A couple of Qs for 2351 4x4 owners

Hey all. I'm exploring several avenues for my retirement, one of which is full-timing in an RV while exploring all the places I can drive to. One of the variations on this theme is the highly-recommended Phoenix Cruiser with its 4x4 option.

so, my initial questions are these....

1) How many of you all full-time in the 2351?  It looks like that floor plan would be fine for a single guy (me) or a couple (me if I get very lucky LOL). Any thoughts/experiences?

2) For those of you with the Quigley 4x4 option, how is it? I've read a lot of comparisons to the QuadVan 4x4 conversion. Generally, while both get good reviews, the QuadVan gets more of a nod since it uses off-the-shelf Ford parts. It's my understanding that the Quigley conversions involves modding parts. Have any of you guys had issues with your Quigley conversion? How about any warranty work?

3) Lastly, how much 'mobility' has your Quigley conversion given you? I'm not looking to go rock-crawling or do crazy trails in a PC, but I do want to take dirt roads off into BLM land or National Forests. Something I would picture more of a 4x4 truck with a slide-in camper doing. But while there are some really nice truck campers out there, none can compare to the comfort (I'll be doing this full-time, remember) of a Class A.  A 4x4 Class B+ seems to be just the ticket.

So.....anyone have some experiences to share?

Hello allentc2--
I cannot address your questions about the 4x4 option, but I have been full-timing in my 2351 for a little over three years now.  It has been a perfect size for one person and a dog.  If there were two people in here, though, I'd say they would have to be on the average-to-small side and really love each other!  I find that corner bed perfect for one.  For two it would be quite warm and pretty cramped.  Although you can opt for one more foot in bed length instead of the storage closet between the kitchen and the foot of the bed, which might help.  Another consideration for you is slide or no-slide.  As a solo full-timer, I enjoy the simplicity of no-slide and really appreciate the extra storage space that would be lost to the slide box/mechanism.  If there were two people in here, though, I can see the benefit of added floor space (alas, at the expense of lost storage).  Another change I made to my floor plan was to replace the extra chair they put in behind the passenger seat with a nice sized closet (like you find in the larger rigs behind the passenger seat).  Since the passenger seat swivels around to face the house, that serves me fine for rare occasions of extra company.  Everything is a trade-off and only you can determine what will work best in your case. 
Good luck and enjoy the planning!
Carol

We can't address the rough and tumble approach to full time RVing since we are both mobility impaired.  That being said, most full time RVers discover after the first year of long driving days and dozens of "gotta see it" destinations and high adventure, full time RVing becomes life in a relatively small, mobile "apartment" with fewer and fewer campfires, shorter drives and longer stays.  We fulltimed for more than six years before health issues got us off the full time road.  A good look at what full time RVing entails can be found on The Escapees Discussion Forum.  Escapees caters to fulltimers with many of the services and answers to questions that many who want to enter full time RVing don't know to ask.  Here's a link to one of the forum threads:
http://www.rvnetwork.com/forum/5-sharing-the-fulltime-lifestyle/  Escapees also has a group that caters to RV singles with information on rallys and other events.  Good luck.   

LOL I've already joined Escapees, NATCOA Camper forums, RV.net, and a couple of other truck camper related forums already. I am doing a ton of blog reading as well.

Yeah, the 'getting older' thing is really the one thing that gives me pause about the whole idea. I can easily see myself doing this NOW....and I can imagine myself doing it easily into my 60s or so (health and God willing). But I look at my mom (who is turning 80 on Friday) and I ask myself "What will you do then? You won't have a house to go to." I dunno.....when I start thinking that way, my gut instinct is to reply "There are no guarantees that I see tomorrow, let alone 80.....live while you can."

We owned a model 2400 with Quigley 4x4 and drove it 60,000 miles over 5 years and had only one minor issue with a differential seal that my mechanic fixed. From my conversations with Quigley I thought that only genuine ford parts were used for the conversion, in my case F350 components on a E350 motorhome chassis. We used the MH on a lot of gravel roads up here in Alaska as well as in Canada and the lower 48. My reply to questions about how it handled off road has always been "its like driving a box truck in the mud except you have better traction". It does NOT compare to a truck camper unless your truck camper weighs over 12,000 lbs. We found the most useful function for the four wheel drive was in the snow. My opinion is that you might be better served by a normal motorhome and a 4 wheel drive toad like a classic jeep wrangler.

