How long do we stay in one spot?

Susanne is your driver for this post!

Another question people frequently ask us: How long do we stay in one spot before moving on?

Generally, we try to move no more often than every two or three weeks. The reasons for this are multifold:

• We don't want to burn out. Moving from one site to another - even if it's just an hour or two away or simply across town - is exhausting. It means cleaning out the tanks, unhooking all of the hoses and pipes, straightening up the interior and securing any breakables, pulling in the slideout, getting the cat situated, sometimes backing out of tricky parking spots, and planning our route. That might not sound like that much... and it isn't, if we don't do it too often. But if we were to do all that every few days, we'd be totally exhausted. It might be a good way to vacation for a couple of weeks, but it's not a good way to live over the long haul.

Clark the Freelander, just relaxing in camp

• Gas is expensive. Our Coachmen Freelander has a fuel efficiency of about 9 miles per gallon and a total fuel capacity of 57 gallons. Let's say gas costs $2.80 a gallon. If we were to fill the entire tank (which, granted, we never do), that's almost $160. Thus, driving long distances on a regular basis just isn't practical for us.

• We need time to work as well as play. We certainly go out and see the sights, but we're a working class family with a kid in grade school. That means that more often than not, we spend our days working and homeschooling. Much of our week is dedicated to these tasks, and we couldn't do them properly if we were constantly on the move. For us, it would be too overwhelming.

Office space

• At the same time, we strive to immerse ourselves in the local community. By staying several weeks in one spot, we give ourselves a chance to see the sights, eat local specialties, find good running and hiking trails, and tailor our homeschooling activities to what's available in the area. We've been in Albuquerque since the end of August, and we've become quite familiar with the layout of the city (always a comforting feeling) and the location of area parks and recreation opportunities. Sam and I have made field trips to the local aquarium, the BUGarium, a trampoline gym, a cat cafe (yup, you read that right!), Petroglyph National Monument, and some area volcanoes. We've even identified a favorite Thai place.

Working

Aquarium

Petroglyph National Monument

Volcano hike

Cat cafe! Such a happy place.

What about you? How often do you and your team move from place to place? What's your idea of an ideal amount of time to stay in one spot?

Does an RV feel like home?

Trent is your driver for this post.

Last Sunday we left Texas for New Mexico.  On the way out of Texas I got a weird feeling that we were somehow leaving home. The next day I told Susanne this and she said she felt the same way. I wasn’t expecting that feeling at all. When we left Indiana I felt like if we broke down on the side of the road we would already be home because we were in the RV. 

The overlook of Ohio River in Hanover, Indiana

However, in western Texas I got the feeling that if we broke down we would somehow not be near home. That doesn’t make a lot of sense because although we are now Fexans (fake Texans), we don’t have a home in Texas - we have a mailbox.  I guess I was starting to feel our home was in Texas State Parks.  It’s also possible San Angelo, Texas felt a little bit like home since I lived there for 9 months in the early 90’s.

However, now that feeling is gone. The RV and our new RV park feel like home. We love our new place again and just signed up to stay almost another week. When we are out and about in Roswell, it feels like we are just a few miles from home. If we at a park and it's starting to get dark we ask Sam, “Are you ready to go home?” and when we walk into the RV it feels like we are home again.

Home

San Angelo State Park Campground in San Angelo, Texas

Trent is your driver for this post.

We stayed at the San Angelo State Park campground (south shore) for two weeks in early Aug, 2016.  Our original plan was to stay for a week but after a few days of loving our spot - we changed it to two weeks.

The gate agent was very friendly and pointed out we had made a reservation at the North shore campground but would probably rather stay at the south shore. She was right and so she switched our spot to a good one (#17) by the lake.  The state park has electric and water hookups but not sewer. We did end up having to dump about twice a week but that turn out to be easier than expected (but still not "fun").



The Verizon coverage was great without an antenna or booster. I was pulling down anywhere from the high teens to low twenty's Mbps.  You can see the cell tower is just on the other side of the park and up near the local dam.



Each spot comes with a nice concrete and shaded(!) table. We made good use of it to escape the August sun. The pictures below were not our spot - just typical spots in the park.


