A Million Americans Are Living In Their RVs

[danielpalos]

It's sounds like they are always running from the cops..



.

Doubt anyone would get very far running from the police with an RV. Not something that can do a get away.

Most people I see at parks are out talking and you have to register just like at a motel.

Walmart..

You see them a bunch, I know the cops look the other way

Walmart allows RVs to camp overnight. They believe that it helps their business since most that stop also buy. Cracker Barrel, Basspro and others do the same. Some cities do not allow overnights in any parking lots.

No matter how you try to make it last, at some point, usually every few days, you have to plug in to power and dump your holding tanks, plus take on water.

You would do better To try and evade the police in a car or truck.
Sorry that this does not fit your narrative.

What do you think of a return to outdoor movie theaters, with electrical hookups for RVs?

Another place to hangout.

A diner, RV wash, car wash, and restrooms and showers and even tank flushing;

could be convenient and easy. there is usually money to be made with that, under Capitalism.

at the very least-----at the "refreshment stand" where on can buy dancing hot dogs and boxes of popcorn

a modern and expanding niche market. let's try to learn on the learning curve.

 

[irosie91]

Doubt anyone would get very far running from the police with an RV. Not something that can do a get away.

Most people I see at parks are out talking and you have to register just like at a motel.

Walmart..

You see them a bunch, I know the cops look the other way

Walmart allows RVs to camp overnight. They believe that it helps their business since most that stop also buy. Cracker Barrel, Basspro and others do the same. Some cities do not allow overnights in any parking lots.

No matter how you try to make it last, at some point, usually every few days, you have to plug in to power and dump your holding tanks, plus take on water.

You would do better To try and evade the police in a car or truck.
Sorry that this does not fit your narrative.

What do you think of a return to outdoor movie theaters, with electrical hookups for RVs?

Another place to hangout.

A diner, RV wash, car wash, and restrooms and showers and even tank flushing;

could be convenient and easy. there is usually money to be made with that, under Capitalism.

at the very least-----at the "refreshment stand" where on can buy dancing hot dogs and boxes of popcorn

a modern and expanding niche market. let's try to learn on the learning curve.

it's nothing new------large flea markets and "fairs" harbor lots of them

 

[danielpalos]

Walmart..

You see them a bunch, I know the cops look the other way

Walmart allows RVs to camp overnight. They believe that it helps their business since most that stop also buy. Cracker Barrel, Basspro and others do the same. Some cities do not allow overnights in any parking lots.

No matter how you try to make it last, at some point, usually every few days, you have to plug in to power and dump your holding tanks, plus take on water.

You would do better To try and evade the police in a car or truck.
Sorry that this does not fit your narrative.

What do you think of a return to outdoor movie theaters, with electrical hookups for RVs?

Another place to hangout.

A diner, RV wash, car wash, and restrooms and showers and even tank flushing;

could be convenient and easy. there is usually money to be made with that, under Capitalism.

at the very least-----at the "refreshment stand" where on can buy dancing hot dogs and boxes of popcorn

a modern and expanding niche market. let's try to learn on the learning curve.

it's nothing new------large flea markets and "fairs" harbor lots of them

existing empty outdoor theater lots could be upgraded. wifi access could be included.

once upgraded, they could be multiuse.

 

[Foxfyre]

People live in tents along the by ways, others in forgotten off the beaten path in tents. Others on side streets. I hate to rain on the happy parade, but we give sanctuary to illegal aliens, and we forget Americans living on the streets. We blame them or other wise demonize them. But as long as some of ya'al have a nice warm RV to live in, god is in his heaven.

While I feel sorry for those that are homeless I refuse to have it ruin my life. Some of them do make the choice to live on the street. Some do not.
I do not agree with allowing illegals in or allowing them to remain. I pay taxes, I help where I can.

But I refuse to allow someone like you to make me feel bad about my life and the way I live it.

Yours is a poignant post. I doubt there are many of us who don't feel for those living in terrible circumstances. We cannot afford to give much at this stage of our lives, but most of what we give goes to organizations who help those who have little or nothing. Whether legal or illegal, the poor exist and probably so many millions of poor illegals pouring into the country is adding to their number.

But not a single one of them is where they are because any of us have chosen not to live like that. And if I chose to live like that--sold everything I had and gave it all to the homeless and myself became homeless--it not only would do little or nothing to help the problem, but I would be in a position that I could not help as much as I do. I would become part of the problem. America impoverishing itself would be much more immoral than being rich. Now we can help people around the world. As a poor country we would not be able to do so.

