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

[EYEMLOST]

I've been tent camping and truck camping for 45+ years.

I'm currently planning on becoming a full-time RV'er in approx 4 years.


In the mean time I started this thread in order to collect valuable info/insight/tips/tricks on the FIRST EIGHTEEN MONTHS of that transition.

Meaning; what to expect the first year and a half of being a full-time RV'er.

It's going to be a life-changing transition to say the least, for me.

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


I currently rent an apartment and am in the process of serious downsizing/getting rid of stuff; post divorce.


I'm going to W.A.G. that there will be challenges even for the most prepared enthusiast dealing with said transition.


Thank you! :B

[LouLawrence]

JimK-NY wrote:
My wife and I transitioned from never having an RV to living in one full time for a couple of years. We literally never stayed a night in the RV until we sold the house and took off as full timers. The transition was really simple with no major issues of any kind.

We started a couple of months in advance by setting up a South Dakota mail forwarding address. We went paperless on everything possible and make dozens of address change notifications. Never rely on the post office to forward your mail. Weeks after we moved the new owner was still getting some of our mail at the old address.

The only other issue was taking too many tools and supplies. I am now down to one small tool kit and a few spare parts, glue, duct tape and a tube of sealant.

We also totally ignored the 2-2-2 rule someone mentioned. When driving across the heartland we often do 500-600+ miles a day. With an RV that is easy. We drive 3-4 hours, stop, eat and rest for an hour and repeat up to three driving sessions per day. Ten to 12 hours of Interstate driving covers a lot of miles.

Most of the people who struggle, made the same mistake. They started with an RV that was way too big. Salespeople love to upsell and all the space and comfort seems good at first. Unfortunately you need to move it and care for it on a daily basis. We went small but with all the basics for comfort, plenty of storage and a couple of solar panels on the roof.

Have I driven 500 miles in a day? Yep! Do I recommend it? Absolutely not. If you are full timing there is no reason to do so. I only did it because I was running a business that required it (a few times in about 20 years). The whole point is to relax and enjoy and there is nothing relaxing or enjoying about a 500-600 mile day! In case I did not make that clear, NOTHING!
Some folks like to get up at 2 in the morning and drive all night to get to their destination. If that's you, ignore my post. If you are more like us common folk, take your time, enjoy each place you stop and stop as often as you find comfortable.

[JimK-NY]

wopachop wrote:
......Im a weirdo and dont want chunks of food sitting in my grey tank. I swear that grey tank can smell worse than black during summer temps.
....

I see nothing weird about that. We have fine mess screens on the drains for the sink and shower. That solves 90% of the issue but in hot weather, I still like to add a 1/4 cup or so of bleach to the grey tank every week or so.

[JimK-NY]

My wife and I transitioned from never having an RV to living in one full time for a couple of years. We literally never stayed a night in the RV until we sold the house and took off as full timers. The transition was really simple with no major issues of any kind.

We started a couple of months in advance by setting up a South Dakota mail forwarding address. We went paperless on everything possible and make dozens of address change notifications. Never rely on the post office to forward your mail. Weeks after we moved the new owner was still getting some of our mail at the old address.

The only other issue was taking too many tools and supplies. I am now down to one small tool kit and a few spare parts, glue, duct tape and a tube of sealant.

We also totally ignored the 2-2-2 rule someone mentioned. When driving across the heartland we often do 500-600+ miles a day. With an RV that is easy. We drive 3-4 hours, stop, eat and rest for an hour and repeat up to three driving sessions per day. Ten to 12 hours of Interstate driving covers a lot of miles.

Most of the people who struggle, made the same mistake. They started with an RV that was way too big. Salespeople love to upsell and all the space and comfort seems good at first. Unfortunately you need to move it and care for it on a daily basis. We went small but with all the basics for comfort, plenty of storage and a couple of solar panels on the roof.

[wopachop]

Im on 4 years now of fake full timing. Meaning i live in my trailer. But its parked at a house. Biggest issue is water related. To clean a pan i will often add a tiny bit of water and heat it up over the stove. Then use a paper towel to get it mostly clean. Dump the water into the trash can. Then use the sink for a final cleaning of soap and water. Im a weirdo and dont want chunks of food sitting in my grey tank. I swear that grey tank can smell worse than black during summer temps.

If you live in hot weather, and have the common absorbtion fridge, then you might need to add fans inside the fridge and also behind it. Deal with that issue if it happens.

[Ro_n_Joe]

Read read and read more. There's lots of information on line. The Escapees RV Club has good tips on how to establish a domicile. Out of the 1.5yrs we've been full timing, probably boondocked a total of one month so we won't be getting any solar system. Can boondock a wk if we're careful running the generator 3hrs in the morning and 2.5hrs in the evening in our all electric rig.
Best part is we love this lifestyle!

[2g_s]

The first year will not be perfect. It takes a while to smooth things out and get a routine.

Don't move around so fast. Explore the countrysides.

You will probably be modifying your budget as you go along.

Go into full-time debt-free.

Try volunteering in parks. You'll be amazed how good it makes you feel to be helping out. There are a lot more than campground host gigs. There's interpretation, maintenance, visitor centers, landscaping, trail work, etc.

It's an awesome lifestyle!! Good luck!

[JimK-NY]

My number one piece of advice is to match the RV to how you want to live. Also think small as feasible. If your RV is going to sit for long periods of time you might want to consider a "mobile" home instead. If you want to travel and visit National Parks and other scenic areas, then giving up some space, weight and conveniences can be worth it.

[Dutch_12078]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Dick_B wrote:
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'.

Start tent camping at 10 then 45 yrs would put OP at 55
Start tent camping at 20 then 45 yrs would put OP at 65

What is too OLD????

I guess Dick_B would be shocked to learn I started tent camping 78 years ago with my family, and bought my first RV about 55 years ago... 😉

[Old-Biscuit]

Dick_B wrote:
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'.

Start tent camping at 10 then 45 yrs would put OP at 55
Start tent camping at 20 then 45 yrs would put OP at 65

What is too OLD????

[arhayes]

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.

[Dick_B]

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'.

[valhalla360]

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.

[Lwiddis]

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

[valhalla360]

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.