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MikkiEkanger's avatar
MikkiEkanger
Explorer II
Mar 15, 2025

Administrative Questions

Hey everyone, 

As I said in a previous post, I am going to start full time on May 1st.  I've already decided for Tax Purposes, I'm going to establish my residency in South Dakota.  I know there are also various mail forwarding services there. and one of those locations can walk you through Vehicle Registration and Getting a license.  I do have a few questions however, if anyone has an answer, I would greatly appreciate some feedback.  

1) For CDL Holders - I have a CDL A.  I heard this transfers right over in South Dakota, but I am having difficulty understanding what that process is.  Does anyone know?  


2) Insurance - I currently hold full coverage on both my Jeep and my Camper related to Comprehensive and Collision.  Is there any additional coverages I may need to protect my interests?

3) I have Roadside Service through my insurance Company as well as Good Sam coverage.  I'm looking at their list of additional coverages, but I have to see how my finances change as I get into RV Life.  

4) When it comes to starting out?  Are there things that I should make sure I have that most people wouldn't think about?  

5) For anyone that may be in the know, are there campgrounds that are LGBTQIA+ Friendly?  I'm looking for campgrounds around the country that may have "Unisex" Bathroom and Shower facilities.  While I can use the shower on board, my Camper is very small.  

7) Many people work online or virtually, are there any jobs online for someone that doesn't have a degree?  

8) A Question for Service Members/ Veterans.  Does it tend to be cheaper to camp out at MWR Campgrounds on base?  Are there things I need to know from your own experience at various bases?  I am a Disabled Veteran and have the appropriate ID Card.  

Thanks everyone for whatever feedback you can provide.  

 

  • Camping and good connectivity to work online may be a challenge. Any place that offers wifi thru out their park usually are not very reliable, thus cannot be counted on to get much if any work done.

  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni

    As to your question 4 - you didnt post the type of your rig, types of places you want to camp in and how long have you been traveling part time. There are 1000 things and without narrowing it down hard to tell. One big item many fail to think through is self recovery off road, roadside assistance won't help here. But since you have a jeep you probably already got recovery boards, shovel, a winch, a strap just make sure boards and strap are rated for the weight of your rig. Also if your rig doesnt have a ladder installed you need a collapsible ladder.

    • MikkiEkanger's avatar
      MikkiEkanger
      Explorer II

      I have a Cherokee.  No winch, recovery boards etc.  Unfortunately this model isn't rated to be a Toad either.  Love the idea of a collapsible ladder.  I'll add that to  my shopping list.  

  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni

    There are lots of unisex bathrooms and showers in the US, in anything from KOAs to government run campgrounds. You have to look out for single occupancy "family" type facilities with door to the outside. There are so many you just need to call ahead and confirm this on case by case basis. May be not mention unisex just ask for the above family type bathrooms where entrance is straight from the outside. Use photos in online reviews to scope out bathroom situation too. With forest service and blm campgrounds, its mostly going to be pit toilets, which are all single occupancy and often dont have M/F parts, if you use either no one cares. If you learn how to clean up the old way you only need a real shower once in 2-3 weeks...and then, truck stop showers are almost always unisex, just like many other paid showers in marinas, laundromats, etc. If you cant clean up inside your rig, you need to get pop up shower tent to decouple from shower dependency, plus a garden sprayer or a bucket with a mug and wash cloth. But seems like you have a shower and if you are not using it for storage a folding bucket setup will get you through 3 weeks without a paid shower easy. 

     

     

  • Particularly if coming from a high tax state make sure to cut off as much as possible, your links to your prior state. If you have doctors, bank and other links still in the prior state or you spend a lot of time in your prior state, they may decide you didn't really relocate and will send you a tax bill and it's effectively guilty until proven innocent.

    5) Never seen a unisex bathhouse in N. America. On rare occasions, we have found bathroom suites. A row of rooms each with toilet, sink and shower. You also do occasionally see the showers accessed from outside doors with 1 door per shower. Never been much of a concern for us so no idea how to search them out.

    7) I won't go so far as to say it's impossible but remote work really works best if you have a skill set and contacts and you just transfer your work from in person to remote. If you are willing to stay in a location for an extended period of time, you can do work camping (usually free campsite in exchange for some work around the campground). Doesn't typically pay well but if you need it to make full timing work....

    • MikkiEkanger's avatar
      MikkiEkanger
      Explorer II

      So the good news is, that I get my care at the VA and "South Dakota" where my new residence would be, does not currently have the program I am in.  The closest with the program I'm in is in my home state (MN).  However, I am planning on moving around outside of my home state as well.  I just have to stay under 30 days.  For South Dakota, you can stay one night and change your residency.  

      The way you described the bathroom and shower facilities is what I was referring to as "Unisex".  I simply meant that there is no Gender Sign on the door.  You enter from outside and have a single stall.  That works for me and those are the kind I'm looking for.  

      The other thing I could do, to sort of avoid getting stuck in Minnesota is to do some virtual groups and maybe come in once a week.  If I park in the Hudson WI area, it won't be more than a couple hours drive either way and I'll get my Travel Pay for that anyway.  

      I did notice some places are hiring in a work for campsite capacity.  I'm totally on board with that, but one of the places I saw required a couple.  It's only me and my Dogs and my Service Dog can't exactly do what part of the other role is.  

      Thank you for your feedback.  

      • valhalla360's avatar
        valhalla360
        Navigator

        The point isn't if SD will accept you as a resident. The point is will MN still claim you as a resident.

        If you are still getting regular medical treatment in MN and can only show 1 day in SD, the preponderance of the evidence says, you are still a MN resident.

        I don't know if MN would bother you and if your income (and thus tax burden) is low, they likely won't bother you but best to shift as many links as possible to SD.