To go full-time RVing, whether alone or with a family, you already have to be slightly crazy. However, after a few months, especially with outside dependencies who have pre-determined the "acceptability" of this lifestyle, or lack thereof, it can drive you absolutely insane. So how do you keep your sanity?
One of the main drivers of insanity as a full-time RVer is space. Is it really the amount of space you carry with you, or merely the perception of the same? Sure, the home is much smaller than your typical suburban house, and because people have grown so accustomed to the castle, it's all you might see. Once you step outside the four walls, you begin to see the space you truly have. Millions of square miles surround you, and it is your oyster. Some of the most prominent people in history have been explorers. Sure, people thought they were crazy, but it was those four walls that made them that way. You might not have a paragraph about which your descendants read in the fifth grade, but maybe you won't become insane by feeling trapped.
With the space comes the proximity to the family. Let's face it, with a moving home and a single vehicle, you're going to be with your family a LOT. It doesn't matter how well you got along before you packed it all up, either, because being around each other for that long will drive you bonkers. So how do you make it work? Figure out a way to have some "alone time". Take different jobs for workamping, different schedules, or even different locations. Maybe one person is outside "the walls" while another person is inside. Most importantly with doing this, though, is to make sure the time is respected. If you're calling the other every half hour, are you really giving them that space?
One other important thing, and it even applies if you full-time on your own, is to give your body a chance to relax. Just like the stationary lifestyle, a delicate balance between work and play is needed. You may have decided to get into the RV to "re-tune" yourself. Give yourself that chance! Nature provides plenty for you to be able to do this. Sure, one set of issues may have been traded in for another, but the fear of them becoming overwhelming doesn't have to burden you. Take a little time, gather yourself, and then you'll be able to have more focus and concentration on what needs to be done.
Following your Internal Compass no longer has to become a nightmare of insanity. There are plenty of ways to re-focus yourself, and it will become something to enjoy for a lifetime.
For some, it's part of the summer pastime of grilling. For us full-time RVers, it's our life blood. We're using propane grills almost every night, propane stoves on the others, and powering some of our appliances with propane when not hooked to electricity. How can you, whether in one place or on the move, keep your propane needs in tip-top shape?
Let's take a look at that propane canister. If you have a built-in tank on a motor home, you have a gauge, so things are fairly easy. Disposable canisters are nice, but if you're doing more than a weekend trip to the woods, you're probably not using those. In camping stores, you might see those stick-on measurement tools to tell you how much is in your tank, but you don't need to waste your money on those, especially when they only sometimes work if you've used your tank, and then it's almost never accurate. Instead, grab a bathroom scale and weigh your tank. You may have seen some of those markings on the top lip and thought it was Greek, but never fear, because Freedom Rolling is here to decipher it for you!
First important marking on your tank will be marked "TW". This stands for "Tare Weight", or in other words, the weight of the actual tank itself if it were completely empty. Second weight measurement that is important is marked either "WC" or "WCW", depending on the manufacturer. This is your "Water Content Weight", which is how much water would weigh if it were to fill your tank. "But wait a second, water isn't propane!" Well, to figure out how much is "full", we take 42% of the water content. If you don't have a calculator, it's pretty easy: Cut the number in half, and then subtract from that the original water content number with the decimal point moved to the left one place, and you have a safe approximation of 40%. If your hose is still hooked when you weigh the tank, you'll have to take that into account as well, but that's usually only a couple of pounds.
After you've used up your propane, or you're getting low, just like the gasoline in your truck, it's time to fill. Those cages in front of the general store may seem tempting, but you'll want to stay away from them most of the time. They are notorious for short-filling their tanks below the legal limit and selling the exchanges per canister at a high markup. Instead, find a place that will fill your tank to the legal 80% limit, and preferably by the gallon. There are many privately-owned campgrounds that will do this for you, even if you're not staying there. Household propane retailers will usually also sell this, as will some big-box warehouses, though they charge by the canister rather than the gallon. Prices vary as you go, but a 20 pound tank usually goes for about 4.5 gallons of liquid propane. It's only able to fill 80% because liquid propane greatly expands when the tank is in the sun, and could burst the tank if it's filled any higher.
