Sell everything and live in an RV?

[Omy]

I am FIREd and have wanderlust and want to buy an RV and sell our clown house. My goal would be to sell house at the top of market, store a minimal amount of stuff and wander until we found a smaller home that we loved where we could keep the RV.

I'd love to hear pros and cons from others who have done this. I'd also love to hear how you got a reluctant partner on board with your "sell it all and travel for an indefinite amount of time" plan.

[BikeFanatic]

Hi OMY,
I also want to do this, but it will be a huge transition, maybe you can try a month vacation in a rented RV,  or tenting and/or renting a towable trailer?  I think it is a huge jump to sell the home and take off like that,  and many spouses could be justifiably bullish. I assume you two have watched Nomadland and all the Bob from  Cheap RV living on youtube? He is  a big proponent of what you dream of doing but also more realistic than other #vanlife people.

[Dicey]

There are so many blogs/vlogs on this topic! I like Keep Your Daydream, though they have a home base. They change gear every season, so lots of good real-life reviews. There are also lits of threads here. Paging @2Birds1Stone and @canoeag just to give you a jumpstart.

[ItsALongStory]

We didn't exactly execute your plan 100% but we did key parts of it.

Our desire was to travel together and do it now vs when I was truly 100% FIRE (my wife had been retired for 10+ years with a COLA public employee retirement). We did decide to sell it all (house, cars and most belongings), stored about 15 or 20 boxes in a generous family member's vacant basement and took off for a nomadic life.

The difference is that we took off for Europe so we chose to buy a vehicle here and stay in AirBnBs (or similar) for a few weeks to a few months at a time. That was/is the plan in any case. We have been in the Algarve region of Portugal for about 4 months while we sort of waited out quarantine. Our plan now is that rather than road tripping across many borders we will focus on 1 or 2 countries in 2021 and really thoroughly explore it.

You could replicate this relatively easily in the US by renting a small storage facility and leveraging one of your current vehicles. Rent places for 2 weeks to 2 months at a time and test drive them as potential long term residences. Don't focus too much on buying a property, we have loved not needing to worry about maintenance and bills and have actually paid significantly less than our prior housing expense. In the meantime our money has remained invested in VTSAX and grown nicely.

One last alternative is to rent your house out while your try the slow traveling nomadic approach, but I am a bit skeptical that you would truly give those other locations a proper test drive if you have the backup plan of your current residence.

[Metalcat]

Why an RV specifically?

I love the idea of living nomadically, but I do tend to like to stay put somehwre for at least a month or two, so for us an RV is suboptimal. I'd rather house sit or rent furnished AirBnBs as we keep rolling.

[Fishindude]

If you're not a seasoned RVer, you may be in for surprises and decide it really isn't your cup of tea.
Rent one and take some long trips first, to see how you like it.

[Omy]

My family had an RV when we were growing up and it was lots of fun on weekends. I spent 3 months living/traveling in an RV as a young adult, but stopped when it was time to get serious about my career. So I'm ready and have a decent idea of what to expect. DH has not had the same experience, so renting first probably makes the most sense.

[Queen Frugal]

I am not FIREd but I share your dream. I am a single mom with a 10 year old so it will be at least 8 years before I could sell the house and hit the road. I'm impatient though so I bought a very well used RV with a decent resell value and I have been taking trips in that. I know lots of people here advocate renting, but for me buying made more sense. It gives me a better opportunity to be spontaneous about my travels. Last month I went to Padre Island and camped on the beach - which was so awesome! But then the Texas cold front from hell hit and about everything in my little old trailer died and that did somewhat curb my enthusiasm about full time RVing. I'm thankful for the experiences though!

Whether you rent or buy, it seems like getting your other half invested will take some actual experience RVing - whether by renting or owning.

[JoJo]

I'm part timing in a van.  I couldn't do full time due to size... would consider it if I had a bigger vehicle.   Comments:

* agree with others try it before you buy it
* RVs are super hot right now due to COVID, so prices are high.  Certain campgrounds are full, too, but others are empty (especially those that are frequented by Canadians).
* You may have to keep storage somewhere.  Very limited storage in RVs. 
* You may want to look into some RV clubs - some of them have boot camps and caravans for newbies - Escapees, FMCA, etc.
* consider all the costs - RVs tend to have lots of repairs, high depreciation, insurance, poor mileage, many campgrounds cost as much as a lower end motel room, etc.  But you can do it cheaply if you're not moving around so fast, willing to boondock, etc.

[Caoineag]

My first journal was about the planning process for living in a van. We did it full time for 3 years and loved it but now are settling back down in a house. The big issue is definitely try before committing. We did several practice runs in the 2 years before hitting the road to make sure we liked it. Most people don't make it even a full year so keep that in mind when deciding what to spend.

The longer you travel, the less cost effective storing your stuff is versus buying new stuff when you are ready to settle back down again. After 3 years of travel, it was much cheaper for us to buy replacements versus storing (especially since we would have needed to pay moving costs as well since we settled halfway across the US).

