With remote work becoming more popular, largely due to the coronavirus pandemic, RV living has become quite popular. However, many people are now choosing full-time RV living over a traditional home. After all RV living gives you the freedom to go where you want, and allows you to explore new places. It can also be very economical. Thereby, allowing you to save more money for later in life, like a nicer nursing home. If you are considering full-time RV living, ask yourself these 7 questions before you make a decision.
Consider what you need to do with things you own, from a house to furniture and clothes. You should likely sell most items before you move into the RV full-time. However, if you don’t want to permanently part with items like furniture, extra clothes and vehicles, you could put them into storage. If you currently own your home, you could either sell it, or you could rent it out in case you want a safety net. Either way, the first step is to decide if and how you would downsize your current life. An RV can also cut maintenance costs on home repairs, like replacing asphalt roof tiles and more, especially if you get regular services on the vehicle.
This might not be too difficult if you are currently working remotely as all you would need is an internet connection. However, you should discuss your plans with your employer, to ensure your job is secure. After all you will still have expenses. You could become a digital nomad by starting a blog, or YouTube channel to document your adventure, however, be aware that this is not a guaranteed income so you may want to find additional work. Remember, while working online is great, you should also invest in cyber insurance to protect your documents. You can also do seasonal or casual work as you travel. Websites like Workamper are specifically designed to help you find work while living in a RV full-time. You should investigate your options, you may even be surprised by what you find.
Even though you are not living in a traditional home, there are still many necessities you will need to deal with. This includes taxes, insurance payments, and vehicle registration payments, all of which you need a mailing address for. After all insurance is key, you should look at policies for you, the vehicle, and your belongings. This could even include gun liability insurance depending on the state you live in. Also, consider pet insurance if you have a pet travelling with you, this way you are covered no matter what. Luckily there are many mail forwarding services you can use while living in a RV. You should also consider setting up email billing and automate the payments for any of your regular bills, to ensure you don’t forget to pay them on time. You should also plan a budget for food, mobile data and any activities you wish to do. Also, consider how you are going to cook and store food in the RV.
Living full-time in an RV can be a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. However, if you have medical needs that require frequent check-ups you may want to stay close to your current doctor. If that is not necessary for you, you should still ensure you have access to nationwide health insurance. That way if anything does happen, you will be able to visit urgent care or a local clinic without breaking the bank.
This is possibly one of the biggest decisions you will need to make. There are many RV parks, and campgrounds around the country, as well as the option to boondock. However, you should be aware that RV parks or campgrounds could likely cost an average of $35 per night. Most RV parks offer a range of amenities including bathrooms, showers, laundry, and sometimes internet. This is on top of your power and water hook-ups. On the other hand boondocking is often free, but you won’t have water or power hook-ups. This means you should make sure your water tank is full and your generator is working before stopping for the night.
There are many different types of RV’s out there, from trailers to motorhomes. They are all classified as a recreational vehicle and can all be lived in full-time. However there are a few things to consider when choosing your RV.
Trailer – these require a towing vehicle to move around as they do not have their own motor. There are various types of trailers available including pop-up or foldable options, travel trailers which are generally more compact, and fifth wheelers that require an in-bed hitch.
Motorhome – this is what people most commonly think of as an RV. It is self-propelled and has living quarters in the same space. This means when you park, you just walk through to the living area rather than having to go outside. There are 3 classes of motorhomes, A, B and C. Class A is the largest and most luxurious but often has bad gas mileage due to the weight and size. The Class B motorhome is the smallest and most agile option often referred to as a sleeper van. Class C offers a more modest, smaller version of the class A motorhomes, with better fuel economy.
Camper – this is an RV that doesn’t fall into the two categories above. They are most commonly retrofitted vans with beds, storage, and a small kitchen.
Making the decision to sell up and start living in an RV full-time is a big decision. Before making the commitment and buying an RV, you should rent one for a month and see how it goes. You may find that your “ideal” RV is too small, or too big for your needs. Or, you may simply find that you didn’t enjoy as much as you thought you would. So to give yourself the best chance of success, have a trial run or three.
Now, the above questions are just some of the things you should consider before embarking on this big adventure. There will still be a lot to learn along the way, and sometimes things won’t run as smoothly as you hope. Even your remote work may shift a few times before you find what fits. However, full-time RV living can offer you the freedom and adventure you seek.
