regarding fixing yout life> there is more simpkle explanation/ if you take your brains with you no matter where will u ,be how you will be its gonna get you
I've been full-timing since 2017 and it cured my depression. What triggers my depression is certain types of routine. Sticks and bricks is like a broken record. The same thing over and over. I need new things very often. Even though there are routines in moving that routine is worth it to see something new. Plus the sun helps my depression also. There's no way I coulda got mentally whole by staying in place.
Yes this!! I’m so happy to read that someone else has the same feelings. I’m in the depression phase of owning sticks and breaks and so ready to be done with it. I hate every minute of it, living the same mundane existence every single day…We have our rv and truck, last step is selling the house which should be easy but I have two grown ‘children’ 22 & 19 than need to get out and one of them guilting me for it. They are WAY too comfortable. Sorry Mom is done!
YES YES YES!! THANK YOU- glad to hear this from others as well -- when I'm home it the monotony of working all day and then what I called, "2nd shift" of working all night on chores, errands, etc. in the PM - feel the life being sucked out of me and time passing by so fast with no rest at all-- weekends full of more chores, projects, "have to" visits of family, friends - not that I don't love any of them but it was the only time to visit etc.
@@hkitty9848 100% yes! It’s always something. I can’t wait to get out of the every day rat race: don’t get me wrong I still have to work but I get to control where I work from and what my scenery will be. Yes please!!
While I agree in part to some of your points, being a full timer going on 6 years you definitely have had a different experience then we have had. First finding parks hasn’t been an issue, but then again our tendency is to only travel 6000-7000 miles per year. So we stay longer in one spot rather then the “thousand trails” model. (Personal opinion here - WHY? The last thing I want to do is move every week or two) Second on break downs, while our rig was brand new when we started out, we purchased what we believed was a “quality RV”. Yes we had the initial punch list of issues at first, however after that our issues have really been small. All that being said, I address any problems immediately for the most part so they don’t grow into much larger issues. Yes I work on my own rig. To me successful full timing requires planning, preparation, patience, the ability to adapt, and perseverance.
It’s not uncommon for people to book 8 months plus out to get a spot in the state parks here in Arizona. It’s probably less about how often you move and more of where you want to move to. Buying a brand new rig bought you time, and you have learned how to look after things as they’ve cropped up. But unless you buy another brand new rig, your future will tend toward more and bigger repairs. If you are able to trade in for new again, great. I bought a 10 year old rig. I saved 20-30 grand up front, but I totally expected to work some of those savings off in sweat equity and inconvenience. People like me need people like you to upgrade so there’s well-maintained older rigs we can afford to buy. 😊
@@markoshun while I don’t disagree as the trailer ages there is a possibility of more repairs. However buying a “quality” (if that is possible) rig to begin with lessens that chance. I believe staying in place longer lessens that chance as you are moving less, but at the same time utilizing all the systems. It is a balancing act in my opinion. Also, I have no inclination to sell our rig until that time we can’t move anymore or decide to find a “permanent” place. I have always maintained it will be my coffin!
@@ricklodin2068 Ha! Well maybe I can buy your nicely maintained rig then? Seriously, sounds like you’ve got a good thing going. My first year on the road and only semi-retired, but stay in the rv full time. Lots to learn. Lots of tweaking and customizing. I’m with you on the moving, except for the winter trips down south and back, I probably won’t put many miles on the rest of the time.
I would love to know what brand you bought? I don't expect to have no issues but i would love to hear a good recommendation of a brand to look at! TIA!!
@@sarahseevinck8470 I have a Landmark Oshkosh. Unfortunately that particular model is discontinued and while I’m not 100%, I’m hearing that only the cabinet doors are all wood now. Mine are all wood cabinets. Also, while I had exceptional customer service for the factory for my warranty work, I won’t guarantee someone else would have the same experience. The problem with forums (and the internet) is most of the time it is just the disgruntled person who writes.
My take on this is that there are 2 types of full-timers: those who live in big RV's where no expense is spared, and those who pinch pennies. The latter tend to live in smaller RV's or vehicles and boondock most, if not all of the time. When you eliminate or reduce significantly camping and fuel costs, that changes the financial picture significantly. If you are able to make repairs that also helps.
RVing will not, as you’ve pointed out, fix any personal/marital/family issues, but it can bring people closer together because RVing has to involve partnership and full engagement. I do like my husband better when we’re RVing because he has to be engaged in the process. However, if he resented having to be more responsible, it wouldn’t work. We’ve been full time traveling RVers for 3 years now and we’ve had the joy and privilege of seeing/learning about this beautiful country of ours. We are truly blessed.
Drove from Los Angeles to Portland in my Excursion on a 1 week trip. Went hiking and visited a bunch of great places on the California and Oregon coast. I slept in my truck all week, I didn't know what I was getting into since this was my 1st time doing anything like this. I learn some things along the way. The point is things won't be all glamorous like some videos you see but if you never get out and do it for yourself you'll never know.
Full-time RVing has helped me to have a much better quality of life. I was diagnosed with progressive Multiple Sclerosis along with Trigeminal Neuralgia and had to be fitted for a new wheelchair, end my work career, and shut down my company. I reached a point where I was just sitting alone in my basement of a big house in NC, staring at walls with no one to interact with 😳 My service dog Max and I are now able to just go outside and see neighbors or meet new campers as they move through. Wife and I bought a fifth wheel RV and sold everything we had filled that big house with and moved to Florida. The weather is much better for my pain, and we have way less to worry about since I used to do all the repairs and maintenance on our house before I fell ill. We have made so many new friends and Max is pretty famous around here, lol. Live by the water now, and the view is way nicer than from that basement too! Our relationship is much better RVing, but everyone has different needs and goals in life. For us, it has literally been life changing for the better, and we enjoy what we have together while I still can! Don't wait to do the things you want to do, because you may not be able to do them later. 😎👍 🇺🇲
I am 51, solo empty nester, full time rv nomad since Jan 2019. I live in a 2019 Jayco Northpoint just shy of 45 ft toy hauler. I have 2 adult kids in college. I love my rv nomad life. I have truly enjoyed your videos. I lived in Colorado for over 20 years. Your video is spot on!! Keep up the great vidoes!! Cheers!!
Hi!! I am 55yr old single just bought a 2022 cougar 290RLS (yes chuckle out loud at the irony 😂). My dream is to travel full time, but scared to death about it. The upkeep, being able to do it all by myself, etc. Any advice or friendship would be much appreciated ❤️
Two of the biggest surprises for me when I began thinking about RVing was the expense and availability of a campground. I recall the days of when I was a kid in the mid 60's to early 70's. I dont ever recall my parents complaining about the cost or finding a camping spot. Actually the reason we were able to travel to all the places we did was because of the expense of an RV vs a room!!! I didnt realize the cost now of a camping spot was so expensive, sometimes very close to what a room would cost!!! Add to that the cost of an RV, insurance, maintenance, higher fuel expense, driving comfort, etc.
We traveled in an RV for about three years. We hosted at a couple of parks (national) and loved some time on BLM land. I think the expense depends on your lifestyle. We were definitely living much cheaper in an RV than we were in a mortgaged house. We had an annual pass for NM State Parks - big savings, and stayed in one area for a couple of weeks hiking and exploring. We also used a travel trailer, not a motor coach. We loved it.
We RV'd for 5 years. We had a blast. We also experienced each of your truths. We stopped during COVID. Eventually selling motorhome because it was all too much. Great video. Wish I had watched it 8 years ago.
Great honest information. Your comment: “We value the experiences together above all” says it all. As Carson (of Downton Abby) says, “In the end, memories are all we have”. Your family will talk about your RV time together…forever.
Spent ten weeks every summer in an RV. From 1974-1986. Loved it. I do remember broken down in Utah for 3 days waiting on a part that cost $1. For whatever reason that one stuck with me.
Full time since 2018, Bounder 35E. Best truths I could recommend, concur the essentials in the RV, LG 4.5 washer/dryer, Samsung RF18 fridge, Dyson V11, Ceramic toilet, 32x42 shower, real couch, Fire stick on cell plans.
My rv days are long over, but no one should buy one before taking this video to heart, and perhaps renting one before buying. Our best vacations were in the r.v.. It is so nice to find your toothbrush in the same place and not having to pack up every few days. Great advice!
Excellent advice, Linda. No matter what it cost, before taking the plunge to go full-time,…..rent and try it out, thirty days sounds like a good minimum of time to see if The marriage can take the pressures.
I spend as much as 4 months of the year in a camper to save lodging expenses as I work in far-flung places for a few weeks at a time. I agree with almost 100% of what you are saying. And I can wholly agree that it's nice to come home to a solid house (mortgage paid off!) at the end of each season.
