Here are Six Things That We’ve Learned About RV Insurance

One of the biggest things to consider when looking at RVs is whether you can afford the insurance. Here are a few of the most important factors we’ve learned about RV insurance on our journey.

1. Remember Your Driving History

Your habits as the driver of a car will spill over into the way you manage the road in a larger vehicle. Your insurance company is going to look over your driving records to get an idea of how much they need to charge to feel comfortable insuring you. If your record is filled with speeding tickets or other minor traffic violations, it could hurt your chances of getting a low premium. Consider visiting traffic school to remove some of those violations from your record before you buy your RV.

2. Look at Your Level of Experience

Have you ever driven a large vehicle before? If the answer is no, then you’re probably already aware that you have some learning ahead of you. Adjusting to the size of a massive vehicle takes time, and it makes sense that an insurance company would be more hesitant to trust a newbie behind the wheel. It might be a good idea to rent an RV a few times to gain some experience behind the wheel before you make a purchase.

3. Consider the RV You’ll Be Buying

The age and style of your RV will make a difference in what you pay in insurance. The general rule is if you drive the vehicle, you need insurance, and if you tow it, you don’t. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t have a policy. An RV is a huge investment, and it’s wise to protect yourself.

4. Ponder Your Intentions

What are your intentions for your RV life? Are you looking to take off on weekend adventures, or do you want to make this vehicle your new full-time home on the road? If it’s the latter, you can expect to pay a higher premium. The more time you spend in your RV, the more likely you are to have an accident.

5. Plan Where You’ll Go

You might not be planning on living in your RV full-time, but if you’re creating an itinerary for a long-term trip, that will also affect your insurance costs.

6. Don’t Forget to Shop Around

When buying RV insurance, most people visit the same provider they use for car insurance. It’s a great place to start, but if you aren’t happy with your RV insurance rates, consider looking elsewhere. This is a big decision, and it’s wise to shop around a bit to see what’s available.

At the end of the day, it’s important not to stress out about RV insurance. It’s one of those necessary hassles that no one likes to deal with, but once you’ve got yourself covered, you can head out and enjoy the open road. What could be better than that?

Easy Blue Apron Recipes & Sun Basket Meal Plans w/ Prices & Reviews

Summer is approaching and with that comes vacations and extended travel time! Do you love to travel but hate the price tag that comes with always eating out? Many people who follow this blog choose to travel by RV. Where are your adventures taking you this summer? I’d love to hear! Whether it’s across the country or up and down the coastline, your summer travels are sure to be an adventure.

When we aren’t on the road, I like to order the Blue Apron service that delivers meals to our home. After browsing this site and reading the glowing Sun Basket reviews, I gave them a try too! While we are traveling, it’s not practical to order these boxes, but I save my recipes throughout the year and bring them along so I can still cook my favorites during the summer months that we are gone. It’s always great to make stops at roadside farm stands and farmer’s markets to see what fresh ingredients I can find to whip up these tasty recipes. To inspire your summer of cooking, be sure to check out some of my summertime recipes from Blue Apron below!

Pan-Seared Chicken with Roasted Honeynut Squash and Apple

There’s nothing more comforting after a day of exploring a new town than a home-cooked meal. The warm, homey flavors of the honeynut squash and apple in this dish will make you feel right at home. Imagine sitting around the campfire on a chilly summer night in Denali National Park eating this warm and hearty meal – yum!

Ingredients:

Two chicken breasts, bone-in, and skin-on
1 apple (gala or honey crisp is particularly delicious)
1 honeynut squash
1 potato
2 TBSP butter
2 TBSP white wine vinegar (if you don’t have this on-hand, apple cider vinegar works)
2 TBSP roasted almonds
1 bundle of sage

This dish comes together so quickly! If you don’t have access to an oven in your RV for roasting the vegetables, you can quickly boil or saute them on top of the stove. The beauty of this dish is how it’s easily adaptable to whatever you need.

Summer Udon Noodle Salad

If you’re short on time and looking for a refreshing dish, this salad can be an excellent choice. It boasts Japanese-inspired flavors with a bright citrusy finish. You’ll feel energized and ready to take on your next adventure.

