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I love to travel, but I also love my dog. Before I discovered RVing, these two facts were constantly at battle. I always had to find someone to watch my pup while I traveled and felt like I was constantly cutting trips short to get back to her.

RVing with pets is the best of both worlds. I get to travel often and have my furry companion with me at all times.

Of course, RVing also presents some challenges for both you and your pet. After almost two years of RVing, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks for RVing with pets:

Keep Your Pets Healthy

Trust me, you do not want to pull up to a campground and discover that your dog is sick and you don’t have your pet’s health records.

Keep your dog and cat up to date on their shots and always carry proof. We like to keep our dogs’ immunization records and rabies certificate in the door of the motorhome, right next to our registration and insurance. It’s just that important.

Last year, ticks were out in full force. When RVing with pets, regularly check them for ticks, and make sure to give them a flea and tick prevention treatment before heading back to the campground.

The US Forest Service recommends carrying certain first-aid items for our furry friends:

• Booties (think toddler/baby socks) for protecting injured paws.
• Emergency space blanket for shock or cold.
• Flat-bladed tweezers and a small container of mineral oil for tick removal.
• Bandana for a makeshift muzzle.
• Multi-tool with needle-nose pliers for extracting splinters, thorns, etc.

It’s also a great idea to look up the name, phone number, and location of a nearby vet clinic. You can call ahead to your RV park or campground to see if they have that information available.

Basic Training For Dogs

Going camping is exciting. The fresh air, the fire-roasted hot dogs and the abundance of nature can really excite a person. Now imagine how your dog must feel with all their heightened senses.

The more training your dog has the better behaved they will be, meaning a less stressful RV vacation for all.

Now, don’t fret if your dog has never been to puppy boot camp. Basic commands should suffice for most camping situations:

Leave It

You never know what you might find out on a nature walk. Scat, food droppings or roadkill aren’t something you want your dog to ingest—although they’re bound to disagree. Your dog should listen when you tell them to leave something alone. The better your dog is at listening to this command, the easier your camping trip will be.

Recall

Despite distractions like smells, children, and other dogs, your dog should always come to you when he is called.

Leash-Friendly

Your dog must be comfortable on a leash. I’ve never been to a campground or RV park that didn’t require a pet to be on a leash at all times. If your dog is unfamiliar or rusty, I would recommend practicing before heading out on your RV trip.

Campground Etiquette For Pet Owners

As much as I love my dog and consider her my first kid, I know there are campers (and pets) out there that don’t see the appeal of my sweet pup. Be a considerate neighbor and follow a few simple etiquette rules.

Keep Your Pet on a Leash at All Times

Yes, this is important enough to mention twice in one article.

While your dog may be docile and very good at coming when called, it’s important to think about other dogs that may not be as friendly. Avoid a conflict (and breaking campground rules) and keep your dog leashed at camp.

Don’t Leave Your Pet Outside by Itself

To be honest, I made this mistake the very first day we went camping. Within just 20 minutes, I had the campground owner knocking on my door.

Although your pet may be the sweetest dog in the world, other campers may be afraid of dogs. Your dog may be like mine and think being on a lead outside the RV means she is on guard duty. No one wants to walk past your campsite and have your dog bark at them.

That isn’t to say your dog can never be outside. We carry a lead and stake with us and put it down in any camp that permits it. We love having our dog outside with us while we are cooking, playing or just soaking up the great weather.

If you have a relaxed cat, I’ve seen many people do this with their kitties. I’ve even seen them in a large kennel outside with their owners.

Pet-Proof Your RV

Whether you have a cat, dog, or other furry friends, it’s important to pet-proof the vehicle before your trip.

Place a piece of plexiglass on the bottom of the screen door if your dog is easily excitable. This will let you have the main door open and you won’t have to worry about your pup tearing the screen. This is also a great idea if you have a cat.

Bring along scratching posts for your cat. Chances are if you’re a cat owner, you already know why. You don’t want your sweet kitty tearing up the carpet, dinette, or window valances.

