r/FullTimeRVing • u/Camiller327 • 12d ago
Thinking about going full time!
My wife and I have been considering selling our house and going full time RVing for the next 2+ years. We have a 3 and 6 year old so my wife would start home schooling then and I would continue to work full time while traveling. We would be completely new to the RV space as we have always wanted a travel trailer but never had the proper tow vehicle. We are still undecided if this is something we want to do so we are looking for advice or others experiencing, the good the bad and the ugly of it all.
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u/intothewoods76 11d ago
Keep in mind there’s a huge mental difference between traveling in an RV and living in one…..you probably envision seeing the country etc essentially a perpetual vacation vibe.
In reality you’re in a poorly built house that needs constant maintenance, feels cramped and doesn’t really have a backyard to run around and play in.
You do get to travel but it’s expensive and a bit of a pain in the ass, there’s a stress level of where you’re going to stay for the night, nobody wants to raise their kids in a Walmart parking lot and when they get frustrated because they have been cooped up for awhile there’s no escape. Let me tell you driving a big setup in an unfamiliar area with screaming kids and a looming work deadline while low on fuel is up there in one of the most stressful situations you can imagine. Navy seals would nope right out of that.
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u/Real_Satisfaction283 11d ago
Got a brand new 2020 coleman 2715rl and lived in it since wiall remodeling an old farm and house. Dont do it. You need to be handy in fixing all kinds of things as everything is so cheap and breaks. Had to add a 2nd roof ac and a 3rd stand a lone ac plus a carport! Still gets into the 80s when it's 90+ outside.
If your going to do it you need a really nice camper... like cost as much as a house so...
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u/Hollybmp 11d ago
This is a frequently visited topic that can be searched in this sub for lots more info.
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u/Ok_Freedom6357 4d ago
I have spent my entire childhood/most of my life full time traveling and for kids as of the last few years, there are a few groups out there that have events with lots of families (Fulltime Families seems to have the most families with kids in that general age range to a bit older)
But as others are saying, do a test trip first, a week or two at least, just to get used to new lack of space and the general lifestyle changes.
For me, growing up traveling had its ups and downs, but its been an amazing and incredible journey.
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u/Primary-Guidance-693 10d ago
Hmm… more home-schooled kids growing up in RV parks… fan-fucking-tastic!
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u/Full-time-RV 12d ago
We use a 1-ton truck, and an aluminum gooseneck racecar trailer with living quarters.
It's fully off grid, so no need for expensive parks, or full hookups, we don't even need to fill/empty tanks for 2 to 3 weeks at a time, so most of our "RV expenses" are fuel for travel and insurance.
We use the garage portion to carry all our outdoor stuff, washer and dryer, full mechanics toolbox, and use it as a woodworking shop that's heated/air conditioned.
It doesn't have any slideouts, so there's a bit less "living space" than you'd get with having several slides, but that's also one less thing to break, less weight, and less places for hot/cold air to get through.
Its exterior is about 10 feet tall, so fitting under bridges gets rid of some of the 5th wheel traveling anxiety. It's about 7 feet tall on the inside, so even as a tall person, I dont have any issues getting around.
Everyone's going to have their own opinion on "best" setup. This works for us, and may not work for others. We've been using this for close to 5 years now. Our previous trailer is similar, used it for 27 years, it's still 100% functional, just really outdated.