How to Become a Full-Time RVer: The Logistics
TL;DR: Transitioning to full-time RV living requires meticulous planning, considering factors like RV choice, income sources, schooling for kids, pet care, establishing a mailing address, and stocking up on essential supplies. Happy planning!
For many, the experience of camping in an RV is like no other. These small, moving homes make traveling so much easier, as they come equipped with everything you could need on a trip. Ease of travel and enjoyment often lead RV vacationers to consider full time RV life. However, full-time RV living can be quite complicated, logistically speaking. Lack of a physical address and home base can make life a bit more difficult, as can the additional planning, factoring in of children and/or pets, income considerations, and making sure you have the necessary supplies to make it all work. Follow along for a quick guide to the basics of making full-time RV life possible.
Planning
The number one factor to consider before jumping into RV life is planning. This is not the kind of lifestyle that you just want to dive into headfirst without any prior planning or research. There are many factors at play here, and they all work together to make this life possible. If you are considering full-time RV living, you first need to do all the research you can. Read blogs, watch YouTube videos from other full-timers, and learn as much as you can about the lifestyle before making any additional choices. Then, create a game plan and/or a timeline for making it happen. This could include the purchase of an RV, renovations, buying supplies, and any of the other factors listed below. Planning sets the tone for the lifestyle that is awaiting you, so be sure to spend plenty of time here before making my further choices.
The RV
Once you have decided to go full time and planned out the basics, you will need to purchase an RV. Perhaps you already have one for vacations and trips, which makes this process much easier. However, be sure to consider whether or not your RV is the best one for you to travel in full-time. There are many factors that affect which RV will work best for you. These include the number of people/pets living in the RV, how you plan to travel, where you plan to travel, your comfortability with driving a large RV, and many more. What once worked best as your vacation home on wheels may not always work best as your full-time home on wheels. Check out this handy guide for a more in-depth guide to buying an RV.Once you have your RV chosen, you will need to consider any modifications that need to be made to make it comfortable as a home. Do you require a built-in desk? Would you like to add a bookshelf or other upgrades? Do you want to renovate and add new floors or paint? How do you want to decorate? These are all things to consider and take care of before you hit the road. Check out our quick renovation guide for more ideas.
Considering the full-time RV lifestyle is exciting but also a bit daunting. There is so much to think about and so many factors to consider. Let this list serve as a guide on where to start. Once you have all the logistics worked out, there are so many more fun things to plan, such as where you will go and the places you will visit. Happy planning!