Well folks, exactly two years ago as of the day this is published, we closed on selling the house and went full-time for good.
Since then, after two years, twelve trips (14 total), 27 states (31 total), and nearly 50,000 miles later, this has been quite the ride. Surprisingly we are still in the same trailer, although we've since switched vehicles and spent a good chunk of the time in a mobile home apartment attached to a workamping office. We're a long ways from when we were piling all the rest of what we had into the trailer and rushing to get it into storage so we could have somewhere to sleep, but we've since figured out what we need, what we don't, what works for us, and how we can enjoy our lives to the fullest.
Taking a look back even to the six month post, the one thing we've learned is that we really have to be able to fly by the seat of our pants. Configurations have changed a few times both inside and out as we discover what works for us, but that's the beauty of a house being on wheels: As the landscape outside changes, so do things inside. We've had to make some additional changes electronically, and though it seems for the better now, perhaps it will change in the future. We're finally OK with using the stove, but haven't touched the oven. The patio kitchen has had upgrades, fun for both of us to use.
So what's in store for the future? It'd be tough not to say "more of the same", but as of right now, that's what it will be. Figure out where to go next, plan it all out, and then live life in a different environment. We're not at the point where we want to settle on a couple of different places yet, but we do have some favorites. We've also met some wonderful people, and maybe they'll get a visit from us; who knows. That's the beauty of living on the road: We never know, and can do pretty much whatever, wherever.
So be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass as we continue on our journey through this great country of ours.
When you're on the road full time, the "soul" isn't the only thing that needs tender loving care. The trailer itself, otherwise known as the "heart", will also require some regular maintenance.
Just like the soul, mobile capability is one of the most important things. Light checks are already a thing, but how about those axles? Although you may not be a complete fool if you park your rig upon the sand, or at least near a saltwater coast, the salt in the air can cause quite a build-up on the metal. Keep those axles lubricated. Some like to use bearing protectors, and it's not that bad of an idea. A can of spray oil doesn't hurt to supplement, though. Tire inflation and wear is also something to keep in mind, just like the tow vehicle.
It's not just what makes the vehicle a vehicle, but also the basic appliances and utilities. If you stay at that beach paradise, you may end up with some mud buildup in the drain pan of your air conditioner. Nothing says "bad day" like having to put a bucket under the unit because the drain pan won't drain. You may want to break out a ladder and examine that as best you can; just try not to do it when it's ready to downpour. Speaking of water, be on the lookout in some parts of the country for moldy supply. That will ruin your hose quickly. Also remember that salt can affect your connections with splitters and pressure regulators, too. Perhaps clean those things around the time you pack up and move. Finally with water, be careful of the freezing weather, lest your water pump goes out on you.
Don't let Following your Internal Compass destroy the heart of your journey. Keep it in check, and be ready to see much more.
Ever notice how rickety those RV stairs can be, and then one day, they just break on you? You could spend hundreds for part replacements or buying new stairs, or even worse: You buy a step ladder and destroy yourself while constantly using it as you receive dirty looks from the other campers because your setup looks trashy. Instead, try this less expensive idea on for size.
Camper stairs are easy to build, and are a great portable solution. Head down to your local hardware store and lumber yard, and here's what you'll want to get:
Two Pressure Treated Stair Stringers
2x6 Lumber
Exterior Wood Screws at least 2-1/2 inches long
Optional 2x4 Lumber
Exterior Wood Sealant
Optional Wood Stain or Outdoor Carpeting
For tools, make sure you have the following:
Circular saw
Some form of saw horse (use the back of your truck or a folding ladder)
Impact driver (drill might work if it's powerful enough)
Hammer or Rubber Mallet
Tape Measure and Ruler with Pencil
Optional Reciprocating Saw with Wood Blade
Paint brush
Safety equipment (Some might not want it, but we recommend it)
Before buying the materials, you'll want to measure the height from the ground to the bottom of the door entry, as well as the door width should you want to store your stairs in your RV, to see what size stringers and how much lumber you need to get. With our dimensions, we were able to use 3-step stringers at about 20 inches of height, and made our treads 20 inches wide so the stairs could go inside the RV. You could splurge on 2x12 boards or specialty stair treads if you really want, but 2x6 boards are your most economic solution for a single tread.
