We are selling our home and looking at buying and new dodge and and newnew fifth wheel(40ft.) What is the average cost of staying in RV Parks on a monthly basis. What does it cost to live on the road. Modestly. There are just the two of us. We are looking at a toy hauler because we have 4 wheelers. Either a CYCLONE or Raptor fifth wheel. Anything we should know about either of these before we buy. What are the real changes we can expect to encounter from living in our 1865 sq. ft. home.

Hi:

   Sounds like a great plan :)  We've found that most campgrounds are much cheaper if you pay by the month... here in Louisiana, the average is above $300 - $350 for the camp site (utilities included).  About 100 of our Happy Camper parks offer long-term specials, so that may help, if you're a member.  It's not half off, but $50 off the already-discounted monthly rate.

     As to the fifth wheel... we have a motorhome, so I have no experience there, but you might browse other members' profiles, and click 'send message" if you see someone with a fifth wheel and want to ask them a question.

     Best of luck to you!  Welcome to the RV lifestyle!

Anne

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Anne Pierson - President of Happy Camper Club

Hi, I was kind of thinking of the same thing and feeling excited at the thought of going to new places and meeting new people. This afternoon I went out looking at RV's IN THE SNOW if you can believe it! Here in Alberta it's the eighth month of winter and getting really depressing. Anyway I've kind of talked myself out of it because of my age-I'll be 68 this year and wonder if I'm being totally ridiculous to even contemplate such a thing. It would mean giving up my home and putting almost  all of the profit into an RV and truck. So how many years would I be driving and what would I do after the adventure for a place to live when the cost of having a home here is out of sight. It's a  BIG decision. This doesn't help you at all, does it? Sorry about that, but I am also interested in the answers to the questions you asked and also in the opinions and advice about my situation-maybe they would help me make up my mind. I'm looking forward to the replies..................Win

Hi - and welcome!

    Maybe going RVing doesn't need to be a full-time thing for you?  LOTS of folks just go south for the winter (so you don't have to look at RVs in the snow :) and enjoy it very much.  But, selling everything is a huge step.  Many people do it, and I'm sure you'll get great answers here.

Enjoy!

Anne

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Anne Pierson - President of Happy Camper Club

Hi Winful

  Last summer the wife and i was going to try the camping life out and a few things came up,so icalled the dealer and he was real nice about it. Then a month later i went down and got the travel trailer. We slept in it down their one night and the following night we slept in it at a wal-mart center and that has been the story of it. I want a place i can rome. Plan on getting it out pretty soon, but haven,t even drained the anti-freeze out yet. Looking at gas prices doesn't fire me up to get in a hurry. I would just say think about it then what you decide go for it.

Slowpoke 

  

 

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slowpoke

We are really moving along here. Put our home on the market. Sold within a month. Believe that. We have looked and looked until we found a Carriage. Someone bought this unit and they got in over their head. This unit has not been used. We saved bunches of money here. And they added so many things. Next we will go get the Dodge 3500. And have the fifth wheel hitch put in and air ride installed. We are also getting ready for the big retirement sale. Of everything we own. Not as hard as I thought it would be. I'll just be glad when we can just fish for awhile. We will keep you informed. Sharon and Arnold

It must be Spring RVing fever that has hit us all.  Before this winter, I will admit my husband and I did not hardly think of camping, much less RVing.  Were were lucky if we ever got to drive 40 miles up the road!  We were self-employed for most of our marriage and on a grind that never quit! 

But this RVing bug hit us after my folks announced in November they were moving South in the Spring.  They were elderly, and if we could not change our lifestyle then we might never see them again!  So, we started researching possibilties ... and the most logical one was to NOT give up our homestead, which is paid for, but to enjoy a new lifestyle of traveling South in the winter and returning to our home base to work in the summer.

After we made this decision, we thought we were going to settle on a budget purchase from Cruise America (Four Winds 5000 - Class C), but an awesome deal on a Fleetwood Bounder - Class A with a Jeep Liberty tow car came along!

Might I say, that although we were tied down for the past ten years or so, that we always had a bit of a wanderlust, which is probably what made our "grind" a little unbearable.  All we can do now is THANK MOM AND DAD for forcing our hand to make this decision.  We know we will have the time of our lives.