We will never help the poor in any way by making the rich poorer.

No responsible person should apologize for the lifestyle they choose so long as they are not harming anybody else. Like Skye, it isn't for me, but I can sure appreciate how others love the RV life. And I imagine the RVers enjoy more of a sense of community with other RVers than so many who know and interact with few, if any, of their neighbors.

 

[gallantwarrior]

Is it because they want to, they lost their other home to repo, or they can’t afford anything else?

A million Americans live full-time in RVs, according to the RV Industry Association. Some have to do it because they can’t afford other options, but many do it by choice. Last year was a record for RV sales, according to the data firm Statistical Surveys. More than 10.5 million households own at least one RV, a jump from 2005 when 7.5 million households had RVs, according to RVIA.

And there’s this:

A 30 year mortgage is essentially a suffocating lifetime financial commitment for many people, and so a lot of Americans are choosing to embrace the RV lifestyle in order to escape those financial chains. One family that the Washington Post recently interviewed says that they are “redefining what the American Dream means”…

“We’re a family of four redefining what the American Dream means. It’s happiness, not a four-bedroom house with a two-car garage,” said Robert Meinhofer, who is 45.

The Meinhofers and a dozen others who spoke with The Washington Post about this modern nomadic lifestyle said living in 200 to 400 square feet has improved their marriages and made them happier, even if they’re earning less. There’s no official term for this lifestyle, but most refer to themselves as “full-time RVers,” “digital nomads” or “workampers.”

I don’t see how a family of four could possibly live in an RV, no matter how big it is.

More of this @ A Million Americans Are Living In Their RVs As The American Dream Continues To Be "Redefined"

Everybody I know who lives in an RV does so by choice and not out of necessity. And these are not among America's poor by any means or because they can't qualify for a mortgage. They all could if they wanted to. I would not like the lifestyle for long periods myself, but I can appreciate how people of a certain temperament would embrace it.

There used to be a USMB coffee shopper who traveled in his RV until he found a place he liked enough to settle. I can't remember his name.

 

[gallantwarrior]

The American dream has always been to have freedom to live and go were you chose. Steppenwolf born to be wild, wind in your hair stuff. But for most of the rest of us, that isn't in the cards. We are stuck between nowhere and nothing, eking out our timid little living. And that is at best.

So what does that have to do with how people decide to house themselves? I sold my toy hauler a couple months ago after 4 years of ownership. We had it the last year I worked and first few years of retirement. We took it everywhere from San Diego, Sturgis, all over the AZ desert, Santa Rosa Beach and the Smokey Mountains. We spent 45 days in it last winter out West.

Things change

Dumped the RV because we have decided to start a mini-farm here in TN. So I have mouths to feed daily... chickens, goats etc.....

Bought me a plane instead lol

-Geaux

I will vouch that having a farm will tie you down, a lot. But there is something to be said for that lifestyle, too. I travelled a lot when I was younger and I am really looking forward to the daily routine of caring for my critters, making my cheese, mead, and other things without having to dash off to work.

 

[EvilCat Breath]

I spent my early years homeless and traveling with my parents. They loved the freedom. No job to show up for. No landlord chasing the rent. Just the open road and kindly people willing to give us a ride, or a meal or a place to flop for the night. Gad how I learned to despise those do gooders. To my parents those were the best days of their lives. The best being chasing the charity of their betters.

 

[danielpalos]

RV's may be a good choice for electric. The long base is a potential battery storage capacity.

 

[danielpalos]

It could be as simple as "plugging in to an outdoor movie theatre outlet."

 

[gipper]

RV's may be a good choice for electric. The long base is a potential battery storage capacity.

My motorhome weighs 45,000 pounds. No way to move it affordably and effectively on electric. Maybe some day.

 

[WinterBorn]

It could be as simple as "plugging in to an outdoor movie theatre outlet."

Providing elctric power will always come at a cost. RV parks are becoming more expensive. An old drive-in theater would work well, but putting in all that underground wiring and water pipes will be expensive.

 

[WinterBorn]

RV's may be a good choice for electric. The long base is a potential battery storage capacity.

My motorhome weighs 45,000 pounds. No way to move it affordably and effectively on electric. Maybe some day.

