15 Beginners Helpful Tips On RVing For Seniors
Contents
- 15 Beginners Helpful Tips On RVing For Seniors
- Consider Renting an RV First
- Understanding RV Types
- Expect Depreciation in a New RV
- The Physical Demands of RV Ownership
- Children are Common in Many Campgrounds
- Many Places Offer Senior Discounts
- Will You Require a Larger Bathroom
- Automation for Every Need
- Special Considerations of You Take Medication
- Storing Medication in your RV
- Consider Planning Trips Around Doctor Visits
- Consider Traveling with Others
- Slow Trips Are Better Than Fast Ones
- You Don’t Have to Stop Working
- Forgetfulness Is More Dangerous in an RV
- It is Good to Have an Exit Strategy
- RVing for Seniors Can Still Be a Fun Exciting Adventure
- In Conclusion:
- Additional Reading:
Statistics show that people are entering the RV lifestyle at younger ages these days (according to The RV Industry Association). Fact is, today the average age of RVers is currently well below 60. However, RVing for seniors is still just as popular as ever.
Use to be the average age of someone who enjoyed their RV was between 65 and 72 years old, but this doesn’t mean there’s not still many seniors enjoying the full time RV living lifestyle or at least traveling in their RV part-time.
If you’re one of us seniors that’s new to RVing or just wants a refresher on what to expect, then begin with our general tips for new full time RVers and continue below with some topics specifically for seniors to consider before going full time.
This post covers some of the more important things to consider that might be more geared to seniors, and things they’ll want to plan for before joining the full time RV lifestyle group.
Consider Renting an RV First
Maybe you’re a senior that’s had the notion of retiring to travel the country in an RV all your life, or maybe this is something you’ve recently began to consider. Either way, we think it’s great and want you to know you’re probably going to love RVing. Keep in mind that researching types of RVs and spending some time in different units will help you make a more informed decision.
As you research these different RV types, you might want to consider the option of different RV rental units to spend some time actually RVing before you spend the money on your own unit.
Renting first will help in two ways. First, you’ll be able to try different types of RVs to determine which best fits your needs. Second and perhaps most importantly, it will give you a chance to explore whether you feel more suited to the full time RV lifestyle, or if a less expensive unit for occasional trips would be better suited to your future plans.
Understanding RV Types
First consider that there are different types and sizes of RVs. We use the term RV here to mean any camping unit, but many consider an RV to be a motorized unit and a Camper to be something you tow behind a motorized vehicle.
Motorized campers are typically listed as follows. Class B, the smallest is usually a custom van with compact living quarters inside. It’s the easiest to drive and park and allows camping virtually anywhere.
A class C motorhome has a van front with an extended chassis and the living area is built on that chassis. These can range from 23’ up to about 36’ in length offering much more living space and much less driving flexibility than the Class B.
The class A is considered the ultimate in motorized size and many times luxury. They are built on an extended chassis that combines the driving area with the living space for the most walk around freedom during travel. These can range up to 48’ in length and operate with either gas or diesel engine power.
The other side of the RV coin are the tow behind units. These consist of bumper hitch units and 5th wheels. Bumper hitch, often referred to as “Travel Trailers or TT” are campers that connect to a tow vehicle at a heavy-duty hitch mounted around the rear bumper area of the tow vehicle. 5th wheel campers connect to a special mount in the bed of a pickup truck.
When considering a tow behind camper, the connection to the tow vehicle and the weight of the trailer are key to deciding which options might work for you. Since 5th wheels can only be towed by a pickup and even travel trailers can limit the size of the tow vehicle by their weight.
Many consider the tow behind system best for full time living because they simply drive their tow vehicle around while parked. Those that select a motorized RV are more likely to have a small towable vehicle they pull behind their RV to get around while parked.
Either way, you have several things to consider before making a final purchase. Therefore, it’s often a good idea to rent a few different units to check out pros and cons of each.
Keep in mind you might be able to talk with friends or family or even join an RV Facebook forum to get input from others on pros and cons. Once you’ve narrowed down the type and size requirements, its time to begin researching the best RV choice for your needs. It's also a good time to look for RV campsites near me as these will be a good place for some test runs.
Expect Depreciation in a New RV
Buying new is not for everyone. This can be especially true if your plans are to travel for a couple years before returning to a brick-n-mortar lifestyle in the future.
This is true because much like a new car, an RV is going to lose a lot of its original value in the first few years. To better understand this, check an RV depreciation guide for details.
Once you’ve found a floor plan you like, consider looking into pricing of older models of that plan before making a final choice.
After a few years the depreciation will have reduced the cost of the average RV to return a better value at a lower cost.
The good news is that if an RV is taken care of, it will last for many years. We’ve owned units that were 20 years old as well as a couple new units. We enjoy finding campsites near me to relax without taking an extended trip.
It’s recommended that no matter what you buy, pay for a professional RV inspection or have it provided by the dealer to avoid unforeseen issues once you’re out on the road.
