Life on the Road Archives - Page 5 of 5

How to Liquidate Your Possessions for RV Life

April 1, 2014 by BrittanyHighland 7 Comments

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:

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!
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

March 25, 2014 by BrittanyHighland 18 Comments

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…]

Redecorating the RV: Upholstery Paint for Dinette Cushions and Trim

March 13, 2014 by BrittanyHighland 8 Comments

Upon purchase, we were quite pleased with the condition of our new-to-us 2004 Tiffin Phaeton. But there were a few things I couldn’t see myself living with. Most glaring among them: the dinette cushions. [Read more…]

The RV Wanderlust Crew Up Close and Personal

February 27, 2014 by Eric Highland 29 Comments

“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” -Author Unknown

Definitely words to live by, and we’ve taken them to heart. On Friday, February 21, 2014, we locked the front door of our stick and brick home for the last time and started our full-time RV journey.

We chose this lifestyle not to escape life, but so that life doesn’t escape us.

We have wanderlust to the extreme and hope you do too. If you are living vicariously through us, don’t hesitate to ask us questions. If you are on the fence about the lifestyle, feel free to poke and prod us.

We want to be transparent about our journey with you. Know that we’ll be sharing the good, the bad, AND the ugly. There is no topic we’re not willing to cover. Whatever you read here will be the actual experience. There is no sugar coating this journey. [Read more…]

Repairs and RV Service So Far

February 25, 2014 by BrittanyHighland 9 Comments

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…]

Searching for the Best Portable Gas Grill

February 25, 2014 by Eric Highland 19 Comments

I needed a portable gas grill. Heck, everyone who RVs needs a portable gas grill, right? After all, who wants to be “that guy”? You know who I’m talking about - that one guy who shows up to a campsite without the essentials. I mean, would other campers look at me funny if I rolled up in a 40′ diesel and had no grill? That guy on the right is looking at me funny even now.

See how happy they look? (Photo credit: SteveR via FlickrCC)

I envisioned myself looking longingly at other people’s campsites as they enjoyed their evening festivities with the aroma of seared meat filling the air, my stomach grumbling something unintelligible to me…nope, I wasn’t going to let that happen.

It was decided. I wanted the best portable gas grill I could get. [Read more…]

3 Cold Weather Tips for a Diesel RV

January 7, 2014 by Eric Highland 6 Comments

It was sunny when we bought the Diesel RV…then the cold front came

I’m shivering like a mobster in a tax collector’s office.

It’s 21 degrees in Austin and dropping to 16 degrees tonight! Ok, ok, I get it. All you South Dakota folks and Canadians out there are just snickering at us. But hey, anytime you have to open the refrigerator to heat the house (or the RV), it’s too darn cold!

So here’s the story. Brittany and I bought our brand “new to us” RV on January 2nd. On the 3rd, we took it to an outdoor storage facility and parked it. Our intentions were to clean and prep it for full-timing by February 22nd when our lease expires.

It was a good plan. A solid plan. One that worked with our timeline. What could go wrong?

Then came the cold weather report. Immediately I started getting texts and messages from quite a few people with cold weather tips for a diesel RV. [Read more…]

Best RV Forums and Blogs We’ve Found So Far

January 4, 2014 by Eric Highland 7 Comments

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.)

Thankfully, we’ve found the RV online community to be beyond helpful. Specifically in the areas of forums and blogs. [Read more…]

Choosing Class A, B, C…Easy as 1, 2, 3?

January 2, 2014 by BrittanyHighland 5 Comments

The switch to a full-time RV lifestyle has been a long time coming. There was money to save, priorities to order…and we had to come to terms with the fact that we’re crazy to have a home on wheels.

Even though we weren’t ready to pull the trigger and make our purchase, we used the time to research and decide which type of RV was right for us and our unique needs.

The conversation went something like this, over the course of a couple of years:

Brittany: “These Class C’s look nice.”
Eric: “I don’t think Class C’s are big enough for us to live in full-time. We need to look at Class A’s.”
/time passes/
Brittany: “Okay…you’re probably right.”
/time passes/
Eric: “I’ve done some research and diesel Class A’s have more power and can carry more weight. We should get a Class A diesel pusher.”
Brittany: “Okay…”
/time passes/
Brittany: “Newer Class A gas models have more power than they used to. I think a diesel might be overkill, and they sure are expensive! Hey, I think we can afford this new Class A gas.”
Eric: “Okay…”
/time passes/
Brittany: “Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could pay in cash and not have a monthly RV payment?”
Eric: “Okay…I guess we need to buy an older RV.”
/time passes/
Eric: “Diesel Class A’s have more power and can carry more weight. We should get a Class A diesel pusher.”
Brittany: “Okay…you’re probably right.”

(And somewhere in the middle at an RV show)
Brittany: “Look at these fifth wheels!” [Read more…]

Living on Hopes and Wishes

December 30, 2013 by BrittanyHighland Leave a Comment

Thank you for stopping by our brand new blog! Our journey towards purchasing a Class A RV and setting off on our new grand adventure has been a few years coming. At long last, it looks like we’re nearing our purchase!

Here’s hoping:

2003 Tiffin Phaeton diesel pusher

More updates will be coming soon! I look forward to chronicling the past, present and future here on RV Wanderlust.

-Brittany