Full-Time RV Lifestyle -- Which Rig To Buy?
If you are new to RVing, or considering going full-time, there are many options, styles, and opinions out there, but the most important factor is how YOU plan to use YOUR home-on-wheels.
- Are you going to travel nearly every day?
- Are you going to select a region and stay put for several weeks before moving on?
- Do you plan on exploring national parks in the U.S. or Canada?
- Will you be working from the road? Will you need internet and/or a dedicated workspace?
- Do you plan to be plugged in at an RV resort or boondock with solar in the desert?
- Do you want to be able to live in both freezing temperatures as well as hot summer weather?
While our first RV is still our only RV (after 13+ years of full-time use), let's just say that we got lucky when Hamlet, our 1957 Sportcraft travel trailer, chose us in the autumn of 2010. This small, yet mighty, solar powered travel trailer has taken us over 230K miles to 49 U.S. states, 12 Canadian provinces and territories, all 51 of America's National Parks in which you can drive to, 25 Parks Canada sites...and so much more. Hamlet is our mountain cabin, beach bungalow, desert get-a-way, and lakeside chalet...as well as our mobile home office.
For over a decade, we've presented RV lifestyle seminars at RV shows and rallies across the nation, toured hundreds of different rigs, and talked to thousands of people who are seeking to hit the road -- both part-time and full-time. Understandably, most folks are simply overwhelmed by their options! There is no easy answer, no one size fits all. We designed an RV Show Shopping Worksheet (free download from our website) to help you organize your thoughts and compare models, in addition to detailing your must-haves, needs, and wants.
Here are a few things to consider about each type of RV on the market:
Travel Trailers: From tiny teardrop trailers to towable 40-foot homes, travel trailers offer significant variety in mobile living space options. Upsides: They’re typically the most affordable RV style, lightest to tow, and allow you to make use of the space in the back of the towing truck for additional storage. If you plan to stay in one place for awhile, you don’t have to put your house back together every time you want to go to the grocery store or take a short drive. Downsides: Learning to drive, back-up, and tow a trailer takes practice. Significant wind can affect highway speed traveling.
5th Wheels: Generally ranging from 20-45 feet, these vehicles have high ceilings and make use of the raised forward compartment for sleeping or storage. Upsides: Lots of inside space and storage space, high ceilings are great for taller people. Downsides: You must have a heavy duty truck to pull this RV and you lose a great deal of storage space in the back of the truck to the 5th wheel hitch mechanism. Significant wind can affect highway speed traveling.
Class A Motorhomes: Perfect for travelers who want to replicate the comforts of home with spacious living areas, separate rooms, full-sized appliances and bathrooms, lots of storage capacity, etc. – typically ranging from 30-45 feet. Upsides: Lots of inside space and storage, creature comforts, and high ceilings. Great for folks who don’t plan to move around frequently, plan to have frequent visitors, and have experience driving very large vehicles. Lots of storage space -- both inside and outside, perhaps too much? Downsides: Challenging to maneuver, typically get very low gas mileage, require 50A full-hook up campsites to run all appliances. Significant wind can affect highway speed traveling.
Class B Campervans: Converted vans are the smallest drivable RV style, typically between 16 and 22 feet long and perfect for solo travelers. Upsides: Easy to drive, can fit in regular parking spaces, and get the best fuel economy (15-18 MPG). Downsides: Tight on inside space, low storage capacity for outdoor sports equipment and off-season clothing, gear, etc.
Class C Motorhomes: For those who want a self-driving RV, they offer a good balance between Class A and B – with a bit more space than a campervan and greater maneuverability than a Class A. Using an over-the-cab bed to maximize space, they usually range from 23 to 35 feet. Upsides: Decent fuel economy, easier maneuverability. Downsides: Inside space and storage capacity can be tight, as manufacturers often try to pack in too many amenities into a small space.
Truck Campers: Truck campers fit an entire home into the bed of a truck – many include a small kitchen, tiny bathroom, and sleeping area. Upsides: Great maneuverability and off-road capabilities, as well as good gas mileage. Can leave your home behind and explore. Perfect for solo travelers or limited stuff. Downsides: Inside space and storage capacity is VERY limited so there is no room to spread out.
