Economy may be factor in increased full-time RV use

For some, selling their home and downsizing to an RV is a life-long dream, but the recession, housing crisis and high unemployment rates have given many people reason to choose living in an RV much sooner than in retirement.

The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association reports that as many as 400,000 Americans live in their RVs full-time.

It's a phenomenon similar to the one that started in California's Silicon Valley during the mid- to late-1990s, according to The Washington Post. Dot-com workers looking for affordable housing turned to RVs for relief from long commutes and steep mortgages and rents.

The same is true now, when families with mortgages they could barely afford before the economy went sour are trying to figure out how to make ends meet with one or both spouses out of work and the future uncertain.

CityTownInfo.com reports on a Washington state family who sold their house and moved into an RV with their three children to save money after both spouses were laid off from their jobs. "Just taking care of the house, with the mortgage and the insurance and the utility bill and all that, we were probably looking at around $3,000 a month. Now we're looking around $300 for the same thing," said Dave Dudley.

Although living in an RV may be a good option for people in similar situations, experts stress that money should be set aside for maintenance and repairs on your vehicle. Like a car, an older or used RV will require more maintenance to keep it running.