First, cut your 2x6 lumber to size. You'll need two boards for each "stair", but save any excess you might have, because you'll use it later. Once all your boards are cut, line up your stringers and start screwing in your treads. The second board on each step will overhang the stringer on the front, so do all of the rear boards before the front ones. Everything should line up, but it's OK if there's a little over- or under-hang, so long as it isn't too noticeable. Risers aren't really necessary, but you can do them if you want; not having them gives you a better way to "grip" the staircase if you need it to be portable.
Once the actual "stairs" are done, you'll need to put in some supports. This is where that excess 2x6 lumber comes in handy, but you can also use the less expensive 2x4 lumber should you run out of 2x6 pieces; we were able to do the whole thing with the 2x6 boards we had bought. Use vertical pieces from the back part of the stair stringer down to the ground. It doesn't have to go all the way to the top step; we stopped a little short based on the excess we had so we weren't wasting lumber. Once those are in, cut some horizontal cross pieces between your vertical supports to make sure the stairs don't wobble when you're on the top step. Some will put the supports on the outside, but for space saving purposes, we chose to tuck them on the inside; it seems to work just as well. You can do diagonal cross pieces if you really want to, but it requires some special tools to make the angles, and rectangular solutions are just fine. The same goes for handrails: You can do them if you really want, but there's probably already a rail on the outside of your rig, so just use that.
One to two hours later in the blazing sun, give or take for some product exchanges, you have yourself some lovely and sturdy stairs! Now time to seal them and either stain or put some carpeting on the treads, depending on what you want to do. After that has dried, you and your fur baby will have a much easier time getting in and out of your home. Not to mention, it looks a lot more sightly when you're at "higher end" resorts. Depending on the size, you should be able to pick this up yourself and move it around on travel days. Just be aware that it won't work for overnight boondocking at corporate establishments because it extends too far out into the next parking spot; you'll still need to use a step-ladder or something a bit smaller and more easily portable, but at least you can use that for other applications.
Don't let your old stairs, or the high expense of new RV stairs, keep you from Following your Internal Compass. Build yourself something that will work for you.
Our first soul has been retired.
The Ford F150 has been sold. Although this truck was very good as a starter vehicle and allowed us to explore what we have thus far, it's the end of the road with us. Even with the tow package upgrade, she was still only able to pull about 6000 pounds. Although our present heart fits the bill, it won't last forever, and we need options to be able to get something a little bigger. Farewell, F150; may she serve another owner well.
Enter into Freedom Rolling's lives soul number two, a Dodge Ram 2500. With nearly double the towing capacity and already being setup to be able to take on a Fifth Wheel, she is a welcome addition to the Freedom Rolling family. The one major change to our basic expenses, though, is that we say goodbye to the relatively inexpensive unleaded gasoline, and hello to diesel fuel. There's still some need for gasoline with the generator so we haven't lost our spare completely, but diesel will bring some new challenges and new procurements, along with some options should we wish to find another rig.
So join us as we Follow our Internal Compass with our new found soul.
As of the time this article is written, it has been about a year and three-quarters since we've taken to living on the road. Now being more experienced on the road and figuring out what we want, it's time for some kitchen upgrades.
First thing's first, that kitchen sink. OK, so this one was slightly borne of necessity with a cold spell and unsuccessfully trying to drip. Don't worry, it wasn't the full sink itself, just the faucet. Those rigid sticks that can only spin back and forth just don't work well anyway, especially if you use a filtered water pitcher. So let's upgrade to a Project Source pull-down pre-rinse kitchen faucet. Not only is the water flow good, there's a spray feature, and the nozzle also comes off the mount to use just off the sink. Best of all, it's still of an appropriate size to fit into the small kitchen! Thanks to a couple of friends for helping us install this, too.
When you spend all this time on the road, you figure out what sort of things on which you want to chow down. After all, you can't live an entire life on hot dogs and s'mores with the more-than-occasional visit to the fast food joint. For us, having spent a lot of time in the south, partially thanks to one of our friends on trip 9, that has become smoked meats. Needless to say, with Christmas having been around the corner, we were able to procure ourselves a table top smoker from Buc-ee's. Some of you following us on social media may have seen us coming up with some creations on a smoker; who knows what will come next? As with everything, there's a bit of a learning curve to get it going, but we'll get there.
