Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Our first step to FT is a DOOZIE !!


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 48
Date:
Our first step to FT is a DOOZIE !!


Robin and I have recently decided to pursue the FT dream. We had a four year plan until retirement. After our introduction to this site, one of the posters stated that we should be prepared to shorten our length of time till retirement. Boy was he right. Today we purchased a new 2014 Heartland 3650RL, we absolutely love it. We figured we would try to pay it off before we retire but now we are looking into retiring two years earlier than planned. We are signed up for the spring rally in TN and cant wait. Looks like a lot to figure out in two years. Now I have to figure out how to tow that beast, it will spend the summer on our seasonal site here in upstate NY. We heard an expression recently "we feel like a fifteen year old waiting for the 16th birthday to get our permit" That's us for sure.

Mike



__________________

Mike & Robin

2013 Buddy- Chihuahua/Jack Russell

2014 Heartland Big Country 3650RL

2012 F-450 (our Fat Bottom Girl) Lariat DRW Crew Cab Long Box, Hensley BD3 Hitch

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 911
Date:

Congrats Mike and Robin! Not sure you'll make two years once you get your "permit". Just sayin.

__________________

Full timing since 2/27/14.

Silverado HD 3500 4X4 Dually.

Momentum 380 by Grand Design.



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 258
Date:

I remember writing that reply back on November 3. :)

Congratulations!!!

Jim

__________________

Jim & Diana

2007 Colorado 31 RL  5th wheel

2008 F350 Larait SRW 6.4L Diesel, crew cab, long box - PullRite Superglide 15K hitch

Follow us at:  http://www.exploRVistas.com



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 48
Date:

 

 

Jims Quote

Permalink Reply Quote 
 

"I would definitely go, as there are things you will learn now that will help you in the future. Another thing is, if you are like most folks, your timeline will move up. 2019 will become 2018, then 2017 and so on. If and when you go, do the open rig walk throughs and ask lots of questions of the owners. The ORW's are so much better than asking a salesman at an RV show about a rig. Also, you may even want to go to a second rally as a refresher, once you get closer to retirement. Many people do.

Here are a couple of ideas of other things to start on now:

1) Try to begin your purging process now. It will result in less stress in the end.

2) Try to live on the amount of money you think you will be living on when you retire, just so you get used to it. Put the rest away in an IRA.

Jim (and Diana)"

That's right Jim, and your post was very insightful. We have purchased Howard and Lynda's budget spreadsheets and feel we can make an earlier start to FT than originally planned. We are starting the purging process slowly and are making every move according to our GOAL. We have been giving the kids some items that we know will not go on the road with us, and even made a trip to the dump with unneeded items last week. Two years seems like a long time, but we realize it will come faster than we think.
Very exciting times indeed.
 
Mike


__________________

Mike & Robin

2013 Buddy- Chihuahua/Jack Russell

2014 Heartland Big Country 3650RL

2012 F-450 (our Fat Bottom Girl) Lariat DRW Crew Cab Long Box, Hensley BD3 Hitch

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 420
Date:

Congratulations!  Me thinks you will have a hard time waiting

 



__________________

Debbie & Steve McCormack...and Hurley too!

Our Blog: Down the Road

2013 Montana 3582RL

2013 Dodge 3500HD Laramie Longhorn Dually

Fulltime since June 2014



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 48
Date:

Thanks Debbie and Steve.

Me Thinks your right.

Interesting that you and Jim and Dianna have answered our post as I have been following both of your blogs.

We do like your style of living like staying in the State Parks and Kayaks, that is our plans as well.

Hope to see you on the road when we get there.

 

Mike



__________________

Mike & Robin

2013 Buddy- Chihuahua/Jack Russell

2014 Heartland Big Country 3650RL

2012 F-450 (our Fat Bottom Girl) Lariat DRW Crew Cab Long Box, Hensley BD3 Hitch

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 157
Date:

Congratulations on the purchase of your rig and moving up your date! Very exciting. I may not seem like it now but the two years will go quick. Barb and I had a 5 year plan and in hindsight it went very quickly. Here is a little advice, one you think you have purged enough, go over all of it again. We thought we had gotten rid of everything we could not live without and even that would not fit into our rig so we purged again. Now, after 8 months on the road we are finding things that we really don't need. Especially clothing, you really don't need a lot.

Good luck and keep us posted!

__________________

2013 GMC Duramax Dually

2014 Cardinal 3450

jimandbarbsrvadventure.blogspot.com



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1509
Date:

Congrats and welcome aboard............

__________________

My Dreams...............Her Nightmares.

