered foam piece (bolster?) that fit into a space at the head of the bed in the bedroom slide.

So here is the story:
1) The mattress WITHOUT the bolster in place is 67" long and 60" wide, and fits perfectly on the platform.
2) The bed WITH the bolster in place is 72" long and 60" wide, but the mattress hangs over the foot of the bed slightly. Obviously, they added this extra piece of foam in order to end up with a 72" long bed.
3) The bolster is upholstered and does not have any welting, so it is smooth when it is in place. I don't think it will bother anyone. I tried laying on the bed with it in place, and it was OK, but since I am short, I think I would just tuck it into place on the far side of the bed for storage and sleep on the bed without the bolster..
4) The slide CAN be closed with or without the bolster in place. All of the top wardrobe doors are accessible, and one drawer is accessible. Ditto for bathroom being accessible.
5) Kitchen and refrigerator are completely accessible, which is good.

I took the motorhome for a test drive and did fine, which made me feel more comfortable. It drove "like a truck" but I guess that is to be expected. No swaying or instability.

I think this is the one I really want. Now I need to talk to my credit union this week about financing. They quoted me a price on a unit that had in stock which includes removing the dinette. It has almost everything I want, and one option I really don't care about, plus the extra paint option, which I can live with. I need to decide if I want to take this one, or order a unit minus the paint, which would save me some money. Paint, however, does have some value since it protects finish, so still more thinking to do. I still have some time before June 1.

I'm glad you were able to get more info to help you make an informed decision! Hopefully things will fall in place for your final decision.

Hey gf, you know if you sell the condo, you could buy this and live in it until your big Exit from the work place!!!! That is considered to be "practicing" (okay so that's silly and it means you are getting out of dodge a bit at a time) and you might actually enjoy doing that for a bit before you hit the road. You would have all your 'thought to be needed items' so you could take weekend trips to local places and learn about hooking up your things and putting stuff out and then putting stuff up and unhooking. Also that means you might be going forward one day and forget to turn around and come back . Then we would catch up with you next winter down in the FL Keys. See what kind of things the sistahs will help you with.

Take your time and get what you need or want...whichever you can afford first.

I am really getting excited for you and I know that you have planned the daylights out of your retirement and your first summer/fall/winter/spring trips. Can hardly wait for you to make the reality happen!

JudyJB wrote:
I think this is the one I really want. Now I need to talk to my credit union this week about financing. They quoted me a price on a unit that had in stock which includes removing the dinette. It has almost everything I want, and one option I really don't care about, plus the extra paint option, which I can live with. I need to decide if I want to take this one, or order a unit minus the paint, which would save me some money. Paint, however, does have some value since it protects finish, so still more thinking to do. I still have some time before June 1.

Good for you!

Your comments about the paint job that you can do without made me laugh it reminded me so much of my Mother. She and Dad were car shopping and found one that she fell in love with but was horrified at the price of the A/C unit on the car. Living in upstate NY it really doesn't get hot enough to really justify paying out the butt for A/C. She told the dealer that she didn't want it so he could take it out and knock the price off. That poor salesman was horrified! Told Mom that they simply couldn't take it off that they had no need of it. Well neither did Mom. Told him that that was the car she wanted and wasn't willing to wait. That he could either take it off or she wouldn't buy it. Poor guy finally just left it on but didn't charge for the A/C unit at all!

Sounds like you found your rig! Can't wait till you take ownership and share some pictures with us!

Scrape, scrape, scrape.... Just as hard to remove as the AC! Reminds me of my ex's German grandparents--nicest people, but terribly tight.

Actually, the joke at work is that I could park it in the parking lot or in the Walmarts within walking distance! Biggest problem is that there are just no campgrounds within a reasonable (less than 40 miles) of Dearborn, Michigan. Problem of living near a big city that is not a tourist destination.

If I can get financing before I close on my condo, I'll buy it in Ohio and store it somewhere, maybe at the dealer?? Then June 1 we can move all my stuff to storage, and I can stay with my son for a few weeks and start practicing not too far from the dealer. Even my toddler grandchildren (ages 2, 3, and 5) are excited about camping. It will be nice to spend some time with them. July 1 or a little sooner, I'll head out west to visit my other son and grandchildren ages 4 and 6!

Took 3 year old with us, and it took her 10 seconds of getting in the rv to get into driver's seat while engine was running! Love her, but this kid is fast and dangerous. I am babysitting tonight while parents are taking a much-needed overnight away from kids. Whew. All are in bed, though not sleeping yet.
Don't know how their parents do it every night.

It will all work out in the way it should. Kids are dangerous little two-legged buggers! You will need to harnass that one, I am thinking.

You know very well how the parents do it every night....kinda like you did back then, but with some different twists to it! Hope all goes well tonight.

Anxiously awaiting your decision. When will you, or will you, drive the other rig?

No, Birdie, I think I have decided this one is for me. Just as everyone said, when you find it you will know it. No more test drives.

Just need to close on my condo, arrange financing, and buy this thing. There seem to be a lot of them around, so I am not too worried.

Yes, I remember how exhausting it was with little ones, but I only had two and these parents have three within 37 months. Just getting everyone bathed and in bed is exhausting. Also, a lot easier when I was a lot younger!!

Judy - Last weekend my daughter and her 2 yr. old girl/boy twins surprised me with a visit. Just so happened I was staying in my MH at a local RV park. The grandbabies came into the MH and right into the driver's seat and definitely checked out everything. Good thing the motor was not running and the brake was pulled. LOL They are soooo adorable but very lively. Don't know how my daughter does it 24/7 and she and her hubby work full time.
Get a good night's rest. Then maybe tomorrow after they go home you can continue to look at motor homes!!

Linda

Congratulations on your "find" Judy. ...and on the condo sale...and on the pending retirement.... Happy dances left and right! the dancing children are just keeping you in shape

Congratulations on your find! Isn't retirement exciting.. I am done the end of the month with work- also did the transition thing. Moved the rig into a mobile home park- was able to empty the house a little at a time and keep it showing ready. Would there be a mobile home park close to your work or condo that you could park it?