This article is about my 10 best tips for full-time RV stationary living. Whether it’s temporary or permanent.

Yes, RV living can be done in lots of various ways. And you don’t always have to be traveling to enjoy the RV life.

In fact, there’s lots of RVers that actually spend quite a bit of time in their RV in just one spot. And there’s various reasons for that.

Table of Contents

• Reasons Why You May Want To Be Stationary In An RV
• The #1 Tip For Stationary RV Living
• #2 – Which Kind Of RV Is Best?
• #3 – Don’t Forget About RV Maintenance
• #4 – Stationary RV Living In A Motorhome
• #5 – What About The RV Park Or Campground?
• #6 – How To Keep Your Camping Costs Low
• #7 – How To Increase Your RV Living Area
• #8 – What Stationary RV Living Does To Your Tires
• #9 – What About Extreme Weather?
• How To Get Your RV Ready For Hot Temperature Extremes
• #10 – Your Internet Options While You’re Stationary
• Conclusion

Reasons Why You May Want To Be Stationary In An RV

For instance, it could be that they just want to save money on travel costs.

And therefore, staying in one spot for a while can help them save the costs of traveling around.

Or maybe they really enjoy the climate in one area of the country. And they want to stay a while and enjoy it. Like snowbirds, for instance.

Or it could be that they just like the area itself and want to explore it. And staying in one spot for a while makes that possible.

Or maybe they have family nearby that they want to spend a while visiting. That’s a big reason that many RVers become stationary for a while.

Finally, if they’re like us, full-timers may also really want to have a permanent home base.

They want a stationary place to be able to go if unexpected things come up out on the road. A place they can always come back to.

So clearly, there’s a lot of reasons why you may want to be stationary in your RV for a while.

And therefore, here are my best tips for successful stationary RV living. Let’s start with number one on my list.

The #1 Tip For Stationary RV Living

And that is, if you’re going to be permanently living for a while in an RV, then a towable RV is probably your best bet for that.

At least, it’s probably a better choice overall than choosing a motorhome. Why?

Mainly because the motorhome has an engine and a drivetrain. And if you’re stationary, it’s just sitting there doing nothing for prolonged periods of time.

But that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to keep maintaining those mechanical parts.

Because mechanical things like engines, transmissions, etc., need to be used to stay in good shape.

So for that reason alone, a towable RV lends itself to stationary living better than a motorhome.

And that brings us to the question of which towable RV is best for stationary RV living?

#2 – Which Kind Of RV Is Best?

That means we’re talking about comparing travel trailers and fifth wheels then. Which kind of RV would be best in this case?

Well probably. if you can make it a fifth wheel that’s a little better. Because first of all, it’s usually built with a little better quality overall.

In addition to that, fifth wheels are often larger as well. And that leads us into another point about stationary RV living.

Which is that larger RVs lend themselves better to long-term stationary living in general. Why would I say that?

Because RVs don’t have a lot of living space to begin with. You’re probably looking at between 200 and a little over over 300 square ft. in most cases.

So the more living space you can get, the better for long-term living.

That’s because sometimes RV walls can kind of close in on you. It can start to feel claustrophobic for many people.

So if you plan on staying a long time in an RV, having more living space is a good thing. Now for number three on my list.

#3 – Don’t Forget About RV Maintenance

And that is, while you are stationary don’t forget to keep up the maintenance on your RV. No matter what kind of RV it is.

I see this as a problem all the time. Many RVers get stationary, and they forget about a lot of maintenance tasks that still need to be done.

Especially on the outside, or the exterior of the RV. But remember, you still need to be checking joints and seals all over your RV regularly.

This is the only way to prevent water intrusion that can begin to seriously damage your RV.

Also, you need to be washing and waxing that RV on a regular basis too.

That helps prevent fading and oxidation on the outside walls caused by the sun and other elements.

And if you have a generator, you will need to run it on a regular basis. Usually at least every month or so.

By doing that, you will help keep it in good working shape and ready for when you need it.

Now that leads us along to another tip that’s very important. It’s number four on my list.

#4 – Stationary RV Living In A Motorhome

And that is, let’s suppose that you have a motorhome that you’re staying in for a prolonged period.

If so, don’t forget to exercise that engine and drivetrain regularly. Of course, when you’re not using it, it can be out of sight and out of mind.

