Since we started RVing, we've done quite a bit of experimentation with different setups with not only indoor and outdoor living areas, but also with the rig itself, both in motion and stationary. You may have seen some of our short life-hack videos on the topic, but here's a little more information on what we're doing to make our lives easier.
First thing's first: Stabilizing the RV. You don't want that thing rocking around on the wheels when you're parked, but what could you use? Sure, the camping stores are going to get you to purchase those plastic leveling blocks. They aren't that bad of a product to help with getting the jack contacts to a higher point for better stability, but they do fall apart somewhat easily from being plastic, and looking at various outlets, can be quite expensive. One of the better choices that we've found are step stones that you'll find in a hardware store. Not only are they relatively inexpensive, but much more sturdy. Even with the rounded top edge, they'll still stack comfortably which was one of our original worries that has been alleviated. The one square foot size is what works the best for our jacks, and when we travel, they fit between the rungs of our ladder and provide some ballast to offset the weight of the trailer. They are a little on the heavy side, so if you're averse to picking up one of these, you can always cut down a pressure treated 2x12 into squares, but be aware that they aren't going to last as long, as we've had some of them split on us.
Now that everything's set up, let's look at that outdoor kitchen. We've tried those grills with the foldable legs before, but they are incredibly flimsy. Sure, you could detach and re-attach more sturdy legs like we do with a smoker, but it's not always the easiest to do that, not to mention a larger amount of room would be needed for storage when traveling. Enter the tabletop grill. This one could have turned into a bit of an issue as less and less RV parks are including picnic tables with their sites. Coincidentally, one of the parks actually requested that a board be placed between the grill and the picnic table to prevent damage. Upon further investigation, it was simple plywood, and was able to be found inexpensively. Couple this with the difficulty of finding metal fold-up tables at a reasonable price, and two and two came together to simply use the folding card tables with some pressure treated plywood.
Heading back inside, one of the most important things for all of us is drinking water. Sure, many people think to drink from the tap, but this isn't always a good option. We've come across moldy water pipes in one location, along with tap water in another that was so rich in iron that it turned our shower orange. These aren't exactly things you want to drink, and those filters that you put into a water pitcher or similar small dispenser just weren't doing the trick. So we started turning to water bottles, but not only was this getting expensive (especially in states that charge bottle deposits), but the amount of trash dramatically increased, despite the pup having a "ten second toy". The solution ended up being a water pump that we would attach to refillable water cooler bottles. The good news is that there are caps you can get so you can simply refill instead of exchange, saving even more money to make the system pay for itself. How many bottles you get would depend on how close you intend to be to a refill station or a spot you know to have clean water. It can also fit in the truck if you're traveling and don't want to spend an arm and a leg on convenience store drinks.
So while you're out there Following Your Internal Compass, take a look at some of the hassles in your life and see if you can make things easier for you.
O RV Park, O RV park,
Your football fans have pulled out.
O RV Park, O RV park,
Your football fans have pulled out.
For four whole months you raised your rates,
Now season's gone and you have space.
O RV Park, O RV park,
Your football fans have pulled out.
O RV Park, O RV park,
You are our winter haven;
O RV Park, O RV park,
You are our winter haven.
Though sometimes frozen nights await,
It's better than a northern state!
O RV Park, O RV park,
You are our winter haven!
O RV Park, O RV park,
We wish your pool was heated.
O RV Park, O RV park,
We wish your pool was heated.
We think it would improve our stay,
Because the beach is far away.
O RV Park, O RV park,
We wish your pool was heated!
Not every day is going to be bright and sunny when you're living in the RV. Having gone through a fair share of storms ourselves, here's a few tips that can hopefully help you out so you aren't finding things to be too awful.
First thing's first: Preparation is the key. With some things like tornadoes, you're not going to have this luxury. However with floods and hurricanes, you will. Take stock of the environment around you. If you're in a heavily wooded area, the risk is higher that a tree will fall and take out your rig, which sadly happened to at least one couple we met near the time of writing this. If it's more open, the only debris you might meet are the things left out by the neighbors, which may not be so bad. However, follow the paths and get an idea of where the storm is going to go. If the brunt is going to hit you head on, you may want to pack it up and leave. Remember that your house is on wheels, so you have that ability. Just be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to account for heavy traffic and potentially higher fuel prices.