As to a reluctant partner, you definitely need to do practice runs because if one of you doesn't enjoy it, neither of you will enjoy it. Both of us wanted to travel but my husband was actually the one who wanted to settle down first. It was never bad because our fail safe was once one of us wanted to stop, we would. Traveling can be much more stressful and expensive than you probably imagine. Hotel stays can often be cheaper than campgrounds especially if you factor in gas for a large rv. Traveling during the pandemic was incredibly stressful and I wouldn't have wanted to start with that experience.

[Dicey]

I see I spelled your name wrong on my batsignal. Glad you're here! C-a-o-i-n-e-a-g! I know you can add much to the discussion.

[Omy]

Thanks for the great posts so far!

[Linea_Norway]

And what about selling the big clown house and buying/renting a small house that can be your base home and storage place. And then buy or rent and RV and do what you planned, but not full time.

DH and I have also talked about RV/van living as an option. But we wouldn't want to like in a car during the winter. And we have way too much hobby stuff that we would like to use from time to time and what wouldn't fit into an RV (of European size). So a home base would be necessary in our case to swap hobby stuff. But this would for us also require maintaining a normal car. So far, RV living hasn't been a very realistic alternative for us.

[Omy]

The idea of renting something small with space for an RV makes financial sense since buying right now is just about impossible in our crazy seller's market. We could lock in profits from clown house that way, but we'd be moving from a house we Iove to something functional (another hard sell for DH). I haven't rented in over 30 years so it would be a tough adjustment.

If we kept clown house for awhile longer, how much of a PITA would it be to keep the RV at a storage location? It seems like a pain...

[Metalcat]

The idea of renting something small with space for an RV makes financial sense since buying right now is just about impossible in our crazy seller's market. We could lock in profits from clown house that way, but we'd be moving from a house we Iove to something functional (another hard sell for DH). I haven't rented in over 30 years so it would be a tough adjustment.

If we kept clown house for awhile longer, how much of a PITA would it be to keep the RV at a storage location? It seems like a pain...

So you love the clown house and want to keep living there, but also have wanderlust and want to live in an RV, and are considering doing both?

I mean, sure, whatever floats your boat, but that doesn't sound at all financially optimal.

[FINate]

I also wonder about wanting to sell a house you love. Is this just a desire to cash in while the market is hot? Or maybe you're empty nesters and the house is now too big? Love the house but really want to live somewhere else? I have questions! :)

Throwing full-time RV/van life into the mix further confounds the situation.

My recommendation: Keep the house (for now) and satisfy your wanderlust by doing a long road trip this summer. No RV needed. Get some cheap camping gear (tent, sleeping pads or cots, sleeping bags, camp stove, cooler, camp chairs), it will all fit fine in your car. Then travel around at a mix campgrounds and cheap motels. Explore state and national parks, cities and towns, whatever you fancy. And see how you like life on the road. 

[Metalcat]

I also wonder about wanting to sell a house you love. Is this just a desire to cash in while the market is hot? Or maybe you're empty nesters and the house is now too big? Love the house but really want to live somewhere else? I have questions! :)

Throwing full-time RV/van life into the mix further confounds the situation.

My recommendation: Keep the house (for now) and satisfy your wanderlust by doing a long road trip this summer. No RV needed. Get some cheap camping gear (tent, sleeping pads or cots, sleeping bags, camp stove, cooler, camp chairs), it will all fit fine in your car. Then travel around at a mix campgrounds and cheap motels. Explore state and national parks, cities and towns, whatever you fancy. And see how you like life on the road.

Exactly, I'm now really confused as to what the driving motivators are here.

They seem to be that the market is hot, and that OMY enjoyed RV-ing previously. But without better understanding what the motivations are, I know that I can't offer much of value.

[Omy]

I love the house AND would like to cash in while the market is hot...DH does not feel motivated to sell right now.
I would then like to buy a smaller house with a bit more land when the market dynamics are more favorable for buyers. We don't need the space or maintenance costs that come with a clown house. DH is ok with downsizing...eventually.

As an interim plan, I'd like to store important stuff and explore the US by RV to see where we want to end up. Sell high, travel, buy low. Unfortunately,  DH is not buying into my plan. I've attempted car camping with him a few times and it's not his thing. Hotels that aren't gross get expensive fast. So that's why I landed on an RV.

I'm beginning to think there are no great compromises here. My attempt to "time the market" and travel extensively don't align with his desire to keep this house until we find the downsize house...then buy an RV and see if we like it. His is probably the more sensible plan.

[Aegishjalmur]

I am FIREd and have wanderlust and want to buy an RV and sell our clown house. My goal would be to sell house at the top of market, store a minimal amount of stuff and wander until we found a smaller home that we loved where we could keep the RV.

I'd love to hear pros and cons from others who have done this. I'd also love to hear how you got a reluctant partner on board with your "sell it all and travel for an indefinite amount of time" plan.

Has the reluctant partner traveled much at all in the past? Have you two traveled much for extended periods of time, in a small, confined space, together? Traveling can be very stressful even if you enjoy it, but if one partner does not like traveling much to begin with, you're setting yourself up for a downright miserable time of it.

