We can't believe we've been on the road for 6 months already. Time flies when you are a nomad. We thought we would do a recap by the numbers to put our travels in perspective and breakdown some our finances. So here it is, our 6 month infographic. It really has been a wild ride so far. As you can see, we move quite a bit, which means we go through a lot of gas. On average our MPG is a little over 5 miles per gallon when towing the Jeep. OUCH! Our other big expense is obviously campsites, but this is an area we are trying to do better at recently, hitting more BLM land and taking advantage of free campsites. Overall, we are feeling pretty good about all the parks we have visited and miles we have put on our hiking boots these past several months. If you have any specific questions about the cost of RV living or our travels, please feel free to email us or ask in the comments below. We're happy to help. By: Kevin Quiambao
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Boondocking is our favorite way to camp, it gives you an opportunity to be off the grid and just enjoy the peace and quiet of your surroundings. But what do you do when the temperatures are in the 90s and climbing? Well one strategy is to turn on your generator and blast your A/C units. But that that kind of takes away from the experience in our opinion and we generally like to rely on our solar panels which do not provide enough juice for the A/C. Since we have been in Texas and New Mexico we have been experienced the desert heat and have had to get a little creative about how to keep our RV Wanda cool. Here are some ways we have found that keeps us cooler. Campsite Strategy Site location and how you park your RV makes all the difference in temperature in your RV. While you may not have a choice depending on the site its an important consideration. Shade vs Full Sun. This is a tricky decision if you rely on solar to recharge your batteries. Do you need to maximize your solar intake? Or are you just boondocking for a day or two and can rely on the power you have already stored? Are you going to run your generator? Obviously, there are a lot of factors you need to weigh out. As a general rule for us, we always want to make the smallest impact on our surroundings and this includes noise. So, we often opt for sites with maximum sun for our solar and so we don't have to run the generator. Cover Your Windshield and Windows Your windshield is where the most heat enters your RV. Think greenhouse, it is the same principle. On the road, we’ve seen many approaches to blocking the sun's rays from the front window. We’ve seen solar blankets, reflectix, shades, blankets and even cardboard. Our front curtains have a thick black out liner which generally works pretty well to keep the front cool. For Big Bend we also parked our RV pointing North. By pointing your RV in the northerly direction your RV windshield receive the least amount of light compared to any other direction. Also, drawing your blinds will aid in keeping the temperature lower. Awning Lets face it, RVs are not known for having the best insulation. One of the best tools on your RV is your awning. The awning provides much need shade shade and on our particular RV the awning provides shade for the back of our refrigerator. The back of the refrigerator vents away the hot air it produces to keep the contents in our refrigerators cold. The refrigerator will struggle to keep cool if the ambient air is hotter than the temperature it is venting. Keep the back of the refrigerator shaded as much as possible to make sure you do not end up with soupy ice cream! Maximize Wind or Keep the Air Circulating with Vent Fans Check the weather and see if you are getting any wind in the forecast. If so, park so that the wind flows through your windows instead of parking head or tail into the wind. If wind isn’t an option, turn on your vent fans to circulate the air. On good solar days we are able run our electric fans without draining our batteries. Make a Evap Air Cooler This low tech A/C is simple, cheap and effective for keeping cool. Here’s a YouTube on how to make your own. We kept it power efficient by using a battery operated camp fan and hot wiring a USB A cord and powering it with a portable power supply. That way I could recharge the batteries with a portable solar charger that we have for our electronics. For ice, freeze a gallon jug of ice with a cup of salt in it. The salt lowers the freezing point and the ice will stay colder than traditional ice. The fan blows the warms across the cold ice water and cools the air temperature as it exits the bucket. What are ways you keep cool while boondocking? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments below. By: Kevin Quiambao
Wanda is definitely a member of the family. Strange to say, but I honestly feel that way. Obviously, I love my wife and pets more but I love my 2007 Winnebago Vista 30B. It must be because we made it our own, renovated it and improved it to our needs but we also spend a lot of time in it. Wanda is our home, our office and a form of transportation. The more miles we put on Wanda the more I appreciate her. She gets my family to see the best a state has to offer safely with all comforts of a traditional house. To accomplish this task, Wanda requires a lot of maintenance. I feel like I am constantly checking, inspecting, fixing and improving on Wanda. We demand a lot from her, so it is imperative that she is running at tip top shape. This also gives me peace of mind that when I need Wanda to perform she's at her best. When a full-time RVer drives, everything they love and own is in the RV. There are many things that require maintenance but at the bare minimum I do the following on a weekly basis. Tires This goes without saying this is probably the most important thing to check. Check PSI on all your tires including your Tow Vehicle. We have RVi Tire Patrol which remotely checks the PSI and Tire Temperature every time Wanda and Walter moves. Also, I visually inspect the tires. I make sure the thread is wearing evenly, and there are no cracks, bulges or nails in the tires . My biggest fear when driving is a tire blow out. I take all precautions to prevent this. Lubricate Lubricating is extremely important and something that should not be skipped. There are lot of moving parts in an RV. Lubrication helps everything work properly and smoothly. Here are the components that I lubricate weekly: slide, stairs, and tow bars. Make sure to use the proper lubricants on each of these. Lubricants like wd40 are great but gather dirt and grime and aren't for every application. This is also a good time to visually inspect each of those components for potential breaks or other issues. Tow Bars I do this a couple of times a week if we are moving a lot. Wanda kicks up so much dirt, road grime and water at the tow bars. If these aren’t cleaned regularly the tow arms struggle to extend making hooking up the jeep difficult and dangerous. Follow your owners manual for detailed instructions on how to clean your particular tow bars. Wash or Hose Down the RV or at Minimum Clean Your Windshield Driving through Texas Hill Country in the Spring has caused the front of my RV to look like a mass grave for flying insects. If the parks allows it, I will wash the RV. If they don’t allow RV washing, I will quickly hose down the RV and I can’t do either, I will use my jeep as a ladder and use window cleaner and paper towels. Wash your RV when you have the opportunity. You don't know when you will be allowed to do it next. Engine I do a quick check of all the fluids and visually inspect everything to make sure it all looks right. The whole process should only take a couple of minutes. I check oil, transmission fluid, coolant, and windshield wiper fluids every week. The rest of the fluids I will check once a month. Start Generator We don’t use the generator very often. We have solar and often times the sites we are staying in have electric but when we do need it, I want to know its working correctly. We made this mistake once by not running it and after a couple of cloudy days boondocking on the beach when we tried to turn it on, the inverter didn't recognize the generator. That was a bad time to find out we had a problem. So now we exercise it. This might be difficult to do because you don't want create too much noise when you are at a campground, but you don't need to run the generator long. I will generally run the generator for 5 minutes under load after its up to temperature. I generally run the microwave or flip on the A/C while the generator is on. Solar Get on the roof and glass clean those panels. On boondocking days we rely solely on solar power. I clean the panels everyday. Even a little dust can prevent the panels from soaking up sun rays. We don’t have a lot of panels, so need these 3 working super efficiently. What weekly maintenance do you do for your rig every week? Any shortcuts to make it go quickly? Let us know in the comments below. By: Kevin Quiambao
These last couple of weeks we both really miss home. Well not exactly Long Island, but the comforts of a traditional stationary home, that doesn't move every other day. Here are a few things we have been missing:
2. Consistent Internet Internet coverage from site to site is so frustrating. Often times we have to book sites we normally wouldn't simply because we will have service. Despite all our technology and applications to enhance our signals, it is still a struggle to work on the road and a constant battle for consistent internet. I guess it’s the price you pay for these remote sites. 3. Availability of your own doctors. Bottom line being sick on the road sucks. Ash has been struggling lately and hasn’t been feeling great for a lot of our trip. The problem is the doctors who know your history and how to fix you are thousands of miles away, the doctors you find on the road don’t. A walk in clinic or new temporary doctor's office can only do so much and sometimes you just need your own doctor. 4. Trader Joes Sure there are some Trader Joes throughout the US, but not in the tiny towns we’ve been staying at. When the population is less than 1400 people, you pray for any super market that's not named Walmart. Don’t get me wrong, a Walmart will have the essential food for survival but when you have a taste for something somewhat exotic or organic a Walmart falls short. We miss the fresh produce and variety of options that you find at Trader Joes. 5. Stability of a consistent place You learn quick to be comfortable being uncomfortable. While RV Life is always exciting, it does get tiring to always be somewhere new. There's no stability in where you shop, who you meet, where you are going, or the road conditions. With the constant travel and having to maximize each location by seeing the best the town offers, you rarely get to have a lazy day. Each new site also bring its own sacrifices, sometimes we don't have water, or sewer, or internet, or anything at all. Sometimes we are low on fuel, or propane, or food or pet food which often isn't an easy fix or a simple 5 minute trip to the store. You consistently have to be on your game and think about your resources and what is next. Sometimes we just want it to be easy and familiar. To my full timers out there, what do you miss from home? I miss NY Bagels and Pizza. By Kevin Quiambao
