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In this episode of Stories from the Road, Sam interviews Marc and Julie Bennett of RV Love.

Marc and Julie are full-time RVers who have been traveling for the past 4 and 1/2 years. It’s easy to tell that they really love RVing.

They love it so much that they even co-authored together the bestselling book “Living the RV Life – Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road”. Marc and Julie share their adventures as RVLove at their blog, YouTube Channel and on social media, and recently appeared in the RV Nomads movie. They also run online courses to help you hit the road as an RVer at RV Success School.

They are best known for their positive attitudes and practical advice. Their mission is to empower, entertain, and educate others considering living the RV life. In this interview, they share some really great tips on why RV life is so great and how to make the most of your travels.

Highlights from this episode

• 2:50 – Tampa RV super show
• 7:40 – Camping at the Tampa Show
• 12:43 – The Bennet’s Rig and the “Ultimate RV Makeover”
• 18:20 – Living the RV Life
• 24:40 – Most memorable trips
• 33:47 – RV Love’s origin
• 39:05 – Stories from the Road

Marc and Julie’s tips and advice for RV life

RV life: You never run out of experiences, you never run out of stories, and you definitely never ever stop learning.

RV breakdowns: Keep a good attitude during these times. Breakdowns are always stressful. Remind yourself that someday this event could make a great campfire story. Try to find humor in your situation.

Also, get roadside assistance with a great towing package! This will save you so much money and stress during breakdowns. (Check out our roadside assistance packages at Good Sam here!)

Being present: Life slows down more when you’re in an RV and you’re able to be more present.

Socializing: Your social life is much more active in RV Life. It makes you more relaxed and open to chats. You might also be open to making 6 hour detours to see friends who are “close by”!

Enjoy new perspectives: Get behind the wheel and see the world with fresh eyes.

Check out Marc and Julie’s new book on RV Life

This book is the road map to living a mobile life. What’s really special about this book is that it features 256 pages of important RV living tips with full color images, so you’ll get a complete vision of what RV life is really like.

No more need to worry over how to get started in RVing, where to set up domicile, or what RV to choose. Whether you’re an RV beginner or an experienced RV pro, you’ll find something to enjoy and learn in Living the RV Life.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• RV Love website
• RV Love YouTube Channel
• Join RV Success School
• Buy the Book: “Living the RV Life – Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road”
• RV Love Facebook
• RV Love Pinterest
• RV Love Instagram
• RV Love Twitter

 

 

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The best type of RV depends on you and your family and how you plan to use the camper. It has to be right for you. With that said, the fifth-wheel design is a model that works well for many different kinds RVers. Every year, millions of Americans make the decision to purchase a fifth-wheel RV on either the new or used market.

Everyone has different reasons why they chose the model they did, but there are a few advantages to the RV type that are indisputable. Here are four advantages fifth-wheel RV owners enjoy.

1. Fifth-Wheels Offer Excellent Use of Space

To me, the biggest advantage of a fifth-wheel RV is how space gets utilized. A significant portion of the RV sits over the bed of the truck that tows it. This reduces the overall length of your tow vehicle and RV, making it easier to fit into certain campsites.

Also, the interior of a fifth-wheel offers excellent use of space. The floorplan options are endless, and you’re not hampered by having a driver and passenger seat to factor into the floorplan like you are with a motorhome. Travel trailers offer good use of space, too, but the fifth-wheel makes the most of its floorplan from an exterior and interior standpoint.

2. Fifth-Wheels are a Great Value

While travel trailers will be the most affordable option when it comes to RVs, fifth-wheels offer excellent value, too. When compared to motorhomes, fifth-wheels of similar size and with similar amenities are often much less expensive.

Class A, Class C, and Class B RVs are simply pricey machines. They’re wonderful RVs and the right option for many RVers, but if you’re buying on a budget, you’ll usually get more for your money if you buy a fifth wheel. With that in mind, you also need to factor in the cost of your tow vehicle.

If you already have a truck that can pull a fifth-wheel, then you’re in the clear. However, if you have to buy a truck and an RV, then your savings by going with a fifth-wheel essentially dry up. It’s important to crunch all the numbers before deciding on a specific model.

3. Fifth-Wheels are Stable When Towing

Travel trailers generally do a good job of being smooth and easy to tow, but fifth-wheels are more stable in general. There’s less chance of the RV experiencing trailer sway and the overall design of the fifth-wheel makes it more aerodynamic than many travel trailers.

The reason for this is the way fifth-wheel hitch and the way weight is distributed. The hitch better displaces the weight of the trailer and it’s a more secure anchoring point to the tow vehicle. While a fifth-wheel hitch may seem more intimidating at first, you’ll often find it tows better once you get used to it than a comparable travel trailer.

