GOLD HILL — After traveling the country in their motor home for four years, a Gold Hill couple are inviting 1,000 or more road-trip-loving souls the chance to submit "$100 and 100 words" on why they’d like to try doing the same.

The best story with the best reasons wins their 38-foot, 1998 Dutch Star diesel-pusher.

Putting down stakes in the Rogue Valley to care for their aging parents, Ron and Renie Doshier of Gold Hill spent the past four years living in the rig, traveling from one coast to another.

"We’ve been from Seattle, Washington, to the Florida Keys," said Ron Doshier.

"We were having a hard time selling it and my sister had been involved in a similar type situation ... and it seemed like a great idea."

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The pair often worked as campsite managers or performed other odd jobs to pay for space rent and other expenses.

They took the adventure early in life, while they were still young enough to enjoy it. Now their parents need them close to home. And they want someone to carry on what they started.

Ron Doshier, 57, said the couple hopes to hear stories from folks with the same dream they once had: To see the country and meet folks doing the same.

"We’re hoping there’s someone out there who’s interested in motor homes and traveling," he said.

"We’d met and talked to so many people across the country who said, ‘Oh that sounds like so much fun, I’d love to do that,’ " said Renie Doshier, 56. "Our whole idea in doing this was to give someone else a chance at it because we had so much fun."

If the Doshiers don’t get at least 1,000 applicants, however, they will cancel the contest and refund entrants’ money, they say. So far they’ve received just two entries.

The motor home has a six-speed automatic transmission and 300 horsepower CAT motor with just 45,000 miles.

A 12,000-pound tow package offers a motorized lift for a wheelchair — or in the Doshiers’ case, a Harley-Davidson — while a basement storage compartment offers space to take along plenty of travel supplies.

There’s space inside to house six adults, the Doshiers say. The motor home also features oak-trimmed interior, a built-in satellite dish and entertainment area, a generator and a full- service kitchen.

If 1,000 entries are submitted, recipients of the couple’s travel newsletter, written by Renie Doshier on their Web site, www.bareacres.com, will help whittle them all down to a dozen or so and pick a final winner.

The contest will help the couple cover expenses, pay off the motor home and provide someone with a new lifestyle –— all for $100.

"We got to thinking there are a lot of people (who) can’t go out and buy a motor home," Ron Doshier said.

"This way, someone will have a chance who might not have."

Chance must play little part in the decision, however.

Jan Margosian, consumer information coordinator for the Oregon

Department of Justice, said that according to state law, raffle-style written contests must be based on skill.

Contests based on chance are considered lotteries, which are illegal.

In addition, the judge of the winning entry must be determined to have some skill in judging the particular type of contest in question.

And, when a contest outcome is contingent on the promoter receiving a certain number of entries, monies paid must be placed in a trust fund.

"If they’re going to do an essay contest, there are certain things they need to do to make it legitimate," Margosian said.

As for the Doshiers, they want the contest to be "fair and square," Ron Doshier said.

For more contest rules and photos of the RV, visit the couple’s Web site, www.bareacres.com. The contest ends March 31.

Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at buffypollock@juno.com.