living in a travel trailer full time

How to Live in a Travel Trailer Full-Time

• Step 1. Purchase a travel trailer that will be big enough to live in. Ideally, you would want a trailer that's at least...
• Step 2. Search for land to purchase and park the trailer on if you plan to keep the trailer stationary. If you intend to...
• Step 3. Cook meals on a propane stove as this is the cheapest, easiest and most...

Full Answer

Can you live comfortably in travel trailers full-time?

Can Any Travel Trailer Be Used For Full-Time Living? To answer this question in one word, no, you cannot use any travel trailer for full-time living. Most full-timers prefer to live in travel trailers , fifth wheels , or motor homes.

Can You Live and survive in a travel trailer?

Yes, you can. The main drawback is limited space but with a few simple hacks and downsizing, you can definitely live full-time in a camper trailer or RV. How do I know… I know because I’ve done it and even wrote a book about how I did it and how you can too.

What is the best full time travel trailer?

Best RV to Live in Full Time

1. # Coachmen Apex Ultra Lite Travel Trailer. You can call it the best RV to live in full time. ...
2. # Forest River Flagstaff SuperLite Travel Trailer. With 13 different floor plans, the Flagstaff Super Lite is one of the most favorite choices as the best travel trailer for full ...
3. # Airstream Classic. ...
4. # Keystone Montana. ...
5. # Winnebago Revel. ...

More items...

Is a travel trailer the same as a RV?

Thor Industries unveiled two electric RV concepts: a motorhome and a travel trailer. The electrified motorhome platform will be available first, likely sometime in 2023, according to Thor. Companies like Winnebago and Mercedes-Benz have also recently ...

Can I live in a travel trailer full-time?

Yes, it's possible. But that option would also have required a considerably higher monthly payment during our time on the road, which might have given me heart palpitations. So the caveat is: You CAN go with less truck if you purchase a travel trailer vs. a fifth wheel.

Does living in a travel trailer save money?

Full-Time RV Living and Traveling Rather than taking up a somewhat permanent station at an RV park, you could also live in your RV while traveling full-time. Believe it or not, this can save just as much money (if not more) as living stationary at a long-term RV park.

Is it healthy to live in a travel trailer?

Living in an RV can be plenty safe; you just have to prepare. Godownsize.com really pushes the point that if you aren't prepared for the long-term challenges of electricity, weather, animals, driving conditions, and access to health care, the RV life can quickly turn dark.

How long can you live in a travel trailer?

around 10 yearsLuckily, travel trailers will last for around 10 years on average. However, 10 years is only the average life expectancy for a travel trailer. Some trailers will last longer, and some will have a shorter lifespan. That said, what you do to maintain your trailer is very important.

Is it realistic to live in an RV?

Living in an RV has its moments, but it's not always easy. Moving an RV camper can be expensive and may cause wear and tear on your vehicle. You have little privacy when living in an RV, whether you're inside trying to sleep or outside trying to get some fresh air. Visit Insider's home page for more stories.

What type of RV is best for full time living?

Drive-able Motorhome RVs for Full Time Living Many RVers believe that Class C or Class A motorhomes are the best type of RV for full time living because they are comfortable for long travel days. Drive-able RVs also give you more flexibility to chose an everyday vehicle instead of having to drive a heavy duty truck.

Is living in an RV considered homeless?

RVs are larger than trucks and are more likely to have interior space that include core elements of habitability like access to electricity, running water, plumbing, and heat. Thus, persons sleeping overnight in a habitable RV are not likely to be homeless.

Why don't more people live in RVs?

People who are not careful about their finances and who don't do enough research before buying, often find that they simply cannot afford to live in RVs, especially if they plan to do a great deal of traveling and are not able to do a good number of their own repairs.

Can living in an RV make you sick?

Even if you use clean water, you can still get sick from your freshwater system. When water sits in your RV's holding tanks and water lines, it can develop legionellosis. These tiny bacteria can form a pneumonia-type or a flu-like illness called Pontiac fever.

Can you live year round in a travel trailer?

