Tips/Tricks/info on Full-time RV'ing For Beginners

Do a GOOGLE search of full-time RVing and you will find a plethora of websites and blogs about just that. You will get much better information there than on here when very few are full-time RVers and you will find lots of TROLLS who just start arguments and have no idea what they are talking about.

I know that a family who have full-timed for 3-4 years have a blog called LEARN TO RV. He works in tech and does that on the road.

While there is quite a lot of information available, there are basics that will apply to most people.
One of the first things I learned from this forum 6-7 years ago is that the "transition" is going to be different for each person. Many variables contribute to the success or failure of a Full Time venture.

After full timing almost 6 years, I believe one of the most important aspects people need to address well before the nuts and bolts of the process is if Full Time RVing is what you really and truly what you want. Read as much as you can, positive and negative on every aspect of how this will affect your life and future. Not everyone comes into this with eyes wide open.

Start reading blogs of people who post in RV forums and see what they think was important enough to write about - especially people who have been full timing for a long time. And notice how things change for them as they get to use to the ups and downs of full timing.

LESS is MORE (you only need the basics and 1 week of change of clothes)

Be Debit Free

Slow down...you are not on vacation. (it'll still be there when you get there)

CGs are NOT the destination...they are for parking RV/Sleeping. The AREA is the destination. Take the time to enjoy the locale

Travel Days....limit distance between CGs
Put more miles on exploring, adventuring then on travel between spots

CGs, State/National, City Parks, C.O.E.s, Fairgrounds, Boondocking.....ALL are great to park/sleep

If you haven't seen it/use it in 6 months YOU do NOT need it.
1 bag IN=2 bags OUT

Get Rig weighed before hitting the road...know what actual weights are VS Ratings
Get Weighed each year so you KNOW

Travel Secondary/Backroads and see/experience Small Town USA
*Interstates are for working folks/vacationers

Most importantly----Enjoy the new Life Style!

Depending on the size and type of RV, you will find that many thing "need fixin' !" Make sure you have a tool box and include a good clamp on amp meter !

EYEMLOST wrote:

One tip I already found:
"To be a full-time RV'er; don't live like a tourist."

This or a variation on it is easily the biggest reason people give up full timing in the first year or so.

It get's tiring going full on every day. Then it becomes no fun.

An adequate solar system...panels, wire, controller and batteries...will mostly take electricity out of your concern. The key is adequate.

Lwiddis wrote:
An adequate solar system...panels, wire, controller and batteries...will mostly take electricity out of your concern. The key is adequate.

This is only important if you plan to boondock a lot.

Full time may include boondocking but doesn't presume it. Many full timers rarely if ever boondock.

45 years! You must be pretty old :-) How's your health? Full-timing or even vacationing by yourself is tough like owning a moving house. Are you sure you are up to it?
Just sign me `wet blanket'.

Try to follow the 2-2-2 rule. No more than 200 miles a day, off the road by 2p, no more than 2 travel days back to back without staying multiple nights. In our 7 years (so far) of full-timing, it’s worked well. We’ve discovered some really neat places often within 200 miles of where we’d been.

As others have said, you’re in no hurry. We’ve been places we planned to stop for a day or two, and wound up staying a month as there was so much to see and do. Look at every place you stop as a destination. Some of the coolest venues have been in places we only had as overnight stops, so we just extended and stayed there longer.

Ask the locals what you should do or see in their town. Consider joining the Elks or some other social club that’ll give you a local group to meet and find out about the area. As a bonus, many Elks clubs have RV spaces available.