With respect to RVs breaking all the time... true. It's not a hobby for someone who doesn't know how to use basic tools. RVs are made to be lightweight and durable enough for occasional use. If you're full-timing, expect to do repairs often. Bringing your own stuff includes one of my favorites... your own _clean bathroom._ It's a game changer, because anywhere you can park safely you can use the onboard facilities. No waiting! We're not full-timers, but we travel with a small trailer a few times a year.
I used to tent camp every summer. Also, my grandparents owned a plot of land in the northern Mitten part of Michigan and they parked an old camper on it and we'd go up there once or twice a summer as well. I'm longing to RV when my husband retires and really enjoy your videos. Give it all to me, good and bad. You guys are great. ❤️
Good video, also consider there are different ways to camp that don't involve paying for campgrounds ever, but they do involve being totally self contained for your energy needs- solar panels etc. Many people make it a hobby of traveling and never paying for camping by finding spots in National and State Forests and Army Corps of Engineer campgrounds. Basically they are just a place to park in the woods or dessert that have a fire ring and pretty much nothing else (no electricity, water, flush toilets, picnic table or camp fee).
At 34 years old, and retiring in 4 years from now, I'm excited to start my full time RV life. I'm lucky enough to have friends and family all over the country to crash with and not have to worry too much on campgrounds. And being a mechanic for 15 years in the military, I can definitely handle maintenance issues should/when they arise. Great video. I definitely wrote down some notes!
That is really lucky, WOW, That is what is stopping me from traveling west & I would love to see Yellowstone & such places! I am scared though cause my family is all on the East coast. Thanks for serving 91 B's are pretty kewl. Lol. I was just an 68w. I was curious though, what would you suggest for getting over fears to head west or how to find good campgrounds. I really want to do it one day. 🥳
@@tiffanylubeck3505 I held two MOS's in the army, 13F and 91B. 91B was a combat medic when I was in. I went to Ft. Sam Houston for ten weeks for that school for the reserves. I ended up having to convert to active duty due to hardship and they made me change my MOS to 13F. Weird situation. Anyway, I'm curious what Matty is doing that he can retire at 38. I'm 44 and I'm still paying my mortgage for another 17 years.
I've never used them but Amazon offers drop locations. I would look into how they work, how secure, any size limits. and how long they can stay. They were created so packages won't get stolen off your porch.
Just drove to Portland for an away game, slept in my Excursion the whole week for the trip. Shower in gyms and truck stops. All the truck stops had the amazon lockers.
We have used them on occasion. Timing is still important as you have ~3 days to get them out of the locker. I always try and order 2 days prior to being at a location and then choose the option to place all (or most of) the items in one shipment.
Hehe, core memory for me. Worked 5 summers in the postal service. Lots of cabins and stuff like that on my route which was more or less unregistered and sometimes even without roads. Had several cases of "how did you even find us!?" When I delivered a package.
Bahaha. RV life may be expensive, but Van life is not. :) But I won't pay for campgrounds. I either overnight in parking lots or hit public land. Much cheaper. I spend less than 1500 a month for my food, gas, internet (Which might go up a bit when I get starlink, but still.) Mobile life is as cheap or expensive as you make it. I know plenty of folks living on less than 1k a month and travelling regularly. Just camp public land. Get solar, learn to manage your water. It's not hard. I work full time, travel, put money away, pay child support, and I'm not stressing at all. The hardest part of it is working around my youngest kid and his life, but with homeschool he can travel with me part of the time.
I think there is a lot of truths in both of what you two say. I know quite a few full-time and part-time travels who travel fairly cheap most of the time, and some who don't because they prefer the finer things. I feel most are probably somewhere in between though. I feel like most of the ones that really struggle are ones that want to go everywhere and see everything or those with no real way to sustain themselves on the road monetarily. You said you were still working, while others are retired getting social security or a pension. Some have saved for years and are careful with how and where they spend their money. I don't think I'd be cut-out to ever do this full-time, nor do I think I'd ever really want to. I will say that I more prefer your approach then I do others. I wouldn't be above staying somewhere a little more expensive like a hotel or campground if say the weather was too bad, but I wouldn't want to make a habit of it either. Not every campground is that expensive either though monthly. Just depends on where you are or go. 👍
@@artdogg50 True. But just to throw out the 'It's expensive' trope is misleading. Sure, it can be as expensive as you want, 'camping' at exclusive RV parks in a million dollar rig, eating high end food, drinking fine wines, but at the other end there are plenty of folks out there living pretty comfortably on less than 1k a month, camping on public land, enjoying life, and there's everything in between.
@@Canthus13 I agree with you again. I think my main worries would be getting a reliable vehicle, not trying to tow anything. The others would be figuring out a way to stay cool in the hot summer or warm on cool or outright cold nights. The latter part is where I feel people struggle sometimes the most. I think the rest can be figured out if your careful with your money and open to try different things when it comes to finding somewhere to sleep, economically or free.
RVing might be good for those with seasonal depression this way they can always follow the sun those with the emotional issues this is a very hard life and can make matters worse. It is very important to have a support group if you plan to do this so that you always have a rescue. It’s kind of your very own 811. I’ve learned this through experience.
I just hopped my RV from North Carolina to Arizona, and your comment about I-10 and Louisiana gave me flashbacks. The whole stretch from Alabama through Mississippi had me wondering whether they’ve ever fully repaved a road.
We were full time for 2 years. Not by choice though. We were priced out. However, having an RV to live in is a great "insurance" plan for an impossible housing market. We used our RV to move across country and now own a regular house. That being said, being able to access military campgrounds was a godsend. Private campgrounds have been gentrified. Military campgrounds are still affordable. Also we are handy. We had to pay for a roof rebuild, but mostly did other things ourselves. So glad you are putting this out there to dispell the myths of RV life.
I think the cost is dependent on where you’re living. We are going full time in two weeks and our rent is currently almost $3000 for a modest 2br apartment. We will be traveling full time but our rig is able to boondock for a week at a time.
our rent was $2401/mo plus utilities, so anything under $81/night is break even, there are other costs though. We hit the road June 27th, and our average per night is around $32, we stay for about a week and move 3-4 hours. currently we are at a state park in New Mexico, with water and electric, for $15.71/night, and its a great park. The costs climb fast if you have to stay in big rig friendly locations, like RV resorts that can easily be $90+/night. we have a 37' TT so not a small rig, but we fit in many State Parks, and for us they are way more comfortable than private campgrounds where your slides almost touch the neighbors awning
@@schlz69 wanted to second Scott’s advice. I arrived at a number around $90 a day. We try to stay in state parks and almost always boondock when transiting. Remember to spread the fuel cost to get over the stay.
I have spent about $600 this year so far for Campground stays, which is a lot for me. I am not retired so I still have to work but only about 6 months of the year. During the winter months I am dry camping in warmer areas. I have a travel trailer which is much simpler and cheaper to maintain than a massive class A. You only spend a lot of money because you choose to spend a lot of money.
@@martyengler8444 To each their own, thats the great thing about this lifestyle, you can live as cheap or luxurious as you like. For us we like comforts, like water and electric hookups, and sewer once and a while, Other likes to have a Pool, outside permanent kitchens, and onsite luxuries, like wash and fold laundry services. Others Hunker down on BLM Land and see how long they can go without a shower, so they can go longer between water fills, and everything in between.
@@schlz69 Depends on what you are running with I guess. The long high top van has all the amenities except for a shower. But on the west coast I can usually find a river to have a bath in the summer. I do like to get a motel room now and then for a hot shower and to order a pizza. And re-organize stuff.
Great video; have to agree with all. Coming from a career in the Navy, I've learned that I can get to feeling tied down to one location, and we've been in our latest sticks and bricks for over 10 years now as I work towards retiring from my 2nd career. That said, we've been Rving (travel trailer; short duration vacations) for nearly five years and that tends to scratch the itch for the nomadic lifestyle, but we are planning to weigh anchor and head out full time in a few years. Totally agree on your point on real estate ... opportunity cost.
We like your channel and advice. We are experienced tent camper/Overlanders and love being out on the road. We have gone from basic backpacking to solar panels, refrigerator and awning tent on our 4Runner. We now have a small travel trailer and will be heading out West this summer. Knowing camp etiquette and having the correct gear to use your camper and being able to troubleshoot your rig is so important to your overall experience. We look forward to our new travels. We do plan on being off grid when we can. But instead of going to hotels we can use campgrounds with hookups to recharge when we want to be more "civilized"...😃
Believe me, I would rather be RV'ing everyday, but that "work" thing takes away most of my time! Great video, lots of truth, we are planning to do the home course from the NRVTA, and biggest truth of all, once you start RV'ing, it is addictive!
