Photo Tour: Our 40 Foot Diesel RV After 4 Months

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It’s so lovely to make any place into a home, and an RV is no different. Though Eric has owned a few homes over time, this is my first, so I’ve had a lot of fun “nesting” since we purchased Meriwether in January 2014.

Some of you may have seen my photo tour of Meriwether when we purchased him. Four months later, the interior looks quite a bit different! I hope you enjoy the walk-through - I certainly enjoyed setting up for photos!

(Note: Eric was enjoying a quiet Sunday afternoon of Gold Rush, so I did my best not to disturb him! You may notice the TV screen in a few photos…)

Living Area

Redecorated RV Living and Dining

Come on in!

Come on in! Here are comparison shots of [Read more...]

Why You Need to Do Your Own Annual RV Roof Maintenance

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Most RV maintenance shops charge $80-100+ per hour for labor. And while some jobs are well worth it, any job that you can comfortably do on your own could potentially save you hundreds of dollars.

From the get-go, let me say that if I can do this RV maintenance task…anyone can.

Saving dollars by DIY maintenance on an RV

Doing your own annual RV roof maintenance could save you hundreds of dollars (Photo credit: 401(k) via Flickr CC)

When the good Lord was passing out handyman skills, I must have been asleep. I’m pretty much clueless when it comes to anything handyman-ish or mechanical. I’m so bad, it is almost laughable.

But honestly, this annual RV roof maintenance was a breeze. So, if you are one of those folks who has been thinking that you’d rather pay someone to do this for you, think again and give this guide a quick read first. [Read more...]

Redecorating the RV: Window Cornice Box Reupholstery

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Old RV Cornice Boxes

Kerensa and me with the old cornice boxes

After you’ve seen a few brand new RVs, stepping into a coach that’s over a decade old can jar your aesthetic sensibilities. In fact, as we went through the purchase process with Meriwether, Eric had to keep reminding me that all the outdated and worn things I saw inside could be changed.

First project: dinette cushions. They grossed me out, so I painted them.

Second project: cornice boxes. Though I didn’t know what they were called at first, I immediately knew they had to go.

Frankly, I had no clue where to start. I read a few articles online and the process sounded too complicated for me. I was extremely fortunate to [Read more...]

Comparing AT&T Phone Plans After Our Recent Upgrades

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iPhone 5S with Mophie Rechargeable Case

New iPhone 5S

Connectivity is almost always a big deal for full-timers. And it doesn’t only matter for those of us who work online. Our retired next door neighbor here in Arlington was just telling us how crazy she gets when she doesn’t have phone or Internet service! We all want to feel connected to our loved ones, current events, and individual interests.

But connectivity comes at a premium. Before getting on the road, we were extremely concerned about our Internet options and the level of service we would have in different parts of the country. Through extensive research, we chose Millenicom’s wireless device for our Internet service. It runs off Verizon’s network, and we’ve been extremely pleased with it (despite the recent price hike). With some advance planning and use of the Coverage? app, I can’t think of a single work day we’ve lost for lack of Internet service.

On the phone side, we’ve had iPhones through AT&T since about 2009. We love our iPhones, and for the most part we’ve appreciated AT&T because of its reliable coverage across the country. But we hadn’t [Read more...]

7 Awkward and Fun Things Inside the RV Wanderlust Rig

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People online often ask us about the inside of our RV. For those new to RV Wanderlust, our rig’s name is Meriwether and he’s 40′ of diesel-powered goodness…and he’s our home.

Brittany did an interior photo tour post earlier that folks had been asking for. But I figured I’d share some of the more fun and awkward things about the inside of the RV Wanderlust rig Meriwether, for those who follow our blog faithfully.

It will let you get to know us a bit more from a personal side too. Here we go…

1. Theodore Roosevelt

A photo of President Theodore Roosevelt inside the RV Wanderlust Rig Meriwether

Theodore Roosevelt watches Over Brittany as she cooks

Just above the convection / microwave oven is a print of the 26th President of the United States. Truth be told [Read more...]

Visiting the Home of Tiffin Motorhomes in Red Bay, Alabama

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1976 Allegro Gas RV by Tiffin

Red Bay, Alabama, where all Tiffin Motorhomes are built. Pictured is a 1976 Allegro Gas RV.

We veered away from the beauty of the Natchez Trace Parkway to make the obligatory stop that every Tiffin owner has to make: the trip to Red Bay, Alabama, home of Tiffin Motorhomes.

Yes, this is Meriwether’s birthplace. For those new to the blog, Meriwether is the name of our 2004 40′ Diesel Tiffin Motorhome, named after Meriwether Lewis. Even though we had only owned Meriwether for less than three months, there was a certain nostalgia in making the journey to where he was built. That and we needed some work done. [Read more...]

How to Liquidate Your Possessions for RV Life

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Sorting for Full Time RV Life

So much to sort! Taking one container at a time

Everyone planning for full-time RV life faces the same challenge: what do I do with all my stuff? Some have gracious relatives with extra space and others spring for monthly storage. But those options aren’t always available. Sometimes, everything must go!

You’re not here for disclaimers, but I have to give two up front:

  1. Eric and I had not accumulated a lifetime of possessions before we went on the road. In fact, from the time we were married in 2011, we purposely kept our belongings to a minimum. We already had some idea that this lifestyle might be in store for us, so we only got what we really needed…with just a handful of splurges along the way! All that to say, the amount of stuff we had to get rid of is very likely less than you have - and I want to recognize that!
  2. Our 40-foot RV has a ton of storage space. I still have drawers with nothing in them, and our basement storage underneath is kind of unbelievable. If you’re making a gas RV your home, you’re facing a challenge I can’t even imagine, with no pass-through storage!

With those notes out of the way, our 700ish square feet of apartment space, plus a storage closet off the patio, held plenty that I couldn’t take with me. And yes, it was absolutely overwhelming. [Read more...]

Photo Tour: Our 40 Foot Diesel RV Just After Purchase

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2004 Tiffin Phaeton RV

Meriwether, our 2004 Tiffin Phaeton

Due to my rush to start redecorating, I accidentally skipped the photo tour of our RV at purchase! For those who are new to our blog, we own a 2004 40′ Tiffin Phaeton diesel pusher. Overall, our decade-old home is in great condition. The previous owners put in a lot of upgrades that we’re very thankful for!

Without further adieu, here’s the walk-through of our beloved Meriwether. [Read more...]

Repairs and RV Service So Far

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Camping World RV Service

Taking care of Meriwether at Camping World

Buying a used RV is definitely a bit scary. Extended warranties can be purchased, but they’re pricy and you have to decide whether you’re going to take the plunge. Rather than pay for a warranty, we decided we’d be better off setting aside a certain sum every month for emergencies. (We have a separate line item in our budget for routine maintenance.)

Determined to be risk takers, we also opted against a pre-purchase inspection. I can’t say I recommend this. We had always planned to get a pre-purchase inspection, but our purchase ended up falling right around Christmas and New Years Day, and we were having an impossible time finding a reputable inspector who wasn’t on vacation and could fit us in.

We did get a couple of inspectors on the phone. Once they found out we were buying a Tiffin with new tires and new batteries, and a diesel no less, they ended up convincing us that we didn’t need an inspection. When respected inspectors who inspect for a living talk you out of getting an inspection, things get a little bit confusing.

But what were we to do? We really felt like we had found the RV of our dreams. We knew the most-expensive-to-repair components were solid, and we were getting a good enough deal on the coach that we felt like we could pay for any other unforeseen repairs.

Not wanting Meriwether to be snatched out from under us, we turned down the crazy road through No Inspection Land. [Read more...]