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?

If you are close to Houston Texas there is a HUGE RV consignment lot. Every style RV trailer to Class A,B or C can be found here.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com

MerryRN

Specializes in Postpartum, Antepartum, Psych., SDS, OR.

This site makes me want to up-grade my 33ft. rv. Thanks for the site!!!

Specializes in ER, ER, ER.

Pay is probably comparable, but the housing stipend (non-taxed I might add) pays the RV payment, vehicle payment and RV park rental fee. That is the big diffence for us.

I bought an RV in January and I adore it! I agree that the housing stipend more than pays for the lot fee and the RV payment. Honest, this was the BEST decision I ever made! Now my cat and I travel all over the country!

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

I haven't posted for a while. Have just watched and read the information from all. THANKS.

I have made the first purchase to actually travel this winter in an RV. I now am the proud owner of a Diesel Dually. Will be able to pull my brothers Toyhauler to Florida this winter and will have an idea of which one to buy next year.

I was able to return to my previous position in the midwest following the 17 weeks away. I had tried to get a LOA but management decided that wouldn't be a good move for them. They didn't tell me that until I had been gone for two weeks and had called to inquire why I was paid for my PTO when I had requested that it remain. I'm not sure what will happen this winter when I tell them I am heading off to Florida again. I will know before I leave this time though. Look forward to continued reading.

Specializes in Postpartum, Antepartum, Psych., SDS, OR.

Congratulations to you!! Enjoy the sunny south this winter. In the past (so I have heard), Fl. doesn't pay as much as they are so desirable in the winter months and can compete with any state. I hope you got a real deal. Let us know how you like the position and the state. :lol2:

Specializes in Pain Management, RN experience was in ER.

Sorry I didn't have the time to read through this entire thread to see if anyone else had asked this, but here goes:

I was wondering how much it's costing you to be a travel nurse with your RV? If you have the time, please break it down to RV site costs, utilities, gas, etc. And if you really want to get brownie points, I'm confused about how much your travel agency offers your to travel from one assignment to another?

Does traveling with an RV as your primary home get you tax exemptions?

Thanks guys, I'm just so curious!

Specializes in Hospice.

Hey ya'll...We finally bought a 27' travel trailer. Has a slide out......love the large Bathroom.....a must for me. We are on our way.....getting the paperwork ready. Planning to go in May, but getting excited and would like to go earlier. Gary and I are both RN's and need to work the same shift, same hospital like we do know.

Questions I have......Do you quit your home based job? I think mine will make me. We are talking to Cross Country Travel Corp. Anyone used them? Thanks...

Specializes in Informatics.
Does traveling with an RV as your primary home get you tax exemptions?

The answer to your question is no. You must have a "tax home" per my CPA and the IRS. A tax home is your permanent home in a fixed loaction which I fortunately have.

Last fall I bought a 39 ft fifthwheel toyhauler and this March I left Alaska to start my traveling career in New Mexico. I got lucky and my second assignment is near my home in Alaska (80 miles away so I am still a traveler in the eyes of the IRS).

The travel expense for me is about $1500 each way (AK - NM) and the agency gives me 300. That's tough but I make it up quick.

In New Mexico I paid $300 for space rent, $59 sat tv, ~300 RV payment, 800/yr RV insurance and 100 to Good Sam. The agency pays me more than $4700 a month in per diem (housing, travel, and M&I). All of the per diem $'s are tax free.

I get the same per diem here in Alaska but I pay 600 for space rent. I do rent a space and live in it during the work week because the commute would be too much working nights. On weekends I pull my fifthwheel back to the homestead. It's also great for weekend trips to go fishing or where ever.

I should have started traveling 20 years ago!! This is great. I take my Harley, 4wheeler, mtn bike, and a small freezer full of salmon and moose with me. I've got a lot of my shop tools with me so I can work on my home and toys. I feel like I'm always at home.

Good luck and HTH,

Doug

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

Doug,

Do you have any photos of your toyhauler and suggestions on what to look for. I have looked at several but haven't found the one yet. Have a younger brother that bought one last year and will allow me to "rent" it this winter for my trip to Florida. I believe his is a Raptor but I haven't seen it for about a year and don't remember for sure. There is a Raptor forsale here in Kansas that had never been used. A couple bought it said they never had a chance to use it and now it's on ebay. There was (and maybe still is ) an Alfa Toyhauler in Colorado that I wanted to go out and look at but haven't yet. The Alfa has "basement air". No air conditioners on the roof, not sure how that would work. If you have read all my posts, you know that I have been working with this for a while and haven't made the plunge yet. Did take a travel assignment last winter in Florida and rented a room. It worked out ok but not like having your own home with you. RV sites in Florida are not that plentiful. There are some mobile home parks that allow RV parking on empty lot's but some of them are in less than desirable neighborhoods. Hopefully I can get at least a month in a public park and will be able to find a spot that I can reserve for next year. Thanks again for your information you can pm me or email to [email protected].

Rod

Thanks for the posts. I graduated in May and my husband and

I have been thinking about this as a empty nest adventure once the kids are gone in about 10 years or so.

I have always wanted to see all of the United States and love camping and the RVing thing. I wondered how many people out there were doing this and was pleasantly surprised to see RNs doing this. My husband is a software programmer and we have a couple of side businesses on top of my brand spanking new graduate nurse job -- it's so hard to be low man on the totem pole when I've been top dog in my business for a decade!!! But I am enjoying the thrill of learning... and scared to death I will make a mistake!

Great to hear all you having fun and doing what I dream about.

Keep the posts coming - I want to hear about everyone's adventures!

MB

Specializes in Informatics.

Rod,

Readytopack.jpg

Since this picture was taken (Feb '07) I have upgraded my pickup to a dually long bed quadcab. For me these trailers are too big for an SRW (single rear wheel) pickup. I had too many close calls on the Alcan to not upgrade.

I also upgraded my wheels and tires on the trailer to 16", which are much safer than the 15's that came with it. I had two blow outs just bringing it home from Elkhart, IN (I saved >8k buying it at Tiara).

You should know that Raptor's are about as cheap as you want to go. There are much cheaper, but if you're going to spend any time in one of these you need a little quality. I could not live with patio furniture!!

Better yet when I upgrade I'm going with a KZ Escalade Sporter. Twice the price but worth it. BTW the Raptor is my first RV.

If you have the time you might want to got to rv.net and check out the community. They have two forums of interest, Tow Vehicles and Toyhaulers.

Good luck,

Doug

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

Thanks Doug,

Great photo and useful information. I have looked on the Woodalls site but not much on the RV net. Will have to check it out more.

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