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 over three 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 what specific areas of RVing I cover.

Transitioning 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 America 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.

Available exclusively on Amazon

Now available in ebook and paperback formats!

Praise for A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV

Such a blessing Heath & Alyssa are for the newest generation of full-time RVers hitting the road and working remotely!  We’ve been on the road ourselves for over a decade, and it’s rare to encounter their tenacity for providing helpful, well thought out and informative content.

—Chris and Cherie, Technomadia

Alyssa Padgett’s guide is packed with useful information for those looking to transition into the RV lifestyle. Not only does she take you on an educational journey by sharing knowledge from her experiences in an easy to read format, she will have you cracking up along the way!

If you’re looking to learn about topics ranging from finding the right RV to obtaining healthcare and mail on the road, then this is the book for you.

—Travis and Melanie, Xscapers RV Club

If you’re looking to start RV life, there is no one better to teach you how than Alyssa Padgett. Alyssa is well-known in the RVing community for her RV expertise and she’s one of the nicest people I’ve met. This guide will help you with everything you need to know- from deciding what RV to buy to establishing a domicile, and even making sure that you’re connected to internet while on the road. I highly recommend reading this!

—Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, Making Sense of Cents

Living in an RV is a good primer to a life on the road. Alyssa’s compilation of her years full-time RVing makes a great read for anyone looking at the RV life.

—Kerensa Durr, RV to Freedom

If you are looking to have all of your questions answered about how to get on the road and live in your RV full time this is the guide for you! Alyssa does an amazing job getting into the details around all of the things you want to think about before diving into full-time RV living.

I only wish there was a guide like this when we started traveling full time! It definitely would have helped us and stopped us from making some bad decisions when we first got on the road. If you are in the planning stages, getting ready to launch or already on the road this guide will be useful in making the transition to full-time RV life!

—Bryanna Royal, Crazy Family Adventure

 

Table of Contents

Part I. Finding the Right Rig

  1. Exploring Your RV Options: Motorhomes, Trailers, and Campers
  2. The 3 Biggest Factors to Consider When Choosing An RV
  3. Where to Buy Your RV
  4. 11 Things You Must Know Before You Buy a Used RV
  5. To Tow or Not to Tow?

    Part II. Before Your Maiden Voyage

  6. Electricity and Power
  7. Jacks & the Elusive Level Camping Site
  8. Tanks: No One’s Going to Dump Them for You
  9. Quick, Common Sense Driving Tips
  10. Packing Your RV
  11. How Much Does RVing Cost?

    Part III. Transitioning into RV Life

  12. RV Insurance
  13. Healthcare Options for RVers
  14. Getting Mail and Establishing Your Domicile
  15. Internet on the Road
  16. Choosing Your Cell Provider
  17. The Right Type of GPS

    Part IV. Life on the Road

  18. RV Clubs and Memberships
  19. Handling RV Maintenance
  20. The Difference Between Trailer Parks, RV Parks, and Campgrounds
  21. How to Find the Right Campground (And My Favorites!)
  22. How to Find Free Camping
  23. Building Community on the Road

Epilogue

Glossary

FAQ: Short Answers to the Most Popular #RVlife Questions

Resources

Available exclusively on Amazon

Reviews

Gear Review: A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV by the Trekers

RV-Curious? Alyssa’s $3(ish) Guide Answers 99% of Your Full-Time RVing Questions by the Wandering Porcupine

See more reviews on Amazon