RV's anyone???

Specialties Travel

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Haven't traveled for almost 7 years. Am contemplating a return. Don't want to do the extensive move every thirteen weeks thing I did in 1990's and am thinking I want to purchase a "Toy Hauler" to bring my garage and toy's with me. I know the price of fuel will almost equal the cost of the vehicle per year but I just remember how much I hated to pack and unpack with every new assignment. I know some who travel with a suitcase, a plate, fork, spoon and some bed linens but I just can't. I even shipped my Kitchen stuff to Hawaii when I did that assignment. What's it like out there now?

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

anybody tried traveling in a boat?

when the child finishes college (in 2014) we're planning to sell the house and move aboard the boat. (we have a 37 foot ketch-rigged sailboat.) we can take coastal travel assignments from maine to florida, then take 6 months off to go through the panama canal and up the west coast. by then, i should be old enough to retire and we can circumnavigate. not quite as much mobility as an rv, but i'd rather be floating.

Specializes in Transport, Pediatrics, Paramedic.

trvlnRN:

Do you boondock on assignments or pay a RV park? or just use campsites with limited facilities/power (semi-dry I guess). Have been following Odyssey's blog (Our Odyssey) and although they can boondock for up to 2 weeks they seem to stay at RV parks more often than I thought they would...

I spent 4 months in the fall (45 to 5 degrees or so) in Whitehorse "semi-dry" using hospital power at nominal fee, then another 4 in Yellowknife (Canadian arctic) with temps below -40 in a 25' travel trailer in a gravel pit on the edge of town (was easiest way to let my Huskies run around...they hated being tied to the trailer in Whitehorse and I had 2 spend 1.5 hours a day on excercising them...)

Discovered that propane freezes - so had to put electric battery warming blankets on the propane tanks and run the generator fairly often. Ended up building a 2" think blue high density styrofoam box with duct tape that covered the generator (1' clearance everywhere), and another for the propane, then ducted the exhaust heat 3' from one box to the other entering at the top and venting around the base (placed on a forklift pallet so leaking propane if any would excape...)

Trailer had standard 1980's furnace but had the skin removed and another 1" of foam isulation placed all around, 2" under, all the pink fiberglass replaced and thickened, and a 6" double roof (fiberglass filled) added. Then all vents and chimney were raised 12" so any snow that fell could stay on top and not melt / add to the roof insulation. Was quite comfortable, although there was a definite stratification of air temp inside that required a couple of vertical fans at the roof to stir up the air inside...

The next 16 months were in Edmonton in a farmers field as security for his cows - Huskies learned the hard way not to try to herd a bull (got her bell rung twice!) also boondocking, but only down to -30 so all OK. Still had to run the generator for 8 hours once every 3 days to recharge the batteries.

SO...my question is what do you see as the +/- of solar or wind power for RV's? I am still strying to calculate the breakpoint of temperature-vs-propane/gas used to see when it makes sense to pay commercial RV long-term rates - but at least in Canada they can be 4-6 month minimums not year long contracts... Have seen up to 1600W in solar and many 400w wind generators on other rigs, even a Scottish 1500W wind turbine (very cool) on collapsible/guyed masts that only take 15-30 min to set up...

Specializes in Transport, Pediatrics, Paramedic.

forgotten things: my generator is separate - that way I can run it a hundred feet away and chain it to a couple of old 3/4-ton axel shafts pounded in with a sledge (schedule 80 chain and high security lock) - in the treeline if possible. Reduces the noise when REALLY boondocking. The 2 x 80# huskies provide great security (although they are more like lickers/lap dogs if given the chance but ARE very intimidating when barking and sprinting at you head on then spreading to 10 and 2 o'clock from thier shady nap spot...) Had to get a 20' propane extension hose and move it closer in the winters below -20. Also the trailer was re-skinned after the insulation was upgraded, and in winter I remove the screen door and add a 1" thick interior foam/thin plywood door. Also 1" thick foam sheets cut to fit window openings with smaller hinged sections mid-window reduce loss through the windoews (as does the replacement of the bug screens with a second sheet of glass the same size) Just make sure your tanks are well insulated or have hot air ducted to them / an immersion or external "oil pan" type heater glued on of some sort to prevent freezing - and that all hoses are inside the insulated shell as far as possible. Also had to make a 40' raiseable anntenna to attach FM and remote cell antenna and 3w booster to as only analog signals and from far enough away that being in the valley/gravel pit made reception problematic. Used 'net at work, and lived without TV - got a lot of studying done!

re: rv's anyone???

anybody tried traveling in a boat?

when the child finishes college (in 2014) we're planning to sell the house and move aboard the boat. (we have a 37 foot ketch-rigged sailboat.) we can take coastal travel assignments from maine to florida, then take 6 months off to go through the panama canal and up the west coast. by then, i should be old enough to retire and we can circumnavigate. not quite as much mobility as an rv, but i'd rather be floating.

