This was posted in our RVing Over 70 Facebook group, where it is drawing many comments. But we think it’s a question on the minds of many RVers who are well into their senior years. When is it time to quit RVing?
Here is the post from the Facebook group:
I am a cancer and hospice survivor. I have done very well with the exception of heart disease, which I am very careful with. I do exercise every day, often walking 3 miles. I ride my E-bike every day, even though I’m not supposed to (I get dizzy spells when I push too hard).
Today I was putting my boat on its trailer when I slipped and fell off my tailgate, fell several feet, hit a dock and ended up in the lake. I was on my back and could not move. Fortunately, the water did not cover my face or I would have drowned.
Several people came and helped me out and I went to the local hospital. My arm is broken and my hip is fractured but not severely. I will recover.
My question to the group is, when do we pull the plug? I will be 76 in October and I always travel alone. I still have 4 states to see.
What do you think?
If you are getting “up there” in years, do you think about giving up RVing or will you keep going until …. ??? What advice would you give to anyone who is questioning their own RVing future? We will follow up in a week or two with our editors’ thoughts and some of your own from the comments.
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78 now with no plans to stop full-timing until I am no longer able to do it! Travel solo in my 19 foot TT. Still bike, hike and kayak and love it!
Over 21 years full time. I want to continue until May 3rd, 2028 (25 years full time). I will turn 80 shortly after that. This will be my 20th winter in Quartzsite where I own a lot. Most of the people I know there have died or can’t come back for medical reasons. I still own my house in FL but I dread the summers there. I really don’t have many friends there any longer. Not sure what I will do there.
Stay in Quartzsite- dry and comfortable.
My thoughts are always on “what’s next?” You retire from something, but you also retire to something; always looking forward. I ask friends and family, “what are your plans for the future,” which usually elicits copious blank stares. At 77, after a career in aviation, I now treat myself to continued RV travel with my Flagstaff Micro Lite trailer. My mission? Places to photograph wildlife. Places to meet up with good friends. Places I’ve never seen before, within the limitations of towing the trailer. I will continue learning as much as possible while the brain still works. Why not, with YouTube videos? It’s all there for the learning. Most especially time with my beautiful family!
I say keep traveling and enjoying our Beautiful Country as long as YOU feel comfortable doing it!!
Anyone could have slipped off the tailgate, (maybe you need grippier shoes for boating?).
There are many little tasks that are getting tougher while rv ing. Crawling under a coach to slip some wood under the jacks, or even washing the windshield during a fuel stop. But I keep pushing myself , slowly and if the time comes, I will know. I have better glasses to see, a few meds to monitor, and no drinking a few days before a long drive. Keeping my reactions sharp is also important.
I have also asked others around me to help once or twice. Most folks are great !
I am 82 my wife is 83 we have worked all our lives and have no hobbies. So we are working full-time now to do some things we want to do. When all is paid for we plan to volunteer at Wildlife Refuge jobs. We will hang up the keys when we feel we are not safe on the road.
I too am seventy six. Fortunately my health is good . I am still able to do most anything I want, it just takes a little longer, and the pain from arthritis, and spinal stenosis seems to be getting worse. Both shoulders have rotator cuff issues. Problem is my mind knows I am seventy six, but I don’t think seventy six. I like my Dad have many things left to do. My Dad died at sixty seven. He had plans that would have taken at least another fifty years to complete, with more coming every day. My wife retired at fifty five and never looked back. She was ready and knew it. For me, I do not know what the answer is. I am still trying to figure it out.
The answer is right in front of you. There’s so much to do. Like your wife, I never looked back because there so many enjoyable things.
I’m 75, part-timer, good health. I’ve towed well over 40,000 miles and enjoyed seeing the country. I could stop RVing now and not miss it. There’s so much to do that would be enjoyable. My wife’s not ready to stop.
The RV has the amenities of home, but not the comfort of home. It’s a fragile home that constantly needs maintenance. I can walk out of the house and have unlimited activities. RVing limits my ability to enjoy hunting, fishing, biking (not battery), hiking, ball games, Pickleball, at a moment’s notice. I’m not a campfire and sitting around type person, hoping someone comes by to talk.
