In the Beginning…
Bubba was born and raised in Montana and grew up helping the family with ranching duties. On his high school senior trip he discovered Southern California, the land of sunshine. Tired of freezing his butt off, he moved to San Diego in 1986 and began working in construction. For nearly thirty years he worked as a heavy equipment operator, and spent a few of his earlier years in San Diego working as an over-the-road truck driver.
Kat was born and raised in San Diego, and spent her early years working at Sea World, and then in her family’s pet supply stores. At the ripe old age of 21, she decided to become a police officer. In her spare time she enjoyed riding and showing horses in the hunter/jumper discipline.
Then Two Became One:
Bubba and Kat met in 2011 and married in 2012. During their first year of marriage, the construction industry (as well as the rest of the economy) took a nosedive in Southern California. With construction work becoming scarce, and Bubba and Kat feeling they were ready for a change from the hustle and bustle of San Diego, they began looking for a new place to call home. Bubba received several job offers in Denver, and in June 2013 he relocated. Kat remained behind a short while to ensure her retirement was secure, then, after 22 years of service in law enforcement, joined him in Colorado.
As they settled into their new life in the Rockies, and with retirement looming on the horizon (albeit still somewhat distantly), they discovered the idea of full-time RVing. It immediately appealed to their desire to travel and explore new places, and quickly became their primary retirement goal. They developed a five year plan that would put them on the road as soon as they were eligible to pull the plug on both careers. It gave them time to research various types of RVs as well as the associated costs of each, and plan financially according to their goals. It was during their search for the perfect RV that Kat landed a job as a salesperson at an RV dealership. Not only did she love interacting with fellow RVers, but it gave her a tremendous insight into the construction, maintenance needs and financing considerations of RVs.
Putting the Plan Into Action:
In order to save money for the future as well as to give full-timing a try before actually going out on the road, Bubba and Kat decided to begin full-timing while still working and living in Denver. Their first RV was a 1993 Pace Arrow motorhome, which they lived in for two years. They learned how to downsize, and learned just how low-stress and enjoyable RV life can be. They also realized they wanted something with a little more room to sprawl out, so in 2017 they traded in the motorhome on a Forest River Sandpiper fifth wheel.
The Rig:
Realizing the one ton pickup they owned wasn’t too happy about towing such a large trailer, Bubba and Kat began searching for the right tow vehicle. With Bubba’s previous truck driving experience, they discussed the possibility of using a semi tractor to haul the trailer. It made perfect sense – plenty of horsepower, plenty of stopping power (a huge plus in the Rocky Mountains), and more affordable than a newer pickup, they found a 2004 Peterbilt 387 for sale in Michigan. Following several phone conversations with the dealer, they flew out to see the truck. Feeling satisfied that this truck would fit their needs and desires, they bought her and drove her home to Denver, where they began making the necessary modifications to convert her from a commercial hauler to private truck.
