10 Things We’ve Learned from 3+ Years of RVing

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Sometimes, it freaks me out to say I have 3+ years of RVing under my belt.

It feels like just yesterday Heath and I drove to a suburban neighborhood in Austin, Texas to buy a 1994 motorhome from complete strangers. We had no idea that our 50 state honeymoon would evolve into three years, not to mention a blog, podcast, and youtube channel all about RVing.

We’ve learned a lot in these years on the road. How to make money while traveling, how to fix your slide outs when they get stuck, how to pack up your RV and run away after you accidentally flash your neighbors.

Good times.

A few weeks ago, Go RVing asked us if we would host a Facebook live on their page highlighting our top ten lessons about life, marriage, and RVing. Check out the full livestream below to hear our top ten + a live Q&A answering your top #RVlife questions.

 

10 Things We’ve Learned from 3+ Years of RVing

1.This lifestyle can be much more economical than you think.

Before we started RVing, we thought it was going to be crazy expensive.

But it was surprisingly affordable. Heck, traveling full-time in our RV allowed us to pay off all of our student debt in under three years.

 

2. Always use septic safe toilet paper.

No explanation necessary.

3. How to snag solid internet on the road.

From Starbucks, to RV park wifi, from Verizon to ATT, we’ve tried a lot of different internet options.

Right now, we use an unlimited AT&T plan paired with a WeBoost cell booster (which is a MUST!).

We used an unlimited Verizon plan last year, but it was $180 a month versus $100 a month with AT&T. Hands down, you get better coverage with Verizon. We have Verizon on our phones and AT&T for our hotspot so we can be confident that we will have service anywhere we go.

 

4. How to be a forgiving wife.

Yesterday, we moved campsites. While Heath moved the RV, I drove the grocery store to pick up a few things. Divide and conquer, you know.

Well, while I was driving to our new campsite, Heath calls to inform me that he left his credit card in the machine at the last RV park…30 minutes away.

So learning how to be forgiving of the ridiculous things Heath does is pretty high on the list of things I’ve learned. (If you follow us on Instagram, you know that Heath was chased down at the airport twice last week for forgetting things!)

Plus if nothing else, there’s always that time he locked me in the shower.

 

5. There are a lot of really great people who travel in RVs.

RVers are some of the best people. Whether you need an egg or help patching your roof, RVers are always eager to help.

When our fridge broke during our first year on the road, RVers came to our rescue helping us lift and remove our very large, very heavy fridge. We really could not have done it without them.

 

6. You don’t have to give up on the comforts of home.

A lot of people choose to move into an RV to simplify life and try out tiny living. And while RVing will force you to live a more minimalistic life, it doesn’t mean you have to give up on the comforts of home.

We make our RV feel like home by hanging up photos, keeping flowers on the table, and starting each day with our $35 espresso maker. There’s nothing better than sipping a latte at a waterfront campsite.

 

7. Companies & clients don’t care if you live, work, and travel in an RV.

When we started RVing, everyone shared their (wrong) opinions about what this lifestyle would do for our careers. No one is going to hire you if you take a year off to travel in an RV. No one will take you seriously.

Well, they were all wrong.

Living in an RV has been a huge asset for our business—and not just our online brand. From marketing consulting to video production, our clients love hearing our story. It sets us apart from the competition and as long as we have internet, it doesn’t affect our work. It’s really been our biggest business asset.

Listen to the RV Entrepreneur Podcast to hear how full-timers run their business from their RV.

8. How to handle people’s adverse reactions to your lifestyle.

When you start blogging, you give up a little privacy to share your story on the public stage.

Every once in a while, we’ll get trolls on our blog commenting about how stupid our lifestyle is, but it’s usually from people who just don’t know much about RVing.

But if you really want to hear people’s opinions on your life, put your face on TV. We were on CNN, Fox, CBS, not to mention the front page of Yahoo and a handful of international news sites. I’ve heard just about every comment you can imagine about Heath and I and our lifestyle. (This is 10x worse if you’re a woman and have photos of you without makeup being published on major news sites.)

But after a few years, we’ve learned how to shake off the haters and explain our lifestyle without getting that kicked-in-the-gut feeling that comes with harsh comments.

9. There’s no perfect time to travel.

As the saying goes…

When you’re young, you have the energy and the time, but not the means.

When you’re middle-aged, you have the energy and the means, but not the time.

When you’re old, you have the time and the means, but not the energy.

There’s no perfect time to travel.

So you might as well not wait and make it happen now.

10. Instagram is the best way to make friends on the road.

Instagram is an amazing tool for RVers. Whether you’re looking for nearby campers, inspiration for great road trips and campsites, or if you just want to stay connected with your traveling friends, there’s no better platform.

We’ve been able to meet up with so many awesome people we now call friends because of Instagram. If you’re a traveler looking to find other full-timers, it’s the best place to go!

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What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned since RVing? Share in the comments!