Top 10 Most Hated Fulltime RV Problems

There are some things I don’t really consider to be the ‘most hated’ but are very irritating to deal with. They are equivalent to mowing the lawn at a home, you just know upkeep is necessary and in this case it is refilling water tanks, dumping, limited supplies yadda yadda… let’s continue to the what we personally have a strong dislike for:

1. Repairing Constantly

There is always something breaking and it is absolutely the worst thing about an RV. 

We had a tiny leak from our seal on the bottom of the faucet that leaked onto our counters and totally warped at the crease.Batteries die, electronic components stop working, and the walls are paper thin. 

Drawers will become loose, scratches will appear on the floors and cabinets. The carpets will become flat.  It’s so many tiny things that are a pain to keep up with. 

Ours is only 2 years old. So, it will happen no matter what, they are built for temporary situations not full time, all weather no cover lifestyle. 

2. RV parks

Long term campgrounds can be a little sad looking depending on where you are. They aren’t really there for enjoyment, they are there for necessity. 

You may see a laundromat and some overnight campers, nothing fancy. It’s th 1e short term places that will have more amenities but even then they may not be the greatest places. That’s why finding a great one is so special. 

3. Strangers

Not all people are ‘cool’. You are going to cross paths with some odd ones. This life isn’t always a chosen road to travel and financial freedom, for some it’s all they can do or have so it’s a very different experience. 

Also,we have kids and their safety is very important to us. Stranger danger is very real. Not only are we unfamiliar with the area(s) but the people in it too. Kids see other kids and just want to play but, we have rules to only play where we can see them, never go into anyone’s RV and I want to know where the other kid came from and meet the parents.This may sound like helicopter parenting but when people can pick up and go whenever they want, we need eyes on our kids. 

4. Space Inside 

This isn’t huge for me because I’m short and petite but my husband is 6’3 and has trouble with the entries, shower and the sides of the bed. There isn’t a lot of head room and he often bonks it on the slide out when leaning in or getting out of the seats.  

5. Weather

If you’re in it you’ll have a consequence no matter how minor. The wind blows more than 10 mph, you will feel the slight but noticeable movement. 

If it rains or you’re in a snow state, you’ll likely experience wet areas or screw mistakes in the build that can leak in. We didn’t have a big issue with heat. Even up to 105 degrees the ac still kept up well. The cold was much more difficult to deal with, the heater couldn’t keep up and when we added heaters it would cause major condensation. We had to have a dehumidifier and crack a window to stop it.

6. POOP

That’s right #2. Even if the smell is temporary, we all know who and when the turd went down.  Then after the poops there is the toilet full flush. Flushing out the tank isn’t hard but it’s not fun either. We pull a hose in through the emergency window near the door and flush the tank out until the line runs clean every few days to keep things fresh in here. The splatter when the hose is in full force has my germophobic side putting this on the hate list.

Another thing we thought of that has helped with the poop is getting an attachment for our hose to clean this out.

Solution is the Camco RV Flexible Swivel Stik (see the current price on amazon.com) this cheap attachment made a huge difference when we went back to clean the toilet it has a part that goes directly down the commode and as the water goes through it it spins the water top get the areas of the pipe and tank that you can’t reach with the conventional hose. Seriously we love ours if you are having these issues pick this up today.

7. Lack of storage 

People just like to gather, that’s what we do. We find new things to acquire, love and admire. We just don’t have the space to put them!. Clothes are always wrinkled, things are always falling and there is never enough room for everything. Downsizing is really difficult and you’ll probably get rid of things that you’ll end up replacing. It’s also hard to add throw pillows and accents to your space and really make them comfortable. 

8. Clutter

No matter how hard you work at staying tidy, you’ll always appear to have clutter. If you like super clear areas, this will drive you bananas.  There are things you can buy to put in your trailer like shoe racks, spice racks, towel hooks and other nifty gadgets that can help but sometimes it just adds to the “stuff” you are allowing in. 

9.  Movement

Even with levelers and jacks you can still feel movement especially in a travel trailer or 5th wheel. When you are sitting or lying down you can feel the slight shifting and it can often make you feel a little nauseous. 

10. PARKING

My other half is amazing at all of the big vehicle driving and towing but this doesn’t mean that the campground has perfect hook ups or that it is level or that you can easily get in. Some places are difficult and there is no getting around it. You have to be patient or a master for this one to not get on your nerves at times. 

Even with all the things on our personal hate list it doesn’t make us hate where we are or what we are doing. We just put it on our post as things to think about or notice when you’re taking the leap to RV freedom. 

• RV Size
• Storage 
• Reviews on RV manufacturers and specific issues
• Adding cameras for better view
• Reviews on Camp spots and the community safety

With every bad thing you experience there is a positive side, too.

5 Great things about Full Time RV

1. No Lease

If you like to move around but you don’t want the lease obligation you can just go wherever you see an opportunity for yourself. 

2.  Inexpensive Maintenance 

Most parts are not super expensive, everything is around $200 -$300 to replace. Youtube is a great source to find people who can teach you how to fix things yourself. 

3. Camping Apps

Camping apps will have honest reviews, photos and directions to help you get where you need to go. These apps help you see what you’re getting into before you get there. 

4.  Sell /Trade in  

There could be a reason why you might want to get a different RV and you can bring yours in for a trade whenever you want. You could also sell it to buy something different, it is an asset even if it does depreciate a bit.

5.  Visiting Friends and Family

One of the best things about having an RV is the ability to not only visit all the destinations on your buscket list but also always have a way to visit friends and family for special occasions and emergencies.

What to do about finding/fixing RV problems early on

Finding solutions to problems early on will help reduce the issues you will come to face. Most you’ll find will be with the RV itself trying to withstand daily living while not being built for it. They really look nicce but when it comes to living, it is different.

When you look around an RV for the first time, check out capabilities and areas for functionality

• Does the bathroom have enough shower hooks or towel storage. If not is there wall space to add something?
• Do the cupboards have space for pots, pans, plates and cups. If not you can grab and install hooks or racks. 
• Will your closet hold all of your clothing. If not, where else can you store them but also have access?
• Is there a place for garbage
• Does everyone have a place for their extra items,blankets, jackets, shoes etc..?

If you plan on buying used, you should see if is an existing warranty that 

can be used for heater and ac repairs. 

Get an RV inspection – The average cost is $150

Final Thoughts –

Not everything that bothers us will bother you. You will find a whole new list of things for yourself to like and dislike. I hope you share all of your experiences with others to open their eyes to what this life could really be like and how it’s done.

Thank you for reading and we hope to see you on the road! 

Articles Of Interest

How Much Does A Skoolie Roof Raise Cost?

A  roof raise done professionally will cost around $10,000 for a full-size bus, and if you do it yourself, it will cost less than ½ of that but plan on at least $1,000 for the supplies.

The metal can cost $60 – $100+ per sheet depending on the gauge, the size of the sheet, and how many are needed. You’ll also need metal square tubing for the hat channel to keep the integrity of the structure.  

Skoolie Bus Names – The List

The names we have listed below could be in use already so try them out and add a little something to make yours special, like your last name, smalltown, nickname, favorite food etc…

Here is a list of random names we thought of:

Click the link above to see all the fun names we picked.