Use a gate to make some areas off-limits to your pet. Our dog was constantly trying to sit in the passenger seat of our motorhome. The thought of her nails and camp-dirty self all over my light-colored leather made me cringe. We made a gate and now the whole cab area is inaccessible to her.

Also, just like you don’t leave garbage on the ground outside for the animals to get to it, you need to contain your garbage inside your RV. I always put any garbage I have in a cabinet or cupboard so my dog isn’t tempted to go dumpster-diving when we are out of the house.

Have Fun

Remember, RVing with pets is supposed to be fun. Have fun by taking your pets to as many places as possible and letting them explore. They’ll be grateful for all the extra time they get to spend with you and are sure to love being on vacation as much as you do.

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Do you bring your dog with you when you RV? What makes it great for you? Leave a comment below. 

 

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When choosing an RV, there are always trade-offs. The key is knowing what your priorities are before you go shopping. This allows you to evaluate features of a given RV when you’re walking through different rigs at the dealer. This list helps you know what must-haves to look for if easy boondocking is a priority for you.

Before we dive in, it’s important to note that boondocking is possible in almost any RV. Any RV can overnight at a Walmart without too much trouble.

This guide is for you, if you’re looking to boondock often or for extended periods. In those instances, you’ll want your RV to have features that make boondocking easier since you’ll be dry camping often.

Water Must-Haves

Water is going to be a major concern when you’re boondocking, so make sure to think about the following things.

Larger Tank Capacities

One of the main limiting factors when dry camping is your tank capacity. You don’t want to run out of water before you’re ready to leave. RVers in Class Bs typically have smaller tanks. RVers in Class As typically have larger tanks. Yet owners of both happily boondock.

When shopping, keep in mind how much water you personally consume to be comfortable. One RVer may be comfortable taking super short showers every other day and doing dishes for one meal a day.

Two of their meals may consist of sandwiches and energy bars. Another RVer may wish to be able to do dishes for all three meals and shower longer or more often.

Your tank capacity will be much less of a factor if you only boondock overnight, but if you plan to dry camp longer, you need bigger tanks.

Efficient Water Heater

The water heater in your rig can make or break your shower experience while boondocking. If you’re not a fan of cold showers, this should be on your list. There are dry-camping-friendly water heaters in many rigs like the Truma Combi and Truma AcquaGo systems.

Water heaters like the Truma AcquaGo circulate water through your pipes even when the water is not in use. This, in turn, keeps the water hot giving you hot water on-demand. For easiest boondocking, you’ll want to make sure your water heater doesn’t only give you your hot water when you’re plugged into shore power.

Depending on the climate you’re RVing in, this could be important even for overnight Walmart stays. You may be a very unhappy camper skipping a shower if the climate is a hot and humid one.

Power Must-Haves

In order to use most of the equipment on your rig, you need to have access to a power source of some kind and think about the draws on that power source. Here are some things to think about.

Appliances and Power Combination

You need your RV appliances. Let’s look at your refrigerator as an example. You need your RV fridge to keep your food cold when camping off-grid.

Luckily there are a few refrigerator options. The first is for your fridge to be able to run off of multiple power sources. Going this route, look for a three-way fridge that can run off of DC/AC/LP (LP is propane).

If your fridge will run off of LP when you’re boondocking, keep in mind your rig will need to be completely level. So you may also want to check out if your RV comes with leveling jacks or be prepared to use leveling blocks.

You can boondock with a residential-style, or compressor, fridge. In order to easily boondock with one of these, you must have a beefy battery bank that can keep the frige working properly.

Ultimately you’ll want to research how many watts or amp hours you personally need. Don’t forget to think about any other appliances you use in the RV, too. This is important even for overnight boondocking.

Easily Accessible Batteries

If you love an RV, but it’s battery bank leaves something to be desired, you can always upgrade. If you want to upgrade or fine-tune your battery power post-purchase, it’s much easier if the batteries are easily accessible for the user.

One RV may require you to climb underneath your rig and unscrew fasteners to access the batteries. Another may have an easy to open, very accessible panel in your RV stepwell on the inside.

The latter will be easier and more convenient for you, and accessible batteries should be a priority for all RVers.

