Lots of folks dream of running away in an RV for a while and seeing the great National Parks of America and living a free and independent life. Sounds great! But when it comes right down to it, is extended RV living all that much fun? What’s it really like? And how do you get from the workaday life to the travel life??
There are two groups of posts here:
- TIPS, TRICKS & ANECDOTES from the ROAD – Glimpses of our life on the road and things we’ve learned in our travels
- INSIGHTS, ESSAYS and THOUGHTS – Musings about living an alternative lifestyle
TIPS, TRICKS & ANECDOTES from the ROAD
Here are some brief glimpses of what life is like and what activities fill our days (besides traveling and sightseeing) in our life on the road:
- Toy Hauler Life – What’s It Like Living in a Toy Hauler?Toy Hauler Life – Love it or hate it? We have LOVED living in a toy hauler! If you’re considering getting one, the biggest issue is Open Box vs Separate Garage.
- Genesis Supreme 28CRT Toy Hauler – Why We Chose It!The Genesis Supreme 28CRT is a small 5th wheel toy hauler RV with a huge interior that is a wonderful rolling home. Here’s a walk-through with lots of pics…
- Truck Camper Pros and Cons – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!A pickup truck and a truck camper can be a match made in heaven…or not! Here are pros and cons to consider if you are thinking about getting a truck camper.
- Buddy – A Journey in SpritOur adorable and beloved pup, Buddy, took us on a journey like no other.
- Truck Camper and Small RV Storage Tips!If you have a truck camper, van or small Class C or travel trailer, here are some great tips for maximizing your storage space!
- Greetings! Long Time No See!!As the world shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic, we changed our lives completely!
- We’re Alive and Well and Camping in Arizona!After eight months away from blogging, here is the latest from our travels in Arizona!
- RVing Full-time: Living in an RV, Working on the Road & MoreRVing full-time seems like a blast, but what’s it like living in an RV? What about working on the road? Here’s the scoop from RVers who did it for 13 years.
- RV Refrigerator Management Tip – Winning the Turf Wars!Here’s an RV refrigerator management tip for minimizing the turf wars between the beer and veggies in a smaller RV fridge.
- Finding a Fifth Wheel Trailer or Toy Hauler to be a Full-time Home!Searching for a new toy hauler or fifth wheel trailer took us to dealerships all over the country and to RV factories in Indiana too.
- Americas Mailbox – Mail Forwarding & So Much More in South Dakota!Americas Mailbox offers mail forwarding, vehicle registration, domicile help and more in South Dakota, and we’ve been very pleased…
- Triple Tow or Toy Hauler? How to RV Full-time with a RZR?We take a deep look at triple towing versus a toy hauler and reveal what we learned during several RV factory tours.
- Coffee Kiosks of the WestCoffee kiosks are found all over the west, and whether you drive-up or walk-up, they are a great place to get a yummy cuppa joe!
- Dog’s Life – Buddy’s Got It Covered!When it comes to a Dog’s Life in an RV, Buddy’s got it covered. Here’s a few of his many magazine covers and feature stories…!
- Polaris RZR 900 XC – A New Ride and A New Chapter in our Travels!A new Polaris 900 XC Edition is expanding our horizons and giving a fabulous new ride for our full-time RV travels!
- 2018 RV Travels – The Year of the Dog2018 was the Year of the Dog, both in the Chinese calendar and in our RV travels as we took our new puppy on the road.
- RV Roof Repair – Rubber Roof Patch + Holding Tank Vent Cap Replacement!Easy DIY RV roof repairs: Have a rip or tear in your rubber RV roof? Patch it! Did you knock off a holding tank vent cap? Replace it!
- 101 MORE Great RV Gift Ideas for RVers, Campers & Outdoor Lovers!101 great RV gift ideas that are perfect for everyone who loves RVing, camping, hiking, the outdoors and the National Parks.
- Lessons Learned in the Full-time RV Lifestyle – Tips & Ideas!After 11 years of cruising and RVing full-time we’ve learned some great lessons, especially the importance of pursuing your dreams.
- SunwayFoto Gimbal Head Review – Catching Birds in Flight!The SunwayFoto GH-01 Gimbal Head is a top quality carbon fiber tripod head that makes it easy to maneuver a long lens.
- Camping World Video Shoot — RVing is for Everyone!We were thrilled to “star” in a Camping World video as part of their campaign, “RVing is for Everyone.” Here’s the back story.
- MORryde SRE 4000 Installation & Review – Smooth Trailer TowingMORryde SRE 4000 installation & review: A fairly easy install and what a fabulous upgrade for smooth trailer towing!
- RV Screen Door Modifications & Upgrades3 easy DIY mods for an RV screen door to keep the cold out, to protect it from pets, to give it rigidity and make it easier to grab.