Toy Haulers: Available in both 5th wheel and travel trailer options, they’re perfect if you want to travel with adventure vehicles or need the space for a home office, a large inside play area or workout space, or need to carry special equipment or inventory for a mobile business. Upsides: You can haul along just about anything that you need or want. Downsides: Adding significant weight will significantly reduce your gas mileage. Significant wind can affect highway speed traveling.
From simply a practical perspective, our personal opinion is that a travel trailer or 5th wheel is the best option for full-timers for the following 4 reasons:
- You don't always to have haul your home around with you. There will be many times you just want to go on a hike, go to a restaurant, go into town to do laundry, go visit a friend, or even need to go to an airport. Self-driven RV’s such as Class A,B,C’s require everything to be put away every day in order to travel anywhere. This can get old quickly, especially if you plan to move around regularly. Many RVers who drive Class A's pull a small toad, which requires maintaining 2 vehicle engines, as well as quite a bit of of maneuvering and planning ahead.
- Trailers bend around corners better than large Class A or C’s. If you want to explore national parks or stunning remote areas, you will likely be driving on steep roads with many switchbacks and steep grades.
- Engines require regular maintenance. If your motorhome or van is in the shop for a week, so is your home. While you can certainly find other accommodations during the time that your vehicle is being repaired, this is something to consider from a convenience and cost perspective.
- If towing a trailer, you always have a heavy duty 4-wheel drive truck with you. Trucks can be extremely helpful in many remote situations and exploring portions of national parks, as well as having many uses beyond towing a trailer.
Other Important Factors to Consider
Where do you want to camp? Size matters. While larger RV’s offer more inside living space, campers and travel trailers under 25 feet allow greater access to remote (and quiet campgrounds) because they are smaller and more maneuverable, and fit into a greater number of traditional campsites. They are also easier to drive, thus reducing stress on the road, so you’ll be more likely to keep on moving.
What will you be bringing along? Consider all of the things that you need and want to bring along (without trying to replicate what you have in your home), then assess the vehicle with that in mind. Is there enough storage under the bed, sink, and dinette area? Are the cabinets and closets adequate? What about outside compartments? If you are going to pull a trailer, how can you organize the back of your truck to maximize space for off-season clothing, extra gear, etc. Folks are often amazed at how much stuff neatly fits into Hamlet...
Will you follow the seasons? Most RV’s are built with 2-3 seasons in mind. While this can work for folks who migrate north and south as the weather changes, it isn’t always practical to travel this way every single year. You can purchase RV’s with heated underbellies, double pane windows, and tank heaters…or you can adapt / add these options later. We highly recommend AirSkirts inflatable skirting for those who enjoy winter weather and/or sports!
Are national parks on your travel bucket list? Most national park campgrounds do not have electrical, water, or sewer hook-ups -- and the campsites are on the smaller side. If you want to make sure that you'll fit into most national park campsites, purchase a rig under 25' and/or have the ability to separate your trailer from your tow vehicle and park it side-by-side. Outfit your RV with solar power to be able to power your rig with the sun, rather than hauling around a noisy gas generator which disturbs your neighbors and wildlife.
How much can you afford? Whether you purchase a new RV or a used one, the sticker price of an RV is just the beginning. Annual costs such as registration, insurance, maintenance (up to 10% of the initial cost per year), as well as higher fuel costs at the pump are things to add to your RV budget.
Will you be working from the road? If you plan to work remotely or start your own business, you will likely need additional storage and possibly a dedicated workspace for all of your equipment -- from computers to satellite internet.
With all of this said, we have been traveling, exploring, and working from the road for in the same small, vintage, travel trailer that we bought for $900 and renovated in 2011-12. We’ve adapted our desire to live smaller and more sustainably with our traveling and working lifestyle in mind. We have a small kitchen in which we cook gourmet meals, storage for ALL of our clothing and outdoor gear, plenty of space for our personal stuff and work-related equipment for our mobile business – all with a portable toilet we can use inside or outside, as well as a portable shower when we need it. It's worked for us for over 13 years...and counting! Learn more about our mid-life adventure.
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