For the final upgrade we've made thus far, it's time for a new outdoor grill. This was once again borne of necessity, with our old grill having some propane issues, but it was really the setup of the grill itself that wasn't working all too well. Enter the Expert Grill Pioneer 28-inch Portable Propane Gas Griddle. After putting it together and seasoning the cast iron with avocado oil, this is bringing good times in cooking! There is a slight trade off in the lack of grill marks, but we'll leave you to judge that importance for yourself on social media. The larger cooking surface opens up many more options for what to make, there's no more having to fiddle around with water in an under-pan, and cleanup is a breeze.
There may be more kitchen upgrades down the road as we Follow our Internal Compass, so who knows what will come.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas?!
Def'nitely not here...
'Cause it's over sixty degrees,
Leaves are still on the trees,
And white stuff on the ground has disappeared....
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Lights are on the rigs...
And the one thing you clearly smell,
As the barbecue grills swell,
Are products of pigs!
An hour to run at the beach is something they beseech,
As it is a great time to play;
Getting a broom and cleaning the rec room,
Is what truly fills out the day.
And people planning their next trip when it gets hot in May....
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas?!
Def'nitely not here...
With the campers all in the pool,
Frozen drinks keep them cool,
While staffers drive some golf carts that they steer....
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas?!
Not a good benchmark;
But there isn't a need to strife,
For it is a way of life,
At the RV Park!
As full-time RVers living on the road, we can't move around and stay at gas stations all the time; eventually we must find somewhere to park. However, as we pull into an area, the debate begins: Do we go public, or private?
Public campgrounds are usually a great choice for the short-term stay. These usually come in the forms of state parks, county parks, and sometimes municipal or national parks. The prices are usually going to be a bit lower because these departments run by their respective government are non-profit organizations. However, they do come with some drawbacks. Usually you won't find all the site amenities a private park may have, and the park amenities may be limited. For example, if you receive mail from a service, you likely won't be able to have it delivered to you. Furthermore, they're typically limited to a short-term stay, with maximums anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month. These are great for the in-between.
Private campgrounds are another beast in and of themselves. They may have more amenities, but the prices will be slightly higher owing to the need to make a living. You have to be careful about the "fine print" when reserving, as some of the owners may be unscrupulous and seek to nickel-and-dime you. Most private campgrounds are very receptive to the full-time RVer, though. They'll be willing to let you stay for a month or two at a time provided you pay for electric, and they'll also have instructions on how to get your mail. Price isn't always bad, either, as they will partner with discount houses geared towards the RVer.
When it comes time for workamping, going public or private is also a question. With public, you're almost guaranteed to be working for site only, but the terms aren't always as long. Salaries are more likely, but are not always available, at private grounds. Sometimes, you may not even be staying in a campground at all. Some salaried positions will have you doing odd yet interesting jobs, such as managing a storage facility or selling Christmas trees. The possibilities are endless, and can also bring potential investment ideas to not give yourself passive income, but to give a chance for other prospective full-time RVers to live this life.
So whether it's public or private, both have their advantages and should be considered as you Follow your Internal Compass.
Once again, everything has been packed up, and we are on the road. Where, you might ask? Fans of a particular genre may have figured it out by the title of the trip, and those looking at a calendar will have narrowed it down. However in this case, our previous location has been left behind, and we are embarking on a multi-leg trip. There are a few lessons learned.
First, we've figured out, for the most part, what we materialistically do and don't need. As is typical with just about anything in life, it comes with practice. We had received a tip about this from another full-time RVing couple that didn't take enough with them when they started. However, we went to almost the complete polar opposite and took too much with us. Looking around at the time this is being written, which is near the beginning of this trip, there's still quite a bit, but much of it being consumable and should be able to be whittled down easily.
Large amounts of consumables brings us to the second lesson learned: the torment of the terrace. Yes, during trip 9, we must admit it: We cheated a bit and stayed in a stationary fixture. It was offered as part of the workamping deal, so it's not like an apartment was rented. However, some of those habits started to return, such as buying in bulk and using amenities that aren't exactly portable. Some packing nightmares may have returned, but we weren't in as much of a mess as when we started this whole thing. Not to mention, their next crew has been set up for success, at least as much in terms of what we were able to offer them.
