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Living and Running a Business From a Toy Hauler Trailer
This is their Toy Hauler and you can see the Ford F250 diesel truck they pull it with. They only paid $7000 total for both of them!
- Forrest is a mechanic/handyman’and he wanted to have a business on the road. He needed to have enough room to be able to take his tools with him and have a place to work out of the weather. The toy hauler fight the bill perfectly to allow him to do that and operate a business on the road.
- They liked to have their toys with them and this allowed them to carry them.
What kind of a business could you run out of this much space?
Beth sitting at the Dinette. You can see they have their large touring motorcycle in it and in front of it is a dirt bike. Forrest was considering leading motorcycle tour groups with the touring bike. You have to be creative! Can any of your hobbies be turned into a business?
- Couples or families who need the room.
- People who needed to work on the road.
- People who want to carry their toys like a motorcycle to save gas.
Here they are just getting moved in but you can see how much room their is. The dinette that Beth was sitting at folds up and away against the wall.
Here is a list of some mobile-friendly businesses I thought of just off the top of my head, but I believe there are a great many more I didn’t think of:
- Take a course at H & R Block and do taxes
- Locksmithing or Key-making
- Knife Sharpening
- Sing Making
- Tour Guide (buy a 4-seat ATV and take people on tours or rent it out)
- Auto Mechanic
- Bicycle Mechanic
- Handyman
- Van Converter
- Solar Power Installation
- Hair-cutting/Stylist–Manicures
- Pet Grooming
- Pet Teeth Cleaning
- Window Washing
- RV Washing
- Creating-Selling-Teaching Art, Crafts or musical instruments
- Massage Therapy
- Palm or Card Reading
Whatever skills you have or can gain, they just might be enough to allow you to run a business out of a Toy Hauler! And even if you don’t want to have a business, having all this open space and comfort is very appealing!!
Looking toward the back you see the large cabinets running along the sides and the bed above Forrests head. In the picture above that shows Beth in the trailer, you can see the ladder they use to climb up into the bed. They say the bed is very comfortable.
Looking forward at the living area. It has all the comforts of home and nothing extra: refrigerator, oven/stove, sink and counter-top, cabinets.
Even if you don’t want to run a business, it still makes a comfortable home. Here you can see its large front bath. It has a toilet, sink/vanity and even a tub!!
Another great idea, if one can obtain the up-front money. Now how do I learn bicycle mechanicking? (Actually, I know a way or two already.)
That’s a very good point Calvin, most businesses do require some money to get started. Nearly all also require some kind of skills and it’s just a matter of becoming proficient enough to sell your skill. I’m a guy who doesn’t have the money or the skills to run a business so I don’t even try.
But you are so into bikes that I would think you have a good foundation of working on them and probably have most of the tools you need now. Hopefully you could get enough work with the tools you have to pay for the tools you need to buy.
Of course the 800 pound gorilla in the room is how to get business on the road. Advertising won’t work because you move too much and the same with word-of-mouth, by the time you’ve got a customer base talking about you, you will have moved on. But in Quartzsite you will have a built in customer base if your business can apply to them.
Bob
Bob,
Since you are in the Christmas encampment, you might pass the information below along to anyone who is interested in a toy-hauler. I came across this ad for a really neat toy-hauler-van in Craigslist today — San Luis Obispo Ca. (12/19/13) It’s a home-made camper and toy-van on a truck van, beautifully done, said to be in xlnt cond — all for $6495. The site is worth looking into just to see the pics of what the owner has built. A Merry Christmas to all of you in this group. Robert
Bob – I feel like this article was written specifically for me lol! I’m 38 and still stuck in the rat race as an IT guy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not THAT bad but I’d rather be out there exploring, mountain biking, hiking, and living the nomadic life in general. My job pays enough to allow me to save about half of my net income while still living a pretty comfortable lifestyle, but it keeps me chained down to one location.