A few months ago, I read Charlie Minshall's book "Full Time RVing - How to Make it Happen" and she has lots of great advice and warnings for people just starting out.  She has also got a great sense of humor.  At one point I remember she said someting like, "RVing is just something you do , not sit around talking about doing."  It is a lifestyle you either live, or not.  If not, you will most likely be happy being a weekend camper and keep your home.  She strongly recommends everyone RENTS before plunging in and purchasing their first motorhome, otherwise you might be totally overwhelmed by all the things you need to keep track of with your home on wheels.

My husband and I are kind of plunging in, but we will have about 3-4 months to get used to our rig by trying local RV parks before we hit the road, so hopefully we will not come across everyone out there as being absolute newbies.  We were also both raised with lots of camping and cabincruiser boating, so we are accustomed to cramped quarters and hauling things.  But you can keep a watchful eye out for us anyway ...  We will be the rig on the road with sails!

God bless,

bsmart2RV

 

Here are a couple of things that worry me.   I use to  travel out of Ak. every winter for 15 years.   I began using a Dodge Van with no facilities on purpose so I could get in touch with living on the edge and I sure did.    I got run out of towns, stopped and searched by police (Va. is the worst) stayed in rest areas etc.     I pushed it a little and for 6-7 months would take one or two motels.     I use to travel up and down the East coast but mainly stayed in Florida.     I had to find a new place to park every night and that was sumthin!

I eventually bought a home in St. Augustine in (1998) and in April of 2004 I got a call from Bill on the hill that someone had broke into my place.   When I got back to Ak. from Fla. you guessed it, everything of value was missing, the doors were knocked in, the windows knocked in the house full of glacier dust and all my heirlooms of over 100 years were taken and all my paperwork was trashed and stepped on.     I caught paranoia.    I stopped traveling and sold my house in Fla in 2005.

The issues I ran into when I was traveling were lining up my Postal mail and paying for the utilities in Ak. when I traveled.     I paid ahead for all things and shut the rest off. 

This is what I learned traveling.   For those who leave their homes there is the chance of breakins and until it happens to you, there is not much concern but when it does your entire life changes.    This is a big issue for people.   Now I think defensively instead of offensively and that is bad.   

I heard just today that motorhome parks down in the Keys are up to 97.00 a night.   Imagine paying 97.00 for 50sq.ft. of dirt per night.     Back 10 years ago it was 32.00 and I thought that was absurd.  Course I did not pay but I did get the light in the eye many nights because of my chosen life style.    Point is, you just cannot simply pull over anywhere and park for the night without some type of interference.    From criminals and Police.   Down in Florida there is a hate mentality for people who park.      There are no places to park down there unless you pull out your wallet.   The days of traveling on a budget are gone.

So why would anyone want to travel by motorhome with prices so high, with gas costs over 3 bucks a gallon.    You might as well stay at a motel and not put up with the traveling and parking and manevering the big boy around.     I am at a crossroad like many people are as to what to do about the high costs of travel.

I like the idea of Happy Camper because it will provide sites to park, discounts and safety.   I like those ideas.

Figuring out how to travel in winter and leaving a home to come back to is a real issue.   It can be done but it is costly.   Hire ADT security but you know how that is.    Your 5000 miles away and you get a call "Your place just burnt down etc" and so what do you do?   Not everyone wants to just pick up and drop everything or sell every thing or can they afford to.  

Has some one figured out a better surveillance system for our homes while we are gone, and what about the bills we have to pay while we are gone and the other mail if we are moving around the country in our motorhome.    When I use to travel OUTSIDE I had someone collect my mail and go thru it and my instructions were to send it to a freind in Florida or hold it but that was so inefficient.   Lots of problems there for everyone...who wants anyone to look over their mail.

I don't like paying my bills on the internet.    Before internet, bills were paid so it can be done but I don't like the old way.    Anyway, does that mean I have to travel with a Computer now to pay my bills back home.   

shucks, maybe the answer is to sell everything back home but what do we do with all those pictures and things we don't want to get rid of.    Now I think in terms of building a concrete block building with no windows and on heavily built garage door and storing all my things in it, but how many people can afford to do that?      