Before you take your tank to fill, there's one more marking to look at on it, and that's the manufacture date, listed as month and two-digit year. In most cases, a tank needs to be re-qualified after 12 years, or sooner if it's been beaten up quite a bit. Sometimes, there's an additional date on the tank itself for re-qualfication, the length of allowed time varying based on the type. You could find a DOT-licensed re-qualifier, especially if it's a larger tank and there isn't much noticeable rust damage. However, this is the one time where the cages at the general store may not be a bad idea. Examine the tanks before you purchase the exchange. If you can find one for the same size and manufactured within the last 2-3 years, then the short-fill unit cost could be offset by what it'd take to re-qualify and fill your old tank, and it might be worth it to you to have a tank you can use for the next decade.
Never have any more fuel fears as you follow your internal compass. Keep your propane tanks full and happy, and you'll be ready to have the time of your life.
When we say to "Follow Your Internal Compass", many equate this to a spiritual journey. Almost anything can be defined as spiritual, though. What about someone's religious morals? How does one "keep their faith" while on the road?
When you're a full-time RVer, basic literature is not that bad of a thing to bring along. Just a simple book of scripture is all it takes, whether it's the Holy Bible passed down from your grandparents, or perhaps another book of teachings passed down or found in a store for your religion of choice. When you find a place to park, whether it be for a night or longer, drag that book out and go through some of it, even if it's a couple chapters. It might take a while to get through the whole thing, and maybe you'll want to skip around from time to time. It's all about your journey in discovering your faith. Plenty of religious groups are also distributing small magazines at no cost to you, and there's also radio stations and podcasts dedicated to this topic, so give those a try.
Religion is more than just prayers, readings, and a few old hymns; it's also about community building. This is probably the most difficult part of your faith to keep while on the road. Most of our personal interactions are only temporary, as we'll move on after a short time. Even if you devoutly follow one particular sect of faith, one congregation could be vastly different from another, so you can't always depend on that. Social media is certainly there to keep in touch with like-minded people, but they aren't always there to help you on day-to-day activities. At the end of the day, if you're a family traveling, the best moral guidance you'll have is with each other.
We know what some are thinking: "Why is another Bible thumper lecturing me about this topic?!" This is what comes to mind when you sell off the roots and go out into the world with your home in tow. For some people, it makes them question their faith. Is Sunday morning more than just filling a pew and throwing a dollar in the bowl? Is there something to all that stuff they were preaching about? Rather than grounding yourself in land or structure, you find something much more personal, much more meaningful. We don't receive direct answers from our faith, but it's a good start to figure out where to go.
Following your Internal Compass doesn't have to lead to despair. Just keep the faith in whatever you believe, and you will find yourself prosperous in your journey.
Well folks, as of the day this is published, we have officially been living in our RV for six months! It's been quite the journey thus far, even though it's only just begun. So sit back as we reminisce, look back a few of our older posts, see what worked, maybe have a laugh at some of the dumb things, and put it all into perspective.
Heading back to the first post we ever did, comparing the tent and car camping to the RV lifestyle. With the setup and tear down, it's just as complex as the tent camping, when you consider hooking up the truck, getting everything plugged in, maybe even decorating the porch. However, like everything else, it's as difficult or as easy as we want to make it. At the truck stops, just unplug the electrical to not waste the truck battery, and it's very simple. Like everything in life, once you get a system down in practice, it gets easier. Looking back, the one thing we did wish we brought was a tent or tent-topper. We know, it sounds a bit redundant. However, maybe you want to make a somewhat lengthy trip while you're at a place, perhaps 300 miles to the other side of the state to watch a rocket launch. Unlike the SUV, trucks aren't that easy for sleeping, save the tent topper for the bed in the back. Maybe a quick overnight in a tent site at a state park would have been a good idea. So much for that vow, after Delaware and Boston before the RV, of never doing that long of day trips again...
Taking a look at the kitchen stuff, surprisingly enough everything has been used, but we ended up adding a few things. First, a wonderful set of induction cookware that is able to be used on both the hot plate and the propane stove. It has served us incredibly well for anything that comes to our minds on what to eat, and is very easily collapsible for our small storage needs. Although we still use it, the large frying pan is a bit bulky, so we'll have to figure out what to do there. Secondly, a small air fryer. These don't take up much space, and work as great pseudo-"ovens" if we don't want to light up in the camper. The traditional coffee pot did not survive very long, sadly, but a stand-up single-cup maker takes up much less space and does the job, especially with many brews being sold in pod form.