My plan is to keep saving since I don’t have a pension or anything like that, then break away. I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out how to generate income on the road and I think I may have found a possible solution for me. The nature of my work is desktop/network and various software applications. I’ve noticed a trend in the IT world that these types of positions are being paid less and less so I’m going to switch directions.
In my spare time I’ve been doing software coding tutorials: C#, .net, asp, etc… These skills are in demand and pay much better than desktop/network jobs and it’s easier to be a freelance worker (if you are good at what you do). Perfect for van dwelling.
I will post the URL for the training tutorials if someone is interested. The classes are very easy to follow if you’ve done some basic programming in the past.
Joe, writing and IT are both very good jobs from the road. They both require skills but if you have them your set. I am under the impression that the failure rate is pretty high for them, especially for people who try to freelance write. But the overhead is very low so any money you make is better than none.
Bob
Bob, I noticed that Forrest and Beth have a truck camper now. The toy hauler was just too big. I know that finding the right fulltime home is something that you stress but there are so many factors that have to be considered and this is an important one. If you find that your choice is making you miserable take a hard look at the reasons and don’t be afraid to try something else.
Karen, you’re right, they have since sold the trailer and were trying to sell the truck. They bought a slide-in camper instead, and my next post will be about it. But your right, many people go from rig-to-rig till they get it right. Nothing wrong with that!
Bob
Bob_
I’d love to see a detailed post from fellow working fulltimers and the things they do to make $ while living location independent. When researching the subject I see alot of vague stuff like I’m a consultant or I’m a life coach.
*This is the last piece of the puzzle I have to work on before I get out of Dodge.
**If I keep my overhead low then I could probably work at a resort in season and take the other 6 months off. That doesn’t seem like a bad way to go either.
_I dig the toy hauler and all that space but you’d probably have to have plenty of stuff to weigh it down or it will blow all over the road. “But I just got rid of most all of my stuff”.
Hey Openspaceman…I had an opportunity to live out of my Ford Aerostar van several years back as I worked full-time as a professional contact-lens optician being a recent divorcee. By maintaining a membership with a large fitness chain, I had access to a morning workout and daily shower before clocking in at work. I rented a small storage space at a facility that was basically my closet where I kept extra clothes and stuff with 24/7 access. Nobody at my work or personal friends knew that I was living out of my van until the day my ex wife came and stole my van from my work. It took me a month to get it back with the help of a lawyer and she got reprimanded for her actions. Since then, I have made money doing professional window cleaning, garage door tune-ups and installs, painting and plumbing – handyman stuff, internet marketing stuff, and several other jobs that pay out in this lifestyle of living.
Patrick, sorry for your nasty divorce. Having been there I’m very sympathetic. Thanks for those self-employment ideas! Most people can do those types of things with a little training. The key is being creative and finding a need in a small niche that people want someone else to do. And nearly all those things need minimal licensing, permits and insurance.
Thanks again!
Bob
Here’s an idea if your on a super tight budget. I’ve checked out some hobby stores, many of them offer free courses. I’m sure they want you to buy a starter kit. It might be jewelry making or something this that could be sold on the Internet. Also check with libraries and high schools to see if you can add some free skills from their adult education.
Another idea I had, if your a boat dweller. How about providing fresh water and trash pickup to your neighbors. Once a saw a snack barge in Florida. You could sell coffee in the morning to fisherman, and soda and snacks in the afternoon to boaters.
Most places wont let you sell coffee, snacks and sodas without permits, licenses etc…We actually looked into this and the government (local) either won’t permit it, or want their share via permits. licenses, taxes etc… We were told to cease and desist when trying to give away cold bottles or water cause we didn’t have the proper license or permit !! Makes it so hard for the little guy to try and earn a buck..I guess they don’t want you to make any money for fear you won’t pay your share of taxes. Here they are making it against the law to have chickens because the local government says they don’t want anyone to sell eggs out of their back yard !!
Word of caution. Look into the “red tape ‘ before beginning any type of self employed businesses .
