Stupid Novice Questions

[IrishIroamed]

Hi All,

I'm learning so many things by reading through all of the threads. Shows what little I know - I didn't have any clue that you recommend not to flush TP! I really enjoyed the thread "Oops, this isn't right or how not to start out" http://www.womenrv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7867&hilit=novice, especially the part about bringing lots of wine

I have some, I'm sure to you, stupid or maybe not so stupid, questions about the RVing full time lifestyle. Can you help a novice out? (What word is more novice than novice because I'm definitely that!)

Once you pick a home state, what address do you put on your drivers license if you no longer have a sticks & bricks home?

Is the water hookup at parks considered potable (for cooking, drinking, etc) or better to have bottled or major filtering systems installed? I think running out of water is my major concern at this point.

For 1 person full time, what's the average for propane life? Granted this may depend on cold or warmer climates, just a ballbark guess is OK.

Where do you get propane refilled? Do most parks offer this service. These tanks seem a lot bigger than those used on a BBQ and I can barely lift that one!

Do you use leveling blocks on a motorhomes? Most dealers I've spoken to said no because the suspension on the rig takes care of most of it, including slides, and if it's too uneven, they suggest just asking for a different site.

Where do you do laundry? Campground or somewhere in town?

Do you recommend driving lessons? So far I think they're a good idea, but can't find a place in Illinois for a 1-2 day class. Dealers say they'll give me an hour lesson. Think that's enough?

Finally do you have any regrets about your first camper or motorhome? (coulda shoulda woulda?)

Looks like you all have a system for doing everything, and if not someone else does. Bravo!

My sincere apologizes for the dumb questions. (Admins - OK to delete this if you think it's really dumb )

Cheryl

PS Still working on pics - but I don't have anything more recent than 5 years ago

[BayouLady]

Better to ask a dumb question than to make a dumb mistake. I'm going to GUESS the best place for the drivers license would be the state with the best insurance rate, okay I'm such a newbie here, lets wait and see what the pros say.

[avalen]

excellent questions!! and no questions are dumb, we were all new at this at one point or another.
My drivers license has a po box listed on it, but some states want a physical address. However, the post office
now allows using the physical address. (USPS)
Leveling blocks?.....don't believe a salesman, all they want is the sale. You will need leveling blocks and not all
sites are level and sometimes you don't have that option to ask for a different site.

[Acadianmom]

I don't know what size rig you are planning on getting but a class c drives like a truck or van unless you get one that's 30' or more. Then you have to watch your tail swing and dips in parking lot and gas station entrances. A lot of times there are driving classes at some of the large rallies put on by the Escapees and Good Sam. Maybe others too.

I have had motorhomes for 25 years and have never had problems with toilet paper except when kids camp with me. Then you just about have to dump everyday with a lot of water. Use single ply paper that says septic safe. You don't need to buy the expensive paper that they sell for camping.

I don't full time so don't have first hand knowledge of what state to pick. It seems most pick South Dakota or Texas. The Escapees have a mail forwarding service and so does South Dakota. I don't think either state has a state income tax.

If water in a campground isn't potable there should be a sign. I use bottled water from home for cooking and coffee because I have never gotten a water filter. I sanitize my water tank a couple of times a year but water sits in there unused so don't want to drink it. I think most full timers get one of the water filters that attaches to the water hose and use that water for everything.

I can't help you much with the propane question. I have had my current motorhome since 2006 and have only filled the tank once. I hope propane doesn't get old. Most motorhomes have a pretty good size tank built in. Using the furnace in the winter is what would use it the fastest. Some campgrounds sell propane. I think most KOA's I have stayed in sold propane. I have filled up at the local propane company but I had to make sure someone was there to do it.

Ask the salesman that told you to ask for another site how many times he has done that. I don't have slides so don't know how level you have to be for them. I just worry about my refrigerator being level. I carry 3 2" x 8" x 18" boards and one set of the plastic lynx level blocks. It's been a long time since I have needed more than that.

I have always used the laundry at a campground if it looks clean. If the laundry isn't clean you probably wouldn't be staying there anyway. You might have a problem parking at a laundry in town unless you have a car.

My very first motorhome was a new line for Winnebago and they didn't have the bugs out of it. I wouldn't buy something they just came out with the first year. Most change the floor plans every year but not what they are built on. I had a 22', a 24', a 27' and now a 23' motorhome. I would like to have a little larger motorhome but not enough to spend $50,000 - $75,000. I really like being able to park just about anywhere but would like more room when someone is with me.

