I'm seriously thinking about going all out and buying a 5th wheel trailer and a truck to pull it and living on the road myself. With a satellite dish I can take the internet with me, and I can use a friends address as my residence address, and re-imburse her for postage for forwarding my mail to me.
I would take a couple of friends with me, my dog, and my motorcycle, and would probably plan my route to arrive at field trials happening around the country that I could run my dog in.... And working here or there as I travel doing HVAC or refrigeration work.
Anyone had any ideas, or discussion on any of that? Thanks.
I would take a couple of friends with me, my dog, and my motorcycle, and would probably plan my route to arrive at field trials happening around the country that I could run my dog in.... And working here or there as I travel doing HVAC or refrigeration work.
Anyone had any ideas, or discussion on any of that? Thanks.
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Re: Camping Full Time?
03/01It can be very expensive and it is very much a hugely eco unfriendly way to go.
Get used to being robbed when the thing is parked and ripped off when you need anything fixed. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
03/01How is it eco unfriendly?
I can fix most things on board that go wrong and I have no fear of being robbed. If someone can take something of mine from me, and live to enjoy what they've taken, then they can have it. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
03/02It takes a lot of energy to haul it around and it uses a great deal of unsustainable material to produce and maintain, and non of them are very well insulated so HVAC demands are higher than they would be in a real house of a similar size.
Having seen many cases of RV burglary and fires I can tell you that no matter how tough you are will be robbed eventually since you cannot be in and with it 24/7. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
03/02>>>HVAC demands are higher than they would be in a real house of a similar size.
--->That doesn't bother me because I intend to produce my own electricity.
>>>no matter how tough you are will be robbed eventually since you cannot be in and with it 24/7.
--->Well, since robbery is defined as taking something from someone's person using force or fear (California Penal Code Section 211), it would be impossible to rob my RV if I wasn't there. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
03/02No matter how you make you energy, there is still some cost and eco damage involved.
Robbery, burglary, it's all the same in the end and in any case no matter how you slice it sooner or later someone will get the drop on you.
It's still a lot of expense and hassle. Talk to a bunch of rennies who work the circuit year round and find out. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
03/02>>>No matter how you make you energy, there is still some cost and eco damage involved.
--->Really? How am I damaging the environment by producing energy using solar panels or wind mill? I've never heard of any, so if you know of a way, I'd really like to know about it.
>>>Robbery, burglary, it's all the same in the end and in any case no matter how you slice it sooner or later someone will get the drop on you.
--->Well, that can be said about any living arrangement, and I've done pretty well so far, so I'm not real concerned about that.
>>>Talk to a bunch of rennies who work the circuit year round and find out.
--->What are rennies?
I know of alot of people who live in RV's full time and they seem to really like it. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
03/03--->Really? How am I damaging the environment by producing energy using solar panels or wind mill? I've never heard of any, so if you know of a way, I'd really like to know about it.
Well, a windmill is fine, though you still pay the gas to haul the weight and it won't work a lot of the time so you could end up with extra weight in batteries. Solar panels pollute a great deal when they are manufactured and you come back to the weight and fuel use to haul the extra weight around.
The laws of physics still come back to haunt you, there is no free lunch for making electricity.
As for burglaries and such I am glad for you. I have had a few as well as major theft by housemates in the past. One burglary on a house I had done extra work to make secure was the result of the burglars using a backhoe to rip the back door off. The backhoe was bought using funds for "under priveleged persons" to start businesses.
Then I got hosed by the insurance company and the idiot lawyers that botched the case.
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Re: Camping Full Time?
03/17Sounds great, but not practical.
Well, even if you manage to cover the entire roof of your RV with solar cells, you're not going to able to generate enough electricity, even on a good day, to heat anything. Then, there's the energy it will take - well figure out just how many Marine Die-Hards you'll need to store enough energy to keep you warm all night, and then calculate how hundereds of pound they'll weigh, and o=how much fuel it's going to take to move them
I have two friends living on islands of the coast of Honduras with home solar systems. On a sunny day (and there's more solar energy available as you get closer to the Equator), they can run a modest-size refrigerator, a couple ceiling fans, and a few lamps at night. When it's not bright and sunny, thay still have to run the generator. And they have a lot more rooftop than you have, as well as all the room they need under the house for batteries. Obviouslt, they have no need to heat ...
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Also, there are many park and forest roads where big rigs are banned because the roads just aren't wide enough, and / or the curves too sharp.
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Re: Camping Full Time?
03/02While it does sound like a grand idea I would do it a little differently. I would use a camper on a 4x4 pickup because that way you could get to more free spots. Some of the campers now have pop-ups and sliders to give you more interior room while you are parked. I would leave the friends at home unless they had their own truck and camper. That way if you found a place you wanted to stay at longer or leave sooner you could and meet up with them down the road.
