Full-time and don't/didn't like it?

[B_O__Plenty]

We stay in our trailer for 4+ months every year. During that time we have met many people who call themselves full-timers. Some live in their trailers year around in the same place others travel around. None of this appeals to us and we frequently get asked about when we are going to do this. My question is, are there many who try full-timing and don't or didn't like it? Surely we can't be the only people that have no interest in this lifestyle.
B.O.

[Super_Dave]

DallasSteve wrote:
It's very cheap, if you're just staying in one place and if you can tolerate the smaller living space.

All the places that I would like to stay for extended periods of time don't have real cheap monthly rates. I guess it is all relative. Not to mention if one is also making a monthly payment on the RV itself. In my case, it seems like it matches my mortgage payment on my stick and brick house.

[DallasSteve]

Some posters want to stress that most people will not want to full time forever. I would argue that nobody will full time forever; nobody will live in a house forever; nobody will do anything forever except maybe in the afterlife. But some people might want to full time for the rest of their life, and some not. I might live in a travel trailer even after I lose interest in traveling. It's very cheap, if you're just staying in one place and if you can tolerate the smaller living space.

[pnichols]

Slowmover wrote:
The point is to be outside. Shirtsleeve weather. Some extra clothing to cover a variety of conditions. The pleasure of cooking inside or out.

If my “ideal” was a lumbering, unstable 5’er to which I had to buy a commercial vehicle to drag it with, that sure takes the fun out of solo touring a region. Day trips.

Same with a Moho. It’s flat funny seeing the “toad” that only two people will ever use. A big family group it makes some sense. But repairs and maintenance are a pain as little is DIY. Two drivetrains has to be justified.

THE POINT is that many MAY NOT have made good choice when it came time to buy an RV.

The extra work of “bigger” is a huge turnoff. If not today, then tomorrow.

Highest reliability, longest-life and ease of travel were the priorities I learned as third generation owner of type.

Set-up and take-down shouldn’t be a burden.

There’s NEVER an end of things to do or see. A major city or an unknown region. Any budget.

A life of television has stunted many of you. Most of whom you might meet.

Throw it out, as it’s poison.

No one had them until reasonably priced solid-state portables were available in the mid-late 1970s.

Absolutely NO ONE missed them.

Examine assumptions. The rut you prefer is still just that.
The lifelong slave loves his collar too much to remove it.

An RV is maybe last chance to wake up in an unfamiliar place . . and allow the unfamiliar part of you come forward.

.

Well, unless your profile isn't up to date .... your RV setup is a PU truck towing a fairly good sized TT or 5'er of some type .... which seems to me to be a bit limiting.

It my opinion, the "RV'ing philosophy" of yours above seems to indicate this kind of a rig 😉 :

[cummins2014]

Army11Bravo wrote:
My wife and I talk about going Full Time in a few years, but in all honesty, we will most likely be snowbirds. We love our house and enjoy Northwest Montana, but to be able to leave the snow to travel around exploring other parts of the country for several months out of the year would be heaven.

I don't think a FT lifestyle would suit us. The longest experience in our TT was 6 weeks and we looked forward to a home without wheels.

Six weeks is about it for us ,even southwestern Montana for six weeks fly fishing in the summer, in about six weeks its time to be home. Same in Arizona in the winter ,much less appeal , just warmer then home 4-6 weeks same thing, time to be home.

[DarkSkySeeker]

Bumpyroad wrote:

DarkSkySeeker wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
An RV is maybe last chance to wake up in an unfamiliar place . . and allow the unfamiliar part of you come forward.

Very thought-provoking in a positive.

not my quote
bumpy

Oops.

[Bumpyroad]

DarkSkySeeker wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
An RV is maybe last chance to wake up in an unfamiliar place . . and allow the unfamiliar part of you come forward.

Very thought-provoking in a positive.

not my quote
bumpy

[DarkSkySeeker]

Slowmover wrote:
An RV is maybe last chance to wake up in an unfamiliar place . . and allow the unfamiliar part of you come forward.

Very thought-provoking in a positive.

[Cummins12V98]

"well, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
bumpy"

Exactly, UNTIL someone doesn't like what you say. :B

[Bumpyroad]

Slowmover wrote:
The point is to be outside. Shirtsleeve weather. Some extra clothing to cover a variety of conditions. The pleasure of cooking inside or out.

If my “ideal” was a lumbering, unstable 5’er to which I had to buy a commercial vehicle to drag it with, that sure takes the fun out of solo touring a region. Day trips.

Same with a Moho. It’s flat funny seeing the “toad” that only two people will ever use. A big family group it makes some sense. But repairs and maintenance are a pain as little is DIY. Two drivetrains has to be justified.

THE POINT is that many MAY NOT have made good choice when it came time to buy an RV.

