Looking for a Motorhome for permanent residence

Since you just got out of college I would strongly suggest you work at getting a job in your field before all your learning goes by the wayside. You also need to save some money before taking off to see the country. Once you get away from your field it will be much harder to re-enter it. It's difficult nowdays to find jobs. Don't add more difficulty to your situation. You really need some working experience.

Your plan is adventurous and exciting but it will not be cheap - with any kind of RV. Many of us traveling the country have saved money to do so - not all, but I would guess the majority. Really think this out before you make the plunge to buy a motorhome. Best of luck whichever way you go.

My Granny would have said that you have champagne tastes on a beer belly pocketbook. A motorhome doesn't sound like a good idea for you right now. Get a used minivan and a tent, hit the road and keep your cash to provide a funding cushion in case of emergencies.

donn0128 wrote:
Actually for your budget a TT and decent tow vehicle would be a far better choice. 10K can get you a really nice TT and for around 10K you should be able to find a good truck mid 2000 range. Also far less expensive to buy things for and maintain.

This would be the route I'd look into if I was traveling on a (strict) budget.

I live and work full time in my Eagle, however (knowing from my experience doing this for, as of March, the past 7 years) if I was to do it over again. I would've purchased a Toy Hauler, and a truck.

Either way, IMO, is still gonna cost money. No way around it I'm afraid.

Good Luck with your quest!

Pops


PS I'm connected to the outside world via my Verizon USB air devise. However, I'm one of the few who's on Verizon's unlimited plan (so long as I continue to use a 3G devise).

GavinHardison wrote:
I am looking for an RV to fully live in. My roommate will be joining me in my quest to travel the U.S. This RV will have to be used and fairly cheap in price (5,000 to 12,000) What RV will be best for me? I need something sturdy and can take punishment. Also I need the engine to feed one or two electrical outlets while idling and driving. Also is it possible for a way to get mobile WiFi? If so what is the cheapest company in price offering it. Im sorry to ask such questions but in this permanent road trip iI obviously need a source of income, my freelance photography cant do it alone. What jobs are out there that allows me to live this lifestyle? I was thinking a mid 1980's Fleetwood Bounder would be best. But I need to know she wont quit on me in the middle of nowhere. Also I would like to be able to make heavy modifications to this Motorhome.

You are young and adventurous and indeed what you are planning will be the adventure of a lifetime.

I agree with others that a small travel trailer and truck may serve you better. Motorhomes typically will cost more to maintain. A rig in your price range may be ok but there is no guarantee. If you have a motorhome you will need to tow another vehicle to get around with when you are parked. Setting up to tow will cost about $1000. If you plan to work you'll need transportation and a motorhome is not suitable for commuting or taking to the grocery store.

Jobs...there are websites and publications that offer work camping jobs. I cannot offer details because I've never checked into it. Most camp host/work camper jobs will be in the southern US in the winter and all over the country in warmer seasons. I cannot offer details on what these jobs may pay other than free camping while you work for the park.

WiFi is sometimes available at some campgrounds but if it a necessity I'd not count on the dependability or availability. A smart phone, MiFi or air card will get you what you need.

Keep in mind if you plan to fulltime:be sure the RV you get is supported by a generator for times you won't be at a campground. You'll need to run the generator daily to recharge batteries or whenever heavy power usage is needed. For example...you cannot run a coffee maker, AC, microwave & water heater on electric off of batteries. Batteries will hold up for several hours to run a few lights or the furnace fan.
Speaking of campgrounds...you'll need to budget for staying there at least some of the time. Boondocking is doable sometimes but finding a place to dry camp 100% of the time year round all over the country may be a challenge.

In cold country even with hook-ups plan to spend a lot of money on propane for heat, enough the onboard tank may not last for more than a few days in cold weather.

Most low cost dry camping sites are in national parks. Private property like Wal*Mart parking lots only allow a 1 night stop to get sleep not days or weeks.

Also consider you will need to declare a state of domicile or retain your current state residence for driver's lic., vehicle tags/title, insurance, taxes, etc. You can't just pick any state...you will have to do so legally and each state offers different possibilities.

I'd suggest reading many of the forums on RV.net to find out what you are getting into. I'm sure everyone's comments have given you new questions to ask...keep asking you'll find the answers.

I hope you can find a workcamping or other type of job to support your chosen lifestyle. Good luck.

My vote is for a truck/TT combo. You can break up any potential mechanical issues between "home" and "transportation". Car/light truck mechanicals are a lot less expensive to address than the bigger Class A stuff. Ideally, in order to embark upon such an endeavor you need to be at least a little bit handy. If you are, the more complicated solutions will come to you out of necessity.

My advice is to do what you want while you can. You'll probably learn a lot along the way, which is the best part of the journey. You'll have some great stories to tell later in life, too.

Just some questions to prompt your planning.

After the purchase of an RV, is your budget prepared for the cost of RVing? Starting at $25 a night at a CG. If you boondock, how will you recharge your batteries? How about LP at $2-4 a gal? Full timing has a cost.

vegasfoodguy wrote:

Two Jayhawks wrote:
Congrats on your college degree. Your not going to like what I have to say so I'll just start out being honest. Forget buying any class A to hit the road. Half the people on this forum can barely afford the lifestyle and they have been working a lot longer than you have. Use a van/car to travel and plan to camp. The maintenance and fuel costs with a class A will eat you alive.

X2 If you are not handy, forget it.

X3 Limited funds but want a really reliable RV. Not handy for repairs. Looking for workamping opportunities that pay minimum wage maybe?

Why not put the college degree to work until you can afford a decent RV?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1989-Vixen21-SE-Gas-RV-Motorhome-Real-Classic-Smallest-Class-A-Ever/301104510147?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.RVI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3D5119804714354123756%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D20131017132637%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D181333724835

This will give you decent transportation, so you can camp inconspicuously and are less likely to get booted out of public parking lots. The engine is Buick, so it should not be too bad if it needs worked on. While it may seem like you are buying a really small vehicle for the money, a Vixen will hold its value. It is going to be easy to drive, and gets about 20 mpg.

Incidentally I would recommend staying away from Fleetwood (ie Bounder, Pace Arrow) if you are looking at coaches from the 80s. While many brands coaches had delamination issues, Fleetwood products from that era will really bad for it. Delamination is where the outer skin delaminates from the luan (wood) backing. It is caused by water intrusion, which rots the wood backing. Usually the water will also cause mildew, as well as rust away the vertical framing. This problem is easily recognized by large blisters, or wavy soft spots on the side walls. Commonly seen around the bottom of the windows, although it can be from roof leaks as well. BTW: If a dealer tries to tell you that delaniation is no big deal (yes I've heard them do that) Slap him in the face as hard as you can for lying and then leave.

Consider a VW van. Eurovan would be ideal.

I agree that a travel trailer would be more practical and less costly to buy, maintain and license.