Tips to Survive in RV Living when in bad weather

Living in an RV or any small space can have its challenges. The first year of full time RV life flew by in the blink of an eye. As we celebrate our three years of RVing, I want to share some tips that helped us survive the transition to RV living. Whether you’re a solo RVer, family of five or a couple with a dog, I hope you find these tips helpful.

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1. Communicate

The key to our survival is good communication. There is limited room in an RV and it will start to feel small fast. If you’re frustrated or angry with each other, that space will feel even smaller. Sure you can take a walk, sit outside for a while or jump in the car (if you tow one) and go for a drive, but temporary distance won’t solve the issues.

A lack of communication in the first month of transitioning to RV living put stress on our relationship. Once we figured out the communication breakdown and addressed it, life was much more enjoyable. Good communication is something we continue to work on everyday especially living full time in a camper van.

2. Have the Right Gear

Having the right gear will help prevent many headaches down the road. The best thing we did before transitioning to RV living was doing extensive research on the best gear. Having an electrical management system (EMS) and essential RVing apps made RV living a breeze.
For a list of our favorite gear, check out these posts or head to our store:

3. Know Your RV

When we took delivery of our first RV, it came with a suitcase full of user manuals. It contained a manual for every component in the RV. There was even a manual on Michelin RV tires. We read through every manual and downloaded the online versions as a backup. Having a PDF version will make searching for a specific topic faster and easier.

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There were also build sheets, diagrams for each fuse box and information on roadside assistance. We referenced all the information many times throughout our first year of RV living. When a fuse goes out at 1a.m., you’ll want to know which fuse box to check. Our first RV had four fuse/breaker boxes and two of them were outside. When it’s pouring rain outside, it’s not fun to run around wondering which breaker box to check.

4. Spring Cleaning

It can be a challenge to figure out what to bring for full time RV living. “Is one pair of sandals enough or do I need a second pair for campground showers?” We ended up having way too much stuff. After a month of RV living we decided to sell the bicycles because we never used them. A few months later, we performed a spring cleaning by re-evaluating everything in the RV. Many articles of clothing ended up in the donation pile because neither of us had touched them since we moved in.

“I’ve been looking for this!” The spring cleaning also reminded us of things we’d brought that we forgot about. This is also a great time to reorganize and optimize storage. After the initial cleaning, most of our bays, cupboards and drawers ended up half empty. That’s also about the time we realized a small Class A motorhome was too much space for us. Now we travel full time in a Class B camper van.

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5. Share the Drive

Looking back on the miles we drove in the first year, neither of us can imagine doing it by ourselves. Unless you don’t have plans to move very often or for long distances at a time, it’s good to share the drive. Whenever I pull up to a campground, the neighbors always stop by and say to Joe “I wish my wife drove.”

If you’re not comfortable driving an RV, there are driving classes available. The more you drive, the more confidence you will have. Before you know it, you’ll be thinking to yourself “this is a piece of cake”. You might even start looking forward to taking your turn behind the wheel.

6. Develop a Checklist

After too many items flying off the counter and drawers coming unlatched around a corner, we knew it was time to have a checklist. Just like pilots have a pre-flight checklist, it’s important to have a pre-departure checklist for your RV.

Every checklist will be different depending on the type of RV and the gear. The important thing is to make a comprehensive list and check it EVERY time you leave. We got complacent a few times and inevitably we would forget something.

7. Everything Has A Place

Just like the cupboards in your house, everything has a place in an RV. The difference is, when the RV is going down a bumpy road and that bottle of vinegar gets loose because it was put back in the wrong place, you might end up with a mess on your hands. It also makes packing up a much faster process because you know where all the pieces of the puzzle go.

8. One In, One Out

This rule applies to anyone looking to prevent a build up of “stuff” in the RV. The “one in, one out” mentality changed the way we shopped. A trip to Costco meant we bought what we needed at the time, not what we think we might need in six months. Just because there’s storage space doesn’t mean it needs to be filled.

A minimalist approach to RV living worked the best for us. Once we got the hang of it, life became much more enjoyable. We no longer had an “explosion” of stuff when we camped somewhere for a week or longer. It ended up becoming a “one in, two out” policy naturally and the bonus for us was saving money.

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9. Expect the Unexpected

Whether it’s severe weather, a flat tire or a windshield repair. Be ready for the unexpected. Have an RV repair fund to pay for that unexpected problem. Carry a spare in case there’s a flat tire. Develop an emergency plan for those unexpected situations.

If you have to evacuate the RV, do you have your essentials in one place with easy access? What’s your plan if there’s a flash flood and the river you’re camped next to is flooding? What happens if there’s a medical emergency and no cell phone signal?

