Do most who go Full time have RV experience? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Lets get moving · RV-Dreams Family Member

Do most who go Full time have RV experience?

Talensnana · RV-Dreams Family Member

We bought an older RV the first time around to see if "we would like it". After the first trip we were in love, and after the second trip we were commited to the idea of full-timing. We are on our second rig now which we purchased with the intention of full timing next year.

our reason is to simplify our lives and enjoy our time together. Over the last 8 years we have been caregivers to 4 very ill family members. It has taken a toll on us physically and emotionally. When we are in our home on wheels we are much more relaxed and peaceful. Prior to our first RV we had not camped in any manner.

I think it gets in your blood and you just need to go for it. Life is too short for regrets.

The Restless Youngs · RV-Dreams Family Member

We went all in! Never had RV'ed before (some boating), made the decision, bought our coach, sold the house and now living full time in our coach. Still working a little longer which has been a good strategy as it's taken us awhile to get settled, figure things out, etc. And, we didn't want to quit our jobs until we felt comfortable with our new life. We're good....loving it!

pkhalin · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've had some kind of camping unit since 99. Slide-in camper to our first 5er in 2001, to a slightly larger one in 2005 (one that we could actually live in), to our current on, which we definitely can live in. Each one new.

The conversation started in 2005 when we bought a Challenger with the possibility that I might have to (kind of) move for my job. I refused to move my family since my daughter was in high school. I was a military brat and we moved rather frequently, which kind of messed a lot of kids up. Just didn't want to do that with her. But the job move didn't happen.

Then we started messing around with the idea of going FT, talking seriously the last 3 years. We've now made the decision and will hit the road next year. I think it's the prospect of adventure on the open road. Kinda scary, but I think worth it.

Looking forward to when we do.

The Junkman · RV-Dreams Family Member

We had a class A for a few months.. was fulltiming.. if you can call it that..

Now it's just lets just get out and have a little fun.. stop working so hard.. for a little while anyways.

Just winging it..

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

We know more than one couple and some solos who started with little to no RV experience and did well as fulltimers.

We had a couple years of RV experience but were not campers. We still are not campers.

I have also seen some with lots of camping experience make mistakes as they move to fulltime. They try to go too small, they think they can handle it. They expect all of the campgrounds to be just like their nice summer camping experiences. They expect to eat outside all the time. In fact, they expect to be outside all the time. I can go on.

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Not us…never RVed before we started except for a 1 month rental (32 foot class C) so that Connie could verify that she liked the lifestyle. After that we decided to do it and ordered our 5ver.

The Junkman · RV-Dreams Family Member

bjoyce wrote:
We know more than one couple and some solos who started with little to no RV experience and did well as fulltimers.

We had a couple years of RV experience but were not campers. We still are not campers.

I have also seen some with lots of camping experience make mistakes as they move to fulltime. They try to go too small, they think they can handle it. They expect all of the campgrounds to be just like their nice summer camping experiences. They expect to eat outside all the time. In fact, they expect to be outside all the time. I can go on.

I have to admit.. That was me..

traveling around the country was nothing like upstate ny camping..lol..

This time.. I am slowing it down.. I still want a fire, and sit outside though.. lol.. Although mainly I think we are going for the sites, and travel, and that kind of stuff..

Jo And Craig · RV-Dreams Family Member

Patti and Ed, our hearts go out to you! We were caregivers for 2.5 years. And, yes, caring for someone truly does take a MAJOR toll physically, emotionally, mentally... just name it... on the caregiver(s). I keep asking myself if I'll ever recover! I cannot fathom how you survived 8 years!

Back to the original post... No. DH had traveled across the entire U.S. via car by the time he was 16, but not so much with me. In our younger years we camped (not together, before our time) and Garner State Park was our destination for many years where we stayed in screened-in shelters. Camping was my absolute favorite thing as a Brownie and Girl Scout. So, it is in my blood!