Traveling has become synonomous with spending money.    The days of living on the cuff are gone.    Does anyone out there have any ideas.    I'm at the point where I will probably build that concrete building  to give me mental peace while I am gone OR find a piece of property in the South 48 and build a concrete building there, at least I won't have to travel back to the end of the world.  Then I can concentrate on figuring out how to  get from one camper site to another.   And by the way, I hear you have to for the most part call ahead for reservations.   In the old days we just showed up.     If the sites were taken they had us park in the parking lot for less money.         Maybe someone has it all figured out.  I can't be the only one who  is facing these issues.    Frank

I have seen many , no not many but a lot more than I would care to see. People that have sold every thing and get a large motor home/ fifth wheeler BUS, A) that is too large for them to handle and B)Not qualified to handle and worst than needed to see all the units in the SW, that one of the couple has had health problems.

The other is stuck with all the bills, no health care and getting the screws put to them when they have to leave the unit with "a broker" which will breack you, to sell the unit while they go back to NO home to go to.

Thier poor kids, if they are lucky to have caring kids, to take them in...

Sad really isn't it. I travel in my work and see so much of this. People in buses that terrioize the traffic below, not knowing where on the road they belong?

If I stepped on any toes, it is not my problem , it lies with the sales people and the customer ( I am over 65) older and never driven anything larger than a pickup to the store.

People that encourage this type of doing are only adding to the never ending problem of lost souls in Nevada, Arizona, Texas and other areas of warmth.

Well for the rest that are thinking of taking the plunge,, go to truck driving school, then buy that unit. And drive with care instead of abandon.

Chalet

 

 

Well, we have been RVing for 40+ years and now with the DW's health conditions we are going to sell the RV and stay at home in our stick house.

We may still try to get out there and rent an RV, but not for long periods.

Good Luck & Drive Safe!

Well, we are in the process of taking the step to RV ful-time. We recently traded in our 5th wheel for a class A motorhome. We have sold our home (tentative to the buyer selling there home). we live in upstate NY and the main goal is to be "out of here" during the winter. we intend to put most of our home furnishings in storage just in case something doesn't work out or we decide to have a home base (apt or retirement place) somewhere south. Our new RV is in storage and we won't bring that home until April. We may decide to try the 'Work Kamper' program with the KOA. I also plan on joining this club. so now we are beginning the task of 'what goes', what stays'. I will be towing a car (4 down) and I have what I need for that, so that is under control. We would welcome any advice.

You can find a free housesitter (short or long term) who will pay for the utilities that he or she uses during the time they housesit. They will provide the security you need plus take care of your plants and any pets you decide to leave behind. Go to www.housecarers.com. Homeowners can register for free!!!

We have been full-timing for 12 years.  We sold everything, bought a used class A, towed our car with a dolly.   We now have a fifth wheel.  We have kept costs down by volunteering.   We have volunteered/worked for church organizations, national parks, national forests and tried workamping.     These all gave us a free place to park in exchange for 3 - 4 days work each week, some paid a small stipend.  We did need to agree to stay for 2 - 4 months.  We liked that as we had plenty of free time to really explore a new area.   We have made some wonderful new friends along the way.  We pay all our bills on line, using the bill pay service offered by our bank.   We have a post office box in a daughters town, she sends our mail to us every month.   The post office will now box up and resend uyour mail for a price.  We have loved every minute of our time on the road.   Now that arthritis is getting worse, we plan on traveling in a truck camper.  Hope to see you on the road.

We have been full time Rving since June of 2007. We have traveled alot

across country. Wintered in arizona. Not my cup of tea. Coming from Oregon.

And it sure was not warm there last winter. We do not regret selling our home

and going on the road. You finally get to live your life. You do run into things.

But common sense works great. Some people have posted bad times Rving.

But like life. It's what you make it. We do not miss all the house up keep.

The Rv and truck have up keep. But not much. And this Carriage 40ft. toy

hauler has been our home for almost a year. And you can clean it in about

1/2 hour. And have time to enjoy your life. And see and do the things you

want to do. The bottom line is. If you complain about being a full timer.

You probably complained about life before you became a full timer.