Booked Another Year Fulltiming

Steven@147

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Well another year in the books fulltiming. July 2024 will be our 4th anniversary fulltiming.

For 2023 we only towed 5341 miles versus 11,541 miles for 2022. No major problems with our Solitude this year, performed like a dream.
I did replace some suspension components on the rig, upgraded to MorRyde equalizers and replaced the left side leaf springs (going flat heavy side of the RV). Leaf springs are almost a maintenance item on the rig as they take a lot of punishment.

2023 Year
Site costs - $9071 or average $27 /night. Stayed at private CGs or resorts, no boondocking or Harvest Host like sites, no work camping. Mostly week / 2 week or monthly stays. Electric not included.
RV Repairs and Maintenance - $3495 (replaced microwave, suspension, black tank valve, leaf springs and misc, rig wash and wax).
Truck Repairs and Maintenance - $2532 Tires, oil and trans fluid and diesel filter changes. Total miles on truck 95,000. Ran like a dream.
Total diesel costs - $5573 towing or not.
Groceries - $7392 our monthly budget is $600 and actual was $616 / month
Dinning Out - $6830 monthly budget is $550 and actual was $569
Entertainment - $879

We didn't feel as stressed this year with only traveling 5341 miles towing. Started 2023 in South and West Texas going to Big Bend, then western trip to NM, AZ Grand Canyon South then East through OK and Branson MO to Indiana to be with family & holidays (5 months stationary) then Dec 27th back to home port for the winter in Galveston. Still loving life and enjoying the fulltime experience.
 
Overall sounds like a pretty good year. I sometimes think about full timing, but my wife would never do it. Have to be around the grandkids, especially our granddaughter. They are almost inseparable when she's here.
 
Another good year in the books for you! It'll be fun to see where 2024 takes you.

I would love to full time, we are closer to full than not , being in the trailer at least 7 or 8 months out of the year. We keep the house more as a medical base than for any other reason. I have been working on purging slowly so who knows what will come. This summer will be a giant yard sale then the rest gets donated or given directly to someone in need..either way my son will have less household junk to deal with when we both are dead
:rip:
 
Another good year in the books for you! It'll be fun to see where 2024 takes you.

I would love to full time, we are closer to full than not , being in the trailer at least 7 or 8 months out of the year. We keep the house more as a medical base than for any other reason. I have been working on purging slowly so who knows what will come. This summer will be a giant yard sale then the rest gets donated or given directly to someone in need..either way my son will have less household junk to deal with when we both are dead
:rip:

We were looking forward to this year traveling up through Michigan and UP into Canada, but that might get put on hold.
We've been there done that Marcy! In preparing to go fulltime it took over a year to get rid of all our stuff, sell our house, and get set up to go fulltime. We don't have a storage location, got rid of everything. Our kids still thank us for purging early so they don't have to go through all our stuff at the end. We lived near Austin TX and they live in Ohio and Indiana.

We were stationary this year for 5 months, when Tami's Dad passed away suddenly in Oct, her mother could not stay by herself, 85 years old (dementia / alzheimers) so the family had to place her in a full care facility. Costs $96,000 / year.
We had to prepare their house for sale and go through their things and get it done in two months. Tami's mother collected porcelain dolls, her Dad antique glassware over the years, so it took a while to go through. Her parents were married over 65 years, sifting through her parents things, It was a big task and painful for the family. Its never easy to look at the things we all collect and then sell, donate, purge, give away.

We are really glad we went fulltime and able to travel the country while we can. Out of the places we have traveled so far that is close to the area of where family lives, Knoxville ranks right up there for a place we might want to stop fulltiming around. Our Daughter lives near Cincinnati @ 2 hours away from the Knoxville area. But my gosh the beautiful places we have visited so far,,,,,,,,,,,, a dream of ours come true! Still with lots more to see!
 
We're looking for a wooded parking place in the SC foothills in the Pickens area (within an hours drive of the Asheville NC Veterans hospital/med center) If we find the right spot , maybe an old Mobile home pad that has ele and septic would be perfect. If we find that we will have more incentive, the house wouldn't be far from being up for sale so we need to purge , Spent aq good deal of last summer boxing up the stuff...beong gone so long sure makes it easer to get rid of stuff... did I miss it....nope throw it into the discard pile! The biggest thing I'd miss is my Kitchen Aid mixer... it might end up in our FL shed on our campsite lol

If you buzz thru MI let us know where you stop if we're in the area I'd love to get together! Ususlly in MI off and on June thru Sept
 
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Lets wake it up hear.............