- Puppy Chow – Is There A Dog Living In Our RV ???A Christmas pup nicknamed Puppy Chow visited for a night and we soon discovered we were living with a dog in our RV!
- Cold Weather RVing – Brrr… (or Ahhhh?!)RVing in cold weather doesn’t have to be a chilling experience. Here are tips for surviving snow storms and winter in an RV.
- 50 RV Gift Ideas for Your Beloved RVer (or RV!)Brighten up your motorhome or trailer and make RVing more festive and fun with 50 great holiday ideas and RV gifts for RVers and campers.
- What are the Most Important Features in a Full-time Fifth Wheel Trailer?!What do you look for in a full-time fifth wheel Trailer? After 10 years on the road, here are the features we think are most important!
- Full-time RV Tips: Mail, Domicile, Insurance & Saving Money!Full-time RV tips (after 13-years on the road): How do you get mail? At what address (“domicile”)? How about insurance? Can you save $$ at RV parks? & More!
- Mobile Internet & Phone Communications for RV Living – A Minimalist Solution!How do you stay in touch in an RV? Which internet and phone plans are best for full-time? Here’s a minimalist solution.
- Full-time RV Pioneer & Escapees RV Club Co-Founder: Kay PetersonKay Peterson is an extraordinary and inspiring woman who co-founded the Escapees RV Club and was a full-time RV lifestyle pioneer.
- Royal Flush! – A Surprise RV Toilet Replacement…Under Warranty 🙂When our RV toilet broke it was a huge relief that our RV extended warranty picked up the tab for installing a new one! Here’s our story…
- 10 Years of Life on the Road by RV and Sailboat – The 2nd Half!After 10 years of life on the road in an RV and sailboat, we’re telling our whole story in two parts. Here’s the 2nd half of the tale.
- 10 Years of Full-time RVing and Sailing!! – The Early Years…After traveling full-time by RV and sailboat for ten years, we take a look back at our travels & evolution in the early years.
- RV Plumbing Tips – Cleaning RV Faucets, Sink Drains & Shower WandsHere are some tips for cleaning your RV faucets, sink drains and shower wand to keep your RV plumbing in tip-top shape.
- What’s A Girl To Do at the RV Dump Station?Going to the RV Dump Station doesn’t have to be a one man job. Here are tips for how two people can share the fun.
- 2016 – A Year of RV Travels in the National ParksOur RV travels in 2016 took us to lots of gorgeous National Park, from Arizona to the Canadian Rockies. Here’s what we saw…
- Visiting the Dentist in MexicoMexican dentists do good quality work at a fraction of American prices, a great option for RVers who travel south for the winter!
- Power Inverters – Exeltech’s Pure Sine Wave ExcellenceWhat is a power inverter, what kind is the best, and how do you install one in an RV? Here are the details for why we chose Exeltech.
- How to Heat an RV in Cold Weather and Winter Snow StormsHow do you heat an RV in winter snow and cold weather? Here are some strategies for heating an RV in storms at high altitude.
- Long Ride Travel by Horse and Bicycle!Traveling by RV is a blast and has introduced us to more exotic ways to see the world: Long Ride horse travel and bicycle touring.
- How to Beat the Summer Heat in an RVHow do RVers stay cool when summer temperatures get too hot? Here are some tips for how to beat the heat in an RV!
- One Ton Towing Machines and 75 Years of Trailer LifeThe 75th Anniversary issue of Trailer Life Magazine tells the history of RVing & gives tips for choosing a truck for heavy duty towing.
- Choosing a Tripod – Sunwayfoto Tripod & Ball Head ReviewThe heavy duty Sunwayfoto XB-52DL ball head is well crafted, and paired with the T2C40C tripod makes a great camera tripod kit.
- Sell or Lease the House? Full-time RVer Dilemma!You want to RV full-time but aren’t sure if it’s better to sell the house or keep it…maybe lease the house out. Consider this…
- 9th Anniversary of Full-time Travel by RV and Sailboat – Reflections!Traveling full-time by RV and sailboat has been our dream come true, and today we are celebrating our 9th anniversary on the road!
- 5th Wheel Trailer Suspension Failure – Replaced with our RV Warranty!A fifth wheel trailer suspension failure is a big repair job that costs over $2,500 but our RV warranty covered the replacement for $100!
- Choosing a Trailer for Full-time RVing: Cargo Carrying CapacityWhen choosing a fifth wheel or travel trailer for full-time living, the RV cargo carrying capacity is an important consideration. Here’s why.
- How to Put DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) in a Truck & Which is Cheapest?Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) refills are part of owning a newer truck, but which brand is cheapest & how do you put it in the tank?
- Go Cheap, Go Small, Go NOW!! Have Fun & LEARN in a Small RVThe RVing lifestyle is loads of fun and is easy and accessible for everyone, especially if you start with a cheap & small RV to learn on.
