RV Transport Services Need Drivers

An industry business journal, RV Business, reports that RV manufacturers are looking at huge backlogs of new rigs waiting to go to dealers. The problem? Not enough folks willing to transport RVs across the country. What's required? For many firms, a 3/4 ton or one ton pickup, and experience in pulling trailers.

How does a transporter job work? You pick up a trailer at the plant and tow it to the designated delivery location. Drivers are generally paid by the mile, and are responsible for all of their own costs, including fuel. So how does that work out in practice? One transporter firm, Horizon, says its drivers working out of Coburg, Oregon average a "gross profit" (after deducting fuel costs) of about $81 on a one-day, less than 500 mile job, up to $1132 for a 4-day 2,000 mile job. Keep in mind you'll required to get yourself and your truck back to wherever you want to go next.

Transporters also do "drive aways" taking motorhomes to dealers. For this same firm, gross profit figures for these folks range from a little over $100 for a day-long less than 500 mile trip out to a little over $800 for a 4-day 2,000 mile job.

How do you find a job as an RV transporter? Do an internet search (we like Google) using the keywords, "RV transporters wanted."

Truck photo: jde-07 from flickr.com

Whatcha Do With Your Time? How About Teaching?

While Glen and Rose Woods aren't fulltimers yet, they have a giving spirit that so typifies many who do live the fulltime lifestyle. Ardent snowbirds, this couple from Canada calls Mexico home when the ice and snow turns their northland stomping ground too chilly for their liking.

But they don't just spend their winters hanging out in margarita bars--they spend their spare moments teaching English as a second language to both students--and teachers--of the language. They aren't alone: Volunteers make up the staff of this little school in Lo de Marcos, just north of Puerto Vallarta. And the curriculum in this unusual classroom isn't all about English: Others teach computer skills, arts and crafts, and other subjects that the south-of-the-border young people clammor for.

Learn more about the Woods' experience, and reflect: You probably know something that you can pass along to others. The fulltime lifestyle makes it a natural.

External Wifi Antenna Can Make the Difference

One of the difficulties that a lot of fulltimers complain about is internet connectivity. While satellite internet can make a huge difference, it does have its own set of problems: Expense, complexity, and in some cases, technical know-how. While we do use satellite when we're in one place for an extended time frame, dragging out the tripod and locating the satellite makes using it on a spur-of-the-moment basis out of the question.

Many of us turn to wifi when traveling. With so many free wifi hotspots popping up around the country, it's a natural for us. Nevertheless, you've got to be close enough to the wifi carrier to make the connection. Not everyone wants to drag the laptop into the coffee shop; it's nice to be able to work out of the rig. Still distance issues cause trouble.

Enter the external wifi antenna. Properly equipped you can extend your connectivity by several factors. What do you need? An appropriate external wifi antenna mounted on your rig, a connecting cable (often run through the slide out gasket), and a wifi card with a suitable external antenna fitting to mate up to the cable.

When looking for an external antenna, you'll have a choice between directional antennas, and omnidirectional antennas. The directional antenna needs to be "pointed" at the source of your wifi signal--which may be good if you're parked long enough to get up to the antenna and take the time to point it precisely. A directional antenna is by far the best when dealing with great distances to the wifi provider. However, an omnidirectional antenna works (theoretically) equally well in all directions, albeit useful for shorter distances. That's probably a whole lot better for those of us who move frequently.

Here's a link to RadioLabs, Inc, who sells an omnidirectional antenna that may be right for you. BY ALL MEANS they are NOT the only internet seller of external wifi antennas, but they do illustrate what you might be looking for. If you're unsure, look for a local provider of external wifi antennas (check local computer stores for referrals) and have them show you on your own computer how an antenna could work for you. For the technical at heart, here's a great discussion of "gain" relative to antennas, and what that means in practical terms.

Never Stop Learning--RV Seminar in BC

One of the great things about the fulltime--make that "anytime"--RV lifestyle is the constant learning. If not from your travels, then sometimes from your travails. There's so many "things" about RVing that you need to know.

Enter the "RV Owners Lifestyle Seminar 2007" in Kelowna, B.C., Canada. With three full days of RV classes, and four nights dry camping on the campus of Okanagan College, this one should prove to be a hit. Choose from over 40 different topics (you'll need to narrow it down, there's only 11 class slots per attendee), you'll surely find things you need to know. Here are some examples:

Appliance maintenance. Cooking on the road. GPS navigation for RVers. Motorhome towing tips and fundamentals. The list, as you can imagine, goes on. At a cost of $150 (Canadian) per person, this may be one of the biggest education bargains around. But beware! Registration firmly closes on May 21 for the classes, which run from June 23 through 25. Find out more about the seminar and register at http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/rvlife/Index.htm.

Sell the House to Full Time?

One of the key critical issues for those considering the fulltime lifestyle is whether or not to sell the "land locked" home. It's not only a financial and physical question, it also touches deeply on the heart. After all, you may have raised the kids here, cultivated friendships, and seen important milestones. Much must be weighed in the balance.

Many have found "selling" to be helpful. They point out they no longer have property taxes and insurance to pay, no worries about maintenance and upkeep while on the road. They don't fret what vandals or burglars may do in their absence. Sale of the house for some makes the purchase of a traveling rig possible.

On the other hand, some point out that keeping the home has its advantages. If good quality renters can be found, keeping the house can serve as an investment and provide needed income. Others leave the house empty, but for their furniture or other possessions they have no room for in the rig. Some feel safer, always having a "home base" to return to if something doesn't pan out on the road.

Making the move to the fulltime lifestyle is not something to be considered lightly. Individual circumstances vary. Some take a middle-of-the-road approach and hang onto the house for some time, seeing how they adjust to road living. Then, if things are going well, they eventually sell their old homestead and stick with the road life, tucking away the proceeds from their home sale in a safe investment, hedging against life's uncertainties.