How To Find Campgrounds
This all depends on what kind of campgrounds you are looking for. If you want free-sites check out our post on How To Camp For FREE in the US.
Recreation.gov is great for finding government campgrounds and Reserve America has a lot of state and national campgrounds. Good Sam also has a directory.
And if you want the full on video tour of a campground how cool is that?! CampgroudViews.com is great for that.
The last option is good old google search for: Best campsites in Wisconsin . . .
Also note that there are a lot of campgrounds that are starting to charge what we call a kid tax. Basically any people over 2, you are paying an extra fee per night. This can be $2 to $5 a person! That can make a big difference when you have kids.
Fulltime Families is working on a service where they reach out to campgrounds and ask that they waive the kids tax if you are a full time family member. It is coming soon so stay tuned!
How Much House Do You Need
There is an RV ready to match your dream. Use your vacation RV trips to test different rigs. If you are visiting off-the-beaten-track tourist nooks and wilderness sites a more maneuverable RV could be preferable to a motorcoach. Or your dream RV just may not have as much room as you need to live on the road full time comfortably. Be honest with yourself up front and you will save yourself the hassle of trading up or down in your first few years untethered from a home base.
Part : How To Test The Rv Lifestyle Before You Commit
Life in an RV isnt for everyone. You have to drain your poop tanks, deal with limited space, and get used to driving something big across the country. Not to mention the need to learn some electrical and plumbing skills .
Of course, its not all bad in fact, its mostly good, in our opinion. But it has a few things youll need to get used to.
For starters, we highly recommend you read our RVing for Beginners post. We go into finding the perfect RV for you, how to insure your RV, what a typical loan term looks like, and so much more.
Luckily, you can rent an RV to test the lifestyle before you commit! Its inexpensive and easy, too. You can do it for as little as $50 a night, depending on the rig you choose. You can find an RV to rent near you with Outdoorsy.
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How Long Do You Think Youll Be On The Road Full Time
We have no end in sight.
Seriously, were hooked on the RV lifestyle and although we are seriously considering taking our full time traveling family international someday, I think wed keep our RV in storage with all our fun RV accessories and come back to the states intermittently to be home in our RV.
Or, maybe wed get an RV in Australia or Europe.
Update April 2022: We DID end up putting our RV in storage to travel around the world for 5 months before the big hit of 2020. Here is why we traveled as a family overseas if you want to read more.
Then we flew back to the USA and found a place in Idaho to settle down in for a while as we waited things out and reassessed travel. You can read what life was like after living overseas here.
We are still working as digital nomads and love helping others who are dreaming about full-time travel.
Our family has grown a great deal closer during our years of traveling full-time. That, along with all 6 of us craving new adventures regularly, makes us look at the nomad life as being a very longterm adventure.
If you are looking for more information about RV life or how to live in a RV, then check out our post on RV living for beginners or our post on buying an RV for the first time.
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Join Rv Camping Clubs
RV clubs and campground memberships are a great way to keep your costs down while living in an RV. Campground memberships, such as Thousand Trails, RPI, Coast to Coast and Harvest Hosts, offer free camping to members who pay an annual fee. Good Sam, Passport America other RV clubs offer discounts at RV parks across the country. We could have saved thousands of dollars on campsite fees if we had joined clubs earlier in our full time RV journey. Check out our blog post on RV memberships for a detailed break down of all your options.
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Downsizing Can Be Hard
Photo via @stywyld
Its not easy to get rid of belongings, but the truth is that youre going to have to downsize to live in an RV. Part of RV living means being more in the moment and enjoying the experiences of life on the road. Its hard to do that if youre trying to lug every possession along with you or trying to hold onto a permanent residence.
Do I Have To Get Rid Of Every Material Thing I Love
The easy answer to this question is no! Absolutely not, in fact.
An RV really is like a mini house, so youll likely not give up too many items. Those we interviewed brought things like board games, books, blenders, office supplies, diffusers, espresso machines, and framed photographs.
For sentimental or irreplaceable items, many RVers use storage, whether it be storage at their family members homes or in a storage unit.
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What You Need To Know Before Starting Rv Full Time Living
There are some things you need to know before making the leap. One of the most important is that youll need to have a good amount saved up, since RVs arent cheap. Youll also need to drastically downsize your belongings, as there isnt much storage space in an RV.
