It’s sort of an understatement to say that Vanlife, Skoolie, or Full Time RV Living will require some adjustments to daily life. The secret to Cheap RV Living is to conserve resources wherever and whenever possible. A little forethought and some moderate adaptations will go a long way to smooth out your budget, both on your Build, and on The Road. It might even be the difference between whether you can afford this lifestyle or have to go home.
If you're a Full Time Nomad, the largest Money savings will almost certainly be found in Choosing A Domicile State. How much you pay in Taxes, Insurance, and keeping you Rig Legal has a huge impact on your bottom line, and since you can call anywhere you like “home”, you might as well take advantage. - If you haven't already done so, check out our Tutorial on the topic.
Staying On Top Of Maintenance also represents a huge savings. Change your oil, check your tires, and investigate those “weird noises” before they become a roadside crisis. - If you're one of those “I turn the key and it goes” people, you might have to learn this lesson the hard way. - Your Van, Skoolie, or RV is you Home now. You don't have to be a mechanic to learn the specifics of your own Rig, and you can use YouTube to do many of your own repairs.
There are lots of obvious things you can do to save money and be more Eco-friendly; coupons, biodegradable soaps, how much you move the Rig and burn Fuel, and even limiting your time in RV Parks to weekdays and off-season. However, certain ideas might not be apparent until you've actually been on The Road for a while. Here are 10 things that you may not have considered. Many are hard learned lessons that may help you get into the right mindset, and put you in a better space before that final trip out of your driveway.
#1. What you Want vs. What you Need, and What you Already Have: - Many people have a hard time letting go. We have become a nation of hoarders, raised to believe that more Stuff equals more Success. -This is no longer true. (It actually never was...) In fact, the anxiety you may be feeling when you consider what to get rid of in your closet, garage, or basement, will likely turn to relief once you start selling or donating the items in question. - Living with less Stuff actually equals Freedom!
Keep this in mind when you start thinking about what to purchase for your Build as well as for day-to-day life on The Road (and you'll be purchasing a lot). - Reuse, Re-purpose, and Recycle anything you can. It’s best to design your initial Build around what you already have and what you already use. Yes, there are many purchases you’ll absolutely have to make for this lifestyle, and making your space comfortable and inviting is very important, but it's easy to get in over your head. Every item doesn’t have to be “perfect” before you go, and your Skoolie doesn’t have to resemble a 5-star hotel. - Truthfully, you'll have more time and money to upgrade things once you're on The Road, as well as a much better idea of what you actually need.
It's a two-sided-coin. Don't buy things that aren’t necessary, and don't keep things that you're unlikely to use. - The best idea is to start selling off unwanted items long before you start tearing out the seats on your Bus, and put that money toward the Build.
*Note: “Using what you have” does not apply to your household electric oven or clothes dryer. These are 220v Appliances, not practical for Skoolie or Vanlife.
#2. Run as much as possible on your 12 volt System: - Simply put, the less you use your Inverter the longer your Solar Battery Charge will last. Something as simple as a household desk lamp might use 50-100 times as much power as a 12v LED equivalent. A common mistake people make is using these nifty 120v outlets with USB plugs. - You are actually converting 12 volts to 120 volts, only to step it back down to the 5 volts needed for USB.
All of the lighting and most of the outlets in your Rig should be of the 12 volt variety. (The wire to run these is even substantially cheaper.) Additionally, a 12 volt Fridge (especially the “Cooler-Style”) will represent a huge power savings over time, and allow you to shut off the Inverter except when using 120v appliances (Hair Dryer, Microwave, etc.). - Try to keep all of your appliances under 1500 watts, and use them sparingly. You might need to rethink how you make coffee (“Pour Over”) and adjust some of your cooking habits, but most daily needs can be met without ever tapping into 120v. - When you must run 120v Appliances, use them one-at-a-time, and turn the Inverter off when you’re done.
Back of The Bus Bonus: Did you know that Your Laptop and TV don't need Standard Household Power? (We feature Smart TVs specifically designed for 12v on the Tech Page.) Check your specs and manufacturer options, but something like the items below could save you a ton of Power and Battery.
#3. Use the Engine and Shore Power to Charge Batteries: - There's no need to waste “free” power when traveling or plugged in at an RV Park. You can even use a Generator to top off the charge when Solar is low. See our Solar Setup Tutorial for details.
Caution: Idling the engine to charge your House Batteries will work, but keep an eye on the alternator. They are designed to run at high RPM (driving), and can heat up substantially in 20-30 minutes with the added strain of charging a large Battery Bank or Lithium Batteries.
#4. Rethink the way you use Air Conditioning: - We’re accustomed to running the AC all day at home, but an RV AC Unit can deplete your Batteries in as little as an hour or two. In a perfect world, you would only run the AC when plugged in to Shore Power or using the Generator.