Onboard Inverter

With an inverter, you can do simple things like charging your laptop or making coffee without being connected to shore power.

You do always have the option of carrying a portable power bank. There are many portable power systems like the popular Goal Zero systems.

An onboard inverter makes both extended boondocking stays and overnight boondocking easier.

Onboard Generator

In the case of Motorhome RVs, an onboard generator will make boondocking easier, and you have to have it if you plan to run the AC while boondocking. Although an onboard generator comes with many RVs, not all RV manufacturers have made them a standard option.

An onboard generator will be most important to make boondocking easy for those of you free camping in hot or humid climates where running the AC is a must.

If the rig you’re falling in love with doesn’t have an onboard generator, it may have lithium power. Some systems, like the Pure 3 system in the Winnebago Travato or the EcoTrek system in Roadtrek RVs, make it possible to power your coach without a noisy generator.

These systems are popular among avid boondockers and replace the need for an onboard generator. You really need to have one or the other, though.

Floorplan & Exterior Must-Haves

Don’t spend all your time thinking about water and power. The interior and exterior features of the RV are very important, too. The last thing you want is to buy an RV with a floorplan you hate.

Slide-Out Independent Bed

For easier boondocking, you’ll want to have a bed that doesn’t rely on a slideout being popped out to be functional. This isn’t to say that you can’t boondock if you must pop out a slide to sleep in your bed.

This will be more important if you’re a full-timer or often frequent places in-season rather than shoulder season or off-season.

At almost any Walmart you can pop your slides out. However, if you find that you arrive late, or you plan on overnighting in rest stops, space may be limited. More parking options are available to you if you can sleep with your slides in. The same can happen with BLM land that has many trees or fills up (Sedona). You may be able to just squeeze into that last spot if you don’t need to pop slides out.

If you love a floorplan but the bed requires the slide to be out, you can usually get away with it if there are alternative sleeping areas (loft, convertible dinette, etc.).

This tends to be most important for full-timers, and RV travelers that need to overnight in a variety of places, particularly in-season.

Ample Storage

If you have an outdoor activity you love (kayaking, climbing, backpacking) you might find yourself boondocking more than the average RVer. That means you should really take note of a rig’s storage area.

Ample interior and exterior storage will make it easier to pack gear, equipment, extra food, and coolers for boondocking trips.

Although everyone loves extra storage space, this is of extreme importance for those that plan to boondock for extended periods.

Clearance

On the outside of the RVs, you’ll want to consider what’s underneath. Take a look underneath and think about the following:

• Where does the exhaust pipe come out of?
• How low does the waste valve sit?
• Where is the generator located?

Also, consider the departure angle and clearance of the RV. If the overhang past your rear wheels is long, your departure angle will be poor. A good departure angle makes it easier to boondock on certain BLM land and even helps you get in and out of certain parking lots easier. Most RVs will be fine in all but true off-road situations, but it’s worth noting.

Some RVs have air ride suspension which helps with clearance. If the rig you’re looking at lacks air ride suspension, what you see or measure at the dealer will be all you’ll have. Keep that in mind when going off the beaten path.

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What are your must-have RV features for boondocking? Leave a comment below.

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A must-see for Crazy Family Adventure was the redwoods in Northern California. In this episode of Life on the Road, the family visits Humboldt Redwoods State Park. They got to camp right in the park among the trees, hike some gorgeous trails, and explore the small towns north of the park. From there it was to Fern Canyon, Patrick’s Point State Park, and on up the scenic Highway One.

You can watch the rest of Crazy Family Adventure’s Life on the Road series by clicking here.

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If you want to escape the cold during the winter months many people think of Florida or Southern California first, but The Lone Star State is an excellent place to visit. Texas has a rich history, fantastic moderate weather during the winter, and plenty to see and do for RVers.

If you haven’t visited Texas in your RV yet, consider heading that way this winter. Here are five destinations worth traveling to.

South Padre Island

Looking for a way to enjoy some pristine beaches? Visit South Padre Island right near the southern tip of Texas. Take state highway 48 east from Brownsville, Texas, and you’ll be out on one of the most beautiful islands the Lone Star state has to offer.

