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Full-time Living in Our Diesel RV

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Our Full-time RV Home of 5 Years Has a New Family

December 29, 2018 by BrittanyHighland Leave a Comment

RV Wanderlust Motorhome Sold
Our RV home of five years, the Tiffin Phaeton named Meriwether

Only we would come up with the idea of moving out of an RV into a Jeep, hosting three family members within the week before our move, which was also the week before Christmas, while simultaneously planning a two-month trip into the interior of Mexico–as new full-time overlanders.

As we’ve shared, we went back and forth about selling Meriwether. Is it really wise to sell our only home out from under us, without any immediate plans to get a new one? But we jumped, forcing ourselves to be brave and chase our long-term dreams.

Nonetheless, our RV selling process was a bit idealistic. I had this fantasy that we’d mention it was for sale in a few places and the perfect owner would immediately pop up.

2004 Tiffin Phaeton Living Room

We announced our plans to sell via Facebook Live on Oct. 31. And nothing really happened. Lots of kind encouragement from our tribe, but only a few casual inquiries about the RV. Another month went by, and I was beginning to realize we’d probably have to put some real effort into selling. Like, you know, actually list it on RV Trader or something.

But we had other priorities (see first paragraph) and kept hoping the right person would see our social media posts.

Note: This article includes affiliate links. If you get excited about any of the products featured here, we’d love it if you’d shop via our links. This will encourage us to continue investing time in creating useful content!

Maybe? But No

2004 Tiffin Phaeton Kitchen

Just over a month ago, as we were pulling back into our home base of Central Texas, I got a message from a dear RV friend in the area who we’ve known for a couple of years. She and her husband seemed genuinely interested in Meriwether–the most interested of anyone up to that point.

But after some back and forth, they said they needed to pass because of their own upcoming moving plans. It was okay. We wanted nothing but the perfect person for Meriwether and a positive experience for everyone involved. But we were left without any potential buyers, less than two weeks before our move-out date.

Kitchen Storage Tiffin Phaeton 2004

So we moved ahead with our back-up plan. Our RV mechanic had offered to keep Meriwether on his lot in San Antonio, giving tours to potential buyers and taking a consignment fee if he sold to anyone. We figured it was a good option to start with, at least for the time we were in Mexico. If it didn’t sell, we’d reevaluate on our return.

Moving Out of an RV Is Still Moving

Moving Out of an RV
Everything in our RV fit into this U-Haul trailer

So last weekend was cray-cray. On Friday, we picked up a U-Haul trailer to tow behind the Jeep, packing and loading as many things from the RV as we could. This may sound weird, but I was astonished by how much stuff I had. We had been so devoted to “spring cleaning” every six months, and I regularly donated items we didn’t use.

Problem was, we always focused on clearing the basement. Meanwhile, the bajillion cabinets inside hid a deceptively large amount of items. On moving weekend, I was genuinely, non-humorously angry at myself for keeping so much that I didn’t need.

2004 Tiffin Phaeton Fridge

Friday ended. Saturday, Dec. 22, dawned. Moving day.

We prepped Meriwether for transport, much easier than normal considering most of our stuff was in the trailer. My counters were cluttered with all the random items that didn’t belong anywhere, and I ended up stuffing them in bags because I had run out of boxes.

Ready to pull out, I turned on our tire pressure monitoring system from TechnoRV. My heart sank because our front passenger tire was at 10 PSI. Instead of 97.

TST Tire Pressure Monitoring System
TST Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Trouble was, the same tire had been low two weeks earlier. We thought it was just an install error with the monitoring system, since the air held on our trip from San Antonio to Austin after we filled it with our compressor. But apparently there was something more going on.

On moving day.

While Eric made a final Goodwill donation run, I called the San Antonio tire company that installed our Michelin tires in 2016. They weren’t open, but another location was–at least until noon. I raced down there (not really–I was safe) and they were able to get us in on short notice.

Turns out, my original hypothesis was right. One of the valve extenders we had to install, in order to get the tire pressure monitor to fit next to the wheel, was just the teensiest bit loose. So the air leak was slow, but it was still there. We were behind schedule, but we got back to our moving days plans around noon. And there was no cost for the tire fix–thank you, Lord!

At Iron Horse RV, we did a quick hand-wash of Meriwether’s exterior. Next, we moved him to his consignment spot. I did a quick clean of the bedroom, so I could put Caspian down for a nap. Then Eric and I did a deep clean of the rest of the rig. Bathtub, dusting, wiping leather, cleaning those blasted crevices in the windows.

That Moment, Goodbye

RV Wanderlust Last Selfie With Tiffin
One last selfie with Meriwether

We finished cleaning as the sun set–around 6 p.m. Eric took some quick photos for that RV Trader listing. I locked the door, and we stood in front of Meriwether for a final selfie.

