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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 concept what we had been doing, what the tanks meant, the best way to hook up at RV parks—mainly our ignorance was the inspiration for my first guide, A Newbie’s Information to Dwelling in an RV. We had been fully clueless newbies.
And as newbies, we virtually killed ourselves.
Like, quite a bit.
Waaaaaaaay too usually.
So I believed I’d share among the extra outrageous issues that might’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 actually scorching. If the brakes exit, don’t even give it some thought. Simply open the door and soar.” He paused. “Perhaps 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 supplied a incredible 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 like, leaping out of a transferring car 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 seemed like this earlier than midday. Not eager to drive by 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 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 discovered: At all times take shelter.
3. Tornados 🌪
There’s a twister in that storm someplace ⬆️
An app on Heath’s telephone 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 entire home was prone to fly by the air Tornado-style.
You already know what’s widespread within the midwest in August? Tornados.
You already know 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 a minimum of 👍🏼
4. Our fridge blowing up.
For those who 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 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 harm, 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 may lastly have chilly meals once more!
We ate a LOT of popcorn for dinner that month 🍿
5. Propane leak 😷
For those who’re pondering wait, dwelling with no fridge didn’t virtually kill you…
Oh but it surely did.
As a result of in that image up above, you possibly can 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 all the propane line eliminated—costing us a bit of cash and additional delaying our means 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 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 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 except you’ve stumbled unintentionally on a low clearance that can actually take the roof off your RV.
(Simply us? No?)
On our solution 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 automotive horns in my life.
Thanks to the stranger who politely, by northeastern requirements, compelled us off the highway and supplied to guide 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 doubtless killed another person than killed us, but when our automotive flew off the dolly and wrecked another person’s automotive, I’m fairly certain our lives can be over.
Okay, I’m form of getting confused seeing all of those listed out one after the other 😂
You possibly can learn the complete tales behind all these incidents plus extra of what RV life is definitely like in my new guide, RVing Throughout America. Pre-order now on Amazon 🙂
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