Anyone decided to leave RV year round in FL?

[Kate_and_Ed]

We are not snow birds yet but thinking of leaving motorhome at campground and driving car to FL in future during winter and even in-between. Anyone that has done this and knows if it can be done without registering RV vehicle in FL? Thinking about tag. I know FL has no inspection issues.

Any advice appreciated.

[rockhillmanor]

silversand wrote:

Unlike Northern Pine trees and Northern Oak trees. The Florida Oak and Pines heavily pollinate. and I mean they POLLINATE!

...the pollen started flying very early in St Augustine this year (in January) because the temps were warmer. By February 1st, 2nd, 3rd, there was a s*#t storm of pollen flying; we could see it suspended in the air going by in waves, on the 20~30 MPH incessant winds (BRUTAL winds this winter in St Augustine, and almost no rain). The worst offender during winter in this area is pollen from the "live oak" trees. This pollen just about killed me. I was on Claritin virtually every day. Never seen the live oak pollen so bad since we've been wintering here. Our SUV was COMPLETELY covered in pollen just ~4 hours after I washed it....every day. And, we were more than 1000 feet away from ANY live oak (ocean front) ! 2016 was the 1st winter I was ever affected by live oak pollen so bad.

My neighbors who are also from up North. When the weather was so nice they opened up all 3 of their patio doors on one wall leading to their lanai........within an hour the entire 'inside' of their house was coated with an inch of green! They had to hire a professional cleaning service to get it all out.

Lesson learned first time living in Florida! :C

[JohnDoe]

I stay in Larry penny park in Miami and there is a fence all way around the park and has security 24_7, they have a field that has maybe a 50 to 75 R V of all types that parks there for the summer, there is folks here that then drive down in there car are truck, also has a fenced in area for storing ,

[silversand]

Upon further questioning they were talking about the pollen falling on their picnic table. They were in a pine forest! Duh!!

....I wish it were pine pollen! Oak pollen is hellacious. We live in a partial hemlock forest in the north, and when hemlock starts pollenating, everything turns ochre :B The only thing I'm allergic to are ash and oak pollen, and cold weather :B

[2gypsies1]

Funny...about pollen. We volunteered in Rocky Mtn. Nat'l Park and a camper was leaving early stating this is the dirtiest, highly polluted place we've ever seen. Upon further questioning they were talking about the pollen falling on their picnic table. They were in a pine forest! Duh!! 🙂

[silversand]

Unlike Northern Pine trees and Northern Oak trees. The Florida Oak and Pines heavily pollinate. and I mean they POLLINATE!

...the pollen started flying very early in St Augustine this year (in January) because the temps were warmer. By February 1st, 2nd, 3rd, there was a s*#t storm of pollen flying; we could see it suspended in the air going by in waves, on the 20~30 MPH incessant winds (BRUTAL winds this winter in St Augustine, and almost no rain). The worst offender during winter in this area is pollen from the "live oak" trees. This pollen just about killed me. I was on Claritin virtually every day. Never seen the live oak pollen so bad since we've been wintering here. Our SUV was COMPLETELY covered in pollen just ~4 hours after I washed it....every day. And, we were more than 1000 feet away from ANY live oak (ocean front) ! 2016 was the 1st winter I was ever affected by live oak pollen so bad.

[rockhillmanor]

I just bought a home in Florida and it is parked on my property. And within just one year my MH is completely covered in black, red and green mold!

I am parked near trees. Not under the trees, just near them and the sap, pollen and mold has covered my entire MH. 😞

Unlike Northern Pine trees and Northern Oak trees. The Florida Oak and Pines heavily pollinate. and I mean they POLLINATE!



I have to use the wipers and washers on my car to even be able to see out the windshield when the pollen starts to fly.

If you have the 'option' to take it back home up north. I would most definitely do that and NOT leave it here.

I parked my MH up North outside for 6 years and it looked like brand new. One year here and the poor thing looks and smells awful.

[WandaLust2]

jplante4 wrote:


Another option is to just buy one already in a spot. I saw several in Southern Oaks in Summerfield (by The Villages).

I must comment on this Place. We stayed there a few years ago. Nice pet friendly park right on 441 so make sure you get a spot in the back to avoid the road noise. Screen rooms were allowed unlike at some places. People were very friendly there and the shopping and activities in The Villages a few miles down the road were great. 441 is also a straight shot into Ocala.

[Ivylog]

Currently it will cost you $200 in fuel to drive your 02 DP to central Fla. Assuming it does not cost you to store it at home, it will be cheaper to drive it home than to store it plus you will want to use in the NC mountains in the summer, not in Fla.

A bigger issue for me than the heat and humidity in the summer, is what are you going to do when a hurricane is barreling down on Fla? Fly down and then get caught in all the traffic headed north? Good Luck

[arnko37]

We have a park model in Punta Gorda. When we head north for the summer we leave one vent window open a bit and that's about it. After seven years of this the only problem was slight exterior mold on the north side of it that comes off easy w/ soapy bleach water. You either need a lic. plate on it or a tax sticker which means it will be taxed as real estate. The summer sun is tough on things and every couple years I recoat the roof with some aluminum special roof paint from Home Depot.

[az99]

GoPackGo wrote:
I owned a home in Florida for almost 20 years. I just would not do what you are thinking unless you could get it into air conditioned storage. If you set that thing in the sun for 6-8 months all closed up, I guarantee you will be growing your own penicillin somewhere !

Mold and mildew is a BIG problem in Florida. Homeowners sometimes open an unused closet to find mold/mildew stains on the ceiling. You gotta use bleach and a high pressure sprayer periodically on driveways and sidewalks. Need to spray homes and especially roofs with anti-mildew chemicals. The sun seems more 'harsh' down here. Add in high temps, high humidity and rain every day in the summer and you have the perfect environment for mold and mildew.

Did I mention I really like Florida ?

X2 I would never leave my RV here all summer unless it was in covered AC storage. And for the cost of that you can pay someone to drive it north for you.

[lizzie]

We are very fortunate to be able to leave our TT on a lot that we own next door to my son's house in Florida. This assures us that someone is available to check on it but we don't expect them to combat the mildew issues for us. SO, we take everything out of it and clean it thoroughly. We use Damp Rid containers in every closed in place and leave the cabinet and closet doors open. We run a dehumidifier with an exterior drain 24/7. We sprinkle Borax everywhere and set off a bug bomb when we leave. My daughter-in-law checks it at least once a week, especially the dehumidifier. Without someone to do this, I don't think we could leave it in Florida. Best of luck. lizzie

[GoPackGo]

I owned a home in Florida for almost 20 years. I just would not do what you are thinking unless you could get it into air conditioned storage. If you set that thing in the sun for 6-8 months all closed up, I guarantee you will be growing your own penicillin somewhere !

Mold and mildew is a BIG problem in Florida. Homeowners sometimes open an unused closet to find mold/mildew stains on the ceiling. You gotta use bleach and a high pressure sprayer periodically on driveways and sidewalks. Need to spray homes and especially roofs with anti-mildew chemicals. The sun seems more 'harsh' down here. Add in high temps, high humidity and rain every day in the summer and you have the perfect environment for mold and mildew.

Did I mention I really like Florida ?

[Kate_and_Ed]

Thanks for all the comments. Thinking it through.

[Stormy_Eyes]

Though it may be registered and insured in your home state, I believe one is also required to have Florida insurance on a vehicle in Florida for 90 days or more per year (even if non-consecutive, even if in storage). I recently moved to FL, so I've read some of the rules. I do not know how many 90+ day snowbirds comply, but it would be better to factor in the cost of extra insurance as you decide whether to leave the rv.