21 Things You Should Never Do While Full-Time RV Living

The dream of full-time RV living is simple: open roads, new sights, and total freedom. But that dream can become a nightmare of costly repairs and high stress if you aren’t ready.

You see the perfect photos online, but you worry about the hidden problems. You have a lot of RV living challenges ahead of you.

This guide gives you a clear roadmap. We will show you 21 specific full-time RV living mistakes to avoid.

You’ll get real, actionable steps, backed by data and advice from veteran RVers. This will help you start your new life the right way.

1. Underestimating the Total Monthly Budget

Many new RVers only budget for their monthly rig payment. This is a huge mistake. You must account for all the hidden costs that add up quickly.

If you ignore these, your finances will be in trouble before your first trip ends. In 2025, your budget must include these items or you will find yourself running out of money. This is one of the top full-time RV living mistakes that can force you off the road.

• Campground fees which now average $600 to $1,200 or more per month.
• Fuel costs which can change wildly from state to state.
• Full-time RV insurance which is a special, more expensive policy.
• Daily costs like propane for heat and maintenance for small repairs.

2. Financing a Brand-New, Overly Expensive Rig

Buying a shiny new rig feels great but it’s a major financial trap. It is a fast way to lose money. A new RV can lose 20 to 30 percent of its value in the first year alone.

If you discover the lifestyle is not for you, you will be stuck with a huge loss. It is a very common mistake for beginners who are not 100 percent sure about the lifestyle.

• Consider buying a high-quality used RV for your first rig to avoid the worst depreciation.
• Financing a huge purchase locks you into the lifestyle before you even know if you like it.
• The money you save can be used for your emergency repair fund.

3. Having No RV Repair Emergency Fund

An RV is a house that experiences a constant earthquake while driving. Things will break and the repairs are not cheap. A new RV refrigerator can cost over $1,500 and a slide-out motor can be $1,000.

Having no cash set aside for these issues is a top reason people quit RVing. You must have a separate fund for this. This is a non-negotiable part of planning.

• Plan to have a repair fund of at least $5,000 to $10,000 before you start.
• This fund is separate from your regular savings or travel budget.
• This money gives you peace of mind when a major appliance inevitably fails.

4. Choosing the Wrong Insurance Policy

You cannot use a standard auto or recreational RV insurance policy. Those policies are for weekend trips, not for living. If a fire or other disaster happens, a regular policy will not cover your belongings.

You would be left with nothing. You must get a special policy for this lifestyle. This is a critical step many beginners miss.

• Ask your insurance agent for a “Full-Timer’s Policy”.
• This policy includes personal liability coverage, like a homeowner’s plan.
• It also covers your personal belongings inside the RV, not just the vehicle itself.

5. Overpacking Your Sticks-and-Bricks Home

You will be tempted to bring everything from your old home. You do not need 12 plates, your entire shoe collection, or every kitchen gadget.

All that stuff clutters your tiny space and adds serious weight. This makes your living area feel small and stressful. This also leads directly to the next, very dangerous mistake.

• If you have not used an item in six months, do not bring it into the RV.
• You will be much happier in a clean, uncluttered living space.
• Every item you bring adds weight, which hurts your fuel economy and safety.

6. Not Weighing Your Rig

It is a legal and safety nightmare. Every RV has a weight limit. An overweight rig causes tire blowouts, transmission failure, and terrible braking.

You are putting yourself and others at risk. This is one of the worst things you can do when full-time RVing. You must know your numbers.

• You must know your Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or GVWR. This is the maximum your rig can safely weigh.
• Take your fully loaded rig to a CAT scale at a truck stop to get your real weight.
• Getting weighed is cheap, easy, and non-negotiable for safety.

7. Planning a Cross-Country Sprint

New RVers often try to see 10 states in 10 weeks. This is a clear recipe for burnout. You will be exhausted, stressed, and you will not enjoy anything.

It is not a vacation, it is your new, slower-paced life. The goal is to enjoy the journey, not just race to the next destination. This is a common RV living challenge for new people.

• Follow the “3/3/3 Rule” as a guideline for travel days.
• Travel no more than 300 miles in one day.
• Arrive at your campground by 3 PM so you can set up in daylight.
• Stay at least 3 nights to actually see the area.

8. Assuming Campground WiFi is Usable

One of the biggest RV living challenges in 2025 is internet. The campground WiFi is almost never good enough for work or streaming.

It is usually a slow, shared signal that everyone in the park is trying to use. You cannot rely on it if you need to be online for your job. You must bring your own internet solution.

• A cellular hotspot from a major carrier is your first line of defense.
• Satellite internet like Starlink Roam is a great option for remote areas.
• A cell booster can help strengthen a weak signal to make it usable.

9. Forgetting Your Height Length and Width

It is a simple mistake that can destroy your RV. One low bridge or tight gas station canopy can rip off your air conditioner or roof.

You must know your measurements. Do not guess. Write them down and keep them visible. This is a critical part of driving a large vehicle.

• Measure your rig’s highest point, usually the A/C unit, and add a few inches for safety.
• Write your final height, length, and width on a sticky note.
• Put that note on your dashboard where you can see it at all times.

10. Using Google or Apple Maps for Routing

Your car’s map app is dangerous for an RV. It will route you down narrow residential streets, under low bridges, and on roads with low weight limits.