I get that recommendation a lot, the problem being, I'm still stuck parking my "home" in a campground or RV park. Not saying I'd never go to those kinds of places, but I also want to boondock quite a bit.

I suspect the capabilities of a 4x4 2351 would meet my needs, if yours was handling Alaskan dirt/gravel roads okay.

And actually, the truck campers I've been leaning towards probably run from 4-6K# loaded. I wouldn't doubt with the required truck that they come close to 12K#.

How did you find your 2400 in regards to being "4 season"?

Oh, and can you get the various PC models in your choice of slide/no-slide and E350/E450??

http://gypsyjournalrv.com/category/nicksblog/   

My only concern would be the twisting,  rolling, and stress any form of "off roading" would put on the PC.  I could see stress fractures in the outside skin developing, rattles like you have never heard before, etc.  If you are really just talking dirt road driving I do not see the need for 4X4 that would  reduce your MPG significantly and increase your center of gravity considerably making the coach far more susceptible to cross winds.  I have never driven a 4x4 PC so perhaps they drive great?  Quigley systems I have heard stand up nicely so I would not worry from that angle.  Four season usage is another black box.  I know some have used their PC's in the winter (I am talking very cold weather like below 20 degrees) with OK experiences but every RV I have attempted to use in very cold New England weather has not turned out well to be honest.  Doors swell and freeze up, condensation is a real pain, constant water pipe issues despite all efforts to insulate, road salt everywhere, holding tank issues in dumping, generator box getting filled with snow while driving,  just not worth the effort in my opinion.  If I was a single guy looking to do what you say you want to do I would buy a big 1 ton 4X4 Ram or Ford dual wheeled pickup and buy a Lance truck camper with the artic package to put in the back.  You could then easily go in the back country and have the truck to explore if you drop the camper off.  Less room perhaps but check out some of these new truck campers with slide outs and you will be surprised.  just my two cents.

The worst road conditions we have encountered were in Northeast Pennsylvania on I84. The cumulative effect of these and other roads meant lots of creaks, groans, and loose fasteners.  We never regretted the extra expense of the conversion or the slight decrease in gas mileage. When we ordered our unit the E350 chassis was standard and the E450 was an option. We chose the E350 because of better rear differential gearing and we specified manual locking hubs in order to minimize gas mileage impact. We did all of our camping in the shoulder seasons and encountered sub freezing temperatures frequently. The PC's weakness is the water system both fresh and waste in freezing weather. The other issue is the lack of insulation on the side walls of any slide  as well as condensation as a result. Canadian truck camper makers seem to have a better handle on what it takes to support cold weather camping. In our comparison when we purchased the cost of a comparable truck camper mounted on a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup was more than the PC  with the conversion.

Ragoodsp - I know right! I spent a couple of hours lollygagging around in a Host Mammoth and Cascade. The slideouts make a huge difference! I also looked at the Northern Lite 10" models. No slides, but still a pretty nice camper.

I hope to avoid the extreme cold, though I know at some point I want to go to Alaska and Canada.

Another reason for the interest in the PCs is Mexico cracking down on letting in trucks bigger than 1/2 ton.

Good luck in your search. I dearly wish I could have found a 4x4 PC when I was shopping but I had enough trouble finding a no-slide 2100. (Since it was my first rv there was no way I was going new in case I didn't like it.)  I also primarily boondock and I am in terror of getting stuck after a few near misses. One in Mexico, in fact, where my friend in a B van did get stuck. I full time in my 2100 and it works well for me. I ended up leaving my table down all the time and made up into a full-time bed. Gave me some more storage. I think a 2350 would be great, I'd like to have both a bed and a table, but I also like being a couple feet shorter. It's all a compromise.

I like that pic! It's good to hear from folks soloing single.

Kind of a silly question.......how do see your life going as you get older? My mom just turned 80, and it saddens me to say she's a shadow of her former self. I look at her and say to myself "There is no way I could get by living in an RV if I am in her shape at that age." Granted, we all age differently, and there is no guarantee I even make it to 80. LOL But still....it does make me pause. I doubt I would financially be able to hang up RVing at say 75 and buy sticks and bricks.

It's a good question. Right now one option that I *love* is Escapees CARE. It's a great service for members who have reached the age where they need to hang up their keys and just need a little extra help. And it's also available to those who need temporary care, like after a hip replacement or something. http://www.escapeescare.org/benefit.php  Who knows if it will still be around in 30 or 40 years though.