Campercouple, that is GOOD advice. To me that rules out any business that is heavily regulated or is so visible the authorities will be aware of you. It’s not a problem if you are under the radar and have a low liability.
Bob
You know they can’t stop you from bartering. Recently watched a documentary on a man that lived without money, If you have a specialized skill , you could barter for what you need ie: food, medicine , clothes, gas etc…,Or work for “tips” but Bob you are so right about people suing for everything and anything these days. A family member does Locksmithing and has to not only carry a license (must be a Master Locksmith) but 1 million dollars in liability insurance. And in that there are all types of regulations ! You don’t want to mess with the man !! Government doesn’t want you to “work under the table “
I’m new to this group and this is my first time posting. I don’t have an RV yet but learning alot from reading your posts. Where are you that you can’t own chickens?
Just a word of caution on being a tour guide of any kind – multiple licenses are required by most states and even counties, and the BLM also if you go onto BLM land (Nat’l Parks, too). And on top of that, you’re required to buy expensive insurance.
There have been a number of poeple busted in the Moab area for leading private tours (even just a one-person tour qualifies) w/o all this rigamarole, and some had to pay hefty fines. I had a friend who started a tour business and he finally gave up – he was good at it and had bought a couple of nice vans – he said all the gov’t fees finally made him have to call it quits, even though he had lots of business. He was playing by the rules and just couldn’t make it.
So if you decide to do tours, be sure to check out all the rules unless you like running renegade and taking your chances. But if someone gets injured or even complains about something, there goes your business and income and maybe worse.
Desert Rat, you are so right. I’ve had business licenses on both the east and west cost. Trying to comply with all the laws and covering your liability is difficult and challenging. There is no one place you can go to find out everything you need to know to be in business for yourself. But the entity that comes close to it, is a Chamber of Commerce.
If you try this, keep in mind that you’ll have to pay your share of Social Security tax and the share your employer would have paid, last time I check 16.9 percent if memory serves. And the federal government may require you to pay this quarterly. There can be sales tax at the state, county and city levels, even companies like Amazon struggle with this. And of course, income tax.
Not everyone is cut out to be in business for themselves, I count myself among them. I worry too much about my liability and always wondered if I was complying with the law. Some of your liability can be side step by incorporating, the law looks at corporations as third entities but now this starts to get way over the top.
Ever wondered what LLC stood for “Limited Liability Corporation.” Now that you know you’ll see LLC on everything from company names on buildings to big trucks driving down the road. It pretty much means what you think; there are limits to their liability. If your doing a large dollar amount of business with a LLC you should know what there limits are.
I understand not everyone will worry as I did about complying (at least I hope not) but my first year in business I only got to keep 51 percent of what I made after government fees and taxes. If you don’t charge enough and make a profit, being in business for yourself could cost you more then you make.
Tom, you and I are alike in that, I am not cut out to run a business either. I stumbled into one with my writing, but it was purely by accident. But even it has created a lot of accounting and tax headaches for me. I do worry about liability though. Everything I recommend is inherently dangerous and people love to sue over nothing.
Bob
Making a living…
Last year I workcamped at Adventureland in Iowa and I was surprised to see the number of nomads for who this was how they made a living.
The 6 months at Adventureland then the 3 months at Amazon then on to something else was not uncommon.
On one blog a guy talked of paying someone to walk his dog during the long Amazon work day….There are options.
Rob, I decided being a campground host was the best way to support myself on the road. I was able to save most of my earnings through the summer because they provided the campsite and I was too remote to spend any of it.
The key is to reduce your expenses so you can live on that small amount of income.
Bob
Hey, thanks for the great idea! I actually volunteered a couple years back for a children’s camp to get it ready for the coming season. Everything was free and the companionship was outstanding. Love and Peace.
That’s great, warm!
Bob
Everybody_
Thanks for the advice/tips/cautionary tales…I did work on a Tall ship in the Keys one winter…alot of fun but looking back pretty dangerous and not much money, but I have good memories of it and working in Florida in the winter was hard to beat.
