Have you ever thought about living full-time in an RV? While there are many advantages to living full-time in an RV, there are also some important considerations to be made as well.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that full-time RVing is a lifestyle choice and that it may or may not be for you.
There are many people throughout the US who have made the decision to sell their homes, pack up everything, and live full-time in an RV. Living full-time in RV means that you live in a motorhome or a trailer.
There are many different types of RVs and they come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re considering going full-time RVing, it’s important to ask yourself why.
Why do you want to live in an RV?
There are countless reasons people decide to go full-time RVing.
Some people decide to go full-time RVing because they want to travel, some people want to minimize their expenses and live debt free, some people want a smaller carbon footprint, and some even want a more simple life.
Having said that, its not for everyone. It brings in with it a lot of challenges. Problems and disadvantages that needs serious considerations about what you are getting into.
Reasons why not to live full time in RV
Here are 10 reasons why not to live full time in RV.
1. Loneliness and lack of human interaction
Human interaction is one of the very best things you can do for your health and well-being. Being out of contact with other people will cause you to demand more time outside of the RV.
The human need for interaction is extremely important and will affect the way you live your life. Living full-time in RV will cause you to become more isolated which may cause to you to want a relationship with someone outside of your RV or even an assistant to help in your day-to-day activities.
If you do want to live full-time in an RV, it is recommended that you are in a relationship or that you have a significant other. If you’re single, make sure you get out and meet people.
Some people even go on tour with a social club. If you have a dog or cat, you’ll have less of a problem with loneliness since pets are great company.
2. It can be expensive to live full-time in an RV
One of the biggest reasons why not to live full-time in an RV is the fact that it can be expensive to do so. The expenses you’ll need to maintain your RV will cost you quite a bit of money over time.
You’ll need to pay for insurance, registration, and you may have to pay for storage fees if you don’t have anywhere to park. You’ll also need to pay for fuel, maintenance and repairs on your RV.
Regular maintenance can be costly especially if you’re not familiar with how RVs work. You’ll probably want a generator as well which is an additional expense. If you live in an area where sewer isn’t available and you use the big dump stations, you’ll need to worry about that too.
The monthly bill to get internet service will likely be higher than it would be if you were living in a home. There are many other expenses to think about as well.
You’ll have to pay for your food and water, electricity, propane, body repair and upkeep of the RV, insurance, and other necessities like clothes and toothpaste. Even if you don’t have use of a shower at all times (like when you’re parked), you’ll still need to buy soap and shampoo just like everyone else.
3. Laundry and other chores can be a hassle
Full-time RVing means that you’ll have to do laundry. If your water is hooked up to the sewer, then you’ll have to clean out your tanks at least once a month.
You may even want or need to dump your tanks more often depending on how much water you’re using and how many showers you take each day. You’ll also have to maintain the system for pumping water for all of your toilets as well as cleaning any food that gets spilled on the floor.
You’ll have to clean your dishes and work them through the dishwasher at least once a week. You’ll need to do the dishes and clean them all yourself too. You’ll have to cook your own food, use your own cooking utensils, and make your own coffee in the mornings.
You’ll have to plan out what you’re going to do with all of your trash as well. There’s always a lot of work to do when it comes to living in an RV. If you don’t like doing chores, then full-time RVing may not be for you.
4. Deal with weather changes and often less-than-ideal living conditions
Living in an RV means that you’ll have to deal with the weather changing all of the time. Even if you don’t care about the outside, it’s still something you’ll have to deal with.
You may want a much bigger space inside your RV or even a deck or patio to help you forget about the outside world. If you live in a cold area, then you may want to invest in some insulation or even heat pump when possible.
You’ll have to deal with the rain and with all of the critters that enjoy to get inside your RV.
If there’s not enough electricity or if your generator is down, then you’ll be stuck living in a dark, cold RV. You may want air conditioning in the summer or AC vents to keep warm in the winter but you won’t always be able to use them.
You may want to block out some windows or even add a skylight if you don’t already have enough light inside of your RV. You’ll also have to deal with the ever changing landscape that full-time RVing has to offer.
You won’t always be able to park in the same location and your living space may not always be ideal. You’ll have to adapt and make the most of whatever space you’re given which can be hard work.
5. It’s not always easy to keep your RV clean or presentable
You can’t expect your RV to always look its best. You may have a few things that are broken or broken frequently and you’ll likely have to repair them.