What type of RV are you thinking? Converted High roof van? Class C? Class A, Truck Camper? Fifth wheel or Trailer? Each ones of these has pros and cons.

Usability: What do you want to do with the vehicle. Do you want to do Fulltime travelling vs week long trips, or just weekend trips? How do you handle bad weather? If you want to go to the BLM rec areas or spend time buried deep in the national forests your vehicle requirements are different than if you plan on going to RV parks or KOA campgrounds and exploring the cities. If you plan on exploring deep into more rural, undeveloped areas away from civilization you have different requirements: you need to be able to carry your food, fuel and water. You need to be able to keep your food cold. You need the clearance to get into these areas but more importantly, the ability to get back out. If you don’t have access to electrical hookups you also need to consider your power needs and how to get it. Other questions are: Will I need to unpack it frequently to find things? What is my storage capacity? Can I fit a real bed in it?

Comfort: This is what it says on the tin. If a vehicle is not comfortable to drive or is stressful to drive, maneuver or park, you probably will not enjoy the lifestyle. How hard is it for you to find what you need? What happens if you encounter bad weather?

Cost: What is the cost to acquire a vehicle. How much does it cost to fuel up? Will I need to worry about water and electrical hookups, dump stations, ect?

Reliability: If you are ten miles up the mountain with no phone service, the last thing you want is a breakdown. I don’t even want to consider the cost of tow truck in some of the areas we have been.

[FINate]

I love the house AND would like to cash in while the market is hot...DH does not feel motivated to sell right now.
I would then like to buy a smaller house with a bit more land when the market dynamics are more favorable for buyers. We don't need the space or maintenance costs that come with a clown house. DH is ok with downsizing...eventually.

As an interim plan, I'd like to store important stuff and explore the US by RV to see where we want to end up. Sell high, travel, buy low. Unfortunately,  DH is not buying into my plan. I've attempted car camping with him a few times and it's not his thing. Hotels that aren't gross get expensive fast. So that's why I landed on an RV.

I'm beginning to think there are no great compromises here. My attempt to "time the market" and travel extensively don't align with his desire to keep this house until we find the downsize house...then buy an RV and see if we like it. His is probably the more sensible plan.

Yes, DH's plan seems more sensible until you have a better sense of what you really want and are both on the same page.

As others have mentioned up thread, if you're staying in RV campgrounds will full-hookups this also gets expensive very quick. Add in gas, insurance, registration, maintenance, etc. and I'm not sure you really save anything vs. even nicer motels or VRBO/AirBnB.

On the other hand, if you're dry camping/boondocking then it's not *really* that different from car camping. You generally cannot run the A/C unless you lug a large generator around. Showers aren't really a good idea as you'll quickly empty the fresh tank and fill the grey/black tank. Cue the Portlandia clip about #vanlife :)

[Metalcat]

I love the house AND would like to cash in while the market is hot...DH does not feel motivated to sell right now.
I would then like to buy a smaller house with a bit more land when the market dynamics are more favorable for buyers. We don't need the space or maintenance costs that come with a clown house. DH is ok with downsizing...eventually.

As an interim plan, I'd like to store important stuff and explore the US by RV to see where we want to end up. Sell high, travel, buy low. Unfortunately,  DH is not buying into my plan. I've attempted car camping with him a few times and it's not his thing. Hotels that aren't gross get expensive fast. So that's why I landed on an RV.

I'm beginning to think there are no great compromises here. My attempt to "time the market" and travel extensively don't align with his desire to keep this house until we find the downsize house...then buy an RV and see if we like it. His is probably the more sensible plan.

Yes, DH's plan seems more sensible until you have a better sense of what you really want and are both on the same page.

As others have mentioned up thread, if you're staying in RV campgrounds will full-hookups this also gets expensive very quick. Add in gas, insurance, registration, maintenance, etc. and I'm not sure you really save anything vs. even nicer motels or VRBO/AirBnB.

On the other hand, if you're dry camping/boondocking then it's not *really* that different from car camping. You generally cannot run the A/C unless you lug a large generator around. Showers aren't really a good idea as you'll quickly empty the fresh tank and fill the grey/black tank. Cue the Portlandia clip about #vanlife :)

Exactly, what kind of travel are you looking for?

My sister loves traditional camping; she and her DH converted a van. They're avid mountain bikers, poop in the woods type folks, so that works perfectly for them. DH and I, on the other hand, are running water type travelers. Neither of us enjoy the notion of emptying an RV or staying at RV equipped campgrounds, so she does dry-van camping and we do car+traditional lodging.

My parents did an RV trip with another couple all around Newfoundland for a few months, which they had never done before, and despite enjoying the small space, they despised managing the waste and having to worry about finding properly equipped camping grounds. It wasn't the carefree/hitting the road and seeing where the wind takes you that they were expecting. But really, they had unrealistic expectations.

[Omy]

We have done several 2 week trips in the car covering 2000 miles round trip spending every night in hotels. We get along well and have similar interests. My current dream RV (and DH agrees) would be something like a Leisure Travel Van. We like the size and would both feel comfortable driving it. When we have traveled in the past, we generally "wing it" very rarely making reservations more than a day in advance. This can be a challenge on occasions when there's "no room at the inn", so having an RV would eliminate that source of stress.