I would also trying to stay in the western US as it has much more area to camp in that is free. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
03/03My wife and I had to do it for real, being homeless during our first year of marriage. We had a larger camper shell on a two ton 4x4. This was nearly 30 years ago btw. We worked our way up and down the Sierras, and never missed TV. We camped in several unimproved camp grounds, fished a great deal to add to our food supply, harvest wild plants and herbs (we know how), and lived fairly well but always on the line. In the Sierra, chains were mandatory. We did get broken into once, but had our valuables hidden. There was a second attempt that ended with a trip to the county sheriff's department for the miscreants.
We roamed into southern Washington and as far east as Utah.
Weather was a major issue, so we kept well abreast of conditions.
We met some fine folks and a few bad ones. The good outweigh the bad. We worked at large flea markets selling leather goods. Did some field work. My wife did some carpentry. We both worked security.
Washing clothes was always an issue. We did small loads in a large bucket bungeed to the back of the truck. One bucket for washing one bucket for rinsing. It took about a hundred miles for a load.
We bought fresh food from roadside stands.
Upon retirement we may even try to recreate parts of our nomadic life.
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03/03It's interesting, this thread brings up a notion I have been entertaining for a while now. The right to freely travel upon the roads and byways (paraphrasing here) is constitutionally guaranteed, and was guaranteed long before the internal combustion engine.
Other than the Amish and such, has anyone really put that concept to the test with non-motorized transport? I'm thinking horse and wagon, etc. I know that this is a fight that bicyclists have been active in with some success in indivisual cities, but what about the federal system of interstate highways? Isn't it a citizen's right to traverse the Federal roads without restriction?
Comments? -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
03/06Folks may want to check out the very kewl tribe
nontraditionalhousing.tribe.net/
on NonTraditional Housing. Currently, the most active thread is on "truck living". Lots of good info.
Chris, re your question about highways, horse & buggy, the law, etc, good question but I'd sure as hell worry more about my safety (and the safety of the horse!!!) than about the actual "law". I think you and/or the horse would be roadkill within a week. Do you happen to notice how many big dents you see in those guard rails? :0 I also can't imagine it being anything but cruel to subject a horse to the stress of non-stop 80-90mph traffic a few feet away. Also, I understand that the gov't can legally restrict the speed on interstates, including a *minimum speed--- which is usually 45mph. Thank god that rules out horses on the interstate.
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Re: Camping Full Time?
03/03hey goat you should check out the "technomads" and "bus village" tribes.
i think they will be very helpful in your quest.
you will find them very informative and alot of practical ideas.
it sounds to me as if almost everyone is trying to talk you out of it.
i say go for it goat.
happy trails
joelamite
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Re: Camping Full Time?
03/17I have often thought of doing the same thing. Except just packing a couple packs with close and gear a few small coolers and a bivy for overnight quick stops and a Cabela's Alakmak II tent for more permenant stays into my sedan and going. Using local libraries and the occassional hotel stay to check things on the internet. I really would like to hike,camp, hunt and fish in every state before I cross over into the Happy Hunting Ground. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/07this is an interesting discussion. I want to retire to be a campground host you know the little old lady that sells the firewood in the campground and helps the rangers. I was thinking about a truck towing a travel trailer as oppose to an RV hopefully by then there will be hybrid trucks. I never really gave much thought to the robbery/buglary aspect of it I suppose you are as much a sitting duck as you are in your home or condo depends on the hood. As far as eco friendly . Nothing is truly eco friendly. I would think Rv live is simpler than those with homes and the carbon foot print of and Rv'er is the same or smaller than someone with a house/apt and all the trappings.
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/09Go to AutoHomeUS.com...
I have the Columbus Variant - total setup cost with unit+S/H+new rack system = $2300.
Go check 'em out! And if you decide to buy one.... let them know that terese sent you so that I get the credit! You'll always have a place to sleep PLUS you won't be on the ground (critter factor). If it rains, just turn your vehicle into the wind - no rivers to wake up in!! Let me know whatcha think!!
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/09This might be an odd suggestion, but there are millions of seniors that pack up part time or full time and live out of 5th wheel trailers, so you might want to check some senior sites for tips on living on the road (i.e. AARP). I'd expect their recommendations to be more conservative, and their fave hangouts a lot more developed than the lifestyle I imagine you're interested in, but I imagine from the perspective of tossing out the idea and seeing how others do things, you'd probably be able to get a lot of tips.