Ingredients:

1 lb fresh Udon noodles (can be found in most large grocery stores across the United States & Canada)
6 oz. cherry tomatoes
2 scallions (or onions if you don’t have access to scallions)
2 oz. kale
1 cucumber
1 ear of corn (or ½ can of corn)
1 sweet pepper
1 small piece ginger
1 TBSP sesame oil
¼ cup ponzu sauce
1 tsp furikake
2 TBSP mirin

The beauty of this recipe is it requires very little cooking. A quick saute of the vegetables and noodles, and you’re ready to go.

 

Vegetable and Queso Tostadas

Light, summery flavors are the star of this dish. If you don’t have the vegetables the recipe calls for, you can easily substitute with whatever is local where you’re traveling. It’s always a good idea to taste the fruits and vegetables that are in season wherever you are.

Ingredients:

4 flour tortillas
2 small eggplants
2 cloves garlic
6 ounces queso
1 ear of corn
1 bell pepper
1 lime
1 shallot
1 bunch of cilantro
2 TBSP grated cotija cheese
¼ cup Mexican crema
¼ sliced jalapeno pepper

This entire meal comes together within 30 minutes on top of the stove. You can do it all in the same frying pan, keeping your dishwashing to a minimum.

Happy cooking and adventuring!

Tips for Keeping Your Motorhome Organized

Having a motorhome is one of the great joys in life, but unfortunately, there just never seems to be an efficient enough way to pack everything you’d like to bring along. Whether going for a weekend trip to the beach or a month-long jaunt across country, the only problem seems to be finding a way to stow everything away so that it’s out of sight and packed tightly enough so bumps and turns along the way won’t send breakables tumbling out. These tips should help you organize your motorhome in a way that will make it easy to get up and go as the mood strikes.

Use Cupboard Space Efficiently – Using Doors as Hangers

While some motorhomes have minimal cupboard space, others, like our Tiffin, have large enough areas where you can add a few attachments to keep things neatly in place. One of the very best tips to come along in a very long time involves using the inside of cupboard doors to hang things. I picked up this life-saving tip from a company voted NYC’s best mover. The professionals at this cheap moving company help clients pack and unpack their things into Manhattan’s tiny living spaces, which can be tricky, especially when it comes to organizing a pint-sized kitchen. I’ve adapted their kitchen organization tactics to suit our motorhome. Here are some of their ideas on using the insides of cupboard doors for extra space:

• Use an inside-the-door hanging basket for garbage
• Screw-in broom holders for flashlights
• Sticky hooks or peg boards inside doors to hang utensils
• Adhesive paper towel holders to hold plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil
• Attach fabric/mesh shoe holders to hold odds and ends, especially cleaning supplies
• Make toothbrush holders from PVC pipe and attach inside bathroom cupboard

And, those are just a few of the ways in which you can utilize the insides of cupboard doors. For more tips, with pictures, check out this great blog post I found from RVC Outdoors. Since space is at a premium, when you want to stay organized always use whatever space is available to you.

Creative Use of Exterior Storage Spaces

Every motorhome has some form of exterior storage, which generally reserved for tools and gadgets. However, unless you are going to do major repairs, there is usually more space than you need, so why not use that space for things that just don’t seem to fit inside? Some people use a plastic bin with a secure cover to keep dirty laundry in and others store extra paper plates and cooking utensils in other areas. As long as they are kept in a closed container, you should have no problem keeping dirt and road grime off of your items.

This blog also recommends adding more storage with a simple rear mount platform, which is a great place for bikes or a BBQ. You can also keep all of your cleaning supplies and out-of-season gear in the RV basement underneath the coach.

You’d Be Surprised Just How Much You Can Do with a Ceiling!

The one other place which seems never to be used enough is the ceiling. With multiple ways of hanging baskets and zippered plastic bags, you can keep everything tidied up and off the few counter areas you have. These are great for extra bedding, linens and assorted towels. Bags are easy to hang and can be taken down when you are parked or when entertaining guests.

The ceiling is also a great place for mounting cleaning supplies and other awkward items like brooms and mops. See #9 on this Buzzfeed list and this RV Share blog post for a visual.
The key to keeping your motorhome neat and organized is to make use of literally every nook and cranny. Be creative, bolt things down and you’d be amazed at just how much you can fit into one motorhome, no matter what the size.

 

What to Know Before Moving into an RV Full-time

While we don’t plan on being entirely full-time in our RV, we do plan on spending at least half of the year on the road. Now a couple of months into our travels, I’ve had time to process all the things we read or wish we had known before making this big lifestyle change. Here I’ve tried to compile them into a helpful list for others to reference if you are contemplating downsizing to an RV lifestyle.