Yes, I am looking forward to just being free!!! (I just retired in February.) Free from the job, corporate America, the rat race, traffic, and stuff. After cleaning out my DH's grandmother's house 18 years ago and cleaning out his aunt's house over the past 3 years (and recently renovating it to sell), I have had enough not only of my stuff, but other people's stuff, as well. It just seemed to keep rolling downhill. Stuff is now like a disease to me. I despise it!!!!

Lets get moving · RV-Dreams Family Member

I love all the input! It's great to hear all the stories of what inspired you to go for it!

I hear ya all on giving up the stuff!
We had my MIL living with us for several years along with all her stuff. She ultimately ended up passing away in a nursing home after not recovering from a hip replacement. We spent a good deal of time trying to remind her that her stuff was not as important as her health. Don't think we ever convinced her.
My parents are "collectors" of stuff as well and my sister has said she will light a match to all their stuff when they are gone because she doesn't want more stuff!

Rex and I have a ton of stuff we need to be free of and can't wait! We know we will be happier and healthier to not have it to maintain. We can't wait to explore the continent together! Just wish it were sooner.

Bonnie & Rex

Talensnana · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jo and Craig.... I so get the stuff thing. My mom had Alzheimers and was a hoarder. She had a 3 story house packed with her stuff and a rental house they owned packed with the stuff from my grandparents home. We has to go through everything. It took me over a year working 50 or more hours a week to clean it. My husband tells me i am not sentimental and they transition will be easier for me. He is right. I have a few things which are really important but most I just want gone.

The Sages · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have camped since I was 8. Ironically we are summering at the 1st campground I ever camped at :) I always knew I would be living this lifestyle. Hubby and I tented many years, pop up camper many years. We had children in our early 20's and started our careers early as well. Now kids are grown and well, we retired, decluttered, downsized, sold the old ball and chain. We are clutter and debt-free!!! Everything we own is in the trailer with the exception of a bed, dresser, and photos, which my mom is storing til we are done. Which I hope is a long, long time. Bought a used truck and TT, hanging in MI til end of Sept. Then heading south. I would think it might be tough on folks who have never camped before. It appears not everyone loves it like I do! But the one that do.... Sheryle

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

We started out with tent camping in 1988, moved to tent camper, moved to old Class C, moved to tent camper, moved to micro mini, moved to tent camper, moved to TT (24' and full-timed 2 years, 2 adults and a large dog), moved to 31' 5th wheel (full-timed 2 years), moved to tent camper and looking now for a different unit for when the house sells which is currently on the market. Everyone can do it their own way as there really are no "rules" like many will try to make one think. You have people full-timing in Scamps and Casitas, even tent trailers and a couple of people in one of my FB groups are in tents! We are "campers" and that won't change and there are other "campers" out there full-timing, people that love nature and being outside and see the "home" as a place to keep the clothes, take care of personal hygiene and sleep. I worked at a 5-star manufacturer and I saw the customers and I got to visit with a lot of the customers when they came to order or to pick up their units. Even those buying the higher dollar units were all just as varied as anyone else with some choosing a 24' unit while others couldn't do without 38'. We spent 6 years in the Tucson area and 2 years in SE AL where we saw both full-timers and snowbirds and again, as varied as anyone can imagine just as in the sticks and bricks lifestyle. One must look at both the positives and the negatives when considering any lifestyle change but some refuse to do that and the lifestyle falls short of the expectations, expectations that no lifestyle could ever bring.

Trikester · RV-Dreams Family Member

In a galaxy long, long ago and far, far way, I took a two week vacation in a VW camper (1982), plus I lived one summer (1968) in a 27 foot trailer and spent the first 7-8 years of my life (1943 into 1951) living in a trailer. Aside from that, we had no RV experience.

After retirement, and with a commitment to no more northern winters, Judy and I bought a ten year old truck and fifth wheel for snow-birding. We enjoyed the experience so much we went home to Iowa in April 2013 and put our house on the market, then sold it in 7 days to the first person who looked at it.

