10 Regrets No One Tells You About RVing!

A romanticized vision of Rving has taken over the internet, making it easy to get swept up in “the dream”. But RV life is real life, and although it comes with many benefits, there are certainly some less-than-ideal things to take into account, otherwise, you might regret your decision to live on the road.

Living in an RV full time takes careful planning and, sometimes, sheer grit. Here are 10 regrets that nobody tells you about full time RVing.

#1. Understanding the Full Impact of Full Time RVing

Before diving in head first into full time RV living, take time to understand the realities of what it entails. Some things you need to consider are:

Tight spaces magnify relationship issues
Are you 100 percent sure this is what you want?
The little problem of driving a big rig
Will you have enough money to pay for maintenance and repairs?
Where will you park your RV?
What will you do with all your stuff?

Tight Spaces Magnify Relationship Issues

Ensure you have a healthy relationship with the people you share your space with because tight spaces magnify relationship issues.

Like any new relationship or change, you’ll experience a honeymoon period of the full time living lifestyle.

And you might be able to overcome problems or stressful situations easily because of your excitement. But at some point, the honeymoon period ends, and reality sets in. Some things you can do to help with stressful situations are:

Go for walks to calm down
Practice some meditation and breathing techniques
Carve out personal space in your RV for every person

Are You 100 Percent Sure This is What You Want

Are you 100 percent sure living in an RV full time and what it entails is what you want? Be fully aware of the upsides and downsides of living in an RV full time before you commit to buying an RV and selling everything you own, instead of feeling buyer’s remorse later.

If the call to adventure and the lure of the open road is strong, realize that sometimes you might be laying your head down next to a diesel truck at a gas station or on the side of the road. Due your due diligence and research RVing:

Learning about other people’s experiences of full time RVing
Researching RV blogs and websites about pros and cons
Being aware of the ramifications of uprooting yourself and your address

The Little Problem of Driving a Big Rig

Be aware of this little problem of driving a big rig. One of the regrets nobody tells you about is the fact that if you want to travel around the country in an RV, you’ll be:

Driving a large vehicle, that can be as long as 40 to 50 feet, is very stressful, especially if you are just starting out.
You’re hauling your house and all of your valuables; you certainly don’t want to have any kind of accident.
Backing up is not easy and takes practice, patience, and a good backup camera
You’ll have to think about how to fuel up your rig. This will probably entail you pulling into truck stops alongside semi-trucks and big rigs.
If you have a gas-powered rig, you might have to maneuver into some tight spaces.

The key to surviving this is practicing, and having other people help you. You’ll have to learn to communicate as a team.

#2. Have Healthy Spending and Saving Habits to RV

It’s a good idea to either be debt free before you full time RV, or, use RVing as a means to pay off your debt. (Living in our RV is how we paid off over $50,000 in loans, you can read about our personal story HERE!).

When living in an RV, there are so many hidden costs that can surprise those just starting their journey. Some things to consider are:

Have healthy money habits first
Living in an RV full time isn’t cost effective
Having a Budget and Sticking to It

Have Healthy Money Habits First

Make sure that you have healthy money habits first before you move into an RV and live full time. This is a big change you’re making in your life and if you have any bad spending habits now, it will only be magnified.

Living in an RV Full Time isn’t Cost Effective

Making the decision to live in an RV full time because you think it will be more cost effective isn’t a good idea. Costs can vary from region to region and city to city. Especially when you factor in:

Cost of living
Hidden utilities and other fees
RV repairs and maintenance
Insurance
Pad fees / RV Parks

It’s possible to be frugal and live below your means in an RV, but this is a habit you should have developed before you jump into a full time RV lifestyle and not after.

Having a Budget and Sticking to It

One of the keys to not regretting a full time RV lifestyle is to have a budget and stick to it. You’ll have to factor in certain variable costs, such as:

Fuel prices
Pad fees
Laundry facilities
Utilities
Repairs and Maintenance
Eating Out at all the different restaurants
Fun money

#3. Knowing How You’ll Fund Your Lifestyle

Before you begin living in an RV full time, think about how you’ll fund your RV lifestyle. You’ll regret jumping into it full time if you don’t have a plan. Ask yourself these questions:

What is your source of income?
Are you aware of income opportunities for full time RVers?
Do you have a back up plan?

