Money making on the road

[Wander_Lust]

Can someone explain how to make a living while fulltiming? I really want to travel in an rv but I still need to make money, any ideas?

[2freelife]

We also worked for Southern Cross. You could specify 1 or 2 months in each location as a traveler for them. You would do gas line inspection. You'd be on your feet all day outdoors (I thought it was fun & a great job). The pay is pretty good & they would pay your mileage from location to location. They have contracts in various parts of the United States. Go online: Southerncrosscorp.com It would also be a good idea to call them because they get thousands of online applications. I wish I still worked that job.

[mike_mck]

Wander Lust wrote:

ccxnola wrote:
Several years ago I met a guy & his wife in an RV park. He was a good photographer (digital) and he had a full setup in his rig to produce products from photos - at auto shows, he did business cards o'nite with a pic of the car and owner, or large (up to 11x22) posters ready for framing. He also did travel weddings and family gatherings for photo albums. I'm not sure how he managed, but he and his wife had a rig much younger and nicer than our
s!!

I indeed like the sound of this.

No lecture here.
If you have a paid for RV and some mechanical skills to deal with the little problems that pop up following your dream could be a wonderful thing.
No on to the Photo thing.
I shot for cash for a number of years as a side line.
I'm guessing you are shooting with a canon rebel and kit lense or Nikon equivalent. Serviceable.

I shot with Canon MKII's and Canon L glass from 50 1.8 to 400 2.8L.
Weddings, Car shows, action sports from Little league to college as well as team pictures.
There is money to be made but it is not as easy as it sounds.
Lets talk set up for car shows with onsite printing.
I did mine out of my 37 foot race trailer with onboard generator. Ran 3 printers. Epson 2400, Epson 4000 and Epson 7600. could print from 4x6 to 24x36. Also need a good Photo Shoppe program non of which is cheap but man could I put out some nice posters.
Car shows are fun I drag raced a Gen 1 lightning so would set it out under the awning for folks to stop by to see the truck and the 36x24 showboard. Could usually sell 4 or 5 boards in a week end. I'd shoot the images of the car, create the show board, Print and put in a frame on site. Boards would sell for up to $200.00. Most lower depending on size.
That's the good news.
Here is the ad news.
Often there is a vendor fee to be paid up front. At smaller shows at times a % of sales arrangement can be worked out.
Best money was made with Team pictures but that is impossible to do while on the road.
Love your dream and at 18 now is the time to try. Feel free to PM me if you want insite into how the costs breakdown.
Show boards

[campigloo]

I applaud your enthusiasm. You are young and evidently have a good imagination. Use it. Look at your hidden talents, they're there you just haven't looked. I saw some young guys in an old toy hauler that did on site bicycle repair and sold small accessories. Moral of the story, make your own job.
P. S. Watch the attitude.

[kakampers]

We did gas line leak surveying for two years till DH had open heart surgery. Worked for a company called Southern Cross Corp...they paid to train us then they pay your expenses from job location to job location. They pay a salary plus per diem and vehicle usage while on the job...great job for a young person who doesn't mind working outside and can walk miles a day over varying terrain.

[hanzfranz60]

As a full time work camper, maybe this information will help you: http://yourfulltimervliving.com/workamping

[Monaco_Montclai]

well try to change your life style a bit, eat out less, shop at the dollar store, don't buy brand names, drive a bit slower, learn to fix stuff.now its all happy-camping

[Ropdoc]

I am a Mechanical Designer. Designed product for Surefire and now Snap-On. I am looking to do conversions fron 2D to Solidworks. I can work from Email easily. I joined several site but allways lose jobs to India. They work for pennys. If anyone knows of opportunity for me let me know.

I is hard finding work along the lines of your experience if it is specific.

We hope to hit the road this December fulltime. And it would be great if I had something going.