As for the route planning, this was probably the biggest shocker from the moment we started the shakedown. First, line your pocketbooks, because the amount of gas you use is SO much higher when you're carrying that rig. And depending on where you go, it's not cheap, with the national average pushing $3.50 and almost all of California over $5.00 to the gallon! Second, don't expect to be able to go full highway speeds. Even over 60 miles per hour, you're going to start feeling your home behind you, especially if a semi passes you, so hang on and get used to it. You don't want to impede traffic flow, especially with higher speed limits in western states, even on the two-lane roads. Try to find a good balance. Our most common sin with travel, though, is over-compensating on the amount of time needed to get somewhere. Yes, a contingency is nice, but better to call and arrive a day late than to get there early and not know what to do. We arrived near our first planned destination about two days early, and had to sneak another trip in. Even coming to where we are now, when we told the owner and outgoing managers when we'd be there, we overshot by a full day, though we're thankful they worked with us on that.
If there's one thing we've learned in the last six months, it's this: Having a plan to Follow your Internal Compass is good, but always be on your toes, be ready to adapt, and learn from your mistakes. Here's to another six months, hopefully many more beyond that, and we look forward to seeing you on the road.
As some of you are reading ptomes of us rambling about our lives, we all know what you're really wondering: What's going on with that fur baby of ours? Is he still with us? Did he get run over by a fifth wheel?
Rest assured, Miles is doing just fine. For those that don't know, because of his breed mix (Chihuahua, Pug, and Rat Terrier), we've come to refer to him as a "Chug Terrier". As of when this article is being written, he's about nine months old, and we've had people try to claim him from several states, including Iowa, South Dakota, Georgia, Florida, California, and Arkansas. He's also become well trained in cardiac abnormality detection, allowing him access to many places and more fawning from the public. Needless to say, he has remained an integral part of our adventure, and even now has his own TikTok channel for you to see him!
Bringing a puppy with you on the road comes with its own challenges. First, although many governments require preventive measures against rabies, you may want to also be concerned about the parvovirus, which runs rampant in many areas. There may be other diseases, so do a bit of research. As they grow older, you may also take the advice of Bob Barker and choose to "alter" your fur baby. As you travel and find vets, use your mobility to your advantage. Some parts of the country will charge an arm and a leg to even so much as see your pet let alone treat them, while others are more reasonable. Work with them as best you can to get a good deal.
The best thing about Miles' life thus far is that he's spent the majority of it on the road, so he understands "home" to be where we park it, and not necessarily a physical location. He has since outgrown the crate, and now freely enjoys our company both at home and in the office. He's grown an affection for noses and feet, and guards us at every moment, even the most inopportune. Oddly enough, his favorite word isn't "treat", "walk", or "ride", but rather "Bible", as that's when we all come together to enjoy the teachings of our past.
Our internal compass would not be well oriented without Miles. That little Chug Terrier keeps us well centered as we enjoy this beautiful country.
Happy New Year! Yes, it's that time again, where sporting goods stores are raided for exercise equipment, gyms see a drastic increase in new memberships, and secondhand stores prepare for a sharp increase in exercise inventory within the next two months. But what if you're a full-time RVer? What options are there?
If you're in a wooded or mountainous setting, such as a national or state park, then the answer is around you. Nature trails are a good source, and there are typically plenty abound. If you're close to a city, parks have been including walking trails within their grounds recently. It's also not a bad choice if you need to "get away" for a short time, as you'll be in close quarters with your family much more than if you were in a typical house or apartment. Long walks on the beach may seem a bit cheesy, but it's not a bad choice. For something a bit higher impact, go during low tide along the wet sand.
What if you're stuck working at the campground, or need to save some money on fuel? The driveways on these grounds are typically somewhat circular, so take a lap or two. If you don't mind the minor spectacle, take advantage of your internet connection. Almost every aspiring aerobics instructor and their mother has a number of regiments on streaming video sharing services looking for their "big break". Find one you like and try it outside the rig. Who knows? Maybe one of the campers in the lot next to you will be intrigued and want to join you on the next session.
Travel days can sometimes make this a bit difficult, at least for the passengers. The driver is already getting quite a bit of a workout as it is, as a nod of respect to the physical demands of stock car racers. Don't knock what's needed until you've driven over 500 miles in a day. Some full-timers bring gym memberships along with them. There are a number of national chains that allow you and your family to visit any of the network's gyms across the country. Some may be difficult to visit because they're within suburbs, but if you're able to park your rig, take an hour or two from the drive and go in. It'll also save you on water and service station fees if you can get a shower there.
