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Last Updated on September 19, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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My 8 Full Time Living In Our RV Regrets
We’ve been full-time RVing for a little over ten years and have gone through a lot in that period, including several RV changes, a new baby, COVID-19, and some silly mishaps here and there.
Key Takeaways:
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- Start RVing Sooner: Many people regret waiting too long to get into RVing. Financing options make RV ownership more accessible than initially assumed.
- Buy Used, Not New: New RVs depreciate quickly. Buying a well-maintained, used RV can save you money and offer better value.
- Consider Your Needs: Ensure your RV suits your lifestyle. Mistakes like insufficient towing capacity and cargo space can lead to unnecessary upgrades.
- Inspect Before Buying: Always check for water damage and review maintenance records to avoid costly repairs later.
- Extended Warranties May Not Be Necessary: In many cases, extended warranties are not a good value compared to insurance policies.
- Personalize Your RV: Treat your RV as your home. Personalizing the space makes it more comfortable and enjoyable.
- Engage in the RV Community: Joining the RV community opens opportunities to learn, socialize, and discover new adventures.
- Learn to Drive Competently: Both partners should know how to drive the RV to avoid reliance on just one person.
Generally, the experience has been excellent, and we did lots of things right when we got into RVing, albeit we weren’t so knowledgeable.
However, during that time, we also realized some things we wish we had known better before we started. We’re still discovering things we wish we had known sooner; these are our full-time RV regrets.
In this article, I’ll focus on all our RV regrets and take my time to share our mistakes and wrongdoings. Hopefully, this will help you avoid such mistakes.
Read on!
1) Not Getting into RVing Sooner
One of our regrets is waiting so long before we could get an RV. I always knew I wanted to wanderlust and explore new places, but I thought I needed to wait for my kids to grow to teenagerhood before I could splurge on an RV.
I was worried about the finances, but RV financing is stupidly cheap. See, I rarely buy anything on credit, but the financing rates for my first RV were irresistible.
Today, I pay about $200 per month and consider the payment a sunk cost of recreation. Had I known how “cheap” getting an RV is, I would have purchased a travel trailer years earlier and enjoyed it before my kids grew up.
So, if you feel like your finances are lined up and your desire for an RV is slowly turning into a “need,” go for it. You’ll have everything to thank me for.
RVing is an excellent experience; you explore new locations, meet new people, and learn new things daily. I wish I had known earlier.
2) Going All-In (Buying a New RV)
Our other regret is going all in on our first RV purchase. We bought a new RV at an inflated price, and it was an expensive lesson.
See, a huge price drop is usually when an RV goes from new to used. Use that to your advantage to get something used so you don’t take the depreciation hit. And later, when/if you’re flush, you could trade with something fancier.
Even then, I would still go for a used RV, even if it was my last RV. The good thing about used RVs is that they’re generally inexpensive and don’t depreciate as much as the new options.
It’s also easy to assume the old RVs aren’t in good condition or anything, but that’s false. Most used RVs usually have the kinks worked out. Of course, you’ll need to do some repairs and the typical maintenance, but if you get a well-maintained and decently-used RV, you won’t regret it.
For our second RV purchase, we got a used Airstream. After retiring, a couple had lived in it full-time, but they discovered RVing wasn’t for them and disposed of it. Everything had been worked out already, and it was good as new. We’re still using it.
3) Not Considering our RVing Needs
Our RV needs might differ greatly from yours, but we regret that our rig wasn’t suited to our needs.
I see many RVers make the same mistake we did when getting our first RV. This is typically the result of not knowing what they want from an RV or how they plan to use it.
We looked at many RVs for our first purchase and chose our Winnebago Van based on the layout. More than anything, it had a rear bed and mid-bath with a kitchen spanning the front. It had lots of counter space, which was a plus, considering I love cooking.
However, with time, I did wish it had a built-in dinette for storage rather than the free table and chair setup.
That wasn’t the only regret. We also planned to go places and didn’t consider the towing capability. Buying a bigger truck once and then upgrading to a much bigger camper down the road is much better than repurchasing a new truck.