We’ve spoken to so many seasoned veterans who have been on the road for 15+ years. It amazes me how they used to travel without the luxury of smartphones and all the resources of the internet. I can’t imagine having to travel across country without GPS or having google to find a local supermarket for groceries. Our smart phones are imperative to our survival and comfort for fulltime RVing. Here are some our favorite apps to make RV Life Easier
And the app I absolutely hate but am forced to use to safely drive
What cellphone apps aid you on your travel? Let us know in the comments below. By Kevin Quiambao
Since we have left the east coast and are making our way further west, we have had the opportunity to boondock more and we absolutely love it. We have more privacy, more space, the views are awesome, and it’s just so quiet and peaceful. And the best part, it’s free! But with boondocking comes a lot more to consider and take precautions with. Water, propane, your tanks, basically all of your resources need to be carefully conserved if you are out for more than a couple of days. After some trial and error, here are 5 ways we conserve our resources and make the process of cooking and eating easier while boondocking: 1. Prep ahead of time and plan out your meals. Boondocking spots are usually pretty far from modern conveniences like supermarkets so we always foodshop on the way in or beforehand and plan out what our meals are going to be. We also try to make some of the food ahead of time. We will roast or grill a bunch of veggies, make rice, chicken salad, marinate meat in ziploc bags (easy disposal) and prep ingredients for whatever we are making so we can save on washing dishes while we are out. 2. Salads, sandwiches, cold food and one pot meals are key. Keep in mind you wont really be able to use your microwave and depending where you are (our most recent beach trip was so windy that we couldn’t use the outdoor grill). So we try to keep it as simple as possible. 3. Cook during the day and make multiple portions. Use the daylight when you have it. It’s so much easier to cook during the afternoon when you can actually see what you are doing and you don’t have to waste turning on a bunch of lights. Cooking multiple portions also means you save yourself time and get a break some days when you don’t have to turn the grill or oven on. Another tip, RV ovens are small, about one sheet pan is all you can really fit so while the oven is hot bake/roast/cook several things in a row instead of starting from scratch every time. 4. Stock up on drinks. We typically drink a lot of water and so when you have to watch your water consumption you need other options. So before we head out, we brew two full pots of coffee for the mornings (Kev likes regular and I like my flavored), we make iced-tea, buy seltzer or soda and of course replenish our alcohol (have to drink something right?). We also have an extra 5 gallon water jug that we fill as well. If you don’t have one, I’d suggest picking up a couple extra gallons of water just in case. 5. Conserve water when you are washing dishes. This is a big one. It’s definitely been an adjustment first of all not having a dishwasher in the RV in general but when we don't have a water hookup, washing dishes is tricky. We try to let dishes pile up a bit before we do them so we are not wasting water on an individual cup or plate. Once we have a small pile we wipe any residue off with a paper towel, do a quick rinse, turn the water off, soap everything at once and then rinse it all. Same kind of idea as the army shower we have to take when boondocking, its a little annoying but it definitely helps. We also try to reuse cups and limit some of the dishes by using paper plates and bowls. With a little prep and planning ahead of time, managing your meals is a pretty smooth process. While it may not be complex gourmet meals, its a trade off we happily make for a free ocean or mountain view. By Ashley Quiambao
![]() Beach Boondocking is one of my favorite places to camp. The feeling of opening your door and stepping outside onto the sand and an unobstructed view of the ocean is priceless. It's what I day-dreamed about when I was stuck behind a desk in a cubicle. Just don't blame us for the sand inside of your RV. I’ve been driving on the beach for years at home on Long Island. I'm an avid surf caster and beach volleyball junkie. In season, I would be on the beach a minimum of 4 days a week. Beaches on the South Shore of Long Island are known for extremely soft deep sand. In order to drive you have onto the beaches you have to have 4 wheel drive and air your tires below 20 PSI. While truck campers and on some class C's would be out, you never saw towables. Class A's are very rare, I think I only ever saw one Class A 4x4 that looked like Wanda. So when we read about a bunch of beaches that are more RV friendly with hard packed sand and that allow boondocking, we knew we needed to stay there. Here are some tips to safely boondock on a beach. 1. Survey the beach before fully committing We typically stop before the sand at the entrance and unhook our tow vehicle. After we unhook, we survey the area and take an assessment of the beach conditions and a possible campsite options. Taking your tow vehicle out on the sand first to test it is a good idea. Here are some things to consider before trekking your RV on to the sand. Driving
Choosing a campsite- Obviously your objective is to open your doors and get that beach front view. Waking up to the sound of the waves crashing is extremely satisfying, but you also want to be safe and stress free.
2. Check the Weather, Tides, Moon Phase This is extremely important. You need to know weather before you get there and while you are there. Beach weather can change extremely fast. Be cautious of the wind, wind gust and wind directions. Wind can be hazardous to you and your rig. Sand can be carried and blown into your RV. Be wary of sand getting into slides, stairs or A/C units. Remember you have a lot moving parts and a lot of places for sand to get into. Also note the direction of the wind. If the wind is blowing with the waves, it can push the water up the beach further creating a higher high tide. Know the weather conditions for overnight. A lot of things can change overnight, the last thing you want to do it wake up and find your site is underwater. We experienced this Bolivar Flats in Texas. We stayed above the seaweed and all week the water didn't even come close to us, we had a consistent 70 feet between us and high tide. But our last morning we woke up and the wind shifted and the wind was pushing the water right towards our stairs. 3. Be prepared with the proper equipment You want to be prepared for the worst case scenario and have the confidence that you'll be able to get yourself out of a sticky situation. Have these tools handy just in case. Better to be prepared than sorry later.
4. Put your furniture away and awning tucked in overnight. As I mentioned, weather can change very quickly and wind can pick up speed in a hurry. Last thing you need is to be searching for your beach chair the next morning. Your awning can also catch wind like a big sail. Don't take the risk of damaging your awning or RV, make sure it's put it away at night. By Kevin Quiambao
Prior to becoming digital nomads, most of our "professional" jobs were typical 9-5's (although always ended up being more hours) working in a cubicle or small office with a long commute. Even with different jobs and different companies, being inside stuck at a desk was always hard for us. The ration of vacation time was never enough either, most people negotiate for more money when accepting a new position, I on the other hand, ALWAYS negotiated for more time off. We were always dreaming up ways we could travel and work at the same time (being that we're not independently wealthy and we didn't win the lottery, not working is not an option). We are both fortunate that we have the ability to work remotely and now that we have been on the road for a few months, we have come to really appreciate the ability to be location independent,. We recognize though that despite its many benefits, it does have some downsides too. Here are 5 benefits of working remotely:
2. An Office With A View At our last office jobs, I worked in a small windowless office and Kevin worked in a cubicle surrounded by 100 more cubicles. Nothing to look at and no connection to the outdoors, if you didn't leave the office for lunch you would have no idea if it rained, snowed, was sunny or lousy out. Now we have an office with a constantly changing view. With our huge windows, sunlight is always pouring in and we get to work watching the ocean crash, taking in a sunset, on a lake, in the mountains, or in the middle of a forest. How can you beat that? 3. Having A Delicious Lunch While you always have the best intentions to meal prep and bring your own lunch to work (to save some $$, to eat healthy etc) sometimes you just don't have time or don't feel like eating what you brought. Now that we have a kitchen 5 steps away from us and have access to anything and everything in the fridge, we cook or prepare our lunches every day. In fact, lunch is often our best meal of the day and taking the time to make it is a nice break from work. We are able to eat healthy while keeping our budget in check. 