The Physical Demands of RV Ownership
There are a number of physical demands associated with owning and operating an RV.
A few physical demands you might expect to experience include, leveling your RV, connecting or disconnecting your RV from a tow vehicle, cleaning your sewer holding tanks, and even climbing up into a larger RV.
Several tasks that used to be preformed manually, can now be automated depending on your unit. You’re going to want to go through the motions of several basic tasks while shopping for your RV so you’ll be prepared for their daily use.
For this reason, just like before considering any new exercise program, you might consider visiting your doctor for a checkup and discuss you plans before buying your new RV. Speaking of the exercise program, you might consider some physical exercise to prepare for the energy levels required for living the RV lifestyle.
On the plus side, you’ll get a lot of exercise while RVing.
The good news is that owning an RV will give you the chance to get some exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. Your new RV lifestyle may even lead to living a longer, healthier life. Imagine, a healthier life because you decided to see the country and live in an RV.
Children are Common in Many Campgrounds
Many seniors enjoy having children around constantly and can’t imagine life without them around. But others have a difficult time spending any time with children around, causing great stress in their life. It's important to understand that unless you find an adult only RV park, having small children running around you RV during all hours of the day and night can be a real possibility.
It’s good to know that small children are common in RV parks across the country, but as a senior, you’ll have the choice of going to a 55 and older RV park. Keep this in mind as you begin planning your travels.
55 and older RV parks offer a break from the higher activity level and possible noise found in campgrounds filled with small children. The good news is you can stay in a senior community campground occasionally and explore other options as you travel.
If you plan a camping get together with you kids and grandchildren during a visit, then you’ll be able to make a reservation at a campground open to all ages, it might even offer cabins or a rental RV for your family to enjoy the RV lifestyle with you.
Many Places Offer Senior Discounts
There are many advantages to being a senior RV enthusiast. One is receiving discounts at many campgrounds as well as state and national parks. This comes in handy along with discounts we can receive at many resorts and restaurants while traveling.
Finding these saving values can quickly add up. This means it can cost less to live the RV lifestyle now than it would have at a younger age. While you’re researching ways to save, consider buying a lifetime senior national park pass, they’re currently only $80.
You might ask if this is a good deal? Others have to pay $80 for annual national park passes and they have to buy a new one every year. Be sure to ask for a senior rate when visiting state and county parks and campgrounds during your travels.
Phone service and internet access are important while traveling in an RV. It’s good to know that phone carriers like T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T all offer senior discount rates for both cell phone and mobile internet plans.
Will You Require a Larger Bathroom
Climbing in and out of a bathtub can be more difficult as we age. Some have added safety rails to the bathroom in their home. If you feel this will be a concern for you then consider looking for an RV with a larger bathroom.
If you will need to take this into consideration, then another option will be to look for a unit with a walk-in shower stall. These are becoming popular in many RV designs. Just remember to think of the floor in your new RV. If it’s made of a material that can be slippery, consider adding a non-slip material to it.
Keep in mind that the RV walls are not designed strong enough to install an emergency grab bar.
Automation for Every Need
In today’s world everyone has gotten use to different types of home automation in their brick-n-mortar home. You might be surprised to know that its even more popular in the RV community.
Today, you can use automation to level your rig, adjust the temperature of your RV, turn on the lights and even have coffee ready when you wake up in the morning.
With modern automation, you can monitor your RVs tire pressure, and watch the vehicle you’re towing behind you if you want. Combine these RV exclusive technologies with other home automation options and you can literally control your RV from the comfort of your RV recliner.
With automation systems like Amazon Alexa and Google Assist, you’ll be able to connect your RV to the internet and control everything while like monitoring temperature and even holding tanks while exploring the surrounding area.
With options like Ring cameras you can even securely monitor your RV at night or when you’re out exploring.
Special Considerations of You Take Medication
For many seniors and even those younger, having medications shipped directly to their home can save money. While this sounds great, it becomes complicated if you’re moving around the country in an RV.
Here’s why we mentioned special considerations, it will take some planning to have access to your medication once you begin the RV lifestyle. Options like getting medication in 90-day batches can help, however this won’t work for longer excursions. When your plans include longer times away, you’ll need to make other plans.
One answer is to have your prescriptions sent to a nationwide pharmacy like Walmart, Walgreens, or CVS. With these national chains, your prescription data is stored in their database so you’ll be able to stop into any location and have a current prescription refilled.
There’s another option while traveling. You can check ahead and see if a campground you plan to visit will accept and sign for a prescription refill if it is sent there in your name. Remember that this service might not be available at all campgrounds.
You should always ask before having a prescription sent to a campground office and don’t be offended if they say no. Accepting your medication shipment is somewhat of a liability and they are not obligated to offer this service.
Remember that they’re just following the policy of the campground, and don’t take it personally.
Storing Medication in your RV
After you have your prescription filled, properly storing it is important. Get to know your prescriptions storage requirements because some medications lose potency if exposed to excessive temperatures or direct sunlight.
