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Thread: Does anyone own an RV?

  1. #16
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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    Quote Originally Posted by WrongVerb View Post
    Have you factored in how much it will cost to reserve a space for your camper for the length of time you'll be there?
    Can't you stay in a Wal-Mart parking lot for free?


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  3. #17
    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    Quote Originally Posted by Redsfaithful View Post
    #vanlife

    http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...media-movement

    https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/vanlife/?hl=en

    If I were you this is what I'd consider, but there really aren't any good options at $5k, honestly. I think this is more of a do it because you think it would be cool and fun more than a money saving venture, once you back out all the costs.
    I've certainly been considering it - though not as a full time thing, just as a travel option.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Boston Red View Post
    Can't you stay in a Wal-Mart parking lot for free?
    Some, but not all. And you can stay on certain public lands for free, too, though those are tougher to find than a Wal-Mart, which is nearly everywhere.

  4. #18
    Member redhawkfish's Avatar
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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    A lot of campgrounds especially KOA's have camper cabins which are usually a lot cheaper than hotel rooms. The state park where I do most of my fishing has camper cabins I stay in that have air conditioning and heat. A small propane grill and microwave and maybe a dorm fridge would work for extended stays. I keep those items in my boat storage unit, but if you are traveling solo shouldn't take up to much car room. They almost always have free WiFi also. You would have to use a shower house though because they don't have bathrooms. Just an idea!
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  5. #19
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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    Quote Originally Posted by dougdirt View Post
    Some, but not all. And you can stay on certain public lands for free, too, though those are tougher to find than a Wal-Mart, which is nearly everywhere.
    I mean I've seen the signs at a Wal-Mart parking lot that say no overnight camping...but do they really have someone enforcing it? Especially a late-night pull in and early departure? Longer stays, I suppose would take some creativity? I'm just curious on the matter, that's all.

  6. #20
    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    Quote Originally Posted by kaldaniels View Post
    I mean I've seen the signs at a Wal-Mart parking lot that say no overnight camping...but do they really have someone enforcing it? Especially a late-night pull in and early departure? Longer stays, I suppose would take some creativity? I'm just curious on the matter, that's all.
    I don't really know - I've never done it. But, I've been following plenty of #vanlife people and some have noted that you probably shouldn't try staying at the same Wal-Mart more than one day/night or they will ask you to move on. Not really sure how accurate that is, and like most things in life, it's probably a case-by-case basis depending on the manager and past histories with experiences.

  7. #21
    Member klw's Avatar
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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    Question to consider would be if you would have sufficient web access if you are in a RV/Van instead of a hotel room. I would imagine large established campgrounds would have wifi but not so much the Walmart parking lot.

    Also would an RV get a bit toasty in Arizona?

  8. #22
    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    Quote Originally Posted by klw View Post
    Question to consider would be if you would have sufficient web access if you are in a RV/Van instead of a hotel room. I would imagine large established campgrounds would have wifi but not so much the Walmart parking lot.

    Also would an RV get a bit toasty in Arizona?
    My experience with hotel internet is that my phone is usually 5 times as fast, at worst. Unless I'm willing to pay for it, in which case the phone is usually only 2-3 times as fast, at worst.

    Wifi is generally pretty easy to find these days. It's one of my least concerns. I'll get an unlimited wireless phone plan, then just use that at night, and go to anywhere I need to during the day for uploading videos and things like that (libraries are usually good for quality internet speeds - McDonalds are usually solid, too).

    And yes, any vehicle would get hot anywhere. Likewise it would get cold anywhere when it's cold. That's why my plan is to get and use solar panels for power in whatever I choose, to have plenty of power for my limited needs. Which would include some sort of heating and cooling device(s).

  9. #23
    Member klw's Avatar
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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    Here you go - tiny house on wheels
    https://www.etsy.com/listing/5332629...iABEgL_9fD_BwE

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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    If you are staying a month you would come out ahead over all. I'm guessing any rv is going to get b/t 5-7 mpg, so fuel is going to cost you an extra 500-600 each way (to arizona). In most areas you are going to be able to book a full hookup camp site for around 30-40 dollars a night. So if you are staying a month at a time you'll come out money ahead after a few trips (assuming a $5k initial investment.