The trick is the power storage. A diesel locomotive is actually run by an electric motor. The diesel runs the generator.

 

[Maxdeath]

It could be as simple as "plugging in to an outdoor movie theatre outlet."

It costs a large sum of money to put in 50 and 30 amp service in each spot. Then add in water and sewer. Most people will not stay long in a parking lot, they want some space between each other and lawn a few trees near. They often want wifi, pool and at a minimum a meeting place. If they are going to stay more then a night or two they will want things that make them want to stay.

 

[Darkwind]

Is it because they want to, they lost their other home to repo, or they can’t afford anything else?

A million Americans live full-time in RVs, according to the RV Industry Association. Some have to do it because they can’t afford other options, but many do it by choice. Last year was a record for RV sales, according to the data firm Statistical Surveys. More than 10.5 million households own at least one RV, a jump from 2005 when 7.5 million households had RVs, according to RVIA.

And there’s this:

A 30 year mortgage is essentially a suffocating lifetime financial commitment for many people, and so a lot of Americans are choosing to embrace the RV lifestyle in order to escape those financial chains. One family that the Washington Post recently interviewed says that they are “redefining what the American Dream means”…

“We’re a family of four redefining what the American Dream means. It’s happiness, not a four-bedroom house with a two-car garage,” said Robert Meinhofer, who is 45.

The Meinhofers and a dozen others who spoke with The Washington Post about this modern nomadic lifestyle said living in 200 to 400 square feet has improved their marriages and made them happier, even if they’re earning less. There’s no official term for this lifestyle, but most refer to themselves as “full-time RVers,” “digital nomads” or “workampers.”

I don’t see how a family of four could possibly live in an RV, no matter how big it is.

More of this @ A Million Americans Are Living In Their RVs As The American Dream Continues To Be "Redefined"

I'd do it for sure.

Need a class A license for this one (which I have), but hell, its a good way to live.

 

[WinterBorn]

Is it because they want to, they lost their other home to repo, or they can’t afford anything else?

A million Americans live full-time in RVs, according to the RV Industry Association. Some have to do it because they can’t afford other options, but many do it by choice. Last year was a record for RV sales, according to the data firm Statistical Surveys. More than 10.5 million households own at least one RV, a jump from 2005 when 7.5 million households had RVs, according to RVIA.

And there’s this:

A 30 year mortgage is essentially a suffocating lifetime financial commitment for many people, and so a lot of Americans are choosing to embrace the RV lifestyle in order to escape those financial chains. One family that the Washington Post recently interviewed says that they are “redefining what the American Dream means”…

“We’re a family of four redefining what the American Dream means. It’s happiness, not a four-bedroom house with a two-car garage,” said Robert Meinhofer, who is 45.

The Meinhofers and a dozen others who spoke with The Washington Post about this modern nomadic lifestyle said living in 200 to 400 square feet has improved their marriages and made them happier, even if they’re earning less. There’s no official term for this lifestyle, but most refer to themselves as “full-time RVers,” “digital nomads” or “workampers.”

I don’t see how a family of four could possibly live in an RV, no matter how big it is.

More of this @ A Million Americans Are Living In Their RVs As The American Dream Continues To Be "Redefined"

I'd do it for sure.

Need a class A license for this one (which I have), but hell, its a good way to live.

There are some very nice travel trailers and 5th wheels for 1/4 what you will pay for a nice Class A motorhome. Even a Class C can save you $100k or more and be easier to take boondocking.

 

[Darkwind]

Is it because they want to, they lost their other home to repo, or they can’t afford anything else?

A million Americans live full-time in RVs, according to the RV Industry Association. Some have to do it because they can’t afford other options, but many do it by choice. Last year was a record for RV sales, according to the data firm Statistical Surveys. More than 10.5 million households own at least one RV, a jump from 2005 when 7.5 million households had RVs, according to RVIA.

And there’s this:

A 30 year mortgage is essentially a suffocating lifetime financial commitment for many people, and so a lot of Americans are choosing to embrace the RV lifestyle in order to escape those financial chains. One family that the Washington Post recently interviewed says that they are “redefining what the American Dream means”…

“We’re a family of four redefining what the American Dream means. It’s happiness, not a four-bedroom house with a two-car garage,” said Robert Meinhofer, who is 45.

