Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

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Post Info TOPIC: Lessons Learned - What are your top 3


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Lessons Learned - What are your top 3


I've been keeping a running list of all the things I have learned from reading people's posts and Howard's journal, and I thought I would throw it open to ask if you could go back to your former self and tell them three things...what would they be.  They can be anything camping related ..not just full-timing.  

 

 



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 Trace 

Ford F350 Super Duty 4x2.  Open Range 386FLR

Follow our journey at www.camperchronicles.com

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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it took a long time for me to learn to be as my Motto........Live , Breathe , Relax !!!

Remove the "Rush" From your life.....when your in a hurry, you pass by so much and end up in aimless directions missing what you were looking for from the start!

The rule of "STUFF"......its only worth something if you use it more than once.....it will cost you more to store it if you dont.

Never believe the brochure and ads for the campground.....LOL.....they pay big money in advertisement and not to many give refunds!!

Ohh Yeahh!!..........Nikki says " Hot dogs always taste better when pulled from someone else's Stick".... and life is always more fun when somebody leave's the gate open!!biggrinbiggrinnowinkawwbiggrin



-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Tuesday 1st of April 2014 12:47:10 PM

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 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!



RV-Dreams Family Member

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I hate travelling with a time table. We always tried to squeeze in too many visits with relatives. Now we pick one centrally located to others and let them come to us.

Stop by 3PM so you have time to get settled for the night while there is still daylight. Also have time to see some sights.

Stop and smell the roses.... I remember one trip where we passed by the Petrified Forest Natl Park but couldn't take the time to go see it due to our time schedule. Now we stop at whatever interests us...schedule be damned !

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"Small House, Big Yard "

"May the FOREST be with you"
Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe



RV-Dreams Family Member

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1. Learn to laugh at yourself before you laugh at others. I've lost track of the number times I've done something that others have laughed at me deservedly so.

2. Given a choice, always get better quality over larger quantity. You'll end up paying more for cheap stuff.

3. Don't panic. Panic leads to stupid mistakes.(sometimes resulting in the cause of rule #1)



-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 2nd of April 2014 07:58:57 AM

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2017 RAM 3500 Laramie 4x4 CCLB, CTD, Aisin, B&W hitch, dually
2020 Keystone Montana Legacy 3813MS w/FBP ,
MORryde 8k IS, Kodiak disc brakes, no solar  YET!



RV-Dreams Family Member

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1 - have fun planning but hold your plans / schedule loosely, flexibility is needed to make this lifestyle work.
2 - realize purging is an ongoing habit in this lifestyle.
3 - learn to relish the differences in different parts of the country and try at least one new thing in each location.

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FT - July 2013

 

2010 38TKSB3 DRV Mobile Suites

2012 Ford F450

 

Dale and Ruth Travelling with Tazzy Kat!

 

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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1. Attitude makes the difference between an ordeal and an adventure.

2.Always chock the wheels before UN-hooking... Always.

3. 80 % of what you worry about never happens.

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2005 Dodge 3500 - Dually- Cummins
2006 Outback 27 RSDS
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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Always listen to DW when backing in to a site, or your own driveway in some cases.
If it didn't kill you or someone else, it's going to make a funny camp fire story later.
Wine, not whine, makes everything better.



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Paul & Kathy

2014 Phaeton 42LH

"When the time comes to look back, make sure you will like what you see" 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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These are all great!!! Keep em coming. I was particularly struck by attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure. That goes beyond lesson learned and into life motto category :)

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 Trace 

Ford F350 Super Duty 4x2.  Open Range 386FLR

Follow our journey at www.camperchronicles.com

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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1. Full-timing is not a vacation, it's a lifestyle.

2. Material things are unimportant.

3. Stop and smell the roses.

Jim



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Jim and Linda
Full-timers from 2001 to 2013
http://parttimewithjandl.blogspot.com/ 
2006 Dodge 2500 Diesel pulling a Heartland 26LRSS TT
May your days be warm, and your skies be blue.
May your roads be smooth, and your views ever-new.



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Don't marry wife #2 for her looks- not worth it
Take time to listen to what people are doing- not what they're saying.... (think about it)
Enjoy yourself, you can never revisit the moment

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Carrilite Home

Volvo Pickup

Alie & Jim

Morgan- DD

Sallie- 4 legged lab

Tabitha & Brooke -other furballs

FullTiming since March 2013



RV-Dreams Family Member

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1- It has worked out good so far. Don't change the big stuff. 

2- Buy the right RV for your lifestyle the first time.  It's cheaper that way.

3- Start on the bucket list sooner.  One never knows when they will kick the bucket. 

 



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When it comes to the hereafter, I want to be in the no smoking section. 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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You're right Jim, if you're not smelling the pile of roses then you're smelling a pile of something else, if it's not roses then just move on.
Smell affects your body and mind.

There is a time and a place to shovel things. 


Lonney



-- Edited by Lonney Wade on Wednesday 2nd of April 2014 10:17:48 AM

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2010 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD 4x4 Duramax    

2010 Keystone Everest 345S 37' 5th wheel
50 gal. Aux Fuel Tank

Rear 5000 pound Air Ride

25K Air Safe Hitch
Powerupdiesel tuner or EZTurner

  

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Every fighter has a plan until they get hit (the more you dig-in, the more likely you'll end up on your a$$).