The extra work of “bigger” is a huge turnoff. If not today, then tomorrow.

Highest reliability, longest-life and ease of travel were the priorities I learned as third generation owner of type.

Set-up and take-down shouldn’t be a burden.

There’s NEVER an end of things to do or see. A major city or an unknown region. Any budget.

A life of television has stunted many of you. Most of whom you might meet.

Throw it out, as it’s poison.

No one had them until reasonably priced solid-state portables were available in the mid-late 1970s.

Absolutely NO ONE missed them.

Examine assumptions. The rut you prefer is still just that.
The lifelong slave loves his collar too much to remove it.

An RV is maybe last chance to wake up in an unfamiliar place . . and allow the unfamiliar part of you come forward.

.

well, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
bumpy

[Slowmover]

The point is to be outside. Shirtsleeve weather. Some extra clothing to cover a variety of conditions. The pleasure of cooking inside or out.

If my “ideal” was a lumbering, unstable 5’er to which I had to buy a commercial vehicle to drag it with, that sure takes the fun out of solo touring a region. Day trips.

Same with a Moho. It’s flat funny seeing the “toad” that only two people will ever use. A big family group it makes some sense. But repairs and maintenance are a pain as little is DIY. Two drivetrains has to be justified.

THE POINT is that many MAY NOT have made good choice when it came time to buy an RV.

The extra work of “bigger” is a huge turnoff. If not today, then tomorrow.

Highest reliability, longest-life and ease of travel were the priorities I learned as third generation owner of type.

Set-up and take-down shouldn’t be a burden.

There’s NEVER an end of things to do or see. A major city or an unknown region. Any budget.

A life of television has stunted many of you. Most of whom you might meet.

Throw it out, as it’s poison.

No one had them until reasonably priced solid-state portables were available in the mid-late 1970s.

Absolutely NO ONE missed them.

Examine assumptions. The rut you prefer is still just that.
The lifelong slave loves his collar too much to remove it.

An RV is maybe last chance to wake up in an unfamiliar place . . and allow the unfamiliar part of you come forward.

.

[mountainkowboy]

We were going to "full-time" when we retire in a year or so. Since then we have decided to find our retirement home first, in snow country, then decide what we want to do. We will ALWAYS have an RV of one kind or another because we are gypsies at heart and like a change of scenery. We may snowbird, or maybe we'll do 6 months on the road at a time. Either way we will still "RV" till we can't any longer.

[JIMNLIN]

My question is, are there many who try full-timing and don't or didn't like it? Surely we can't be the only people that have no interest in this lifestyle.
B.O.

No your not alone. We lasted 7 weeks and hated it. Camping for a couple of week was fine but not living in a box with people all around just wasn't for us. Our home is in the middle of 40 acres about 4-6 miles from the nearest highway. Wife and I came from farm and ranch back grounds so living like packed in sardines wasn't for us. Camping for a week or two was OK but we were always glad to be back home.

Of the 7 couples we know that retired and hit the road to full time all gave it up gladly at some point. One couple sold his rv business and lasted 10 months. The last couple lasted 3 years and came home. They then became snow birds. Left the last of OCT and home in mid March. Their both 84 now and sold the motor home cause they had health issues.

[B_O__Plenty]

2oldman wrote:
OP is gone.

Not gone just enjoying all the comments. Looks like I'm not the only one with no interest in a full-time lifestyle.
B.O.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Maybe I will need a home base at some point. Almost no chance we will ever buy, or live in, a stand alone home again.

Frankly, RV is almost too big for DW to keep up to her standard of cleanliness.

It really hurt me to sell that big rolling Craftsman Tool Chest, and my power tools.

Didn't bother me at all to sell the lawn mower. That was a celebration event.

[DallasSteve]

Veebyes wrote:
Then there are those who try to jump right into FT living. BIG mistake.

Back in 2006 we met a couple, just retired, sold their house, bought a 3500 dually & a 5er that had a $110,000 MSRP sticker on it. They were going to FT. They had never so much as had a popup before or a rental & they were going to jump right into a very nice 34' 5er.

They took delivery of the truck & trailer in March 2006. September 2006, they wanted OUT. This was not the lifestyle for them.

After 3 months, & price drops, they finally sold truck (16,000 miles) & trailer combined for $85,000.

Very expensive lesson learned.

People told me to rent first. Have you looked at the price of RV rentals?

So he spent $35,000 for 6 months of camping/traveling. Do you know what it would cost to rent that truck + 5er for 6 months? A lot more than $35,000 I'm pretty sure. If he could afford to do that he probably could afford to take the $35,000 hit. That's my situation. If it doesn't work out it won't ruin my retirement finances. Anyway, I'm saving some money every day by not renting an apartment or paying home ownership costs, which I've also done.