To put it simply, yes, you can live in an RV park all year. While there are often ordinances that restrict people from living in their RV (even on their own property), RV parks are usually exempt.

How can I make my RV home permanent?

You can set up your RV for permanent location use in seven basic steps:Pick your location.Deliver and Level your RV. Place Blocks Next to Wheels. Drive Your Trailer Onto the Blocks. Place Wheel Chocks Around Tires. Lower the Tongue Jack. ... Connect the Hookups.Organize Inside the Camper for Living.Set Up Your Outdoor Space.

Can you live in a travel trailer in the winter?

RV insulation is essential to keep your RV cool in the summer and warm in the cold weather. You'll improve the comfort inside if you insulate the walls, ceiling, and floor. A well-insulated RV is essential for winter living in comfort!

How much does a travel trailer depreciate?

Travel trailers are a lot like automobiles—they depreciate in value over time. From the moment you pull the trailer off the lot, it starts to lose value. In fact, recent research has shown that new travel trailers can depreciate as much as one-third over the first three years of ownership.

Why don't my lights work on my trailer?

If the seller tells you the lights don’t work because the batteries are dead—charge them up. If the trailer doesn’t have any batteries at all in the battery compartment, use the one from your truck. Next check the cookstove, furnace, water heater, and refrigerator to make sure everything works off propane.

Can you hook up a travel trailer to a propane tank?

With the correct adapters, you can easily hook your trailer up to the larger 100lb propane tanks if you want to change out the empty tanks for full ones less often.

Con – No Movie Nights At Your Place

During our travels, we spent a couple of weeks traveling up into Canada (Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia) with a family that we met on the road. It was some of the best times that we had during our journey.

Pro – Easier Access to More Locations

When we were making plans for our travels, I had big plans about being able to stay in state and national parks as much as possible. I quickly picked up on the fact that each park like this, however, would have its own limits on RV size that were normally more stringent than your typical RV park or private campground.

Con – Interior Clearance Is Much Lower

In our 26 foot RV, we had ceiling heights of about 6′ 6″, which is fairly typical. Since our tallest occupant was about 6′ 1″, we were able to make it work without any major difficulties.

How long should a travel trailer be?

Purchase a travel trailer that will be big enough to live in. Ideally, you would want a trailer that's at least 21 feet long, especially if there will be two or more people in the trailer. The trailer can be new or used, but be sure to have it thoroughly inspected.

Where to wash clothes on a trailer?

Wash dishes and hand wash clothes in the sink of your trailer if it has a water system with storage tank. If your trailer is lacking in water, you may want to buy disposable plates, cups and silverware, and wash clothes at a laundromat.

Can you live in a travel trailer year round?

The cost of trailer living is much lower than the upkeep of a traditional home, and with some forethought and preparation you can live a comfortable life in a travel trailer year-round. Although your trailer doesn't need all of the amenities listed, they will make life easier and more comfortable. Advertisement.

Can you grill inside a trailer?

Patch up leaks in the roof as soon as you notice them. Never use a charcoal grill inside the trailer since the fumes are toxic.

Can you live in a trailer without electricity?

Most trailers are self-contained and very easy to live in, with the exception of electricity. There are several ways around this problem such as using a generator, battery or solar power, or hooking up to electric posts at campgrounds.

Can you use a toilet in a trailer?

Using the restroom will be easier if you have a toilet with holding tank in the trailer. Alternately, you can build an outhouse, though this isn't nearly as comfortable, especially during the winter and in the middle of the night. Campgrounds usually have public restrooms.

Can you shower in a trailer?

Taking a shower in the trailer is most comfortable, so try to get a trailer that has one installed. Campgrounds usually provide public showers if your trailer doesn't have one, though if you plan to live in your trailer full time, especially on your own property, you'll want a trailer with a shower.

How often do you dump black water in a camper trailer?

As you may know, black water is anything that comes down from the toilet. Right now, we are having to dump our black water maybe every 5-7 days.

How big is a fresh water tank for a 19' trailer?

