Is Full Timing Really a Good Plan? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Zeek · RV-Dreams Family Member

Is Full Timing Really a Good Plan?

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think you are the only one who can answer this. Fulltiming (the way we do it) is not a financially prudent thing to do if you only look at the $. We started when we were 56 & 55 (now 63 and almost 62) and it has been the greatest thing since sliced bread. We are still foggy on the exit but it has been the best thing we have ever done. Everyone is different....

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you are having doubts then this isn't for you. Put it on the back burner and let it simmer for awhile and see if it comes back to the fore - if not, you'll know it wasn't for you.

Barb

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Its a personal choice.....I read the article and I find it filled with all the negatives which are real , BUT.....you can own a million dollar home and die before retirement....maybe tomorrow!

if you take and spend all of your 300k home and your 50k pension....then if your lucky you will have social security but will it all pay the upkeep of your home & taxes.....

its all a matter of choice....

My perfect exit plan will be a prepaid funeral plan........with my ashes scattered from the rear ladder of the coach as it continues its journey!

until you answer your question.......No fulltiming is not in your immediate future,just that question on its own has many answers

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree with Barb here.

Dog Folks · RV-Dreams Family Member

Barbaraok wrote:
If you are having doubts then this isn't for you. Put it on the back burner and let it simmer for awhile and see if it comes back to the fore - if not, you'll know it wasn't for you.

Barb

The best answer is shown above. You can research this lifestyle for years , (I did) but the truth lies in what Barbaraok wrote.

-- Edited by Dog Folks on Saturday 25th of January 2014 05:42:47 PM

-- Edited by Dog Folks on Saturday 25th of January 2014 05:43:12 PM

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

How about starting small. Buy a used rig that you can do some trips in. Get the feel of 2 week trips then decide if you want to fulltime. You can always trade rigs and move up if you want.
This is definitely a "Eyes wide open" decision. If there is any doubt what so ever among either party then its not the right choice.
Do you camp at all now? Going full time living in an RV is a lifestyle choice not an investment choice.

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you're starting off with doubts, then wouldn't recommend starting out with a brand new setup that would tie up that large of a percentage of your net worth on something that will depreciate upon driving it off the lot.

Get something slightly used where a lot of the depreciation has already been taken and see if the lifestyle suits you. Then you leave open the ability to go back to stationary life without taking a big hit or getting the RV of your dreams once you know what it is based on field tested experience.

For us, we've switched up our style of travel multiple times over the past nearly 8 years - and am thankful that we've had the agility to change out setups without it impacting our bottom line too much. If we were to ever want off the road, we have the means to do so irregardless of if we sold our RV or not.

We too love our lifestyle - it's a choice of being mobile to fulfill our wanderlust and enable quality time with family & friends across the country.

If you've not come across it already, we did a video chat on the 'Realities of Full Time RVing' to help folks make better informed decisions if hitting the road is for them or not:
youtu.be/ILtIGMpcXrU

- Cherie

VanMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tom,

I agree with everything said above, especially Barb and Jim. But it's time to quote Confucius, or whoever that sage person was, that said ( or words to this effect) : 'Rather than things you have done, it will be the things you wanted to do and didn't that you will regret the most'.

Go ahead. Give it a shot. Maybe you can pull a "Lucky Mike" and get a good used rig at a killer price that you could sell in a year at a break-even price if things don't work out.

Just my meager two cents worth.

Vance

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I dont find it out here any different than owning a S&B.......

no matter what you do it is going to cost. and unless you have an unlimited resource of money no plan will work out. everything cost something and there is no way out.

I'm still on the road...I'm 54....I've always had to make a living out here by choice , have always put money away and unless it was an emergency never touched it and always put it back when I did.

no matter what your budget is, each day your out here your going to have a means to replenish it no matter what.........if you stay in an S&B you still have the same problem.

you can buy a 10 year old coach and do the same as you can in a new one......the only difference will be is probably saving 5 yrs of living expenses.......you can spend 50k on a rig , I'll spend 15 for an older one do it 3 times but will have the means to invest that 35000 in the mean time to offset the loss.