This video shows a glimpse of the severe thunderstorm tornado warning we experienced in Florida.

10. Be Flexible

It’s good to have an idea of where to go, what to do and how long to stay but don’t have a rigid plan. Be flexible enough to have the option to stay a few extra nights or leave early. Every town we drive into is a new experience. Sometimes we love the town and sometimes it’s just not our cup of tea. Having a flexible schedule means we can stay longer in places we enjoy and take off early if we’re not feeling it.

11. Fun Fund

Have a “fun fund” for those spur of the moment adventures. If you decide that today is the day you want to go for that hot air ballon ride, do it! Having money set aside for these experiences will make that transition to RV living more enjoyable and fun. We always seek out free and cheap things to do in our travels, but there are some experiences that are worth the splurge.

For us, our big splurge was RV camping at Fort Wilderness and going to Walt Disney World.

12. Enjoy the Journey

Most importantly, enjoy the journey. There are headaches associated with RV living, but there are many more pleasures.

How to make money when living in an RV?

My wife and I were camping at a hot spring in Arizona when a small camper van pulled in. We watched a man get out and remove many large plastic bags, which he piled on the roof. He was making room, so he could spend the night in his home on the road.

Later, around a campfire, we asked him about the bags.

They were full of used stuffed animals he bought at thrift stores, and he said he made about $4,000 per month selling them alongside various highways and roads as he traveled.

It may be an unusual way to make a living, but many people live in and work from motor homes, trailers, truck campers and conversion vans.
“Workampers are adventurous individuals, couples and families who have chosen a wonderful lifestyle that combines ANY kind of part-time or full-time work with RV camping,” explains Workamper News, a website dedicated to people who make money from the road.
Are you ready to hit the road and make money while living in an RV?

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What Kind of Work Can You Do While Living in an RV?

Many campers get seasonal jobs working in campgrounds or parks, Workamper editor Steve Anderson told CBS News.

He notes businesses are also common. “We have literally hundreds of members running businesses out of their RVs and living in multiple places every year.”

Anderson mentions the following examples of businesses his

 subscribers operate while traveling in their recreational vehicles:
• Sales of RV-related products
• Consulting services
• Dating services
• Law practices
• Contract nursing
• Business consulting
• RV repair tutoring
“With the advent of the internet and especially now with the tools for bandwidth to connect to the internet, the door is open to do multiple things from an RV,” he explains.

Not even selling bulky items is out of the question, because you can drop ship them or carry them in a trailer behind a motorhome.

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Who Is Living in an RV, and How Much Can They Earn?

Many people who live in their RVs are retirees who supplement their retirement or Social Security income with jobs or businesses. But Anderson says, “We have people in their 30s and 40s who are successfully living the RV lifestyle and running businesses.”

And your income may not be as limited as you might think. For example, Steve McMahon told Entrepreneur he sold about 5,000 “high-gain cellular-telephone antennas” for $70 while traveling the country in his 37-foot motorhome. That’s $350,000 in total sales.

The same article says Richard Dahl made and sold more than 1,300 RV water filters at $30 each while traveling for a couple years.

He expanded his business to include hundreds of items, and started The RV Water Filter Store website, shipping items from any post office he passed as he traveled. In addition to covering his living and traveling expenses, the profits allow him to save $30,000 per year.
Terry Cooper was a college instructor before hitting the road with his Mobile RV Academy. Now he runs five-day courses teaching people how to maintain and repair RVs.

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Attendees pay $1,644 in tuition, and Cooper had courses scheduled in 10 locations around the country in 2015.

Not every job or business on the road has to be RV-related. Your RV can be just a way to move from job to job or move where you like if you have a business. Software developer and author Bill Myers says he’s talked to many people living in an RV, including:
• Internet entrepreneurs
• Campground hosts
• Construction workers
• Tourist area workers (They move with the seasons.)
• Aerospace engineers (working on a spaceport in New Mexico)

Michelle Brunner runs ReMiks Jewelry from her motorhome. “I crisscross the country full time in my RV in search of natural and organic elements, as well as recycled treasures,” she explains.

How to Work While Living in an RV

Selling everything and starting a vagabond lifestyle is a big transition, but it doesn’t have to be expensive.

Myers offers the example of a couple who bought a $5,000 used motorhome and cut their cost of living from $6,000 per month to about $400 per month. He also says he bought a 26-foot travel trailer for $4,000 and ran his newsletter business from it.

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How do you learn what you need to know? Try hanging out in the Workamper forums for a while.

