So DH & I have decided to sell the house and all our stuff and try full timing for a while. We do plan on buying a new house in a few years in a warmer climate so we will invest the money while we travel to later purchase a new home in a new area. I have to say I'm a little scared - so much to learn. I'm hoping you good folks who have had some experience with this will offer up some kind advice. We will be living in a 36' Keystone Cougar 5th wheel and I'm just a little nervous about feeling cramped in. Another concern is also having enough money to live on. Hubby collects a pension of 3,000 a month and thinks we can do it on that. The plan is to winter in the south, and then travel home in summer. When we're home, we won't have to worry about paying to stay anywhere as family has enough room for us, so we will save some money there. Wish us luck & please do share any advice you think will help!SewsyQ

You might be better off posting this down in the "Full Time" thread. More of us fulltimers will see it there and you will probably get more input.

Welcome to the forums.Have you owned an rv before?

Thank you for suggesting the full time forum. I will also post there.Don, we have been RVer's for many years, but only taking short vacation trips.

My advice would be to Snowbird first.See if you even like being in your RV for several months at a time BEFORE jumping right in to Full timing.After the initial drive all over when you first hit the road Full Time,Most of us full timers usually end up settling in just following the sun. South in the winter and north in the summer. Same as a snowbird only with maybe relatives destination for the summer months.Depending if you have a payment on your RV. If you read all the stickies on the cost of Full Timing posted at the top of that forum you will find the average nut to crack is around 3,000 per month. Of course with a lot of variables for how each individual chooses to RV. I found it to be around that for me.

Full time is a whole different ball game than short trips. I think rockhillmanor hit the nail on the head with the advice to snowbird first.I find it much harder to full time than when I was taking month long trips.

Taking the plunge to full timing & need advice | Good Sam Community

bobsallyh
Explorer II
Apr 15, 2015
You might be better off posting this down in the "Full Time" thread. More of us fulltimers will see it there and you will probably get more input.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Apr 15, 2015
Welcome to the forums.

Have you owned an rv before?
Sewsyq
Explorer
Apr 15, 2015
Thank you for suggesting the full time forum. I will also post there.
Don, we have been RVer's for many years, but only taking short vacation trips.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Apr 15, 2015
My advice would be to Snowbird first.

See if you even like being in your RV for several months at a time BEFORE jumping right in to Full timing.

After the initial drive all over when you first hit the road Full Time,
Most of us full timers usually end up settling in just following the sun. South in the winter and north in the summer. Same as a snowbird only with maybe relatives destination for the summer months.

Depending if you have a payment on your RV. If you read all the stickies on the cost of Full Timing posted at the top of that forum you will find the average nut to crack is around 3,000 per month. Of course with a lot of variables for how each individual chooses to RV. I found it to be around that for me.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Apr 15, 2015
Full time is a whole different ball game than short trips. I think rockhillmanor hit the nail on the head with the advice to snowbird first.

I find it much harder to full time than when I was taking month long trips.
mikensallyt
Explorer
Apr 15, 2015
Sewsyq wrote:
So DH & I have decided to sell the house and all our stuff and try full timing for a while. We do plan on buying a new house in a few years in a warmer climate so we will invest the money while we travel to later purchase a new home in a new area. I have to say I'm a little scared - so much to learn. I'm hoping you good folks who have had some experience with this will offer up some kind advice. We will be living in a 36' Keystone Cougar 5th wheel and I'm just a little nervous about feeling cramped in. Another concern is also having enough money to live on. Hubby collects a pension of 3,000 a month and thinks we can do it on that. The plan is to winter in the south, and then travel home in summer. When we're home, we won't have to worry about paying to stay anywhere as family has enough room for us, so we will save some money there. Wish us luck & please do share any advice you think will help!

SewsyQ

good luck but 3,000 a month is more than enough to live on. Pay off your debts first and then consider ... just saying
Sewsyq
Explorer
Apr 15, 2015
We will be debt free when we begin this adventure and we are open to re-evaluating as we go forward in this. I think in the beginning we will most likely do a snowbird for Jan, Feb, & Mar. But we would travel some in Nov, Dec, and Apr. Home for the summer May through Oct. Thank you for your advice we appreciate it. Nice to hear 3,000 a month can work!
Bob_Shaw
Explorer
Apr 15, 2015
If you're thinking of snowbirding next winter, you probably ought to start arranging a campground now. There are some reasonable snowbird campgrounds in south central Florida, near Avon Park/Sebring. I stay in one called Lake Letta RV Park. It's a small park with nice sized sites, friendly atmosphere, and is dog friendly. The seasonal rates are les than #300 per month. You might check RVparkreviews.com to find campgrounds with some reviews of them. I think you'll find that the closer to the coast you get, the rates get higher.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Apr 15, 2015
pianotuna wrote:
Full time is a whole different ball game than short trips. I think rockhillmanor hit the nail on the head with the advice to snowbird first.

I find it much harder to full time than when I was taking month long trips.

I would at least spend at least several month trips in the 5er to see how it feels to be inn that space.
We have started doing Hosting for OPRD, as a way to be spending a month or more in the 5er.
We still both work full time so it can be a little hard at times. Next year we may try to do two months in a row.

We only have a 32' 5er with a fairly open plan, and a large kitchen, so the time we have spent seem to be comfortable.
rmalik1
Explorer
Apr 15, 2015
Sewsyq wrote:
We will be debt free when we begin this adventure and we are open to re-evaluating as we go forward in this. I think in the beginning we will most likely do a snowbird for Jan, Feb, & Mar. But we would travel some in Nov, Dec, and Apr. Home for the summer May through Oct. Thank you for your advice we appreciate it. Nice to hear 3,000 a month can work!

U can do it, and if u don't like it; You already said that that you will buy another house - so you have an exit plan! Biggest thing is that you and hubby are friends and can spend allot of time together and a hobby or two doesn't hurt. You can also partake some classes or other activities/events offered at the campgrounds.

We were scared at first also but u will find your groove, and u don't have to travel nonstop - we don't (saves diesel) Home is were u park it.