The southern end of the island is the resort town where there is plenty to do and a thriving nightlife scene. Head north and you’ll find some beautiful, secluded beaches. South Padre Island is also home to all kinds of unique activities like parasailing, fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, waterparks, and other theme parks. It’s fun for the whole family.

Camping in your RV is easy. There are numerous RV parks on or near the island. The South Padre Island KOA is a great option for a more luxurious spot. If you want something a little more basic, you can always camp on the mainland closer to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, and then head over to the island during the day.

Dinosaur Valley State Park

Want to experience some history from long before mankind was the steward of the earth? Visit Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas. The park is home to dinosaur tracks. The tracks can be found in the riverbed. While not always easily visible, this is one of the coolest experiences to have with your family. Call ahead of time to find out how visibility is for the tracks.

In addition to the dinosaur tracks, you can go picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, and fishing at this wonderful state park. Camping in an RV is easy. The park has RV campsites with water and electricity hookups, making it a wonderful place to spend a weekend or even longer.

Fort Griffin State Historic Site

Indulge in some Texas history at the Fort Griffin State Historic Site in Albany, Texas. Remnants of the fort remain at this gorgeous place, and you can walk the grounds and imagine what it was like to be there in the late 1800s when the fort was in its prime. The site is also home to the Offical State of Texas Longhorn Herd, which makes for a great photo opportunity while you’re there.

The site is only open to the public from 8 am to 4:30 pm., but make sure to stay in the area well into the evening hours or consider camping close by. The lacks much of the light pollution many places experience and you’ll get a view of the night sky like no other.

Camping is easy. There are numerous campgrounds close, and the site itself offers 33 campsites ranging from primitive to full hook-up. To be sure you’ll get a campground at Fort Griffin, be sure to call and make a reservation.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

There’s a massive pink dome of a rock that rises above Central Texas known as the Enchanted Rock. The site is also home to fantastic hiking, camping, rock climbing, picnic areas, and plenty of other outdoor activities. If you’re looking for a good place to camp and enjoy nature for a few days, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is it.

Another close by attraction is Fredericksburg. There you can get some of the best food and wine that the Texas Hill Country has to offer. It’s a great place to go with just your significant other or with the entire family.

Camping at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is easy. The campgrounds are primitive, though, so if you’re looking for something with full hook-ups, you’re going to have to go down the road closer to Fredericksburg. There you can find everything from basic campgrounds to luxury RV resorts.

The Alamo Mission and San Antonio River Walk

If you’ve never been to San Antonio, then visiting the city is a must. You can check out all the city has to offer, including it’s beautiful and fun-to-wander River Walk. You can hit the shops the walk connects to, get some food and drink, take a little boat ride, or just enjoy the views.

Also, just up the road from the River Walk is The Alamo, the historic fort and Texas history museum. You can tour one of the most iconic and important historical sites in the nation.

There are a number of RV parks to choose from in the city. Most are full hook-up campgrounds, which makes RVing in San Antonio extremely easy. Two that are close are the Alamo City RV Park and Traveler’s World RV Resort. Both are only a short drive to the downtown area of the city.

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Have you traveled to Texas? Where would you suggest newcomers go? Leave a comment below.

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As fall comes to an end, many people are winterizing their RV and preparing to store it away for the long, cold winter. Their RV is going into hibernation until springtime. But what if camping season didn’t have to end?

What if instead of bundling up and riding out the winter, you could hit the road and enjoy your RV? Not only is it possible, but winter RVing is also as a great time to RV!

If you need a little convincing, here are four great reasons to RV this winter:

1. Take That Dream Ski Vacation

There’s something so magical about a winter vacation, especially if skiing is involved. Whether you love to ski or snowboard or just enjoy the feeling of being cozy and warm while watching the snow fall outside, what better way to experience the mountains than in your RV?

