RV life is very strange. I only say this because it is very different from what I have known all my life. In fact, I am pretty sure it is strange when compared to most peoples lives. I have spent four months living in my RV full time. Coincidently, I have noticed four major things I need to learn a whole hell of a lot more about!
Things that I didn’t fully understand from just reading online. Going into a rig from ‘sticks and bricks’ is a major lifestyle change. Spending all of my adult life in a condo, nothing could have prepared me for this. If you are considering the RV life and have no idea what you are getting yourself into, maybe these topics will get you thinking.
Reading about this lifestyle and watching videos gave me some ideas. People talk about it, but it is not until you experience some of these things first hand that you fully understand all the work that goes into this lifestyle. The learning curve is a lot more than I had expected it to be.
But how do you know until you try? RV life is strange if you don’t know any different. Anything can be weird if you are not use to it. This is not a bad thing. I needed change. I needed something new. And that is what I got.
#1 – PROPANE MANAGEMENT AND HEAT. Having lived in a house or a condo all of my adult life, managing my utilities has always been a simple adjustment on my thermostat. Water, power and heat were all managed through the condo board and I never thought to learn anything more about it. I didn’t need too.
Understanding all the components in your rig is imperative if you are going to be comfortable and enjoy this lifestyle.
Running out of heat in the middle of the night in my RV. In my rain boots and bathrobe at 314am I have to go outside and switch the tanks. Not fun. It looks like I need to get a indicator of some sort so that I can determine how full my tanks are before it runs out in the middle of the night while I am sleeping
Without electricity, my fridge and water heater run off the propane. Staying in a full service RV park, this won’t be an issue. I just plug in and run these appliances off the electricity.
However, I want to do some dry camping on my travels. I am going to have to get an idea of how much propane these systems use when I am not connected to electricity.
As I learn the basics of this system, I know it will not be enough. In order to be comfortable in the cold and to be off grid, I am going to have to have to have a very thorough understanding of this system.
#2- WATER. Fresh, grey and black water. These are all types of water I didn’t even know exists until a few months ago. And types of water I need to learn lot about. Being able to effectively manage these tanks is going to take a lot more research. Again, something else I never have to worry about living in a sticks and bricks home.
I admit, I took it for granted that I could just shower, use the toilet and wash my dishes so easily. Less than a month in my rig and I am grateful to have warm, clean fresh water.
At full service sites I have electricity and propane to heat the water. It heats up fast and there is plenty enough to have a good shower. But again, since I plan to camp off grid sometimes, I will need to figure out how long my water will last me.
Most RV parks and some campgrounds have public toilets. Using these on my travels will eliminate using my own water and filling my grey or black tank. However, I know I won’t always have access to public bathrooms.
That means a big part of water management in this lifestyle is having an understanding of how much your tanks hold.
- More specifically, how long can I last with the fresh water tank full?
- How many showers can I take, or dishes can I wash before that water is gone?
- Approximately, how long until I need to empty my black tank?
- This will change if I have friends come to visit!
Questions that have just added to the fact that RV life is strange. For my whole life ‘water’ usage was something I took for granted in a ‘normal’ house. You just go to the bathroom and flush. Never did I have to think about the frequency or volume of what I was excreting in the toilet.
I did a complete flush of my black tank and in less then 24 hours it says it was full again. I guarantee that one day of using the toilet is not enough to fill my black tank. After reading my owners manual, posting on facebook and getting on google the answer was simple. The senor on my black tank is most likely blocked. Toilet paper and or human waste gets stuck on its way into the tank and block the sensor. It seems as if it is a very common issues with RVs. Why can’t manufactures fix this?
Speaking of black water, I had a bit of an explosion on one of my first first solo set ups. You can see the short video here – BLACK WATER EXPLOSION
#3 PEOPLE. This community is full of so many diverse human beings. From all walks of life, different ages and different reasons to be living the RV life. It is these diverse people that also made me realize that RV life is strange.
So far, staying in my travel trailer I have met the mostly friendly, helpful and kind people. I share my fears and stresses and they offer so much support. They all love this life and can’t imagine living any other way. I am given phone numbers and email address and told I can reach out anytime if I need help. This is strange because no body is like this anymore in society!
The staff at Travel Land where I bought my trailer have blown me away with their knowledge. They have offered assistance and have been more than willing to answer all of my questions. Grand Design, the company that built my Imagine 2600RB travel trailer are great. Even before I made my purchase they helped answer specific product questions that I had.
Strangers in facebook groups have reassured me that things will get easier. Letting me know that this lifestyle is incredible. I just need to get over the hump and As I take this journey on alone, I feel like I have more support than ever. My fears and anxieties regarding this lifestyle are met with understanding.
I am also part of a facebook group that is only solo female RVers. Looking to get away from life, just like me. Enjoying the freedom to go where they want, when they want and take their home with them.
Of course, not all of the people I have met have been wonderful. Some of them have been real ass holes. Real nasty ass holes. Not afraid to tell me what an idiot I am for choosing to do this on my own. Not sure if it is my age or the fact that I am a woman, I haven’t asked.
I have been posting my struggles, successes and disappointments about this life on social media. I feel that it is a great way to share with others who might be experiencing the same things. It still blows my mind the horrible things that people can say from behind their keyboards.
My house wheels and if I don’t like my neighbours I can just move.
#4 – TRAVEL. This of course is the main reason for living in any type of recreational vehicle. My house has wheels and home is where ever I park it.
