How to Live in an RV Full Time
For some, there is nothing quite as brilliant as living in an RV full time. You’re not quite sleeping under the stars, but you’re still at one with nature; and you’re not stuck in one place, but you have one place that is stuck with you. As more and more people want to escape the rat race of big cities, the question of how to live in an RV full time successfully is being asked more and more. Worry not – we have the answers for you here and before you know it, you’ll be living in an RV full time like a total pro.
- Let go of most of your possessions
Living in a house means acquiring a whole lot of stuff. You have things from decades ago you don’t even remember buying, new clutter you bought just in case you’d need it, and just general clutter due to random gifts and purchases over the years. In an RV, there’s really no room for any excess or surplus possessions.
You’ll have to let go – both physically and emotionally – of most of your possessions. Emotionally, you need to let go of material goods and embrace the minimalist lifestyle, or you’re not going to get very far living in an RV full time if it’s full of clothes and ornaments and random items. It’s a brave step, but one that every successful full-time RV-er will tell you to take. So, take heed.
- Be prepared for patchy Internet
One of the most challenging aspects of living full time in an RV in the 21st Century is WiFi. Most people are connected to the Internet in developed nations, and living in an RV might at first seem to be an obstacle in the way of the World Wide Web.
Well, news flash: it’s actually not. Most RV parks have their own WiFi anyway, so you’re generally covered there. The problem is the quality of park Internet – it’s not that great. Then again, what do you expect? A full RV park of people are trying to watch Netflix. There are data plans you can purchase from national service providers. You can buy an unlimited plan (which is probably best) and tether it from your phone to your other devices.
We’d also recommend investing in a signal/cell booster as they allow you to get better reception in more remote locations, which is part and parcel of full-time RV life.
- Search around for the best place to park up
Finding a place to park overnight can sometimes be quite pricey and unpredictable. RV parks can begin at $30 but the prices can rocket depending on the time of year and the location, so you’ll have to be prepared to search around for the best deal.
One great way of finding somewhere to rest your RV’s weary wheels overnight is by signing up to certain schemes and groups. For example, the Harvest Hosts group allows full-time RV-ers to park up in wineries and breweries all across the United States free of cost. Of course, it’s only courteous in return to pay for a tour and a taste of some of the best American alcoholic beverages.
- Expect to still continue some aspects of normal life
Living full time in an RV doesn’t mean that ‘normal’ life gets thrown out of the window. You’ve still got to wash your clothes, clean your RV, make your meals and earn and manage money. Aspects of your previous life will still continue, and so you should prepare for that.
Make sure you keep your cleaning and washing up products with you, and also make sure you have enough money for the grocery shop, because that’s one thing that won’t change. You’ll be strolling the aisles in a supermarket in Nashville just like someone who lives in Nashville after working from home all day. It happens!
- Pick an RV that you genuinely love as you’d love a house
It is kind of expected to first look at all RVs or motorhomes as all the same. They’ve got kitchens, beds, bathrooms – what else do you need? Well, it’s important that you find that ‘spark’ with your RV that you would with your first house. You need to truly love it since you’ll be spending so much time in it.
If you need working space, look for an RV with that. If you need to tow your car, make sure the RV allows for it. Whatever you require, there’ll be an RV which suits it, so make sure you look around for them and pick one you truly love.
Happy RV-ing life!
