My wife and I are considering this lifestyle, when we retire. I have worked full-time at a Campground in MI and now for a state park in Iowa. My wife got to reading the expense break downs for the RV lifestyle and said,"We could never afford the nightly camping fees", Way more than taxes onour little cabin and 40 acres we have now. In MI where I worked, we had a seasonal camping area, for those who wanted to stay long term, 3 months or 6 months-"Seasonal Campers". How common is this? It ran about 600$ for 6 months. Also, I have heard there are some Ranches,,in the west, that allow summer camping on their Ranch, for reasonable fees. Anyone hear of this? If $20 a nite is the only way ,then this lifestyle is definately out of our range. I know "Work Camping", exsists too. Thanks,
RVPAINTER said
06:20 AM Sep 12, 2011
I guess I would have to question why you would give up a small cabin and 40 acres for an RV. Pehaps you should open a small RV park on those 40 acres and start collecting those "nightly camping fees" for yourselves. "small cabin on 40 acres" sound more simplistic then a small RV on a small parking pad.
I would suggest you think this out very carefully - sounds like you have a better gig right now!
NorCal Dan said
08:05 AM Sep 12, 2011
Some parks have monthly rates that run from $300/mo. and up depending on what's included. I've been checking on seasonal rates in New York and they are offering rates between $1700-$2000 for 6 months that include electric. In general, parks that are open year round tend to be cheaper than parks that close in the winter.
There are all kinds of jobs out there for workampers, and I've seen ranch and house sitting jobs advertised. We tend to stick with the volunteer type jobs, exchanging hours worked for our site and utilities. But there are other types of jobs that come with longer working hours and a paycheck if that is what your looking for...
Jack Mayer said
08:13 AM Sep 12, 2011
With respect, if an average $20 a night is impossible then I would say that you need to reconsider RVing in general. There are certain costs in any choice. Don't make a choice that will prove to be difficult for you to manage. Fulltime RVing is a pretty inexpensive lifestyle, but it does still cost something. And campground fees are a large part of the cost.
There are things you can do to cut the costs, as you know. But if $20 a night seems high then perhaps another lifestyle would meet your budget needs better. We workamp in the summer for 5 months. That cuts our average cost for a site down quite a bit. And gives us quite a bit of pocket money. Out West boondocking also cuts expenses on the campground fees, but ADDS expense to set up your RV for comfortable boondocking.
In my opinion trying to fulltime on less than $2000 a month is difficult. But that is just my opinion. Some do it on less, but you risk getting caught some place if you have a breakdown, and with fuel prices as they are it is difficult to move much on $2000 a month. Again, just my opinions.....take them for what they are worth.
The Bear II said
08:24 AM Sep 12, 2011
I agree with Jack.
After reading through RV forums for the past 8 years, it seems the average monthly expense for fulltimers is between $2000 and $3000. That is for people who want to live and enjoy without needing to scrimp and save evry penny to live on.
For $2000 and $3000 you would be able to travel from place to place. Enjoy what the area has to offer such as, tours, boat rentals, amusement parks, museums...etc. This includes a few nights out on the town for dinner during the month.
Some of the hidden costs are repairs.... things like refrigerators, heaters, electrical, plumbing, awnings, brakes, suspension, if a problem develops, can cost from $200 to $1500 to fix yourself or $500 to $2500 to have someone else fix it.
Racerguy said
10:05 AM Sep 12, 2011
I would stick with the cabin and 40 acres and maybe buy a small class c and just travel part time.Less than $20 a day is not impossible but improbable.
Bill Adams said
10:59 AM Sep 12, 2011
If you want to go and sit for months at a time in one location this is possible but there are not many locations that you would have to choose from (Yuma, AZ comes to mind). I really wish I could find camping at an average of only $20/day. That was easy 10 years ago but today is nearly impossible. I was reading over an e-mail I sent back in 1999 (what would be a blog today) and I mentioned that I was not going to stay at the Outdoor Resorts in Newport, OR because they wanted an outrageous amount of $25/night! Ah, the good ole days...where have they gone.
RVPAINTER said
12:22 PM Sep 12, 2011
I agree with Racerguy - all good advice being given here.
phyllen said
01:31 PM Sep 12, 2011
When we get a site for $20 a night or less, I consider we got a bargain! As others have indicated, think carefully.
Delaine and Lindy said
07:22 PM Sep 12, 2011
We only use RV parks with full service, thats our choice. I have never paid $20.00 a night. I guess there are some places that are $20.00 a night. We have paid a low of $25.00 plus tax and a high of $ 77.00 plus tax. It will depend on what you want. But with full hook-ups and a nice area it will be hard to find $20.00 a night, but I guess there are some, but its just not what we prefer. I will suggest the Cabin and 40 acres might just be your answer. We have a small house sitting on 300 acres on the Tennessee River and wish many time we hadn't built another stick house... But I do believe you should have a home base with a RV site and full hook-ups.
Terry and Jo said
07:56 PM Sep 12, 2011
One other option is to look into using mobile home parks instead of RV parks. We are currently parked in one, but we are "static" full-timers in that we live full-time in our RV, but we won't be moving for a few years until we retire.
I cannot speak to other mobile home parks in other parts of the country. But, here in Oklahoma City, I know of at least two that are set up to also accomodate RV's as well as mobile homes. Prices have ranged for most of them from $275 to $350 per month and perhaps plus water and electric extra. Likely, they would have sewer hookups, but one would have to check each place.