Surprisingly, there are many wonderful ski towns/resorts that have RV parks. Staying in your RV is a cost-effective way to enjoy a dream ski vacation. Here are a few RV parks near popular ski resorts that might be the perfect place for you this winter:

Tiger Run RV Resort in Breckenridge, CO
Park City RV Resort in Park City, UT
Whitefish RV Park in Whitefish, MT
Jackson Hole Campground in Jackson, WY

2. Avoid the Crowds

Spring and summer are the most popular seasons for many common RV and camping related activities – hiking, biking, fishing etc. Sure, spring and summer bring warmer weather, but they also bring larger crowds.

RVing in the winter still allows you to experience many of these activities but with fewer crowds. Visiting destinations, especially the national parks, during all the different seasons can be so rewarding. You’ll experience the beauty and attractions from a different perspective.

3. The Holidays

With winter come the holidays. For many, the holidays are synonymous with hectic travel and hilariously uncomfortable sleeping arrangements. The holidays provide a wonderful opportunity to take your RV to your family gatherings for many reasons.

You can sleep comfortably in your own bed instead of on the couch or an air mattress, and if you need to, you can retreat to your own space when you need a little peace and quiet. Or perhaps you have the responsibility of hosting your family this year. Having an RV could allow for more comfortable and private sleeping arrangements for your holiday guest.

4. Escape the Cold Weather

If a cold weather RV trip isn’t your cup of tea, hit the road and escape to warmer weather. RVing to warm weather destinations is a tried and true way to enjoy your RV year-round. Luckily, the US has many destinations that stay nice during the winter months and these places tend to be very welcoming to RVers.

As shorter days and colder temperatures approach nearer, remember the fun doesn’t stop just because winter rolls in. There is lots to do and many places to go this winter in your RV. If you don’t already have an RV and are looking to enjoy do some of these activities, winter is also a great time to purchase.

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Where would you like to RV this winter? Leave a comment below!

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Few places are as full of adventure and opportunity for life-altering experiences as Alaska. Ben and Rebecca are two people who have experienced this first hand. They came to Seward, Alaska, from California in 2008 seeking “a life less ordinary.”

The two of them were nice enough to get on the phone with me to discuss their lifestyle and how their RV fits into it.

The lives they built for themselves in Alaska, America’s last true frontier, were definitely less ordinary. Ben became a Fishing Guide and Rebecca worked with the native population as a Physician Assistant.

To be fair, the couple was far from ordinary to begin with. Before their marriage, Rebecca traveled extensively abroad and Ben was busy with engine driven action sports. Their love for new, exciting experiences only further blossomed once they got married.

The couple’s choice to move to Alaska was the beginning of a long list of adventures they would have over the next several years and continue to have today.

Their First RV

After being in Alaska for some time, Ben and Rebecca ended up going to Anchorage on a regular basis for business trade shows and other needs. Seward, the town they moved to, is small and secluded.

“Our town is not city Alaska,” Ben said. “We’re 125 miles away from city Alaska up one of the most beautiful and dangerous highways in the nation.”

During the winter months, going to Anchorage and getting a hotel wasn’t such a big issue because rooms were affordable. Once the weather warms, though, Anchorage hotel prices jump considerably. With prices being so high in the summer months, Ben and Rebecca decided to buy an RV.

“For 12 nights in a hotel during the summertime, we could pay for an RV for the year,” Rebecca said.

The couple bought their 1999 32-foot Tiffin Allegro RV in 2010. They named it Nellie, after Nellie Lawing (a famous Alaska frontierswoman). Not long after purchasing it, Ben and Rebecca started to use the RV for more than just Anchorage trips. They explored Alaska and focused on discovering new locations and having new experiences.

“There’s really not a road left unturned in Alaska that we haven’t driven down,” Rebecca said.

During all this, Ben and Rebecca were filming and posting videos to their YouTube channel His & Hers Vlogs. Their travel-focused channel is an honest look at their adventures. It covers the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Ben and Rebecca seek to give people accurate, practical advice and present everything in a genuine way. Their channel garnered them quite a following.

Ben and Rebecca didn’t stop with Alaska. They visited the lower 48, too. In the fall of 2015, they drove all the way across the country to Maine. Then they chased the leaves all the way down the East Coast and spent Thanksgiving in Florida. They had to be in Arizona for a wedding in January, so that was their only real location commitment. The rest of the trip, they explored whatever they wanted.