Eric held me, motioned towards Meriwether, and said, “Just think about all the places this RV has taken us.” As I looked at our home on wheels, all the memories came rushing back at once. That was the only time in this whole transition process that I got a bit choked up.

Okay, I didn’t plan on telling that whole story. But now it’s here for posterity. You want to fast forward, I’m sure.

Suddenly Yes

RV Wanderlust Meriwether New Home
Meriwether parked at his new home, until he hits the road once again

Well, at the end of moving day, Eric made a Facebook post with the photos of our clean, lovely RV. And guess what. Remember those friends who had shown the most interest? The photos sparked their interest again. I was messaging with Sandy at 1 a.m. on Sunday, both of us excited but trying not to get ahead of ourselves.

  • Tiffin Phaeton Washer Dryer Combo
  • Tiffin Phaeton 2004 Bathroom Sink
  • Tiffin Phaeton 2004 Bathroom
  • 2004 Tiffin Phaeton Bedroom

On Monday, they went to tour Meriwether. On Tuesday, they told us they wanted to buy him. On Wednesday, we had a phone call to discuss details. By Thursday, I was drafting a bill of sale.

This has seriously been the smoothest large asset buying/selling process of my life. Our friends have been so easy to work with, and it seems like everything that works best for us also works best for them.

  • Meriwether RV New Family
    Meriwether’s new family, Sandy & Randy
  • RV Wanderlust Handing Keys Over
    Handing off the keys

Today marks one week since we moved out of Meriwether. And today, we drove Meriwether to his new home and delivered him to his new family. The best part is, his new family is part of our extended family. So we know we’ll see him again.

Thank you to everyone for your words of encouragement, prayers, and just for caring about our story and journey. While Meriwether is no longer part of our journey, we have many miles laid out in front of us. We’re ready for this next chapter, and hope you’ll see us through it.

RV Wanderlust Gristmill
Celebratory lunch today at The Gristmill in Gruene, TX

We cross the border into Mexico on Friday and will be there for two+ months! Follow our adventures at Jeepsies.com, and on our Jeepsies Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

-B

Filed Under: Our Full-time RV Life, RV Travel Plans

Why We’re Saying Goodbye to Our Diesel RV After 5 Years of Fulltime Travel

October 31, 2018 by BrittanyHighland Leave a Comment

Diesel RV for Sale RV Wanderlust

If you’re surprised, then imagine how we feel! In February 2014, with zero RV experience, we emptied our two-bedroom apartment in Austin and moved into a 10-year-old Tiffin Phaeton. We named him Meriwether, after explorer Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark. At the time, I was the youngest fulltime RVer I knew.

We’ve always had this RV. We’ve always said it’s the perfect home for us. We’ve never regretted buying it.

But life has changed, along with our family, goals, and preferences. And so it’s time to say goodbye to our Class A diesel RV after five years of fulltime travel.

Here’s why.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Our Full-time RV Life, RV Travel Plans

Announcing RV Wanderlust Travel Plans for 2019

August 13, 2018 by BrittanyHighland Leave a Comment

RV Wanderlust Travel Plans 2019

Strange things have been happening around here. We rehomed our cats. Then when our RV fridge broke, we bought some weird cooler-size contraption instead of fixing it right away. And we’ve been generally cryptic about what’s coming up for us.

We won’t keep you guessing any longer. We’re ready to announce our RV Wanderlust travel plans for 2019! But before we lay out the details, we should share a few important points to set the context. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Our Full-time RV Life, RV Travel Plans

6 Ways to Battle Mice in Your RV and Win

August 8, 2018 by BrittanyHighland Leave a Comment

Getting Rid of Mice in Your RVIt’s my fault. I wanted to do extensive dry camping this year. No sooner had we spent one night in Idaho grass back in June than we gained an extra passenger: a mouse.

We bought some traditional mouse traps and took care of the problem. The pattern repeated. New dry camping spot. Adopt a mouse or two. Lay down traps. Catch the mice within a couple of days.

Then disaster struck. We rehomed our cats and found ourselves wild camping in a large field outside Glacier National Park, on top of tall grass, on the edge of a hill covered with tall brush and trees.

I will never forget the morning I woke up at 5:30 a.m. to work and tiptoed to the living room to grab my laptop. As soon as I slid open the pocket door, I saw something scurry across the floor, right around my baby’s crib. I froze in horror. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Lessons Learned, Our Full-time RV Life

How to Properly Clean and Maintain Your RV’s Washer/Dryer Combo

July 26, 2018 by BrittanyHighland Leave a Comment

How to Clean RV Washer Dryer Combo

When I first tell people I have a washer/dryer combo in our RV, explaining yes, the very same appliance washes and dries, there’s inevitably some disbelief. I guess it makes sense that something sounding so unbelievable would behave a bit wonky, and require some extra TLC compared to your regular residential washing machine or dryer.

