Disabled Vets that are fulltimers

Rmathews951

Advanced Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2017
Messages
90
Location
Temecula, Ca
Hi Everyone, I'm a disabled vet and like most of us I get my meds from the VA. We're going full time on July 1st and I'm curious how other DV's get their meds while on the road for months at a time?
Thanks in advance,
Ron Mathews,
CWO4, USN Retired
 
Ron,

There are a number of vets on the forum... I'm not aware if any of them are disabled. The Escapees RV Club Forums have sub-forums for both veterans and RVing with disabilities. You don't have to be an Escapees member to join the forums, either. Just use Google to find them.

Edit: I forgot to address your real question. We get our meds through Express Scripts for Tricare. They send them to our Escapees mail address and we have them forwarded to wherever we are. If we're someplace long enough, I enter a temporary mailing address on-line and the meds come straight to us.

Rob
 
Getting meds from the VA while constantly moving can be a challenge at times but doable
You have to be on top of where you will be and change addresses accordingly, this takes planning ahead of time. Or use a service like Rob does, it could make things easier if you plan on moving around frequently.. We find that making sure your meds are a 90 day supply if they are 30 days helps quite a bit. Then you only need to change the address a few times a year once you get a schedule established. If you go that route you have to be dilligent and triple check with the VA pharmacy that fills your scripts that the change has taken effect each time there is a change well before the medication has to be shipped..

Gary has run out of meds on the road once or twice in the past, this makes life even more interesting and time consuming because you have to register at each VA facility you need to pick up medication at. But if it''s an area you frequent this can be a good thing as well.

Comments below added by Gary

As Marcy said be aware of when you will run out so you order them on time. It isn't a lot different than getting mail or packages. Checking with the campground you are going to be at in advance to make sure they will accept them is a good idea too. Then they wouldn't be surprised when they show up.





 
I don't get my meds from VA, my FEHB insurance keeps my cost very low. As a result I get them through Walgreens, 90 day supply at a time. The hardest part is finding a doctor to rewrite the prescriptions annually. Telehealth is going to help with that.

As mentioned above it's imperative that you plan ahead. I have built up a full 30 day supply of meds. Insurance company will allow a refill 2 weeks before the subscription amount runs out, I simply fill it on the first available date. Over several years the count has backed up to keep a ready supply.
 
I have my stuff sent to the mail forwarder and then on to wherever we are at the time. You could also probably just change the address in myhealthvet to have it sent directly.
 
You could also probably just change the address in myhealthvet to have it sent directly.

That's pretty much what we do, but follow it up with a confirmation at the pharmacy to verify they got the memo. Sometimes with the VA system you have to double check things.. ;)
 
Ron,
We travel for 2-3 months every year. I've found when I check in at a local VA they are happy to give me a 3 month supply of my drugs. Also, as retiree, Tricare can adjust your address and get yours meds locally or express scripts to the campground. Lastly, if a base is close by you can also go to most military treatment facilities.

Retired Army 2014
 
Hello RivercityJeff

Yes, love those big donuts from Round Rock Donuts - we live in La Vernia, Tx - just bought a 2021 Reflection 315RLTS. We love going to Lockhart and Bastrop State Park.
 
Hello RivercityJeff

Yes, love those big donuts from Round Rock Donuts - we live in La Vernia, Tx - just bought a 2021 Reflection 315RLTS. We love going to Lockhart and Bastrop State Park.

Enjoy the 315RLTS! Great floor plan. So tempting!

We have discussed getting the 315RLTS or 337RLS after my new F250 arrives (in August or "someday"), it will have the Max tow and 5th wheel prep.
 
Enjoy the 315RLTS! Great floor plan. So tempting!

We have discussed getting the 315RLTS or 337RLS after my new F250 arrives (in August or "someday"), it will have the Max tow and 5th wheel prep.

Jeff,

I just stumbled across this... be aware that the 337RLS, when loaded, will put around 3,000 lbs. on the pin - it's a beast. That can be a lot for many diesel 3/4-ton trucks.

Rob
 
Jeff,

I just stumbled across this... be aware that the 337RLS, when loaded, will put around 3,000 lbs. on the pin - it's a beast. That can be a lot for many diesel 3/4-ton trucks.

Rob

Rob, that is exactly why we ordered the F250 with the max towing/high capacity trailer towing package. It will have F350 rear springs and bigger F350 differential. The package has a conventional tow rating of 30,000 lbs.

I'm a big fan of operating within weight and balance limits. Filled out 1000's of DA Form 365 series, helicopter and airplane. Interesting that GD claims the 337RLS pin is 2090lbs and your experience is was closer to 50% more?

For the foreseeable future, we are content with our 2600RB.
 
Rob, that is exactly why we ordered the F250 with the max towing/high capacity trailer towing package. It will have F350 rear springs and bigger F350 differential. The package has a conventional tow rating of 30,000 lbs.

I'm a big fan of operating within weight and balance limits. Filled out 1000's of DA Form 365 series, helicopter and airplane. Interesting that GD claims the 337RLS pin is 2090lbs and your experience is was closer to 50% more?

For the foreseeable future, we are content with our 2600RB.

The claimed pin weights on the web site and in the brochures are empty - no batteries, propane, nothing in the basement or front bay, nothing in the bedroom, all waste tanks empty, and no options. A safe rule of thumb for fifth wheels with conventional (rear living/front bedroom) floor plans is 23% of gross weight. Absent actual scale weights (which you obviously won't have before purchasing and loading up the trailer), 23% of the trailer's GVWR is a safe top-of-the-envelope number to use. In our 4-1/2 years in a 337RLS (front AC was the only option), our CAT scale pin weights were consistently between 3,000 and 3,100 lbs. Over the years, other 337 owners have posted loaded pin weights between 2,700 and 3,300+ lbs.

Rob
 
Rob, that is exactly why we ordered the F250 with the max towing/high capacity trailer towing package. It will have F350 rear springs and bigger F350 differential. The package has a conventional tow rating of 30,000 lbs.

I'm a big fan of operating within weight and balance limits. Filled out 1000's of DA Form 365 series, helicopter and airplane. Interesting that GD claims the 337RLS pin is 2090lbs and your experience is was closer to 50% more?

For the foreseeable future, we are content with our 2600RB.

Our 337RLS came from the factory with a pin weight of 2220 lbs dry. When you add the weight of 2 full 30 lb LP tanks and a Group 27 battery it’s close to 2400 lbs on the pin. Ready to travel with stuff in the storage bays, clothing, pots and pans, food, and 5 gallons of water etc the pin weight runs between 2800-2900 lbs. With a max payload of 3484 lbs for our F350 that only leaves about 600 lbs for hitch, cargo and pilot and passengers.

I never had the pleasure of having to fill out a DD Form 365 since all my flying was private, but with over 3,000 lbs of PIC I always calculated W&B.
 
Jeff, Thanks for the information and I apologize for the long delay in getting back to you. We just closed on the house yesterday so today is our first official day as full timers. This is the first opportunity I've had in weeks to catch up on the blog. with any hope of actually paying attention to what was being said. Your info is very much appreciated. Thanks, Ron
 

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