Getting medication delivered while on the road is hard enough, imagine having it lose it’s effectiveness because your staying somewhere it could be exposed to temperatures in the 90 degree range.
You rarely have to think of things like this in your regular home, but what’s your plan if you happen to lose your RV air conditioning for a couple days. If this ever happens, plan to store your medications in the refrigerator until the AC is repaired.
Other medicines degrade if exposed to excess humidity. This would require you keep the humidity level in your RV lower than it may currently be. To learn how to accomplish this, be sure and read our post Tips For Beating Winter RV Condensation.
Consider Planning Trips Around Doctor Visits
Doctor visits are a simple part of life as seniors when we live in our brick-n-mortar home.
There are definitely ways to enjoy life on the road without having to compromise your personal health.
One simple way is to plan your travels around visits to your doctor, so you’ll be able to be back home in time for scheduled visits. Remember to plan visits with all your doctors during the same time schedule so a single trip home will allow you to see everyone you need to.
Consider Traveling with Others
Many claim that there is safety in numbers, and for many this is true. If you choose to travel with others, you’re going to have a support network to call on when you need assistance.
But this isn’t the only reason to consider traveling with others.
There are other valuable reasons to consider joining others when you travel. Traveling as part of a group can simply be more fun than traveling alone. If you’re lucky enough to know others who travel full time, then see if you can join them.
If this is not an option, then consider joining a seniors travel group online. You’ll find many options online, and they’re usually very inviting and informative groups.
Slow Trips Are Better Than Fast Ones
Traveling as a senior may prompt you to want to knock off everything on the bucket list. Just consider not rushing into scheduling a full slate of time sensitive scheduled stops. This can make the adventure to rigorous to slow down and enjoy.
Hopefully you’ve been planning this dream for a while, so slow down and take time to enjoy the places along the way. Many say “I’ll stop the next time through” only to never pass this way again.
You Don’t Have to Stop Working
If you’ve had thoughts of putting off the RV life because you’re not ready to stop working, or if you can’t stop because you still need the income, you’ll be happy to learn there are options. There are so many options for work out on the road, that you just need to explore your options.
There are options like campground hosting and Work Kampers if you want to stay close to the campground. Otherwise, there are part time job options across the entire country. Jus research options in advance of where you plan to go.
Many campgrounds offer hosting or work kamper jobs in exchange for a full hookup campsite and sometimes a little extra cash depending on the number of hours worked.
You can also check out local jobs in customer service areas wherever you plan to stay for some time. Keep in mind that some jobs may be seasonal or temporary work, but this might allow you to travel with the seasons and enjoy different parts of the country during different times of the year.
You might also check into keeping a current job if you would be able to work remotely. If you have a good history with your company and skills they can’t easily replace, then have you stay on remotely could be good for everyone.
If you take on one of these work options then consider doing this work part time if possible, so you’ll be able to relax with enough reserve energy to explore the area your visiting.
Forgetfulness Is More Dangerous in an RV
Being able to remember the steps involved in properly setting up and taking down your campsite is critical. Forgetting even one step can be very dangerous. For example, forgetting a step in hitching up your travel trailer and people could get hurt by a runaway travel trailer.
It’s a fact that for many of us, as we’re aging, the memory isn’t as sharp, and it becomes easier to forget things. This is especially true as we’re processing all the steps to tear down a campsite. The easiest way to avoid this is to have an RV setup and teardown checklist that you work through step by step every time you set up or tear down your site. This strategy is good for all RVers no matter of age.
It will save you time and take the worry out of setting up and taking down your RV.
It is Good to Have an Exit Strategy
Interesting story, NASA created two different plans when the first crews set off for the moon. They obviously needed one to get the crew to the moon. But just as important was how to get them back home.
You should create an exit plan, in advance of going on the road just in case life changes the game plan. You may never use this plan and it might be possible for you to spend the rest of your life living the full time RV lifestyle.
Consider it piece of mind, just in case health or financial issues arise that cause you to reconsider your longtime plans quickly. There’s also a chance you might decide this lifestyle is not right for you.
Visit with a financial advisor and create a plan for how you’ll support your self if you need to find somewhere permanent to get off the road. It’s worth doing research of new places you might like to call home if the desire to establish a permanent residence finds you looking for a new retirement location. It might work out that you find a fair-weather location where you could live in your RV year-round paying a lower annual rate.
This will allow you the option to get back on the road sometime in the future if life allows that option.
RVing for Seniors Can Still Be a Fun Exciting Adventure
Growing older doesn’t mean that life on the road can’t be a fun and exciting adventure while living the full time RV lifestyle.
While it might be different than what you had in mind in your twenties or even forties, this time in your life doesn’t make it any less exciting or adventurous.
In Conclusion:
There are a number of important considerations before beginning a full time RV lifestyle as a senior. Many of these considerations are the same no matter what your age.
It’s important to research each of these topics and have your personal plan in place so you’re prepared for the daily life differences you’ll experience when leaving a brick-n-mortar home to begin the adventure of full time RVing.
