Anyone else RVing?

[reztab]

It's been a long time since I have posted here. We used to live in the Washington D.C. area. We sold our house this past June and hit the road with our two Boston Terriers in a 28' 5th wheel trailer. The plan was a year on the road, then settle down (somewhere). It is looking more like two years or longer. There is so much to see in the USA.

We made it through the midwest states, the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming, four of the major national parks in Utah, Southwesten Colorado, Valley of Fire/Lake Meade area of Nevada and are now wintering in Arizona near Tucson. We will be hitting the road again March 1.

Just curious if anyone else on PE is living or contemplating this lifestyle.

[Garden Dreamer]

Thought about it in 2016 when I decided to live in my van for 6 months after having to leave a bad situation in an apartment I had just moved into. I joined the cheapRVliving.com forum and posted some questions about van living but haven't been on there since. While it was fun I think I prefer to have a place where I can grow a garden. There's an RV for sale in a parking lot near me and it got me to thinking again, ha....

[Progbear]

Currently living the spartan “tiny house” lifestyle in a 1989 Layton trailer on park property. Rent’s cheap and the commute is short (less than 7½ miles to the maintenance shop, albeit on mountain roads).

[JKL2000]

Currently living the spartan “tiny house” lifestyle in a 1989 Layton trailer on park property. Rent’s cheap and the commute is short (less than 7½ miles to the maintenance shop, albeit on mountain roads).

Interesting, I had no idea (but how would I? ).

I know someone from the "Prog Community" who's on Facebook, goes to the CTTE's, travels a lot, etc. and she recently sold her apartment and bought a "tiny house" that can be moved (though I think it's a bit of an ordeal to move it so you wouldn't want to do it too often). The tiny house thing is appealing to me, though I think I'd only entertain it if I was single. I'd have to get rid of a lot of crap 'n' prog too! We'd more likely move to some cheap-ass place to save money, instead of the overly-expensive-ass place we live now. I definitely think people living in less expensive ways is a positive trend, for lifestyle reasons and for giving less of your money to "the man."

I took a duck boat tour in Miami last year, and the guide pointed out a place where you can dock a boat for free and pay no income tax if you live on the boat, and he said there are some people who do that.

Paying for expensive weddings and burials are also for the birds! Good thing I have sons.

[reztab]

Living this life surely has its challenges. There is no room for a set of drums or a thousand cd's but, that's what storage facilities are for.
And having older dogs...
It can be a cheaper alternative lifestyle. Here in Tucson, the rent is $540 a month, with full hookups. One heck of a deal. Plus, the owner brings in live music twice a week, food trucks, etc. He has created a real community. People have been wintering here for years. We'll be back next year.

[nycsteve]

Just sold my actual RV a few monthes ago. It was a Lance slide in camper, or truck camper. More than acceptable for trips, I took many over the 9 years we had it. But to live in , way to small. We now have what might be called a tiny home, its a park model trailer, 390 square feet. CAC , residential appliances and bath. 396 sq ft is small though , for perminant living , but doable. Its in a condo-trailer park in the FL Keys. Its rented in the winter and we use it in the summer , kinda a reverse commute . Due to size , it wouldn't be a perminant retirement option for me , but the park is full of those who do just that. We were one of the lucky ones to survive Irma fairly intact. I already miss the truck camper. To me that's actual RVing. Traveling is RVing , a semi- permanent location is not true RVing , IMO of course.

[Supersonic Scientist]

...kind-of on the same topic.

Once I retire (later this year), the Wife and I are considering renting a small RV to tour the USA for about 3-4 months (mostly to visit long-lost friends and see the country) Not sure how to go about this exactly but it sure sounds like a lot of fun......(Not sure how the cat is going to like it though!!!)

[nycsteve]

...kind-of on the same topic.

Once I retire (later this year), the Wife and I are considering renting a small RV to tour the USA for about 3-4 months (mostly to visit long-lost friends and see the country) Not sure how to go about this exactly but it sure sounds like a lot of fun......(Not sure how the cat is going to like it though!!!)

More than likely buying a late model used RV will be cheaper than renting. Then you can resell. Renting is expemsive.

[Yodelgoat]

I would probably really love this, except that I need to have a recording studio. Thats a whole separate truck. We have considered buying an RV and doing some exploring, whilst keeping the homestead - but selling it all and just travelling... It sounds like a wonderful life. - I think I could spend a year just doing the route 66 thing.

Its been a cold winter, so its good that you are in Tuscon. Nice place even in the depths of winter.

[3LockBox]

The wife and I sold the house two years ago and bought a 35ft motor coach. Not a lot of room for a big sound system or music collection but we realized that living in a house for 18 years you collect more junk than anything of value. We parted ways with various furniture and tools. I don't miss having a house one bit. Plus I hate yard work. And house work.

[kolix]

There are a lot of reliable companies on the Internet so you can find everything that will fit you

[Buddhabreath]

The wife and I sold the house two years ago and bought a 35ft motor coach. Not a lot of room for a big sound system or music collection but we realized that living in a house for 18 years you collect more junk than anything of value. We parted ways with various furniture and tools. I don't miss having a house one bit. Plus I hate yard work. And house work.

You can have all the music you want. I have more music on single disk drive than I will probably listen to for the rest of my life. It's not the same, but you can get better technical quality on a premium pair of headphones than a YUGE sound system.

[3LockBox]

You can have all the music you want. I have more music on single disk drive than I will probably listen to for the rest of my life. It's not the same, but you can get better technical quality on a premium pair of headphones than a YUGE sound system.

That's what I did, rip every CD I own onto a portable hard drive.

[MindFur]

Part time RV when we can right now. Full time when we retire. Maybe a ProgFest themed route!

[tommy_n_chucky]

Just curious if anyone else on PE is living or contemplating this lifestyle.

Yes...sure, but only done preliminary investigation & research...I'd like to buy a used RV that can hook up sewer/water, maybe have some fancy solar things, the tech gadgets like Bluetooth/Wifi, kitchen, bathtub. Enough for 4 people to live, but likely I will be living alone.

Don't know where to start other than going to local RV lots and checking them out.

[3LockBox]

Anyone buying a used RV should take their time and be real careful. If you think used car lots can be shifty... Make sure you take along a seasoned RVer with you and insist on some sort of warranty, even if its only for 6 months. Most states lemon laws don't cover RVs.

[nycsteve]

Yes...sure, but only done preliminary investigation & research...I'd like to buy a used RV that can hook up sewer/water, maybe have some fancy solar things, the tech gadgets like Bluetooth/Wifi, kitchen, bathtub. Enough for 4 people to live, but likely I will be living alone.

Don't know where to start other than going to local RV lots and checking them out.

I strongly suggest checking out RV.net
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm
http://http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm

The forum is divided up into sections , each on a specific type of RV or topic. Very informative , just lurk and absorb.
If your going used , craigslist is a better option than a RV lot. But you need to be informed or hire a guy to go through whatever your considering buying. Number ONE issue is water intrusion. Any staining inside or musty smell is a deal breaker. You need to find a well built unit , combined with an owner who did regular maintaince. Yearly caulking, correct winterizing or storage procedures ,plus others are a must. Check out that forum. Make note of problems that crop up over and over. Find out what manufactorers suck and who's decent.