Family Living Full time in an RV Park- Tell All

Full time RV, is it living in your RV in a stationary place or is it travelling every couple of weeks to a new destination?

This is an actual debate and the funny part about it is that you will be judged by other RV’ers depending on what you do.

True Story –

I was in an FB group chat that asked the question about being a Full Time RV and what it actually means.

One woman said and I quote “If you live stationary in an RV you’re one step up from being homeless” 

This comment struck a chord with a lot of members of the group since most intended on having property and putting their RV on it to live, they felt insulted by the comment.

*Do Not Accept Criticism From Anyone* 

I think it’s important to start with this because most people are not supportive of full time RV living. It isn’t their decision, it is yours. Your life can change whenever and however you want or need it to during your stay on Earth and the options are open and endless. 

Should you choose to try RV living and move back into a home, that’s okay. If you sell everything and end up loving your newfound RV life, great! You stepped out of your comfort zone to take the leap and at least figure it out for yourself. 

If you know us, you know that while we were building a skoolie we bought a Travel Trailer to live in while we created our traveling machine, but until then we were in fact, stationary and enjoying it. We had to get used to all of the changes but often people do that pretty well. Adapting to change is something we are all capable of, it just takes time.

Can You Live In An RV Park Year Round?

If you are planning on contacting campgrounds you would ask for ‘long term’ when searching for full time options. You can live in an RV park all year as long as the RV park allows it. This rule is generally based on the city, county or state laws.  But even the larger camp associations allow full time RVers to stay long term.

The Problem with campgrounds is that summers are their main source of income. You will not have a lower cost than the other monthly camper in this season.  When you stay in the off season Oct- April you will get a much lower rate. 

Long term stay pricing is based on what the campground is asking. For example the local KOA is asking $800 per month during peak season and then $380 on the off season while other long term has a flat rate for all months. 

Long Term RV Camping 

Long term camping is when you are staying longer than 2 weeks. If you choose to summer in one location and winter in another you are technically a full time RV patron of the campground.

Can A Family Stay At An RV Park Full Time?

Families can stay full time at an RV park when they are not exclusive to specific age groups, some RV parks are for 55+ (no kids) making them exclusive for the retired community. There are others that are family friendly, so much so that there are water parks, golf, park activities and many other things for kids and families to enjoy together.

Is Family At A Full Time RV Park Okay?

Technically, yes.

Where you are and what amenities your RV park has will strongly affect the feelings you have about your experience living with your family in an RV park. 

We are in a little RV Park in Utah. We found that there are several other families and retirees that are living here full time and have been for a few years. Currently ½ of the people here are traveling with their families working on a project in town for an extended period of time.   

There are no frills about this park, there is nothing for the kids, there is only a laundromat, showerhouse, and a soda machine.

When there is nothing in the camp, you find other things to do like, join small town activities like reading programs, sports, go to the parks, visit the local museum and history monuments and maybe search for trails to walk or hike.

If your fellow campers are nice socially they may tell you about their experiences, which I find most valuable and interesting about people. 

There are some full timers who have lived their entire lives this way and it was just what they do, no transition to tiny life just upgrading every few years to a newer RV model. 

Can Larger Families Live In An Rv?

There are many motorhomes and RV’s that can fit multiple family members for sleeping. You might find yourself putting dining sets back together and folding up couches every morning and evening, but it can work.

More questions about family suitability in an RV would be:

1. Can you personally handle living in an RV with your family?

Consider what you can handle:

• Are you okay with change?
• Can you part with belongings easily?
• Do you need your own space often?
• Are you capable of fixing things?
• Do you and your family enjoy being outdoors?

The amount of space is probably your biggest concern at first so, consider finding an RV for rent that would be in your general price range to buy, then take it out for about a month, a week is a pleasure cruise and the fun can wear off. The longer you stay the more things you can add to the list of absolute needs. You’ll find your shopping may change a bit according to space. 

2. Can your family fit in an RV with a reasonable amount of belongings?

This has to do with how big your camper is, the storage capabilities it has and the living area(s) it contains.  The amount of  things you need to bring into your RV will become necessary items only. I would suggest having mostly outdoor toys for children like bikes, water guns, and other suitable toys for the area. Outdoor t.v’s are also great for making use of all potential spaces, most newer RV’s have mounts for them anyway.  There are plenty of RV options that can accommodate a family.

Things To Look For When Buying An RV For Full Time Living

• Garbage placement
• Closets and storage (outside as well)
• Outdoor kitchens (useful for extra appliance storage and food)
• Bike rack or ability to add
• Bunk houses or beds. Even if you don’t have extra sleepers you can use these areas for extra items you need.
• Space on the walls to add hangers, hooks and racks for towels, pans,TP. Etc..
• Toy haulers. If you don’t have an ATV it’s still a good option for a home office or play area for kids. 

Making Friends At RV Parks

If you are super social this may be hard for you. A lot of people in RV parks like to be left alone. Kids will find each other and you may find a parent here and there but stumbling on a really good friend is not an easy thing to do. You may find some cool people for a night or two but most people are just passing through.

• The best way to attract and lure RV friends is to approach them and see what they’re all about.
• Another good way is to find some friends in RV groups and plan meetups. 

Summary:

Living tiny, in and RV or in a Skoolie is entirely your choice and it is one you will need to make comfortable for you and your family both mentally and physically. It is very difficult to go from daily luxuries like a sewer, unlimited water, central air and heating to dumping your own tanks.

You will learn to deal with things breaking and turning to youtube for help. You will not always have the opportunity to afford a specialist to fix everything. Things will break but you can do it on your own. 

Becoming self reliant will be something you will completely get used to, eventually it will be second nature to see something broken and just get the replacement pieces as if you have always been a repair man. 

This Is The Best Bus To Convert To A Skoolie

If you’ve decided to take the plunge and purchase a school bus to convert into your new home, it can be difficult to know where to begin. This is especially true if you don’t know much about school bus conversions and which buses are the best ones to convert. 

When it comes to picking a bus to convert into a skoolie, the best bus to convert is one that is in good shape both physically and mechanically. The bus should also have good tires, a diesel engine, and a few other necessary features.

How Many Solar Panels Do You Need For Your Skoolie?

The number of solar panels you need for your skoolie depends on a variety of things, but the average skoolie can go completely off grid with six 100 watt solar panels. Those who use minimal electricity or do not want to depend on solar can get started with two 100 watt panels.

Thanks For Reading Our Article and we can’t wait to see you out there on the road.