What's your set up?

[Jontemple]

Hey all you full-timers out there!

What electrical set up have you found works best for you?
If you're not off the grid, where are you parked, how are you getting your essential needs met (water, electrical, sewer)

Was it hard for you to find a place to shack up? Are options mostly run down trailer parks or do you find nice place with low rent?

Is it feasible to imagine living somewhere full time, hooked to shore power, using a compost toilet, with little or no solar, and still saving money each month compared to renting an apartment?

[kb0zke]

We're fulltimers, currently in a MH but considering switching to an Airstream. We haven't boondocked yet, but otherwise we've tried Corps of Engineers parks, State and County parks, and commercial parks. We're Passport America members and have the interagency senior pass. By far the best deal is a COE park with the "geezer" pass. The downsides are that you are limited to a maximum of 14 days and not many parks have full hookups. Electricity is common, water often present, but sewer is rare. Same thing for most State parks. County parks are a mixed lot. Sometimes all you get is electricity, sometimes full hookups. Length of stay varies from only a couple of days to a month. Commercial parks usually have full hookups, and usually don't have limits on how long you can stay.

Many commercial parks have varying rates. The nightly rate is the most expensive. The weekly rate usually amounts to pay for six nights and get the seventh free. The monthly rate is usually about half (or less) the daily rate, but you often have to pay your own electricity. That means that there is an electric meter at your site, which is read by the campground. They charge you a set rate, which may be the local rate or somewhat higher.

Rates for commercial campgrounds vary, with the higher cost ones in popular locations (think Disney World during the winter). If you are thinking about just parking your Airstream somewhere permanently you might want to give that some serious thought. An Airstream is not necessarily the best choice for extremely high or low temperatures. Most fulltimers move around as the seasons change. Some of us call it "chasing 70."

[kb0zke]

Another thing we've done is work camping. We have done campground hosting, which provides a FHU site in exchange for some work.

If you are at all handy, check our Habitat For Humanity's Care-A-Vanners. Builds are two weeks at a time, but often there are builds that run longer. You simply sign up for two two-week builds. Many times you are provided with a free campsite.