You've now decided to stay, whether by your choice or not. The next step is easy: Act like you're going to boondock for a few days. Fill the fresh tank, have a good amount of propane (and diesel/gas if you have an on-board generator), and charge the extra batteries. The extra weight from the fresh tank should help to stabilize your rig a little bit, albeit not as much as a house. During one storm with our tiny Jayco, we ended up using picnic tables to keep it from rocking too much. Should you lose power, remember that your refrigerator and hot water heater should be able to run with propane. Just remember that any heater, whether for water or climate, is going to be the big drain on your fuel, so use it sparingly. It also goes without saying, but make sure to retract your awning. That's usually the first to go if it's extended.
Everything's passed, and the aftermath now begins. Hopefully you remembered that the grocery stores won't have any perishable product for a while, and even the Waffle House is going to close. As for fuel, one thing we noticed is that, if you have a diesel vehicle and were able to procure a fleet card, the truck stops aren't going to see too much of a difference in demand, so use that to your advantage and bypass the long lines for the auto pumps that extend to the highway. If you tow as opposed to using a motor home, you might be able to work with some of the local charities that are trying to deliver supplies.
Your Internal Compass might bring you to a spot that won't have the best weather, but if it does, a little bit of preparation will help you get through the storm.
If you're a full-time RVer, you may notice that your laundry bill becomes quite exorbitant, even in some of the more "economical" places. Never fear, there's a fix for that.
One of our newer gadgets that has certainly helped us is a portable washing machine. At first, we weren't really able to use it because of the size of our 2009 Jay Flight trailer, as we weren't even able to store it very well. Fast forward to the new rig, and it's finally having some use. We still don't have a dedicated space for it, as it's not meant to be used outdoors, and the only place with a relatively usable water and drain source is our bathroom sink and shower respectively. Still, through a winter of no full laundry services and the nearest laundromat about half an hour away, it's served us well.
If you've never seen these portable washing machines, they're fairly easy to use. One side will have a "wash" cycle, while the other will have a "spin" cycle. Usually you'll hook up a water hose from a faucet to the machine, and then there's a drain pipe that runs out. The actual load capacities do run on the smaller side, so you'll need to do several loads with possibly a couple rounds worth of spins. Also remember that it is illegal in many jurisdictions (and not a good idea in the first place with all the detergent chemicals) to dump grey water onto the ground, so make sure you're letting it out in the tub or shower and emptying your grey tank properly. Once you have your clothes washed, either use a line to dry if it's permitted (most private campgrounds don't allow this), a rack in your rig, or take it to a service at a much lower cost. Just make sure if you do use a laundromat, they don't have an issue with you only drying, as there was one where we were in South Dakota that insisted you do both there for profit reasons.
With our laundry system, we've been trying to figure out ways to improve the situation. We've thought about potentially building a platform for the machine so the drain pipe can sit above the lip of the shower and we don't have to pick up the machine to drain the water. It shouldn't be that difficult; perhaps something akin to when we built stairs for the old rig. Some of the newer, larger RVs will come with laundry hookups or even washer/dryer combos themselves. Without hookups or access, that isn't really an option, but you can always put it on the wish list for the next one. We're still beholden to using larger machines for most of the bedding, so we're always on the lookout for the best deals, which are starting to become few and far between.
So don't let the laundry get in the way of your Internal Compass. Grab a portable washing machine and continue to enjoy life on the road!
Even when you live on the road, both of the "sure things" in life still exist, with one of them being taxes. More specifically, the income type.
We've discussed previously some tax advantages that exist when you establish domicile in an income-tax-free state. As of the time this is written, the states without a state income tax are Alaska, Washington, Nevada, Texas, Wyoming, South Dakota, Florida, and Tennessee. Although New Hampshire does not charge tax on earned income, it does with unearned income (i.e. dividends and interest). The state where you establish domicile is going to cover bank interest, stock dividends, and capital gains, with each being a nice tidy supplement. But maybe you're wanting to work on the road, whether it's at the place you're staying, or somewhere in town. In addition to the federal rates, you may end up with another bill on your hands, so be ready for additional paperwork if you work in a state that wasn't listed.
Regardless of what state you're in, it's important to understand, and is a good idea to ask during the interview process, how you are being paid if you're workamping for salary. Are you receiving a W-2 as an employee, or are you receiving (or at least SHOULD be receiving) a 1099 as a self-employed contractor? This makes a big difference, because if it's the latter, you're going to be responsible for paying the entirety of Social Security and Medicare taxes, which is above 15%. If you receive a W-2, these are typically deducted as a "payroll tax" (look for FICA on the pay stub), of which the employer and employee both pay half, so if you're self-employed, you can deduct half from the adjusted gross income. An important note about these taxes is that they are due not only on April 15th, but also every quarter. You'll want to get familiar with Schedule C, Schedule SE, and the 1040-ES for estimated payments, but be careful not to get too "cheeky" with the deductions, because they might not be business related. If you've overpaid throughout the previous year, you can hold some or all of the refund as a prepayment for next year, which will help to offset these costs for at least part of the first quarter.