It makes sense, and yet I was a fulltime RVer for four years before I knew how to properly clean and maintain my RV’s washer/dryer combo. Oh, and I bought a new one for absolutely no reason, just because I didn’t know how to maintain it properly.

That really happened.

So, yeah. Here’s the guide I wish I had four and a half years ago. I hope it saves you headaches and money. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Our Full-time RV Life, Repairs and Modifications

Rehoming Our Two RV Cats

July 24, 2018 by BrittanyHighland Leave a Comment

Blues RV Cat Rehoming

Baby Nomad saying goodbye to Blues, one of our RV cats

When we started fulltime RVing in February 2014, our only pet was a bearded dragon named Trogdor. In the past four years, Trogdor passed on, Caspian was born, and we adopted two rescue cats. Over time and extensive conversation, we made the decision to rehome both cats, as we prepare for the next phase of our life and travel. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Lessons Learned, Our Full-time RV Life

Spouses, Can You Move Your RV in an Emergency? (I Just Got Tested)

January 16, 2018 by BrittanyHighland 5 Comments

Wife Driving Motorhome

I drive our 40-foot diesel pusher. Since we don’t tow the Jeep, Eric and I have taken turns with the two vehicles since we started full-timing.

It’s one thing to drive our RV. But it’s a whole other thing to unhook everything and get it on the road in an emergency. Like many couples, the interior is my domain on moving day, while Eric packs up everything outside.

Over the past few years, I’ve thought about asking Eric to show me how all the hookups work. I had some idea, since this has been our home for so long, but I never got around to learning the details. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Lessons Learned, Our Full-time RV Life

Announcing RV Wanderlust Travel Plans for 2018

January 13, 2018 by BrittanyHighland 13 Comments

RV Wanderlust Travel Plans 2018

Zion National Park by Jamie Hagan

We’re excited about our 2018 trip. This may be our most ambitious plan since we started RVing almost four years ago. Our 2016 “Grand Loop Trip” plan had a slightly higher mileage, but our 2018 “Mountain State Trip” involves dangling off cliffs, 4-wheel drive, petting wild bison, and mountain lion sightings.

We might not do all those things. Maybe we will. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Activities and Sights, Exploring America, Our Full-time RV Life, RV Travel Plans

Annual Report: 2017 RV Repairs and Maintenance

January 12, 2018 by BrittanyHighland Leave a Comment

2017 RV Repairs and Maintenance Report

Last year was weird, as far as RV repairs go. I say weird, but really it was RV-normal: things didn’t go as expected. We never plan more than one visit to the shop for annual maintenance, typically in November or early December when we’re back in Texas for the holidays. But by the end of 2017, we had a total of five repair/maintenance sessions on the books. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Our Full-time RV Life, Repairs and Modifications

After 4 Years of Full-time RVing, What Do We Get as Christmas Gifts?

December 30, 2017 by BrittanyHighland 4 Comments

Full-time Rving Christmas Gifts

Not actually depicting our Christmas as full-time RVers

Arguably the greatest transition when becoming a full-time RVer is the shift from many possessions to few possessions. Before purchasing our 2004 Tiffin Phaeton and hitting the road in February 2014, Eric and I only had a two-bedroom apartment. Even so, we had so much to sell, donate, and throw away. Over our past four years on the road, we’ve done constant battle against clutter. So when it comes to Christmas gifts, ours look a bit different than many Americans. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Full-time RV Resources, Lessons Learned, Our Full-time RV Life, RV Travel With Kids

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Sept. 8-14: Scottsbluff, NE
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  • Mexico 🇲🇽 is incredible. We are loving our time here! #fulltimetravel #carpelife #littlenomad #visitpuebla… https://t.co/2dSRhsoYnb January 25, 2019 3:48 pm
  • We aren't done yet. But we'll be getting a new RV soon. Until then, our RV has a new family. https://t.co/P7DIouPOt0 | #RVWanderlust December 31, 2018 2:33 pm
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Travel Map: 2014-2018

States We’ve Visited with Meriwether

Map of where RV Wanderlust has been

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Eric and Brittany Highland

About Us

Welcome to RV Wanderlust! We're Eric and Brittany Highland and we're on a pretty amazing adventure. As of 2018, we're starting our fifth year as fulltime RVers and we've been transparently documenting the journey all along the way. In December 2016 we … Keep reading

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  • Our Full-time RV Home of 5 Years Has a New Family
  • Our Final Two Weeks Living in This RV
  • We Finally Made It to Nebraska With a Stay in Scottsbluff
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  • Why We’re Saying Goodbye to Our Diesel RV After 5 Years of Fulltime Travel

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