*FIND ALL LINKS HERE (scroll down)! www.WayfarerVans.com/CreativityRV 🎯Read Robin's BOOKS Here: 🤑WORK FROM HOME WHILE YOU ROAM: The Ultimate Guide to Jobs that Can Be Done from Anywhere: amzn.to/2MF09LK 🤠Be A Nomad Change Your Life: amzn.to/2NQaogN 🛒🛍ROBIN'S FAVORITE GEAR: www.amazon.com/shop/creativityrv 🤩JOIN THE CRV TRIBE, FULL TRAVEL MAP, LIVE Q&As & UPDATES HERE: www.patreon.com/CreativityRV COMPOSTING TOILET INSTALL VIDEO: ua-cam.com/video/y-zyIJ8sjDs/v-deo.html 🚽OGO LINK: ogotoilet.com/?ref=crv Viewer Coupon Code➡ CreativityRV_50 🌻GET 15% OFF ON A HARVEST HOSTS MEMBERSHIP: www.harvest-hosts.com/8FG9L9/2CTPL/ 📌FOLLOW ME! instagram.com/creativityrv/ 💖Watch ROBIN'S TEdX Talk "Why I Choose to be a Nomad" ua-cam.com/video/Vs7WoriABF4/v-deo.html 🎯VISIT CREATIVITY RV.COM! www.creativityrv.com/ *This post contains affiliate links. *CreativityRV is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. By using these links I will make a small percentage of your purchase, even if you buy something else--and it won't cost you anything.
Like you, I’ve been looking at RV life, camper life, Skoolie life and van lifers. My conclusion hands down is VAN LIFE. Like you, I’m overwhelmed by the build aspect. Yet unfortunately, unlike you, I’m extremely disabled. Therefore, I need an extra special or CUSTOMIZED build. I only need a single bed because my MUST HAVE is a cozy (swivel) household recliner (rocker) chair for me to sleep in. I also MUST have special height to my dinette table and seating and a shower with a seat is also a MUST HAVE for me. I also am terrified of bear and break ins, so I would prefer to have an actual black painted door entry added to seperate the front driver area from the back living quarters. This extremely complicates my van build for me. Like you, I also just CANNOT afford any crazy “luxury” priced build. I don’t know who would be able or willing to help this old girl out. Would you be able to make any recommendations based on my necessary can build? If so, I would absolutely appreciate it. My husband recently passed away in May. So I’m wanting to make this life altering change.
Love your videos. I've been looking into van life for a few years now. I like the idea. I'm not sure if I will like reality of it. I do like the Wayfare builds. Less money going out is a plus. Look forward to seeing more.
💯 The strength and durability alone is reason enough for me to eventually upgrade from the camper I’m about to live in, to a converted short bus. Even nice campers and RVs are toothpicks and aluminum/fiberglass. The best rig is the one you built (and therefore can absolutely fix) yourself.
Yes on the van. It's tough if you glamper camp, but its much more durable, easier to maintain/cheaper to fix, can fit in a normal parking spot, and can go stealth in a city. Yeah, it would be nice to have a toilet and black tank, but it's nice to poop in a bucket and toss it into the trash with the rest of the diapers and drive away.
It’s over 4.5 years later, and I still love every minute. (She said from a tiny house 2-day rental. I’ve been in my van all summer. Needed a minute. ) Having 2 trailers and a red neck van helps.
Thanks for the great video! I'm a healthy 72 yr old and I plan to do some RV traveling soon. I'm going to do this because it's been on my bucket list for years. I appreciate your input and don't consider it at all negative, just realistic. I always like to be well informed before taking off on a new adventure.
This needs to be the first video anyone watches when they want to start RV life! Unfortunately I tried it it broke my bank account and I live in the East so there's not much boondocking so I quit moved into a campground and now I'm very happy.
Or you can rent and get stuck next to abusing neighbours from hell with no way out other than devote a year of security camera editing , incident document keeping , threats , polution , worried for your life, calling police, getting bounced between landlord, police and rental tribuneral.Finally having to take out a protection order forcing them to move after a year of hell. having boulders thrown thru your bedroom windows on your roof and thru carwindsreen while its in the carport etc etc etc. At least in an rv you can get the hell outa dodge.
Thank you for sharing all of the upsides...AND downsides of RV life. I just have to say that, even though you share the downsides, you do it very well and you make it look good!
Spot on Robin! And as we age…some of those chores etc. get impossible to do. We have switched out of nice rigs we loved as we needed to get things a bit easier to do. Our families think we are nuts doing all the work to travel but we still love it! Love your work. Keep it up!
Hi Ms. Robin...been on the road almost three years...Currently in Flagstaff for the summer...not currently working by choice so on fixed income sucks alittle waiting to get paid but worth it. I love this life and the repair challenges that come with it. Always something to do....
Great video!!! I didn't know how much there was to do before we bought our C. Ended up with a new car because it was to hard getting into some small towns because of parking. We wanted to flat tow. We moved every 3 or 4 days and now we're changing our way of traveling because of the setup and breakdown and getting older. 5-10 days. I love traveling so not stopping, just adjusting.
Robin, We started our RV life in early 2020. Talk about challenges! Learned a lot and you were right there. Thank you so much! You’ve been an inspiration and a beacon of sensibility. This edition is an example of the best. We settled down near a hospital and left RV life a couple of years ago. But we still watch you and smile! Keep going GIRL!
After seeing hundreds (maybe thousands) of RV and Van Life videos, I'm now convinced the best solution is to use a minivan as an "RV." I follow "Modern Day Pilgrim" on YT, and she has her Dodge Grand Caravan setup with a clean, minimalistic, no-build solution, and she has everything she needs to go on the road for a weekend, a week, or even a month or more. Her interior is kept spotless and clutter-free. If I ever hit the road, I'd want to emulate that setup. It's cost-efficient, it's easy, it's doable, no hassles with parking, etc. I think it's the most accessible and practical way of trying out this type of lifestyle and her solutions are, IMO, great.
