First Time Full Timing Family!
My wife and I and our two kids (7 and 10) are preparing to move into a full time RV situation and hoping to draw on the incredible knowledge you all possess to be as educated as possible through the p...
Forum Discussion
Re: Domicile
The ages of your children and presumably your ages well under age 65 pretty much rule out South Dakota as a domicile because of health insurance. It is a great state for people over 65, but very limited choices without nationwide coverage for most folks under age 65. I realize the health insurance requirements, plans and availability are changing rapidly, but you will have to plan on what is available now, and review your decision in Sept/ Oct when 2019 health plans become available.
School - Texas has basically no requirements as far as home schooling. My daughter did that with our grandchildren for years. Personally I would recommend a Florida type home school/ remote school system rather than being completely on your own for home schooling.
You've received some great advice. One thing I haven't seen from your posts, and replies is what type of full-timer you intend to be.
There are many different types of people/ lifestyles in full-time RVing, and their requirements can be very different.
1. Traditional retired couple over age 65 - moderate traveling, generally southern states - FL, TX, AZ in the winter, northern states in the summer.
2. Traveling workers - travel to one location for several months to work. This type full-timer will find a 5th wheel the best RV.
3. Traveling sightseer - moving constantly every week, or less. Frankly most folks in this category seem to tire of moving so often. Also planning to go sightseeing every day, or three times a week is very expensive. Even if you choose free locations, the costs of fuel for the sightseeing trips adds up quickly.
and many more.
Catagories 1 & 3 - a Class A will be useful. No one can setup a 5th wheel as quickly as a Class A. If you travel, you are going to be setting up and tearing down 30 to 70 times per year. Even just 30 extra minutes for setup each time can add up to 15-35 extra hours per year.
Plus the on-board generator of a Class A means it is much easier to boondock than a 5er, even with an on-board generator. You can literally pull to a safe off the highway location in bad weather and fire up the generator. No need to go outside for anything.
Bad weather - you will find some. I strongly recommend not planning travel days too tightly. Leave some flexibility. As one weekend RVer asked me once "How do you handle driving with that big trailer in storms?"
My answer "I don't go. I never 'HAVE' to travel on a specific day. There is no reservation that I would lose, no requirement to be somewhere on a specific day that I cannot adjust my schedule."
Flexibility is a key for safe, enjoyable travel.
Good luck.
The ages of your children and presumably your ages well under age 65 pretty much rule out South Dakota as a domicile because of health insurance. It is a great state for people over 65, but very limited choices without nationwide coverage for most folks under age 65. I realize the health insurance requirements, plans and availability are changing rapidly, but you will have to plan on what is available now, and review your decision in Sept/ Oct when 2019 health plans become available.
School - Texas has basically no requirements as far as home schooling. My daughter did that with our grandchildren for years. Personally I would recommend a Florida type home school/ remote school system rather than being completely on your own for home schooling.
You've received some great advice. One thing I haven't seen from your posts, and replies is what type of full-timer you intend to be.
There are many different types of people/ lifestyles in full-time RVing, and their requirements can be very different.
1. Traditional retired couple over age 65 - moderate traveling, generally southern states - FL, TX, AZ in the winter, northern states in the summer.
2. Traveling workers - travel to one location for several months to work. This type full-timer will find a 5th wheel the best RV.
3. Traveling sightseer - moving constantly every week, or less. Frankly most folks in this category seem to tire of moving so often. Also planning to go sightseeing every day, or three times a week is very expensive. Even if you choose free locations, the costs of fuel for the sightseeing trips adds up quickly.
and many more.
Catagories 1 & 3 - a Class A will be useful. No one can setup a 5th wheel as quickly as a Class A. If you travel, you are going to be setting up and tearing down 30 to 70 times per year. Even just 30 extra minutes for setup each time can add up to 15-35 extra hours per year.
Plus the on-board generator of a Class A means it is much easier to boondock than a 5er, even with an on-board generator. You can literally pull to a safe off the highway location in bad weather and fire up the generator. No need to go outside for anything.
Bad weather - you will find some. I strongly recommend not planning travel days too tightly. Leave some flexibility. As one weekend RVer asked me once "How do you handle driving with that big trailer in storms?"
My answer "I don't go. I never 'HAVE' to travel on a specific day. There is no reservation that I would lose, no requirement to be somewhere on a specific day that I cannot adjust my schedule."
Flexibility is a key for safe, enjoyable travel.
Good luck.