Dave

[ncrowley]

There are jobs that you can do on the road but most require a degree or experience in a trade. For example, some jobs in the technology field can be done wherever you are but you need certifications and a degree. For example, computer programming, database management, computer security. You can also teach online but before you do that, you need the degree and often some work experience. If this is a long term dream, you will probably need to do something in the short term to get you ready for that dream. It may mean getting a degree and some work experience before going on the road. It may not be what you want to hear but better to prepare now.

[tibbitts]

PastorCharlie wrote:

Wander Lust wrote:
Can someone explain how to make a living while fulltiming? I really want to travel in an rv but I still need to make money, any ideas?

Here is the answer to your question, BIG BANNER right here on this page.

JOIN NOW AND TRAVEL

Just to clarify, that work more or less precludes fulltime RVing in the sense that the OP meant it, since you're transporting RVs that you aren't allowed to occupy from one place to another, and have to transport them quickly.

There is a good demand in general for OTR drivers, however, and while an OTR truck might not quite be an RV, it's one of the few occupations with what appear to be a lot of opportunities. As far as I know you can get a CDL at 18, at least in some states, but aren't allow to drive interstate routes until 21.

[PastorCharlie]

Wander Lust wrote:
Can someone explain how to make a living while fulltiming? I really want to travel in an rv but I still need to make money, any ideas?

Here is the answer to your question, BIG BANNER right here on this page.

JOIN NOW AND TRAVEL

[C-172-AV8R]

Hey it's a great thing to do if you can figure it out. Most of us by the time we thought of full timing in a RV were tied to family, jobs or debt and couldn't take the risk of not having a steady income. I figured if you were a author, painter or a writer it wouldn't matter where you went to sleep at night. There are a vast amount of people making a living on the road. Having a skill would definitely be an asset but don't let naysayers hold you back from your dreams. There are a host of business owners who set out only to fail,the difference in their success was they didn't give up. Good Luck! and let us know how you make out........Mike

[Bill_Satellite]

If you want to go on the road and make some money I would suggest that you go to some of the RV shows and larger rallies and see what folks there are doing to make a living. You will find 100's of vendors doing nothing but traveling and working. I found a business that interested me and after spending 20 years in the restaurant business decided I wanted to go on the road. I apprenticed with someone who for a year who had been in the business for many years, learn how, what, where, when and then bought his business. I have been working and earning a living on the road (nof retirement, I have to earn to live!) since 2000.

[Old-Biscuit]

18 and work experience is Dad's Restaurant.

So your marketable skills are limited......unless that work at Dad's Restaurant involved business/management, accounting/bookkeeping, computer tech, maintaining equipment?

Otherwise.....part time jobs with-in your skill set. Course that doesn't always provide $$$ cause jobs are tough to come by.
Then there is the issue of having an 'address' so you can get drivers license, register your vehicles, pay your taxes etc.

Personally.......I worked hard, had a skill set that paid $$$, retired just before turning 50, was DEBT free and then hit the road.
Most of the time you have to pay your dues FIRST........just depends on what kind of life ones hopes to enjoy over their lifetime.

[Francesca_Knowl]

Wander Lust wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:

Wander Lust wrote:
Im 18 my work experience os my dads restaurant, I am a practising photographer but that will only get me so far. Im looking to live my dream and get away from it all. Cliche? Maybe.

Have you saved enough money towards your dream so far to be able to actually buy an RV of some kind and maybe take it on the road for, say, a month?

Yes. I wish someone would please be considerate enough to answer my question rather than waste my time lecturing me. I've done my homework.

This is your Grandma speaking: I could eat you up!

I recognize your tone, having heard it firsthand when my Very Own Son announced that he was going to explore America by hopping freight trains. He had a "plan", too, though much of it depended on luck and the kindness of strangers. As I think yours must do. It didn't turn out exactly as he'd planned. He had a wonderful time nevertheless.

Now he has kids of his own (not much younger than you) and they're making the same kind of noise that he did- and that you are.

This is to say that I'm pretty sure that we have nothing to tell you that your own Father hasn't said already; that our cautionary advice will make no difference in your plans; and that I honestly wish you the very best of luck in pursuing a dream that has proven so elusive to so many others before you!