In my previous marriage I lived on a 30 foot sailboat for a couple of years. Overall, I remember the experience fondly. We sailed a few thousand miles on that boat over a 6 month period and lived aboard at a dock for a couple of years after that. I'm no stranger to living in a small space or dealing with pumping out tanks or changing water pumps and troubleshooting 12v systems.

DH has experienced none of this and isn't a boat person (which is why I'm talking RVs instead of sailboats).

I want to visit National Parks and really see the US. I've seen a lot, but there's so much hiking and exploring I'd like to do. DH has not seen much of the country and would like to see more as well.

[Omy]

I like both of those suggestions. A good friend of mine jokes that she and I should buy an RV and leave our spouses at home.

I guess I need to get over my urge to lock in our gains on the clown house.

[Linea_Norway]

If you ever decide to buy an RV, then consider second hand. I have read elsewhere on this forum that people often buy RVs new and then find out it doesn't work for them. Those vehicles loose a lot of value the moment you buy it. So buying a (relatively new) occasion should be a bargain.

[Omy]

Agreed about buying used...I suspect they will be flooding the market in the next year or two.

[JoJo]

If you ever decide to buy an RV, then consider second hand. I have read elsewhere on this forum that people often buy RVs new and then find out it doesn't work for them. Those vehicles loose a lot of value the moment you buy it. So buying a (relatively new) occasion should be a bargain.

I've also heard there are lots of construction flaws in RVs, so buying used means hopefully the previous owners fixed all/many of those flaws.  I recently was talking to a guy that bought a new $150,000+ RV, he had to drive it all the way back to Alabama from the western US there were so many flaws that had to be fixed. 

[FINate]

Agreed about buying used...I suspect they will be flooding the market in the next year or two.

Agreed.

[deborah]

I’ve used an RV twice. They can be very nice. Both times I did relocations - where the company advertises they want the RV moved from X to Y over this number of days and dates, and you’ll pay them a ridiculously low rental fee. The Australian one was $1 a day for the 5 days it would take, with an optional three extra days for $45 a day, during which I saw Uluru, lake Eyre and the Painted Hills - awesome stuff that I wanted to see. The US one was from Seattle to Anchorage for 18 days for 25% of the normal fee - I did 5000 miles and saw an amazing amount of eastern Canada and Alaska in that time.

I usually car camp or tent camp, depending on whether I’m traveling and seeing stuff on the way or staying somewhere for a few days. I prefer staying in remote national parks, with pit toilets and no power. These places usually include narrow, winding dirt roads, which would need a small rugged RV and are far more pleasant trips with a car and/or tent. Alternating remote campgrounds with a hotel/cabin means I appreciate the luxury and can be clean and presentable as well as having awesome experiences. A lot of less remote campgrounds have camp kitchens, laundries and fantastic facilities for the traveller - and are much better than swanky hotels, but it’s nice to do swank every so often.

I never boondock. I think this is both ethically wrong and less safe. Remote campgrounds in national parks are about $8 a night (before covid19 many were free, but everything needs to be booked now), have pit toilets, fire rings and picnic tables, are clean and well maintained and I feel happy to be contributing to maintaining them. Human rubbish of various types is contained to designated places (rubbish itself must be taken out), I’m unlikely to cause wild fires and native creatures are less likely to be disturbed. It’s still very mustachian. The few national parks without campgrounds are generally without them because campgrounds would compromise their environment. Unfortunately, because of the fires a year ago there are a lot of national parks here that aren’t open and campgrounds that aren’t open. But I still have a lot of choice.

I have a car where the seats can be moved to create a flat bed that allows me to stretch out and sleep. The first car I car camped with the front passenger seat could be completely flat and I found it comfortable. In my current car, the back seats fold up to form a flat tray with the boot, and I bought thick foam cut to fit the sleeping area, and then cut into three and covered. I use this mattress in either the car or the tent. If I’m only staying a night, I’ll sleep in the car. A tent marks out your site if I’m there for longer, so other people won’t take it if I’m out exploring.

[Roland of Gilead]

The biggest problem with your idea (and what sort of stopped us) is healthcare.

Affordable healthcare plans require you to use fairly local networks, except for some rare exceptions.

Even some of the blue cross plans offered in some states are not really nationwide if you read the fine print.

This is not quite as much a problem if you don't have assets, but if you do, then balance billing and out of network charges while you are traveling in Maine and break a leg could be significant. 

You also technically need a home base for tax, mail, etc.   You cannot be "stateless" in the United States.


So, if you are 30 to 40 years old, go for it!   If you are 50 to 60 years old and have assets, I would look around and find the best nationwide healthcare market plans and establish residency in that state/county.

