The Staggering Price We Pay to Live in an RV

Prepare for a reality check as we expose the unfiltered and often overlooked costs of RV living that many fear to share. From maintenance to campground fees, unexpected repairs to fuel expenses, we bare it all to help you make an informed decision before diving into the RV lifestyle.

Whether you're a seasoned RVer or just considering the leap into full-time RV living, this video is a must-watch. These numbers are the insights that others shy away from sharing. This transparent breakdown will empower you with the knowledge you need to navigate the expenses and pitfalls of RV life.

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Subscribe to our channel here:

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

⛽️ Discount Fuel Program for RVers - Open Roads/TSD

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

HappilyEverHanks Amazon Page 📦

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

HappilyEverHanks Merch for YOU!

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

*Playlists You'll Enjoy Watching*

Watch Our Best Videos Here:

Full-Time RV Living Reality:

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

*Timestamps*

00:00 Intro
00:11 2023 Breakdown
00:55 Cost of Fuel
02:57 Food Expenses
05:30 Propane Cost (Yearly)
06:33 Cost of RV Parks
08:59 Running Total (Fuel, Food, Parks)
09:41 Laundry Expenses
10:27 RV Repairs, Supplies, Maintenance
11:09 RV Insurance (Yearly Cost)
11:32 RV Registration (Yearly)
12:06 Diesel Exhaust Fluid Costs
12:35 Truck Maintenance Costs
12:47 Truck Insurance
12:56 Truck Registration
13:22 Cell Phone & Internet Costs
14:18 Yearly Grand Total

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

_A large influence on this series has come from content creators like Kara and Nate or Matt's Off Road Recovery. The style of this video is also similar to Keep Your Daydream or Changing Lanes in parts._

#rv #happilyeverhanks #rvlife

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

*RV Gear & Affiliates*

⚙️ TechnoRV - RV Gear, Tools, & Accessories
Save 5% with our code: HANKS5

🗺 RV LIFE / RV Trip Wizard - RV Trip planning & GPS
Save 25% with our code: THANKSHANKS

🏡 Boondockers Welcome
Save 10% with our code: HANKS21

🍷 Harvest Hosts
Save 15% with our code: THANKSHANKS

🏕 AllStays Pro

📫 Escapees - How we receive mail on the road!

🛞 VIAIR

🔐 RV Lock

🚽 Valterra Waste Valve

MORE OF OUR GEAR:

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Support our Work ❤️

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

🎟️ HappilyEverHanks Events, Meet-Ups, and MORE!

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

📈 We grew our YouTube FAST with Tube Buddy!

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

🎶 Our Music

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

_DISCLAIMER: All materials in these videos are used for educational purposes and fall within the guidelines of fair use. No copyright infringement is intended. If you are or represent the copyright owner of materials used in this video and have a problem with the use of said material, please contact us via my email in the "about" page on our channel.

HappilyEverHanks is a YouTube channel intended for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV experts and these opinions are only intended to show what methods we use when it comes to RV Living. Do not use this information as professional advice.

We are a participant in several affiliate programs that allow us a commission on a purchase made through our links at no extra cost to you!
Any purchase you make through our links is kept private for your confidentiality.

HappilyEverHanks LLC, All rights reserved._

[kalenclark]

Wow... ppl being honest instead of glamorizing every part of the lifestyle? Here for it!!! 100%

I think you made it clear to there were things you could have done to make those expenses cheaper, but you really had a "bucket list year" as you called it.

Great work breaking it all down for us!

[nunyobizkneez]

it takes a lot to share personal numbers in this way. Most folks wouldn't do this. It is a TREMENDOUS help for new RV'ers whether full-time or not. Thank you for sharing.

[MaxChristensen-jg]

Hi
I am Max Christensen. I am 74 yrs old. I have been RVing part time for a number of years. I have had several travel trailers, from 16 ft to 29.6 ft., as well as having a home-made pickup camper and tents. We had a 29 ft Aspen Trail for 10 years and pulled it with a 2004 F150 with a 4.6 l engine. We have been to all 50 states. In 2022, I bought a new 2021 F150 with a 3.5 eco-boost engine. We currently use it to pull a 29.6 ft Springdale travel trailer. I took the old, 2012, Aspen Trail travel trailer to all states, except Hawaii. That pickup had been 60 miles north of the arctic circle, in Alaska. It had 242k miles on it. The trailer had 69300 miles on it when we traded it off for our new trailer. It has been nice watching your videos as we have been to most of the places ;you are describing. Last year, for our trip to eastern Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, we purchased an "RV Toll Pass". This worked out really well for all states and Canada. I am a retired Construction Project manager. I retired in 2016. Before that, I would travel with my wife around the country as she taught search and rescue dog handling to groups. I would go whenever I could get the time off. We would try to take a week both before and after the class she would teach and sight see as we traveled.

Keep up the fun travels.

[kylewaddell]

It's impressive you guys can track the numbers so closely! You guys are making more than you are spending, while seeing the world, to me you nailed it!

[DLTJR]

$53, 472.66 total = $4500 per month roughly. Personally I think you are doing great. Look at the experiences and destinations that you have experienced. You are making memories and that is what is important. Great video to inform those who are uninformed. Tremendous service to budding RV'ERS. We just retired 12/31/22. We winter in Florida with an older diesel pusher. The upkeep, maintenance, and repairs are high. We knew that going in but we are making memories Have a cruise to Alaska and a European Tour scheduled. Making memories.

