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A Beginner's Guide to Living in an RV: Everything I Wish I Knew Before Full-Time RVing Across America

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UPDATED 2022 EDITION When my husband and I started full-time RVing, we knew nothing about RV living. We made it up as we traveled to all fifty states, constantly googling things like "how to RV" and "what is boondocking?" Meanwhile, we flooded the bathroom, took ice-cold showers, and got stuck in the mud.Now, we've been full-timing for nearly six years and we've learned the ins and outs of RVing America. In this guide, I answer all of the most common questions we receive about RV living, from how to choose the right RV to how we get mail on the road, to how to find free camping.This guide is for anyone exploring the RV lifestyle and looking for RVing books to help make the transition easier. Also, because I want to make sure this book is valuable for you, below you can see a few specific areas of RVing I cover.A few topics I cover in the to find great internet on the roadThe costs of full-time RVingWhether or not to tow a car behind your RVWhat we do for health insurance while travelingThe best RVing clubs and membershipsOur favorite apps for RVersA few topics I DON'T cover, since I have zero experience in these areas, with kidsHow to downsize to an RV from a houseHow to travel with petsTransitioning to living on the road was the best decision my husband and I could have ever made. RVing has improved our marriage and our life together, and we've seen more of the world than we could have ever imagined. While this book isn't about our story or why you should travel, it will be a useful tool as you find yourself asking a million different questions about what it's like living in an RV.Oh, and don't forget to use the #RVlife on Instagram once you start traveling. That's what all the cool kids do.

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2017

1368 people are currently reading
385 people want to read

About the author

Alyssa Padgett

2 books5 followers

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5 stars
516 (47%)
4 stars
346 (31%)
3 stars
176 (16%)
2 stars
35 (3%)
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10 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
Profile Image for Daniel.
764 reviews147 followers
July 16, 2023
This is my 2nd "living full-time in an RV" book ... after 'Full-time RV Living' by Jerry Minchey that I read last week (and gave 4 stars to) ... so I can only compare/contrast the two.

First of all, this was more about traveling in an RV as opposed to living in an RV. There's a difference! The title is a bit misleading and that disappointed me somewhat. I will only be actually travelling a few hundred miles to the next campsite/RV park, one day per month at the most (something Mr. Minchey mentions several times), so the travelling stuff is of much less interest to me. Need to know, yes, but pretty basic info that I wasn't interested in at this point.

The writing style here was much better than Mr. Minchey's "repeat everything pretty much word-for-word six times" style but Mr. Minchey covered everything this book covered AND does a MUCH better job of detailing actually *living* in the RV with actual links as you're reading rather than just a list at the end of the book.

I also feel Mr. Minchey gives better info at times. For instance, DON'T just look at tire tread/mileage (as Ms. Padgett discusses) but look at the manufacturing date on the tire since you generally don't put nearly as many miles on your RV as you would a car and the tires are much more likely to dry rot well before their tread wears thin, especially if you spend a lot of time in warm, sunny climates (as I will!). I would have never thought about that!

Okay ... enough rambling. Bottom line ... good general, common sense info here and a friendly writing style. It's more about the traveling aspect than the living aspect so keep that in mind.
Profile Image for Bekah S.
89 reviews2 followers
February 1, 2018
Maybe six months ago I stumbled onto Alyssa's blog and Instagram while researching what it was going to take to be a full timer. Her book has answered questions I didn't even know I had! As I transition into being a (stationary for the time being) full-timer, I'm so grateful to have this resource at my fingertips.

This rocks. She rocks. Everything rocks. That's all.
1 review
January 13, 2018
Very informative

Loved your helpful advice as a family considering a long term RV trip. My only request would be more details. Perhaps book 2? ☺
Profile Image for Jeff.
243 reviews3 followers
May 8, 2022
A little story — there is a line in the book that says your first time driving an RV is “scary-exhilarating”. I drove my first one a couple of weeks ago. In a 40+ MPH crosswind. I partially drove on the shoulder of the interstate to give me some boomerang room when the wind hit. That second word didn’t even enter my mind. I fell asleep at 8:30, three hours after getting there. I was “anxiety-exhausted”.

