New to RVing!

[Sharon A.]

Hi Everyone!
Due to severe financial challenges, my husband and I have decided to move into our camper to regroup. We plan to do some travelling, perhaps for an extended time. (We have an E-350 van and a 14-foot Palomino pop up camper).

The challenge---I've never done this before, although I've dreamed of doing it since I was in my 20s. I am looking for suggestions as to how we can do this as inexpensively as possible. My husband uses a CPAP machine at night so we would have to have access to electricity. This has been one of the sticking points, as it's hard to find a campsite with electric for less than $30 a night (Northeast). We also have an indoor cat, who is not used to traveling. I want to make the transition as easy for her as possible.

My husband has a $1,000 a month income. At the moment we can't save much because our expenses run at $!,600 a month, not including food. How can I get started inexpensively and make our money last? I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you!

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Welcome Sharon. Make due with what you have but consider getting something other the the pop up. Security reasons, the weather, the wind, bad storms to name a few. Is anyone out here using a good generator for a cpap? If that can be done, depending on where you are in the country, you may be able to do boondocking and save money, at least part of the time. Harness and tie to keep kitty from escaping might work, don't have a cat myself but I know they can escape worse than a small dog.

 

[Lucky mike]

welcome!!!!

to help a little , judging from your post to cut down exspenses stop at any national park and pick up a disability ameri-pass you will need the letter of award for this but it will keep camping in the 12 to 15 dollar range......become a member of passport america , it will give you half off at all there participating campgrounds.

I was in the same boat as you , Im in NH right now and New england is not cheap but boondocking is!!!.........I do alot of walmarts and free spots.......a small generator might help on the Cpap thing or 2 deepcycle batteries and a small inverter......the batteries could be recharge by the generator or solar....

good luck....lots of help here so keep asking questions and you will get answers!!

 

[Donedirtcheap]

You can find parks that get much cheaper by the month or quarter.
Get situated in a cheap park, get some work, save for a TT. Pop up is not going to work well.
As said above I would also sell the pop up and get a TT
Inspect the roof for water leaks/soft spots.
DO NOT buy without having someone checking it for water damage.
You will do best by moving with the seasons. RV's are terrible in extreme cold and will suck propane. Especially if you use the on board RV furnace. Some use catalytic heaters but that may not work if your husband has breathing issues.
You cant live in the deep south/desert without AC running all the time. In the north you may only need it a month or so each summer.
If you get a TT be sure the roof is inspected and sealed twice a year.
Learn about RV'ing as RV's are nothing like a house. They are quirky and fragile in some ways.
If you get $1000 a month and can work at least part time I think you could do well. Save all you can for repairs of the van and RV. Have a plan B.

http://freecampsites.net/

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome Sharon!

I agree with dragonfly. A solid sided camper would be better than a popup if you can handle that financially. Maybe a trade with somebody who doesn't have a vehicle that can pull a small trailer but could pull a popup?

Get the National Park pass if you're disabled or 62 or older - http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm Here's a link to all of the national parks - http://www.npca.org/parks/?gclid=CLnsm83q9rwCFUcV7AodoFAAnw They don't all have campgrounds though.

I've gathered a bunch of the websites that I use to find places to stay here -http://rollinginarv-wheelchairtraveling.blogspot.com/p/where-we-sleep.html

You may be a good candidate for a work camping position. Most of the time you get a free campsite with hookups in exchange for so many hours of work a week. Make sure that you're not working more hours than would be reasonable for the campsite compensation. Google "work camping" to get more information.

Also google boondocking+cpap. Here's a start - https://www.rv.net/Forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25546485.cfm It looks like you can go without being plugged in and run on battery power for a few days.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

We found ourselves in a similar situation a couple years ago. Sold everything, traded an SUV for our rig and moved in.
We rarely pay for camping, altho, for a couple months of winter we're hooked up in a flea market (not selling) for $200/mo w/electric.

