When we’re not in nature, we’re usually swinging by a nearby town to pick up groceries or take in the local sights. There are so many amazing towns in the US with their own culture, history and people; many of which are suffering from hard times in their economy right now.

Living in an RV can provide you with a deep appreciation for our planet, and the unique people that inhabit it. In all of your many travels, there are things you can do to leave a positive impact everywhere you go. 

IF YOU SEE IT, CLEAN IT

How many times have you driven down the road and spotted garbage thrown carelessly out of someone’s window? How about when you’re walking a nature trail and it’s littered with beer cans? 

Instead of shaking your head in dismay and leaving the scene of the crime, take it as an opportunity to be the difference. Always keep some garbage bags and a good pair of gloves handy in your vehicle, backpack and RV so you can easily make a big change everywhere you go. All it takes is a few minutes and a can-do attitude.

Sustainable Products

In an RV lifestyle, you only have so much room for all of your effects. Since you’re already living the life of a minimalist, you may as well take the opportunity to further reduce your clutter and waste by implementing some sustainable products in your RV. Here’s just a few we use to give you some inspiration. This post is not sponsored by any of these listed brands.

Dr. Bronner’s Soap

Despite the crazy packaging, Dr. Bronner’s soap is the king when it comes to minimalism and sustainability. It can be used as body soap, shampoo, dog wash, laundry detergent, shaving liquid, veggie wash, household cleaner and so much more. It has wholesome ingredients and the plastic bottle is 100% recyclable. Dr. Bronner’s is the only soap we keep in our RV for any of those aforementioned purposes, which helps us save space while also helping the environment.

DIVACUP

Did you know that tampons, pads and panty liners create 200,000 metric tons of waste every year and some of the parts and packaging can take anywhere between 500-800 years to fully decompose?

I’m a huge advocate for DivaCup for a laundry list of reasons, but they’re particularly relevant in this conversation about avoiding unnecessary waste on the road. Just like my mention of Dr. Bronner’s soap, they also help you save space; no more clunky tampon boxes in your little RV cabinet.

LIFESTRAW

There are many ways to conserve water usage while living in an RV. One of my favorites is keeping a LifeStraw Water Bottle in our RV or on my person at all times.

You never know what the quality of water will be like at your next campsite. While a lot of people circumvent this issue by purchasing single-use plastic water bottles, you can rise above and still feel good about what you’re drinking with your own on-the-go filtration bottle.

SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS EVERYWHERE

When you’re on the road, it can feel tempting to swing into the nearest Wal-Mart to re-up on your supplies. What if instead, you swung into that quaint, family-owned corner store to see what you can find? 

Avoid the big box stores and support local businesses everywhere you go; even though you’re not a local! Not only does it help that area’s economy, but you may be surprised by some of the deals you can snatch.

Did I mention restaurants, too? Take a few extra minutes on Google Maps to find the town’s local gem instead of another predictable experience at McDonald’s. Eating at locally owned restaurants returns almost 79% of revenue to their community, compared to just over 30% when you eat at a chain restaurant. (civiceconomics.com) 

Staying in Town? Use Public Transport

Like most all methods of transportation, driving an RV around everywhere does have it’s impact. One way you can challenge this is to take advantage of public transportation wherever you’ve decided to bed down for the day. Choosing to use an area’s public transportation to get to-and-fro can reduce CO2 emissions by 45%.

Even better than that; keep a bike strapped to your camper for another great option to reduce your footprint and avoid taking the bus or subway. You can stay in shape, too! 

Just Say “No” To Fast Fashion

Focusing again on the topic minimalism; why would you want an RV full of cheap clothes that take up space, when you can have a few well made pieces that last for years? Taking the time to thoughtfully build your wardrobe doesn’t only reduce space in your RV, but it also reduces the negative effects of fast fashion.

There are hundreds of reasons why the fast fashion industry is killing our environment. It generates tons of toxic chemicals, misuses millions of liters of water, puts plastics in the ocean, and so many more atrocities. Don’t even get me started on how fast fashion companies treat their workers.

Instead of supporting cruel businesses like Shein, choose to invest in a small and thoughtful wardrobe that you love and can feel good about.

Leave No Trace

Leave your campsite better than you found it. Anytime you arrive at a new campsite, scour the ground for litter left from previous campers. Ensure that you do a thorough check for your own waste before you get ready to drive on to the next site. Even if you think you didn’t leave anything, mistakes happen and taking the time to double check is key.

