Traveling RV style...

[kat29]

Im wondering if there are any travel nurses out there who travel in an RV and live in it while on assignment. Im thinking about selling my house and going into traveling with my husband, dog, and our motor home. Do you stay in campgrounds where you are assigned? Ive heard of hospitals that let agency nurses park rvs in the rear of a parking lot. Has anyone out there done this? Any info on your experiences would be great!

[Littlewonder]

Hello from another 5th wheeling travel nurse. My husband and I and our two preschool boys live in a 33 footer with a superslide. We love it! (It is much easier to keep track of the 18 month old than it was at the house!) You just have to follow the weather a bit more - don't want to have two feet of snow on the ground if you are going to be in a 5th wheel. We have one with an all seasons package, but still....

[ffmedicrn]

Hello Littlewonder, good to hear from someone else on the road.........we are planning the next adventure......I think it will be to Alaska next spring.....good luck in your travels and maybe somewhere along the way we may end up in the same RV park....have a great day

[freeasabird]

Would you recommend 5th wheel or RV? I was thinking of doing this too as I'm planning on traveling with pet and kids. Also is it pretty insulated against heat/cold?

Thanks!

[ffmedicrn]

Hello, we have done this twice (hubby is ready and packed to go again) hahaha. My husband is retired and we travel in a 5th wheel. Our experience has been wonderful and I would do it again and again. We also have a dog and that is why we travel this way, didn't want to take any chances of what a rental with a dog would be like.

We stay at campgrounds, find an assignment and then check for campgrounds, I would recommend a campground, the people you meet and the atmosphere is wonderful. We have made some very good friends we still keep in contact with from the campgrounds. We thought together for 3 months in a small area would be difficult but it isn't. There are so many things to explore while camping and our bonus was my hubby worked at the campground usually 3 days a week for campsite fees (pocket the housing stipen:yeah:). We have not sold our house and dont really intend to due to tax reasons, having a home base ???? You should check what is best for your situation. We love it and will be on the road probably this fall and not sure when we will be back. It is also nice having your "home" on the road. Good Luck and if you want more info let me know.

Carol

[RNontheroad]

I have been traveling for 2 1/2 yrs now and have been a full-time RVer the entire time. My husband and dog are with me as well.

I consider it one of the best decisions we ever made, and it is a really fun lifestyle. I feel like I get paid to be on vacation, or at least most of the time.

It does make finding an assignment a bit more challenging because you have to consider if there is an RV park/campground within a reasonable commuting distance of the hospital. And like one of the other posters stated, weather is a consideration.

Taking the housing stipend has increased my salary alot and I consider it one of the biggest benefits. Because we use our RV exclusively for work, it is entirely tax deductible as well.

The 5th wheel vs. class A motorhome debate is one I still have with myself. I can appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of both so you have to decide which is a better discision for you personally.

Anyway, happy travels to all of you. It is nice to hear from others who are out there.

[SargeRN]

OK I've been a traveler for about a year now. At my last assignment I rented a travel trailer, about a 30', from one of the staff nurses. LOVED the campground scene as approximately 40% of the folks there also worked at the hospital!! I'm considering a 5th wheel and not so much interested in what you all have but what do you tow with. This aspect is probably as important, if not more important than what you're towing behind.

OK what is your tow vehicle and why did you pick it??

REALLY I'm not trying to hijack the thread but add to it!!

THANKS in advance!!

Sarge

[RNontheroad]

We pull our 5th wheel with a Ford F350 truck. It gets the job done, for sure. Problem is that once you are parked, that is definately overkill for doing your daily errands, getting to work, etc. I have met people who also take a motorcycle or moped along to use for this purpose, which is an option.

We chose the large diesel truck because our 5th wheel weighs about 14,000 lbs and we often travel cross country, sometimes over mountains etc,and we would not ever encounter a situation where we would not have enough towing capacity. Fuel mileage is HORRIBLE to say the least but is just the cost of doing business, I guess.