I have been doing a lot of research here on the feasibility of a 5th wheel as a change of residence. My use would be more stationary as my job right now is in a specific location, but having the freedom to hitch up and tow the house along when I travel is quite appealing.
There is another threat I have in the travel trailer/5th wheel thread more related to the rigs themselves. My goal in starting this thread is related to the lifestyle and challenges in living in an RV full time.
Some examples of what I've read through so far as references are the thread here about 10 things learned in 6 months of full-timing in North Dakota during the winter and several discussions on insurance. Then there are the maintenance and wear items often mentioned - bearings drying out, tires dry rotting, tires getting flat spots, and the like. Other subjects I have read about that pertain more to the retiring ages where people are down-sizing selling their homes, going to an RV full time, and how to handle all their "extra stuff".
In contrast to what I think the conventional terminology of "full time" RV'ing is - where one travels around staying in different locations for different lengths of time - what I am considering is buying some land, installing permanent hook-ups, and having pretty much my own personal "camp site". Admittedly, I have a lot of "extra stuff" and my lifestyle is such that I need more garage/shop/barn space for storage and working on things. So the only way I could make things "work" for me would be to have a large garage/shop as well, then the living area would be the 5th wheel. I know one big subject to research is land usage and zoning. I want to be out in the country with few restrictions anyway, but there will still be a lot of research necessary to see what limitations there are with what I am thinking. If you have any comments on the subject, though land usage and zoning varies drastically between townships, and I'm sure between states, I would be curious what you have to offer.
What have you learned while full-timing? What didn't anyone mention to you that you wish you learned up front? What did someone mention to you that wasn't pointed out very strongly that you wish you paid attention to and heeded in your adventure? What has been the biggest challenge you have run in to? What are some frequent inconveniences that you may deal with, aside from smaller space (living space, appliances), in an RV compared to a conventional stick-built home? Are there any/many curve balls with taxes that can be unexpected?
On the subject of insurance - it seems the terminology for insuring an RV is that it is a vehicle. If it is on the road it would have to have some form of vehicle insurance, but how does one classify it as a residence in addition? I suppose that's a better question for the insurer but a question I had, none-the-less.
Thanks!
There is another threat I have in the travel trailer/5th wheel thread more related to the rigs themselves. My goal in starting this thread is related to the lifestyle and challenges in living in an RV full time.
Some examples of what I've read through so far as references are the thread here about 10 things learned in 6 months of full-timing in North Dakota during the winter and several discussions on insurance. Then there are the maintenance and wear items often mentioned - bearings drying out, tires dry rotting, tires getting flat spots, and the like. Other subjects I have read about that pertain more to the retiring ages where people are down-sizing selling their homes, going to an RV full time, and how to handle all their "extra stuff".
In contrast to what I think the conventional terminology of "full time" RV'ing is - where one travels around staying in different locations for different lengths of time - what I am considering is buying some land, installing permanent hook-ups, and having pretty much my own personal "camp site". Admittedly, I have a lot of "extra stuff" and my lifestyle is such that I need more garage/shop/barn space for storage and working on things. So the only way I could make things "work" for me would be to have a large garage/shop as well, then the living area would be the 5th wheel. I know one big subject to research is land usage and zoning. I want to be out in the country with few restrictions anyway, but there will still be a lot of research necessary to see what limitations there are with what I am thinking. If you have any comments on the subject, though land usage and zoning varies drastically between townships, and I'm sure between states, I would be curious what you have to offer.
What have you learned while full-timing? What didn't anyone mention to you that you wish you learned up front? What did someone mention to you that wasn't pointed out very strongly that you wish you paid attention to and heeded in your adventure? What has been the biggest challenge you have run in to? What are some frequent inconveniences that you may deal with, aside from smaller space (living space, appliances), in an RV compared to a conventional stick-built home? Are there any/many curve balls with taxes that can be unexpected?
On the subject of insurance - it seems the terminology for insuring an RV is that it is a vehicle. If it is on the road it would have to have some form of vehicle insurance, but how does one classify it as a residence in addition? I suppose that's a better question for the insurer but a question I had, none-the-less.
Thanks!