The Pros and Cons of Full-Time RV Living

Have you ever thought about it - getting away from the mundane reality of your life for a bit and seeing what else is out there? The world is your oyster. It sounds exciting, adventurous, thrilling. You'll get to experience and see the things you never would've otherwise. But, before you get too carried away, let's dive into the realities of full-time RV living and see if you're cut out for a life on the road.

Pros

As you know, there are significant upsides to living in an RV; you wouldn't be considering it otherwise. Let's see the benefits that purchasing an RV and getting the show (your life) on the road will bring.

1. Spending time outside

If you're an outdoor person, living in an RV probably must sound like a dream come true. All the unpredictability and wonders that the great outdoors has to offer will literally be at your fingertips at all times.
Since your home away from home can be wherever you want it to, you don't even have to stick to the campgrounds. If you're willing to give up water and electricity for a certain period of time, you could wake up in amazing spots.

2. Full-time RV life is cheaper

Rent, utilities, mortgage - don't bother with those. Full-time RV living might come with many great perks, but saving money is on top of everyone's list. The rent for this lifestyle doesn't exceed a few hundred dollars a month. And while there are, of course, some additional expenses such as gas, insurance, and campground rent, they are nothing compared to living in a house.

3. Traveling

An undoubtedly great aspect of RVing is all the traveling you'll get to do. You can finally go and visit all the states and cities you've always wanted. This lifestyle makes the experience completely different from anything else. Staying in hotels doesn't give you as much freedom to explore and immerse yourself fully.

4. Learning valuable lessons

Being on the road will be challenging in a lot of ways. The days will sometimes get long, you'll get homesick, and things often won't go according to your plans. But whatever comes your way, make sure to take a second to turn it into a learning opportunity.
But this includes pleasant experiences as well. You'll grow so much as a person and learn to appreciate the life you've chosen every single day. And, make no mistake, personal growth is an excellent benefit of this lifestyle. So, if you decide to into full-time RV living, remember that it's all about the right mindset.

5. Meeting new people

Another benefit of RVing is that you'll meet incredible people along the way. Of course, you'll spend huge chunks of your time with your RV roommates and no one else in sight. However, there are many situations where you'll have to whip out your social skills to solve problems and get by. Be it to ask for directions or simply to mingle with your campground neighbors, you'll meet a lot of people along the way.

Cons

As with anything in life, RV life has some downsides as well. Luckily, none of them are unrepairable or too bad.

1. Lack of space

Depending on the size of your RV, there may be days when you'll want to jump out of your own skin. The lack of space can be frustrating. However, once you take a step back, remember all the beautiful sceneries you're visiting, and look at the bigger picture, you'll see that this isn't as bad.
When it comes to lack of space, it's all about being organized. There's no room for clutter in your RV, and you will need to get rid of anything that you have no use for on the road. Renting a storage unit is a great way to make space and keep your items organized. Make sure to treat it like a closet to your RV and keep everything tidy for when you need to access it.

2. Mold

Unfortunately, small spaces with insufficient ventilation can get moldy. On the bright side, you can solve this issue by airing the RV out as often as possible.
A bigger issue is purchasing a vehicle that already has this problem. Make sure to get it inspected before you make a purchase. If the owners won't let you do that, consider it a big red flag and move on.

3. Lack of stability

Although living on the road can test your mental stability sometimes, this isn't what we're talking about. Life on wheels can get a bit shaky. Depending on the roads and the RV you've chosen, you'll feel as if you're experiencing minor earthquakes every now and again.
Make sure to organize your vehicle's interior so that everything is firmly set in its place. You don't want to get on the freeway and have plates and glasses flying around.

4. Say goodbye to temperature control

The temperature in an RV isn't as easy to control as it is in stick and brick houses. Not only is it made of tin or wood that doesn't really have insulation, but it's also always on the move. No matter what kind of an AC you have, the heat will find its way in, be prepared for it. The colder weather is not to one should be toying with either. Make sure that you're ready for every case scenario.

5. The stress of it all

Living in an RV full-time isn't for the faint of heart. You need to be resilient and robust. Even though it's an experience like no other, you'll stumble upon some challenges as well.
One of the most significant stressors of living this life, especially in a bigger RV, is navigating the vehicle on the road. Once you get off the highway, you'll often need to drive through some pretty tight spaces and make sharp turns, which can get frustrating.

Is a full-time RV lifestyle for you?

Essentially, no one can make this decision for you. You've seen the reality of full-time RV living. These few downsides won't be an issue for those who enjoy the lifestyle and the freedom. Likewise, for those that cannot deal with the stress of the road or the limited spaces, the upsides just won't suffice. Which one are you?



Author bio: Aysha Holmes has been working at golansmoving.com for over a decade. She’s acquired valuable experience during this time and has seen people deal with many different living situations. Passionate to share her knowledge with others, she’s taken on writing blog posts. In her spare time, she’s having fun with her two daughters and a charming Shih Tzu named Barky.