Can I really do this?
Hello to all! I don't know if this is the correct place to ask this question(s) or not, so forgive me if not in the correct category. I will be retiring in 3 years. I have been researching full tim...
Forum Discussion
rollindowntheroad wrote:
Thank you to all that replied! I really appreciate everyone's advise. It looks as though full timing in a MH isn't going to work for me financially. Will research getting a truck and either a TT or 5'er. Maybe that won't be doable either,
Why would a TT not be doable?
2,5K a month is a lot of money, people in the US and Canada often retire on less than 2K. Sorry for being cranky.
Monthly rates are lower than if you had paid one week 4 times. Annual lease is cheaper yet, and you won't have to look for a space every time. Traveling around is expensive, many of those who full-time or winter, stay in one place.
Annual lease in some places of Southwest - don't know about FL - start from under 3K, this is $200-250/month. You could find cheaper if you don't have to be near water. Check AZ Camps. Would make sense to take time and efforts and install 600-700W solar (less than 1K in parts). There might be retireded ;) neighbors in some off-grid places who don't know about inverters and run a genny to charge a cell phone or watch TV, but still you'll have more freedom with solar, even if the place is a full hook-up. Some campsites charge top $$$ for their power grid.
26-28ft TT go from 14-15K new. You'll save 30-40K compared to MH, this together with your planned 25K leftover will make 60K after TT - you could spend extra $300/month for 20 years (assuming interest with laddered GIC), or cover sudden big expenses. Don't want to tell you how to arrange your finance, different people have different needs and habits.
5-er costs more, and also needs more powerful truck (= more expensive to keep and run), unless you already have a big truck in a good shape.
For 2 people I would get a 5-er as big as I could handle, with at least one slide, better - with 2 slides. A second person can make a place feel surprisingly small.
For a single guy a 26ft TT would do, better if it has a slide, but not absolutely necessary.
PS: I agree with many other people here, it's not wise spending most of savings on MH. Get a TT.
TT should be at least 26ft. The difference btw 22ft TT and 26ft is the coach - 22ft one usually don't have any (unless it's a sofa-bed that you have to do-undo every time), and dinette benches are VERY uncomfortable to sit on. I threw one bench out and put a normal residential chair. You'll appreciate having a couch that is "independent" from a bed.
They don't count 3.5ft hitch, so 26ft TT is mere 22ft long inside, total 170 sq.ft including bathroom and kitchen. OK for one person, if you spend most time outdoors.
