The full-time RV life isn’t just for full-time travelers and nomads. It’s quite the contrary. Many individuals and families opt for full-time RV life for a variety of reasons. If you’re interested in experiencing the magic of RV life while staying in your hometown, these full-time stationary RV living tips can help you make the most out of the experience.
What Is Full-Time Stationary RV Living?
Full-time stationary RV living is living in an RV full-time in one place. RV life isn’t just for full-time travelers. If you’re interested in full-time stationary RV life, you’re not alone.
Stationary RV life is a great way to learn to live with less and save money. Plus, RV parks and campgrounds can have some really cool amenities that you don’t find in a traditional neighborhood.
Benefits to Full-Time Stationary RV Living
Here are the top benefits of stationary RV living. Let’s dive in.
Can Be Cheaper Than Renting or Buying
The great debate about RV life is that it either is or isn’t cheaper than renting or buying a home. And the truth is that it can be cheaper than renting or buying if you do it right. The key to saving money while full-time stationary RV living is to either have low or no payments on your RV itself, lower your other monthly expenses and choose an RV park or campground that offers discounts on long-term stays.
Can Make Vacations Easier
Living full-time in an RV can make vacations easier if you want to bring your RV along. There’s no packing involved; everything is already on wheels. Full-time RVing is a great choice for careers where you travel or move once or twice a year.
Forces Experiences Over Material Possessions
You really don’t have room for a lot of material possessions when you live in an RV. If you’re the kind of person who makes a lot of impulse purchases, you’ll soon find out that you can’t keep up that habit when you live in an RV. This fact alone will help you save money, and you’ll learn to savor experiences over material possessions. Instead of going shopping, buy tickets for an adventure, show, or trip.
Campgrounds Are Awesome
Campgrounds and RV parks can be really awesome places to live. Many campgrounds and RV parks have amenities and fun stuff included in the price of your campsite, like a pool and hot tub, laundry facilities, hot showers, a lodge or game room, mini-golf, a pond with boats, or even a private beach.
10 Best Full-Time Stationary RV Living Tips
Living stationary in an RV is awesome, but it does have its challenges. Here are our 10 best full-time stationary RV living tips.
1. Choose the Best RV Park or Campground
Don’t settle for any old campground when looking for a place to call home. Compare your options and weigh the pros and cons based on amenities, location, and prices. Be sure to inquire about long-term RV rates. Some parks will offer steeply discounted rates on weekly, monthly, and yearly stays.
2. Learn How to Get the Best Wi-Fi Signal Possible
Just because your RV park or campground advertises free Wi-Fi doesn’t mean it’ll be dependable. Depending on how long you plan to live at the RV park, you can inquire about installing your own Wi-Fi service. Or you can use other options like a Wi-Fi booster to boost the campground signal or a dedicated mobile hotspot to work off of your cell phone’s data plan.
3. Skirt Your RV in the Winter for Better Insulation
If you choose full-time stationary RV living in a location that has cold winters, you’ll need to take extra steps to keep your RV warm and cozy. One way to help insulate your RV and protect your plumbing during freezing temperatures is to add a temporary or permanent skirt to your RV. A skirt will stop the wind from blowing beneath your camper and can help protect your pipes.
4. Use Efficient Storage Solutions to Maximize Space
There are a variety of different genius storage solutions you can use to keep your belongings organized and maximize the available space inside your RV. If you’re having trouble figuring out how to get all your stuff inside your RV and have it manageable and accessible, we highly recommend researching the best RV storage and organization options.
5. Cook More Efficiently with RV Kitchen Tools and Appliances
Most RV kitchens are pretty small, making it hard to prepare large meals or cook for a large family. We like to work smarter, not harder. You can invest in some kitchen tools that will make your RV cooking experience so much easier.
Some RV favorites include the instant pot and induction cooktops. Instant pots are great for cooking a lot of food quickly or for one-pot meals. Induction cooktops are great to cook on because they won’t create as much external heat as a gas or electric burner.
6. Decide How to Get Your Mail
If your RV park or campground will allow you to get mail in their office or at your campsite, that’s amazing. But not all campgrounds will allow it. In this case, you’ll need to research the best way to get mail while living stationary in an RV. Getting a post office box may work well for you if you plan to stay for six months or longer. Otherwise, you might want to look into mail forwarding services for RVers.
7. Keep Up Your Monthly RV Maintenance
Just because your RV is stationary doesn’t mean you don’t have to keep up on the monthly RV maintenance. And if you ever plan to travel or move it, this is essential. Keeping up with monthly maintenance will also help your RV hold its value if you ever decide to sell it.
Be sure to exercise your generator and crank your engine (in motorhomes) every couple of weeks to keep them running smoothly. Keep up on oil and filter changes, too. Protect your tires from UV rays with tire covers, and regularly inspect them and check the tire pressure.
Do other RV maintenance tasks like inspecting window seals and roof seams, cleaning your roof, and repairing and sealing minor damages, pinholes, and cracks. One of the major causes of damage to RVs is water damage, so stop it before it starts.
8. RV Size: The Bigger, the Better for Stationary RV Life
Many full-time traveling RVers opt for the smallest RV that they can stand so that they can take it to more places. Smaller RVs are awesome for the off-roading RVer, but they’re not great for stationary RV life. Honestly, bigger is better if you plan to try full-time stationary RV living, especially if you have a large family. A large fifth wheel or park model RV is best for the stationary RV life.
9. Set Up an Outdoor Hangout Space
If your campground allows it, set up an outdoor living and hangout space. If your RV is parked stationary for a long time, build a deck. Creating an inviting and cozy outdoor living environment will make your RV and the campground feel so much more like home.
10. Unhappy with Your Neighbors, Park, Anything? Move
If you have neighbors you don’t like, you can always try to move. Your RV is on wheels, after all. If you don’t want to leave the park entirely, ask park management if there’s another site you can move to instead. If that’s not an option, you can always choose a new park. This situation isn’t ideal, but it’s great that you have the option.
Full-Time Stationary RV Living Has Tons of Benefits
Full-time stationary RV living has so many benefits. Saving money, living with less, and getting to experience the joys of campground life are all amazing experiences that you can miss out on while living in a home. Plus, it’s really cool that your home is on wheels.
If you think stationary full-time RV life is for you, be sure to do your research. Choose the best campground for you and your family, and be sure that the RV you pick has plenty of space for living and privacy. These tips will help you make your full-time stationary RV life the best that it can be. Do you have any additional tips to share?
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