The Meinhofers and a dozen others who spoke with The Washington Post about this modern nomadic lifestyle said living in 200 to 400 square feet has improved their marriages and made them happier, even if they’re earning less. There’s no official term for this lifestyle, but most refer to themselves as “full-time RVers,” “digital nomads” or “workampers.”

I don’t see how a family of four could possibly live in an RV, no matter how big it is.

More of this @ A Million Americans Are Living In Their RVs As The American Dream Continues To Be "Redefined"

I'd do it for sure.

Need a class A license for this one (which I have), but hell, its a good way to live.

There are some very nice travel trailers and 5th wheels for 1/4 what you will pay for a nice Class A motorhome. Even a Class C can save you $100k or more and be easier to take boondocking.

Yes, I know. I like to go in style.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

I have warned my wife that if she dies before me, I am selling the house, buying an RV and living with each of my three kids for 4 months out of the year. If they don't have room for me, I have an RV.

 

[gipper]

Is it because they want to, they lost their other home to repo, or they can’t afford anything else?

A million Americans live full-time in RVs, according to the RV Industry Association. Some have to do it because they can’t afford other options, but many do it by choice. Last year was a record for RV sales, according to the data firm Statistical Surveys. More than 10.5 million households own at least one RV, a jump from 2005 when 7.5 million households had RVs, according to RVIA.

And there’s this:

A 30 year mortgage is essentially a suffocating lifetime financial commitment for many people, and so a lot of Americans are choosing to embrace the RV lifestyle in order to escape those financial chains. One family that the Washington Post recently interviewed says that they are “redefining what the American Dream means”…

“We’re a family of four redefining what the American Dream means. It’s happiness, not a four-bedroom house with a two-car garage,” said Robert Meinhofer, who is 45.

The Meinhofers and a dozen others who spoke with The Washington Post about this modern nomadic lifestyle said living in 200 to 400 square feet has improved their marriages and made them happier, even if they’re earning less. There’s no official term for this lifestyle, but most refer to themselves as “full-time RVers,” “digital nomads” or “workampers.”

I don’t see how a family of four could possibly live in an RV, no matter how big it is.

More of this @ A Million Americans Are Living In Their RVs As The American Dream Continues To Be "Redefined"

I'd do it for sure.

Need a class A license for this one (which I have), but hell, its a good way to live.

There are some very nice travel trailers and 5th wheels for 1/4 what you will pay for a nice Class A motorhome. Even a Class C can save you $100k or more and be easier to take boondocking.

RVs depreciate rapidly. So it makes sense to buy used. Many people buy RVs then seldom use them. You can find ten year old RVs very lightly used, selling for a fraction of their cost new.

 

[Wyatt earp]

Democrats and Republicans want different things.

Democrats want to help them.

Republicans want to point and laugh at them.

How do Lefty's help them by this?

 

[WinterBorn]

I know a young lady (35 or so) lives in a very small rv, works odd jobs.
Know a number of retired that have done the same as we do.
Know others that live in a house in summer then use one to move south.
Know a family of seven lived and traveled for three years just so the children could see the country.
There are those that have traveled for many years then just found an RV park that they liked and are now stationary until they die.

There are RV parks that have pools, exercise equipment, tennis courts.
There is one that has an eight hole golf course, woodworking shop, lapidary shop, stained glass shop and others. All for the use of those that stay there.
Some places have bingo nights, horse shoe competitions, pot lucks, banquets on holidays, live entertainment.

You might be parked next to a mechanic or a mechanical engineer. You meet people from all walks of life.

The article does not take into account those that vacation in the RV. The whole point is that there may be those that are on hard times in an RV. But there are those that chose it for a reason.

It's sounds like they are always running from the cops..



.

Doubt anyone would get very far running from the police with an RV. Not something that can do a get away.

Most people I see at parks are out talking and you have to register just like at a motel.

Walmart..

You see them a bunch, I know the cops look the other way

Walmart allows RVs to camp overnight. They believe that it helps their business since most that stop also buy. Cracker Barrel, Basspro and others do the same. Some cities do not allow overnights in any parking lots.

No matter how you try to make it last, at some point, usually every few days, you have to plug in to power and dump your holding tanks, plus take on water.

You would do better To try and evade the police in a car or truck.
Sorry that this does not fit your narrative.

Solar has come a long way for RVs. Can't run A/C, but pretty much everything else can be taken care of.