__________________

hi ruby,

i'm not a nurse yet, but my husband, 2 kids and i lived aboard a 33 foot sloop off and on for 3 years. when we weren't on the boat we were on a 35 foot rv and traveled the southwest, west coast and pacific nw. we lived aboard in the sea of cortez. it was a fantastic life and we can't wait to go back!

i just finished all my prereqs and am starting nursing school in the fall and will be done in 2009. my son will graduate from high school the next year and then we plan on taking off again, only this time with me working as a travel nurse we'll be able to replenish the cruising kitty often.

i met many travel nurses in the sea living aboard who worked in the states during hurricane season and spent half the year in mexico. they all seemed to love it. hanging out with them was what inspired me to go to school to become a nurse myself. most of the nurses i met also lived aboard in the states before bringing their boats to mexico but ended up liking it so much there they would put their boats up on the hard when they came back to work either going back in small rvs or taking apartments.

btw, do you guys have a tayana?

fair winds-

julie

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
__________________

hi ruby,

i'm not a nurse yet, but my husband, 2 kids and i lived aboard a 33 foot sloop off and on for 3 years. when we weren't on the boat we were on a 35 foot rv and traveled the southwest, west coast and pacific nw. we lived aboard in the sea of cortez. it was a fantastic life and we can't wait to go back!

i just finished all my prereqs and am starting nursing school in the fall and will be done in 2009. my son will graduate from high school the next year and then we plan on taking off again, only this time with me working as a travel nurse we'll be able to replenish the cruising kitty often.

i met many travel nurses in the sea living aboard who worked in the states during hurricane season and spent half the year in mexico. they all seemed to love it. hanging out with them was what inspired me to go to school to become a nurse myself. most of the nurses i met also lived aboard in the states before bringing their boats to mexico but ended up liking it so much there they would put their boats up on the hard when they came back to work either going back in small rvs or taking apartments.

btw, do you guys have a tayana?

fair winds-

julie

we have an island trader ketch. i've never tried living aboard -- you must be very brave to try living in such close quarters with kids! where have you been with the boat? and i'm not sure i understand the putting the boat on the hard part -- do you mean they put their boats on the hard while they work in the states during hurricane season?

dh and i are both nurses, and hope we can find assignments in english speaking countries when it comes time to replenish the cruising kitty. i don't know how realistic that's going to be, but we'll see! sounds like you've had a great time with cruising!

we have an island trader ketch. i've never tried living aboard -- you must be very brave to try living in such close quarters with kids! where have you been with the boat? and i'm not sure i understand the putting the boat on the hard part -- do you mean they put their boats on the hard while they work in the states during hurricane season?

dh and i are both nurses, and hope we can find assignments in english speaking countries when it comes time to replenish the cruising kitty. i don't know how realistic that's going to be, but we'll see! sounds like you've had a great time with cruising! __________________

i've never been below in a boat like yours, but they sure are pretty on the outside :) yes, many of the people we knew put their boats on the hard in mexico and went back up to the states during hurricane season to work. we also left ours there this way when we came back to the states for a few months. however, we did meet one couple who sailed down from california and were both traveling nurses. they stayed in the sea for several months and then bashed back up the coast to go back to work, not sure where, but didn't leave their boat behind.

we had big dreams of circumnavigating when we first went out, but we fell in love with mexico and the cruising community there and never left! there are lots of pretty anchorages, cool little towns, nice weather and friendly people so why not?

we actually really enjoyed living aboard with our kids. our daughter turned 18 and joined the air force before our last year, but she still always talks fondly about it saying it was the best time of her life so far. on the other hand it will be lovely when it's just the two of us ;)

good luck...i'm sure you'll love it!

