acpaulley
Mount Vernon, Ohio
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Joined: 07/22/2008
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I've set up a website to chronicle our journey. It's www.unendingadventure.com
Aaron Paulley
UnendingAdventure.com
Family of Four Getting Ready to RV Full-Time
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DianneOK
Donnelly, ID
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Joined: 03/19/2004
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Interesting...our son and family live a few miles from where you are...Marengo.
I think you are on the right track. Save, save and save some more and you should be OK.
Dianne
Donnelly, ID
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randco
Sarasota, Florida
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If I were in your situation, I think that I would purchase a used Silverado or Sierra Crew cab diesel 1 ton dually pickup and a fifth wheel trailer. If you are full timing you might want something a little heavier. Make sure you get something with a lot of insulation. The more insulation will be good in winter and summer.
If you are thinking about a new trailer or 5th wheel you might take a look at this link.
Good luck and happy camping!
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acpaulley
Mount Vernon, Ohio
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What is MPG like with Diesel? I know they can pull more, but do I use less fuel because the engine isn't working as hard? Diesel is so much more than Unleaded (about $1.00/gallon more around us right now). Do the benefits justify the extra per gallon cost?
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randco
Sarasota, Florida
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I think you will get better gas mileage with the diesel. The only reason I suggested a diesel was the ability to tow the larger heavier rigs. Even if you started off with a smaller lighter 5th wheel, you would have enough tow vehicle to upgrade the 5er if it became necessary. The diesel truck will run you $7,000-$8,000 more than the Vortec V8.
If you can afford it, get a 1 ton dually gas or diesel.
If you decide to buy a used 5th wheel, use the NADA as a reference for price. Make offers of 70% of the base Low Retail. Between now and the first quarter of next year will definately be the time to buy.
I hope you find what you want.
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chuckster11
Idaho
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Joined: 04/30/2004
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You know, this winter we were parked next to a Canadian couple with two daughters, one almost 18 and the family had been on the road since the oldest child was five, as I recall. Actually the TT was rather small but they all seemed very comfortable with their living arrangement and their lifestyle.
The girls were pleasant and intelligent, the parents, wonderful neighbors that quickly became friends for us.
I think what you are planning is very doable and if it is what you want, you can make it happen.
You can educate the children yourselves and the constant interaction between the children and their parents and other adults in campgrounds has got to be a good learning experience for them.
At my age, things become more of a burden than an asset and I spend an inordinate time wondering how I am going to get rid of it all before the kids have to come around and fight over 10% of it and junk the other 90%--I sometimes think I am paying taxes for a future Good Will donation.
Get out there!
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Bucky Badger
Madison, WI
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What about schooling? Home schooling in the Rv? How does home schooling in general work?
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chuckster11
Idaho
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Bucky Badger wrote:What about schooling? Home schooling in the Rv? How does home schooling in general work?
I think, given the nomadic lifestyle suggested that homeschooling wouldn't be a problem--measuring the results might be.
As I understand general homeschooling, the curriculum tends to be pretty much up to the parent, as does the texts, the hours, methods, etc.
Pretty much non-structured as most of us understand education.
That said, most home schooled children do pretty well on standardized tests, which isn't surprising given the obvious attention given them by their own parents.
I would imagine that unless the parents here wanted a particular graduation certificate from a particular state and applied for testing, no one in the education system anywhere would be aware that the children existed. The OP's children would be under most educational radars it seems to me.
About as free as free can be. I assume the OP would be interested in making sure the kids could read and write and do arithmetic as well as making sure the kids were socialized. Again, that constant interaction with adults, both the parents and in campgrounds has to really assist in the learning process for most kids raised on the road. Given the state of public education in many places in the U.S., these kids may be getting a real learning advantage. As is always the case, the parents are the biggest influence in successful learning.
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acpaulley
Mount Vernon, Ohio
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Whether or not our kids would be under the educational system's radar depends on what state we establish residency in. We're in Ohio right now and though its pretty free when it comes to homeschooling, we still have to notify the school district AND provide proof at the end of the "school year" of our daughter's progress. "Proof" is a letter signed by a certified teacher that has evaluated the student. We have several friends who are teachers that have already said they would love to do the evaluation because the homeschool students they evaluate almost always perform better than their own classroom students.
Some states, like Florida (where we will most likely establish our residency) classifies all homeschools at private schools, and there is no oversight by the local school board or board of education.
My wife was homeschooled and to be honest I wish I had been. I would have excelled in that environment versus the schools I had to attend. When it comes to graduation certificate, it only really matters in high school.
The homeschooling (or roadschooling as I'm learning to call it) world has dozens of reputable, accredited distance high schools they can earn a diploma from. This makes the college transition a whole lot easier. My wife graduated from a homeschool in Australia. When she went back to college (we're both full-time college students ourselves doing distance learning through Liberty University), she had to sign and swear on an affidavit she had graduated high school because the school she went to doesn't keep records indefinitely the way they do here in the States.
We are probably going to use the Sonlight curriculum and alter a little bit so the history and geography she's studying matches up with the states and historical sites we are in at the time.
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randco
Sarasota, Florida
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I think you have a wonderful plan. If your family is all for it then go for it with gusto. If you don't you may have regrets later on in life. As for the kids, I think their "road schooling" will teach them a lot more than the kids that sit in oversized classrooms day in and day out. They will also benefit in social skills that are not taught in formal schools.
Best of luck to you and your family.
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