What is Your Source of Income

Have you figured out what your source of income will be? This might seem like a no-brainer question. And you might have it already figured out.

But if you don’t have a source of income that lets you travel, you’ll be living full time in an RV in one spot. This might be fine for some people, but part of the fun of living in an RV is the ability to travel, head to the beach, camp in the mountains, and explore!

Some ideas for income generation in an RV are:

Look for remote work opportunities that don’t require you to be in one place
Go back to school and get some education in a career that allows for travel.
If you have a career that supports travel, join organizations that support your lifestyle.

Income Opportunities for Full Time RVers

One regret full time RVers often have is a lack of awareness of income opportunities available for people living on the road. For RVers “in the know”, there are seasonal jobs available that help fund nomadic lifestyles. These include:

Camp Hosting. National and state parks that have RV spaces are always looking for quality camp hosts that can do administrative and maintenance type duties. For a reasonable commitment of time per week, your pad fees and utilities are covered. Also, look into private RV parks.
Work for Amazon during certain times of the year to fill orders, like at Christmas. Amazon will provide a place for you to live and a salary to fill orders.
Harvest Crops, fruits and vegetables. While this is a labor intensive job, it’s possible to earn some cash to put in the bank.

Do You Have a Back Up Plan

If you should decide this RV lifestyle isn’t for you or if you need a place to land for a while, do you have a back up plan.

If you own a house, consider renting it out instead of selling it, just in case you change your mind.
If you like traveling, but want to stay put for a while, consider looking for a piece of property you can park your rig.
If you lose your job, do you have skills you can fall back on to help make extra cash if needed.

#4. RVs are Not an Investment

Unlike houses and land, RVs are not an investment. Similar to cars, the moment you drive that trailer or motorhome off the lot, it loses value. If you recognize this fact and still plan to buy an RV, consider these tips:

Buy what you want the first time
Only buy what you can afford
Try before you buy

Buy what you want the first time

Know what kind of RV you want and buy what you want the first time. This will save you time and hassle in the long run.

But there are so many different RV makes and models, that it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the choices. Make sure you:

Are aware of the difference between trailers and motorhomes
Know how much space you need in your RV
Know the method you’re going to transport your RV with, whether with a truck or using a motorhome
If you want a motorhome, know how you plan to tow your passenger car
If you’re buying a trailer, does your truck have the power to pull it?

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to a particular type of RV and even which model

Research all the extra options available
Know the different price points of that model, both used and new
Visit a local RV dealership that has the type of RV you are interested in, so you can physically explore it

Only Buy What You Can Afford

When you are looking for an RV, only buy what you can afford. This might seem like a common sense idea. But it’s easy to get your head turned by those more expensive upgraded RV models. Ask yourself:

Do you really need all those extra bells and whistles that the RV comes with
How are you going to pay for that RV: Cash or get a loan?
Think about the hidden costs after you buy the RV, like the insurance to cover it and repairs
Buying a newer rig might cost more up front, but save on the back end by needing less repairs

Try Before You Buy

Whether you know what kind of RV you want or not, it’s important to try the RV out before you buy it. Drive the RV around and camp out in it for an extended period. Hands on experience is the best possible way to gather information so that you can make an informed decision.

You can find an RV to try out by:

Looking for local RV rental companies
Check out AirBnB places that have RVs for rent
If you know someone that has an RV, ask them if you can borrow it for a weekend or a few days.

#5. How Much It Costs to Repair an RV

Experienced full time RVers will tell you that the costs of RV maintenance and repairs can add up, quick. If you’re not aware of that before you buy your RV, this is an easy aspect to regret later when you’re saddled with a hefty bill.

Costs can run the gamut on how much you’ll have to shell out, depending on the repair needed. Things you might want to consider:

Do You Have Good RV Insurance
What Do You Do When Something Breaks
Do You Know How to Fix Things in an RV
Take care of your tires
Maintain your RV roof

Do You Have Good RV Insurance

Do you have good RV insurance to cover your RV if something goes wrong? Does your insurance:

Coverage for the full amount
Coverage for your belongings inside the RV
Enough money set aside in a saving account to cover your repairs if they don’t meet the deductible.
If you make a living with the tools you carry with you in the RV, do you have enough coverage to account for that?

This is your home and contains all your belongings. It’s crucial to have high quality RV insurance in case of emergency and for your peace of mind.

