If you’re dreaming of dropping your sticks-n-bricks to live in a RV, you’ll need a few tools under your belt before you make that change.
Imagining how to live in a camper full time is difficult if you’ve lived in more traditional housing most of your life!
So, to help ease the transition to life on wheels, here is our list of tips to elucidate what’s needed for mobile living.
#1. Choosing the Right Vehicle
Before purchasing and moving into a RV, it’s important to know what kind of life you’re planning on living.
Why?
Because knowing how you’re going to live will dictate which RV will best fit your personal needs.
Here’s a short list of questions you should answer before purchasing any RV or van:
- Will you live in the city or in rural areas?
- Will you remain stationary or travel the country?
- Where will you park?
- City or Rural Life?
Living in a RV can be tricky, depending on where you live. Rural life, where areas are more spacious, less populated, and more focused on self-sufficiency can be easier in an RV compared to highly populated, fast-paced city life.
The legality of RVing is a hot topic now that #vanlife has soared in popularity over the past few years. Many cities have tightened up their laws in regard to full time RVing, so knowing and understanding the local laws in the areas you plan to call home is an important part of your journey- even before you get in the driver’s seat.
Do your due diligence and research the cities you’re interested in staying: Are the townsfolk friendly to passersby? Do the police ticket people living in their vans? Can you still park in that city’s Walmart overnight without incident? Research to get a feel for the area before you roll up and park in any town.
- Stationary or Travel?
Are you planning on parking in a RV park, or travel the country? You’ll need to think about the size/age of your RV, rental space location/price (if you’re thinking of living in one), and gas costs before starting your journey.
If staying in a RV park appeals to you, you need to know that many do not accept RVs any older than 10 years old.
This is frustrating to many RVers, especially those who are in vintage- but extremely well-kept- trailers. Regardless of an RV’s appearance, RV parks with the 10 years or younger rule won’t let you to park and stay if you’re in an older vehicle.
When it comes to size considerations, often, when people envision life on the open road, they think a large RV is the way to go. Although large RVs are spacious, their size can prove to be both a blessing and a curse for travel.
Big RVs are more difficult to drive- are you comfortable driving a 30-40 ft house down the freeway?- and also are notorious gas-guzzlers.
Our 18′ RV gets between 8-10 mpg on the highway, which is pretty standard. Remember, the more weight that’s in your RV, the more gas it’ll use, so your wallet can take a hit when travelling long distances.
If you’re moving into an RV to save money- knowing how much you’ll spend on gas or space rent- is important to know before buying a RV.
- Where Will You Park?
Parking in a RV can be done one of two ways: Legally or illegally.
Legal parking would include staying at an RV park, or paying for a spot on someone’s driveway or land (assuming the local ordinances allow- each city has different laws on the books and frequently change).
There are plenty of legal areas to park your RV, some require rent or work exchange. RV parks, for instance, require space rent, either daily, weekly, or monthly- depending on your needs. Cost will vary depending on the city and time of year (for example, in the summer months, rent cost will typically increase as demand increases).
Other legal options include parking at friend’s or family’s homes (driveways or land), church parking lots (ask first!), or finding a place to park via Craigslist.
There are people willing to have you park on their property in exchange for a small fee or in exchange for housework, landscaping, or construction.
Legal RV camping can alleviate the nighttime stress of getting the “cop knock”, however, it normally does cost money. This is a big reason why so many RVers/vanlifers choose to “illegally” park via boondocking.
Boondocking or dry camping– which is RVing without hooking up to amenities like electric, water, or sewage, can either be done legally or illegally.
Those who decide to travel and park in state parks or BLM land, are camping legally. Others who live in cities and remain “stealth”- meaning they’re remain inconspicuous in order to not be seen- are typically doing so illegally.
City stealth camping is common among those who want to live rent-free, stay near friends and family, and/or still have their 9 to 5 job and need to remain nearby.
#2. Downsizing
Clutter really isn’t an option while RVing. Small spaces fill up fast, so downsizing your life to fit in your new home is a must.
Not only is space limited in an RV, but every vehicle has a maximum weight capacity it can handle. Max weight capacities need to be adhered to, as it protects you, your RV, and other drivers on the road.