But about the book. It had a lot of good information and ideas. However, the copy I got was published in 2017, so some of the information is probably outdated (websites, blogs, devices, equipment, etc). Looks like there’s a 2020 version out, that would be worth reading.

Since our excursion, my wife has purchased three other books and joined about 20 Facebook groups, so I think I’m covered. 😁
Profile Image for Lauren Zonnefeld.
217 reviews3 followers
June 30, 2020
A really good book if you are transitioning to RV life. Considering we are not doing that at the moment, it was a little hard to picture things—but definitely helped with thinking about it. A great checklist before and during a transition.
Profile Image for Conan Neutron.
7 reviews1 follower
August 29, 2018
Look: Everything you need to know about this book is in the title.
"What is it about? Will I like it?" I don't know, are you interested in the topic of living in an RV full time?
If so: cool. This is a well written, concise how-to guide of how to live in an RV. It's full of amusing anecdotes, pictures and pragmatic concerns.

I found the book based on Heath and Alyssa's website. I have no idea if i'll ever take the plunge myself, but if I do... i'll be keeping this book handy, but it will be constantly within reach, because I daresay this might be the only book you need.

It's a cheap book and an easy read.
28 reviews
July 31, 2019
I really loved this book. Very helpful. My only complaint and the reason it is only 4 stars is it is heavily slanted toward RV's amd i suspect we will do it with a trailer. Too many small places I want to go to.
Profile Image for MattA.
89 reviews3 followers
June 13, 2019
Barely a 3-star book. Not the best-written book in the world, but not horrible. It comes across like a transcription of a series of blog posts, which I’m guessing it was originally. It has an overly-casual style. It has numerous typos and incorrect references. At one point the author indicates the book is self-published, and it shows. It would have been much better had the author done a little more background research and not relied solely on her own experience. A professional editor would have helped immensely. Had I paid money for the book, I would be unhappy with it; as a library check-out, I found it borderline acceptable.

However, the book does live up to its title as a “beginner's guide”. If you’ve never camped or spent any time in an RV, this book touches on all the basics. The author does a good job of addressing some of the lifestyle issues that come with being a full-timer. And she’s honest about the difficulties. I owned a pop-up camper for ten years, and while I never came close to being a full-timer, I spent enough time around campgrounds to be familiar with the lifestyle. I would say that only about 30% of the material was new to me, but the book was a fast read, so it was worth my time.

One other thing which would have significantly improved the book: much greater use of pictures and diagrams. Especially for for folks generally unfamiliar with RV’s.

If you are looking for information on the full-timer life, this would be an OK book to start with. Just don’t take the author’s word as gospel; make sure you read more than just this book.
17 reviews3 followers
November 28, 2018
Author used the phrase ‘could care less’ on page 185, when she should have said ‘could NOT care less’. This is a damn word crime and I am highly offended.

I highly recommend the Idiot’s Guide to RVing over this book if you really want the nuts and bolts to RVing. Some information isn’t even correct (not every car can be towed with a Blue Ox tow bar - do your research). There are a few good resources listed in it, but overall I got a lot more out of the Idiot’s Guide.
Profile Image for Desirée Dennis.
135 reviews1 follower
October 8, 2018
This was adorable! Alyssa and her husband live full time on the move. I liked hearing about some of the things they ran into on the way. I had pretty much already found the info in it already from obsessive Youtubing, but I still enjoyed reading it. There was some helpful info about mail forwarding and descriptions of the different types of areas to stop at.
50 reviews
November 24, 2017
Great guide for RVing!

Lots of good information here! I have been thinking about doing the RV thing for awhile and I've done some online research. I had lots of questions, and this book answered them all! Of course, the author mentioned a lot of things I hadn't thought of, too!
Profile Image for Paul.
36 reviews2 followers
August 13, 2018
A good deal for anyone thinking of the RV life.