What Do You Do When Something Breaks in Your RV

Do you know what to do when something breaks in your RV? It could be as simple as tightening a loose screw, or something more difficult like needing to replace your inverter.

Make sure to keep any appliance manuals in a handy place so you can order parts
Have a solid tool kit to repair or replace things as needed
Have a list of reputable RV repair facilities in the region you’ll be traveling to or living in

Do You Know How to Fix Things in an RV

If you consider yourself to be a DIYer, it’s worth learning how to fix things in an RV. There are plenty of youtube videos to walk you through the process of replacing a water heater or diagnosing the trouble with your gas furnace.

If you don’t feel comfortable repairing broken items on your own, then:

Observe a qualified technician while they do repairs
Ask lots of questions
Ask fellow RVers in your RV park or on online forums; they are happy to share advice
Consult the manual and call the manufacturer because they might be able to guide you through the process

#6. Having to Decide Where You’re From

Have you decided where you are from while living in an RV full time? If you’re planning on travelling, make sure to take into consideration where you’ll claim residency. If you don’t have this figured out, it can lead to unforeseen issues down the road. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Which State Do You Claim Residency in?
Do you need a mailbox address for your lifestyle, or will a PO Box suffice?
The Downsides of No Sticks and Bricks Residence
What Kind of Insurance Do You Have?

Which State Do You Claim Residency in?

The state you choose to claim residency in may not be the state you currently dwell in. Many full time RVers will claim residency or register their RV in:

South Dakota – Current residency not required to obtain your RV registration. Just fill out an application and send it in, along with a payment, and the plates will arrive in the mail. This state also doesn’t have a state income tax.
Florida – No state income tax, and generally welcomes RVs
Texas – A very RV-friendly state

Make sure to research the state you live in or want to claim as residency: What are their requirements for full time RV living, and find out if there’s any additional registration fees.

The Downsides of No Sticks and Bricks Residence

There are downsides of not having a sticks and bricks residence. It’s not something you typically think about when starting out in the RV lifestyle. Here are some areas you might run into trouble if you don’t have a street address:

Renewing your driver’s license or registering vehicles
Voting
Buying a firearm
Enrolling your children in an online public K12 program
Receiving mail

Here are some ways to overcome this issue

Use a trusted friend or family member to receive any mail that comes in
If you own a rental, use that as proof you’re a legal citizen of that state. But have your mail forwarded to a PO box
Get a box at the UPS store. The good thing about using the UPS store is that you can receive large packages and not worry about theft. Also, the UPS store will forward any mail to the location of your choice. It also shows up as a street address

If you aren’t particular about which state you live in, consider registering with the Escapees, located in Livingston, Texas. They’ll provide you a sticks and bricks address, which is simply a file in their office

What Kind of Health Insurance Do You Have?

Most health insurance companies aren’t accustomed to handling customers who want to travel full time. And this can be an issue if you need to see the doctor in another state.

Call your current insurance company and talk to them about your decision.
Think about using nationwide health insurance companies like Kaiser Permanente
Use healthcare sharing plans like Medishare
Use internet insurance, like Teledoc, which does meetings over the internet and can prescribe medicine at your closest pharmacy.
Pay cash and ask for a discount, because most doctors and dental offices are willing to work with you rather than filing through an insurance company.

#7. Where Are You Going to Park Your RV?

You’ll learn from many full time RVers that one thing they regretted was not knowing where they were going to park their RV. This can lead to challenges like:

Having to make reservations in advance
The joys of trying to park on holiday weekends
Wintering in an RV

Having to Make Reservations in Advance

One of the reasons why being debt free is so important is because you’ll have to make a lot of RV Park reservations in advance. And this can be very costly.

If you plan on staying at a lot of state and national parks, there are limits to how long you can stay at one time, often only two weeks out of every month. And it can cost extra just to make one reservation, so making multiple reservations in the same system can save you a lot of money.

Also, certain times of the year get booked really fast. Sometimes they get booked up to six months in advance. Peak RV season typically starts on Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. So, it’s important to know where you’re staying during peak RVing season.

Think about becoming part of a nationwide camping resort.

Otherwise you’ll be staying overnight in a parking lot or spending a ton of money at expensive RV parks.