Starting a virtual business is a great way to achieve freedom. You can set your own hours and work from anywhere you want as long as you have an internet connection. The key is to do as much work as possible while spending only enough time on it that makes sense for the family. This will allow you to have more control over your life and spend more time with your loved ones.
Also, think about your lifestyle and whether its something that can adjust to living in close quarters with family or friends. If everyone involved is on board and ready for the change, then RV full time living can be a fun and rewarding experience.
Be Wary That Your Neighbors May Not Be The Most Pleasant People In The World
While you will build a close connection with your RV park neighbors, there may also be people who you wont be able to get along with.
Loud neighbors, people who wont respect your space, those up to debate just for the sake of it you arent safeguarded from meeting people who could make your stay in the RV park unpleasant. Well, you could always leave the RV park to find a better place to stay in full-time, though some parking grounds may have more or less strict policies regarding those who are a disturbance to others.
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What Is Something We Have In Our Rv That We Couldnt Live Without
There are a few things, but our #1 RV must have would have to be our espresso maker! Im serious, Tony and I are obsessed with good espresso. Oh, and if were boondocking then we use this when we dont want to start the generator.
Okay, after that it would be our Berkey water purifier. It actually purifies all the water we put through it and makes it safe and clean for drinking, no matter the water source.
Now, we created a giant list of RV accessories if you want to dig in, go for it. Or, if youre looking for our top RV kitchen accessories then check out this post.
Full Time Rv Living Tips
The longer you RV and the more RVers you meet along the way the more tips and tricks you will learn to make life on the road safer, more comfortable and more enjoyable.
Here are a few of the most important things we wish we knew before we committed to full time RVing.
Know your purpose/goal
Reflect back on your answers above used to help you select your RV. Knowing why you want to live in an RV full time will help you make decisions about what you do and how you live on the road.
For example, we knew we were more interested in completing our journey driving from Alaska to Argentina than in doing typical tourist activities along the way. We knew we would have to work at some point to afford the cost of the full trip so saving every dollar was important to us.
This mindset has allowed us to continue to travel and live in our RV for over 3 years.
Set the budget
The better you budget your life on the road and the more discipline you have in sticking to it the better off you will be in the long run. Of course, you need to consider balancing a strict budget with giving yourself the flexibility to enjoy your new lifestyle.
It is likely that regardless of your financial background you will still need to set yourself on a budget. Whether you have $2,000 or $10,000 for your monthly budget, keeping an eye on it throughout the month will allow you to continue living on the road indefinitely.
Find your RV
Know how your RV works
Ensure your life
Establish domicile
Have essential gear
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Why Do People Quit Full Time Rving
There are many reasons people quit RVing. One of the most common is that they dont have a lot of money to start with, so its often difficult for them to afford a RV, gasoline and all of the other expenses that go along with full time RVing.
A lot of people who want to try RVing think they need to buy a big, expensive Class A motorhome. Thats not necessarily true. The cost of a large motorhome can be prohibitive, particularly for someone just starting out in RVing.
Rent an RV before you buy one. This will give you the opportunity to try out different types of RVs and see which ones are most comfortable for you. Youll also get a sense of what kind of RV lifestyle is right for you.
Why Are These Factors Important
Because what kind of rig is best for you might depend on how you live. For example, if you’re going to move every few days, a fifth wheel or a 42 foot motorhome probably isn’t so convenient due to the large size.
They are great if you stay in one place for long periods. However, your rig may not fit into certain campsites. They are big and long and take up even more room with their slide-outs and awnings.
If you’re going to stay on public lands a lot, think about your ground clearance . Public land dirt roads aren’t level and flat. Therefore, they aren’t always friendly towards low axles, long motorhomes, or long back ends that can drag.
Sure, anything can work on public lands. You will find it all ‘out there.’ But the longest and lowest of rigs won’t be able to get to all places without damage or getting stuck.
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Are You Ready To Live In Your Rv Full
Whats not to love about living in your RV full-time? You are free from the limitations and burdens of a typical home. Whether you plan to explore beautiful destinations or settle into a convenient park, RV living can be economical and satisfying.
There are more than a million Americans who live in their RV full-time. Many say they are happier and that the full-time RV lifestyle has improved their relationships.
On the other hand, its not for everyone. You need to have the right space, the right companion or companions and the right financial situation.