@@sharonthehuman5954 Oh yes, if I were to purchase a minivan, I would go for a hybrid. I own a 2010 Prius, which is perfect for my needs. I don't actually go camping (yet).
Definitely going to check out that channel after this video. I'm leaning towards a ram promaster, because I will need quite a bit of storage room, but having a hybrid mini van sounds like a great option. For efficiency and stealth. I have a 2008 prius and an apartment now
Before i got old n decrepid i spent a few years travelling n working round australia... the thing i missed the most was ..a garden. After a couple of years the need for my own bit of dirt was so real i actually considered getting a potted plant lol
I need someone like you! I love my garden yard but have a hands-off hubby. Plenty of parking and I really just need a pal and someone who loves it too. Just not sure how to connect with such a vanlifer!
I had a cactus garden in the dashboard in my Ford van. Made the planter out of gutter material so it would fit into the dashboard hole. Cactus survived the heat of the windshield.
Good morning Robin, the points you covered in this video are all the areas of rv life I considered. I think that for me, keeping it simpler rolling with a mini-van may be it. Thank you for your candid review and your honesty regarding rv life. Be safe! 🎉
The interesting point is that you CHOSE this life! Life is hard no matter where you are or where you live...embrace it! No matter where you go...there you are!
Very good video, I agree with all of these to some extent. We have spent many years RVing, we classify ourselves as "MostTimers" because we have lived in our RV as much as nine months out of a year. The big one you missed was "People". We have had some horrible neighbors while in RV parks and campgrounds. Some were the rudest, nastiest jerks you would hope to never meet. Luckily most of the time we only had to endure for a day or two (or a few hours in extreme cases) because we had options to move away or they moved on, but those times were painful and certainly unenjoyable. Besides the neighbors you had those around you with no boundries or etiguette, invading our space any time of day or night. On you list, weather stands out for us. Weather in a home is one thing but high winds, massive rain/thunderstorms, scorching heat and, freezing temps are a completly different thing when you are in a thin metal box.
Everything you said is so true, I went through it all and after two years I got out of it and sold my rig. RV-ing full time, part time or for a weekend is a ton or work and I will not go back to it. I went back to staying in motels and driving my car or truck, couldn’t be happier. Just glad I did it when I was young and not after I retired.
Same thing with me wanting to RV to a bunch of remote, tropical beaches in central Mexico. Those Instagram and YT influencers camping on the beautiful beaches with the jungle behind them...all that wildlife. Well, let me tell you, we have been doing this (I'm 65, my son is 45) and last winter we did stay 3 months near a beautiful bay (near Huatulco, Oaxaca) at a small offgrid (solar power) RV park next to the jungle. Yeah. First even in Dec-Feb the temps were a sweaty 90-95 degrees every day. We could only run fans, no AC so sweat was all day and all night...except when we were in the water or shower. Then, yes, amazing birdwatching and abundant wildlife....including iguanas, 6' long whipsnakes (not poisonous tho) and LOTS OF INSECTS. We ended up with 6 kinds of ants in the RV. I guess we were lucky because some other RVers in the park had an ARMY ANT infestation on the outside of their tent! We got an occasional gecko or blue-tailed skink that would get in through a crack and skitter over one of us when we were sleeping (!) and then a rat found its way into the RV and it took us a week to trap it. It would get active at night and a couple of times ran over me when I was in bed. My son woke up one morning to see it on the opposite pillow just staring at him. Oh yeah, the mosquitos! And dengue is a thing in these tropical places. Then there was the huntsman spider that was in the RV one day....the damn thing was bigger than the palm of my hand and FAST... Yes, I screamed like a little girl, grabbed a metal spatula, handed it to my son and said, "If you don't get it no way can I sleep in here tonight." Why don't we ever see anything about this on those influencer channels? We're still in Oaxaca but up in the mountains for the summer and next winter if we go down to the coast it will be 1) to a park where we can have AC 2) a larger town not right at the edge of the jungle!
The chores and Setting Up & Breakdowns are the way i stay strong & healthy. Its a work out. I keep the manual front tongue jack for my Travel Trailer. For that same reason. Its a more hands-on lifestyle. It keeps it real. Best is the 6 am cup of coffee outside the front door in my chair. I love having the door open most all of the Time ❤
Hey Robin! So true about the unexpected repairs! I was @ Horsetooth Rez at the end of June this year and I heard something outside on our last night there and when I opened the door, the wind blew the door right out of my hands and smashed my window behind it! Ugh! Fast forward to today...I finally got it in and replaced this weekend. Our whole summer slipped past us. : ( I still love my trailer, but sh** happens. Just have to go with the flow. The mountains are calling.....I must go! : )
Thanks for another honest video. You are the primary reason I decided to begin my RV journey and gave me a majority of tools, #1 your books and all the other resources you’ve provided in my nearly 4 years on the road. I started solo and have met a wonderful travel companion. He is excellent at troubleshooting and diagnosing problems and will make several attempts to repair any issue until he is unsuccessful then will find the right person to fix the problem. We have been very fortunate that our 5th wheel issues have been minimal. Thanks again Robin!❤
Robin , all so true. Additionally, post - Covid has resulted in more RVers, higher costs for fewer locations, increased reservation requirements, and social media saturation has made this lifestyle even more difficult. I would add that it’s important to remember maintenance and upkeep are continuous and cannot be put off. Unlike a house, you can’t wait until it’s time to sell to fix things!
Thank you Robin. You are one of my vanlife/rv life inspirations. I bought my van in December of 2020 and hit the road in May of 2021 so I've been full time for three years now and loving it. Although you're right everything takes planning, consideration and can be somewhat daunting at times. All in all the freedom this lifestyle affords is worth the extra effort. Happy adventures!
I have lived in an RV before (30 ft. fifth wheel) and enjoyed it. You are spot on with all the maintenance. Things fall apart easily on the road and another constant worry is the tires. I dreaded each time I had to dump the tanks. There's actually quite a bit of physical work that goes along with it and it's harder to do the older you get. I've thought about van life, but I get restless and claustrophobic in something so small. I rented for a few weeks and it's especially hard when the weather is not perfect.