    There is some logistical issues you may want to consider though. I mention the full hookup site (water, electric, sewer) because you can't really live off the grid for a month at a time. Even if you have solar to power everything you'll need water, and you'll need a place to get rid of waste water, Shower (gray water) and toilet (black water) your gray water tank will more than likely run out of capacity long before the other. As a single guy you could probably get 5 or 6 days or more out of your waste water capacities if you were conservative with your water usage. (this is of course dependent on the size of your waste water tanks). Another issue to consider is if you are going to tow your car behind the rv. If you do setup the rv it can and will be a pain to break camp every day. It's doable but it would not be very enjoyable for me at least to do that everyday.

    Typically rving is not really about saving money on vacations etc, because in the long run it often is a break even at best. However if you will use it a little more long term in one area I believe you could come out ahead over all. And for me (and my family) we like having our own space with us wherever we travel, and so we really enjoy our camper. Good luck!

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  12. #25
    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    Quote Originally Posted by klw View Post
    That would require way more money than I've got, a new vehicle (and way more money) to pull it, way more money to stay (you can't just park those things anywhere you want). I love them, though. I know two people who have them. One couple lives in theirs full time. The other doesn't do it full time, yet.

  13. #26
    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    Quote Originally Posted by alwaysawarrior View Post
    If you are staying a month you would come out ahead over all. I'm guessing any rv is going to get b/t 5-7 mpg, so fuel is going to cost you an extra 500-600 each way (to arizona). In most areas you are going to be able to book a full hookup camp site for around 30-40 dollars a night. So if you are staying a month at a time you'll come out money ahead after a few trips (assuming a $5k initial investment.

    There is some logistical issues you may want to consider though. I mention the full hookup site (water, electric, sewer) because you can't really live off the grid for a month at a time. Even if you have solar to power everything you'll need water, and you'll need a place to get rid of waste water, Shower (gray water) and toilet (black water) your gray water tank will more than likely run out of capacity long before the other. As a single guy you could probably get 5 or 6 days or more out of your waste water capacities if you were conservative with your water usage. (this is of course dependent on the size of your waste water tanks). Another issue to consider is if you are going to tow your car behind the rv. If you do setup the rv it can and will be a pain to break camp every day. It's doable but it would not be very enjoyable for me at least to do that everyday.

    Typically rving is not really about saving money on vacations etc, because in the long run it often is a break even at best. However if you will use it a little more long term in one area I believe you could come out ahead over all. And for me (and my family) we like having our own space with us wherever we travel, and so we really enjoy our camper. Good luck!
    I'm not too terribly concerned about the water/waste kind of thing. Perhaps it's just me not having the experience yet, but the plan has generally been that when that kind of stuff is needed, that I could hit up a campground to stay for a day or two, use the hook ups and "waste" issues. But, when it comes to bodily function waste, one thing I've considered more and more is a composting toilet instead of using one that would come with an RV that would go to the tanks. For showers, the plan all along has been to upgrade my planet fitness membership to a black card, which gets you access to all planet fitness locations and just do my daily workout, grab a shower and then be done, leaving me without a ton of need for showering in the RV, IF I do go with that plan, of course. The only place that planet fitness thing wouldn't work, is in Billings, as they don't have any locations there. In that case, I'd probably try to find a local gym where I could sign up for a month without a contract and go the same route.

    I would not be towing my car. I just imagine that not being worth it given the length of my trips. One, it would put more stress on the RV, and since I am definitely not buying new, that's something I'd like to have as little as possible on the engine. Then there are the logistical things of being able to park/stay places much easier without a towing trailer behind me.

    As I said, I haven't really run the numbers to see if it's going to be something that would truly save me money. In terms of pure "saves money" versus staying in a hotel, it might not. But, there's the built in part where me staying for longer periods of time lets me, at least in theory, make a lot more content for the site that I otherwise wouldn't be able to, which, again, in theory, should mean more money coming in for me in the long run. And that's tough to really calculate in a pure way without actually doing it.