Mind Where You Park

Only park at established camping spots. If you’re like us, you may boondock a lot in your RV. Boondocking is a great option for RV living, but parking right on top of untouched natural areas contributes to the destruction of that ecosystem. Choose to park where you can clearly see that someone has parked before you to reduce your footprint.

Insulate your RV

Curb those hot summer days and cold winter nights by well insulating your RV. Not only will it keep you more comfortable, it can cut into your need for propane, electricity and gas, which benefits the environment (and cuts costs).

Even if you have a 4-season RV, there are things you can do to upgrade your insulation. Insulate the underbelly with foam or fiberglass, or make DIY thermal window covers out of Reflectix.

Use Renewable Energy

Solar panels are one way to avoid the emissions put off by generators, which helps the environment. They’re a very popular option for creating energy on the road. While less common, there’s even the option of using wind turbines for your RV. Do some research on renewable energy sources to see what may be a good fit for you.

If you’re not interested in switching to a full solar set-up, you can implement smaller solar panel products to use your power supply less frequently. Take a look into solar powered battery banks and solar powered flashlights for ways you can curb your emissions on a smaller scale.

Conserve Water

Living in an RV; especially boondocking, can give you a unique appreciation for water conservation. My husband, my dog and I go through 11 gallons of water per day on average. That’s just over 3.5 gallons each per-day (when divided up equally between the three of us). On average, the standard person living in the US uses a stunning 101.5 gallons of water per day. Not to toot our own horns; but that’s a pretty huge difference, wouldn’t you say?

The more you practice curbing your water usage, the more shocked you’ll be by how much you can save without majorly altering your lifestyle.

Volunteer Where You Go

There are a lot of opportunities to volunteer your time to worthy causes on the road. Give some of your time to help people in need or help the environment with some worthy causes that use RVers to their benefit.

One of these groups is Habitat for Humanity’s RV Care-A-Vanners. They use RVers to help build homes for people in need with two week building projects; no experience necessary. They also have a disaster rebuild team that you can work up to joining. They currently work out of the US and Canada.

Check out RV Care-A-Vanners and the amazing work they do here. 

The post How to Sustainably Live in an RV first appeared on Old South Paw.

If you’re considering living in a Scamp Trailer, here are some things to help decide if it’s right for you.

Problem Solving Skills

Here’s a scenario: It’s 3 a.m. in your camper in 80 degrees Florida. All of a sudden, your A/C shuts off and the heat wave creeping under your door wakes you up. Your eyes open to realize that your generator is out of fuel. You begrudgingly step outside to grab your gas can for a refill, but it’s empty. There is no way to start your generator. What do you do?

This horror story is a real experience my husband and I have had; in addition to countless similar scenarios. Living in a Scamp Trailer requires patience, problem solving skills and a keen ability to self reflect. Expect to create plenty of your own problem experiences, especially within your first few months of transition. If traveling with a loved one, you will need keep your communication skills sharp to avoid yelling matches.

The problems may feel like a mountain for the first couple of months. If you’re patient, you can sharpen your knowledge and ability to adapt to this lifestyle like a pro.

Budget Management

Living in a Scamp Trailer may seem low cost, but there are things that change that without careful budget management. Initial costs we had from the start included purchasing a generator, camper modifications, air conditioning and so much more. Those things may not be relevant to your needs, but you should expect to spend a good bit on your set-up.

Our regular expenses include gasoline, generator fuel, propane, dump stations, our camper and vehicle payments and insurance for both. Be weary of splurging on road trip snacks and activities that you didn’t budget for along the way.

Make decisions to curb your costs by thinking about the lifestyle you want, sticking to your plans and budgeting. It is absolutely possible, but it takes a lot of thought and rigidity. 

The Struggle for Minimalism

Living a minimalist lifestyle is something my husband and I have deeply desired for a long time. We felt worn by the consumer culture that so many of us are subject to. Everywhere you go, there’s some new piece of tech or a new fashion trend to buy into. For that reason, the idea of living in a small space felt perfect. If you’re pursuing this lifestyle, I’m sure you can relate.

While being minimalist was an aspiration for us, it was also a ton of work to get to this point. Because we got married shortly before getting our Scamp Trailer, both of us had apartments filled with stuff to organize. We knew around October of 2023 that traveling full time in a camper was definitely our goal. From that point through officially moving into our camper in March of 2023, we were sorting our things daily. We had garage sales, Facebook Marketplace listings, and more donation runs than I can count. 

Even more challenging was figuring out what was worth bringing with us in such a small space. There were many times that I cried over my sentimental possessions that I knew I had to let go. In addition to the difficulty of the purge, it can be hard to maintain our minimalism on a regular basis. I still sometimes catch myself staring at that cute little dress in the window that I know I can’t have.

