Full time in TT?

TenOC wrote:

pira114 wrote:
I'm looking at FTing when I retire. I was thinking I'd want a base camp that I owned with a large steel building for long term storage.

Most things I own I could live without. But some things I wouldn't want to just get rid of.

My biggest question is what about tools? I work on trucks myself. But the tools required are heavy and bulky when looked at all together. Do most FTers just pay for maintenance and repairs?

I imagine at some point you have to just understand that you can't bring everything with ya and there are associated costs.

Pretend you had died. Dispose of ALL the stuff to who you want to inherit it. What are you going to do with the stuff that is in a storage shed 1,000's of miles from where you are (even if you need it)? No campground is going to want you working on a truck while you are camping. Keep a FEW tools for very minor repair that you can do in less than 1 hr. Sell the rest.

Makes sense. I imagine everyone goes through this when transitioning.

The storage building is more for family heirloom type stuff that the wife won't get rid of. And maybe other stuff we'd only need while near it.

Plan is a permanent type RV pad on a lot with the storage building as our "home." Traveling 6 or 7 months out of the year. Already have the lot. Just need more permanent hook ups on it.

The classic question. When full timing, how many sets of bed sheets do you need? The correct answer is only 1. Take the set off, wash it and put it back on. OK keep 2 sets, one as a spare. By the way, I have 8 sets. Why, I do not know.

pira114 wrote:
I'm looking at FTing when I retire. I was thinking I'd want a base camp that I owned with a large steel building for long term storage.

Most things I own I could live without. But some things I wouldn't want to just get rid of.

My biggest question is what about tools? I work on trucks myself. But the tools required are heavy and bulky when looked at all together. Do most FTers just pay for maintenance and repairs?

I imagine at some point you have to just understand that you can't bring everything with ya and there are associated costs.

Pretend you had died. Dispose of ALL the stuff to who you want to inherit it. What are you going to do with the stuff that is in a storage shed 1,000's of miles from where you are (even if you need it)? No campground is going to want you working on a truck while you are camping. Keep a FEW tools for very minor repair that you can do in less than 1 hr. Sell the rest.

I fulltime in a 32ft TT since 2006. Advantage over a MH less initial cost, better exit plan. Advantage over 5th. I use the pickup bed to store less used items.

I'm looking at FTing when I retire. I was thinking I'd want a base camp that I owned with a large steel building for long term storage.

Most things I own I could live without. But some things I wouldn't want to just get rid of.

My biggest question is what about tools? I work on trucks myself. But the tools required are heavy and bulky when looked at all together. Do most FTers just pay for maintenance and repairs?

I imagine at some point you have to just understand that you can't bring everything with ya and there are associated costs.

I don't full time (which means giving up your house), but on long part-time journeys I've met many people living full time in TTs (and even pop-up campers).

These have ranged from singles and couples in 13 foot and 16-18 foot egg trailers, couples in 24-32 footers, families with 4-6 children in 28 foot TTs. Some were retired and doing this as a lifestyle choice, most I've met were doing it because they were moving around from job to job in businesses where projects are finite, jobs are temporary and hundreds of miles apart. Which probably says something about the kinds of places I choose to stay when moving around in my RV.

Different people need different amounts of space. When it comes to full timing, you may be carrying your whole life's baggage with you. You need room for that too, however much it is. I've had people working for me who could put their life (one including his Triumph Bonneville) into their VW Type 2, know others that needed three forty-foot containers to move two peoples indispensable stuff between jobs in the U.S. and overseas.

A 24 to 30 foot TT and a tow vehicle with some extra cargo capacity fits someplace between those two extremes. A 45-foot motorcoach pulling a 20 foot cargo trailer fits in another place in between. You either adjust your lifestyle to the space, or adjust your space to the lifestyle.

As for me, I am encumbered by the goods left behind by the women in my life, not mine to throw away, taking up space I would not otherwise need.

FT in tt. started last month and still adjusting storage getting ready to leave town. moved out of sticks and brick end on Jan. DW moved everything she needed into the TT. To date she has sent more to storage or given it away. finally realised just don't need alot of things. we use the dinette for a desk, and like the storage under the seats. use the back of the trk for bulk items that may be needed on the trip otherwise it goes to storage for another time.

planning on leaving Phoenix area end of March.

I saw a couple full timing and hosting at a local state CG in a 24' TT.
It worked for them!

OTOH, our TT gets rather small during a weeks camping. I would not want to FT in it.