4. You Can Leave It at The Campground

Need to do some exploring around your campground? Have to make a grocery run? If you own a motorhome, you have to pack up the whole RV before you head out. With a fifth-wheel, you can simply unhook the tow vehicle from the RV, lock up the RV, and then drive to your destination.

Of course, travel trailers and other towables have this advantage as well, but it’s worth mentioning. Motorhomes are great, but they’re not always the most convinent option.

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Do you have any other advantages of a fifth-wheel you think should be included? Leave a comment below!

 

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When searching for an RV, identifying the right one can be difficult. First, you must decide between motorhomes and towables. Then you need to identify what type of motorhome or towable is right for you. Before you decide, you’d better take not how versatile and plain awesome toy haulers are.

Toy haulers come regularly come in travel trailer and fifth-wheel forms. A toy hauler is an RV with an added space in the rear to store and transport your AVT, motorcycle, dirtbike, golf cart, or any other motorized toys you have that you want to bring along while you travel.

While not everyone needs a toy hauler, everyone should consider the RV type as an option. Here are three advantages of the RV type.

Toy Haulers Come With a Large Garage Space

Have a dirtbike, motorcycle, ATV, or golf cart you want to take camping with you? Then a toy hauler is the only way to go. The large garage spaces are perfect for these types of things. In fact, they’re designed specifically for them. They often have tie-down points on the floor and walls.

Even if you don’t have a toy you want to bring with you, the garage space is perfect for cargo you don’t use very much, bicycles, skateboards, snowboards, paddle boards and anything else you want to bring along.

Toy Haulers Have Another Bedroom or Dining Area

The garage area in a toy hauler is perfect for dirtbikes, motorcycles, golf carts, etc, but it also doubles as a living and sleeping area in most models. Most have foldaway tables and seating as well as queen beds that raise out of the way and can be lowered at night.

This provides you with a whole extra room for entertaining or just hanging out. Many toy haulers have a wall or curtain between the garage and the rest of the RV. This is nice if you have a family because you can let your kids have the garage space to play while you’re chilling out in the living or bedroom area of the RV.

Many Toy Haulers Come With a Party Deck

That ramp for the garage area on a toy hauler can do double duty. That’s right. It can extend straight out and give you a nice deck. The party deck, as it’s known, comes with side walls to help keep people from falling off and is a great way to enjoy the outdoors.

You can set up folding chairs or some other kind of furniture, plop down next to a friend, and relax the day away. The garage may be the best part of about owning a toy hauler, but a party deck is a close second, at least for me. Not all toy haulers have the ability to do this though, so if it’s a feature you want, make sure the model you’re interested in has it.

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Any other advantages that I missed? Tell me! Leave a comment below.

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For some, living in a camper van would be crazy. For others, it’s the best way to see the world and to experience adventures otherwise impossible. That’s exactly the case for Justin Brunelle.

Justin is a full-time filmmaker and YouTuber who focuses on epic adventures and travel content. He got his start doing promotional and travel video content for other companies and also chronicles his adventures on his YouTube channel MILE30 Adventures.

Why a Campervan, Why be Mobile?

 

Justin’s story of how he ended up living the lifestyle he does is really the story of his professional endeavors. He started Moving Artistry Productions, a film production company in his hometown of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, shooting music videos, commercials, documentaries, and other pieces of content for a variety of clients.

He quickly realized he likes the jobs that required travel the most. This led him to move to Vancouver where he continued hunting these jobs down. He landed several. He’s been all across Canada, to Haiti, Central America, and Southeast Asia, among other places.

Justin spent so much time on the road that paying for an apartment in a very expensive city like Vancouver simply didn’t make sense.

“I was paying so much money to not live in Vancouver,” he told me over the phone. “I was like, I love traveling. I love doing what I’m doing. I love creating videos, but I can’t live in Vancouver.”

Now, you should understand something about Justin. He’s no stranger to unique adventures and interesting solutions. About five years before this predicament, he spent a month on the road traveling down towards Mexico living and sleeping in his Honda Pilot.

When he realized it was silly for him to continue paying an exorbitant amount of money in rent in Vancouver when he was only spending about four months out of the year at his apartment, his mind went back to his Honda Pilot.

“I thought what if I do that but on a larger scale,” he said. “I could buy a van and build my business into the van.”

Although he had a little trouble initially finding a van that fit his budget and would work for him, he eventually found a 1989 GMC campervan and began his life full-time on the road.

With Justin’s newfound mobility and his low cost of living he was able to visit unique locations and pursue only the jobs he really wanted.

“It provided me with financial freedom and the luxury to wake up wherever I wanted.”

His goal was always to make a living from the road. Justin wanted to be able to both live and work from the road, to have the ultimate freedom to do the things he wanted. So far, it has gone well.

Trials and Tribulations

That’s not to say his trips have been without incident. While Justin could regale you with numerous stories of personal blunders, his most recent incident resulted in a leaky roof.