Following your internal compass doesn't mean you can't get a workout. We full-time RVers simply find our own way to make things work out for us.
When most people think of full-time RVers, they put them into one of two groups: Retirees, and Lottery winners. A number of years ago, part of a generation, then called "young full-timers", joined in on the lifestyle. Now more than ever, millennials are also starting to join in on the fun. And given Freedom Rolling falls under this new generation of full-timers, perhaps there's some insight into why it's becoming so popular.
There's an old phrase that describes people "breaking the mold". One of the main characteristics of the millennial generation is that we not only break the mold, but we throw it out the window. Our generation likes having our mobility options open, and we don't want to feel trapped in one place. That's why so many millennials aren't buying houses, even if the money was available to do it. Our white-collar work of today doesn't always require us to be in one place, either. The last couple of years has proved that remote work is effective, so why not pack it all up and live on the road?
As millennials, experiences are what is important to our generation, as opposed to tangible items. When taking a look at collegians in our generation, most of them are buying the experience of being in that college environment. With full-time RVing, our way of life is a perfect fit. This beautiful country has so much to experience, so why not head there and take it all in? It's true that each destination movement comes with a fuel cost, and there are sometimes admission fees to places like a national park, but everyone has their own budget for entertainment. Living on the road has always been and will always be as cheap or as expensive as we wish to make it.
Being a millennial on the road, just like the previous generation of "young full-timers" before us, brings its own challenges. Campgrounds are sometimes limited, as owners give preference to retirees and others of that age group. Many are bringing careers on the road, but there are still those of us that choose to workamp in order to make ends meet. Health insurance can be costly, especially if we are raising families while on the road. Many of us find with having these mobile experiences that the coverage we need isn't always that large. Millennials' ability to learn things "on the fly" are also put to the test, as maintenance issues happen often, and preparedness for these don't usually come from the schooling offered to us.
The good news is, not only has this age allowed for information to become more portable and our experiences shareable, but we also have a generation of full-timers before us that greatly help with lessons learned. With millennials and the next generation being very active with social media, we look forward to sharing the experiences we have, both good and bad, with the world, so they may learn from us. RVing has even become so popular that "home shows" now exist centered around buying motor homes and trailers to live full time, as opposed to real estate.
We at Freedom Rolling, just like many other fellow millennials, seek to follow our internal compass. Full-time RVing seems more and more like a good fit for those our age, and we look forward to seeing them on the road with us.
Working on the road is a challenge that young full-time RVers have to face. We at Freedom Rolling have always professed that our mobility is our greatest advantage. However, just like weather, you sometimes have to be ready to change work plans on the drop of a dime.
When we first began our RV adventure, we had lined up some work for ourselves. Just as it normally is when you are "entry level", it wasn't ideal, and only came with site for compensation. In fact, trips 6 and beyond may have looked drastically different. However, coupled with some logistical challenges with our arrival, the work we would have been doing wasn't fitting our internal compass. The good news is, although it's a fight for employment with other full-timers, the only limits we have with where to work is our ability to get there. So we head back to the job board, find an immediate opening with a good company with work that we felt would better suit us, and lo and behold, here we are, loving life and following our internal compass.
Finding employment, especially in the winter, can be difficult. In this industry, it takes months of pre-planning to even stay somewhere, let alone work. In the winter, you're pretty much limited to the southern part of the country, eliminating half the choices. However, don't despair, because if two new full-timers on the road for less than a couple months can find something, then so can you! Openings pop up all the time from cancellations and job turnovers. There are also plenty of new RV parks and park management turnovers where they start to realize that they need workampers to fill in the gaps. Best advice, if you're looking, is to stay as mobile as possible, don't get into too many long-term stay contracts, and be ready to work almost immediately. A good owner/manager will understand you have to be able to bring your home there, and just like a typical two-week start notice in the corporate world, they'll accept something similar.
Sometimes, when you get to your job, you may not necessarily enjoy your environment. No, we aren't to that point as of the time we write this. However, just like jobs in the corporate world, the same factors can arise in job happiness. The good news is that most work in this industry is seasonal, so you could choose to wait out the contracted time before moving on, leaving on generally acceptable terms on both sides. If that isn't enough, you can always go to the job board and find something else. Be careful when doing this, as just with retail, your desirability is based on reputation and potentially references. If you're traveling with a family, work it out with them and see what's best. Rash decisions are never a good thing, even in the RV life. With our trip 7 "escape", that was building for a while, and the change in terms was the perfect opportunity.