[soccerluvof4]

For us we want to keep our "Clownhouse" (hopefully it will stay in the family) and RV from right after Xmas to probably April 1st. Not sure yet exactly as we have been working on the idea as we still have a little time. But for us its more about getting out of here for the winter a couple months. I dont see us at least at this point buying and staying in one spot like snowbirds in Fl but i guess that could change. But as others have mentioned its a big expense and there are other things to consider like storing the RV. Fortunately I could keep at least a 26' in our location and no complaints as alot of people on our lake do what I am thinking about. Probably could get up to a 30' but we dont want to big of one so we can park most places. Before I would do anything I would join some RV'ing sites and do what your doing here and ask alot of questions as there are many many different ways to do it and costs associated with each one of those decisions.

[norajean]

Selling high and buying low is always a great strategy, but you need a crystal ball to get the timing right. Millennials charging into the housing market may continue to push up prices for a decade. If you sell now you may miss out on appreciation or be priced out when you hope to buy back in. If you can find a much cheaper location for the next house, then it might make sense to sell now. Try the RV experiment, then buy the new place when spouse gets fed up.  Getting rid of all your junk is a good move in any scenario. Sell it all on Craigslist. Buy it back later.

[Zamboni]

Lol, thank you for the Portlandia clip. I'm wondering what people who have tried full time life on the road think of the movie Nomadland.

The weird thing about RV prices spiking in the past year is how extremely, extremely inexpensive hotel rooms have been during this time. There was a huge boom in new hotel construction right before the pandemic hit. Especially the mid-tier brands with older buildings (eg Doubletree) have gone way done and stayed there. Now some localized large events are starting to push prices back upwards selectively during the events, but the overall hotel room market is super low. Stay on the ground floor with digital key, and you almost never have to see another person if that is your desire. 

[Queen Frugal]

^^^ I still like tent camping best - especially with a larger vehicle (like a mini van) I can sleep in if I want and a big roomy tent set up (glamping?) to use if staying in one place longer term. I found that works best for me, even for full time travel, but I can see the appeal of a RV. I also like the idea of having an inexpensive smaller vehicle to use once my campsite is set up. While I usually try to ride my bike everywhere, its nice to be able to roam to further places for the day without having to de-camp and take the RV every time. Just set up the glamping tent site for 2 weeks and use the car/van to get around in! I had a rental van for a couple of months recently and it worked great. Will be doing that again shortly but looking more at full timing while I (we) re-locate.

Thank you for posting this @spartana. I am leaning towards this mode of travel once my daughter is grown. Now that I have a little camper, I find it really limits where I can go. It fits in the state and federal parks, but it's a pain in the cities and it really isn't rugged enough for the back road remote places I prefer.  And while I don't really like staying in hotels, an occasional stay in a hotel with a hot private shower is a real treat!

[ericrugiero]

^^^ I still like tent camping best - especially with a larger vehicle (like a mini van) I can sleep in if I want and a big roomy tent set up (glamping?) to use if staying in one place longer term. I found that works best for me, even for full time travel, but I can see the appeal of a RV. I also like the idea of having an inexpensive smaller vehicle to use once my campsite is set up. While I usually try to ride my bike everywhere, its nice to be able to roam to further places for the day without having to de-camp and take the RV every time. Just set up the glamping tent site for 2 weeks and use the car/van to get around in! I had a rental van for a couple of months recently and it worked great. Will be doing that again shortly but looking more at full timing while I (we) re-locate.

Thank you for posting this @spartana. I am leaning towards this mode of travel once my daughter is grown. Now that I have a little camper, I find it really limits where I can go. It fits in the state and federal parks, but it's a pain in the cities and it really isn't rugged enough for the back road remote places I prefer.  And while I don't really like staying in hotels, an occasional stay in a hotel with a hot private shower is a real treat!

I really like it. I tried lots of things (including borrowing a friend's travel trailer) and the big tent/small van (or car) thing worked best for me. I have 3 tents (small one person,  med and large) and if Im staying somewhere for a several days or longer I set up the big tent and all the luxury camping crap. Even have a full size mattress that is off the ground! That's usually at campsites that have flush toilets and hot showers like most state and Nat Parks. But I have the option to go more remote and sleep in the van (regular mini van) or the other tents. Before that I had a small pick up truck for 10 years with a shell and just slept in that or brought a tent. Not as useful as a van but more rugged and able to get to more places.

We just ordered a really nice tent to make our camping trips more comfortable.  The canvas tents are supposed to be waterproof while breathing much better to prevent that damp condensation feel.  The higher ceilings will also be nice.  $700 is a lot for a tent but this is also supposed to be one of those "buy it for life" type purchases and it's way cheaper than any camper or RV.  We will see how that works out. https://www.competitiveedgeproducts.com/Super-Deluxe-Kodiak-Canvas-Tent-6041VX-10x14-with-tarp-6043_p_23.html  My sister's family has a different model and they really like it.  There are lots of glowing youtube reviews. 

[FINate]

^^^ I still like tent camping best - especially with a larger vehicle (like a mini van) I can sleep in if I want and a big roomy tent set up (glamping?) to use if staying in one place longer term. I found that works best for me, even for full time travel, but I can see the appeal of a RV. I also like the idea of having an inexpensive smaller vehicle to use once my campsite is set up. While I usually try to ride my bike everywhere, its nice to be able to roam to further places for the day without having to de-camp and take the RV every time. Just set up the glamping tent site for 2 weeks and use the car/van to get around in! I had a rental van for a couple of months recently and it worked great. Will be doing that again shortly but looking more at full timing while I (we) re-locate.

