Knowing what to expect before you take off RVing is tricky business. Sure, you’ll get some great advice up front—but it seems as though some things must inevitably be learned through the school of hard knocks. This lifestyle has a continual learning curve, but I’m here to give you the skinny with a few important facts that other folks might forget to mention.
Last time, we talked about my favorite why-the-heck-didn’t-someone-tell-me-this-before-I-hit-the-road tips related to RV parks and camping. This time, we’re going to do the same thing, only dealing with the practicalities of living on the road.
#1 Check the weather before you go out for the day.
It seems simple enough, common sense really, and yet I can’t tell you the number of times RVers get in trouble because they didn’t plan for rapid climate change. In a sticks-and-bricks house, shifting weather patterns are no big deal. But in an Airstream, you’re a lot more vulnerable to the elements.
I’ve learned my lesson about this most particularly while staying out west near any major geologic prominence, where mountain-effect weather is unpredictable, and in the high desert where you can count on a shift of 30 degrees in temperature from morning to noon and back again at night. You never know when the wind is going to pick up and destroy your awning, or mid-summer hail might decide to fall, smashing your outdoor furniture to pieces. A sudden afternoon thunderstorm might strike and make you regret leaving the vents open for airflow.
Take a minute to batten down the hatches before you walk out the door, EVERY time you walk out the door.
#2 No one can tell you exactly what you’ll need on the road.
Everyone and their brother has created the ultimate RVing supply list for newbies. While there is definitely some value in seeing what others take with them for long-term travel, your life is different from anyone else’s out there.
Your habits and hobbies, interests and activities, travel preferences and needs are not the same as that person who’s suggesting you’ll never survive without a portable fire pit, a solar electronic device charger or whatever the latest “gotta have it” gadget is. You might not care one bit about having a tub full of costumes while I use them almost weekly. In the same way, I have no need for a collapsible fly fishing pole, but it might be the reason you got an Airstream in the first place.
Take any supply list with a grain of salt and measure it against your lifestyle to see what matches and what doesn’t.
#3 Be careful about that workamping job.
A lot of RVers recommend trading sweat equity for a place to stay through something called workamping.
For example, agree to help with maintenance or man the front desk or be a camp host, and get a free or reduced parking space each month. This can be a nice way to cut down on your travel bills, but only if you’re clear about your responsibilities and remuneration up front. Know exactly how much time you’re required to invest for what sort of dollar amount toward the rent, then do a little math so you know what your hourly rate looks like. Are you willing to swab toilets and tote trash for less than minimum wage? How long will this agreement last? And what happens if you can’t fulfill your commitment for some reason?
One of the best ways to maintain your relationship with a park is excellent communication. Get everything in writing up front, and you should be on your way!
#4 Keep your travel plans flexible.
It doesn’t matter how good you are at creating an itinerary, stuff happens on the road that you can’t predict or prevent, and it’s bound to throw you off schedule every now and then.
I’m a Professional Organizer, so I’m used to strategizing my time down to the millisecond -- yet I’ve found myself stranded for weeks in places I never intended to visit. You have two choices -- you can get upset, or you can shift gears.
It’s like the time the truck died repeatedly on a trip from the West Coast when we were headed back east. Each time, we were stuck in one spot for a week or more with limited transportation options, knowing full and well that we were missing the wedding we were trying to make in Pennsylvania. We could have moaned and grumbled but instead, we used that time to convert our gaucho into an L-shaped sofa and rebuild the back bedroom so it would accommodate a queen sized mattress. We had the supplies in the truck and now a ton of unexpected free time—so why not?
This lifestyle truly requires you to become a knight of the round table. Their motto was “adopt, adapt, improve.”
Living life on the road teaches you a thing or two, and I hope these tips of the trade help you along your adventure. No matter where you are or what your situation is, never stop being an explorer. Stay flexible, keep your eyes open, adjust along the way and Live Riveted!