I’m 72 and just bought a new Nautica motorhome and I plan on using it for at least 10 years or more. I’m in good health, and the ladies in my family don’t give up driving till after 90 so I got a few more years to go to travel and see the states.
Thank you, Chuck! 🙂 I do not know whence came “the boat,” but it seems as though selling it might be needed. I do not know enough to say for sure, but the described event seems to imply “the boat” should go. Additionally, a travel companion, perhaps slightly younger, seems needed. The companion need not be the same on every trip, but, given what happened, it seems that two folks clearly will be better than one. Seventy-six seems young enough to RV for years to come, but some 60-somethings are feeble and some octogenarians are robust. I do not know where the comment writer falls in this continuum, but he seems more robust than feeble. Thanks again, have a great day and safe travels! 🙂
I am 75 and COVID ruined everything for me. Cost of diesel and all else. Crazy behaviors everywhere. Arthritis, too. Don’t travel as far due to expense. Looking for a summer home in the mountains and sell the motorhome. Motorhome has begun to seem cramped.
I retired @ 65, my 4-yr-younger wife 1 1/2 yrs later. During that interim, I’d set up our Airstream on Thur & she’d come out until Mon morning. After she retired, we bought a 32’ Tiffin, hit the road & sold the house while traveling. 11 yrs later, after volunteering @ 7 Ntl Pks, 25 State Pks, 5 NWRs & 4 Nature Conservancy properties, all across the Western states, we decided to hang in one place. Medical entered into it, somewhat, but mostly we’d run out of enthusiasm to keep hooking seasons together – it had become less fun/more work to do so. We still work in support of public lands, just from a stationary home.
Even though it seems that older people are working longer to just survive these days. RVing isn’t an inexpensive sport. We are taking our first big trip (5 months) summer of 2025. Eventually it will come down to finances as we will not sell our house to travel. So that said we will most likely travel in the RV until we are 70.
I don’t think one must necessarily give up RVing, at any age. Changing how we RV though, may be the real issue.
With an increased popularity In RVing, And of people who’ve turned to RVs as a place to full-time live, new resources have become available to the aging RV’er. A couple of years ago, my mom, in her 70s, Went diving with us in a separate RV. We had a company take that RV out and set it up for her, and then pick it up and take it away when she was done. The things that we used to do in order to prep our equipment, will likely at one point if we live long enough will surpass our ability to perform. It doesn’t mean we have to stop, just find new ways.
I agree. Good advice.
DITTO. Same experience without the toil.
We started FT when I retired at 55. I’m now 74 and going strong, Thank God. My wife, however, has developed health issues and is afraid to leave doctors. My life of travel and adventure is over. We’re building a house.
I’m 76 and have no plans at this time to quit dragging my trailer around to places that I enjoy. I retired the first time 21 years ago and have since been through prostate and rectal cancer, and now I have a blood problem that I regularly see an oncologist about. I’ll quit when my body says enough is enough, but till then I intend on living my life, not stuck in a chair looking out the window seeing other folks going about life and my only life being just having a pulse.
Having “retired” (run out of gigs) several years ago, my main interest has been traveling. However, my wife can no longer travel (or even get into our Class B), and I don’t want to go without her; it would feel like abandonment. My problem is that there are still lots of road trips that I want to take, and nothing at home to interest me. My greatest dread is the day I have to hang up the keys, though at 89, that day seems to be looming. It is a serious dilemma.
🙁
I’m 70 years old and I camp host at SC State Parks. When it gets to the point where I feel that I can no longer enjoy or can do the job or enjoy just camping, then I will sell my camper and stop.
We retired at 65 and sold everything and went on the road for 8 full years. Loved every minute of it. 3 years ago we bought a home with a covered RV spot attached and began “part-timing” – 6 mos/6 mos. That turned into 8 mos home/4 mos on the road, then 9 & 3. Now he’s talking about selling the RV. He’s 81 and I will be 79. We are both in good health, but it is getting more tedious to hook & unhook, tend to all the maintenance, etc. We’ve camped in all the lower 48 states and visited the other 2 several times. We are very active in our new community (2000 lots) and have a full life. We won’t ever give up traveling, but probably go back to staying in B&Bs like we did prior.