I could go thru every member of this forum and Im sure I couldnt find more than 3 of us that have better than 8 figures in the bank and investments.

fulltime RVing is just another lifestyle......its not a vacation.....it probably has some of the greatest perks available but just like an S&B it costs.

-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Saturday 25th of January 2014 07:27:03 PM

2riker2go · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wow, that really is a depressing article. These are my thoughts...is what happened in that fulltime rv story impossible? No, but as far as I'm concerned it's sure not inevitable either. The article just seemed a bit skewed toward all the worst possible things that could happen. We bought a fiver and truck we could afford, and we're hoping to have both paid off as soon as we can - truck in less than two years, fifth wheel in about five. In the meantime, we aren't comparing what we have to all the other rigs in the parks we stay at while we dream of spending twice as much on another one, so that we can fit in with some standard we feel we need to live up to. Not at all. We bought the rig we did because we loved the floorplan and setup, and it feels like home. :) Financially, we watch what we spend and work to stick to our budget so that we are living within our means. Definitely the unexpected, like illness etc, could happen at any point. But if/when that happens, we will make the decisions we need to at that point. In the meantime, we're living and loving this great life as we travel around the country.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would suggest that you continue your research and evaluate what you really want. Many of us have doubts, but until we research, put "pen to paper" and calculate the numbers, you don't know if the story depicted in that article is anywhere close to the truth. I feel like that writer has a very different view than many of us who are enjoying this life.

For us, life on the road is cheaper, we are now fully out of debt, continuing to work our jobs on the road full time and saving for an earlier retirement than we ever thought possible. We have a nest egg, we have a plan, and for us it's working right now.

We were living in a location neither of us wanted to retire in, now we're on a quest to find a place we can both agree might be a good retirement location, however, we're seriously thinking that might be 2 locations with a little travel in between each year as long as our health allows. In the meantime, until we decide to "grow up and figure out where we want to live when we grow up" we are experiencing more life and more peace on the road then we ever did in the house.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

I should have read the article before I commented earlier. Sad article and I am sure there are some who end up going bankrupt or close because they did not do their homework. But about anyone who comes here and reads everything on the website, plus follows fulltimers, should have a much better idea of what they are getting into than the composite couple used in the article. Being educated should help people realize realities, including what campgrounds are really like (do watch the video from Technomadia), striving to be debt free, there is not reason to "keep up with the Jones", etc. I do see a higher percent that are successful at fulltiming of those who get education beforehand, which makes sense.

But, if you have doubts, you need to address those doubts your own way. We had doubts, we had setbacks, but we have been on the road over 10 years and see no end in sight.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

BTW, all of you who have been on the road FT, for a while (Lucky Mike, Bill Joyce, Cherie & Chris, etc.) you folks are our inspiration!! When you hear from real people who have done this, in many different rigs, on many different budgets, etc. you realize this can be done if you do your homework and go into this with a realistic expectation.

Russ Ranger · RV-Dreams Family Member

I went and read the link in the original post by Zeke. Zeke said, "it freaked me out." The author of this 2011 article is a prolific writer on his personal blog and to understand his writing style I went to his recent blog posts to see how he viewed the world.

This 2011 blog about RV Doom and Gloom was the same as his other writings 3 years later. The author has a finely tuned pessimists view of the world. If his view of the world were applied to the vast majority of us, than we must all be fools.

There are a few good points to be gleaned from his writings but for me the majority of his points are a "the sky is falling" mentality.

I've always taken an optimists point of view. Life is good.

Zeke, look to the positives and use common sense. You'll be fine.

Zeek · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wow!! Thanks so much for all the replies in such a short order. You guys are fantastic and that's exactly what I was looking for. I realize the blog poster that did the article is a "worst case" guy so I very much appreciate all your input on the matter. I've always sort of "over-prepared" for everything and as a result, things always turned out fine and I was worrying too much.

You all are a gold mine of information!! I wish I could sit down and interview each one of you for hours . . . BUT the forum is a great replacement for that (plus some of your videos)! It's great hearing everyone's perspectives.

