Im 27 and still don't have life figured out, so I like to enjoy as much as possible. I work for a school system and have summers off. If I need to I work outside, and If I save enough in the school year I take it easy (usually working on video or web projects, whatever is unfinished from the year) Currently I am about to embark on a month long trip across the country in a toyota matrix with my SO and then we are going to move out of our small apartment and into her parents finished basement for a year or so and save every penny for some sort of domicile whether it be a foreclosed house or a condo... just dont want to rent anymore.
I bought my TC to go to the beach, or rafting or whatever. I love the thing, and can't imagine not having one. Thats about it for now!
I am 61 years old and have managed to retire twice, medically retired from the Marines and after considerable rehab started driving a truck. Retired from that and now do contract work with the disabled. Taking a 2 or three month break late august when my youngest departs for college.
I am looking forward to the solitude of getting away to some land I have in Mt. and then possibly spending some time in Yellowstone then back to the grind until Kids are actually on their own.
2011 Ram 3500 Regular Cab
2007 Outfitter Apex 8 (now my daughters)
Courage is endurance for one moment more…
Unknown Marine Second Lieutenant in Vietnam
Thanks to my parents that taught me what school failed to do. They hammered into me to save all I could. Starting at my first job at 16 years old, I saved at least 50% of my net pay. It all worked out so I fully retired at 44 years old. I am now 56.
Now, here I am in sunny South Florida, never having to worry about money again. If I want to go somewhere, I go. If I choose to sit around in my skivvies all day long, I do that too.
Sure, new vehicles are nice, but for how long? My RV is 7 years old and my daily driver is 11 years old. I have NO desire for anything newer.
* This post was
edited 07/28/11 11:52am by BuckBarker *
I'm almost 58, been in 49 out of 50 states and my plan is to take my time and see the country over a 6 month period. I figure if I stay around areas of interest for a while instead of my hit and run excursions, It will be more cost effective and I can see what I would have missed otherwise. I can't wait until I have the time to do this. I want to work until I am 62, but at least I have done and seen a lot of things already that most of my friends keep talk about doing. My reccomendation, Do all you can and see all you can while you're young and able to.
It is my and my wifes plan to travel more. Tough with TWO jobs.
At 54 we do about 1 long trip,(1 week) and 4 long weekends a year.
My reason for posting is to be sure every one knows our current plan.
We use our Truck Camper aspart of our HURRICANE EVACUATION PLAN.
I do live in florida so when we have to go we use the TruckCamper.
Just wanted to pass that along for thought. It is a discusion that may need to be explored further, but just putting it out there.
While I agree with "sleepy" that there is a cost to RV travel but it's SO much less than most people think. Far less than any other normal way of travel which includes transportation fees, parking, lodging, eating in restaurants etc, and tipping etc. You know what you are eating because you made it! You always have your own home, kitchen, bed, and bathroom right with you and you have to eat anyway whether at home or when traveling. Every 10 days to 2 weeks, we stop at a luandromat and it take an hour to 1-1/2 hrs total because there are multiple machines and big dryers. The only big item that actually should add cost is the extra fuel used over what you would when back at home and CG cost if you choose to stay at one. YOU decide how much $ you are willing to pay for a campsite for the night etc so it's YOU who controls the price paid. So many RV'ers are now truely "self contained", meaning that they have their own source of 110 Volt AC if and when needed, water storage, holding tanks, and of course, about everything in an RV can/will run from propane or 12 volt DC. Driving simply recharges any battery bank or you can use your generator to do so.
Bear in mind that when you are not at home, you are using considerably less utilities, electricity, nat gas or propane, and most people turn their thermostats way down in winter and usually turn their A/C off or way up in summer. Also, we suspend our cable service and garbage service for the time we are gone (the vacation service interuption feature). The result is a lot of $ saved which also goes towards your traveling cost.
On one trip of 9-1/2 weeks to Alaska (13,137 miles total) for instance, the actual cost out of pocket for the entire trip was a fraction of the money paid out during our traveling the long trip. Yes, we have a diesel truck and it delivers more than 1.5 times the MPG over our previous gas engined truck. That means the actual fuel cost per 1000 miles is about 2/3 of the gas truck when calculated using the price per gallon paid for each fuel. Our 2004 D/A has well over 100,000 miles and it's only been used for RV travel as we have other vehicles for use at home. Why don't we just buy a newer truck? Simple, ours has none of the fuel robbing junk on it and it's been totally flawless and never had or needed any repairs. It's just barely broken in now and still looks new and we love it!
