21 Questions Everyone Asks Us About Living in an RV [Updated]

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Jumping into residing in an RV brings on a ton of questions.

Most of them are fairly fundamental, like, the place do you dump your poop? That one is straightforward to reply, we truly employed a man to observe us round and he manually dumps our poop as soon as a day. Kidding. That can be the crappiest job on the earth (sorry, I needed to… I’m achieved with lavatory speak).

Other questions are tougher to reply. Questions like, “Where could you see yourselves living one day?”

No matter what questions individuals ask us about residing in an RV, I all the time get pleasure from answering them…except they ask me how we drove our RV to Hawaii. People all the time ask that query after which chortle out loud like they only busted an Aziz Ansari joke… I don’t get it.

I hope this submit provides you a little bit of perception into what it’s like residing full-time in an RV.

1. Do you ever get uninterested in residing in such a small area?

No.

Sometimes I miss having a bath. I notice that as a person it sounds bizarre acknowledging that I miss bathtubs, however I don’t care. Baths are superior. I assume what I’m saying is, now and again I DO miss some little luxuries like dishwashers and wonderful wifi.

But so far as area goes, I by no means really feel cramped or uninterested in residing in a small area. At least not prior to now six years of RV journey. Plus, it helps if we preserve our area clear. We do the dishes after nearly each meal and make the mattress each morning and one way or the other that makes the RV really feel a lot larger.

2. How do you get mail, Internet, TV, telephone service?

For web, we have now an infinite AT&T knowledge plan, in addition to an infinite Verizon plan that we are able to tether from our telephones. Our first two years on the highway we solely had Verizon, which I can vouch for in all 50 states (excluding just a few locations in west Texas and the Teton mountains). Both suppliers have given us sufficient sign energy to document our podcast, add Youtube movies, and deal with all of your fundamental web duties,

Most RV parks have wifi, however the pace is gradual and it’d make you need to pull your hair out. Some parks preserve it old skool and can cost a charge for wifi or solely provide wifi in a single constructing within the park 🤔

If you’re going to be understanding of your RV full-time, I might extremely suggest investing in a cell booster that amplifies your sign. A cell booster will amplify your sign whereas tenting in locations with low sign. We use the WeIncrease cell booster (affiliate hyperlink) and it makes a HUGE distinction in permitting us to get web in distant locations.

For mail, the vital stuff we ship to my in-laws (i.e. checks to be deposited). Escapees is a superb firm that may show you how to arrange your authorized mailing tackle and mail forwarding earlier than you ever hit the highway. (You can learn extra concerning the means of getting mail on the highway right here.)

For TV? We largely watch Netflix and an occasional DVD of Friends. Most RVs have antenna or cable hook up capabilities and plenty of RV parks can have cable accessible onsite. I can depend on one hand the variety of instances we’ve truly attached our cable to observe common TV.

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3. Do you simply keep at RV parks? How a lot does in a single day RV parking sometimes price?

We incessantly keep at RV parks. However, it actually will depend on the place we’re and what we’re doing. Like once we’ve hung out out on the west coast, we’ve stayed on a variety of state parks, nationwide parks, or BLM land. There aren’t as many locations to boondock within the japanese half of America, so we’ve largely camped at RV parks on the east coast.

RV parks have all of your fundamental facilities—bogs, showers, laundry, web (sometimes gradual wifi), and the occasional pool. One of the primary issues we realized early on was the distinction between an RV Park vs. a Trailer Park. RV parks are locations the place RVers like us or retirees sometimes keep. A trailer park is… properly, what you consider if you consider trailer park.

RV parks sometimes common round $35/night time, however can simply go a lot larger (particularly on the west coast). We are members of Passport America and Good Sam, which each provide reductions at taking part campgrounds (We’ve simply saved lots of of {dollars} on tenting through the use of Passport America whereas on the highway).

We’ve additionally been identified to often boondock on some nationwide forest land or keep in a single day on a vineyard. Although a few of our favourite tenting is completed utilizing a program known as Harvest Hosts, which permits us to remain at wineries and breweries everywhere in the nation without spending a dime.