But it needs to be used regularly. And once again, I recommend exercising them at least on a monthly basis.

Which means that at the very least you should start the engine up and run it for a while. Make sure it’s being lubricated well in the process.

However, if you want to exercise these components properly, you really should do more.

You really need to unhook the motorhome and take it out on the road for a drive. It’s especially good if you can take it on the highway.

Just run it for a while and get everything working. This will help the transmission, the brakes, the suspension, and pretty much everything.

By doing this on a regular basis, it will keep things in good working shape while you’re stationary. OK, let’s move on to number five on the list.

#5 – What About The RV Park Or Campground?

And that has to do with choosing the RV park where you will be staying for a while. Make sure that you choose it carefully, especially for security.

Unfortunately, a lot of folks don’t think about that when choosing an RV park or campground. Many just think about choosing by price alone.

But then they move into the park they have chosen and find out that there’s problems in that park.

However, now they’re kind of committed in many cases. So before you do that, read the online reviews for that park or campground.

Read them very carefully. And if you start to read about security issues, maybe it’s better to choose someplace else.

Or you could also ask around in the area and get some suggestions from people that are local.

Because that often gives you a lot of good information you need to know before you choose your park or campground.

#6 – How To Keep Your Camping Costs Low

OK, moving on to number six on the list. And that is, if you’re going to be in a park, try to get the lowest rates possible for your stay there.

And that means that you don’t want to be paying daily rates for an extended stay. Even weekly rates can be too much.

So look for annual, quarterly or semiannual rates instead. That way you can get the cost of your stay as low as possible.

But here’s something to keep in mind about longer term rates at most RV parks.

And that is, you may find that they don’t include the cost of electricity in those rates. Instead, you will be billed for that separately.

So try to find out what the electric cost for an RV tends to be on average before you commit.

And that way, you can budget the cost of the campsite for the entire time of your stationary stay.

#7 – How To Increase Your RV Living Area

OK, now moving along to number seven on the list. And that is, it’s good to have an outdoors area for extra living space and comfort.

Once again, that gets back to living space being an issue in an RV for long-term stays. In fact, over time it can get very tight for some people.

So it’s nice to have a little outdoor area where you can go out and enjoy the outside. And do so in comfort too.

So here’s a recommendation if you’re going to be in the area for a while. Or in one campsite spot for a while.

And that is, you might choose to set up a pergola or a gazebo on your campsite.

Because they are great for having a really nice enjoyable area outside and have shade at the same time.

Of course, if you’re not going to be there for a permanent stay, then maybe a popup canopy would be fine for your needs.

In fact, we’ve done that ourselves. Because they generally don’t weigh an awful lot, or take up a lot of space either.

And you can even store the canopy in the RV and use it as you go from place to place too. So it can be good for all of your RV travels.

Whatever you do though, just consider the idea of setting up a nice little area outside your RV while you’re stationary.

It extends your living area to the outside and let’s you feel more comfortable.

#8 – What Stationary RV Living Does To Your Tires

OK, that brings us to number eight on the list. And that has to do with your tires.

Because if you’re sitting in one spot for a while. it’s so easy for tires to get pounded by the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

If so, they’re going to dry out and crack very quickly and easily while you’re just sitting. And that makes them age very fast.

So if your RV is stationary, make sure that you have the tires covered and protected. And that will be a great way to make them last longer.

#9 – What About Extreme Weather?

Now moving on to number nine on the list. And that has to do with weather considerations.

So, what if you’re going to be in an area where extreme weather could happen before you leave?

Then get prepared for that in advance. For instance, what if you’re going to be in a more northern area where colder weather is going to come?

If very low temperatures will start to happen before you leave, get ready for it. And to do that, you may want to skirt the bottom of your RV.

That really increases the ability of the RV to maintain warmer temperatures inside. And it helps protect your RV plumbing as well.

Also, you probably want to increase the insulation in your RV too. By maybe covering the windows with an insulated material.

Also, stuffing some soft material up into the roof vents to provide better insulation is a good idea.

Of course, if you’re staying in the south for a while, the opposite kind of weather could happen.

How To Get Your RV Ready For Hot Temperature Extremes

And this is often what snowbirds do. As they often are going to be in areas like maybe Texas or Arizona.

These are areas where you could be facing 100° or more for a prolonged period of time.

So once again, try to insulate as much as you can to stay comfortable in that kind of weather.

