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:

• Americas Mailbox – Mail Forwarding & So Much More in South Dakota! 05/10/19Americas 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? 03/08/19We 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 West 02/22/19Coffee 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! 02/15/19When 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! 01/11/19A 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 Dog 12/28/182018 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! 11/23/18Easy 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! 11/17/18101 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! 05/25/18After 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! 05/04/18The 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! 04/06/18We 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 Towing 03/23/18MORryde SRE 4000 installation & review: A fairly easy install and what a fabulous upgrade for smooth trailer towing!
• RV Screen Door Modifications & Upgrades 03/09/183 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 ??? 01/26/18A 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?!) 01/12/18RVing 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!) 11/03/17Brighten 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?! 10/13/17What 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! 09/18/17How do full-time RV travelers get mail, file taxes & get insurance? We’ve been RVing full-time since 2007 & have loads of tips for you.
• Mobile Internet & Phone Communications for RV Living – A Minimalist Solution! 07/03/17How 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 Peterson 06/13/17Kay 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 🙂 06/07/17When 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! 05/28/17After 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… 05/24/17After 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 Wands 05/11/17Here 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? 03/23/17Going 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 Parks 12/31/16Our 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 Mexico 12/29/16Mexican 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 Excellence 10/22/16What 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 Storms 10/07/16How 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! 08/29/16Traveling 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 RV 07/31/16How 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 Life 06/28/16The 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 Review 06/23/16The 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! 05/27/16You 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! 05/22/16Traveling 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! 05/19/16A 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 Capacity 05/01/16When 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? 04/17/16Diesel 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 RV 03/31/16The 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! 03/20/16How 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! 03/12/16Here 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 Towing 02/28/16The 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 Lose 02/14/16A 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 Mexico 02/12/16Finding 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! 01/07/16At 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? 01/02/16What 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! 12/26/152015 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 RV 12/19/15Finding 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! 11/09/15How 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! 11/04/15Here’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! 10/16/15Pausing 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! 09/27/15Our 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 – How to Transition & Which RV Is Best? 09/02/15Going full-time? Which RV is the best to live in and how do you transition to a life on the road? Here are tips from RVers who did it.
• RVing Full-time – Living & Working on the Road 08/27/15RVing full-time is a blast, but who’s living on the road and how do they make money? Here’s the inside scoop & tips to learn more!
• Canada RV Travel Tips – RVing Nova Scotia & the Canadian Rockies! 08/16/15Taking 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? 08/11/15An 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! 06/22/15RV 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! 03/16/15The 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!! 03/13/15One 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 Package 03/09/15Casita 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! 02/19/15The 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 CamperForce 02/04/15Amazon 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 Desert 01/22/15As 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 RV 01/06/15Chance encounters introduced us to two RVs that are seeing the Whole World by RV!
• A Wedding Photo Shoot Among The Wild Horses! 01/02/15We 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 Beauty 12/30/14Looking 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? 12/22/14Living on the road in an RV without a home address, sometimes you need to to sell stuff you don’t need…
• Volunteering for Fun 12/11/14Some folks volunteer their time in exchange for an RV site. As boondockers, we feel we’re being paid first…
• What Kinda RV izZAT?? 12/09/14A 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? 11/23/14The 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 Wagons 11/20/14Special 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! 11/18/14In 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! 10/13/14A fleet of 6 Coachmen Leprechaun Class C motorhomes from RoadBearRV.com suddenly pulled alongside us!
• A “FLXIBLE” RV!! 10/08/14What’s that coming towards us?? Hey, it’s a “Flxible” !!
• What is happening to our Public Lands? 10/02/14Fury over proposed permits for photographers on public land has gone viral, but changes at Grand Canyon are far worse.
• Sisters on the Fly! 06/17/14We 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? 04/28/14Lots of folks think you need a big motorhome or fifth wheel to RV full-time, but maybe not!
• Finding the Fountain of Youth! 03/20/14A 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 Market 03/11/14Superstition Ranch Market sells fresh ripe produce for dimes on the dollar. What a great discovery!
• How much inverter is enough? 03/06/14A mishap and blown up inverter send us back to the basics in our life off the grid.
• To Catch a Hummingbird (on camera!) 01/18/14Catching 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 Peterson Kay 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).