The Cost

On the upside, full-time RVers get the perks of saving on a lot of common expenses that homeowners have to deal with. Here are some of the pros to living in an RV in terms of cost:

  • Cheaper Travel: RV travel is a much more affordable means of traveling and seeing the country. Even the cheapest hotel rooms will likely set you back at least $100/night, plus if you don’t have access to a kitchen, you’ll be forking over a lot of money every day for meals out. Additionally, if you have pets, like we do, finding pet-friendly hotels is almost impossible, while boarding rates can be exorbitant. Most RV parks offer full water and electric hook-ups plus a boatload of amenities for somewhere between $25-$70/night. If you do your research and homework ahead of time, you can stay closer to the lower end of the scale or even find free campsites, commonly referred to as boondocking. Uscampgrounds.info has a very thorough list of public campgrounds in North America.
  • No Mortgage Payment: There are many really affordable options for purchasing an RV. Fifth wheels and travel trailers are generally less expensive than most people’s homes. Even if you must finance a portion of your motorhome purchase, it will still likely be less than what you would pay for a mortgage.
  • Reduced Bills: Most RV park stays include free internet and cable, and sometimes include the price of water and electric in the price of the nightly fee (some charge extra). Either way, your bills on the road will likely be lower than previously.
  • No Property Tax or Homeowners Insurance: If you sell your property before hitting the open road, you could save huge on both property tax and homeowners insurance!

On the other hand, there are some additional expenses you must contend with in order to RV:

  • Gas: Unless you plan on staying parked for long intervals, you’ll likely spend as much or more on gas than you did when you lived in a traditional home and commuted to work.
  • Repairs & Maintenance: Traveling extensively in your RV means it must endure thousands of miles of wear and tear every year. At some point, you will probably encounter some pretty significant repairs and maintenance expenses. If your vehicle is under warranty most repairs should be covered, but if not, you could spend thousands on servicing your motorhome or trailer. Make sure you know what is covered in the warranty before making a purchase! Part of our reason to splurge on a Tiffin was because it comes backed with a 5-star, 10-year construction warranty.
  • Additional Expenses: While you might save on utilities bills, you may have to spend more than normal on a few other expenses. For instance, if you work remotely, you may need to consider a personal WiFi hotspot to ensure consistent and reliable internet connection. Also consider whether you’ll need mail forwarding, propane, the expense of laundry, and how much your vehicle insurance will increase.
  • Depreciable Asset: Keep in mind that just like with a car, the value of an RV decreases over time. So the brand new model you roll off the lot in might be worth half as much in about 10 years. This is important to take into consideration because a similar purchase in real property would almost always appreciate over time.

Since we didn’t sell our home, it’s hard to say how much more or less we would be spending by living full-time in an RV. However, this site has lots of helpful tips and considerations on RV budgeting, including how much the couple actually spent on a monthly basis.

Confined Living Space

This goes without saying, but living in an RV means you’ll likely have a lot less room than you do in a traditional home. The average American home is now well over 2000 square-feet, so shrinking your belongings about one tenth of that size can be challenging, especially when it includes accommodating pets. Tips for staying organized in small quarters?

  • Learn to Live with Less: Why keep hauling stuff around that you’ll never use? If you take a look around your current home, you probably have tons of items that you could live without. Those old tattered jeans, the dresses that fit a few decades ago, all that stuff shoved in the attic…If you haven’t used items in the past year, chances are you won’t, so start donating and selling your extra things today. You don’t want to take extra clutter on your RV or pay to put it in a storage unit if you’ll never use it again.
  • What to Take: Since the furniture is already built-in to your RV, the bulk of your extra belongings will be clothing and kitchen gadgets. We really pared down our wardrobes for life on the road. I chose a few outfits for different seasons, with a variety that included regular clothes and athletic wear for our more active days. If you’re constantly on the move, you won’t be encountering the same people every week, so who cares if you wear the same outfit 5 or 6 times in a month? As far as kitchen gadgets, read my blog on cooking in an RV.
  • Designate Personal Space: If you are the type of person who needs a quiet retreat, make sure to designate a small area for reading, reflection or meditation. For me, my personal sanctuary is the bedroom. This is an area that’s off limits to the dogs, so I can relax and read a book in peace and quiet.
  • Less Cleaning: The biggest perk to having less space is that there is far less to clean! Though living in an RV does mean you’ll be cleaning the floors more regularly (think of all that dirt and those leaves that get tracked in), it takes far less time to vacuum and mop a tiny house.

