Last Updated on March 31, 2024 by Jessica Lauren Vine
You don’t necessarily have to travel to live in an RV. I’ll share some full time stationary RV living tips with you that I remember from when my parents had me living in multiple RVs full time while stationary, as well as tips I learned while I did this as an adult.
One of the RVs during my childhood was a pull-behind RV, and the other one was a small drivable RV. I can’t remember what class it was because I was pretty young. The two we used as adults were both pull-behind, but these tips work no matter the type of RV in which you choose to live.
The most important thing you should know is that not all RV parks allow people to live in their RVs full time. There are even some cities that have laws against it, and you need to make sure what things are like in the city you’re trying to stay in.
If you have trouble, you might be able to go the town over and be just fine. Check and make sure before you start trying to live in your RV full time.
What Is Stationary RV Living?
Before we get into the full time stationary RV living tips, I want to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Stationary RV living is when you live in an RV, but you don’t go anywhere. Yes, it’s that simple.
Most of the time, you’ll pay a monthly fee to the RV park, and it’s usually a lot cheaper than if you pay a nightly or weekly fee. You’ll likely also have to pay for electricity while you’re living there as well.
Figure Out If Stationary RV Living Is for You
Some people may naturally find that full time stationary RV living is a great thing for them. If you don’t need or want a lot of room and you like the idea of paying less for living expenses, then stationary RV life might be perfect for you. And you might need these full time stationary RV living tips more than some other people.
You don’t have to live your life any differently in an RV than if you’re in a house. Sure, it’s likely going to be a lot smaller than if you’re in a house, but some of these RVs are pretty huge. Keep in mind that a smaller space might make you a little aggravated with the person or people you’re in the RV with. There’s not much getting away from each other when you’re in that small of a space.
There are some best practices you can follow once you do decide that full-time stationary RV living is the right option for you, and let’s get into them now.
Your Location
Not all RV parks are created equally. Just like neighborhoods, some might be appealing, and others might not be. I recommend taking a few days or a week and actually staying at the RV park you’re considering. See how it feels while you’re there but also think about how far the location is from where you frequently travel for work or to visit family. You should also keep your medical providers in mind as well.
Some RV parks have a lot more amenities than others, but they’ll be pricier than the ones that don’t have as many things to do, but that might be something that is important to you.
Level Your RV
A little subtopic for your location is RV leveling. If you’re going to be in one place for a long time, you want to make sure your RV is level, and in the best position, you can possibly put it.
If your RV isn’t level when you’re moving every few days, it’s not that big of a deal because you can try again at the next spot. However, if you’re going to be in the same spot for a long time, it will definitely get on your nerves.
Before you even put your RV in the spot, look at where all the hookups are and figure out how you’ll best be able to use your space.
We’ve actually had times when we put the RV in the spot because we were so tired, and then the next day, we could not handle how off we felt because the RV wasn’t level or it was a little crooked. Out we went, and we had to go through the whole process again.
Here are some important things to have if you want to level your RV and not have a bunch of swag while you’re in one place:
-
$100.60$81.92- 2 pack
Check Price on AmazonPros:- Stabilizes
- Prevents tire shifts
- Resists rust
Cons:- A little difficult to work after using it for a while
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10/06/2024 05:11 pm GMT -
$105.99
- Adjusts from 39-Inches to 53-Inches
Check Price on AmazonPros:- Supports overhang of your 5th wheel
- From a trusted brand name
Cons:- A little on the pricey side of things
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
10/06/2024 05:10 pm GMT -
$37.29
- 4 pack
- Gloves included
Check Price on AmazonPros:- Keep your RV stable & secure
- Adjustable
- Easy to store
Cons:- Not super high quality
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10/06/2024 04:58 pm GMT -
$48.95$42.70Buy Now from AmazonPros:- Great for stability
- Works for any RV
- Easy to install
Cons:- A little pricey
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10/06/2024 05:15 pm GMT -
$58.99$52.80- 10 Pack
Check Price on AmazonPros:- Easy to use
- Very durable
- Affordable
- Compatible with any RV or vehicle
- Stackable
Cons:- Very basic design
- It may take several tries to get it just right
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10/06/2024 04:45 pm GMT -
If you're like me and you want to have a little extra stability and peace of mind, you'll like having these under your slide out.
- 2 supports
Check Price on AmazonPros:- Heavy duty
- Protects slide out mechanism
- Easy to install
Cons:- A little on the pricey side
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Use Your Outdoor Space
One of the best full time stationary RV living tips is that when you find the perfect location for your RV, make sure that you think about the outdoor space. You don’t want to be up against your neighbor without anywhere to go.
Try to find a spot that allows you to have room for a canopy or something like that. We got a big outdoor enclosure that allowed me to use it as an office. It was really helpful when I wanted to go out and get some work done.
