My wife and I are at the very start of full time Rv. We still have our day jobs. We live in the very expensive Sf BayArea. We considered. Moving to the far out suburbs of sacramento to be able to afford housing. But she is enjoying her current job and there is not much to do in sacramento except drive up to Sf on the weekends in traffic. We really want a change. Currently we are renting but in the coming year should have enough money for down payment for a small townhouse in a suburb. My thinking at the moment is start renting rv for weekend trips. We both know visually nothing about rv. But I research everyday. Our plan is to buy a class c and do a lot of urban stealth camping in South city, Daly Cith, San Francisco area. (If any have tips and recommendations for this we would really appreciate it. such as would it be difficult to pull off urban rv camping in those areas.) We really don't want to buy a 90,000 rig and not have anywhere we can park it day to day. I know we would have to find new park every couple nights. Just writing this it sounds very daunting. I have a truck that can pull 5,000 lbs but to do urban camping pulling something does not seem ideal. The rv we like the most is the Winnebago Navion. Price 100,000. Its a diesel so not sure about future repair expenses. Built on mercedes benz sprinter chassis. (Is this a good chassis opposed to ford sprinter.But we really like this rig and the brand. 100.000 sounds like a lot but I really do not want to buy something we not happy with and then to have buy something else latter on. Its Cheaper just to get what you want in the first place. Anyone have opinions about the Navion. Another option we thinking is but a Thor Chateu and update to interior. I believe its is a gas rig so maybe less maintenance in future. Suggestions of great rv class c to check out are welcome. Our end goal is to live in Class C in the bay area and own a tiny home or small condo in Los Angeles we can visit for vacation, use as a rental and as a home base. Class A seem too big to move all the time. We plan on visiting rv shows and have already slowed down our shoopping we will plan a weekend to get rid of stuff we don't need. I believe its going to take a year to put everything together. Any suggestion welcome

nlewis wrote:I really wonder if the the disconnect here is we will be stationary working professionals and many of the full times are moving from city to city boodocking. As I drive I see a class c here and there on the street on a dead end. It is obvious what they are doing. So in out minds if they can do it and make it happened why can't we. But I believe these are single people on the go. Not worried to going to a job the next day as their Rv sits. Even down the street from where we live now every 5th night there is a Rv park in a secluded area. Mostly gone the next morning. Because we been considering this lifestyle I can spot it right away. In any case your points are very valid and I have plenty to think about. Those folks who are on the move, changing towns and cities, not working in a stationary place, are the ones most likely to make this work.Say you move neighborhoods every night, you're going to run out of neighborhoods fairly quickly. Then you're going to have to start running through them again and again. This greatly increases your odds of getting in trouble for squatting.Full-timing is a lifestyle but it's done legally. What you're really looking at doing is being homeless and squatting wherever you can get away with it. Why not look into an RV Park with long-term rentals? Then you can have your full-timing lifestyle, do some traveling during vacation time and have a LEGAL place to park your RV (and not have to worry that it will have been impounded while you were at work or the gym or out for dinner).

I know nothing about SF but I would bet that like many cities it would be a real pita with a class C. There are people who do it but I believe it's primarily in vans It takes a bit of learning and being able to adapt and find places that you wont constantly get run out of. That Navion looks like a real beauty. Maybe rent the rv and try staying in the areas you are talking about.

Urban stealth camping.........2AM Knock/knock "Sir you will need to move immediately" :S

. . . do a lot of urban stealth camping in South city, Daly Cith, San Francisco area.Not that easy, according to prior threads that have addressed the subject. Do you see folks doing that now? In a Class C? If not, there might be a reason.If you're going to live in a townhouse, you'll probably have to pay for RV storage somewhere. Not many townhouse communities allow RV or boat parking. Even a Class B gets a lot of resistance. Maybe you will find a way to make it work, but the powers that be don't make it easy in populous urban areas.

Your plan for 'stealth camping' won't work in San Francisco for a long period of time. They'll catch up with you. :)You mention Los Angeles for a vacation condo. Why not give up SF and more to Los Angeles?

At the very Beginning!!! | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

toedtoes
Explorer III
Aug 01, 2016
nlewis wrote:
I really wonder if the the disconnect here is we will be stationary working professionals and many of the full times are moving from city to city boodocking. As I drive I see a class c here and there on the street on a dead end. It is obvious what they are doing. So in out minds if they can do it and make it happened why can't we. But I believe these are single people on the go. Not worried to going to a job the next day as their Rv sits. Even down the street from where we live now every 5th night there is a Rv park in a secluded area. Mostly gone the next morning. Because we been considering this lifestyle I can spot it right away. In any case your points are very valid and I have plenty to think about.

Those folks who are on the move, changing towns and cities, not working in a stationary place, are the ones most likely to make this work.

Say you move neighborhoods every night, you're going to run out of neighborhoods fairly quickly. Then you're going to have to start running through them again and again. This greatly increases your odds of getting in trouble for squatting.

Full-timing is a lifestyle but it's done legally. What you're really looking at doing is being homeless and squatting wherever you can get away with it.

Why not look into an RV Park with long-term rentals? Then you can have your full-timing lifestyle, do some traveling during vacation time and have a LEGAL place to park your RV (and not have to worry that it will have been impounded while you were at work or the gym or out for dinner).
nlewis
Explorer
Aug 01, 2016
Catkins Your points are very valid and I need to take a serious amount of time to think about each point raised. I believe we can stretch our tanks for two weeks then dump at thousand trails or Koa campsite. Also we will be gone most of the day so perhaps the tanks want fill up as fast. There is one not to fas away. We are tv watchers but trying to change our lifestyle to be more outdoors and activities. We going to invest in solar on the roof to top off batteries.