How has the full timing been going this year so far?

Me im back at it. I retired going on 8 years ago, sold/gave away every thing i didnt need. Had a ram diesel 2500 and a new TT, hit the road. After about 7 years decided to take a brake and try normal people living. Sold pickup camper and got an apartment in my hometown in very, very upper wester MN, and got a new car. That only lasted the that summer and the winter, and this spring gave up the apartment gave everything away and got new pickup and clean used 5ver. Having the car didnt even last 7 months and i needed a pickup again.

I have spent the summer at the hometown campground just like the last 6 years, and will stay till harvest is done, as i grew up on a farm and love playing with big trucks and tractors, i dont have to pay for or fix. That will take me to mid or end of October, then its head to the gulf coast of Texas for 4 or more winter months. I have been going to that area for 5 years,,, but this time ill be going to a campground thats more up-scale..

Near spring, the plan is to venture instead of just heading back north to Minnesota. It gets cold quick in the fall and stays cold in the spring for quite some time. The people are super nice. The plan is to check out/migrate other places slowly north monthly mostly and be back up north mid August for the start of harvest, then go or migrate south again, maybe back to Texas, maybe a new direction.

Lots of people migrate north for sugar beet harvest, to work for farmers or for Crystal Sugar at the plants or on pilers to pile and store beets for the winter to be hauled out over the winter. Lots come in campers and leave with there pockets full of money when done.
 
We're on our 10th year of full-timing (started in 2014) with a two-year break when I had a "temporary part-time" position as Head Teacher. We've started coming up with a theme for the year's travels. Two years ago it was the Natchez Trace. Last year it was the grand birthday tour, where we visited nearly every grandchild for his or her birthday. The exception was the February birthday in Wyoming. That one got combined with the other two grandkids in May and June. This year it is the Great River Road, visiting each Lock and Dam from Minneapolis to St. Louis.

We generally have some campground hosting each year. This year we'll be at Graham Cave SP near Danville, MO for September and October. That's a small park with lots of hiking and not much else, so very quiet. Come see us.
 
Fulltiming can be a grand adventure. Tami and I are still loving it although this year we have had a few more hurdles to jump. A couple hospitals stays for me and Tami dealing with her arthritis in her knees, and now our brake down with suspension problems.

We had to scrap our spring/summer Michigan/Canada/North Dakota adventure for this year, but so far we have managed to keep our fall plans for a military reunion in the Smoky Mountains, then keep moving south with a trip through the Gulf Shores area, New Orleans, Beaumont Texas and finally winding up in Galveston for the winter again.

We still have a positive attitude on fulltiming, whatever comes our way, we deal with it, stay flexible, and move on. Hopefully we still have a few more years ahead of us fulltiming before we have to stop.

We were sorry to see [MENTION=870]Second Chance[/MENTION] drop out of fulltiming, we kind of looked to Rob as our fulltimers mentor, but all of us adventurous nomads have to make the decision at some time or other. We don't have an iron clad "End of Fulltiming Plan" but do have a rough sketch. We are planning to spend a little more time in the Knoxville area this fall to see if that would work for us. Escapees Raccoon Valley Heiskell TN.

To all of our Fulltimer Club Members, we say, hang in there, good luck and make everyday count.
 
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On the full time end. I want to travel and see where a good base some day may be. I may find one this spring in travels, or hope to. And call that the most time spent place, now or some day. Might leave this 5ver there might get a park model, but a tiny home sounds really good.

I am looking mid country so far. That way i can go in all directions and come back to the base. ( anyone have any great suggestions for mid country please let me know so i can look up then check out. )

Then venture out from there, and back, with no time limits, just wander with a smaller rig. As much as i am attracted to truck campers, a tall cap on the pickup and a nice smaller TT fully self contained with decent tanks, would be great for wandering,, for myself. There is so many cool places to go check out with a smaller lower footprint.
 
Full timing for over 8 years. The way we travel has changed a lot over those 8 years.

After doing the CG thing in FL for our first year, we bought a lot in a Resort in SWFL and we spend every winter there, roughly 5 to 6 months.

During our summer travel, we used to stay in one CG for one to three months and we only use CGs that offer monthly rates. In that way of travel, we would move every month or so.

