With more people working online now than ever before, have you ever considered working remote while RVing? One positive result of the events in the last couple of years is the large increase in online and work-from-home job opportunities. This change is huge for RVers that wish they had more time off to travel each year.
But is working while traveling actually right for you? Our family has worked while RV traveling for the past seven years. It can be incredible to travel while working, but make no mistake, it presents challenges at time. Considering the lifestyle but not sure if the switch is right for you? Read on to see what things you should consider and how to make working on the road work for you and your family.
Guest Post and Photos by TheAdventureDetour
Increase in Online Jobs Presents a Unique Opportunity for RVers
More and more businesses have shifted toward an online business model. Many found that when employees were working from home, they reduced their operating costs making it a win-win for both companies and employees. Job flexibility and work-life balance are usually top on employee lists and the ability to work from home really maximizes that benefit.
If you have always wanted to travel more and have the option to work from home, then working on the road from your RV may be a great option. Or consider requesting within your current position to try out working from home. If it's not an option with your current job to work remotely, possibly even look at different positions that could fulfill your desire to RV travel more.
It Takes Planning to Work From the Road
If you have taken an RV trip before for a vacation, you may be wondering how different it would be to try to work and travel at the same time. It sounds incredible but what does it take to balance both? It is definitely different than an RV vacation.
On vacation, you can travel quickly if you like and still make time to sightsee and enjoy camping activities. When you are working on the road, there simply isn't enough time to see and do it all like on a trip. You have to be more intentional with your time and really plan out both your travel days and sightseeing or activity times.
Does Your RV Have a Quiet Place to Work?
One important consideration is the setup of your RV and the people that you will be traveling with. Does your job require you to take calls or hop on conferences, or are you the type of worker who needs silence to think straight? Are those traveling with you easy to work around? When you are spending time in a small space with other people, it's a bit more chaotic than being at home with them. When deciding if working on the road is right for you, it's imperative to take these things into consideration.
Your Road Office Set Up
An office can be as simple as your couch with a foldable table, the bed with a lap desk, or at the RV kitchen table. Some RVers convert the RV dresser into a work desk and close the bedroom door to get more privacy. Toy hauler's are a popular trailer option for digital nomads because the garage or patio area can make a great office. The same is true for mid-bunk 5th wheels and travel trailers. The mid-bunk room often works perfectly as an office with a door for privacy.
Another amazing solution to find more space and privacy is to set up an outdoor pop-up screened-in tent. These tents also have removable wall panels that can block out wind, sun, and rain. It would be easy to set up a chair and table in the tent to have a mini mobile office in many places that you stay. These tents come in many different sizes and are easy to set up and take down. A popular brand tent is the Clam.
If the tent is the option that sounds best for you, make sure you have a backup work location just in case. Sometimes campgrounds can be a bit noisy or even campground neighbors. You may have to work around mowing day, a nearby train, or even just a camping neighbor's barking dog. Having a backup option can give you some peace of mind.
Pick An Internet Solution That Meets Your Work Needs
Internet service has long been a struggle for RVers but luckily the options are getting better all the time. Securing reliable phone and internet service is usually key to working on the road and that is one of the first things you will want to figure out. First, find out if your position requires a hard wire connection. Some jobs do have this requirement which makes internet options a bit more limited but read on for a possible solution.
The two most popular internet options for RV travelers at this time are hot spots through cell carriers Verizon, AT&T, and T Mobile and satellite internet through Starlink. There are also boosters to help improve your coverage. There are pros and cons to each RV internet option.
Starlink is the newest and a very popular option for RV internet. It is fast and unlimited which are both huge benefits of the service. The largest downfall though is that since it is a satellite, it doesn't always perform well during storms or in heavily treed areas. Many campers are staying in the woods so this is an important consideration. There is also a large upfront cost for purchasing the equipment. The service is set up for automatic roaming to work wherever you are located.
Internet Options when Working on the Road
T-Mobile has a new service called T-Mobile Home which technically isn't designed for roaming use in an RV. Many RV travelers are using this service though so it may be something to look into. This router does allow you to connect a cord to it, which can fulfill an employer's requirement of a hard-wired internet connection. The service is also unlimited.
An old way that RVers improved the reliability of their internet coverage was to get hotspots from different wireless carriers. This is a bit expensive and not truly unlimited. This is still an option but another way is to get Nomad Internet. This service automatically picks up whichever internet carrier is strongest in the area you are in. So this replaces the need for multiple hotspots.
Another newer internet solution is Calyx which is an unlimited service that also runs on the T-Mobile network. This is a unique program that requires a yearly purchase upfront but has good reviews so far.
Whichever way you go with internet service, be sure to check with the location you wish to stay in advance to see if your provider works well there. Apps like Campendium rate campgrounds with reviews for each internet provider. It's definitely important to make sure you will have service before booking the campground.
How Flexible is Your Remote Work Schedule?
A huge factor in traveling while RVing, is the flexibility of your work schedule. Are you able to complete your work on your own schedule or are your hours fixed? The more flexibility the better, but you can still enjoy the experience with good planning and time management.
It's important to plan your RV travel days on your days off of work. Many of our travel days end up taking much longer than expected so it is important that you don't cut yourself short on time. This may require booking campgrounds far in advance to make sure that you can check in on the days that work with your schedule.
Tips to Maintain Work/Life Balance While RVing
It's helpful to have the right expectations before deciding to work on the road. It can be an incredible experience but also challenging at times to find RV life balance. It's important to schedule time just for daily living during your adventure. Even though you are out seeing and doing amazing things on your time off, you still need time to pay bills, do laundry, grocery shop, and just rest. It's tempting to want to try to do it all but that can lead to burnout.
We have found it very helpful to stay in locations longer. This means you don't have to schedule travel days as often and have more time to explore a location. Maybe even consider staying in a location a month at a time. That way you can also take advantage of monthly discounted rates at many campgrounds.
Give Remote Work a Try
Traveling while working remotely, is an incredible opportunity that is increasing in popularity. More online jobs are available right now than ever before. With a little bit of advance planning, this lifestyle may be perfect for you. Would you consider giving it a try?
Looking for an RV that would be perfect for working remotely while traveling? La Mesa has an incredible selection of RVs that meet any traveler's needs.
Scott, his wife Van, and their 12-year-old daughter Sissy have traveled full-time in their RV for 7 years. They have worked and homeschooled on the road through 42 states so far. They blog about RVing tips, travel destinations, and the full-time RV lifestyle on their blog, TheAdventureDetour. They are also RV content creators @theadventuredetour on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. They love connecting with RVers so be sure to reach out to them and say hi!
