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When Heath and I began RVing, we had been principally centered 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, properly, all the things about RVing. We had NO thought what we had been doing, what the tanks meant, tips on how to hook up at RV parks—principally our ignorance was the inspiration for my first ebook, A Newbie’s Information to Residing in an RV. We had been fully clueless freshmen.
And as freshmen, we nearly killed ourselves.
Like, quite a bit.
Waaaaaaaay too typically.
So I believed I’d share a few of the extra outrageous issues that might’ve killed us throughout our first yr on the street.
1. That point our engine was overheating on the Pacific Coast Freeway.
“Simply unbuckle, open the door, and leap.”
“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 leap.” 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 just’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 towards the rocky shoreline under. The sheer cliffs provided a unbelievable view of the plush coastal mountains and deep blue Pacific. Not a foul final view should you’re about to die, which appeared to be what Heath was implying.
“Which might you like, leaping out of a transferring 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 had been positively 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 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 search 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 all the things, 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 informed me so and that overpass simply forward was going to be our dwelling for a short while. As a result of if we saved driving, our complete home was more likely to fly via the air Tornado-style.
You realize what’s frequent within the midwest in August? Tornados.
You realize who didn’t know that?
Heath and Alyssa after 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 no less than 👍🏼
4. Our fridge blowing up.
In case 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 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 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 out a fridge for a full month earlier than shopping for a small house fridge so we may 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 nearly 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 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 dwelling. We rushed to the mechanic and had all the propane line eliminated—costing us a bit of cash and additional delaying our capability to exchange our fridge—so we may 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 had been questioning.)
Someplace alongside the way in which, 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 by chance on a low clearance that may actually 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 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 street and provided to guide 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 possible killed another person than killed us, but when our automobile flew off the dolly and wrecked another person’s automobile, I’m fairly certain our lives can be over.
Okay, I’m type of getting careworn seeing all of those listed out one after the other 😂
You may learn the total 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 🙂