Things to consider before making the big jump.
By Scott & Van Russell, F505257
August 2023
Have you ever contemplated living in an RV and traveling full-time? Maybe you are drawn to the freedom of the RV lifestyle but are also wondering whether going full-time would be the right choice for you. There are many benefits to RV living, but there are also some unexpected challenges to consider. In this article, we will explore both sides of the coin to help you decide whether this lifestyle is right for you.
IS FULL-TIME RV LIVING ALL IT’S CRACKED UP TO BE?
Flagler Beach, Florida.
You may have read articles or watched videos from full-time RVers and wondered if RV living is really as incredible as it seems. We also questioned this when we set out on our full-time RV journey back in 2015. As a family of three living the traditional Midwest suburban life, moving into an RV seemed like the ultimate adventure. Or maybe we just lost our minds? Either way, we drove away from life as we knew it, and the rest is history!
Why did we decide to go for it? I bet our reasons are very similar to why you may be considering the RV lifestyle. We were searching for more quality time together, more freedom day to day, and more adventure. In a nutshell, we wanted to experience more in life.
Was RV life what we expected it to be? The honest truth is yes and no. Many parts of RV living are even better than we imagined, but some aspects are much more challenging than we could have ever anticipated. We will break down the good, the bad, and the ugly so you know what this lifestyle is really like and what to expect.
Leaving your comfort zone and driving into the unknown can be a little unnerving. Sometimes you need to step outside of your daily routine to really embrace new experiences and adventures. Many people who take the plunge are willing to let go of the familiar to experience more freedom and adventure on the road.
FREEDOM
Florida’s Ocala National Forest boasts sand pines and natural springs.
The freedom of full-time RVing is what calls many to this lifestyle. Want to chase perfect 70-degree weather year-round? You can do that. Looking to travel within one small area or go all the way across the country? You can do either! Want to view stunning scenery, visit thrilling theme parks, go to a baseball game in all the Major League Baseball stadiums, or just put your toes in the sand on both coasts? Just hop in and go!
The freedom of being able to travel anywhere you like in your RV is one of the best benefits of full-time RV living. If you aren’t a fan of the weather, the location, or a neighbor, you can just pack up and move to the next place. Plus, your comfy bed, clothes, food, and everything else you need are always with you on the adventure. No other lifestyle provides the freedom that RV living does.
QUALITY TIME
Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys.
Think back to some of the fondest and clearest life moments in your memory as an adult or child. Chances are good that if you have ever taken a trip or a vacation, those are some of the memories that stand out the most. Why do we recall trips in such vivid detail when compared to daily life events? It’s because vacations are times when we break away from our routines to experience something new and exciting. Traveling often equates to quality time spent with friends or loved ones.
RV living consists of making meaningful memories with those we love while enjoying new experiences. Not every day of living on the road brings an exciting adventure, but the experiences you do have often are once-in-a-lifetime occurrences that would not have happened while living a traditional lifestyle.
EXPERIENCES LIKE NO OTHER
When we mention that the experiences you will have on the road are one of a kind, we can’t even begin to describe how incredible your travel adventures can be. In fact, the travel experiences are much more than we ever expected. These are moments that we will hold dear for our whole lives. They make it all worthwhile!
The Russells enjoyed a dream trip to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.
You may be wondering what kind of experiences could be so special. In our first three weeks on the road, our young daughter visited the beach for the first time on the coast of South Carolina. Seeing her giggle and wildly run every time a wave hit her feet as she picked up shells is a day we will never forget. Scott saw the mountains for the first time in his life during a stop in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. All of us visited our first national park, Mammoth Cave. Then, by the start of week three, we arrived at Disney World to take a dream trip with our daughter, who was only 6 when we launched our adventure.
Do you know what the best part was all those years ago — something that is still the case for us today? The vacation never ended. We never had to pack up and go home. That sad feeling you have when your trip is over doesn’t happen when you RV full-time. We sometimes do feel a bit sad to leave a place, but we know the next exciting location is waiting for us up the road. Even after traveling full-time for almost 8 years now, we still feel gratitude for this freedom and these incredible experiences.
NOT ALWAYS A VACATION
By now, we know you are wondering about the draw-backs of the full-time RV lifestyle. As exciting as RVing full-time is, it isn’t always easy. In fact, it can be downright exhausting and frustrating at times. Now, let’s explore the challenges of RV living.
Some days look and feel like a vacation, but it’s very different from taking an ordinary RV trip. Why? Simply because life gets in the way. You still have all the tasks of daily living to juggle as you travel. There is still laundry, grocery shopping, paying bills, cleaning, and possibly work or school. You also need time to rest. When this is your life, there is no going home to recharge or catch up. You are home and need to mix daily living tasks with travel.
IT CAN BE EXPENSIVE
We are going to be brutally honest here and say that what you budget for RV living on paper is nothing like what it will really cost. Why? Many unexpected expenses pop up when you are on the road. Prices for food, fuel, and other supplies are different across the United States. You may need additional supplies to make life easier once you are out on the road.
RVs also require a lot of maintenance and frequent repairs. When you travel full-time, the wear and tear on your RV and other vehicles is extreme, and repairs can be pricey. It’s best to budget for repairs and other unexpected fees monthly. Many people say that RV living is less costly than living in a house. While it can be, there are also many additional hidden expenses to plan for. Some months for us are cheaper than living in our house was, but most are about the same.
IT’S MORE WORK THAN WE THOUGHT
Sometimes traveling full-time can feel draining. Constantly packing up and setting up, keeping up with RV maintenance, driving, and trip planning can be a bit more work than expected. It’s easy to feel like a travel agent, because it’s always time to plan the next stop.
Coming up with where you want to travel, what you want to do there, which RV-safe route you want to take; finding a great place to stay; and making reservations is a continuous process. If something unexpected delays your plans, all those reservations can fall like dominoes. It really helps to stay in each place longer to have downtime for rest and daily living.
WHEN REPAIRS ARE NEEDED
The hardest part of RV living is when your home on wheels has to be taken into the shop for major repairs and you have to find another place to stay. We always recommend using mobile repair technicians whenever possible so you can stay in your RV home while repairs are completed. However, sometimes you can’t avoid having to take it into a shop. We have spent many weeks in hotels over the years during RV repairs. It’s a very helpless feeling and just plain inconvenient when you have to do this. Sometimes it takes much longer than it should or than you think it will. It helps to plan for emergency hotel stays in your budget or savings.
IS RV LIVING RIGHT FOR YOU?
Van, Scott, and their daughter pose for a family photo on the steps of their full-time home on wheels.
People who seem to do well with full-time RV living are those with flexible personalities. There are many parts of RV life that you can’t control, and people who go with the flow tend to enjoy this lifestyle more. It also helps to either be very handy or have a decent budget for repairs. It’s important to deal well with change. Every day can bring something new while RVing.
Is RV living worth it? Now that you know the pros and cons of the full-time RV lifestyle, we hope you have a better idea whether it might be a good fit for you. RV living isn’t always easy, but we have found that it is beyond worth it for the quality family time and incredible experiences it continues to give us. If the full-time RV lifestyle is your dream, I hope you feel inspired to go for it!
Scott; his wife, Van; and their 13-year-old daughter have traveled full-time in their RV for eight years. They have worked and homeschooled on the road through 42 states so far. They blog about RVing tips, travel destinations, jobs for RVing, and the full-time RV lifestyle on theadventuredetour.com and rvnomadjobs.com. They are also RV content creators (@theadventuredetour) on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.