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 980
Date:

You are correct that the first step is a doozy. We went from a 3 year plan, to a 1 year plan, to a 4 month plan! Most all the pieces fell together for us.
We're in Texas for our 2nd winter, time flies when your having fun!

__________________

Carrilite Home

Volvo Pickup

Alie & Jim

Morgan- DD

Sallie- 4 legged lab

Tabitha & Brooke -other furballs

FullTiming since March 2013



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 654
Date:

Congrats! Bill and I have a Landmark and we LOVE it!

We also had a 5 year plan that became a 2 1/2 year plan - and here we are now - living it!

Good luck!

__________________

Bill & Kelly - with Callie along the ride.  

2011 Ford F350 Diesel Dually 4x4 

2014 Heartland Landmark, Grand Canyon 

"All those who wander are not lost" Tolkien

 BLOG:  http://bkamericanodyssey.com/



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 253
Date:

Congrats!! We also had a three year plan that we've accelerated quite a bit. Within 11 months of making the decision, we had sold our house and the majority of our belongings and moved into our coach. Since we'd never RV'ed before, we wanted to make sure it was going to work for us, so we've been living in RV, still employed and working out the kinks....and saving money!!! We'll hit the road full-time in the spring. And while we would like to be out there "doing it" now, this plan--at the time--made the most sense for us as it was a nice compromise to our three year initial plan. Welcome and good luck!!

__________________

Cori & Greg Young...and Hobie, too

(formerly "byseaandbyland")

2008 45' Country Coach Allure

2015 GMC Sierra 1500

www.therestlessyoungs.com

www.rvsolarsolutions.com

TRY%20logo.png



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 932
Date:

Congratulations !!! Big first step.  We bought first and stayed in a seasonal site before full timing and it was very helpful In learning about the life before going on the road 



-- Edited by Lee and Trace on Sunday 7th of December 2014 07:47:25 AM

__________________

 Trace 

Ford F350 Super Duty 4x2.  Open Range 386FLR

Follow our journey at www.camperchronicles.com

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1661
Date:

Yep that's a doozie all right. When we first discussed going FT a couple of years ago, our first estimate for our situation was 8-10 years. with research we have cut that in half.  If we can catch a couple of advantageous breaks (Mr Murphy does not show his face again after the Pit Bull assault and some major car repairs on both our cars, yeah life happens) then we can possibly cut it 2 years. Whew, even that idea makes me nervous.  What amazes me is how clear it becomes the more you look at reality and make the hard choices to make a dream happen, the more likely it WILL happen. Let the good times roll!!!smile 



__________________

Brian, Cindi & Josie (our fur baby)
2017 RAM 3500 Laramie 4x4 CCLB, CTD, Aisin, B&W hitch, dually
2020 Keystone Montana Legacy 3813MS w/FBP ,
MORryde 8k IS, Kodiak disc brakes, no solar  YET!



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 488
Date:

On the tow vehicle, buy the dually you like. Don't listen to all the hype about towing numbers. All have exhaust brakes and more than enough power. All three are great trucks and will tow your new Heartland safely. Congratulations.

__________________

2003 Teton Grand Freedon  2006 Mobile Suites 32TK3 SOLD     2006 Freightliner Century 120 with Detroit 14L singled, ultrashift,  hauling a 2016 Smart Passion



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1248
Date:

Congratulations! It took us 3 years to get from the decision to the road. It probably would have taken longer if my job wasn't downsized last year!

We also hope to be at the spring rally; looking forward to meeting you there!

__________________

Cheryl B. in her new RV

(well, not new any more! Full timing since 6/25/14)

2008 DRV MS 36TKBS3 (the CoW: Castle on Wheels), 2005 Ford F550 hauler (the Bull)

My blog is http://mitcheryl-rv-journey.blogspot.com/

My business: www.AZAdminSolutions.com



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 102
Date:

Welcome and good luck with your progress. We started 5 weeks ago and wish we had done it sooner.

__________________
2009 select suites 2013 3500 Silverado dually diesel


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 258
Date:

Can't wait to see you guys out here, Mike! Two years will fly by!

__________________

Jim & Diana

2007 Colorado 31 RL  5th wheel

2008 F350 Larait SRW 6.4L Diesel, crew cab, long box - PullRite Superglide 15K hitch

Follow us at:  http://www.exploRVistas.com



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 334
Date:

So exciting! There's just something about the lifestyle that begs the question - "Do you really have to wait that long?" How wonderful that you were able to cut your prep time in half, and as others have said, I wouldn't be surprised if you cut it even more.

We moved up the house sale from next Spring to last month. With escrow closing this week, we are months ahead of schedule on that big piece! No way to move up our youngest's high school graduation on June 2 so our launch date of June 5 is pretty solid We might get the rig earlier than March though......