Full-time for almost five years now. I would say getting your mail or packages to you is a bigger deal than most people realize. Amazon doesn't come to your door when you're on the road. And you nailed it with the research and planning involved when you have a larger rig.
I don't have these 2 issues. When I sold my primary residence 3 yrs ago, I never set up a forwarding address to my secondary residence. Zero junk mail. My 3 bills (phone, credit card, and insurance) are all billed and paid on line. Just renewed drivers license for next 5 yrs. Know dates for truck and travel trailer tag renewel and either plan to be at home base or have a friend take care of it. Nothing on Amazon that I can't buy at Walmart .
I love your videos Robin. And I love my Grand Caravan Mini Van that I live in full-time! It is a "no build build". I have sterilite drawers, 2 three gal water jugs. All of my bathroom equipment a cooler for food, I put 3 egg crate mattresses in a sleeping bag. I love it!!
We have watched you for years and appreciate your honesty and no nonsense approach to nomad life. We too dream of going out on the road, albeit not completely without a stick and brick homesite to return to 😉. Watching you has given us the confidence that it’s possible. Thank you 😊 Robin
I love watching your videos. You are so honest and absolutely tell it like it is. Wr are a retired couple thst have been fulltime traveling for the past 5 1/2 years. We travel every week or 2. Trying to see this grand abd beautiful United States. It it is not easy or fun or perfect all the time. But we have never regretted this lifestyle. Keep up the great videos.
Honest assessment Robin. Yep there certainly ups and downs in this lifestyle but there are also options. In that I mean one doesn't have to do it fulltime and still have a home base to always come home to. Take care and good luck!
And you’re the reason I only watch these types of videos! I lived in my 31’. RV from 2001-2003 & LOVED it, but yes, there were days that it was one issue after another, but I knew that would happen. I’m a crisis mgmt expert, so that didn’t bother me! It were the days that the weather was bad & I was stuck inside that were my challenges! I’m ready to hit it again in 2025! I expect quite a few changes!! I plan on getting a 22-24’ C Class!
We've learned so much on how to fix issues in the RV thanks to UA-cam videos. Not sure we could ever full time without it. LOL But my most hated part is the stress of finding a good place to camp sometimes...which of course is made worse by our constant lack of planning ..but it does make things more exciting. Great video.
These are true statements Robin. My rig took a catastrophic series of surges that caused a fire last week. It was a total loss. Rig and everything in it. Everyone, PLEASE make sure you protect yourself as much as possible from bad campground power and owners who don't care to fix them.
That happened to me as well in Texas. The hookup power box caught fire but lucky for me the rig next to me camping was a fire marshal and he handled the situation keeping us all safe ..
@@desiandy21able. A voltage meter and or a voltage sensor. Our van has a power surge protector system that shuts down if the voltage goes too high from the campground electric power supply.
And then there are some of us who would never consider hooking up to a power pedestal even if parked next to one. I travel very very small and have multiple ways to work around weather conditions. Very happy with my tiny footprint and very minimal power requirements. 😊
I LOVE MY WAYFARER BUILD ON A FORD TRANSIT 250 AWD PLATFORM! They will work with you post build with any follow-up questions or needs. Love that team! ❤
Great video ! I feel that the best vehicle for this lifestyle is a van unless money is not an object. AAA can tow a van , get your AAA premiere roadside, U-Haul can rent you a rig and trailer and you can bring that van to any mechanic between Canada and Mexico
Hey Robin! You were the first channel I ever watched in regards to doing full time. I still watch you and really appreciate your straight talk! As do I love watching John & Mercedes with RV ODD COUPLE, in fact I was watching their latest video, and then this one popped up! You both spoke about being REAL…stuff breaks etc! Keep up the great videos! Blessings!
Thank you for always being Honest about the reality of being a Nomad! I recall many of the things you have had to go through as you were talking. Remember when you first got your beautiful 5th Wheel, and a truck side swiped you as you were parked? The storm you had to dodge and get into the bathroom? How about the time Bigfoot knocked on your RV in the middle of the night? Oh wrong person wrong story?? Kidding just for fun... Your Great with all the FANTASTIC INFO you have given to all the Nomad Community! Your No. 1 in my book for roughing it, telling it like it is, and looking Absolutely Beautiful on every Video. I'm glad your enjoying your life!! I am living through your life since I can't travel or be a Nomad at this time. Maybe down the road!!!
I really enjoy my RV van, if my husband gets tired of driving I can drive the van. It’s great for us. Don’t need all the fluff that you take in big rigs. Boon docking is so much easier for us. Solar generator is the best.
I aspire to The Van Life. Videos like yours are inspiring. I am planning a “trial week” in a Vandoit, from KC to Fresno, CO. Wish me luck!!! Maybe I’ll join you in this amazing life style!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Another great episode Robin. I agree with all of your challenges as I face them traveling via my RV and my sailboat. Personally, I think the biggest remote living challenge for most Americans (and Canadians) is navigating the health insurance labrynth. each state is different, each policy is different. Although having a competent insurance broker is helpful, the due diligence each individual needs to research can be overwhelming. Alas, remote living is still the most rewarding lifestyle.
You have saved me so much money and hassle with your honest videos. Thank you so much for your transparency. It's an expensive decision. I need to sell my house and am looking at using a van to transition between living spaces. I think the Wayfarer Van might be the best option. Thanks again so very much Robin!
Robin, I’ve followed your channel since you started! I always look forward to your videos as they are: Educational, Intelligent, Interesting & your Fun personality is Entertaining! -Thank you for being such an Honest & Caring human being! We could use MORE like you walking this Earth with us! 🥰
I totally agree Robin 100%. At the beginning of my full time RV living I would’ve said breaking camp and setup was my most dreaded task but now 4 years it is definitely the weather. 😩 Thanks for hitting the bail on the head!😊
Thank you for being real about RVing. I’ve been doing it part time for 18years in three different rigs. Just sold the last rig and hanging up RVing some of it was just getting too difficult. I’m sure I will miss camping, but it’s time.
