The last few nights have been restless. My stomach is in knots, my mind is running at max capacity, and yet we move forward.
With no practical experience whatsoever, we’re selling most everything we own and moving into a 2003 40’ long Phaeton Class A Diesel Pusher RV by Tiffin Motorhomes.
Truth be told, I really don’t know how the RV starts and there is some random lever on the left of the driver’s seat that when you pull it up makes this whooosh sound, much like the big Greyhound buses. Oh yeah, and there is that ominous cut-off switch near the door that seems rather important. ~shifts eyes~
As you can tell, we’re truly starting in a complete state of ignorance. As of this writing, we literally know nothing but what we’ve read online. (We don’t even have an owners manual as we got a used RV that was missing one.)
That’s how we started this guide back in 2014, when we first wrote it. Since then, we’ve become “old school,” and have created a resource or two ourselves.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, then we totally empathize. We were right there, too. But do a little digging, and you’ll find the RV community is generally a welcoming group of likeminded adventurers and risk takers who are happy to share their experiences.
To help you along, here is a brief summary of RVing resources we’ve found along the way.
RV Facebook Groups
The RV Entrepreneur was founded by our dear friends Heath and Alyssa Padgett, who are also responsible for The RV Entrepreneur Podcast and RV Entrepreneur Summit.
This private Facebook group (you’ll need to be approved for membership) is a wealth of information and support for anyone who wants to run a business from the road.
Internet for RVers & Cruisers is the free “help desk” from Mobile Internet Resource Center. Chris Dunphy and Cherie Ve Ard, the founders, are the unquestioned experts when it comes to Internet access for RVers. We highly recommend you read their book, join the membership program, and take advantage of their expertise.
View/Navion Motorhomes is one example of a Facebook group dedicated to a specific RV model. It happens to be the place we go to commiserate when we crack a wheel off-roading on BLM land, but you should follow our lead and look up Facebook groups that apply to your make or model!
It is really fun to talk to RVers who live in the exact same space you do, and there are often a wealth of helpful people willing to lend a hand when you have questions.
RV Forums
RV forums are definitely not as popular as they were back in 2014 when we started full-timing, but there are still many online. We’ve participated in quite a few, but our favorite is irv2. This is the most helpful online forum we’ve found, and it’s still very active.
The irv2 users are kind and responsive, and many will go the extra mile (pun intended) to get answers to your questions.
As of this writing, the forum has more than 463,000 threads, 5,300,000 posts, and 267,000 members.
RV Blogs
We know many people prefer YouTube to blog articles these days, but we personally love reading and hope the written word never goes away in favor of video.
For years before we started RVing, we were inspired by Technomadia, Wheelingit, Gone With the Wynns, and wand’rly. If you’re new to the RV community, we hope you’ll take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with these trailblazers.
Before Mobile Internet Resource Center existed, Technomadia was Chris and Cherie’s personal blog and platform for sharing their knowledge. Today, it’s a hub for all their projects, and still a way for them to inspire others through their RV-and now boat!-travels.
I’ve spent countless hours on Nina and Paul’s blog, Wheelingit. I love the tone and style of Nina’s writing, along with the couple’s combined knowledge and expertise. Paul’s photos are fantastic. Life has taken Nina and Paul to Europe, a whole other adventure to learn from and enjoy.
Jason and Nikki Wynn of Gone With The Wynns were the first to master YouTube in the RV space. Their tutorials still dominate many categories, even though they moved to boat life several years ago. Their site is a delight. The videos are fantastic; the content well-written and informative; and their style and tone unique. Definitely check them out.
And then there’s wand’rly, one of the original full-time families who showed all of us it’s possible, and you won’t ruin your kids by taking them on the road. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Nathan has a wonderful online magazine that will keep you occupied for months. We were so humbled when he interviewed us in late 2019. What a trip to go from hungrily admiring someone’s lifestyle, only wishing we could do what they’re doing, to having our own adventures to share.
There are so many other blogs to share, not to mention YouTube channels and Instagram accounts. It’s a whole new world out there, with RV sales growing 50% year-over-year in July 2020.
One thing is for sure: if you’re a new RVer, then you aren’t alone. There are so many people you can follow behind who have already done it successfully. So be inspired; ask questions; and take the leap.
-E and B