Starting this summer, the plan changed up a bit. We still do winters on our lot in SWFL, but when we travel, it will stay at one CG for the whole summer.

This summer (2024) we are in SEPA.

Summer 2025, we are booked in Montrose, CO. We spent 2 months there in summer 2023 and totally loved it. So, we will spend 6 months there in 2025.

Last week, we took driving a trip (hotel stays) to Maine, VT and Upper NY. On our way through Lancaster, NH we stopped by CG and fell in love with it, so we plan to book it for summer 2026. We can't book it yet (their books don't go out that far), we will book it in May of 2025 (for 2026).

We plan on doing 2027 in UP Michigan and 2028 in Alaska.

-B
 
Greetings, we have been retired and full timing for three years now. Camped in 46 states and are planning on end of May through Aug trip to Alaska. We plan to camp in Washington, Oregon and northern California Aug through Oct 2025. We are really enjoying the adventure so far. Hoping to be able to meet at a rally in the future. Plan on continue full time at least a few more years. May do some work camping in the future.
 
Greetings, we have been retired and full timing for three years now. Camped in 46 states and are planning on end of May through Aug trip to Alaska. We plan to camp in Washington, Oregon and northern California Aug through Oct 2025. We are really enjoying the adventure so far. Hoping to be able to meet at a rally in the future. Plan on continue full time at least a few more years. May do some work camping in the future.
Hello there! You have almost made all 48. Wow a trip to AK, that's great! Tami and I have talked about AK but that is a long way. Doubt if we will ever RV there, may take a cruise though.

We are still living the dream! We've had A few hiccups along the way but when you live on the road you gotta expect a few bumps. 2024 is almost gone and a lot of our plans got canceled so we will start planning 2025 and see what the new year brings.
 
Replying to a thread in Dec on the forum about health care, I started looking at our end of year 2024 stats. Might as well update my thread.

Year --------------------------2023 ---------------------2024
Truck / RV Towed Miles ------20280/5341 ------------14046/2759
Camp/elect ------------------9921 - 27.18 / night --------9420 - 25.81 / night
Tot RV Costs -----------------6828 --------------------5350
Tot Truck Costs --------------9422 --------------------5875
diesel only -------------------5381 ---------------------3471
Health Care ------------------705---------------------- 2159
Comm -----------------------3893 ---------------------3807
Food & Entertain -------------15,102-------------------- 15,755
Grocery only -----------------7392--------------------- 8533
Dine out only -----------------6830--------------------- 6294
Misc --------------------------6464-------------------- 5530
RV Clubs ----------------------585---------------------- 710

Most of our plans for 2024 got scrapped because of my hospital stays and a hurricane that was thought to be headed for the gulf. So we just went from TX to Indiana and back to TX. Only towed the RV 2759 miles. Still we managed to have a couple RV breakdowns in 2024.

Tot RV costs - includes maint, tires, repairs, insur, license, propane and rig upgrades (lithium batteries).
Tot Truck Costs - includes diesel fuel, DEF, tires, maint, repairs, insur and license. I started tracking diesel fuel gallons late in 2024. I also list just the cost of diesel fuel.
Comm - includes Iphones, streaming services and visible.
Food and Entertain - total, then I break it down to just groceries and dining out.
Misc - parking, laundry, new clothes/shoes, souvenirs, anything that don't fit other categories.
RV Clubs - Escapees, Escapees Mail, RV Life, this forum, trip wizard, FMCA membership and roadside, good sam etc.

Everything gets input to an excel spreadsheet where the the data is sliced and diced. The data also automatically generates graphs and statistics. I know a lot of owners use quickbooks.
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This is a fun thread to read. We are retired but not full timers; more like 1/2 timers. But this winter decided to stay put and stay home next summer so wife can get her garden back in order and we can spend some time on the boat. We love our home which we built with "older" age in mind so we could live in it as long as possible - not a single step to go up or down. But we have so many places on the list yet to see. We were ready to stay home for a bit after 2 months traveling CO fall of 2023, 3 months FL last winter, 4.5 months AK this summer, and about every available minute over the previous summer and last spring installing an off-grid system in the camper, along with a hundred other do-dads to make RVing more comfortable and fun. But it's funny how quickly one starts thinking about the next adventure... Congrats to all who are getting out there and enjoying every trip like it might be their last!
 
