The RV life can be exhilarating. You’re free to move from one location to the next on a whim, with no ties to the hustle and bustle of the urban jungle. Mobile off-grid living also offers financial flexibility. Even accounting for fuel, vehicle maintenance, and campground fees, the cost of living in an RV is far cheaper than paying rent or buying a house.
It’s no wonder that many millennials and Gen Zers are embracing this lifestyle. In fact, RV manufacturers reported a 19.5% increase in RV sales from 2020 to 2021.
But undertaking this lifestyle can be overwhelming at first. So, as you transition from urban to off-grid living, here’s what you can expect and how to resolve the common challenges of living in an RV.
The off-grid lifestyle has certainly evolved over the years. It no longer means living in isolation somewhere far from civilization. Instead, off-grid dwellers are more concerned with reducing their impact on the environment and practicing simple living. Other benefits of this lifestyle include:
Living off the grid is certainly rewarding, but it also comes with challenges. It takes a great deal of commitment and hard work to be without the conveniences of city life.
Without access to public power systems, you’ll need to generate and maintain a consistent supply of electricity to keep your appliances running and charge your mobile devices. You’ll also need to source and store fresh water for daily tasks such as washing dishes and showering. Then, there’s the matter of proper waste management while on the road.
What’s more, you won’t always have access to fast internet services and stable cellular phone reception. This can make it difficult for you to work remotely, keep in touch with friends and loved ones, and navigate areas you’re unfamiliar with. It can also make it difficult to contact emergency services when you need them.
The off-grid living experience can be more difficult and inconvenient than necessary if you go on the journey unprepared. Plan carefully, invest in the right equipment, and have systems in place to ensure you have a good quality of life while on the road.
These tips address the most common challenges of living in an RV and can help you get started.
A steady supply of fresh water is perhaps the most important consideration when living off-grid. After all, you need water to keep yourself hydrated, maintain your hygiene, and clean your surroundings. But you might not always have easy access potable water, so it’s best to prepare a water storage tank for your RV.
RVs use about 6.16 gallons of water a day on average. This value can change depending on the amenities and appliances that your vehicle has. For instance, RV dishwashers usually need six gallons of water per load. Portable washing machines can use up to 20 gallons of water for each load.
Try to find a tank that’s compatible with your vehicle and large enough to store the amount of water that your lifestyle requires. You may also want to consider a filtration and purification system so you can also collect and store rainwater and well water.
In the absence of plug-and-play utility connections, you’ll need to be creative about how you power your remote work setup and mobile home appliances. Depending on your resources, you can likely generate off-grid power using solar panels, lithium batteries, or diesel generators.
But before you invest in these power sources, try to compute your power consumption. Most appliances have a tag that specifies how many watts they use. This will give you a more accurate understanding of how much electricity you’ll need on a daily basis.
This takes the guesswork out of deciding which battery or generator you should buy and how many solar panels you’ll need to power your off-grid living.
In today’s increasingly connected work, reliable internet access is critical. You’ll need it for work, communication, and entertainment, so you may want to consider off-grid internet services like Starlink.
But is Starlink worth the hype? Weigh all the pros and cons before investing in it.
For one thing, Starlink leverages satellite technology so it can give you internet access in remote or rural areas. It also has a simple plug-and-play setup and great customer service.
However, because you’re depending on a satellite, heavy downpours, snow, and other adverse weather conditions can easily result in internet downtime. It also uses a significant amount of power.
Thanks to the growing popularity of off-grid living, this lifestyle has become more accessible than ever. Motorhome, campervan, and RV manufacturers have come up with innovative solutions to support full-time RV dwellers.
For instance, we’ll likely see a wider range of electric campervans in the future. These vehicles offer a cleaner and more eco-friendly alternative to traditional fuel-powered RVs and help users reduce their environmental footprint. What’s more, advancements in battery technologies make electric campervans increasingly cost-effective to operate.
We can also look forward to more smart technologies tailor-made for RVs. Considering that 54% of RVers work remotely, there’s a growing need to integrate technology into off-grid living. Think automated energy control systems, monitoring systems for water management, and climate control solutions.
Life on the road is filled with adventure, so it’s important to make sure your mobile home can keep up. This means outfitting your RV or campervan with basic utilities like water and electricity. You should also consider reliable battery systems to help you make the most of off-grid living.
At Battle Born Batteries, we offer a variety of industry-leading lithium-ion batteries for different types of vehicles and off-grid properties. Designed to last 3,000–5,000 cycles which typically equates to 10 to 15 years. They’re built to power whatever your lifestyle requires.
We also have a wide selection of solar panels and battery components. Contact us today to learn more about our full product lineup.
100Ah 12V LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery
100Ah 12V GC2 LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery
270Ah 12V LiFePO4 Deep Cycle GC3 Battery
MultiPlus-II 12/3000/120-50 2x120V
Victron Lynx Distributor
Rich Solar 200W 12V Panel
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