Any full timers in a GMC?
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Thanks for that link, unfortunately i don't have facebook.Log into Facebook
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This forum thing is as deep into ‘social media‘ as i get.
That is just as well. Ask questions at these two forums and you can get good answers on the first try.
Matt
Matt
My wife always alludes to the possibility of me living "full time" in the GMC
We spent 5 months in our GMC last year and will do 4 months this summer. We trade heavy stuff OMG where will we store all this crap questions for light stuff where will we poke this thing questions. On one end we're desperately trying to downsize within a two and a half story prairie foresquare and on the other end we're trying to find a place to tuck extra toilet paper. Not the same problems in scale or importance. It helps that we love each other and have many years of being with each other 24/7. That said, after 50 years of marriage the best time we spend is exploring in our GMC. Not for everyone, so YMMV.
There is at least a dozen+
Some try and fail every few years.
Know many that spend 3-4+
Months traveling in one each year.
Some try and fail every few years.
Know many that spend 3-4+
Months traveling in one each year.
Me and my family (wife, 2kids) just started living in our‘s full time. We hit the road a few weeks ago and are making our way up the west coast right now.
Brian,
We all wish you the best of luck.
I know it can be done, but it will require a lot of patience on everybody's part.
May I suggest that you think about talking to all about allowing another (especially the cook) to "Monopolize the Core" and the others just work on not being in the way.
My experience came from being "Live Aboards" on a 13 ton ketch. It had about the same living space as a 26' coach but we were parents, 3 kids (I was youngest) and a woolly dog. You have out side, but we had deck space.
Matt
We all wish you the best of luck.
I know it can be done, but it will require a lot of patience on everybody's part.
May I suggest that you think about talking to all about allowing another (especially the cook) to "Monopolize the Core" and the others just work on not being in the way.
My experience came from being "Live Aboards" on a 13 ton ketch. It had about the same living space as a 26' coach but we were parents, 3 kids (I was youngest) and a woolly dog. You have out side, but we had deck space.
Matt
I dream about full-timing in the GMC with my wife after retirement, but lately that seems further and further away the way the market is going and inflation.
I _think_ the secret to doing it and not going broke buying fuel will be to spend time in one area at least a week or two, then move a bit and repeat.
Once we get the offspring up and running, at least the youngest one off to her last couple year of college, I'd like to pull stakes and go full time on the road. That's my dream anyway.
I _think_ the secret to doing it and not going broke buying fuel will be to spend time in one area at least a week or two, then move a bit and repeat.
Once we get the offspring up and running, at least the youngest one off to her last couple year of college, I'd like to pull stakes and go full time on the road. That's my dream anyway.
Thanks Matt. It’s been quite the learning experience so far. We’re all figuring out how to give each other space in here. It’s a challenge for sure, but worth the work.
I don't see myself ever being a full time RV'er. Especially in a GMC given it's size - I need more room. But I do admire those who can pull it off. HOWEVER - I am hoping to be able to take long and sometimes unscheduled trips to destinations unknown once I retire.
For those of you who have or are full timing, what recommendations do you have for your fellow GMC'rs should we decide to jump into that adventure.
For those of you who have or are full timing, what recommendations do you have for your fellow GMC'rs should we decide to jump into that adventure.
My in-laws started out 3 months in their 5th wheel. Then 5 months. And this past year they sold their home and are now full timing it. Granted they have a very large 5th wheel at 45 feet long, but they actually only have one bed in that thing compared to my gmc’s 4 beds.
The things theybget to do and see right now makes one jealous as they have been gone since august. Maybe 2 weeks max in one spot, but jow they are setup 40’ from the ocean in keywest until Christmas time. They have a summer trip to alaska in the future and will be all over the place.
I could see full timing in the gmc because one could make sure you are traveling in fair weather where there is never a need to be inside…. I will be avoiding being outside now here in MN until next april.
haha yea it’s definitely cold out here right now. We’re in Oregon and the nights can be frigid. We have the furnace going and a small electric heater for the bedroom. It’s not so bad.
Overall though I think you really get some true understanding on your rig when you’re in it every day and night. That part is actually kind of fun. You get to tinker and adjust and personalize your GMC.
Overall though I think you really get some true understanding on your rig when you’re in it every day and night. That part is actually kind of fun. You get to tinker and adjust and personalize your GMC.