The view from our spot was great as were the sunsets. The first week we mostly had our corner of the park to ourselves and when more campers did come in the second week it still wasn't crowed.  There are research herds of Bison and Texas Longhorns in the park. We went and watched them a few times.  There were also plenty of birds and ground squirrels to watch.  One word of caution- there are fire ants colonies in the park. Check to make sure you are not setting up your RV in the path of ant colony. They will try to eat you for dinner or let you know that spot is taken. We got lucky and had no problems.

The park is just on the edge of town. A huge grocery store is just 2 miles down the road and there are plenty of things to do in town. The local pool ($5 per person) is great for kids! Sam had a blast. The rangers said you can swim in the lake but I didn't see anyone doing that and couldn't suggest it.

The bath houses were maybe slightly below average in terms of cleanliness for a state park but still ok and fine to use. I regularly took showers there to keep our gray tank from filling up too fast.

Can you spot the Road Runner?

Bathhouse

We would definitely stay here again! I hope next time the temperature is not hovering around 100 like it was during this visit.

So You Want To Live In An RV: What Will You Need?

Trent and I have received a few questions lately to the effect of, "We're thinking about RVing full time. What should we bring?" Because space in an RV is so limited, it's important to think critically about what you need/want to haul and what you can/should leave behind (we now realize that even though we worked hard to bring only the necessities, we still brought too much!)

We've compiled a list of products that we purchased, use on a regular basis, and highly recommend to other RVers and would-be RVers. (Note: these links are Amazon affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase the product via the link, Amazon will toss us a few cents in loose change. Many digital nomads are using this as a way to generate a little extra income.) We've also briefly described what we use each product for and why we like it so much.

A disclaimer: We can only speak to what's worked well for our 29 foot Coachmen Freelander. Obviously, certain specific products (such as the RV cover) will not work for every type of rig. With RVs, one size does not fit all.

RV ELECTRONICS:

1. Progressive Industries EMS-PT30C Portable EMS RV Surge Protector - 30 Amp

• What it does: Protects our RV from a range of electrical issues and helps us monitor our amp draw so we know how close we are to our 30 amp limit.
• Why we like it: When selecting a camping site, we check the electric post with the surge protector BEFORE we set up everything else. This device lets us know everything is in working order and within acceptable limits. If not, we can select a new site before setting everything else up.

2. Camco 55501 PowerGrip 25' Cord with 30 AMP Male Standard/30 AMP Female Locking Adapter

• What it does: Works as an extension cord for our RV.
• Why we like it: It allows us to park farther away from the electrical post if we need to find level ground, better shade, or a nice view.

3. Camco 55175 18" PowerGrip Dogbone Electrical Adapter with Handle

• What it does: Allows us to hook our 30 amp RV to a 50 amp outlet.
• Why we like it: If the only site left is 50 amps, we could stay at that site. Also, sometimes the 50 amp outlet is in better condition than the 30 amp outlet on the same electric post. This device gives us a better chance of a good electrical hook-up.

4. Camco 55165 15M/30F 12" PowerGrip Dogbone Electrical Adapter with Handle

• What it does: Allows us to hook up our 30 amp RV to a standard household outlet.
• Why we like it: If we park in someone's driveway for the night, we can still get electricity to the RV.

WATER AND SEWER GEAR:

1. Camco 43051 20' Sidewinder Plastic Sewer Hose Support

• What it does: Keeps the gray and black water moving in the right direction and prevents, well, stagnation...
• Why we like it: Flexible yet sturdy.

2. Camco 40285 RV Green Disposable Dump Glove - 50 Pairs

• What it does: Protects our hands while we deal with the sewage tanks.
• Why we like it: Because nobody wants to touch poop water or contaminate the entire family.

3. Walex TOI-91799 Deodorizer

• What it does: Eliminates unseemly odors that emanate from the black tank.
• Why we like it: Because we'd rather not smell our toilet.

4. Camco 20123 Brass Water Wye Valve

• What it does: Bifurcates a single water outlet.
• Why we like it: With this valve, we can hook up both a freshwater hose and a hose for washing or flushing the tanks.

