What’s Holding You Back From Full-Time RVing? (& Solutions)

A member of our RV Lifestyle Facebook group asked this question and got hundreds of responses. Here are the most common answers to “What’s holding you back from full-time RVing?”…

Jennifer and I have been enjoying the RV Lifestyle for over a decade now, but we are not full-timers. We are three-quarter-timers, as we like to say.

We spend about one-quarter of the year in our sticks-and-bricks house and then the rest of the time in our RV. It’s a great balance that has worked well for us but is not for everyone. Just like full-time RVing is perfect for some but not others.

How do you know if RVing full-time is right for you? What’s holding you back from giving it a go? Well, Darrel asked a very similar question in an RV Lifestyle Facebook post. He wrote:

“What's The #1 🛑Obstacle Preventing You From Living The 🚐 RV LIFESTYLE Full Time?”

The post has received nearly 600 comments (and counting). Here’s what his fellow RVers had to say…

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What’s Holding You Back From Full-Time RVing?

The biggest obstacles holding people back from becoming full-time RVers are both practical and personal. As you’ll see, it’s often a matter of means or desire. 

Jennifer and I can relate to a lot of these and factor into why we aren’t completely full-time. I’m sure most RVers can relate to them, too (even full-timers!).

I don’t want to just list out the obstacles, though. I also want to give you resources to help you overcome them if full-time RVing is your dream. So, for each obstacle, I’m going to provide you with at least one resource to help you overcome it.

Not Enough Money

Raise your hand if you’re surprised this is at the top of the list? Anyone? No one?

Yep, it’s no surprise that most commenters are held back by money. Despite what “tiny living” ideals try to purport, the RV lifestyle is much more expensive than most people realize. 

For one, even a used RV comes with a big price tag. Not to mention a new RV’s sales price! Aside from a sticks-and-bricks house, an RV is easily one of the largest purchases you’ll make in your life. 

Then you factor in fuel, insurance, campground fees, food, etc. Suddenly, your budget is busting out of your money belt.

We have lots of articles and resources to help with this obstacle. Here are just a few:

• RV Buying Secrets
• The Complete Guide to Boondocking
• Beginner’s Guide to Boondocking & Free RV Camping Bundle
• How to Get Better Gas Mileage in Your RV (11 Tips)
• The Ultimate Guide to Cheap or FREE RV Camping Sites

Family & Friends

Not having a home base near family and friends is a difficult obstacle to overcome. This is true for not only full-time RVers but for their friends and family, too.

It’s often hard for loved ones to accept you “leaving them” for full-time RVing. Some people will discourage you from “this ridiculous idea” or make you feel guilty (or even stupid) for wanting to go full-time. 

It’s certainly an emotional obstacle! 

That’s why many RVers ease into going full-time. It helps both themselves and their loved ones transition into this new lifestyle. 

If this is what’s holding you back from full-time RVing, I suggest reading How to Tell Family & Friends You’re Going Full-Time RVing.

I’ve learned that many naysayers use age as a reason to hold you back. So, be sure to read “How to Embrace Being a Senior RVer” if that applies to you.

Health Reasons

A very common obstacle that keeps people from RVing full-time is health. Some need to stay close to their doctor or a hospital or need time to regroup before another road trip. Getting prescriptions is admittedly a challenge on the road, too.

To be honest, RVing itself can present a very serious health risk in it itself. No, I’m not talking about road dangers. I’m talking about over-indulging.

It’s very easy to fall into a vacation mentality when RVing. Of course, that’s pretty much the whole point when you go RVing for short periods of time. But it’s an unhealthy mentality when you go full-time. Too much of a good thing and all that…

Are health concerns what's holding you back from full-time Rving? If so, here is some helpful information regarding health concerns while RVing:

• 7 Super Easy Ways RVers Handle Healthcare on the Road
• 18 Special Health Apps to Get Before RVing
• Tips for Managing Healthcare While RVing
• Sitting Disease: A Real Health Risk for RVers
• The Importance of Staying Healthy While RVing

A Career

Despite more people working remotely than ever before, it’s not easy or even possible for some jobs to be done from an RV. 

Believe it or not, our job as RV Lifestyle bloggers and podcasters is one of the main reasons we still have our sticks-and-bricks house! That may seem counter-intuitive, but having a full-size office and strong, reliable internet makes a huge difference. 

We do work a lot on the road, of course. However, we bulk a lot of work into the time spent at home, too. 

Unless you’re fully retired and don’t need any extra income, having a steady job and income is certainly a huge obstacle to full-time RVing.

Here are some resources if this is what's holding you back from full-time RVing:

• Working Remotely From an RV: Pros & Cons
• 6 Essential Tips on How to Work Remotely from an RV
• Podcast: How Workamping Can Help Pay for Your RV Lifestyle
• How to Get Paid to RV

Lack of Desire

Interestingly, a lot of people responded to the question simply by saying that they didn’t want to RV full-time! Well, that’s as good a reason as any!

In truth, full-time RVing only suits a small portion of the very large RV community. It comes with a lot of challenges (some of which we’ve covered, of course). 

Some people expanded on why they didn’t want to go full-time. Many of which said they couldn’t be confined to such a small space year-round. It was especially true for RVers who have children and/or pets. 

Many others cited the “leaving friends and family” obstacle we’ve already discussed. This time, however, it’s not in a “they don’t want us to leave” but rather “we don’t want to leave them” full-time. That’s definitely relatable. 

Nothing!

On the other end of the spectrum, many commenters said nothing is holding them back because they’re already RVing full-time!

It’s great because many of them were able to provide some insight into how they were able to overcome the obstacles that held them back before. Oftentimes, it’s just being in the “right stage of life” that makes it more easily possible (a.k.a. retirement).

What’s Holding You Back From Full-Time RVing?

I hope this article has helped you identify what’s holding you back from full-time RVing. More so, I hope the resources help you overcome any obstacles that might be in your way. 

I will end the article with some parting advice for anyone considering going full-time RVing. My advice is to ease into it. Living in an RV is a HUGE lifestyle change and as romantic and exciting as it seems, it comes with big challenges. 

Keep your sticks-and-bricks residence and gradually transition to more time on the road. You may find (like Jennifer and I did) that there is actually a happy compromise that gives you the best of both worlds. 

You may also find that you do belong to the small niche of full-timers. If that’s the case, you can leave your sticks-and-bricks residence behind with confidence. 

Either way, it’s always best to ease into it!

We'd also like to hear what's holding you back from full-time RVing. Please share in the comments below!

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