What Am I Thinking? Howdy Ya'll! - RV-Dreams Community Forum

WhatWasIThinking · RV-Dreams Community Member

What Am I Thinking? Howdy Ya'll!

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome Chad.

You have really come to a good place for part of your research. I recommend you go to Howard and Linda's link to Workkamping for your information on using that for an income. If you have read any of their pre-planning journals and all, you will know that they started full time about the time that Howard was 45 years old. So, it isn't completely out of the realm of an idea.

Also, look at their Financial data (also linked) to see somewhat of what it takes to live the lifestyle. While they went the route of a fifth wheel instead of a motorhome, they still have a lot of information that you can glean.

Also, look at the "Site Map" link to find a lot of information, listed by title of articles that Howard and Linda have written.

I went back to the beginning of their pre-planning journals as well as all of the journals that they have written as a means of research. There are lots of little nuggets of information that has been written that is helpful. Howard is an honest individual when he writes and willingly writes about his mistakes as well.

In addition, there are a lot of knowledgeable people that frequent the forums and also comment at the bottom of Howard's journal entries. Even those comments can contain information that is helpful.

Jo and I have our house up for sale and when it sells, we are planning on buying a luxury fifth wheel and Ford F450 to pull it. We will still have a few years here in Oklahoma City before we retire, but once we retire, we will hit the road full time as well.

Do a lot of research on the vintage motorhomes, keeping in mind their need for more frequent maintenance.

Good luck and have fun.

Terry

Colorado_Kid · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome to the forum. you will find the people here are very knowledgble and helpful.

I know national parks have places for RVs like Yellowstone and Death Valley. I will be full timing next year and plan on working at different parks in my RV.

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherri and I have lived in our RV for 4 years now and just started traveling. I worked in Dallas all those years while living in my RV and loved it. You don't have to move off someplace to fulltime and yes you can make it fulltiming but you don't need to have a lot of debt. Good luck to you and let us know how everything goes...we are here for you.

WhatWasIThinking · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the good advice and kind words folks.

Speed- I am indeed almost entirely free of debt. I plan on living in the RV fulltime locally for the first year to eleminate what little debt I have left.

It also looks like I will be able to put away a nice rainy day fund as well. Which, for me, is important.

After that I am looking at just living a nice rubber tramp lifestyle.

I've been doing a LOT of research the last few weeks and it looks like, for me, the best plan of attack is to buy a vintage, roadworthy, motorhome and fix up the inside as I go.

I was having a talk with a good friend just now and he made the observation that compared to the lifestyle I've had for the past 16 years in a tractor trailer that living in an RV is a step up. LOL

My next question is have any of you purchased an antique/vintage motorhome and what advice can you give on such a purchase?

Again, thanks folks!!!

Chad

PattiRon · RV-Dreams Family Member

According to today's forum members' birthday schedule, 31% of RVers are 45 or less.

One answer you are looking for is at gypseyjournal.net/busconversion_page_1.htm

That rig is now for sale for about $35,000. Contact the folks at gypseyjournal.net

That is not me. I am not advertising. Simply providing you with options. Ron

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

I believe the correct link tothegypsyjournal is http://www.gypsyjournal.net/bus_conversion_page_1.htm

WhatWasIThinking · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the info! While I'm not looking to buy a $35,000 bus conversion that does get the juices flowing thinking about doing a bus conversion!

In fact, there are some locals here with some old busses for sale...

Hmmm...

pierreandcolleen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome Chad!
I'm in my mid 30's and my hubby is in his late 40's. We took 15 months to travel the country and had a blast. We met some other couples along the way doing a similar trip. We just moved out of the RV and, although I love having the extra space and the feeling of being more settled, I miss the freedom that fulltiming gives. It is a great lifestyle!

Happy travels!
Colleen

princess tonya · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey Chad!!!

My husband and I are both 26. We are still in our S&B house now, but will be closing on it and on to full timing in an RV in 3 weeks. So no, you're not too young to do this.

We're buying a fifth wheel to live in, but if we didn't have the kids we would be getting a motorhome. We're not traveling in it really, my hubby is in the Air Force so we are stuck in one spot, but when we do go on leave it will be great to just hook up the house and go. :)

DagoRanch · RV-Dreams Family Member

princess tonya wrote:

Hey Chad!!!

My husband and I are both 26. We are still in our S&B house now, but will be closing on it and on to full timing in an RV in 3 weeks. So no, you're not too young to do this.

We're buying a fifth wheel to live in, but if we didn't have the kids we would be getting a motorhome. We're not traveling in it really, my hubby is in the Air Force so we are stuck in one spot, but when we do go on leave it will be great to just hook up the house and go. :)

Tonya, I think what you're doing is sooo smart. It makes me wish I would have thought of this lifestyle sooner when I was in the Navy for 13 years.

Instead I went the sticks -n- bricks route, and when it was time for me to go I was stuck with a pile of sticks I couldn't give away if I tried (Volatile SoCal Housing market)

Kudos to you and your hubby for thinking outside the box while serving our country.