I want the RV life. Right now I'm stuck taking care of a loved one. I have been on the road as a semi driver. It wasn't RV life but that was as close as I came to it. I'm really looking forward to a time I can be free to roam. Love your channel. You rock lady!
Hi Robin! I'm a bird watcher from the get-go! Your videos encouraged my husband and I to go full-timing back in 2021. We spent two years on the road (working remotely) and ultimately we missed having a "home base" and we had a big fifth wheel which was really too big! We have been stationary (no camping at all) for almost 2 years and we are getting the itch again! I think this time we will keep our home base and do more weekend warrior and some 1-2 week trips. Looking at a small TT or class B+ to go to the places that we were too big to go to before. There is no right or wrong way to lessen the "suck" but good planning skills and "lowering expectations" helped us! Your channel has been so helpful for us and we wish you the best! Hope to be back on the road spring of 25!
Your right it's not always easy! Been doing this 5 years now, totaled one TT, in a 5th wheel in AZ and the heat beats the caulking, so constant maintenance. Would I trade it? Never! Love my life, can't wait to hit the road again, may not have huge adventures but my trips to MI always take different routes. Sen so many new places. Been following you pretty much since you started. Love all the knowledge you share. Thank you!
You have been on my mind a lot lately. Hoping all is well with you. I miss your shining happy face. Looking forward to seeing you on UA-cam soon. Happy Travels!!! 😊
I can testify also to everything you are saying! It does suck and it is constant but it's the most enjoyable freedom we will ever have. I love to drive that's the best part. 100% truth Robin! I love my Coachmen Beyond 22c. Best van ever.
We lived full-time in a class A motorhome, with NO towable car, for 5 years. Had to deal with being sick with COVID-19 while living in the RV, which is way rougher than doing so while living in a house. After 5 years, we found the town we wanted to settle down in, so we sold the RV and have never regretted it. I think one of the biggest downsides to living full-time in a class A motorhome, with its enormous, built-in propane tank, is having to pull up stakes, store EVERYTHING away, and shut down everything just to drive the rig to a place that will refill yr propane tank. And when you have COVID and the propane place says by law they cannot refill the tank until everyone exits the RV.... well, that's a real SPECIAL experience!
We have a 15’ tiny trailer and most of those apply to us too. And yet, I still love camping in it and can’t wait to start out again. I don’t do it full time, so can get away from some of it, but it is definitely a lot of work. And, very worth it. Love your videos Robin.
Weather. It’s the 1st thing you look at in the am. And the last before bed. And even in between , if you go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.Robin I’m still here after all these years. . & still full timing it too. ❤❤❤😊😊😊 Michelle from Florida. Happy trails.
Figuring out how to feed myself from the grocery and cook in the van while not wasting food was the best thing to master on the road for me and it used to be daunting, but time cures all things especially ignorance. lol.
Gurl, you need a GPS Garmin RV model. You put in your rig specs, height, length, towing or not. You select a route by choosing to use freeways, or ask for country roads, state highways are often scenic. It gives you heads up on tolls, narrow roads or elevation. It tells you where the fuel stops, restaurants, etc. You can look for camping sites. Check it out. I love mine.
@@Some_kind_of_wonderfü nope. It uses a satellite. And ya don’t have to pay for that. Maybe it works on cell towers too. But when it is powering up it says it is accessing a something and to give it a minute. You have to pay for map updates which I have not done in 5 years. It is getting to the point I may do that. I am not a full timer. But, I will not travel without it. My truck pulls a trailer and it uses huge amounts of gas. I have to plan gas stops. I go to remote places where you actually may run out. Google is NOT accurate. Garmw
Love this video and your channel. I have an aliner, very little, only 10ft. My husband and I travel with it about 8 times a year and it is work, although it is so tiny. But we love it!
Great content. My 2 cts...choose your rig wisely. If your always changing it then your always starting over with repairs etv.. Turnovers are expensive. I've kept mine a long time and it's been pretty reliable. Alpenlight truck camper. 😊
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🤠Be A Nomad Change Your Life:
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Just so you know, when I clicked on the Wayfarer link it say's "Oops, page cannot be found" but you do get to their website.
@@sunandskyandmoonditto
I like your hair in this video
Like you, I’ve been looking at RV life, camper life, Skoolie life and van lifers. My conclusion hands down is VAN LIFE.
Like you, I’m overwhelmed by the build aspect.
Yet unfortunately, unlike you, I’m extremely disabled.
Therefore, I need an extra special or CUSTOMIZED build.
I only need a single bed because my MUST HAVE is a cozy (swivel) household recliner (rocker) chair for me to sleep in. I also MUST have special height to my dinette table and seating and a shower with a seat is also a MUST HAVE for me. I also am terrified of bear and break ins, so I would prefer to have an actual black painted door entry added to seperate the front driver area from the back living quarters.
This extremely complicates my van build for me.
Like you, I also just CANNOT afford any crazy “luxury” priced build.
I don’t know who would be able or willing to help this old girl out.
Would you be able to make any recommendations based on my necessary can build? If so, I would absolutely appreciate it.
My husband recently passed away in May. So I’m wanting to make this life altering change.
Love your videos. I've been looking into van life for a few years now. I like the idea. I'm not sure if I will like reality of it. I do like the Wayfare builds. Less money going out is a plus. Look forward to seeing more.
I’ve had a Class A, B, Teardrop and now, a Chevy van. I’ll take the van. It’s not for everyone, but I like it better than all the others.
💯 The strength and durability alone is reason enough for me to eventually upgrade from the camper I’m about to live in, to a converted short bus. Even nice campers and RVs are toothpicks and aluminum/fiberglass. The best rig is the one you built (and therefore can absolutely fix) yourself.