When attaching solar panels to the roof of his camper, he accidentally drilled a little too far. That allowed rain water to stream into his living space.

“There was one day where eight liters of water came into the vehicle because of the rain.”

Justin put a tarp over his van until the rain stopped, which took several days. He spent some time with family and friends and came back to his van when the weather passed to fix the leak.

Justin said the solidarity of his living arrangement can be mentally taxing. It’s just him and his van. While he said he enjoys having a lot of time to himself. He said he realized he still needs to connect with others, especially when things go wrong.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned this year is that I do need my friends and family.”

Despite these challenges, Justin is happy.

This is a recurring theme I’ve seen time and time again. It’s something we’ve come across on our podcast, too. While living on the road certainly brings some unique difficulties, everyone says the lifestyle is worth it.

What the Future Looks Like for Justin

Justin has been in his van for about 200 days now and has no plans of changing things up. When I asked him if he was going to only do this for a few years or if he would continue doing it longer than that he sounded uncertain.

“You know, I don’t know. I’ve only been doing it for less than a year,” he said. “I’m still loving it.”

He said he didn’t know what he’d be doing in five year’s time, but he was certain he’d still be living in his campervan in a year or two.

“There’s no signs of stopping right now. I’m loving what I get from it, and I’m loving the adventure.”

Justin said that the challenges he has come across won’t keep him from living the way he wants. He will continue to travel around North America in his campervan. He also said he’ll be traveling abroad with more documentary film work for various clients this year.

Justin encourages other people to try living in a van or a camper if they think they would want to. He also encourages traveling by yourself even if it’s just a day or two.

“You learn so much about yourself,” he said.

For Justin, living in his campervan is all about traveling and adventuring, and you can bet wherever he his, he’ll be filming, too.

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RV Show Season is in full swing! If you’re thinking of purchasing an RV or just want to learn more about how to make the most of your RV experience, attending a local show is a terrific idea.

For the uninitiated, visiting an RV show can also be a big undertaking. They can cover acres of space and the sheer volume information available can be overwhelming. Follow these simple tips to get the most out of your RV show visit.

General Guidelines

• Try to attend the first day to allow yourself time to return if you find something you like. Even better, break it up—look at RVs or products one day and attend seminars another.
• Wear comfortable shoes. Some of these shows are very large, and you’ll be doing a lot of walking.
• Bring snacks. Many shows will have food vendors, but the lines can be long and your choices may be limited.
• Check out the schedule and map online in advance to identify those models or seminars you don’t want to miss.

Tips for RV Shopping

If you’re in the market for a new RV, an RV show can be a terrific low-pressure atmosphere where you can see many floorplans and manufacturers in a short span of time. If you do a little research in advance, your show experience will be even better:

• Do a little pre-show preparation: Have an idea of what you are looking for by considering your budget and what type of travel you want to do. Read this primer to help you determine what RV might work best for you. Then make a list of “must haves.”
• Spend time in the models you like. Sit in the driver’s and passengers’ seats. Try out the bed. Open and close cabinets and drawers. Stand in the shower and see how you fit. Pretend you’re prepping & cooking a meal. You might feel a little silly, but it will give you a better feel of the RV.

• Take notes & photos of the RVs you preferred. Include the exact model and configuration, length, price, and other items you liked or didn’t like about it.
• At the end of the day, make a short list. Then go back the next day after you’ve had a chance to think about them, and revisit your favorites.

Go for the Education

RV Shows are still valuable even if you’re not in the market for a new RV. Most shows offer a variety of ways to learn more about RVing and RV related products.

• Seminars: Check the show schedule to see if there are any presentations offered. Many shows have veteran RV travelers who share knowledge on topics like “Basic RV Maintenance” or “RV Trip Planning.” Listen in and ask questions. Sean & I present at several Good Sam RV Shows throughout the year. Click here to see if we’ll be at a show near you.
• Product Demonstrations: Often vendors will also conduct live demonstrations so you can see products in action.
• Manufacturers: When you go to the dealership, you often only get a chance to talk to the folks in sales and maintenance. Many of the RV shows will have representatives from the various RV manufacturers and components right there to talk to you and answer your questions.

Check out the Latest Gear

Vendors at RV shows offer every type of gear imaginable from tire covers to inflatable kayaks. Looking for a new bed that fits just right in your RV? They’ve got you covered. Need an internet or satellite TV solution? Don’t worry, vendors will have plenty of options for you, too. Everything you can imagine for your RV and outdoor adventures can be found at an RV show.

Find New Places to Visit

One of our favorites perks of attending RV shows is finding great new destinations and campgrounds to explore. If you don’t have enough time to stop by every booth, focus on the ones on your top travel wish list. You can also check the exhibitor list in advance online to make a short list of the booths you’d like to stop by.

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So how about it? What RV show are you attending this year?

 

 

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