The only bookings we have made for 2025 is our winter stay back here in Galveston at Jamaica Beach Dec 30 - Mar-30. We have to be up in Indiana for our Granddaughters HS graduation in May, still haven't made reservations for that. Maybe we'll plan our Michigan & UP, Canada Thunder Bay, WI,MN,ND trip again and see if we can get it in this time.

Our biggest expense by far fulltiming as you can tell is food & entertainment. We eat out way too much but like to experience the food of the places we go. I really like seafood! Got my steam pot so I'll cook my own seafood, crab, crawfish, shrimp, lobster, corn and potato pot! YUMMMMM!
We also have our pellet grill and our blackstone so steaks, chops, chicken - oh my goodness!!
Grocery prices don't look like they are coming down anytime soon but it's less costly than dining out at more upscale restaurants.

We have done some minimal upgrades to our rig and have had to make some repairs. It's 5 years old and some things are wearing out, we have to replace both of our awnings and the peeling furniture has to go.

We have a lot, and have made great new RV friends in our travels and some of us meet up for the winter here at Jamaica Beach in Galveston. We were talking with other Fulltimers and they said they have had the same kind of experiences as we have. Tami was relating our leaf spring & brake assy breakdowns on the road and how we carry some spare parts with us to do roadside repairs. One couple with a newer motorhome said they couldn't afford to carry a spare engine with them - OUCH!

So the old adage is true, no matter how bad you think you have had it, someone else has experienced worse! From some of the stories we heard, we have nothing to complain about!
 
The only bookings we have made for 2025 is our winter stay back here in Galveston at Jamaica Beach Dec 30 - Mar-30.
Hello. My Dad spends winters in Bradenton FL so we've been going down to that area the past few years. But we have been thinking about trying TX or AZ to see how we might like some other locations. I'm curious what your experience has been in Galveston regarding winter temps (overnight lows), are beaches nice for walking, what is traffic like for going to the beaches, etc.?

As you can tell, our favorite part of going to Bradenton are the beaches on Anna Maria Island. They are fantastic for walking each morning. The traffic gets pretty bad, but since we go out early and come back in early afternoon, we usually don't have to contend with it too much. Curious what it would be like in the Galveston area if we wanted to try that out next year.

Edit: LOL! I just looked up Jamaica Beach on Google Earth and see it is right across the road from the beach. That looks pretty fantastic. I also see an RV parked on the beach right there. Is that really an option? Looking at temps it appears to be 30's for overnight lows coming up; is that pretty common throughout winter down there? It looks like Padre Island is about 10 degrees warmer, but I've heard that's a pretty congested area. Appreciate any thoughts you have if you are willing to share... Thanks.
 
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Overall sounds like a pretty good year. I sometimes think about full timing, but my wife would never do it. Have to be around the grandkids, especially our granddaughter. They are almost inseparable when she's here.
Ya know Sarge,
My wife (of 50 year) quit RV'ing on our second cross country trip bc of a 5- tornado outbreak in Oklahoma. Sooo, it was just me and the dog for a while..
Did a 8 month solo CC trip in '17 (my third), and have since have been boondocking in Smokey Mntns for the summer months.

Prepping for my final CC trip this spring (solo, dog passed) but what I'm saying is YOU CAN DO IT !!!
The wife will still be there when you come home.....hopefully..lol

Actually a lot less stress worrying where, when and what she wants !

Michael
 
Hello. My Dad spends winters in Bradenton FL so we've been going down to that area the past few years. But we have been thinking about trying TX or AZ to see how we might like some other locations. I'm curious what your experience has been in Galveston regarding winter temps (overnight lows), are beaches nice for walking, what is traffic like for going to the beaches, etc.?

As you can tell, our favorite part of going to Bradenton are the beaches on Anna Maria Island. They are fantastic for walking each morning. The traffic gets pretty bad, but since we go out early and come back in early afternoon, we usually don't have to contend with it too much. Curious what it would be like in the Galveston area if we wanted to try that out next year.
We have been wintering in Galveston for the last 4 years. Most of the time Jan-Feb the highs are 56-60s lows in the high 40s. But there are cold clippers that come in from the north every now and then to the gulf, highs 45-50s lows in the 30s. They last a couple days and back up into the 50s-60s. Further south around Corpus Christi TX , South Padre Island is not so much affected by cold clippers.

