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When Heath and I began RVing, we have been principally centered on the way it was essentially the most economical means for us to journey full-time within the US.
What we didn’t take note of was, effectively, every part about RVing. We had NO concept what we have been doing, what the tanks meant, how you can hook up at RV parks—mainly our ignorance was the inspiration for my first ebook, A Newbie’s Information to Residing in an RV. We have been fully clueless newcomers.
And as newcomers, we virtually killed ourselves.
Like, so much.
Waaaaaaaay too usually.
So I assumed I’d share among the extra outrageous issues that might’ve killed us throughout our first 12 months on the highway.
1. That point our engine was overheating on the Pacific Coast Freeway.
“Simply unbuckle, open the door, and bounce.”
“You’re kidding, proper?” I requested Heath.
“The engine is de facto scorching. If the brakes exit, don’t even give it some thought. Simply open the door and bounce.” He paused. “Perhaps attempt to tuck your shoulder and roll. We aren’t driving too quick so you need to be okay.”
“Okay, now I’m involved that you simply’re not truly kidding.”
I peered over the guardrails that apparently had no probability of stopping our RV from careening into the frothy white water crashing towards the rocky shoreline beneath. The sheer cliffs supplied a improbable view of the luxurious coastal mountains and deep blue Pacific. Not a nasty final view should you’re about to die, which appeared to be what Heath was implying.
“Which might you like, leaping out of a shifting car or flying over a cliff and drowning within the ocean?”
“How are these my solely two selections?!”
THANKS FOR THE SCARE HEATH.
2. “You have been undoubtedly struck by lightning.”⚡️
“Or if not struck by lightning, it was shut sufficient to soften your battery.”
We have been tenting in South Dakota in August and the sky seemed like this earlier than midday. Not eager to drive by means of the darkening skies, we booked an evening at an RV park that fortunately had blazing quick wifi.
In the midst of streaming Netflix for the primary time on our journey, we couldn’t hear our film for the sound of rain, lightning, and thunder attacking the RV. Intimidated by the depth of the storm, we determined to seek out shelter till the hazard handed.
After sitting within the ground of the RV park bathhouse for an hour, we walked within the nonetheless falling rain again to our RV. Opening the door, it was clear. {The electrical} system was fried. The lights wouldn’t activate. The fridge wasn’t working. And—most terrifying—the coffeemaker wouldn’t activate.
We tried to troubleshoot every part, however the one factor we didn’t account for?
Our RV was struck by lightning whereas we shared a bathe stall with half a dozen strangers.
Lesson realized: All the time take shelter.
3. Tornados 🌪
There’s a twister in that storm someplace ⬆️
An app on Heath’s cellphone instructed me so and that overpass simply forward was going to be our residence for a short time. As a result of if we saved driving, our complete home was more likely to fly by means of the air Tornado-style.
You already know what’s frequent within the midwest in August? Tornados.
You already know who didn’t know that?
Heath and Alyssa once they deliberate to cross the midwest in August.
We took shelter soooo many occasions, however hey we have been solely struck by lightning as soon as not less than 👍🏼
4. Our fridge blowing up.
For those who park your RV on an incline (usually something larger than 3º), your propane fridge can have a harmful chemical response and depart white and blue questionable residue all over the place.
Yep, we all know this one from expertise.
We weren’t within the RV when it occurred, however we did have to interchange the fridge and clear up the mess it left behind. So as to add insult to damage, we had lower than $70 to our identify when this occurred and couldn’t afford a brand new fridge. We lived with no fridge for a full month earlier than shopping for a small residence fridge so we might lastly have chilly meals once more!
We ate a LOT of popcorn for dinner that month 🍿
5. Propane leak 😷
For those who’re pondering wait, residing with no fridge didn’t virtually kill you…
Oh however it did.
As a result of in that image up above, you possibly can see a capped propane line. Many RV fridges can run on propane and after we eliminated our damaged fridge, we capped the road.
However the cap didn’t maintain.
We awoke very sick one morning earlier than realizing propane was slowly leaking into our residence. We rushed to the mechanic and had the complete propane line eliminated—costing us a bit of cash and additional delaying our capacity to interchange our fridge—so we might sleep soundly once more.
6. “Your brake pads shattered.”
In Ohio, our brakes began making a bizarre noise. However they nonetheless labored.
In Virginia, we lastly bought our RV into the store.
(That’s 12 states later, in case you have been questioning.)
Someplace alongside the best way, our brake pads shattered.
SHATTERED.
How? How do brake pads shatter?
I nonetheless don’t know.
That was the official analysis (and it price a cool $500 to get the brakes and rotors changed from all of the harm).
How the brakes didn’t exit and depart us wrapped round a tree someplace, I’ll by no means know.
7. Warning: Low Clearance Forward
Final, however not least, you haven’t actually RVed until you’ve stumbled unintentionally on a low clearance that can definitely take the roof off your RV.
(Simply us? No?)
On our option to New York Metropolis, my very good-looking however not terribly observant husband took an exit towards a dozen vivid orange “8 FOOT CLEARANCE” indicators.
I do know it’s New York, however I’ve by no means heard so many automobile horns in my life.
Thanks to the stranger who politely, by northeastern requirements, pressured us off the highway and supplied to steer us again to the protection of the interstate.
Honorable Point out: That one time our tow automobile began rolling off our dolly.
Would have extra seemingly killed another person than killed us, but when our automobile flew off the dolly and wrecked another person’s automobile, I’m fairly positive our lives can be over.
Okay, I’m type of getting pressured seeing all of those listed out one after the other 😂
You may learn the complete tales behind all these incidents plus extra of what RV life is definitely like in my new ebook, RVing Throughout America. Pre-order now on Amazon 🙂
