You can’t wait for the latest RV and travel magazines to reach your mailbox every month. You spend several hours reading the stories of other people that made their dream come true.

So, what is keeping you from realizing your own dream? Too many financial responsibilities, fear that living in a small box on wheels is not for you, worried how your extended family would survive without you, afraid of losing friends and feeling isolated…did I miss anything?

Making the decision to follow that dream is the difficult part of getting started down the path to fulfillment. Here are five basic tips that can help with the reality check:

1. Sell the house and buy a quality used motorhome (if you want to travel) or a fifth wheel/truck combination if you are thinking several months in one location. If you are concerned that you may not enjoy the RV lifestyle, lease your house instead of selling.

2. Take the money from the house sale (or rental income), the furniture sale, the gardening tool sale, the workshop sale, the extra toys sale, the clothing sale, and put it in a bank that has national branches. This allows walk-in access for cash anywhere you roam. Of course, your ATM card always gives you access and those machines are everywhere.

3. Handle the responsibilities issue. This turns out to be the easiest part of the decision-making process.

    * Go down the street to The UPS store and open a mailbox. This handles the snailmail.

    * Sign up for automatic payment on your bills.

   * Get your paperwork in order. Create a will, make a health directive from the many online forms available, and get a passport in case you want to wander into Mexico for the winter.

   * Announce your independence to the family and give them a copy of your completed paperwork.

4. Join the workampers and find employment wherever you roam. Work from your rig providing web services or find employment within the RV park, just to name a few options.

5. Let go of the old life, leave the stuff behind and enjoy the open road. Find solo travelers at every stop and join the fun.

Spend a few moments thinking about my suggestions. Does it work for you? Find out more by visiting RV clubs that offer support.  The most popular clubs are the Escapees (escapees.com), Wandering Individuals Network (rvsingles.org), and RVing Women (rvingwomen.org).

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA.gov) maintains a list of all RVs that are recalled by the manufacturer. To narrow the chances of buying a defective vehicle, check the VIN number on this website.  If you have a question about a particular make or model, enter the VIN number of the vehicle to see the details.

For the latest recalls, click here.

“This is a great book for beginning do-it-yourselfers (like myself). A lot of overview about basic things, so you know you are doing the right thing for yourself.

It’s a guide more than a How-to book. But it includes proper procedures for many things like how to properly maintain and handle your sewer system, troubleshooting the water heater, refrigerator, furnace, etc.

This book also includes how to communicate with the repairman so you don’t get swindled. I particularly appreciated this part of the book. Another useful tool in the book that is very handy are the commonly used acronyms for weight balance.

Detailed descriptions about these acronyms. These help you keep your rig balanced! Very important! I feel more confident now that I know more about my RV. A book worth getting!”
… Amazon Customer

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