Take advantage of Roof Vent Fans (Fan-Tastic, Maxx-Air), and check the HVAC Page for low-power Portable and Personal Cooling units. - Even if your Solar Setup is large enough to handle an RV AC Unit, it will commonly “spike” when you fire it up. Run the Generator (or connect to Shore) when you turn them on, and use a “Soft Start” to minimize the Power use and risk of damage.
#5. Use the Engine and on-board systems to ease the burden of Heating and Air Conditioning: - We see a lot of questions about removing the Rear Heaters or A/C units in Buses and Shuttles. -Why on Earth would you? - If there's any way you can design your Build around these items you will thank yourself later. - Fire up the Engine for 15 minutes or so and use the on-board systems to bring the temperature up or down before you kick on the House Heater or A/C. - Trading engine fuel for Solar or Propane may not seem like much of a net gain, but in a smaller Rig (Van, Short Bus) the cockpit Heat / AC is typically more efficient. Additionally, it means less strain or your system, fewer trips to refill LP, and your Engine Charging will top off the House Batteries while you do it. - Apologies to our 5th Wheel and Camp Trailer Nomads.
#6. Follow The Weather: - Seriously. It may sound like an excuse, but if you schedule your Summers in the mountains and your Winters in the South you will cut your Heating and Cooling needs substantially (often your largest Power and Propane expenses). At very least, you will minimize the impact. - Plan ahead, and you might even be able to save a lot of time and money on your Build by going with minimal (or zero) added insulation. - Sometimes a Cold Snap or Heat Spell can be avoided simply by moving the Rig as little as a hundred miles away for a week or two. Monitor the Weather and plan accordingly.
#7. Go with a “Propane Free” Build: - In addition to environmental concerns, Propane is becoming less and less of a necessity due to technological advances. - Induction and Infrared Cooktops are more efficient than they were, even a few years ago, and Electric Water Heaters have come a long way as well. - It will require a little more Solar expense up front, but the cost over time will far outweigh that of installing an entire Propane System and regularly refilling the tanks. We advise keeping a Buddy Heater and a Camp Stove on hand (run on portable bottles), but you'll probably find that you use them less than you imagine. - See our Propane Blog for details.
From The Driver’s Seat: You can carry 1 Pound Propane Bottles inside the vehicle whereas anything larger is required to be mounted or transported “outside” in most states. - Since it is substantially cheaper to fill larger bottles, many people use a device such as the one pictured to refill the 1 Pound bottles from a larger one.
#8. Consider a Recirculating Shower and Solar Water Heater: - We cover these topics in our Unique Build Ideas Blog. Both will ease the burden on your Propane or Electric Water Heater. A recirculating system will allow for long, luxurious showers on only a few gallons of water, and a simple DIY configuration of black PVC pipe, mounted on the roof, could create 10-20 gallons of “free” hot water on sunny days.
#9. Join The Right Camping Clubs and Subscription Services: See our full Tutorial on this topic for more info. - Subscription Services and RV Clubs can save you a ton of money on the Road! Some of the discounts they offer can cut certain costs by as much as 50%. In addition, they have some great tools and information vital to the Nomadic Lifestyle.
Our Top Choices are: Escapees and Passport America for Clubs, and a Subscription to Overnight RV Parking for those who want to Boondock and Stealth Camp. These and many more are featured in the Tutorial (with links provided). They're not all perfect for everyone, so do your research, but you'll benefit greatly from joining at least 2-3 of these.
#10. Eat Cheap: - If the year 2020 taught us anything, it's that we were all dining out much more than we needed. Personally, I'm kind of surprised that I don't miss it more than I do. There's a lot to be said for experiencing local flair and culture, but the expense of eating out adds up quickly. Give yourself the freedom of a restaurant or bar from time to time, but create a limit and stick to it. - Perhaps more importantly, planning your cooking for the week or month ahead will not only stretch the budget, but also allow you to consider the costs associated with meal prep and storage. Try to include as many No-Fuel or Minimal Fuel items in your diet as you can; salads, sandwiches, fruit, veggies, even chips and prepackaged foods. By all means, splurge from time to time on something elaborate, but you'll be surprised how much longer your Power/Propane will last if you try to stick with “10-minute meals” or heating up canned foods whenever possible.
Additionally, the best time to do any electric cooking is early afternoon. You will use power more effectively if you attempt to pivot your largest meal of the day to a late-lunch or early-dinner. It uses more direct sun, gives the batteries more time to recharge, and is actually a healthier option. You can always have a light snack before bedtime to keep the belly from rumbling. ;)
Obviously, there are many more options that will reduce the cost of Full Time RV Living. Hopefully these ideas will spark your creative juices and get you a little closer to The Road.
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