Meet the Full-Timers

Anyone can get their hands on an RV these days. Anyone can dream about boundless days on the open road. And anyone can let that thing sit in their driveway. It’s the very few who push their chips to the center of the table, sell their homes and commit to life on the road all year round. 

We reached out to folks who made the leap and have covered nearly every inch of pavement across the country. Here’s how they do it—and why—and what they recommend for others considering the lifestyle.

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Darlene and Barry Nicholson 

The Rig

A 44-foot Alliance Valor 42v13 toy hauler. We faced the unique challenge of needing two separate office spaces since we both work full-time as digital marketing managers. This was the perfect solution. It offers solid door separation, allowing us to convert the garage into a dedicated office and living space. 

On going full-time

We sold everything, leased out our home in Florida and went full-time into the RV lifestyle in July 2022. We had never owned an RV before. It was quite a leap of faith.

Favorite places 

We rarely repeat destinations. We typically stay about two weeks at each stop. In the winter, we camp off-grid across New Mexico, Arizona, Southern California, and Nevada. During the summer, we prefer the northern states or higher elevations in the mountains.

A nugget of advice 

Full-time RV living isn’t for everyone. If you’re truly interested, start by taking longer trips to see if the close quarters and constant changes suit everyone involved. 

Kyle and Renee Hanks

The Rig

We pull a 2019 Grand Design Solitude S Class 2930 fifth wheel. With three slide outs and 35 feet of length, it is large enough to be full-time in, but not so big we can’t fit at smaller campgrounds. 

On going full-time

In 2017, we wanted to utilize an RV for travel nursing, giving us all a more stable living situation than bouncing around apartments. In 2019, we decided this lifestyle is so amazing that we sold our property in Pennsylvania and upgraded to our fifth-wheel RV.

Favorite places 

We try to visit somewhere new when we can, but enjoy the Pacific Northwest. There's more to see in that area for sure. We also love northern Georgia and Michigan. We are hoping to do more travel in Colorado and Canada.

A nugget of advice

Just go for it. There is no perfect time or perfect situation. We didn't even know how to put water in our RV before hitting the road but figured everything out as we started.

Hillary Whittaker and Kris Gustafson

The Rig

An American Coach Model 24 Dream 45-foot motorhome. We had a super C and we wanted to go a little bit bigger. One of the main reasons we chose a motorhome over a fifth wheel is we wanted to access the home while we were on the road. 

On going full-time

We were always traveling internationally for work, but then the pandemic brought everything to a screeching halt. We were watching Youtube videos and they inspired us. 

Favorite places

The Pacific Northwest has been our absolute favorite. All the beaches, all the national parks, from an RVing perspective it is so cool. If you fly to the Northwest, you miss so much. 

A nugget of advice

Prepare for the unexpected. The reality is you are driving your house through an earthquake every day. Things are going to go wrong. It’s not if, it’s when.

Marc and Patricia Guido 

The Rig

A 2020 KZ Durango Half-Ton Fifth Wheel D283RLT, 32-foot 11. We had a pretty good idea of exactly what we wanted. We made a spreadsheet of every fifth wheel that we were able to tow at that time. It’s small enough that we can get into boondocking sites and National Park sites, but it’s large enough to be liveable. 

On going full-time

We took the plunge on Christmas Day, 2020. We were traveling six to seven months a year in the RV anyway when we woke up and realized we were paying to maintain a house we only lived in half the year. We already had come to realize through “long-timing” that we truly needed surprisingly little to live comfortably.  

Favorite places

It was a huge year. We absolutely loved going through Atlantic Canada, up to Gaspé, Cape Breton, and Nova Scotia. It’s amazing how gorgeous that coastline is with a fraction of the people you find in the States. 

A nugget of advice

Carry a full set of tools and know how to use them. Whatever breaks, we try to fix. Because we’re full-time, we have every tool we own with us. And carry around some bubblegum and duct tape. 

Chris Kapperman

The Rig(s)

We drive a 2018 Grand Design Solitude 377MBS Mid-bunk 41-foot fifth wheel right now, but we’re going to switch to a 36-foot Super-C with a diesel engine. That’s going to allow us into state parks and national parks that weren’t designed for mammoth rigs. 

On going full-time

We always thought it would be cool to do it when I retired, but then we were talking about it and thought, Why wait until we’re old? We both had military families and have friends all over the country. We wanted to travel to see people anyway. 

A nugget of advice

A lot of people are moving constantly, and that gets exhausting. It's a constant setup and breakdown. We move a lot slower. We find the hole-in-the-wall things like trails and restaurants rather than just the major attractions. 

Favorite places

We actually bought an RV lot in north Georgia in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We always have that spot to go back home to. When we’re not using it, we rent it.