THE BEST video I have seen on this subject...and I have seen hundreds! Your best two: 1) opportunity cost of not owning a home base that appreciates in value. 2) RV TRAVEL is much more expensive than staying in a house or condo, especially if they gain value. Hooray for you (and you gained a new subscriber). I realize your focus is heavily on kids, but informative lifestyle videos like this one are tops with me.
Until my wife retires, we are weekend warriors. We just got back from our last trip and we're ready to go again. The next trip is Friday after thanksgiving. After that, I get to "pickle" the rig for the winter. As Captian and Cheif Engineer, I can take care of 90% of any issues.
Glad to FINALLY see someone speaking the truth here! We live in a "snowbird" destination, we purchased land & chose to homestead after RVing for several yrs. We both have highly skilled jobs and make a good living. I could write a book on seeing poor/elderly people in broken down RVs scattered around the Walmart parking lot or out on BLM land living the "RV LIFE" after selling whatever they had to attempt this lifestyle. Many watched YOU TUBE videos ( Bob Wells is the worst culprit) on spreading misinformation & glamorized living POOR in your vehicle. Folks if you don't have a nest egg, good paying jobs or good pension, this lifestyle is NOT for you! Especially now w/gas & food prices. For those who claim they need sunshine, last time I checked Texas New Mexico & AZ has cheap rental apartments. JS...
@@GratefulGlamper @therealMelB. To be fair to Bob Wells, he is not encouraging RV life, and generally talks about free and cheap options. No, it’s not for me, but he is not saying RV life is cheap, which is what you seem to be saying he says.
In regards to truth #4, you're right, getting RV reservations down south in the winter can be challenging. I'm going to share a little secret here about that. There's an RV park at the Wind Creek Casino in Atmore, Alabama that is usually very easy to get into. They have really nice amenities there including a free shuttle service to the casino's restaurants, movie theater, spa, bowling alley, Starbucks,etc. They don't allow the type of long term stays that snowbirds demand so they have better availability and are quite close to Florida. They are a great fallback plan if you can't get into a Florida RV park right away.
@@williamchristian2361 it changes depending on how long you stay. They give a discount if you stay longer than 3 days, then it's less than $30 per night.
I can't see us going full time. We love the camper life style, but I like having a place with all the tools to fix what the highways do to the camper. This country is beautiful is fun to explore.
I’m planning to get a 5th wheel and park it permanently on my parents land in Florida. They have rv hookups. It will be a lot cheaper than my current rent.
We decided to get into RV lifestyle by purchasing a used class A., we’ve been weekend camping , took it down to the keys, and up the east coast. We are planning on a long trip west in 2024 , but as far as storage goes , I had an RV port installed next to my house and had a 50amp outlet put in , so she’s right next to me so I can do routine repairs and tinkering with it anytime. Love it so far… ps I use your webpage link for planning my trips, love it
We have 2 properties that we Airbnb in New York. We are now just purchasing our first diesel pusher (Country Coach) to live in full time in 2023 while Airbnb-ing our 2 homes. We're definitely looking forward to seeing what happens. I look at it as either : "this worked out great! OR "damn, that sucked but at least we tried". I'll keep you posted. Very good info here and glad I watched.
Really enjoy your videos! Keep them coming! We have been RVing since 1989 and we have learned a lot of what y’all are talking about, the hard way! Hard knocks of experience!
At 4:35 you are talking about unrealized capital gains. In fact you will not have that money in your pocket until you sell the asset and by that time the market will probably fluctuate. Thank you for the video!
I live in southern Louisiana and leaving on I10 is the worst. 😂😂 But I am smiling the whole time I am leaving the state! And yes RVing is totally addictive. Thanks for all your tips. Safe travels.
We LOVE LOVE LOVE our RV.....it's a 37' fifth wheel. we take it once a year from Ontario to Alberta to see our kids and grandkids. I'm ready to retire and do a lot more of this, but my wife says she still would like to work a couple more years.......so I guess i'll have to wait. :) We go out with our trailer every chance we get.....almost every weekend in the summer....right now it's in storage until april.......we sure can't wait to get her back home. Love your videos.......
Probably your best video in 5 years. A very honest look at this lifestyle without the Rose colored glasses. We absolutely love it, however, it still has a lot of warts and I do not feel like most people just getting into it understand that. Heading to Canada in June for 3 weeks, so the warts don't slow us down at all.
It is a Life Style you have to commit to. You have to realistically look at cost of Driving(gas, tires,oil) You have to eat in the RV not go out to eat every night, You have to consider Hotel Cost VS RV Payment, Fuel Cost, RV Campground Cost.. I do agree I would rather stay in our RV than in a hotel especially if we are moving every few days. Free Breakfast Buffet and Sometimes Free Evening Snack/Meals like Drury Inn … Pack snacks for lunch … Car/SUV/ Pickup all get much better fuel economy …
Food costs don't have to be more in traveling. You still have to eat in a sticks and bricks, too and we eat basically the same doing both. The only real difference is being able to buy in bulk or not.
Good evening Grateful Glamper. These videos just keep getting better and better. Thanks for a tour of your life on the road tourng the country in an RV camper.
My wife and I are retiring into an RV in a couple of years. Of course, we are watching the RV videos now to prepare. We are pretty sure that we are going to be able to live cheaper in the RV because we are not planning to travel all the time. We have family in a couple of states, so a visit once a year, twice if there's a special occasion, is all we plan to do. My oldest child lives on 20 acres in rural Montana. They are building a pad for our trailer with water and electric near their house, but not so close that we old folks are constantly underfoot. But we will spend the largest part of the summer with them ... rent free. Still have to pay for propane and we promised to kick in for our share of the electric, so not altogether free. Water is on a well, so that's taken care of. During the winter we found a place in another state where it is somewhat warmer than Montana. We have already started making payments on a spot there. We'll pay it off when we sell the house. That takes care of 9 months of the year. We'll travel the rest.
@@CouplescienceIsn’t that the truth! Between COVID shutdown and life circumstances, our MH has seen next to no use for 3 years. It’s an old camper, but had been really reliable. Now I’ve been trying to ressurect it since mid May, and there’s still more to go, it’s been fix x & y breaks, fix Y and Z breaks. I’m thankful I can do much of the work myself.
My philosophy covers this in this old saying..."No matter how far you go, no matter how long it took you to get there, No matter how hard it was, There YOU are !
Western U. S. Has a lot of NATIONAL FOREST camping, Up to 14 days free if you can reach ti. Can save a lot of money by not staying in private costly campgrounds. You do have to prep for off grid though and have a capable rig.
Love your comments about opportunity costs. I look at RVing as a season of life. I don’t want to be older, ready to settle down in a house and not to able to afford it. We are fortunate enough to have a rental attached to our house, so we use that to cover house expenses while travelling. We have considered moving into the smaller rental and renting out the primary house.
Going thru Denver? Forget it! This past summer we absolutely avoided the area..the roads are like riding a bucking bronc and I think they enjoy always being under construction just for fun! One more thing…After breaking camp at our full hookup CO campsite we go to annually with friends…15 minutes on the road bound for home AN ELK JUMPS OUT AND KERR-PLUNK…YES, we hit a cow elk. Thankfully our coach motor wasn’t damaged so that we could drive home…but the battery and its cage was damaged along with front end. Armed with bungie cords and come-alongs we did look like the Beverly Hillbilly’s but we made it hone safely. This description doesn’t include a water pipe that vibrated loose from travel, or shower doors that go caddy-wampuss from vibrations. Or the fact that the AC quit completely. NO ONE BUYS AN RV FOR GREAT GAS MILEAGE OR FOR SAVING MONEY…🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣…but it has given us some great enjoyment!
I may be an exception of the rule, because I hate being in my apartment life, I do not like being in Los Angeles, since the traffic is high stress. I've been paying someone rent for years, us adding all utilities and trash pick up costs. Anyway, I'm retiring soon. I do not mind boondocking, as long as I get prepared ahead. When I have taken road trips, I feel more energized, I love outdoors, hiking, etc, and it will just be me. I am very excited about this adventure! Thanks for sharing your tips!!
Hmmm, We lived full time on the road for 10 years. It can indeed be more expensive than a home depending on how much you have to pay on your mortgage and taxes. However the rest of it becomes a routine. Great life!
I am one of the many travel professionals that travels in my fifth wheel for work. I’ve had others question me about “Isn’t it cheaper to travel in an RV?” I caution then to do their research first. Yes, it’s great to travel with your own stuff. Yes, I don’t have trouble finding a place to rent that allows my fur babies. But just like when you own a house, if something breaks than it’s up to you to fix/pay a professional.
