You’ve given it a lot of thought, research and time, and you’ve finally decided to transition into full-time RVing. First of all, welcome! Secondly, there are quite a few things you need to know before you get started. We’re here to help you every step of the way!
Full time RVing isn’t for everyone, but more and more people are quitting their office jobs for the open road and a nomadic lifestyle. The world of RVing is massive but always supportive. Campgrounds are a great place to meet new people to hear their experiences and for them to even warn you to not make the mistakes they did. There are so many things to consider if you’re considering RVing full time, but we’re here to walk you through each step. Keep reading to get started!
Find the right RV for Full-Time Rving.
First, you’ll want to decide on the type of RV that best fits you and your lifestyle. This might be the most important thing to consider for many reasons. You’ll have to decide what you’re using your RV for, then you can begin the search for the perfect rig. Here’s a list of things to ask yourself first:
- What’s your budget? Find your budget and stick to it! It can be difficult to do this when you see that your perfect RV is wildly out of budget, but there’s more than likely a more affordable option.
- What about the size? Here, you should consider how many people you’ll bring with you and where you’ll be parking it. If you plan on going to smaller campgrounds, then a Class A motorhome probably isn’t a good idea.
- Will you need a vehicle to pull it with? Do you already own a truck or SUV that is big enough to pull it? Or, will you want a detachable rig?
- Once you purchase the right rig, read the manual beginning to end. You’ll soon learn to become one with your RV, and this is the first step in doing so.
Have a plan
Before you start traveling, it’s a good idea to at least have a general plan of where you’re going, where you’ll stay, and how long you’ll stay there before moving to the next destination. Many campgrounds are booked months in advance, and it could be problematic if pull up to a fully booked one without a reservation. If you’re boondocking, make sure the area you plan to make camp is a legal spot.
What about money?
Commuting to a regular 9-5 simply isn’t possible when you’ve decided to RV full time, but you still need to earn an income. You can do this by picking up side jobs along the way as you travel, starting a blog about your adventures and monetizing it or find some part-time work at a restaurant or retail store if you plan to camp close to civilization. When it comes to money and full-time RVing, creating a budget and sticking to it is critical in ensuring success. Write out your monthly expenses and make sure you have enough money to last for the length of your trip.
It’s time to downsize!
Full time RVing is a commitment, and selling your car, house and favorite items is a monumental step in doing it successfully. This step will take longer for some than others, and that’s okay! Letting go of the items you’ve had for years can be difficult. Taking as much time as you need, sort through your belongings and decide what you do and don’t need. For example: will you really need a full set of dishes and silverware? Where will you store it all? What about your wardrobe? Will you need 8 pairs of boots, 10 pairs of jeans and countless sweaters and t-shirts?
When deciding what to sell and what to keep, ask yourself – when we’ve finally made the transition into full-time RVing, will I want the items or will I want the money from selling them? This will help you in deciding what to hold onto!
When RV packing, less is more!
It might go without saying, but you really must take advantage of every square inch in your rig, and you don’t want items to constantly be in your way. And once you sell most of your items, packing your RV with just the essentials won’t be as difficult. There are a ton of neat toys and trinkets these days to pack along with you, but you really just need the necessities to have a great trip! Not exactly sure what you need? Do a quick Google search online for templates of what other people found handy.
Document your RV adventures.
Even if it’s taking just a few minutes each night to reflect back on the day and write it down, you’ll thank yourself years down the road when you stumble upon your old notebook. And, as amazing and memorable as your travels will be, you’ll forget details eventually. Writing down the sights you saw, restaurants you ate at, your side trips or highlighting your route from that day will make it easier to remember everything, and you’ll be able to pass these memories down to your family members and other travelers you meet along the way.
Always have tools and extra parts.
You won’t need one of everything, but having a few basic tools to fix a leaky pipe or a squeaky door is always a great idea. Most the time, you’re also trying to get away from the city which means you’ll probably be pretty far away from any sort of services you might need. If this is the case, it’s that more critical to becoming self-reliant for repairs. Something will likely go wrong, so plan accordingly!
As always, contact us here at Crossroads Trailers for all your RVing and trailer questions and concerns!