Yes on the van. It's tough if you glamper camp, but its much more durable, easier to maintain/cheaper to fix, can fit in a normal parking spot, and can go stealth in a city. Yeah, it would be nice to have a toilet and black tank, but it's nice to poop in a bucket and toss it into the trash with the rest of the diapers and drive away.
It’s over 4.5 years later, and I still love every minute. (She said from a tiny house 2-day rental. I’ve been in my van all summer. Needed a minute. ) Having 2 trailers and a red neck van helps.
Good points ! You are right ! Its not that easy 😂❤ Great video
@@janasher4940that's nasty
Thanks for the great video! I'm a healthy 72 yr old and I plan to do some RV traveling soon. I'm going to do this because it's been on my bucket list for years. I appreciate your input and don't consider it at all negative, just realistic. I always like to be well informed before taking off on a new adventure.
Happy Travels! I'm 67 and my man just turned 70...we move into the RV in 4 days 😊
This needs to be the first video anyone watches when they want to start RV life! Unfortunately I tried it it broke my bank account and I live in the East so there's not much boondocking so I quit moved into a campground and now I'm very happy.
At times, life sucks, no matter the living situation.
At least you have more options with a mobile lifestyle
TRUE DAT 😅 NON STOP PRAYING IS A MUST 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Good grief! Time flies when you're having fun. I can't believe it's been 7 years watching you. Thank you for taking me on your journey.
Or you can rent and get stuck next to abusing neighbours from hell with no way out other than devote a year of security camera editing , incident document keeping , threats , polution , worried for your life, calling police, getting bounced between landlord, police and rental tribuneral.Finally having to take out a protection order forcing them to move after a year of hell. having boulders thrown thru your bedroom windows on your roof and thru carwindsreen while its in the carport etc etc etc. At least in an rv you can get the hell outa dodge.
Cousin Eddy can show up at any time.
Or loud blasting parties in rural areas!!!
HOA'S
@@deanhockenberry9268 No one says you have to let cousin Eddy in.
@@celestepalm6949 No but I can’t see him asking for permission. Then there that curbside black tank drain stuck in my head!😂💩
This is the other side no one like to discuss...and you took it head on; setting realistic expectations. Super informative, thank you!
Thank you for sharing all of the upsides...AND downsides of RV life. I just have to say that, even though you share the downsides, you do it very well and you make it look good!
Your hair and look is FABULOUS!! I love it!! ❤
I love the honesty of this post. Thank you for it.
Spot on Robin! And as we age…some of those chores etc. get impossible to do. We have switched out of nice rigs we loved as we needed to get things a bit easier to do. Our families think we are nuts doing all the work to travel but we still love it! Love your work. Keep it up!
This is why I’ve only followed videos that showed the good and bad. It’s good to have this talked about.
Hi Ms. Robin...been on the road almost three years...Currently in Flagstaff for the summer...not currently working by choice so on fixed income sucks alittle waiting to get paid but worth it. I love this life and the repair challenges that come with it. Always something to do....
Great video!!! I didn't know how much there was to do before we bought our C. Ended up with a new car because it was to hard getting into some small towns because of parking. We wanted to flat tow. We moved every 3 or 4 days and now we're changing our way of traveling because of the setup and breakdown and getting older. 5-10 days. I love traveling so not stopping, just adjusting.
Robin,
We started our RV life in early 2020. Talk about challenges! Learned a lot and you were right there. Thank you so much! You’ve been an inspiration and a beacon of sensibility. This edition is an example of the best.
We settled down near a hospital and left RV life a couple of years ago. But we still watch you and smile!
Keep going GIRL!
After seeing hundreds (maybe thousands) of RV and Van Life videos, I'm now convinced the best solution is to use a minivan as an "RV." I follow "Modern Day Pilgrim" on YT, and she has her Dodge Grand Caravan setup with a clean, minimalistic, no-build solution, and she has everything she needs to go on the road for a weekend, a week, or even a month or more. Her interior is kept spotless and clutter-free. If I ever hit the road, I'd want to emulate that setup. It's cost-efficient, it's easy, it's doable, no hassles with parking, etc. I think it's the most accessible and practical way of trying out this type of lifestyle and her solutions are, IMO, great.
I agree but the Toyota Sienna with hybrid gas mileage and climate control that can be left on overnight is a better option than the Grand Caravan.
@@sharonthehuman5954 Oh yes, if I were to purchase a minivan, I would go for a hybrid. I own a 2010 Prius, which is perfect for my needs. I don't actually go camping (yet).
Definitely going to check out that channel after this video. I'm leaning towards a ram promaster, because I will need quite a bit of storage room, but having a hybrid mini van sounds like a great option. For efficiency and stealth. I have a 2008 prius and an apartment now
I would check out the wayfare first.
You are the most realistic and helpful of them all!
Agree
Before i got old n decrepid i spent a few years travelling n working round australia... the thing i missed the most was ..a garden. After a couple of years the need for my own bit of dirt was so real i actually considered getting a potted plant lol
I need someone like you! I love my garden yard but have a hands-off hubby. Plenty of parking and I really just need a pal and someone who loves it too. Just not sure how to connect with such a vanlifer!
I had a cactus garden in the dashboard in my Ford van. Made the planter out of gutter material so it would fit into the dashboard hole. Cactus survived the heat of the windshield.
@@janasher4940 haha i see that im not the only one with that plantless feeling after a while...
Happy Travels! I'm 67 and my man just turned 70...we move into the RV in 4 days 😊 ready for the adventures 💜
Good morning Robin, the points you covered in this video are all the areas of rv life I considered. I think that for me, keeping it simpler rolling with a mini-van may be it. Thank you for your candid review and your honesty regarding rv life. Be safe! 🎉
The interesting point is that you CHOSE this life! Life is hard no matter where you are or where you live...embrace it! No matter where you go...there you are!
I saw your original Wayfarer van video & it was truly a revelation. We know we want “small” & that looks like a great option!
Very good video, I agree with all of these to some extent. We have spent many years RVing, we classify ourselves as "MostTimers" because we have lived in our RV as much as nine months out of a year.
