How To Live In a RV Full Time
There are tons of advantages to living full time in an RV. The first and most obvious one being the surprising amount of living space in a RV, even when compared to the spaciousness of living in a home or nice apartment. RV's have come a very long way when it comes to living space. Double slides and the like can expand the living area of your RV to double its original size! All that extra room also adds a surprising amount of storage space. Another advantage is discovering different (and often more efficient ) ways to do everyday life. Washing your clothes, satellite internet & TV, heating, air conditioning, electricity, bathroom usage & disposal, and maintenance of your RV are often easier to deal with than your current house! The RV industry is always coming up with new ways to do everything more efficiently. Just come in and talk to the friendly staff at Colorado Mountain RV to see how they can get you set up with everything you need to start your new life as an RV savvy family!
Now, there are quite a few thing that you do actually need to consider when making the choice to live in an RV full time, and we here at Colorado Mountain RV have created this comprehensive list to help you dive right in to your new lifestyle!
Budget
In order to live in a RV full time you will need to create, and stick to, your budget. Whether you are retired or still working, it would be beneficial to have a monthly budget to adhere to in order to make sure that you have everything that you need. What’s more is to make sure that you have enough money saved just in case of an emergency. Plan for a rainy day like Grandma always says.
Here is a sample list of a monthly budget:
- Gas / Diesel/Propane
- Food – Restaurant & eating in or pot-lucks with fellow RVers!
- RV Parks – if you are staying in a paid location
- Entertainment
Obviously there are quite a bit more items that go into a monthly budget but you get the point. Check out Dave Ramsey’s Monthly Cash Flow Plan Here for detailed outline.
Work or not to work
Once you have your budget completely outlined you will be able to see you can afford to live in a RV full time! After looking at your budget, if you decide that you can’t quite afford everything within what you are wanting to do in your new RV, it’s definitely possible to work while living in a RV full time. Many jobs are available for working online without having to be there physically. Also, many RV parks offer seasonal work so you can find work wherever you decide to park!
Buying A RV
If you are going to live in a RV full time but you don’t already have an RV, you will need to decide which RV you would like to buy. RV’s cost less than living in a traditional home, but choosing the type that fits your style and goals can be challenging. Let the friendly folks at Colorado Mountain RV help introduce you into the world of RVs, and help you figure out which RV will be perfectly suited to your needs and wants.
There are many preferences for how to select the right RV for your needs, so here are a couple quick tips on the benefits of each RV:
- Motorhome – Motorhomes can either have gas or diesel engines and are typically really comfortable. There is minimal set-up involved in a motorhome, and it is nice to be able to access your restroom and refrigerator on the go.
- Fifth Wheels– Fifth wheels are comfortable as well, and typically have high ceilings and bigger windows for your enjoyment. Fifth wheels will need to have a nice truck in order to pull them, which also gives you the benefit of having that truck to drive around if you are staying in one location for an extended time.
- Travel Trailers – Travel trailers are typically smaller than fifth wheels, and are a lighter option if you don't want to invest in a heavy duty truck. They are typically easier to maneuver, and there tend to be more camping space options for travel trailers.
- Toy Haulers – Toy haulers are an awesome option for people who want to bring their toys along for the ride! Toy haulers include "garage" areas and a ramp to get your motorcycles, four wheelers, et cetera into that garage area. Toy haulers can either be fifth wheels or travel trailers, so there is actually a very wide range of styles to choose from.
- Tent Trailers and Slide Ins- Although they are not considered "four season" RVs, pop-ups and slide ins can be used for full timing in warm and temperate climates.
Location, Location, Location
After you have gone over your budget and which style of RV to purchase, the next step in how to live in a RV full time is deciding where to live. As realtors say, it’s all about location, location, location. Some of the bigger decisions on where to live comes down to Uncle Sam, i.e. TAXES! Your decision as to what state to live in may come down to what state has the best tax benefits. Currently, Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming don’t have individual income tax. So if you are working or retired and receiving an income, this one aspect is huge!
Other than tax benefits, select the location that fits your style of living. So if you are interested in outdoor activities and want a little seclusion, you may want to live in Wyoming for a little bit. However, if you want to be in more of an urban location, Texas, Washington or Florida may be for you.
Can't decide what sounds best? That's fine! Your new RV gives you the ability to change locations as often as you want! Tons of full time RVers follow the sunshine throughout the year, and you can too!
Now, if you find yourself in transit, between locations, or just plain broken down, Colorado Mountain RV actually provides mobile services. We are one of the only dealers that has a Mobile Service Truck, and we have the best mechanic around! So you can breathe easy no matter where you find yourself.
Wrapping it all up
In order to live in a RV full time there are a couple of odds and ends that needs to get wrapped up. Meaning that you need to get very organize and cover every aspect of your current day-to-day life and see how that can be transferred into your new RV living life; such as mail and banking. With the current digital world that we live it, online banking comes in extremely handy when living in a RV full time. However you should find out if you can setup automatic deposits (if you are working) or if there is a phone app to deposit checks via a photo. Most banks have some kind of automatic bill pay, but make sure that everything is taken care of ahead of time just in case you don’t have internet access for some reason.
Mail – There are a couple different ways that you can get mail. Either by having a family member or friend hold it for you; or by paying for a local PO box if you are staying in on location for an extended time. You can also check out mail forwarding services to ensure that wherever you go that you can just re-forward your mail there.
With all of this said, you can definitely have a great time living in a RV Full time, so take your time, plan it all out and have fun!
