Getting ready to take the plunge into full-time RVing

Those last two posts were incredibly helpful and relevant, thank you both so much.

Hi,

The Yeti units are nearly the most expensive way to do solar. Here is a simple flow chart.

Budget-->Energy Audit-->Battery bank size-->number of watts-->PWM or MPPT. What ever type of controller is chosen, make sure it has adjustable set points and a temperature probe that is on the battery.

If you use solar as a battery charger, one rule of thumb is between 60 and 150 watts of panels per 100 amp-hours of storage. The smaller the battery bank the higher the wattage needed (per 100 amp-hours). Here is a link to the rather special spreadsheet which includes an energy audit, that N8GS has created to help size solar battery charging systems!
solar spreadsheet by N8GS

If you full time or use an inverter lots, then populate the entire unshaded area of the roof with panels. I'm considering replacing my awning with solar panels.

For a nice explanation of solar, try this link:
Golden rules of solar

themoreweexplore wrote:
Day 4, the final day of our RV rental experience.

"We haven't sorted this one out yet. Being self-employed is going to raise medical insurance costs like crazy. Technomadia had some good resources on medical insurance, but we still need to look into this aspect a lot more."

The first thing you need to do is find out how much COBRA will be through your current employer. Then go check the various insurance companies in the state you will establish domicile in.

We went through this a couple of years ago (in fact, we could only retire/quit because of the ACA - I can't get health insurance otherwise). It turned out, our COBRA costs would have been double what we could get through the ACA without subsidies. And, we managed to get a nationwide PPO plan instead of the local (DC/MD/VA) plan we had.

Insurance costs vary widely by state and sometimes even zipcode. The exact same policy in TX was $850, in FLA was $750, in SD was unavailable, and in TN was $500 (for two adults, silver plan per month). Utah might not be your best choice for residency, when all things are considered. And, if one included a subsidy, the rates would be even better.

Really examine your medical needs. DH and I go to the Dr. once per year so a high deductible but low max out of pocket plan works best for us. This saves us money monthly on our insurance rates and covers us in the case of a major medical emergency (our max out of pocket is $5000 each).

It takes a lot of research but if you spend the time, you can save a lot of money finding a plan tailored to your needs. And, you do not have to buy through an exchange but to get a subsidy, it mus be through the exchange.

I just missed out on a MINT '93 Pace Arrow pusher. It had always been garaged and was in fantastic shape.

It's ok though, I'm still a few weeks out from purchasing anyway, so it would have sold one way or the other.

Day 4, the final day of our RV rental experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyBP_X8zc08

ok, that makes a lot of sense, thanks biscuit.

Social security will be all dried up by the time I retire, so that's out the window.


We have savings and retirement, but apart from that, I'm not sure what an "exit plan" looks like

I never counted on Social Security either.........I did my own 'retirement fund'. Invested 25% of gross every pay check since I was 20. Retired just before turning 50 cause I could.

SO 'PAY yourself' every pay check.........just like a monthly bill.

'Exit Plan'........we asked ourselves "What are we going to do IF....?" and "How are we going to pay for it?"
We had monies set aside for that event......NO TOUCH Monies!!!

We had 'emergency fund' for those OOPS! while traveling.
We had savings for dipping into IF really needed or we wanted to treat ourselves.

Planning.........doesn't take much.

Best wishes on your adventure.

who doesn't love a little lice on the road?

:B

"lice" is what happens when you're trying to type "live" and you fat-finger it.

I'm not sure you want "lice" on the road. Maybe just me or is that "under 30" talk for something? (Old guy here, is that "under 30" talk for something? Do you mean "lace" or entice"?)


(From your web site)

Our full-time job on the road

In order to lice the dream of working on the road, we needed to make our job mobile. We started a business documenting, filming, and capturing family stories from your relatives.

Anyways, lots of homemade stuff out there. Some becomes a labor of love of a professional looking unit and others lots, and lots of labor just to keep tarp on. Before jumping on a power unit of what seems like a good deal, make sure you investigate the parts availability. And known problems of different power units.

Great points old buscuit, and I don't have answers for all of them yet, but excellent things to consider.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Source of income while Full Timing?

Working on the road as an instructional designer (current employment) and video editor. We're still looking for a job that my wife can do. She's currently a hairdresser, so that doesn't really translate well.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Debts.....FT RVng isn't necessarily cheaper than house/apt living!

We don't have any debts right now. I'm trying to decide if I want to build a bus and own my "home/rv" outright, or if I want to get a bit of a loan and spring for something bigger/newer/better.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Retirement Investments.......have plans/contributing now?

Yes, but I'd like to have a more solid retirement investment plan. Social security will be all dried up by the time I retire, so that's out the window.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Medical Insurance.......a bit harder for FT RVvrs with ObamaCare.
Some Medical Insurance coverage only good in state, some dropped FT RVrs, some limited companies offering coverage in some states.
Fines/penalties increase each year for non-coverage.

We haven't sorted this one out yet. Being self-employed is going to raise medical insurance costs like crazy. Technomadia had some good resources on medical insurance, but we still need to look into this aspect a lot more.

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Where do you plan on building this 'skoolie'?

My family's got a place big enough to build the skoolie, and I have all the tools to do it.

Old-Biscuit wrote:

FT RVng was the best adventure we had.
But only real difference between house and RV living.........mobility.

That's what we're hoping for. We don't know where we want to settle down someday, and we've hardly explored this country. We would like to live in different towns to get a feel for them and learn what we like and what we don't like in a location. Hopefully this allows us to do that.

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Good luck! And have an 'exit plan' just in case...life comes with curveballs

We have savings and retirement, but apart from that, I'm not sure what an "exit plan" looks like.