Furthermore, the coach’s deficient cargo capacity meant we had to be careful about our upgrades. I constantly had to purge items to keep the weight down.
Years later, however, we know exactly what we would look for in our next RV purchase. We know what we like and the features that aren’t worth the extra money.
Always remember there’s no one-size-fits-all RV, so you must be diligent when selecting an RV for your needs. Don’t make the mistake of investing your time in researching the available options. Walk through different RVs, and don’t be shy to ask questions.
I suggest renting an RV first to understand how everything works, especially if you plan to go RVing full-time. You might be surprised to discover that what you want in an RV isn’t what you need.
4) Not Considering the Maintenance Records and Everything
The other biggest regret was not ensuring no water leaks in the RV. We didn’t do the due diligence of walking over and inspecting every nook and cranny of our RV while it was plugged in.
We didn’t know what we were getting into, and the whole front had so much water that I had to get creative fixing it. I ended up replacing the entire roof ceiling. Frustrating!
Water damage, in particular, is like cancer. It spreads, and you can expect the damage in places you can’t see or think of.
So, before getting an RV, ensure you have all the maintenance records, and that everything checks out well.
When buying a used rig, it’s always a good idea to assume that the previous owner was careless and didn’t do all the maintenance. Be ready and prepared to inspect and replace everything so you don’t get disappointed in the long run.
5) Falling Victim to the Extended Warranty
The other regret we made when we bought our RV is we fell victim to the extended warranty. The thing is, we were completely green, and neither of us had been on an RV for any amount of time growing up.
I’m sure there are instances when you’re grateful you have your extended warranty. But if you ask me now, you probably don’t need one.
Insurance with the assurance that if something goes wrong, it’s covered is a good thing. But if you consider the amount of money you’re paying for the warranty and how much stuff costs to replace, you see it doesn’t make any financial sense.
And note, I’m not saying you shouldn’t get an extended RV warranty. While most are garbage, there are some that are excellent.
Like anything else, you must continually research, weigh the pros and cons, and pick the right package based on your needs.
For example, you could start by checking out your insurance policy before opting for an extended warranty. You might be surprised to find it covers more than you expect.
6) Not Making our RV our Home
The other big regret is that we didn’t make our RV our home soon enough. We wish we could have individualized our space sooner and made that space our own.
We kept everything as it was and were afraid to do anything to the camper. Remember, we bought our first camper new, so it was pristine, and we didn’t want to make holes, fix it, or damage it.
But the thing is, the RV is your home, it’s your camper, and you can do with it whatever you want. Make the space more livable to your liking, and you’ll find the RVing experience more exciting.
7) Not Getting into the RVing Community, Much Earlier
While we eventually got into the RV community, we kept to ourselves for a long time. We saw an RV as a way to get from point A to B, so we had everything together.
But it’s more than that.
There’s a whole family out there. Joining the RV community is a great way to meet new people, share new RVing ideas, and learn about new RVing locations and experiences.
There are things like RV rallies, for example, where the RV community gathers and shares ideas. I wish that we had done that sooner.
8) Not Learning to Drive an RV Competently
When we go into RVing, and as many couples do, we choose one of us to be the designated driver.
While I was mostly in my element behind the wheel, I must admit there were times when I needed my partners to step in and take over.
The problem is that my wife was so competent at driving an RV that sometimes when I was unavailable, she would have to hire someone to drive the rig.
So, yes, everyone must know how to drive an RV if you’re planning to purchase one as a couple.
Wrap Up
Full-time RVing is rewarding, but inevitable missteps can dampen the experience. Learning from others’ mistakes—starting sooner, buying used, and personalizing your space—can enhance your RV journey. Additionally, scrutinizing your rig, reconsidering extended warranties, and actively engaging with the RV community can help you avoid regrets and make the most of the RV lifestyle.
I think RVing is only a bad idea if you hate the outdoors or aren’t self-sufficient.
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