 

4. How lengthy do you sometimes keep in a single place?

We don’t have any typical size of time we keep in a single place.

In the winters, we are going to choose a heat spot for 1-3 months. In the summers, we like staying for one full week.

This previous summer season we stayed in Maine for properly over a month as a result of it was essentially the most lovely place I’ve ever seen. Just take a look at that lighthouse! Our time in every place is decided by how a lot we like the world, the climate, and what sort of tasks we have now occurring.

5. How lengthy did it take you to downsize?

We made the transition not lengthy after school, so we actually hadn’t accrued a variety of stuff. We needed to eliminate a TV, just a few items of furnishings, and a variety of our garments, however apart from that—not an excessive amount of. This was most likely a lot simpler for us than it might be somebody who has lived in a house for 20-30 years. I can perceive the issue of what which may appear to be once I see my dad or mum’s residence the place my brothers and I had been raised. I can solely think about how laborious it have to be to provide all the things up.

That being mentioned, I’ve talked with a variety of full-time RVers who do a “test-run” of RVing earlier than promoting all the things. This manner, they’ll check out the approach to life and see in the event that they prefer it earlier than going all-in. You can hire an RV utilizing a web site like Outdoorsy (we truly hire out our RV on this web site).

If you’re beginning the downsizing course of, we have now a free three-day course to get you began!

6. What made you guys resolve to purchase an RV vs. a tiny home?

I actually checked out shopping for a tiny home earlier than we moved into the RV, however our fashion of journey was higher suited to residing in an RV.

We like to maneuver round so much and whereas tiny homes CAN be cell, they aren’t cell like RV’s. The different cause I initially appeared into tiny homes due to their modern and fashionable design. But because it seems we had been capable of renovate our older RV and our newer rig has fairly the trendy really feel.

7. How many miles per gallon do you get in a type of issues (in different phrases, how a lot does fuel price)?

Guys, it ain’t fairly.

In our new Winnebago, we most likely get a whopping 6-8 miles per gallon. I do know, it’s a bit painful. That being mentioned, you don’t purchase an RV due to fuel mileage effectivity.

In 2014, we drove to 48 states in our 1994 Class C Motorhome and we spent round $6,000 whole on fuel over seven months and practically 20,000 miles. I wrote an in depth report of our 48 state highway journey revenue and bills right here on this submit.

8. How do you keep in form whereas on the highway?

Mostly the Bowflex… kidding.

Hiking, working, and kayaking are on the high. My spouse watches Yoga with Adriene on Youtube and different at-home exercises.

For some time, we additionally had a fitness center membership to Planet Fitness. It price $20/month and we had entry to over 800 areas throughout the nation. If you’re attempting to remain in fine condition whilst you’re touring I might counsel Planet Fitness. They sometimes have good amenities for showering and exercises, plus free therapeutic massage chairs and tootsie rolls. Need I say extra?

(If you’re planning on saving cash on RV park prices by largely boondocking, a superb fitness center membership is a superb concept for bathe entry!)

9. Will you journey when you’ve gotten children?

Update as of May 22, 2019: Yes.

Since our daughter has been born, she’s been on 13 airplanes, visited three international locations, and is presently RVing America with us.

10. When are you going to return to the “real world”?

Recently a stranger commented on a weblog I wrote about why we love RVing and mentioned this:

“Personally, I think you’re just using it as an excuse to avoid living in the real world and taking some responsibility for yourselves.”

This isn’t the primary time somebody has mentioned one thing like this to us, or requested, “When are you coming again to the actual world?“.

When individuals see two twenty-somethings driving across the nation in an RV, there’s on the spot judgment positioned on us. Obviously, we’re wealthy, entitled, or hit some form of lottery that enabled us to go escape “the real world” and journey full-time. Or we’re drug sellers. There isn’t any in-between.

Obviously, we’re wealthy, entitled, or hit some form of lottery that enabled us to go escape “the real world” and journey full-time. Or we’re drug sellers. There isn’t any in-between. Click To Tweet

Of course, the reality is we aren’t wealthy. We work a typical 40-ish hour work week and except Alyssa is hiding one thing from me, we have now gained no lottery. All of those components make it much more enjoyable to reply the query of once we’re going to dwell within the “real world”.

