Guide to Full Time RV Living Part 2

In part one of my guide to full time RV living we covered everything from what personality traits your need to what expenses to budget for. In my guide to full time RV living Part 2, I will share about what to look for in an RV, booking campgrounds and much more. Be sure to refer to both Part 1 and 2 for a comprehensive guide to an awesome life as a full time RVer.

Guide to Full Time RV Living Part 2

How to find the perfect RV for full time living

Obviously there is no such thing as one perfect RV for all full timers. But you need to consider a few things before signing on the dotted line. For example: how many people will you be traveling with, your travel style, do you need a place to work and how much you can afford to spend.

There are so many different types of RVs! Our first RV was a Class A and that’s what we have stayed with. We LOVE the experience driving down the road. A Class A looks like a bus and offers a spectacular view while traveling. For me, I enjoy the convenience of being able to use the rest room whenever I need to without asking Steve to stop at a rest stop. I also like being able to get us drinks or snacks while Steve’s at the wheel. We’re also NOT truck people, so we flat tow a Jeep Cherokee Trail Hawk to use for sightseeing and shopping while we’re hooked up at a campground.

But there are many travel trailer models as well as Class Cs, Fifth Wheels and Camper Vans! Below are some key factors to consider when shopping for your perfect home on wheels.

How big a rig do you need?

In determining the size of the RV you will need, think about how much space your family will need to be comfortable. The larger the family the more beds and area you will require. Bigger isn’t always better. Big rigs like ours are more difficult to maneuver on curvy mountain roads, use more fuel and it’s harder to find campsites.

Floor plan

You should select an RV floor plan that suits your family’s lifestyle. Ask yourself some questions. Will you need office space with privacy that allows you to focus on work? Are there adequate areas for everyone’s work and the kids schooling? Does the RV offer enough storage for all that you need to bring with you? Will the kitchen counters, sink and fridge be big enough for your cooking needs?

Our RV had a very shallow, divided sink. It was so small that I couldn’t even fill my pasta pot with water in it. We knew right away that I needed a better sink! One of the first things we did was put a quartz countertop in the kitchen with a deep, single bowl sink. Ladybug also came equipped with a standard Norcold RV fridge. As a chef and cookbook author I need to be able to store a good bit of ingredients in my fridge. Fortunately we were able to replace the old fridge with a larger capacity household unit that fit the space perfectly. It was one of the very best improvements we could have made!!!

Size of holding tanks

The size of your fresh water, gray water, and black water tanks could determine your camping preference. If your family loves roughing it by boondocking or staying at public campgrounds with no hookups, you might want to look for an RV with larger tanks. The size of your holding tanks is not as crucial if you plan on staying primarily at full-hookup RV parks. Which is what we prefer.

More features to think about

Most RVs do no come equipped with as many appliances and creature comforts as a sticks and bricks. It’s important to think about what you MUST HAVE and what you can make do without. Is an RV washer and dryer vital to you? It never has been to us. We prefer to use the space it would take up for storage. We are just fine using campground laundromats. In 3 years we have never found a campground without laundry facilities.

But if you like living off the grid then you might want to invest in solar and battery upgrades. We knew that we wanted a fully enclosed bathroom. But not everyone does. Many campers are just fine with a wet bath or using the campground showers.

Booking campgrounds while traveling full time

While parking your moveable home all around the country is awesome, it does require advanced planning. We usually plan our route months ahead and book campgrounds as soon as we know our dates. The number of campgrounds across the country is as vast as the style and pricing range. You will find everything from the solitude of a natural setting to the luxury amenities of RV resorts.

We belong to several RV clubs that offer discounts to members. The best of those for us has been Passport America where we get 50% off standard rates. Of course, restriction apply, but we have saved lots of money with Passport America and stayed some gorgeous parks.

Campground types

Basically, there are 3 primary types of campgrounds. There are private RV parks, public campgrounds like city, county, state and national parks; and public lands. At private RV parks you will normally find more amenities along with the option for extended stays. But they can be more expensive than the other options. Public campgrounds will have fewer conveniences and you will be required to move more often. However they are usually less expensive and have a more rustic setting. Staying on public land is free, but there are shorter stay limits and no amenities.

Length of stay

Ask yourself how long you want to stay in one place and how often do you want to move? Our first year on the road we moved every few days. We needed to cram in as much of this beautiful country of ours as possible. Now we prefer to stay longer in a location and really get a feel for living there. But be aware that the longer you want to stay in one location, the further ahead it’s necessary to book your campsite.

Plan but be flexible

Constantly booking campsites is part of full time RV living. But there’s a lot to consider before moving on to your next destination. You need to be flexible and check the weather, attractions you want to visit, the high tourist seasons for the destination, and local costs. After considering all of these things you might need to change your plan at the last minute.

Keep in mind that peak months in popular locations will reach capacity months or even a year in advance. You may have had your heart set on a certain campground in a location. Do your research and  see when their reservation window is open and book immediately. Just keep in mind that you might need to visit that destination during the off season.

Traveling full time in your RV

It’s important to remember that traveling full time in your RV can be everything your dreamed it would be, but it isn’t a full time vacation. It does require practice and  and management to sustain this lifestyle for months or years to come.

Visiting new places

There is no doubt that the best part of RV travel is visiting new locations! Most people have a bucket list of place they want to see and experience. We do. And it’s so much fun crossing those items off the list. Sometimes it’s also good to get out of your comfort zone and get to really know the people and places that are so different from where you lived. Steve and I have found that to be one of the most rewarding parts of traveling. That’s why we are enjoying staying in one place more than just a few days.

Travel days

As full time RVers we do spend a good bit of time on the road. Driving a big rig with a car in tow is certainly slower than driving a car. You need to plan an extra 25% for your drive time. It’s important not to push yourself. Part of the fun is slowing down and seeing the scenery. Plus we have found that by keeping the speedometer at 50-52 miles per hour we get much better fuel economy in our gas coach.

You also need to check maps or use an RV friendly GPS to ensure that the roads and bridges can accommodate your RV length and height. I’m sure you don’t want to lose your antennas or air conditions by going under a bridge that doesn’t have enough clearance. I’ve seen it happen!!!

If your final destination is more than a day’s drive, be sure to plan an overnight stay at a campground or plan on parking at a rest stop or truck stop overnight.

Maintaining relationships, reconnecting and building new ones

Full time traveling means you no longer have the sense of community that you had when you were living in on place. We like to plan visits to family and friends in various locations across the country to avoid feeling isolate. In fact we’ve reconnected with people that we haven’t seen in many years.

It’s also fun to be open to making new friends along the way. We have made many new friends that we keep in touch with via email and social media. Now we plan trips to either meet up somewhere or visit them in their hometown if they aren’t full timers.

Manage resources

I can assure you that full time RV life requires constant resource management. You may need to conserve utilities. For sure you will need to find new grocery stores at each new location. There’s most definitely a learning curve.

Is full time RVing right for you?

Certainly not every single RVer has the personality traits required for living on the road full time. That’s fine. Better than fine, because it would be harder to book campsites if all RVers were full timers. But for those of us who are cut out for this life, it is the best adventure you will ever be on!!!