so....Is anyone else here looking at motorhomes?

[w8liftinglady]

I have been searching Craigslist and found several that i can do.Does anyone else live out of a motorhome?

[Catherine Vincent]

1. I think it would be great to own a motorhome.

I say go for it.

[CoffeeCat]

2. No, but that is a really smart idea...

...there is a part of me that just wants to chuck it all and do something like that.

Craigslist is awesome. I hope you find a good one.

[w8liftinglady]

3. I can buy one with cash for 4500 on craigslist

our utility bills would drop about 75%

[RebelOne]

57. You would be better off buying a mobile home with that $4,500.

Check out mobile home parks to see if anyone is selling. You could possibly get a good deal. I live in a mobile home and it is quite inexpensive. I own my home with no payments except for the lot rent that is only $322 a month and includes water and garbage and trash pickup.

[uppityperson]

4. I used to live out of a small trailer (18 ft).

Older ones have less toxic fumes, depends on how much stuff/people/animals you have. Can be freeing or limiting.

[merh]

5. I've lived in a 20 by 8 foot travel trailer for 2 years now.

I wouldn't recommend it.

my 3 dogs and I are tired of being femadwellers and they are not designed for extended living.

not to mention the health hazards.

[tyedyeto]

10. Damn.... can't recommend your post since it's a reply

I seldom to want recommend posts, but your's tells what it's like to live after the gov't intervenes in your daily life.

Hope you can live a non-fema life soon.

[merh]

28. soon, very soon

thanks for the well wishes.

[KitchenWitch]

I can totally understand that sentiment!

:hug:

[merh]

47. aww, so good to know that some do understand

:hug:

[KitchenWitch]

48. How much longer in the FEMAnsion?

I want to plan for the virtual partaaaaaay when you get in your house!

:hug:

[merh]

52. they began the work this week

pilings are in place, inspection needed before concrete poured -- the rebuild has begun.

:woohoo:

:hug:

[KitchenWitch]

59. I am so happy for you!

:hug:

I am sure you have asked how this took two years. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

:hug:

[Liberal In Texas]

6. So, WLL...Do you think you can run away with a motorhome?

Is that your plan?

I know how you feel. I'm trying to figure out how to put my retirement into euros instead of dollars. It's a form of running away.

Is this why you want a home on wheels?

=L

[w8liftinglady]

39. running away is not my motive

I am trying to find a way I can afford to speak out and support my kids

[lligrd]

7. With Gas Prices Going Sky High?

Hmmm

[w8liftinglady]

8. unfortunately,this single mom will never qualify for a "real" house

I think a motor home will at least free up enough income to let my middle son go to college

[merh]

20. check with habitat

seriously, they don't give you the home, they help you afford a home.

Find some land an invest in it, not a motor home (that are not safe (the propane tanks for heating are hazardous, the materials they are made out of emit fumes that are unhealthy, they leak after time and a dozen other reasons why you should consider something larger and sturdier.

.

[rusty quoin]

9. I am confused.

Do you mean motor home like a Winnebago, or a stationary home?

[w8liftinglady]

12. here in texas,there are many places you can park a mobile home

one place down the street from my mom

[rusty quoin]

18. Ok., you see, I lived in a mobile home years ago.

There is a difference between the fixed one I lived in and the kind you are talking about.

[w8liftinglady]

50. I guessI am talking motor homes

[The Vinyl Ripper]

11. You'll be way better off to buy a travel trailer and a pickup to tow it..

Travel trailers are a lot less expensive than motorhomes, even when you add in a pickup to pull it.

A travel trailer is also a good bit closer to the ground and far cheaper to repair if you have mechanical problems. Pickups are far cheaper to repair also..

If you are going to get a motorhome you are going to have to get a tow dolly and a car to pull behind anyway if you want transportation..

And make damn sure that you research you purchase thoroughly, some Winnebagos I know for a fact just fall apart after a very few years and I'm sure there are other makes..

I have a friend with a Winnie on a Chevy chassis with a 454, the thing runs great but the body is literally falling apart.

[w8liftinglady]

13. my kid has a pickup

I'm trying to think ahead

[The Vinyl Ripper]

16. If you really want quality

Go with an Airstream or a clone..

They are very rugged.

But you are going to pay for it.

However the resale value will be very good.

[rusty quoin]

24. Is it at least a 1/2 ton, 3/4 better, but unless you are using it for travel

I think you may be going in the wrong direction.

