Tips to Start RVing Full-Time

Many people would love to live in an RV full-time. There are a number of benefits:

• They get to travel at a whim, while still having the security of being in their home.
• They don’t have to deal with the complexities of maintaining a house.
• They have a lot more freedom.

However, there are still going to be some challenges along the way. Here are some general guidelines that anyone living in an RV should follow.

Get Used to a Change of Pace

Curtis Carper, an author with The Fun Times Guide, wrote an article about adjusting to his new life as a full-time RVer. He said that, ironically, one of the most difficult things in his new life was adjusting to not having a tight schedule.

We live in a society that tends to be very fast paced. One of the reasons that you are investing in an RV is to get away from this. Try to get into a more relaxed mindset.

Make Sure to Plan to Some Degree

One of the most compelling reasons that people choose to live in their RVs is that they can travel anywhere on a whim. Having the freedom to make spur of the moment decisions sounds very exciting, but you can’t be a full-time RVer without planning to some degree. Traveling costs money and it will take a long time to complete all of your trips if you don’t have your trips planned out at all.

Take the time to brainstorm some ideas before your trips. Think about the other destinations that you want to see along the way. You will receive more pleasure from your trips and complete them more cost-effectively if you take the time to prepare in advance.

Look for Affordable Lending Options Before Taking on Debt for Upgrades

If you are planning on living in your RV full-time, then you need to try to live with as little debt as possible. It may be tempting to take out a loan to upgrade your RV, but you’ll need to make sure that you can reliably make the payments on it first.

You will want to look at all potential lending sources before financing upgrades or the purchase of a new RV. Look for a low interest loan and see what terms you can negotiate.

Consider Long-term Costs Before Committing to a Purchase

If you haven’t already bought an RV yet, then you will need to consider the long-term costs associated with it before committing to a purchase. The number one cost that you need to think about is fuel costs. Most studies have confirmed that newer, diesel and camper RVs receive more miles to the gallon, so you’ll want to consider investing in one of them.

You also need to consider the costs of depreciation. Some newer models lose 10-15% of their value the moment that you drive them off the lot, so unless you are planning on driving it into the ground, you will either want to choose a less expensive RV or one that doesn’t lose value so quickly. You can learn more here if you are still looking for a new model.