The Restless Youngs · RV-Dreams Family Member

I read that article early on in my research and while a perspective, don't believe it to be a good one. I think you have to approach this with a realistic financial view. Don't buy new; let someone else take the depreciation....and yes, your rig will depreciate. Accept it. Unless you win the lottery, don't buy something that is crazy expensive. I think the lifestyle is about being true to yourself, not keeping up with the neighbors...which is why I find it so appealing. If your rig works for you; don't go in debt buying something else. Basically live within your means. Regardless. Don't move from place to place spending up to $70 a night if your monthly budget for campgrounds is $500. Stop, smell the roses and take advantage of weekly or monthly rates. To me, the story is flawed....but just my opinion.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

One other perspective I'll share from a fellow artist of Dale's who is spending the winter in Quartzsite. He had a horrible year, lost his home, etc. due to financial issues. For $180 for a long term pass plus the cost of gas for his generators he is spending the winter in Q restocking, getting ready for next year's art shows. While none of us ever want to be in his shoes, his story was an inspiration to me that despite financial set backs, RV'ers are a resilient group of people who when we need to, we find a way to keep going. Yep, Howard said this at the rally we attended in 2012, I heard it at the time, but it's taken a few real life examples to "sink home" with me.

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

WOW..............Gives one something to think about.

Dog Folks · RV-Dreams Family Member

I read the article and found many errors, wrong statements and assumptions. It also has some valid points, but please don't take it as the definitive work on the lifestyle, because it certainly is not.

RonaldNC · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm with Lucky Mike on this one... Many of the financial issues brought up by the author are the same whether you own and live in a house or you own and live in a RV. The financial realities are not magically suspended by living in a RV! If you stayed in your house, didn't sell it, and lived on your $50k pension... you could still suffer many of the problems listed in the article. You could still have devastating health issues... you could still have a spouse pass away... you could still have a major repair that sets you back... you could still have bad neighbors move in next to you... you can still suffer from house depreciation (as has recently happened to me in this economy)!

Whether you live in a house or a RV... you still need to plan! It's important in either situation to be realistic (not overly pessimistic or optimistic) and to not suspend reality. You need an income that matches your life style (or vice versa) and a nest egg to take care of problems. My personal opinion is that you also need a "Plan B", in case things don't work out.

But this is just my opinion...

Good luck!

Ron

Jake62 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I read the article which has some valid financial points, primarily, an "RV is not an investment." Yep! But, the condescending nature of his blog leaves me extremely disappointed.

I also read a number of his other blog entries. To say the least, many are written expressing criticism for those who may decide to "do this or that" throughout. Although certainly some of his content is correct, his attitude in presenting his material leaves me dissatisfied as I read each blog. And his blog certainly pails in comparison to Howard's journal, which is simply more positive in every aspect.

LifeBeganInaWinnebago · RV-Dreams Family Member

I plan on retiring in about ten years. We have been using the same van f or camping over 22 years. My plan is to buy a used DP, for about 100,000 and keep the house. Will the DP be worth about 10,000 in ten years? Yep. Will it cost many thousands to maintain? Yep. Will we have health issues during that time? Odds are yes... That's my plan... Yep

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

As others have said - you have to be comfortable with your decision. Otherwise, by definition - it is a mistake. For you.

If you are realistic and mitigate expenses in smart ways - perhaps by workamping a little, etc - they you should enjoy a good "fulltiming life".

We have been on the road 14 years and would not have it any other way. Life on the road is just like in a house in some senses - you have problems with your equipment, you have boring administrative tasks, etc. But your "house" gets to move and that brings you as many opportunities as you desire.

I'd encourage used equipment. It does not have to be "old". There are great deals out there that will save substantial money. And the fact is that the majority of fulltimers trade in/sell the stuff they start with as they gain more experience and insight into what actually works for them. Obviously RV stuff is a depreciating asset, not an investment. And it should be planned like that - just as you would plan for that owning a couple of cars and living in a house.