[w8liftinglady]

17. I have a vehicle to tow

I am mainly trying to cut utility bills

[The Vinyl Ripper]

32. Motor homes and trailers can be quite expensive to heat and cool..

They have very little insulation.

You can use electric to cool but heat is gas.

Most trailer pads come with power included in rent.

[w8liftinglady]

35. my electric bill= 800

surely something hss to be better

[The Vinyl Ripper]

54. $800 power bill !!!!!!!

What in the ever loving hell are you doing to use that much power?????

My kids have a large, old, poorly insulated house and a big pool with a two horsepower pump that runs 24/7 all summer and their bill is only $500.

Something sound fishy there. Get the numbers off your own meter each month and compare them with the numbers on your bill. They won't be identical to the power co numbers because you won't be taking the numbers at the same time, but the difference between first and second numbers should be close between you and your bill.

Also, depending on circumstances someone could be possibly stealing power from you.

Get someone to check out your electric system before you spend a ton of money moving out and buying motorhome, etc.

[RebelOne]

56. I live in a mobile home and it is not at all expensive to heat or cool.

I was running 2 window air conditioners 24/7 all summer and my electric never went over $90 a month. Since heating is by propane gas, that could be a little expensive, but last winter was so mild, I only had to use 2 space heaters.

[Colorado Progressive]

14. Cant your son qualify for any pell grants? Maybe start a fund on DU, I would contribute a few bucks.

I hate when kids in this country who are brilliant cant afford college. In France they pay for you all the way up to PhD!!!! Our country is such a mess. Seriously, have you looked into every other option?

[w8liftinglady]

25. I wish,but i'm a nurse-you know the big money!!

[merh]

46. have you looked into hiring on as a traveling nurse?

I have a friend that worked with a company that sent her to areas in the nation in need of nurses. They paid her a tremendous salary and paid for her travel and put her up in the city she visited. She was able to buy a car and pay off her student loan in the first year.

The money is supposed to be tremendous.

.

[Colorado Progressive]

15. WLL, I went to state college and worked crap jobs through it. You dont need to bankrupt yourself!

I know you want to help your kid, but he can live at home while going to college, get an internship that basically pays him enough to cover college costs while giving experience. Please dont destroy your own financial future over this. You CANT take out retirement loans!!!!!

[w8liftinglady]

21. thanks for your concern=I plan to pay it in cash

I hope that by living meagerly,I can send the boys to college

[Colorado Progressive]

27. Well good luck sweetheart. You are the awesomest Mom!!!!! nt

[w8liftinglady]

19. I have nothing,but can make some money

so...this seems like a good option

[fed-up]

22. please take a can of spray starch w/you to check for meth residue-motorhomes

are notorious for being used as mobile meth labs, and for smoking meth. Yes, they are finding that residue from just smoking meth can be highly toxic to present and later inhabitants.


I don't want anyone else to end up in a toxic hell hole like I did....

[w8liftinglady]

23. thanks for the advice

[rusty quoin]

29. I'm in the building trade and I think there are other options, better options.

[w8liftinglady]

31. probably-but not for someone with Shit for credit

[pitohui]

34. fed up, how does the spray starch can work to test for meth?

i guess i should know this but i don't

[fed-up]

42. starch reacts w/iodine which is an ingredient in the "Red Phosphorous" method

of cooking methamphetamine.

Here is a story about a great reporter in Utah (and how I learned about using starch) that went to a home that had been officially cleaned and certifed as clean (and legally did not have to have it's former meth lab status disclosed) because the new owners were having health issues.

When she sprayed the child's room the walls turned violet which indicates iodine. It turns out the cleaning company had never tested the child's room...and the house was given a clean bill of health....they are now out on the streets and as the current owners are responsible for the additional clean-up..

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1206717

Former Meth Houses Declared "Safe" May Not Be
May 10th, 2007 @ 10:17pm
Debbie Dujanovic Reporting


Hundreds of Utah homes, former meth labs, have been shut down until they're rid of the dangerous drug. But an Eyewitness News Investigation uncovers disturbing evidence: Homes the government reopened and declared safe, may not be.

Could you be living in a former meth lab? Baby Mac and his parents do. They found out after they purchased the home. No problem, said Salt Lake County. The place has been cleaned and declared safe to live in. That's until we discovered what baby Mac's really sleeping in.

The raids, the chemicals, hundreds of homes contaminated with meth. The rule issued by the health department -- stay out until inspectors certify the houses are clean.


We discovered there are now more than 250 homes in the Salt Lake area that were once meth labs. Do the people living there now know that? Or did sellers keep it a secret? We went knocking on some doors....