A word of caution about massage therapy, the licensing requirements vary wildly by state, and in California it can vary by city! It would be hard to impossible to be legit in more than 1 state. Energy work however, (Reiki, crystal healing, etc.) is another story, as long as direct touch isn’t involved, but it might be challenging to find clientele.
That is a roomy, roomy vehicle though!
Ilyana, your right and I was aware of that. But if you got a license for Arizona (assuming they didn’t vary by city or country) then you could spend your whole year here and do okay. It’s one of the few states where you can spend the whole year here and be comfortable.
Bob
One of the best things about this concept is you can go to where the work is. How many businesses fold because there is no traffic through the door? Well, if the choice is made well and ones reputation grows then when at gatherings of lets say RVers; with a washing and cleaning business then you are at work!
As a quick aside, I stayed at Arnott’s Lodge in Hilo to hike the volcano in 2001. At the lodge I met a Russian able-bodied seaman who worked for six months at sea and by being frugal stretched his time off to 6 months to 9 months. His lifestyle was quite impressive to me at the time.
Very good point John. Being able to move to where the customers are can be a lifesaver for any business. Especially for a seasonal business
Bob
I am in the research stages of getting an RV or something similiar and to educate myself I went to RV school last summer for 3 days. It was so great especially for a newbie like me. Long story short, what about being an RV tech on the road. There are 2 schools of 2 years training each in Canada, I don’t know about the US. It seems to me that you would have a built in customer base especially in the winter in Quartsite. To be a CERTIFIED tech on the road would be excellent. You could do circulars in the RV parks and have a route that you follow and let people know when you will be in the area.
What exactly does an RV tech do?
jonthebru, he services the house portion of the RV (electrical, plumbing, kitchen, etc) although many of the can work on the drive-train as well.
Bob
Lynn, excellent idea! I’m sure you could get enough business as a RV tech-mechanic-repair person. If I were looking for one perfect job that might be it.
Bob
Check out the RV Tech program at the Kelowna Campus at this link and it will explain in detail. Should have something similar in the US.
http://www.tradestrainingbc.ca/apprenticeship/schedules/227
I have a 1996 Dodge Ram van B2500, short wheelbase.
I saw an ad for a 4×4 van econoline, extended.
Think I should get it?
John, that is such a hard question I can’t really answer what’s best for you. What I can do is give you some food for thought.
I have a friend with a 4×4 van and he loves it, he really can go just about anywhere with it. But it has many disadvantages
1. A 4×4 van is much more expensive than a standard van.
2. Much of it is non-standard so getting things serviced might be more difficult.
3. Was the conversion done well, or did they half-ass it and leave you a mess to clean up?
5. Even if everything was done right 4×4 is much more expensive to repair and maintain than 2×4.
6. Your mpg will be lower and you will spend more on gas.
With those disadvanteges you have to ask Is getting into the backcountry really important to you? Important enough to put up with the disadvantages? Would a 4×4 pickup with a small camper work for you? They have less disadvantages than a 4×4 van. Would putting a locker, a lift, and better tires on your current van be enough to get you where you want to go? that would be much less than a 4×4 van.
Hope that helps.
Bpb
Thanks, that is very good information for thought, helps me think about what I want, and what the tradeoffs are.
The last couple of articles have been very useful in that regard.
I think you’ve refined information you’ve previously posted and made in even clearer.
I think if I went deep into the back country, I’d want a spare form of transportation with me, motorcycle, in case I got stuck far from civilization.
I now have a 1996 Dodge Ram B2500 van, short wheelbase. I guess it could get me 90% of where I wanted to be.
Did you ever check out wwww.ujointoffroad.com? (Not associated with them). Cool stuff.
Sometimes I see one for sale, and get an irresistable urge to buy one.
John, thanks for that link, I had not seen that site before. Way out of my price range, but gorgeous to drool over!