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wow! That's one article I did not find when doing our pre-planning and I'm so glad I didn't see it. We've hit a major detour (will post our changes) and because we pre-planned as much as we could and because we're staying flexible. Agree with Jack that there are great deals available on used rigs. We just picked up one or actually on our way to get it.

Sherry

French Bikers · RV-Dreams Family Member

No matter what is your status at this present time my only answer would be " Why do I want to FT". Starting from the answer(s) you will be able to make the best plan that will suit yourself.

Think about this, I've never heard a FT saying that someone living in a SB house is crazy but I've heard the contrary very often. It is basic FT is a Life Style with the good and the bad just like your present life style in your house.

I'm not FT yet because my time should be summer of 2015, I've planned this for more than 15 years and yes I owned several houses that helped me gathering the $$$$$ to become debt free in a MH. I know that my rig will depreciate but I'm ready to take the depreciation because I want to live the life style.

Life is a journey not a destination and FT will be my next chapter and BTW my final destination is the same as your's.

You mentionned that you are scared about the exit, don't worry there is always a way out, don't think too far ahead. I suggest that you keep thinking about the reason WHY????

Good luck

Zeek · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks again for all the insight smile

I agree the article is a worst case scenario and as far has having nice rig because the neighbors do . . . couldn't care less.

I did some budget numbers today. It appears like most of you said, that if you live within your means and keep a money chunk set back for an exit if needed, things are doable. My wife and I have both been through divorces and other situations and are pretty resourceful and resilient.

My only other reservation is the limit of finding places to park a 42' trailer (the driving/backing I'm good with) if we end up with that, but I suppose that's for a different post.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yeppers, that was a pretty negative article. I'm surprised the guy is still RV'ing.

However, if you are considering the full-time prospects and want to consider used, check out different places. One that has some used DRV Suites models is Rolling Retreats out of Elk City, Oklahoma. They are a true mom and pop dealership with themselves as about the only employees. At least one, and maybe two, of the units they have in their used inventory even have trucks for towing. They have an excellent reputation with those that own DRV Suites models. Plus, they will even deliver anywhere in the 48 states.

Terry

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

I actually went and read more of his posts and then reread the highlighted one.
1. His blog title has "stingy" in it= Meaning if he has to spend any money out of his pocket, its way to expensive
2. He lives on Jekyll Island= Jekyll Island is a beautiful barrier island located in GA = not a place to be Stingy
3. No idea what a patent attorney makes but he may have to be stingy to live on Jekyll Island
4. Maybe he has a grudge against Camping World and decided this was the best way to defame them.
5. His wife won't let him..

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
Yeppers, that was a pretty negative article. I'm surprised the guy is still RV'ing.
…….
Terry

He doesn't RV, at least I couldn't find where we was doing that. He does seem to comment on the people he sees coming onto the island and how wasteful their lifestyle is and how they would be better off doing what he believes is the only way to live. In glancing at a few of his posts it is easy to see that he is against spending money on anything that might give one pleasure. Depressing doesn't begin to describe what he writes. Interesting he had a blog article about Camping World that he has had to delete, even though the link is still in his other posts.

Barb

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

French Bikers wrote:
I am an exhaustive planner as well so I totally get that :) We are currently working a 12 month plan to sell the house and be gone by the end of 2014. It's funny because I was raised to own a house, pay it off, retire and live in it. And for many people this works just fine. But at 47 I have seen person after person I know have the worst case scenario happen when following that plan. We decided for us the adventure would be worth the risk...keeping in mind I am a VERY conservative person and have spent the last 25 years raising kids and following the traditional approach (only 2 jobs in the last 21 years for example). We played out what our lives would look like and didn't want that...so I agree with French Bikers...that's where you should start. What do you want your life to look like. The money will work itself out the lifestyle is the real choice.

As a side note, or maybe not, my grandmother is 87 and in the hospital right now. She worked her whole life in a factory and raised 4 kids. She paid off her house and right after retirement my grandfather got Alzheimers and she spent the next 10 years of her life caring for him. Once he died she was sad and bitter and felt cheated because those were supposed to be their golden years. She's in the hospital now and just signed a DNR because she doesn't want to live anymore. Not because her health up to this point has been terrible but because she is tired of living. When it's my time to go, I want my life to be full and my bucket list empty. I don't want any regrets or as few as I can get away with. so for me taking this risk is way more than just a financial decision. It's about how I want to spend however much time I have left.