5. Camco 40043 TastePURE Water Filter with Flexible Hose Protector

• What it does: Helps clean/filter water from city water lines.
• Why we like it: Light, effective, easy to install, easy to store.

6. Camco 39062 Dual Flush Pro Holding Tank Rinser with Gate Valve

• What it does: Makes emptying the gray and black tanks easy and sanitary.
• Why we like it: Permits easy cleaning of the black tank to remove any remaining residue.

7. Camco 22783 TastePURE Drinking Water Hose (5/8"ID x 25') - Lead Free 

• What it does: Serves as designated hose for drinking water.
• Why we like it: A standard hose is not suitable for drinking water, and we like to drink water!

8. Camco 22505 90 Degree Hose Elbow - Lead Free

• What it does: Hooks up to your water intake and connects to the water hose.
• Why we like it: It allows the hose to run straight down and not out and down forcing the hose to bend. This reduces wear and tear on the hose.

9. Camco 39761 RhinoFLEX 15' RV Sewer Hose Kit with Swivel Fittings

• What it does: Hooks up to the sewage tanks (black and gray) and runs to the sewage dump.
• Why we like it: It's easy to connect and disconnect and compresses into a much smaller size for storage.

10. ETL 26781 White Body Spa Oxygenics Shower with 60" Hose 

• What it does: Maximizes water pressure while reducing excess use of water.
• Why we like it: You can press a knob to turn off the water flow while you're soaping up; easy to install.

RV MAINTENANCE:

1. ADCO 2509 Clear RV Windshield Cover

• What it does: Keeps the windshield covered while we're in camp and helps manage indoor air temperature.
• Why we like it: Easy to put on and take off; easy to store; relatively inexpensive.

2. Carrand 93210 Long Chenille Microfiber Wash Mop with 48" Extension Pole

• What it does: Allows you to gently wash your RV without use of a stepladder.
• Why we like it: Effective; inexpensive; eliminates risk of someone falling off a ladder and breaking something.

3. Bug Scrubber RV Car Aircraft Bug Remover

• What it does: Removes all of the bugs that attached themselves to your windshield as you were driving.
• Why we like it: It works! Bug guts are sticky and can be hard to remove.

4. Aero Cosmetics Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax 16 oz.

• What it does: Gently removes the grime from the side of your RV without the need for water.
• Why we like it: It's good for fast, effective spot cleaning in camp - no hoses needed.

5. Aero Cosmetics Waterless Car Wash & Wax 128 oz.

• What it does: Same as above - just in a larger size.
• Why we like it: We use this product fairly often, so we like to carry the larger size with us.

6. Dicor 501LSW1 White Lap Sealant - 10.3 oz. 

• What it does: Easily repairs small rips, tears, and weathered areas on roof of RV.
• Why we like it: Easy to apply; quickly repairs potential leak points in roof.

7. Aero Cosmetics Tire Shine Protectant, 16oz 

• What it does: Protects tires from damaging UV rays.
• Why we like it: Easy to apply.

KITCHEN TOOLS AND APPLIANCES:

1. Camco 43753 Hardwood Stove Topper and Cutting Board

• What it does: Fits over the stove, thereby creating additional counter space for food prep and improving efficiency of the kitchen area.
• Why we like it: Sturdy; doesn't move while the RV is in motion (thanks to grippy material on the base of the board).

2. Melitta Coffee Maker, Porcelain 6 Cup Pour-Over Brewer

• What it does: Provides liquid of the gods to sleepy RVers.
• Why we like it: Easy to use; easy to clean.

3. Instant Pot IP-LUX50 6-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker, 5Qt/900W

• What it does: Cooks everything from beans to rice to veggies to soups and stews to cheesecake - and in the fraction of time required by regular appliances.
• Why we like it: Fast, effective, and easy to clean and store.

4. Magic Bullet Blender, Small

• What it does: Blends single-serving smoothies and shakes.
• Why we like it: Small, easy to store, easy to clean.