When we finally get to begin traveling, we will be looking into using mobile home parks on occasion when we want to explore a region that has lots of places to go and see. For instance, Utah and norther Arizona are loaded with national and state parks. If we stayed for 3 to 6 months in a mobile home park, we could travel around to see all those places.
One would have to consider what each state "designates" as a qualification for length of time living in that state to be then considered a resident of that state. I would imagine that one might have to move out of state once one got close to that length of time.
The other issue with mobile home parks is whether there are websites for them for easy reference to find a good one with the right amenities.
Also, some may have "resident restrictions." For instance, the one where we are staying required a referral from someone that the owner knows or has had as "renters" before. We have a really good deal on price, but not every place has such deals.
Of course, if one is only staying in a given park for a week or two, mobile home parks may not be a viable option at all.
Terry
LandYachty said
08:05 PM Sep 14, 2011
We are at the rally and considered the "boondockers" yes you can live for a average of say $50 a month (campground fees) but only if 28 days are not in campgrounds. Check out Freecampgrounds.com there are certain areas of the country New England, Florida during winter etc you will never find cheap camping, but many other cheap campgrounds are listed here. (*27 in Michigan for under $15) Boondocking ain't totally free - it takes work and determination.
Having fun in Hersey at the rally.
Sushidog said
05:57 PM Sep 15, 2011
A person can fulltime on any budget, it just depends on how you do it, and what you are willing to do without.
I think it's cheaper to live in an RV (provided you only move monthly or seasonally) than a S&B - at least compared to my S&B. :) I'll bet the property taxes and insurance on your 40 acre home is more than your annual CG costs will be (I pay about $4,500/yr for taxes and insurance on my 40yr old, 1/2 acre rural home in Louisiana). A typical $350/monthly rate is only $4,200/yr (less than $12/night) - and some CG's are much cheaper than that, especially on a seasonal basis - if you even decide to stay in a CG each and every month. Many fulltimers don't, prefering to stay on BLM lands, free CGs, boondock, etc.
Next, we'll look at moving expenses. My current camper is an Aliner which I pull with a 4cyl car. It might be tight, but one person could live in it, as we have all the amenities of a big rig -(king bed, shower,cassette toilet, fridge/freezer, microwave/ 3 burner stove, etc.) It would sure beat living in a van, a tent or cloth sided pop-up as many do. It is very inexpensive to move, as I get mid-20's MPG towing. I know someone who lives singly in a Chalet - so it can be done. There are quite a few singles and couples living in fiberglass egg trailers towed by 4 cyl pickups or minivans, and others living in truck campers too. A mid-size Airstream, Hi-Lo or even a Trailmanor are easy towing options too. If you can afford them, class Bs are another option for the budget minded content to live in a small space. add a screen room or outside tentage to expand your space if staying a while and you won't feel as claustrophobic in such a diminuitive home on wheels.
No, you can't live cheaply staying in resorts paying their nightly rates and traveling a bunch in a 7 MPG Class A, but those who can afford a rig like that are usually not worried about travel costs. On our last vacation we stayed at FHU $10/night private and NP campgrounds, had all we could eat (bbq'd most nights and even ate out a few times), drank plenty of beer, visited the tourist attractions, and drove over 2,500 miles (gas around $4/gal at the time). My DW and I did this for less than $800 for 2 weeks. That's $1,600/mo living like a king and queen. Could we have sustained this? Probably not (we would put on far too much weight) and this doesn't cover vehicle or camper maint., repairs or insurance costs. However, if we were living like this full time, we wouldn't be doing the tourist thing, so these expenses would be replaced by insurance, maint. etc. The point is, we could have certainly lived on much less if necessary. If you like to travel a lit but still want to overnight at CGs consider one of the discount clubs like Passport America or Recreation USA, which offers quite a few $10/night campgrounds to their members - and you don't have to buy an expensive resort membership either.
If you wouldn't consider such a tiny rig for fulltime use (I doubt we would either, in truth.), consider a lightweight 1/2 ton towable TT like the Slingshot line by Crossroads. They have a 30ft model with slide that weighs under 4,100 lbs and has a 3,000+ lb CCC. Tow it with a modern high mpg 1/2 ton pick-up and you have a relatively affordable vehicle to use when not towing - which will probably be most of the time if you move monthly or seasonally. Want to stretch your budget even further? Consider throwing a couple of bicycles or high mpg scooters in the bed for touring the area and taking short trips to the store. Such a rig is obviously unsuitable for cold weather, but so am I (being a Louisiana resident), necessitating wintering-over in warmer climes (but that's ok with me).
Everyone has a budget. Just know what yours is, plan your expenses in advance and live within your means and you'll be fine. Life is about compromise and choices. Few people can have it all. If you are willing to forgo moving a lot, you can have a bigger rig. If you are willing to stay less at FHU campgrounds, you can move more often. Just decide what's more important to you and don't let me or anyone else discourage you from following your dreams.
Chip
-- Edited by Sushidog on Thursday 15th of September 2011 05:59:41 PM
dream reachers said
05:19 AM Jan 20, 2012
Sushidog wrote:
A person can fulltime on any budget, it just depends on how you do it, and what you are willing to do without.