The third, but probably the most important lesson learned, was figuring out what's important to us. Anyone who seeks to enjoy this lifestyle should know that the only way you're ever getting rich is if someone who recognizes you from social media happens to buy you a winning lottery ticket. Full hook up and salary isn't worth it if you're going to end up with the same problems that drove you to start doing this in the first place. Obviously you'll need some income flowing if you're young full-timers with many remote work outlets requiring stationary living to suit their "reliable internet" needs, though answering a want ad with seasonal work for wage, despite all the signs everywhere, is more complex because you're then beholden to that particular state's tax situation, and there's only seven in the lower 48 at the time of writing this that don't charge state income taxes (there is an 8th that charges it on unearned income, which you'll probably have). At the end of the day, things should work out.
With all of those lessons learned, we're now better prepared to Follow our Internal Compass to the next land.
For those of us who are living on the road, remaining healthy really isn't all that much less important than those who are stationary. We have our own challenges to face, and the process for what happens when ill or injured is different because we're moving around, but here are some tips from our experience to help you stay healthy.
First, considering wearing closed toed shoes on travel days. Nothing will be worse for your health than dropping a sway bar on your toe. Broken toes are absolutely no fun whatsoever, and make many tasks difficult, as mobility is a must. This isn't limited to the outside of the rig, either. Nothing puts a damper on the day like dropping a dog food can on your foot. So do yourself a favor and wear protection.
Second, when doing your regular inspections, check the rig for wasps and stinging insects. It becomes an absolute joy breaker when the wasps infesting your workamping location decide to build a nest on your hot water tank. Even more so when someone in your party is allergic, and that bug survives a thousand mile journey. No fear, as a diluted peppermint oil spray will help to prevent most infestations, and is a natural solution that's safe for your fur baby.
Finally, pay close attention to the quality of your resources. No advantageous experience is worth having to put up with moldy city water. Not only do the filters not always remove that contagion, but it will ruin your hose faster than your next paycheck hits the bank. If the water gets bad enough to the point where you can't even use it, remember that your house is on wheels. Find something a little better for yourself.
So the next time you Follow your Internal Compass, remember that staying healthy is important, and these tips along with other considerations will help.
Part of the fun of being a full-time RVer is, after packing everything up and checking the lights, pulling out of the park and heading to your next destination. However, like with everything else in life, it comes with its own set of challenges.
The first thing is to remember what you're pulling. You aren't going to be able to maneuver as easily as you would with a smaller vehicle, so don't try quickly changing lanes unless it's an absolute emergency, like unsecured debris flying out the back of a pickup truck. Secondly, use truck routes and take advantage of truck parking areas if you need to stop in a city for provisions. Except for the campsite, backing up should be a last resort. Pull through when you can. Most stores won't mind you taking up several spaces in the back, although the lots with heavy traffic will ban RVs, so be careful. Obviously you're not going to fit in a drive-thru, so call for instructions if you get to a food shop and there's no way to walk in; they'll usually try to accommodate, as your green is as good as anyone else's.
The one big thing to remember, when you're pulling, especially if you're using an engine that takes octane gasoline and/or ethanol (we don't use a diesel truck but this may also apply), your miles per gallon are going to suffer immensely when you're "heavy" (i.e. pulling your RV) vs. when you're "light" (i.e. not pulling your RV). You can try to help things out a little bit by using hypermiling techniques you learned during gas crunches in history, but it won't get too much back. As an example, with the soul of our adventure, we're able to get around 20 MPG highway and 15-17 MPG city/winding-rural when we're light, but only about 10-11 MPG when heavy. However, going into elevation is a completely different bear, as we've found ourselves to only get about 7-8 MPG when heavy in transition from the midwest to the mountain west, and transition from the south to southwest is anticipated to be the same. Be financially ready and plan accordingly, as gas stations are few and far between the further west you go, especially when using US highways instead of interstates.
Don't let any of this get you down, though. Driving with the RV in tow is plenty of good fun, even just as much as taking a nice Sunday drive while light to somewhere around you. It will take a little practice, especially when it comes to backing into your campsite and understanding how your rig moves, but after a while, it becomes as familiar as riding a bike, even if you take a few months break from a long-term stay. Have a plan, try to stick to it, cut down on the unnecessary detours, behave like a truck on the road (except for the honking because it just doesn't have the same impact), and the journey will bring as much joy as the destination, if not more, as that's one of the perks of living on the road.
So as you Follow your Internal Compass, have a wonderful time pulling your rig all across the country.
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