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!!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Community Chat -> Report from 4 months Full-time
Post Info TOPIC: Report from 4 months Full-time
Gpndavid


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 146
Date:
Report from 4 months Full-time
Permalink  

We owe a great deal to all the RV Dream veterans and founders.  Feeling a bit guilty that once we started full-timing, we have not been on the forum.  We moved in to our motorhome 1 June and I am still juggling work, family commitments and the RV lifestyle.  We have traveled from Maryland to Alabama to California.  It has been a really cool experience so far.  Here are a few things we have learned:

1. Invest in a good surge protector and water pressure regulator

2. RV living is a participant activity.  No spectators.  You and your significant other need to be fully engaged. Trip planning/navigation/set-up/tear down.

3. Love the pets, but there are logistics and daily routine considerations with them. Embrace it or don't bring them.

4. Love sleeping in our own bed in our own home.  

5. You are hauling a load, don't get in a hurry. They can go around you.

6. Eight hours is a long day of travel when you are managing 40+ feet, 30,000lbs, at 13 feet tall and 8.5 feet wide.

7. Plan short, medium and long overnight stop locations on travel days.  Stuff happens or maybe it doesn't.

8. Don't get in a position where you must buy fuel at a remote "mom and pop" station. One bad tank of diesel can send you on a quest for repairs.  

9. Spray the water bib with chlorine before you hook up because the last guy put his sewer hose under/over/around it to rinse it off.   

10. Road signs exist that say something like "RESTRICTED ACCESS AHEAD 11 FOOT LIMIT" and they should have more information.   Are they talking about width, height or length? Stay alert.

11. You will make wrong turns that require you to stop and unhook the TOAD so you can back up. Don't get upset…deal with it. 

12. Four dudes at a truck wash can clean your coach in 30 minutes better than you can in half a day.  Cost $75 and they did my TOAD and bikes on the rack.

13. Ditched the Norcold and put in a residential refrigerator WITHOUT WATER and ICE IN THE DOOR. Did not get the extra batteries and bigger inverter.  Runs fine on the 4 battery bank and 2000 watt inverter for a couple days.  Key here is the WITHOUT water and ice in the door feature. 

14. New coach tires cost more than my first car.  They are worth it.

15. Have fun…most people on the planet can't imagine what we are doing let alone do it.

 

 

 



__________________

USAF Retired 2010. Began full timing June 2015, ended Dec 2018. 2007 Allegro Bus 40QSP with 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland TOAD. Our blog: keepingupwiththejonesrv.blogspot.com. 
el Rojo and Pam


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 911
Date:
Permalink  

Glad you're having fun. Very good list...I think you hit the nail on the head with that.

Red

__________________

Full timing since 2/27/14.

Silverado HD 3500 4X4 Dually.

Momentum 380 by Grand Design.
BiggarView


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1661
Date:
Permalink  

Number 9, ... seems completely obvious, but we never considered what the last guy did with it..... till now. Yuk, gross! It is now seered into my brainnosmile 

All the rest are good best practices reinforcement tips. Thanks

Brian



__________________

Brian, Cindi & Josie (our fur baby)
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!
Flashman


RV-Dreams Community Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 13
Date:
Permalink  

I'm curious about #13 - clearly the ' no ice or water in the door' is important, but why???

__________________
DB
Camper Chronicles


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 932
Date:
Permalink  

Thanks so much for writing this...couple of these really jumped out at me

 RV living is a participant activity.  No spectators.  You and your significant other need to be fully engaged. Trip planning/navigation/set-up/tear down.   Amen!!

 Ditched the Norcold and put in a residential refrigerator WITHOUT WATER and ICE IN THE DOOR. Did not get the extra batteries and bigger inverter.  Runs fine on the 4 battery bank and 2000 watt inverter for a couple days.  Key here is the WITHOUT water and ice in the door feature.   That's extremely interesting, and the first time I have seen that .  Thanks for sharing it

 

 

 

 

 Trace



__________________

 Trace 

Ford F350 Super Duty 4x2.  Open Range 386FLR

Follow our journey at www.camperchronicles.com

 
Jo And Craig


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 446
Date:
Permalink  

I wholeheartedly agree with No. 9. I could NOT believe it,  but I saw it with my own two eyes. I just can't seem to wrap my head around what people are thinking when they do this!no



__________________

 

sun.gifJo & Craig: Class of 2014!

http://itsourmomentintime.wordpress.com/

Life isn't about how you survived the storm, it's about how you danced in the rain!

2016 Lifestyle Luxury 39FB

2015 Ford F350 Dually Longbed (It's awesome!)
Hdrider


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 720
Date:
Permalink  

Yup, we have seen he #9 happen as well as people putting the sewer hose on the picnic table. Of course it still amazes me to see people do everything with the sewer hoses and not wear gloves.

__________________

Dave & Diane 

"40' New Horizon Majestic 5th wheel  

"2018 Ram 5500 w/Classy Chassis Hauler Bed

2014 Tiffin Phaeton 42LH "for sale" SOLD 

http://daveanddiane.wordpress.com/2012/07/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWqRmO1rO4cu3rFANF1iG6Q
BiggarView


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1661
Date:
Permalink  

AAAAAAAAA!!!! My eyes!!! Now I need an NBC de-con suit everytime I enter a campground. Let's petition Congress to declare CGs as superfund sites.no 

Brian



__________________

Brian, Cindi & Josie (our fur baby)
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!
Bill and Jodee


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 334
Date:
Permalink  

Great list, and so glad your first four months have been as good as ours. What a learning curve, huh?! Agree completely with the list, although am curious about the frig. We have water and ice in the door but do little dry camping so far - until our solar is installed. Hope you'll share with us what the difference is.

Our longest travel day has been three hours and that is rare, so for us it's short drives and long stays that make the life so perfect.

Since you're in CA, are you going to make Quartzsite this winter?

Jodee

__________________

Bill and Jodee Gravel Full-timers (June, 2015)

Tessa the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

2014 Thor Tuscany XTE 34ST

2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4

http://www.ontheroadabode.blogspot.com

 
heyduke


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 313
Date:
Permalink  

Yes you need to modify number 7 and omit anything to do with traveling 8 hours... slow down and enjoy what you may be racing by and missing on such long days... 3 hour travels days are as long as I like to drive as it leaves half a day to explore where you landed...
you need to slow it down a bit...

__________________

RV fulltimer class of 2011 - March!
On the Road to Retirement...zeetraveler.blogspot.com
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Community Chat -> Report from 4 months Full-time
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us