- How to Defrost an RV Refrigerator in 20 Minutes!How to defrost an RV refrigerator in 20 minutes, a step-by-step guide. There are many methods for defrosting an RV fridge & this is easy!
- B&W Companion OEM Fifth Wheel Hitch Installation – Easy!Here is a step-by-step guide for installing a B&W Companion OEM Fifth Wheel Hitch in the bed of a Dodge Ram 3500 Dually truck. Easy!
- Dodge Ram 3500 Dually Truck – Best RV Fifth Wheel Trailer TowingThe 2016 Dodge Ram 3500 dually, best in class, is our truck of choice to tow our RV, a 14,100 lb. fifth wheel trailer. Here’s why.
- The “Right to Vote” is a PRIVILEGE Some Nomadic RVers Might LoseA bill proposed in South Dakota would prohibit full-time nomadic RVers and travelers from voting in local and presidential elections.
- Mexican Dentists – Finding Affordable Dental Care in MexicoFinding affordable dental care in Mexico isn’t hard and the quality of Mexican dentists is terrific. Here are our experiences.
- Tonto National Monument AZ – Workamping with the Ancients!At Tonto National Monument’s Upper Cliff Dwellings in Arizona, we learned about workamping and volunteering at archaeological sites.
- What Does It Take to Live The Dream?What does it take to Live the Dream of full-time RV travel, cruising and sailing adventures and having a blast in life? A few thoughts…
- 2015 RV Travel Adventures – A Thrilling Journey East!2015 was an extraordinary year of RV travel as we criss-crossed North America in our ninth year of full-time RVing adventures.
- RV Storage Tip – Making Space & Getting Organized in an RVFinding good storage space in an RV is a challenge. Here is a space saving RV storage tip we found that has really helped us get organized.
- How To STAY WARM in an RV – Survival Tips for Winter RVing!How to stay warm in an RV? A good heater and traveling south help, but here are lots more survival tips for winter RVing…
- Space Craft RV Factory Tour – Custom 5th Wheels Made To Order!Here’s a factory tour of RV builder Space Craft Manufacturing -custom designed fifth wheel trailers made to order with your specs!
- When Reality Interferes with Fun RV Travels and Blogging!Pausing our fun RV travels to get some plumbing repairs done puts our blogging on hold and gives us an unexpected dose of Reality!
- RV Refrigerator Replacement – How an RV Warranty Saved Our Bacon!Our RV refrigerator died as we were traveling, but rather than being stuck with a huge bill, our RV warranty covered the whole repair!
- Going Full-time RVing: How to Transition & Which RV Is Best?Going full-time RVing? Which RV is best and how do you transition from a conventional lifestyle to living on the road? Here are tips from RVers who did it.
- Canada RV Travel Tips – RVing Nova Scotia & the Canadian Rockies!Taking an RV to Nova Scotia? Here are some travel tips for crossing the border and RVing in Canada’s Atlantic Provinces.
- What Is An RV Warranty – Do You Need One? Is It A Good Investment?An RV warranty (or “RV Extended Service Contract”) lets you pay up front to avoid huge repair costs later, but do you really need one?
- Driving an RV in the Eastern states – It’s a Wild Ride!RV travel in the west is a piece of cake, with modest traffic, easy navigation and big open roads. Back east, you’ve gotta watch out!
- Interstate Rest Areas TX to FL – Not Just Any Pit Stop!The interstate rest areas of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi & FLorida are eye-popping, beautiful and really fun.
- What To Do in the Rain while Boondocking? Wash the RV!!One of the best times to wash an RV is when it’s raining, especially if you are boondocking and don’t have a water source!
- Casita Travel Trailers – Lots of RV in a Tiny PackageCasita Travel Trailers pack a lot of camping punch into a small home on wheels, and the factory tour in Rice Texas is a delight!
- Edge Evolution CS Tuner Review – Peak Truck Performance!The Edge Evolution CS tuner has improved our truck’s POWER and MPG and given us added TEMP data towing our 14k lb. 5th wheel
- Making Money RV Workamping with Amazon CamperForceAmazon CamperForce is an RV workamping program that gives full-time RVers a great way to make money on the road.
- From Online to Offline – Finding RV Friends in the DesertAs RVs congregate in Quartzsite, Arizona, we’ve met up with several RV friends we’ve known online for a while!
- Around the World in an RVChance encounters introduced us to two RVs that are seeing the Whole World by RV!
- A Wedding Photo Shoot Among The Wild Horses!We never know what we’ll see out our RV window. On New Year’s it was a touch of romance and “wedded bliss” in the woods.
- 2014 – A Year of BeautyLooking back at our RV travels in 2014, all we can say is “Wow!” What a magical year this was!!