I AGREE WITH SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS ! BUT WE DIDNT STAY IN PARKS ALL THE TIME ! ONCE IN AWHILE ! MOSTLY WE WERE OUT IN NATURE !! AND YES MY HUSBAND DID MAINTAINANCE ON OU= RV !
Fuel only adds up if you are constantly moving. If you stay in one place and move monthly or be weekly it isn’t that bad. Same for food. You are going to have food in a stick and bricks home just like you would in an RV.
Absolutely love your videos and your humor, very valuable and very well stated! These are pearls of wisdom that comes with experience. Appreciate this dose of reality.
Hey guys, thanks for your videos. We are from Toronto, just came back from Myrtle Beach, many trips in US, Canada and Brazil. Hope we can meet you guys one day. Let me know when you guys come to the GTA. Cheers,
An alternative to hauling around a giant house on wheels and being stuck in crowded, depressing campgrounds is to stick to a much smaller camper capable of boondocking anywhere, ditch the flat screen, spend some time outdoors. The thought of dragging all that crap around just so you can sit in a BarcaLounger in front of a 60 inch screen kind of makes me ill.
If you think it’s like living at home and can’t plan ahead for your route where you are going to stay along the route in short if you don’t plan its on you! Fuel is your most significant cost. We stay in one place for around a month and check on where were going to stay first! Every RV store or service is so far out of reality from the real cost of materials and labor consider those as well! Doing it yourself is highly advised!
We purchased a 30’ travel trailer right before COVID. Within a year the campgrounds were filled with people that were not campers, but rather “homeless” families. It changed the entire experience. Prices went up and availability was nearly impossible. Worst part was that the people had no clue about etiquette. We sold our trailer for more than we paid and never looked back.
I understand that RVing is not for everyone. The easiest way to put this is you can't live in a RV like you do a sticks and bricks home. If you are trying to do that then yes it can be more expensive. However if you live like a true nomad then it is a lot cheaper. It's all in how you choose to live. Also if a camp ground is going to charge for every little thing like package delivery then put them on black list and let them know why...soon they will stop charging. Thank you for your advice however.
Totally disagree about package delivery, our RV Park is not a UPS Store or an Amazon warehouse but you wouldn't know it by the looks of it. We have to pay full time people to manage the packages people have delivered to us. We are going to start charging to help offset the cost of the personnel and possibly encourage people to send their packages someplace else for pickup. Amazon has turned it into a nightmare for us so we hope to make it go away.
This was a great intro to RV life! My fiancé (soon to be husband) and I are planning on RVing soon after the wedding and are prepping for the next 9 months before we pull the trigger! Any advice is amazing, so I'm happy to go through these great vids!
Hello Claire, we are also new to the RV scene so we have limited experience. We bought a small Class B (Rize model 18G) in September, and I'll admit we chose that mostly on price. Mind you, we're both short so the 18 feet is adequate. I also don't think we are RVers as such: we got the van to travel, and it's great that we can sleep in it, but most stops will be overnight only. We took a 10-day road trip right after Thanksgiving to sight-see and get used to van camping. Nothing adventurous: we have a KOA membership, and stayed in those most nights (really like having bathrooms and showers). The next time out we might try boondocking a little, maybe an odd night at "Boondockers Welcome" or "Harvest Home" site. However, our van has a cassette toilet and only a small gray water tank so for us the on-board facilities are for backup; boondocking will be an occasional option. But it's fun. We really enjoy being on the road, the van affords a great view, and it's a comfortable "tent on wheels." As you said, these vids are great for starting smart. We really hope you enjoy your RVing!
Thx for listing. Your points are valid for most. Especially if you sell your real estate. If you have never owned real estate, then perhaps this life style could be method to build your wealth. Thx for posting
Great video thanks, we live full time on a Leopard Catamran and have talked about what to do once we are done. The similarities are amazing. We rarely go into Marin’s so find a place to park is easier, we are in the Bahamas and have even anchored off the Statue of Liberty but so many other pros and cons are the same.Mi will say that it can be cheaper on a boat given the amount of sailing we do, and unless we tie up at a dock or occasionally take a mouring ball every night is free. I will share your video with people we mentor you have articulated some great points.
Well said, you are hitting it on the nail. As a person with a background in accounting, well said! But getting out and about this country is a wonderful experience. I have been looking for a Prevost since Covid started, as we all know Rv prices have gone thru the roof. So I will wait until we get back to normal, but. traveling this great country is wonderful and should always be enjoyed.
Cost always depends on what you decide to spend, I would never stay in a rented RV space, I also built my 30 foot travel trailer from the frame up. I built my first lawn mower at 8 yo, and my first car at 12. So it is better than anyone can buy and cost 80,000 dollars less, and I can repair any issues. I can power my air conditioner and washing machine at the same time! So costs depend on skills, needs, and your desires to have. Enjoy your videos, see you out there
I just want to say I’ve been watching your videos now for a long time usually watch on TV so I don’t often comment But I just wanted to say thank you so much for all that you do I just had a van turned into a camper and will be traveling periodically. I live in Staten Island New York And I really liked your videos about the Northeast so thank you
When i retired at age 55 we bought a big top end 5th wheel camper and a New F350 Diesel truck. Turned out the RV was junk. It literally fell apart on our first trip out west. Had countless problems that ranged from the fresh water fill line did not have a hose clamp on the end that dumped into the holding tank. This caused it all to spill out in the RV's under belly. Also had several fixtures come apart inside the RV when traveling plus the onboard generator would not start at our destination due to a pinched wire from being installed improperly. The list goes on and on. We made 3 trips with it and ended up selling it and took a real beating! The stress of the continuous problems with it took all the fun out of travelling ! Good news was the F350 was a great truck and i still have it.
Great video. I’ve never camped in an RV (only tent camped in my Boy Scout days. Purchasing some form of RV is something I’m considering someday. I want to rent both a travel trailer as well as a Class C motorhome first several times to make sure that this is the lifestyle I want to pursue. First time viewing your channel. Nice job.
I am getting addicted and wish we could do one long weekend a month. But we also want some longer trips to places further away. Not ready to retire or full-time, so it can be sad to be limited.
Agree 100% on "opportunity cost". Scary to give up potential home equity by selling home to buy an RV. (Buy a cheaper RV and rent out your home.) Will you have to pay rent for the rest of your life? Also, you can learn how to fix many RV issues on TH-cam.
I enjoy your videos. You have a lot of helpful advice. We are sometimers because we both work and we only get to go for a week or weekends. I want to travel much more when we retire, but we will keep a home base for sure. It is addictive for sure. I never even wanted an RV but my husband did. We ended up buying a used camper 26' BH to see if we would like it......I am addicted. I LOVE our camper. We've done a lot of things to it to make it more "our taste" and we put a lot of money into it, but you are so right about things breaking all the time. I need to learn more about our camper so I can help with fixing things. Keep up the great videos!!
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regarding fixing yout life> there is more simpkle explanation/ if you take your brains with you no matter where will u ,be how you will be its gonna get you
Can i ask about how u are able to be intiment with your hubby. With children in the same area?
I've been full-timing since 2017 and it cured my depression. What triggers my depression is certain types of routine. Sticks and bricks is like a broken record. The same thing over and over. I need new things very often. Even though there are routines in moving that routine is worth it to see something new. Plus the sun helps my depression also. There's no way I coulda got mentally whole by staying in place.
Yes this!! I’m so happy to read that someone else has the same feelings. I’m in the depression phase of owning sticks and breaks and so ready to be done with it. I hate every minute of it, living the same mundane existence every single day…We have our rv and truck, last step is selling the house which should be easy but I have two grown ‘children’ 22 & 19 than need to get out and one of them guilting me for it. They are WAY too comfortable. Sorry Mom is done!
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YES YES YES!! THANK YOU- glad to hear this from others as well -- when I'm home it the monotony of working all day and then what I called, "2nd shift" of working all night on chores, errands, etc. in the PM - feel the life being sucked out of me and time passing by so fast with no rest at all-- weekends full of more chores, projects, "have to" visits of family, friends - not that I don't love any of them but it was the only time to visit etc.
@@hkitty9848 100% yes! It’s always something. I can’t wait to get out of the every day rat race: don’t get me wrong I still have to work but I get to control where I work from and what my scenery will be. Yes please!!
I second this. Do you have ADHD too? Lol
While I agree in part to some of your points, being a full timer going on 6 years you definitely have had a different experience then we have had. First finding parks hasn’t been an issue, but then again our tendency is to only travel 6000-7000 miles per year. So we stay longer in one spot rather then the “thousand trails” model. (Personal opinion here - WHY? The last thing I want to do is move every week or two) Second on break downs, while our rig was brand new when we started out, we purchased what we believed was a “quality RV”. Yes we had the initial punch list of issues at first, however after that our issues have really been small. All that being said, I address any problems immediately for the most part so they don’t grow into much larger issues. Yes I work on my own rig. To me successful full timing requires planning, preparation, patience, the ability to adapt, and perseverance.