It does not know you are 40 feet long and 13 feet high. Using the wrong app is one of the most common full-time RVing for beginners mistakes. You must use a dedicated routing tool.

• You need an RV-specific GPS or a dedicated smartphone app.
• Tools like RV Life Pro, CoPilot RV, or a Garmin RV GPS are essential.
• These apps let you enter your rig’s height, weight, and length to keep you safe.

11. Skipping the Pre-Departure Walk-Around

You’re in a hurry and you think you remember everything. You don’t. This is how you drive off with your sewer hose still connected or your TV antenna up. These are costly and embarrassing mistakes. You must do a physical walk-around of your rig every single time you are about to move.

• Use a physical, laminated checklist until it becomes a habit.
• Check that antennas are down and slides are in.
• Confirm all bay doors are locked and all hoses are disconnected.
• Look at your tires and check that the stabilizers are up.

12. Driving Too Many Miles in One Day

It is not like driving a car. Driving a 30,000-pound box is hard work. It is physically and mentally draining. Pushing 500 or 600 miles in a day leaves you exhausted, grumpy, and unsafe on the road. It also forces you to arrive at your new campsite in the dark.

• Stick to the 300-mile rule as much as possible.
• Arriving at your destination with energy left is better than being exhausted.
• Shorter travel days are safer and much less stressful.

13. Arriving at Your Campsite After Dark

It is a terrible idea and a recipe for disaster. You cannot see low-hanging branches, the power pedestal, or the outlines of your site.

It is the number one way to hit a tree, back into a pole, or scrape the side of your rig. It also makes you the least popular person in the campground.

• Plan your travel day to arrive by 3 PM.
• Setting up in the dark is stressful and dangerous.
• This is the leading cause of the “RV parking fight” between partners.

14. Backing Up Without a Spotter

The “RV parking fight” is a cliché because it is true. Yelling and confusion in a tense situation is no fun. Backing up a huge rig blind is how you crush a picnic table or hit a power pedestal. You must have a plan and a second set of eyes.

• Have a plan before you start backing up.
• Use cell phones or walkie-talkies to communicate clearly.
• Agree on simple hand signals before you move.
• The driver’s only job is to watch the spotter.

15. Not Using a Water Pressure Regulator

It is a small, cheap part that saves you from thousands in damage. You must have one. Some campground water pressure can be over 100 PSI.

Your RV’s plastic pipes are only designed for 40 to 50 PSI. High pressure will blow out your faucets and flood your rig. It is not an optional piece of gear.

• Buy a simple, high-quality brass water pressure regulator.
• Always attach it to the campground spigot before you attach your hose.
• This $15 part protects your entire plumbing system.

16. Leaving Your Black Tank Valve Open

It is the most infamous and disgusting full-time RVing mistake. People think leaving the sewer valve open keeps it empty. It does the opposite.

All the liquids drain out, leaving the solids behind. These solids dry into a hard mound that is impossible to flush. This is known as the “poo pyramid” and it is a disaster to fix.

• Always keep your black tank valve closed until it is at least 2/3 full.
• Dump your black tank first.
• Then, dump your gray tank. The soapy gray water will flush out your hose.

17. Ignoring Your Roof Seals and Seams

Water is the number one enemy of an RV. It will destroy your rig. A tiny crack in the roof sealant will let rain in. The water gets trapped in the walls and floor.

It causes mold and structural rot. You will not see the damage until it is a $10,000 fix. This is the most important maintenance task you have.

• You must get on your roof and inspect all your seals every 90 days.
• Set a calendar reminder for this task.
• If you see a crack, clean the area and apply new self-leveling sealant.

18. Not Checking Tire Pressure Before Every Trip

It is a deadly mistake. RV tires often fail from sitting (dry rot) and being under-inflated, not just from high mileage. An under-inflated tire will overheat and explode.

An RV blowout is not a simple flat tire. It is an explosion that can rip out your plumbing, electrical lines, and the whole side of your rig.

• Check the pressure on every single tire before you drive.
• Get a good Tire Pressure Monitoring System or TPMS.
• This system puts sensors on your tires and warns you before a tire fails.

19. Forgetting to Winterize

You might think you can just “follow the sun” and avoid cold weather. But an unexpected cold snap can happen anywhere.

One single night below freezing is all it takes to crack your water heater, your pipes, and your faucets. This is a $1,200 mistake that is very easy to avoid.

• Learn the process to winterize your rig with RV antifreeze.
• Always keep the needed supplies on hand just in case.
• If you are ever in doubt, just do it. It is cheap insurance.

20. Staying in Vacation Mode

It is one of the hardest full-time RV living mistakes to fix. The first month feels like a vacation. But you cannot live like that.

You cannot eat out every night, buy souvenirs in every town, and pay for tourist traps. This is how you burn through your budget in six months.

• This is your life, not a permanent vacation.
• You still need to cook, clean, and stick to a budget.
• Finding this balance is key to staying on the road long-term.

21. Not Having a Domicile and Mail Plan

You cannot just be “homeless.” You still need a legal address for taxes, voting, insurance, and banking. Without a domicile or a “home” state, you cannot register your vehicles or get a driver’s license. You will also have no way to get important mail.

• Most full-timers pick a state with no state income tax like South Dakota, Texas, or Florida.
• You must sign up for a mail forwarding service.
• Services like Escapees RV Club or Traveling Mailbox give you a legal address and scan your mail.