Short reply: Never.

Longer reply: Read this submit.

11. Where do you dump your poop? (Oops, I introduced it up once more)

Most RV’s have a gray tank, black tank, and a freshwater tank (though some individuals use a composting bathroom).

The freshwater tank can run as much as about 60 gallons (will depend on how massive your rig is) and that’s your consuming water. The black tank is your waste. The gray tank is sink and bathe water. You have a bit of hose that comes out of your tanks that connects with a sewer. Most RV parks and campgrounds can have sewer hookups or dump stations so that you can empty your tanks. You pull a lever that claims black after which one that claims gray and BAM. Your tanks are emptied. It’s quite simple.

Update: If you’re nonetheless studying by way of this submit and have 1,000,000 extra questions on RV life, Alyssa launched A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV! You can test it out beneath:

12. What do you do for making a living on the highway?

This is the million-dollar query.

Before shopping for our RV in 2014, we had no concept that it was doable to earn money whereas touring.

In our first 12 months on the highway, I got here up with the thought to work a job in all 50 states (it seemed like extra enjoyable than sitting in an workplace). I pitched a web-based job board to see if they might assist me line up a few of the jobs and they ended up sponsoring us and sending some movie gear within the mail (the cameras confirmed as much as our door the day of our marriage ceremony and we hit the highway 4 days later).

After realizing how a lot we liked RV life, we continued making movies for purchasers whereas RVing. Over the previous few years, we’ve shot movies for small companies, authors, weddings and even massive manufacturers like Winnebago, Jellystone Resorts, and TedX.

In addition to taking pictures video, I additionally co-founded a software program startup known as CampgroundBooking.com, monetized a podcast I host known as The RV Entrepreneur Podcast, and converse at firms like Chick-fil-A and UPS.

So the reply is a number of methods. We’ve run three totally different companies whereas touring and have discovered limitless methods to construct a distant enterprise whereas touring. If you’re in search of cell enterprise concepts, you may obtain my spouse’s free e-book: 50 Business Ideas for RVers.

Related weblog: 7 Ways We’ve Made Money While Full-Time RVing

13. How do you retain up with friendships whereas on the highway?

Our household wasn’t 100% on board at first, however after RVing for just a few years, they got here round.

We misplaced just a few pals from again residence once we hit the highway. That’s pure if you graduate from school or go away any geographical area. Most of them didn’t get it or possibly even nonetheless don’t get the approach to life (some six years later).

The excellent news is, we met lots of people out on the highway who had comparable mindsets and missions in life. And we developed a group of people that additionally journey and work whereas full-time RVing.

I believe essentially the most encouraging half about touring is that after you hit the highway, you begin to meet individuals with an analogous mindset who can affirm your beliefs and values. I do know that sounds apparent. Of course you’ll meet individuals on the highway who additionally prefer to journey. It’s laborious to check what that appears like if you’re solely surrounded by individuals who don’t perceive why you’d need to promote all the things and go journey in an RV.

We are continually assembly new pals on Instagram or in our RVer Facebook group whereas visiting new locations. We host meetups, attend conferences, and host our personal annual occasion, The RV Entrepreneur Summit.

14. What do you guys do for medical health insurance?

Ah, healthcare. This might be my least favourite topic to speak about. It invitations a lot controversy, confusion, and rip-your-hair-out problem. Not to say discovering healthcare for RVers is ten instances extra sophisticated.

We’ve been RVing for years and have tried fairly just a few choices for protection on the highway. We’ve used one thing totally different yearly as a result of we’re all the time looking for higher, extra inexpensive protection. Right now we use a health-sharing ministry, however we’ve additionally been burned by a health-sharing ministry prior to now. It’s an extended story.

For in-depth particulars about our experiences with healthcare on the highway, take a look at this submit on healthcare for RVers right here.

15. What about washing garments?

I packed 10 shirts whole for our journey once we first hit the highway. We didn’t have a lot room in our motorhome, so I needed to verify I didn’t pack my complete wardrobe. We learn a guide earlier than we began touring known as “Packing Light” and it was an important inspiration for us to not be RV hoarders.