If youre considering living in your RV Full-time, here are few questions to ask yourself that will help you decide if its really right for you.
Why Do People Typically Choose An Rv Over Other Methods Of Long
There are many ways to experience long-term travel in the US. People have lived in their cars, gotten into #vanlife, or have even survived by moving from vacation rental to vacation rental. Why did those we interview decide to go with RV life?
In a nutshell, the answer was space.
- Partners need room to do their own things: Whether its space to work creatively or to have simultaneous work meetings, having just one room doesnt work for many couples.
- Friends and family can visit: Many RVers went into the lifestyle thinking they wanted family and friends to be able to visit and travel with them. Having a bigger space like an RV meant they could convince more to do so.
- Keep all your traditional conveniences: Those we interviewed wanted to travel more but didnt want to give up the convenience of spaces such as a kitchen, living room, and bathroom. For some, switching to something smaller than an RV, like a van, would have been too much of a leap. For the amount of time they anticipated traveling, it made sense to get a bigger space they would be comfortable in.
- A place to call home : One of the biggest reasons for RV life is for something to come back to at the end of the day that felt like a home, rather than just a suitcase or a small vehicle.
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Take Into Consideration A Test Run
As weve mentioned several times, staying in an RV is a huge adjustment. We always recommend taking a couple of or three or more test runs before jumping. If you dont have an RV of your own, you can conveniently rent one using preferred tools like Outdoorsy or take a look at RV Leasings near you right here.
How To Decide If Rv Full Time Living Is For You
Living in an RV full time can be a great way to see the country and have freedom, but its not for everyone. The first step is figuring out if you even want to live full time in an RV.
There are three options: camping on private property, camping on public land, or living in a campground. Each of these options has its own challenges and benefits, so its important to consider them before deciding which option is best for you. For example, if you need to be near electrical hookups and water sources all the time, then living in a campground may not be the best choice. Or if you want to spend every night under the stars, camping on public land, might be more your style.
Once youve decided which option is best for you, there are still some key factors to consider before making the leap into full time RV living. How often will you be off the grid? Do you need access to amenities like showers and laundry facilities? How much privacy do you want? These are just a few of the things that will help determine what type of RVing is right for you.
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Youll Have To Get Used To Dumping Your Own Waste
This is something that most people dont want to think about.
In fact, you may even be deterred from full-time RV living if youre a bit squeamish.
Heres a rundown of how RVs work to see if you may be able to handle it.
Most RVs will have three tanks: freshwater tank, gray tank, and black tank.
Freshwater:
This is the water that you drink. Depending on how big your rig is, this tank can get up to 60 gallons.
Gray tank:
This water is used for the sink and shower.
Black tank:
This water is used for your waste.
RV parks and campgrounds will have sewer hookups or dump stations where you can empty your tanks.
All youll have to do is pull a lever that says black or gray and thats it!
Its pretty easy, but the thought of doing it yourself can sometimes turn people off.
You Should Sign Up For A Mail
You can select paperless statements and emails for a lot of your ongoing business.
However, there is some snail mail you wont be able to get away from.
There will always be some paper mail you need to receive.
In that case, make sure you have a physical address .
You may choose to forward your mail to a parent, in-law, sibling, child, or close friend.
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The Ultimate Guide To Full Time Rving
February 9, 2022 | Christopher Harvey
Last Updated on February 9, 2022 by Chris and Lindsay
So youve made the decision to transition into full time RVing. Thats awesome! Becoming a full-time RVer is a decision that separates you from most other people.
Opting for life on the road with both its challenges and its rewards takes a certain kind of person. And if youre reading this now, clearly youre ready to make that decision.
We committed to RVing full time in 2018 with no idea about how to RV at all! We skipped the beginning steps and had not even camped once in our RV before we hit the road for what we planned would be a multi-year journey crossing North and South America.
But as we all know about life, things changed and we found that full-time RVing is more a lifestyle than an activity to be accomplished.
In over 3 years of crisscrossing the North American continent, we have since learned so much about what it takes to live in an RV.
Were excited to share what weve learned and to welcome you into an awesome community of people who love the road as much as we do!
Affiliate Disclaimer: This post may contain links to products we think youll like. If you purchase any of the products through the links below well receive a small commission. As full-time RVers, we know our RV products well and only recommend those that we either own or would consider owning ourselves.