What It’s Really Like to Live Full-Time in an RV: Kayla & Zach (part 2)

After stuffing ourselves full of delicious Thanksgiving food, nice and toasty warm inside their RV despite the freezing temperatures outside, Kayla and Zach were gracious enough to let me interview them about their life as full-time RVers.

How long have you been living full-time in an RV and what led you to live full-time in an RV?

Zach: We’ve been full-timing for a year and a half. The minimalist mentality and wanting to spend our money and time on things that matter attracted us to RV life. We are really enjoying the freedom of being able to travel easily. 

How do you make a living while full-timing?

Kayla: Originally, Zach was doing CrossFit full time while I worked full time as a travel Speech Therapist, but now we both work full time at the same Skilled Nursing Facility. Zach is a travel Occupational Therapist. 

How many RVs have you lived in?

Zach: Two. Our first RV was a Class A 1994 Winnebago Vectra with no slides. We lived in it for three months before buying our current RV. We just did not trust it on the road and wanted something more reliable. It was a diesel, so it was harder and more expensive to get work done on. Kayla also wanted more windows. 

What kind of RV do you own and how did you choose it/come to own it?

Zach: This is a 2005 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager. We wanted to pay cash for whatever RV we bought. We also wanted something that we would be able to remodel, and that had opposing slides. Kayla actually found it on Facebook. 

What are some of the difficulties you’ve faced related to living in an RV?

Zach: The initial learning curve – figuring out how to dump the tanks, learning how to drive it and how to do maintenance on a new vehicle and learning how to communicate while setting things up – parking it and leveling it.

Kayla: Downsizing from living in an apartment to living in an RV and learning what exactly you need to live. 

Have you done any renovations/upgrades to your RV? If so, did you do them yourselves or pay someone to?

Kayla: We did renovate our RV and we did all the work ourselves (with a little help from my dad). We put in a vent-less combo washer-dryer, a residential shower, painted all the walls and cabinets white, installed new sinks, added a bed over the driver’s seat, redid all the floors, and added a dishwasher and a wine cooler. 

How long do you plan to live in your RV full-time? Where are you headed next?

Kayla: We had planned to live in it until we wanted something different. Right now though we just bought some land and had a house given to us, but we’ll definitely live in the RV while we remodel. We will probably keep working and traveling in the RV, using the house as a home base. 

What are some pros & cons of living in an RV?

Zach: Pros – freedom, less responsibility, traveling, simplicity, meeting new people, experiencing new cultures, getting to work less because we don’t have as many financial responsibilities 

Cons – lack of space, the fear of the unknown, something will always go not as planned, being away from family 

If you could give a piece of advice to someone who is considering buying/moving into an RV full-time, what would it be?

Zach: Spend an extensive amount of time doing research, especially on expenses. Don’t be in a rush to buy anything. Write down a list of things you want and don’t settle for less. Have a mechanic check out any RV you are considering before you buy it. Be sure it makes sense for your lifestyle.

I love meeting and talking to people who enjoy living in their RV as much as I do! It is such a cool part of our lives as full-time travelers to be able to connect with others who share our passion for traveling from the comfort of our own home. If you are a full-time traveler, or you want to become one, drop a comment below because I would love to connect with you (and photograph/interview you for this blog!)!

I’m a wife, a dog mom, a foodie, a wanderer, a registered nurse, and a couples/intimate wedding/elopement photographer … and this blog will cover it all! If you enjoyed this post, first of all thank you, and second of all please follow me on Instagram + Facebook to get updates on future blog posts, see sneak peeks of my amazing couples, and so much more! If you have any questions about elopement photography, my journey from nursing to photography, or my time spent as a full-time RVer, drop a comment and I just might write a blog post answering your question (but I definitely will)!