See you at the Spring Rally!!!

Jodee

__________________

Bill and Jodee Gravel Full-timers (June, 2015)

Tessa the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

2014 Thor Tuscany XTE 34ST

2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4

http://www.ontheroadabode.blogspot.com

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 165
Date:

Mike and Robin Congrats!   You're going to find after you go to the spring rally you may move your date up even more!  We had a 4 year plan and attended the April rally this year and are now planning to head out in 2016!  It's a great feeling and certainly very exciting to prepare everything for the big day, but the forum here is extremely friendly and helpful for any questions!  Good luck and have fun planning! 



__________________

GRACIE’S GOLDEN GETAWAY
Barry and Marianne traveling with Golden Retriever Maggie
2014 Ford F-450 DRW Super Heavy Duty Lariat
2015 Solitude 305RE for full-time in 2016
Current:  Carlisle, PA



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 115
Date:

Howdy Howdy MikenRobin,

Welcome to the excitement of PREP. It seems once you start thinking about FT'ng it is in the fore thought of almost everything you do. We are possibly the only odd ducks out here. I retired one yr ago in Dec and in Sept of this yr I mentioned to the wife that we should buy an rv and get out of the NW Missouri cold winters - due to my arthritis. By the end of Sept we had purchased a used 5'vr and already had the tow veh. After some repairs and up-grade to our 1998 Alpenlite 34'er, we left our ranchette ( not yet sold) on Thanksgiving day and headed south to TX. We have been here in Beeville, TX area now for a full 8 days. What a whirl wind !

WELCOME TO THE GREATEST FEELING OF FREEDOM ! confuse biggrin



-- Edited by rocknb on Monday 8th of December 2014 12:33:18 PM



-- Edited by rocknb on Monday 8th of December 2014 12:36:42 PM



-- Edited by rocknb on Monday 8th of December 2014 12:37:43 PM

__________________

Larry & Brenda Burton + Skeeter the Toy Poodle

FT'in since Thanksgiving 2014

2006 Newmar Scottsdale 32' for sale or trade for at least

a 40' DP of same value.

 

 

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 48
Date:

Thank you all for your words of wisdom and encouragement. I tend to be more of a lurker and have absorbed quite a bit of information from this site and all those that participate. Sometimes I feel obsessed, and realize I need to take a breath, but I am determined to spend a portion of every weekend dedicated to our goal. FT starting on 11-30-2016, my 60th birthday.

OhMan... did I just say 60, all of a sudden I feel really old.

 

Mike



__________________

Mike & Robin

2013 Buddy- Chihuahua/Jack Russell

2014 Heartland Big Country 3650RL

2012 F-450 (our Fat Bottom Girl) Lariat DRW Crew Cab Long Box, Hensley BD3 Hitch

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5398
Date:

MikenRobin wrote:

Thank you all for your words of wisdom and encouragement. I tend to be more of a lurker and have absorbed quite a bit of information from this site and all those that participate. Sometimes I feel obsessed, and realize I need to take a breath, but I am determined to spend a portion of every weekend dedicated to our goal. FT starting on 11-30-2016, my 60th birthday.

OhMan... did I just say 60, all of a sudden I feel really old.

 

Mike


 The above in bold is a non-issue.  We started living full time in ours, although static in one place for extended periods of time, since 2011 when I was 65.  I'm now 68 and still happy with this lifestyle.

Terry



__________________

Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 48
Date:

I guess I have to change our signature now.

New to us 2012 F-450.

If we could we'd hit the road tomorrow.

 

 



__________________

Mike & Robin

2013 Buddy- Chihuahua/Jack Russell

2014 Heartland Big Country 3650RL

2012 F-450 (our Fat Bottom Girl) Lariat DRW Crew Cab Long Box, Hensley BD3 Hitch

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5398
Date:

That truck will definitely do it for you.  You'll love the turning radius.

Terry



__________________

Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 258
Date:

Nice truck, Mike!

__________________

Jim & Diana

2007 Colorado 31 RL  5th wheel

2008 F350 Larait SRW 6.4L Diesel, crew cab, long box - PullRite Superglide 15K hitch

Follow us at:  http://www.exploRVistas.com



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 115
Date:

WOW, makes my F-250 feel like a little Ford Ranger ... Love the Fender Swells. Fine ride Mike



-- Edited by rocknb on Saturday 3rd of January 2015 11:00:58 PM

__________________

Larry & Brenda Burton + Skeeter the Toy Poodle

FT'in since Thanksgiving 2014

2006 Newmar Scottsdale 32' for sale or trade for at least

a 40' DP of same value.

 

 

 

Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us