[CasperChicago]

I never dreamed RV travel was that expensive. Any one who was thinking of buying an RV owe you a big thank you, because now they have an idea of what they are waling into 👈🏾

[jtoepke]

For me this episode is awesome. I am a spread sheet number cruncher and track everything so this made big sense. I spent nearly your total amount living in brick stick house PLUS weekend camping adventures. I hope you are enjoying your life adventures as much as your subscribers enjoy your weekly videos. Stay well stay safe stay awesome. Thanks Kyle & Renee

[eliseblaske]

Under $4, 500 a month in 2023 is nominal to profile for full time living all over north America. I remember watching this same annual breakdown by a retired couple who were not pinching pennies and the husband even had an unplanned and not fully covered surgery. They ended up with north of $4, 500 but less than $5, 000 in 2021, so you have done a reasonably good job at finances with the good news that if given the choice, you can get it down to under $4, 000 a month--- until you have to budget for a new truck & RV😄

[JolleanSmith]

1. Money well spent. 2. What a huge task that is to compile this and so very helpful for those trying to decide if they can do this. 3. Thanks for making me feel better about our grocery bill. We are a couple who spend about the same. Great video as always

[BigAL]

As a retired couple from Mississippi on a fixed income, we have a 24ft travel trailer and a GMC 1/2 ton gas burner. Our spring 2024 trip is 3-months, and we’ve booked US Army Corps campgrounds for 13 of the 15 camps, and the odd two
are single nights as we make a long drive. Corps parks cost us $9 - $15 a night, and we know what to expect with Corps facilities. This trip, we’ll drive in a contained geographic area (GA, SC, NC, VA, WV, OH, IN, IL, KY, TN, AL and back home. Except for the one nighters, we stay at least a week in each camp and two weeks in those where we want to explore. We cook the vast majority of our meals, and neither of us like touristy destinations, preferring to be in the woods hiking or exploring the towns near our camps. I say all this only to tell others that life on the road doesn’t have to break the bank. We did a similar trip for our Fall 2023 trip but in a different area of the country.

[awesomeblossom]

Best part about it - you get to live your life and you also get to write it all off for your youtube channel!

[sissinoklahoma]

I can see part-time campers balking at the total. But for full-timers, this is a good year (considering y'all went to Alaska and partied like rock stars while living the Dream!) When we lived in S&B, our annual expenditures were right at $60k, easy. Since we sold everything, only have my car payment and insurance now as mostly bills, and rent lots by the month, our expenditures are Way, Way down! I just finished our 2023 numbers, and without any boondocking, our total was $28, 285. We stayed within 3 states, which lowered the diesel fuel expense a Lot over 2022 (6 states). Since we still work FT remotely, its been a great year for us. I'm so glad you guys got to Alaska and time with family. Hope the PA family meet will happen in the warmer months this year! (Go south, when propane cost go north! 😂)

[carolthomas]

I feel for you on the he budget!!! My first year retired in my parked RV. Whew! Budget went out the window 2023. Additional setup required, mice ruined furnace, sewer, added sewer pipe run... High enegy bills. Dug into my retirement savings to pay off ea month. I live on my own land, in a forest, meadow, with tons of free wildlife. Totally worth it all!😂 Enjoy your adventure! Thanks for all you share.

[twr]

We bought our new 5th wheel in Michigan and they issued us a permanent trailer plate, which only cost $200. And we never have to pay or renew again. Nice!

[ryanteter]

Karl with the smedium t-shirt and gun show FTW. Hero

[atravelpath]

So true! Everyone we talk to tell us that their travels always cost more, even when they plan and prepare. Good tips!

[ladikmk]

Holy guacamole!!! More boon docking guys for sure, but hey - stuff adds up faster than you think. Keeping track of expenditures is a good idea, and your honesty is very helpful to others.

[snatchbloock]

Hey guys, thanks for all the great information. I'm a newbie wannabe camper and the idea of year round travel fascinates me...until I watched your video. Your "real facts and costs' analysis thoroughly convinced me to take the train.

[ginathacker]

I have a C-Class Jayco 31 on a Ford 450 Super Duty chassis and a Triton 10 engine. It is a beautiful deluxe camper. At gas stations, often people will admire it and ask, “what kind or gas mileage ‘ya get with that?”. Usually, I just look puzzled and reply, “I don’t really know, I just get gas when I need it”. Point: I didn’t buy this rig for fuel efficiency. Just between us: I get between 9.5-10.5. It’s a 2019 w/ 53K miles. I use it and I LOVE IT!!

[ibMooseu]

I retired, pre-Covid, from Butte Co. (Chico) in N. CA in 2018. I bought a brand new $50k travel trailer and fled Hellifornia. My first year to register it in my new state with FOREVER registration with personalized and specialized plates was $325. That’s FOREVER, meaning I never pay registration again. I got a registration bill from the Hellifornia DMV in 2019 for $1, 245… I sent them the new state’s title indicating they get nothing from me. Born, raised, college at Chico State, career there and Hellifornia will never get another penny from me…