A superb CC LB 4X4, GM HD Diesel, airbags, Rancho's, lots more
Lance Legend TC 11' 4", loaded including 3400 PP generator and my deluxe 2' X 7' rear porch
29 ft Carriage Carri-lite 5'er - a specially built gem
A like new '07 Sunline Solaris 26' TT
I'm age 75, DW is 73 (or will be in a couple of months). I've been retired 21 years, DW for 17 years. We typically put 20,000 miles EACH on our car and truck-trailer each year. In 9 days we're hitching up our Egg Camper TT (17 feet) and going to the Canadian Rockies. My plan is to keep RVing for many years yet. My advice is to keep doing it as long as you want to, as long as your body will allow it, and as long as your finances will permit. However that long that turns out to be, be SURE to have fun.
RRUGG
2009 Chevrolet Silverado LTZ 1500 4x4 5.3L
2011 Kodiak 281RLGS travel trailer
2011 Egg Camper
2010 Chrysler Town & Country
Good Sam life members
Bob & Grace professional retirees
I'm 52 and plan on retiring at 57 as well. I would like to see every National Park in retirement and my wife would like us to see all the rest of the states we haven't yet seen. I would also like to buy a big TT to add to my fleet. There are some spots I like to fish where I'd just leave the TT parked and go up with the boat for long visits.
Truck: 2006 Dodge 3500 Dually
Camper: 2007 Eagle Cap 850
Boat: 2003 Jetcraft 2125 - Yamaha 150 HP & 8 HP Kicker
travelnutz wrote: While I agree with "sleepy" that there is a cost to RV travel but it's SO much less than most people think. Far less than any other normal way of travel which includes transportation fees, parking, lodging, eating in restaurants etc, and tipping etc. You know what you are eating because you made it! You always have your own home, kitchen, bed, and bathroom right with you and you have to eat anyway whether at home or when traveling. Every 10 days to 2 weeks, we stop at a luandromat and it take an hour to 1-1/2 hrs total because there are multiple machines and big dryers. The only big item that actually should add cost is the extra fuel used over what you would when back at home and CG cost if you choose to stay at one. YOU decide how much $ you are willing to pay for a campsite for the night etc so it's YOU who controls the price paid. So many RV'ers are now truely "self contained", meaning that they have their own source of 110 Volt AC if and when needed, water storage, holding tanks, and of course, about everything in an RV can/will run from propane or 12 volt DC. Driving simply recharges any battery bank or you can use your generator to do so.
Bear in mind that when you are not at home, you are using considerably less utilities, electricity, nat gas or propane, and most people turn their thermostats way down in winter and usually turn their A/C off or way up in summer. Also, we suspend our cable service and garbage service for the time we are gone (the vacation service interuption feature). The result is a lot of $ saved which also goes towards your traveling cost.
On one trip of 9-1/2 weeks to Alaska (13,137 miles total) for instance, the actual cost out of pocket for the entire trip was a fraction of the money paid out during our traveling the long trip. Yes, we have a diesel truck and it delivers more than 1.5 times the MPG over our previous gas engined truck. That means the actual fuel cost per 1000 miles is about 2/3 of the gas truck when calculated using the price per gallon paid for each fuel. Our 2004 D/A has well over 100,000 miles and it's only been used for RV travel as we have other vehicles for use at home. Why don't we just buy a newer truck? Simple, ours has none of the fuel robbing junk on it and it's been totally flawless and never had or needed any repairs. It's just barely broken in now and still looks new and we love it!
We have found traveling expenses to be about the same a you relate.
A better way to compare diesel and gas expenses, however is cost per mile.
Diesel at say $3.99 per gallon, truck gets 13 mpg like mine = almost .31 per mile.
Gasoline at say $3.49 per gallon and a truck that gets 10 mpg = .35 per mile.
Checking like this my diesel has been cheaper so far but it's been close at times.
Easy to plug in the price at the pump then divide by MPG to give better data.
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