I agree 100% about a 2nd form of transportation. That’s part of why I bought a bike and a motorcycle to get me to help if I’m broke down or stuck in the middle of nowhere.
I really think that a locker might be all you ever need. I know I never want to really go hard-core 4-wheelin but I’d like to et further off the road than I can now. I think a locker will be about $1000 and get you where you need to go. That’s still a whole lot less than a new 4×4 van.
Bob
I have been a pet groomer for 30 yrs and would like to full time RV How would i do this on the road? Cant bathe the pets in my van.
Jan a Toy Hauler would be perfect for you! They are desisgned for people who want to carry their ATVs motorcycles and even boats inside the RV, then when they get to camp take those toys out and turn that space into a home. So they are mostly a big empty box in the back and the back wall falls down and become a ramp into the rig. In the front are a full kitchen and bathroom. They are mostly travel Trailers or 5th wheels, but you can find them in Class Cs and Class A motorhomes.
It would be perfect for your purpose! I’d probably build a wall and seperate the work space from the living space with a door in it. Any handy man could do that for you. Here is a post I did on friends who had a toy hauler and planned to turn it into a business. You can see it is just a huge open space but it also has full living facilities. Theirs even had really big water tanks which you will need.
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/living-running-business-toy-hauler-trailer/
Bob
Hi folks, I would like to add my 50 cents to the above conversation regarding a
Toy Hauler. If you had a hobby as a photographer you could look at using the back of the Hauler as a studio and maybe offer a photo service or do what I do part time and turn your photos into photographic slideshows showing them around the country at all the Retirement Homes etc . good luck . Glenn
Very good suggestion Guzziglen!
Bob
Places to park travel trailer 6 months of year then store trailer in Arizona. Outside big cities, more remote but with water, electricity etc
Linda, are you asking a question? If so I need more information?
Bob
Hi Bob,
I am a Freelance translator and can pretty much work anywhere in the US; as all my work is online..
We want to get out of where we are currently at…. but we will be travelling with 3 kids….
Right now my hubby drives a tow-truck; so he gets the base pay to actually make the rental, car and other payments, so that is pretty much secured… since I am a freelancer I have feast or famine so I pick up the food and other bills…
I am just nervous about us going down the road…. and my income being the only one (for 5 people)….. how do I let go of that fear? I mean my husband is a very talented all-rounder and a certified Harley-Mechanic… but how would we get going with this when travelling around?
Also we still need to get an RV, an older one is fine until we can get something better… but having actually been homeless with 4 kids (including a newborn) in a beat-up RV doesn’t really evoke the greatest memories… if you know what I am saying…
Aline, there are two ways to have a better life
1) Work harder and advance and make more money and buy more stuff. The problem with that is more stuff rarely makes anyone happy and and you end up spending more so you aren’t even really ahead.
2) Spend less, work less and enjoy life more.
Obviously I am a proponent of #2. The big thing is debt, if you have to pay for debt the good life is pretty much out of reach, however you define the good life. If you move into an RV and boondock you can reduce your expenses so much maybe you can live on what you make. But not if you are carrying debt and not if you don’t have any savings. So those two things are your highest priority right now, get out of debt and build a savings. If you are like most of us, that may be impossible.
Can you buy an RV and move it into an RV park and live in it? If so you’re housing expenses should drop dramatically and maybe you can pay off your debt, the RV and build a savings. It will also be a good test to see if you can overcome your bad memories of past RV living.
As far as a job on the road for hubby. I can almost guarantee him a job as a campground host in the summer and then at Amazon at the Holidays and then unemploment in the winter. During all that time you will have a campsite provided, but not in the winter when you will boondock. I made $8.50 an hour for 40 hours a week as a campground host and Amazon pays about $10 an hour or more and you get as much overtime as you want in December. Then a completion bonus of I think another $1 an hour but I could be wrong.