4. Variety of Working Spaces Oh, the many places we work. Despite living in a 30 foot RV, we have way more options for our work days than we had in an office. We rotate working at our workstation (flip up desk), dining table, in bed, on the couch or our favorite, outside. And sometimes if we just need to take a break from Wanda, get better WiFi and have some human contact, we pack up and head to a local coffee shop. 5. Zero Commute We both love that we no longer have to fight through traffic, weather and road conditions to get to work. Living on Long Island our commutes were usually long and torturous. It's so nice to not stress every day over the drive to/from work and have the ability to use that time to take a walk or hang outside. On the flip side, here are 5 pitfalls of working remotely: 1. Hard To "Leave It At the Office" We have both discovered that it is harder to step away from working for the day or week when you live in your office. When working at our office jobs, we tried to always leave any problems/issues at the office when we left so we could enjoy our time off. That has become a little tricky. I have found that I am more available and responsive to my boss and clients on off hours than I used to be. As a result, we sometimes feel like we work all the time. It's definitely a balance we are still trying to figure out. 2. Internet Speed Despite all our options for connecting to the internet (WeBoost, WiFiRanger, Verizon MiFi, tethering off our cellphones) we still struggle with slow internet pretty often. Downloads crawl, sometimes I can't access my employer's network and working on multiple applications at once with a bad connection has led to a couple of computer crashes. While we try to plan ahead a bit and try to make sure we are somewhere with good reception and signals on work days it's unpredictable. While we rarely have been without any connection, everything takes longer which can get frustrating. 3. Lack of Face to Face Interaction with Colleagues/Clients Kevin and I are together pretty much all the time, in this tiny house. If we are at a quiet campsite or boondocking it can get lonely and boring. We both miss being able to see and talk with our colleagues and clients in person. Sure I talk to them on the phone, but there is something to be said about face to face communication and the connection you get from it. 4. Distractions We move every few days, so there are always new trails to hike, new places to explore and things to see. It can be hard to reign in the desire to go out and explore in favor of sitting in front of the computer working. And there are other distractions to contend with, friendly neighbors wanting to chat, the dogs carrying on because they want to go outside or sometimes it's just noisy and hard to focus. 5. Snacks I am a snacker, I will choose a snack over a meal any day. And while we like the access to be able to make our lunches, it means we are also 5 steps away from all our food at all times. Understandably, this tends to result in some mindless snacking. Out of sight out of mind is not an option so some stronger willpower is required. Overall, we really like the freedom and flexibility of being able to work from anywhere. We will take the good with the bad if it means we can keep traveling. Do you like working at home or prefer working in an office? Let us know in the comments below. By: Ashley Quiambao
Overwhelmed, disorganized and stressed by the transition to RV life? Looking for an easy to way to organize your travel? We can help with that. ![]() Our decision to sell our house and become full time RVers was the easy part. The hard part was the logistics, planning, research, organizing and the unknown. We were being pulled in so many different directions trying to sell the house, buy and renovate an RV and plan our travels all at once. We needed some type of system to keep us organized and on track or we would never make our somewhat aggressive timeline. ![]() So, how did we manage to pull it off? We used a Trello Board (along with a lot of time, hard work and support from family of course!) Trello is essentially a project management app that can transform your chaos into a streamlined, manageable and organized plan. We started using Trello a couple of years ago for our travels, camping trips and renovation projects. Kevin became familiar with it through his work as a project manager. We have both found that Trello is user friendly, incredibly convenient and has so many options. We knew that by using Trello we would skip endless paper lists, emails and notes, plus we would have all our research and important documents in one place. We used Trello every step of the way from getting our house ready to list, to our RV search, to renovations, to budget plans, to travel destinations and everything in between. Trello allows you to create checklists, add attachments, assign each other tasks, have conversations, keep track of important documents and calendar deadlines. You can delegate different research and tackle different problems while sharing what you find. Any info you could possibly need is readily available at your fingertips. While we are happily past the transition from sticks and bricks house to RV life, we still use Trello on a daily basis. All of Wanda’s specifications, appliance manuals, info on our upgrades, travel plans, recommended stops, RV membership docs, budget/finances, pet records, research, insurance policies, and future goals are all on our Board. So, how can Trello help you? Well, if you are a current RVer, vacationer, in transition or just a person intent on getting yourself and your family a little more organized, Trello can help. If after exploring our RV Board, you want to learn more about how to incorporate Trello into your plans (whatever they may be), how to manage a board and easily add lists cards or tasks, we have great news! Since Trello has so much to offer we decided to create a course to teach you how to use it. We break Trello down and go through step by step how to navigate it, how to utilize all the different components, what powerups to choose and how to share your board with friends and family. So skip the learning curve, save yourself some time and let us help you get organized. Our Sidetracked By Adventure Travel Board is an incredible place to start if you are already RVing, in the planning phase or simply dreaming of a more mobile lifestyle. We have saved you hours of time by creating a template for you to follow and customize with your own information. But if RVing isn’t your thing, we encourage you to take a look at the board anyway, it’s a great example of how to use all of the features of Trello and what you can accomplish with it. We will also be giving you a behind the scenes peak at what our board looks like now. It is jam packed with so much information that we have accumulated since we started out. You will be able to see how our board has evolved and how it continues to streamline our crazy life. So are you ready to simplify, organize and spend less time planning and more time being Sidetracked By Adventure?
How to Sign Up for Trello 1. On your web browser, type in the address bar https://www.trello.com 2. On the top right, click the Sign up button 3. Fill out all the fields (Name, Email and Password) and click Create New Account Button or log in using google button
How to Get the Sidetracked By Adventure Travel Board 1. Sign Up for access to the Sidetracked By Adventure Travel Board on our Homepage To customize the Board and utilize all of Trello's features, you will need a Trello account. See above for instructions on how to sign up for Trello 2. You will receive an invite from Trello and Kevin to join the Sidetracked By Adventure Travel Board. Click on the link and you will be brought to the Sidetracked By Adventure Travel Board. Your request will be processed as soon as its received but please allow a few hours for the invite to come through, as we have to customize the board for each request. 3. Sign into Trello using your own credentials to start inputting your own information and formatting the travel board to best suit your needs.
Thinking of Flat Towing Your Jeep Wrangler behind your RV? Here's what you need to get started.1/24/2019
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Choosing a tow vehicle
Determining what vehicle to tow determines how you will tow that vehicle. Before full-timing we had a Mazda 6 and a Chevy Avalanche, either of which could have worked, but we wanted to be able to flat tow a smaller vehicle that had 4 wheel drive and good ground clearance. The Mazda 6 would have needed a front wheel dolly and while we could flat tow the Chevy Avalanche, it was too big and cumbersome. We needed a tow vehicle that was small, agile and versatile. We decided that a Jeep Wrangler would be a perfect fit. Many people choose this option. I would say 1 out 4 towed vehicles that we see are Wranglers. Good Sam has a great guide they publish every year on the latest advances in towing and a list of models that could be flat towed : 2018 Guide to Dingy Towing
Here is our comprehensive list of everything we needed to tow Walter, our 2001 Jeep Wrangler TJ (Automatic) along with how much it all cost.
Total Price: $ 3137.38 + Installation
By Kevin Quiambao
Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon Affiliate Links, which means we may receive a commission if you click the link and purchase something we recommend. Clicking these links doesn't cost you any extra money but it does help support our adventures and this website. Thank you for your support!
We do this together but can certainly be done by one person. I usually handle everything outside of the vehicle, while Ash handles everything inside the Jeep. Below, the steps are broken down by roles and responsibilities of each person. Outside Person (Kevin's Responsibilities) Note: Wear gloves to protect your hands 30 Minutes before departure we plug in the RVi Command Center and RVi Tablet to let them charge Step 1: Find a safe, level and out of the way location to attach your tow vehicle
Step 2: Put your hazards on.
Step 3: Move the arms vertically and push the release latch and pull the arms down.
Step 4: Have tow vehicle creep towards the tow bars.
Keep hands away from the ends of the tow bars to avoid pinching or collisen. I also position my body as far back as possible just in case. Step 5: Attach the tow bars and safety cables on one side.
Step 6: Attach the other side
Step 7: Attach power cables and the brake-away teether to the RV and the Jeep. Step 8: Double check all the pins and cables. Step 9: Check lights
Step 10: Double check inside of the Jeep is done correctly Inside the Jeep (Ashley's Responsibilities) Step 1: Line up the tow vehicle behind the tow bars about 10 feet away.
Step 2: Turn off the Radio and climate control settings
There are charge line kits that can keep your battery charged as you tow which we will be purchasing in the future but currently we rarely have any issues with the keeping the battery charged enough. Step 3: Put Transfer case into neutral and put Jeep Wrangler TJ into Park
Step 4: Install RViBrake3 Auxiliary Braking System
Step 5: Check if windows are closed, doors unlocked, parking brake off. Step 6: Double check the outside steps were done correctly. Step 7: Walk the Perimeter.
Step 8: Once in the cab, check tire pressures on the TPMS and slowly extend the tow arms.
By: Kevin Quiambao Disclaimer: These are specific steps to attach our 2001 Jeep Wrangler with RoadMaster All-Terrain Falcon Tow Bars and a RVibrake3 Auxiliary Braking System. Use this as a guideline as your parts may vary. Consult your manuals for specific directions.
