From the desk of Firedude
More full-time “what if’s”….
I discussed a serious side pertaining to medical and health related “what if’s” in Part 1 and now I’ll address a
few more here.
One of the “what if’s” is what happens when you break down and need repairs and can’t stay in the rig at the shop? Well first of all hopefully it will never happen. Secondly check your full-time insurance coverage (you have that right?) Mine with Progressive has an emergency expense clause. What that does is pay? $750 (per incident) toward motel, incidentals, meals, rental car and things like that. In most cases you’ll have your tow vehicle or toad so you won’t have the expense of the rental car leaving you the full amount for lodging, food and whatever. That should really carry you a ways if your repairs take longer you have a serious problem. Also make it clear to the service manager that you are full-time and being displaced so they don’t take their sweet time and check in with them every day! Make sure you have proper full-timer insurance coverage! Many think they do and are shocked to find otherwise. The two major repairs I had done I planned and had the work done near family and was only “out of home” for 3 nights the first time and 2 the second. I stayed with family on both occasions and it wasn’t a problem really.
Peace of mind plays a big part in alleviating many of the fears of full-timing and as I mentioned above having the proper full-timers insurance coverage plays a big role in that peace of mind. So many that I’ve met thought with the insurance of their tow vehicle they were covered just fine and those with motor homes and regular auto type policies thought the same. There is a huge difference. Full-timers insurance is basically “home owners” insurance. Research it and find out. Protect you and your assets. So I have my regular auto insurance and I’m covered. I always have that. “What If” you are unhitched and a disastrous fire strikes while you are out for the day on a sight seeing trip? Does your regular auto policy cover that. Most likely not. How about your contents? cover that? Most likely not. Well “what if” I am camping and go to lunch and come back to find out a tree came down in the wind? covered with you auto policy? Most likely not! Regular auto policies are good for comp and collision. “What if” your RV was destroyed for whatever reason will your auto type policy replace the RV? No it will not. If it’s totaled they give you current market value much like on a car. In my case after the first 5 years they give me the full purchase price I paid for the RV. The first 5 years they would have replaced it with a current years model! Auto policies do not do that. A lot of other factors/coverage come into play. If you aren’t familiar with full-timers insurance go research and educate yourself now!
What if I leave all my friends behind? I hear this a lot. Well to be honest I have made more friends in my 6 years full-timing than I had my entire career. I have more friends than I know what to do with! For my friends back home? I make a point of going there to visit family and friends as often as I want. In fact I’m here now until the end of the year, then back on the road. I found when I was hosting that many of my REAL friends would come over and camp and we’d have a great time visiting, BBQ’ing and all. In many cases I’ve seen more of my “original” friends now that I’m on the road!?
What if a family member becomes ill and needs me such as a parent or child? This was a no brainer for me. I simply hitched up and headed to where I needed to be. Once there I found a place to stay whether it be on family property or in a park. This way I have my home with me and all my stuff and I’m good to go as long as needed. Basically the same thing as if something was to happen to you or your spouse which I discussed in Part 1.
The ones I like to bring up are the very positive ones I call them……..
What if….
I don’t have to pay a mortgage and property taxes anymore?
I don’t have to mow the grass and upkeep the place anymore?
I don’t have to pay high utility bills anymore.
I can’t sit there looking at the same view out the backyard window?
I had let all this time slip by?
More in Part 3……….
Tony Cornett
1. If you have access to to a 30 amp outlet sure you can use it. if the outlet is only the household regular 3 pronged plug then you’ll need the common adapter that goes from your RV cord the the normal household plug. You can get those most everywhere. Also be sure to use a 30 amp rated cord for such. In other words if you need to extend your RV power cord to reach the power just be sure it is rated for the 30 amps.
2. As far as metering your usage? yep you can get a Kill O Watt meter. You should be able to Google it just fine ans they are not expensive. I have one and have used it many times. It plugs into your power source and the you’d plug your Rv into it. Now for this you’d need the adapter I mentioned above as the meter only has standard house 3 pronged plug sockets on it.
http://the-gadgeteer.com/review/kill_a_watt_electric_usage_monitor_review
Hope this helps…….. firedude
http://firedude.thefiredude.com
Curt
What if….I have to do some driveway camping?
Their is a 30 amp outlet that I can plug into…but no meter…is their a product that I can buy or build that will monitor my kw’s while I’m parked in the driveway. Something that I can plug into the 30 amp outlet and into my RV.