The idea of living in an RV is appealing to lots of people. But is it right for you? Can you really love fulltiming? After knowing many people who have lived full time in an RV, I gathered the necessary tips and tricks to be happy wherever I park my rig. This is what I know.
Many people make RVs their full-time residence, instead of a traditional home or apartment. Living in an RV takes organizing and adjusting away from traditional lifestyles. There is so much to learn and know about full-time RVing. The trick to coping is to know what you are getting into. It’s surprising how much you miss things that you didn’t predict you would. I learned these lessons myself. These tips helped me adjust to living in a trailer, and I bet they will help you too.
Things to Do Before Living in an RV
Here is a list of what to do before living full-time in an RV. Do these things before you even think about becoming a first-time RV buyer.
First, try renting an RV
RV rentals give you the chance to try out living in an RV before committing. This can test your ability to rough it. Living in a confined space can be rough on mental health, so try to book a motorhome rental (or other type of RV) for as long as you can. Bring everybody who will be living with you on the trip. Living in an RV is not for everybody. In fact, there are some studies that living an RV can be dangerous for mental health. Take as much time as you need to feel confident that you can all tolerate a drastic lifestyle change.
Next, become a minimalist
People who live in RVs normally come from very simple lifestyles. People who come from an extravagant lifestyle rarely succeed at living in an RV and generally give up within the year.
When I moved into my first trailer, I was afraid to get rid of things. I could fit everything I owned into two suitcases (not including bedding). That is really hard. You have to know what is important, what is not necessary.
Before you can live in an RV, you must downsize your possessions.
Can you imagine only owning 10 shirts? Could you get rid of almost all of your stuff so that you can fit your things in a small living space? This is not easy. Following a minimalist lifestyle is a process. Take time to donate things that you do not use regularly.
People living in an RV (and loving it) usually have a strict ‘one in one out’ policy. This means that when you get something new you have to get rid of something old. You simply do not have space to acquire stuff like you used to. Ease into this mindset by making a list of rules that you will live by. One example is “I will not have duplicates of anything,” or “This space will be clutter free.”
Gradually sell, toss, or donate things you do not need. This process takes time. Do it before you buy your RV.
Next, make sure full-time RVing as a family is what everyone wants
Living on the road is a team effort, and requires the support of everybody involved. If one person in your family doesn’t want to live in an RV, then don’t do it. Some people are too submissive to speak their opinion, so make sure that whoever you are taking is okay with this. I cannot stress this enough. Everybody involved must want to live the lifestyle, otherwise it will suck.
Then ask yourself: can I afford full-time RVing?
Whether you have a job that you can work remotely, are retiring, or you have won the lottery, you must ask yourself if you have an adequate budget for full-time RVing. Living on the road has a lot more expenses than most people realize. Many people move into an RV to save money. However, the gas and RV park charges add up quickly, and can double your normal living expenses, depending on where you stay and how far you drive.
The best move you can make is to know your annual income and expenses before you make a move. Do you know what you need to live on each month? Do you know what it costs to travel in the RV you want? Calculate your potential road trip expenses, and aim high. You also want to set aside funds for things like insurance, RV maintenance, and repairs.
And gather a team to manage your mail
Surround yourself with people who will support you in this new lifestyle. For example, where are you going to get your mail? Some people will tell you that a PO box works fine, but what about urgent things that you don’t want to cross the country to get? And remember, you cannot use a PO box address for registering your vehicle or opening a bank account. Having somebody, preferably family, that you can rely on for a mailing address and checking your mail is a great way to avoid problems that come up, like getting called for jury duty or paying a late bill.
How to Pick Your Full-time RV
Despite what some people say, experienced full-time RVers understand there are no “Best” RVs for full-time living. Everyone’s situation is different. Another thing these full-timers know is that bigger RVs are not always better. Many first-time RV fulltimers make the mistake of buying the biggest RV they can afford, only to sell it and get a smaller one.
When you understand what you need, picking the right first full-time RV for you, makes for a much easier first time on the road than if you pick the wrong one. Here are important considerations for choosing your first full-time RV.
Step 1: Do Your RV Research
I cannot stress this enough. You will not enjoy your trip if you choose something you don’t absolutely love. Think of this as going house shopping and car shopping all at once. Do the research according to these criteria/questions:
- What is it that you want to do in your RV?
- What RV can you afford?
- Can you do RV maintenance yourself?
- How often do you expect to change locations?
- How cold will it get at your winter destinations?
- Will many people will live inside?
- What about a tow vehicle for around town?
- Will you stay at campgrounds with full hookups?
Do enough research so there’s no doubt in your mind that your RV purchase is a good decision. If you are looking at this article, you are already doing this step correctly. Good for you!
Motorhome or Trailer?
One of the first decisions you will make is selecting your RV. I have the most experience with towables RVs and motor homes so that is what I’m going to discuss. Here are some pros and cons of motorhomes and trailers.
Motorhome Pros:
- Access to your things while in motion. You car is your house. When you are in motion, your passenger can access everything with ease.
- Safety. You can quickly turn the key and leave if you are parked in a sketchy area at night.
Motorhome Cons:
- Tough to use for daily travel. Moving your house for something like a beer run is exhausting!
- Driving takes practice. A motorhome is difficult to move around in a big city. If driving a bus sounds scary to you, then a motorhome may not be the best RV for full-timing.
- Nowhere to live in a breakdown. It’s not if but when your breaks down on the road. When it does, you are left without a home or car.
- More expensive. Motorhome vehicle maintenance is pricey. And if you want a small vehicle for errands and sight-seeing, you will need to maintain a second engine, insurance, towing set-up, etc.
