Just Joining The RV Life

[cbdiscover]

My Husband and I are brand new at the RV Life style. At 65 and 67 we sold our dream home and everything we own to climb into our 5th wheel and hit the road for the long haul.
Since neither of us have ever done anything like this before we can use all the help we can get. Can you tell me things we will need and things we can do without? Places to see and places to go? Good campgrounds to stay for the money and even places you don't recommend. We plan to head over to the coast of N.C. and travel the coastline all the way to the gulf. Has anyone gone this route before? Can you give us some recommendations?
Thank you in advance for all your help.
cbdiscover

[Campinfan]

Buy good sewer hoses....I have the Rhino ones. They last and I have not had a pinhole leak or anything like that at all. Get some good comfy outdoor chairs. We have a "topper" for our bed we got years ago from Overstock.com. The bed is super comfortable. Consolidate your tools. I have things like a screwdriver with bits so I can use it for a flat head, phillips head, and torx. Think about a screen type tarp that you can hang from your awning in case you are parked in a spot that has no shade and the sun is quite hot. I have one that I do not use a lot but everynow and then it is needed, collapsible step stool.

[laknox]

cbdiscover wrote:
My Husband and I are brand new at the RV Life style. At 65 and 67 we sold our dream home and everything we own to climb into our 5th wheel and hit the road for the long haul.
Since neither of us have ever done anything like this before we can use all the help we can get. Can you tell me things we will need and things we can do without? Places to see and places to go? Good campgrounds to stay for the money and even places you don't recommend. We plan to head over to the coast of N.C. and travel the coastline all the way to the gulf. Has anyone gone this route before? Can you give us some recommendations?
Thank you in advance for all your help.
cbdiscover

If you haven't already, look into some the full-time RV groups. They can also give you excellent info, both in what you might need for full-timing as well as where to go / what to see. Would also help to post what FW and truck you have. Large rigs can be limiting in where you can go due to length. For instance, I'd love to go camping up on Mt. Lemmon, near Tucson, but my OAL, even with a 32' FW, is too long for the road up the moountain.

Lyle

[Veebyes]

cbdiscover wrote:
Thank you all for your comments. We have been camping before and my husband is a former truck driver and worked as a diesel mechanic for local CAT dealer for 16 years, so that is taken care of. We also lived in the camper for 6 months while they were finishing our new house. BUT that being said we always knew we were coming back home. This time it won't be a week or two and the RV is now our home. We do plan on taking our time and my husband says fishing every where we go. Mrs. veebyes I am a quilter also and am very fortunate to have
turn the 2nd bedroom into my sewing room in the camper. I have the new Altair Machine. Maybe we will run into you somewhere on our journey and can talk sewing. Do you have the handy Quilter travel guide? It list ever fabric or craft store in the U.S. I was just looking for information on things you all have realized you didn't have that you needed, or found ways to use things you had for different purposes.

As soon as the DW gets wind of where we are going she is online searching for quilt shops. Can't count how many shops in how many places we have been. Done the major ones, Paducah, Ashville show etc. multiple times. Some of the best shops have been found in the most unexpected places.

Your DH is going to need all of the 'fix it' skills that he has and you will need to be right there getting hands dirty beside him. If you are not already familiar with what is inside a toolbox you will be.

[cbdiscover]

Thank you all for your comments. We have been camping before and my husband is a former truck driver and worked as a diesel mechanic for local CAT dealer for 16 years, so that is taken care of. We also lived in the camper for 6 months while they were finishing our new house. BUT that being said we always knew we were coming back home. This time it won't be a week or two and the RV is now our home. We do plan on taking our time and my husband says fishing every where we go. Mrs. veebyes I am a quilter also and am very fortunate to have
turn the 2nd bedroom into my sewing room in the camper. I have the new Altair Machine. Maybe we will run into you somewhere on our journey and can talk sewing. Do you have the handy Quilter travel guide? It list ever fabric or craft store in the U.S. I was just looking for information on things you all have realized you didn't have that you needed, or found ways to use things you had for different purposes.

[stripit]

Lots of real good infromation here, and on other rv forums. Suggest going slow and really see the areas your stopping in, we did and had a blast. Full time traveled 8 years in a 5th wheel. One of your biggest expenses will be fuel if your traveling a lot. We tried to sit in a park for at least 1 week and normally 2 before we moved along about 300 miles and then did it again. Might want to plan now for a winter spot as many rv parks are filling up with reservations. Enjoy the adventure.

[Veebyes]

Ditto on buying a load of stuff because somebody says so.

We are not fulltime. We are six months a year on the road RVers. 25 years later, we are still buying stuff. Don't buy cheap. Buy good stuff that is going to last. Much cheaper in the long run. Kitchen tools, tools needed to fix things, a grill, no matter what. Buy quality and buy it once.

The most important thing will be a notepad and pencil to write down stuff as you find that you need it.

Like the idea of a coastal hugging trip. Did that once. Came out of New Orleans headed west and basically turned left at every road that was not a dead end till Galveston.

The temptation is to rush off and go everywhere in a hurry. Don't do it. Find things that interest you. We are currently at a bluegrass festival. 7 days of it. Something never done before the RV. The DW is a quilter. Can't count how many quilt shops she has been in across the country.

[jffnkrn]

If you list the type of unit you bought, there will be folks with the same make, and at least similar model that will be a good resource for you when you ask ?'s
Go to the manufactures forum and get even more info.

[jffnkrn]

TAKE YOUR TIME !!!
don't buy a bunch of stuff because someone tells you to, just get things as you need them, it will work out. Of course the essentials like some tools and food. don't overload your unit, tap into information at rv parks etc along the way.
Be safe.
LIke said before, if you never did this before, get into an rv park or camping area near home where you are familiar with things and get used to how your rig works and how to use everything.
Good Luck, Be Safe !!!

[bgum]

A trip out west is not to be missed and. If you do it right can consume a huge number of miles and time.

[Tvov]

What do you mean by "brand new"? Have you camped in the past? How long have you owned your 5th wheel? Have you towed it much (or at all)?

You have a lot of adventures ahead!

[nickthehunter]

Yes, my recommendation would be not to sell the house and all your belongings until you see if the RV lifestyle “works” for you, and what obstacles you need to overcome - oops to late.