Dog Folks · RV-Dreams Family Member

Let's see. A Patent Attorney giving us advice about the full time RV lifestyle when he has never done it.

Certainly not the highest qualifications.

Kinda of like taking skydiving lessons from someone whom has never jumped.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Is it(cited blog) sounding a bit negative or cynical? Sure, but I’m not going to begrudge the author what makes him happy and likewise I do not have to listen if I don’t want to. It’s a free country. My point is to take such “advice” with a grain of salt. For every negative perspective there is a positive one. Don’t be swayed by any one point of view but rather listen to many views, find the truth that fits you and you alone. The blog author you cited does make some valid points, but my take is… a broken clock is right twice each day. You have received good advice here from many with way more experience than I do when it comes to this lifestyle and the financial end of it. FWIW

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Zeek wrote:
My only other reservation is the limit of finding places to park a 42' trailer (the driving/backing I'm good with) if we end up with that, but I suppose that's for a different post.

In 14 years fulltime we have had a 36' trailer (Newmar), a 38' trailer (Royals International) a 42' trailer (New Horizons) and currently a 42.5' trailer (New Horizons). Our next trailer - about to be built - will be 44 or 45'. My limit is 45'. And that is a random number. With New Horizons we could build out to 48'. And with Spacecraft or Forks RV we could build out into the 50's.

We have never found an issue getting a place to park. But we DO NOT go to the NE. You would have more of a challenge there.

IMO, once you get to 38' there is no real difference between that and 45'. You will have to look for "big rig" sites, you will have to check out parks on Google Earth, and you will not be going into small forest service campgrounds. But that was often hard with even the 36' trailer, depending on the campground. Howard and Linda have a 40' trailer, research much like we do, and they find plenty of isolated, nice places. So do we. It really is not a BIG issue, but it does require more work than having a 30' motor home.

Note that our truck is also 30' long.

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

The author is a myopic arrogant pessimist. Because this is the way I look at life and it is a compendium of the professional financial community, it is arguably the only way to perceive your life. Truth is, between him and me, we know everything there is to know. I know he's full of s**t and he knows everything else.

Most of us have one primary investment, our home. It appreciates and when we die our kids benefit. It is typical, therefore society knows how to have a conversation about it. The key word in that sentence is "most", not all. If it were "all", walmarts would be smaller, there would only be one church, one kind of car, only gel pens (I love gel pens), one kind of aspirin, we would all have swimming pools and go to the country club, and life would be boring.

Know this... buying an RV is not an investment. Nuff said. Now go live your life and be happy.

Zeek · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
Yeppers, that was a pretty negative article. I'm surprised the guy is still RV'ing.
However, if you are considering the full-time prospects and want to consider used, check out different places. One that has some used DRV Suites models is Rolling Retreats out of Elk City, Oklahoma. They are a true mom and pop dealership with themselves as about the only employees. At least one, and maybe two, of the units they have in their used inventory even have trucks for towing. They have an excellent reputation with those that own DRV Suites models. Plus, they will even deliver anywhere in the 48 states.
Terry

Wow, they do have some good deals!! Thanks for that and I'll check them out when we get closer.

Zeek · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jack Mayer wrote:
Zeek wrote:
My only other reservation is the limit of finding places to park a 42' trailer (the driving/backing I'm good with) if we end up with that, but I suppose that's for a different post.
In 14 years fulltime we have had a 36' trailer (Newmar), a 38' trailer (Royals International) a 42' trailer (New Horizons) and currently a 42.5' trailer (New Horizons). Our next trailer - about to be built - will be 44 or 45'. My limit is 45'. And that is a random number. With New Horizons we could build out to 48'. And with Spacecraft or Forks RV we could build out into the 50's.

