In April, we published our tips for deciding if the full-time RV lifestyle is right for you—and everything you need to know before hitting the road. In this post, we’ll talk about how to pick the perfect RV to take on your new adventure and how to remodel an RV to fit your exact needs.
A full-time RV lifestyle can feel overwhelming and, to be perfectly honest, a little frightening. But it doesn’t have to be! If you love RVing and want to take on the challenge, a full-time RV lifestyle is a perfect way to indulge in the trip of your dreams—and it doesn’t have to be forever. You can take 6 months or a year or more. It’s your life—you get to choose!
Now, let’s talk about the specifics of which RV is right for you and how to remodel if you want some special features.
Picking the Right RV
There are a lot of criteria to think about when it comes to picking the right RV for your next great adventure—but it all boils down to one important idea: does it feel like home? A full-time RV lifestyle doesn’t mean leaving home behind; it means creating a new home that allows you to live your dreams.
Some might prefer to be at home in a Class A motorhome: plenty of space for everyone and everything. But others might prefer the cozy comforts of a Class B. It all boils down to your needs and wants. Let’s talk through a few points.
Who’s coming along? Are you taking on a full-time RV lifestyle with your family? If there are 4 or more of you, you’ll need more space than the average full-time RVer! If that sounds like you, a Class A would be your best bet.
What costs can you handle? You should determine a monthly budget and roughly estimate your fuel costs. Class A’s typically have worse gas mileage, and Class B’s have the best. Discussing these costs (with some wiggle room for varying prices at gas stations across the United States) while purchasing your RV is extremely important. Also, remember that frequent driving means you’ll need to practice good upkeep on your RV’s engine, equipment, and tires.
What are you bringing along? Do you have hobbies you’ll be indulging on the road? Writing, playing music, biking, hiking, and more…consider the supplies and storage you’ll need to accommodate those activities. Class C’s often have as much storage as a Class A, just in a tighter capacity.
Do you think you’ll need a car? Many full-time RVers who invest in a Class A often end up realizing they need a vehicle for getting around town away from the campsite. This isn’t something that everyone needs, but it’s something to think about! You can tow a car with a Class A, or use a travel trailer and drive a truck, giving you the best of both worlds.
How comfortable do you want to be? I’m guessing the answer is that you don’t want to be uncomfortable, right? In terms of comfort, Class As and Cs often have the most space to spread out and relax, as well as seats that are supremely comfortable for driving and allow for great views of the road.
Those are just a few things to consider! As we said, though, the most important thing is that you pick the RV that feels right for you—and no one else. That’s why we recommend visiting us at Guaranty RV Super Center to better help you decide which RV is right for you; you can check out all the options, walk through interiors, and ask every question that you might have. Just click here to contact us.
In addition, we recommend you check out our past blog post about going big or going small and which Class Bs give you the best bang for your buck.
Remodeling Your RV
While your RV might feel like home when you pick it out, there’s a chance you’ll realize there are things you need to change. Just like buying a house, there are always opportunities to improve the RV for you and your lifestyle. That might mean adding more storage, changing the decorations, and more.
Remodeling your RV can be a big project or a simple task. There are lots of ways to make your RV feel more like home when you’re on the road. Here are a few small projects you can take on to change the feel of your RV.
Paint or change the cabinets. Cabinetry in RVs has definitely improved in the last few decades, but if you want a more homey feel, you might consider changing your cabinets to help match any decor additions you make inside (like adding throw pillows or framed photos).
Remove the carpet. Carpet is wonderful and cozy, but can get messy easily. If you don’t want the hassle of bringing a vacuum on the road (and want to use a collapsible Swiffer or similar), you can remove any carpet and replace it with flooring or vinyl. This can also help you customize the look of your RV—making it feel much more like home!
Replacing your dinette. Some people on the road decide they want to change their dinette situation. In fact, many full-time RVers use the dinette as a workspace, as opposed to a dining space. There are many ways to change the dinette space and, if you’re planning to work from the road, turning it into an office is a great idea.
Replace window treatments. The most impactful way to change the look and feel of your RV is to change the window treatments. Adding curtains that reflect your style can help your RV feel more like home—and less like a hotel.
Paint or put up wallpaper. This is a great way to create a cohesive style that you love throughout your RV. Many go full on in their design, creating RVs that look like something out of a movie. (Just check out this round up of some great travel trailer looks!)
There are other, larger projects you can take on, like altering the layout of your RV or travel trailer, adding different spaces (like a larger bedroom or an office), or putting in new cabinets to accommodate all the storage you need. These larger remodeling projects can be more complicated and might require help from an RV service department to ensure that all of your systems remain intact and everything remains in working order.
Taking on remodeling projects, both large and small, can help make your RV feel more like home. A full-time RV lifestyle can be difficult because RVs take a lot of work to feel that way; so, if you start with an RV that you love inside and out, you’ll be one step ahead!
Conclusion
If you think a full-time RV lifestyle might be right for you, there are a lot of things to consider! We hope these this blog series has better oriented you in deciding where to start and what kind of RV you want.
There is nothing we admire more than those who take on a new adventure—and when it comes to adventures in RVs, nothing is more exciting than living in an RV full-time! We hope that, if you’re curious about this lifestyle, you check out some of the amazing RV blogs out there that give you a birds-eye view of what living in an RV is all about—both the good and the not-so-good!
If you want to learn more about the full-time RV lifestyle, or just have questions about picking the right RV for you, click here to contact us.