The Joys of Holiday Weekends

One of the challenges you’ll run into during full time RVing is how quickly RV parks and spaces get booked up during holiday weekends. These include

Memorial Day
Fourth of July
Labor Day

Make sure you have a plan for those weekends by March at the latest because they’re typically booked by April.

Wintering in an RV

Depending on where you’re staying, you might find yourself needing to spend a winter in your RV and having to endure cold weather and freezing temperatures. This is probably one of the most significant drawbacks of living full time in an RV, especially if you have to stay in one place.

Ideally, you’ll be heading for warmer weather once the temperature turns cold. But if you must spend time in the RV during the winter, there are some things you can do to increase the efficiency of your RV, including:

Preventing Mold and Moisture
Get an RV Skirt
Prevent pipe damage with antifreeze
Seal Vents

For a full rundown on what you’ll need to winterize your RV, check out our post HERE!

#8. Be Aware of Hidden Costs

In addition to fuel and pad fees, it’s important to be aware of hidden costs while full time RVing. Some hidden costs can include:

Paying For Utilities
How Do You Wash Your Clothes
Safety Equipment to Protect Your RV

Paying For Utilities

Most RV parks, whether public or private, include utility costs in their pad fees. These may include

Electric
Water
Sewer
Trash
Internet

But sometimes you’ll find yourself staying somewhere that charges for electricity (especially if you’re staying there for more than a couple of weeks) or for the internet.

How Do You Wash Your Clothes

One thing many new full time RVers don’t think about is how are you going to wash your clothes. If you are fortunate enough to have a washer/dryer combo in your RV, then this may not be an issue.

But knowing where and how you’ll wash your clothes is an expense you’ll have to account for. Ways that you can think about washing your clothes are:

Using a friend or family member’s washer and dryer to do laundry
Using a portable washer that you hook up to your kitchen sink, then hanging laundry out to dry. Keep in mind that hanging laundry up outside of your RV may not be allowed at your RV park. Check the regulations before you do that.
Look for a reputable laundromat. The good thing about this is that you can do big loads of blankets and multiple loads of clothes at the same time and get it done quickly.
Use the laundry facilities at your RV park.

Safety Equipment to Protect Your RV

You’ll end up acquiring different equipment to protect your RV, depending on where you’re located and your need. These costs can add up. Things such as:

Using a voltage booster and surge protector for your electric appliances when staying at parks with old wiring. Especially from brownouts and blackouts.
Using a water pressure regulator to keep the pressure from your city water connection constant.
Extra 30 or 50 amp extension cords in case you can’t reach the electric with your power cord.

I’ve written a helpful RV Beginner’s Guide that you can check out HERE!

#9. Dealing With All the Stuff You Own

If you plan on living full time in an RV, one of the biggest regrets you might have is getting rid of too much or not enough stuff.

When you make the decision to move into an RV, you might think that you have to downsize everything you own. But this is hard to do.

Downsizing is Hard to Do –This can be hard, if you don’t know what you need to keep or get rid of. It is especially difficult if you have keepsakes and memorabilia that you want to hang on to.
How Much Do You and Your Stuff Weigh? Consider how much weight you can load in your RV and try to stay under that weight limit. If there are things that you absolutely can’t get rid of, then find a way to store it. If you have stuff you want to hang on to but don’t want to haul around in your RV, consider putting it in boxes. You can keep at a friend’s house.
Did You Have to Get a Storage Unit? If you need to get a storage unit, make sure it’s in a guarded and temperature controlled environment. Add it in as a budget line item you take into consideration every month.

#10. You’ll Have to Combat Public Misconceptions

One of the regrets that full time RVers maybe didn’t anticipate is having to constantly combat public misconceptions about those who choose a nomadic, rent-free life.

You may find yourself having to explain your lifestyle to friends, family, and maybe some strangers, who assume you are homeless. Let them know that you aren’t homeless, just houseless, and you chose this lifestyle.

Wrap Up

RV living has some serious benefits, like living rent-free, having the ability to travel, save money, pay off debt, and become part of a large, nomadic community… But like anything else in life, there are always some downsides.

By doing a bit of research before diving in to this unique lifestyle, you’ll save yourself some headaches, and have a clearer idea of what this life will entail.

So, take a deep dive online and learn about full time RVing before joining the caravan… you’ll feel more confident and ready for your adventure!