It’s not uncommon for people to book 8 months plus out to get a spot in the state parks here in Arizona. It’s probably less about how often you move and more of where you want to move to.
Buying a brand new rig bought you time, and you have learned how to look after things as they’ve cropped up. But unless you buy another brand new rig, your future will tend toward more and bigger repairs. If you are able to trade in for new again, great. I bought a 10 year old rig. I saved 20-30 grand up front, but I totally expected to work some of those savings off in sweat equity and inconvenience.
People like me need people like you to upgrade so there’s well-maintained older rigs we can afford to buy. 😊
@@markoshun while I don’t disagree as the trailer ages there is a possibility of more repairs. However buying a “quality” (if that is possible) rig to begin with lessens that chance. I believe staying in place longer lessens that chance as you are moving less, but at the same time utilizing all the systems. It is a balancing act in my opinion. Also, I have no inclination to sell our rig until that time we can’t move anymore or decide to find a “permanent” place. I have always maintained it will be my coffin!
@@ricklodin2068 Ha! Well maybe I can buy your nicely maintained rig then? Seriously, sounds like you’ve got a good thing going. My first year on the road and only semi-retired, but stay in the rv full time. Lots to learn. Lots of tweaking and customizing. I’m with you on the moving, except for the winter trips down south and back, I probably won’t put many miles on the rest of the time.
I would love to know what brand you bought? I don't expect to have no issues but i would love to hear a good recommendation of a brand to look at! TIA!!
@@sarahseevinck8470 I have a Landmark Oshkosh. Unfortunately that particular model is discontinued and while I’m not 100%, I’m hearing that only the cabinet doors are all wood now. Mine are all wood cabinets. Also, while I had exceptional customer service for the factory for my warranty work, I won’t guarantee someone else would have the same experience. The problem with forums (and the internet) is most of the time it is just the disgruntled person who writes.
My take on this is that there are 2 types of full-timers: those who live in big RV's where no expense is spared, and those who pinch pennies. The latter tend to live in smaller RV's or vehicles and boondock most, if not all of the time. When you eliminate or reduce significantly camping and fuel costs, that changes the financial picture significantly. If you are able to make repairs that also helps.
RVing will not, as you’ve pointed out, fix any personal/marital/family issues, but it can bring people closer together because RVing has to involve partnership and full engagement. I do like my husband better when we’re RVing because he has to be engaged in the process. However, if he resented having to be more responsible, it wouldn’t work. We’ve been full time traveling RVers for 3 years now and we’ve had the joy and privilege of seeing/learning about this beautiful country of ours. We are truly blessed.
Let's be real here, if anything RVing is gonna cause those issues, lol
Drove from Los Angeles to Portland in my Excursion on a 1 week trip. Went hiking and visited a bunch of great places on the California and Oregon coast. I slept in my truck all week, I didn't know what I was getting into since this was my 1st time doing anything like this. I learn some things along the way. The point is things won't be all glamorous like some videos you see but if you never get out and do it for yourself you'll never know.
Very true, thanks for watching
Full-time RVing has helped me to have a much better quality of life. I was diagnosed with progressive Multiple Sclerosis along with Trigeminal Neuralgia and had to be fitted for a new wheelchair, end my work career, and shut down my company. I reached a point where I was just sitting alone in my basement of a big house in NC, staring at walls with no one to interact with 😳 My service dog Max and I are now able to just go outside and see neighbors or meet new campers as they move through. Wife and I bought a fifth wheel RV and sold everything we had filled that big house with and moved to Florida. The weather is much better for my pain, and we have way less to worry about since I used to do all the repairs and maintenance on our house before I fell ill. We have made so many new friends and Max is pretty famous around here, lol. Live by the water now, and the view is way nicer than from that basement too! Our relationship is much better RVing, but everyone has different needs and goals in life. For us, it has literally been life changing for the better, and we enjoy what we have together while I still can! Don't wait to do the things you want to do, because you may not be able to do them later. 😎👍 🇺🇲
I am 51, solo empty nester, full time rv nomad since Jan 2019. I live in a 2019 Jayco Northpoint just shy of 45 ft toy hauler. I have 2 adult kids in college. I love my rv nomad life. I have truly enjoyed your videos. I lived in Colorado for over 20 years. Your video is spot on!! Keep up the great vidoes!! Cheers!!
Hi!! I am 55yr old single just bought a 2022 cougar 290RLS (yes chuckle out loud at the irony 😂). My dream is to travel full time, but scared to death about it. The upkeep, being able to do it all by myself, etc. Any advice or friendship would be much appreciated ❤️
Thanks for watching and best wishes
Two of the biggest surprises for me when I began thinking about RVing was the expense and availability of a campground.
I recall the days of when I was a kid in the mid 60's to early 70's. I dont ever recall my parents complaining about the cost or finding a camping spot. Actually the reason we were able to travel to all the places we did was because of the expense of an RV vs a room!!!
I didnt realize the cost now of a camping spot was so expensive, sometimes very close to what a room would cost!!! Add to that the cost of an RV, insurance, maintenance, higher fuel expense, driving comfort, etc.
Dry camping at free camp spots will reduce the cost greatly. A good solar setup with a change in lifestyle on power usage will aid in the cost.
We traveled in an RV for about three years. We hosted at a couple of parks (national) and loved some time on BLM land. I think the expense depends on your lifestyle. We were definitely living much cheaper in an RV than we were in a mortgaged house. We had an annual pass for NM State Parks - big savings, and stayed in one area for a couple of weeks hiking and exploring. We also used a travel trailer, not a motor coach. We loved it.
We RV'd for 5 years. We had a blast. We also experienced each of your truths. We stopped during COVID. Eventually selling motorhome because it was all too much. Great video. Wish I had watched it 8 years ago.
Great honest information. Your comment: “We value the experiences together above all” says it all.
As Carson (of Downton Abby) says, “In the end, memories are all we have”. Your family will talk about your RV time together…forever.
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Spent ten weeks every summer in an RV. From 1974-1986. Loved it. I do remember broken down in Utah for 3 days waiting on a part that cost $1. For whatever reason that one stuck with me.
Great vlog. I have used Amazon hub locations or lockers for packages away from home. RV on!
Full time since 2018, Bounder 35E. Best truths I could recommend, concur the essentials in the RV, LG 4.5 washer/dryer, Samsung RF18 fridge, Dyson V11, Ceramic toilet, 32x42 shower, real couch, Fire stick on cell plans.
Nice list. I will have to copy this to my phone for future reference, or you can sell me your old busted wore out rig for $.10 on the dollar. Jking
My rv days are long over, but no one should buy one before taking this video to heart, and perhaps renting one before buying. Our best vacations were in the r.v.. It is so nice to find your toothbrush in the same place and not having to pack up every few days. Great advice!
Excellent advice, Linda. No matter what it cost, before taking the plunge to go full-time,…..rent and try it out, thirty days sounds like a good minimum of time to see if
The marriage can take the pressures.
I spend as much as 4 months of the year in a camper to save lodging expenses as I work in far-flung places for a few weeks at a time. I agree with almost 100% of what you are saying. And I can wholly agree that it's nice to come home to a solid house (mortgage paid off!) at the end of each season.
With respect to RVs breaking all the time... true. It's not a hobby for someone who doesn't know how to use basic tools. RVs are made to be lightweight and durable enough for occasional use. If you're full-timing, expect to do repairs often. Bringing your own stuff includes one of my favorites... your own _clean bathroom._ It's a game changer, because anywhere you can park safely you can use the onboard facilities. No waiting! We're not full-timers, but we travel with a small trailer a few times a year.
I used to tent camp every summer. Also, my grandparents owned a plot of land in the northern Mitten part of Michigan and they parked an old camper on it and we'd go up there once or twice a summer as well. I'm longing to RV when my husband retires and really enjoy your videos. Give it all to me, good and bad. You guys are great. ❤️
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Good video, also consider there are different ways to camp that don't involve paying for campgrounds ever, but they do involve being totally self contained for your energy needs- solar panels etc. Many people make it a hobby of traveling and never paying for camping by finding spots in National and State Forests and Army Corps of Engineer campgrounds. Basically they are just a place to park in the woods or dessert that have a fire ring and pretty much nothing else (no electricity, water, flush toilets, picnic table or camp fee).
