Newly retired senior checking out idea of full time RV living as I have wanted to do this for many yrs but got scared off by possible high cost of living that way.I'm looking into renting a motorhome class C about 24-26ft for 2 mos to experience RV living (I've often camped in a tent). I would be heading down the east coast of US Apr-May.Your forum is great for info and I love reading your stories!Living in NS, sales taxes are very high and a friend suggested it would be less expensive to rent one in US eg Maine(although $can is only about US$oo.92 right now.)Does anyone have suggestions about how to go about this the best way and what would be a good model to rent? If I like it, I would look into buying one.Thanks, Mariaps this is my first experience with a forum!

Doesn't really matter what you rent, what matters is that you're doing this the right way first. This is a great way to get familiar with how things work. RVing is not always cheaper than living in a home however, but it is fun.

Newly retired senior checking out idea of full time RV living as I have wanted to do this for many yrs but got scared off by possible high cost of living that way. I'm looking into renting a motorhome class C about 24-26ft for 2 mos to experience RV living (I've often camped in a tent). I would be heading down the east coast of US Apr-May. Your forum is great for info and I love reading your stories! Living in NS, sales taxes are very high and a friend suggested it would be less expensive to rent one in US eg Maine(although $can is only about US$oo.92 right now.) Does anyone have suggestions about how to go about this the best way and what would be a good model to rent? If I like it, I would look into buying one. Thanks, Maria ps this is my first experience with a forum! There is excellent information on the fulltime lifestyle on Escapees, Technomania, and NuRvers web sites (and many others). And you will find people live in all kinds of RV's big or small. Many work part time to make some extra money.You have two issues. The first is whether you are really a candidate for full time living in an RV; and the second depends on the first that if you think you are a candidate then what type of RV to fulltime in. Many RV's are made purely for occasional recreational usage. And others are made for full time usage.

Hi Maria. Renting a MH for a trip like that will really give you a good idea of living the lifestyle and if you enjoy it or not. The size you are looking at should be fine for getting around without towing a car. Your two biggest expenses will be fuel and camp ground fees. I've never rented an rv before, so I don't have any advice, but there seem to be plenty of rental places around. My wife and I have just recently retired, and have only been out on 1-2 week trips, but are looking forward to being on the road 1-2 months and probably a lot longer. We have done a lot of camping over the years, and pretty much knew this is what we wanted. You will like it a lot better than using a tent.

Living full time in an RV can be as cheep or as expensive as you want to make it. On the cheep, stay for a month at a time(lowest rates) Camp host(free space and utilities). So your only expenses are food, propane, and fuel for your RV, plus insurance and medical. Expensive, resorts can run 50 or more dollars a day plus electricity. Eating out a lot of the time can be very costly. It can be what you want.As for long term rentals? While that can become very expensive it is still far cheaper than buying one and discover you really hate the life and sell out at a hugh loss.

Go to the website rvlifestyleexperts.com Jaimie has a lot of excellent articles. Click on her blog, she has info on women rving alone, work kamping, etc. She has several books about living the rv lifestyle.I get newsletters also from www.rvtravel.com . He has several different ones as well as instructional videos on you tube.