- 12.5 x 12.5 foot
- Portable
- 6 sided
- Stakes & bag included
- Sturdy
- Helps you avoid mosquitos
- Shades from the sun and rain
- A bit of work to put up
If you’re going to live there long-term, why not make it look nice? This is one of my favorite full time stationary RV living tips. Get some flowers and really spruce up the place. A lot of people put up little flags to make it look cute around the RV.
RV site flags are so much fun. It lets the people around you get to know your personality a little bit, your name, and where you're from.
This can be a great conversation starter and might help you make some new friends—which is always fun.
- 12.5" x 18"
- Double-sided
- Allows you to show your personality
- Weatherproof
- Fade-resistant
- Doesn't come with a flag holder
One of the things we always enjoyed was our fire. If you can’t have a wood-burning fire where you are, then check out a propane firepit. They’re a lot of fun.
- Carry handle
- 18.5"
- Lid
- Tank holder
- Stones
- Regulator
- Easy to transport
- Quick fire
- Safe for wood decks
- Some customers said they aren't impressed with its design or function
Your RV
When you don’t plan on moving your RV, it doesn’t matter so much how big it is—as far as the drama of pulling it. This is one of my favorite full time stationary RV living tips because you can stop worrying about how big or small of an RV you’re buying.
If you don’t have to back it up, fit it into little spots, and all of those other annoying things, you can get an RV that is as big as you want it to be. Some of the RVs you see might be as big as a small house, so figure out how big of an RV you want and if it will fit in the new location you found that you want to stay.
Having things like outdoor kitchens can really make them a lot of fun. Big awnings that come in when the wind kicks up can also save you a lot of money.
Check Out The RV Park’s Mail Policy
There are some RV parks that won’t accept mail at your location. All is not lost, though, because you can always get one of those mailboxes in the UPS store or somewhere similar. We had one while we were on the road, and they would even forward our mail to us whenever RV parks did allow us to receive mail, and we were going to be there for a while.
When it comes to full time stationary RV living tips, one of the things you can’t ignore is that you need to have a way to get mail.
Work Out Your Costs
It might sound cheap to live in an RV, but that’s not always the case. When you’re looking for the best full time stationary RV living tips, depending on where you decide to park your RV, you might find there are quite a few different costs. However, you can get those costs down as low as possible if you know what you’re doing.
You could have:
- Rent
- Electric
- Resort fees
- Rental fees for activities
- Fines for various things if you don’t follow the rules
Just pay close attention before you opt to park somewhere.
When we were at the one RV park for a few months, we only had our rent and electric bill. We didn’t have a washer and dryer in our RV, and we had to go to their laundry mat, so that was another expense we had to factor in while living there.
Cover Your Tires
If you’re going to be somewhere for a long time, you don’t want your tire out in the sun. My uncle Joel owned a tire shop for many years, and there’s nothing good that comes out of just letting your tires hang out unprotected.
You’re not going to be moving much anyway, so what’s the problem?
-
$40.99
- 2 pack
Buy Now from AmazonPros:- Cost-effective
- Weather-resistant
- Made with fleece lining
Cons:- Not easy to install
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10/06/2024 05:14 pm GMT -
$48.99$39.19- 4 pack
- Fits tires 26-28.75
Buy Now from AmazonPros:- Works for all seasons
- Protect tires and wheels from sun damage
- Water-resistant material
Cons:- Extreme heat might cause them to last less time
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10/06/2024 04:45 pm GMT -
$571.96
- ST235/80R16
- 14PR
- Load Range G
Check Price on Amazon Check Price on WalmartPros:- Heavy duty
- 14 ply
- Deep tread
Cons:- One customer reported a broken belt in the tire
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10/06/2024 04:28 pm GMT
Keep Exploring
If you’ve been on the road for a while and you want to come off the road and live in your RV stationary, it’s a lot different than when you’re traveling. There are plenty of cool places to explore in your local area, so make sure you don’t stop just because you came off the road from full time RV living traveling.
It can be easy to feel depressed when you’re in a small space and you’re not going anywhere and doing anything, so get out and enjoy yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions from Stationary RVers
Does living in an RV full time instead of a house save you money?
It depends on how big of a house you came from and what your bills were, but most of the time, the answer is yes.
Is living in an RV full time when you’re stationary good for your mental health?
For some people, the answer will be yes. This is especially true if you enjoy camping. But if you’re like me and you like to have your space, and you’re not a big outdoors person, then, no.
Is it weird living in a campground full time with all the people that come in and out on the weekend?
Yes. However, I found it was pretty interesting to see people come and go. We actually enjoyed watching everyone come in and out.
Full Time Stationary RV Living Tips Wrap Up
Now you know more about what it is like to live in an RV without going anywhere, and you have some great full time stationary RV living tips. You’ll likely have some things that you like and some that you don’t.
However, make sure you know the RV park you have an interest in will allow you to live there full time. Otherwise, you might be in for a rude awakening when they give you a limit for how long you can stay there.
When Jessica was older and had a family, she took her crew on the road for 2.5 years. They lived in 2 different RVs during that time. One 18 foot long and one 28 foot long. Both pull-behind RVs.
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