Full-timing in the CT, NJ or DC area---doable, crazy?

[MrsHomeSweetRoam]

My husband is getting offers and/or leads to jobs in NY and is looking or shooting for a job in DC... he's from the area, I am not. Nevertheless, he's been away from "home" for 11 years and he never lived in an RV whilst there... anyone have experience with this area?

He has parents in MD, sister in WV and a brother in CT.... we can bounce around to each of them ...and the immediate areas.

The NY job... we're tossing around ideas of staying at his brothers house and training/driving in to work. (Which I assume could be a nightmare-it's NY!) And/or bouncing around all the RV places within an hour or so out from the city... like in NJ as well or something.

Concerns- not used to true winters being a SoCal baby... winterizing the RV will have to be done either now or over the next several months to prepare for next winter. Are they so bad that we couldn't do it through a winter? We were cold here in the IE of SoCal last week (we were unseasonably cold for our area)... so I imagine we have many changes in store- starting with needed a portable heater and better clothes.

Our other option would be to shoot for contract jobs and truly float around... but the lure of the FT job and it's perks/$ have our attention at the moment.

There are still many details to work out about the NY job -so this is just idea swap time... thoughts from those seasoned or from the area?

[BirdbyBird]

Yes, those are cold cold winters... Maybe you could house sit for some "Snow birds" that head south every winter?

[Paulette]

DC area maybe, ct or ny...not in the winter in an rv. But that's just me! I'm sure it could be done, but I'm not that into being cold! Md winter is enough and I'm in a sticks and bricks! But if you do come east, let me know...I'd love to meet ya.

[linann]

Coldest I've RV'd in is 28-32 degrees, and it was only for a few days during a fall leaf peeping vacaction. Way too cold for me to do longer than that temp or duration. Of course, my rig is just a small TT and not set up for frigid four season weather.

Consider flying to NY for a week in the middle of the worst weather and check it out before you decide. It would also give your husband a chance to try on the daily commute. Also, figure out how much electric heat/propane would cost. I'd winterize the rig and rent an apt for the coldest months.

Haven't seen posts from txyellowrose in a long time. She was full-timing in a 4-season 5vr parked at her husband's worksite in NJ. I remember reading about the jumbo generator she bought. It was the only way they were able to stay in their rig after losing power during some major winter storms.

[rvgrammy1953]

We have done a 2 week stay near Hanover, PA for Christmas a few years back...(also for the birth of our grand-daughter that same time.) in a 17ft. hybrid camper...it did snow and got the usual 20s & 30s temps then....lots of propane for heat... But would consider it again as we now have a 5er with the 4 season package...if we had to... There is a CG in the Gettysburg area that is open year round....Round Top CG off of US15, lots of folks commute to the DC area from there....but generally speaking, lots to do to insulate against the cold.....I would suggest getting a rental apt. or house trailer for the winter, then live in the RV the rest of the year...

[Sandersmr]

I spent two weeks in subfreezing night time temperatures and there are several things you have to consider. We had to keep the hose disconnected at night because we didn't have an insulate water hose. And trying to tear down before things have a chance to thaw out can have slightly disastrous consequences - Mark broke the end off the hose trying to disconnect from the spigot.

One night we knew we wouldn't have electricity and had to worry about draining all the lines since there wouldn't be heat to the trailer. We weren't using the furnace and weren't spending the night in the trailer that night.

We couldn't even dump at the GC even though we had sewer on site. The sewer connection was under a foot of snow!

Now our trials and tribulations were partially due to the fact that we weren't staying put in one spot for very long. But I imagine we also avoided a lot of pitfalls that you would have staying put.

I am glad to know that even though I don't have a 4-season trailer, I could make it habitable to down to the teens overnight - as long as it did warm up some the next day.

[JudyJB]

As others have said, it would be difficult and possibly uncomfortable trying to keep enough heat in the RV. Almost none of these are made for such cold weather.

I have camped a couple of times in winter, just before the temps dropped into the freezing point. One problem was that even if campgrounds are open, they tend to turn off the sewer systems and even most water hookups. I had full-hookup sites with no water and no sewer, so you would have to be careful about checking where you were staying.

I also went through a lot of propane in cold weather to keep enough heat on my tanks so they would not freeze.

[nitewriter]

I live in central VA and a few years ago spent three week before Christmas and after New Years at a campground in Williamsburg. It was in the teens at night and 20's daytime for a few days. Even had some gorgeous snow flurries but no accumulation. I left the kitchen faucett streaming constantly and kept the heat at a decent temperature inside. I supplemented with a ceramic heater. The one thing that was bad was the condensation inside. This was in an all-weather insulated fifth wheel, too. We had two marine dehumidifers but the condensation was a bit much for them to keep under control. I kept wiping down walls and inside cabinets and closets and, of course, windows. But other than that, it was fine. We did go to Home Depot and get some hose insulation and wrapped the outside hose and water faucett.

The first morning I was there alone and the temps dropped, the outside campsite faucett froze. We wrapped with insulation after that. But I got out there with my hair dryer and melted all the ice on the faucett and that did the trick. Also if you're ever in a position to have to leave the water running 24/7, don't forget to open the galley tank

[rvgal]

While I haven't lived in CT, NJ or DC, I am a fulltimer near Denver. This is my 2nd winter in the RV. I have had no problems staying warm. I use the propane furnace & supplement with an electric space heater, if needed. I'm in a campground with full hook ups. We have temperatures below zero at night & days where the high only gets to the teens. So it is possible to live in an RV in the winter, and it helps if you have an RV that is well built with good insulation.
This week, we're having temps in the 60's which is a really nice treat for January.

[MrsHomeSweetRoam]

Thanks girls, we're integrating your information into our brainstorming sessions/decision makings. We have several new job leads and many more avenues to pursue... just deciding which direction to go and what we really want to do... trying to find what's right for us... currently he has several promising leads that look like can end up in offers: ...Manhattan, NY ...Houston, TX ...Baltimore, MD (and others that aren't far enough into the process to claim as promising so far)...

[BirdbyBird]

It is nice to have choices but also a different sort of stress......making good choices.

[Sandersmr]

If you end up in Houston, Red and I can help you with information.

[MrsHomeSweetRoam]

It is nice to have choices but also a different sort of stress......making good choices.

Yup; hoping to get the right offers... and hoping you make the right choices. All in the timing.

[MrsHomeSweetRoam]

If you end up in Houston, Red and I can help you with information.

Thanks; after doing some quick and dirty google searches on the area... I'm almost rooting for that job... the area seems RV friendly and it's still close enough to drive to many interesting places... and get to the in-laws more often (in MD). I never thought TX would be on my list of places to live- life is so interesting.

[MrsHomeSweetRoam]

If you end up in Houston, Red and I can help you with information.

Well... we just got an email tonight, a few hours after a Skype interview... and the Houston based company is going to send over an offer for my husband! We're pretty sure we're going to take it... which means we'll be leaving for Houston, Texas SOON!

We think it's going to be a better fit for us- and with the RV lifestyle... we're excited about exploring the Gulf Coast... and being within decent driving distance to family (Maryland/Virginia) and more fun - like Louisiana and Disney World.

We think we'll be busy busy busy exploring the immediate areas, too - a whole new world... which is reason one, that we decided to go mobile.

It appears like there are a tonne of RV Parks in the vicinity and that is just a huge plus!

Any information, tips and whatnot- anything- you are willing to tell us- we're happy to hear!

**PS -sshhh! You girls are the first to know... we haven't announced it yet... so unless someone is seriously stalking me, no one knows we're considering the offer.