Lana Gates
  • Home Page
  • Gulliver's Travels
  • Lana's Book
  • Life Speak Blog
  • About
  • Contact

​
​​​​
Gulliver's Travels

The Key to RV Success

7/29/2020

8 Comments

 
Picture
Living full time on the road requires a number of things: a spirit of adventure, confidence in one’s driving ability, and an affinity for travel. But the most important element is flexibility. Here are three reasons why:

Plans Change

Six months before we started full-time RV living, we had planned our first two months of stops. Having been stationary to that point, we had no idea what constituted ideal travel distance for a day. Nor did we know I would lose my job, the keeping of which necessitated moving only on weekends. The biggest variable we didn’t account for was COVID-19, which closed a lot of campgrounds.

We ended up hitting the road earlier than originally anticipated. Two weeks before leaving, we canceled most of the campground stops we had booked. And we quickly learned some lessons that required flexibility. Having that flexible attitude allowed us to enjoy our daily circumstances despite the changes and upsets that came with them.

Things Break

If you’ve been following our journey, you know we broke our fifth wheel on the very first leg of our grand adventure. The cosmetic damage ended up breaking our pride more than anything else. Bob fashioned a weather-proof fix that we continue to live with because, although we tried to get replacement parts while near Elkhart, Indiana, that didn’t pan out. We’ve decided to live with the constant reminder of our error and get it fixed this winter. 

More recently, we encountered railroad tracks preceded by a sign that read, “Rough Crossing.” If you come across a sign like that, believe it. There’s a reason these warnings are not a common occurrence.

Well, we didn’t slow down as much as we should have and lived to regret it. After arriving at our destination and opening our closet, we discovered the upper closet rod had bounced out of its secure position, dropping all of the clothes it held on top of those hanging on the lower closet rod. The additional weight put pressure on the closet doors. We couldn’t even open one of them. 

We were able to remove all of the fallen clothes from the closet, but one end of the rod holder had broken off. That meant we couldn’t rehang the clothes until finding a fix. Bob secured the holder in place with a nut and bolt and put the rod back in position, and we rehung the clothes. 

Fearing it would only be a matter of time before a similar incident occurred, we rigged a support to secure both 4-foot closet rods. Not only will this prevent a recurrence of what we experienced, but it will also keep the two rods from sagging under the weight of the clothes they hold. 
Other things have broken too. And those events always require flexibility as we may have to alter plans and make a trip to a hardware store in order to fix something.

​
Weather Shifts

One of the most significant things requiring a flexible attitude is the weather. We learned the importance of this before ever hitting the road when a fellow RVer delayed his trip by a day to allow a storm to pass at his next destination. 

Keeping an eye on the weather is paramount as a full-time RVer. You don’t want to pull in your slides during rain and get water (and possibly resulting damage) in your coach if you don’t have to. Neither do you want to set up in a storm if it can be avoided. 

If you know one day is going to be more blustery than another for travel, it’s best to move on the less windy day and not take a chance of a gust blowing your rig off the road. 

To ensure success in any type of travel situation, especially RVing, it’s best to take a bit of advice from Frank Waturi in “Joe vs. the Volcano” and “get yourself into a flexible frame or else you are no place.”
8 Comments
Jan
7/29/2020 02:33:55 pm

Wow! That is quite a mess. We’re getting close now to our going on the road. Will try to learn from your mistakes. Thanks for sharing. Love you ❤️

Reply
Marianne & Vern
7/29/2020 02:41:03 pm

We love your “Gumby” attitude! Have fun and keep on truckin’

Reply
elise oras link
7/29/2020 10:02:04 pm

I couldn't agree more! I'd say patience is a close second. Everything takes longer with a trailer!

Reply
Lana Gates link
7/30/2020 03:23:37 pm

You're absolutely right, Elise. Good point.

Reply
Charlotte Poe link
7/30/2020 01:22:39 am

Lana and Bob,
1. How can I get every issue in chronological order of Gulliver's Travels without going back to my old email mail postings? Want to share with friends, and make a notebook collection.
2. If you don't have, either order on Amazon or check Camper's World, a book called "The Next Exit". So very valuable. I used to RV travel by myself and this book was a gem. It tells you what is at EVERY exit across the USA, where you will find RV campsites, where you can park free, eating places, fuel, etc. etc. Great book! You will love it! The 2020 edition is out!

Reply
Lana Gates link
8/4/2020 08:21:08 am

Hi Charlotte, the most recent blog post shows first by default. To see them in order, you'll have to click April 2020 under Archives to get the first one. After that, you'll have to scroll to the bottom of the Gulliver's Travels page to get the next and work your way up. We do have that book you recommended but find mobile apps to be more helpful for our needs. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
carole grijalva
7/30/2020 08:37:45 pm

It just amazes me how resilient you are. Up and down, in and out and through it all you have the spirit to share your journey. Thanks for making it interesting and informative.

Reply
Betty Schoen
7/31/2020 09:54:05 am

Wow!! Talk about lifelong learning!! You 2 epitomize it!! Stay safe, and glad you got to see the beautiful Niagara Falls! I still remember my trip with my family in 1966, and how awesome the Falls were!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    This is the travel blog of full-time RVers Bob and Lana Gates and our truck, Gulliver, and fifth wheel, Tagalong. 

      Subscribe

    Subscribe to Blog

    Categories

    All
    Detours
    Lessons/Challenges
    Lists/Rankings
    Preparation
    Q&A
    RV Living
    RV Tips/Tricks
    Sightseeing

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home Page
  • Gulliver's Travels
  • Lana's Book
  • Life Speak Blog
  • About
  • Contact