...snip

[KillCapitalism]

26. I think it would be fun.

You have the freedom to move about the country as you wish. If the summers are too hot where you're at, then you can motor up Anchorage, & then when it gets cold there for the winter, just go down the coast to California. I wouldn't mind doing it at all, I live a pretty minimalist lifestyle & don't need much space, so it would work for me. I say go for it w8liftinglady, it seems like it would help you save some money.

[w8liftinglady]

33. my feeling exactly

I am desperate for a single mom,liberal who would have no issue living with another progressive

[KillCapitalism]

36. Good luck.

Ya never know, you might find another progressive lady here on DU to live with.

[w8liftinglady]

37. thank you-....i doubt it..but

I am very active locally

[LeFleur1]

44. Don't Do It.

It is very limiting. People living in the motorhome get on one another's nerves if they have to stay inside for very long because of weather or whatever. There is no room.
Gas is sky high, so if you have little money you won't be doing much traveling.
We had one for awhile and never got our money out of it when we sold it. We were able to travel a bit because gas was more reasonable then.
There are parking fees, license fees, and mechanic fees, electricity fees. Not to mention laundry fees, bottle gas fees, fees to fix things that go wrong (we had to put a new refrigerator in). Probably fees some I didn't think of.
I wouldn't buy another one even if someone put a gun to my head.

[w8liftinglady]

30. my next goal-to find a progressive single mom

in my condition-who needs a place to stay

[fed-up]

43. Chico needs nurses and I have a room available-and will be moving soon into "cleaner" housing...

and I am a single, activist mother and Chico has a very progressive community...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

58. About 35 years ago, my sister was divorced, my niece was 3. My sister met another woman

in the same situation with a 3 year old daughter. They became roommates and it was very successful for everyone involved.

[enigmatic]

38. Stay away from Fleetwoods

If you are travelling by yourself or w/ just another person, I'd look for used no-slide Class A motorhomes; they are super-cheap (anywhere from 20,000-50,000 depending on the condition) and there are plenty out there since Class A w/ slides are the rule now. I'd suggest a Diesel Pusher rather than Gas, only because it has more power and in the long run it'll be cheaper to drive.

Stay away from Fleetwood; they are more often than not badly made, IMO. They cost a little more, but Georgie Boy is great. Monaco Coaches are great, too.

Good luck.

[w8liftinglady]

40. thank you for your advice

I want the best for the money

[Cleita]

41. I used to live in a 27 foot travel trailer.

It was DH's and my home for ten years. I enjoyed moving around with the seasons and going to different places for the winter or summer, but I don't think I would want to live in it in one place all year round.

[w8liftinglady]

45. like i said-another single mom who would be willing

I am looking.If you livr in the dallas area..we can share

[bridgit]

49. no...

[w8liftinglady]

51. throwing a lifeline

share your opiniom

[MagickMuffin]

53. here's a link to someone who has been living this lifestyle for about 5 years

My hubby found this guy when we were considering buying. Tioga and George travel everywhere. They go to Mexico, up and down the west coast.

We were looking at the Class C series. If and when we ever get the funds to do this we are probably going to go with diesel so we can take advantage of Biofuels. Still not sure which brand we would buy, so far I haven't found a floor plan I like. I want a huge window in the back.
And then it would need a serious overhaul of decor and layout for our computer lifestyles.

I hope you find something that is accommodating for you.


http://vagabonders-supreme.net/blog/blog.html

[Trailrider1951]

55. Yes, I do. Bought it 4 years ago

it's a 32' Class A with a gas (not diesel) engine with 68000 miles on it. It has all the comforts of home, and is like a small apartment on wheels. I'm going to add solar panels next year so I can live off the grid if necessary, and park it on a piece of land I just bought. Right now I live in a trailer park and pay $300 a month rent, but the payment on my land is $312 a month and in 10 years will be paid-for. Please look around at many homes before you decide to buy. Not all are created equal, and some are better built than others. Mine is solid oak construction, not particle board, and was an expensive coach when it was built twenty years ago. Here are two websites you might find useful:

www.escapees.com

www.rv.net

Good Luck!

[blues90]

60. I considered it a few times

I wanted to be able to be mobile so at least we would have a roof while trying to find a state to live in that has seasons and actual work .

I also considered the cost of rent I pay and then how much it would cost to drive and maintain a motor home , at least I would own the damn thing and there may still be places you can park cheap and have electrical hookup and water .

That's about as far as I have got at this point but it's still tempting . I think my wife and I could learn to live small with the benefit of mobility .