10 Reasons to NEVER Full Time RV
A lot of people have become enamored with RV living. They see it as an affordable means to a life of adventure. That’s a fair assumption, but full-time RV living is only as affordable as you make it. It’s mostly been a wonderful experience for us, but it's not for everyone.
Here are our top 10 reasons to avoid full-time RV living:
#1 You’ll have to downsize
RVing is the epitome of tiny living. We had to optimize every space in our rig (see how we did that here ). Before moving into the RV, we donated and sold almost everything we owned.
A tiny home means no room for privacy, which was hard for me. To cope, Leila would take nature walks so she could have time to herself. I’ve recently learned to do this as well.
#2 Internet struggles
If you need internet for work, RV living will be a challenge. We tethered to our phones in the beginning, and I’d blow through my data in days. We got the Pepwave MAX Transit duo router, but it’s not always perfect either.
So, if you need a high-speed internet for work, strap on for a journey of endless frustration!
#3 Constant cleaning
We often go to beaches and lakes, which tracks in a lot of dirt. So, we often clean several times a day. The tiny space makes up for this disadvantage, though. Since we don’t have many possessions, cleaning is a breeze.
#4 Selective clothing
We have fewer clothing items because we don’t have much storage space. Our first winter in the RV was a challenge. We had no storage for coats, but we found compact coats that are perfect for RV living. So, get ready to buy small, compact clothing that you love when shopping. Honestly, it makes you choose your clothes a lot better.
#5 Less time for work
Some people start full-time RV living after retirement. That was not the case for us. We’re still working, and that can be hard. RV living can make you think you’re on vacation. This can make it challenging to find a work-life balance. Your time will be split between hours of driving, working, and experiencing life on the road. So, that's something you’ll seriously want to consider before you start full-time RV living.
#6 You need a flexible personality
When living in an RV, anything can happen. If you prefer adhering to a schedule, it may not be for you. We’ve had frozen pipes, awnings that didn’t work, and many other issues with our tiny home.
Bad weather can force you to change plans or live uncomfortably.
We were stuck in the freezing Colorado snow a while back. We had to buy electric blankets, extra space heaters, and wear layers of clothing. We’ve had to always roll with the punches, but if you don’t have a flexible personality or an adventurous spirit, this may not be the best gig for you.
#7 There’s SO much fixing!
If you don’t like getting your hands dirty, don’t even think about living in an RV full time. Towing your RV is like going through an earthquake every time you get on the road, meaning things will break.
You can’t leave your rig at the shop for a month because it’s your home. Sometimes, you’re in the middle of nowhere and you can’t get to a mechanic. So, you'll have to learn how to fix things on your own. Not to blow my own horn, but I’ve become the king of DIY over the past year.
#8 Isolation
For my entire life, I’ve been part of a community. I felt isolated when we started RV living because it was just the three of us on the road. The solution to that was visiting our grandchildren more often.
We also joined CrossFit communities where we could. With the pandemic restrictions lifted, it's easier to get a one-month gym membership. This allows you to meet more people and get a sense of community.
#9 RV living can be gross
As indicated by our beautiful Kalin here, RV living is not always a welcome adventure!
The black tank can be quite stinky. And you’ll also have to drain your black tank every couple of days. We've done some things to help eliminate the smell. If you don’t want to deal with that sort of thing, RV living may not be for you. We’ve had a tank spillover over, which was highly unpleasant, but we've been fortunate to not experience too many problems.
#10 Managing resources can be a challenge
When you live in a house, you only have to pay the bills, then everything is set. You don’t need to worry about water, electricity, gas, or sanitation. In an RV, you've got to manage all your resources, including your solar panels, generator, Batteries, propane, and tanks. And so, you learn to use everything wisely, which was challenging for me. I like long showers, but I can’t have those because we have a 12-gallon hot water tank for all three of us.
We’re not sharing these warnings to discourage you from your RV living dream; we only want you to be prepared.
As always, we can't wait to share more of our adventures with you!
Check out our YouTube video below for more RV living tips:
