Can You Live In A Camper Year-Round? (Pros & Cons)

If you love spending your time outdoors, living in a camper full-time is an option. But is it a good idea to live in a camper year-round? We have the answers.

Is living in a camper year-round worth it? Is it affordable to live in a camper full time? Is living in a camper a good idea?

Living in a camper year-round is possible. While there may be some zoning ordinances that may prevent you from living in a camper on your property, RV campgrounds are exempt from such ordinances. So, you just need to identify RV campsites where you will be parking your camper throughout the year.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the pros and cons of living in a camper year-round. So, if you have been planning to make this shift but you have some doubts about whether it’s a good idea, this article should help to clear those doubts.

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‍Overview

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, living in a camper year-round feels like a dream come true.

You get the opportunity to spend most of your time close to nature, as you enjoy beautiful sceneries like lush green forests, beaches, mountain landscapes, deserts and mighty rivers. And all these picturesque landscapes will be right outside your camper window.

But, while living in a camper full-time may feel like a dream come true, for those who love traveling and spending their time outdoors, it also comes with some drawbacks.

Living in a Camper Pros

If you are planning to make the transition to full-time living in a camper, you will be happy to know that it comes with numerous advantages. Let’s take a closer look at some of the pros of living in a camper year-round.

Mobility

Living in a camper is more like living in a house on wheels. With a camper, you will be completely mobile. It gives you the freedom to travel to different areas. And at the end of your day, you will have a comfortable bed to retire to, regardless of where you are.

And if you find a particular place that you like, you can stay there for as long as the weather allows. Once the weather begins acting up, you can simply shift to a different location, where the weather is friendly. In short, you can enjoy up to 365 days of great weather.

Living in a camper gives you the freedom in different great places. With a camper, you get an opportunity to change the views outside your window, in case you get bored. And, this is not possible if you are living in a house.

Affordable Living

The costs can add up quite fast when you are living in a physical house. For instance, you need to cover various expenses like mortgage or rent, as well as various utilities like water, electricity, waste disposal, and sewerage. Also, you may be required to pay property taxes, depending on your location.

But when you are living in a camper, you don’t have to worry about most of these expenses. Whether you decide to rent or buy a camper, your monthly expenses will be considerably lower than living in a physical house.

So, if you live in a physical house but you’ve been struggling to keep up with the monthly expenses, shifting to a camper may present a cost-effective option, if you don’t mind making that change.

Spend Time Closer to Nature

Living in a camper gives you a better opportunity of spending your time close to nature. With a camper, you get to choose which type of nature you want to interact with on a particular day. So, whether you want to go fishing, whitewater rafting, scuba diving, hiking or camping in a state, a camper will provide you with all these opportunities.

And, you don’t even need to bother preparing for months. While you may need to secure some permits to park your camper in some places, the opportunities of spending your time close to nature are almost endless.

Lesser Household Chores

When you live in a camper year-round, you will have lesser household chores to attend to, compared to a physical house. Campers are smaller homes. Therefore, you only have to devote a few minutes of your time to cleaning the interior and keeping everything tidy. And if you were to clean the exterior, it will only take you an hour or even less.

Also, you don’t have to worry about cleaning your yard. So, won’t have to spend your valuable time mowing, weeding, or removing trash from the lawn. You can then use the time you’ve saved for relaxing or exploring your surroundings.

Experience Personal Growth

Everything is unpredictable when you are living in a camper. For instance, the weather may change suddenly from a sunny day to a stormy day. Also, your camper may develop mechanical issues, when you are out there in the middle of nowhere. And if you are living alone in your camper, you will need to learn how to adapt to different situations. And, as you tackle the different challenges that come your way, you will be experiencing personal growth.

You Don’t Have to Deal with Neighborhood Feuds

Some neighbors can make it hard for you to enjoy your life. For instance, some may complain about things like the friends that visit you, your barking dog, the type of music that you play, the smell of the food that you cook or just about everything.

And if you happen to have such neighbors, they will suck all the joy from your life. Unfortunately, you simply can’t pack your things and leave, if you are living in a physical house. As you may probably know, you will have to sell your house, scout for another house, and deal with the logistical challenges of moving.

But when you live in a camper year-round, you will never have to deal with such issues. With a camper, you get to choose where you want to live or stay. So, in case you’ve camped in a certain campground and you don’t like your neighbors, you can simply shift somewhere else at a moment’s notice.

Living in a Camper Cons

Without a doubt, living in a camper year-round comes with numerous benefits. But like everything else, it also comes with several drawbacks. Let’s take a closer look at some of the disadvantages that come with living in a camper full time.

Ongoing Maintenance

Your camper will inevitably need repairs, regardless of whether it’s a new one or it’s an older model. From blown tires to electrical issues, plumbing issues to leaks, you will encounter several issues along the way. And, hiring someone to fix these issues can be costly. But, you can reduce some of these costs by learning how to fix them yourself.

Limited Space

Living in a camper full-time also means you will have to contend with limited space. While it can be a pro when it comes to saving time on cleaning, the smaller space can turn out to be a huge issue, especially if you have plenty of possessions. Also, if you are living with someone else in the camper, it means you will have to share the bathroom. Also, your beds will be closer together, meaning you won’t enjoy any privacy.

Parking Issues

Finding a nice spot to park your camper can also prove to be a challenge in some areas. Also, you will need to account for the cost of parking. On average, you can expect to spend around $500 to $1,200 per month on parking fees. And if you are parking your RV on private property, then the costs may be even higher. So, if you are planning to live in a camper year-round, make sure you stay on top of parking.

No Fixed Address

Unlike living in a conventional house, you will not have a fixed address if you decide to live in a camper year full time. And the lack of a fixed address can prove to be an issue, when you are paying off bills, registering to vote, receiving bank cards, and receiving government social services, among other issues.

But, you can get around this issue by using a family member’s or friend’s fixed address. You also have the option of renting a mailbox. In this case, a third-party company will be receiving mail on your behalf, which you can then collect when you get time. But, you will be paying a fee for this service. Some campgrounds also offer to receive mail on behalf of campers, which gives you yet another option. Again, it’s likely you will be charged an extra fee for this service.

Wrapping It Up

Without a doubt, the pros of living in a camper year-round outweigh the cons by far. And for someone who loves traveling and spending time outdoors, it will be highly recommended. But, if you are still unsure whether it’s the right move for you, you can hire a camper for a few months to test the experience. And based on your experience, you can then decide to be living in one on a  part-time or full-time basis.