The Pros and Cons of RV Living: Is It for You?
Written by: athena.perez
These days, social media is booming with content promoting an alternative, nomad lifestyle. There has been a surge of people who are selling all their belongings and hitting the road to travel full-time. They document their trips on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter, and show the whole world how life can be so easier when you only have some cash and car gas.
One trend that has caught the attention of many thrill-seekers and adventurers is the idea of RV living. People buy or rent recreational vehicles and revamp them to be a liveable space. Some go on solo cross-country adventures, while others bring their whole family for the ride. Having a motor home seems like the hottest new investment and people wonder if they should also sell everything and live on the road. This lifestyle has inspired plenty of people, maybe including you.
There is a lot to consider before you go out and buy your first RV. Just like any investment, buying an RV and living on a motor home requires a lot of planning and preparation. If you are on the fence, you might want to know more about the realities of RV life. In this article, you’ll see the good side and the bad side of the lifestyle. There is a lot to unpack, so let’s go through everything.
What Is There to Love About the RV Lifestyle
Living in an RV is a dream come true for many outdoor enthusiasts. Life is too short being cooped up in the four corners of your home. Being on the road 24/7 can be refreshing and rejuvenating. There is a lot that you can learn and a lot of benefits to reap.
RV Life is cheaper than owning a house
Living in a sticks-and-bricks home can get expensive, with all the mortgage, rent, and bills that you have to pay. It’s not to say that you won’t be paying anything when living on the road, but staying in an RV as opposed to renting an apartment or living in a steady house can be cheaper. Most of the time, your gas, insurance, parking fees, and miscellaneous expenditures won’t amount to the expenses you spend when living somewhere else. Plus, asides from not paying a lot of bills, you can save money by learning to be a minimalist and only buying essential things since the RV can only fit so much stuff in it.
You Get to Travel Everywhere You Want to Go
Being on the road means you get to see everything the world has to offer. If you live in a big country or can easily cross borders to different smaller countries, you are in luck. You get to be one with nature, you can see new places you never thought of seeing, and you get to learn about different cultures on the way. If you are a travel junkie, you will absolutely take this as a plus.
You Get to Connect To People
Living life in an RV means you get to have fewer distractions. If you are traveling with a partner, a best friend, or an entire family, you can grow closer to them as you share a tiny space together. You get to learn about teamwork as you help each other out on the road. You can bond as you cross cities to cities. And if you are lucky, you can meet other travelers and campers as well.
What Is There to Loathe About the RV Lifestyle
RV life is amazing, but it sometimes gets over-romanticized by people, especially on the Internet. Life in an RV can get tough, especially for first-timers. You will stumble upon these issues and make some mistakes on your journey. Before trying out this alternate lifestyle, consider the following.
You Have to Be Knowledgable on A Lot of Things
You are maintaining a house on wheels. Chances are, something might break while on the road, or you might short a fuse in the middle of nowhere. Living on the road will require you to have some knowledge on repair, electronics, waterworks, and home improvement. You will do a lot of maintenance checks especially since you are running mostly on generators, water tanks, and gas. Things can also inevitably break and can be expensive to replace, so being able to repair them is a cheaper solution. Not to mention, you also need to maintain your RVs cleanliness to avoid the growth of mold and mildew. No one wants to live in a shabby RV.
Conditions While Driving Can Get Tough
There are some things you can’t control while you’re on the road. For starters, driving a larger rig can get difficult. One-way streets, tight alleyways, and narrow bridges can get stressful. Not to mention, if you’re zooming around 60 miles per hour, expect a lot of things getting shaken up in your living space. Asides from driving, weather can also get unpredictable and can affect the interior of the RV. Expect a lot of hotter summers and chillier winters when you are living in an RV since climate control is not as stable as living in a physical home.
Sometimes, It Can Feel Isolating and Claustrophobic
It may feel like a contradiction from our previous statements, but living on the road with no one but the person you’re with can get boring, especially if you are far away from other people. And it can be worse if you are traveling alone. The RV life can get lonely, especially if you are in an open place where you are far from your hometown and you know absolutely no one. And with the limited space an RV can give, things can get really tight and claustrophobic really easy.
Is RV Living For You?
RV life is fun, but it’s not for everyone. Living life on the edge with only a vehicle to call home can either be delightful or miserable. The RV life is a lifestyle that someone who is a cowboy can love. It’s a test of resilience and how far you’re willing to get dirty. The best tip anyone can give if you are planning to go living in an RV is to live with someone and to have as much connection with others. The process can be a communal effort and it’s hard doing things completely alone. You also need to have a clear aim on what and why you want to hit the road in the long run. You want to think about it as much as four times to make sure you don’t regret selling everything away.
If you think you are ready to step out of your comfort zone with your loved ones, by all means, try living in an RV! RV living opens up a world of opportunities to see and experience the world. It can be challenging, but it can also be fantastic.
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