I've been lurking around here enjoying the forums and have finally decided to stop being shy and say hello. I've been daydreaming about full-time Rving for years, but after some big life changes, I decided, "why not go ahead and get started now"? At 34 I've decided that the rat race is not for me, so the house is going on the market and I've purchased a 2008 Forest River Rockwood Signature Ultralight 8314ss (got an amazing deal).
I currently work as a consultant Petroleum Geologist but I plan on taking advantage of the many opportunities available each summer for geologists to work at national parks doing field work and education. The pay and stipend would be more than enough to live on and I intend to have enough savings to be able to take breaks and play.
It's pretty wild getting into the phase of getting rid of everything, and I've been surprised how easy it is. I'm actually enjoying "shedding" and seeing how much money I can make towards a better tow vehicle. My plan is to be out of the house by January and move the trailer to a beautiful RV park in nearby Rockport, Texas. There I will remain for a good 6-8 months while I get my ducks in a row (get adjusted to trailer life, trade in my 2008 Nissan Xterra for a beefier TV, save money, etc).. Speaking of TV, I'm leaning towards a 2007ish F250 Deisel Super Duty 4x4 (not a dually)... Opinions welcome!
I'm so excited about this life change, and thrilled to meet you all. Hopefully I'll be running into you folks on the road and we can share a cup of coffee or a beer sometime.
Cheers, Heather
Jim01 said
06:00 AM Nov 24, 2009
Hi Heather,
Welcome to the forum. Glad you decided to join in. Sounds like you've got a good plan to get you into the full-timing lifestyle.
Be sure to ask if you have questions. I'm sure someone will have the answers.
Jim
TxYellowRose said
08:29 AM Nov 24, 2009
Hiya Heather,
Welcome to the community! You've found a wonderful bunch of folks who are friendly, fun and very helpful (and patient!). I'm a wannabe full-timer, now a part-timer with a 26' TT. Oh yeah, and sister Texan! We're in the Austin area.
DH and I have been down to Rockport (I spent many summers in a trailer there as a kid - Fulton Mansion used to have a trailer park around it!) and really liked it; however, next time we go we'll be looking for a different RV park. Weren't thrilled with where we stayed last time. Would be interested to know where you'll be staying and what you think of the place if you don't mind sharing.
Regarding the truck, we have a 2008 Ford F-350 diesel 4x4 crew cab long bed, not a dually. On retrospect, if I were going to be solely full-timing, I'd probably get the same truck but in a dually. A little beefier than an F-250, more stability with a dually and the ability to tow more weight. We are a bit limited in our search for a 5er due to weight constraints.
Just my two cents.... But I do love my truck!
Happy trails, Betty
-- Edited by TxYellowRose on Tuesday 24th of November 2009 08:34:44 AM
Kerri said
10:29 AM Nov 24, 2009
Hi Heather! Oh you are so close to your FTing dream and I am so jealous!! Although it will be tons of work, I am actually looking forward to the downsizing of "stuff" - it will be so freeing. And like you said, knowing that you are making a little money toward something that will contribute to your new lifestyle gives you even more incentive! Your work sounds fascinating, and it is wonderful how you will be able to combine it with your new lifestyle. It is so great that folks of all ages are seeing what a wonderful opportunity this lifestyle is, and with the awesome people on this forum, it makes it so much easier for us "newbies"! I am so glad that we have all these experienced FTers blazing the trail for us... Hope to see you down the road...
Kerri in Alabama
Terry and Jo said
10:56 AM Nov 24, 2009
Heather,
First of all, welcome to the forums and to the RV lifestyle. As for Jo and I, we have been camping for decades, but are now planning for fulltime.
In regards to the 2007 F250 4X4, from what I can see looking at a 2008 Ford brochure and Forest River's latest informaton on the trailer, it looks like the truck will work for you. However, keep in mind your truck's GVWR with the trailer hooked up (find out the tongue weight) and whatever you would have in the back of the truck.
Also, since you are dealing with a travel trailer instead of a fifth wheel, make sure you have equalization bars AND an anti-sway device. Otherwise, you may find the "rig" a little unstable in the winds that you encounter.
Good luck in your search for a vehicle and feel free to ask questions. There is a wealth of knowledge in the people that frequent the RV Dreams forums.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Tuesday 24th of November 2009 10:57:30 AM
azrving said
02:28 PM Nov 25, 2009
A big welcome from a fellow redneck!
bubbadan said
03:47 PM Nov 25, 2009
Hey I too am a Texan and a full timer want a b. Welcome to the greatest group of people on any Forum. I took a look at your profile and your birthday is the same day as my youngest daughter and she is top of the line so you got to be ok with all that going for you. Have a great time and enjoy this great group of people. Good luck with sell all your stuff and getting into your trailer, keep us posted on how it is going.
Heather said
10:44 AM Nov 29, 2009
Thank you all so very much for the warm welcome and all the great info! What a great community you have here!
TxYellowRose, the Rockport that I've been eying is Enchanted Oaks. It's lovely, quiet and cheap. If you google it you'll find some gleaming reviews from other Rvers. I spoke with the gentleman who runs it and he told me that most of the residents are full-timers.
I'm up visiting my folks in McBride, OK (Lake Texoma) and they have offered me 6 lovely wooded acres to set up a homestead. I may stay a TX resident (no state income tax) and hang out here for the 6-8 months while I save money and spend time with the family before I hit the road. Then I always have a place to come and hunker down if I get road weary.