Trailer Pros:
- Easier to maintain. Trailers cost less to maintain overall because they don’t have an engine, drive train, etc.
- More living space. Without an engine and driver cockpit, there is more space to feel like home.
- Easy errands. You now have a town vehicle and a home! It’s convenient to go into town without bringing everything with you.
- Extra storage space. If you have a trailer, not a fifth wheel, your truck bed can store extra stuff. Although I think you should stay as minimalist as possible, a truck bed allows you to take some toys along.
- Value. When it comes to RV depreciation, travel trailers and fifth wheels hold their value more steadily than motorhomes, especially those between 5 and15 years old.
Trailer Cons:
- Set-up and take-down. A trailer is not something you can just park and hop in. Generally, you need to unhitch it from your truck and level it out. This takes time, so moving can be a pain.
- You need a heavy duty truck. They are costly, but if you tow a trailer with anything less, you are asking to destroy your transmission.
I recommend taking both on a test drive to see how you do with each type of RV. It can be difficult for some people, so test out both to see which one you like more.
Full-time RV Living Strategies
Okay, you made all the preparations. You have an RV. You downsized to the point that you can fit everything you need in your mobile house. Now what?
These are not the only strategies for living in an RV, but they are important. Don’t let your strategy end here! Do research and come up with a plan that fits your personal lifestyle. Every single person is different, and your full-time RV life should be too.
Travel Slowly
I get it. You are super pumped to get on the road and see all the sights! Maybe you have a hit list for all the places that you want to visit in your new living quarters, and you definitely should if you do not.
You are now living full time in your RV. Set a standard for yourself on how many places you will visit in a three month period.
Take it easy and stay in the places that you like for several weeks. You will be less stressed and spend less money. Don’t worry about hitting every spot on your list, just take things one day at a time and let your batteries recharge.
Spend time enjoying wherever you are. This is the beautiful thing about living in an RV. You are completely free to do whatever you want, and you aren’t limited to only spending 1 week in a place because that is when your flight leaves.
Your ability to experience each location is unique to this lifestyle. Take time to live like a local! Don’t waste the opportunities you have to learn a new area because you want to see a massive list of spots.
Don’t Listen to the Masses
People are going to tell you that what you are doing is irresponsible. They will tell you that you need to get back to the real world. I am here to tell you that you can do whatever you want.
People might get angry at you for wanting to full-time RV. Times are changing, and with technology, this type of lifestyle is easier. You can travel and work at the same time! Don’t let people with old ideas tell you that your life isn’t the right way to live.
The type of people telling you to get back to the real world have limited views of today’s lifestyles. It is not their fault, they were taught that humans must live a certain way to be successful. Just do what makes you happy!
Living in an RV is hard, but so rewarding. Don’t let other people’s unimportant opinion tell you otherwise.
Hold on to Relationships
One of the things people don’t think about is how hard it is going to be to hold on to relationships that are thousands of miles away. Although difficult, this is so important. If you want to love living in an RV, you need new and old relationships in your life.
The best thing you can do is establish a circle of friends that are also living in an RV 24/7, and meet up with them often. Find online groups of people doing what you are doing. You will quickly set up a vast network of friends in every city you visit and will be happier because of it. But don’t forget your old friends too. They may not understand what you are doing, but they are still your friends.
Keep Your RV Clean
Even though your space is small, it can get cluttered quickly. One of the most important parts of RV living is making sure everything has a place. If it doesn’t have a place then you need to get rid of something.
If your RV has clutter, you will become stressed. Dishes should never be in the sink. You bed should be made after you get up. All of the little things.
As you keep everything clean, you will be able to relax in your limited space, which is really important.
Find Alone Time
IF you are living in close quarters with a loved one, don’t be afraid to ask each other for some space. The easiest way to make sure this is not awkward is to establish clear signals to indicate when you need alone time. Headphones, a book, or whatever you like to do to recharge your batteries are great indicators that you want to be left alone.
Treat Yourself
When you are living in an RV, it might seem that you are constantly on vacation, but this is not the case. You are probably working remotely, and therefore you still need to take some breaks. Take your vacation days and spend time touring the awesome places you are in.
What to Do if You Don’t Love Full-time RVing
Some of you will try this lifestyle and have trouble adjusting. You will miss things like your bathtub, dishwasher, or consistent surroundings. This is normal. The important thing is to just keep going, you will probably adjust. You might need to search for joy in the things that RV living can give you. Go see some places on your bucket list.
If you are really stressed, stop moving for a little while. Take a break and just live in a spot that you enjoy. After reading several blogs of people that do this, they end up spending months in places that they would never have guessed. Take it slow!
For some people, they realize that RV living is not for them. Don’t stress if this ends up being you. Try a different way of living. Don’t be afraid to do this, even if it is embarrassing for you. Admitting defeat can be hard, but your happiness is more important than your pride. You might need to find a new home base for your RV. This way, you can still make plenty of trips but still have a stick house.
Great Full-time RVing Resources
Online Groups – There are so many groups of people online that RV full time. Some of my favorites are blogs! These people are very open-minded and will never judge you for wanting to be a full-timer. The key to success is learning from other peoples mistakes.
One of my favorites is Health and Alyssa, who are focused on being entrepreneurs as well as full-time RV living.
Live. Work. Dream. – This is such a great resource for people who are looking into living and working on the road. Even though the website isn’t perfect, they have great information about full-time RV living.
Xscapers – This group embraces those who are new to the RV lifestyle. They can teach you all the necessary tips and tricks for living in your RV fulltime.