We do this together, same as attaching the Jeep, but can be done by one person. I usually handle everything outside of the vehicle while Ash handles everything inside the Jeep. For Outside the vehicle (Kevin’s Responsibility) Step 1: Find a safe, level and out of way location to detach your tow vehicle.
Use work gloves for protection. Step 2: Unplug the power cords and the breakaway teether from the RV side and the tow vehicle side.
Step 3: Remove one side of the tow bars and safety cable
Step 4: Remove the other side.
Step 5: Secure tow bars and tow cables and cover tow bars.
Step 6: Make sure Base pins and Linch pins are secured and ready to travel on the Jeep.
For Inside The Tow Vehicle (Ashley’s Responsibilities) Step 1: Put the parking brake on for tow vehicle Step 2: Remove the braking system and tuck-away the brake away cable
Step 3: Shifting the transfer case back from neutral to _____.
Step 4: Start the vehicle By: Kevin Quiambao Disclaimer: These are specific steps to detach our 2001 Jeep Wrangler with RoadMaster All-Terrain Falcon Tow Bars and a RVibrake3 Auxiliary Braking System. Use this as a guideline as your parts may vary. Consult your manuals for specific directions.
When transitioning to this mobile lifestyle, we discovered several issues pretty early on. Despite being on the move, we still needed to “belong” somewhere and have a home base for things like insurance, licenses, registration and mail. And a huge new expense for us was private paying our health insurance, which let me tell you is seriously painful in New York. We needed to look for a better option and wanted to situate ourselves in a state with lower income tax, if possible.
So, we researched what other fulltime RVers did and learned that a lot of RVers change their domicile to somewhere which is friendlier to full timers. The top 3 choices we discovered were: Florida, Texas and South Dakota as they have no income tax. But then the obvious question is how can you become a resident of a state without owning property or having an address?
Enter Escapees RV Club which solves that problem. Escapees is a huge network for RVers and offers so many great services like mail forwarding, discounted rates at hundreds of RV campgrounds across the country, and roadside assistance among others and a yearly membership is only $39.95 a year.
Their mail service is offered in Texas, Florida and South Dakota. By adding the Escapees mail service (different options available, more on that below), Escapees will provide you with a legal address in the state you choose and will handle receiving and forwarding all of your mail. If you choose Florida or South Dakota you will have two addresses, one for your legal domicile (license, insurance, taxes etc.) and a separate mailing address in Texas where Escapees processes all the mail. Your residential address in Florida will be Sumter Oaks RV Park and for South Dakota it will be an Escapees satellite center.
Now that we discovered it was possible, we began the following process and said goodbye to New York and became Floridians:
Step 1: Research which of the 3 States is best for you
The most important consideration for us was the ability to get a good nationwide health insurance plan. After researching on our own, talking to several health insurance agents and comparing the options to what we would have to pay to stay on COBRA in NY...the only option was Florida. Florida is the only state that really offers a plan with good nationwide coverage. It’s through Florida Blue Cross Blue Shield which has a bunch of different PPO plan options depending on your circumstances and budget. We are very happy with the plan and coverage that we found and the best news…..is that it is less than half of what we were paying on COBRA=Happy Dance!!
Step 3: Purchase Car/RV Insurance policies in new state
This was a little unexpected but when we switched the Jeep, RV and our Umbrella policy to Florida we actually ended up paying slightly more than what we were paying in NY. However, the savings for health insurance more than makes up for this. *Print the insurance cards to bring with you to the tax collector/DMV
Step 4: Complete paperwork for transferring licenses, title, and registration and gather required documents, passports, IDs
For your license you will need:
For your Title/Registration you will need:
For more info on Sumter County requirements, click here.
Step 5: Go to the Tax Collector/DMV to transfer licenses, title and registration This is going to take a while, so be prepared to spend a couple hours at the office. However, our only experience with DMVs is in New York, which anyone familiar with can attest is a unique form of cruel and unusual punishment, so we were delighted with the quiet and friendly experience in Sumter County. Step 6: If you need to get health insurance, purchase a new policy We got several proposals of different plan options and spoke to a few insurance agents before picking our new health insurance plan. I found the quotes and different plan options to be slightly overwhelming, so my advice is definitely speak to agents, don’t just research online and purchase through a website...health insurance is important, you don’t want to end up with a bad plan! Step 7: Change your address and mailing address on bank accounts, credit cards and with the United States Postal Service Most of this can be done online and is a fairly simple and quick process. Before starting this process, I was honestly a little overwhelmed by it but breaking it down and just dealing with one step at a time made it much more manageable and it ended up being a relatively quick process with only one major hiccup.
It can be a frustrating and confusing process. Let us know if you have any questions.
By: Ashley Quaimbao
Disclosure: This post may contain Affiliate Links, which means we may receive a commission if you click the link and purchase something we recommend. Clicking these links doesn't cost you any extra money but it does help support our adventures and this website. Thank you for your support!
Having an internet connection on a consistent basis is the biggest battle we face working remotely. We have found that having multiple options is a necessity and gives us our best chance at getting a connection wherever we are.
The Unfortunate Truth about WiFi
While WiFi technology is getting better, RV Parks, Resorts, and Campgrounds have not caught up. Of all the places we have stayed, only 3 parks have had true high speed WiFi. This is probably one the more expensive and complicated amenities for park owners to provide their guest and as we've discovered, its pretty rare. For the places that do provide WiFi, there is usually only one access point located by the office, which doesn't broadcast anywhere outside of the office. While a few parks did have multiple access points, they didn’t have enough bandwidth to support the 100+ sites or they throttled your speed to a crawl. In short Internet at RV campgrounds is extremely slow and unreliable and at times we have felt like were were using an AOL dial up connection.
Our Internet Setup
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WiFi Ranger Elite AC Pack FM
The heart of our RV internet solution is our WiFiRanger Elite AC Pack FM. The WiFiRanger is specially made for RVers and makes mobile connectivity easy and pain free. Here are the features we liked:
Cellular
When WiFi isn’t an option at your site, you will need another solution. We rely on cellular when WiFi is not available. We have 3 options for cellular; our two T-Mobile cell phones (Google Pixel 2 & Google Pixel 3) and a Verizon Ellipsis Jetpack MHS900L. We like having two different carriers because it gives us options when one carrier is stronger than the other. We even notice speed differences between our two T-Mobile phones. Ideally, we connect the WiFiRanger to one of the cellular devices which in turns provides internet to the whole RV.
Cellular Data Reception
We really enjoy camping in sites that are remote and secluded but when you are in the middle of Nowhere, USA with a population of 10 cows, a cell signal is pretty scarce. To combat that, we use a cellular signal booster. There are a bunch on the market but we chose the WeBoost Drive 4G-X. This device helps receive the signal with an outdoor antenna, boost signal and broadcast signal with an indoor antenna in the RV and it works with all carriers. The only problem is the indoor antenna doesn’t broadcast very far so you have to keep your devices close to the antenna. We keep our Verizon Jetpack close to the antenna in our media cabinet.
The Problem with Cellular: Data Throttling
You are being data throttled no matter what your carrier or data plan is. For our phones, we are on the T-Mobile ONE Unlimited Plan which we really like. The plan also allows you to use the Mobile Hotspot data at 3G speeds. Our Verizon Jetpack is also an unlimited plan up to 22GB of high-speed 4G. Despite all our devices being “Unlimited” data, our data speed is still being throttled at a certain point. But luckily, we found a way around the data throttling for our Android Phones. PdaNet+ & FoxFi (Android) This is a must have and another great option. PdaNet+ is one of the top Android applications of all time. It shares the internet access from your Android cell phone to your laptop, computer or tablets. The nice thing is it doesn’t require a tethering plan from your carrier which some carriers charge additional for. PdaNet+ has multiple connection options like USB and WiFi. Most cell phone carrier meter there hotspot/tethering . PdaNet+ doesn’t have any speed limits. You can download the free version on the Google Play Store but it has a timed usage limit. This means you’ll have to reconnect it after a certain amount of time. We opted to purchase the full version for $7.99. We highly recommend this app and use it all the time.
Conclusion
Internet is a must have for our nomadic lifestyle. Whether it’s for work, route planning or researching our next stop, we rely on our devices and can’t survive without a good connection. Our solutions aren't perfect and often we are frustrated at the speed but considering the locations we’ve been able to work in, its worked pretty well and gotten the job done. When your office is mobile and ever changing like ours, our biggest recommendation is multiple options for connecting to the world. What are some ways you connect to the internet while RVing? Let us know in the comments below.
