November 16

What’s It Really Like To Live In A RV?

9  comments

What’s It Really Like To Live In A RV?

By Jason Moffatt

November 16, 2011

black water, camping world, grey water tank, mud flaps, rv, what's it really like to live in a rv

Tons of people want to know… “What’s it really like to live in a RV?”. I get asked this question all the time, so I figured I’d take a few moments and blog about it.

Living in a RV definitely has it’s ups and downs. Let’s start with the negatives and get those out of the way.

Obviously, I don’t have room for my pool table or my luxurious massage chair. Those are long gone. There always seems to be repairs that are needed. I’ve had pipes break in the plumbing, issues with the fridge, water spraying everywhere when I broke the handle in the shower, and don’t even get me started talking about the grey water tanks getting funky.

Right now my muffler and mud flaps in the back are being held on by zip ties and wire coat hangers. I’m just too lazy to take it down to Camping World to get it fixed right now. And anyone who’s followed my travels since the beginning a few years ago will remember the front tire blowout on the freeway during my first few hours of travel. Oh what an experience that was.

ghetto muffler repair
ghetto muffler repair

I’ve had battles with ants, shitty internet reception, diesel gas is 4.37 a gallon, I smashed my side view mirrors against some trees, cops pulled me over and accused me of smuggling narcotics, blew multiple fuses and spent hours troubleshooting them, and more. However, the worst of the worst is dealing with emptying the sewage, also known as the black water. One royal screw up with the black water and you really learn your lesson.

Despite all those pitfalls and many others I’m forgetting at the moment, the positives far outweigh the negative. Living in a RV truly is an incredible way to experience life.

First of all, if you don’t like where you are living, you can pack up and leave at a moments notice. Screw having to give 30 days notice to a landlord. Turn over the key, pull in the slides, lift the hydraulic jacks and hit the road. It’s incredibly liberating to know that you can bounce at any time you want.

While it’s not comparable to living in a 4000 square foot home, it’s actually quite spacious once you have all 3 slides extended out. Think of it like a studio apartment with all the amenities. It’s even equipped with a washer and dryer! Score.

One nice bonus is that I no longer am forking out $4000 to $5000 a month to have a roof over my head. In fact, my rent can be as low as $400 to $500 a month and even cheaper if you really want to get frugal. I could essentially live for free if I really wanted to, but I do like to spoil myself and enjoy staying at nicer spots.

The people I’ve met at various RV parks are a trip. I get to spend lots of time with very cool, experienced and wise elderly folks. There’s some nut jobs too. But overall I’ve loved meeting such a wide variety of people that have decided to live on the road. They are a eclectic bunch of travelers and adventure seekers who really know how to experience more out of life than your average neighbor you’d meet in a suburban cul-de-sac.

I tend to wake up really early while in the RV because my dog Webber wants to go outside to piss on everything. While it’s tough to get out of my cozy dark den, it’s good to wake up early and see the sunrise. I’ve quit watching tv as well. I could get a satellite dish, but I’ve found that I get way more things done by eliminating most tv from my life. If there’s something I really want to watch, I’ll just DVR it at my girlfriends house.

Another bonus is that I’ve found that I work quite a bit more while staying in the RV. I think it may be because I have less room to wander around like a ADHD style lab rat. When I’m staying in a house I’ll often find myself wandering from room to room and then wondering what the hell I”m doing or what I’m looking for? In the RV, I’m pretty much stuck in the same place and seem to be able to focus a lot more.

I don’t have to do yard work, pay a gardener, and housekeeping is way easier. I listen to a lot more radio, play my guitar more often, and am getting in the flow of writing much more often. I spend more time with my dog, take him on more walks and get to interact with more animals in nature than I would living in a city home. Right now I’m camped out on a lake and there are tons of species of birds, fish and other random animals in the area.

The main thing I think I enjoy about RV living though is that there is really little sense of worry. Once you learn to grasp and accept the fact that things are going to go wrong in the RV, and it will periodically need repairs and maintenance, you start to adopt a calm that is much different than normal house living. It’s a freedom that most people will never understand. It’s luxurious camping. High life vagabonding. Care free cruising. You simply have to experience it to understand.

Don't Watch Movies & Drive Kids
Don't Watch Movies & Drive Kids
I’m not sure how long I’ll stay in the rig. I’ve thought of renting a house again. But the idea of signing a 6 month to year long lease freaks me out. And considering I just sold or gave away all my furniture and much of my belongings, I’d just have an empty house anyways. Truth is, I really don’t care right now. I’m enjoying myself and that’s all that really matters.

I’ve been more productive than I’ve been in a long time, making really good money, staying relatively sober and am in really good company. I really couldn’t ask for much more at the moment. Life is good.

So that’s what RV living has been like as of lately. I’m sure I’ll have some more updates/adventures soon.

Peace

Jason

About the author

Jason Moffatt

Jason Moffatt is a former private detective turned internet marketer who uses his skills of keen observation and deductive reasoning to pinpoint the easiest paths to success online. He’s passionate about helping entrepreneurs in the health & wellness field along with those in the personal development space. Jason believes we’re all a work in progress and that each day presents an opportunity to be a little be better than the last.

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  1. great post, I have considered an RV for a while, so this gives some great insight.

    So what do you do for transportation to get around town ? Do you still have a car or what do you do if you want to run errands ? I see some people hanging a motorcycle off the back rack, I think that would be alot easier to than towing a car. (I think they call it a “toad”)

    1. When I’m traveling from state to state this has been a problem. I’m not very comfortable towing a car since I’m already lugging around 38 feet, and am afraid to lose the option of backing up. The motorcycle option is appealing but I still have my dog and that eliminates him unless I get one of those Nazi type sidecar things. Since I’m just hanging in southern California right now, I have my car with me as well.

  2. I’m looking at about 4 months I’d say until I’m moving into an RV. Been wanting to do it for years. I’m almost there and can’t wait. I’ve already gotten rid of all my shit. Great post Jason.

  3. We took some “extended” trips in the RV with two dogs and I found out a lot of things. One, ditch the tv for good. Two, you really don’t need all that shit hanging in closets, stored in the garage and in more than a few “junk” drawers” in the house…. and more than a few other things.

    So then we decided to sell most of our stuff including the San Diego house with a view to move to Hawaii. But guess what we shipped? The RV. Well, mainly because it isn’t worth the payoff in the monetary sense…. but in the enjoyment factor that’s a different story. Living on the Big Island there are 11 eco systems here. We can go from the tallest mountain to the ocean and there are very few rules…. It is in fact called the Big Island for a reason and we can disappear here quite easily. It’s beautiful too. And there’s not much traffic!

    We did buy a house though and the comment about being liberated by not having one… I totally get. Never the less… life is very good and the RV has been a big factor in my freedom in my 40’s.

    Enjoy the RV life. Always enjoy the updates.

    Aloha Wags.

  4. Jason you summed it up

    “I’m enjoying myself and that’s all that really matters. ”

    At the end of the day when the lights go out on life, all that matters it hat you were at peace, enjoyed life and did it your way.

    And you appear to be doing that bro

    Best

    Jon Mills
    P.S Recommend Jack Johnson music for traveling, has a real happy, feel good vibe to it. Should be more music like that in the world.

  5. Hey Jason –

    Remember me? The RV Guy who gave you the PDI inspection when you bought your RV. Anyways, I do occasionally follow what you are up to. So you hate messing with the sewage. Have I got a gem for you…How about installing an electronic dump valve. I just happen to have an extra one on me and I’d be happy to install it for you. BTW, I am still more than happy to help you over the phone when you blow a fuse.

    Brent
    Affordable RV Solutions

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