8 Pieces of Advice from Full Time RVers

Whether you’re a first-time RVer or someone who's been on the road for years, taking a few pieces of advice from Full Time RVers wherever you go is never a bad idea. We sat down with a few full-time travelers to ask them about their best pieces of advice for anyone who enjoys a good trip on the road or wants to see the world behind the steering wheel.

Here are some of the best tips we received to make your traveling safer, more fun, and enjoyable!

“Make sure your sewer pipe is properly secured into the dump pipe before opening your black tank. Don’t ask how I know.” -- Jimmy Le, Airstream Owner

I guess we all know how Jimmy came about this piece of advice, but it’s still one to keep in mind as we go about our daily routines. Moving the RV from place to place can and will test your patience some days. Especially if you forget to do something simple along the way.

“Don’t sweat the small stuff. Things are going to break and things are going to go wrong, it’s part of life.” -- Cindy Talley, 12 Years of Full-Timing on the Road

As stated in the above advice, not everything will go right on the road. You will find that every road trip comes with its own set of troubles and worries, but that shouldn’t stop you from continuing your journey. Be prepared, but know that not every hiccup can be solved easily. You’ll be happier for it.

“You can never have enough tools! Full timing entails a new unexpected project almost every day. If you have an open mind and make use of the community (and maybe an occasional YouTube video) you really can learn to fix and solve all of them!” -- John Kramer, Handyman Traveler

When something happens or a light fixture comes undone, you’ll be happy you listened to John. Having enough tools with you to fix the smaller things in your rig can make the difference between you shivering in the cold or sweating in the blazing sun. Make use of the tools and resources you have to fix small problems. It might just save the day!

Related Read: RV Living: Necessary Tools and How to Store Them

“There’s no right or wrong way to full time. Before we started, we were so sure we’d just go where our whims took us, with few plans. It didn’t take us long to realize that because we work full time (we own an ERP consulting business) and that work involves business trips, we needed to plan ahead. We also like to stay in state and national parks, some of which book a year in advance — so again, need to plan ahead. There are so many things that can go wrong when you full time, so we like to take away part of the potential stress by route planning. Other full-timers like to play it by ear, choosing their next destination with little to no planning. And that’s okay too. As I said, there’s no right or wrong way to full time, and don’t let anyone make you feel like there is.” -- Missy Late, @Gone_Streamin on Instagram

Like Missy says, there’s no right or wrong way to live on the road full time. You get to decide how your days go and where you’re headed next. You may realize that planning is a must-do if you continue to work from your rig or you may love the spontaneous life of flipping a coin and seeing where it leads you next. Whatever way you adventure is the best way for you. And that’s all that matters!

“Before you get in the driver’s seat, take a couple of slow deep breaths and smile.....now go....enjoy....relax.” -- Gone Roamin’ on Facebook

Another thing we forget to do is enjoy the ride itself. Sometimes we dread getting behind the wheel and pulling out of a campground because we’ve gotten comfortable where we’re at and it’s not always fun to pack up and move out. But taking the time to slow down and smile can make all the difference between suffering through the next several hours of driving and setting up camp or having the best day in the driver’s seat.

“Decide how much beer you’ll need, and then double it.” -- Harold Higgins

Nothing like needing a beer after a long day, right? You’ll soon realize that wherever you stop, you’ll make friends. And there’s not a good camp out without a few brewskies shared with those around a campfire. Celebrations shouldn’t be few and far between on the road, as you’ll see and do so many new things along the way that are worth cracking a cold one when you get back to the rig.

“One of the greatest things about owning an Airstream [or RV] is the family it comes with. Whether it’s for help with a problem, wanting to learn something about the trailer, sharing travel stories & drinks or just saying “hi,” embrace the family connections you make and online resources that are available during your travels. You will make quality life long friendships, learn a ton about maintenance, get the help you might need and have some great times. Enjoy your journey and remember there’s a network for you if you need or want it.” -- Robin Tomaszewski

Related Read: Airstream Trailer: Sleek, Sturdy, and Silver

On the road, you may feel like you’re on your own a lot, but it isn’t necessarily true. Along your journey, you’ll meet tons of other people who love life on the road. You’ll share memories and funny stories. You’ll be able to ask questions and receive the help you really need, too. So whether or not you plan to get going on your own or with another person, you’ll always be near those who are in the same boat and happy to help. All you have to do is be open to it!

“The number one piece of advice is, “Do it Now”. Number one lament of retirement home people I’ve talked with is, that they wished they had traveled more when they still could.” - Michael Rice, Long Time Full-Timer

The last piece of advice is not to wait for adventure to find you, but to find your adventure by going out and making it happen. If you’re unsure about where you want to go, but you know you want to go somewhere just get behind the wheel and get going. There’s no time to waste when it comes to doing the things you love in the one life that you have.

Last, but not least, from a girl who has spent over a year renovating her rig and figuring out what her next steps are, know that getting to a place where you can travel full time takes more time, effort, and money than we all expect. Give yourself a break and love the life that you’ve created for yourself, even if you’re not quite ready to hit the road.

Cheers to the next year of adventure on the road!