If I do end up staying close to an ass holes, I can just move. A different location in the campground or even another city or country.
As much as traveling sounds appealing and fun, it adds an element of problems. RV life is strange when you compare it to traveling with just a car.
Making sure I have proper routes planned for any trips I want to take. Booking RV spots a head of time so that I ensure they have space. It is not as simple as just taking a road trip and crossing my fingers I will find place.
Yes. There are campgrounds and RV parks almost everywhere. Most rest stops in the USA and Canada will allow over night (less than 8hours) to park. Casinos have RV parking and most Walmarts will let you park if you request permission and only spend one night.
Research still needs to be done. What if the RV parks are all full and the state you are in does not allow overnight parking? Being prepared is important before you hit the road.
Towing a trailer takes more time than just driving in your car and I will have to plan for that. A large rig won’t fit down narrow streets. Busy roads cause an added degree of stress and parking is a bitch.
Road trips in an RV cost more in fuel than just driving a car. But RV parks and dry camping are way less than a nice hotel.
Traveling like this means I have my own bed with me. The very expensive mattress that I picked out all on my own. It is the softness that I like. The pillows are perfection. Bamboo sheets in the colors that I love.
Even staying in a luxurious five star resort you will never get the same comfort as your own bed.
National parks, national monuments, hiking, food and scenery that I have only seen in photographs. Life is not about the destination but rather the journey. There are so many places to see not just in Canada but all around North America.
Getting out on the road sounds more appealing than just parking my trailer in an RV park. Being here is cheaper than rent or a mortgage. Downsizing has made things in my life less stressful.
Moving forward, I know I have a lot more to learn. Having a thorough understanding of all these things will be imperative to my success as a full time RVer.
Hi Lacey,
My name’s Kevin, I commented a while back on your “Three Reasons Why I Bought a Travel Trailer” post, and I have been following your videos on YouTube, and I enjoy them very much. If you recall, I mentioned that I’m a cancer survivor (and just had another all-clear two weeks ago), and I know that you’ve gone through a difficult brain tumor and recovery (it looks like you’re recovering well, I certainly hope so). I’m saddened to see that people can be so cruel and judgemental in their comments on practically everyone’s channels these days. If I was asked for my less than two cents, I’d say that after going through all the things we have both endured, someone’s petty comments online seem awfully small, especially when compared to a brain tumor or cancer survival. You are showing that you are a strong person, and you’ve admitted life, RVs and surgery aren’t easy, but you are coping. We all cope in different ways, and I respect that you aren’t shy in demonstrating your coping methods (tears!). So remind yourself that you’ve beaten a brain tumor, and all the little comments are just that, little.
We all make mistakes with our RVs. I got my first one 7 years ago, and when I winterized my brand-new 33 foot Jayco, I didn’t have the proper bypass turned, and ended up filling my hot water tank with antifreeze! I’ll have to rinse it out, but my water may taste a little funny! It’s currently in storage in Hinton, AB, and I can’t wait to get it once the school year ends. Regarding heat, you could always upgrade your two 20 lb tanks to 2 30 lb tanks, a dealer could do that for you. Anyway, take care, and keep it up!
Yes on all your points – especially to the fact that I am not shy. Going through a health issue like we both have – it helped me to know I was not alone. I got so angry when people told me NOT to cry and NOT to be afraid of a brain tumour?! How do you respond any other way? It is NORMAL to feel these things… and I want to speak out and let others know that it is ok to NOT be ok. I knew that posting stuff would be met with mixed reviews, we can’t please everyone. I am still shocked at some people. I think I had more faith in humanity…sigh. That DAMN bypass – lol – it messed me up, too. THought thankfully not that bad. Thank you for your support and kind words.
Wanted to expand on that bit about people that tell others not to be angry, or sad, or whatever…
These are all perfectly normal responses, but what’s not normal is trying to suppress it all and pretend to be something that you aren’t when things don’t go as planned. When ya hit your thumb with a hammer the first word that comes to mind isn’t gonna be sugarplum, so let it fly, you can always apologize later if someone’s tender sensibilities get bruised, or not… 😉
Last word on your blackwater misadventure.
While helping a bud, who is a plumber, replace a clogged residential sewage line on a rental property (four families living in a privately owned building), I was in a ditch about 6′ deep and as wide as my shoulders, cutting the old pipe in the bottom of the ditch that the new one would tie to. I’m not a plumber, just a guy with an excavator who was trying to help, so I wasn’t prepared for the two stories worth of backed up sewage that came gushing out of the end of the 6 inch pipe, slamming into the wall of the excavation and coming back up and over me, as well as all over my full front and face, in a giant high pressure wave of no doubt Hepatitis laden toxic sludge. At least you took a little spritz in your own mess. I was litterally doused and drenched from head to toe in the bodily excretions of probably a dozen complete strangers. It was November in a DC suburb, about 10′ from the edge of a busy public street, but trust me, there was not one shred of vanity left to keep me from jumping up out of that hole and stripping bare ass naked as I ran for a hose. So like I said in a separate comment, somebody’s always already lived through worse. 😉 Oh, and be kind to plumbers. However bad a day you’re having, I guarantee you they regularly have worse.
We have emotions for a reason – as long as we don’t get stuck in the bad ones, right? I cry (more than most) but have learned it is perfectly normal. Someone will always have it worse. And I sure can look back and laugh at myself now – lol.