Making Your RV Your Permanent Home

Recreational vehicles or RVs have many of the amenities of home and are ideal for short camping trips or summer vacations. However, with some adjustments, you can use your RV for your permanent home – even through the winter. Recreational vehicles have become increasingly luxurious over the years, offering more lavish and comfortable living quarters than the average home.

Recreational vehiclesSlideshow Bruce / Foter.com / CC BY

Just think about the freedom of being able to move and roam the country in your home with just the press of a pedal.

Finding an RV for Your Primary Residence

There are different reasons to make your RV your home. It can be less expensive and you have the freedom to see the country and choose your destinations. First, you need to find the right vehicle for your family and needs; choices include travel trailers, 5th wheel models, or motor homes. You can find vehicles with several beds if you have kids; some vehicles have basement areas available for storage. A washer/dryer set or a full kitchen may be a necessity for your family. There is no longer a need to sacrifice all the amenities of your home while vacationing across the country. To find the RV of your dreams, you can go to places like Arbogast RV and inspect the different models and types. These models range from the smallest models to the large lavish models that make average home look like they have been lacking.

An On-the-Go Office

If you have a job that allows you to work from home, there is no reason that your home has to be stationary! To have a reliable RV office, you need to have a stable power source like a generator or solar panels. Computer options are laptops, desktops, and tablets which can all work well in an RV. Another need is Internet access. For many, internet on the road is an absolute necessity, and impacts the longevity and enjoyment of a vacation. A satellite service may be your best bet; however, many campgrounds and restaurants may have free Wi-Fi access that you can use. There are also computer-based phone and fax services for staying in contact with your company. A cell phone can double as your office phone and mobile hotspot as well. Being on the go does not mean that you cannot work. The perfect example of this was John Madden when he went across the country to do commentary on football games. Those people who can work from home and want to be on the road, the RV life would be for you. Still getting work done while on a seemingly endless vacation.

Winters in the RV

With some precautions, you can prepare your RV for the winter months. Improving the insulation in your RV — like with storm windows or around air vents — is an important first step. You also need to manage water vapor accumulation in the RV that comes from cooking, washing, or heating because this can condense and lead to mold or mildew. Heat tape can keep your water hose from freezing. Get your RV ready and you can cruise cross-country during the winter if you wish.

Living in an RV full-time can be an attractive and exciting way of life. It takes a lot of commitment to drop everything and go out on the road but with planning and preparation, you and your family can make the leap to RV living. An alternative for the winter could be to move your RV to a part of the country that the cold is not a factor. Many RV enthusiasts drive down to Florida during the winter months. Actually, there are so many RV drivers down in Florida during the winter that the Floridians have started calling them “snowbirds”.