topic Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this? in Among Friends

FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

tarsmom — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:34:48 GMT

HI all,

We're 62 and have three more years to work FT. We're strongly considering selling our house (we were moving out of Michigan anyway) and instead of moving south to one place, now we're considering Full Time Rv-ing. We don't have our parents, our son lives in Florida and my brother lives there, too. We've decided (even before Irma) that we're not moving there year round......so now the crazy thought about buying an RV has surfaced.

Do you know anyone who does this? Hubby has been reading forums non-stop and it's amazing how many people do this.

I said all I need is my dog, a TV, the internet and a decent bed/couch. We've ridden a motorcycle for years and have traveled in many states on the bike.

We're strongly considering this !

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

pinkcrystal — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:37:24 GMT

Never done it but it would be a dream come true!!

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

Sooner — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:38:56 GMT

I have known one couple who did. In less than a year they sold the RV and bought another house. Other than that, no I've never known anyone to do that.

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

tarsmom — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:43:26 GMT

That's why we want to be pretty sure.

The forums he's reading haven't had anyone say they don't like it, in fact, just the opposite!

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

TheMemphisVette — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:47:14 GMT

my sis and her hubby did this.

sold all property.

bought rv.

live in it full time.

go when and where ever the mood strikes.

they love it.

plan is when they get tired of it or too old to do it they will buy small house or such.

good way to size down! i would have to get rid of alot!

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

Winkk — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:51:25 GMT

@tarsmom wrote:
That's why we want to be pretty sure.

The forums he's reading haven't had anyone say they don't like it, in fact, just the opposite!

I'm not an RVer myself but I have to assume the people on these forums are there because they like it. If there are people who tried it and didn't like it they would not be on those forums. I think you should see about getting opinions other than the forums. Good luck.

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

tansy — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:56:46 GMT

I had a friend who did this for many years until health issues caught up with her and her husband. It sounds like fun in theory but I know it's not for me full-time. We decided to be snowbirds between WA and AZ.

There are endless blogs about people who are full-timers. Some publish their yearly budgets.

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

drizzellla — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 00:01:26 GMT

My husband amd I have joked aboout doing that. And I can't help but think - why not give it a try and it you don't like it, then buy a house.

I would also during the trial run, rent a storage unit. And fill with furniture and stuff. So you have something to put in the house, if you decide to stop RVing.

My cousin bought a Type A RV last week, And it trying it out this week. They are not going to do it full time - just part time. I am interested to hear how she liked it.

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

Emmaline — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 00:07:24 GMT

There are many how-to books about full-time RV living on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Find titles that appeal to you and get them from your local library for free. Purchase later if you find ones you really like or need!

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

JGalt — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 02:45:12 GMT

I fulltimed it for 5 years, but then money got tight....fuel is expensive and was really expensive most of the time I was on the road..like $4.50/gal.of diesel. I bought the house I'm in seven years ago with the intention of selling it after three years to make money. Well I have made a bundle on the house, but now I'm old and don't feel I have the physical strength to RV it.

However, I miss fulltiming. I loved it. I would do it again tomorrow if I had a partner. There is hard physical labor involved and I'm not up to it. And this makes me quite sad.

To me the ideal would be to part time it like one of the earlier responders said she does. Own a small house that is very safely located and doesn't need maintenance, like someone else does the yard, or the snow removal, or whatever and then spend at least half the year on the road. I was planning this route but Hurricane Harvey demolished the town I was planning to move to.

I know a great deal about this subject, but probably shouldn't write a book here. Two most important bits of advice: don't buy a new RV, whether it be a truck/pull trailer combo, truck/fifth wheel, or any type of motor home ...

because they dramatically lose value immediately and people change their minds after living in something for a while. The RV great for vacations is not the same RV great for full time living. And don't finance the RV.

The second advice is: keep sufficient funds to be able to buy a house or whatever when you are ready to hang up the keys, whether that is in a year or ten years.

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

tarsmom — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 02:07:34 GMT

These are people that are actually doing it. They do talk about the pros/cons. But your point is well taken.

It's rather unconventional but what the heck? We all have too much stuff anyway....George Carlin's "Stuff" comedy act comes to mind.

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

jeanlake — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 03:07:51 GMT

I know people who have done this part time, keeping their residences. Eventually they sold RVs, but saw some great places. One couple found a place they wanted to move to permanently and already had friends in the area. Another couple sold the RV and bought a trailer near Tucson area. Several RV folks who met at same campground made the permanent move together. Good luck - as someone mentioned -- reserve money for future home in case you want to get off the road.

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 03:14:42 GMT

I've never done it and have no desire to do it.

However, my advice to you is if you want to try it, rent an RV for a month or two and see how much you like it before you make such a major change.

I think people should do what they want while their health is still good. You never know in life what's around the corner, so try it out for a few months and if it still seems like a good idea go for it.

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

JGalt — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 03:23:47 GMT

@tarsmom, your husband may already be reading these, but the best sites for learning about full timing:

http://www.rv-dreams.com Howard and Linda Payne were the first to go into details about the cost of living. I know there are others now too. They started RVing in their 40s and had to earn a living, so now they are the masters of the lifestyle and they conduct seminars for people contemplating or starting out. This site has all the "learning" info.

http://rv-dreams.typepad.com/rvdreams_journal/ This is their blog.