At 34 years old, and retiring in 4 years from now, I'm excited to start my full time RV life. I'm lucky enough to have friends and family all over the country to crash with and not have to worry too much on campgrounds. And being a mechanic for 15 years in the military, I can definitely handle maintenance issues should/when they arise. Great video. I definitely wrote down some notes!
That is really lucky, WOW, That is what is stopping me from traveling west & I would love to see Yellowstone & such places! I am scared though cause my family is all on the East coast. Thanks for serving 91 B's are pretty kewl. Lol. I was just an 68w. I was curious though, what would you suggest for getting over fears to head west or how to find good campgrounds. I really want to do it one day. 🥳
@@tiffanylubeck3505 I held two MOS's in the army, 13F and 91B. 91B was a combat medic when I was in. I went to Ft. Sam Houston for ten weeks for that school for the reserves. I ended up having to convert to active duty due to hardship and they made me change my MOS to 13F. Weird situation. Anyway, I'm curious what Matty is doing that he can retire at 38. I'm 44 and I'm still paying my mortgage for another 17 years.
I've never used them but Amazon offers drop locations. I would look into how they work, how secure, any size limits. and how long they can stay. They were created so packages won't get stolen off your porch.
Just drove to Portland for an away game, slept in my Excursion the whole week for the trip. Shower in gyms and truck stops. All the truck stops had the amazon lockers.
We have used them on occasion. Timing is still important as you have ~3 days to get them out of the locker. I always try and order 2 days prior to being at a location and then choose the option to place all (or most of) the items in one shipment.
Hehe, core memory for me. Worked 5 summers in the postal service. Lots of cabins and stuff like that on my route which was more or less unregistered and sometimes even without roads. Had several cases of "how did you even find us!?" When I delivered a package.
Bahaha. RV life may be expensive, but Van life is not. :) But I won't pay for campgrounds. I either overnight in parking lots or hit public land. Much cheaper. I spend less than 1500 a month for my food, gas, internet (Which might go up a bit when I get starlink, but still.) Mobile life is as cheap or expensive as you make it. I know plenty of folks living on less than 1k a month and travelling regularly. Just camp public land. Get solar, learn to manage your water. It's not hard. I work full time, travel, put money away, pay child support, and I'm not stressing at all. The hardest part of it is working around my youngest kid and his life, but with homeschool he can travel with me part of the time.
I think there is a lot of truths in both of what you two say. I know quite a few full-time and part-time travels who travel fairly cheap most of the time, and some who don't because they prefer the finer things. I feel most are probably somewhere in between though. I feel like most of the ones that really struggle are ones that want to go everywhere and see everything or those with no real way to sustain themselves on the road monetarily. You said you were still working, while others are retired getting social security or a pension. Some have saved for years and are careful with how and where they spend their money. I don't think I'd be cut-out to ever do this full-time, nor do I think I'd ever really want to. I will say that I more prefer your approach then I do others. I wouldn't be above staying somewhere a little more expensive like a hotel or campground if say the weather was too bad, but I wouldn't want to make a habit of it either. Not every campground is that expensive either though monthly. Just depends on where you are or go. 👍
@@artdogg50 True. But just to throw out the 'It's expensive' trope is misleading. Sure, it can be as expensive as you want, 'camping' at exclusive RV parks in a million dollar rig, eating high end food, drinking fine wines, but at the other end there are plenty of folks out there living pretty comfortably on less than 1k a month, camping on public land, enjoying life, and there's everything in between.
@@Canthus13 I agree with you again. I think my main worries would be getting a reliable vehicle, not trying to tow anything. The others would be figuring out a way to stay cool in the hot summer or warm on cool or outright cold nights. The latter part is where I feel people struggle sometimes the most. I think the rest can be figured out if your careful with your money and open to try different things when it comes to finding somewhere to sleep, economically or free.
RVing might be good for those with seasonal depression this way they can always follow the sun those with the emotional issues this is a very hard life and can make matters worse. It is very important to have a support group if you plan to do this so that you always have a rescue. It’s kind of your very own 811. I’ve learned this through experience.
I just hopped my RV from North Carolina to Arizona, and your comment about I-10 and Louisiana gave me flashbacks. The whole stretch from Alabama through Mississippi had me wondering whether they’ve ever fully repaved a road.
It’s crazy how roughy that road is, thanks for watching
We were full time for 2 years. Not by choice though. We were priced out. However, having an RV to live in is a great "insurance" plan for an impossible housing market. We used our RV to move across country and now own a regular house. That being said, being able to access military campgrounds was a godsend. Private campgrounds have been gentrified. Military campgrounds are still affordable. Also we are handy. We had to pay for a roof rebuild, but mostly did other things ourselves. So glad you are putting this out there to dispell the myths of RV life.
Thanks for watching and best wishes
Thanks!
Agree with everything you say. However I would add another large cost factor; depreciation. Especially if you bought a new rig.
Very true!
I think the cost is dependent on where you’re living. We are going full time in two weeks and our rent is currently almost $3000 for a modest 2br apartment. We will be traveling full time but our rig is able to boondock for a week at a time.
our rent was $2401/mo plus utilities, so anything under $81/night is break even, there are other costs though. We hit the road June 27th, and our average per night is around $32, we stay for about a week and move 3-4 hours. currently we are at a state park in New Mexico, with water and electric, for $15.71/night, and its a great park. The costs climb fast if you have to stay in big rig friendly locations, like RV resorts that can easily be $90+/night. we have a 37' TT so not a small rig, but we fit in many State Parks, and for us they are way more comfortable than private campgrounds where your slides almost touch the neighbors awning
@@schlz69 wanted to second Scott’s advice. I arrived at a number around $90 a day. We try to stay in state parks and almost always boondock when transiting. Remember to spread the fuel cost to get over the stay.
I have spent about $600 this year so far for Campground stays, which is a lot for me. I am not retired so I still have to work but only about 6 months of the year. During the winter months I am dry camping in warmer areas. I have a travel trailer which is much simpler and cheaper to maintain than a massive class A. You only spend a lot of money because you choose to spend a lot of money.
@@martyengler8444 To each their own, thats the great thing about this lifestyle, you can live as cheap or luxurious as you like. For us we like comforts, like water and electric hookups, and sewer once and a while, Other likes to have a Pool, outside permanent kitchens, and onsite luxuries, like wash and fold laundry services. Others Hunker down on BLM Land and see how long they can go without a shower, so they can go longer between water fills, and everything in between.
@@schlz69 Depends on what you are running with I guess. The long high top van has all the amenities except for a shower. But on the west coast I can usually find a river to have a bath in the summer. I do like to get a motel room now and then for a hot shower and to order a pizza. And re-organize stuff.
We found many parks to be as crowded as apartment complexes. We hated it. We tended to avoid major highways, cities and touristy areas.
Great video; have to agree with all. Coming from a career in the Navy, I've learned that I can get to feeling tied down to one location, and we've been in our latest sticks and bricks for over 10 years now as I work towards retiring from my 2nd career. That said, we've been Rving (travel trailer; short duration vacations) for nearly five years and that tends to scratch the itch for the nomadic lifestyle, but we are planning to weigh anchor and head out full time in a few years. Totally agree on your point on real estate ... opportunity cost.
Thanks for wasting and thank you for your service!
I don't have an RV but I have my CDL and yes I love seeing the mountains and the ocean and the trees from my office haha!!!
We like your channel and advice. We are experienced tent camper/Overlanders and love being out on the road. We have gone from basic backpacking to solar panels, refrigerator and awning tent on our 4Runner. We now have a small travel trailer and will be heading out West this summer. Knowing camp etiquette and having the correct gear to use your camper and being able to troubleshoot your rig is so important to your overall experience. We look forward to our new travels. We do plan on being off grid when we can. But instead of going to hotels we can use campgrounds with hookups to recharge when we want to be more "civilized"...😃
Awesome, thanks for watching
Believe me, I would rather be RV'ing everyday, but that "work" thing takes away most of my time! Great video, lots of truth, we are planning to do the home course from the NRVTA, and biggest truth of all, once you start RV'ing, it is addictive!
THE BEST video I have seen on this subject...and I have seen hundreds! Your best two: 1) opportunity cost of not owning a home base that appreciates in value. 2) RV TRAVEL is much more expensive than staying in a house or condo, especially if they gain value. Hooray for you (and you gained a new subscriber). I realize your focus is heavily on kids, but informative lifestyle videos like this one are tops with me.
Thanks so much!
Until my wife retires, we are weekend warriors. We just got back from our last trip and we're ready to go again. The next trip is Friday after thanksgiving. After that, I get to "pickle" the rig for the winter. As Captian and Cheif Engineer, I can take care of 90% of any issues.
Glad to FINALLY see someone speaking the truth here! We live in a "snowbird" destination, we purchased land & chose to homestead after RVing for several yrs. We both have highly skilled jobs and make a good living.
