If you are prepared for change, living in an RV can be a dream come true; if you aren't, it can easily turn out to be a complete disaster. Make the decision carefully and plan for your new lifestyle before actually putting it into practice.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Making the Decision
Step 1. Evaluate the motivations
Life in an RV is very different from that in a conventional home; to make it a success, you need to have good reasons to commit to this project. There are no "good" or "wrong" reasons; therefore, motivation that is solid enough for you is often sufficient.
Retirees and people who have to move often for work reasons are the individuals who most often decide to always live in a motorhome. That said, if you decide to lead a simple existence or travel for a long time, it can be a good choice for you too
Step 2. Get general consent
Although life in the camper evokes a sense of freedom, the truth is that you share very small spaces with family members and spend several hours with them. If someone disagrees to start this new lifestyle, the difference of opinion could create unwanted but unavoidable tensions.
If you have minor children, make sure they accept the idea, as does the spouse; the whole family should also prepare to take responsibility for home education
Step 3. Do some testing before making a permanent commitment
If you've never spent a lot of time in an RV, it's a good idea to try it out before you buy it. Rent it or borrow one for a week or month vacation; this way you can get an idea of what it means to live there for a long time.
Even if you have experience driving or towing large loads, you need to experience everyday life in an RV. Get familiar with the control of this vehicle, with the organization and schedule of transfers, with the drafting of the budget and what it means to live thinking only of the essential needs
Step 4. Find out about the type of driving license
In most cases you can drive a camper or tow a caravan even with the normal "B" car license; however, there may be exceptions. Check the rules of the highway code of the country in which you have established your permanent residence and organize all the bureaucratic aspect before anything else.
Contact the motor vehicle office to find out what your legal obligations are; Driving schools and car handling agencies can help you get a higher category license, although you generally don't need a commercial one to drive a private motorhome
Step 5. Make a "plan B"
Life is unpredictable, many things can "go wrong" preventing you from continuing to live like this for a long time; therefore plans an alternative in case of emergency.
- If your camper breaks down or you face illnesses that prevent you from traveling, you need to know where you can stay and how to pay for the costs.
- Take out a good vehicle and health care insurance policy.
- Try to keep enough savings to allow you to live a full year without a camper.
- If possible, make arrangements with relatives or friends to allow you to live with them for a couple of months in case of an emergency.
Part 2 of 3: Preparing to Live in an RV
Step 1. Choose the best vehicle for your needs
There are three main categories of "homes on wheels": caravans, campers and small trailers; the best choice depends on your wishes and what you can afford.
- The small trailers are connected to the tow hook of the car, they are the cheapest solution, but also the one with smaller dimensions.
- Caravans are much larger vehicles and are towed by a van or a very powerful car. They are larger than trailers but less expensive than campers; however, you still need a means of towing them.
- Campervans are the most expensive solution, but also the most comfortable; they offer cargo space and you can drive them directly without attaching them to another vehicle.
Step 2. Read the small notes of the contract
Some models of motorhomes are not designed for long-term use; if they break, the warranty may not cover the cost of repairs. Read carefully all the clauses before concluding the purchase, to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Step 3. Minimize your personal belongings
Simply put, you can't afford to keep the same number of items in an RV as you can in a conventional home; arrange to get rid of anything that is not strictly necessary or store it in a warehouse.
- Limit your properties and only take what you need instead of sticking to what you want; if you are unable to do without unnecessary things, this lifestyle is probably not for you.
- Getting rid of unnecessary material is usually the best solution; sell as many items as possible to monetize and donate or throw away everything else.
- Consider donating items that have personal value (family heirlooms, mementos, photographs) to other family members or store them in a warehouse. in this second case, you have to consider the cost for the monthly rent of the deposit.
- If you plan to keep your conventional home or apartment, you can always store the extra items in this space. This is the most expensive solution, but it is also the wisest, in case there is a chance that you may change your mind and leave the life in the camper.
Step 4. Set a permanent address
You don't have to keep the house or apartment, but it is advisable that you have some kind of contact details for tax and legal matters.
