A couple of weeks ago in another poll, we asked you if you thought people who live on RVs on the street by necessity to be RVers. The majority of you, 94 percent, said no. Now we have a similar question for you, and we’re wondering if your answer is different.
Do you consider someone who lives in an RV year-round in one location to be an “RVer”? Why or why not?
For many, the term “RVer” implies a lifestyle of travel and adventure, moving from place to place and exploring new destinations. Some might argue that if someone is stationary, even if they live in an RV, they’re more of a full-time resident than an RVer.
Others, however, may believe that living in an RV—regardless of whether it moves or not—still makes someone part of the RVing community, as they face similar challenges, such as maintaining their rig, dealing with hookups, and navigating the unique aspects of RV living.
There’s also the question of intent. Some people may park their RVs in one spot due to work obligations, health reasons, or financial considerations, but still see themselves as RVers at heart, dreaming of future travels. Others might have no plans to move at all, using their RV more like a small home.
Does that distinction matter when defining what it means to be an RVer?
After you vote in the poll, please leave a comment and explain your answer. Thank you!
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##RVT1195
This is like asking if we consider a manufactured (mobile) home an “RV”
You got that right!
A mobile is not a RV.
They are RVing but not “Camping”.
They don’t use the R of RV so they just live in a V. That’s not being a RVer.
Seems like you’re fishing for the answer you want by asking the same question in multiple ways .
But what’s your view?
I voted yes! A mobile home is NOT a RV. RV stands for Recreational Vehicle which has the ability to move if necessary. A mobile home is not used for recreation however a RV can be used like a mobile home, which is generally cheaper.
But 99% of these are never moved. Plus after sitting for years in one spot, they probably are not road worthy again.
PS: Even a mobile home can be moved. We lived in one for 7 years when we got married.
The person that bought it moved it to another mobile home park.
I’m with Rock, rving but not camping. As long as something is defined by law to be an RV e.g. “Park models” someone living there would be an RVer. We see a LOT of winter residents doing this in FL
RVs, trailer or motorized, were developed for travel, exploring and enjoying the great outdoors. I live in Florida and have lived in Arizona. Another winter vacation spot and have known many who winter there 6 months out of the year. Until recently I never knew one to say they were “RVing”. It was always the “winter home” and where they spent the rest of the year was the “summer home”. Many close up their rig at the end of season and fly or drive home, if it must be moved to storage, the storage lot moves it. So I would say no RVing.
You mean, they live in a trailer park? No, not RVers.
They don’t use the R of RV so they just live in a V. That’s not being a RVer.
No, it’s a home, just like a mobile “home” is a home. It is just smaller than a mobile home (usually), but not necessarily cheaper..
It is similar to living in a park model. Enjoyable, but not RV’ing.
Sometimes life is a rocky road and folks have to do what they can to survive…been there…done that…walk a mile in our shoes before knocking it.
While I agree that many live in RV’s out of necessity I believe the point here is that they are not Rv’ing in the sense that we see as RV’ing. As others here have noted they are not “recreating” in their RV.
What does “RV” stand for? Recreational Vehicle. If they aren’t “recreating” then they aren’t RVing. Google’s definition is:
A recreational vehicle is a vehicular-type unit primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or seasonal use that either has its own motor power or is mounted on, or towed by, another vehicle. RVs are NOT designed for permanent or residential living.
So I guess a FULL-TIME “RVer” by your google definition is not an “RVer” even though we travel 7 months of the year all over the country but I guess that does not qualify?…. Hmmm… Our RV is our residence and our permanent HOME…we move all over the country except 4-5 months in the winter…We have visited over 300 National Parks & Monuments in the past 5 years. If my wife and I are not “RVers” than what are we… besides extremely HAPPY!!!
I think what he’s saying is if it sits on blocks and never moves, it’s more comparable to a park model or a doublewide than a domicile whose wheels actually rotate regardless of full-timer or weekender. Or at least, that’s how I read it.
I’ll be contrarian on this one. We live seasonally in a TT that stays on its RV park site year-round. There are FT folk here also. For most of us, these are not substitute mobile homes. We do all the maintenance to keep them road-worthy, and for several of us, we have from (lengthy) time to time moved our rigs to a different park. Camping is one aspect of RVing; frequent travel is another. This is a 3rd. A number of us, ourselves included, own 2nd smaller units specifically for those other two RV uses. Bet we know more about operating and maintaining RVs than a majority of RVers.
Knowing about operating and maintaining an RV does not a RVer make. There are a lot of mechanics that know how to operate and maintain an RV but ARE NOT RVer’s themselves.
The key difference is “Able to Move’ at all times an RV. Our RV community requires that all units must be able to be moved off a site, but most of our RV’s are year round folks.
Distinctions. Definitions. Putting people in boxes according to our own personal realities, and such.
FT, PT, weekenders, seasonal…
We own RVs – which is why we subscribe to RV sites such as this one.
Unless you’re the ones throwing your trash on the ground for the rest of us to clean up – to each their own.
Please stop with the pot-stirring, I think there’s plenty of that elsewhere.
It doesn’t hurt readers to consider a question and to think about ideas we hold opinions on almost unconsciously. It’s safe to weigh in because there is no right answer.
I live in an RV full time and I consider myself to be an RVer. While I no longer travel after 12 years on the road full time with my late wife, I live year round in an RV park and am an integral part of the RV community here.
Thank you for the question, RV Travel. If they never travel, then are not an RVer, but do live in an RV. We lived in RV #1 for 8 months. When not traveling, we were parked in the barn in which we now store RV #2 with full utilities. But, we took RV trips during that period, sometimes more than 1 a month. Have a great week and safe travels!
If they’re there a year, or year after year, it’s a camp and no longer an RV or they an RVer. If your living in it year round, your residence has changed as well.
My daughter lives in a lovely new 42 ft 5th wheel. She has smaller rvs for camping excursions. In her case, it would take a lot bigger vehicle to move their home around than they want to buy or maintain. My take on the question is, if you don’t travel in it, it’s not your recreational vehicle–it’s your home.
No! They are just living in an RV, NOT an RVer. The whole concept of an RV is its mobility. To be able to recreate while traveling. Just using it as a place to permanently live is not RVing. Not that the various online groups can’t help with RV related issues, they can, but they are not true RVers as this specific question is asking!