Is RV living for me? | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

Frosty_s_Mom
Explorer
Jan 12, 2014
we started full timing last may as we sold our home. had the RV as we'd been using for some camping and trips and wanted to visit the east coast and see some civil war battlegrounds, other sites of interest. we've come to yuma to over-winter and have to say we are loving it. quite comfortable, warm, lots to see and do. has opened a whole new world for us. looking forward to traveling this spring/summer and will probably wind up back here come the fall. gonna be hard to settle down again.
dancingypsyspir
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
Wow, so many helpful responses!!
I appreciate the info and will check it out.
An RV would definitely be more comfortable than a tent!
I would be doing a max of 6mos in US and the rest in Can as am aware of rules.Or.....may end up just doing it part-time.There is a lot to research!
I wonder if anyone ever trades RVing with someone from Europe or elsewhere?
This looks like it could be a lot of fun!
Thanks,
Maria
ps I'll keep you posted
Mike__Rose
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
We started out renting a Class C to see if we enjoyed the lifestyle. We purchased in 2008. We do not full time and do most of our traveling from April to October. To get your feet wet, many campgrounds like KOA rent stationary TT ,park models and cabins. At least you can see if you like living in a campground. Renting a motor home will give you the practice of driving one and testing out all the features.
Harvard
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
Keep in mind we Canadians only have access to a warm climate up to a max of about 6 months a year depending on US INS/IRS rules and your provincal health care residency requirements.
DaHose
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
I am fairly new to the whole RV world, but one thing I have learned is that multi-power appliances are a big plus. When you connect to power at a camp site, having an electric water heater and cab heater are two simple ways to reduce your propane costs. Another good idea is to get an inductive burner for the counter and cook with electricity. You need propane to make heat, cook and maybe run your refrigerator. Having the option to do all three things with shore power is a good way to reduce propane costs, provided you end up staying somewhere you have hookups.

Jose
lizbard
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
Go to the website rvlifestyleexperts.com Jaimie has a lot of excellent articles. Click on her blog, she has info on women rving alone, work kamping, etc. She has several books about living the rv lifestyle.

I get newsletters also from www.rvtravel.com . He has several different ones as well as instructional videos on you tube.
donn0128
Explorer II
Jan 11, 2014
Living full time in an RV can be as cheep or as expensive as you want to make it. On the cheep, stay for a month at a time(lowest rates) Camp host(free space and utilities). So your only expenses are food, propane, and fuel for your RV, plus insurance and medical. Expensive, resorts can run 50 or more dollars a day plus electricity. Eating out a lot of the time can be very costly. It can be what you want.
As for long term rentals? While that can become very expensive it is still far cheaper than buying one and discover you really hate the life and sell out at a hugh loss.
richardwise
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
Hi Maria. Renting a MH for a trip like that will really give you a good idea of living the lifestyle and if you enjoy it or not. The size you are looking at should be fine for getting around without towing a car. Your two biggest expenses will be fuel and camp ground fees. I've never rented an rv before, so I don't have any advice, but there seem to be plenty of rental places around. My wife and I have just recently retired, and have only been out on 1-2 week trips, but are looking forward to being on the road 1-2 months and probably a lot longer. We have done a lot of camping over the years, and pretty much knew this is what we wanted. You will like it a lot better than using a tent.
jmtandem
Explorer II
Jan 11, 2014
Newly retired senior checking out idea of full time RV living as I have wanted to do this for many yrs but got scared off by possible high cost of living that way.
I'm looking into renting a motorhome class C about 24-26ft for 2 mos to experience RV living (I've often camped in a tent). I would be heading down the east coast of US Apr-May.
Your forum is great for info and I love reading your stories!
Living in NS, sales taxes are very high and a friend suggested it would be less expensive to rent one in US eg Maine(although $can is only about US$oo.92 right now.)
Does anyone have suggestions about how to go about this the best way and what would be a good model to rent? If I like it, I would look into buying one.
Thanks, Maria
ps this is my first experience with a forum!

There is excellent information on the fulltime lifestyle on Escapees, Technomania, and NuRvers web sites (and many others). And you will find people live in all kinds of RV's big or small. Many work part time to make some extra money.

You have two issues. The first is whether you are really a candidate for full time living in an RV; and the second depends on the first that if you think you are a candidate then what type of RV to fulltime in. Many RV's are made purely for occasional recreational usage. And others are made for full time usage.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jan 11, 2014
Doesn't really matter what you rent, what matters is that you're doing this the right way first. This is a great way to get familiar with how things work.

RVing is not always cheaper than living in a home however, but it is fun.

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Is RV living for me?

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