We immediately bought a 2007 Teton and a new F-450 to pull it, sold our old truck and trailer, and plunged into full timing. Our mistake: the Teton. We loved the huge living area and basement but not the rotting side wall, other water damage, and the unreliable and seemingly unfixable hydraulic jacking system. So, we learned the hard way not to buy used without a thorough, independent inspection. Now we have a 2007 New Horizons Summit. Much, much better.

-- Edited by Trikester on Friday 1st of August 2014 06:42:39 PM

Hdrider · RV-Dreams Family Member

We had a 5th wheel toy hauler for a short time but it was used for 3 day weekends mostly while playing at the dunes. Then in 07 we switched to a motorhome and pulled a trailer with the toys in it but again mainly 3 day weekend stuff.
Until we lived in it while building a house. At that time we realized we could live in it and that got us thinking and changed how we felt about the house we were in the middle of building.
We started planning a fulltime life style and the thought of selling before the house was even finished. I think we lived in the house 3 years before selling and going fulltime. It would have been less but the housing market slowed us down a bit.

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

We had zero experience. Only tent camped until about 25 years ago. But we KNOW this is the lifestyle for us.

NurseJudy · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have no experience other than a few camping trips with relatives when we were kids over 40 years ago. Last night we put our house on the market and have our first open house on Sunday! Tomorrow we pick up our new rig at the dealership! So exciting! We are still going to have to rent something locally for another year or two while our son goes to community college, but we are hoping we will at least be able to "part-time". Like Patti & Ed we have spent the better part of the last 5-10 years caring for sick family members. My brother was diagnosed in March 2013 with ALS at 58 years old and that was when my DH and I just decided it was time to "live a dream". Then, to top it all off, my mother became suddenly critically ill in December and passed away in April, almost exactly one month after my brother. So now, no one else to take care of.... and no more excuses. It's time to take care of us and live out our dreams. Here we go!..... Whether we're ready or not! Hope to see you all out there soon!

RVKevi · RV-Dreams Family Member

We had never camped or RVed in over 30 years of marriage. We've now been in the 5er for 22 months and absolutely love it!

Rob_Fla · RV-Dreams Family Member

Many fulltimers that I have talked to in our travels had never RVed or only very little RV experience before jumping into the fulltime life.

It seems we are the exception, we have RVed / Camped for many years starting out with a couple of Pop Up Trailers, then we had a few Travel Trailers and a 5th Wheel before we bought our 1st 5th Wheel to fulltime in.

With all our previous camping experience / knowledge, the transition to the fulltime life was very easy for us.

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

We never RV'd either just some tent camping with the kids. But my grandparents spent theee years in an RV traveling the country and I always had it on my retirement list. Fast forward we are close to empty nesters and decided to buy a TT. Loved it so much we found out about FT'ing at a younger age bought a 5th wheel and here we are.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hdrider wrote:
We had a 5th wheel toy hauler for a short time but it was used for 3 day weekends mostly while playing at the dunes. Then in 07 we switched to a motorhome and pulled a trailer with the toys in it but again mainly 3 day weekend stuff.
Until we lived in it while building a house. At that time we realized we could live in it and that got us thinking and changed how we felt about the house we were in the middle of building.
We started planning a fulltime life style and the thought of selling before the house was even finished. I think we lived in the house 3 years before selling and going fulltime. It would have been less but the housing market slowed us down a bit.

I love that story of finding out the full-time lifestyle could work while still building the house. That now has to be a classic story.

For us, we've camped a lot in both tents and campers, those last ranging from 15-feet to 21-feet to 26-foot travel trailers and one fifth wheel prior to buying our 38-foot Mobile Suites. While we still had a LOT to learn about what to get in an RV in which we would live, we knew that we would love to do the traveling (which still hasn't really started yet) and seeing the country. While we aren't "traveling" yet, we have made our move to Colorado and the scenery is much better here and I'm a lot closer to things I do want to photograph. The mountains of the Rockies have always rejuvenated me.

