Am I crazy? I'm a single mom (my hubby passed away in 2010). I am in my late 40s with a 7-year-old and a 17-year-old...plus we have a small dog and two sweet little rats (yes..they are much like little dogs. It's true). I have been renting in Portland, Oregon for 20 years and was very content...but somehow this city has become "the place to live" and people are moving here in droves...so I want out! My son is about to graduate from high school and is uncertain about what he wants. My 7-year-old is not happy at school overall. I'm restless and tired of paying high rent and sitting in traffic every morning trying to get my daughter to her charter school across town. Looking for an adventure before I buy my first house and settle down (which I would like to do eventually). I don't know where I want to live so I figure this would be a good way to find out. Problem is that I'm not very "mechanical" and not confident about driving anything larger than my Toyota Yaris...and, by the way, can I take the Yaris with us?? I have no clue how much this will cost per month. I telecommute and I am essentially debt-free except I have a car payment...but otherwise I really don't know where to start with figuring all of this out. Would I be better off trading the Yaris in for a truck and pulling an RV trailer? Or buy a Winnebago and pull the Yaris? Where do I start in all this? My hope is that this will save me some significant cash to save up for a down payment for that house one day. I know this question has probably been asked a million times before but I appreciate your time in reading my personal plea for info:)

Have you ever RVed before? If not, then you should rent one and see if you even like living in one. Go to a lot of RV shows and RV dealers and walk through many types and models of RVs. Look at the relative costs of each type. When you decide what type of RV you want (if you decide you want one) go to the forum for that RV and read a lot and ask questions. I would purchase used once you have the information you need to purchase. The cost per month will depend on where you park and how long you stay there and what your lifestyle is. For the costs for full timing, I would go and read the posts in the full time forum.I think you have a lot of research to do before you buy anything.

KEEP THE DREAM alive but put your child through school first

Considerations:1. Your son is a lot older than your daughter. An RV will be very tight quarters and the "closeness" may be annoying for him and stressful for you.2. Living in an RV is NOT going to be cheaper than living in an apartment. Your expenses will be different, but the total amount will not be much better.3. Your daughter still needs to attend school. If you homeschool, then the 3 of you will be home in the RV all day every day. Again, that can be annoying for your son (who likely enjoys his privacy) and stressful for you (having to deal with his annoyance and your daughter's hurt if he doesn't want to spend time with her). If you send her to school, then you're tied down to a single location for the school year. Finding an RV park near a quality school could be difficult - so you may end up having to drive her across town every day.Why not step back and consider doing a summer trip this year? That will get you out and away, give your son a great "grad year summer trip", and give your daughter a break from the same-same routine. You could try camping? Or do a road trip in the Yaris and stay at inexpensive hotels (Days Inn, Quality, etc.).

Go to some RV parks and talk to people. They are very willing to share. Not sure you will save any money though.

Since you live in Portland, there is an RV show coming up in March at the Expo Center March 9-13. You should attend and see what's out there. That way you can walk through several units without being harassed by sales people (for the most part) and get an idea about the different types of RVs.I also agree with the rent first comment. Since you are considering a truck/trailer combo, just rent a crew cab truck first, go on a road trip to the beach, and see if you feel comfortable driving it around empty. It'll be much cheaper than jumping in and renting an RV first.

Considering this life! How to figure out cost per month???

ncrowley
Explorer II
Feb 22, 2016
Have you ever RVed before? If not, then you should rent one and see if you even like living in one. Go to a lot of RV shows and RV dealers and walk through many types and models of RVs. Look at the relative costs of each type. When you decide what type of RV you want (if you decide you want one) go to the forum for that RV and read a lot and ask questions. I would purchase used once you have the information you need to purchase. The cost per month will depend on where you park and how long you stay there and what your lifestyle is. For the costs for full timing, I would go and read the posts in the full time forum.

I think you have a lot of research to do before you buy anything.
darsben
Explorer II
Feb 22, 2016
KEEP THE DREAM alive but put your child through school first
toedtoes
Explorer III
Feb 22, 2016
Considerations:

1. Your son is a lot older than your daughter. An RV will be very tight quarters and the "closeness" may be annoying for him and stressful for you.

2. Living in an RV is NOT going to be cheaper than living in an apartment. Your expenses will be different, but the total amount will not be much better.

3. Your daughter still needs to attend school. If you homeschool, then the 3 of you will be home in the RV all day every day. Again, that can be annoying for your son (who likely enjoys his privacy) and stressful for you (having to deal with his annoyance and your daughter's hurt if he doesn't want to spend time with her). If you send her to school, then you're tied down to a single location for the school year. Finding an RV park near a quality school could be difficult - so you may end up having to drive her across town every day.

Why not step back and consider doing a summer trip this year? That will get you out and away, give your son a great "grad year summer trip", and give your daughter a break from the same-same routine. You could try camping? Or do a road trip in the Yaris and stay at inexpensive hotels (Days Inn, Quality, etc.).
Mandalay_Parr
Explorer
Feb 22, 2016
Go to some RV parks and talk to people. They are very willing to share.
Not sure you will save any money though.
IDoMyOwnStunts
Explorer
Feb 22, 2016
Since you live in Portland, there is an RV show coming up in March at the Expo Center March 9-13. You should attend and see what's out there. That way you can walk through several units without being harassed by sales people (for the most part) and get an idea about the different types of RVs.

I also agree with the rent first comment. Since you are considering a truck/trailer combo, just rent a crew cab truck first, go on a road trip to the beach, and see if you feel comfortable driving it around empty. It'll be much cheaper than jumping in and renting an RV first.
LarryJM
Explorer II
Feb 22, 2016
You're getting some very good advice thus far. Serious RVing is sort of an acquired taste and it's not for everybody. As mentioned, it's not a real cost saver and you have an older teenager and young daughter with needs/desires that make a somewhat nomadic life potentially very difficult if not impossible.

I like the idea of taking a good vacation break, and concentrate more on establishing a stable and liveable lifestyle potentially somewhere else if your current situation dictates that and then down the road oncee reestablished and happy, reinvestigate getting more into the RV side of things.

Larry
2chiefsRus
Explorer
Feb 22, 2016
Asking how much it costs to live in an RV is like asking how much does it cost to live in a rented apartment or how much does it cost to live in a house.

The answers vary GREATLY depending upon which style you pick, how big it is and where it is located.

If you track your expenses now in the apartment, try to isolate how much you spend on items that will not change such as food, medical, etc. Then look at what categories might go down such as heating/cooling costs if you follow the good weather. Then look at what categories will go up such as fuel and of course campground fees.
Markiemark32
Explorer
Feb 22, 2016
Costs can vary quite a bit ---

from this ---

to

Most times, it is a different way to live, not a cheaper way.........

Do lots of research on "FULTIMERS", there quite a network of individuals that have sold there homes for living in a RV, including families with kids(although kid factor adds layers of decisions).

Many blogs on the lifestyles, some even share expenses --

Example of expenses here

Links to people living RV's

Check IT out

Lots things to consider, lots info out there......

Markiemark:C
Dick_B
Explorer
Feb 22, 2016
When we go to Florida for the month of January we estimate a cost of $100 per day for the site, food and fuel averaged over the 30 days.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Feb 22, 2016
Depends on camping style. Staying put for long periods, basically moving seasonally working around school semesters or trsaveling, only staying put for a few days to a week.

A Yaris is one dirt cheap car to run, have a 2004 Yaris. Great car for a daily run around town grocery cart & errand doer.

There are arguments both ways but personal choice here is truck & trailer since we are what I call extended trip travelers, not quite fulltime but multi month trips every time.