I think it's cheaper to live in an RV (provided you only move monthly or seasonally) than a S&B - at least compared to my S&B. :) I'll bet the property taxes and insurance on your 40 acre home is more than your annual CG costs will be (I pay about $4,500/yr for taxes and insurance on my 40yr old, 1/2 acre rural home in Louisiana). A typical $350/monthly rate is only $4,200/yr (less than $12/night) - and some CG's are much cheaper than that, especially on a seasonal basis - if you even decide to stay in a CG each and every month. Many fulltimers don't, prefering to stay on BLM lands, free CGs, boondock, etc.
Next, we'll look at moving expenses. My current camper is an Aliner which I pull with a 4cyl car. It might be tight, but one person could live in it, as we have all the amenities of a big rig -(king bed, shower,cassette toilet, fridge/freezer, microwave/ 3 burner stove, etc.) It would sure beat living in a van, a tent or cloth sided pop-up as many do. It is very inexpensive to move, as I get mid-20's MPG towing. I know someone who lives singly in a Chalet - so it can be done. There are quite a few singles and couples living in fiberglass egg trailers towed by 4 cyl pickups or minivans, and others living in truck campers too. A mid-size Airstream, Hi-Lo or even a Trailmanor are easy towing options too. If you can afford them, class Bs are another option for the budget minded content to live in a small space. add a screen room or outside tentage to expand your space if staying a while and you won't feel as claustrophobic in such a diminuitive home on wheels.
No, you can't live cheaply staying in resorts paying their nightly rates and traveling a bunch in a 7 MPG Class A, but those who can afford a rig like that are usually not worried about travel costs. On our last vacation we stayed at FHU $10/night private and NP campgrounds, had all we could eat (bbq'd most nights and even ate out a few times), drank plenty of beer, visited the tourist attractions, and drove over 2,500 miles (gas around $4/gal at the time). My DW and I did this for less than $800 for 2 weeks. That's $1,600/mo living like a king and queen. Could we have sustained this? Probably not (we would put on far too much weight) and this doesn't cover vehicle or camper maint., repairs or insurance costs. However, if we were living like this full time, we wouldn't be doing the tourist thing, so these expenses would be replaced by insurance, maint. etc. The point is, we could have certainly lived on much less if necessary. If you like to travel a lit but still want to overnight at CGs consider one of the discount clubs like Passport America or Recreation USA, which offers quite a few $10/night campgrounds to their members - and you don't have to buy an expensive resort membership either.
If you wouldn't consider such a tiny rig for fulltime use (I doubt we would either, in truth.), consider a lightweight 1/2 ton towable TT like the Slingshot line by Crossroads. They have a 30ft model with slide that weighs under 4,100 lbs and has a 3,000+ lb CCC. Tow it with a modern high mpg 1/2 ton pick-up and you have a relatively affordable vehicle to use when not towing - which will probably be most of the time if you move monthly or seasonally. Want to stretch your budget even further? Consider throwing a couple of bicycles or high mpg scooters in the bed for touring the area and taking short trips to the store. Such a rig is obviously unsuitable for cold weather, but so am I (being a Louisiana resident), necessitating wintering-over in warmer climes (but that's ok with me).
Everyone has a budget. Just know what yours is, plan your expenses in advance and live within your means and you'll be fine. Life is about compromise and choices. Few people can have it all. If you are willing to forgo moving a lot, you can have a bigger rig. If you are willing to stay less at FHU campgrounds, you can move more often. Just decide what's more important to you and don't let me or anyone else discourage you from following your dreams.
Chip
-- Edited by Sushidog on Thursday 15th of September 2011 05:59:41 PM
I would not pull anything weighing over a ton with a 1/2 ton pickup. I pulled a 2 horse trailer with one horse in it with a 1/2 ton p/u . I had to make a quick stop and even with electric brakes on the trailer it pushed me through an intersection. Fortunately there was not an accident. Imediately after that I purchsed a 3/4 ton p/u and doubled my braking ability. This is my experience and my opinion. Safety on the road is very important. Just because a vehicle can pull a trailer does not mean that it is safe. Do not take a salesmans word for what size vehicle is suitable to pull a trailer.
PIEERE said
05:08 PM Jan 20, 2012
Hope I am allowed to post this! Loneranger; Ran across a website called; CoolWorks.com, It has many work opportunites for couples; some Part-Time. There is a section fro Older and Bolder, Ranch Jobs, ETC. A lot of opportunities out West. If you are looking for just campgrounds, RV Park Reviews. I found on in Alabama where I stayed in Jan-Feb 2010 called Hilltop RV Park, that charged about $335.00 for a 50 amp FHU site. The managers are very nice Bill (have to get conversing with him) his wife Judy is very sociable as well as most of the long term campers. It is centrally located between Mobile Al. and Pensacola, FL. off I-10 Exit 53. It is about 25-30 miles N of the Gulf. Web: www.HiltopRVPark.com. The only thing bad for me was unhooking the RV to drive the 30 mile roundtrip to get groceries and a haircut; but I would spend the day touring; Fairhope; Spanish Fort; Gulf Shores, Orange beach were my favorites. Happy Trails! Pieere
Colorado_Kid said
04:04 AM Jan 23, 2012
I am a member of Cool Works and they have a lot of information on seasonal jobs. They even have a section that list jobs for RVers.
janieD said
09:07 PM Jan 23, 2012
We are in Port O'Connor TX. It is a little out of the way and just a sleepy little fishing town. We are paying 250 a month+ electric and we hear there are a couple others here that are a little less. This place has a pool and spa tub and laundry area, very quiet little place and very well kept. It is a great place if you are on a limited budget. We are just here for the month but we really like it and it is a lot less than $20 a day. Good luck.