I could write a book on seeing poor/elderly people in broken down RVs scattered around the Walmart parking lot or out on BLM land living the "RV LIFE" after selling whatever they had to attempt this lifestyle. Many watched YOU TUBE videos ( Bob Wells is the worst culprit) on spreading misinformation & glamorized living POOR in your vehicle.
Folks if you don't have a nest egg, good paying jobs or good pension, this lifestyle is NOT for you! Especially now w/gas & food prices.
For those who claim they need sunshine, last time I checked Texas New Mexico & AZ has cheap rental apartments. JS...
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@@GratefulGlamper @therealMelB. To be fair to Bob Wells, he is not encouraging RV life, and generally talks about free and cheap options. No, it’s not for me, but he is not saying RV life is cheap, which is what you seem to be saying he says.
In regards to truth #4, you're right, getting RV reservations down south in the winter can be challenging. I'm going to share a little secret here about that. There's an RV park at the Wind Creek Casino in Atmore, Alabama that is usually very easy to get into. They have really nice amenities there including a free shuttle service to the casino's restaurants, movie theater, spa, bowling alley, Starbucks,etc. They don't allow the type of long term stays that snowbirds demand so they have better availability and are quite close to Florida. They are a great fallback plan if you can't get into a Florida RV park right away.
Thanks for sharing
What is the cost to stay at that casino and how long can you stay
@@williamchristian2361 it changes depending on how long you stay. They give a discount if you stay longer than 3 days, then it's less than $30 per night.
Haha. Thanks for mentioning our horrible roads here in Louisiana. Soon as you cross the state lines, you notice.
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I can't see us going full time. We love the camper life style, but I like having a place with all the tools to fix what the highways do to the camper. This country is beautiful is fun to explore.
I’m planning to get a 5th wheel and park it permanently on my parents land in Florida. They have rv hookups. It will be a lot cheaper than my current rent.
We decided to get into RV lifestyle by purchasing a used class A., we’ve been weekend camping , took it down to the keys, and up the east coast. We are planning on a long trip west in 2024 , but as far as storage goes , I had an RV port installed next to my house and had a 50amp outlet put in , so she’s right next to me so I can do routine repairs and tinkering with it anytime. Love it so far… ps I use your webpage link for planning my trips, love it
Awesome!
We have 2 properties that we Airbnb in New York. We are now just purchasing our first diesel pusher (Country Coach) to live in full time in 2023 while Airbnb-ing our 2 homes. We're definitely looking forward to seeing what happens. I look at it as either : "this worked out great! OR "damn, that sucked but at least we tried". I'll keep you posted. Very good info here and glad I watched.
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I wouldn't have gone diesel. JS
@@fordmustang5856 Huh?? Why? Gas gets about 5-6 MPG vs. 9-11 with a diesel. Plus I'm flat towing a 6000+ lb GMC 4X4 Siera. Gas would never make it.
Really enjoy your videos! Keep them coming! We have been RVing since 1989 and we have learned a lot of what y’all are talking about, the hard way! Hard knocks of experience!
At 4:35 you are talking about unrealized capital gains. In fact you will not have that money in your pocket until you sell the asset and by that time the market will probably fluctuate. Thank you for the video!
great vid, your a great speaker and thanks
I live in southern Louisiana and leaving on I10 is the worst. 😂😂 But I am smiling the whole time I am leaving the state! And yes RVing is totally addictive. Thanks for all your tips. Safe travels.
Thanks and thanks for watching
We LOVE LOVE LOVE our RV.....it's a 37' fifth wheel. we take it once a year from Ontario to Alberta to see our kids and grandkids. I'm ready to retire and do a lot more of this, but my wife says she still would like to work a couple more years.......so I guess i'll have to wait. :) We go out with our trailer every chance we get.....almost every weekend in the summer....right now it's in storage until april.......we sure can't wait to get her back home.
Love your videos.......
Thanks for watching
Probably your best video in 5 years. A very honest look at this lifestyle without the Rose colored glasses. We absolutely love it, however, it still has a lot of warts and I do not feel like most people just getting into it understand that. Heading to Canada in June for 3 weeks, so the warts don't slow us down at all.
It is a Life Style you have to commit to. You have to realistically look at cost of Driving(gas, tires,oil) You have to eat in the RV not go out to eat every night, You have to consider Hotel Cost VS RV Payment, Fuel Cost, RV Campground Cost.. I do agree I would rather stay in our RV than in a hotel especially if we are moving every few days. Free Breakfast Buffet and Sometimes Free Evening Snack/Meals like Drury Inn … Pack snacks for lunch … Car/SUV/ Pickup all get much better fuel economy …
Food costs don't have to be more in traveling. You still have to eat in a sticks and bricks, too and we eat basically the same doing both. The only real difference is being able to buy in bulk or not.
Good evening Grateful Glamper. These videos just keep getting better and better. Thanks for a tour of your life on the road tourng the country in an RV camper.
These are just extremely financially wise people. Definitely the kind of parents I dreamed of having and the kind I aspire to be💞
Awesome Truths, thank you
My wife and I are retiring into an RV in a couple of years. Of course, we are watching the RV videos now to prepare. We are pretty sure that we are going to be able to live cheaper in the RV because we are not planning to travel all the time. We have family in a couple of states, so a visit once a year, twice if there's a special occasion, is all we plan to do. My oldest child lives on 20 acres in rural Montana. They are building a pad for our trailer with water and electric near their house, but not so close that we old folks are constantly underfoot. But we will spend the largest part of the summer with them ... rent free. Still have to pay for propane and we promised to kick in for our share of the electric, so not altogether free. Water is on a well, so that's taken care of. During the winter we found a place in another state where it is somewhat warmer than Montana. We have already started making payments on a spot there. We'll pay it off when we sell the house. That takes care of 9 months of the year. We'll travel the rest.
@@CouplescienceIsn’t that the truth! Between COVID shutdown and life circumstances, our MH has seen next to no use for 3 years. It’s an old camper, but had been really reliable. Now I’ve been trying to ressurect it since mid May, and there’s still more to go, it’s been fix x & y breaks, fix Y and Z breaks. I’m thankful I can do much of the work myself.
My philosophy covers this in this old saying..."No matter how far you go, no matter how long it took you to get there, No matter how hard it was, There YOU are !
Outstanding video! Everyone thinking of a new RV should be required to watch this.
Western U. S. Has a lot of NATIONAL FOREST camping, Up to 14 days free if you can reach ti. Can save a lot of money by not staying in private costly campgrounds. You do have to prep for off grid though and have a capable rig.
Aloha! Great info, thank you! 🙏🏻 We’re about to start our RV journey & learning as much as possible before we go. Hope to see you out there!
Love your comments about opportunity costs. I look at RVing as a season of life. I don’t want to be older, ready to settle down in a house and not to able to afford it. We are fortunate enough to have a rental attached to our house, so we use that to cover house expenses while travelling. We have considered moving into the smaller rental and renting out the primary house.
Good idea - thanks for watching
Going thru Denver? Forget it! This past summer we absolutely avoided the area..the roads are like riding a bucking bronc and I think they enjoy always being under construction just for fun!
One more thing…After breaking camp at our full hookup CO campsite we go to annually with friends…15 minutes on the road bound for home AN ELK JUMPS OUT AND KERR-PLUNK…YES, we hit a cow elk. Thankfully our coach motor wasn’t damaged so that we could drive home…but the battery and its cage was damaged along with front end. Armed with bungie cords and come-alongs we did look like the Beverly Hillbilly’s but we made it hone safely.
This description doesn’t include a water pipe that vibrated loose from travel, or shower doors that go caddy-wampuss from vibrations. Or the fact that the AC quit completely.
NO ONE BUYS AN RV FOR GREAT GAS MILEAGE OR FOR SAVING MONEY…🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣…but it has given us some great enjoyment!
It’s all part of the experience- thanks for the comment
Agree. When we bought our RV, the MPG question never entered my mind. If you’re concerned about MPG, maybe this is not the lifestyle for you.
I may be an exception of the rule, because I hate being in my apartment life, I do not like being in Los Angeles, since the traffic is high stress. I've been paying someone rent for years, us adding all utilities and trash pick up costs. Anyway, I'm retiring soon. I do not mind boondocking, as long as I get prepared ahead. When I have taken road trips, I feel more energized, I love outdoors, hiking, etc, and it will just be me. I am very excited about this adventure! Thanks for sharing your tips!!
Thanks for watching
Hmmm, We lived full time on the road for 10 years. It can indeed be more expensive than a home depending on how much you have to pay on your mortgage and taxes. However the rest of it becomes a routine. Great life!
Thank you for the insight. Very interesting and helpful.