Where to Find Work on the Road

Talk to others who are living and working from their RVs, or start with these resources:
• American Crystal Sugar Company: This company needs RV campers for the sugar beet harvest, which starts around the end of September in Montana and North Dakota. “Sugar Beet Employees can make up to $2,500 in a two-week time frame,” the company says.
• Camphost.org: Look for campground host positions on this job board.
• RVParkStore.com: You’ll find various job postings here. Examples include park management jobs, front desk positions and sales work.
• Workamper News: A subscription is $47 per year, but you can see featured companies for free. Under “Job Resources” click “Featured Employers” to find a list of companies and organizations that hire RVers.

Of course, jobs are not your only options. In fact, starting a business will give you the most freedom to go where you like. If you look over this list of ways you can make money from home, you’ll find dozens of businesses you could operate from an RV.

Do’s and Don’ts When Living in RV

 Do Watch Your Money

Just because you’re living in an RV and don’t have the typical monthly expenses of living in a stationary house doesn't mean you shouldn't be frugal. While we don’t have rent or a mortgage, utilities, or other monthly expenses like that, there are still costs that come along with this lifestyle. The biggest cost is typically fuel, but a close second in our life is food. We have found that we love to find local restaurants around the country, much more than we enjoyed eating out when we were in Arizona, but we’ve also discovered that grocery prices vary significantly from city to city. We also spend a chunk of money on sightseeing that we never had to budget for before.

Regardless of how you are spending your money, you need to make sure you are keeping a tight watch on your budget. We’ve met more than one couple who has had to make a more permanent home in a town because it’s where their RV broke down and they were out of money to fix it. Always make sure you have a rainy day account for fixes, and make sure you have money coming in quicker than you spend it.

Do Have a General Idea of Where You’re Going

Living in an RV allows for a lot of flexibility in travel plans. At any point in time, you can pick up and move to a new location. This is amazing, but it can also be overwhelming because there are so many great places to see. Plus, the more people you meet on the road, the more recommendations you get for amazing places. What we’ve found helps is having a general idea of where we are going, and goal dates to arrive in certain cities. It keeps us on track, and helps us prioritize the places and things we really want to see, but it gives us flexibility to deviate or stay longer if we really fall in love with a location.

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Don’t Freak Out When Things Go Wrong

Notice I didn’t say IF things go wrong, rather WHEN, because things will go wrong. Ask anyone who has been on the road for longer than a month, and they can tell you a list of things that have gone wrong. From leaks to engine trouble to accidents, there are so many things that can go wrong when you are driving your home down the road every day. What we’ve found helps is to get to an RV park or campground and start talking to the other RV owners. Chances are high that someone has had a similar challenge and can offer you advice or a helping hand. Stay calm and know that you’ll be able to work through almost any problem you encounter.

Do Check for Leaks EVERY TIME It Rains

Every time you move your RV, it’s like taking your home through an earthquake. Things shift, and seals can come unsealed, especially if you have an older unit. Whenever you get to a new location, we’ve found it’s a good idea to take a quick peek at the roof and make sure that everything still looks good. Then, every time it rains, we check around for leaks. Leaks are pesky, and they are elusive, disappearing as soon as the rain stops, so check every time to figure out where the water is coming in. Catching leaks early is key to preserving both the integrity of your RV, as well as your sanity!

Don’t Sacrifice Comfort or Style

Just because you’re living on the road doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on comfort. In our RV, we added a plush memory foam topper to the mattress and use a great set of percale sheets. We also have nice towels, real dishes, and our favorite cooking pans and utensils. While it may be tempting to set up your RV like you are on an extended camping trip, think of this as your home on wheels instead of your camper. Having nice dishes instead of plastic ones, good towels instead of the ones that are almost rags, and luxury sheets helps make an RV feel like a real home. Don’t skimp on these items, but also know that you need to take care of them a little differently when you’re on the road.

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Do Secure EVERYTHING Before Moving

Speaking of caring for your items, the most important thing you can do to care for 90% of the things in your home on wheels is to secure them when you move. I’ve talked with people who have lost every dish in their cabinets when they took a corner too quickly. We’ve found that the squishy foam type of shelf liner works great for helping to make sure things don’t move or break during a move. We have all our shelves lined with it to prevent things from sliding, and we also use strips of the liner in between all our dishes to make sure they don’t rattle against each other. Whatever you choose to use in your RV, make sure things are secure, or you’ll be cleaning up messes each time you arrive to a new location.