Packing all your beloved possessions from your pre-RV life can weigh your new home down so much that the tires can blow, you’ll have major wear and tear problems, the RV will be more difficult to drive, and if you’re in a crash and the investigation shows you were over the weight limit… well, it won’t be good.
Instead of risking it, pare down your belongings.
A good rule of thumb my husband and I followed when downsizing to move into our RV, is “Keep only that which is functional or beautiful”.
This helps sift through all the clutter and keep the most important and essential things in your RV.
Once you’ve decided what to keep, you can earn money by selling the rest of your “old life” at a garage sale, through Craigslist or LetGo. If you’re feeling especially altruistic and want to give things away for free, you can post on Craigslist or Freecycle.org…
Not only will you lighten your load, but you could make someone’s day!
#4. Income
How do you plan on making money on the road? The RV community contains a wide range of people and lifestyles: Retirees, college students, 9 to 5-ers… everyone earning money differently.
Retirees may rely mainly on Social Security benefits or pensions, while those of working age may be “digital nomads” (earning money through online work), work temporary jobs to save money then take long chunks of time off to travel, while other RVers maintain a regular 9 to 5.
There are many income-earning options available to you, but know that just because you’re in a RV, doesn’t mean life becomes magically free! Living expenses still exist and require planning, which brings us to…
#5. RV Maintenance and Costs
Taking care of your vehicle is of utmost importance- especially when you’re living in it! Before purchasing your RV or van, having a mobile mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase is worth the extra money.
By having an inspection before you drive off into the sunset, you can save yourself from future potential headaches and save the money in your wallet.
This is especially true if you’re looking at buying a used vehicle; It’s too easy for a novice to miss some major problems like roof problems (run if there’s any leaks), weak floors, mold in the walls or ceiling, or mechanical problems that’ll cause major issues in the future.
Once you purchase your RV, consistent maintenance is essential: Oil Changes, tire fills (tires are SO important to take care of!), full tune-ups, smog checks…
All of these need upkeep and the costs will add up. But whatever the cost now, it’s always cheaper than needing to pay for big repairs that could’ve been avoided with a little TLC.
Make sure that you save money monthly in a RV Maintenance Fund so you’re ready to maintain and repair whatever comes up. A “maintenance fund” will ensure that you won’t feel too stressed if (well, when) problems pop up.
#6. RV Accessories – The Essentials
In many ways, RV living is easier than traditional home maintenance, however, there are a number of accessories we need to keep in our RVs at all times. These necessities range from dump tank hoses, to potable water hoses (yes, they MUST be separate!), to carbon monoxide detectors…
We’ve detailed all these essentials HERE.
#7. Pets
When it comes to RVs, pets are a big concern for people thinking of living full time in a camper.
And for good reason!
Extreme weather is dangerous for our furry friends, so preparing for snowy winters or sweltering summers cannot be overlooked!
There are various methods of keeping RVs cool during the hot months, and maintaining warmth during the cold months. However, each method has it’s own pros and cons, and often require trial and error.
As far as temperature control in your RV goes, the methods you choose will depend on your location, the severity of weather, and what works best (and is safest) for you and your pet.
Here are some questions to help you plan what’s best for your pets while living in a RV:
Will you be staying in the RV with your pet? Or do you plan on leaving them alone for long periods of time?
How cold/hot does your location get? *Remember, RVs are essentially metal boxes- If it’s hot outside, it’s even hotter inside; When it’s cold outside, it’s even colder inside- Plan accordingly.
What will you use for heat? Propane, fireplace? Will it be safe for your pet?
How will you cool your RV (and how will you continuously run the power to keep it cool)? An air conditioner? DIY cooling unit? Are fans sufficient? Will you stay at the beach to cool down?
Before moving in to your new house on wheels, make sure you have a plan in place to keep your pet healthy and happy in whatever weather comes your way!
Now, you’re armed with a bit more knowledge on how to live in a camper full time! Remember: Deciding to jump into RV life is an adventure full of learning curves and excitement!
This list is meant to be a foundation for you to get your footing and take the leap into your new life! Once you’re in your house on wheels, there will be more to learn, enjoy the adventure!