RVPAINTER said
11:33 PM Jan 23, 2012
Soooooo what is the name of the place????
blijil said
12:15 AM Jan 24, 2012
It seems the cost of everything is going up so it is no surprise that campgrounds are more expensive. Daily rates are compounded by local tax structures which add entertainment or motel taxes and states which add gross receipts tax unless it is a monthly or longer rate. But you do get a few breaks if you work the system, stay for a month, use your golden eagle or senior pass in federal campgrounds and pay half price at many, use state park annual passes like in new mexico where for $225 a year you can camp for 3 weeks in a state park with electric and water for $4 a day, and do "volunteer" work at many city, state, and federal locations throughout the country. We dry camp by choice in the nice weather, chase the weather and pay monthly when we need to but we avoid daily rates like the plague and find other places than south Florida or New Hampshire to stay. Some years average more than $20 a night others less but the cost is going up in every quarter. So are property taxes, insurance, and food so I guess you have to do what you need to do to live the lifestyle whatever it is you want to live.
Just enjoy it.
janieD said
10:45 PM Jan 24, 2012
RV Painter, we are staying at The Port O'Connor RV Park, Port O'Connor TX.
Sushidog said
01:40 AM Jan 25, 2012
dream reachers wrote:
I would not pull anything weighing over a ton with a 1/2 ton pickup. I pulled a 2 horse trailer with one horse in it with a 1/2 ton p/u . I had to make a quick stop and even with electric brakes on the trailer it pushed me through an intersection. Fortunately there was not an accident. Imediately after that I purchsed a 3/4 ton p/u and doubled my braking ability. This is my experience and my opinion. Safety on the road is very important. Just because a vehicle can pull a trailer does not mean that it is safe. Do not take a salesmans word for what size vehicle is suitable to pull a trailer.
Wow, I'm glad no one was hurt. That must be a terrifying experience. However it sounds like your trailer's brakes were not working properly. Back in the 80's, I routinely towed my dad's cattle trailer (full of cattle) to auction with his 1/2 ton 454ci GMC pick-up. The loaded trailer easily weighed in over 7,000-7,500 lbs. It actually stopped better loaded than empty and could easily lock-up the wheels on the trailer when needed. I'm sure the brakes and controllers available today are far superior to the ones I had back then. I knew my limitations and never drove it over 55 mph when towing. It amazes me the speed at which some folks tow their huge TT's and 5ers.
Of course you make a good point, and that is to keep your speed down and leave yourself plenty of stopping room when towing with a heavy load. I also agree that bigger is always better when it comes to your tow vehicle, however sometimes one must tow with a less than ideal TV due to budget constraints. I currently tow a 1,700 lb Aliner with a 4 cyl Chevy Cobalt SS. I've towed it up and down some pretty steep mountain grades in all kinds of weather and road conditions for over 10,000 miles with no problems to date. However, I wouldn't even consider it without perfectly functioning trailer brakes, even though my SS's high performance 4 wheel disk, anti-lock brakes do an outstanding job of stopping the car by itself. I'll bet my car/camper rig will out-stop a standard disk/drum braked Cobalt without a trailer. It's all in how it's set-up and maintained. Let's hope I never have to find out.
Chip
melvonnar said
10:02 PM Nov 13, 2012
If your over 62 or older get a golden age pass, I think it's $10 good for a life time; 1/2 price in most C.O.E. and forest service parks, some state parks will give you a discount. I never pay more than $12 a night. You just have to check ahead thats all.
VanMar said
03:40 PM Nov 14, 2012
Melvonnar,
I joined this forum in June and had missed this thread. Thank you for reviving it. I learned a lot from it.
V
Lucky Mike said
03:51 PM Nov 14, 2012
There is the Golden age pass.......there also is the disability pass..........passport america.........and of course my favorite Boondockers Unlimited!!!!
melvonnar said
11:21 PM Nov 21, 2012
Want full hookups? rec hall? swimming pool? yep, you will pay, and and pay, and pay. however if you just want a campsite with electric and water and a free dumpsite in the campground; there are two many to list that give you this for much less than $15.00 a night.
SnowGypsy said
03:51 PM Dec 14, 2012
There is going to be a wide range. We could surely live on less than $2,000 a month but we are frugal and spend much less than others living in a house. If you are used to budgeting while living in a house, it will not be that hard to do some research and come up with a pretty good estimate of what your living expenses would be. And, just like living in a house, when you have a budget, you have money set aside for repairs, etc. Something like saving on the heating bill in the north was paying for the lot rental with a little left over when we were in SE AL and we had snowbirds coming in from the far north. It is about choices, research and having a plan.