I really wonder if the the disconnect here is we will be stationary working professionals and many of the full times are moving from city to city boodocking. As I drive I see a class c here and there on the street on a dead end. It is obvious what they are doing. So in out minds if they can do it and make it happened why can't we. But I believe these are single people on the go. Not worried to going to a job the next day as their Rv sits. Even down the street from where we live now every 5th night there is a Rv park in a secluded area. Mostly gone the next morning. Because we been considering this lifestyle I can spot it right away. In any case your points are very valid and I have plenty to think about.

A van could be a possibility. Our plan is to attend a rv show in October to make sure we seen all the different combinations out there.

However I know I am close to solving this puzzle. What we are thinking is difficult but also having her in traffic day after day is difficult as well. We are both ready for new adventure. But it must be a calculated risk with backups in place.
nlewis
Explorer
Aug 01, 2016
Hence the title "At the very beginning" Which is why I decided to join this forum. We plan to work out all the this and thats in a years time. And I am very confident we will work out our black tanks needs. And by the way I research the full time rv life every day. Its just that we are coming from a place of so little knowledge it going to take time to catch up. Trust me lack of research will not be one the things holding us back. I learn something new everyday that changes my perspective on things.
catkins
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2016
A class C will definitely get attention of local LEOs. The ones we encounter are generally resting during the day. Around Seattle, they are very aggressive to move stealth campers along. Many Walmarts are refusing to allow camping anywhere near large cities because they get lots of older sadly worn RVs trying to park form a long time and local ordinances do not allow camping.

Since you have never RVed before: How will you recharge batteries? Batteries will not last an extended time. Batteries are used for fridges controller/propane igniter, interior lights, fans, furnace fan heated by propane furnace. A generator will do that but the noise will get the attention of everyone and now no stealth camping. Solar panels work great for recharging but only in the sunshine and SF is notorious of lots of cloud covered days. Solar can be pricey and very obvious if not roof mounted. TV watchers - now you use more power and many antennas need to be raised - another red flag. Interior lights on inside at night = camping..........

Black water is not your only water issue - you will have grey water that is from shower/sink. ALL grey/black water is illegal to dump except at an approved dump site. Your fresh water tank will be a limiting factor as to how long before you need to dump and fill. Some campgrounds allow dumping for travelers for a fee. When staying in a campground it is included in the site fee.

A parked Class C in an urban area is a big red flag that someone is likely camping. A van is less obvious but will have VERY limited tank capacity. Vans have little on-board storage. You really need to get into several different types and think abut how the space would or would not work for you.

RV rentals are generally VERY expensive but might well be worth your time and expense to get a real life feel for the realities of rving.

Your dream sounds wonderful but please think this through carefully. Having to move every day would soon become a major chore. I know of no hotel that would allow you to camp in their parking lot from a liability standpoint alone......................... I wish you much luck in whatever you decide.
Naio
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2016
(No, I don't know why I bothered typing all that out to someone not polite enough to do a simple forum search.)
Naio
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2016
Ah.

Some people use a type of marine toilets in RVs, that are really sort of glorified porta potties. They are marketed as 'composting toilets', but they are not, really. You are still dealing with raw poo when you empty them.

A real composting toilet takes over a year to compost the waste to the point that it is still stinky, but safe to bury in your yard. That means you have to drive around with 2 people x 1 year's worth of poo. You need a biiiig RV to carry that much extra weight.
nlewis
Explorer
Aug 01, 2016
i have looked on youtube at a couple of full timers that have composting toilets. They report no issues and actually prefer it over the black tank. "Gone with the Wynns" Youtube channel. It depends on what toilet you buy I'm thinking because to love theirs.
Naio
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2016
nlewis wrote:
As far as tanks I'm thinking of composting toilet so that will help with the dumping tank situation.

LOL. I have had a composting toilet at home, but if you are thinking of one for an RV you have definitely not done enough research.
nlewis
Explorer
Aug 01, 2016
As far as tanks I'm thinking of composting toilet so that will help with the dumping tank situation.
nlewis
Explorer
Aug 01, 2016
The rv will be stationary most of the time and we will long term parking for one of our cars. The other car we will share. I 'll drop her off at work and pick her up after I finish work. We then go to the gym grab a bite and by that time its night and be will then proceed to the RV. If we enter the Rv late at night we will draw less attention. I realize there are lot logistics to work out. Hence about year away from all this. But better believe we would like to do this sooner than later. Trying not to be hasty.

Hotel idea may not work but I know there is some business owner who would not mind a little bit of money each month to put us up. If we move our Rv enough I really don't think we be considered homeless or a problem to neighbors. What drives me is as a drive I see so many spots that we could park at. Occasionally I see a Class C. And yes if its parked on a road with barely any cars and off to the side its obvious someone sleeping it. Unless we are in super nice rich ares I don't think it will be a problem. The only thing I worry about is will we get tired of moving constantly.

Starting something new always seems fun but I have to think about back up plan. If the South City does not work out the back up plan is try boondocking in the east bay. I really don't think what Im talking about is impossible in class c. But difficult yes. May need to think about class B. But that would be too drastic a change. Hence Class C. All I know is September will be an interesting month.

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At the very Beginning!!!

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