And here’s another consideration for really hot temperatures in the southwest. It has to do with your air conditioning units.

Because they may not be able to keep up in that kind of an environment. So what can you do if that is the situation?

Well, you actually might want to think about installing a mini-split in your RV.

Especially if you’re going to be staying in one spot for a prolonged period in high heat.

These days, mini-split air conditioners seem to be catching on pretty well. Even in the RVing community.

And a lot of people are using them in extremely hot temperatures. Because they help make up for the deficiencies of RV air conditioners.

#10 – Your Internet Options While You’re Stationary

OK, let’s move along to number 10 on the list. And that is your internet needs while you are stationary in one spot.

Now, when you’re traveling around, you probably have a mobile internet solution already. One that helps you stay up with your internet needs.

But when you’re in one spot, you may find that it’s actually cheaper and faster to just connect up to a local cable company instead.

Especially when you are going to be in one area for several months. So give that some thought as well.

Conclusion

OK, those are my 10 tips for stationary RV living. And clearly, being in one spot for a while in an RV can have its challenges.

But it can also have its rewards too. Especially if you think ahead and prepare well.

And hopefully the tips I’ve shared with you in this article will help make your RV stays in one place more enjoyable and more successful.

Have safe and happy RV travels!

This article is going to be talking about the RV converter vs inverter. And how to know the difference between them and what they do.

Of course, most RVs have multiple power sources built into them. And that allows them to go almost anywhere you want to go.

So wherever you go you can have useful power to run the items in your RV.

But RV electrical systems are very often misunderstood by the RV owners themselves.

In fact, many RV owners don’t really know what a converter is, and what an inverter is.

So very often you’ll hear them using those terms interchangeably. And of course, it’s really no shame that you don’t know that, if that’s the case.

Because this kind of equipment is not really used in normal homes that people live in. Homes that are connected to the power grid.

So that’s the purpose of this article. To help explain the basics of converters and inverters, and what you really need to know about them.

You can also listen to my podcast on this subject by clicking here.

Table of Contents

• RV Power Sources – Alternating Current
• RV Power Sources – Direct Current
• What’s Happening When Your RV Is Plugged Into a Power Pedestal
• What Your Batteries Are Doing For Your Power Needs
• RV Converter vs Inverter – What The Converter Does
• What Happens When Your RV Isn’t Plugged In?
• RV Converter vs Inverter – The Inverter
• RV Converter vs Inverter – What Size Inverter Will You Need?
• An Example That Helps Explain Your Inverter’s Power Needs
• A Word Of Warning About Using RV Inverters
• How Do You Replenish Power In Your RV Batteries?
• RV Converter vs Inverter – The Conclusion

RV Power Sources – Alternating Current

Now let’s start out by discussing RV power first. And the power in an RV actually comes in two main forms.

The first is direct current, abbreviated by DC. And the second is alternating current abbreviated by AC.

Now alternating current is what your stationary home usually uses on a daily basis.

Because that’s what’s sent to it by a power plant, or by the grid that it’s plugged into.

So when you take a device and you plug it into the wall socket at home, most like likely you’re getting alternating current to run it.

But here’s the problem with alternating current and RVs. It can’t be stored in its present form and taken with you on a mobile basis for whatever you need.

RV Power Sources – Direct Current

So what about direct current? Well, it can be stored in batteries. And then the batteries can go with you on a mobile basis.

And it’s this ability to use DC power on a mobile basis that makes it so useful for RV life.

What’s Happening When Your RV Is Plugged Into a Power Pedestal

However, RVs also can power the same 120 volt items that you use at home.

Things like televisions, microwaves, washers and dryers, and so on.

So let’s say that you are plugged into a power pedestal for instance. Probably at a campground or an RV park.

Well in that case, you’re going to receive the alternating current that you need to run those AC items.

What Your Batteries Are Doing For Your Power Needs

But RV batteries and the 12 volt electrical system in the RV will also be running the lights in your RV. And it will be doing that at the same time.

It will also power the water pump, the furnace, and other smaller items like that as well.

These are all components that run on 12 volt direct current instead of alternating current.

But the problem with batteries is that battery power doesn’t last forever. It has a limit when it is stored in a battery.

So when power goes out of a battery, it has to be replenished or recharged.

RV Converter vs Inverter – What The Converter Does

And here is where the converter comes in. Because you’re going to find converters in almost all RVs out there.