Lucky Mike said
04:52 PM Dec 14, 2012
I have found even with boondocking alot that a bare minimum budget in travel expenses....not including food if your moving alot is 1200. If you workcamp and stay put you could could live off this amount monthly covering all basics , but once you start the engine and go into tourist mode you will double this if you do nothing but travel with single overnite stays.
even using 5 days of boondocking and 2 days of campground method will on the average cost 100 for those 2 nites depending on the region.
there are alot of ways to supplement your travels and increase your income without cutting back travel.....my2 cents
melvonnar said
09:08 PM Dec 16, 2012
Lucky Mike wrote:
I have found even with boondocking alot that a bare minimum budget in travel expenses....not including food if your moving alot is 1200. If you workcamp and stay put you could could live off this amount monthly covering all basics , but once you start the engine and go into tourist mode you will double this if you do nothing but travel with single overnite stays.
even using 5 days of boondocking and 2 days of campground method will on the average cost 100 for those 2 nites depending on the region.
there are alot of ways to supplement your travels and increase your income without cutting back travel.....my2 cents
$100 for two nights; wow
PIEERE said
04:34 AM Dec 17, 2012
loneranger wrote:
My wife and I are considering this lifestyle, when we retire. I have worked full-time at a Campground in MI and now for a state park in Iowa. My wife got to reading the expense break downs for the RV lifestyle and said,"We could never afford the nightly camping fees", Way more than taxes onour little cabin and 40 acres we have now. In MI where I worked, we had a seasonal camping area, for those who wanted to stay long term, 3 months or 6 months-"Seasonal Campers". How common is this? It ran about 600$ for 6 months. Also, I have heard there are some Ranches,,in the west, that allow summer camping on their Ranch, for reasonable fees. Anyone hear of this? If $20 a nite is the only way ,then this lifestyle is definately out of our range. I know "Work Camping", exsists too. Thanks,
Ther are two of you and only one of me. I have been doing this since 2009. I have seen some help wanted ads on Work for RVERS.com; where some private individuals are looking for caretakers on their properties some paid, some not. Coolworks.com has listed ranch work jobs in the Southwest. RvParkStore.com has some listings also. These site are free. Then for a Subscription fee; Workamper News has up to the minute hotline as jobs come available.
I had been living on about $10,000 a yr. up until my Heart Attack this March 2012. I worked at Amazon.com for the 8 week Holiday Rush in 2010 and 2011. Worked for an Amusement Park in Iowa the same yrs. A Yogi Park in the Spring of 2010, 11 +12. And as soon as I'm recovered, back to Work Camping I go. It all depends on how much your travel costs are, breakdowns and maintenance fees, insurances are and of course Food and clothes (acquire most of mine through thrift stores---some have never been worn..).
Keep your cabin and land; give it a try and if you decide it's not for you;
at least you have a place to go back to!!! Which I was forced to give up long ago---Long story!!! PIEERE
Racerguy said
05:55 AM Dec 17, 2012
loneranger is long gone.Made 3 posts in 2 days and never came back.Must not have heard what he wanted to hear.That was over a year ago.
Millie said
07:12 AM Dec 17, 2012
Back in 1970, I paid $60. a month for water, electric, and sewer.
...alas ...those days are gone.
Your cabin and acreage are 'security'.
'People disruptions' happen when you rent.
Travel and sightsee .... but ...Keep your cabin and acreage.
Gone in a flash said
02:10 AM Dec 18, 2012
He might be gone, but I learned a lot. Hope he did also!
This was a very good topic to me and worth reading.
Mark Serley said
04:19 AM Dec 18, 2012
ditto mark
MarkS said
08:06 AM Mar 3, 2013
Is there anyone on here that frequents military campgrounds? What are the typical rates for those?
NorCal Dan said
05:39 PM Mar 3, 2013
We've stayed at a few...hosted at Beale a few months. In general they are cheaper than commercial CG's. But recently I've seen a few that raising fee's. With sequester now in play I suspect they will all be raising prices. If you find a FamCamp that is located where you want to be then they can be a good deal. I recommend calling first, some bases are limiting RV access to a single gate, chances are a big rig would not fit other gates with all their security measures.
Thanks for the input. I have the military campground app and have looked at the rates. I guess what I am looking for is more like what NorCal Dan posted. I am planning on using quite a few of them so I need to spend some time on a military campground forum to exchange information with others who use them too.
Truth is that since I figured out that it would take 12 years to make up the social security difference between 62 and 66, I have decided to kick full time retirement off sooner rather than later. So I am spending some time this weekend putting together a timeline and financial plan to meet that goal. I believe we have determined which coach it will be and will contact Rolling Retreats this week to begin discussing the house. Also have begun laying the groundwork to get the HDT modified, insured and registered.
Fees to park play a part in the plan. I prefer to boondock when it makes sense but there are times and locations where that might not be the best solution. So I am planning for all situations. The budget information that has been posted and the gobs of information that you all share is making the planning so much easier than trying to go in blind.
Financially, we have been pretty secure for many years. Knowing that we will take a significant cut is the scary part and the primary reason for the plan. Anecdotally, I know we can well afford it. I just need to document my thoughts before we make the leap. There will be some lifestyle changes so I want to be as sure as possible that they are changes we can live with. The only absolute at this point is that if we keep the s&b, we will be a slave to it and that isn't an option. One other absolute is that we will have laundry facilities in the retirement villa (read 5ver) but I covered that on another thread.
I suppose I have gotten about as far off topic as I should but, I felt like rambling and you all looked like bartenders. Besides, I'm getting old so this too should be expected!
JayKim-no regrets said
07:29 PM Mar 27, 2013
Mark, we are living full-time in the Famcamp on Charleston AFB in SC. We will probably be here until Spring of 2014 at the latest. We moved in here in August last year and we pay $500 a month for FHU, it includes elec', WiFi and Satellite. Unfortunately, the WiFi and Satellite are pretty crap, but we use a WiFi booster and get decent reception unless the sites are all full or weather interferes. The facilities include a newer Shower block/restrooms, Laundry and everything else you would expect to find on a military base, MWR, Outdoor rec that offers trips, free sports tickets etc, Comissary/exchange, dining facilities.