The big one you missed was "People". We have had some horrible neighbors while in RV parks and campgrounds. Some were the rudest, nastiest jerks you would hope to never meet. Luckily most of the time we only had to endure for a day or two (or a few hours in extreme cases) because we had options to move away or they moved on, but those times were painful and certainly unenjoyable. Besides the neighbors you had those around you with no boundries or etiguette, invading our space any time of day or night.
On you list, weather stands out for us. Weather in a home is one thing but high winds, massive rain/thunderstorms, scorching heat and, freezing temps are a completly different thing when you are in a thin metal box.
Everything you said is so true, I went through it all and after two years I got out of it and sold my rig. RV-ing full time, part time or for a weekend is a ton or work and I will not go back to it. I went back to staying in motels and driving my car or truck, couldn’t be happier. Just glad I did it when I was young and not after I retired.
Love your refreshing honesty & unapologetic choice to nomad. Good for you!
Same thing with me wanting to RV to a bunch of remote, tropical beaches in central Mexico. Those Instagram and YT influencers camping on the beautiful beaches with the jungle behind them...all that wildlife. Well, let me tell you, we have been doing this (I'm 65, my son is 45) and last winter we did stay 3 months near a beautiful bay (near Huatulco, Oaxaca) at a small offgrid (solar power) RV park next to the jungle.
Yeah. First even in Dec-Feb the temps were a sweaty 90-95 degrees every day. We could only run fans, no AC so sweat was all day and all night...except when we were in the water or shower. Then, yes, amazing birdwatching and abundant wildlife....including iguanas, 6' long whipsnakes (not poisonous tho) and LOTS OF INSECTS.
We ended up with 6 kinds of ants in the RV. I guess we were lucky because some other RVers in the park had an ARMY ANT infestation on the outside of their tent!
We got an occasional gecko or blue-tailed skink that would get in through a crack and skitter over one of us when we were sleeping (!) and then a rat found its way into the RV and it took us a week to trap it. It would get active at night and a couple of times ran over me when I was in bed. My son woke up one morning to see it on the opposite pillow just staring at him.
Oh yeah, the mosquitos! And dengue is a thing in these tropical places.
Then there was the huntsman spider that was in the RV one day....the damn thing was bigger than the palm of my hand and FAST... Yes, I screamed like a little girl, grabbed a metal spatula, handed it to my son and said, "If you don't get it no way can I sleep in here tonight."
Why don't we ever see anything about this on those influencer channels?
We're still in Oaxaca but up in the mountains for the summer and next winter if we go down to the coast it will be 1) to a park where we can have AC 2) a larger town not right at the edge of the jungle!
Great post/response. Omg. Thank you!
You could have easily researched that.:don't blamed them for not doing so
You could have easily researched that.:don't blamed them for not doing so
The chores and Setting Up &
Breakdowns are the way i stay strong & healthy. Its a work out. I keep the manual front tongue jack for my Travel Trailer. For that same reason. Its a more hands-on lifestyle. It keeps it real. Best is the 6 am cup of coffee outside the front door in my chair. I love having the door open most all of the Time ❤
Hey Robin! So true about the unexpected repairs! I was @ Horsetooth Rez at the end of June this year and I heard something outside on our last night there and when I opened the door, the wind blew the door right out of my hands and smashed my window behind it! Ugh! Fast forward to today...I finally got it in and replaced this weekend. Our whole summer slipped past us. : ( I still love my trailer, but sh** happens. Just have to go with the flow. The mountains are calling.....I must go! : )
Yup. This is definitely how it is. Always repairs, up keep, breakdowns, parts of the life. Wouldn't live any orher way. Thank you for the real videos.
Thanks for another honest video. You are the primary reason I decided to begin my RV journey and gave me a majority of tools, #1 your books and all the other resources you’ve provided in my nearly 4 years on the road. I started solo and have met a wonderful travel companion. He is excellent at troubleshooting and diagnosing problems and will make several attempts to repair any issue until he is unsuccessful then will find the right person to fix the problem. We have been very fortunate that our 5th wheel issues have been minimal. Thanks again Robin!❤
Robin , all so true. Additionally, post - Covid has resulted in more RVers, higher costs for fewer locations, increased reservation requirements, and social media saturation has made this lifestyle even more difficult. I would add that it’s important to remember maintenance and upkeep are continuous and cannot be put off. Unlike a house, you can’t wait until it’s time to sell to fix things!
We love our Class B Travato. Less is more. Makes everything so much easier.
Thank you Robin. You are one of my vanlife/rv life inspirations. I bought my van in December of 2020 and hit the road in May of 2021 so I've been full time for three years now and loving it. Although you're right everything takes planning, consideration and can be somewhat daunting at times. All in all the freedom this lifestyle affords is worth the extra effort.
Happy adventures!
You look so good with your hair done this way. Love your content
I have lived in an RV before (30 ft. fifth wheel) and enjoyed it. You are spot on with all the maintenance. Things fall apart easily on the road and another constant worry is the tires. I dreaded each time I had to dump the tanks. There's actually quite a bit of physical work that goes along with it and it's harder to do the older you get. I've thought about van life, but I get restless and claustrophobic in something so small. I rented for a few weeks and it's especially hard when the weather is not perfect.
Full-time for almost five years now. I would say getting your mail or packages to you is a bigger deal than most people realize. Amazon doesn't come to your door when you're on the road. And you nailed it with the research and planning involved when you have a larger rig.
I don't have these 2 issues. When I sold my primary residence 3 yrs ago, I never set up a forwarding address to my secondary residence. Zero junk mail. My 3 bills (phone, credit card, and insurance) are all billed and paid on line. Just renewed drivers license for next 5 yrs. Know dates for truck and travel trailer tag renewel and either plan to be at home base or have a friend take care of it. Nothing on Amazon that I can't buy at Walmart .
Always an honest video blog with experienced exposure to the RV community. Nicely done.
Thank you for full information!! You are such a fabulous "mentor" or "professor"!! Thank you for sharing all the aspects we need to consider!!
