A recent survey found that an estimated 1 million Americans live full-time in a camper. The numbers have increased as more young adults have moved away from the dream of owning a home or have adopted remote work that doesn’t tie them to one place.
It’s important to prepare for life in a camper or caravan, no matter how long you plan on living in it. If you’re looking at a caravan finance calculator to see what caravan you can purchase or simply want to rent one out for a few weeks, there are certainly some adjustments that come with it. Although not all of them as hard as you may think. It’s not as hard as you may think, but there are certainly some adjustments that come with it.
The good news is that as long as you take the right approach, living in a camper can come with tons of rewards and plenty of joy. There are sites dedicated to helping people learn about the camper life. For one of the most comprehensive sites, look here.
Read on as we talk about the seven tips you can follow to make the most of camper life.
1. Practice Communication Skills
If you’re living in a camper with a partner, friend, or family member, it’s important to practice communication skills. You don’t have a ton of room in a camper, which means that your sense of personal (and mental) space will shift out of necessity.
Learn to address issues with clarity and make your goal to resolve the issue, not to “win” the argument. When tough times arise (and they will), learn to work together with your camper companion, rather than turning on one another.
2. Get the Right Gear for Your Camper Life
Life on the road looks most different from life in a home in terms of the gear you’ll need. Everything from kitchen gear (hello, electric kettles and hot plates) to power sources (like these Enduro Power batteries) will require careful planning.
Make a checklist of every need you’ll have to address along the way. Then, research the best products and equipment to fulfill those needs in a camper.
3. Get to Know Your Camper
If you’re going to read any user manual from cover to cover, let it be the one that came with your RV or Class C motorhome. Yes, even the additional user manuals about things like how to use the fire extinguisher or how to take down the awning.
Camper life means using every little gadget and every little amenity that comes with the vehicle. Some of them are for regular use and some for emergency use. Familiarizing yourself in advance with how your camper works will make that eventual use much easier and less stressful.
4. Prepare to Live With Less
One thing you’ll notice right away is that you’re going to have far less storage space in a camper than in a home or apartment. That means that you’ll need to adjust to living with less: fewer items of clothing, fewer physical copies of books or movies, fewer dishes, and so on.
There are two key ways to make living with less in a small space easier. The first is to keep things organized; that means that if you got something out, put it away when you’re done. The second is to practice the “one in, one out” rule, which means that you can’t bring a new item (even a book or a winter coat) into your camper without having gotten rid of something else.
5. Split Up the Driving
When you’re living in a camper, you probably intend to stay moving fairly often. One of the biggest perks of camper living is that it allows you to explore the country without “leaving” your home.
Spending long hours behind the wheel does come with some important safety considerations. For example, drivers who feel drowsy or experience a sense of dizziness or visual unfocus should take some time to rest and recover before continuing on.
One way to avoid some of these potential issues is to split up your driving. If you have two eligible drivers that feel comfortable driving the camper, switch drivers every few hours. If you only have one driver, try not to travel for more than six hours per day, stopping at campsites to break up the drive.
6. Develop an Emergency Plan
We all know that in life, the unexpected can occur at any time. When you’re living in a camper, it’s important to take this possibility seriously, as camper life may make you more vulnerable to emergency situations.
Develop an emergency plan that accounts for a variety of situations. For example, what will you do if you experience a plumbing or flooding issue? What will you do if one of your tires goes flat or shreds?
You should also account for medical emergencies in your emergency plan. If someone in your camper requires life-saving medications, make sure that you always have enough on hand for at least two weeks. Learn how to use a radio system in the event that you experience a medical emergency with no cell service.
7. Establish a Realistic Budget
Finally, establish a budget that will help you stay prepared for camper life. Maintain an emergency fund that covers the items in your emergency plan, including unexpected camper repairs. Know how much you can spend on things like food each month.
Don’t forget that whenever possible, you want to maintain a “fun fund,” as well. You never know when you might encounter an attraction, restaurant, or excursion that you’ll want to indulge in!
Life in a Camper Is Rewarding When You Take the Right Approach
If you’re debating living life in a camper, whether short-term or long-term, you’re not alone. More and more Americans are forgoing the “traditional” lifestyle for the fun and excitement of living in a camper. With these tips, you can ensure that you’re prepared for the transition.
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