RV and TravelRV and Travel
Technology on the Road
Last Updated (Monday, 29 November 1999 16:00)
Technology has made living and traveling in a recreational vehicle much more comfortable, and easier to manage personal affairs. It wasn't too long ago that banking was done via phone calls and postal mail. Phone calls were done using calling cards and pay phones. The primary method to access the Internet was to stop at library's along the road and use their computer systems, and you needed to carry a ton of paper maps to navigate new territory. But technology has made it easier to stay in touch with friends and loved ones, handle your financial and banking needs remotely, access the Internet from anywhere, and pinpoint your exact location on earth to within a few feet. Coming from an Information Systems background, Larry has always been an early adapter of technology (when affordable). The technology is here now, and at affordable prices. The following is how we're using technology to make our traveling life easier.
Selecting our RV
Last Updated (Monday, 29 November 1999 16:00)
When preparing to live and travel full time in our RV (Recreational Vehicle), one of the most important decisions is your rig. For us, the choice was between a 5th wheel trailer and a motorhome. Others may also consider a towable trailer or a truck camper. When researching this lifestyle, we looked seriously at 5th Wheels for a couple years. 5th wheels are much more like a regular home and have more livable space than a motorhome. To us, the disadvantages with a 5th wheel include harder to setup, lack of storage space, usually no generator, and a hefty tow vehicle is required. I know someone can argue these points, but this is "my" opinion. Many, many people use a pickup truck that isn't rated high enough to tow the large 5th wheels. I consider many 5th wheel/pickup combinations extremely unsafe on the road. Many experience premature transmission failure. Most importantly, their insurance could deny a claim if there's a serious accident. For us, the proper tow vehicle would be a large pickup truck (Ford 450 or F550), or a Medium Duty Truck (smaller semi). A 5th wheel is ideal for someone who only moves a couple times a year.
First Year of Fulltiming
Last Updated (Monday, 14 April 2008 17:09)
Today is September 9th, 2005. One year, and one day ago, we closed on the sale of our "bricks & sticks" house. September 8th is the date we consider ourselves RV fulltimers. WOW! This past year has flown by! To help others considering this lifestyle, and to give us something to look back on in the upcoming years, I thought I'd write down our retrospect on this first year of life on the road.
Friends on the Road
Last Updated (Monday, 14 April 2008 17:08)
Many people wonder about getting lonely while traveling full time. Connie has always been an outgoing person and easily made new friends. Some of these friends became very close to her. On the other hand, Larry is a little reserved and never had close friends. While Larry was in the military, we had to make friends quickly, but also bid them farewell after only a few years. Sometimes, this was hard on Connie. Years later, she still keeps in contact with some of those close friends. But making friends wasn't difficult, as we all had something in common - the military.
Locating a Campground
Last Updated (Monday, 29 November 1999 16:00)
One of the greatest benefits to our RV fulltiming lifestyle is (usually) no set schedules. When we don't have any commitment's, we can go where we want, when we want, and stay as long as want. We try to limit our commitments to work assignments (got to pay for this somehow). Because we've elected this freedom, we rarely make reservations for an RV site or campground. So how do we know where we're going to stay?
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