By Kevin Quiambao
Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon Affiliate Links, which means we may receive a commission if you click the link and purchase something we recommend. Clicking these links doesn't cost you any extra money but it does help support our adventures and this website. Thank you for your support!
![]() 2 months into full-timing and we've discovered that some of our expectations of what this experience would be like haven't exactly lined up with reality. While none of it has changed our mind about choosing this lifestyle and we feel the positives far outweigh the negative, it seems we were both a bit naive going into this. Maybe it's because of our past camping trips or vacations or how #rvlife is portrayed on social media, but we've definitely had some surprises, both good and bad. Expectation: Tons of down time and relaxing by a campfire vs. Reality: Very little free time. What's a bit strange about full time rving is that all your "life stuff" comes with you...working, house maintenance, cleaning, laundry, pets, exercise, food shopping, and running errands is all still a part of your life, you are just mobile now making some of it a little more challenging. And while we no longer have a whole house and backyard to take care of, Wanda and Walter require a lot of work, repair, and maintenance because driving around your home on wheels tends to beat it up a bit. There are a lot of systems to keep up with, it takes time setting up a campsite, breaking down a campsite, or even just leaving the house for the afternoon. Living tiny also means a smaller kitchen and refrigerator = more trips to the grocery store and time spent trying to find your way in a brand new store every time you shop. Plus there is a constant worry about your resources, do we need propane, are we conserving water, what are the tank levels at? Not to mention the hours you will spend researching....different campsites, driving routes, places to stay, things to do, it eats up hours of our time pretty much on a daily basis. Travel days are also longer than you expect. And while we love working on our website and writing blogs so that all of you can be a part of this adventure too, it all takes time. We move around a lot and are only in a place for a few days so we have to balance all of the above while exploring the town, hiking the best trails and seeing the sites other people have recommended. SO all together, this leads to very little time to just hang out. I think a lot of RV newbies also have trouble with this, being in a new place makes you feel like you HAVE to go see and do everything, its almost like a weird sort of guilt if you don't, because we are lucky to have this opportunity. I think with time this will get easier and since we are FINALLY in warmer weather, we will try to slow down a bit. And now we can at least work outside! We have always been very active, we enjoy being on the go and wouldn't really change this, it was just a bit unexpected. Expectation: Adapting to tiny life would be a real struggle for all of us vs. Reality: All 5 of us adjusted a lot quicker than we anticipated. Downsizing from a large 3 bedroom house, with a big kitchen and huge backyard, we worried that we'd feel claustrophobic and were a little concerned about the two of us being on top of each other constantly. So much about how we lived day to day changed from the more elaborate meals we used to cook, to all of us having plenty of room and space to spread out in, to the long luxurious showers we were able to take and our plethora of clothing options from our walk in closet. ALL of that changed drastically. We now have 3 cabinets and a small closet for all our clothes, not enough space for shoes or all the pet stuff, nowhere to really go if we got annoyed with each other, a miniature kitchen to try to cook in and a small shower. But we have been pleasantly surprised at how quickly all 5 of us adapted. The girls found there own areas of Wanda to hang out in when they need alone time, we have found ways to give each other space, the dog beds and toys are easily tucked away when traveling, we built shoe cubbies in empty space, we cook inside and outside to give us more options, the smaller wardrobe suits us just fine and nobody feels claustrophobic, because a lot of our time is spent outdoors. It was a pretty seamless transition for all of us into this tiny life. We also learned pretty quickly how to conserve water, propane and our other resources and how to waste less overall. Even two months later, living in the RV seems so natural to us. Goes to show you how much more adaptable we all are than we give ourselves credit for. Expectation: Ease of Meeting People and having a community vs. Reality: Loneliness This has been hard for both of us. We were used to spending a lot of time with our family and friends and we didn't really realize how isolating this life can be at times. A big part of this is probably skewed expectations from Instagram and YouTube. We follow so many couples and families our age who do this, who meet up with each other and it led us to believe that making friends would be easier. We figured it would be simple, we obviously share a lot of common interests. Unfortunately, so far we haven't really experienced that sense of the RV community that we were looking for. Part of that might be our fault because we hit the road in the off season, it's been cold throughout most of the east coast and we have been moving fairly frequently. So, a lot of the campsites we have been staying at were pretty empty, had an older population of permanent residents and the weather kept us from really walking around and meeting people. It seems kind of obvious now that considering this lifestyle, we should have expected a lot of time alone, but the whole feeling of loneliness and longing for people to talk to, take a hike with, share a meal with kinda snuck up on us. Expectation: Planning our Route/Finding Places to Stay would be Easy vs. Reality: Route planning is extremely time consuming and its not so easy to find a place to stay every night ![]() We have traveled quite a bit, and are pretty good at organizing trips, finding things to do and planning out our days. But I guess the difference is in the past, we'd already done research to find out where we wanted to take a trip, so we were more familiar and had a better idea of what we wanted to see and do and were only planning a specific block of time. Since we are pretty unfamiliar with a lot of the US, it takes hours to research where to go, the best hikes, must see places and activities and then once we have that figured out, we then have to start searching for a campground that is conveniently located, pet friendly, reasonably priced, and available. Plans have changed several times for us based on weather and repairs so a lot of this is also done at the last minute. And as we have experienced, sometimes we just can't find a spot, so we have strangely become comfortable sleeping in a Cracker Barrel or Walmart parking lot. Expectation: We'd really miss all our stuff vs. Reality: How amazingly freeing it is to live simple and minimally Neither one of us is particularly materialistic, we've always leaned towards choosing experiences and trips over having expensive clothes, cars or things and neither one of us likes clutter. Everything in our house kinda served a function and we never had stuff on the counters or any knickknacks lying around. That being said, it was quite amazing how much stuff we accumulated over time. Going through everything and "purging" by donating, selling, throwing out or storing was an overwhelming process. The thought of living for a year or so without all of it freaked us out. But being on the other side of that, I can tell you it is an incredible feeling to let go of it all. To not be held down or held back by stuff, by letting go of some irrational attachments to things that didn't even really make us happy, we have learned what we really need and that list is relatively simple. By leaving behind the weight of it all, we have gained a wonderful sense of freedom which makes even our future look a lot simpler. We hope this helps any future full timers or anyone thinking about possibly taking the plunge get a better picture of what real life on the road looks like. It always helps to know what you are getting yourself into. Did you have any expectations when you first started Full Time RVing? How about reality checks? Let us know in the comments below! By Ashley Quiambao
There are a lot of steps and things to remember to do when departing a campsite. Since we move every few days, we have developed a routine and usually start putting the outdoor furniture, grills and bikes away the night before we leave. We also created a check list to make sure we are safe to travel. Like most RVers we split our roles and responsibilities, I generally handle everything outside and Ashley takes care of the inside. With so much practice, we have gotten pretty good at breakdown and can usually depart from a site in less than 40 minutes. Before we go, we go through the list together making sure everything was done. Below is our breakdown and departure checklist. ![]()
Have you developed a Departure Checklist? Let us know in the comments below how you prep for your departure. By Kevin Quiambao
![]() Adding more counter space Before our renovation, we had no usable countertop to prepare and cook food unless you counted 3 inches on each side of the sink. As you can imagine this made doing pretty much anything in the kitchen extremely difficult. We both enjoy cooking, so we knew we needed to somehow add countertops and space to work in the kitchen. We accomplished this by adding a fold up countertop and a cover for the stove. Fold up Countertop Since the kitchen is so small, we were left with a lot of extra teak butcher block after we replaced the countertop around the sink and oven. So, we used a portion of the extra piece to create a flip up counter to the left of the sink. This gives us an extra 13" by 17" rectangle of space that is able to flip up and down in a second. We use this every day for the coffee pot in the morning, a prep station for cooking outdoors and a spot for the cutting board. We used StarVast 2 Pcs Folding Shelf Brackets which are extremely sturdy and have no problem holding the weight of heavy pots. The second countertop we added was on top of the stove. Many RV models come with this cover for the stove but ours did not. We used another piece of the buthcher block and created a removable top for the stove. The slick part of our design is how the countertop stays in place when we drive. Since it is 1 1/2 inch butcher block, it is heavy and would be dangerous if it slid around and fell on top of one of our pets while in transit. So, we routed the bottom to sit flush on the countertops and lock into place on the stove. Spice Cabinet In a small kitchen, you have to maximize the storage space in the cabinets. After loading our food and kitchen tools, it was hard to find a place for us to keep our spices. We tried to keep them in a basket in one of the cabinets but it was hard to see them and was taking up space we needed for other pantry items. So after brainstorming with some family, Bryan (Ashley’s brother) suggested that we utilize the space above the door for a spice rack as it empty, out of the way and serving no other purpose. ![]() We repurposed the original valance and made it into a shelf to hold our spices. By repurposing the valance, this was a quick, easy and cheap project. Here’s how we did it. First, we removed the valance from the wall and removed the staples from the top third so we could peel back the fabric. We then used our table saw to chop the top off (you can also use a circular saw or a hand saw). We made sure to preserve the fabric when we cut it so we could reuse it. ![]() Using the top portion of the valance that we cut off, we created a shelf for the spices to sit in. We simply cut the sides off and screwed it in from the front and sides about 3" down. 3" is deep enough so the bottles don't fall out while we drive but we can still see the labels to identify the spices. Next, we covered the shelf with the extra fabric by pulling it tight and applying some glue and using a staple gun. We then re-attached the valance to the wall and now had a spice rack capable of holding about 16 spice bottles. ![]() We like a lot of spice in our life so 16 spice bottles was not enough. We decided to create some additional spice storage above the shelf. We screwed a piece of flat steel (which we spray painted) into the small plywood box we have covering the electrical wires for the media cabinet. We use these magnetic spice tins, which have strong magnets and stay in place when we are driving. With this addition, we can fit about 11 extra spice jars. What are some ways you maximized space in your RV Kitchen?? Written By: Kevin Quiambao Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon Affiliate Links, which means we may receive a commission if you click the link and purchase something we recommend. Clicking these links doesn't cost you any extra money but it does help support our adventures and this website. Thank you for your support!