I used to work for the National Park Service and there are a LOT of seniors that pack up their stuff and volunteer while living in their trailers. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/28Wasn't there a national RV and on the road living/vacationing club called the Good Samaritan club or something like that, they had a bumper sticker of a guy with a halo and thumbs up? -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/29Yep, and the Good Sam club still exists and has the same logo. They're pretty big, I see them everywhere. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/29Hi Amazon,
Good to see you in here too. I got fed up with the way Campfire Cafe was being run.
I did notice that when I was a member of Good Sams a few years back that all the camper people I ran into were very friendly, more so than normal, which is both nice and kind of weird since they take anyone and I could have been some predatory type or something.
With all the camper theft and break ins on the rise it seems a lot of these people are being way too trusting.
There was just a big post in the SCA tribe about someone at a big event stealing a huge amount of stuff, including a pavillion of all things. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/29I can't believe these people. There's no reason to be ripping someone off, or causing trouble. I wish people would just grow up. Like it's SO hard to be a decent human being.
Unfortunately we all have to take measures to be more secure, and more cautious. It really makes it hard to just live free. I guess all we can do is try.
I really feel for the people who got ripped off. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/29I know, It sems that all the stresses of society are cause a lot more negative behaviors across the board, much like the rats in crowding experiments we did in college.
You see it on here too. I indict the internet and consumerism as a big influence on the growing lack of civility as well. Too much ego, selfishness and greed, and of course more of us are expecting people to act like that and so it snowballs.
I'm with Goat (if I remember correctly), I always travel well armed. I'd rather deal with a jury than an undertaker, either for myself or those around me.
Police just take too long to rely on them for your safety. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/29I agree, and very well said. There are too many people living the "what's in it for me" life. It's a shame, but it's going to be hard to change that, if it's even possible. Sometimes I have great hope for a better society, and others I feel like it's hopeless anymore. Know what I mean?
As for traveling armed...me too. I think : 1. better safe than sorry, and 2. it's better to ask forgiveness than permission. We have the right to take care of ourselves, and it's a shame we have to worry about it so often. I remember when I didn't have to even think about the need for self preservation, but now it's a normalcy. Boy have things changed.
Police just aren't as reliable as they used to be. They've fallen behind in the "protect and serve" department around here. Another sad thing we have to deal with. Even sadder for me I think, because my great grandfather was a cop, a good cop, and I really looked up to him. So much so that I had seriously considered joining the force at one time. He saw what was coming though and talked me out of it. He said it wasn't an honorable job anymore. That says a lot to me when a officer says it's bad. Anyway, I never joined, and I lost my grandfather in the line of duty. The piece I carry was his. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/29Thanks, I try to make sense at least once a week. :-)
I know exactly what you mean, it is the main reason I am working so hard on The Realms of Legend, and the related environmental stuff. It is also why I am so serious about some subjects.
I have to agree about the police, in some areas. The sad fact is that the legal environment and the budgetary issues have really ruined the job for most of the better people and many are in it now for less honorable reasons. There are still some good cops, but there sure are a lot of corrupt ones, quite a few around here. I'm from a cop family too by the way. I did my stint and got out. Even my baby sitters were from vice and IA, they were gorgeous by the way. Just thought I would put that in for Goat. :-)
I have to agree with your grandfather, the job sucks anymore, from both sides of the fence. Another reason to build entire new cities and ways of living.
It's really excellent though when people hold onto an important posession from someone important in their life. I have a huge antique book case that came from my grandmothers estate and she was the one who bought me my first sets of encyclopedias. I still have one set in the original book case as well. -
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Camping Full Time?
04/30LOL Making sense at least once a week is a good goal. ; )
I know there are good cops, and they work their butts off. Sometimes I think they're just out numbered buy all the idiots now days. "Now days"? Man am I starting to sound old! LOL Anyway, we do have to be responsible for ourselves, so I do what I can and try not to worry about anything. One day at a time. You know? There's really not much more we can do.
Sadly, I was never close to many of my relatives. I left home at 14 because of it. That's another story in itself. But my great grandpa was special. I loved being with him weather talking about the force, or his Fuschia garden. Grandpa Ray was cool to me, and I can't think of a single bad memory of him. I miss him. I move so much that having big things isn't going to happen, but his piece is small and easy to move, and I feel like he's still here with me. So I have kept it all these years.
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/30I know it's hard to believe, but the bad cops really do not come close to outnumbering the good cops.
Ofcourse, good cops don't make the news like bad cops.... And ofcourse you've heard the old saying, "No one seems to like a cop until they need one." It really rings true for most police officers, I promise you. Most are over worked, and under paid, doing their best for the family, neighbors, and community, in that order. -
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04/30Oops! My bad......I meant the idiot criminals out number the cops. Guess I should have been clearer. Thanks for pointing that out.
I know the police are seriously under appreciated and believe me, I give them lots of respect.
