preparing to full time

Have you been together 24/7 for an extended period of time? Try that first.

DP is number one most expensive form of RV there is. They take lots of cash to keep operational. If you have never owned an RV before that is the last thing I would suggest. If you have not lived minimalist life style I woyld suggest trying to live in 350 square feet for a month. If you have not killed each other by then then maybe. Since RVs are a depreciating asset there is no way anyone in their right mind would consider selling a house to buy one. Just not smart.

Go to the RV Consumer Group to read what the RV should have for full timing; a cut above the normal appliances, heating/AC, etc. AND devour the fulltiming section of this Forum.

skdmark1 wrote:
just retired and ready to put plans in motion....buy rv first then sell property or sell property then buy rv? any suggestions? planning on a 2014 dp.....please help
Ricky

Two points regardless if you have lots of $$$ or not so much $$$

1) We sold a place rental last year and was surprised all the stuff purchasers have to go thru nowdays.

2) I would want not a 2014 DP sitting and deprecating in my driveway waiting for property buyer.


If you get money in hand and then buy RV atleast your using it during your big deprecating years.

But everybody's different.

While full timing is wonderful for many, I'd be sure I plan for what happens when I'm done. Any RV you purchase will depreciate far faster than just about any house - if you put all the results of the house sale into the RV & decide a year or two later that you are tired on the life, what is your plan?

Not to be discouraging (I just spent 305 days in a 17' trailer) If you haven't RVed, and can afford it, you might want to try it for a couple of months before selling the house. As 352 states, you may find the limited space & maximum togetherness is more than you bargained for.

Foolish to go from house to new MH and full time without having tried it first BUT;
Those of us who do full time will be happy to buy your rig at a deep discount in a couple of years when you tire of it.

Your decision to full time is a very serious one which takes lots of planning and is contingent on your health. Have you the finances to come back off the road if things do not work out?
A good used unit for a couple of years might be better. OR find an RV resort community that has some rentals and rent a SMALL travel trailer (little smaller than your intended MH) for the first winter. How you survive in the the rental might give you a hint as to how you will do in a MH.

Moved from Forum Technical Support

Get the MH, spend as much time as possible shaking it down and discovering all the issues with it. You still have a garage so it is easier to do modifications and repairs in the driveway. Start moving your stuff into the RV to figure out how little you really need. Sell and give household stuff away. Once you are ready to sell you won't feel crimped for time. Just move to a local RV park. Once sold you can pay off the RV if you haven't already. Who cares about it as an investment. You could be hit by lightening tomorrow and never enjoy one day of retirement. Get out while you can. Don't be a turtle.

Figure it's going to cost you 50 cents per mile to drive it with fuel and tolls. So 2000 miles per month is $1000. You can rent almost anywhere for that. Plus that does not include financing if you are to do so. Full timing is not as cheap as owning or renting a house. You do have to check weather before you drive and not drive if storms are blowing through. Then if in and RV while a storm comes through, sometimes you have to seek shelter in a storm shelter. So probably do some RVing before you sell as you then will know if you want RV living. Many get stuck in and RV and can't get back to a static home. There are two kinds of RVers those that have to and those that want to. Homes are appreciating, RV's not.

If it were me, I'd be selling the homestead and then getting a 40+ DP. But you gotta get rid of decades worth of stuff first before you do anything else. My cousin did just that in that order and they're first-timers going with a 43' Allegro Bus full time.