Hi ALL! I'm very excited to join this community! So glad you are here!

Heck, I don't even own a Travel Trailer yet, but I'm hoping to secure one this week. I'm planning on purchasing a Jay Feather 213, it has a slide-out queen and a forward bunk. [Any comments or suggestions more then welcome, hopefully before I buy it]...It will house myself, my 7yr old daughter who I plan to home school, and my 6 lovebirds - which I breed. I will be towing it with a 2500 RAM van which has brand new engine and brand new beefed up transmission and torque converter, unfortunately it's a V6 3.9ltr engine which is why I'm going with the 'Feather'.

Alot of folks call me "tech girl", I seem to have an answer for just about everything computer related. With that said...does one really have to spend FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS for RV internet equipment to get full time internet access from where ever you may park? [I need everywhere internet access since I make my living as a webmaster.]

I plan to live in this trailer full-time for at least the next year. I'm not afraid of the road or parking it, but those around me who care seem scared to death and are verbally trying everything in the book to discourage this "move" I've come up with.I am dead set determined to do this!

Anyways, nice to be here. I'll stop here before I write a new book on myself.

Nice to meet you!

First, welcome to the forum and congratulations on your future plans!

If you are talking about Satellite access while on the road, then the auto-sat setups are in the $5k range. But you can get a manual setup for well under $2k - take a peek here as well as here.

Here is a page that discusses all the options, not just satellite access.

Welcome to the forum.

Hope your plan to get a trailer  works out. Possibly you can help answer questions about computers, that come up on this site from time to time.

Good luck,

Hi CMS,

Welcome to the forum and the RV-Dreams family.  This is a great bunch of people who are becoming fast friends.  As we travel we are sure to bump into each other and have some great times together.  Meeting new people and making new friends is the number one benefit of being a fulltime RVer.

As for your question about internet connection, we use the Merlin S720 air card from Sprint with a Kyrocera router and Wilson Amp with a booster antenna.  The whole set-up costs us less than $700 which we got online from 3-G Store.  The only downfall for this setup is that if there is no cell phone coverage then we will not be able to get on line, but for most our traveling we will have connection.  You can see more information on this on Norm Payne's website http://www.seeya-downtheroad.com.  You'd have to decide if this would meet your business requirements.  The best system, of course, is the satellite system that Howard and Linda use.  They have connectivity almost 100% of the time; however, you get for what you pay for.

We homeschooled our children but lived in sticks and bricks at the time, but I think that fulltime RVing would be a great venue for homeschooling.  Your daughter would be able to visit the places that other students only read about.

You're smart to be thinking in terms of acceptable weights for towing with your van; however, I'm not sure the Jayco will stand up to the rigors of fulltime living.  There are a lot of light weight "bunk house" units now available and don't be afraid to look for a used unit.  There are a lot of good ones out there, but again you do need to stay within the weight limits of the van.  Checkout http://www.rvseach.com to get and idea of what is available and the price ranges.

Good Luck and be sure to keep checking in with RV-Dreams to get your questions answered.

Darrell

We have internet satellite on a tripod and it cost $1500 Canadian. We pay $89.99 per month (also Canadian). So, no you don't have to pay $5000 but you have to be certified as an installed for the tripod type so go to someone who knows that you have an RV and will be mobile. Sandra

Hi Birdhaus, I think you might have problems from both ends of your choice. The trailer is probably not suitable for fulltiming and the truck probably isn't powerful enough to tow it. You can find out about the truck by downloading the appropriate Towing Guide from http://www.trailerlife.com/output.cfm?id=42175 Look up your year, model, engine, and rear end and you can see how much weight it's rated to tow. As for the trailer, I'd recommend joining the RV Consumers group and get their rating guides. Most RV's are designed and built to be used about 30 days a year, since that's how most people use them. Unless you have very deep pockets, it might be prudent to start your new adventure with a truck and trailer combination that's more suitable to the wear of the fulltime lifestyle. Also, depending where your planning on living, you might also need extra insulation and dual pane windows to remain comfortable. Good luck, Fred

Fred is correct in his advice about a full time trailer but I will have to say this....Before my wife and I got the cash together to buy a "Fulltimer Rig" we lived in an Americamp for 2 years. We had our problems with things breaking and so forth but we made it just fine until we could make a move up. If you put your mind to it and you know your limitations you can make it OK with that trailer. Be looking ahead, however if you plan on making this move perminant. Like Fred said you will need a tuffer rig than the one you are planning on. Hang in there and enjoy ever minute of it. I hope you can answer some computer questions if I have some later. We might just see you down the road. Welcome to the family Joe and Sherri

Froggi wrote:

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First, welcome to the forum and congratulations on your future plans!

If you are talking about Satellite access while on the road, then the auto-sat setups are in the $5k range. But you can get a manual setup for well under $2k - take a peek here as well as here.

Here is a page that discusses all the options, not just satellite access.

---

Wow! Great reading on all links, thank you so much!

"Hope your plan to get a trailer  works out. Possibly you can help answer questions about computers, that come up on this site from time to time."

lol...try to stop me from blabbing about computers! hehehehe Will love to help with anything I can!

"We homeschooled our children but lived in sticks and bricks at the time, but I think that fulltime RVing would be a great venue for homeschooling.  Your daughter would be able to visit the places that other students only read about."

Sounds wonderful! I was a college professor for 5 yrs, I would like a shot at sharing all this country, it's people and more with her on the road!