Hubby still works on this base full time, so that is why we are here, there are RV parks around that have cheaper monthly rates, but this is convenient for us and we like it, lots of Full-timers here and all in all a pretty friendly bunch, there are cons too, there is an airstrip, airport, gun range all in earshot of the camp, but you can tune them out mostly. This Famcamp usually scores in the top 5 of the reviews for famcamps, they have done some upgrading in the past few years.
We have stayed at the Famcamp at Patrick AFB in FL, I would love to stay on there again, it's right on the space coast and just beautiful there, the rates are about the same as here, but lots more to do in that area.
Most of the Famcamps won't let you book in advance, but do have over spill areas at most if you are willing to wait for an open FHU site. You can call them though and ask a day or two before about openings.
We have a washer/dryer in the RV, to be honest we have used it once, the laundry on base costs $1.25 a load and it's a lot easier to just walk over there than to try stuffing 2 pairs of pants and a couple of shirts in ours! We are going to get rid of ours and use the space for more useful stuff
If you need any info/help with anything, feel free to PM me!
huggs Kim x
jt said
09:14 PM Mar 30, 2013
GET YOUR NATIONAL PARK PASS. ONE TIME FEE OF ONLY $10.00. GOOD FOR LIFE. CAPING SHOULD BE AROUND $8.00 TO $10.00 A NIGHT. GO TO allstays.com AND YOU WILL FINE ALL THE CAME GROUNDS IN THE U.S.A. WHEN YOU GO TO ALLSTAYS SITE CLICK ON CORPS OF ENGINEERS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. YOU WILL FINE CAMP GROUNDS FOR UNDER $10.00 A NIGHT OR LESS. SOME OF THERE CAMP GROUNDS ARE AROUND $5.00 A NIGHT. MOST OF THE TIME YOU WILL GET FULL HOOK UP. THERE ARE MORE WAYS TO CAMP FOR UNDER $$10.00 A NIGHT WITH FULL HOOK UP. WILL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
JT
bjoyce said
09:47 PM Mar 30, 2013
jt: Not everyone here is 62 or older, including myself and the owners of this forum.
jholderbaum said
10:01 PM Mar 30, 2013
Christine and I are 54 and 45 ;)
Lucky Mike said
10:54 PM Mar 30, 2013
53 here.............feel like 80 ..........look like 70 ...........
Alie and Jims Carrilite said
11:49 PM Mar 30, 2013
Not old enough here either, But my lovely wife is..... hehehe... and yes we use it.
WestWardHo said
01:56 AM Mar 31, 2013
We're old enough and then some!!!
JayKim-no regrets said
05:17 PM Apr 3, 2013
We fall under the 62 age range too...Jay is still a 'wee sprog' at only 46!! I will get there before he does, he is my 'toy boy'!!
My wife and I are considering this lifestyle, when we retire. I have worked full-time at a Campground in MI and now for a state park in Iowa. My wife got to reading the expense break downs for the RV lifestyle and said,"We could never afford the nightly camping fees", Way more than taxes onour little cabin and 40 acres we have now. In MI where I worked, we had a seasonal camping area, for those who wanted to stay long term, 3 months or 6 months-"Seasonal Campers". How common is this? It ran about 600$ for 6 months. Also, I have heard there are some Ranches,,in the west, that allow summer camping on their Ranch, for reasonable fees. Anyone hear of this? If $20 a nite is the only way ,then this lifestyle is definately out of our range. I know "Work Camping", exsists too. Thanks,
"small cabin on 40 acres" sound more simplistic then a small RV on a small parking pad.
I would suggest you think this out very carefully - sounds like you have a better gig right now!
There are all kinds of jobs out there for workampers, and I've seen ranch and house sitting jobs advertised. We tend to stick with the volunteer type jobs, exchanging hours worked for our site and utilities. But there are other types of jobs that come with longer working hours and a paycheck if that is what your looking for...
There are things you can do to cut the costs, as you know. But if $20 a night seems high then perhaps another lifestyle would meet your budget needs better. We workamp in the summer for 5 months. That cuts our average cost for a site down quite a bit. And gives us quite a bit of pocket money. Out West boondocking also cuts expenses on the campground fees, but ADDS expense to set up your RV for comfortable boondocking.
In my opinion trying to fulltime on less than $2000 a month is difficult. But that is just my opinion. Some do it on less, but you risk getting caught some place if you have a breakdown, and with fuel prices as they are it is difficult to move much on $2000 a month. Again, just my opinions.....take them for what they are worth.
After reading through RV forums for the past 8 years, it seems the average monthly expense for fulltimers is between $2000 and $3000. That is for people who want to live and enjoy without needing to scrimp and save evry penny to live on.
For $2000 and $3000 you would be able to travel from place to place. Enjoy what the area has to offer such as, tours, boat rentals, amusement parks, museums...etc. This includes a few nights out on the town for dinner during the month.
Some of the hidden costs are repairs.... things like refrigerators, heaters, electrical, plumbing, awnings, brakes, suspension, if a problem develops, can cost from $200 to $1500 to fix yourself or $500 to $2500 to have someone else fix it.
