Living In Your RV Full-Time

While RVs are a second home for many of us, some people fall in love with the lifestyle and start to live in their RVs full time. If you want to do that too, there are some things you should know beforehand, or else you’ll find yourself ill-prepared for some of the challenges you might face. To help you get started, we at Herold Trailer Sales have compiled this list of tips for full-time RV living. For additional information or to get that perfect RV for you and your family, head to our dealership in Indianola, IA. We welcome all our patrons from Des Moines, IA and Omaha, NE.

The Right RV

To truly enjoy a home-like experience in an RV, you need to get one that matches your needs exactly. A lot of full-time RVers like something a little bigger that allows them to spread out. A small rig can save you some money in cost and fuel, but it’ll also end up feeling cramped. If you like small, cosy spaces, that might work out for you. 

You’ll also need to keep a smaller vehicle for things like running errands and visiting friends. So do you want a towable RV or would you prefer to tow a second vehicle behind your RV (triple towing). Take a good look at all the options open to you so you can make the right decision. If you’re getting a towable RV, then make sure your tow vehicle can handle the extra weight of your RV.

Practice Runs

Before you take the plunge, test the lifestyle out. It may be very different from what you expect. You can have spent extended vacations driving around in your RV but that’s different from actually living in the rig. Decide upon a decent chunk of time (from several weeks to a few months) to give you a feel of what it’s like to not have a brick-and-mortar home to fall back on. 

This can open your eyes to new concerns you may want to address before switching over, and even let you know if you should reconsider the idea altogether. While many people find full-time RVing exciting, it’s not for everyone, so figuring this out before you sell your house is important.

Supplies

One of the toughest decisions is going to be deciding what to keep and what to let go of. You have to consolidate big time so this process will probably involve a degree of trial and error. One of the things that full-time RVers often do is see if they can scale down their needs or their belongings. You’ll be limited on storage space and, while you can get a storage locker to keep certain items you can’t fit in your rig, you may not always have access to it.

Cleaning the RV

Once you start using your RV full time, it’ll start to get dirtier than usual. The roof can begin to collect debris that traps moisture. Soon enough, mold and mildew start to grow and can spread enough to damage the RV. You’ll have to wash your roof regularly to stop this. As far as cleaning supplies goes, a brush with a telescoping handle and a mild detergent can handle most of the work. But you will want tailored cleaning solutions for the special materials like aluminum, chrome, enamel, and steel.

RV Upgrades

Some RV upgrades will enhance your living experience. LED lights will save power and provide more visibility on roads. Solar panels can cut your electricity costs and be used as a backup when the need arises. There are other upgrades that can keep you safer or prevent costly damage. Surge protectors prevent overloading or damaging your system. A water pressure regulator can prevent pipe damage caused by high water pressure. It also improves the comfort of your faucets and shower streams.

We hope these tips gave you a better idea of what the RV lifestyle is like. For additional help, visit Herold Trailer Sales in Indianola, IA and talk to our friendly staff. We also have a wide selection of RVs for sale! We’re proud to serve our friends from Des Moines, IA and Omaha, NE.