Have you considered being an RV Nomad and hitting the road full-time? Its a lifestyle that has a lot going for it but, as you might imagine, it isn’t all “a bowl of cherries.” Naturally, there’s some good and some bad. Here are some tips from those on the road less traveled that will help eliminate some of the bad parts.
1) You need to like your travel partner
Full time RVers say living together in a 300-square-foot home isn’t for everyone! When asked for survival tips, most say that you have to know each other well and be really good friends.
2) Have few possessions
RVs don’t have places to store stuff, like walk-in closets, a basement or an attic. Full time RVers say this is one of the hardest parts of preparing for the RV life: downsizing decades of accumulated bulky objects.
3) Know that resources are limited
There aren’t any 30 minute showers when you live in an RV. There is only so much hot water for the shower and cooking purposes so quick showers are the norm. If the RV is “off the grid” then electric power is in limited supply also. Normally this isn’t an issue but devices that use a lot of power are often not allowed to be used at the same time.
4) RV travel requires planning
Even though living in an RV means you are self-contained, you still need to plan some things in advance. For example, you’ll need to make campground reservations well in advance in popular places and schedule RV maintenance to occur on schedule.
5) Do your research on an online RV community
Before you make the decision to RV full-time, visit online RV websites, forums and Facebook groups to learn all about full-time RV life and what there is to know.
6) Bring along another vehicle
Running errands in a mammoth RV is no fun. You have probably seen RVs on the highway towing small vehicles behind them. Their use allows one to leave your RV parked, say at a campground, and yet see the local sights.
7) Check your insurance policies
Our friends at Brown Chrysler Dodge (Norco, CA) reminded us that insurance policies generally do not cover issues that may occur if you are living full time in an RV. Chuck Woodbury of RVTravel.com states it as thus: “People should have a dedicated RV insurance policy and ask their insurance agent if the policy covers them if they live in the RV full-time.”
Finally
Jumping into the RV lifestyle shouldn’t be an impulsive decision. Besides, it takes a while to get rid of a lifetime of possessions. Still, if you love traveling, the RV lifestyle has quite a few benefits. Many full-time RVers say that one of the main benefits is the alleviation of stress. Leaving ones conventional world behind can lead to a far simpler, healthier life.