- For this very delicate subject you must contact the registry office of the municipality in which you currently reside or in the one in which you were born. You need a domicile and a residence to be able to open and maintain a current account and, in general, having your correspondence delivered to a post office is not a sufficient solution; you need a real home.
- If you can't afford to keep a home, ask a friend or relative if you can take up residence at their address. Some mail forwarding services provide a contact address to meet these needs.
Step 5. Sign up for a mailing service
Each company is slightly different, but generally they all collect mail and deliver it to the address you indicated.
- Do some research and find the right service for you. Prices are quite variable, starting from 6-8 euros per month, but they depend a lot on the complexity of the shipments; choose the option that best suits your needs.
- Depending on the service, you may also be able to classify correspondence into various categories: mail to forward, mail to throw, mail to keep, and mail to review. You can also choose how often all mail is delivered to the address you have chosen.
- Some services provide a physical address that you can use for parcel delivery or for legal matters.
Step 6. Switch to an online bank and house your bills
As for important communications, you should give up the "paper" and rely on an internet-based system; in this way, you avoid losing the bills to be paid, reducing the risk of becoming arrears and having to pay interest.
Step 7. Stay connected
Many RV parks currently offer WiFi services, which you don't have to rely on exclusively to stay in touch with the outside world; sign up for a good mobile phone and WiFi contract to stay connected.
- Since camping WiFi systems and other free hotspots can be unreliable, a MiFi may be the best solution if you need constant access to the network.
- Do some research to find the best mobile phone deal; although there are several factors to consider, the most important is the reliability of the coverage. You need to choose an operator with a broad field across the country.
Part 3 of 3: Living in an RV
Step 1. Manage your income
Life in a motorhome isn't free, so you need to know how to get the money. Typically, you need to supplement your savings with seasonal or flexible jobs you can find along the way.
- Jobs that allow you to work online or as a freelancer are generally best suited to this lifestyle, but you can consider alternative forms of income, such as craft markets and bartering.
- Get in touch with other individuals who live in an RV to understand what your options are; there are dedicated online services to bring potential employers together with "traveling employees".
Step 2. Plan your expenses
It is a good idea to estimate the costs before starting this adventure and to stick to the budget once it begins. To evaluate your average monthly expenses, calculate how much you are currently spending, subtract the items associated with living in a conventional home, and add those related to a life in an RV.
- Although the total will vary, expect to spend between 1200 and 2800 euros per month to live in a vehicle of this type.
- Costs you don't need to worry about are home ownership taxes, mortgage, rent, and certain utilities.
- The extra ones you need to consider are the purchase of the RV, its insurance and some camping expenses.
- The items that make up your daily outings should remain fairly constant, such as food, entertainment, and health insurance (if you have one).
Step 3. Identify the areas where you can park
You cannot leave the camper anywhere and at any time; however, there are many free pitches where you can stop.
- You can park and camp for free in the rest areas (for a limited time) and in some specially structured areas. In some municipalities it is necessary to register your presence in the area, declaring how long you want to stay. Remember that "free camping" is not allowed, let alone occupy private property.
- Some commercial parking lots and truck stops allow you to stay overnight, but you need to leave within a day or two.
- You can also do some research to find campsites and RV parks, but in this case you have to pay to use the services.
- If you have pets (especially dogs), you need to make sure that the rest areas accept their presence.
Step 4. Choose the places to stop wisely
When you decide to settle down for a few days, make sure you are close enough to the city, so that you have access to useful services to meet your daily needs.
At a minimum, you need to have a grocery store and a few restaurants. If you don't have a washing machine on your RV, you should also check for coin laundries
Step 5. Keep a second vehicle in good condition
Even if you don't need one to tow the RV, you should still have another one on hand, in case the RV itself needs some repair or is no longer usable.
- You can either tow your car or keep it in an accessible parking area that is central to the area where you intend to travel.
- Cars consume less fuel than campers; having one available allows you to travel the scenic roads and simplifies the various errands.
- The car also becomes a form of alternative transport in case the camper breaks down.
