Is It Worth Living In An RV Camper? (Dangers, Struggles & Risks)

If you are planning to start living in an RV camper, you may be asking yourself, is it worth living in an RV camper? Well, this guide has the answers.

Is living in an RV camper worth it? Will it be a wise move to shift from living in a house to living in an RV camper? What is it like living in an RV camper?

Living in an RV camper comes with various health and safety risks. It also presents a couple of challenges. But, if you can find effective ways of overcoming these challenges and risks, then living in an RV camper will be worth it if you love the great outdoors.

In this guide, we will weigh the risks, dangers, struggles, and benefits of living in an RV camper. So, if you have been planning to make this move but you are unsure whether it’s the right move, the information contained in this guide should provide you with conclusive answers.

We are on a mission to provide well-researched, relevant, trustworthy, and factual information to our readers. To this end, we’ve assembled a team of experts from different relevant fields, to ensure we deliver on this goal. So, every time you come across any of our content pieces, you can be certain the information you are getting is reliable.

‍Overview

Every year, people are increasingly making the decision to shift from living in a condo or house to living in an RV camper full time. While it may appear like an exciting adventure, an expensive means of living, or a great means of adventure and discovery, living in an RV camper full time comes with its pros, cons, risks, and struggles.

If you are planning to take the leap into this new adventure, you should first read this article. It will provide you with the information that you need to decide whether living in an RV camper full-time is the right move for you. It will also help to prepare you on what to expect, in case you decide to make this move.

Health and Safety Risks of Living in an RV Camper

Whether you are planning to be living in an RV camper full-time or part-time, you need to know that it comes with certain risks. Here are some of the risks that you can expect when living in an RV camper.

Pests Infestation

One of the biggest risks of living in an RV camper is pest infestation. Your RV provides numerous places, where pests like spiders, insects, rats, and various other creepy pests can hide. And once they find their way inside your RV, they can end up infecting your water and food, leading to serious health complications. Unfortunately, keeping pests out of an RV camper can be a challenge, due to its cramped design.

Fire

Fire is yet another risk that you face when you are living in an RV camper. Wildfires and forest fires are quite common, especially during the hot summer months. And considering that most RV campgrounds where you can park your RV are usually located in or close to forest parks, there’s always the risk of your RV camper catching fire. And if it catches fire when you are asleep, you may end up losing your life or escape with injuries.

Excessive Dust

As much as RV campers are fitted with air conditioner filters, they are not that powerful or effective, especially when you compare them to the air conditioners in a home setup.

While this air conditioner may remove or filter large particles, it’s almost ineffective when it comes to dust particles. And as you may probably know, dust may carry microbes like fungi and bacteria, as well as numerous chemical contaminants. And inhaling these harmful substances can damage various systems in your body.

Poor Water Quality

When living in an RV camper, you will be filling your water tank with different types of water. And, various contaminants like lead, pharmaceutical drugs, radon, carbon, and a host of others can find their way into the water.

And, as much as you may have a water filter in your RV, it may not be powerful enough to remove all the contaminants that may be present in the water. Again, you may end up consuming some of these contaminants, which may lead to long-term health complications.

Break-ins

When you are living in an RV camper, you will be spending the majority of your time away from civilization. And unfortunately, thieves, vandals, and other dangerous individuals may break into your RV.

And if you happen to be inside the RV at the time of the break-in, it’s highly likely these dangerous individuals will leave you with injuries, as they make away with your valuables. Also, some may simply break into your RV with the sole aim of harming you. So, there’s always this risk when you are living in an RV camper.

Struggles of Living in an RV Camper

Besides health and safety risks, living in an RV camper also presents a myriad of struggles and challenges. If you are looking to make the move to living in an RV camper full-time, you can expect to contend with the following struggles.

Lack of Adequate Space

One of the biggest issues that you will struggle with when you are living in an RV camper is lack of space. Even if you purchase a large Class A motorhome or even a fifth-wheel trailer, the living space you will get will be less than 400 square feet.

Due to space limitations, you have to give up several comforts that you may have been used to when living in a brick and mortar house. Also, the space limitations that come with living in an RV camper mean you will have to give up some of the privacy you may have been enjoying when living in a house if you will be living with your kids.

Loneliness

When you are living in an RV camper, you will be spending months away from your family and friends. And while technology can help you to keep in touch with them via phone calls, video calls, or messages, these methods cannot replace in-person interactions and socialization. So, it’s highly likely you will be feeling lonely at certain times. Unfortunately, you can’t do anything much to overcome this challenge.

Parking Arrangements All-year Round

When it comes to living in an RV camper, you have to arrange where you will be parking your RV. And on average, parking rates start at approximately $20 per night going upwards. So, assuming you were to park your RV on one of these grounds for the minimum rate of $20, this translates to around $600 per month or close to $10,000 annually.

While these costs may be lower compared to living in a house, you won’t be building any home equity when you are living in an RV camper. So, if are planning to be living in an RV camper just because you think it’s cheaper, then you should rethink your decision.

Benefits of Living in an RV Camper

Without a doubt, living in an RV camper comes with its fair share of risks and challenges. However, there are also numerous benefits of living in an RV camper. They include:

Enjoy a Mobile Life

Living in an RV camper gives you the opportunity to enjoy mobile life. With an RV, you get to experience different environments, weather conditions, cultures, cuisines, terrains, and locations. So, if you don’t love the conditions or the environment in a particular location, you simply hit the road and move elsewhere. There’s nothing to hold you in a particular location.

More Personal Time

Another benefit of living in an RV camper is that you get to enjoy more personal time. When you are living in an RV camper, you no longer have to spend your weekends mowing a lawn, removing weeds, cleaning the porch, or cleaning a whole house. While your RV camper may need occasional cleaning, the work is significantly less laborious, compared to a house.

You can then spend your weekends doing the things you love such as climbing mountains, reading a book, going on a walk, going for a ride, playing card games, fishing, or hiking, among others.

Spend Money on Experiences not Possessions

When you are living in an RV camper, you will be spending your money on experiences, as opposed to things or possessions. As you may probably know, material possessions will deteriorate with time, meaning you will have lost that money.

But when you are living in an RV camper, you will be exploring new sites, meeting new people, exploring new adventures, visiting historic sites, tasting and sampling unique foods and cuisines as well as soaking in different environments. And, you will remain with these memories forever.

Refresh Your Mind

Living in an RV camper gives you a chance to unplug from the boring day-to-day routine. When you are living in an RV camper, you will be setting your own schedule. You will be deciding when to wake up when to prepare your meals, as well as what to do with your day. As long as you have the money to support this lifestyle, then living in an RV camper can be extremely beneficial to your mental health.

Wrapping It Up

Like everything else, living in an RV camper comes with its pros and cons. Also, there are certain health risks and struggles that you will have to contend with. So, you need to consider the pros, cons, risks, and struggles that come with living in an RV camper and then decide whether it’s the right move for you.