And their purpose is to receive shore power, or 120 volt alternating current that comes from the grid.

Then the converter changes it to 12 volt direct current to recharge your batteries if needed.

And then it will help run all the 12 volt items and components in the RV as well.

Now when the batteries finally reach a fully charged state, it maintains them at that level.

So shore power, or alternating current, lets you run both 12 volt items in your RV and 120 volt items in the RV at the same time.

And that’s because of the converter. But RVs are not always plugged into shore power.

What Happens When Your RV Isn’t Plugged In?

So what happens when you unplug and take the RV on the road when you’re traveling?

Or what happens when you’re camping in an area that doesn’t have a power pedestal?

For instance, what happens if you’re boondocking off grid and there is no other power source available?

Well, your batteries are still going to run those 12 volt items in the RV with no problem.

At least until the batteries are depleted of their stored 12 volt power.

But how do you operate those larger 120 volt items that require alternating current?

Or in other words, how do you run your TV, the coffee pot, a hair dryer, and so on?

And how do you recharge your electronic devices now? Because they don’t run on 12 volt direct current either?

RV Converter vs Inverter – The Inverter

Well here is where the inverter comes in. Because now its job comes into play.

It has to take the power stored in your batteries, and then change it from 12 volt direct current to 120 volt alternating current.

And that way it helps run the devices in your RV that require alternating current.

Of course, inverters are not found in all RVs. Remember earlier I said that you pretty much find converters in almost any RV out there?

Well, inverters are only found usually in better equipped RVs. The ones that are a little more expensive.

So it’s possible that you may have to install an inverter in your RV if it’s needed.

And if you do, you need to figure out what size inverter you’re going to require.

RV Converter vs Inverter – What Size Inverter Will You Need?

So here’s a general guideline for how you can go about doing that for your power needs.

First of all, 120 volt alternating current devices usually have a label on them somewhere that explains what it’s power needs are.

And the label will usually tell you how many watts of power the device consumes when it’s running.

So look for those labels on the 120 volt items you have or use in your RV.

Then add up the watts that could be used by all those devices you might use at the same time.

And then I recommend that you add about another 20% on top of that just to be safe. That gives you a little extra headroom for AC power.

That way you can determine the size of the inverter that you are going to need.

An Example That Helps Explain Your Inverter’s Power Needs

So let’s give you an example that may help. Suppose the 120 volt devices you think you’ll use at the same time total up to about 400 watts.

Well then add 20% to that figure. And 20% of 400 is 80. So that’s 480 watts of inverter power that you are going to need.

And that means that if you get about a 500 watt inverter, then you should be in pretty good shape.

So that’s how you can figure out the size of the inverter that works for your particular needs.

A Word Of Warning About Using RV Inverters

Now one word of warning though. Inverters are not known for being very efficient in the exchange of power.

So there’s energy that’s lost in in that change from 12 volt direct current to 120 volt alternating current.

And that means that when you’re using your inverter, you will actually deplete your batteries faster.

Or at least faster than if you were just using the battery power for direct current alone.

So what that means is this. Only turn on your inverter when you really need it. Or only when you need to run those 120 volt devices.

And that way, you can make your batteries last longer while you’re unplugged from shore power.

How Do You Replenish Power In Your RV Batteries?

Now what happens though when your battery power has been used up and is all depleted?

Well, this is a situation that RV boondockers face on a regular basis. And they have two main choices at that point.

First of all, RV boondockers can use solar power to replenish their batteries.

That means they can use solar panels that take the power from the sun and transfer that into the batteries.

That way they don’t have to break camp and then go plug into shore power somewhere.

Because that would then use the converter to power the batteries back up to normal.

Instead, they can stay right where they are and recharge their batteries using solar power.

But another solution is to use an RV generator instead. Either a portable one or one that’s permanently installed in your RV.

Because generators will recharge your RV batteries as well. It just uses fuel to do that.

RV Converter vs Inverter – The Conclusion

Well, I think you can see that the RV power system in most RVs is very flexible.

It allows you to camp almost anywhere you want to go. And enjoy all the things your RV has to help you have a good camping experience.

So hopefully this article has helped you understand better what a converter is and what it does. And what an inverter is and what it does.

So if I have helped you understand that better, then the article has done its job.

Have safe and happy RV travels!