Thanks for watching
I am one of the many travel professionals that travels in my fifth wheel for work. I’ve had others question me about “Isn’t it cheaper to travel in an RV?” I caution then to do their research first. Yes, it’s great to travel with your own stuff. Yes, I don’t have trouble finding a place to rent that allows my fur babies. But just like when you own a house, if something breaks than it’s up to you to fix/pay a professional.
But how do you make money while traveling and full-time?
Good video very realistic and helping people understand what this lifestyle can throw at you.
Dang! You are really smart. Thank you for this information.
You are as brutally honest as can be. That's a good thing! :)
Thank you!
I AGREE WITH SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS ! BUT WE DIDNT STAY IN PARKS ALL THE TIME ! ONCE IN AWHILE ! MOSTLY WE WERE OUT IN NATURE !! AND YES MY HUSBAND DID MAINTAINANCE ON OU= RV !
Fuel only adds up if you are constantly moving. If you stay in one place and move monthly or be weekly it isn’t that bad. Same for food. You are going to have food in a stick and bricks home just like you would in an RV.
Many are now quitting the RV life, its just too much work and aggravation.
This is one of the best videos I have seen :) Thank you so much
Absolutely love your videos and your humor, very valuable and very well stated! These are pearls of wisdom that comes with experience. Appreciate this dose of reality.
Thanks so much!
I don't find the humor in this video at all. What she's tacitly telling us is rv'ing is for suckers. In a friendly way of course.
Hey guys, thanks for your videos. We are from Toronto, just came back from Myrtle Beach, many trips in US, Canada and Brazil. Hope we can meet you guys one day. Let me know when you guys come to the GTA. Cheers,
I like your " straight talk"
I ve heard .. where you are, there you are!
Thanks for CAPTIONing too. Yeah
You’re welcome!
An alternative to hauling around a giant house on wheels and being stuck in crowded, depressing campgrounds is to stick to a much smaller camper capable of boondocking anywhere, ditch the flat screen, spend some time outdoors. The thought of dragging all that crap around just so you can sit in a BarcaLounger in front of a 60 inch screen kind of makes me ill.
Interestingly enough we removed all the TVs in our RV…
If you think it’s like living at home and can’t plan ahead for your route where you are going to stay along the route in short if you don’t plan its on you! Fuel is your most significant cost. We stay in one place for around a month and check on where were going to stay first! Every RV store or service is so far out of reality from the real cost of materials and labor consider those as well! Doing it yourself is highly advised!
We purchased a 30’ travel trailer right before COVID. Within a year the campgrounds were filled with people that were not campers, but rather “homeless” families. It changed the entire experience. Prices went up and availability was nearly impossible. Worst part was that the people had no clue about etiquette. We sold our trailer for more than we paid and never looked back.
I understand that RVing is not for everyone. The easiest way to put this is you can't live in a RV like you do a sticks and bricks home. If you are trying to do that then yes it can be more expensive. However if you live like a true nomad then it is a lot cheaper. It's all in how you choose to live. Also if a camp ground is going to charge for every little thing like package delivery then put them on black list and let them know why...soon they will stop charging. Thank you for your advice however.
Thanks for watching
Totally disagree about package delivery, our RV Park is not a UPS Store or an Amazon warehouse but you wouldn't know it by the looks of it. We have to pay full time people to manage the packages people have delivered to us. We are going to start charging to help offset the cost of the personnel and possibly encourage people to send their packages someplace else for pickup. Amazon has turned it into a nightmare for us so we hope to make it go away.
This was a great intro to RV life! My fiancé (soon to be husband) and I are planning on RVing soon after the wedding and are prepping for the next 9 months before we pull the trigger!
Any advice is amazing, so I'm happy to go through these great vids!
Hello Claire, we are also new to the RV scene so we have limited experience. We bought a small Class B (Rize model 18G) in September, and I'll admit we chose that mostly on price. Mind you, we're both short so the 18 feet is adequate. I also don't think we are RVers as such: we got the van to travel, and it's great that we can sleep in it, but most stops will be overnight only.
We took a 10-day road trip right after Thanksgiving to sight-see and get used to van camping. Nothing adventurous: we have a KOA membership, and stayed in those most nights (really like having bathrooms and showers). The next time out we might try boondocking a little, maybe an odd night at "Boondockers Welcome" or "Harvest Home" site. However, our van has a cassette toilet and only a small gray water tank so for us the on-board facilities are for backup; boondocking will be an occasional option.
But it's fun. We really enjoy being on the road, the van affords a great view, and it's a comfortable "tent on wheels."
As you said, these vids are great for starting smart. We really hope you enjoy your RVing!
Thank you for your insights on full time rving
Great video! Thanks
Thanks for watching
Thx for listing. Your points are valid for most. Especially if you sell your real estate. If you have never owned real estate, then perhaps this life style could be method to build your wealth. Thx for posting
Great video thanks, we live full time on a Leopard Catamran and have talked about what to do once we are done. The similarities are amazing. We rarely go into Marin’s so find a place to park is easier, we are in the Bahamas and have even anchored off the Statue of Liberty but so many other pros and cons are the same.Mi will say that it can be cheaper on a boat given the amount of sailing we do, and unless we tie up at a dock or occasionally take a mouring ball every night is free. I will share your video with people we mentor you have articulated some great points.
Thanks so far watching and sharing!
Well said, you are hitting it on the nail. As a person with a background in accounting, well said! But getting out and about this country is a wonderful experience. I have been looking for a Prevost since Covid started, as we all know Rv prices have gone thru the roof. So I will wait until we get back to normal, but. traveling this great country is wonderful and should always be enjoyed.
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Cost always depends on what you decide to spend, I would never stay in a rented RV space, I also built my 30 foot travel trailer from the frame up. I built my first lawn mower at 8 yo, and my first car at 12. So it is better than anyone can buy and cost 80,000 dollars less, and I can repair any issues. I can power my air conditioner and washing machine at the same time! So costs depend on skills, needs, and your desires to have. Enjoy your videos, see you out there
I just want to say I’ve been watching your videos now for a long time usually watch on TV so I don’t often comment But I just wanted to say thank you so much for all that you do
I just had a van turned into a camper and will be traveling periodically. I live in Staten Island
New York And I really liked your videos about the Northeast so thank you
Thank you so much! We had such a great time in the North East! So much we need to go back to see :) Thanks again for watching and for the kind words!
Good information, nice Jeep! Looks like mine!
When i retired at age 55 we bought a big top end 5th wheel camper and a New F350 Diesel truck. Turned out the RV was junk. It literally fell apart on our first trip out west. Had countless problems that ranged from the fresh water fill line did not have a hose clamp on the end that dumped into the holding tank. This caused it all to spill out in the RV's under belly. Also had several fixtures come apart inside the RV when traveling plus the onboard generator would not start at our destination due to a pinched wire from being installed improperly. The list goes on and on. We made 3 trips with it and ended up selling it and took a real beating! The stress of the continuous problems with it took all the fun out of travelling ! Good news was the F350 was a great truck and i still have it.
At least the truck lasted!
Great video. I’ve never camped in an RV (only tent camped in my Boy Scout days. Purchasing some form of RV is something I’m considering someday. I want to rent both a travel trailer as well as a Class C motorhome first several times to make sure that this is the lifestyle I want to pursue. First time viewing your channel. Nice job.
Love your videos!! I am preparing to buy my retirement RV, and all this information is very helpful!!
Glad it was helpful!
I am getting addicted and wish we could do one long weekend a month. But we also want some longer trips to places further away. Not ready to retire or full-time, so it can be sad to be limited.
Agree 100% on "opportunity cost". Scary to give up potential home equity by selling home to buy an RV. (Buy a cheaper RV and rent out your home.) Will you have to pay rent for the rest of your life? Also, you can learn how to fix many RV issues on TH-cam.
Truths … a great presentation.
Thank you . I enjoy your videos. We Rv lots in the good weather . Looking forward to seeing your next video
I enjoy your videos. You have a lot of helpful advice. We are sometimers because we both work and we only get to go for a week or weekends. I want to travel much more when we retire, but we will keep a home base for sure. It is addictive for sure. I never even wanted an RV but my husband did. We ended up buying a used camper 26' BH to see if we would like it......I am addicted. I LOVE our camper. We've done a lot of things to it to make it more "our taste" and we put a lot of money into it, but you are so right about things breaking all the time. I need to learn more about our camper so I can help with fixing things. Keep up the great videos!!
Best wishes!
I watched a handful of your videos and am very glad I found your channel. I follow a half dozen good ones and yours is right up there. Happy travels.
Thanks!
A lot of good info & advice here! And not just for the RV lifestyle, but life in general.