I was glad to come across this guide. I am a travel addict but I have never taken the plunge. I believe the rv life is in our future. I now have a handy reference.
Profile Image for Charles Shapiro.
87 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2018
Easy read, lots of good hints, worth a look if starting out in the RV world, not necessarily only for full timers.
70 reviews
March 10, 2019
Pretty good book regarding the basics of getting started with an rv. I did feel there was some content missing that I would like more info about, but overall a very general informative guide.
Profile Image for Alexis Chateau.
Author 2 books17 followers
November 13, 2019
The best book I've read all year. Alyssa is a great writer and answers questions I didn't even know I had. I look forward to bumping into her on the road when I begin my own full-timer journey.
Profile Image for cauldronofevil.
995 reviews4 followers
November 19, 2023

Look, I was into “Vanlife” before it was even cool to be into “Vanlife”! I’m on my third (and I think best) campervan now and still fantasize about living full time on the road.

I have lived in a van before and greatly enjoyed it and at least once a year take a long weekend up around San Francisco to indulge that fantasy.

Now that I’m retired, I’ll either do it less (cause it’s expensive) or more (cause I’m retired).

That said, I know the reality of living in a van isn’t as glamorous as maybe Instagram makes it out to be. And I’ve certainly never met all the beautiful women that seem to be living in vans all across America!

So while I expect it will always be a fantasy and certainly hope that I will always have a choice about living in a van, I read every book I can find about it and subscribe to several mailing lists about the process.

So this book was an easy sell to me (and goes with a good sized stack of similar books I have!).

Of course the first chapter is ‘What kind of RV is right for you?’ And it makes sense, but I always figure that this is a decision you’ve pretty much already decided if you’ve decided to live in an RV! Either that or you don’t have enough money to make whatever choice you want and again, the choice is a foregone conclusion!

One thing I definitely like about this book is the quality of the ‘lived in’ experience. This sounds like a voice that’s actually done the things it’s advising on and it makes a huge difference. I’m no expert, but I like believing that I’m being talked to by an expert.

The first five chapters were to help you buy a rig and they seem very helpful if you are going to ‘pull the plug’ and commit to living full time in an RV. Not useful to me but an eye opener on what really matters and what would really be doable.

Chapter 6 is about electricity and power which is more interesting to me, as I like the idea of being as far away from civilization as possible.

The discussion of generators doesn’t even mention what seems to be to be the biggest downside which is the ungodly noise they all seem to make. For me, that’s the reason to avoid them all together (and I’m glad I never opted for them in any of my RV’s).

Something I’ve never read before in an RV/Van Life book (and I’ve read a few) is a chapter on driving tips! Very real world.

“This is typical for most people moving into an RV. You own more than you think and you need less than you think.”

On page 111 the author states that she is 20 years old! I’d been reading this as if it was coming from a much older woman (about my age) so this is very refreshing news.

There is a lot of coverage on how to get good internet access and it is encouraging that there are so many options! I’ve ready quite a few books on this topic and this seems to be the most modern one because there are so many choices out there.

If only they’d make it legal to live in an RV!!

The advice about RV clubs is priceless. I don’t think I ever got my money’s worth out of Good Sams, but that’s all I knew about!

I do wish they would compare them to how much you’ll save by not joining ANY however!

“No offense retirees, but it’s nice to meet working-age RVers too.” I can totally appreciate that even though I’m a retiree myself.

You gotta like a book that recommends you go through eBay to buy stuff.

A chapter I wish I had read back when I was RVing more often is Chapter 20, the difference between a trailer park, RV park and campground. The trial and error method definitely sucked!

This is one of the best guides I’ve ever read on living in an RV and one I wish I’d had long, long ago. I can’t recommend it highly enough. 5 stars and a definite keeper.
Profile Image for Jon Den Houter.
248 reviews6 followers
August 1, 2023
I read this as part of my dream to go RVing for the summer someday. I rented an RV with my brother this summer—just for one day—and it was fun; the RV felt like a sweet little cabin on wheels.

I was interested in the experience of Padgett and her husband, who've been full-time RVing for 6 years, and this book did not disappoint. The book is very pleasant and palatable: Padgett writes clearly and succinctly about the basics of RV living, with chapters like "To Tow or Not to Tow?", "Packing Your RV," and "Internet on the Road" (she's got an "internet guy" who gets here unlimited, unthrottled internet through AT&T). Sprinkled on top of the basic information in each chapter are stories of RV life from Padgett and her husband and from other RVers they know. This sprinkling made the book eminently readable.