The beaches are great! Brown sand beaches.There are some 40 + public access points all along the Seawall Blvd or along San Luis Pass Road going to the West end of the island. Seawall Blvd is the crowded touristy section where Pleasure Pier and miles of restaurants and hotels are located.

Some of the beaches you can drive your vehicle right out on the beach, some have parking lots. Not crowded at all right now. Tami and I walk the beaches as often as we can. But come Mardi Gras and Spring Break, forget it!

I think there are 8 major campgrounds, lets see,,,,,,, KOA, Jamacia Beach, Stella Mare, Dellanera, RV Galveston, Sandpiper, and Galveston Island State Park Bayside and Oceanside. We are at Jamaica Beach on the West End which is just across the road from public beach access 19. Only about 150 yards from the beach. We could ride our bikes over or take our truck over to the beach if we have a picnic. It is much more quiet on the west end.

Then there is the Bolivar peninsula on mainland TX. Margaritaville Crystal Beach. Lots of RV parks and beach access but not near as developed and tourtesty as Galveston. The ferry ride (20 minutes) is free from TX mainland to Galveston Island and can accommodate RVs and semi's.

I think the Texas gulf coast is an amazing place and not near as costly as Florida, JMHO.
Also there is Alabama and Gulf Shores. Never been there so I can't comment on that area.
 
We have been wintering in Galveston for the last 4 years. Most of the time Jan-Feb the highs are 56-60s lows in the high 40s. But there are cold clippers that come in from the north every now and then to the gulf, highs 45-50s lows in the 30s. They last a couple days and back up into the 50s-60s. Further south around Corpus Christi TX , South Padre Island is not so much affected by cold clippers.

The beaches are great! Brown sand beaches.There are some 40 + public access points all along the Seawall Blvd or along San Luis Pass Road going to the West end of the island. Seawall Blvd is the crowded touristy section where Pleasure Pier and miles of restaurants and hotels are located.

Some of the beaches you can drive your vehicle right out on the beach, some have parking lots. Not crowded at all right now. Tami and I walk the beaches as often as we can. But come Mardi Gras and Spring Break, forget it!

I think there are 8 major campgrounds, lets see,,,,,,, KOA, Jamacia Beach, Stella Mare, Dellanera, RV Galveston, Sandpiper, and Galveston Island State Park Bayside and Oceanside. We are at Jamaica Beach on the West End which is just across the road from public beach access 19. Only about 150 yards from the beach. We could ride our bikes over or take our truck over to the beach if we have a picnic. It is much more quiet on the west end.

Then there is the Bolivar peninsula on mainland TX. Margaritaville Crystal Beach. Lots of RV parks and beach access but not near as developed and tourtesty as Galveston. The ferry ride (20 minutes) is free from TX mainland to Galveston Island and can accommodate RVs and semi's.

I think the Texas gulf coast is an amazing place and not near as costly as Florida, JMHO.
Also there is Alabama and Gulf Shores. Never been there so I can't comment on that area.
Thanks so much for all the information. You have given me plenty of options to think about. We like to do something special for our milestone birthdays and anniversaries. My 60th is next winter so going someplace new would be fun. And going somewhere with a beach that is not so built up would be a really nice change. I have been researching the area since I saw your post and think the Galveston area just might be the ticket. Thanks again for taking the time to share!
 
Thanks so much for all the information. You have given me plenty of options to think about. We like to do something special for our milestone birthdays and anniversaries. My 60th is next winter so going someplace new would be fun. And going somewhere with a beach that is not so built up would be a really nice change. I have been researching the area since I saw your post and think the Galveston area just might be the ticket. Thanks again for taking the time to share!
You're welcome. Here is a link to one of our beach crawl videos on the west end of the island.' This was a couple days after high tide and a storm last year. They do get out and clean up the beaches so usually there isn't a lot of kelp and seaweed on the beach. Sometimes a lot of crab on the beaches and after a real hard cold a lot of jellyfish washes' up on the beach.

Congrats on your upcoming anniversary and birthdays. Tami and I will be celebrating our 47th anniversary this year. We always have our anniversary dinner out at Gaido's restaurant on Seawall Blvd. Been in Galveston since 1911, 5 star and pricey but worth every penny! their Redfish or Red Snapper topped with hollandaise jumbo lump crab is to die for. Tami always gets their center-cut filet mignon that melts in your mouth. Making myself hungry!!
 

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