Needless to say, but fresh water tanks vary in size from RV to RV. Our 19’ travel trailer has a 25 gallon fresh water tank. As we love water for showering, staying hydrated, making coffee, cooking and doing dishes, we seem to go through this quickly. We’ve blown through this in 3 days before and at max, if we don’t supplement, it will last 5 days or so. If you have a well you can hook into then great, but if not, here are our tips for conserving water.

Can you live in a travel trailer?

If you’re living in your travel trailer long-term, it may be a good idea to give some thought to the outside of your RV. In our case, it seemed that nature was just TOO CLOSE to our trailer, and we wanted to do some things to keep tidy and give us some outdoor living space!

Do travel trailers get dirty?

Somehow, when you’re living in a travel trailer, things get dirty quickly! I’m not sure if this is because travel trailers are typically in wilderness-type settings or because you notice every detail when your home is small, but either way it’s great to be clean!

Can you clean a trailer with a wet rag?

A general rule of thumb is to try to clean dry, otherwise you just make mud! Have a lot of rags on hand for cleaning: What we can’t clean dry, we clean up using a simple wet rag. We use these to clean up after dinner, and to wipe off random marks off the trailer walls and doors.

What are the different types of trailers?

The different types of trailers include: 1 Pop-up or foldable trailers: compact, but need to be physically folded before they’re usable 2 Travel trailers: wide range of towables ranging in size 3 Toy haulers: feature a “garage” so you can haul a large “toy” like an ATV or snowmobile 4 Fifth wheels: largest RVs on the market, heaviest, require a specific type of in-bed truck tow hitch

What to know before buying land for RV?

If you do find a parcel of land in a location that allows full-time RV living, there are several things to keep in mind: Sewer: Most areas that allow you to live full-time in an RV will not have access to a public sewer.

How many tanks does an RV have?

Here’s a rundown of how most RVs work to see if you may be able to handle it. Most RVs will have three tanks: freshwater tank, gray tank, and black tank.

What is a pop up trailer?

Pop-up or foldable trailers: compact, but need to be physically folded before they’re usable. Travel trailers: wide range of towables ranging in size. Toy haulers: feature a “garage” so you can haul a large “toy” like an ATV or snowmobile.

How much does an RV park cost?

A trailer park, on the other hand, is a more permanent residence. RV parks typically cost around $35 per night, but can easily get more expensive.

What is RV in motorhomes?

RV stands for recreational vehicle, so in itself, it isn’t a single vehicle. Rather, it’s a category of vehicle, just like an SUV is. Let’s dive into the main categories of RVs, so you can get a feel for what you’d like. Motorhomes: Motorhomes are what you’d think they’d be based on their names.

Do RV parks allow pets?

They also take up space, which isn’t exactly easy to come by. You’ll also want to keep RV parks in mind. Some parks do not allow animals or require you to pay an additional fee, which can be a pain if you’re on a small budget.

What To Look For In A Travel Trailer For Full-Time Living

Your preferred travel and lifestyle are going to be the biggest factor that determines the features you prioritize in a travel trailer for full-time living.

Key Travel Trailer Appliances For Full-Time Living

People who live full-time in their travel trailers tend to place a higher priority on certain appliances compared to people who just want to camp in their travel trailers.

9 Great Travel Trailers For Full-Time RV Living

Throughout the reviewing process, we kept our eyes out for key features, such as travel trailers that included or were prepped for laundry facilities, as well as those with the kind of creature comforts that make them truly feel like home.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are living in your travel trailer full-time you need to carry comprehensive full coverage, which will replicate the coverage you would get in a brick & mortar homeowner’s insurance policy.

Conclusion

Full-timing in a travel trailer is an increasingly popular trend that has many people enjoying life without all the hassles of taking care of a yard or being forced to deal with the same old neighbors.

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What are the pros and cons of a camper?

Easier maneuverability. There are a few pros to choosing a camper for full-time living. The biggest advantage is that campers are more nimble than large motorhomes and fifth wheels. They can go anywhere a car can go.

Why are campers built?