IN CAMP:

1. Camco 42805 60" x 78" Handy Mat with Strap

• What it does: Reduces amount of dust and dirt carried into the RV.
• Why we like it: Helps maintain cleanliness of RV interior; inexpensive; colorful; easy to store.

2. Camco 44432 Wheel Chock

• What it does: Helps keep the RV from rolling away while parked. Whew!
• Why we like it: Light and inexpensive.

3. Tri-Lynx 00015 Lynx Levelers, (Pack of 10)

• What it does: Levels out your RV if you're parked on uneven ground.
• Why we like it: Light, easy to use, easy to clean and store.

4. Modkat Litter Box Kit

• What it does: Provides your cat with a relatively attractive, private place to use the facilities.
• Why we like it: It fits nicely in the cab of the RV (between the driver's and passenger's seats); reduces scatter of kitty litter throughout the rig; includes a reusable, sturdy liner.

We dewinterized Clark. Nothing broke and nobody cried.

Last night we drove Clark to Two Rivers Campground in Kentucky to flush out his systems and dewinterize him. We were nervous about this because we'd never done this before and our user's manual is not always helpful (sometimes it references other models, rendering the instructions kind of useless). We had a walk through when we purchased Clark, but the guy giving the tour explained everything really quickly; as a long-time RVer, he clearly seemed to think some of our questions were rather ignorant (I'm sure they were).

Besides, Trent and I have a long history of accidentally breaking stuff or buying things that turn out to be duds. We were concerned that this could be the moment when we realized that Clark isn't as fit as he looks. This is going to be our home and we paid a lot of money for it, so the thought of realizing we'd made a bad purchase totally freaked us out.

We chose Two Rivers because it is close and relatively inexpensive ($36 per night with a Good Sam discount), and has full hook-ups. Not knowing what to expect in terms of quality, we were pleased when we arrived at a clean, well-equipped campground with flat RV sites, picnic tables, plenty of space, and a viewing platform overlooking the river. 

After initial setup (making sure Clark was level and hooking up the electric), our first task was to find the low-point drains and close them. These drains allow water to drain out of the rig; what we wanted, however, was to fill up our freshwater tank, so the drains needed to be shut.

There are two low-point drains in our rig (don't I sound all official when I say "rig"?) One is easy to access and was already closed. The second is located underneath the bathroom sink... and to get to it, I had to stuff my arm down a tiny space behind the lowest drawer in the sink vanity. But I couldn't actually *see* the valve, so we spent a good 45 minutes or so using our phones to take pictures and orient ourselves with the setup.

See that little white rectangular thing? That's the low point drain valve.

So I stuck my arm down there and turned it, and then we turned on the water... which proceeded to cascade from the undercarriage of the vehicle to the cement pad. I stuck my hand in there again and rotated the valve, thinking that maybe I had not positioned it correctly. Still a waterfall.

At that point we decided to give it a rest and just connect our pipes to the city water so that we could flush out the antifreeze in the pipes. We were thrilled when that worked. We made a little video to document our success.

Next step: activate the hot water heater. We got it to heat up water... but the hot water wasn't flowing through the pipes. Trent spent some time interpreting the owner's manual and realized that (predictably) a valve was closed. The manual suggested that we could locate this mystery valve by opening up the grate beneath the fridge, so we did that. Once again, we couldn't actually *see* the valve until we stuck our phone in there and snapped a picture. Once again, I had to stuff my arm into this tiny space in order to access it.

No joke - here's how my arm looks today:

But it worked! We opened up the taps and voila - hot water.

The last thing we needed to figure out was how to open up the low point drain. Trent posted an SOS on our Facebook RV group asking for help, and within minutes someone responded to let us know that these valves don't work by rotation... they work by pushing them in or pulling them out. 

Duh. Why didn't we think of that?

By this point my arm was actually bruised and swollen, but we were determined to get it figured out. It was worth the effort because it totally worked! We were able to clean and fill the freshwater tank and rinse the system.

All in all, it was an extremely successful trip. It allowed us get to know Clark better, boosted our confidence in our ability to problem solve without destroying anything, and demonstrated just how helpful the RVer community can be.

Three more weeks until we're doing this full time!