Family and friends who discourage your dreams make for less places you have to visit later.

If your dog doesn't trust someone, you shouldn't either.

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Tessa the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

2014 Thor Tuscany XTE 34ST

2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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1. Do it now - there may not be a later.

2. You need way less than you think you do.

3. Happy wife = happy life!
(posted by a wife - of course!)

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Buying a house during the depression of 08-10 sounded great... but realized very quick at a 30 yr mortgage I would be 81 b4 paying off and no retirement

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04 Mustang GT

05 Harley Davidson

14 King Charles Cavalier



RV-Dreams Family Member

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1) Never try to roll up a manual awning in a windstorm or in a rainstorm.

2) Always HAVE A "SPOTTER" WHEN BACKING UP and just one as more can confuse you!

3) Before emptying your holding tanks especially the Black Water; make sure your conections are tight and the end is securely attached to the disposal station. Stand back after you open the slide valve!!! PIEERE

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Life is too short. Live it Now!

Currently at Shady Acres RV Park   Lebanon; Tennessee

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Check all your tires by hitting them wit a ball peen hammer or iron rod before starting and at every stop! Taught by our RVSrivingschool.com instructor and it paid off the very next trip. (Leaky valve, replaced, saved the tire. "Using air pressure gage to check just releases air".) This applies if you don't use tire heat/pressure Gage's on truck AND trailer tire gauges.

Manage your expectation and have plan B & C ( this should be RIGHT up YOUR alley Trace with all your lists!)

Carefully, being sure to not offend, offer help to newbies or especially those in rental campers struggling with set ups.

Laugh often.

Sherry





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Our "Rolling Rest Home" 2013 Trilogy 3650RL dragged by a 2005 GMC Sierra 4x4 Diesel Dually -SOLD

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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From many years of camping and some RV'ing, there have been many lessons, with too many to even begin to list.  But, some of them would be great fireside stories...

...ask me about "meeting the bear" in the woods sometime.

1. No matter how old one is or experienced with RV'ing and camping, there is ALWAYS something new to learn.  Appreciate every one.

2. Just about every neighbor in an RV park or campground could be your "next" best friend, especially if you are having problems.

3. Not so much when driving, but especially when hiking, pause and turn around to see what is behind you.  The trail you just came on will look different than your first view of it from the opposite direction, and you may need to know of landmarks when you are returning the same way.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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  1. Relax
  2. Money does not equal happy
  3. It can be fixed


-- Edited by The Hensons on Wednesday 9th of April 2014 08:47:38 PM

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Kyle, Lisa, and Kylee

Full-timers since 2011

RV-Dreams rallies: Myrtle Beach '09, Hershey '11, Sevierville 2014

RVer Insurance Exchange



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1. Diesels need/like to be run, long and often

2. Love is wonderful, but in an RV 'Like' is more important

3. No regrets

huggies Kim x

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2016 Vilano by VanLeigh, 2012 F350 Diesel SD 6,7L long bed SRW

Staying at Greenlakes RV Resort nr San Antonio TX

Kim is way too busy planning to have a 'real' job!

Jay is a civillian Gov't Historian Randolph AFB TX (retired AD in '07 after 23 yrs)



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Live Well!

Love Much!

Laugh Often!


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Les, Bonnie, Morgan and 4 Legger - Bella

2001 Beaver Patriot Monticello 40'

Ready Brute Elite/Ready Brake

2013 Ford F150 Platinum 4x4

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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These are so great :) perked up my morning reading them all...and I added several to my lessons learned :)

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 Trace 

Ford F350 Super Duty 4x2.  Open Range 386FLR

Follow our journey at www.camperchronicles.com

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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You don't tug on Superman's cape

You don't spit into the wind

You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger

And you don't mess around with Jim

 

 

 



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Gene & Eileen

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Newhalls,
I want a like button!!

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Cindi



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I guess now after reading it and singing it in my mind it will be stuck in my head all day!!!...........guess thats better than the Barney song thats been in there a Few days!....biggrinbiggrinnobiggrinbiggrin



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 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Cindi wrote:

Newhalls,
I want a like button!!


  Ha ha! Following those four simple rules has kept me out of a lot of trouble.

 

Mike: I have it on a continuous loop in my head also.



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Gene & Eileen

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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That's right. Don't mess with my mask. You can however tug on my cape.

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Russ & Terri Ranger

Travel since July 2013

Home base: Buckeye,AZ

Wandering the USA & Canada in our Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40' PDT Motorhome

Travel so far: 49 States - International Travel -19 countries

http://grandbanksruss.blogspot.com



RV-Dreams Family Member

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#1 The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

#2 always and I mean always do a walk a round after you have stopped to do anything.

#3 never say never. This one really hits home this year.



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Bill & Dana S.

1998 Dodge ram 3500

1998 terry 36' fifth wheel

1989 wilderness 33' bumper pull summer rig

 Home is where you park it

+1 to come August 2014



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Something costly WILL break.

Nicer if your are outgoing. A smile always helps. (Is that 2?)

Don't always have to be busy, just sitting around is ok.



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Phyllis and Leonard

2011 F350 King Ranch Dually    2016 Ford Escape

No longer own an RV.   No need.  No longer RV.

 

myownhighwaysinmymind.blogspot.com

 

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