Let’s face it, campers are built to fit into the budgets of a larger share of the market, meaning they are more affordable, but to fit into that lower price range they need to be built fast and cheap. That translates to lower quality components and construction protocols that focus more on quantity than quality.

What do you need to camp in a hurricane?

You might need all weather gear, chains for the truck or trailer, extra coats, blankets, and boots. You could be camping in the snow or on the edge of a hurricane and it’s not like you can just drive back to your house and wait out the storm. You need to be able to endure whatever nature throws at you.

Do campers need generators?

Many campers do not have a generator, so living full time in those campers will require a connection to shore power for electricity or the camper will need to be modified with solar panels and a battery system or use a portable generator.

Can you park a camper in a parking lot?

Campers fit into any campground or RV park and are easy to park in a parking lot of any store while restocking the rig. If you have a truck camper, you can even remove it from the truck and use the truck without breaking down your camp to fetch supplies.

Do you pack food for a weekend getaway?

When you live in a camper, you’re not packing food for just a weekend getaway. You’re packing all the food and cooking utensils for everyday meal preparation and there are times when you may be a hundred miles or more from the nearest store.

Is it sunny to live in a camper?

Not all days are sunny when you live in a camper. Full-timers need to be prepared for everything. Photo by P. Dent. Sure, you’re living in a house on wheels, so you should be able to drive away from approaching bad weather but this is not always possible.

3. You can drive to better weather each season

Being able to travel wherever you want is probably the best thing about owning an RV.

4. No commuting daily to a job

The average American spends around 54 hours per year sitting in traffic.

8. Meet interesting new people regularly

When you go on RV road trips, you are going to meet a lot of interesting people.

9. A good way to see family in other parts of the country

Family members are constantly moving around, at least in some families.

10. Go where you want, when you want

We all have freedom. However, we also have responsibilities, and those responsibilities can keep us from doing whatever we want, whenever we want.

11. Easy to earn an income on the road blogging or YouTubing

Just because you now live in an RV doesn’t mean you don’t need to work.

12. No yard work!

I want you to think about how much time or money you spend on maintaining your garden.

What is RVing full time?

Of course, full-time RVing is in large part about spending less time staring at screens and more time exploring the coastlines, mountains, deserts, cities and small towns that define America. When the Nealys first started out as full-time RVers, they took an idealistic approach to travel.

Where do the Nealys go once they leave their campground?

The Nealys aren’t quite sure where they’ll head once they leave their campground host position in Florida , but they know what they’ll do when they get there. “The first thing we do when getting to a new place is get on Yelp and see if there’s a local brewery, and then we go to town, meet local people and drink beer.”.

What does "balance" mean in RVing?

In the life of a full-time RVer, balance means a number of things. It means researching and planning, but it also means driving west with no other goal than to see the surf of the Pacific.

Is it healthy to go all the time?

Being go, go, go all the time is not healthy or fun. It is exhausting. Allow yourself the freedom to stay in one place for a week or longer at a time. Not only will this recharge your batteries, but you will be able to truly appreciate the places and people you encounter. 2.

Is RV life slow?

1. RV Life Is Slower Paced. As you set out to pursue the RV life, you may be tempted to go non stop and see as much as you can as soon as you can. The RV lifestyle, however, requires a different mindset. Being go, go, go all the time is not healthy or fun. It is exhausting.

Can you live in an RV all week?

RV life is not all weeks alone in the great outdoors. Be sure to try a sampling of lots of different experiences — from camping in crowded cities to spending time in untouched nature.

Pro – Lower Overall Purchase Price and Maintenance/Repair Costs

Con – You’Ll Rub A Few More Elbows with Family

• Generally speaking, you are going to have less space in a travel trailer than you would experience in a fifth wheel. It seems pretty obvious, right? Not only will travel trailers normally be shorter in length, but they will also typically include fewer slide-outs that create more interior space. On fifth wheels, you can find as many as four or five...

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Pro – You’Ll Need Less Truck to Tow A Travel Trailer

Con – No Movie Nights at Your Place

Pro – Easier Access to More Locations

Con – Interior Clearance Is Much Lower