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/29You do remember correctly James, when I go out somewhere I almost always have a weapon handy. But it's not because the police take too long in responding...
The police do exactly what they are designed/equipped to do. Unless you want our communities turned into places that resemble the movie "minority report" then we must take responsbility for ourselves and our own welfare.
The role of the police and the criminal justice system is not necessarily to protect you. If by coincidence a cop happens to be at the place at the right time and is able to thwart a crime, terrific, but that's not really what they are there for.
They are there to prevent crime generally (not specifically) by responding to, investigating, and prosecuting crimes that have happened. They don't really come into play until the crime has already occured.
Until then, it's just the victim and the offender. The prepardness of the victim will ultimately determine the outcome of the situation for them, not necessarily what the police are able/willing to do. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/29My turn to pass on the well said.....Well said Goat.
I wasn't saying they sit around waiting to respond, just that it is how long it takes on average. It just doesn't make sense to wait around for them no matter what a person believes their duties to be.
Very few people realize that law enforcement means apprehension for prosecution after the fact in the majority of cases.
Legally it is essentially impossible for them to be responsible for your safety because they simply cannot predict where they will be needed.
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/10This is a great resource for living in your truck or RV:
www.cheaprvliving.com/
Enjoy! I wish I was wandering around in a biodiesel rig myself...
Robert -
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Speaking of tents
04/28By the way, if any of you are looking for a new canvas tent my company is a dealer for Panther and I can get you a good price.
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04/29Wow ! Alot of negative feedback here, but alot of older folks do it as a way of life. I know that it is a major change, but if you love to travel,
can live in a smaller enclosed area and think that you can exist without mowing the lawn then why not?
Not ECO Friendly " My ASS" ! When you're home , you're running the heater or AC, TV, gas powered garden tools, desktop computer, ( Wendell stops to catch his breath) water guzzlin toilet etc.????? !!
And , your RV qualifies as your primary residence so is good for a tax whatumacallit!
Check into " GOOD SAM" , "AARP" and other orginizations for further instructions.
Good luck and " May the wind always be at your back"
Wendell ( and Joie) -
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04/29Hey Wendell,
Not to put you down in any way, your premise is interesting.
Do you have a good source for an energy audit comparison between the two lifestyles in terms of total energy expenditures including prorated amounts for all of the materials used and or consumed amortized through the lifespan of each approach?
That would be highly useful. It would be quite interesting to see if RV living ended up being more eco friendly than most houses of comparable size, or at what size they even out. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/30I don't have actual numbers, but Wendell is right. Just by the common sense numbers, an RVer uses less of just about everything. Even if you just look at the size of an rv comapred to the average apartment, they're smaller so use less to heat and cool. Most have major water saver showers and toilets too. In my personal RVing experience, just figuring by dollars and cents, it has cost me a lot less than living in a conventional way. Gas is actually less because I don't drive every day. I sit and explore the area for a while and get to know the people there. I usually only move every month or so, pacing myself across the country. Propane and electricity are a lot less too. The only expense I have that stayed as high in the RV was groceries. Every other "normal" expense was either a lot cheaper, or completely gone. There are some websites that have more details, and I'll have to hunt them down again. When I do, I'll post them for you to check out. -
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Re: Camping Full Time?
04/30Great info Amazon, thank you so much for contributing your wisdome to us and our discussion here.
I tell you what... I live in Central California (Fresno, to be exact), and I pay $935 for a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment.
I believe (I could be wrong, and if I am, please speak up) I could buy a luxury trailer, buy a full size luxury truck to pull it, and live in a relatively nice RV park that has all of the anemnities my apartment complex has, and pay less each month than what I am paying for rent... And I'll own a nice RV and truck, in addition to having the tax benefits of a home owner.
If I stay in my apartment, I own nothing.
Sounds like a pretty easy decision to me, lol.
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That would be great, posting the numbers and a good source because I need the info for part of my business plan and to help analyze what resources go into the RV camper portion of our themed entertainment facility.
Part of that section will also do some things which should also make RV living more eco friendly too, and it's good to have starting data in that regard as well. -
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James, you'll definately need hook ups, (I'm talking about RV hook ups, not dancing girls lol), and if you want your guests to be real comfortable, you should provide a bathroom facility with showers, a pool, hot tub, and laundry machines.
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>James, you'll definately need hook ups, (I'm talking about RV hook ups, not dancing girls lol), and if you want your guests to be real comfortable, you should provide a bathroom facility with showers, a pool, hot tub, and laundry machines.
Absolutely my friend. We are planning on offering a whole lot more on site and in an ecofriendly and cost effective fashion, including repairs from our maintenance division and biofuels. I could say more but I only have a few minutes online tonight due to what we talked about before.
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