You could both work as campground hosts and hubby will work 60 hours a week and you 20, but no overtime, you would both be paid for 40. They don’t care how you do the job, just that you get it done. You aren’t punching a clock in a campground. Either you’re campground is kept nice and your campers are happy or they aren’t.
Then in the winter hubby could freelance as a Harley mechanic at Quartzsite. Many RVers carry motorcycles. I do, and if he posted a notice on the bulletin board in town I would call him. He could also work for the vendors–they’re paid under the table. If he could learn RV repair he could keep very busy.
I hope that helps.
I very strongly suggest you join my forum and post this question. You will get a lot of ideas from many more people.
Bob
Hi Bob,
Just stumbled across your brilliant site.Your lifesyle is right on my wavelength. Funny how things come to you when you start thinking of doing something life changing. I have always been into campervans, motorhomes and caravans as we call them here in the UK and have just finished my 3rd self build campervan. I work as a hgv(semi truck)driver in the uk and as Im now 60 and only 5 yrs to my pension I have put my house up for sale and now at the stage of hoping to start travelling around europe when I retire. Money will be tight but I have been looking for a small business that can be run from a small tow trailer pulled by my van or a touring caravan to live in pulled by a van to run the business from. Have run a gardening business of my own,had my own trucks and ran a haulage business and creative with most things like making van conversions but how could I do any of this this on the move.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks.
Dave
Hi Dave, thanks for you kind comments, I appreciate them. Unfortunately, I have so little knowledge of the situation in the UK and Europe that I’m afraid I have little to offer you. I do know you are blessed with many far superior vans and caravans than we have here in the US so finding a good workable van and trailer should be very easy.
I am also under the impression that there is more tolerance for mobile living there than here, but again, I have no direct experience.
What I see as a problem is that your vans and caravans tend to be smaller than ours so I think that would make it harder to carry both the tools of a trade and have room for a home. In the US we have storage yards where you can rent indoor or outdoor space to store your excess belongings. If you have that at reasonable prices, you could live in the van and store the tools of your trade (gardening for example) in a trailer at the storage yard and then go get it before work each day.
Perhaps if have a large enough pension or retirement you might not need to work much and travel more.
I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful, Your situation is so different than what I know I’m afraid to offer much advice for fear of steering you wrong.
Here is a page I have about a couple who are vandwelling in Europe. Maybe it can be helpful:
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/european-vandweller/
Bob
This is a great article and site. Unfortunately I’m finding myself getting a divorce. I’ve been thinking of options and since I’m taking the toy hauler and the truck and my harley. I thought, heck I’ll live in the toy hauler! I’m rwally looking forward to living a more simple life!! Thank you everyone!
Hi Bob,
This is a great article and site. Unfortunately I’m finding myself getting a divorce. I’ve been thinking of options and since I’m taking the toy hauler and the truck and my harley. I thought, heck I’ll live in the toy hauler! I’m really looking forward to living simpler. Able to breathe. I’m a construction inspector so I get to be able to travel closer to the work. I’m also looking forward to meeting some great people! I know it’s going to takea bit of getting used to, but I love the adventure that awaits. Thank you Bob for this blog. It’s really nice to know that people are out there enjoying life this way.
Todd, working construction should work really well with living mobile. Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes I think you are in for the best time of your life!
Bob
We have been traveling for 14 months in our Class A RV and are working full-time while on the road. We built a full custom office in the rear of our RV. It cost a few thousand dollars but has been worth every penny. I have a computer with four monitors, a UPS and printer. It is an awesome setup. I also have a Herman Miller Aeron chair. Everything is bolted down so nothing moves when we are traveling. It has been quite the adventure, tons of fun but it sure is a steep learning curve. Our RV is currently for sale but you can see pictures of our custom setup. Click this link and look at the second picture to see our setup – https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2002-Fleetwood-SOUTHWIND+36T-120976675
Your comment serves as a valuable resource for everyone here. Your dedication to fostering meaningful discussions is commendable, and I appreciate it.