Thank you for posting this @spartana. I am leaning towards this mode of travel once my daughter is grown. Now that I have a little camper, I find it really limits where I can go. It fits in the state and federal parks, but it's a pain in the cities and it really isn't rugged enough for the back road remote places I prefer.  And while I don't really like staying in hotels, an occasional stay in a hotel with a hot private shower is a real treat!

I really like it. I tried lots of things (including borrowing a friend's travel trailer) and the big tent/small van (or car) thing worked best for me. I have 3 tents (small one person,  med and large) and if Im staying somewhere for a several days or longer I set up the big tent and all the luxury camping crap. Even have a full size mattress that is off the ground! That's usually at campsites that have flush toilets and hot showers like most state and Nat Parks. But I have the option to go more remote and sleep in the van (regular mini van) or the other tents. Before that I had a small pick up truck for 10 years with a shell and just slept in that or brought a tent. Not as useful as a van but more rugged and able to get to more places.

We just ordered a really nice tent to make our camping trips more comfortable.  The canvas tents are supposed to be waterproof while breathing much better to prevent that damp condensation feel.  The higher ceilings will also be nice.  $700 is a lot for a tent but this is also supposed to be one of those "buy it for life" type purchases and it's way cheaper than any camper or RV.  We will see how that works out. https://www.competitiveedgeproducts.com/Super-Deluxe-Kodiak-Canvas-Tent-6041VX-10x14-with-tarp-6043_p_23.html  My sister's family has a different model and they really like it.  There are lots of glowing youtube reviews.

Canvas tents are great for car camping. Not only do they breath better, but also super quiet in the wind. Years ago we bought a tent from a guy that makes them in CO. No water intrusion issues and wasn't fazed by a night of 50 mph+ gusting winds in Bryce. Yes, expensive, but I talked with the owner over the phone (who also manufactures the tents himself) and we discussed what I was looking for and he even installed a stove jack where I wanted it. So now I have a tent that can accommodate a wood burning stove. Set up/tear down is ~10 minutes (stakes, A-frame pole, awning pole).

[Dr Kidstache]

I lived in an RV for a year+. It has ups and downs. It is not a glamorous travel lifestyle - the logistics of living in an RV get really complicated. Campgrounds are often full & you can't just park on the street so you're always working on your next plans for where to camp, where to dump tanks, where to get groceries, where to get better internet, where to do laundry, where to shower, etc. If you're going to boondock with friends/family, do they have somewhere RV-suitable to park? If you have a larger RV, what roads can you drive on? RVs are total moneypits and, if your RV is your house, you'll be stuck sometimes having to find alternative lodging or living in a repair center parking lot (done it!). If you want to travel by air sometime, you have to make arrangements for longer term RV parking (they're not permitted in a lot of airport lots). Just a sampling of the considerations that come up when you live in a vehicle. If your spouse is not 100% stoked, I would consider sticking to weekend/short-term trips or car camping.

[use2betrix]

I spent 5 years in a 40’ 5th wheel with my wife and dog. Now we have a smaller 17’ that is good for weekends or trips where you’re moving a lot. My parents just retired and purchased the same trailer, they love it.

I’d pick a tow behind trailer over a driving RV.

Lots of options depending what you want to do. How often you want to move, where you want to go, and space requires.

[FrugalZony]

@FrugalZony and @shadowmoss both did this as well as @arebelspy. I did a small amount of part time van travel that I intended to be full time but it didn't work out for me due to several factors. So my suggestion is to try it before you make an irreversible change or drop a lot of money. However, if you are planning to sell and move anyways (as I did) then its a great way to combine travel with looking for a new area to live in. You can always stop and rent a place for a few months (or weeks) if RV life isn't for you.

Sorry I missed the bat signal and that it has taken me so long to react.

We have been living in an RV full time for close to 6 years now.
We started living in it while my house was on the market and started travelling in it after I quit my job.
We are almost 5 years on the road now.
It works great for us (husband, me, two kitties, about 240sqft of living space plus we tow a car) and we love it.
If I had a house in today's market and already an RV lined up, I'd sell in a heartbeat and go on the road.
It's what I did back then, as most of my FIRE funds were tied up in the house.

It's not the right thing for everyone though. I know many people, including several on the forum here, who have tried it and went back to living in a sticks and bricks. Some after a few months, some after a couple of years. Figuring out what works and what doesn't is part of the process, there's no right or wrong way.

I personally don't really miss the house. I do miss the opportunity to host and entertain, but have managed workarounds for those.

If you have a way to try it out, go for it, but also be aware that there are many different types of RVers!
Some just go back and forth between a winter and a summer spot and follow the weather.
Some travel the country from RV park to RV park.
Some like to spend time in fancy RV resorts for a month at a time and then move to the next one, using memberships etc.
Some prefer National Parks and State parks.
Some prefer public lands and free campsites only.
Some always want all their creature comforts, others don't mind roughing it.
Some seek solitude others need community.
Some want the biggest ole RV they can get, others camp out of a self built Minivan or even car.

