Comments on: Alternative Housing: Living in an RV?

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 04:12:09 +0000

Thanks for the info. Here is my thinking at this point in my life: We will need a big RV so that everyone is “comfortable” since there may be 5 of us living in it. My oldest is just going to be starting college, but will be out of college within 3 yrs. since he is getting an Associate’s Degree. My middle son still has 2 yrs. of high school, and my youngest will be starting 4th grade. Once we make our goal of paying off debt and either selling or renting our current home, then we will be able to buy an RV. Since we will both still be working and our living expenses will be so much less than they are right now with our home, we should have money to travel by car. Eventually, we could get a smaller RV to travel and live in. There is a Sierra brand that has a second bedroom with 4 bunks and the two bottom ones are bigger. I really like that. Most bunks are really small and not made for big guys. Since I will still have daily laundry to do, I figure I will be happier with a washer and dryer. You would not believe the laundry we have! Even with fewer clothes, I know I will still have lots of laundry. I think it will be funner doing it in an RV, lol.
Boxed up a bunch of stuff today and loaded my van (with my hubby’s help) to make a run tomorrow to Goodwill. I am claiming it all on my taxes at the end of the year. This will be our second “big load” to Goodwill and we had a garage sale for a whole week before that! My goal is to really be cleaned out by Christmas. It is a struggle sometimes to get rid of so much, but the after effect is awesome. I almost feel like I have more energy.
Have you been to Niagara Falls? I want to take my family there!

By: Barb

Barb — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:54:43 +0000

We travel full time in our TT. Smells: I see it as a small apt. but with create-a-breeze fans air flows nicely. As with any small space there will be notice of odor. But cleaning takes next to no time. LOL.
Cooking: well I’m having a hard time answering this question for you because I don’t know what sort of rig you are looking at. Ours has a small three burner stove and an ever so tiny oven but we do have a microwave. Some of the bigger rigs have full size kitchen setups. For us grilling outdoors is the best thing. It’s one of the reason we do what we do…to get outside. If you cook large meals often then focus on a kitchen that will be sufficient for you. Even though I haven’t gotten the hang of our oven and seem to burn everything I would still go with an oven. Some prefer the convection/microwave combo and do well with it.
Once again, not knowing what range you are looking in makes it difficult. As far as space for the boys, well I actually think a large 5th wheel toy hauler might work well. They would have to bunk together but I have seen some that have a connecting door/wall and could be set up as their own space. If I ever find the model again I will link it here for you. And if you have the truck to do it you can hook your home up and go on vacation. But if you don’t want to travel then you could also look for permanent park models that have had an extra room already built on.
As far as it goes you are not going to get the stability of a stick home in a home on wheels. They do wear out over time but then so do our vehicles. Every class of rv has their upgrades you can do but on the whole each and every one has the same issues as far as “problems” go.
We do not have washer/dryer units in ours. I didn’t want them. I wanted something small and light that we could hook up and go quickly and smoothly. As it is I think ours is still too large. But our goal is to get out there and see all there is to see. I’ve house sat for far too many years. LOL
On my blog on the right hand side there is an RV Blogs list. You might want to read some and contact them for better info.

By: Ann

Ann — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 03:36:16 +0000

Thanks! I found your blog. I’m sure I will enjoy reading it. Do you travel in your home? Some of the things I am concerned about are if an RV starts smelling funny from being so small? What about cooking smells…..I think I saw something on your blog about the toilet smell and how to treat it, lol.Another concern is how well an RV is made. I have been in some really nice ones. Not sure if some makes are better quality. I worry about living in one fulltime, since they are not made for fulltime living. Do they wear out fast? I look at them all the time online, trying to figure out what I think I need and want. Do you have a washer and dryer in yours?

By: Barb

Barb — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:27:20 +0000

Ann, my website should show up this time. LOL. It is only a beginning site. Lots of whining and doubting and learning and then “getting it”. Hubby and I tried to blend two into one but I decided to break off and go solo with my personal blog. I didn’t think men would want to read much about my pretties. LOL. Feel free to ask anything and I will try to reply helpfully….if I don’t know the answer I will find someone who does.

By: Ann

Ann — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:00:07 +0000

Thanks for your encouragement! Can I find your blog on here? I agree with what you say about the boys still having access to friends, their friends are here a lot. I also think if we have more” liquid cash” to spend on experiences, they will be happier also. We never have money to do anything. Is a TT a travel trailer? I did just secure a job, so I am looking forward to paying down, and eventually “off” some debt. I still can’t help but think that as long as we are in this house, with all of the expenses, we will always struggle. BTW, I am loving getting rid of stuff and feel a great sense of freedom knowing that there is very little “stuff” that I need to buy! I always have in the back of my mind the thought that there will be no room in an RV! Keep in touch!

By: Barb

Barb — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 23:43:49 +0000

Had to respond (Ann, July 15, 2011) to this message. The comment “simpler life so I can actually start living and stop being a slave to my home.” really hit home for me. I said the same thing about two years before we bought our TT. I began to get very dissatisfied with my life of continual cleaning…2500 sq.ft of nonstop clean,clean,clean. I was brutal with all my personal belongings and all the what-nots I had collected over the years. I touched no one else’s belongings but did stipulate that if they wanted all their what nots they would have to tend to them or else box them and store them. As the shelves began to empty and the spaces began to open up and I got happier then everyone began rethinking their things. It has been a hard battle to recognize what is a need vs a want because for so long everything was a need. LOL. On our shared blog I posted my opinion on what would be the better way for young people to go if they could get over the hump of what was the “American Way”. It was a June 1 post.
As long as your boys can have their friends and still function they will get used to it. If you can travel a wee bit with them they may enjoy it even more. Boys are so easy to relocate. Our boys were adaptable but our daughter felt the change more. If you can’t sell then rent it while in the process of selling. You will find a way. We all do when we really want it. Let me know how things go. I’ll be thinking of you.

By: Ann

Ann — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 02:51:04 +0000

We found a small, very clean and safe RV park that is not very far from where we currently live. We have struggled financially for many years. We are currently downsizing, selling as much as we can. Hoping to buy an RV to live in, as opposed to traveling in. We are both 50 and figure we need to do this to enjoy our lives more. Our obstacle is selling our house and convincing our kids….we have 3 boys. Two are teens and one is younger.
I am tired of the time, energy and money of owning a home. I was a simpler life so I can actually start living and stop being a slave to my home.

By: LaurieB

LaurieB — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:27:26 +0000

I’ve been thinking about the exact same thing and am thrilled to have found this blog and can see I’m not the only one thinking about doing something crazy like this! I have 2 children – 8 and 3 and have been thinking more and more about doing exactly this – selling house, buying and RV and traveling for several months while homeschooling the kids. Just don’t know if I’m daring enough to do it – husband actually wants a big change – says he doesn’t want home ownership anymore, so who knows?!?!

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:30:06 +0000

We hemmed and hawed for 20yrs about it. Finally got rid of everything and are now living in a thirty foot travel trailer. And we did it with a 160 lbs. Neo Mastiff. Dogs don’t care as long as they are with their owners. We rented our house to our unmarried children who can stay there as long as they want. We never want to return to that hectic lifestyle. Money…learn about boondocking every now and then and also workamping. Lots of way to make money on the road.

By: Carole

Carole — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 07:27:15 +0000

Been living in an apt here for 23 years, want to down size and purchase an Rv and head to Fl. with my kitty family, just myself and kitties.. Have to sell my furniture.. first.. It sounds very attractive to me living in an Rv with my pets…. way to go!