There's a snowbird RV park here that's $1175/yr plus electric if we wanted to stay for the extreme desert summer....not :s

You can find deals on parking if you look around. Try Craigslist>Housing>Parking and storage. Sometimes private parties list a space.

Welcome and best of luck

 

[Lucky mike]

will add Sharon......I dont know where in the north east you are.....but the east coast is expensive especially in the upper New England states as you get down into Va lower Pa and in those areas it lightens up a little........I live on a basic budget just like you under 1k a month....as dragonfly suggested a small travel trailer would do you better....your not going to find to many boondocking spots with a pop up that your going to stick out......cant put it up in a parking lot!......you can cut your budget alot by upgrading to a travel trailer a small one would be easy to haul and give you more options on saving money.....not to mention cooking/bathroom/and a little more relaxation and a secure area....

just being able to free camp several days a week will make a big difference in your budget....

Let me know where in the northeast you are maybe I could help you get set-up and show you a few of the ropes

 

[PastTense]

You can get a sleep apnea machines we sell have a 12V input that allows them to be powered by a 12V battery."
http://www.cpap-supply.com/Articles.asp?ID=146
Otherwise here is a relevant thread:
Using a CPAP machine when camping without electricity
http://canvascampers.com/index.php?topic=805.0

Is there any particular reason you need to stay in the Northeast? Doing that seems to be high cost.

 

[akrvbob]

You don't say but if at all possible you should move out West. I know sometimes family and friends make it impossible, but all kinds of possibilities open up if you can:

1) You can easily live for free on public land. That's about the only way you can live on $1000 a month.
2) You can be a snowbird and move with the seasons and stay comfortable.
3) There are many very inexpensive campgrounds here where you can live for $175-$300 a month.
4) there is a large community of like-minded people who will take you under their wing and help you get your sea-legs under you.
5) There is plenty of sun for solar and you can easily run a generator for power.
6) There are many campground hosting jobs where you will get a free site for the summer in a National Forest and be paid for every hour you work. After that you can work for Amazon.com for the Holidays and make GOOD money! THEN, you can draw unemployment until May when you go back to work at a campground host!

Here are some general thoughts on your situation:

1) If you follow the above advice, the best times of your life are ahead of you!!!!!!! There is a very good chance you will end up grateful for the circumstances that forced you to change.
2) The pop-up camper will work, but is not your best choice. Start watching for someone to buy it or trade for something else.
3) Solar is your best choice out west for power. But a Honda 2000 will charge your batteries and run your microwave.
4) Consider bankruptcy. The reason it exists is for people in dire financial situations who have no other choice.
Bob

 

[Sharon A.]

Thanks, everyone, for the awesome responses. I will be checking out the links, etc. this morning.

Lucky Mike---we are currently living in CT but we definitely don't want to stay here! We are planning to spend a month in PA in Amish country for starters, to regroup and have a little down time. We haven't had money for a vacation since our honeymoon six years ago; and this past year has pretty much killed us. We need a little "decompression time" to recharge and figure out where to go from there.

My husband wants to live in Florida. I would prefer Oregon or PA since I'm not tolerant of extreme heat. But we have also both wanted to travel and explore the country, and this seems like a good time to do it. I dreamed of doing it in my 20s, when I was homeless, but I was young and dumb and let people talk me put of it. I don't want to make that mistake again.

I would be the main income earner, as I'm younger (Husband is retired now and wants to stay that way). But I don't want to be tied to a 9-5 job, as I have done my time over the years with those and I want to have a life. I'm not getting any younger either, lol.

Thanks again for all the help. i'm really glad I found this place!

 

[Lucky mike]

both places you mention are great.......I tend to travel up and down the East coast in a small RV , I work the Fleamarkets and RV rallys for extra income.....normally I winter in Fla. and go north for the summer in maine NH & Del......life is good out here and its enjoyable moving up and down the coast. you will make alot of friends and find alot of temporary places to stay you enjoy....marketing is a good way to make income while doing it and you will find alot of boondock sites once you get out here and start looking for them.

