Full time average length of time

[Wentpostal]

I’ve read many of the full time blogs, good and bad discussions. I am preparing to sell everything and go full time. My question is does anyone have statistics on the average length of time most people stay on the road? I’ve heard 2 years. I have no idea where that came from or if it is remotely accurate. If it is, I would guess that most people just don’t find it appealing and return to brick and mortar. I want to know more about why they don’t find it appealing. Any thoughts?

[BillJinOR]

I don’t think I’ve read any “study”. Even The actual number of full timers is in dispute. It’s kinda hard to establish real numbers when even the term full timer itself can be defined in so many different ways !

[retiredcoupl]

Originally Posted by Wentpostal

I’ve read many of the full time blogs, good and bad discussions. I am preparing to sell everything and go full time. My question is does anyone have statistics on the average length of time most people stay on the road? I’ve heard 2 years. I have no idea where that came from or if it is remotely accurate. If it is, I would guess that most people just don’t find it appealing and return to brick and mortar. I want to know more about why they don’t find it appealing. Any thoughts?

We are snowbirds and live in a rv about 7 months a year... so not Full Timers. However we have met many "full" Full Timers at our winter and summer RV parks. Suggest you seek these people out to discover the pro's and con's.
Our winter RV park has about 10%... 10 out of a 100. Of these, most have been doing it for over 5 years. Most of the Full Timers we met follow the weather... north / south and don't necessary "tour". I did observe that "health" has sent some back to brick and mortar.

[MSHappyCampers]

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

Right now we are fulltime wannabees! We are trying to get some medical issues under control so we can hit the road. We plan to fulltime as long as our health will allow. I've never heard of an "average" time, since I think that would depend on too many things such as age, health, etc.

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[Old-Biscuit]

There is NO AVERAGE time line

Folks FT until they don't:
Not what they thought it would be
Get bored with the moving place to place
Get 'home/family' sick------
Have Medical Issues
Life throws them a curve ball
OR
They can't imagine EVER not FTng


Just like any aspect of life.........it changes---constantly


We only got to FT 7 yrs............Life threw a curve ball that made FTng difficult so back off the road we came. NOT what we wanted to do but was necessary at this time. Miss it dearly BUT life changes so one adapts or goes miserable. We choice to adapt and make the best of it.

[Mr_D]

Right now I'm getting ready to hot the road. Wife died Aug 2016, have been trying to clear out the stuck house. Step grandson that I was a guardian for graduates in June so don't need to stick around to take care of him.
No idea how long I'll be on the road, I'm 71 now and in good health.

[BillL]

We’re not full timers. We do volunteer work with many who are. Most of the full timers we’ve met would fall in the 5-10 year group. We do have very dear friends who have need full timing for right at 20 years and show no signs of stopping.

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

We’ve been fulltiming eleven years now. I tell everyone that we’ll continue to do so until the good Load takes the keys or my lovely wife. More that likely my wife will first.

“Happy Trails”
Chiefneon

[LookAtUSNow]

We’ve been gym going on 4 years now and have no desire or need to stop. It is a lifestyle and it just doesn’t work for some. But for the rest of us, I’d say it’s pretty awesome. Don’t get me wrong, you still have medical, mechanical and housing issues just like before, but we can move when we want to..

[grindstone01]

We have been full timing for going on 6 years now. I believe you need to have a master plan and goal in order to make this life style work, at least for us anyway. We began our journey with a goal to volunteer in each of the lower 48 states for at least a month or longer to get the feel of what it is like to actually live in that area. Our volunteering consist of different adventures to keep it interesting. We are about 1/2 way through our adventure, so we have another 6-7 years to go as long as our health and desire holds out.

[ChiGirl]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Right now I'm getting ready to hot the road. Wife died Aug 2016, have been trying to clear out the stuck house. Step grandson that I was a guardian for graduates in June so don't need to stick around to take care of him.
No idea how long I'll be on the road, I'm 71 now and in good health.

So sorry you lost your wife. I can't even imagine how difficult it's been for you. But I commend you for planning to get back on the road. Wishing you safe and happy travels for many years to come!

[Barbaraok]

Actually, I really don't think people are fulltiming until year 5. 2 years is just a long vacation. 5 years means that it is now a lifestyle, you have cycled through the ups and downs, you have figured things out, you move to your own beat, and you are truly liberated.

Barb

[dexters]

Originally Posted by Wentpostal

I’ve read many of the full time blogs, good and bad discussions. I am preparing to sell everything and go full time. My question is does anyone have statistics on the average length of time most people stay on the road? I’ve heard 2 years. I have no idea where that came from or if it is remotely accurate. If it is, I would guess that most people just don’t find it appealing and return to brick and mortar. I want to know more about why they don’t find it appealing. Any thoughts?

I don't think it is even difficult to define what full-time means.

We've had people say they full timed because they live in a RV park in a park model or 5th wheel.

What about people that only move 2X a year to follow the good weather.

What is your definition?

[bthomforde]

We've full timing for 10 years and don't plan on stopping anytime soon.