Van/RV Life for Beginners

The Vanlife/RV living experience is about escaping the ordinary and bringing the outdoors into the forefront of your life. This lifestyle provides a consistency in travel nursing where you have "your space" no matter where you may land. For those who are able to take a leap of faith it holds endless opportunities and room for experiences and exploration. Choosing where you land to drink your coffee every morning is incredible. 

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Why RV life?

• The cost of furnished rentals can be a challenge but RVing offers a cheaper alternative for living while simultaneously providing a consistent, comfortable home. That 2500$ a month going towards rent you will never see again while in an RV (a depreciating asset at that) will still be worth something when it comes time to sell. Remaining cost effective in an RV ranges widely and depends on how BIG you go. A larger RV is more likely to require paying for a spot in a campground (which can cost upward of 1200 per month). The smaller you are the easier it is to find a place to park and the less you pay. I will often reach out to friends and family to find safe parking spots along with electric and water. on longer stretches I will sometimes stay parked right in the hospital lot.
• With the ever changing environment or Travel Nursing the consistency of having my tiny home on wheels to retreat to has become invaluable. If I don't like a city or area i'm in I simply turn the key and retreat to the mountains or water or (insert favorite landscape). Pick your backyard, change it every day if you want to. Wake up to views that are dreamworthy. Consistency for our favorte 4(or3) legged travel companions makes transitioning to new areas easier for them as well.
• No more stress in finding housing at that upcoming assignment. I simply roll up to my new spot and more often than not, I will park right in the hospital parking lot while I find where my nightly retreat will be. Assignment canceled? no lost deposit on the apartment you had rented.

Who?

• Outdoor enthusiasts, vegabonds and anyone that wants to see the continent, this is for you. No more having to pay for hotels and Airbnb along the way, between contracts or on those long stretches venturing away from the city you work in. See MORE with all the comforts of home with you always.
• Anyone okay with living a minimalist lifestyle. Days of having 20 pairs of shoes and a walk in closet are behind you with this lifestyle. This lifestyle emphasizes experiences over things because you literally dont have enough room for things.

What kind of RV?

• The best way to decide what kind of RV to buy is to ask yourself the question; Where do i want to go? How do i want to live? What levels of comfort do i require (bathroom, shower, size of living space)? I decided that I want to be able to off-road (4 wheel drive), i want a toilet/shower, I need to fit in a single parking space and I need to be able to winter camp (4 season rated camper)

Vans

• Pros-Compact option, very mobile, driver seat connected to living space, build it the way you want, best gas mileage, good daily driver, great gas mileage.
• Cons-Smaller living space, some may not have shower/bathroom, 4 wheel-drive options are pricey, building your van can be costly and time consuming.

Truck Camper

• Pros- more reasonable 4WD option, camper can be removed, transitioning into larger camper you have a tow vehicle, fits in parking spot, can be used for around town, okay gas mileage.
• Cons-Buying a truck and camper can be spendy, smaller space, less storage, living space is not connected to driver seat.

Traditional RV

• Pros-Large living space, everything included, drivable, lots of storage, you can tow, loving and driving space combined.
• Cons-Complex electrical system, may need to tow additional vehicle, bad gas mileage, larger RV's you may have to rent campsite (spendy), poor daily driver, may need to tow additional vehicle.

Tow Behind 5th Wheel/Travel Trailer

• Pros-large living space, multiple floor options, toy hauler garage for extra space, holds lots of water storage
• Cons-Large, limited to main roads and sometimes RV parks, can be pricy, need a tow vehicle, more difficult to navigate cities, can't tow anything more behind you.

Cost

• Cost can vary widely depending on which route you decide to go, and and truck campers can range from 20k to 150k, RV can cost between 10k to 200k, travel trailers/5th wheel 3k-75k not including tow vehicle. The app RV Trader is a great resource to research cost and has a full range of campers from small tow behinds to vans to full custom built campers. New RVs take a huge loss in value in the first year so buying used is a great option.

Where to park

• Between online and word of mouth finding free and payed for spots has become enjoyable and rewarding. Talking to fellow Van lifers is a great way to find safe places, and spots with a view. Google earth helps me to find campsites far into the back country where most people do not go. Apps like ioverlander, compendium and websites like freecampsites.net are spots that others have pinned with reviews, pricing and cell service.

There is just about any RV option to suit the lifestyle you desire, choosing your path and diving into Rving is sustainable and rewarding with our nomadic lifestyle. As always, reach out with any questions you may have. If you find value visit my blog https://bhartwig2194.wixsite.com/rnfullsend or follow me on Instagram @rnfullsend.
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​Happy Trails!!!

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Written By: Brandon Hartwig (Thor's Cousin), Travel RN,
​MedVenturist & Travel Enthusiast