We have never found an issue getting a place to park. But we DO NOT go to the NE. You would have more of a challenge there.
IMO, once you get to 38' there is no real difference between that and 45'. You will have to look for "big rig" sites, you will have to check out parks on Google Earth, and you will not be going into small forest service campgrounds. But that was often hard with even the 36' trailer, depending on the campground. Howard and Linda have a 40' trailer, research much like we do, and they find plenty of isolated, nice places. So do we. It really is not a BIG issue, but it does require more work than having a 30' motor home.
Note that our truck is also 30' long.

Thanks, that makes me feel better. Based on some of the rig pictures here on the forum, I see some pretty long rigs. I used drive a TTL part time years ago so I'm sure we will manage.

Thanks to everyone else too for all the opinions . . . a lot of insight here :)

-- Edited by Zeek on Monday 27th of January 2014 10:48:57 AM

Russ Ranger · RV-Dreams Family Member

MarkS,

You have called the author, "a myopic arrogant pessimist". I called him, "a finely tuned pessimist".

To avoid any arguments or confusion, I propose that he be referred to as, "a finely tuned myopic arrogant pessimist".

I'm a pencil kind of a guy and I'm pretty sure that is the correct and only way to be.

Can't we all just get along. :)

-- Edited by Russ Ranger on Monday 27th of January 2014 12:15:08 PM

-- Edited by Russ Ranger on Monday 27th of January 2014 12:20:01 PM

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Russ Ranger wrote:
MarkS,

To avoid any arguments or confusion, I propose that he be referred to as, "a finely tuned myopic arrogant pessimist".
-- Edited by Russ Ranger on Monday 27th of January 2014 12:15:08 PM

-- Edited by Russ Ranger on Monday 27th of January 2014 12:20:01 PM

Where is the "like" button!

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

MarkS,

You made me laugh (again!).

Sherry

azrving · RV-Dreams Family Member

Zeek wrote:

I read this article http://livingstingy.blogspot.com/2011/03/full-time-rving.html and it freaked me out a little

The livingstingy guy's blog is full of malarkey, blather, baloney, hooey, rubbish, & drivel...LOL

I have lost $120,000 on my S&B so don't tell me a home is now or ever will be an appreciating asset. We have always dumped the bulk of our money into our home and we in the end we lost at least 1/3 of our investment. When you factor in the property tax, mortgage interest, private mortgage insurance, new HVAC, plumbing repairs, new roofs, water, sewer, electricity, storm damage, insurance, painting, yard maintenance, bad neighbors, carpet, cleaning gutters, hours of my life wasted on menial task around the house, etc.

Owning a home is not what it used to be!

My travel trailer has been used a lot; we have camped from the east coast to northern AZ and never had any serious issues or expenses. Our travel trailer is what I would consider an entry level unit; we purchased it to make quick weekend getaways and didn't want to sink a ton of dough into a trailer we would use occasionally. As it turns out we have used it a lot more than we intended to, we have camped for weeks at a time (4 kids, two adults, & 3 dogs) and I lived in it for 6 months while we were moving. It has been in the snow, torrential rain on the east coast (Myrtle Beach), all over SC, NC, NM, & AZ and never a minute's trouble. I have made a few modifications/upgrades (Max Air Vents, Digital Thermostat, etc.) but never had any serious/expensive issues. In 12 years I have replaced one regulator, re-packed the wheel bearings twice, replaced tires once (first set lasted 10 years), this past summer I re-coated the entire roof, replaced the washers/seals in the kitchen faucet, and that's about it. I bet I haven't spent more than $1,000 in maintenance on the TT, now the laundry list of S&B over the past 12 years would be a lot higher.

Anyone that tells you living in an RV full time is just as or more expensive than a home isn't doing it right.

Home Insurance: $942.00 per year

RV Insurance (replacement cost w/contents) $110.00 per year

Home Electric: $135.00 avg. per month

RV Electric: Usually included with lot rent or we use the generator.

Home Natural Gas: $100.00 avg. per month

RV Propane: in 12 years of ownership we have filled the tanks two times; we use a ceramic heater to heat the entire trailer.

Water/Sewer Bill: $45.00 per month avg.

