Forum Discussion

Explorer

Sep 25, 2016

Going to be working from home!

Our company got bought out and our local office will be closing at the end of the year. Thankfully my services are still needed and instead of being asked to relocate, I can work from home. Big relief as I will be 58 this Dec and looking for another job ain't exactly what I want to do at this age. Before the acquistions, my four year plan was to retire in Dec 2020 at 62 and hit the road for a year or so. I'm a single Joe, so no one else to please but myself. Figured I'd buy a used Tradesman Ram 1 ton, put at pop-up camper on it and head out. Maybe tour around for a year or whatever and if I want to come back to Northwest Arkansas so be it. Get a part-time job maybe.

Anyway, as I'm getting ready to work from home, I'm thinking it really doesn't matter where I live so long as I have access to the internet to do my work. Don't have the finances now for the Ram/Pop-up setup, but I do have a 2002 Silverado 1500 ext cab. I have spent hours and hours researching truck campers, so I know the 1500 is next to useless for a truck camper. But I figure why wait four years to start doing some traveling. I could buy a small inexpensive travel trailer and at least make some trips to a few National Parks with vacation time. And if I could arrange an internet connection, I would not have to scurry back home to work. Maybe stay a week or so.

Coming here for sage advice from ones that may have traveled a similar road. Is the travel trailer a good option for now? I don't figure on camping out in the boonies for now, so is getting internet connections in National Parks an issue? I don't think I would want to invest in the satellite systems I've read about that can cost in the 5k range. Just looking for a temporary setup that will let me put my toe in the water for traveling and camping without waiting four years to do it. This work from home situation has my head swirling with ideas, just need some direction. Thanks.

24 Replies

breeves2245
Explorer
Sep 25, 2016
Yes, my Silverado has the towing package, so it has the transmission cooler, brake control and 8-wire harness. It does have 198k miles, that give me some concern about breaking down but I guess I can't sit home and not go just because something might happen. My manual says with a 5300 V8 and 3.73 axle, my Max Trailer Wt is 8,100 lbs. So a small TT should not be an issue.
DownTheAvenue
Explorer
Sep 25, 2016
ncrowley wrote:
Getting a good internet connection anywhere is iffy. I would look for an RV park where you can get a cable modem into your RV. I also work remotely and I found a park that has cable. If the park has cable, check to see if the cable company can put a cable modem in your rig using the cable connection at the site.

Wouldn't this strategy only work if he went to the same park over and over? Traveling all around to different parks, won't this plan not work?
ncrowley
Explorer II
Sep 25, 2016
Getting a good internet connection anywhere is iffy. I would look for an RV park where you can get a cable modem into your RV. I also work remotely and I found a park that has cable. If the park has cable, check to see if the cable company can put a cable modem in your rig using the cable connection at the site.
coolmom42
Explorer II
Sep 25, 2016
Many National Parks have little or no internet or cell phone service.

IMHO you would do best by planning to stay in a nearby town, or commercial campground, that at least has a good cell signal, and use your cell phone data. You will have to figure out how much you need and if you can afford the cell phone data. (Figure that into your cost of travel.) Sometimes campground wifi is OK but it is not usually secure,and often very slow or weak. In a town, you can often also find free wi-fi to work from, using your equipment, at places like a public library it is sometimes pretty fast.

In your shoes I would look for a small trailer with a floor plan that suits you.

You don't mention if your truck is set up for towing. Even with a light trailer you will need a hitch receiver, transmission cooler, and brake controller, plus a hitch with weight distribution and sway control.