Thinking of living the RV life? Here’s what to know
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In the last few years, RV sales have skyrocketed as more Americans decide to live nomadically. We dug into the lifestyle by interviewing six individuals or couples experiencing it. Here are their suggestions for test-driving RV living.
Rent a rig: Before you head to a dealership (or Facebook Marketplace) to buy your home on wheels, consider renting an RV. This will give you a taste of the lifestyle before you dive in with a purchase.
Have you ever rented an RV?
Live in the driveway: Whether purchasing or renting, take time to test out your rig while stationary before you hit the road full time. Get used to the space and learn what you do or don’t need. This step is especially important if you have pets.
Go on a test trip: Take a month-long trip far from your home base. This will give you a taste of what full-time RV life is like while still allowing you to tweak things before you commit. Or, you can bail if you decide RV life isn’t for you.
Commit to a time frame: If you’re still interested in the lifestyle, set a time frame that you’re going to commit to before you hit the road for real. There’s going to be an adjustment period, so it’s recommended you commit to at least six months.
Ready to dive in? Here’s what to do before hitting the road permanently.
Financial planning: Make sure you’re entering this lifestyle responsibly. Ideally, you should begin with as little debt as possible. Credit card payments will only detract from the experience of traveling the country.
Decide what to do with your home: If you own a home, decide whether you’re going to keep it or sell it. Many sell theirs, but it’s also possible to keep it and rent it out while you’re away.
Establish residency: If you sell, establish residency in a state in which you have close family or utilize residency programs for people who work remotely, such as the one in South Dakota.
Downsize and organize: Downsize as much as possible. It’ll save you weight, be easier to organize, and you’ll have more space. Organization is key. Invest in storage solutions that fit everything you need and make essentials easily accessible.
Prepare to make mistakes: As with anything you try for the first time, there’s a learning curve and mistakes will happen. Don’t beat yourself up or let fear hold you back. Things will go wrong. Mentally prepare yourself and cut yourself some slack.
GEICO offers great rates on RV insurance. Before hitting the open road, see how much you could save with GEICO.
Carefully crafted collaboratively between GEICO and Lonely Planet. Both parties provided research and curated content to produce this story. We disclose when information isn’t ours.
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