Full timing in a Small RV - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Hazel · RV-Dreams Family Member

Full timing in a Small RV

Charmaine · RV-Dreams Community Member

Well, I can't speak from experience, but I am planning on doing it from about a 32' Class C as well... I am solo and I'm concerned about trying to live in this small space, so it's good to hear others are able to make it work, as it does seem like most have pretty big rigs. Nice to read your post

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

My experience is solos have the easiest time fulltiming in a small RV. They know who made the decisions and arguing with themselves is foolish. I have to admire it when more than one person shares a small space, since decisions are joint on what stays and getting in each others way is a way of life. But, people do it. I have seen successful fulltimers or extended travelers in small trailers, truck campers, Class Bs (camper vans), and other small RVs. But, most go larger to carry more stuff and to minimize getting in each others way.

Hazel · RV-Dreams Family Member

Charmaine, I see from your bio that you have a lot of 'big' downsizing to do! LOL I think that part is the hardest step in the transition to full time RVing. We're in our last 2 weeks of getting rid of our house stuff, and while the rooms and outbuildings seem empty, there are still so many little things to deal with. Living in a small space with very few possessions will be so much simpler than this sticks and bricks and outbuildings rural life! If you really want to do it, just take it one step at a time and it will happen.

Bill, my hubby and I love being together and small spaces suit us just fine.

We lived on a boat for a couple of years, in a backpacking tent for 1/2 year, in a Casita for 5 months at a time; our sticks and bricks is small (4 rooms + 1 bathroom) too. We LIKE each other!

'Stuff' is a burden and we want to only carry the minimum to be comfortable.

We should be fine but it would be nice to chat with others who have a simple RV lifestyle.

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Check out www.technomadia.com…they full timed for awhile in both a Casita (I think) and and Oliver (pretty sure) for awhile before moving into their current rig…which is a vintage bus with no slides and it's probably 34-35 feet. We saw both a Casita and an rPod in campgrounds this week…don't know about the Casita but the rPod had a setup outside that looked more like a full timer or longer termer than a weekender…and they were in the campground when we arrived and still there when we departed a week later. Only saw a single guy over at it…but there were 2 recliners out so I assume he had somebody with him.

melody · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hazel, I'm hoping to fulltime in my small unit, if I can ever get loose of my sticks'n'bricks! You're right, a lot of RV-Dreams folks are into the 5th wheels and Class A's, but not all.

One of the best blogs out there for those full-timing in a small rig is Interstellar Orchard, check that out if you can. And start some discussions here on things you're concerned about, you should pull some folks out of the woodwork.

Hazel · RV-Dreams Family Member

Neil and Connie, I had forgotten that Technomadia started out very small! I'll have to go through their archives. Thanks! Casitas have incredible storage capacity and good layouts; the only issue is floor space! LOL

Melody, I like the look of your trailer! Of course you'll lose the sticks and bricks.....one thing and one day at a time. I've heard of Interstellar Orchard living in her Casita full time; must check out her blog. And thanks, I will get to specific very soon!

rodeojoe · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are also considering a smaller size for several reasons. One is to worry less about restrictions of width and size in some areas. Saving on fuel is another. My husband is a truck driver so the larger size wouldn't bother him. I worry about me driving it though and feel a smaller size would be more comfortable for me.

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've read blogs from many folks who fulltime successfully in small RVs. One guy towed a teardrop trailer with a Prius all over the country.

There are lots of fulltime RVers in 25 foot RVs because they want to be able to park in any campground they choose.

Our experience is that after a few days of being stuck in a small RV due to bad weather, cabin fever kicks in and the least little annoyance will set one of us off...."you left the drawer open...stop that typing...what's that smell..."

We now can go to separate ends of the 5th wheel and do our own thing....it's nice to have space to separate.

Hazel · RV-Dreams Family Member

Rodeojoe, I totally agree! Women should be comfortable driving the RV too. We usually switch after a couple of hours driving to keep ourselves fresh and rested.

The Bear II, I suppose some couples need their space and a bigger rig is a necessity. Hubby and I love to be together. We've spent many years working side by side on various projects and just like it that way.

I guess if we feel we need space, we'll get out into nature.......which is one reason we want to RV!

mike54 · RV-Dreams Community Member

if I'm still solo in a couple I'm going to look into down sizing from this 39 ft 5th wheel to something under 30 feet.

