So you are thinking of joining the movement that is sweeping our country, selling your home, traveling the country, and living in an RV full time? If so, you are probably wondering how much it costs for you to live in an RV full-time and if it is less expensive than your current lifestyle.
What are the costs involved in RV Full-Time Living?
The answer is a complicated one because of so many different factors each person presents. Things such as, what kind of RV will you be using, where will you be staying weekly, whether will you be cooking your own food or eating out daily, and really just what kind of lifestyle you plan for yourself.
We will sort through these questions, provide some answers, and see if we can clear some misconceptions for you. As with any lifestyle, individuals have their way of doing things and their own level of comfort in doing them.
Some things to take into consideration are how you want to live on a daily basis. Do you need that flat screen? Is that long hot shower daily a must-have and are you okay with a camp laundry mat or do you need to have a washer/dryer in your RV?
RV Full Time Living? Is it right for you?
Remember you will not be on vacation and need to set the expectations ahead of time. Unless you have endless funds and you’re able to splurge.
Are you someone that will eat out daily or can you settle for a nice home-cooked meal? You must decide if you are okay with your neighbors living just feet away or if escaping to the middle of nowhere is more your style.
Family can be a big issue if you are close and used to popping in for a quick visit. Having that weekly meal together or just how they perceive your plans.
There are many people out there that don’t look at RV living the same way you might.
There are many options to filter through and decide what works for you. Our personal opinion is to rent first before investing thousands of dollars into a lifestyle. Then buy a used one and see how it feels living in a smaller space. Driving an RV might even be an issue once you have tried it out. Buyer’s remorse can be a costly one in this life. Remember it will be a quick depreciation and resale value will not be what you are expecting on most models.
Choosing your new home
The first big decision will be, what kind of RV do we want? You will need to research and shop thoroughly to find what works for you and your family. Will it be a Class A, Class B, Class C, Fifth wheel, or Travel trailer? These are the most popular choices to start a full-time lifestyle. There are a few more options if you are a single person or just a minimalist at heart. You could be a van nomad or retrofit an old school bus. your life, your choice!
Now that you have decided on the type of RV you are going to purchase, we need to talk about some must-have items to get you started.
RV Full Time Living? Is it right for you?
Waste Management
Most RVs come with a complimentary sewer hose but these hoses are often poor quality, and not long enough for your needs. So my advice is to get yourself a nice quality hose with an extension piece to reach further sewer connections at your site. You will also want to purchase a sewer donut to seal connections between your sewer hose and the dump outlet so that you can eliminate unwanted odors. A clear elbow attachment is another great item to have so you can see what is flowing and the color of liquids that are flowing to see when it is clean. Don’t forget about the sewer hose support system to keep everything flowing as intended.
Your viewing Pleasures
You will want to think about how you will stay connected to the outside world unless you are wanting to drop off the map. There will be items needed to connect your TV, operate your phone, and any other connected devices you plan to use. RV parks sometimes offer WIFI but it can be unreliable at times or possibly all the time. You need a backup plan if this is the case and connections are needed.
If I may suggest this 50-foot weatherproof coaxial cable for any park hookups. Most newer model RVs come with an updated antenna or at least have wiring for it to be added easily. Winegard makes a nice digital antenna you can easily mount on the roof of an RV or a model that sits outside your site.
How you will be getting your quality WIFI is something else to be thinking about. Depending on where you want to travel you may need a larger extended antenna, especially if used for work or just as a blogger that needs to stay connected. If you would like to learn more about internet and connection solutions check out this resource.
Shore Power
Let’s talk about connecting your RV to an electrical service if staying in a place that provides power. Your RV will most likely run off of a 30 or 50-amp service. You will need to keep this in mind when making reservations along your travels or a site change will be in order. It is possible to use a Dogbone converter cord either up or down in amperage when needed service is not available. I highly recommend investing in a quality surge protector as park electrical services may be unreliable.
Leveling/Stabilizing
Another important topic that needs to be discussed is the stabilizing and leveling of your RV. The best way to stop your RV from rocking is by using a combination of leveling jacks/blocks which reduce up-and-down motion and stabilizers which reduce side-to-side motion. There are also wheel chocks to reduce and movement of the tires.
An RV stabilizer jack is a metal arm that’s installed on your RV frame and designed to extend from the RV to the ground. When you are on the road, your jacks should be retracted up towards the frame. when parked they should be extended to touch the ground for support.
RV leveling blocks are key for keeping your rig level. This is essential for some components such as your slides and Dometic refrigerator if that is used. These blocks or leveling jacks will remain in place during your stay.
Wheel chocks are wedges between the tires to eliminate front-to-back movement. There is a wedge type and also a scissor jack style and both perform well when used correctly.
To read more on this topic click here
Clean Water
Last but not least, just like with electrical hookups you need to take precautions. Park services are not always as reliable as we would hope. The best option is to add an inline water filter or have a quality built-in filter for your RV. Fresh water is a great thing to have for drinking and also for the much-anticipated shower.
So where does all the money go? RV Full Time Living?
So we have talked about some different types of RVs and a few of the essential items you will need to get started. At this point, you are ready to go camping for the weekend and maybe a little trip to the area to test how you really like living in such a small place.
