A love for travel is one thing.
But one could argue it’s only the truly crazy among us who sometimes wonder — okay, fantasize — about what it would be like to leave it all behind and take on the mobile life full time.
Sure, you couldn’t hold down an office job or keep a static gym membership. But who really wants to visit the same four walls day after day anyway?
Full-time RV living — camping in a new city or state every few weeks or months — has a special kind of allure for those of us with an unquenchable case of wanderlust. You’d meet so many new people, see so many new places, and experience more weird and wonderful new things than you could even begin to imagine in your sticks-and-bricks, workaday life.
But it’s not actually as simple as selling everything and hitting the road in a camper. Transitioning to a fully mobile lifestyle takes planning, foresight, and a whole lot of guts. And that’s why it’s a good thing other people have already done it — to help guide you along the way!
Full Time RV Lifestyle
As you doubtless know if the lifestyle intrigues you, there are tons of benefits of full-time RVing that simply can’t be replicated in a traditional home.
For instance, maybe you’re torn between the hustle and bustle of city life and a quieter existence out in the countryside. When your house has wheels, the solution is simple: You can split your time between those two worlds, without worrying about which you like enough to set down permanent roots in.
And obviously, traveling to exciting new destinations — and even location-specific events — is a lot simpler when you live in an RV.
But as many fantastic things as there are about RV living, there are also a number of drawbacks and simple realities you’ll have to deal with that you might not think about.
And that’s where the experience of other people comes in very, very handy.
Full Time RVing Stories
If you really want to know what traveling in an RV full-time is like, there’s no substitute for real-life stories from people who actually do it.
And luckily, in our hyper-connected age, those stories are pretty easy to come by. All you have to do is search social media or YouTube for full-time RVing, and a shocking number of self-published blogs and stories pop up.
Learning from experience is invaluable, but these people have seen it all — and they can make you aware of hazards and simple road realities you might not otherwise have been aware of. For instance, have you ever thought about this conundrum: If you’re always in a new city, how will you ever know where to find the best pizza? How will you navigate grocery stores by rote memory when you’re in a new supermarket every few weeks?
These might not seem like serious concerns, but when you think about the simple logistics of your life, they can have an impact. And that’s why we love these full-timer RV YouTube channels, which are so helpful in making sure we fully consider every angle of the lifestyle before we jump in.
Full Time RVing on YouTube
Want to learn everything you can about full-time RVing before you take the plunge?
These YouTube blogs will teach you how to become a full-time RVer in no time flat.
1. Technomadia
Chris and Cherie from Technomadia are an encyclopedia of full-time travel knowledge, and no wonder: They’ve been on the road full-time for over a decade! In that time, they’ve traveled in everything from a tiny trailer to a yacht — so expect to hear the real truth about the downsides of full-time RVing, as well as the struggles (and excitements!) of living full-time in a small travel trailer.
Plus, since they’re both full-time online professionals, they have a ton of helpful stuff to say about staying connected while you’re on the road. And as you know, in 2017, that kind of information is absolutely invaluable.
2. Nomadic Fanatic
Want to get into the nitty-gritty of what camper life is really like? Follow Eric and Jax on Nomadic Fanatic. Not only are they always headed somewhere exciting, but they always make following their journey exciting, too.
3. Gone with the Wynns
From figuring out whether or not you can run an RV air conditioning system on solar to exploring Alaska, Jason and Nikki Wynn (hence Gone with the Wynns) are full of incredible stories — not to mention a ton of hands-on, actionable full-time RV living tips.
Plus, they make sure to put tons of regular updates on their channel, so you’ll never be far off from exciting new content when you follow them.
4. Drivin’ and Vibin’
Kyle and Olivia of Drivin’ and Vibin’ have learned a ton of lessons by living on the road, and they graciously share them with all of us on their awesome YouTube channel. We especially like their totally transparent uploads about the real cost of full timing, which isn’t necessarily the cheap cure-all everyone seems to think it is. Their monthly budget recaps really help put things into perspective.
How to Prepare for Full Time RVing
Whether you’ve got specific questions or you’re just looking for general full-time RVing advice, these YouTube channels — and a plethora of others available online — are a great place to start your journey. After all, these people have actually lived the lifestyle themselves, so they’ve got a ton of great RV hacks and tricks you wouldn’t think of if you haven’t actually had the experience. Plus, many of these YouTubers are happy to answer viewer questions directly when you post comments or reach out to them through their website contact forms.
There are tons of other ways to get involved with the camping community if you want to interact with new people and feel out whether or not this lifestyle might work for you. Check out the variety of RV travel forums and RVing groups available specifically for full-time campers. Most are very welcoming to those who are still in the planning phase.
Whether or not full-time RVing ends up being the right choice for you, kudos for embracing your sense of wanderlust. Getting out there on the road is one of the most rewarding things we can do in this life — and once you do, it’s equally rewarding to help others on their own journey.