Being minimalist does come with it’s emotional hardships. Despite that, it feels great to know that we’re spending less money on “stuff” and not contributing to consumer culture.

Common Q&A’s

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

How often do you empty your tanks in a 13ft Scamp Trailer?

We empty our black water and grey water tanks every two days. We use our 15-Gallon Portable RV Tote Tank to cart things back and forth without having to move our camper.

How do you power a 13ft Scamp Trailer?

We power our Scamp 13ft with a 2000 watt Predator Generator from Harbor Freight and a Deep Cycle Battery. You can also use Solar Panels or a Solar Generator, depending on what’s best for your lifestyle and budget.

How do you get drinking water while boondocking?

We get our water from parks, natural water sources, or by asking store owners if we can use their spigot. We have BPA Free Collapsible Water Containers that we keep with us that are small enough to carry around.

How do you do your laundry while boondocking?

Many people choose to go to laundromats to do their laundry. We chose to create a laundry set-up that consists of two Collapsible Bins, a Clothes Wringer and a toilet plunger. You can watch my TikTok video below of my set-up and explanation. If you use this method, be sure to use Eco-Friendly Detergent, as you’ll likely be dumping the used water outside.

How do you cook in a Scamp Trailer?

Our Scamp has a mini fridge, kitchen sink and two small propane-fueled stove eyes. I use a Dutch oven, cast iron skillet and one small pot for dishes such as rice. We also have a Camping Grill for when I feel like cooking outside.

Can I tow a 13ft 2019 Scamp Trailer?

Our Scamp’s dry weight is about 1,500 pounds. Once we add all of our possessions to that, it’s safe to estimate about an additional 500. Check your specific vehicle’s tow rating to see if it’s something you can cart.

How do you go to the bathroom in a 13ft 2019 Scamp Trailer?

Scamp Trailers offers more than one layout option. One includes a bathroom, and one includes bunks. We chose the version with the bathroom, which includes a toilet with a small sink and a shower. If you choose to not get the bathroom, you will have to park near bathrooms or use the great outdoors.

How do you shower in a 13ft Scamp Trailer?

Our shower is small, but it gets the job done. We use Shower Organizers to hold our soaps, toothbrushes and other items. The water pressure wasn’t great with the original shower head, so after some research we chose the highly recommended Oxygenics Fury Hand Held Sprayer. We’ve been really happy with the shower ever since.

Do 13ft Scamp Trailers come with A/C?

Our Scamp came with a MaxxFan and a Dometic A/C unit. We love our fan, and it can cool and ventilate the small space incredibly well. The Dometic A/C unit…not so much. Even when we have hookups, we still choose not to run the Dometic A/C because it makes it unbearably freezing.

Our solution was to purchase a Window Air Conditioner that we slide in when we need it. When the weather is in the 60’s or lower, our fan and windows are plenty to keep things comfortable.

Is there heating in a Scamp 13ft Trailer?

Our Scamp came with a built-in propane fueled heater and a temperature controlling thermostat. We punch in what temperature we want to keep and it will automatically turn the heater on if it goes below temp.

How do you sleep in a 13ft Scamp Trailer?

The main bed folds out from the table, otherwise known as a dinette. We have the “big bed” upgrade, which means my 6ft husband can lay down fully extended without his toes touching the wall. 

When we first stayed the night in our camper, we brought sheets and a duvet. We quickly realized that trying to wrestle sheets on every night was time consuming and frustrating. Instead, we ditched our traditional bedding and decided to go with two Sleeping Bags. One functions as our “fitted sheet” to sleep on top of, and lay the other over us for a blanket. 

What organization tools should you get for living in a 13ft Scamp Trailer?

In this small of a space, organization is absolutely key. Below are some links to some of my favorite miscellaneous pieces to help with organization. 

• Adjustable Wall Mounted Shoes Rack
• Adhesive Hooks Heavy Duty
• 4 in 1 Adhesive Sponge Holder
• Toothbrush Holders Wall Mount
• Towel Holders
• Shower Caddy Shelves
• Adhesive Wall Hooks
• Hammock Organizer
• Compression Bags
• Magnetic Knife Strip

How do I know if living in a Scamp Trailer is right for me?

If you love the idea of a simple life out in nature, living in a Scamp Trailer is right for you. It also helps if you love a cute vintage look. Just be prepared for all of the attention you get on the road while hauling your cute little mini camper!

The post Can You Live in A 13ft Scamp Trailer? first appeared on Old South Paw.