While RVs are typically used to go and explore the great outdoors, they may also be kept on your property for practical reasons that don’t involve hitting the road. Many often store and use their motorhomes for more than just travel but within their own properties where they may live.
Whether you have family coming to visit who could use the extra space, or want a place for your kids to play outside of the house on a rainy day, you may find yourself in a position of wanting to have more than just a powerless motorhome without killing your battery or running your generator.
If you discover that RV hookups would benefit your property, this is not a task that is too daunting to complete. The benefits often outweigh the cost of completing an RV hookup installation.
Installing RV hookups can vary greatly in price, from $2,000 – $3,000 if you complete the task yourself to up to $5,000 to have it all professionally installed. This amount can be lowered in a variety of ways, which we will cover shortly.
No matter your reasoning for installing RV hookups on your property, be sure to do your homework first so you are fully prepared for the work and money it might take. This can be dependent on a number of factors about your home, so there is no ‘one size fits all’ price for completing this.
Types Of Hookups You Will Need
Water, electricity and sewer are the main things to consider when trying to set up your RV hookups. All can be done professionally, and some can be done on your own. It is important to choose the best route for you for each hookup.
Water
Showering, using the toilet and washing your hands are all great reasons to add water hookups to your property. This will save whoever is staying or hanging in your RV trips into the main house whenever they need to use the restroom or rinse off.
Water hookups are relatively simple and easy to do on your own, or professionally. If you choose to do this task by yourself, it can cost less than $50. If you choose to have it done professionally, it will typically cost you around $600-$700.
This task will require diggin on your property, so it is best to contact utility companies before doing so. This will help ensure you do not hit any gas, water or sewer lines in the process, saving you from a possible disaster.
Electricity
Electricity is usually the most desired hookup to have on your property. It allows you to run AC, lights, television and other gadgets without wasting gas with the generator or battery life.
This hookup is pretty involved and can be dangerous if done incorrectly, making a professional with adequate knowledge as an electrician a necessity. This installation will typically cost about $1,000 when everything is said and done.
When completing electrical hookup installations, be sure to install the correct one for the wattage of your motorhome, which will be either 30-amp or 50-amp. These types of outlets look much different, so it is essential to have the correct one set up. This can be a pain to change over if incorrectly installed.
Sewer
Sewer hookups vary the most in how they can be done and how much they can cost. They can be one of the easiest instillations or one of the most involved, depending on how you choose to go about it.
Best case scenario is that you do not have to install anything at all, but rather connect your RV to pre existing sewer workings on your property. This will require nothing but a possibly longer hose to connect the sewer and your RV.
For this easy route, make sure you have a clean out located in your yard for the public sewer system. If you do, this can be easily accessed by simply popping the cap off. As long as your city allows this, once the cap is removed, simply attach your sewer hose to this from your RV and you’re all set.
If this access point is far from where your RV is located, a longer hose and pump may be required to reach your sewer system efficiently. A pump can ensure there are no backups within the system.
If you have a septic tank instead of a public sewer system on your property, this may still be a possibility. Some have access through the same cleanout to dump into, but for those who don’t there is still hope.
Installing a four inch wide tube into the septic tank will create a way to dump directly into the tank. Make sure it comes up and out of the tank and to above ground level for easy access and hookup for your RV.
If neither of these options will work for your property, you may need to install an RV septic tank. This is the much more daunting method that will most definitely require professional involvement for both installation and maintenance.
If you have to dig to install a septic tank, be sure to call your utility company before doing so to check for gas, sewer and water lines that can be hit in the process to avoid any accidents.
Other Options
Still want to hook up your RV without installing anything? This can easily be done with some household items to bring power and water to your motorhome on your property.
One option for providing electricity to your RV without hookups is an extension cord and adapter. Since RVs are 30-amp or 50-amp plugs, you will have to find an adapter for your specific hookup that will allow connection to a typical household outlet.
Once you have the adapter specific to your RV, connect it to an outdoor safe extension cord. Run this cord to a plug on the outside of your house, and poof, you have power. When doing this, be sure to watch how many lights you have on both in your home and RV to keep from overloading your power system and breaker.
Water can also be provided without an installed hookup, if your RV is close enough to a hose in your yard. Simply run your garden hose to the water hook up of your RV and connect it, allowing it to run lightly.
Though sewer is generally pretty easy and accessible to connect to your home, it is not always possible. If you are unable to connect it and still want to use parts of your RV that require sewer connection, you are not completely out of luck.
These items can be run normally without connection, as long as you empty your RV’s built in septic tanks regularly. This is similar to using them while on the road.
In Conclusion
RV hookups are a great addition to any property if you have the extra space to store your vehicle. This brings a sense of livability to it rather than just sitting and waiting to be used again.
In addition to benefiting your vehicle’s usability when not travelling, RV hookups will also help with home value. RV storage space and hookups are a great upside for any potential buyer when it comes to selling your home.
RV hookups vary greatly in involvement and price. Depending on pre existing situations of sewer, water and electricity in your home, as well as how handy you are to complete some tasks on your own, this process can be extremely easy and budget friendly or time consuming and borderline pricey.
Water is one of the simpler hookups that is also lower in price. It is one of the easier hookups to do on your own, and the cheapest if you choose to go with professional installment.
Electrical hookups are not too pricey, but it is the only one that absolutely requires professional installment. Luckily this task can usually be completed in a day, making it relatively quick and easy.
Sewer hookups vary the most in involvement and price based on the preexisting sewer set up on your property. This task can go from being done with no modification and completed by yourself to installing a whole septic tank professionally. Be sure to be familiar with what you’re working with to choose your best route.
There are also easy substitutes for full hookups that will provide electricity and water in your RV on your property. These are great to consider as well!