• morningsun76
  • morningsun76
  • the answer has been with you the whole time
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  • From: In two worlds
  • Registered: 2004-09-10

Topic: Living mobile -- Recreational vehicles and other options

I've been moving around a lot the last few years and might continue to do so in the future.    The town that I'm in now has a lot of retired folks who live out of their RVs.   I'm mulling over the possibility of adopting that way of living myself.    From the research I've been doing so far, one can save a whole lot of money this way.   I'm single and self-sufficient, don't have a lot of "stuff" to worry about finding room for, and my only real requirement nowadays is a steady internet connection. wink  And enough places seem to have cable connections for people staying on a monthly basis or longer.

I'm about to move back to southern California in the next month or so, into an area where studio apartments start at around $1100 a month and go up quickly from there.   A monthly RV space, conversely, goes for around $600 in many places here (still rather high, but that's CA for you), and that includes most utility costs.  In other areas of the country it's much cheaper, of course.   It seems that depending on what kind of RV somebody buys, this way of living can pay for itself in the first 3-5 years or so.  I really hate to just throw away money unnecessarily on rent.   At the moment, I'm quite interested in the "fifth wheels" which are standalone and hook up to a pickup truck; keeping the motor vehicle separate from the mobile home unit seems both convenient and practical in case of breakdowns or other trouble.   

I'm still  considering a lot of different possibilities, like renting a room again ( ugh sad ) or just paying the high rents for an apartment and being done with it.    But this seems like a very good possible alternative way of living, with the added "bonus" of then actually HAVING the RV to take on road trips and vacations, let alone for using as a primary residence.  In addition, considering the unpredictable and tumultuous times we are now living in -- especially here in the USA -- having one's home on wheels might come in VERY handy in case of unforeseen disasters, war etc. 

So, does anyone out there have any experience with living, traveling or even just camping in RVs?  What were the benefits and/or pitfalls you have dealt with?    I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

  • From: relocating to Noble Dreams
  • Registered: 2006-01-29

Re: Living mobile -- Recreational vehicles and other options

I'm thinking it's Yahoo that has a couple of really good RVing lists.  I subscribed for a while and found they were very informative.  You can go through the archives as well as write in questions so everything gets covered.  They make recommendations of the best, most reasonable places to stay and so on.  I was dreaming of a nomadic way of life at the time.

  • Blue
  • Thank you Tom
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  • From: The bottom of my heart
  • Registered: 2006-07-10

Re: Living mobile -- Recreational vehicles and other options

We have done a few RV vacations to Nova Scotia - the shittiest part (no other word for it), is when you have to hook up to the sloosh to empty/open your bowels to the earth. Until you get that right you won't smell like roses for weeks.:D. If you are doing the 5th wheel coupling (highly recommended) that won't be a problem, set up once then forget about it.

There is this thing about caravans and 'trailer trash' - but once you are out there you meet some really nice folk, who live 'full time' at campgrounds, and thier homes are nicer than some of the traditional homes. They take a great pride and create a nice habitat, they are not all 'trailer trash'. Nice 'gardens' with plants and bushes, and usually in more scenic and nature'al' surroundings than  city folk.

I wouldnt do a motorhome, but a 5th wheel, giving more freedom (these things are hard to drive around small roads), plus you can have a bigger caravan, more room. The one thing I would say is, bathrooms tend to be very small, get one that one you can swing a couple of aliens in, and you should be OK.

Oh! and a shotgun, to shoot the seagulls that pitter patter over your roof.

Blue's Website

  • Registered: 2006-02-06

Re: Living mobile -- Recreational vehicles and other options

I read an article in the paper not too long ago about how RVer's will use WalMarts parking lots as stopovers on their trips. Apparently most Walmarts will allowRV's to park in their lots overnight. Saves the trouble of finding a park and paying a fee. 
Another thing to think about. Im sure that RV's probably depriciate in value pretty quick. same as a car. Its a big investment you wont get your money back on, in case you realize after a while it doesnt suit your lifestyle. Just a thought.   Funny, I  rented the movie "RV", with Robin Williams a couple weeks ago. I thought it was  pretty funny. The family names their rented RV, "the rolling turd".:lol:

In man's analysis and understanding of himself, it is as well to know from whence he came as whither he is going.   Edgar Cayce

Beliefs are tools for social conditioning, rather than expressions of inner realization or inner truth.   unknown
Ad Verecundiam
  • Lono
  • Lono
  • Walker of worlds
  • Offline
  • From: Oklahoma, USA
  • Registered: 2006-05-03

Re: Living mobile -- Recreational vehicles and other options

On another message board I used to frequent, there was a couple that called themselves the Loose Chickens who lived in their RV.  They had solar panels, used solar power to create hot water, and had a satellite on top of the RV for internet access.  They loved the RV life immensely. 

There are loads of people on the net who do this, so you could do quite a bit if research to determine if it's the life for you.  I think it would be fun if you could afford the initial cost of buying an RV.

