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Basics
Browse 29 in-depth Basics guides from RV Life Guide. Our editorial team researches and writes each one to give you clear, practical answers, current as of July 2026. The newest are shown first.
Full-Time Toy Hauler Living: 34% Choose This RV Lifestyle
Most full-time RVers you talk to will warn you away from toy haulers. Too heavy, they say. Too much wasted …
RV Parking Lot Tips: Stay Safe and Comfortable
Parking lot overnight is one of those skills that sounds simple until the first time you get a knock at 2 a.m. …
47 First Time RV Trip Checklist Items You Can't Skip
Seventy-two percent of first-time RV renters report some kind of significant problem on their first trip, …
RV Basics for Beginners: How to Choose and Start Out Right
Most beginner RV advice starts you at the wrong place. It talks about “finding your style” and …
Is Full-Time RV Living Actually Worth It?
Most coverage of full-time RV living either reads like a tourism brochure or a trauma memoir. Neither is …
Extended RV Warranties: When They Actually Pay Off
Most RV warranty advice online is written by people trying to sell you a warranty. That’s the problem. …
Master The Reverse: A Camper's Guide To Backing In
Most people think backing into a campsite is harder than it actually is. The thing that makes it hard …
Your First Year Full-Time RVing: A Beginner's Roadmap
Most advice about starting full-time RV living begins with the wrong question. Everyone asks “which RV …
The Right RV Size For Full-Time Life On The Road
Most people sizing their full-time RV make the same mistake: they think about square footage and then stop …
Van Life Or Full-Time RV: Which Fits Your Budget
My neighbor at a Flagstaff KOA once told me she’d tried both, four years in a converted Sprinter, then …
Top Class B Vans For Full-Time Living On The Road
Six years ago I handed over the keys to my 2,400-square-foot house in Columbus, Ohio, drove to a dealership in …
Top Fifth Wheels For Full-Time RV Living
The couple ahead of me at a Harvest Hosts winery in Oregon had been full-timing for three years in a 42-foot …
Most Reliable RV Brands for Full-Time Living
You spend $85,000 on a brand-new Class A motorhome, pull out of the dealership lot, and by mile 200 …
How Much Does RV Insurance Really Cost
My first renewal quote after going full-time nearly killed the whole experiment before it got off the ground. …
Master The Skills You Need To Drive An RV Safely
Most people freeze the first time they climb into the driver’s seat of a 35-foot Class A motorhome. The …
Your Complete Guide to Starting Life on the Road
The moving truck pulls away, and you’re standing in a driveway that is no longer yours, holding the keys …
Which RV Class Fits Your Lifestyle Best
Most people walk into an RV dealership, see a gleaming 40-foot diesel pusher in one bay and a Sprinter van …
The Complete RV Inspection Checklist Before You Buy
A couple in Tennessee bought a used Class A motorhome for $68,000 in 2021. They did a walkthrough, kicked the …
The Complete RV Buyer's Checklist Before You Buy
I watched a couple at a dealership in Phoenix sign papers on a 32-foot Class A motorhome in about 45 minutes …
Master RV Backup Maneuvers Like a Pro
Most RV accidents happen at under 5 mph. That stat sounds almost funny until it’s your rear corner …
Which RV Setup Lets You Travel Longer?
You’re standing on a dealer lot, coffee going cold in your hand, staring at two rigs that look roughly …
Full-Time RV Living: Which Model Fits Your Lifestyle
The day we signed the title on our 38-foot fifth wheel, I was convinced we’d made the perfect choice. …
Is Full-Time RV Living Really Worth It?
I sold my house on a Tuesday in October 2019. By Saturday, my husband and I were sleeping in a 34-foot fifth …
Motorhome vs Travel Trailer: Which Fits Your Budget
You’re standing in a dealership lot on a Saturday morning, coffee going cold in your hand, staring at …
New RV vs Used: Which Actually Makes Sense
A brand-new Class A motorhome rolled out of a dealership in Phoenix last spring. Sticker price: $187,000. By …
Your First RV Trip: A Beginner's Essential Checklist
Your first blowout will happen at the worst possible time. Mine was on I-40 in New Mexico, 104 degrees …
Which RV Type Fits Your Lifestyle Best?
Before I signed the papers on my first RV, I stood in a dealership lot in Phoenix staring at 47 different …
Full-Time Travel Trailers That Actually Work for Living
Living full-time in a travel trailer sounds romantic until you’re squeezed into a 19-footer at a …
How To Live Full Time In An RV
The day we handed over our house keys in October 2019, I had $847 in our checking account, a 28-foot travel …