Did you know that there are nearly 9 million American households that own an RV at the moment of this writing? Moreover, approximately 1 million US citizens live in an RV full-time. The RV lifestyle is definitely attractive, but are you ready to embrace it for good?
Switching to an RV lifestyle can be a little bit stressful in the beginning. That’s why you need to know a few RV lifestyle tips and understand how RV living for beginners works. Keep reading this article to find out everything you need to know about your future RV lifestyle.
1. Make Sure That You Have the Right Camper for the Job
Your level of comfort will be greatly influenced by the type of camper or recreational vehicle you use. You need to pick the right camper, based on your budget, personal preferences, and the size of your family.
Ideally, you should visit a few RV stores and RV parking lots and check out multiple campers before settling upon one. Get inside the camper, see how spacious (or not that spacious) it is, explore its level of comfort, and equipment.
Finding the right camper can take time, but it’s a very important decision, so don’t rush it. Many people are going for campers that have solar panels built into the roof. These recreational vehicles are more expensive, but they will help you save money on utilities in the long run.
2. You Might Need to Learn How to Do Minor Fixes on Your RV
While you’re out in the middle of nature, you have little to no access to an experienced mechanic. Even if you are able to call one, it might take hours until he arrives. If you’re thinking about embracing the RV lifestyle full-time, you need to learn how to get your hands dirty.
But don’t worry, you just have to be accustomed to making small fixes. For example, you need to learn how the electrical circuit of your camper works and what you should do if there’s a problem with it. Consult the RV manual and learn where the main cables and wires are located.
The RV manual will also instruct you on what to do if there’s a problem with the brakes, how to diagnose minor problems, and do basic maintenance. You should get used to these things if you want to experience the full RV lifestyle.
3. You Might Need to Accept That You Won’t Have All Your Clothes With You
Even if you go for one of the largest RVs out there, you still won’t have as much storage space as you currently have in your house. That’s why you should get used to the fact that you’ll only travel with the bare necessities when you go RVing full-time.
This applies to clothes, personal belongings, furniture items, and more. Pack only the essentials and store them as tightly as possible in your RV. Instruct your family members to do the same. Still, there’s a silver lining here – this lifestyle gives you the opportunity to buy all sorts of new clothes on the go.
4. Try the RV Lifestyle More Often and See If You’re Ready to Go Full-Time
Deciding to live in a camper for a long period is a major one. That’s why you might want to go into as many RV trips as possible with your family members and friends. By doing so, you get used to the RV lifestyle and can make the decision if this is what you want for your long-term future.
For example, take long RV vacations that last for a few weeks. Visit different places and communities. Talk to other people who are living the RV lifestyle full-time. If at the end of those trips you feel inspired and enlightened, maybe you should embrace this lifestyle and do it for the rest of your life.
5. Don’t Forget to Settle Your Insurance Needs
You might be happy to find out that many insurance companies cater to the specific needs of RV enthusiasts. For example, this motorhome insurance company offers RV insurance, medical insurance, and a form of insurance for your personal belongings too.
These types of insurance policies can cover the costs if your motorhome is damaged or some of your personal belongings are stolen. Make sure that you discuss these possibilities with the insurance agent and see how you can obtain the best protection for your goods.
It’s important to be insured while you go out in the middle of nature. Remote RV sites don’t always have easy access to a trained doctor or professional clinic. Accidents or injuries can happen anytime, and an insurance policy will make sure that you and your family members will be safe.
6. You Might Need to Use Storage Units to Deposit Some of Your Belongings
RV enthusiasts who practice this full-time usually rent one or more storage units in various cities where they travel. This is a good idea, especially if your camper is rather small and it cannot accommodate a lot of items.
The renting process is simple. You pay a small monthly fee and deposit some of your stuff in a protected storage facility. You have 24/7 access to it and can take things or deposit some more whenever you want.
If you’re thinking about living the RV lifestyle full-time, don’t hesitate to rent such a storage unit. RV enthusiasts rent those for many months every year and that’s how they have all their personal belongings with them wherever they go.
Now You Know What It Means to Live the RV Lifestyle
As you can see, living the RV lifestyle has both benefits and minor disadvantages. It’s up to you if you prefer this nomadic lifestyle to get away from all the noise and pollution of a major city. In any case, make sure that you discuss this decision at length with your spouse and you both agree on the same outcome.
For more tips and tricks on how to improve your RV experiences, what motorhomes to buy, and what camping sites to visit, make sure that you check out the other articles on our website.