I am 85 years old. I’ve rv’d for over 50 years and plan to continue as long as it is safe for me to do so. I’ve downsized to a small 21 ft travel trailer set up to dry camp with 400 watts of solar. I’ll use it for camping and fishing. It’s getting harder to do maintenance on any RV, But I still do most of it although a bit slower. Setting up is not a chore so far. I will go as long as I can. Maybe in another 5 years. LoL!
I have mobility problems but still love rv’ing and boating. We have many wonderful friends who help me out with doing things to the rig and boat. They make it possible for us to enjoy this lifestyle. I guess someday it will stop being that way for some reason but until then we love this life. I will not hang up the keys unless someone forces me to.
I’m thankful that you have people helping to keep you active. But, waiting to be “forced out” is the wrong attitude, Drew, and could get you into trouble someday.
Drew
Your body will tell you when its time to stop , misjudgments, putting your foot on the brake in an emergency situation , eye sight , backing up , not able to do hook ups for toad . Use good common sense before you hurt someone .
At 88 and 58th Anniv last week, I feel no older than 10-15 years ago. However with arthritis and stenosis in my lower back it is getting more difficult to do the motor home maint. and upkeep. My wife can no longer travel, even to her Dr.’s. So the “fun” of Rving has diminished. However, Rv’s have been an incredible hobby and adventure since retiring some 25 years ago – which I tho’t I would never do; to some extent I haven’t as I am an elected Township officer in my 49th year – while not a hobby as such it keeps me busy a great deal of time, as does this newsletter! So – keeping the old man out and keep on truckin’ are slogans of the years future. My advice: retire to a hobby not a chair
Well, in my mind it is NOT about your age, but more about your physical and mental well being. For example, I was an avid motorcyclist having owned and ridden all kinds, even long rides to Sturgis, for example. And then one day, something just didn’t feel right with balancing at a stop sign. So, quit and sold them all.
I had an uncle that drove his 36′ Class-A well into his 80’s, and could backup and park that rig anywhere, never needing assistance. Until he got sick and couldn’t.
So, if you start scraping things, hitting things, or can’t seem to understand what’s going on when backing up … it’s definitely time to hang up the keys! You don’t want to push it further.
I am 76 and usually travel with my 3 small dogs. I drive a 17′ class B Roadtrek and don’t tow anything. Sometimes I take my eTrike. It is a very easy camper to setup, easy to drive, only slightly bigger than my SUV. My health is mostly good and I have my wits so for now I’m fine.
Just like a President, it has zero to do with age. It has 100% to do with capabilities- both mental and physical.
We know rv full timers in their 80’s that are strong, vital and moving on.
We also have relatives in their 60’s whose kids took their keys to their cars because of lack of cognitive ability.
If you are rational and responsible you can make that decision. You know what you are able to do. Maybe downsize first. Simply be responsible.
I’m on the cusp of 70 – dh is not far behind. We’ve been wondering the same thing. Have we seen everything we want to see? Heavens know. However, the travel days seem to be getting a bit longer. Set-up takes a bit longer too. And so does taking everything down to travel. We’re in good physical health, thank the Lord.
Perhaps we’re just weary of the traveling part. We still love to visit National Parks, State parks and everything in between. So what do we do?
We’re planning on taking some time off, work camping somewhere. Dh has put in several applications – no permanent home anywhere. This will also give us the opportunity to save up for traveling or finding a home.
Sounds like you still have RV-ing in your blood! When you heal up and get ready to roll again have a friend go with you so you are not alone. My feeling is that you could keep traveling but traveling alone is not a good idea. Also, what do your doctors say about it? Good luck to you, I hope you get to see the 4 states left on your list.
I suggest if you are able to go, just be more careful, do less strenous things, and see those 4 states first! Hope you can!
I am relatively young at 67 and new to RVing. There are so many places to which I want to travel and certainly more that I yet do not know about. My dream since third grade has been to travel cross country. I will retire from RVing when my bride is no longer able or desires to, when physical limitations or mental faculties are compromised, or when financial resources are longer available, whichever comes first.
