Things To Know Before Going Full-Timing In An RV

Last Updated on July 5, 2023

I’ve been living full-time in my RV for a couple of years. I met many full-timers on my adventures and people who live the “normal” brick and mortal life. While there are a number of stories out there depicting happiness and enjoyment from living in an RV, there are some limits. Most people cannot consider what it would be like to live full-time in a trailer or RV. I personally love it and I would not voluntarily go back to normal life. However, certain things can make living in an RV difficult. There are a few things that the full-times wish they had known before starting the whole adventure. It turns out it is not as bad as most of us might think.

An RV can feel more at home than you expect. Even though your backyard changes, the basic comforts of home are right with you. Most RVs are equipped with all the amenities of a home so you really are not missing much. And with the whole family along for the ride, it is really a home away from home.

Traveling around opens up your world to so many new places and adventures. There is so much to see that it is not possible to see everything in one visit. This means you get to come back for another visit, so you don’t really miss out on anything.

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It is important to research and learn about your RV before going full-time. The mechanical systems are different and there are limitations with batteries and holding tanks. You need to familiarize yourself with your unit so as to not come across any unexpected problems as you travel.
Take your time. Many people head off on a long road trip and then rush. Doing too much, too fast causes you to miss out as many first-time full-timers discover. Take a few lazy days as you travel and keep your schedule fluid because you never know what opportunities will come up.
Take time when it comes to picking an RV. Do your research and consider your everyday needs and preferences. By narrowing down your choices to a top 3 must-have items, you are guaranteed to pick an RV that will keep you in comfort during full-time travel. I bought a small Class B RV first then I upgraded to a bit larger Class C. Some people do it all the way around. Buy first something that you can afford, so you won’t commit to paying back a loan before you really know what you want.

You are not as remote as you think. Many people worry about not being online or reachable while on the road, but the fact is that with most RVs you can get online connections over 95% of the time. See my article how.
Be prepared for breakdowns. It is recommended by professional full-timers that you keep a toolkit on board because things do fail at the most inopportune times. Just like you keep a first aid kit for yourselves, be sure to have a first aid kit for the RV too.
Be sure to try out the RV on shorter test runs and really test every appliance and feature. Some full-timers have experienced disappointment in their RV once it was a full-time adventure. Insulation can vary greatly, so make sure you test heating and cooling before opting for a longer-term or full-time trip.