Where you are on that spectrum and how flexible you are will have a big impact on your experience, your budget, your happiness etc.

We don't like crowded RV parks, will put up with one once in a while though.
We'll always take a National Park, State Park or public land over any resort.
We mostly boondock (no hookups), have ways to conserve water, use solar etc.

I understand the urge to cash in on the house, but it's really important to be on the same page about this with a partner.
Doing test runs is a good idea.
Right now RVs are overpriced, as are houses, campgrounds are overcrowded etc.
If you can be flexible though for a while and make it work even if when things are not always perfect, it may be a great opportunity to downsize, free up some cash and reevaluate priorities.

Let me know if  you have questions!

Good Luck with whatever you choose!

[Omy]

I really appreciate everyone's input...so much to think about!

[elaine amj]

I used to dream of this before FIRE and followed a lot of blogs, journals, etc. I adore camping and full time RV travel sounded awesome. Until I came upon one too many stories of repair jobs (DH and I would hate endless repairs). Then the reality of campground costs, especially any with full hookups - ouch.

And then the kicker - I realized we would no longer be involved in the daily lives of our friends and family. We're not massively involved right now. But being a nomad means we would not be a part of everyday life. We wouldn't be the ones asked to go out for a spontaneous ice cream or a walk in the local park or a random game night or a double date. And that social connection matters to me. And ultimately, that was the dealbreaker for me. I couldn't picture life like that (although we've survived over a year of isolation with the pandemic!).

I'd like to travel here and there for a month or two at a time. Or maybe turn snowbird and be gone for 2-3 months every winter. My friends parents rent a house in Orlando every winter and various family and friends fly down to visit them all winter. Sounds like so much fun to do one year. Or more, if we could afford it.

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[Linea_Norway]

I used to dream of this before FIRE and followed a lot of blogs, journals, etc. I adore camping and full time RV travel sounded awesome. Until I came upon one too many stories of repair jobs (DH and I would hate endless repairs). Then the reality of campground costs, especially any with full hookups - ouch.

And then the kicker - I realized we would no longer be involved in the daily lives of our friends and family. We're not massively involved right now. But being a nomad means we would not be a part of everyday life. We wouldn't be the ones asked to go out for a spontaneous ice cream or a walk in the local park or a random game night or a double date. And that social connection matters to me. And ultimately, that was the dealbreaker for me. I couldn't picture life like that (although we've survived over a year of isolation with the pandemic!).

I'd like to travel here and there for a month or two at a time. Or maybe turn snowbird and be gone for 2-3 months every winter. My friends parents rent a house in Orlando every winter and various family and friends fly down to visit them all winter. Sounds like so much fun to do one year. Or more, if we could afford it.

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I just read the book Nomad Land. That books mentions that you get a new community from other nomads. Although the nomads in that book are people who live in an RV because they don't have a choice, while people on this forum often are rich. But the idea is that if you follow the weather, you might meet other people who do the same thing every year.

[elaine amj]

I just read the book Nomad Land. That books mentions that you get a new community from other nomads. Although the nomads in that book are people who live in an RV because they don't have a choice, while people on this forum often are rich. But the idea is that if you follow the weather, you might meet other people who do the same thing every year.

Yes, I can totally see making new friends. But ultimately decided I don't want to give up daily life with our current, very dear friends. I know they would stay dear friends even if we went full nomad. But it's not the same.

I still like the romance of the idea of nomadic life. But am now comfortable with the realization that it is unlikely to appeal to me long term. There's something to be said about the stability of bricks and mortar.

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[FrugalZony]

Nomadland is a great read (haven't seen the movie yet) and a good reminder not to get "stuck" in the RV life if for some reason your finances change for the worse. I'd hate to HAVE to be an 80 year working and living in an Amazon parking lot in an old RV. I doubt that would happen to anyone here, even if the market tanks and you get a divorce because your SO hates RVing full time and now you're elderly and infirm and disabled living in a broken down old RV out in the middle of the desert or in an Amazon warehouse parking lot ...ok ok I'll stop ;-).  But seriously, I do think full time RVing can be great but you do have to consider future issues that could arise later in life.

I do wonder how full timers did during the pandemic. I know @FrugalZony had to make some adjustment when many place shutdown but most seem to do OK or went back to living in a house or apt.

At the beginning of the lockdown we were camped with a small group, which stayed together in some configuration for most of 2020,
we went and did our own thing for a few weeks in June and July and then met up with the others again later in the summer.
When others wanted to join for the winter season we had some safety protocols in place for people that joined us later.
We managed to keep each other safe through grocery pickups, staying away from cities and indoor activities and did most of our socializing outdoors.
We had walks, morning coffee chats, potlucks, game days, movie nights (projected on the side of a camper or via a TV on a tailgate) and music around the camp fire.
It was a very different season, but it was a lot more social interaction than we would have had in our regular winter quarters.