At the end of the day, never let work dictate your internal compass. Follow what your heart says, and opportunity will arise to help fulfill your needs.
Yes, it's that time of year again. The city light poles get decorated, the malls get full, and every entertainment outlet is playing some cheesy music or cartoon special. But what about full-time RVers? How are they celebrating Christmas, or any other holiday for that matter?
We full-timers have our own challenges for Christmas. As a start, every holiday requires advanced planning, as it's typically a time for many to choose to go camping, especially in the southern states this time of year. Many "hunker down" in a southern spot until the spring, but there are some "more mobile" RVers out there that will want to figure it out ahead of time. Decorations are also big for many around this time of year, but when you're living on the road, you have to carry those with you throughout the year, or buy them for one-time use. This isn't to say that some don't get into the Christmas spirit, as they may decorate the rig for the occasion. Campgrounds may also do some decorating of their own.
Spending time with the family is also a little different when you're on the road. Some may choose to park with the family, but if they're in a northern climate, that may not be an option. Some of us may choose to virtually visit, just as we do with any other time of year. If you're a family member of a full-timer and looking for something to do for Christmas or another holiday, why not go visit the area where they are? You'll have to prepare for day-use fees that some campgrounds have, but if they're workamping, they might be able to work something out with the owner. Religious celebration is also easy enough, as churches are typically welcoming of visitors.
Then comes the most widely known part of Christmas: Presents. This is a bit tricky for the full-timer, as mail services charge us extra to have packages sent to us, and then it's something we have to carry with us. If you're "hunkered down" and family or friends want to send you something, perhaps have it sent directly to the campground or other location. Parks understand that people stay for months at a time, so they're able to help get you mail. Perhaps you're someone who wants to get a full-time RVer a present. Gift cards are always a good and easy idea. If you prefer the physical gift, consider putting together a "care package" of household items, confectioneries, or entertaining literature.
Following your internal compass doesn't mean you have to miss out of Christmas. All we have to do is find our own way to celebrate.
Provisions are your lifeline for the full time RV lifestyle. Food, water, fuel, and other general merchandise is always very important. However, it's also necessary to consider several factors when budgeting for your provisions, because it's a bit different from the comforts of a traditional house or apartment.
One of the obvious budget factors is cost. However, this one's a little different because you may not be too familiar with where you're heading. You may end up in a small town with a grocery store that has high prices, if there's even a grocery store nearby at all, which can happen in more rural areas. When figuring out a budget for groceries, also factor in the fuel it takes to get there. Obviously you'll be light with your tow vehicle, but how much are you saving if you have to drive 50 miles each way to a national discount chain, compared to the overpriced grocery store down the road? Some call it spending dollars to save nickels. It may be worth it if you budget correctly, though. Figure out what works best for you.
Budgeting your provisions isn't all about the Benjamins. You're in smaller quarters with your RV when compared to a house or apartment. Bulk warehouses may be nice when you're stationary, but are you going to have room for everything if you get large quantities? Depending on what it is, you may or may not be able to store it. The propane savings are certainly enticing if you have transportable canisters, as well as the lower gas prices, but how much else are you saving, and can you cover the annual fee? This isn't limited to the warehouses, either. If you're going to "stock up" on one of the longer trips to the discount store, how much of that will you be able to store? Are you going to need ice for your cooler to bring it home?
One other big thing to think out, when budgeting those provisions, is time. Mobility is a great strength for the full-time RVer, but it can also be a hindrance. Are you going to be able to use up all your perishables before you hit the road? Can some of them come with you in your towing truck? Meats are going to be a concern if you eat those. Have you prepared and frozen all of them prior to leaving? Maybe you have your pantry well stocked. Is that going to shift around, even if you have stabilizing rods? Are you thinking about using a well-stocked pantry to prevent shifting? You may be able to run your refrigerator off propane while driving, which could help with some quick lunches along the drive, but other things may be too complex.
Wherever you are and whatever you're doing while following your internal compass, it's important to be prepared. Have a plan going in, make the most of what you get, and enjoy life on the road.
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