"We have internet satellite on a tripod and it cost $1500 Canadian. We pay $89.99 per month (also Canadian). So, no you don't have to pay $5000 but you have to be certified as an installed for the tripod type so go to someone who knows that you have an RV and will be mobile."

Was wondering if those tripod units come with free pass to mutter four letter words for aiming them?

"I think you might have problems from both ends of your choice. The trailer is probably not suitable for fulltiming and the truck probably isn't powerful enough to tow it."

Yeah, sad face with the v6, and the 213 isn't all that large or probably all that well insulated. I have to work with what I have and I don't have deep pockets either...I plan on spending the winter in AZ, maybe Tucson area, so hope my lovebirds will stay nice and warm without alot of heating issues [they cannot be in less then 65ish temps being from Africa]. The van has a GVWR of 6400lb and the trailer rings in around 4000lbs, hopefully that will give me enough umph for most of lower AZ roadways. Thanks for the feedback, I'm greatfull for your thoughts and concerns!

"We had our problems with things breaking and so forth but we made it just fine until we could make a move up. If you put your mind to it and you know your limitations you can make it OK with that trailer."

OH no! What did you break out of the gate? This trailer is just in from manufacturer and it's a 2008. Hoping to keep maintenance to a min. this first year. And your story sounds very interesting! How long have you been fulltimers now?

Thank you all for such wonderful words of welcome!
cms



-- Edited by BirdHaus at 17:16, 2007-08-28

-- Edited by BirdHaus at 17:18, 2007-08-28

LOL! I'll be in the cussing mode right along with you....when I get that far. I suspect I will be using the Verizon Air Card for the first year or so....till my house sells anyway.

You aren't the first to want to combine RVing and homeschooling...here are some links.

Traveling Homeschoolers - A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling

Families

Away We Go - RV HomeSchooling on the road

On the Road with Lisa Welchel and Family - Homeschooling Articles ...

Families on the Road

Welcome,

There's been a short homeschooling discussion down in the Fulltimin' With Young-'Uns  topic.

You sound like a very resourceful, fearless woman-you'll get this to work.  After all, if we women were too afraid the species would have died out a long time ago.

I'm in Tucson, keep in touch.

Froggi! your links are amazing resources! I love them! Great finds! Judy!....survival is my middle name! Thanks for the support! I hope to land in Tucson for a while or longer this Winter. Have any favorite RV spots there for me to look at? cms

We have the Verizons Air Acess Card and it works well. In a year I do not think there was an area we did not have coverage. My only recommendations if you are new to RVing is to start out with a used RV. Some people think it will be great and after a year they regret it and the loss on a 1 year old RV is usually 25-35%. Heck we started out with a 1976 Dodge Gypsy class c for 2 years, then a 1984 Allegro class a for 2 years, then we bought a new Keystone Outback TT. About a year after that is when we decided to go FTing. The TT was not going to do it for FTing. We were very lucky and only lost about 10% on the Outback when we sold it. For FTing, still not sure that we would like it we bought a 2002 Mckenzie Medallion 5er. After almost a year of FTing we decided that we wanted a new rig so thats when we got the rig in our sig. No regrets on my part but DW is somewhat unsure yet. Good Luck and we may see each other in Tucson, we will be at Desert Trails from Dec till ? Bob, Judy and our 2blackdogs

Here's another situation that occured that you should be aware of. I just posted about all the Rv's we have had, now lets talk trucks. We pulled the Outback with a 1997 Chevy Tahoe 5.7L V-8 and it was a poor tow vechicle. I then bought a 1996 F350 Dually 7.5L V-8 Gasser. It pulled the Outback great but when we bought the 5er I made the mistake out driving a diesel and bought a F250HD with the 7.3 diesel. I was afraid I was tempting fate with a 3/4 Ton truck so I ended up the truck in my sig. What I am saying is that after 4 trucks we finally got it right. We were very lucky and lost very few $$ on all the transactions. Bob. Judy and the 2blackdogs

BirdHaus wrote:

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Froggi! your links are amazing resources! I love them! Great finds!

---

Hey, they don't call me the Google Queen for nothing.....<g>

cms, (that's the common name for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services-part of my job is interpreting cms-ese, I have to call you something else!)
Anyway, some folks we met from this board recently stayed at Cactus Country and liked it.  AZED, chime in here.

But if you are thinking of coming this winter, you should be calling around for reservations.  Many commercial parks are "adult" parks so keep that in mind.  Catalina State Park is nice and close but there is a stay limit.

Gilbert Ray is another good spot but also a stay limit.

If you hang around for awhile, there's a great homeschool group: Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers

PM me if you have specific questions.

Judy

Birdhaus,
   Welcome to the full-time lifestyle!  You will get so much great information on this forum and others.  This is the best, LOL!  Take your time in choosing your RV.  Research, research, research and ask questions here on this forum and on the chat room.  You will get better and more honest information from the folks here than from a salesman.  Also, join Escapees if you haven't already.  That is a wonderful group and you can get lots of great information on their forum as well. 
    Keep us updated on your plans.

Hey folks...sorry for my absence! I'm finally verticle again most days now. [feeling better that is to say] Step one = get van to tow with repaired, is now completed. I'm on my way to Vegas Friday to pick it up and go look at more Travel Trailers! Wish me luck! Carleen

Judy is correct. Cactus Country CG at Tucson is very nice. Getting a long term reservation for this winter might be difficult at this somewhat late date, but you could try. azed

Welcome Birdhaus, sounds to me like you go Moxy, you'll do fine girl. You've come to the right place for info and friends, hope to see ya on the road someday. Stay Safe, Gummy