6 Must-Read Books About Full-Time RVing
Is full-time RVing for you? Are you financially ready for life on the road? These books have the answers.
With the popularity of full-time RVing growing, it’s no surprise there are more and more books related to the subject being published.
Although YouTube channels and social media accounts are the main source of information for many people interested in RVing, a good read will always have its place.
There is lots to know about full-time RVing, and many books have been written on the topic. Maintenance is the obvious topic, but there are many topics to cover and these books cover some of the most important details.
1. Living the RV Life: Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road by Marc and Julie Bennett ($14, Amazon)
Marc and Julie Bennett of RVLove co-authored this great book on full-time RVing. They walk you through how to transition from a life of traditional homeownership to one on the road.
Be sure to also check out Marc’s other book, RV Hacks: 400+ Ways to Make Life on the Road Easier, Safer, and More Fun!
2. Be A Nomad Change Your Life: The Ultimate Guide to Living Full-Time in a Van or RV by Robin Barrett ($3, Amazon Kindle)
Being a nomad free to travel—this is what life is all about! This book by Robin Barrett, a nomad herself, provides the guide to chasing that dream.
Robin has immersed herself in the RV life through her Creativity RV YouTube channel and blog. She lives the RV life and is your go-to for everything nomad.
This book on full-time RVing will help with everything from the beginning stages of going full-time right up to your first couple of years into the lifestyle. It really is a complete guide.
- Budget, destination, and planning worksheets
- Safety tips
- Mobile job resources
- Traveling with pets
These are just a few of the experiences that Robin Barrett shares in this must-read for full-time RVers.
3. So, You Want To Be An RVer? And Enjoy the RV Lifestyle by John & Kathy Huggins ($20, Amazon)
With over 10 years of full-time RVing under their belts, John and Kathy Huggins could fill multiple books. They learned the hard way so you don’t have to!
From making the tough decisions to beginning RV life, such as choosing the right RV and progressing to camping and work options, this book has it covered.
Weekend warriors will also enjoy and benefit from this book. All of the day-to-day issues that will inevitably arise while RVing have been captured in their 10-plus years of experience.
4. Full-Time RV Finance by Julie Chickery ($5, Amazon)
Living and traveling full-time in an RV isn’t free. Before RV shopping or RV trip planning, understanding your finances and budgeting is the first step.
For anyone looking to go RVing full-time, this is a must-read. Although not as fun to talk about and research, RV finance is a necessary step.
Your current finances will have to be considered before leaving your job and hitting the road. The RV purchase has many considerations as well when it comes to financing options.
Once you’re on the road the budgeting and finances don’t stop, planning is key to having stress-free travels. Understanding your finances and learning how to budget will give you a solid foundation to begin your full-time RV journey.
5. A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV by Alyssa Padgett (About $16, Amazon)
This book covers lessons learned from a young couple who, with no experience, decided to try full-time RV life. This book will resonate with all of the people out there with little to no RV experience who just want to go for it!
With 6+ years of experience now, Alyssa shares her knowledge gained through trial and error and Google searches while on the road.
Just a few of the many topics covered in this book:
- How to find internet while on the road
- What to do for health insurance while traveling
- Best RV clubs and memberships
- Favorite RV apps
- The true costs of full-time RV life
6. Complete Guide to Full-Time RVing: Life on the Open Road by Bill and Jan Moeller ($23, Amazon)
This book was originally published in 1998 and is currently in its third edition, so there has got to be some good information in there!
Although costs have changed, the budgeting and planning strategies are still applicable. Knowing where your money will come from and how quickly you will be spending that money is a must.
Maybe saving some money on remodeling a used RV is in your plans. If so, it’s covered in this book to get you on the road. Once on the road, everything from mail delivery to travel day planning is discussed. There are over 500 pages in this book, so it’s safe to say anything to do with RVing is covered.
What size RV should you buy? New or used? Should you sell your house? All of these important questions and more are covered in an easy-to-read style.
It includes all the answers from the very basics of general RV maintenance to the more complicated issues such as legal and government considerations. When you finish reading, you’ll be ready to make the jump to RV life.
Regardless of which stage of RV life you are in, from planning your first purchase to experienced roadies, any of these books are a great read. Avoiding other RVers’ hard-learned lessons can save you valuable time and money. And who knows, maybe you will be the next to write and publish a book on your RV life!
One of the best parts about RVing is engaging with the community of traveling enthusiasts. iRV2 forums allow folks to chat with other RVers online, and get other perspectives on everything RVing, including products, destinations, RV mods, and much more.
Continue reading:
The books you’ve listed are great for figuring out the RV life “how-tos.”
May I (humbly) suggest a book that’s more of a “why-to” ?
Last weekend I published “Driven to Wonder – eight years in an RV with two kids: a Memoir”.
The book is a collection of 126 stories and 500 photos from our years of full-time RVing while running our business and homeschooling. Stories range from biographies of fascinating people we met, recounting stories from history that we never learned in school, coming across natural wonders that science can’t explain, dealing with the unexpected, finding community, and more.
I also wrote about what most family travel blogs don’t cover – launching kids off as adults, why we got off the road, and what our now-adult kids have to say about the experience.
It’s on Amazon, currently in paperback and soon in Kindle formats.