  • morningsun76
  • morningsun76
  • the answer has been with you the whole time
  • Offline
  • From: In two worlds
  • Registered: 2004-09-10

Re: Living mobile -- Recreational vehicles and other options

Yeah, it sounds like some people have a harder time about it than others.   I'm still doing some homework on the subject, at the very least for future reference.     I've already figured that the best option would be to get a fifth-wheel of about 30 or so feet, because a lot of places don't have room for longer ones.   And also to get something that's two or three years old, so that the initial owner will have taken the big hit with respect to depreciation, which can be close to 50% in that short time frame.   I've been looking around and seen some really high quality units that were only a few years old for less than $30,000.   Not bad if it pays for itself after a few years, plus if you need to borrow to buy in the interest at least is tax deductible here in the USA.  I may not make this kind of move immediately, but it's been pretty interesting research so far.

  • Lono
  • Lono
  • Walker of worlds
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  • From: Oklahoma, USA
  • Registered: 2006-05-03

Re: Living mobile -- Recreational vehicles and other options

Think about what would happen if you bought the RV and did extensive traveling in Mexico.  You could sure stretch your dollar there!  Another nice thing about being mobile is spending winter where it's warm and summer where it's cool.

My husband's aunt and uncle do this.  They have a regular home in Missouri, but they spend 4 to 6 months out of the year in Texas with their RV.  They have friends that come back every year as well, so they even have "neighbors".

  • From: Montana
  • Registered: 2004-12-27

Re: Living mobile -- Recreational vehicles and other options

morningsun, are you fully attached to the idea of parking in California?  It seems to be the best part of what you're suggesting would be getting to travel.  That's what I'd do instead of staying where it's 600 a month for a crappy apartment.  I don't know what your job situation is of course, but you did say you wanted to save as much money as possible on rent.  I've considered getting an RV and doing temp jobs around the country.

"Isolation, mis-education, and for the very clever there is looming liquidation."  -Catch Twenty-Two "Bad Party"
  • morningsun76
  • morningsun76
  • the answer has been with you the whole time
  • Offline
  • From: In two worlds
  • Registered: 2004-09-10

Re: Living mobile -- Recreational vehicles and other options

It's still an option.  I'm also half-thinking of getting a tiny office somewhere myself and sleeping there or out of the car and going to extremes to cut costs and maximize my freedom and free time.  The only problem is that some work I'm involved with right now requires me to be somewhat stable in my place and income, so I'm trying to balance a lot of factors.  But it still seems like an idea that might become worth considering in the near future.

  • Blue
  • Thank you Tom
  • Offline
  • From: The bottom of my heart
  • Registered: 2006-07-10

Re: Living mobile -- Recreational vehicles and other options

morningsun76 wrote:

It's still an option.  I'm also half-thinking of getting a tiny office somewhere myself and sleeping there or out of the car and going to extremes to cut costs and maximize my freedom and free time.  The only problem is that some work I'm involved with right now requires me to be somewhat stable in my place and income, so I'm trying to balance a lot of factors.  But it still seems like an idea that might become worth considering in the near future.

One place we have been looking at is Canadream , http://www.canadream.com/ because we have used them a few times, the vehicles are clean and reliable, well serviced etc. The prices there look good to me. I'm sure there will be similar deals on vans in California.

You can get post delivered, wifi connections to the net, etc whilst mobile. Try looking at some of the RV forums, they give good tips and links to literature regarding full time RVing.

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/winter_camping.html

http://www.gorving.ca/rvresources.asp

http://www.newrver.com/

We are also looking into doing the same thing at the moment, if the shit hits the fan, we want to be on the ground, running.

For a single bloke :  CAD 7900; (it would pay for itself within the first year!), then upgrade when you're ready to move on.

http://www.canadream.com/rvSales/CdSalesP.dll/GetUnitImage?ImageId=154
http://www.canadream.com/rvSales/CdSalesP.dll/GetUnitImage?ImageId=151

Blue's Website

  • Registered: 2007-08-20

Re: Living mobile -- Recreational vehicles and other options

hi i'm new here.

i lived in a converted schoolbus for six years. we (my bf and i) went as far as the mexican border (from BC canada) twice. we love our bus!! we loved travelling, living off the grid... good points here so far. it's true, living in an RV park is much cheaper than an apartment and you can travel around. take a good look at the structure of most RV's. they are  cheap crap.. made out of pine frames and aluminum. we converted a schoolbus because they are the safest thing on the road. we have a diesel with disc brakes and power stearing, it drives like a dream, no special license.

the only downside is, maintenance, and i live in BC and when we couldnt afford to go south for the winters it was really crappy and cold. the small space can get on your nerves after a while, but we spent a lot of time outside... our motto was 'the world is our balcony'.

good times! we bought a house now and really love the space and warmth. we still love our bus though and haven't managed to let her go yet.