Hobbies on the road?

I build wooden model boats. Everything fits well inside a standard sized tool box. I build on the dinette table.

Sounds like a toyhauler might be a better choice.

The great thing about the garage area in the toy haulers is once you empty out all of your toys, the garage can be converted into living space.

For fulltiming you want to get an RV that is comfortable and large enough to carry all that you want to carry. I always use this test:
If I get caught in bad weather and stuck inside the RV for 2 weeks solid how small (cabin fever) would a 26ft TT feel vs. a 32ft 5th wheel/toyhauler ???

We went through a week of heavy rain and snow and were glad we had 38 feet to survive in. The walls never began to close in on us. I can remember in our 24ft TT we would go in to town and walk through the shopping area or take in a movie when the walls began to close in.

Mine is photography.

I'm not a full-timer - but I do get a lot of enjoyment with taking a hobby on the road.

Woodcarving is pretty much a natural - practically zero space commitment when you compare it with other hobbies - and if you carve in found wood or driftwood then you're away to the races.

What I do most of is scrolling - haven't taken the scrollsaw on the road yet - but have thought it was very doable - set it up to be clamped down on a picnic table and away you go - I should point out that most of my scrolling projects are "time projects" - as in many, many sessions at the saw for one project - so the real travelling requirement are the saw, the blades and the project piece - framing and finishing at home.


Jay

You'll definitely have to pair down on your hobbies. Pick the ones you indulge in the most and then limit it to two or three. I suggest thinking outside of the box so to speak and find ways for your stuff to do double duty. If you're into writing, your laptop will do fine with a mini-printer. You'll probably also use the laptop for navigation, cg research, emails, paying bills, etc. Double duty.

We have our hobbies down to four in a 28' motorhome. One hobby serves to both feed us and gives us a social outlet: dutch oven cooking (a good example of a double duty hobby). It takes up only a quarter of the space under the seat of the dinette.

We also like to do astronomy. We don't carry the telescope with us everywhere however. Only when we go on special astronomy trips. Otherwise it stays home.

Wife's knitting and crochet is in a plastic file box under the bed. Her drawing supplies are in a small plastic box that fits in the top cabinet under her sewing kit.

Our fishing gear is in the basement storage with the rods situated up on the basement wall with hooks. We share the fishing tackle and keep it in one small box.

Don't forget the space under your bed either. Then there's all those ceiling cabinets that never seem to be put to full use. You'll get very good at creating boxes with the essentials for each hobby that can fit into the odd spaces. It might take a couple of trips but you'll soon figure out what hobbies you like the best while on the road.

BTW, wife says don't bother with the quilting unless you go to quilting workshops. Quilts get dirty at campgrounds when you try to work on them outside. Herself has spoken.:)

If you get a 5er, you could tow a covered utility trailer behind the 5er and set up an entire shop in it. Since it is not in your living space, you could even do stained glass back there. Put an awning on it, add some fold up tables and portable lights and you're ready for anything. Building contractors work out of utility trailers, why no RVers?

Writing def has to stay ... I'll have to find a place for my printer but I might have to get a smaller one. I know I'll have to shed my huge collection of books :E I'll also be shedding lots of tears. There is something special about you favorite book held in your hands that the Kindle just doesn't match.

I think drawing and painting supplies could be weeded down to something that would fit.

Quilting will prob have to go ... won't have enough room and I know you are right about it being too dirty.

I love the thought of having a trailer just for a workshop ... but I know I could never do it. I'm trying to find a trailer that is under 30' which will have what I need, as I'm not comfortable driving (okay backing up) a bigger rv. I also don't want to haul anything extra behind .. again, not comfortable at the thought. I'll most likely either ride a bike or maybe buy a smaller motorcycle for getting around once I'm parked.

Wood carving ... I'm still thinking about. Unless I go to only carving with a few knives. All the tools I have at the moment at too heavy to haul around.

Thanks for the help

We are woodcarvers/woodburners and I also enjoy a pen and ink/rouging type painting. We have our woodcarving and wood burning supplies in large toolboxes that fit nicely in an outside compartment. My painting supplies are stored in a small toolbox and can fit anywhere. We aren't into power carving so we don't have any heavy duty carving tools.
We enjoy reading and visit every thrift stores/junk stores for our books. When we finish we swap them in at the campgrounds' book collection.
Could someone store your expensive books until you decide to come off the road or you decide you don't really need them?

We like birding, photography and blogging,

DKAvery wrote:

My thought was to either get a 26 to 28' travel trailer or 5th wheel which has a bunk area (bunk to sleep in and "bedroom" switched to a hobby area). Or perhaps a toy hauler .. although I haven't seen a floor plan I like in a toy hauler yet. I like to cook so a kitchen with some storage and an easy chair to put my feet up at night are required.

I know I can't have as many hobbies as I do atm but there are so many I don't want to lose. writing, wood carving (know I'll have to pare down the tools I use), drawing, painting, fishing, running, scuba, crocheting, making quilts, mmo games, stained glass (I've already decided that one won't work in a trailer :(

If you have a good set up for your hobbies could you share?

Having full-timed for 17 years and being around full-timers constantly, I assure you, you can do ALL of your hobbies!!

First, consider a 5th wheel which will give you lots more basement storage than a travel trailer. Yes, a bunk model would work very well when designing a long desk in place of the beds. A toy hauler would work, too. Friends of ours have a hauler for their motorcycle. When they get to a park they unload the cycle, roll out a nice carpet and hang a floor-length drape across the rear door so it looks like it's hiding a big sliding door. They have two recliners, a small hutch with a drop table for writing and books, their television is in there, and it becomes their den. It's very comfy and looks terrific.

Also, keep in mind that if you stay for a winter season somewhere warm (& you should) then pick one with an active clubhouse. Some places have many classes, including stained glass, sometimes folks get together and do their quilting or sewing at the clubhouse tables, others get together to wood carve and some parks will even have well-equipped woodworking shops. The only hobby of yours that might be difficult is scuba diving as you need to be in the right place but then, you'd know where the right places are!

If you have other questions on full-timing just mosey on over the Full-timing Forum on this site. There are many helpful folks over there and they might have many more ideas! :)

So don't give up...just rethink the possibilities and good luck!