    There's still so much that I just don't know when it comes to this kind of thing. It's why I came here so you and others can chime in with your thoughts and experiences, and I can kick back my ideas and get feedback.

    I'm going to do my best to up my budget to try and find something a little bit nicer/newer. I'm far more concerned with finding something that runs well than something that's "nice" on the inside. I'm handy enough that I can outfit the inside and fix that kind of stuff as long as it's non-electircal types of problems. I've got about 6ish months to save up and try to figure out what I'm going to do. I'd like to have it all figured out by February. What stinks is that right now, I haven't really even started saving yet, but I'm already looking everywhere at options and I am thinking to myself, go get a loan and buy that! I won't be doing that, but the temptation is already there.

  14. #27
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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    Quote Originally Posted by klw View Post
    This is how I imagine hell.

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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    I don't, but my family did growing up. My dad and I logged a lot of miles and hours in it, going to spring training several times, to Cooperstown, and then regular family trips we all took around the country. I drove it as a 16 year old so no special license needed. Don't know that I can help with the other questions, eps $ questions as I never dealt with any of that. It was supposed to be mine when I graduated college, but my grandfather gave it away before I could get it. Have you considered/looked into renting one vs buying for the trips you want to take?
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  16. #29
    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    Quote Originally Posted by bounty37h View Post
    I don't, but my family did growing up. My dad and I logged a lot of miles and hours in it, going to spring training several times, to Cooperstown, and then regular family trips we all took around the country. I drove it as a 16 year old so no special license needed. Don't know that I can help with the other questions, eps $ questions as I never dealt with any of that. It was supposed to be mine when I graduated college, but my grandfather gave it away before I could get it. Have you considered/looked into renting one vs buying for the trips you want to take?
    Not until you mentioned it did I consider looking at renting. The first place I looked, for a very small RV (similar to the one I'd be looking to buy) was $3400 for 3 weeks. So, yeah, that's not going to be an option in the slightest.

    I'm considering trying to find a part-time job in the winter to save up and put more money into my "buy a travel vehicle" fund to try and get something a bit newer than what I believe my current budget is. Now, what job that is, I don't know. I've thought about trying to maybe drive for Uber or something, but haven't looked into it to see if it's actually worth it or not. Not too sure what my other options would be - I can't work retail, even though I know that they are always hiring around the winter because of Christmas. We will see how things go.

    For now, I'm keeping my options open. I've been keeping an eye on Craigslist for smaller RV's, buses/vans that I could fit out for my needs. Just sort of keeping an eye on prices/options right now to have a better idea of what's out there, what it's going for and hoping something falls into whatever my eventual budget is.

  17. #30
    Playoffs ?? !! goreds2's Avatar
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    Re: Does anyone own an RV?

    Quote Originally Posted by dougdirt View Post
    I don't really know - I've never done it. But, I've been following plenty of #vanlife people and some have noted that you probably shouldn't try staying at the same Wal-Mart more than one day/night or they will ask you to move on. Not really sure how accurate that is, and like most things in life, it's probably a case-by-case basis depending on the manager and past histories with experiences.
    If you stay at the same Walmart more than one night, at least move it to a totally different spot in the parking lot. Lot's of videos on YOUTUBE. Also, casinos let you stay over night. Just park in the back lot out of the way. The downtown Cincinnati casino does not allow RV's. Keep us up to date. Best wishes - Love to hear these story's. Also, Cracker Barrel restaurants let you stay overnight. Call ahead though.

    On Edit: I see a lot of Vaner's on YouTube get Planet Fitness passes for I think $20 a month. They can go in any location (over 900 nation wide). They mainly use this venue to take showers and clean up. I have heard you can stay over night in their lots also because most are 24/7.

    My camper van is on the left, fiance's is on the right.

    Last edited by goreds2; 07-25-2017 at 09:05 AM. Reason: added comment
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