When we started our research into purchasing an RV, we were overwhelmed and unsure of which direction to go in. There were so many options, Class A, Class B/Van, Class C, Travel Trailers, Skoolie conversions or 5th Wheels. Our first step was to make a list of our requirements and go from there:
We never really considered Class B's/vans. They just seemed impossibly small for all of us to fit in. Next, we ruled out travel trailers. While financially they make sense because they are cheaper, neither of us really felt comfortable driving them. I have seen Kevin try to maneuver a small boat trailer (it wasn't pretty) and seeing how they swing and don't really cooperate, I wasn't very confident in our ability to easily maneuver them. Kevin also spent an afternoon watching trailer accident videos on YouTube which further put us off them. The remaining options were: Class A, Class C or Fifth Wheel. We tend to have an unfailing habit when giving multiple options of never agreeing on the same one. True to form, Kevin wanted a 5th wheel and I wanted a Class C. So how did we end up with Wanda, our Class A? For us it came down to our timeline, our budget, space/storage, and availability. We searched online and visited some dealerships in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Unfortunately, RVing isn't really a big thing on Long Island and the search was harder than either of us expected. We were very disappointed in the inventory and condition of the used RV's in our price range at RV dealerships. In our experience if you are looking for cheaper used RV in the northeast, you are better off going with a private seller vs. a dealership. We ended up purchasing Wanda from a private seller off craigslist. We did see several 5th wheel's which we liked. The benefits to the 5th wheeler for us were:
However, the biggest problem for us was that we did not own a truck capable of towing a 5th wheel and purchasing a decent truck would have blown through our budget. ,Our other serious contender was a Class C. We felt like it would be the easiest transition, as the cab is similar to a van or truck. It's smaller and more compact than a Class A or 5th wheel and they are easier to drive. But Class C's in our price range were nonexistent. The few that we looked at were priced too high and had very little outdoor storage. While wrapping our heads around downsizing and moving everything into an RV, the lack of storage was a really big issue. ![]() And then there was one, a Class A. The availability of A's was better, we were able to find several priced in line with our budget, they had more living space than C's and plenty of pass through basement storage. The downside being that since they are bulkier we would definitely need a car to tow behind to avoid being landlocked at a campsite. In the end we chose the Class A and feel it was the right choice for us. It's nice to have an all in one on travel days. I have easy access to the kitchen for drinks and snacks while Kevin drives and we all (dogs and cat included) have plenty of room and are not sitting on top of each other cramped in a truck. We have also watched several people with 5th wheelers and travel trailers have a very difficult time getting into some tight campsites. Our only complaint is that Wanda is pretty cumbersome when moving around a lot (which we tend to do). Sometimes it would be nice to be a little smaller and ironically enough we do have some extra storage that we don't use. But we really enjoy the space, comfort and open layout of Wanda and the wide open view out the front windows doesn't hurt either! How did you decide which kind of home on wheels was right for you? By Ashley Quiambao
![]() No! But there are ways to improve ride feel and comfort. I had no experience driving an RV and the first time I drove our 2007 Winnebago Vista 30 foot class A, AKA Wanda, it felt cumbersome, awkward and unresponsive. It's exactly how I pictured it would be. It's like driving a small apartment on wheels. The steering is best described as dull. There is nothing precise about it. The ride quality was like sitting on a bouncy ball being thrown against a wall. It's safe to say I didn't enjoy it. I can see how it might be okay for some people, but I really enjoy driving. I've owned numerous fun cars, trucks, motorcycles, and boats because I like the freedom of being behind the wheel. What I was impressed with however was the Ford Triton V10 Engine. It's brawny and stout and the only downside of our model is that it only has a 5 speed automatic. Later models have a 6 speed automatic, which would definitely help Wanda get up hills and with MPGs. I read about a great tune from 5 Star Tuning which had amazing reviews to improve on power delivery, so I will be saving up for that. Since Wanda is an opportunity for me to check off an item on my bucket list, driving across country, I wanted make sure I would enjoy the drive. So, I started researching ways to improve her. There are tons of directions you can take this build but after extensive research, we came up with two options. Keeping in mind we had a tight budget, we needed the best bang for our buck. Option 1: To Sway ? or not to Sway? That is the question. In the sports car world, if you want more performance from your suspension you add bigger anti-sway bars. These devices stiffen up the suspension and prevent body roll. I've upgraded the Anti-sway bars on all my cars and trucks and have been extremely pleased with the difference. For Wanda, I was considering RoadMaster RSS Anti-Sway Front and Rear Bars. These bars are significantly larger than stocks and would provide that rigidity. The brackets also seemed high quality with a built to last craftsmanship. In both of these options, I included the RoadMaster Steering Stabilizer and Bracket Kit. The install for Option 1 was a little more complicated and it was slightly more expensive. On Amazon, the following items totaled $1600: OR Option 2: SumoSprings vs Poor Handling. FIGHT! At first I thought these were gimmicky, they look like fake airbags. How do foam cones provide rigidity and comfort? However, the more I researched and read the reviews, the more I was buying into the claims. So many reviews praised these springs and the difference they make on the ride. Here is what Sumo Spring claims: "SumoSprings are a patented suspension product designed to enhance load carrying ability, stabilize sway, and improve overall driver control and ride comfort. They are maintenance free, do not leak air, and do not require airlines or compressors." Again I included the Road Master Steering Stabilizer and Bracket kit On Amazon, Option 2 totaled about $1500. After deliberation, drum roll please.....we went with Option 2. I was extremely curious about how Option 2 would work. How could so many great reviews be wrong? There was only one way to find out. Install All three components were a very straight forward installation. I would consider myself a pretty handy person but feel a beginner DIYer would be able to handle this with the basic tools needed to complete the job and a buddy to help the process go quicker. Find a friend people! The directions were clear and included many pictures for reference. The steering stabilizer was done in under an hour, the front SumoSprings took about 2.5 hours and the rear took 2 hours. You can make all these changes in one day. We didn’t even need to take the back wheels off the RV. The most difficult part was contorting your body to reach under the wheel well. Our Review First of all, this was one of the best purchases we made for Wanda. The RoadMaster steering stabilizer made steering as easy as can be. I am able to drive down the highway with one hand comfortably. The RV no longer wanders all over the road. It tracks straight and true. I especially like it during turns because the wheel has more resistance and feel, which provides more confidence. I also really like the added safety that the stabilizer provides during a tire blowout. The RoadMaster Steering Stabilizer should help keep the wheel straight. Often times during a blowout, the RV will pull you in the direction of the blow out. It’s nice to have some extra security that I will be able to control Wanda if we suffer a blowout. We are extremely pleased with the performance of the SumoShocks. It is a night and day difference. We no longer have uncontrollable sway. We feel more stable. The best improvement is the ride quality. They help absorb the bumps and imperfections of the road. We even notice the cabin is quieter. You can certainly feel the difference in rough road conditions but where it really shines is when you have a nice stretch of smooth to moderately smooth road. For a split second the RV doesn't feel like a house on wheels but more like a 30 foot sports car. And that is what it's really about Sidetrackers, enjoying the ride. What are ways you improved your driving experience in your RV? Let us know in the comments below. By: Kevin Quiambao Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon Affiliate Links, which means we may receive a commission if you click the link and purchase something we recommend. Clicking these links doesn't cost you any extra money but it does help support our adventures and this website. Thank you for your support!