While we're on the subject of "every quarter", it's actually a good idea to reconcile your income generated at the end of each quarter: March 31st, May 31st, August 31st, and December 31st. Those middle two dates are intentional. Remember that 15 days after each of the aforementioned, taxes are due. When you're a full-time RVer, you're going to find that your rate of income could wildly change throughout the year. If this wild change puts you at a point where you're going to have to pay penalties, having these reconciliations will help you. You are able to reduce penalties based on an extrapolated income you would have made if what you did for the given period remained the same throughout the year. To figure this out, multiply quarter 1 by 4, quarter 2 by 2.4, and quarter 3 by 1.5 (now you see why those two weird dates are a month early).
As a quick disclaimer: The information provided may or may not be accurate as of the time you read this, so it's best to consult with a tax professional before making any sort of financial decisions. They'll make sure you're doing well when you Follow your Internal Compass.
For some people who personally know at least one of us, full-time RVing would be the last thing you'd expect us to do. This is something we've seen when talking with other couples as well: One wants to sit at home with the IT job and just do gaming, while the other wants to live in the RV. But how would you ever consider actually going on the road with a life like that?
The most important mindset to have about full-time RVing is that it's all about wanting to travel and see the country. We've always had this in mind, and is ironically why we first started going together all those many years ago. She likes to road-trip but hates being behind the wheel, while he likes to drive on road trips. It only seems natural to want to head out into the vastness of the good ol' USA. Full-time RVing doesn't have to be seen as your traditional camping trip anymore, although you can certainly make it that if you want it to be. You could be a hobby gamer and live in an RV these days if you really wanted to, as well as telecommute your job, have all the basic comforts that a traditional house or apartment would have, and the only thing that really changes is what you see outside your window every now and then.
For us wanting to do the whole full-time RV thing, it's actually been years in the making. Although we both grew up not too far from each other and still have connections to those areas, we weren't necessarily the happiest with our region; we simply tolerated it. In fact, we almost started the adventure five years before we actually did. It's a bit of an interesting story, where his job was considering the possibility of everyone working remotely. Unfortunately, the high-ups believed that people working remotely wouldn't actually do their jobs, so the idea was nixed. If it had panned out, we'd have already been on the road, probably testing out some of the latest technologies of the day, but alas, we'll never know. Fast forward a few years, and the disillusion with the region, coupled with the settling of certain affairs, reached a point where the opportunity to escape presented itself, so we took it.
So the next time one of the Internal Compasses wants to take you on the road, don't rule it out because someone is a home-body. There's something for everyone out here.
As you spend a bit of time living on the road, you begin to figure out what does and doesn't work. Along the way, we've picked up a few things that should help us.
First thing where we've found some great use is with milk crates. Before going into this one, a little disclaimer is necessary: The bottling companies own the milk crates that you see in grocery stores, so don't be going out and stealing those. There are places where you can buy them, and at a fairly reasonable price for what they do. You might be used to seeing four 1-gallon jugs in those square milk crates, but did you notice it can perfectly fit both a 20 and a 30 pound propane tank? If you don't want to spend the time ratcheting them down (although we recommend you do), the solid base of the milk crate prevents easy tipping, while you safely transport the tanks from your local filling station. They also make for great braces if you need to hold something up.
One of the biggest things we've figured out during some of our trips is that you can't necessarily trust the quality of the water where you happen to be staying, even if you're using the RV and marine filters. We've seen moldy hoses, even our entire piping system going orange from iron deposits. Sadly, one of the regular expenses that is therefore difficult to avoid is drinking water. We've tried the packs of bottles for a while, but that doesn't quite work out well, especially when taking trash into account, so we've found a pump that can be put on top of the dispenser bottles you see in offices, and that has given us the ability to use drinking water. Refills are also easily available across the country, and if there's a decent source, we could always bring the jugs with us.