One other option is to look into using mobile home parks instead of RV parks. We are currently parked in one, but we are "static" full-timers in that we live full-time in our RV, but we won't be moving for a few years until we retire.
I cannot speak to other mobile home parks in other parts of the country. But, here in Oklahoma City, I know of at least two that are set up to also accomodate RV's as well as mobile homes. Prices have ranged for most of them from $275 to $350 per month and perhaps plus water and electric extra. Likely, they would have sewer hookups, but one would have to check each place.
When we finally get to begin traveling, we will be looking into using mobile home parks on occasion when we want to explore a region that has lots of places to go and see. For instance, Utah and norther Arizona are loaded with national and state parks. If we stayed for 3 to 6 months in a mobile home park, we could travel around to see all those places.
One would have to consider what each state "designates" as a qualification for length of time living in that state to be then considered a resident of that state. I would imagine that one might have to move out of state once one got close to that length of time.
The other issue with mobile home parks is whether there are websites for them for easy reference to find a good one with the right amenities.
Also, some may have "resident restrictions." For instance, the one where we are staying required a referral from someone that the owner knows or has had as "renters" before. We have a really good deal on price, but not every place has such deals.
Of course, if one is only staying in a given park for a week or two, mobile home parks may not be a viable option at all.
Terry
Having fun in Hersey at the rally.
A person can fulltime on any budget, it just depends on how you do it, and what you are willing to do without.
I think it's cheaper to live in an RV (provided you only move monthly or seasonally) than a S&B - at least compared to my S&B. :) I'll bet the property taxes and insurance on your 40 acre home is more than your annual CG costs will be (I pay about $4,500/yr for taxes and insurance on my 40yr old, 1/2 acre rural home in Louisiana). A typical $350/monthly rate is only $4,200/yr (less than $12/night) - and some CG's are much cheaper than that, especially on a seasonal basis - if you even decide to stay in a CG each and every month. Many fulltimers don't, prefering to stay on BLM lands, free CGs, boondock, etc.
Next, we'll look at moving expenses. My current camper is an Aliner which I pull with a 4cyl car. It might be tight, but one person could live in it, as we have all the amenities of a big rig -(king bed, shower,cassette toilet, fridge/freezer, microwave/ 3 burner stove, etc.) It would sure beat living in a van, a tent or cloth sided pop-up as many do. It is very inexpensive to move, as I get mid-20's MPG towing. I know someone who lives singly in a Chalet - so it can be done. There are quite a few singles and couples living in fiberglass egg trailers towed by 4 cyl pickups or minivans, and others living in truck campers too. A mid-size Airstream, Hi-Lo or even a Trailmanor are easy towing options too. If you can afford them, class Bs are another option for the budget minded content to live in a small space. add a screen room or outside tentage to expand your space if staying a while and you won't feel as claustrophobic in such a diminuitive home on wheels.
No, you can't live cheaply staying in resorts paying their nightly rates and traveling a bunch in a 7 MPG Class A, but those who can afford a rig like that are usually not worried about travel costs. On our last vacation we stayed at FHU $10/night private and NP campgrounds, had all we could eat (bbq'd most nights and even ate out a few times), drank plenty of beer, visited the tourist attractions, and drove over 2,500 miles (gas around $4/gal at the time). My DW and I did this for less than $800 for 2 weeks. That's $1,600/mo living like a king and queen. Could we have sustained this? Probably not (we would put on far too much weight) and this doesn't cover vehicle or camper maint., repairs or insurance costs. However, if we were living like this full time, we wouldn't be doing the tourist thing, so these expenses would be replaced by insurance, maint. etc. The point is, we could have certainly lived on much less if necessary. If you like to travel a lit but still want to overnight at CGs consider one of the discount clubs like Passport America or Recreation USA, which offers quite a few $10/night campgrounds to their members - and you don't have to buy an expensive resort membership either.
If you wouldn't consider such a tiny rig for fulltime use (I doubt we would either, in truth.), consider a lightweight 1/2 ton towable TT like the Slingshot line by Crossroads. They have a 30ft model with slide that weighs under 4,100 lbs and has a 3,000+ lb CCC. Tow it with a modern high mpg 1/2 ton pick-up and you have a relatively affordable vehicle to use when not towing - which will probably be most of the time if you move monthly or seasonally. Want to stretch your budget even further? Consider throwing a couple of bicycles or high mpg scooters in the bed for touring the area and taking short trips to the store. Such a rig is obviously unsuitable for cold weather, but so am I (being a Louisiana resident), necessitating wintering-over in warmer climes (but that's ok with me).
Everyone has a budget. Just know what yours is, plan your expenses in advance and live within your means and you'll be fine. Life is about compromise and choices. Few people can have it all. If you are willing to forgo moving a lot, you can have a bigger rig. If you are willing to stay less at FHU campgrounds, you can move more often. Just decide what's more important to you and don't let me or anyone else discourage you from following your dreams.
Chip
-- Edited by Sushidog on Thursday 15th of September 2011 05:59:41 PM
I would not pull anything weighing over a ton with a 1/2 ton pickup. I pulled a 2 horse trailer with one horse in it with a 1/2 ton p/u . I had to make a quick stop and even with electric brakes on the trailer it pushed me through an intersection. Fortunately there was not an accident. Imediately after that I purchsed a 3/4 ton p/u and doubled my braking ability. This is my experience and my opinion. Safety on the road is very important. Just because a vehicle can pull a trailer does not mean that it is safe. Do not take a salesmans word for what size vehicle is suitable to pull a trailer.