I only pull into a campground as a treat to myself every 2 Weeks and its normally only for 1 nite , other than that I boondock all the time and costs are very minimal doing it this way.
there is alot of NF areas in PA. ..Va. area and Tenn. has alot of free camping areas......the amish area I frequent and have several farms that give me free parking or 100 a month.

there is alot of resources out here to make it work.......Im permanently disabled and do it with a base of 700 ish a month total and have everything I need...TV , Phone , Internet , power and travel exspenses....

if your looking for a rig ...let me know....there are a few good deals out here for short money that will make your life out here more than comfortable.....a small class a is like living at home and your not tripping over each other.

or if your towing. a 20 or 22 ft. with a small 2000 watt genny will also do well.....you can jump from walmart to walmart and keep your costs down while traveling....most flying J truckstops have dumpstations and free overnites too.

 

[helinwheels]

Sharon, welcome. All the rest - I am so impressed with the specific, thoughtful advice.

 

[blkjak]

welcome .... blkjak

 

[Unchained]

Since it is nearly the start of the season, you might consider looking for work at Rennaissance Faires. While many are small, one or two weekend affairs, there are several from coast to coast that run for 1-2 months at a go. You want to work for a vendor to make $$, ale houses being the most lucrative, but might have to start as general staff. The nice thing is that even though the work is mostly on weekends, many times you will be able to camp for the entire run at low or no cost with access to free bathrooms, hot showers and sometimes even electricity to charge your house batteries. The hours mean that you can get another job on weekdays, if you like. Once you have some experience, it will be pretty easy to land a job at just about any Faire.

I worked the CA/LV circuit for about 12 years in my youth, and if you can handle the crazy, it's about the most fun you can have and still call it work

 

[Sharon A.]

Thanks, everyone. Haven't been on much, as I'm busy turning the entire apartment into a giant indoor tag sale. We're not doing much work on the camper yet---it's getting cold again and will be near zero by morning.

Off the subject---were any of you scared when you first started out? How did you handle it? As excited as I am, a part of me is terrified at giving everything up and not having a place to come back to!

 

[decodancer]

I second the workamping idea. I work at a campground in the Poconos and work 20 to 30 hours a week in the summer season. Pay is $8 an hour here. Rent is $37 a week and your first $50 in electric is free. Cable, water, and Wifi are also free. If you don't mind housekeeping it will be easier to find a position. The work is easy and the people are friendly. The workampers become like a family and we frequently have potlucks and go out together. Check out Workcampers news or go to the KOA website and click on workampers. There is a yearly fee but I can't count how many jobs I was offered after just one season. We had a couple in a pop-up work here, they did buy a TT soon after. Someone is always selling an older one for next to nothing.

 

[Belinda2]

Sharon,
I am in Maryland for now, single, female, with a high profile small travel trailer. I put the trailer in storage when I travel. I boondock out of a sedan, and "work out of " the TT as storage, cooking, main frig.,, shower, etc.

 

[akrvbob]

I think being afraid and uncomfortable initially is totally normal and the majority of us go through it. You can almost plan on feeling that way. Knowing it is coming should help you to cope with it better.

You are so far out of your normal comfort zone that it can be terrifying. If you hang in there and give yourself some time to acclimate it slowly decreases and the good feelings start to replace the negative feelings.

If you're like me, soon you will love it!!:heart:
Bob

 

[Patrick46]

Take your new camper out for weekend runs to get a feel for what it's like to sleep and live in it. You don't hafta go far, but get out and try it out.

In no time at all it'll get a comfortable familiar feel to it, and it's a cake walk after that.

You could even just camp in your driveway in it for the first few times.

 

[Lucky mike]

Im with Patrick....Take it out on a weekend or for a couple nites and get the feel of it....it will help you get oriented with the workings and help you with the wish list of things you want to make it more comfortable.....it will also help lighten the load with things your not going to need.

Better to find out in the backyard your problems than miles away!!!!!