10 Reasons Full Time RV Life Is Better

It’s been more than 7 years since I downsized my life to fit into the small footprint of an RV.  And since that time, the allure of travelling full time has become an obsession for me.  But I’m not the only one.  RV life has become more popular than ever, especially after the Covid epidemic popularized remote work.  Not only that, but one of the biggest demographic groups diving into the lifestyle are solo women over the age of 50.  It’s a practical and environmentally lifestyle. And it’s one that that offers the ability to travel wherever you decide to go, whenever you want.  That’s a freedom that’s all too rare when you’re tied to a traditional home. If you’ve been on the fence about whether to make the leap into this amazing lifestyle, here are 9 compelling reasons to go full-time in an RV. 

1.  Living Full Time In An RV  Reduces Your Environmental Impact

One of my major reasons for moving into my RV was this:  Living full time in an RV can have a much lower impact on the environment than living in a traditional home.  To start with, unlike most homes, my RV didn’t require wild lands to be cleared or logged. Maintenance of my RV requires a lot fewer natural resources as well. For example, when it’s time to change out the roof, I’ll be changing out about 320 square feet of rubber roofing, instead of 1600′ on a typical house. 

Even cleaning my RV contributes less chemicals to the environment than cleaning a typical traditional home.  You know exactly how much water you have and how much you use when you live in an RV.  It means you just don’t waste freshwater like you do in a house. Plus, with its smaller footprint, an RV doesn’t require as much electricity or fuel for heating and cooling.  Not only that, but a solar power system incredibly easy to hook up in an RV.

2. RV Life Can Be Very Affordable

Many full time RVers seek out free camping, often at beautiful recreation sites or unserviced campgrounds.  Of course this means your rig needs to be completely self contained, with a generator, solar power system and holding tank capacities to get you through at least a week.  It also means being comfortable and self sufficient in remote places. 

Many other full time RV travellers choose to pay for an RV site or parking spot where they can plug in and have access to services.  RV sites usually cost between $700 and $1200 per month, depending on the time of year and region.  Many of us do this for part of the year, and spent the rest of the year traveling and boondocking along the way.

3. RV maintenance is easier than maintaining a house

You don’t get out of doing home maintenance when you live full time in an RV.  However, the jobs tend to be simpler, and anyone with a minimal level of handiness can easily do them.  Even though there are always going to be times when you need to call a certified RV technician to fix things, the good news is RV techs are usually easy to find. 

4. You’ll enjoy minimalist simplicity

You don’t need much to live in a small space.  You might think that whittling down the unending and superfluous stuff that most of us fill a traditional home with to the bare necessities would leave you wanting.  For me it was incredibly freeing.  Not only that, but with each thing I sold, gave away or took to the dump, I felt just a little more free to do what I wanted.  An RV comes with all the furniture and most of the appliances you need, and the more stuff you put in it, the more weight you have and the more complicated life becomes.  That makes it easy to keep minimalism in mind.  

5. Increased flexibility and spontaneity

Are your new neighbours obnoxious? Do you have a psycho ex who won’t give up stalking you?  Do you just feel a sudden urge to hike in alpine wildflower meadows or enjoy cool ocean breezes in a heatwave?  Being a fulltime RV nomad makes it super easy to roll up the patio rug and get out of Dodge (or wherever you happen to be).

6. Work from anywhere

Thanks to advances in remote work and high-speed internet options, more people are turning their RVs into mobile offices. If you’re a creative freelancer, digital nomad, or remote worker, the RV lifestyle can provide the perfect environment for productivity, all while exploring the country. Working from an RV gives you the flexibility to travel without interrupting your career.

7. Explore new places

Full-time RV living offers a chance to live a life of unique experiences that you just can’t get when you’re stationary. From exploring remote destinations to experiencing local cultures and festivals, RV life opens up a world of exciting opportunities.  Each day is a brand new adventure waiting to unfold.

8. You might find yourself enjoying a healthier lifestyle

Full-time RV living often encourages an active and healthy lifestyle. It beckons you to explore new places. You find more time for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and exploring, keeping you  physically active and mentally engaged.  DIscovering farmer’s markets, and new regional cuisines often means eating a healthier diet too.  Sure you might find yourself diving into a plateful of gravy and cheese curd laden poutine in Quebec, but you’ll walk it off exploring the sights of Quebec City anyway!  

9.  The opportunity to spend more time with loved ones

These days, family and friends are often further apart than ever.  RV travel offers the opportunity to visit family and friends without worrying about who’s looking after the house or the pets while you’re away.   

10. Wake up to a new beautiful view every day

I love waking up surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes.  One of the best parts about a full time RV lifestyle is that it offers the opportunity to wake up to a beautiful view every day.

Conclusion: Why Go Full-Time in an RV?

Making the decision to go full-time in an RV is a big step, but it’s not for everyone. Before you make the leap, it’s a good idea to explore exactly how you define the word “home”.  For example, if you love spending weekends mowing the grass, cleaning gutters, or cleaning the house, living full time in an RV is probably not for you.  However, for those who enjoy minimalism, the freedom to travel, lower housing costs, and opportunity for adventure, RV living can be an appealing lifestyle choice. Whether you’re looking to simplify your life, embrace a minimalist mindset, or enjoy a deeper connection with nature and your loved ones, full-time RV living offers an exciting and rewarding journey.