“It was more of a bucket list trip,” Ben said.

During the trip, they visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, got lobsters in Maine, went scuba diving at the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and so much more. Ben said they tried to check off as many things as they could along the way.

Eventually, they took their rig down to Mexico after checking off many of their bucket list items in the States.

The couple spent time in San Felipe, Mexico, and their videos inspired other RVers to visit the location. There’s now an Xscapers Convergence (run by the Escapees RV Club) to the same area. The organizers of the Xscapers Convergence know Ben and Rebecca and saw their videos of the location.

“Our ultimate goal is to make the world a better place,” said Ben. “I think that’s an example of a time we have because we inspired people to visit a new place and experience a different culture.”

After Mexico, the couple spent the spring going up the West Coast and back to their home base in Alaska.

The next year, they toured the western U.S and a few other places to see friends and family. The year after that, they stayed mostly in California and made their way down to Mexico again.

Their adventurous spirits still going strong. Ben and Rebecca decided to sell Nelly and move on to a different kind of vehicle, a Mitsubishi FUSO 4X4 Expedition Vehicle.

Goodbye to Nellie, Upping the Ante

The Mitsubishi FUSO is smaller than Nellie and provides an opportunity for overlanding (self-reliant adventure travel to remote destinations). Their FUSO is still a camper. It allows Ben and Rebecca to stay on the road and camp basically wherever they want.

Their rig is equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, and a dining and sleeping area, though they obviously have far less space than they did in Nelly.

They have taken advantage of the features of the FUSO, too. They traveled around Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado, back up through the states to Maine, and then up to the Canadian maritime for a month before heading back down the U.S. East Coast.

Ben talked about the need for them both to keep having new experiences as they continue on.

“It wasn’t until we got this rig that I realized there’s a distinct pattern of having to up the ante in our lives,” Ben said. “First, we moved to Alaska, then we had the desire to travel around in the RV, and then that got to be old hat. Then we spent winters touring America in the RV. Now, we have the EV so we can explore more places. Next, we’re going to up the ante and go to Europe. Then African, Asia, and Australia.”

Ben said the FUSO allows Rebecca and he to live the lifestyle they want. Rebecca said she loves being able to take their home with them.

“It’s a place where we know we can go and be comfortable and get solitude when we need it,” she said.

That said, the FUSO isn’t necessarily like living in a Class A like they were before. The size alone is a big difference.

“It’s a significant adjustment for us,” Rebecca said.

Both Ben and Rebecca talked about how small the rig actually is and how only one of them can really move around it at any single time. That said, neither of them seemed to be unhappy with the FUSO. It works well for their needs.

A Home Away From Home

Ben and Rebecca said the thing that keeps them going is experiences they have traveling and the lifestyle itself. They enjoy meeting new people and making friends on the road.

“You meet kindred spirit-type people out here,” Rebecca said. “With a lifestyle like this you don’t always fit into the normal tracks anymore, and the people you meet out on the road are amazing.”

Ben said he doesn’t think they could ever go back to what most people would think of as a normal lifestyle.

“I just don’t know if we could do it,” he told me.

Just because Ben and Rebecca have the RV as their home doesn’t mean they’ll give up their place in Alaska.

“I think it’s good to ground ourselves every once in a while,” said Ben. “You do get exhausted if you’re traveling hard enough.”

This year, Ben and Rebecca’s focus isn’t on hitting as many spots as possible. It’s more about taking their time and enjoying the places they visit.

They will continue on with their YouTube channel, and share more of their travels and travel tips and experiences while on the road. You can expect to see videos from a faraway country and culture soon.

Ben and Rebecca’s lifestyle is a unique blend. One that provides the ability for full-time RVing while still allowing the couple to have a home base to go back to.

It’s stories like theirs that remind me of the true value of RV ownership. The possibilities are endless, and you can build the life you truly want no matter what that looks like. Full-time, part-time, weekend warrior—it’s up to you.

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What do you think of Ben and Rebecca’s story? Leave a comment below. 

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