New to RVing and have questions

Hello every one. I have a few questions about RVing and I hope you can offer your advice. I am a retired Master Chief with 25 years time. My wife and I are looking at purcahsing a class C / gas RV some time next year.

We know it is going to be a 31' or 32' foot RV with at least one slide out. We will travel short distances at first and hopefully in the summer take some longer trips with our daughter. I am currently working but I waws wondering if it was possible to become a full time RV'er on my retirement and disabiltiy alone, oncve daughter leaves the home front? Roughly around 48K annually.

Insurance is allotment and most bills will be paid off by then. Plan on towing a Hyundi Accent with it. Should I purcahse a extra 30A coards, along with a 15a and 50a to 30a adapter?

And I will stop at these last two questions? should I buy and install a surge protector for the RV, or one that can just plug into the pwr cord and outlet.

Thanks for your advice and I hope to hit the road some time soon.

Valdez, I have been rving for 35 yrs. with all of the different types of rv's and have only needed a extension cord for the rv one time. If you don't buy it, someone at the campground will probably have one to lone you. The addapters you will need about every time. I personally use the type of surg protector that you plug into the post but the most secure one is the one that is installed. I worry about the one I have being stolen but that is a chance i take. I would not see any reason you could not live on your salary on the road. If the bills are paid, it would be cheeper to live on the road than in a stick house. Just stay put in one place longer say a month at a time.
Good luck,
Bill

Bill6750 is correct. Adapters are a must. A surge protector (either portable or built-in) has saved my electronics more than a few times - well worth the expense.

$48K is enough to live off on the road. It's just a matter of your lifestyle (frugal or expensive). You can control two of the highest expenses: 1) Fuel - don't drive as much. Stay a week or more before moving somewhere else. Don't drive far between destinations (The least I've moved is 17 miles). 2) Camping Fees - many places give discounts for weekly or monthly stays. Join "Passport America". Learn to dry camp! Your RV is "self-contained", so stay at places that don't have hookups for free, or very cheap.

We've been on the road 8 years. We work at campgrounds in the summer and enjoy it. With no fuel costs, no camping fees, and a paycheck for 6 months, we're building up our savings.

This topic might be in the wrong forum section since it isn't sports related, but I'll add a few thoughts.

Full time meaning that you won't have a house? If so that eliminates mortgage, tax, insurance, utility, and up keep expenses. The question might be more on the lines of do you want to full time? It's a different adjustment for two people to live in 300 sq ft. year round. You'll probably figure that out as you start taking those longer trips; those of at least a three months range. Is the RV going to be the right one for full timing? Most people don't buy the right rig for their part time RVing needs much less for full timing. That's a factor in the "adjustment."

Obtain an America the Beautiful Access card. It's free for you and with it you can camp at many federal locations for about $10/day. As Larry mentioned, fuel cost will be a large expense. I won't bore anyone with the numbers, but if you travel an average of once every three days you'll burn up 25% of that annual income. You can also do work camping. Some are paid positions some are volunteer, but a free campsite is the norm either way so that's an expense you can take out of the equation. Last year I worked at a place where free meals were part of the deal which meant no food costs for me for four months. There are a number of ways to creatively lower the cost of RVing and probably make it happen well within your income.

Can't address the full time issues.. just a part timer..

But I do know electrical cords and adapters.. Our rig is 30a

I carry and have used a 50aM to 30aF (West Point and Westover AFB both have some 50a only pedestals and semi-overflow at Mayport may require 50aM)

I also carry a 20aM to 30aF have used it in "overflow"

I use my 30a (25ft) extension cord all of the time.. I had to shorten my factory shorepower pigtail by 10f (made an extension cord) because I had a very hard time stowing the cord when it was cold (and didn't want to bend)

So in summary... We carry one of every adapter and two extension cords, 25f and 45f.. and a 35f #12 cord for the genny..