I am a member of Cool Works and they have a lot of information on seasonal jobs. They even have a section that list jobs for RVers.
Just enjoy it.
Chip
You just have to check ahead thats all.
Melvonnar,
I joined this forum in June and had missed this thread. Thank you for reviving it. I learned a lot from it.
V
and pay.
however if you just want a campsite with electric and water and a free dumpsite in the campground; there are two many to list that give you this for much less than $15.00 a night.
There is going to be a wide range. We could surely live on less than $2,000 a month but we are frugal and spend much less than others living in a house. If you are used to budgeting while living in a house, it will not be that hard to do some research and come up with a pretty good estimate of what your living expenses would be. And, just like living in a house, when you have a budget, you have money set aside for repairs, etc. Something like saving on the heating bill in the north was paying for the lot rental with a little left over when we were in SE AL and we had snowbirds coming in from the far north. It is about choices, research and having a plan.
even using 5 days of boondocking and 2 days of campground method will on the average cost 100 for those 2 nites depending on the region.
there are alot of ways to supplement your travels and increase your income without cutting back travel.....my2 cents
I had been living on about $10,000 a yr. up until my Heart Attack this March 2012. I worked at Amazon.com for the 8 week Holiday Rush in 2010 and 2011. Worked for an Amusement Park in Iowa the same yrs. A Yogi Park in the Spring of 2010, 11 +12. And as soon as I'm recovered, back to Work Camping I go. It all depends on how much your travel costs are, breakdowns and maintenance fees, insurances are and of course Food and clothes (acquire most of mine through thrift stores---some have never been worn..).
Keep your cabin and land; give it a try and if you decide it's not for you;
at least you have a place to go back to!!! Which I was forced to give up long ago---Long story!!! PIEERE
Back in 1970, I paid $60. a month for water, electric, and sewer.
...alas ...those days are gone.
Your cabin and acreage are 'security'.
'People disruptions' happen when you rent.
Travel and sightsee .... but ...Keep your cabin and acreage.
He might be gone, but I learned a lot. Hope he did also!
This was a very good topic to me and worth reading.
My friend, Larry Farquhar, maintains a listing of military campgrounds, http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/, that you might find useful.
Truth is that since I figured out that it would take 12 years to make up the social security difference between 62 and 66, I have decided to kick full time retirement off sooner rather than later. So I am spending some time this weekend putting together a timeline and financial plan to meet that goal. I believe we have determined which coach it will be and will contact Rolling Retreats this week to begin discussing the house. Also have begun laying the groundwork to get the HDT modified, insured and registered.
Fees to park play a part in the plan. I prefer to boondock when it makes sense but there are times and locations where that might not be the best solution. So I am planning for all situations. The budget information that has been posted and the gobs of information that you all share is making the planning so much easier than trying to go in blind.
Financially, we have been pretty secure for many years. Knowing that we will take a significant cut is the scary part and the primary reason for the plan. Anecdotally, I know we can well afford it. I just need to document my thoughts before we make the leap. There will be some lifestyle changes so I want to be as sure as possible that they are changes we can live with. The only absolute at this point is that if we keep the s&b, we will be a slave to it and that isn't an option. One other absolute is that we will have laundry facilities in the retirement villa (read 5ver) but I covered that on another thread.
I suppose I have gotten about as far off topic as I should but, I felt like rambling and you all looked like bartenders. Besides, I'm getting old so this too should be expected!
Hubby still works on this base full time, so that is why we are here, there are RV parks around that have cheaper monthly rates, but this is convenient for us and we like it, lots of Full-timers here and all in all a pretty friendly bunch, there are cons too, there is an airstrip, airport, gun range all in earshot of the camp, but you can tune them out mostly. This Famcamp usually scores in the top 5 of the reviews for famcamps, they have done some upgrading in the past few years.
We have stayed at the Famcamp at Patrick AFB in FL, I would love to stay on there again, it's right on the space coast and just beautiful there, the rates are about the same as here, but lots more to do in that area.
Most of the Famcamps won't let you book in advance, but do have over spill areas at most if you are willing to wait for an open FHU site. You can call them though and ask a day or two before about openings.
We have a washer/dryer in the RV, to be honest we have used it once, the laundry on base costs $1.25 a load and it's a lot easier to just walk over there than to try stuffing 2 pairs of pants and a couple of shirts in ours! We are going to get rid of ours and use the space for more useful stuff
If you need any info/help with anything, feel free to PM me!
huggs Kim x
GET YOUR NATIONAL PARK PASS. ONE TIME FEE OF ONLY $10.00. GOOD FOR LIFE. CAPING SHOULD BE AROUND $8.00 TO $10.00 A NIGHT. GO TO allstays.com AND YOU WILL FINE ALL THE CAME GROUNDS IN THE U.S.A. WHEN YOU GO TO ALLSTAYS SITE CLICK ON CORPS OF ENGINEERS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. YOU WILL FINE CAMP GROUNDS FOR UNDER $10.00 A NIGHT OR LESS. SOME OF THERE CAMP GROUNDS ARE AROUND $5.00 A NIGHT. MOST OF THE TIME YOU WILL GET FULL HOOK UP. THERE ARE MORE WAYS TO CAMP FOR UNDER $$10.00 A NIGHT WITH FULL HOOK UP. WILL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
JT
We're old enough and then some!!!