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
[font=comic sans msi've never been below in a boat like yours, but they sure are pretty on the outside :) yes, many of the people we knew put their boats on the hard in mexico and went back up to the states during hurricane season to work. we also left ours there this way when we came back to the states for a few months. however, we did meet one couple who sailed down from california and were both traveling nurses. they stayed in the sea for several months and then bashed back up the coast to go back to work, not sure where, but didn't leave their boat behind

we had big dreams of circumnavigating when we first went out, but we fell in love with mexico and the cruising community there and never left! there are lots of pretty anchorages, cool little towns, nice weather and friendly people so why not?

we actually really enjoyed living aboard with our kids. our daughter turned 18 and joined the air force before our last year, but she still always talks fondly about it saying it was the best time of her life so far. on the other hand it will be lovely when it's just the two of us ;)

good luck...i'm sure you'll love it!

i've been dreaming of circumnavigating since i read "the dove" back in college. hubby's had the dream almost as long. but we both agree that what we want to do is "sail around" the world, and if we "sail around the world" doing it, so much the better. merely living aboard and sailing off to a new anchorage or a new country will be exciting!

we haven't decided whether to keep the island trader or buy something a little more seaworthy when we sell the house -- we have a few years to make those kinds of decisions. i fell in love with the "down below" because it's so roomy compared to other boats i'd visited on. i have a touch of claustraphobia, and our boat doesn't make me feel claustraphobic at all!

what boat do you sail?

We had a Lello Offshore 33. It's a South African boat...great sailor, beautiful lines but not as much room below decks as we want next time with it's 9'5" beam. Here's a link to our web page with some pics:

The Boat

While we loved her, we sold her when we came back to the states and now we have an 18 foot Potter for day sailing and weekends on the river here. We are deciding what we want to get for next time while we save our pennies.

Our dream boat is a Kelly Peterson 44 or 46. Realistically though, it's probably out of our budget, so we have others we are looking at. We spend a lot of time on yachtworld.com daydreaming and making plans for the future.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
we had a lello offshore 33. it's a south african boat...great sailor, beautiful lines but not as much room below decks as we want next time with it's 9'5" beam. here's a link to our web page with some pics:

the boat

while we loved her, we sold her when we came back to the states and now we have an 18 foot potter for day sailing and weekends on the river here. we are deciding what we want to get for next time while we save our pennies.

our dream boat is a kelly peterson 44 or 46. realistically though, it's probably out of our budget, so we have others we are looking at. we spend a lot of time on yachtworld.com daydreaming and making plans for the future.

great pictures, julie! it looks like you're all having so much fun! i've discovered sailnet -- equally good for dreaming purposes!

Specializes in Paramedic,ER, House Supervisor, OR, CVOR.

It's been a while since I looked at the post. Looks like we have more than landlubers looking. I was on an assignment in South Florida and a coworker lived on a boat on Lake Okeechobee. He was there for at least a year. Wanted me to scuba and clean off the hull. I declined. Happy New Year to all.

Specializes in Bone Marrow Transplant.

I am a nursing student, but I have owned a 5th wheel for about 3 years now. Bought it used--it was 10 years old at the time but in great shape. It's not one I would want to live in, but it's great for weekend and week-long getaways. I now know what I would look for in a new unit such as more counter space in the kitchen, a larger bathroom, a slide-out in the bedroom, and if I were going to live in it, washer/dryer hookups with enough space for a stackable set.

Many of the questions I see here can be answered by reading the forums at RV.net: http://www.rv.net I suggest that anyone considering the purchase of an RV spend a lot of time reading the posts there--you'll learn a lot about the systems in an RV (they're not quite like those at home!) and some of the issues people face, as well as be able to post your own questions to an audience with a wealth of experience and information.

There have been some posts from traveling nurses there....

RV'ing is great fun!

Barry

Have done a summer travel assignment in an RV for the past 6 yrs & LOVE it. Moved up from a small class C to a large Class A. You might want to consider starting out in a smaller (read "more economical") unit to be sure you like that way of life. Read up on the RV sites for hints on picking the right unit. If you're self-contained (generator), you can dry camp overnight in most WalMarts, truckstops, large Cracker Barrels, etc while en route. Campgrounds around some VERY touristy areas (DC, for 1) don't have reduced rates for long-term campers - do your homework by using mapsonus, etc to be sure you can reserve a spot before you accept that great paying job in a big city!

Good luck - excitedly planning for 2 assignments this summer/fall - Wyoming/Idaho & New Mexico/Arizona areas - quite a switch from our FL!!!

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