Jobs you can do on the road and tips for success
If you’re retired and traveling around America in your RV, we salute you. There may not be a better way to spend your golden years than by exploring all of the spots that make the U.S. – as well as other parts of North America – special. But even if your retirement party won’t be for decades, it is possible to live in an RV full-time and still make a living. You just need to find the right work and have a plan.
Which types of jobs can you do while living in an RV?
While you could feasibly commute to any job as a full-time RVer (assuming there was enough space in the parking lot for your rig), having to go to the same workplace every day pretty much defeats the purpose of having a home on wheels. This means you’ll need to find something you can do no matter where you may be, and there are quite a few possibilities.
Remote work
These days, millions of people work from home, but that doesn’t mean that home has to be stationary. As long as you’re able to have a reliable Internet connection, there are tons of jobs you can do remotely. Customer service reps, marketing writers, web designers, and medical transcriptionists are just a few of the many telecommuting positions available.
Temporary work
If you want to take more of a nomad approach to work, you may want to think about temporary jobs. With short stints – anywhere from a couple of days to a few months – you won’t be tied to one employer, and when the gig is up, you just move on. Through staffing agencies, you can typically find administrative jobs like data entry, administrative assistant, and bookkeeping. They may also have light industrial jobs available, such as janitors, machine operators, and shipping and receiving clerks.
Seasonal work
Near the end of the year, as the holidays approach, stores are always in need of extra people to handle the busy shopping season. Amazon also usually brings in seasonal workers to their distribution centers to help with shipments. The holidays aren’t the only time when industries need more workers, however. During different parts of the year, demand becomes high for farm hands, fishermen, and other region-specific employees.
Craft work
If you’ve had an artsy hobby for years – or perhaps it’s even a side hustle – this could be the ideal way to earn a living on the road. There are several websites that specialize in selling handmade goods, and with a bio that says you’re making one-of-a-kind items from the back of a (mostly) moving vehicle, this immediately makes you interesting and memorable. An added bonus of a craft business is that you can create a schedule that lets you attend all of the big shows and fairs around the country.
Workamping
You’ll probably be staying at campgrounds, so why not work at one? Working at a campground (or workamping) offers many benefits, often including a free spot while you’re there. Quite a few employees make up the staffs of larger campgrounds or national parks, which means there may be a variety of different positions open. Tour guides, cashiers, cooks, and gardeners are some of the jobs you might find. Perhaps the biggest plus of workamping is the fact that this is another type of seasonal position; after a few weeks or months, you’ll be free to hit the road in search of new opportunities.
Tips to consider before quitting your day job
Think ahead
While it may be romantic to consider handing in your resignation and then immediately driving away off in your RV, you’ll regret this when those paychecks stop coming. This is why you need to figure out how you’ll make money while on the road. If you already work from home, you may be good to go. But if not, think about what interests you, what your strengths are, and how this can translate into a mobile career. Then get started with this work before you leave.
Do your research
If you plan to take work as you can find it, you can start gathering information early. This might include lists of staffing agencies, distribution centers, farms or other places that hire seasonal workers. If you have an idea of where you’ll be traveling and when, you can narrow things down and start making connections and/or inquiries long before you get there.
Talk to folks in your situation
Your best resource for working as a full-time RVer is other RVers. While it will be new to you, people have been able to earn very comfortable livings out on the road for a very long time. Your fellow RVers will be able to give you helpful information, tips, and – perhaps most important of all – support. Don’t be afraid to reach out through forums or social media with your questions.
This is one of the biggest benefits of being a member of the RV Advisor community: access to information, as well as an opportunity to connect with other RVers.
