r/rvlife

I was editing a family RV story this week, and the part I kept thinking about was their Friday rule. If school and work allowed it, they left Friday evening. They stopped waiting for a free week or a detailed itinerary.

Their first trip was only 42 miles. They forgot the leveling blocks, brought far too much pasta, and got woken up by the refrigerator alarm at 2 a.m. The weekend still did its job. After that, leaving became normal instead of a production.

I can see the appeal, but Friday departures also mean tired adults, traffic, and setting up with less daylight. I’d probably keep the first leg short and pack dinner before leaving.

For people who actually do frequent weekend trips, what gets you out the door Friday without turning the evening into a mess?

My wife and I decided to go with a class B van after all. Ow we’re going to fly to go get it, we have a tight schedule to return after the purchase, looking at 3 or 4 days. The plan is to camp close to the dealership the first night and then if everything is operating properly. The remaining nights we will stay in hotels due to the tight schedule.
I know we’ll need a surge protector for the shore power, drinking water hose, water filter and water pressure regulator. We’ll have bedding but what other items do you veterans suggest for the four day trip home? Thanks

I’m in the market to buy an RV. Going to go with a B+ as it’s my wife, a large dog and myself. After a lot of looking, driving and reading, considering strongly a Chinook Maverick DS. I’m going back and forth on batteries and what will we really need. I don’t anticipate much boon docking. One unit has a 3000 watt inverter, a Cummins Onan generator and 800 amp hour AGM batteries and 400 solar panel capacity.
The other has 3000 watt inverter 600 watt solar panel system with Victron solar charger and an Expion 360 900 amp /hour lithium battery system.

What are some thoughts or experiences with the two power systems and any preferences. We are in Texas so there will be times we will have to run AC all night or if we must leave our pup behind for some reason. Thanks

My family of four has been traveling in a no slide 25 foot class C for a few years now.

As the kids get older, we’re getting CRAMPED in there.

So I’m looking to sell mine and roll the proceeds into a bigger floor plan.

For any seasoned pros out there -> Do you have any tips on how to sell?

I desperately want to avoid selling to camping world (or similar)

Help with logistics and ideas, please!

Hello all!

I have recently had an idea. It is definitely a crazy idea, and may indeed be a bad idea, but I thought I should come to some experts.

I am potentially moving from Iowa to Washington. A joke was made about me living in an RV, and now I can’t get it out of my head. I’ve been doing a lot of scrounging around on the internet for info. Frankly, mostly to convince myself this is a worse idea than I think it is. But it is itching at the inside of my skull, and I need more information.

This is my beginnings of an idea:
Buy an RV for cheap ($5k ish??)
Sell/get rid of most of my crap
Fix the few things on the RV that would need to be done before driving 2000 miles
Live in the RV for about a year to save money.
If it works out well then maybe do it longer term, but if I hate it, it was only a year.

Important facts:
I’m the only human in the equation.
I have a dog (60#) a cat, a tortoise (1.1#), a frog, a day gecko, 4 rats, and various arthropods.
My zoo is a big reason I think this is a bad idea. I’m pretty sure I would need to re-home the rats and the definitely the frog, but I don’t want to get rid of my animals. :(
I have a car that would need to be towed that could be used for day to day.
I have a potential place to park for at least a few months rent free, but with no hookups.
I lived in a 5th wheel with my dad when I was a teenager, (so I’m not totally blind to some of the challenges, but it was a while ago)
I’ve lived in Washington before, but in a very different area, so I’m not use to the climate where I’m going, but I’ve been told it’s much more manageable than Iowa weather.

It seems like a lot of people say that 25’ is a sweet spot for sizes, what size do you all have?
I’m mildly mechanically inclined, and have done many household projects, does that translate into being able to work on a rig like this?

I would love some opinions and “I wish I knew” facts!

Please! Talk me into this. Talk me out of this. Give me knowledge!!

For those that got a non-commercial CDL for towing a larger 5th wheel, how did you get your rig to the local DMV for the initial test? Did you just drive your whole setup anyway without the proper license? Did you know someone who could drive it for you? I'm just thinking ahead and I foresee upgrading my 1/2 ton pickup and little 25' trailer for something that will require me upgrading my license. Curious on what the easiest way to get my setup to my DL office.

A couple guys I work with camp near Quartzsite every January and spend most mornings riding the desert roads south of town. They finally talked me into joining them for five nights at La Posa this winter.

One of them has room for another bike in his toy hauler, so I’ve been looking at electric dirt bikes. The Hikeep MAD is one I came across, but I haven’t bought or ridden it yet.

We wouldn’t be doing anything crazy. Mostly hard-packed desert roads, loose rock and a few shallow washes for a couple hours in the morning. What I can’t figure out is how much of a pain charging becomes once you’re actually camped without hookups.

The trailer has rooftop solar and a generator, but my friend normally uses the solar for the house batteries and only runs the generator when he really needs it. I don’t want to show up with a bike that turns his campsite into a charging station every afternoon.

For people who bring an electric dirt bike or motorcycle while boondocking, how do you handle charging without spending half the trip listening to the generator?

Hi All. Looking for recommendations for a campground to spend the winter months. I want to be to be about a days drive from Wisconsin., so maybe Southern Illinois or possibly Missouri. Open to suggestion, so what do you all recommend?

This would be the end of October to May. Wifi in the campground would be great, but not a dealbreaker.

Hello you all, I've been about 6 months looking at RVs to move into full time and a ran into one that I'm gonna look at this weekend. What has my interest is it's an old 454 motor that runs on propane, does anyone have any experience with using an RV that runs on propane for its motor? and yay or nay? And if it's any good for southern Canadian winters. Thank you and have a good day :)