Don't worry about asking a dumb question. We all learn something sometimes when someone asks a question. Better to ask than make a mistake.

Martha

[JudyJB]

I full time so here are some answers. Everyone has their own style of camping so I am sure others will give you more answers:

1) Is the water hookup at parks considered potable (for cooking, drinking, etc) or better to have bottled or major filtering systems installed? I think running out of water is my major concern at this point. Mostly, I drink the water in my tanks after periodically sanitizing them. I also mostly drink the water in campgrounds, but I do sometimes ask where they get it. Somehow I trust state and national parks because I figure as governmental entities, they get it tested more often. I did just have one bad experience, however, so had to re-sanitize my tanks. Right now I am trying to use up the chlorinated sanitized water in my tanks so I can hook up to the cleaner water at this park. IN the meantime, I am drinking bottled water only. (The previous park did tell me the water was safe even if it looked funny and tasted funny, but I am not trusting it. I have a coach water filter, which I am going to change this week. You can also buy a water filter for your refrigerator.

2) For 1 person full time, what's the average for propane life? Granted this may depend on cold or warmer climates, just a ballbark guess is OK. My propane lasts 1-2 months. Right now I have half a tank left and filled it in early June, but I have been traveling in warm places. Hot water tank and stove, plus refrig when traveling seems to use very little propane. Furnaces take a LOT, so many of us, including me use a small electric heater when it is not too cold.

3) Where do you get propane refilled? Do most parks offer this service. These tanks seem a lot bigger than those used on a BBQ and I can barely lift that one! If you have a built-in tank, like mine, you need to call around or ask the people in the campground where you can buy it because I have to take my whole motorhome in. It can be a bit of a pain to find a refill station. Those same places will refill your big tanks.

4) Do you use leveling blocks on a motorhomes? Most dealers I've spoken to said no because the suspension on the rig takes care of most of it, including slides, and if it's too uneven, they suggest just asking for a different site. My manufacturer would not install them and recommended not using them, so I have no leveling system, but I did buy an 8-foot 2x12, which I had cut in 2' pieces. One chunk under one or two wheels levels me enough. Most of the time I never use them anyway. it is OK to be a little off-level since modern refrigerators work fine if slightly off-level.

5) Where do you do laundry? Campground or somewhere in town? Both. Just depends.

6) Do you recommend driving lessons? So far I think they're a good idea, but can't find a place in Illinois for a 1-2 day class. Dealers say they'll give me an hour lesson. Think that's enough? I had taken only a short test drive before picking up my motorhome. My son took me there and was so terrified of my new driving that he followed "ahead" of me instead of behind me!!! I did just fine on my first trip without any lessons, but I did look at some online how to drive a big vehicle lessons.

A year-and-a-half ago, I was asking the same questions, so keep asking.

[JudyJB]

Also, you have to have a legal address. Insurance companies use it to determine rates, and you need someplace to declare as a residence for federal and state income tax purposes.

I use my son's address in Ohio. I also work for a college in Michigan, so my situation is a little complex. I have to pay state income tax in Ohio, but since it has an agreement with Michigan, I get credit for taxes paid there and vice-versa. I cannot choose just any state as a residence or in my case would end up with paying taxes in two states. My son opens my mail, tosses out junk, and uses his iPhone to photograph anything that looks important. I leave bank by mail deposit slips for any checks and he mails them in. The important thing is that If you have any income at all, you need to contact a tax expert.

If you have no income or very little income, you can do what a lot of full-timers do and declare another state as your home state. But you will still have to have a place for mail to go to. There are services that offer this--they get your mail and forward it to you. I don't have any experience with this, so someone else will have to help.

[Sandersmr]

Just know that there are no stupid questions but as the others have said what works for one person may not work for another.

For example, for me TP in the toilet is the only way to go. I usually get Scott single-ply but anything septic safe is probably going to work.

And I use the park water for cleaning and some cooking, but mostly drink bottled water. I will also use the park water for the dogs. They usually don't have a problem with different water systems.

And I have the small propane tank (20 lb) on my trailer but then I don't fulltime so it will last me quite a while. I also don't use my furnace but an electric heater. My furnace is way oversized and would empty a bottle in about one night.

Good luck to you, what ever you end up getting.

[IrishIroamed]

Thanks for the feedback ladies - you are awesome!

Next on my agenda is insurance quotes & storage prices (so far $50/month at a place I can walk to) since I'd be winterizing it for a year or two before hitting the road. Once all my ducks are in a row - I'll be making final decision ( I think )

[Princess]

I'm a complete novice too and I assure you, I have and will ask more stupid questions than you ever will. The ladies here have all patiently answered them and nobody is ever condescending. A lovely, generous bunch.