It's a pleasure to meet each and every one of you, and thank you again for the lovely welcome and great advice. From your replies it looks like I have made a good choice of TV, which is encouraging.
Wishing you happy holidays! Heather
Speedhitch said
11:06 AM Dec 1, 2009
Well it is so nice to see another new family member. Hope you stay in touch with all of us and keep us updated on your quest for fulltiming. Sherri and I hope to see you out there...
Somewhere in Time
Denise said
11:41 AM Dec 2, 2009
Great to hear from another Texan! Your plan sounds great! I wish I would have thought to do that at your age. Good Luck and drive safe.
I've been lurking around here enjoying the forums and have finally decided to stop being shy and say hello. I've been daydreaming about full-time Rving for years, but after some big life changes, I decided, "why not go ahead and get started now"? At 34 I've decided that the rat race is not for me, so the house is going on the market and I've purchased a 2008 Forest River Rockwood Signature Ultralight 8314ss (got an amazing deal).
I currently work as a consultant Petroleum Geologist but I plan on taking advantage of the many opportunities available each summer for geologists to work at national parks doing field work and education. The pay and stipend would be more than enough to live on and I intend to have enough savings to be able to take breaks and play.
It's pretty wild getting into the phase of getting rid of everything, and I've been surprised how easy it is. I'm actually enjoying "shedding" and seeing how much money I can make towards a better tow vehicle. My plan is to be out of the house by January and move the trailer to a beautiful RV park in nearby Rockport, Texas. There I will remain for a good 6-8 months while I get my ducks in a row (get adjusted to trailer life, trade in my 2008 Nissan Xterra for a beefier TV, save money, etc).. Speaking of TV, I'm leaning towards a 2007ish F250 Deisel Super Duty 4x4 (not a dually)... Opinions welcome!
I'm so excited about this life change, and thrilled to meet you all. Hopefully I'll be running into you folks on the road and we can share a cup of coffee or a beer sometime.
Cheers,
Heather
Welcome to the forum. Glad you decided to join in. Sounds like you've got a good plan to get you into the full-timing lifestyle.
Be sure to ask if you have questions. I'm sure someone will have the answers.
Jim
Hiya Heather,
Welcome to the community! You've found a wonderful bunch of folks who are friendly, fun and very helpful (and patient!). I'm a wannabe full-timer, now a part-timer with a 26' TT. Oh yeah, and sister Texan! We're in the Austin area.
DH and I have been down to Rockport (I spent many summers in a trailer there as a kid - Fulton Mansion used to have a trailer park around it!) and really liked it; however, next time we go we'll be looking for a different RV park. Weren't thrilled with where we stayed last time. Would be interested to know where you'll be staying and what you think of the place if you don't mind sharing.
Regarding the truck, we have a 2008 Ford F-350 diesel 4x4 crew cab long bed, not a dually. On retrospect, if I were going to be solely full-timing, I'd probably get the same truck but in a dually. A little beefier than an F-250, more stability with a dually and the ability to tow more weight. We are a bit limited in our search for a 5er due to weight constraints.
Just my two cents.... But I do love my truck!
Happy trails,
Betty
-- Edited by TxYellowRose on Tuesday 24th of November 2009 08:34:44 AM
Your work sounds fascinating, and it is wonderful how you will be able to combine it with your new lifestyle. It is so great that folks of all ages are seeing what a wonderful opportunity this lifestyle is, and with the awesome people on this forum, it makes it so much easier for us "newbies"! I am so glad that we have all these experienced FTers blazing the trail for us...
Hope to see you down the road...
Kerri in Alabama
Heather,
First of all, welcome to the forums and to the RV lifestyle. As for Jo and I, we have been camping for decades, but are now planning for fulltime.
In regards to the 2007 F250 4X4, from what I can see looking at a 2008 Ford brochure and Forest River's latest informaton on the trailer, it looks like the truck will work for you. However, keep in mind your truck's GVWR with the trailer hooked up (find out the tongue weight) and whatever you would have in the back of the truck.
Also, since you are dealing with a travel trailer instead of a fifth wheel, make sure you have equalization bars AND an anti-sway device. Otherwise, you may find the "rig" a little unstable in the winds that you encounter.
Good luck in your search for a vehicle and feel free to ask questions. There is a wealth of knowledge in the people that frequent the RV Dreams forums.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Tuesday 24th of November 2009 10:57:30 AM
A big welcome from a fellow redneck!
I too am a Texan and a full timer want a b. Welcome to the greatest group of people on any Forum.
I took a look at your profile and your birthday is the same day as my youngest daughter and she is top of the line so you got to be ok with all that going for you.
Have a great time and enjoy this great group of people.
Good luck with sell all your stuff and getting into your trailer, keep us posted on how it is going.
TxYellowRose, the Rockport that I've been eying is Enchanted Oaks. It's lovely, quiet and cheap. If you google it you'll find some gleaming reviews from other Rvers. I spoke with the gentleman who runs it and he told me that most of the residents are full-timers.
I'm up visiting my folks in McBride, OK (Lake Texoma) and they have offered me 6 lovely wooded acres to set up a homestead. I may stay a TX resident (no state income tax) and hang out here for the 6-8 months while I save money and spend time with the family before I hit the road. Then I always have a place to come and hunker down if I get road weary.
It's a pleasure to meet each and every one of you, and thank you again for the lovely welcome and great advice. From your replies it looks like I have made a good choice of TV, which is encouraging.
Wishing you happy holidays!
Heather
I wish I would have thought to do that at your age. Good Luck and drive safe.