Don’t Stay Inside All Day

One of the greatest things about this lifestyle is the ability to get out and see different parts of the country (or the world). At almost every stop we get to though, there is a couple who appears to hunker down in their motor home the entire day. We were recently at a beautiful beach campground, and there was a family there who spent almost every hour inside watching television. There are going to be days where the weather forces you to stay inside, so take every advantage you can of the sunny days and get outside and explore.

Don’t Buy in Bulk

When we moved in to our RV, I thought it would be smart to stock up on a few things that we use frequently. That’s what we had always done in our home, so why wouldn’t we do it in the motor home? Well, space is a very limited commodity in an RV, so those stashes of toilet paper, paper towels, and rice have taken us months to work through. The whole time we’ve been on the road, these bulk items have been taking up precious storage space. The lesson we’ve learned is to only buy enough items to keep you stocked for a few weeks at a time.

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Do Think Multipurpose

When stocking items in the limited space of an RV, it’s important that things have multiple uses. For example, we use our salad spinner to wash and spin greens, but also as our large serving bowl. We have a stick blender that has a food processor attachment to grind coffee beans and cheeses. We even recently changed out our plastic food storage containers for glass ones so we can use them in the oven as well. The more things that can have multiple uses, the less clutter you have in your tiny home on wheels.

Where to park and live in an RV?

Most people think RVs and travel go hand-in-hand, but depending on your life situation, you may not be able to travel full-time. You might have a job that requires you to go to an office every day (I do!), you might have kids that go to a local school or you might simply love your home base, that’s cool too.

If you are staying put, I want to lay out some helpful tips and tricks for where to park and live in an RV– legally!

I’m about to say something scary, okay? I AM NOT A LAWYER! And depending on the place you live, it may be illegal to live full-time in a RV. In the state where we live, it is illegal in many counties to live full-time in a RV. Different counties and different cities will have different rules. Sometimes it’s illegal to live in anything on wheels. Sometimes it’s illegal to live in something without a permanent foundation. Sometimes it’s a square foot thing and it’s illegal to live in something less than 1,200 square feet. You’ll want to check your county and cities requirements and decide if the risks are worth the rewards.

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Now that that’s out of the way, let’s move on to the places you might be able to park your RV.

Your own land

If you can afford it, buying a small piece of land can be ideal for a RV. If the land isn’t yet equipped for electric, water and sewer that could make your parking a bit more difficult. Some areas, even if you pay for it, won’t run power, sewer or water without building permits for a house and all the requirements that follow. If that’s the case, you could look for land that already has utilities or you could go off-grid completely!

Realtor.com is a great place to start looking for land to buy. You can search by land in your area and review the properties to determine if they’d be a good fit for your RV.

Zillow.com works similarly to Realtor.com, but has a more graphic interface with an interactive map of houses for sale and land.

RV Parks and Mobile Home Communities

If you can’t afford your own land, don’t fret, there’s options out there. I’d suggest looking into local RV parks and mobile home communities. Some RV parks will let you stay long-term if you periodically move your home and/or leave the park for a couple of days. That’s a small price to pay for the freedom of living in an RV.

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RVparking.com is a website where you can search or browse for an RV park in your area. Each park will have different rules, so be sure to check with the management for long-term parking.

Campendium is a searchable RV parking website. Campendium is great for short-term parking as well. In addition to RV parks, Campendium shows National Park/Forest camping and free camping.
MH Village is a marketplace to buy, sell or rent manufactured homes and RVs. The website also includes a searchable mobile home community database.

Remember to also do a Google search for RV parks or mobile home villages in your area that might not show up on the sites previously mentioned.

Tiny House Options

If living in an RV park or a mobile home community isn’t your style, that’s ok. Tiny Housers have difficulty parking their homes too. Those crafty tiny housers have created the following websites can help you locate an alternative place to park your home.

TinyHouseCommunity.com is a resource that connects tiny house owners with builders, communities, and fellow tiny housers. The Places page on TinyHouseCommunity details counties that allow tiny houses, as well as communities that welcome tinyhouses or RVs.
TinyHouseMap.com is an interactive map that you can use to search for fellow tiny housers, tiny house builders and tiny house communities for parking.

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TinyHouseParking.com is also an interactive map, which can be configured to display parking places available for rent or purchase. On TinyHouseParking you can even create a “parking wanted” ad.

Backyard Livin’

If all else fails, you can always ask if friends or relatives will let you stay in their backyard in exchange for chores or a small rental fee. Dee Williams, one of the tiny house pioneers, began her tiny living journey in a friend’s backyard. Again, according to those pesky zoning laws, living full-time in an RV in someone’s backyard might not be legal. I am not a lawyer and I can’t give legal advice. It’s up to you to decide if you are willing to skirt the law.