What to Expect from the Motorhome Lifestyle

Living in a motorhome seems like the ultimate adventure experience. More people are opting for a radical lifestyle change, saying goodbye to their conventional homes and hitting the road instead. A motorhome promises freedom, travel, and diverse experiences over possessions. On the other hand, it’s not for the faint of heart either, and the reality of it may be quite different from what you’ve imagined. Here’s what you can expect from the motorhome lifestyle:

Travel

This is the most obvious perk. When you travel by motorhome, you’re bringing your home with you wherever you go. For the less nomadic, you can choose a single home base where you can park your motorhome every night, but you can also move around all the time and sleep in camps along the way. This radically redefines the notion of home: it’s no longer a single place, but wherever you are at the moment. The beauty of this is that you can look out at different views every single day, from a lively urban city to thick forests.

Motorhome parks are a common choice. The price range for these vary, with some being free and some costing so high that they’re even more expensive than renting an apartment! If you’re on the go and can’t find camps, you can try rest stops, which are meant for people to sleep in after driving through the highway, or stores with large parking lots that allow you to stay overnight.

Space

A motorhome only allows for limited space, so it’s a good chance for you to downsize your possessions and let go of what’s not necessary. This goes hand in hand with keeping it clean and tidy. In a larger house, clutter can be ignored, but you need to clean up regularly in a motorhome, especially if you’re living with several people.

Minimalism is one of the most profound lifestyle changes that a motorhome brings. Your focus shifts from possessions to experiences, and you learn how to reduce waste and engage more with the outdoors, exploring outside rather than lethargically staying inside.

Handling Waste

When you move to a motorhome, you’ll have to adjust your toilet and showering habits. For one, bathroom-cleaning isn’t your only chore anymore. In addition, you’re in charge of monitoring your waste and disposing it regularly so it doesn’t stink up your motorhome or, worst case, spill over.

Your waste is meant to end up in the motorhome’s holding tank, and you have to put in chemicals to break up solid waste and counter the odor. Be warned, though, that when it’s hot and humid, your tank will inevitably smell. It’s advisable to minimize waste inside your motorhome and go to public bathrooms and camps as much as possible.

Showering and washing dishes—or anything involving a great deal of water—will be affected as well. Aside from your shower room being smaller, you have to be mindful of how much water you’re using. Showering should be done quickly, although you can relax a bit when in campground and connect to its larger water supply.

Technology

You might think that you have to give up TV, but there’s a way around that. Most motorhomes have hook-ups for cable or antennas, and you can get these working in RV parks with onsite cable.

Internet is a major concern. While it’s not as fast as a regular home connection that’s wired up, motorhome dwellers that need full-time internet for remote working can turn to mobile broadband devices, which are becoming more advanced each year. A WiFi booster is another handy gadget. It doesn’t provide internet connectivity on its own, but it extends the range of WiFi networks, which comes in useful in campgrounds and public spaces.

Mail would also have to be received in another way. If you’re consistently staying at one place, you can apply for mail forwarding, where the service keeps your mail from the Post Office until you call them. Alternatively, a digital mailbox service uploads your mail online and then emails it to you.

Children and Pets

Traveling full-time with kids in a motorhome can be challenging, but it’s also fun! First, rent a motorhome with extra space and more options for sleeping. Bringing kids along means additional equipment such as clothes and toys, not to mention they run around a lot. When your motorhome is moving, make sure they’re seated securely with their seatbelts on. Keep an eye on them, too, when you’re at an RV park, since these aren’t very child-friendly.

Planning to bring a pet or two along? At worst, unruly pets can dirty and damage a motorhome and leave fleas everywhere. The greatest rate of success is seen with small dogs that are behaved and well-groomed have the highest success rate among motorhome pets. Take note that some RV parks ban pets or ask for additional fees.

Living in a motorhome may be radically different from what you’re used to, but those who’ve made it through the adjustment are happy about how much more mobility and adventure it gives them.