#1 Fuel costs

One of the biggest expenses associated with RV living is the cost of fuel. At the time of this writing, gas is sitting right around $3.60 a gallon on average in America. In Las Vegas we’re closer to $4.25 a gallon. With Class A’s getting on average only 6-10 miles per gallon those miles can add up quick. A 2 hour drive from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon in a Class A right now is going to cost you around $88 in gas alone. That’s before we add on any stops to pee or sight see along the way. And then you still have to get back home when you’re done. 

#2 Maintenance and Repairs

Come on, I’m the RV Repair Woman, you knew this one was coming. The appeal of the RV is that you get all of the joy of a car and all of the joy of a house combined into one. Unfortunately that also means you get all the maintenance and repairs of a car and house combined into one as well. Then add on the extra fact this isn’t a normal car or a normal house. It is an overloaded car and a house that is going through an earthquake every time you drive it. All that extra weight and movement is going to put extra strain on everything in your rig. 

The best way though to prevent huge repair bills is to do regular maintenance on your rig. And the best way to save money on maintenance is to do some of it yourself. If you want any help with that I’ve created an ultimate guide to RV maintenance for beginners. It’s full of step by step tutorials on how to keep everything in your rig in tip top shape from your fresh water tanks to your AC to your roof. And right at the beginning I’ve given you a checklist that you can print off and stick to your fridge to keep track of everything and make sure nothing was forgotten. You got this.  

#3 Campground fees

While there are certainly opportunities for free camping in certain areas, unless you are really set up for boondocking, you’re most likely going to be paying for a spot in a campground or RV park. Campground fees can vary widely depending on the location and amenities available. Are you looking for just a parking spot with electrical hook-ups or do you want a resort with a spa and entertainment lined up for you for the night? Even budget campground RV spots are going to run you from roughly $15-$40 a night. So if you’re looking to be a full time RVer and stay in campgrounds 80% of the time, even at the low end you’re looking at least $365 a month or $4,380 a year in campground fees. Now that’s cheaper any mortgage payment I’ve ever had, but also a far cry from the rent free lifestyle that is advertised sometimes. 

#4 Insurance

Just like any other vehicle, an RV requires insurance coverage. However, because an RV is also your home, your insurance needs may be more extensive than they would be for a car or truck. I can’t go too deep into specific insurance costs. I am an RV repair tech not an insurance salesman. Please keep in mind though that, along the same lines as the maintenance concerns, you are insuring both a house and a car at the same time. So you want to make sure you are paying for and getting coverage to protect all aspects of your RV life. And although insurance isn’t always the most fun purchase, it is something that is important to budget for. 

#5 Food and supplies

While living in an RV can certainly save you money on rent or mortgage payments, the cost of food and supplies can be higher than for someone living in a sticks and bricks house. RV refrigerators and pantries are often smaller than what you would have in a traditional home. So it can be hard to stock up on necessities or to take advantage of bulk deals that come up because there is nowhere to put the extra food. Many RVers find themselves eating out more than they originally planned simply because it's hard to keep enough food in the RV to feed everyone everyday. And all that eating out can really add up. 

My favorite tip to help maximize the room in your fridge and freezer is to utilize a vacuum sealer. I totally got this tip from my mom, shout out to all the awesome moms out there. My family are not full time RVers but instead go on long multi-month stints in their rig that has a very small Dometic fridge. What my mom will do to prep for their trips is to take all of the meat they are bringing with them and remove it from the original packaging and put them in vacuum seal packages. This not only makes everything take up the smallest amount of space possible so she can maximize the amount of food she can get in the fridge, but she can also adds a marinade or seasoning to the bag when she seals it. This way all her food is already popping with flavor before she even pulls it out of the fridge, and all she has to do is heat it up and she’s got a banging meal. Try it and let me know how it works for you. 

#6 Storage fees

The reality of RV life is that it's pretty small. So a lot of full timers have to use a storage unit to hold items that they don’t need while they are on the road. Or even just for seasonal items like large winter coats that don’t need to be taking up space in your rig in the middle of summer. But those storage fees can add up quickly depending on how much stuff you have. 

If you aren’t a full timer you do need to consider where you are going to store your RV when you’re not using it. Do you need to be able to plug it in while your camper is in storage? Do you want it stored inside? Do you want 24/7 security? These are all things that are going to increase the price of storing your rig.

#7 Entertainment and Activities

While RV living can be an adventure in itself, you may also want to enjoy local attractions and activities along the way. From museum visits to theme park tickets, the cost of entertainment and activities can quickly add up. Be sure to budget for these expenses ahead of time.

You got into RVing, presumably, to have fun. As you should! But as you are making your grand RV budget make sure to factor in the cost of entertainment along the way. It’s really hard to drive all the way to someplace that you’ve never been before and may never go to again and say no to going to the biggest museum, theme park, or attraction there. But saying “Yes” every day really adds up. 

My tip to help with this would be to slow down the pace of your trip. Powering through from one exciting (and expensive) thing to the next sounds great on paper, but is honestly a little exhausting in real life and can burn a hole in your wallet quickly. Take your time driving from place to place. Stop for free smaller excitement along the way like hikes and road side attractions. Your back will thank you for getting the chance to stretch. You’ll appreciate the big exciting things even more when you get to them. And you’ll be able to keep more money in your pocket. 

In conclusion, RV living can be a great way to explore the country and live a more adventurous lifestyle, but it's important to be aware of the potential hidden costs involved. By factoring in these costs ahead of time, you can better plan and budget for your RV life and make the most of your time on the road. 

Need help with any of those repairs we talked about in part #2? Live in the Las Vegas area? My name is Emily and I am a certified mobile RV repair technician. That means that I’ll come to you. I specialize in electrical work for all your appliances from your AC to your water heater. Hit me up at (702) 706 2992 or hit that big orange button at the top of the page. I’d love to help you get back to enjoying your RV.