Retiring in a few years

[bg1017]

Hubby & I want to become full timers and we are began gathering information on how to do this. So many things to take into consideration. Mail, insurance, banking, paying bills, getting cash. That's all outside the find the right RV. We think we want to go with Outdoors RV travel trailer with our 2017 RAM 2500 Cummins diesel. From Indiana but want to live in the west.
Plenty of information on boondocking, low priced camping here, thanks for that. Just the legal stuff to figure out. Hope to be home free in about 2-1/2 to 3 years.

[Old-Biscuit]

Mail..........any 'mail forwarding service' just pick state that you want to call your legal residency ----'domicile' . If on Medicare then easier ------if not then check Florida for medical coverage/travelers
Can establish mail service prior to hitting the road and then start the 'change of address' notifications
Get DLs, register vehicles and get registereed to vote when you get to domicile state

Insurance.....National Interstate Full Timers policy plus auto
Via Ins. Broker......Millers or Explorer RV

Banking.......go paperless. Set up on-line banking with E-Billing as much as possible
Helps reduce mail clutter and makes handling/paying bills easy-peasy

Cash.......
Rarely need much
Use Credit Card.....pay off at end of each month
Get cash back at grocery stores/Walmarts ETC
ATMs are everywhere

Simplify........

[450Donn]

Many opinions on mail forewording. SD, FL, and TX are the favorites. Set up all your bills either auto pay or electronic billing. Sell or give away everything except clothes, food, and dishes that you can pack in the RV. Remember, three changes of clothes is your basic limit. Your truck is OK for a fiver up to around 30 feet and a TT of maybe 36 feet. You will quickly learn most full timers are either motor homes or fifth wheels for long term comfort. TTs are more oriented to weekenders and dont have the things full or long termers want. Like washer/dryer, CCC, and closet space. Biggest thing you need to watch for is living comfort. What may be fine for a weekend can quickly turn into a night mare for the long term.

[Wilsontwins2]

We currently live in our Momentum 397 Toy Hauler. We lost our home to a fire last year and bought the Momentum as a temporary solution until we rebuilt. 14 months later we are still in the Momentum and love it.

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Hope you find the perfect RV for your fulltiming!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[bg1017]

Thank you

[DebbieMH]

Welcome! We aren't full timers as we have a house in Louisiana, but do spend 6 plus months in our motorhome. We retired last April, and headed west for 5 months - what a wonderful adventure. As soon as you can swing it ... retire ... we haven't been bored yet and this is such a wonderful world to explore! Welcome to the forum. Lynn

[lonfu]

Originally Posted by bg1017

Hubby & I want to become full timers and we are began gathering information on how to do this. So many things to take into consideration. Mail, insurance, banking, paying bills, getting cash. That's all outside the find the right RV. We think we want to go with Outdoors RV travel trailer with our 2017 RAM 2500 Cummins diesel. From Indiana but want to live in the west.
Plenty of information on boondocking, low priced camping here, thanks for that. Just the legal stuff to figure out. Hope to be home free in about 2-1/2 to 3 years.

My advice, buy a battery load tester and a "manometer" propane pressure tester.

Quit and get started as soon as possible because age brings medical issues.

Buy your RV of choice and buy a service manual with it if possible. If you get the trailer, get as close to load range E tires as possible, spring for the extra $$.

Don't bother fixing the dingle berries that you put in the RV for the first 6 months, then get them all fixed a the same time.

If you buy new, skip the awning, they at an expensive PIA and get scraped off on a tree or phone pole. Get a folding screened room instead if you feel you still need an awning. Screen keeps the bugs out and the pets in!

Put solar panels on the rig rather than a gen set. Gen sets are old tech now and maintenance is stupid expensive. Install extra batts, don't get the fancy ones, just plain 12v flooded cell deep cycle batts. Install the extras where the gen set was to go.

Buy a hot spot and learn how to use it.....Movies and such.

Skip the dish, get a Kindle for reading and books on tape. Heck get 2 one for each person.

Buy 5 one gallon drinking water jugs for the water machines at the grocery store. Get a tiny Mr. Coffee. Don't get rid of your sewing machine, You'll need it to fix stuff. Get a batt drill/driver set with 2 batteries and a variety of sheet rock screws.

The first 6 months are the hardest, then it gets easier from then on!!!!

Good luck on your new adventure....

[TonyDi]

Glad you joined us in the forum.

Happy trails!!!

[rvethereyet]

Welcome to IRV2

[our rv]

Some of the replies are great. Check our FMCA, it's a Recreational members organization and full of information that you are looking for.
We travel for several months of the year and had the same questions.
i RV2 and FMCA are excellent sources for RV'ers questions.
Enjoy!

[Mr_D]

I retired in '98 but went to doing IT contracting work while waiting for the DW to retire. Then the market dropped and I spent four years looking for a job. Found one, minimum wage rent a cop type.
Wife turned in her retirement papers Aug 1 2010, her daughter died Aug 13 and we took in her two kids, 8 and 12 and DW rescinded her retirement paperwork.
June 2015 DW was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer. Only cure was a liver transplant which she received July 2016. She died of complications Aug, 2016.
So, don't wait to travel if you can help it. You get old too soon or life throws you some curves. I'm now almost 72 and still have a house and years of accumulated stuff.

[momdoc]

Welcome to the forum

You are joining a good group of folks here with good info to share

Good luck in your RV search and retirement plans. Enjoy the adventure.

[ThePowells]

Welcome to the forum!!!