 Traveling

So far living in an RV has been incredible. We’re on our own schedule, so whenever we get restless for the next place, we have the freedom to pick up and move on. No canceled flights, no house sitters, no dog boarding. It’s been really fun getting to meet fellow RVers at various campsites and enjoy the many amenities of the nicer campgrounds where we’ve stayed.

One of the downsides to traveling, of course, is that we’ve heard it can be a lonely and isolating experience. While we haven’t been gone long enough to experience this, we have been encouraged by more veteran travelers to stay connected with friends and family.

I’m sure there are plenty of other things we will learn along the way, so make sure you stay tuned for future posts!

 

Tips for Moving with Rhodesians or Any Breed

We’re downsizing! Our motorhome was a huge investment, but as we spend more time on the road, we are realizing that we no longer need a 5-bedroom house to sprawl out in when we come home. Paying off our RV while maintaining such a large house is unnecessarily expensive, and we’ve learned to live quite comfortably in much smaller quarters. So we’ve decided to downsize! We’re home for the next month packing up the old house, putting it on the market, and moving into a smaller and more manageable lakefront cottage. Here, we’ll still have plenty of room for the dogs to roam, ample space to park the RV when we aren’t on the road, and it’s a property that we think will rent out well on VRBO or AirBnB during the long stretches we are gone.

Now, we’ve done plenty of moving before with both kids and dogs, but for those who have never moved with pets, I thought I’d provide some helpful tips:

Pre-Move Anxiety

While moving is one of the most stressful life events a human experiences, you might discount the effect relocating can have on pets. Dogs, much like children, can easily pick up on increased stress levels and quickly notice when things around the house begin to change. Famed dog whisperer Cesar Milan recommends adhering to your dog’s normal schedule as much as possible during the moving process to reduce your pup’s anxiety levels. Make sure you take them on their normal walks, feed them consistently, and keep their favorite toys out so they can find comfort in routine. Calm pets will give you peace to focus on all of the packing and other to-dos you need to get done.

Moving Day

Moving companies really appreciate it if you clear the house of pets and children on moving day. The last thing you want is for a person or pup to get injured if they get underfoot and the mover can’t see with the huge load they are carrying. Some ideas:

  • Get a sitter: The best scenario is to get a trusted friend or family member to watch your kids and/or pets at their home. If they are someone you are close with, chances are your dog will already be comfortable interacting with them.
  • Go to the park: If you just can’t find a single person to watch your dogs, take them to a nearby dog park while the movers are in the house. One spouse can stay behind to oversee the movers.
  • Separate bedroom: Worst case, if a sitter or dog park aren’t options, crate your dogs and put them in an empty room for the few hours the movers are hauling boxes and furniture out of the rest of the house. If possible, take them on a nice long walk beforehand so they are prepared to take a nap for the next few hours.

Transport

If you’re moving in-town or within a few-hours radius, transporting your dog in the car is simple. However, if you’re moving long distance, you might want to rethink how you get there. In addition to moving just furniture and boxes, many national moving companies also offer auto transport services. Not only does shipping your car cut down on mileage and potential issues you might encounter by driving, but having your car delivered to your new home makes the journey much shorter since you can fly. Most airline carriers allow small dogs in-cabin, while larger dogs must go in the cargo hold. Others, like Southwest, only allow pets small enough for in-cabin flight (must be able to fit in a small carrier under the seat). Make sure you consider the size and health of your dog when considering your travel plans. We personally would never fly our Ridgebacks. Though thousands, probably even millions of dogs, have flown safely in a cargo hold, I think it’s cruel to potentially expose them to temperature fluctuations in a frightening and unfamiliar environment.

After the Move

Just as you would with a child, establish a new routine with your dog as quickly as possible. Again, consistency and predictability make dogs feel at-home and comfortable so make sure you set a time for daily walks and feedings even during the chaos of unpacking. Reuniting your pups with their favorite toys and blankets as soon as you can will go a long way in making them feel at peace in their new environment.

Hope these tips help you get through the moving process. We’re certainly looking forward to settling our dogs into their new home quickly and soon.