I like having the extra room but dragging this beast around for just me is a lot of work. parking and fueling up

would be easier

Hazel · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mike, being solo you probably don't need 39 feet of space to live comfortably. LOL It would be an adjustment, and you'd have to ditch a lot of 'stuff' but might be worth the simplicity.

Hubby and I are almost at the 2 week mark of full timing in our 25ft Navion.

It took a few days to sort out places for everything and to work out a routine for ourselves. We've actually offloaded a few things already because we just don't need a lot to be comfortable. Duplicates of things especially just had to go, and I can see that I won't need as many clothes. It'll be a work in progress but so far so good.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

2 weeks and everybody's still speaking to each other ... sounds like a win to me ... Ha!! My DW and get along BETTER when RVing. We now seldom even turn on the radio when traveling ... we talk!! What a great idea, this after 50 years of marriage, we should have done this long ago ... oh, yeah, we couldn't afford to! Go have fun😎

-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 17th of September 2016 08:04:36 PM

Hazel · RV-Dreams Family Member

45 years here and yes, still talking!

RV life is so much simpler and so relaxing that it's easy to get along. You DO have to like each other first though.

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Not full time but our TT is 22 feet. Enough! Us little guys need to look it for each other.

Trix · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm full time in a 24' class C, with two cats. Just beginning year 5.

Dutch · RV-Dreams Family Member

I knew a woman that passed away a couple of years ago at age 84. Until just a couple of years before that, she solo'd full time in a teardrop TT pulled by a mini-van for about 20 years. The teardrop and the van were both replaced a couple of times over the years, but she never indicated any desire for anything larger. My wife and I are quite happy with the space we have in our 34' single super slide Class A, and I don't think we would want to go much smaller. We did have much smaller RV's over the years before retirement, but we wouldn't want them for our current long term use.

TwoTiredTeachers · RV-Dreams Community Member

Right now we're in a 27' fifth wheel, but in the next couple of years, we plan to downsize to a Camplite 16TBS with a slide. When we first got the fifth wheel, we didn't seem to have much space. Now we see that it's more than we need.

-- Edited by TwoTiredTeachers on Monday 3rd of April 2017 02:23:34 AM

Sarah and Tim · RV-Dreams Community Member

Tim and I just joined the forum, although I've been a follower of RV Dreams for many years. Tim and I will be celebrating our three-year full-timing anniversary next month, and have happily spent those years in a Leisure Travel Vans Free Spirit, with a cat. This RV is a Sprinter van conversion (even smaller than a Navion!), and it has worked out very well for us. We've talked at various times about upsizing to a B+, possibly a Unity, but have never found anything that suits us any better than what we have now.

Of course, there are trade-offs with a smaller RV. Our tanks are smaller, so we have to dump and fill with fresh water much more frequently. Frequent trips to the grocery store are also necessary since our refrigerator is small. However, for us the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Our one compromise was to take our car with us. Before we started full-timing, we completed a nine-month trip with just the van. During that trip, we moved almost every day or two, so just having the van was not a problem. When we decided to sell the house and begin full-timing, however, we decided that having a car would increase our quality of life. Since we can't really tow with the van, we knew that we would have to drive separately. Based on Howard and Linda's experience with the Jeep, we decided that we would try to make it work. And, it has worked out just fine. Now, Tim and I can listen to our own music as we drive and have a bit of alone-time. Since we stay longer at each stop now, we find that having the second vehicle makes life much more pleasant.

We have left the car behind on several occasions, including a four-month trip to Alaska. We really didn't miss the car there as we moved more frequently.

Tim and I will be at the Spring Rally and would love to talk with anyone who is curious about full-timing in a small RV.

Sushidog · RV-Dreams Family Member

You might want to check out this board: www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/index.php

It is a community of people who full time in smaller rigs, from vans, small converted cargo trailers, bread trucks, moving vans, smaller RVs and such. Nice folks too.

Chip

ksand · RV-Dreams Community Member

I m hoping to be a full timer with in 4 yrs. cleaning out the house. Planning only taking what we need. Went to retirement meeting last night. don't want to dip into social security tell I am 70. Looking at full time rigs. Want a good strong rig under 36ft. Love reading about everyone Rv stories