I love our FT life will not change it for anything. Love your content for over 3 years❤
I love your videos Robin. And I love my Grand Caravan Mini Van that I live in full-time! It is a "no build build". I have sterilite drawers, 2 three gal water jugs. All of my bathroom equipment a cooler for food, I put 3 egg crate mattresses in a sleeping bag. I love it!!
We have watched you for years and appreciate your honesty and no nonsense approach to nomad life. We too dream of going out on the road, albeit not completely without a stick and brick homesite to return to 😉. Watching you has given us the confidence that it’s possible. Thank you 😊 Robin
I love watching your videos. You are so honest and absolutely tell it like it is. Wr are a retired couple thst have been fulltime traveling for the past 5 1/2 years. We travel every week or 2. Trying to see this grand abd beautiful United States. It it is not easy or fun or perfect all the time. But we have never regretted this lifestyle. Keep up the great videos.
Thanks for the honesty, Robin - you're my fave RV youtuber!
Honest assessment Robin. Yep there certainly ups and downs in this lifestyle but there are also options. In that I mean one doesn't have to do it fulltime and still have a home base to always come home to. Take care and good luck!
3 and a half years now and you got it right. I love it about 85% of the time.
For any living situation, as long as the pros mostly outweigh the cons, then it works for you.
And you’re the reason I only watch these types of videos! I lived in my 31’. RV from 2001-2003 & LOVED it, but yes, there were days that it was one issue after another, but I knew that would happen. I’m a crisis mgmt expert, so that didn’t bother me! It were the days that the weather was bad & I was stuck inside that were my challenges! I’m ready to hit it again in 2025! I expect quite a few changes!! I plan on getting a 22-24’ C Class!
We've learned so much on how to fix issues in the RV thanks to UA-cam videos. Not sure we could ever full time without it. LOL
But my most hated part is the stress of finding a good place to camp sometimes...which of course is made worse by our constant lack of planning ..but it does make things more exciting.
Great video.
These are true statements Robin. My rig took a catastrophic series of surges that caused a fire last week. It was a total loss. Rig and everything in it.
Everyone, PLEASE make sure you protect yourself as much as possible from bad campground power and owners who don't care to fix them.
That happened to me as well in Texas. The hookup power box caught fire but lucky for me the rig next to me camping was a fire marshal and he handled the situation keeping us all safe ..
Is there a way to test these power boxes before I hook to them?
@@desiandy21able. A voltage
meter and or a voltage sensor. Our van has a power surge protector system that shuts down if the voltage goes too high from the campground electric power supply.
And then there are some of us who would never consider hooking up to a power pedestal even if parked next to one. I travel very very small and have multiple ways to work around weather conditions. Very happy with my tiny footprint and very minimal power requirements. 😊
Sorry u have to go through that
I LOVE MY WAYFARER BUILD ON A FORD TRANSIT 250 AWD PLATFORM! They will work with you post build with any follow-up questions or needs. Love that team! ❤
Great video ! I feel that the best vehicle for this lifestyle is a van unless money is not an object. AAA can tow a van , get your AAA premiere roadside, U-Haul can rent you a rig and trailer and you can bring that van to any mechanic between Canada and Mexico
Hey Robin! You were the first channel I ever watched in regards to doing full time.
I still watch you and really appreciate your straight talk!
As do I love watching John & Mercedes with RV ODD COUPLE, in fact I was watching their latest video, and then this one popped up!
You both spoke about being REAL…stuff breaks etc!
Keep up the great videos!
Blessings!
Good info for sure, thank you! Your hairdo last week was absolutely amazing. It was flattering, cute as could be with all the adorable curls.
Can't believe I have been watching you for seven years. I have to say time flies and it's been fun!
Thank you for your time to post!
Susan
Thank you for always being Honest about the reality of being a Nomad! I recall many of the things you have had to go through as you were talking. Remember when you first got your beautiful 5th Wheel, and a truck side swiped you as you were parked? The storm you had to dodge and get into the bathroom? How about the time Bigfoot knocked on your RV in the middle of the night? Oh wrong person wrong story?? Kidding just for fun... Your Great with all the FANTASTIC INFO you have given to all the Nomad Community! Your No. 1 in my book for roughing it, telling it like it is, and looking Absolutely Beautiful on every Video. I'm glad your enjoying your life!! I am living through your life since I can't travel or be a Nomad at this time. Maybe down the road!!!
I really enjoy my RV van, if my husband gets tired of driving I can drive the van. It’s great for us.
Don’t need all the fluff that you take in big rigs. Boon docking is so much easier for us. Solar generator is the best.
This is why I live in a van. There’s no way I could do full time in an Rv. Too much could go wrong. That’s not the life I want.
I aspire to The Van Life. Videos like yours are inspiring. I am planning a “trial week” in a Vandoit, from KC to Fresno, CO. Wish me luck!!! Maybe I’ll join you in this amazing life style!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Another great episode Robin. I agree with all of your challenges as I face them traveling via my RV and my sailboat. Personally, I think the biggest remote living challenge for most Americans (and Canadians) is navigating the health insurance labrynth. each state is different, each policy is different. Although having a competent insurance broker is helpful, the due diligence each individual needs to research can be overwhelming.
Alas, remote living is still the most rewarding lifestyle.
You have saved me so much money and hassle with your honest videos. Thank you so much for your transparency. It's an expensive decision. I need to sell my house and am looking at using a van to transition between living spaces. I think the Wayfarer Van might be the best option. Thanks again so very much Robin!
I LOVE my van.
Robin, I’ve followed your channel since you started! I always look forward to your videos as they are: Educational, Intelligent, Interesting & your Fun personality is Entertaining!
-Thank you for being such an Honest & Caring human being!
We could use MORE like you walking this Earth with us! 🥰
I totally agree Robin 100%. At the beginning of my full time RV living I would’ve said breaking camp and setup was my most dreaded task but now 4 years it is definitely the weather. 😩 Thanks for hitting the bail on the head!😊
Robin, I watched the video you did on Wayfarer Vans. I have been considering using them to build my van. Thanks for sharing.
