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When Heath and I began RVing, we had 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 keep in mind was, properly, all the pieces about RVing. We had NO concept what we had been doing, what the tanks meant, methods to hook up at RV parks—mainly our ignorance was the inspiration for my first e-book, A Newbie’s Information to Dwelling in an RV. We had been utterly clueless rookies.
And as rookies, we virtually killed ourselves.
Like, rather a lot.
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 basically 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 ought to be okay.”
“Okay, now I’m involved that you simply’re not really kidding.”
I peered over the guardrails that apparently had no likelihood of stopping our RV from careening into the frothy white water crashing in opposition to the rocky shoreline beneath. The sheer cliffs provided a unbelievable view of the luxurious coastal mountains and deep blue Pacific. Not a foul final view if you happen to’re about to die, which appeared to be what Heath was implying.
“Which might you favor, leaping out of a transferring automobile or flying over a cliff and drowning within the ocean?”
“How are these my solely two decisions?!”
THANKS FOR THE SCARE HEATH.
2. “You had been undoubtedly struck by lightning.”⚡️
“Or if not struck by lightning, it was shut sufficient to soften your battery.”
We had been tenting in South Dakota in August and the sky appeared 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 course 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 search out shelter till the hazard handed.
After sitting within the flooring 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 all the pieces, 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 discovered: 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 dwelling for a short while. As a result of if we stored driving, our complete home was prone to fly by means of the air Tornado-style.
what’s frequent within the midwest in August? Tornados.
who didn’t know that?
Heath and Alyssa once they deliberate to cross the midwest in August.
We took shelter soooo many instances, however hey we had been solely struck by lightning as soon as not less than 👍🏼
4. Our fridge blowing up.
Should you park your RV on an incline (usually something better than 3º), your propane fridge can have a harmful chemical response and depart white and blue questionable residue in all places.
Yep, we all know this one from expertise.
We weren’t within the RV when it occurred, however we did have to exchange 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 😷
Should you’re considering wait, dwelling with no fridge didn’t virtually kill you…
Oh however it did.
As a result of in that image up above, you may see a capped propane line. Many RV fridges can run on propane and once 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 dwelling. We rushed to the mechanic and had your complete propane line eliminated—costing us a bit of cash and additional delaying our means to exchange 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 acquired our RV into the store.
(That’s 12 states later, in case you had 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 prognosis (and it value 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 except you’ve stumbled by chance on a low clearance that may definitely take the roof off your RV.
(Simply us? No?)
On our approach to New York Metropolis, my very good-looking however not terribly observant husband took an exit towards a dozen vibrant 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 provided to guide us again to the security 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 could be over.
Okay, I’m form of getting careworn seeing all of those listed out one after the other 😂
You’ll be able to learn the complete tales behind all these incidents plus extra of what RV life is definitely like in my new e-book, RVing Throughout America. Pre-order now on Amazon 🙂