Full-Time RV Living
The full-time RV community is as diverse as America itself. Countless young people hit the open road every year in search of adventure, living out of their vans. On the other end of the spectrum, the silver tsunami has hit retirement age and with it, the open road. Families have found that RV camping beats the heck out of sleeping on the ground. And now, the housing problem has become the housing crisis. People of all ages find themselves living in recreational vehicles all year long.
It’s no surprise that RV sales are breaking records.
Along with being a considerable financial decision, full-timing in an RV is generally an enormous lifestyle conversion. We here at Tiny Life Consulting have asked a lot of questions, and done a lot of research. We know what concerns and issues will be coming your way. We’ve done our homework on finding solutions. Come with us as we wander through the pros and cons. We’ve got a lot to show you!
Class A Living
I was a member of the Blue Mesa RV Rec Ranch for many years. My RV isn’t quite up to the standards shown at the top of the page. I much prefer “dispersed camping” anyway.
My ancient RV in a “dispersed” camping site.
It may be old, but my 20′ Class-C Motor home allows me to go camping in any kind of weather. I sleep in a very comfy bed. It has a refrigerator, stove, microwave oven, generator, toilet, and hot and cold running water. It’s great for a weekend. I’ve even taken several week long trips. But…
The shower is so tiny I can’t use it. Things break as fast as I can fix them. It gets nine miles per gallon. I’ve had to rebuild the bed over the cab, rebuild the door, resurface the roof coating twice, replace the heater twice, replace both batteries, and replace all of the tires several times. The awning completely deteriorated in the sun so I just took it off. One time the muffler and exhaust pipe fell right off while I was driving. The kitchen sink faucet (plastic) leaks and there is a whole list of other things that need to be fixed. This spring I replaced the power center.
Retiring in a Recreational Vehicle:
I have considered retiring in an RV. Lots of people do it. I’ve been to many RV shows seeking the perfect model for me. Wow, are they nice! One had bunks for seven people and a TV in each one. I also noted that, no matter how expensive, they all have the same membrane roof that mine has. I can envision repair after repair for the rest of my life.
Establishing a State of Domicile
Many aspects of daily life require a permanent address, or domicile. Income tax and health insurance are the two most important. Escapees RV Club is a total support network that can help you establish a domicile in the state you choose. To find out more about this important factor of the nomadic lifestyle and which state is best to choose visit their website.
This is important for everyone who lives a mobile lifestyle be it in an RV or tiny house.
Escapees RV Club can also forward your mail anywhere you might be. They’ll even scan it and email it to you. Membership with Escapees RV club also includes roadside assistance, parking discounts, and product discounts.
Visit this page for more on the Escapees RV Club.
The RV Industry Infrastructure Supports this Lifestyle Choice
Thousands of parks for full-time RV living
The RV industry has been around for decades. Even though it is technically illegal to live in an RV full-time, millions of people do it. Hundreds of RV parks, some the size of small towns, are devoted to this lifestyle. Some of these “tin teepees” are really nice. You’ve seen them. Some even have a garage. I really don’t need to tell you about them except to say: tiny house designers can really take a lesson from some of their ideas. They are masters in considering living room comfort. They also have the infrastructure perfectly designed for a short stay.
Positive Features of an RV
RV ‘s are comfortable.
- Their plumbing and electrical systems are well thought out and function efficiently, and are designed perfectly for what they are meant to be: temporary abodes. They also have all the amenities of a modern home and are completely move-in ready.
- Designers have done an awesome job of providing comfortable surroundings. There is lots of storage, even places for vehicles on board.
- They are designed to travel safely. They are as lightweight as can be.
- There are thousands of RV parks, with full hookups, in beautiful places and repair facilities backing them up.
Negative Features of an RV
- Their roofs are a thin rubber membrane that need to be refinished frequently to prevent leaks.
- The walls are thin and usually not meant for cold weather climates or snow loads.
- Most kitchen have very limited counter space.
- RVs are vehicles that depreciate in value.
- These vehicles require special skills to repair, remodel, and maintain; they need constant maintenance.
- They are built to NFPA & ANSI building codes technically, but not legal as a permanent residence.
- Some can be very expensive. Many are built as cheaply as possible to the minimum requirements.
Depending on a person’s desired lifestyle, a travel trailer or motor home might be the perfect thing. An RV can offer the mobility grandparents desire to visit far-flung offspring or move to different climates as the seasons dictate. This is pre-built luxury. Just pay your money and drive away. No special skills or sweat equity required.
