Finally, a place to put the in-laws ...
With the holidays looming ahead of us, plenty of people are brushing off all of the family hosting skills that went unused in 2020.
2020 didn't just cause us all lose our social skills, however; it also resulted in countless families discovering a newfound love for the RV lifestyle. In fact, RV sales soared last year as more and more Americans took to the road as a way of enjoying socially-distanced vacations. Alongside this surge, another trend has emerged: using RVs as a guesthouse when family visits. Depending on living situations, this can be a super-effective way to comfortably house family members who are visiting for the holidays without having to assign too many people to one shared bathroom.
That said, housing guests in an RV comes with extra considerations beyond what you'd normally do to accommodate someone in your house. If you're planning to use your RV as a guesthouse in the winter, here's what you should do to make sure it's ready for the in-laws:
Check (and Doublecheck) Your Plumbing
This is the very first thing on the list for a reason. Your plumbing is the one thing that you really, really don't want to be the source of any unexpected surprises over the holiday. If you haven't used your RV since the season ended, take a second to make sure your tanks are properly configured and your toilet is flushing properly. In the event your guests haven't stayed in an RV before, take a second to explain the difference to them—it could save you some late-night plumbing emergencies.
Sort Out Power
Depending on what model year of RV you have, it may require a 30- or 50-amp hookup that you don't have. If this is the case, then a simple converter will allow you to plug your RV into a 15- or 20-amp line at your house. When doing this, note that not every system is going to work—especially if you have an older RV. Take a moment to check the electrical systems and outlets so you can walk visitors through any unique considerations once they arrive. Use this time to make sure the heater is working too.
Make Sure It's Clean
This can seem like a no-brainer, but it can be easy to forget this step when you're hustling about. Sending your extended family into a dirty RV can make for a tense start to your holiday events, and that's assuming your mother-in-law isn't a germophobe. Before you give anyone else the keys, make sure to give your RV a thorough cleaning to make sure it's suitable for people. This is especially true if you haven't used it since the summer ... If nothing else, think of having guests as a great excuse to clean your RV twice: once before they arrive and once after everyone leaves.
Make It Comfortable
Making an RV guesthouse comfortable goes beyond just laying out blankets and turning the heaters on. If you properly cleaned out your RV at the end of the season, then it's likely got all of the interior decoration of a sparse hotel room—and roughly the same welcoming ambiance. Although it's a separate structure from your home, you still want your RV to feel like an extension of it, and that means laying out some creature comforts. Before your guests arrive, take a second to outfit your RV as if you're planning on spending a few weeks camping in it. Books, reading material, cooking implements, and extra pillows all go a long way towards making an RV feel warm, friendly, and inviting.
Keep an Open Door Policy
Housing guests in an RV is a great way to avoid overcrowding the house, but make sure your guests don't feel like they've been banished there. No matter how warm and cozy your RV is, it can easily feel pretty remote and isolated in the middle of winter. Make sure your guests understand they're free to come into the house at any time, and have things for them to do in the evenings so they don't feel like they have to head out to the RV as soon as dinner ends.
While it might make for an unconventional guest house, letting your family (or friends) stay in an RV is a great way to give them an autonomous amount of space without having to overcrowd the house. Just remember, it's not an alternative for actually treating your guests like guests. Have a wonderful holiday season!