The major full time RVing club is Escapees. I highly recommend membership in Escapees (also known as, SKPs) This is their forum: http://www.rvnetwork.com

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

YorkieonmyPillow — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 04:19:24 GMT

Cheap RV Living

youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFr5LUX8Fts

TONS of info

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

Kachina624 — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 07:08:13 GMT

My parents Rved for years, had a wonderful retirement camping all over the US, made a ton of new friends and had a ball until health issues caught up with them. They had a cute patio home here in suburban Albuquerque, the perfect jumping off place for adventures in the Rockies. They were usually somewhere in the mountains from May-September. When they both became legally blind and could no longer drive I retired moved here from Texas and took over the driving duties.

There's an awful lot of knowledge and experience needed before you get behind the wheel of an RV. It's not like a car where you jump in, turn the ignition and go. I wouldn't consider full_timing it until I had some experience camping. It's a drastic changé in lifestyle. Many people find a cool pleasant place and spend the summer in that one place. I know a beautiful little town in Colorado where you'd swear, looking at the license plates, that you were in Texas. Then they have a modest home for winters in a mild climate. Anyway, it's something that calls for a trial period before you take the plunge. Good luck.

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

Carmie — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 14:27:16 GMT

My DH and I are part time RVers. We have owned a RV for about the past 25 years. We have friends who are full timers and have met many full timers over the years.

We are usually home only three days a week from mid April to mid October. We spend 1-2 months in Florida...Jan - Feb.

My 2 cents: there are different types of RV's. Some are pulled and some are driven. There are pros and cons to owning each type. No matter which type you have, you will need a vehicle to go out and about. You can't take an RV into any city and find parking, and you can't unhook all of your utilities and drive your RV to go for groceries. The bottom line,you will either tow a car or tow a trailer.

The vehicle you drive will break down and need maintenance. This will cost you time and money. If you drive your RV and it is in the shop, you will need a motel until it is repaired. If your tow vehicle is in for repairs after it broke down on the highway, you will need to get your trailer somewhere to safely park it. You can buy insurance for this from Good Sam's Club.

You will need to park your RV overnight somewhere and it isn't cheap. Some places charge $150+ a night and some only $30. You can often get better rates if you stay the whole month, but most places will not allow you to stay for months on end.

Consider work camping. Many full timers work this way to finance their life style.

Buy an inexpensive RV now. Get used to it. Take it on vacation and getaway weekends. When you retire, go on the road for a month or two and test out this lifestyle. Make sure both of you can drive and handle the RV. There might be a time when one of you is sick or can't drive.

Have a plan b in place.... eventually, one of you will die, get too sick or get tried of this life.

All of the full timers that I know or met during my travels, started out as weekend RVers. I can't imagine anyone with no RV experience selling everything and taking to the road.

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

game-on — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 20:48:54 GMT

I have met people who both have done the full time and part time thing.... they seemed to love it....

Where the part-timers lived was in a condo or in a manufactured home community.... in a condo there is no outside upkeep and it is safe to leave your home.... the manufactured community where I have lived for over 20 years has many people who do both.... people invest in homes and leave their homes while they are on the roads.... neighbors watch their homes while they are traveling....

One of my college friends has done this for many years and is gone for at least 250 days a year. They bought a home while they were employed and it is paid for.... so they just have the expense of the traveling etc.

The one thing I hear from all of them is how many people they have met and how they have enjoyed this....

I hope you enjoy your journeys....

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

Lilysmom — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 21:06:49 GMT

@Carmie, a lot of good advice in your post. Thank you for that. I don't own an RV. DH and I are thinking about getting a park model to place on some property we own about four hours from our home. It is family property but there is no family remaining in the area.

I go hot and cold on this.

We live on a beautiful lake which we both enjoy (make your home your cottage idea). I am getting tired of flying south for vacations for a number of reasons.

I am taking the attitude that, if we do this, it will probably be for about 5 years. I am in my early 60’s and DH is 65. We are both very active with no health issues so far. We have owned a cottage and I am not prepared to do that again.

If anyone has any wisdom, I would be glad to hear it. The land is cleared, the driveway and land is prepared for something. We will have to investigate well and septic. The park model would remain on the property through the winter without us so I am a bit worried about vandalism. LM

Re: FULL time RV-ing / Anyone here do this?

Carmie — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 22:34:32 GMT

@Lilysmom We own a second RV that is a huge 2 bedroom travel Trailer , but not a park model in addition to the smaller one that we tow.

It sits on rented land by a lake. We are there about 4 days a week from April to October. I would love to have a cottage instead and we are looking for one that fits our budget.

We have had no problems with vandalism, but it gets freezing here in the winter time, and we have to winterize the pipes so they don't freeze. We also have a boat that we park there, but we do store it in the wintertime indoors.

If I lived near a lake, I"d be happy to stay at home. You're lucky indeed.