RV Water/Sewer: We either bring water it or it's included in the lot rent. We have never paid a sewer dump fee...yet. wink

Home New Roof: $14,000 (lowest estimate)

RV Complete roof re-coating: $350.00 did the work myself and took two afternoons.

Home Re-painting: $8000.00 (lowest estimate to have it done) $1500.00 to do it myself

RV Re-painting: N/A its aluminum and still looks great. We just wash and wax.

Home Property Tax: AZ $1250.00 per year

RV Property Tax: AZ $55.00 per year

Home: Grass to mow, gutters to clean, irrigation to maintain, lot of windows to clean, 2300 sq.ft. of carpet to clean, dusting, weeding, leaves to rake, trees to prune, etc.

RV: no yard to maintain and very little sq. footage to clean and maintain. Don't like the neighbors or the view...move!

We also tend to spend less on food when we are in the RV because there's less storage & room in the refrigerator. Less dishes to wash because we use paper plates. More time spent doing what we want to do instead of what we have to do. Owning S&B is much more expensive and time consuming.

Just my opinion!!!

-- Edited by azrving on Monday 27th of January 2014 04:04:36 PM

Clay L · RV-Dreams Family Member

The guy that has that blog is very very negative about the full timing lifestyle and in many cases but not all, he is dead on.

I have friends in the group that spent too much and folded a past loan in on the new motor home. They will end up having the motor home repossessed at some point and have to live in assisted living or in a couple of rooms in a family members rented duplex.

He doesn't mention the folks that take a different approach to full timing.
We paid cash for our first motor home, sold the house and put the money away Then after a year on the road we decided to become full timers and although we would have loved to have bought a 40 foot diesel pusher we settled for a new 36 foot gasser we could pay cash for. The 1st motor home was traded in on the new one and the money we had in the two was about $106,000 total.

Our motor home is now going for $30,000 to $36,000. That leaves at worst 106000 - 30000 = $70,000 that we have spent in 11 years of full timing. Other than the normal living expenses of course. 70000/11 = $6400 per year spent on a depreciating asset.
The taxes on our home were over $10,000 per year. The value of the home we sold has increased over the years but not as much as the $110,000 (at least that much because taxes have gone up) we would have spent on taxes if we kept it.

We have used part of the house sale money (which appreciated quite a bit in 11 years due to interest) to buy a home in CO and have become snow birds. Taking everything into account I think overall we did okay money wise .

We are happy that we spent what we did to full time for 11 years. It was a great life style that the blog guy hasn't lived and so can't appreciate.

VanMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:

One that has some used DRV Suites models is Rolling Retreats out of Elk City, Oklahoma. They are a true mom and pop dealership with themselves as about the only employees. At least one, and maybe two, of the units they have in their used inventory even have trucks for towing. They have an excellent reputation with those that own DRV Suites models.
Terry

And thank you, Terry, for recommending them. Notice my new sig line. Yup, they have one less MS in inventory.

Vance

Camper_Boy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey Zeek,

Just reading all posts and you are getting great advice. I to did a lot of research on full timing and ended up with a toy hauler. We have been on the road for 1.5 years and love every minute. You alone are the master of your destiny to decide if this lifestyle is right. You address which RV is suited to your needs. We will downsize to a different RV later this year when our boys go off to college. If you want a quality RV, I believe Newmar, MS, Winnebago are good choices. Check out our blog and feel free to PM us.

Good luck in your search.

Zeek · RV-Dreams Family Member

Camper_Boy wrote:
Hey Zeek,

Just reading all posts and you are getting great advice. I to did a lot of research on full timing and ended up with a toy hauler. We have been on the road for 1.5 years and love every minute. You alone are the master of your destiny to decide if this lifestyle is right. You address which RV is suited to your needs. We will downsize to a different RV later this year when our boys go off to college. If you want a quality RV, I believe Newmar, MS, Winnebago are good choices. Check out our blog and feel free to PM us.

Good luck in your search.

