Anyone Here Live Full Time In An RV And Work?

[Chris Travels]

Hey everyone! Thank you for checking my post. My name is Chris and I am considering a career in forestry. I have been researching online articles/this board for some time now and it seems as though I would really enjoy this field of work.

I wanted to reach out and ask if anyone in this career is living and working full time in an RV. For example, while searching potential jobs, I continuously find 1-4 week long assignments throughout the West Coast. It seems to me, and please correct me if I am wrong, that one could travel the country picking up work assigments. I am currently living and traveling full time in an RV now working as a video producer and social media marketer. However, I am looking for a mix of working online and getting out into the wild. Additionally, I do not want a lifelong career as a video producer or marketer, this work is simply not fullfilling. I feel as though forestry is a career that I would be fulfilled by.

Is this a naive view into the field or do you feel as though this would be possible? Any insights or experiences, personal or vicarious, would be greatly appreciated.

Chris

[Sixacresand]

We have retired friends that sold their house/place and are now full time RVers. They regularly post pictures of their current front yard.  The life style works for them but I'm sure it is not without challenges.   

[Ljohnsaw]

Just a thought.  Are you open to the idea of getting whatever it takes to be a lumber grader?  I'm on the west coast and it seems that there are NO lumber graders in California available for hire.  They all are working for the mills.  Seems like a conflict of interest to me, but I digress.  I did some looking around and the closest was up in Oregon.  It would cost me a minimum of $600 for a day's work.  That seems like pretty good pay and with an RV as a place to stay, your expenses would sure be lower.  I'm not saying you could make this a full time gig, but it could fill in the gaps.

[Don P]

A grader either works for a mill or for the overseeing grading agencies, both want a long term full time employee. My wife and I worked on the road living in an rv, building log homes for a dozen or so years. We came in and settled down when it was time to be caregivers. I enjoyed it most of the time, we got to travel around and see the country and yet plop down into a community for several months and get a real feel for it. We also planted trees for a number of years out of the camper, just pull up on the logging deck and a few hundred acres of arrowheads were ours for the finding.

[Chris Travels]

Just a thought.  Are you open to the idea of getting whatever it takes to be a lumber grader?  I'm on the west coast and it seems that there are NO lumber graders in California available for hire.  They all are working for the mills.  Seems like a conflict of interest to me, but I digress.  I did some looking around and the closest was up in Oregon.  It would cost me a minimum of $600 for a day's work.  That seems like pretty good pay and with an RV as a place to stay, your expenses would sure be lower.  I'm not saying you could make this a full time gig, but it could fill in the gaps.

This is an interesting aspect of my search. One of the benefits I am noticing with the forester profession is flexibility with the degree. I would for certain get my grader creational if I continue forward. I am still having a very hard time finding anyone who has done the rv lifestyle as a forester. I may try calling the USFS and trying to connect with someone there.

Chris

[Ljohnsaw]

Just a thought.  Are you open to the idea of getting whatever it takes to be a lumber grader?  I'm on the west coast and it seems that there are NO lumber graders in California available for hire.  They all are working for the mills.  Seems like a conflict of interest to me, but I digress.  I did some looking around and the closest was up in Oregon.  It would cost me a minimum of $600 for a day's work.  That seems like pretty good pay and with an RV as a place to stay, your expenses would sure be lower.  I'm not saying you could make this a full time gig, but it could fill in the gaps.

This is an interesting aspect of my search. One of the benefits I am noticing with the forester profession is flexibility with the degree. I would for certain get my grader credential if I continue forward. I am still having a very hard time finding anyone who has done the rv lifestyle as a forester. I may try calling the USFS and trying to connect with someone there.

Chris

Chris, I just noticed your profile and that you already are a full-time RVer (even though you stated that in your OP - I miss little things like that... :).  So, I'm assuming you like the lifestyle.  What's the issue?  Finding work?  Where/how you chose to live shouldn't be an issue with your employer.  Having the ability to live comfortably close to your work site and/or job assignments would be great!  Your potential employer should be grateful that they wouldn't have to put you up in a hotel for travel assignments!

[Chris Travels]

Just a thought.  Are you open to the idea of getting whatever it takes to be a lumber grader?  I'm on the west coast and it seems that there are NO lumber graders in California available for hire.  They all are working for the mills.  Seems like a conflict of interest to me, but I digress.  I did some looking around and the closest was up in Oregon.  It would cost me a minimum of $600 for a day's work.  That seems like pretty good pay and with an RV as a place to stay, your expenses would sure be lower.  I'm not saying you could make this a full time gig, but it could fill in the gaps.

This is an interesting aspect of my search. One of the benefits I am noticing with the forester profession is flexibility with the degree. I would for certain get my grader credential if I continue forward. I am still having a very hard time finding anyone who has done the rv lifestyle as a forester. I may try calling the USFS and trying to connect with someone there.

Chris

Chris, I just noticed your profile and that you already are a full-time RVer (even though you stated that in your OP - I miss little things like that... :).  So, I'm assuming you like the lifestyle.  What's the issue?  Finding work?  Where/how you chose to live shouldn't be an issue with your employer.  Having the ability to live comfortably close to your work site and/or job assignments would be great!  Your potential employer should be grateful that they wouldn't have to put you up in a hotel for travel assignments!

Thanks for the reply! Yes, I absolutely love the lifestyle and that is why I am looking into forestry. I want a career that I can grow in, enjoy and be fulfilled. Believe it or not, it is actually EXTREMELY hard to find a job that pays well and is totally mobile other than web development/software design. Not that those careers are not something I have considered, I just do not want to sit in front of my computer all day. Forestry brings in the outdoor aspect, flexibility and pay that I desire. Finding an employer that would hire me for work along the West coast would be ideal, the USFS seems to be a good option from what I am finding.

Alas, like I mentioned before, my only option to find a solid answer seems to be a series of phone calls. I will start calling around the USFS tomorrow.

Chris

[Chris Travels]

I wanted to report in and let anyone know who may search this topic so I can share my findings.

Working for the USFS is the best option for long term assignments. They typically do not hire short term due to federal hiring practices. So, unless I wanted to stay in one spot for long periods of time, this was not for me.

Working state by state is a different matter. For example, if I wanted to do forestry tech work I could be hired on for a short term assignment. There are not many short term assignments like I was looking for (1-4 weeks) but there are 3 month long assignments.

Two aspects I need to get figured out:

1- How will the upcoming administration deal with the State Park System?

2- Do I get my bachelors or associates. I already have a bachelors so both would be a two year process.

Chris