Terry

Dog Folks · RV-Dreams Family Member

My darling wife led me down the "camping" road. When we were dating in 1972, her mother allowed me to accompany them on the first trip of the year. My wife's mother was an avid camper and camped most weekends when the weather would allow. We went to a local state park, in a truck camper, and proceeded to set up. It was the very first trip of the year and the camper had been in storage all winter. My future mother in law started the refrigerator on propane. A bird's nest in the flue caught the camper on fire! Not a great introduction to the world of camping. The camper was ruined and no camping took place that weekend.

A year later, we married, and with the very last of our wedding cash, bought a tent, and some supplies for camping. As is the case with many camping couples, we “upgraded” as time went on. We had a series of tents, a truck camper, a pop up camper, and four different travel trailers during our working life. Each unit was a little bigger and more complex.

So I started camping to be close to my wife. After 41 years of marriage, I still want to close to her.

We decided to full time for three reasons:

1. After living in Florida for 34 years we had our first direct hit by a hurricane. 17 days without power. Roof ruined, etc. It was no fun.

2. I had a minor stroke. Not much damage but sure was a wake up call.

3.Family history among my many uncles, showed a pattern of retiring at 65, then dying just a few months or years later.

So after 35 years of camping being a major part of our lives, we went full time 8 years ago. Of course, at that time, we knew everything about camping!! NOT. We just thought we knew everything, kinda like most teenagers. Camping and living full time in a camper are two completely different things.

Any regrets? Nope.

Lets get moving · RV-Dreams Family Member

Dog Folks wrote:
My darling wife led me down the "camping" road. When we were dating in 1972, her mother allowed me to accompany them on the first trip of the year. My wife's mother was an avid camper and camped most weekends when the weather would allow. We went to a local state park, in a truck camper, and proceeded to set up. It was the very first trip of the year and the camper had been in storage all winter. My future mother in law started the refrigerator on propane. A bird's nest in the flue caught the camper on fire! Not a great introduction to the world of camping. The camper was ruined and no camping took place that weekend.

A year later, we married, and with the very last of our wedding cash, bought a tent, and some supplies for camping. As is the case with many camping couples, we “upgraded” as time went on. We had a series of tents, a truck camper, a pop up camper, and four different travel trailers during our working life. Each unit was a little bigger and more complex.

So I started camping to be close to my wife. After 41 years of marriage, I still want to close to her.

We decided to full time for three reasons:

1. After living in Florida for 34 years we had our first direct hit by a hurricane. 17 days without power. Roof ruined, etc. It was no fun.

2. I had a minor stroke. Not much damage but sure was a wake up call.

3.Family history among my many uncles, showed a pattern of retiring at 65, then dying just a few months or years later.

So after 35 years of camping being a major part of our lives, we went full time 8 years ago. Of course, at that time, we knew everything about camping!! NOT. We just thought we knew everything, kinda like most teenagers. Camping and living full time in a camper are two completely different things.

Any regrets? Nope.

Love that story! And it's great that you are being able to spend your time together enjoying each other!

I just got a text from my husband saying he can't wait till our endless weekend starts! I texted back saying I can't wait either. We enjoy each other's company more than anything.

He just turned 59 and has seen most of his family ever be able to make it to enjoy retirement due to either health or financial constraints. We have been blessed that he has had a very successful career and will have the means to enjoy it but he isnt quite there yet! We have regular discussions trying to assess if there is any way we can get started sooner. Worst case scenario it will be 7 years. It seems so far away but we have lived in our current house that many and it has passed so fast!

Getting back on topic, it's obvious there are as many stories of how it got started that you live in an rv as there are people doing it! We will fit right in!

We are really looking forward to hearing stories like this in person once we get moving!