As far as laundry goes, each RV park we’ve stayed at has a laundry room. Only as soon as have we ever camped someplace with out one and wanted to make use of a laundromat (Banff National Park).

In our new Winnebago Forza (2020 replace) we have now a washer and dryer (separate, although many RVs have all-in-one items) and it has been a GAME-CHANGER. Seriously. Now that we journey with an toddler, having our personal laundry on board is such a blessing. Highly suggest for anybody touring with children.

16. Does Alyssa drive the RV?

Nope, she doesn’t. She can (above was once we filmed the GoingRV TV present) however she largely works from the passenger seat whereas I drive.

Our older motorhome was a bit smaller and fewer cumbersome than our new Winnebago, so she did drive that yet one more usually. This one she prefers to not drive since we’re additionally towing a automobile behind it.

17. What do you guys do for groceries and cooking?

We go to grocery shops like regular individuals. Alyssa has a gluten allergy so we prepare dinner nearly all of our meals in our RV. We’ve achieved that ever since we began full-timing.

Alyssa wrote this submit not too long ago sharing our high 10 meals that we make within the RV.

18. How do you know what sort of RV to decide on?

This was a a lot harder query once we had been first getting began.

First of all, I needed to do a variety of analysis to higher understand the distinction between fifth wheels, motorhomes, truck campers, pull-behinds, and many others. Ultimately, we made our selection on motorhome as a result of we favored the thought of getting our car and residential be multi functional. We get pleasure from with the ability to stroll to the again and use the restroom or make meals, with out having to depart our car whereas we’re touring. And we didn’t need to purchase a truck to tow a trailer with.

We additionally just like the desk that flips over the passenger seat in order that we are able to work whereas on the highway.

 

19. What’s your favourite place/journey that you simply’ve been or achieved? 

We fell in love with Maine. I imply, you may’t beat the ocean vibes and dawn on Cadillac Mountain (first place the solar rises every day).

 

Outside of Maine, we additionally fell in love with driving the Pacific Coast Highway just a few years in the past.

We put away our laptops, pushed work apart for the week and simply loved the views alongside the Pacific Ocean. We camped out alongside the water, went to Hearst Castle, and embraced what the RV life-style is all about (freedom, infinite s’mores, and journey).

There is a lot vitality whereas driving up the west coast. It’s uncooked and invigorating. You get up and look out your window and also you’re actually on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. So beautiful.

We’ve additionally RVed in New Zealand, Canada, and Italy—all of that are jaw-droppingly beautiful. We have movies of every on our Youtube channel 🙂 

20. What’s your tackle for those who don’t dwell wherever? 

This is a superb query. You can not use a PO Box in your driver’s license.

So the place do you inform the federal government you reside?

You set up a authorized domicile by way of an organization like Escapees who’s been giving RVers actual addresses for many years. I share this course of in extra element right here, however these domicile companies will set you up with a authorized tackle for use on any authorities paperwork.

21. Why did you select to dwell in an RV?

We selected to dwell in an RV largely by chance.

We needed to journey throughout America and we calculated that purchasing an RV can be the quickest route for us to go and go to all 50 states. We had no concept that we might dwell in an RV long-term, share the approach to life with different individuals, or that I might spend a lot time writing about residing in an RV. The relaxation occurred as a result of we actually fell in love with the approach to life.

Living in an RV has helped deliver Alyssa and me nearer collectively in our first couple of years of marriage. We’ve seen extra of America than both of us might have imagined we might (and nonetheless have so much to see!). Because we’re self-employed, we’ve been capable of choose up and go when new alternatives come our manner. Not to say, prior to now few years of journey we’ve additionally been capable of repay all $27k of my scholar debt.

This submit has develop into a mammoth. I didn’t intend for it to be this lengthy, however there are a variety of questions individuals have requested us since we began full-time RVing. If I left any questions out that you simply’d prefer to know, ensure that to take a look at Alyssa’s new guide: A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV. She solutions these questions significantly better than I do and in WAY extra element (plus she covers much more that we want we knew earlier than residing in an RV.)