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We have done quite a bit of research on this subject also and we live in CT. Planning on going Full-Time in less then 2 years now so I had opened up a Good Sam mail service account in Crestview ,FL. about a year ago and got all my paperwork in order to use this as our address. Well.... as you stated this could change and didn't want to be in a mess while we travel the states with a lower stress level so to solve our problem we purchased a deeded RV lot in Cherry Grove, SC. a few months ago and this is our new residence regardless were we may be for the future years. The lot wasn't an all bad idea since it was one of those days were we were in the "Right place at the right time" Backs up to a small lake and has a small ocean view in the front ( well it's a tiny ocean view but I can still say we have an ocean view)

Steve

South Dakota is probably as user friendly a state as there is for those of us that are "mobile". We will be finalizing our licenses and vehicle registration changeovers in November. Having said that, we both also have alternate Govt issued IDs.
Like Steve and Char, we also plan on buying something permanent somewhere, just not sure where yet. But know it won't be in Maryland ( the true land of "if you can think of it, we can tax it "

Been using a mail forwarding service through UPS for 5 years now & no issues so far.
We've bought a place in Arizona, but they don't have mail delivery, we'll get a PO box close by, but as long as we are traveling will continue to use Texas (no state income tax & cheap vehicle registration) as our address.
And no I'm still using my class C drivers license & will until someone tells me definitely what is needed for "personal" rv use, too many "I don't know" or "maybe" & reading/interpreting the rules it TOO ambiguous, I've even talked to several troopers & have gotten different answers from each.
Fortunately it sounds like Texas is doing away with their worthless annual safety inspectons, which will save me a trip to Texas every year. I think they'll still do emissions testing in metropolitan areas which don't affect diesels.

FWIW, when we went full-time last year we rented a box at the UPS store which gave us a physical address. Then we changed our DL, voter ID, IRS, insurance, and bank information to that address with no problems. It's where we vote and pay taxes from. Then 6 months later I tried to open a new money market account with the same bank. That's when they squawked that "according to their records" our address was not a residential address which was required due to the Patriot Act. I told them we were full-timing in our RV and were not in Arkansas, so gave them our son's physical address but kept our same mailing address. All is fine, at least for now. I think Arkansas has signed on to the Real ID Act but we still have our passports which work for airline ID.

I am curious to know the comparison on state of residence choices. I know for us we are not going to stay in Arkansas, but what makes South Dakota attractive? Looks like their RV and vehicle tags are quite high.

Just for what it is worth....I live in Texas and went thru a random drivers license check with my Redwood behind my Ram 2500. Gross vehicle weight rating of Redwood 16500. Gross vehicle weight rating of the Ram 10000. I have a class B CDL. 4 Commercial Vehicle Enforcement DPS officers were in attendance plus a city CVE. I was issued a ticket for improper license. Had to park the Redwood and get a friend of mine with a class A to come get my Redwood. I questioned all in attendance and was assured the law was being enforced properly. The Judge with my lawyer in attendance was also adamant about the requirement. Not cheap for me. According to all involved, and in addition a trip to Livingston to ask again to the RV friendly Licensing folks there, a Gross Combination Weight Rating of 26,001lbs (total of truck and trailer) is the magic number. Not what it weighs but what they are rated for. Also to get a license plate renewed on the truck or the trailer it has to be inspected within either 60 0r 90 days (can't remember which) before new license stickers are issued. Done electronically. 1 sticker covers both. According to all the officials involved, since I have a B CDL, all I have to take to get an A exempt is the combination test plus a driving test which is a real pia for a 70 year old. I think I'll just buy a Prevost and pull a one ton dually as a toad. I'm licensed for that....

Correction. I can't pull a one ton dually either. I'm stuck with 10,000 lbs GVWR. Guess I'll have to stick with the 2500 as my toad.

Might want to check with RW if they could reduce the GVWR to 16,000 lb. Most of us with 2012/13's and early 14's are all rated at 16,000 lbs because Marathon E-rated tires were standard in those days.

Dart540, you may be the first ever that I've heard of who was issued a ticket for the wrong license while driving an RV. I have to take the LE's and judge as correct interpretation, but #1 it is a COMMERCIAL drivers license, I.e. Permission to drive a vehicle used in commerce. I also have a class B CDL and on the back it says I can drive any SINGLE vehicle less than 26,001. I've always understood that as the tow vehicle, not GCVWR. Guess I've been wrong on all counts, at least in that part of Texas. I'm well over with 14K F-350 and 16.5K Redwood. Surely a Prevost is more than 26,001? Maybe not.

The B CDL and the B exempt will allow driving any single vehicle over 26001 Rating and allow you to pull up to 10,000 Rating while driving that vehicle. If trailer is over 10,000 a class A CDL or exempt is required while driving that vehicle over 26001.. Any Combination Rating below that 26,001 you can do it with a C as long as tow vehicle is less than 26001. Any combination above that requires an A. Either a CDL or an exempt. I get a little fuzzy about where the exact 1 pound above or below is without looking it up. But I do know that for me, being licensed in Texas, 16,500 rated Redwood plus 10,000 rated Ram requires an A. B will allow me or you to drive most any motorhome including Prevost size of 26001 and above, and pull anything up to the 10000 limit while driving that 26001 and above. Well enough said from me, best of luck to all with what ever decision is chosen.

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