- How does Craigslist work when you travel in an RV full-time?Living on the road in an RV without a home address, sometimes you need to to sell stuff you don’t need…
- Volunteering for FunSome folks volunteer their time in exchange for an RV site. As boondockers, we feel we’re being paid first…
- What Kinda RV izZAT??A unique farm truck combined with a truck camper has given one full-time RVer a fabulous rolling home for 37 years.
- RV Budget, Costs & Expenses – What does it cost to RV full-time?The biggest questions most people have before they run off to live in an RV full-time is: Can I afford it? Here’s our answer.
- Circling the WagonsSpecial friends came to visit us in their popup trailers, and we enjoyed a wonderful campfire together under the stars.
- Wise Words found in the Clutter!In the midst of reorganizing our buggy, a slip of paper with some wise words surfaced from the depths of our clutter.
- A Fleet of Leprechauns on the road!A fleet of 6 Coachmen Leprechaun Class C motorhomes from RoadBearRV.com suddenly pulled alongside us!
- A “FLXIBLE” RV!!What’s that coming towards us?? Hey, it’s a “Flxible” !!
- What is happening to our Public Lands?Fury over proposed permits for photographers on public land has gone viral, but changes at Grand Canyon are far worse.
- Sisters on the Fly!We had a fun encounter with “Sisters on the Fly,” an outdoor women’s adventure RV club, at Walmart!
- How big an RV do you need?Lots of folks think you need a big motorhome or fifth wheel to RV full-time, but maybe not!
- Finding the Fountain of Youth!A chance camping encounter with an inspiring 76 year old mountain biker taught us it’s never too late to have a second childhood!
- Cheap Veggies in AZ – Superstition Ranch MarketSuperstition Ranch Market sells fresh ripe produce for dimes on the dollar. What a great discovery!
- How much inverter is enough?A mishap and blown up inverter send us back to the basics in our life off the grid.
- To Catch a Hummingbird (on camera!)Catching a hummingbird on camera is not so easy, but with a window feeder on our RV and lots of patience, we got great images!
INSIGHTS, ESSAYS and THOUGHTS about LIVING THE DREAM
Here are some of our musings about why we started full-timing and what it’s like to live this way:
- Polaris RZR 900 XC – A New Ride and A New Chapter in our Travels!A new Polaris 900 XC Edition is expanding our horizons and giving a fabulous new ride for our full-time RV travels!
- Merry Christmas and Thank You for a Great Year!Merry Christmas and thank you for a wonderful year of travel adventures.
- Lessons Learned in the Full-time RV Lifestyle – Tips & Ideas!After 11 years of cruising and RVing full-time we’ve learned some great lessons, especially the importance of pursuing your dreams.
- Camping World Video Shoot — RVing is for Everyone!We were thrilled to “star” in a Camping World video as part of their campaign, “RVing is for Everyone.” Here’s the back story.
- Full-time RV Pioneer & Escapees RV Club Co-Founder: Kay PetersonKay Peterson is an extraordinary and inspiring woman who co-founded the Escapees RV Club and was a full-time RV lifestyle pioneer.
- 10 Years of Life on the Road by RV and Sailboat – The 2nd Half!After 10 years of life on the road in an RV and sailboat, we’re telling our whole story in two parts. Here’s the 2nd half of the tale.
- 10 Years of Full-time RVing and Sailing!! – The Early Years…After traveling full-time by RV and sailboat for ten years, we take a look back at our travels & evolution in the early years.
- 9th Anniversary of Full-time Travel by RV and Sailboat – Reflections!Traveling full-time by RV and sailboat has been our dream come true, and today we are celebrating our 9th anniversary on the road!
- What Does It Take to Live The Dream?What does it take to Live the Dream of full-time RV travel, cruising and sailing adventures and having a blast in life? A few thoughts…
- What Is Your Dream?In our full-time traveling lifestyle we have spent a lot of time figuring out what it is to have a dream and to make it come true…
- On the Road to your Dreams, Stay the Course!When starting a life of full-time travel, by RV or sailboat or other means, the transition can be rocky. Just remember: stay the course!
- Living, Loving and Perfecting “The Dream”After 3.5 years of cruising Mexico, we are taking Groovy to San Diego to end our cruising lifestyle and begin a new chapter.
- What’s It Like to RV Full-time? – A Snapshot of Pure Joy (as the banking world collapsed)What’s it like to RV full-time? Here is a snapshot of one month’s adventures (Sep. ’08) to give you a feeling for this great lifestyle…
- Why Do It? – Why We Left Home to Live in an RV!Why leave the comfort and security of home to run away & live full-time in an RV? Here’s what motivated & inspired us…
You may also enjoy our travel posts which are chock full of photos and describe all the places we’ve seen. These are listed in the menus at the top of this page under “USA” and “OTHER COUNTRIES” (We took our RV to Canada briefly. We traveled to the other countries in that list by sailboat or airplane).