I am an RV enthusiast and love getting on the road and travelling in an RV as often as I can. If you’ve never tried it then I would recommend you give it a go as soon as possible. You won’t regret it, and here’s why…
An RV, or recreational vehicle, is a vehicle with all the home comforts such as a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room that is mobile and built for travel. They can either be towable (like caravans in the UK) or attached to the engine of the vehicle, making them motor homes. Some even expand when parked, making them relatively easy to drive and spacious and comfortable when parked. RVs shouldn’t be confused with mobile homes, which are meant to be connected to the grid and shouldn’t be moved.
I’m definitely not alone in my love for RV’s. There are approximately 8 million American households that currently own an RV, and about 30 million people who call themselves RV enthusiasts. So what makes the RV type of lifestyle so popular?
The first reason is simply that of cost. Travelling in an RV means you don’t have to pay for hotel rooms or resorts and simply have to pay for a camping ground site. This means that a family of four can save almost 3/4 of their travelling budget while travelling in an RV instead of a normal vehicle. In addition, you can fit more people into an RV, and they will be more comfortable, than if you were to fit all the members of your family in an SUV, for example.
As well as saving you money, travelling in an RV offers a variety of other benefits. Since you don’t have to worry about finding a place to stay for the night, you can travel at any pace that you wish, giving you more time to explore without the stress of having to meet a deadline. It also allows you to stay for a long as you wish at any given location. RVs are ideal for family getaways, giving you time to spend with your family.
You also don’t have to worry about the condition of the place you’re staying at, since you will be staying in your second home away from home. You don’t have to worry about check-in or check-out times and you will feel a lot more comfortable staying in your own luxury home.
Some people may be concerned that RVs are “cheap”, and are dangerous to drive. Numerous advances have been made since the advent of the RV, and many of these vehicles today are luxurious and come with a variety of amenities that rival vehicles in the range of high performance cars, to make even camping trips seem comfortable. The safety features of RVs have also been improved upon, and the construction of these modern RVs is solid and safe.
RVs are also inexpensive, and if you want to try out the lifestyle before spending the money on your own RV, you can rent one for a weekend away to see if the RV lifestyle may possibly suit you and your needs.
By Jane Powell RV Enthusiast
Picture Credits: Britstops
I’m one of the 30 million! I’ve been RVing for a little over two years (part-time) and think there’s no better way to travel. I’m considering a long trip this summer, at least a month, maybe two, on the road. Just me and Sam the Wonder Pup in my 13′ Scamp travel trailer. Should be interesting. Thanks for the post!
Hi Deonne… You may be interested in the article being written at the moment… ways of funding a life on the road. Oh yeah, and we definitely want to hear about your road trip when you do it. Sounds like a great one. S
I can’t wait to read about that! It’s definitely something I’m trying to figure out for myself. I’ll keep you posted on the big Scampabout – next up (in March) is Tennessee. Fun stuff.
we are getting ready to be ‘full time rv’ers’ –
is there a place [website] where great info can be had for those of us that are new at this – we are selling house and storing some stuff, when we feel a ‘need’ for a tick house to rent…
info like best place to license your rv – mail delivery – info about health issues should they arise – — probably have not even scraped the surface – we will be in a 27′ rv with our miata being towed…
pretty much a webiste/blog that can hand hold for a bit?
Wow! What a fantastic journey you are about to have. There are so many great ‘living full time in an RV’ blogs and websites out there we couldn’t recommend just one, but a google search will pull up a few for you to delve in to. Good luck and remember to pop by to see us some time and share some of your stories with us. *Smiles*
You may also want to check out this RV information page on the great blog ‘Gone Scamping’
Judy,
Congratulations! You’re living the dream. I agree with Sarah – there are some great how-to blogs out there. You’ll have plenty of help if you want it.
Check out Christina Nealson’s book “Drive Me Wild” about her experience selling her possessions and hitting the road with her husband. I just wrote about it on my blog (she gives some great advice for wannabe full-timers), and here’s the link:
http://www.gonescamping.com/2013/01/30/christina-nealson-drive-me-wild/
And Sarah, thanks so much for the kind words! This blog is one of my favorites.
Deonne