If you're like us, you probably find yourself staying at a number of state parks. Campgrounds built by the Corps of Engineers are still on the bucket list as of the time of writing this, but they typically have one thing in common: Lack of sewer hookup. If you're only staying for a couple of days, this isn't so bad, but any longer and you'll need to dump. When you have a larger rig, packing it all up to hit the dump station isn't practical. Enter into the picture: A 42-gallon waste tank. We found one where we can hook this to the back of our truck, fill it up, and take it to the dump station. Even if you happen to have a typical sedan or a golf cart, so long as you have a tow hookup, it should work as well. You'll need to make sure you're able to tow at least 500 pounds, as a gallon of water weighs a little over 8 pounds, and it isn't exactly all that fun walking one of these full of your black tank up a hill, even when it's on wheels.
So as we Follow our Internal Compass, we're still finding ways to make our lives more efficient and versatile. Who knows what we'll find next...
Come, they told me, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum:
The black tank to empty, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum.
Out towards the valve to pull, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum;
But found the hose was full, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum,
rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum;
Hooking is the test, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum;
To the new drum...
Spurting out it came, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum;
I'll never be the same, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum.
I pulled the valve and vent, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum;
And in the drum it went, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum,
rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum...
Filling to the top, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum;
Mess will come.
Driving to the dump, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum;
And I just hit a bump, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum.
The drum, it got a flat, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum;
So I'll need to fix that, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum,
rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum...
Emptied out the stuff, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum;
Down to one....
Where did we go for trip 15? Nowhere!
Instead, a new trip has been "started" because the 2009 Jayco Jay Flight has been sold. It served well as a home for a couple of years, and was a good way to get our feet wet with living full-time in the RV. Not to mention, with the truck we were able to find, it was just about all we could pull, and was questionable even at that. Unfortunately for various reasons, it was not going to be able to suit us any longer, and so it's time to make like William DeVries and change to a different heart.
Enter heart number two for Freedom Rolling, a 2013 Keystone Cougar 318SAB. It's a good thing that we picked up a new soul able to take on a Fifth Wheel, because this one IS a Fifth Wheel. It's nearly 35 feet in total length with three slideouts, yet still accessible should we need to stay in a truck stop. We're up to 50 amp plugs now, so we say goodbye to the under-powered generator. There were a few modifications made before purchasing, such as a table-and-chair dinette group along with some larger recliners that make packing up a little more awkward, but we will certainly have a chance to make this our own.
So keep reading as we Follow Our Internal Compass in our new heart to many new places across this country.
Whether or not you're in the market, all full-time RVers have, at one point or another, started looking at other models, and have asked themselves that proverbial question: What do I actually want in a rig? Here at Freedom Rolling, we're no exception.
The first thing we consider is the year and size. Those big honkers may be all nice and fancy, but if you're going to be spending time in publicly owned parks or some open spot in the middle of nowhere, you're going to want a rig on the smaller side. A maximum of 40 feet is what the parks usually advertise, but about 30 feet or less is a good target. Even in the private sector, the smaller the rig, the easier of a time you'll have getting into almost any site, especially if a power pole is right next to it. While we're on size, weight is a very important factor. You need to be able to safely move the RV. Give yourself a couple thousand pounds of leeway for what your truck is rated, otherwise you may find yourself with suspension issues. The year of the vehicle can also be important, especially if you want to stay at private parks. Most have a "10-year rule" for RVs, where if your rig is more than 10 years old, they don't want you there unless you obtain special permission. Newer is not always better, though, as there was a period from 2020 to 2022 where rigs were very cheaply made in order to satisfy a demand, and some of those are already falling apart as of the time the article is written.
Enough about the outside; most of us who "window shop" want what's on the inside. Definitely start with counter space in the kitchen, because you'll likely have a slow cooker there almost every day. Can you fit that? Once that's done, consider the dining area. Is a desk important for you, or can you live with clogging up your dinner table with electronics and other activities? Going between the two, can you live with something akin to Jon Taffer's famous "butt funnel", or do you need a slide to give yourself some more room? Go room by room, and figure out what you want. Do you want a traditional bed, or is a bunk OK? How tall do you want the shower to be? Do you want a fireplace, or can you live with regular HVAC? How about how your refrigerator and water heater run? How do you get from place to place inside the rig? How much power and propane is all of this going to take, too?
Every single thing has its importance, and it's up to each of us to balance what we want, and what we're able to do in terms of both desire and cost. Sometimes, you're only able to find a truck that can pull a minimal amount, so you need a tiny rig. That's OK when you're starting out, because it's more manageable, and you can actually experience everything you want without being overwhelmed. Once you understand the joys of being out here full-time, then you can branch out and start to check off more of your wants. Nothing will be absolutely 100% perfect, there's always things that change as you go along.
So as you Follow your Internal Compass, be on the lookout for different things in a RV that may work for you.
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