I been watching you for the past 5 years. Your amazing!!
Hope all is well. Miss your posts.
Excellent video and you are spot on! Thanks for everything you do for the rv community 🇺🇸❤️
This is why when I see all these videos, I'd still take my '61 WV Westfalia over anything else. Man, I miss that thing! 😊❤
I guess it all depends on the lifestyle each of us wants. Yes there are a lot of concerns but also a lot of positives.
Thank you for being real about RVing. I’ve been doing it part time for 18years in three different rigs. Just sold the last rig and hanging up RVing some of it was just getting too difficult. I’m sure I will miss camping, but it’s time.
I want the RV life. Right now I'm stuck taking care of a loved one. I have been on the road as a semi driver. It wasn't RV life but that was as close as I came to it. I'm really looking forward to a time I can be free to roam. Love your channel. You rock lady!
Thats why I like Curt & Snow they show it all. Good and bad. I love watching you also.
Thanks Robin, great info. I am just getting ready to embark on this lifestyle. I really appreciate your candor and knowledge.
Hey Robin, thanks so much for your honesty. Very insightful. BTW, your hair looks amazing!
Another great video, Robin, with a great reality check message, and I LOVE your haircut style on you!!
A great adventure, for a while. Honest assessment. Should include health care access, as many RV folks are older.
Hi Robin! I'm a bird watcher from the get-go! Your videos encouraged my husband and I to go full-timing back in 2021. We spent two years on the road (working remotely) and ultimately we missed having a "home base" and we had a big fifth wheel which was really too big! We have been stationary (no camping at all) for almost 2 years and we are getting the itch again! I think this time we will keep our home base and do more weekend warrior and some 1-2 week trips. Looking at a small TT or class B+ to go to the places that we were too big to go to before. There is no right or wrong way to lessen the "suck" but good planning skills and "lowering expectations" helped us! Your channel has been so helpful for us and we wish you the best! Hope to be back on the road spring of 25!
Your right it's not always easy! Been doing this 5 years now, totaled one TT, in a 5th wheel in AZ and the heat beats the caulking, so constant maintenance. Would I trade it? Never! Love my life, can't wait to hit the road again, may not have huge adventures but my trips to MI always take different routes. Sen so many new places. Been following you pretty much since you started. Love all the knowledge you share. Thank you!
Thanks, Robin, this was very informative ❤
You have been on my mind a lot lately. Hoping all is well with you. I miss your shining happy face. Looking forward to seeing you on UA-cam soon. Happy Travels!!! 😊
Thank you Robin as always full of honest information
I can testify also to everything you are saying! It does suck and it is constant but it's the most enjoyable freedom we will ever have. I love to drive that's the best part. 100% truth Robin! I love my Coachmen Beyond 22c. Best van ever.
We lived full-time in a class A motorhome, with NO towable car, for 5 years. Had to deal with being sick with COVID-19 while living in the RV, which is way rougher than doing so while living in a house.
After 5 years, we found the town we wanted to settle down in, so we sold the RV and have never regretted it.
I think one of the biggest downsides to living full-time in a class A motorhome, with its enormous, built-in propane tank, is having to pull up stakes, store EVERYTHING away, and shut down everything just to drive the rig to a place that will refill yr propane tank. And when you have COVID and the propane place says by law they cannot refill the tank until everyone exits the RV.... well, that's a real SPECIAL experience!
I just love your videos! I learn so much from you. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. ❤️
We have a 15’ tiny trailer and most of those apply to us too. And yet, I still love camping in it and can’t wait to start out again. I don’t do it full time, so can get away from some of it, but it is definitely a lot of work. And, very worth it. Love your videos Robin.
Weather. It’s the 1st thing you look at in the am. And the last before bed. And even in between , if you go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.Robin I’m still here after all these years. . & still full timing it too. ❤❤❤😊😊😊 Michelle from Florida. Happy trails.
Figuring out how to feed myself from the grocery and cook in the van while not wasting food was the best thing to master on the road for me and it used to be daunting, but time cures all things especially ignorance. lol.
Robin, dear, are you okay? You tell us rv life sucks, then you disappear. I'm hoping all is well and you're just taking a break. ❤
Robin great information. You look terrific so whatever you're doing keep doing it!
Gurl, you need a GPS Garmin RV model. You put in your rig specs, height, length, towing or not. You select a route by choosing to use freeways, or ask for country roads, state highways are often scenic. It gives you heads up on tolls, narrow roads or elevation. It tells you where the fuel stops, restaurants, etc. You can look for camping sites. Check it out. I love mine.
Does it require internet?
@@Some_kind_of_wonderfü nope. It uses a satellite. And ya don’t have to pay for that. Maybe it works on cell towers too. But when it is powering up it says it is accessing a something and to give it a minute. You have to pay for map updates which I have not done in 5 years. It is getting to the point I may do that. I am not a full timer. But, I will not travel without it. My truck pulls a trailer and it uses huge amounts of gas. I have to plan gas stops. I go to remote places where you actually may run out. Google is NOT accurate. Garmw
@@katypatton1886 Thank you!!!
Where have you been? Haven’t seen a video in a few weeks & I am subscribed . . . Hope all is well!!!
I've been following you since you started and I'm totally convinced that Wayfarer is for you, especially because of your little airstream demise😢
We watched your video and picked up our wayfarer van two weeks ago. That you for the vidio
Love this video and your channel. I have an aliner, very little, only 10ft. My husband and I travel with it about 8 times a year and it is work, although it is so tiny. But we love it!
Thank you for your honesty.
As always you shared excellent information. You look great! Love your hair!
Great content. My 2 cts...choose your rig wisely. If your always changing it then your always starting over with repairs etv.. Turnovers are expensive. I've kept mine a long time and it's been pretty reliable. Alpenlight truck camper. 😊
Greetings & Gratitude for the info.
Life is hard, I love this life
Thank for keeping it real
I am only part time RVer and all you say is true, but it is totally worth it.