With a 2020 split from a 48 year marriage, I’m currently looking to replace the Class C that I sold 3 years ago. I’m looking for a nice class B so that I may continue to see some places that have been on my bucket list. I do have a travel partner, a person that I had lost track of when we were just 16. We recently hooked up again after 58 years and we do travel well together. We are both in very good health, of course there’s the usual joint pain and I do have an artificial valve. We are hoping to get some real travel time in before “old age”really does catch up with us. Happy travels to all of us seniors who now have the time and good health to do so! Happy life to all others!
I wrote before and the article was trashed. I retired and thought I had retired from RVing. No!!! Had a rig of one kind or another from 1966 to 2018. Had 2 RV trailers, a B, a C, a Gas A, and 2 diesel pushers a3 2 footer and a 40 footer which we lived in. We visited all states with except Hawaii, and nearly all Provinces in Canada we could reach via paved road. I also was in Alaska for 16 years. I have been retired in 2002 from employment. bought a B+ in 2024 which is 23 Ft. long on a Ford Gas to look at AZ and NM. I just have not retired and am 85 years old.
We have driven cross country every year since 2002. We had just turned 60. When we got tired of continual wandering we joined Jojoba Hills SKP Resort in 2015. I have satisfied my need to contribute to community by applying my interest in finance and management to the working of the volunteer operated coop. My wife has had a couple of bad falls but has recovered each time. She is still the co-driver of our 36′ DP. Travel time is slower and shorter. But we crossed the country in April and are visiting our family 500 miles from our summer home base. We recognize that our RVing days are nearing an end, not because of a number, but because our interests are changing.
I’m 77 now, with a host of medical issues, but with the help of the VA and medications I can carry on. Unfortunately my wife’s medical issues prevent us from traveling together. She can tell when my “Hitch Itch” is getting the best of me and kicks me out for a month or so of RVing. The day will come when I won’t be able to leave her on her own, but until then, we have an arrangement that works for us.
I’m 77, but with good genes my health is reasonably good, cancer survivor, no medications, still have good night vision, able to do whatever I want, just not as fast or as long. My wife is only 70 also in good health but her vision is deteriorating to the point she is no longer comfortable driving the RV. We sold our house last year, are full-timing, and have no plans to stop for at least three to four years, although we have an eye on a life care retirement community to move into when we decide it’s time. Meantime we both are still working part time on the road – no plans to stop that either.
I’ve never liked night driving. Can’t see anything interesting. Safer for everyone to drive during daylight.
I’m 85 and still wanting to continue RVing a bit longer. I had been doing massage therapy for 34 years but a bowling hand injury helped me quit and I seriously miss trying to help people. My S.O. doesn’t like driving the truck pulling the 5th wheel. He does help doing the set-up and tear-down work though. When to quit? When I stop enjoying our escapes. Next year I want to go every month — somewhere. Our 20-year-old 5th wheel and Ford 250 truck are still going strong as well as me, the driver. So be it for a while longer.
Dad drove a motor home to Florida every Winter from north PA. He continued this until he was 92 driving maybe 4-5 hours a day. He and his wife had much fun. My mother and he drove the motor home with my wife and I to Alaska when they were 75 fabulous trip. We lost him this last January at 96. The motor home, an Itasca Suncruiser was sold during covid, as I knew that I could not drive it the way he could, and my wife wasn’t really interested in spending the winters in Florida.
Chuck—At ages 87 and 76 we are nearing the end of our RV travels. DH is a retired over the road driver, so backing into tight places and the set-up or tear-down process is still relatively easy. However, after exploring 49 states and most of Canada, the thrill of seeing and exploring new places is declining.
BUT— we have discovered a new way of enjoying the best part of travel (meeting new and interesting people). We now serve as Boondockers Welcome hosts here on our Family Farm. We host 40-60 guests per year–each one bringing lots of opportunities for sharing travel tales and experiences. Both provide opportunities to develop great new friendships and to help out newer RVers.
Can you be MORE careful? That’s a mental challenge. I’ll bet you were rushing for others or too excited. Slow down.