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After four years of full-time RV living, we’ve heard some absolutely terrible advice that could cost you thousands or even derail your dreams completely. Barry and I are setting the record straight on the BS that’s floating around YouTube and RV forums.
“You Don’t Need Solar” — Why This Advice Could Cost You Big
When we started RVing, people told us to skip solar and just stay in RV parks. Following that advice cost us a fortune our first year! If you’re planning to full-time RV, being chained to expensive campgrounds 365 days a year is a recipe for financial disaster. We spent our entire first year paying $30–50+ per night because we couldn’t boondock.
The good news? Solar technology has gotten way more affordable. You don’t need to drop $14,000 like we did. Start with something like the Bluetti portable power station to experiment with boondocking. Many full-timers in our community are living comfortably with two portable power stations tied together — total investment under $3,000.
Even if you only want to do Harvest Host stays, you’ll need some kind of power solution. Trust us — we learned that lesson the hard way when we couldn’t even make coffee at our first Harvest Host because we had no inverter!
If you’re interested in these alternative power setups, ere are two videos you’ll want to checkout:
Our Full Solar Setup
Bluetti Elite 300 Review
and…
Here’s a discount link for any Bluetti product. Use code AFF5OFF for 5% OFF
“RVing is for Retirees” — Don’t Wait to Live
This mindset almost kept us from the best decision of our lives. Darlene’s dad worked his entire life dreaming of retirement travel, but when his health turned, that dream evaporated. He needed oxygen, couldn’t travel, and passed away early. Is that what we do — work until 65 and hope we have 10 good years left?
At 55, Barry did the math. The average American male lives to 74. That’s only 19 years left! If he waited until 62 to retire and travel, who knows if he’d even make it that long? The physical demands of RVing — especially with a fifth wheel — require energy and mobility you might not have at 70.
Remember, RVing isn’t forever. You can do it for a year, two years, five years — whatever works for you. Our friends just left the road after six amazing years because they were ready for what’s next. That’s the beauty of it!
“You Don’t Need Full-Time RV Insurance” — A Dangerous Gamble
Some people say “just get regular RV insurance and don’t tell them you’re full-time.” This is potentially catastrophic advice! When a fellow RVer’s brand new rig flooded (total loss), imagine if their insurance company discovered they’d lied about living in it full-time. Claim denied.
Full-time RV insurance covers critical things that part-time policies don’t: full replacement value, temporary housing if you’re displaced, coverage for natural disasters, and often your RV’s roof (frequently excluded in basic policies). When you’re living in your RV, it’s your HOME — don’t risk losing everything to save a few hundred dollars a year.
Pro tip: Upload your entire policy to an AI assistant and ask it to identify coverage gaps. Many RV insurance agents aren’t RVers themselves and miss important scenarios unique to full-time living. Better yet… TALK TO AN AGENT. Put them to work to find any vulnerabilities in your policy.
“Big Rigs Can’t Do State Parks” — Total Myth!
We heard this constantly when we bought our fifth wheel, and it’s complete BS! We’ve successfully stayed in 95% of the state parks we’ve tried. Yes, it takes more research, but state parks offer some of the most beautiful, affordable camping you’ll find — often with real privacy between sites.
Here’s how we do it: Don’t trust the “30-foot pad” listings on state park websites. That’s just the concrete pad length — the actual site might be 70 feet! We use Google Earth, read reviews, call rangers directly, and check out CampsitePhotos.com for actual photos of every spot.
The real secret? Book Monday through Thursday when locals aren’t there. Weekends fill up fast, but midweek is wide open and peaceful.
“RVing is Cheap… RVing is Expensive” — It’s What YOU Make It
Here’s the truth nobody tells you: RVing isn’t inherently cheap OR expensive — it’s completely customizable to YOUR budget and lifestyle. We’ve done it all: spent a fortune staying in fancy RV resorts our first year, then cut expenses by 63% when Darlene lost her job by boondocking with our solar setup.
Some full-timers we know haven’t paid for a campground in two years. Others love the resort life with all the amenities. Neither is wrong — they’re just different visions of the RV lifestyle. Watch our budget videos to see real numbers from four different years and income situations.
The key is identifying YOUR vision: Van life or luxury motorhome? Boondocking or resorts? Moving constantly or seasonal stays? Once you know what you want, THEN you can determine if it fits your budget.
Here are all of our vieos on budget and costs:
2023 RV Budget Breakdown
2024 Full-Time RV Expenses Explained
2025: What RV Life REALLY Costs
Ready to Separate Fact from Fiction?
After four years on the road, we’ve learned that most “rules” about RV living are really just opinions — often from people who’ve never actually done it! Don’t let bad advice derail your dreams or cost you thousands in mistakes.
If you’re serious about full-time RV living, check out our comprehensive Full-Time RV Living Course. We cover everything we wish we’d known, plus you get ongoing support from our private Facebook group and monthly Zoom calls.
What bad RV advice have you heard? Drop a comment below — we’d love to hear your thoughts and set the record straight on more myths!
