RV adventures: navigating challenges on the road

Starting an RV adventure opens a door to countless experiences, where the beauty of nature meets the comforts of home. The excitement of traveling with all your essentials nearby is hard to beat. Yet, RV life comes with its own set of challenges, from flat tires to questionable road conditions, to parking. These bumps in the road can turn a fun trip into a test of patience. Here are a few hiccups I've experienced and how I’ve learned to navigate them and keep enjoying this beautiful life.

Dealing with Flat Tires

In general, flat tires are no big deal if you know how to fix them, and lucky for me, I do; but they can still be stressful. Upon hitting the road (literally on day 2), I ran into my first issue, a flat tire. Luckily, I was staying at a Harvest Host location (shoutout to Happy Life Ranch) and they helped me out. I had a lot of time in the day, so I went to get it patched, put it back on, and went back for my camper. In just a few hours, I'd handled my first issue and was back in business! Or so I thought, 30 minutes later (with my camper in tow) my tire pressure sensors started going crazy and I pulled over at a Circle K gas station where I realized the patch didn't hold so I spent 3 more hours crying a lot, calling Duane, and cursing myself for forgetting 1 very important tool, my impact (the lugnut were tight).

I felt a wave of relief when a guy approached me and asked if I needed help. He and his friends had to jump on the tire iron to get the lug nuts off, but were impressed that I had all the tools necessary and the ratchet straps to hold the blown tire down in the bed of my truck (thank you, Duane). Not all heroes wear capes, and these guys were my heroes that day. With their help, I made it to my next campsite just before sunset.

If you find yourself with a flat, remember to stay calm. Every frustrating problem has a solution and you can ALWAYS figure it out (even If it sucks).

Navigating Uneven Parking Spaces

After a long day on the road, the last thing you want is to park on a slope. Uneven parking can lead to everything from dishes rolling off counters to a night of tossing and turning. So, how can you handle this issue?

Before parking, review these steps (I use a checklist every time I have a new spot):

1. Get out and look: If no concrete pad or designated space, assess the terrain for the most level spot before parking. Look at the hookup location, how much space you'll need for slide-outs, and where your vehicle will park once unhitched.

   
   

2. Check level side to side: Use a leveling app or tool to confirm everything is even. Add leveling blocks to make adjustments.

   
   

Unfortunately, after inspecting my site at a campground, I thought it would be even but it was off by 6 inches side to side. It was also going up a hill and I was too scared to drive one side of my camper up 6 inches of leveling blocks so I frantically called other parks near me until one was kind enough to fit me in last minute. Even the best-laid plans can lead to disaster. This site had a beautiful view, but the stress was not worth staying.

Managing the Unexpected

No journey goes exactly as planned, especially in an RV. One thing that made travel more manageable was staying in each spot for about a month. Moving constantly and working full-time is a lot of work, without proper time to move and get comfortable in a new spot, it can be really tough to make it feel like home.

After a tons of stress and even more tears, I now have great stories to share with people about my adventures.

Links to products I use:

RV Leveling app: https://amzn.to/42xpXgU

Leveling blocks: https://amzn.to/3S7YgVT