I have two key takeaways. (1) Life can be very lonely on the road. My maternal grandpa once told my rootless twenty-something-year-old mom, who was drifting each year from teaching job to teaching job, "a rolling stone gathers no moss." By "moss" my grandpa meant money, but "moss" can also mean a web of relationships, and the Padgetts definitely suffer from a lack of this. For example, she mentions that she and her husband don't have a church home. This aspect of RV living I've never considered before; I have a new appreciation for the web of relationships I have a church, school, and through DeColores.

(2) Padgett writes in the forward, "There weren't many resources for full-timers when we started our RV adventures [just after getting married]. We threw caution to the wind and learned as we go. Which in retrospect seems a little wild and reckless, but it's better than sitting around dreaming about someday." This quote inspires me. I just finished reading Shoe Dog, and Knight's story echoes Padgett's. They both dared to follow their dream even though they hadn't the first clue of how to make their dreams work. Both Knight and the Padgetts took the first step anyway, and now they are living their dreams. The key was simply to start.

Padgett echoes this idea in the epilogue when she tells us what her favorite comment is which she receives from people commenting on her full-time RVing lifestyle: "You're so smart to do this now. I wish I had started sooner."

My dream is to continue to design unlock biographies (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/S...), which of course I have already started. One day I would like to have my own escape room based on these designs. It sounds like, if I am hearing Padgett (and Knight) correctly, that the key to owning my own escape room company is to just start.
Profile Image for April.
29 reviews
May 23, 2020
Thank you to Alyssa for writing this honest book about all the things you need to know about RVs for those people who are considering purchasing one. All the different types of RVs, all the different types of places to park it, all the extra stuff you need, all the things that can go wrong with it, and what to do when those things happen. I love how you answered all the common questions people have about RVs and this lifestyle. My one question I still had after reading the book was that it seemed you were sort of dissing trailer parks, but from your description of what a trailer park was, I really didn’t understand what the trouble was. My husband, during our post read discussion (he read it first) explained that trailer parks are usually filled with only mobile homes, not RVs, but that perhaps in certain areas of the country they also allow RVs. Anyway, I just thought the description of trailer parks and why you dislike them could have been made more clear, especially since you were so honest about everything else. Even your costs for everything which I sincerely appreciated. After finishing reading, I discovered your YouTube and watched my first video of yours when you are crossing into Canada and the border agents broke two of your door handles while inspecting your rv and then your annoyance with there being no wine in the RV. Loved it. So real. Everyone should check out your YouTube after reading this.
360 reviews13 followers
February 15, 2019
This is more like 3.5, for me that's saying the book was good. The first few chapters were so simplistic and not very intellecutaly rigorous, there was little to no research to present you with option they didn't select but pros and cons of why that might still be good for you. It was literally, we thought quickly about this thing, but chose this thing, here's why we picked #2 and how it worked out, when sometimes, from owning an RV myself for a few years (but ever having lived in one long term) I know there are more options, or that some of their reasoning was not very comprehensive. I got a lot more out of the book when it came to the sections on long-term RV living, which I'm about to do in a few months, and checked out many websites and campsites, etc. I'm sure many of these will be useful. But knowing the depth of the first section, I'm sure this isn't incredibly comprehensive either. I wouldn't call this the bible of RV living or anything, you'll need to read more books to feel confident heading out, at least I do.
32 reviews
September 6, 2021
I enjoyed...