If you survive this and really think Full-Time RV life suits you, we can dig a little deeper into what full-time will really cost. We will list the main items that burn funds but everyone has their own way of doing things. You only have to decide how you want to live. Are you the Glamper type (RV resort) or would you be perfectly happy boondocking?
Just to get you in the ballpark you should expect monthly expenses to range anywhere from $1,400 to $3,000 per month. The spectrum is all about how you live, like how much you travel, where you stay (and for how long), how much your RV costs, and how much you spend on groceries/eating out/sightseeing/entertainment. Are you acting like you are on vacation or just someone living in an RV and within your means?
5 Things to know about Full-Time RV living
All the below costs are just to give you a general idea, you will need to research prices and build your own budget to be more accurate.
Cell Phones
For Sprint Unlimited data we pay $150 a month and with an AT&T hotspot add another $110. The second hotspot can boost your signal and also be used to connect you to the internet for all your Wi-Fi needs. If you use it for work this is probably the best route to take due to its reliability.
Food
This cost will also depend on how you want to live. Are you okay with a home-cooked meal, BBQ, or outdoor meals with the flying critters, or will dining out be a regular thing? depending on the size of your family you’ll need to budget between $100 – $200 weekly. It is fine to treat yourself every once in a while, but you will need to adjust as you go and find that sweet spot you can afford.
Gas
This will all depend on how often you travel and how far you go. The average RV is going to get between 7-12 miles per gallon. If you pull a TOAD vehicle you will also need to take into account the fuel for sightseeing or running errands. Fuel costs will also depend if you have a gas or diesel vehicle (DEF cost will be an added expense) Budget between $400-$600 if you are staying in each location at least 4-7 days at a time.
RV maintenance
The cost of maintenance can vary greatly depending on the type of RV you select. Diesel is more expensive to work on and harder to find a mechanic. If you tow a vehicle, then you have 2 motors to take care of, and the cabin itself always seems to need something here and there.
Budget between $100-$200 a month just to be on the safe side. The more you understand about your RV, and if you are a little mechanically inclined, they can greatly reduce future expenses. YouTube is a great resource for any and all do-it-yourself projects.
Cleaning the clothes
We talked about this a little earlier, are you okay with the laundromat or do you need an in-home unit? Either way, I would budget $50 a month. If going to the laundromat, the cost of soap and using the machines will eat up this budget. If you go the in-unit route, this budget will be used for soap and any servicing needed, as the machines are prone to needing repairs.
Your landing spots
This is another cost that can vary greatly depending on your lifestyle. I prefer to camp for free whenever possible by boondocking. RV parks can range anywhere from $30 – $150 a night and this adds up quickly.
I would budget $800 – $1200 a month for this, but again it depends greatly on you. Some campgrounds offer a discount for staying longer periods of time. There are also some camp savings clubs you can join to help save on campground costs.
I have not joined a club as of yet but the top 5 I researched are Passport America. Good Sam, Escapees RV Club, Boondockers Welcome, and Harvest Hosts. If you would like to learn more about these clubs please click here for free info.
RV & Car Insurance
Yet again another cost that can vary greatly depending on your RV. We spend about $300 a year but this cost goes up if you have a towable RV. Then you have to take into account the towing vehicle.
You really need to find an agent you can trust and know what is covered and not covered, especially if you are a full-time RVer.
RV Insurance: What to know before you buy and the different types you have to choose from
Your health Insurance
If you are still working, and covered by your employer as I am, the cost is reasonable. If you purchase marketplace insurance the cost is going to go up greatly. I will just leave this here and let you decide how you will handle it. I just wanted to mention it, as it is a cost to take into account.
Entertainment
This can change depending on the weather, the location we are at, and what the budget looks like for the month. We try not to be in a vacationers mindset and stay focused on not hitting every attraction we cross paths with, but sometimes you just have to stop. We love getting outside and seeing this big beautiful world of ours and best of all it is mostly Free!
Helpful Resources for RV Full-Time Living?
Depending on your RV and if there is a tow vehicle involved, your budget can change drastically. I was just hoping to give you some food for thought, and maybe a few helpful ideas to think about.
Remember to research plenty before making any moves. Look for any deals, or clubs’ special pricing available out there. Campground Clubs, National Park Passes and gas apps can save a lot more than you would imagine. Also, map out what you would like to do in advance. This is very important in keeping your budget in check. Like setting out on an adventure, and realizing there was something else on your list of “must-see places” right where you just were.
How much does it cost to RV full-time?
Final Thoughts:
Life on the road can often get lonely, even for couples or families who travel together. Committing to the full-time RV lifestyle often means forgoing a sense of community. Also missing out on family events and waking up every day in a new, unfamiliar place. Full-time RVing isn’t as expensive as most people think.
In fact, living in an RV can help you save money & pay off debt. On their deathbed, most people’s biggest regret is not chasing their dreams. The average age of the typical RVer is coming down, mainly due to the number of younger people getting involved.
Just a few short years ago, most RVers were approximately 65 to 72 years of age. Today, that average age has dropped to well below sixty. Get out of the norm, and enjoy the simple things!
Let us know what you have seen from your experience as a full-time RVer in the comments below
Cost to RV fulltime