You may want a new shower with hot water while you’re traveling but if the AC is on when you shower, then the water will become too cold.
You’ll have to make sure that you keep your RV clean and presentable. When it is dirty or cluttered, it will be harder to feel at home in your RV and will look messy.
You may also want things to be neat and order so having a mess inside of your RV can make you feel lost as if you don’t belong there.
6. There’s no guarantee of safety when you’re constantly on the move
When you’re traveling full-time in an RV, you’ll never know where you’ll be next. You may be in a new place every weekend or you may be staying in one place for a few weeks. You won’t know what to expect when it comes to safety and security as well.
There’s also the financial risk of being robbed or having your RV stolen and needing to find another home quickly.
You don’t want to live in an unsafe or dangerous area when you have your family with you too. The last thing that you want is a robbery or other event that you can’t control.
7. Lack of privacy can be hard for some
If you’re sensitive to noise and lack of privacy, then full-time RVing may not be the best place for you to live. You’ll have neighbors who can hear your conversations, hobbies and activities.
You’ll have to deal with other people who choose to play loud music or those who are exercising loudly in the mornings. You’ll have to listen to them walking around or talking and won’t always be able to control anything that they do.
You may not be able to control noises that come from outside either.
You can’t always block out the noise of your neighbors or passersby and you’ll have to put up with some people who may not be willing to respect your privacy.
8. Needs downsizing because there’s no room for it
When you’re not stationary, then you’ll have to decide what you want to take with you. You may not be able to bring a lot of stuff with you since the space inside of your RV is not endless.
You’ll want to keep important things that are in your home but there simply won’t always be room for them. You’ll have to find a way to bring in only the most necessary and desirable items or else it will become a huge mess inside of your RV.
There are some important things that you do not want to leave behind when traveling full-time just like when you’re staying in hotels. You’ll need to bring things like medications, emergency contact information, and important documents as well as your toiletries and other necessities too.
9. Parking Problems
Don’t expect to always find a place to park your RV when you’re in a large city. You may have no choice but to park on the side of the road but that can be dangerous for your RV as well.
You may not always be able to find a safe place to park and you may drive around for hours looking for a place to stay until you find one. Parked vehicles cause traffic delays, gas stations are mobbed, and there’s not enough places to plug in your RV.
You’ll have to pay for parking in some places as well and that can cost a lot of money each day. You’ll have to plan out where you’re going to park your RV so that you don’t become an inconvenience to other people.
10. Lack of continuous Internet connectivity
You’ll want to make sure that you know where the nearest wifi hotspot is so that you can always connect and communicate with friends, family, or colleagues.
You’ll want to know if there are cell phone towers in the area and if you can connect to them with your phone carrier. If you’re not stationary, then you may be unable to connect at all or will have a very weak connection.
You may be so disappointed with the quality of your signals that you decide to give up on full-time RVing because you don’t like living with a low quality of service.
11. Decision Fatigue
When you’re full-time RVing, you’ll need to take care of everything on your own too. You’ll need to make all of the decisions instead of hiring someone to do it for you.
You’ll have to make sure that your RV is properly taken care of and that everything is working correctly. Plus, you’ll likely have to find a place for your RV in a new area which means you’ll have to do research on the area as well.
You’ll want to make sure that you know what’s available in the area so that you don’t waste your time and money. You could be spending most of your time shopping for a place to park but you’ll no longer have anyone to help you with those tasks.
12. Your RV could break down, leaving you stranded
When you’re full-time RVing, you’ll want to be prepared for everything. You’ll want your RV to last for many years and be able to put it through the rigors of making frequent trips and storing important possessions.
If your RV is not well taken care of, then it may break down and become unusable. Your satellite phone will fail to work properly, you won’t have water in the bathroom, or the AC won’t work.
On top of that, it could not be repaired in a timely manner either. This would be especially difficult for you if you’re traveling with your family.
Conclusion
There are many great things about living full-time in an RV. You’ll have a large amount of freedom and you’ll be able to travel wherever you want to go. Traveling is good for the mind and soul and it can be a very fulfilling experience.
However, there are some things that you need to consider before going on the road. If you don’t like having any privacy or being in one place for long periods of time, then full-time RVing may not be for you.
If you’re afraid of the uncertainty of the future, then you should reconsider full-time RVing too. Full-time RVing is not for everyone but there are many people who love it and find satisfaction in living on the road.
If you have dreams about traveling full-time and being able to connect with nature, then you may be a good candidate for full-time RVing.
