Ever gone on a vacation and not wanted it to end? You know, that, “Wish I could just stay here forever,” feeling. Well, what’s stopping you? It’s a perfect reason to consider full time stationary RV living. When your RV becomes your home, you can stay in that dream location as long as you desire!
What Is Full Time Stationary RV Living?
You may be familiar with full-time RVers. They live in their RV full time and travel all around the country. That can be quite appealing to folks who have wanderlust and are always looking for a new adventure and new scenery. But what if you’ve found the perfect scenery, or maybe landed a new job that allows you to work remotely? Why not combine the two and park your RV in that favorite location for a few weeks, months, or even years?
Benefits of Stationary RV Living
Reduced Cost of Living
One of the greatest things about full time stationary RV living is the amount of money you’ll save over renting an apartment or living in a home. Some people opt for full time stationary RV living for financial reasons. If there’s a season in life where you need to live on a shoestring budget, this is a great option to both save money and splurge on the great outdoors! Many RV parks have long-term rates that are very reasonable. When you factor in a set amount for electricity and water hookup, budgeting for your monthly living expenses becomes a fairly simple task. The fact that laundry facilities are generally readily available is also another plus; it saves on gas for trips to the Laundromat.
Smaller Scale Maintenance versus a Home
Everything is smaller in an RV compared to a house. You can generally stand at one end of your RV and see your entire living quarters! Less space may seem like a downside, but on the upside, everything from repairs to cleaning also happens on a smaller scale when you downsize to full time stationary RV living. You’ll still have appliances, but many are designed to be easily accessible and a few minutes here and there with regular maintenance checks should keep them in tip top shape.
You’ll also face less maintenance issues as those full-time RVers who are constantly traveling – like tire maintenance – since you aren’t putting miles on your tires. This doesn’t mean you can ignore your tires, you’ll still need to check the pressure every couple of months. Also, be sure to cover your tires when you’re stationary. There won’t be constant jostling around on the road and frequent switching of power sources between traveling and camping so your RV fridge and other appliances will also have less wear on them.
Yard maintenance virtually disappears when you go from a house to full time stationary RV living. The best part is…you actually have access to a bigger yard and a lot more nature, but none of the lawn care!
Like a Lifelong Camping Trip
Speaking of a bigger yard, when you adopt the full time stationary RV lifestyle, you will have plenty of time to spend in nature. Take the time to research locations to find the one with the best views, hiking trails, and amenities nearby. If you’re going to treat it like a “lifelong camping trip,” pick a spot you want to explore and enjoy!
You do still have the flexibility to change locations. There is no hard and fast rule that says you can’t move around as needed just because you’ve decided that full time stationary RV living is for you.
Full Time Stationary RV Living Tips
Plan Your Location Wisely
Other things besides the view that you’ll want to consider when choosing your full time location is the climate. Are you the type that loves experiencing all four seasons? If so, Phoenix may not be your ideal location! Maybe you’ve dreamed of the “snow bird” lifestyle? You may choose to spend a good chunk of the year here in Ohio or another northern state. When the nights get crisp and the leaves fall from the trees, head to a southern state for the remaining months.
Researching the cost of living is important when choosing the area you plan to settle into. This is especially important if finances are one of the factors influencing your full time stationary RV living decision. If you find an area you like but the long-term rates are high, it may not be worth the move.
Along the same lines, you’ll need to research the employment options available in the area. If you’ll be working from your RV, ensuring the WiFi connection is reliable will be important, as will checking into and rules and regulations that the park may have when it comes to home-based businesses depending on the type of work you’ll be doing. A blogger who works from a home-office in their RV is a little different than a self-employed auto mechanic who has a handful of cars in various stages of repair at their campsite.
Looking into the types of long term RV parks is important as well. You want to pick a place that aligns with your values. Do you have small children? Look for family-friendly RV parks.
Research the Change in Lifestyle
Full time stationary RV living is a lifestyle change that takes some research. While it is less expensive, there are some things that can be different. Find out if your utilities are part of your long-term site fee and budget accordingly. Getting mail may be possible at the campground, but renting a P.O. box or utilizing a mail forwarding service will likely be options you’ll need to pursue. These will be additional costs you’ll incur, so be sure to budget for them.
Don’t forget to take into consideration how this may impact your life and career. This will be much easier to determine if you are single or have no children. Once you add a family and children, you need to take local school systems into consideration or other educational options depending on their age(s) and the length of time you plan to stay in one location.
Consider a Bigger RV
Finally, although there is not an official length of time that determines when you qualify as a full time stationary RVer, when you plan to be in one place in the same RV for several months or even years, think about space. You may think a big RV or 5th wheel would be “too much space” (said no one ever), but it’s a better problem to have than to settle in only to find after a few weeks that you’ve run out of space and want a bigger RV.
You may be thinking that the whole reason you are doing this is to save money and bigger RVs cost more, but a larger RV is usually worth the investment. It may cost more initially, but in the long run, you’ll be thankful for the extra breathing room. It will make a big difference when your RV becomes your home. You’ll want enough room to enjoy the view and your accommodations when you choose full time stationary RV living.
Contact RV Wholesale Superstore
The professionals at RV Wholesale Superstore are ready to help you find the perfect RV for you and your family. Visit us in-person at 5080 W. Alexis Road, in Sylvania, OH or call us at (419) 786-1126
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