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Met Jesse 5 years ago, he a widower and me a somewhat committed single. Saw those warm eye crinkles and that smile and I was a goner. He was on his "travel about" with his 28' t railer & his dog.
Me: I had grown up tent camping with my family in Michigan's UP way back in the dark ages and he was a River Rat named Jesse, AKA GoodKnight. I had these visions of RVing in the very back of my mind - way back you understand. My 12 year full-time friends who have become OUR full-time friends said I had asked more questions than anyone they had met along the way.
Kismet, he introduced me to this life and 4 years later we hit the road. 4 or is it 5 upgrades later? He, more of a "camper" than I but we've loved almost every minute of it. Our only regret: We should have done it sooner!

Sherry

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lets get moving wrote:
....
On the other hand, how many just come to the decision because they want the freedom to move on a whim, see the country,
have freedom from "stuff" and live adventurously?
We love tent Camping but haven't owned an RV. ... get some camping and part time experience before we take the full time plunge in a few years. ...experience would be good to learn... ...before we splurge on a shiny new one (or "new" to us... added by me).

Though we have yet to start, these parts of your question describes us. Cindi has done more camping than I have. We have progressed from tents to a pop-up rental to a couple of Class C rentals and now envision our FT lifestyle would be best suited in a fifth wheel. Your mileage may vary as they say.

Personally, the concept of less "stuff" and more "adventure", hit home when the economy tanked back in 2008-2009. That was a stressful time and the wisdom of not being house poor, not being a slave to a job or all the things I bought over the years was like a lightbulb turning on. Lucky Mike's credo of "Live, Breathe, Relax" is, to me, an essential foundation to make it all work sucessfully.

Brian

Bob and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Its great to read all the different ways people got interested and started in this lifestyle. Lindy and I started camping on our honeymoon more than 42 years ago in her dad's pickup camper. Although we did camp with our 2 kids on and off over the years, we didn't get serious until we bought a new popup in the mid 90's. We have been fulltime for 2 full months now and are getting a new trailer next week. More room, upgrades, that sort of thing, you know. I know we will meet some of you in Goshen next month and maybe the rest somewhere down the road.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Love hearing all these stories. We both camped growing up, me with my family and in the Girl Scouts, Dale with the Boy Scouts. When we got married we started tent camping with his daughter, tent camped in a series of successively larger tents until she was out of high school and bought our first small trailer, an Aliner. Loved being up off the ground for sleeping.

Once we started traveling for Dale's business we realized we needed a larger trailer with a few more amenities. Didn't take long to realize we selected too small of a TT and ended up trading in for a larger TT where we could both work on road trips that lasted up to 1 month at a time. At the end of one of those trips in 2011 we decided it was time to downsize the house, couldn't decide where we wanted to live if we were to sell the house and buy something smaller. Finally started considering FT RV'ing in spring of 2012, both my parents had been full time for a portion of their adult lives so it gave us insight into this lifestyle.

We've now been FT for a year in our 5th wheel and love it, we have a 5 year plan right now, will evaluate after that but right now can't imagine settling down in one place again. Still working, can't wait to be retired so we actually have more time to more thoroughly explore the areas we're traveling through, but loving this life on the road.

RickandJanice · RV-Dreams Family Member

Janice grew up camping in travel trailers and eventually in Class C Motor homes. I, on the other hand had only tent camped in my parent's back yard when a kid. When we got married in 1986, she introduced me to her parents RV and the "camping bug" bit me. After tent camping a few times, I was introduced to RV camping in 1990 after her Dad passed away unexpectedly but her Mom still wanted to keep the RV. After camping in her Mom's RV a few times, the "RV bug" bit me really bad. We bought our first travel trailer in 1994 and are now on our 3rd 5th wheel (each one got bigger). This is our "dream rig" for full timing as it is not too big to get in anywhere we want but still has plenty of living space and storage. After 10 years of planning for a full time RV life style, we finally began full time this past December and are truly living our dream. The full time RV lifestyle along with some financial planning actually allowed us to both retire early and hit the road before age 62 so we hopefully have even a few more years to enjoy this life style. We plan on full time RVing until health /age will no longer allow it and even then will probably settle down in a RV park somewhere so we can still be close to other RV / camping people. For us, it is not only the adventure of traveling this great land, it is the people you meet and get to know along the way.