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When Heath and I began RVing, we have been principally targeted on the way it was probably the most economical method for us to journey full-time within the US.
What we didn’t bear in mind was, nicely, every little thing about RVing. We had NO concept what we have been doing, what the tanks meant, the right way 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 have been fully clueless rookies.
And as rookies, we virtually killed ourselves.
Like, loads.
Waaaaaaaay too usually.
So I believed I’d share a few of the extra outrageous issues that would’ve killed us throughout our first yr on the highway.
1. That point our engine was overheating on the Pacific Coast Freeway.
“Simply unbuckle, open the door, and soar.”
“You’re kidding, proper?” I requested Heath.
“The engine is admittedly sizzling. If the brakes exit, don’t even give it some thought. Simply open the door and soar.” He paused. “Possibly attempt to tuck your shoulder and roll. We aren’t driving too quick so try to be okay.”
“Okay, now I’m involved that you simply’re not really kidding.”
I peered over the guardrails that apparently had no probability of stopping our RV from careening into the frothy white water crashing in opposition to the rocky shoreline beneath. The sheer cliffs provided a implausible view of the plush coastal mountains and deep blue Pacific. Not a nasty final view for those who’re about to die, which gave the impression to be what Heath was implying.
“Which might you favor, leaping out of a shifting automobile 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 positively 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 via 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 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 every little thing, 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: At all times take shelter.
3. Tornados 🌪
There’s a twister in that storm someplace ⬆️
An app on Heath’s cellphone advised 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 more likely to fly via the air Tornado-style.
You understand what’s frequent within the midwest in August? Tornados.
You understand who didn’t know that?
Heath and Alyssa after 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 at the least 👍🏼
4. Our fridge blowing up.
In case you park your RV on an incline (sometimes something larger 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 harm, we had lower than $70 to our title when this occurred and couldn’t afford a brand new fridge. We lived with out a fridge for a full month earlier than shopping for a small condo fridge so we might lastly have chilly meals once more!
We ate a LOT of popcorn for dinner that month 🍿
5. Propane leak 😷
In case you’re considering wait, residing with out a fridge didn’t virtually kill you…
Oh nevertheless it did.
As a result of in that image up above, you’ll be able to 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 awakened very sick one morning earlier than realizing propane was slowly leaking into our dwelling. We rushed to the mechanic and had the complete propane line eliminated—costing us a bit of cash and additional delaying our capacity 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 received 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 prognosis (and it value a cool $500 to get the brakes and rotors changed from all of the injury).
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 may 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 brilliant orange “8 FOOT CLEARANCE” indicators.
I do know it’s New York, however I’ve by no means heard so many automotive horns in my life.
Thanks to the stranger who politely, by northeastern requirements, pressured us off the highway and provided to steer us again to the protection of the interstate.
Honorable Point out: That one time our tow automotive began rolling off our dolly.
Would have extra seemingly killed another person than killed us, but when our automotive flew off the dolly and wrecked another person’s automotive, I’m fairly positive our lives could be over.
Okay, I’m type of getting confused 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 e-book, RVing Throughout America. Pre-order now on Amazon 🙂