Normally we spend our Winters in an RV resort in Phoenix, so I can spend time with local (as in not nomadic) friends, attend holiday gatherings and volunteer at the various fundraisers.
This is my way of staying in the loop with my community at home.
It's sometimes a little less than what I'd like, but we also enjoy travel and don't like RV parks in general, so it's a good compromise.

This past holiday season was the first one, that we decided not to do this, because I figured none of my regular activities would be happening
and it would be a lot safer to just stay on public land with our small group of nomad friends.
I missed my Phoenix friends and volunteer opportunities dearly, but would most likely not have been able to see them much, had we returned to Phoenix for the winter.

I have several friends who were in the movie Nomadland as extras. So when it came out, we watched it twice.
Outdoors, in our little group, some of whom were in the movie.
The first time we watched it, it was mostly to spot people we know, or their rigs, their names in the credit, the places we recognized because we had camped there etc.
The second time we watched it, so we could actually concentrate more on the story, LOL!
It was fun to watch it with people in the community and chat about it afterwards.
I have been to several RTRs, including the one where part of the movie was shot.
I am glad I went when the gathering was still relatively small and many of my nomad friends are people we met at the first and second RTR we attended.

The book is a bit more doom and gloom and touched more on social justice issues than the movie does.
The movie glosses over some of the more painful subjects related to seasonal work etc. at best.
Nomadland imho does however acurately depict the story of a small subset of the nomad community.
There are many many other stories and hearing those stories is part of what makes this community so interesting.

Not everyone is in this lifestyle by choice, the movie made that very clear.
I am fortunate to live nomadic by choice and I know if tomorrow I get tired of it, I can do something else and will be just fine.
Just like several friends on the forums have decided that RVing is not for them. I am all about keeping my options open.
Those who are forced into the lifestyle don't always have that choice.
Still, they try to make the best of it, find community, help each other out and manage to experience moments of happiness.

I like that the movie did not glamorize the lifestyle, like many of the IG or YT "Vanlife" channels do.
Breaking down on the side of the road can happen, flat tires can happen, sucky situations can happen...
But shit also happens when you live in a regular house.

Just my 2 cents for what it's worth.

[2sk22]

Talking about RVs, I just came across this amazing creation :-)

Ordinarily, I am about as much of an anti-RV person as you could hope to find but this might make me change my mind!

[2sk22]

Talking about RVs, I just came across this amazing creation :-)

Ordinarily, I am about as much of an anti-RV person as you could hope to find but this might make me change my mind!

Link? Photo? Discription? Maybe its a cool little trailer towed with self propelled (I.e. non electric) bicycle type of "RV" ;-).

Hmm - I thought I included the link but here it is in any case: https://www.thedrive.com/news/26311/this-creative-genius-macgyvered-an-rv-out-of-a-fire-truck-semi-and-wrecker

[FrugalZony]

I know that places like "The Slabs" (aka Slab City in Calif) can sometimes give the wrong impression of "forced" RV life but I know there are tons of places out there where community is very strong and an integral part of life.

You'd be surprised how many people are in the Slabs by choice.
I love the Slabs, it's an awesome community with many live music venues, people who recycle trash into art, make amazing things with the stuff they have and truly are there for each other.
Many are there during the winter by choice and leave for the summer, which is tough there.
Some manage to have small businesses, there's an active trade economy. Skills are valued, resources are valued.
People put a lot of effort in their community and truly care.

This winter was the first season we skipped the Slabs because of COVID, but so far it has always been my favorite part of the winter season.
Yes, there are some bad apples and there is crime too, just like in any other place...

[kuritzl]

This is what I am thinking to do and how I came to decide. Over a life time I've become tired of maintaining houses. I am sick of going to home Depot to get some darn thing to make the house nicer also. Working for my house and the lawn was not my plan. The cure is to sell houses, and rent, Airbnb, hotel life, boat life, car life, hike, camp, rv, international cheap travel.

I've also learned the lesson of reliable cars. I really dig a cool car, but that Toyota always starts and never gives me problems.

Guess how reliable the most reliable rv on the market is ? Not very. It's the perfect combination of an unreliable car, a poorly built house, and extra chores like pumping your own poop.

While abroad, I'll rent and have no car. In the US I'm going to try plenty of boon docking near good hiking places in the toyota SUV while showering at gyms and stays at hotels as desired. When I get to any destination, if I think I can stay longer I'll look for cheap rentals, not a whole house, but like a private entrance MBR with bath. I plan on living outside, not in a house. The shelter will be strictly for shelter, bed, warm showers, no more emotional attachments to dwellings.

If someday I want a house after finding perfect place, I will rent. 30 year mortgage and land lock vs rents that appreciate with inflation. I will choose rent. I probably don't have 30 years to live.

This is not meant as advice, I know I am alone in my house hate, and the rest of the world thinks different. Please don't hate.

[Metalcat]

You aren't alone in your house hate. I have absolutely no love of home ownership. None.

[Rdy2Fire]

You aren't alone in your house hate. I have absolutely no love of home ownership. None.

SAME!!

[blue_green_sparks]

Living in a van down by the river isn't for me, however I admire those who can do it. After just a few weeks vacation in a boat cabin I was done....but yeah we are overdue on some few home renovations as usual.