We got Chaumière in September 2006. Just 2 of us then. Because of a hold-up we didn't get out of SE Mich until early October. We were headed for my long term dream destination of Yellowstone. We had some early issues but nothing that required tools I didn't and stops at hardware stores provided what was needed. Suffice it to say that there was still a lot about GMCs that I did not know - even with all I did know. We made it to Elgin Il and found a place for the night that I could "grab wire" (very old term for finding wireless internet access) and quickly learned that Yellowstone was expecting 8" of snow that night. This was really bad news to me because one thing I did know about GMCs was that snow was not their thing. (That had one at Thetford when I worked there and they would not even allow anybody to sign it out in snowy weather.) So, we sat at the dinette and made a new plan. We went on to Barraboo and Duluth, then across the UP and down the western coast of Michigan at a leisurely pace. It was cold. We killed the propane tank about every third day. The water heater was electric only and nearly useless. At one of the two campgrounds we actually stayed in, I left the water hose out over night. The delayed the morning departure while I figured out how to deal with a 25' iron bar. With near zero planning, we were on the road about two weeks and still very much in love with each other and the coach.
We have since done several six week excursions. These require planning a laundry day and some other issues like the longest mail hold I can actually get is 5 weeks and that only if you hit the month at the right time. With that and some grace period, 6 weeks is about it. Mary's work schedule used to be the limiter, but that employer fixed that for us. They cut work hour at that location and then benefits to the point it was less than a break even with here social security. Not even a hard choice.
If you really want to full-time, you can find a way. I do have to leave my lathe and car lift at home, but I don't miss them all that much.
Matt
We have since done several six week excursions. These require planning a laundry day and some other issues like the longest mail hold I can actually get is 5 weeks and that only if you hit the month at the right time. With that and some grace period, 6 weeks is about it. Mary's work schedule used to be the limiter, but that employer fixed that for us. They cut work hour at that location and then benefits to the point it was less than a break even with here social security. Not even a hard choice.
If you really want to full-time, you can find a way. I do have to leave my lathe and car lift at home, but I don't miss them all that much.
Matt
I haven't 'full-timed', or even own a GMC yet.
I have taken some pretty extended trips (2 months) in a VW Vanagon and a soft side truck camper.
I've driven to and camped at the Arctic Circle in Alaska (Circle) and the southern border of Mexico (Bacalar).
I didn't have house AC or particularly good insulation in either rig, so my climate control was the steering wheel and weather forecast. Keeping overnight lows between 32F and 60F makes things pretty comfortable.
Lots of our friends commented on how my wife and I were able to spend so long around each other. 24/7 for months at a time. Seemed normal to us but certainly something to consider.
We met several couples that had been on the road for years. One of the best tips shared with us was that everything needs to have more than one use. That seems simple enough, but I think it's more about simplifying life and not trying to take it all with you.
My parents are old school and travel 'heavy'. They had everything. They kept buying bigger rigs and filling them up. Their last one was a 40' Monaco pusher. My friend has a 45' Newell.
We came to the realization that most things can be fixed with a credit card (or pocketful of cash). Even not having the right shirt or pair of shoes. I'm a mechanic so I don't spend much on repairs.
I have taken some pretty extended trips (2 months) in a VW Vanagon and a soft side truck camper.
I've driven to and camped at the Arctic Circle in Alaska (Circle) and the southern border of Mexico (Bacalar).
I didn't have house AC or particularly good insulation in either rig, so my climate control was the steering wheel and weather forecast. Keeping overnight lows between 32F and 60F makes things pretty comfortable.
Lots of our friends commented on how my wife and I were able to spend so long around each other. 24/7 for months at a time. Seemed normal to us but certainly something to consider.
We met several couples that had been on the road for years. One of the best tips shared with us was that everything needs to have more than one use. That seems simple enough, but I think it's more about simplifying life and not trying to take it all with you.
My parents are old school and travel 'heavy'. They had everything. They kept buying bigger rigs and filling them up. Their last one was a 40' Monaco pusher. My friend has a 45' Newell.
We came to the realization that most things can be fixed with a credit card (or pocketful of cash). Even not having the right shirt or pair of shoes. I'm a mechanic so I don't spend much on repairs.
