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Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Also you will need to follow warm weather because they are not meant for cold climates.
Or HOT climates (ventilation / AC capacity ... Metal boxes make good ovens)
Or Wet climates (Leaks)
Or Sunny climates (UV exposure.. ruins plastics, joints, paint, tires)
I have noticed there are literally thousands of gently used Class A motorhomes from 20+ years ago that are selling for as little as 10K-15K. With the cost of retirement housing skyrocketing it would seem a possible alternative to renting and with some work/research opportunity to plug in at some campgrounds as well as via private property owners with acreage. The RV itself can remain fixed while a towed vehicle acts as primary transport. Thoughts?
I personally like it. I've thought about doing exactly that myself for a few years at least.
There are 3 potential scenarios for you:
1) You motor around for 3-7 years or so. You could sock away a substantial sum of money. You could save 50% of your SSA check each month 'cause your only expenses are fuel, food, a weekly dinner at a nice restaurant, insurance, an occasional stay at a cheap motel (and you could certainly find a safe cheap motel). If you also have a pension, you can bank your SSA and live off your pension or bank your pension and live off your SSA, but no matter what, you'd have a huge chunk of money saved up. When you're done, trade or sell the RV then get yourself a nice apartment or senior residence and live out the rest of your years.
2) This option is the same as above except all you got is SSA. You'd qualify for HUD Section 8. Even with a pension you may also qualify for HUD housing. There are many opportunities for disabled and seniors only so you don't have to put up with single unwed mothers and the revolving doors on their apartments. You motor around, find a place you like, get your license in that State, open a bank account within the county, and go motor until you're about done then apply for acceptance. Some HUD places have long waiting lists, but you'll just drive around until your number comes up, then sell or trade the motor home and have fun living out the rest of your years.
3) Motor around for a few years. You find a place you like so you look for a campground close by. You can set up shop there and live out your days. Maybe you find a place in a particular region. You can set up shop and then take a one or two drive to someplace you wanna see and then go home. You accomplish what you want without having to be on the road all the time.
We've stayed at a hundred campgrounds over the last 3 years and except for the state parks, virtually all of them have seasonal and/or permanent residents. Most are in travel trailers, though. It's clearly do-able.
The caveat I'd throw out is the more often you move your camper, the more things can and will go wrong with it. If you park it and don't move, it will slowly decay (they really aren't built for full time use) but if you move it every few days or weeks more stuff will jar loose or break. Ask me how I know.
That's why I spent a small fortune on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter conversion. Nothing decays, comes loose or breaks because the metal shell of the Sprinter protects the fixtures and interior. It's a little tight for two people, granted.
we always wonder about doctors/hospitals when this topic comes up.
we have considered a travel-trailer year on the road, but our health
continues to command our cash.
I personally like it. I've thought about doing exactly that myself for a few years at least.
There are 3 potential scenarios for you:
1) You motor around for 3-7 years or so. You could sock away a substantial sum of money. You could save 50% of your SSA check each month 'cause your only expenses are fuel, food, a weekly dinner at a nice restaurant, insurance, an occasional stay at a cheap motel (and you could certainly find a safe cheap motel). If you also have a pension, you can bank your SSA and live off your pension or bank your pension and live off your SSA, but no matter what, you'd have a huge chunk of money saved up. When you're done, trade or sell the RV then get yourself a nice apartment or senior residence and live out the rest of your years.
2) This option is the same as above except all you got is SSA. You'd qualify for HUD Section 8. Even with a pension you may also qualify for HUD housing. There are many opportunities for disabled and seniors only so you don't have to put up with single unwed mothers and the revolving doors on their apartments. You motor around, find a place you like, get your license in that State, open a bank account within the county, and go motor until you're about done then apply for acceptance. Some HUD places have long waiting lists, but you'll just drive around until your number comes up, then sell or trade the motor home and have fun living out the rest of your years.
3) Motor around for a few years. You find a place you like so you look for a campground close by. You can set up shop there and live out your days. Maybe you find a place in a particular region. You can set up shop and then take a one or two drive to someplace you wanna see and then go home. You accomplish what you want without having to be on the road all the time.
You forgot to mention the cost of staying at campgrounds. Unless you are planning on boondocking or trying to park along the street in towns which will get you a knock on the door from the police. I really question those that say it is cheaper living in an RV.
You forgot to mention the cost of staying at campgrounds. Unless you are planning on boondocking or trying to park along the street in towns which will get you a knock on the door from the police. I really question those that say it is cheaper living in an RV.
It certainly can be cheaper, but IMO the problem is that it's not sustainable in the longer term. The campground we're in right now rents spots for $500 a month with metered electric. Buy a cheap used travel trailer and park it here and stay as long as the trailer is habitable. There are many such low rent campgrounds that cater to seasonal or permanent residents.
You forgot to mention the cost of staying at campgrounds. Unless you are planning on boondocking or trying to park along the street in towns which will get you a knock on the door from the police. I really question those that say it is cheaper living in an RV.
Whether it is cheaper FOR YOU depends on your current budget. For instance, at, say, an average $30/night, staying in fee campgrounds is just over $900/mo rent. For some folks, that's much cheaper than what they are paying now. For others, if they had $900 a month to pay rent with, they wouldn't be living in an RV.
BTW, $30/night is low end, especially for a Class A. Some of those big RV resorts charge $100/night - and up.
It certainly can be cheaper, but IMO the problem is that it's not sustainable in the longer term. The campground we're in right now rents spots for $500 a month with metered electric. Buy a cheap used travel trailer and park it here and stay as long as the trailer is habitable. There are many such low rent campgrounds that cater to seasonal or permanent residents.
Often, low cost campgrounds are out in the middle of nowhere and not much to do.
Often, low cost campgrounds are out in the middle of nowhere and not much to do.
Yes. If you're really trying to live in an RV on the cheap, that's what you get. My observations lead me to believe a lot of these folks rarely leave their trailer.
Often, low cost campgrounds are out in the middle of nowhere and not much to do.
I find this a very odd statement indeed. I can always find something to do. I can go for walks, I can take photographs, there is an entire world of books out there that I will never find time enough to read, same for movies and TV shows, I can knit, I can sew, I can sightsee, I can visit other people...
The fact is, the farther out I am, the more things I can find to do.
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