Thanks, I have been reading a lot of blogs, but particularly some of the TH owners. Very informative.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Actually reading Howard's, http://www.rv-dreams.com/financial-considerations.html , is probably a good idea right now.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

I did not address the statements in the "blog" quoted. And I don't feel compelled to do so. Readers of that who do due diligence will find their own answers. I will, however, express my opinion about RVing, and that includes fulltiming.

RVing should be done on discretionary income. Discretionary income - IN MY OPINION - is money left over after ALL your debts and bills are paid - IN FULL. In other words, money that is all yours. If you owe people, for any reason, then any money you have is NOT TOTALLY YOURS.

That said, there are people that choose to live in RVs instead of conventional housing that do have debt. That just makes it harder on them. But the same would be true of fixed dwellings. People with debt have a harder path in life. And there is no reason to have debt, unless you had health issues that required it. Again, this is MY opinion, and others will strongly disagree.

If one has a lot of debt, one needs to work on THAT, before working on an RV. My opinion only.

-- Edited by Jack Mayer on Tuesday 28th of January 2014 03:13:16 PM

Dog Folks · RV-Dreams Family Member

I am not the brightest bulb in the box, otherwise, I would be rich. However:

1. You cannot touch, feel or put deprecation into or take it out of your wallet. It is a figure on paper. I have purchased the last vehicles and RV I ever will in this life. What do I care what it is worth, as long as it is functional.

2. Net worth, with or without deprecation, is not transferable to the grave.

3. My doc said I would live 10 years longer with this lifestyle. What is another 10 years of life on this earth worth?

This is my choice. You may have an opposite view, but neither is "wrong."

Overall, being debt free is a major advantage when entering this lifestyle. Best advice I ever took.

azrving · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jack Mayer wrote:
I did not address the statements in the "blog" quoted. And I don't feel compelled to do so. Readers of that who do due diligence will find their own answers. I will, however, express my opinion about RVing, and that includes fulltiming.

RVing should be done on discretionary income. Discretionary income - IN MY OPINION - is money left over after ALL your debts and bills are paid - IN FULL. In other words, money that is all yours. If you owe people, for any reason, then any money you have is NOT TOTALLY YOURS.

That said, there are people that choose to live in RVs instead of conventional housing that do have debt. That just makes it harder on them. But the same would be true of fixed dwellings. People with debt have a harder path in life. And there is no reason to have debt, unless you had health issues that required it. Again, this is MY opinion, and others will strongly disagree.

If one has a lot of debt, one needs to work on THAT, before working on an RV. My opinion only.

-- Edited by Jack Mayer on Tuesday 28th of January 2014 03:13:16 PM

Amen! They can't take your RV away from you if it's paid for. When we hit the road all of our debts will be paid off, the house is the only thing we still owe money on and we hope to rid ourselves of that bill in March. The money from the sale of our home will be tucked away and we will not touch it until we are ready to come off the road. We should have a nice RV budget from the sale of our antiques, six vehicles, quads, boat, trailers, tools, etc. My wife is trying to sell some of her commercial property back east and if that goes through we may pay off the mortgage, keep the house and let our son live there as long as he maintains the utilities, upkeep, etc.

"If one has a lot of debt, one needs to work on THAT, before working on an RV. My opinion only." I wouldn't even consider full time unless our RV & tow vehicle were 100% paid for.

However, if we were still working and bringing in a paycheck, I wouldn't be as concerned with the "No Debt" rule. As Terry stated " In the case of some people, they may find that the debt owed on an RV may be less than what it would be on a regular home. Some of those mortgage payments get out of hand."

Some people may be trying to escape the outrageous fees, taxes, insurance, payments, etc. that come with home ownership/financing and not looking to be debt free just lower their expenses.

Since we aren't old enough to draw Social Security and don't want to be tied down to an 8-5 job, we will need to be debt free. Everyone's needs/wants are different.

-- Edited by azrving on Tuesday 28th of January 2014 07:26:22 PM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

The issue of whether one should be able to outright buy their RV is dependent upon various issues. In the case of some people, they may find that the debt owed on an RV may be less than what it would be on a regular home. Some of those mortgage payments get out of hand.

Terry