Newbies - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Newbies

Steve and Kate · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are new to the world of RVing and this site. We start our adventure in the next 60 days and can't wait. We have a 38' Keystone Cougar 5th Wheel and 3/4 ton Chevy Silverado and enjoyed the process of making our selections. We'd like to hear from those who have or will be living as we will be. We aren't full timers (yet) but will live 6 months of the year in an Aspen Meadow at 9,300' altitude. We will have no phone service, (unless the sateliite phone works there), no electricity or water hook ups. We will have a generator and solar panels and our land will have a septic system to dump in an water storage tanks. Water is brought in from the nearest town about an hours drive. This area is unaccesable in winter so we will move on come late fall and head to warmer areas or back to native Kansas. Your posts have all been great in providing information. Steve and Kate

Steve and Kate · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for some suggestions. We will definitely look into the ham radio. Emergency contact with the outside world is my one concern. There is cell phone coverage but you have to drop down about 2,000' before it is available. We did not have a satellite phone when we were on the property so don't know how or if that will work. High altitude living has some drawbacks, but the beauty of nature more than makes up for it.

Can we call ourselves "boondockers"? I thought that term only applied if you were living without any services and we are fortunate enough to have a septic system put in on our land, and although the water isn't easy access, we will have a solar pump to fill the RV tanks from a water storage tank. We will also have a generator if needed.

Neat trick to learn about the TV. Our RV comes equipped with one but not something we will be using. Nice to know though.

The land we purchased is a natural state which we don't plan on changing or disrupting. There is a lot of wildlife that passes through the acreage and we don't want to discourage that. The solar lights are a great idea for outdoor use in the area around the RV as we travel with our dog and she will need to go for a walk before bed. During the daytime there are miles of trails to take her on walks and explore, but nighttime we'd better stick close to home. I enjoy watching the wildlife, but prefer not to do it face to face in the dark!

We haven't found much support for our idea from friends and family and find comfort in reading about all of you who have taken on this lifestyle. Thank you for responding. Kate

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

That sounds like a great place! Friends and family can be a picky bunch to deal with. Some will think your crazy, others will say it sounds good (with a look on their face thats says "OMG they've completely lost it"). My only thought would be staying in contact during fire season. Knowing how fast they (Fire) can move, staying alert would be important. And I agree about not wandering to far at night. The other side is that your nite vision will be greatly improved without all the backlight clutter. You'll see all kinds of nocturnal creatures once you settle in and your suroundings become accustomed to you

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Kate and Steve,

Welcome to the RV Dreams forums. You've also managed to pique my curiosity with your description of your summer home and the reference to "Aspen Ridge" in your signature. Would you, by chance, be referring to any particular place in Colorado? Like, north of Salida?

For years, Jo and I have camped (prior to getting our more luxurious RV) in the San Isabel National Forest, but much further south.

Feel free to ask any questions that come to mind, and you'll find a number of folks here that can likely give you some answers.

Terry

KellyVA · RV-Dreams Family Member

Steve and Kate,

I can't wait to hear more about your adventure! I hope you will keep us posted.

Steve and Kate · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry: Our Aspen Ridge is in Southern Utah, just north of Zion National Park. Our small piece of land overlooks the northern edge of Zion and at 9,256 feet we have quiet a view. Fall of course is the most spectacular time with the changing of the leaves. An added bonus is that our land is adjacent to the summer sheep meadow and in October there is the annual sheep roundup and drive down the mountain to move the sheep to winter pasture. Quite a site to see 1,000's of sheep being moved "cowboy" style. Kate

Steve and Kate · RV-Dreams Family Member

Fire is a concern and the reason we aren't building the dream cabin we hoped to. Unfortunately due to severe drought conditions and prevalence of wildfires it is impossible to get insurance or at least cost restrictive. That is why we checked into the RV lifestyle and I think we really will like it better. Anxious to get started on the new adventure. We are going to check into that Ham Radio that was mentioned-but does anyone have knowledge of how well a satalite phone works in mountainous areas. Our previous vehicle had On Star which worked well until we got into canyons. No one seems to have cell phone coverage on our mountain and the favorite saying of all in the area is that they are unavailable "up the mountain". Having served as an elected official for the last 6 years I can hardly wait to say that too--I'm Up the Mountain!

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Steve andKate, sounds like a fabulous, beautiful place. Check out Technomedia on this forum, they may be able to answer your questions about communication.

Enjoy!

Sherry

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Satellite phones work anywhere you have a view of the sky. They are cost prohibitive except for emergencies, up to $1.50 a minute. You can rent the phones which saves on the initial cost. You should have no problem with service. It operates off of a constellation of orbiting satellites so you don't have to have a clear view of the southern sky like you do with TV. TV operates off of geo-synchronous satellites that are always in the same place.

Really sounds like a peaceful place to spend the summer. If you get stuck there and can't get out at the end of the year, Mike is well versed at snow shovel operation.