There ARE tense errors in this book such as is/are agreement and the use of the word, "swum". But, getting beyond that, this is an informative book with many useful tips. Yes, you can search the internet to find the same sort of information but this book saves you some time and provides a great deal of info I hadn't considered such as burping your fridge or running ice through your toilet to really clean the blank tank. I've done a lot of reading and have NEVER come upon information such as this. I would recommend this book as it provides so much useful information, tips, links, apps, etc. and is quite an easy read. I read this book in less than one day and learned a great deal! My thanks to Alyssa and Heath. I first became familiar with them as they started out in my area of Central Texas. Then, by happenstance, I saw them on an RV show as they purchased their Brave. I have been loosely following their journey and have enjoyed their shares very much.
89 reviews2 followers
October 23, 2019
Great little resource to read whether you are considering/brand new to RVing or a veteran full-timer. I plowed through this book in an evening. All things considered however, several sections & chapters I merely skimmed as I grew up camping and RVing and could just as easily write tutorials & guides as do the repair work on my motorhome myself (ummm...90+% of RV lightbulbs do NOT require a mechanic/garage visit for replacement-- even if covered under warranty, please learn how to replace a lightbulb yourself before EVER considering to go full-time), 'cause I do. Nevertheless, found several great tips & resources to consider as I continue my full-timing & it was a fairly painless read.
Profile Image for Can.
18 reviews
May 20, 2020
It is a useful guide for beginners, she answers all the basic questions you can ask before full time RVing (a little bit more maybe). Really easy to read, even English is your second language and you are so lazy to improve it. You can finish reading it less than a day. Also author has a blog, YouTube channel for more. After reading this book you won’t feel full time RV ing is madness or tremendously complicated. (Not easy, you need to be a little organized.)
If you are dreaming to live full time in an RV instead of paying rent and stucking in the same city apartment job people I believe you will feel closer after reading this book.
Profile Image for Levi Sauerbrei.
1 review1 follower
November 15, 2017
Information and Inspiration

I've been listening to Heath and Alyssa's podcast for awhile now and was excited to see that they had put out this book. It is a quick and easy read and full of tons of resources I'll be coming back to later. There is a great balance here between the pros and cons of extended living in an RV and it paints a very realistic picture of what life can be on the road.

Whether you are thinking about rving full time or just hitting the road for a few minutes the or weeks, you will find something for you in the book.
Profile Image for Michael.
Author 190 books38 followers
August 28, 2022
After reading the author’s title “RVing Across America” I searched for other books by her and picked this one up, also. I found this guide helpful, informative, and a bit entertaining, as she relayed what has worked and not worked for her as she has spent several years full-time in her RV.

I read this for free with my Kindle Unlimited vs. its regular price of $3.99 and certainly received more than $3.99 worth of value. If you like a good story about a go-getter couple, and learn a little more about the RV lifestyle and the differences, I would recommend giving this one a try.
24 reviews1 follower
June 24, 2018
Great HONEST information.

I know when it is a fact and it is your opinion because YOU TELL ME! (Made up statics) The honesty is just so refreshing. And when it sucks, I know it sucks because you say so! Don't every apologize when telling your experience. It is what it is! Loved the book, loved the subject, kudos to the author. Get this book if you want a real view of full time rving. Great information and a few chuckles thrown in to keep it - well - real.
1 review
July 18, 2018
Informative Guide for RV Living

We don't RV nor do we ever intend to RV, but we do see a lot of RVs when we travel. In some ways, reading this book let me share in the full time RV experience without having to do it myself. I felt the book was fairly comprehensive, and I would think a must-read for anyone contemplating RVing, full or part time. It is an easy read, not excessively long.
Profile Image for Tom.
8 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2018
A breath of fresh air. Alyssa's writing style is informational, light and to the point. I read the RVing for Dummies book and she managed to some that up perfectly in a fraction of the time.

The second half of the book provides very valuable information to people who are looking to full time. There is definitely much more below the surface, but this is the beginner's guide. She provides you with high level thinking and action points.
2 reviews
December 9, 2018
Helpful advice

Great solid information for anyone considering the full timer RV life. Good organization of topics and lots of good resources provided. I really appreciated the detail. Very helpful!!!

A little tiresome when the exact same sentence is used in another chapter. Consider rephrasing it a little. A book is a different medium than blogging, etc. so kudos to you for tackling it. It is a great first book!

Keep the them coming!
217 reviews2 followers
February 15, 2019
Living in an RV..

If you've ever considered living in a RV FULL TIME, this is the book for you. Somehow you get the feeling that Alyssa is sitting across the table talking to you about the different classes of RV's, pros and cons of each type, how to travel in your RV, things to do, places to go and what your life can be like as you RV around the US. Loved the book because it answered every question I've ever had about traveling in an RV,
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews

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