![]() Since hitting the road we have stayed in a variety of campsites, 6 RV Parks, 4 State Parks, 1 National Seashore Campground and 2 Harvest Host locations, to figure out what works best for us. After every campsite, we rate our stay and experience on a scale of 1-10 and add it to our travel record (we keep track of everything-what we are doing, where we are staying, how many miles traveled etc, to help document our journey). In doing so, we noticed that we both enjoy state parks more than RV parks. So, we decided to compare the similarities and differences of these sites in a variety of categories: 1. Site Space and Privacy: State Parks In our experience, there is significantly more site space and privacy at state parks than in RV parks. The sites are further apart and set back from the road, there is generally plenty of tree cover that provides natural privacy between you and your neighbors and the "backyard area" where the fire pit is, picnic table, spot for Walter (our Jeep) is much larger. In RV parks, we are much too close for comfort to our neighbors. As a result, our shades are down more, its noisier, the dogs are on edge and prone to bark and its hard to really get comfortable or use the outside space. 2. Hookups: Honestly, About The Same The state parks that we have stayed at have all had sites with electric and water and several times we also had sewer. RV parks similarly have offered different levels of hookups on their sites. So for us, there is no real difference one way or the other. 3. Surroundings/View: State Parks Obviously, we like to be outside getting lost in nature. So the clear winner on this one is state parks. They are in the woods or on a beach, its beautiful, peaceful, and if you are looking for a good night sleep they are perfect. It gets so dark and quiet at night! RV parks are generally in more populated locations and your surroundings are other RVs, buildings, streets and lights. Not much nature to be found (at least at the places we have stayed so far). I personally struggle sleeping in RV parks a bit, there is more light pollution and you have to deal with some traffic, trains and other noises. 4. WiFi: Both Losers We knew that accessibility of WiFi and cell reception would be a constant issue, so we invested in some good tech gear which would allow us to have cell service and WiFi while boondocking, at remote locations or at state parks. However, we were foolishly under the impression that RV parks, when they advertise having WiFi, that the WiFi has plenty of bandwidth and/or has a good signal. We were sadly mistaken. We have yet to stay in an RV park where we can actually use the park's WiFi. This has been a real source of frustration since we purposely spent more money to stay at a couple of RV parks, for the sole reason of WiFi availability for work. We really have no great words of wisdom on this front besides don't expect WiFi even when its offered and if you need it, make sure you have several of your own methods of connecting to the internet (Verizon MiFi, tethering cell phones etc.). 5. Facilities (Bathhouses/Laundry): This is a tough one because there are good and bad to each. Lets be real, all I really care about are the showers. By becoming a nomad, I had to say goodbye to long luxurious hot showers and wait a half hour to even get hot water in Wanda, take a military style shower when we don't have a hookup, or venture into bath houses in flip flops and hope for the best. I expected RV parks to have this one hands down...but despite the availability of more private bathrooms/single showers (which definitely has advantages and feels a little more normal) we have found that the showers at the state parks have generally had better water pressure and hotter water. Side note: North Carolina State Parks are so nice! They were all so well maintained, good signage, spacious sites, privacy and plenty of trails. But they also had very clean and warm bathhouses with roomy showers. Shout out to Rolling View campground at Falls Lake, for the heat lamps in the bathhouses which felt amazing (as you can see it doesn't take much to make us impress at this point). As far as laundry rooms, much more likely to find them at an RV park. It's definitely convenient for it to be on site, even if it's a bit more expensive. ![]() 6. Activities/Things to do/Trails: For Us State Parks We hike all the time so we like state parks because most of them have several trails that we can jump on right from the campground. There are usually plenty of picnic areas, playgrounds, fishing, some beach areas to hang out on etc. However, we see the appeal of RV parks for families because they tend to have pools, dog runs, lawn games, more activities for kids and some pretty cool common areas. 7. Location/Convenience: RV parks As expected, state parks are generally in more remote areas, so if you want to run to the store or go anywhere, expect some quality time in the car. RV parks on the other hand, are in more populated areas and generally not far from supermarkets, stores, movies, restaurants and towns to explore. 8. Price: State Parks We are very conscious of our budget and state parks are definitely less expensive It kind of strikes us as odd that RV parks are generally double the cost, when they often don't offer any more in terms of hookups/etc. Even with some of our RV memberships and discounts, state parks have generally still been cheaper. These are just a few considerations we take into account when deciding between campsites. While there are some pros and cons to both, if given a choice, the scale generally tips in favor of State Parks for us. Let us know which types of campsites you prefer in the comments below. By Ashley Quiambao
Full time travel with pets has its challenges, but there are several products we have been using that have made our lives a bit easier and kept the pets safer and happier. ![]() Canary We generally always take the dogs with us when we leave Wanda, whether its exploring a new town, on a hike, or simply running some errands. However, we do have to leave Piper the cat at home and occasionally have to leave Sophie and Hayley behind as well. Leaving pets at home in an RV is completely different than leaving them at a house. We never worried too much when we we left the girls at our house, but leaving them in the rig definitely raises different issues and has been a cause for concern. With an RV you have to be a bit more mindful of their safety and security. The temperature, conditions inside, the potential loss of power or failure of a system complicates things. To help us with that, we use a Canary Home Security System. A canary is an all-in-one home security and intelligence monitoring system with a 1080p HD camera, a siren and built in climate monitor. We can check up on the girls at any time using the app and watch what they are doing on a live feed (most of the time they are just sleeping). We are also notified of any movement inside, so if someone tried to break in, we would get a notification and could simply push a button for the siren to start blaring and hopefully scare off any intruders. The feature we like the most though is the temperature read out, it shows us the current temperature, humidity and air quality (carbon monoxide etc) inside, so we know immediately if there is a problem. The canary has definitely helped eased some anxiety and gives us peace of mind while we are away. ![]() Tie down and safety When we are at a campsite and the dogs want to hang out with us in our new backyard, we have a couple of ways to keep them from wandering to far while still giving them freedom. Typically, most sites have a picnic table so we anchor a Petmate Large Dog Tieout 10 foot cable around the table legs. We learned the hard way that a traditional leash or rope will not do the trick. Sophie, the puppy, is a bit of a runner and still likes to chew things so after a couple of escapes and running through the woods after her, we opted for something more secure. ![]() If there is nothing to anchor the tieout to, we also have Lixit Animal Care Retractable Cable Tie Outs. These posts hammer into the ground and use a retractable leash with 360-degree mobility. These are surprisingly sturdy, and don't lift out of the ground if they try to run after something or pull on the leash. We do recommend attaching the Petmate Large Dog Tieout 10 foot cable to this though so your dog can lay comfortable near the Licit without constantly being pulled on. are on site and want to hang out in there new backyard we have a couple of solutions to get them from wandering too far. ![]() Hiking Our dogs absolutely love hiking. Exploring new trails and getting lost in nature is where they are the happiest. They are also their best out adventuring. Hayley, is typically very anxious and insecure but take her out on a trial and she is confident, excited and fearless. We have two sets of harnesses for the dogs depending on how long the walks/hikes are. For shorter hikes, walks or easier terrain we use Blueberry Pet Classic Solid Color Adjustable Dog Harness. Dogs can typically handle different terrain pretty well and the harnesses allow us to have more control over them while still allowing them mobility to jump or climb without putting any strain on their necks. On longer hikes or tougher trails we use RUFFWEAR Singletrak Pack V2. The slim lined packs have two compartments, one on each side with room for the dogs to carry their own water and snacks. This is an easy way to lighten our own packs and make sure they are staying hydrated and fueled for our hikes. These packs also have an extra handle so if you encounter any steep or tricky terrain you can help support and guide them safely. We also take a Jardin Dog Pet Collapsible Fabric Travel Food Water Bowl. It's lightweight fold able water bowl for them, so it's easier for them to take water breaks. Lastly, we always have a I GO Compact First Aid Kit...you never know when they will step on something sharp or get into some type of trouble so always be prepared. Water Bowl A normal water bowl has its limitations in an RV, it would easily spill and create a constant mess while driving. So we opted for a spill proof bowl, the Ray Allen BB2-PUR Buddy Bowl. While we were a bit skeptical at first of how well this would work, not a single drop of water has spilled from this bowl during bumpy drives, accidental kicks or even when Sophie has used the bowl as a toy. We use the 64oz size, which works well for the two dogs and cat. There is plenty of room to store a lot of water which is helpful when boondocking and also eliminates the need for constant refilling. However, we do have one complaint, the bowl is pretty hard to disassemble and clean. Since its spill proof, the pieces are tightly snapped into place and hard to manipulate. We have found the easiest way to open it is to run hot water over the seal and stick your hand inside and pull the cover off. What are some of your favorite pet products or gear you use while traveling? Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon Affiliate Links, which means we may receive a commission if you click the link and purchase something we recommend. 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![]() One of the most important things to us are our girls, Hayley, Sophie and Piper the Cat (our nephew used to call her that and the nickname kinda just stuck). Part of the reason we chose travelling the US in Wanda, was so that the dogs and cat could come along for the adventure. However, we knew that just like it would be for us, this new lifestyle would be a drastic change for them. But we also know their personalities, the dogs love to hike and all three of them love company and attention, something they didn't always get enough of when we lived at home because our jobs took us away from them. So, we hoped once they got over the shock of it all, they would really enjoy it. Here are some tips we implemented to ensure that they made a smooth transition and continue to be happy and enjoy this life on wheels: ![]() Introduce Them to Their New Environment Slowly. Depending on your pet's personality, this might be an easy or hard transition. All three of our pets were really shy meeting Wanda. Like us, they had no experience with RVs and it was all very new for them. None of them cared for it too much when we first brought them inside, they were all very nervous. So we continued to bring them in (separately and together) and slowly increased the amount of time and frequency, so they could start to feel more comfortable. We saw the biggest improvement when we started to renovate. Bringing them inside during the build helped immensely. As we made Wanda our own, they somehow felt the change and started to claim their own spots and were actually eager to come inside. After the major renovations, we started spending overnights in Wanda with them, bringing their toys and beds with us before we all officially moved in. Give Them Their Own Space. Just like humans, pets need their own space. Obviously living in an RV makes this a bit difficult. But try to establish some out of the way places for them to relax in. We have two beds for the dogs, one in the living area and another in the bedroom. The living room bed is either under the desk or under the dining table, both of these places are away from normal foot traffic but are open and comfortable. We put the other bed in the bedroom so they have choices and everyone isn't always on top of each other, unless they want to be. We wanted to create a space for Piper that would also act as a bit of an escape. While she does love the dogs and rolls around and wrestle with them, there are times she has had enough and wants to be up high where they can't easily reach her. So, we figured the dashboard of the cab would be perfect. We keep her food and water up there and we had a window seat cushion made which she loves to lay on and enjoy the view. It is by far her favorite place in Wanda. ![]() Address Any Motion Sickness or Nervous Travel Problems Luckily, of our three, motion sickness was only a problem with Sophie. We have known since we got her, that she did not travel well. A roadtrip to the Poconos taught us that the hard way. So we spoke to our Vet who recommended we give her Dramamine before we drive with her. This worked great, she didn't get sick all over the place and was much happier. As we have been traveling a lot more in Wanda and in Walter (our Jeep), she has adjusted and within the last week we were actually able to stop giving her the Dramamine. We have also found that when we are driving, both dogs do much better if we move the beds up by our seats. They are a lot calmer and generally just go to sleep. ![]() Food One last tip about their food. Before we left, we realized that the brand of dog food we used was not readily available nationwide. We didn't want the stress of trying to find it while we were on the road, so we decided to switch to a different brand which most major pet stores carry. Just make sure you switch their food before you set off to make sure the dogs like it and don't have any negative reactions to it. Having our pups and cat with us has added to the joy of RV living because we get to share the adventure with them. Making sure they are happy and healthy is a top priority. Let us know how your pets transitioned in to RV Life and share your tips. By Ashley and Kevin Quiambao
![]() Our maiden voyage found us traveling to the Finger Lakes in New York for a destination wedding. The initial plan was to use this as our starting point for full-time RVing, but Wanda's Reno and organizing ourselves for road life took longer than expected. Wow! We were so glad we had a test run. So many things were untested, unproven and unsure. We learned a lot of hard lessons that weekend. ![]() Here are our top 5 tips to keep in mind before embarking on full-time RV life: 1. Driveway camping. To ease the transition into full time RVing, try camping in your driveway. Up until our test trip, we were still living in a house, which in retrospect was a mistake. There’s definitely an element of shock when you move into a tiny home. You need time to get used to the RV and learn how to function in daily living situations. The great part is, you are in your driveway! If you forget something or need to change things around, you have easy access to all your tools and resources, while still in the comforting environment of home. After our first trip, we stayed in the driveway in Wanda for 3 weeks before our final departure, which was extremely helpful. For us and our pets, it gave us time to adjust and make sure our new home worked for us. 2. Take a couple of test trips to local campsites. Driving one of these is a lot different than a regular truck or car, so it takes a while to get comfortable with the size and maneuvering on roads. RV’s also have a lot of unique systems, which are most likely unfamiliar to you (they were to us). Taking a few dry runs to local sites will allow you to gain confidence in driving and allow you to practice setting up camp, hooking up to water and electric, dumping the tanks and breaking down camp. You may also find that you need to fix or change some things, which is a lot easier to do before you hit the road for good. 3. Test all your appliances/systems in every power source Do all of your appliance/systems work? Yes? While that may seem an obvious thing to check, it may not occur to you to check them with every power source and test multiple systems at once, it certainly didn’t occur to us. We had major appliance issues during our first trip because we only tested everything individually when it was plugged into shore power. We didn’t test to see how the systems would work when running together or how they would run when boondocking. Here is what failed us:
It was a rough few days with all of these systems down. Luckily, we were at a campsite that had electric, water and bathrooms/showers or we not sure how we would have managed. So be smart, test everything several times in different conditions so you don’t get stuck! 4. Get to your site before dark. Always anticipate that your drive is going to take longer than you expect and unforeseen circumstances may throw a wrench into your plans. Leave yourself plenty of extra time on travel days. With the rush to finish Wanda’s renovation on time, we ended up packing at the last minute. Our travel day became rushed and when we were ready to head out, a tire valve blew requiring a pit stop at the tire shop. We didn’t get on the road until noon and our 5+ hour drive quickly turned into over 7. We arrived at Taughannock Falls State Park in the dark. It was a struggle to even find the entrance and backing up into our site without being able to see was extremely difficult. While it was manageable, it certainly adds a level of stress that you don’t need. 5. You can’t always trust GPS Guidance. GPS is amazing and we couldn’t get anywhere without it. We can’t imagine this lifestyle before GPS. We have been using an app called Co-Pilot. It’s made specifically for truckers, RVers, and tow vehicles. The app isn’t as convenient or user friendly as Google Maps, but it does take into account the size of your vehicle and is supposed to safely route you to your destination. Unfortunately, in one instance Co-Pilot sent us down a one-way, narrow, steep down hill street with low lying trees road and wanted us to make a very sharp left turn at the bottom. Going down that road was scary and when we hit the bottom we discovered the street we were supposed to turn on was closed due to construction. Even when the app tried to recalculate our route, it again wanted us to take that steep downhill. We decided to take a different route but it made us realize that there are certain driving conditions that GPS cannot always account for. We highly recommend having a back-up plan (maps specifically made for truckers or a secondary app or system) and pay attention to construction signs. What Lessons Did You Learn From Your First Trip? By Ashley and Kevin Quiambao
To our Family and Friends, Thank you, thank you, thank you! When we decided to turn our life upside down and give this vagabond life a try, we didn’t expect all of you to understand, we didn’t expect you to be as excited as we were. Honestly, we figured at least some of you would think we’d lost our minds. We were wrong. From the minute we shared our plans for this crazy adventure, we were blown away by your support, excitement and belief in us. We are beyond grateful for all of the love, encouragement, confidence and not to mention the manual labor! Wanda truly became a home and this dream of ours took flight and we owe a lot of that to you. You gave us your free time, helped us troubleshoot problems and learn new systems, and erased our doubts when they crept in. It’s not lost on us that it really took a village to get us here and we appreciate it more than you can know. We also know that we are very lucky to take this trip. Not everyone’s path allows them to do this, even if they want to. In recognition of that, we decided we would make some promises and commitments: We promise to enjoy the journey as much as the destination, to take the back roads, to slow down, to enjoy the scenery, to follow the detours and to get a little lost; We promise to embrace the challenges this life on wheels will undoubtedly bring, to not give up when the road gets tough, to laugh when we want to cry, to push ourselves and each other out of our comfort zones, and to pick up the phone and call when we miss you or just want to say hello; We promise to watch as many sunrises and sunsets as we can, to explore the unknown, to play in the sand, to jump in the lake, to climb mountains and to go outside and meet the moment. And most of all, we promise to be Sidetracked by Adventure. By Ashley Quiambao
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