There are some tricks required to skirt housing laws that require a permanent residence. Advice to accomplish this abounds in books, websites, and YouTube videos.
These aren’t “Tiny Houses” but are in the category of “tiny living” and should be considered an option for those interested in the Tiny Life.
Let’s compare RV and Travel Trailers to Tiny Houses.
Click this link to go to that page.
Here is a good YouTube® video of a family living full time in their RV
RV Extended Warranties Roadside Assistance & Tire / Wheel Protection
Your recreational vehicle will need maintenance. RV extended warranties, or extended service contracts, are policies designed to help you save money on repair costs. Unlike insurance, an extended warranty will protect you from unexpected mechanical and electrical failures.
Ultimately, purchasing an extended RV warranty is a personal choice. As long as you know everything you need to make an informed decision, you can hit the road with confidence. Know that it isn’t if your RV will breakdown, but when, and some of the most common repairs are also among the most expensive. RV extended warranties have the potential to save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on out-of-pocket repairs. You can get a free quote from Wholesale Warranties here, and work one-on-one with an RV Warranty Specialist on a personalized RV protection plan. It never hurts to know your options!
24/7/365 Towing, Lockout & Additional Roadside Assistance.
Once you are ready to hit the open road, it’s great to know that you will be covered through the toughest of times. This 24/7 RV Roadside Assistance plan offers support anywhere and at all times, there for you 365 days a year in even the most remote locations throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
This RV Roadside Assistance policy will be just a phone call away as you travel, and if your breakdown does occur in an area you’ve never visited before an RV roadside assistance agent will be happy to connect you with a quality repair facility in that area. This roadside assistance policy is renewable each year, and when combined with RV extended warranty coverage and a tire and wheel policy offer you complete protection for the investment you’ve made in your motorhome or towable RV.
Every traveler knows that the road can be unpredictable. Whether you call your rig home, or simply take the RV for a spin a few weekends each year, never hit the pavement without the affordable support of 24/7 RV Roadside Assistance.
Want to fix your RV yourself?
Increase your confidence and improve your experience by gaining knowledge and hands-on experience with an RV E-Course or Boot-Camp. See details on this page: RV E-Courses and Workshops
More Full-Time RV Living Information
How to Drain and Maintain Your RV Holding Tanks
How to drain you RV, travel trailer, or tiny homes holding tanks when there’s no sewer connection or dump station
X Chocks Stop The Bounce.
Shore Power, Surge Protectors, 30 and 50 Amp Connections
How to refinish or repair your RV roof
How to Repair and Remodel an RV
Restoring and Remodeling an Airstream Trailer
How to prepare for winter living in an RV
Tiny House or Travel Trailer: Which is better?
TV Reception While Camping or Boondocking
Running appliances like air-conditioners and PAP machines off-grid.
Changing out my RV’s Power Center
Most comfortable outdoor chairs.
How to best provide for your pet while camping.
GPS Tracking Systems For Your Dog
Comparing pet monitoring systems.
Boondocking: Camping for free in the out-back
Best Books For Full Time RV Living
Here’s a great book to help you not make newbie mistakes
From the Author:
“In this guide, I answer all of the most common questions we receive about RV living, from how to choose the right RV to how we get mail on the road, and to how to find free camping.
This guide is for anyone exploring the RV lifestyle and looking for RVing books to help make the transition easier. Also, because I want to make sure this book is valuable for you, below you can see a few specific areas of RVing I cover.
- How to find great internet on the road.
- The costs of full-time RVing.
- Whether or not to tow a car behind your RV.
- What we do for health insurance while traveling.
- The best RVing clubs and memberships.
- Our favorite apps for RVers”
Finding more storage space
Living in an RV, no matter the size, will test your organizational skills. Getting the most out of your storage space and finding new storage space may require the good ideas of others who have gone before.
Check out this unique shower caddy by HapiRm. HapiRm multi-functional bathroom shelf can help you to say goodbye to clutter. The flexible design helps you to place bathroom supplies where you need them, while the smooth surface will not scratch you and damage items. It’s a good choice to save space and keep things tidy.
It uses a stick-on system that, if adhered exactly as the instruction say, will hold 30 lbs. This is a great feature for RV shower stalls and walls where there is nothing in the wall for a screw to grab.
HapiRm has a bunch of different stick-on shelves to other areas of your RV to gain valuable storage space. See their store on Amazon.com
Visit this page of the Tiny Life Consulting website for even more useful storage tips from the tiny house angle: Tiny House Storage Ideas