I for one, invested too much money to NOT flush my toiletpaper down the Loo. I bought a trailer so when I go on outdoor adventures, I don't haveta poop in the woods or put my toiletpaper in a coffee can. lol! Our first camping trip we were discussing whether should we do #2's in the camper or use the park bathroom?? Our friends who have an RV were showing us the ropes and they seem to like to use the park showers and toilets for "serious" toileting. Well, we decided, isn't this why we bought the dang thing? Soooo #2 and flush paper we shall. We bought a big box of the Rv-type toiletpaper on Amazon. Happy Trails!

Good luck on your new adventure!

[retiredhappy]

WATER: Yes, most parks water hookups are potable. I use the blue water filter between my rig and the water supply. I also use the blue filter (available at Walmart) when I fill my water tank. I do use a Brita filter for drinking water but I also use one at home.

TP: Most of us do flush toilet paper UNLESS we're boondocking. In that case I have a small lunch sack by the toilet. If you do #1 put paper in bag; if you do #2 flush it down. You don't need the expensive RV toilet paper. Any one-ply will do. Test it by putting a square in a glass of water and see how well it disolves.

PROPANE: A lot of RV parks have propane on site. When I'm traveling I try to stay overnight in a park about every 3rd or 4th nite in a park that has propane. Often in those parks they will send someone to your rig to pick up the tanks and return them full. Play the "old lady card" if you need to. I actually use a small electric heater if I'm plugged into electric rather than the propane heater cause it empties the tank really quick.

ADDRESS: Many states require a real address, not a PO box, for things like your driver's license. When I fulltimed I chose a UPS store that I rented a PO box from but they had a street address with a Box number. When I was not in town they would forward my mail to me for the cost of the postage. They even went through it and did not forward the junk mail. But when I wrote the address I wrote the po box number like it was an apartment number. However, Texas recognized it as a UPS store so I had to use my daughter's address for my driver's license. A lot of the girls join Escapees and their park in Livingston has a mail delivery service where they will forward your mail to you, for a fee.

A lot of the ladies have made a trip to South (or North?) Dakota and registered their vehicles there and gotten a driver's license there. Their lower taxes apparently save money on the annual registration, etc. There are also a lot of places up there you can use for an "address".

There are no stupid questions. Ask away.

[Bethers]

If you go full-time, you need an address - there are several rv mail box companies that can provide that for you. I use one in SD and love it. I only have to make an appearance there once in 5 years for my drivers license. And only had to stay there overnight one night to change to SD for residency. I can vote, etc. And they take care of all the tags on my car/rv, etc. It's a great deal. There is also the Escapees in TX that many use for residency, and also some mail box services in FL. I chose SD after doing research into what would be best for me. My address is perfectly legal - and while it really is a po box, it's not called that - and it looks more like an apartment address.

I went a long time putting the tp in my toilet. Sometimes still do. But because I boondock (a LOT) I pretty much quit doing so just to add more days to the life of the holding tank, when dumping isn't possible.

I rarely have trouble with water anywhere - but do put a filter on most places (not where I am in AK where I LOVE the water). And I use a brita pitcher for drinking water in most places - whether using city water or my tank - just always tastes good then (to me).

[bluepinecones]

Sorry I'm still too much of a novice to offer any sage advise other than to keep asking questions.

Since you enjoyed the post of my first day with Magic, thought you might get a kick out of saga of initial solo journey - two lessons there: you do not have to keep up with traffic on Interstate and if determined enough, you just might be surprised at what you can do.

http://www.womenrv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8264&hilit=first+solo+trip

http://www.womenrv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8274&p=105217&hilit=first+solo+trip#p105217

[mitch5252]

..
I have always been a firm believer of the old adage, "The only dumb question is the unasked question."

And that explains why I oftentimes shock people with questions that come out of my mouth...

..

[carold]

There's more, Mitch carold

[IrishIroamed]

Thanks you ladies for the info on TP - now I have Shakespeare in my head "TP or not TP that is the question"

love the first trip stories - so maybe I won't feel so dumb/worried/anxious knowing that everyone gets jitters or have had some white knuckle experiences. Maybe I should start with a conversion van & work my way up or just hire a chauffer

Can't wait to get to the point where I can give my stories - - - I'm working on it, but may not be for this year yet but I'll keep reading & learning from you ladies.

Many thanks all around!