Greetings to all from a would-be future RV-er (advices and suggestions needed!) - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Leliko · RV-Dreams Community Member

Greetings to all from a would-be future RV-er (advices and suggestions needed!)

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

So far you have made the right choice by reading through the information contained on RV-DREAMS.com. You may want to rethink the financing of an RV. It would be better if you can pay cash for one, maybe look at well kept older models to begin your adventure. That way if you decide this lifestyle isn't working you won't have a loan to get rid of along with the RV.

Howard the creator of this website as well as some of the other RVers on this and other RV websites use the techniques and tips provided by a great financial advisor and radio talk show host, Dave Ramsey. If you haven't already you should go on his website and order his books or attend his Financial Planning Seminars. His techniques will help you realize your goals.

Good luck on this new journey....

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome from fellow professional Gen-X RVers :) We've been on the road for nearly 8 years now, working remotely from the road doing software development, consulting and more.

And there's lots of us out here doing it of a variety of ages :)

Here's some resources for you that you might find helpful on your journey to the road:

Our Ramblings Video Interview series with a variety of working on the road nomads: www.technomadia.com/ramblings

Links to dozens of other working on the road RVers: www.technomadia.com/links

And.. since you mentioned needing good mobile internet, here's our resource center that overviews the topic, including our video chat and our book on the subject: www.technomadia.com/internet

And, as it sounds like you'll be traveling with your daughter, check out www.familiesontheroad.com and www.fulltimefamilies.com .

From there.. you'll find tons of resources :)

For your RV, I'd recommend looking at as many models in person as you can to see what will really work best for you and your family. I highly advise not going new and financing if you can avoid it. It can be common that after a year or two on the road, you find what you thought would work for you doesn't, and you need to switch it up. If you finance new, you'll quickly be upside down in your loan - making it difficult to trade to a different RV (or, sell the RV).

Best wishes in your journey to the road.. and welcome to the community!

- Cherie

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome to the site!
Research is the key, and as said above get in as many models you can. You do need to look behind the gloss and fufu stuff to see how well the rig is built. Also its much better to buy a 5'er first then buy the truck to tow it. If you look at slightly used models you can move up in quality for the money.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lela,

First of all, welcome to the RV Dreams forums. You had definitely found a good source for information about RV's and the RV lifestyle. The folks here have an amazing amount of knowledge to share.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. The only "dumb" question is the one that doesn't get asked and one makes an expensive mistake. Even old questions when asked by new people tend to give a new perspective on the topic. Also, in the blue bar above the forums, there is a "search" function. That can be a very helpful resource. Also, go to the website's home page and use the "Site Map" link to find a LOT of information about everything from systems on the RV's and even Howard and Linda's financial information.

Lots to learn here, so have fun looking.

Terry

Leliko · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you all for all your wonderful suggestions! My husband already opened and started exploring internet options for our RV traveling, whenever that will happen.

Speaking of which, we went to a nearby RV show. It was our first ever time to enter RVs and explore from inside! I have decided to buy a fifth wheel and didn't even bother to look at TTs, however after browsing all 5th wheels I was disappointed not to have found one that would have it all... For those of you, who suggest not to buy new, that might not be solution for us at all. We might need to order a custom-built RV that would answer (almost) all our needs. The first and foremost is a separate room for our daughter which I think I've found online in Open Range 413RLL model. There is no other comparable model to that... and that costs a lot of money...

I'm browsing all these posts and imagining myself on the road with my family. It's heartbreaking when you know where you want to be and how you want to be living but you can't (yet) do that. On the other hand, it's also invigorating to know where you want to be and how you want to be living. I hope we will plan is very seriously and hit the road in 2015.

I will be posting in other parts of this wonderful forum to get your suggestions.

Happy camping!

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

Start looking for bunk house models. Heartland makes several different model lines with the bunkhouse available. This gives your daughter private space and gives you a separate bedroom as well. Another option is Toy Haulers. The rear area can make a nice bedroom or play/work area away from the main living. Happy hunting!

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

The Bear II wrote:
So far you have made the right choice by reading through the information contained on RV-DREAMS.com. You may want to rethink the financing of an RV. It would be better if you can pay cash for one, maybe look at well kept older models to begin your adventure. That way if you decide this lifestyle isn't working you won't have a loan to get rid of along with the RV.

Howard the creator of this website as well as some of the other RVers on this and other RV websites use the techniques and tips provided by a great financial advisor and radio talk show host, Dave Ramsey. If you haven't already you should go on his website and order his books or attend his Financial Planning Seminars. His techniques will help you realize your goals.

Good luck on this new journey....

Absolutely agree. Get a handle on the financial picture, figure a budget and stick to it. Easier to buy what you want when you know whats available to buy it with. Mortgage is a French word, which literally means "death deed". That should tell you something. Avoid debt, especially on a depreciating asset.

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Leliko,

I'm joining the others in welcoming you to this forum. You'll find so much information here. I'm so glad Bear II and biggaRView pointed out some of the financial aspects with being debt free. When I first read your post, your comment about no savings concerned me. I don't want to rain on your parade but in my opinion it would be best if either or both you and your husband could retain your employment. There are very few if any workamping jobs that could pay enough to replace your salaries.

Your excitement for this lifestyle is palatable which we all share but if I might suggest slowing down a little and enjoying the research time and the fun of looking for rigs and dreaming about this lifestyle. You may find your list of what you must have changes. Many of us go thru several models until we find the one! Others with good savings/income and a lot of experience on the road do custom build a unit but we ALL make some compromises. Additionally, we have found that buying your rig is just the beginning. They're kind of like boats which are often described like holes in the water that you throw money in. Then come things like health insurance, good sewer hoses, water pressure regulators, generators, wheel covers, patio mats, outside chairs, grills, Internet devices and boosters, etc., etc.

We are out here on all kinds of incomes from very small to generous. As Howard and others so often say there is no single right way to fulltime but everyone recommends doing the planning and thinking things through.

You CAN do this, I just want you to enjoy it and not regret your decisions.

Sherry

Leliko · RV-Dreams Community Member

Dear Sherry,

I'm so sorry to have confused you but I never meant to go workamping (when I posted my inital post, I thought it meant "working and camping" kind of like working from home and camping, not exchanging my work for a camping spot). I've edited my original post to avoid further confusion.

Both my husband and I need to retain our employment. I have really hard time finding a work-from-home job in my profession in clinical research but hope this will happen one day (hopefully some time this year!). Right now we are paying 2000 USD monthly in rent. This money would be enough to pay for fifth wheel and TT monthly mortgage plus to cover campground costs for a month, that's why I am not worried about buying RV. At least we will still have our RV, even if depreciated in price, after couple years of traveling to sell, whereas right now we are just throwing that money out in rent. Hope my thinking is right.

I know I CAN do this but knowing is one and doing is other... I am looking forward to meeting one woman with hubby and two small kids who lives in RV full time. They will be stopping nearby sometime in May. Meeting with her and her family might motivate my husband and myself more about this lifestyle, you know.

I take my hats to all those who are doing this already, especially the ones who are doing it in their before-retirement age, working from home while traveling. It's easier to decide to hit the road than to actually do...

LandL Partners · RV-Dreams Family Member

Leliko, just wanted to say welcome! We are also in Southern MD but in the process of selling our home. We purchased a used Class A last year which was the first I had ever been in any type of RV. After that i fell in love with the idea of full-timing and have been working a plan to consult from the road. Good luck in your research and planning!!