Copyright Janet Groene 2026. To ask about rates to reprint copyrighted Groene content, email janetgroene@yahoo.com/
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S BREAKING NEWS ABOUT NEW, IMPENDING AND CHANGING RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS Is your state or province in the news?
IS YOUR RV TOTALLY INDEPENDENT?
What does Self-Contained Really Mean?
John Donne’s poem says that “No man is an island.” Yet the RV salesman said, “This baby is your own, private island, totally self-contained.” The RV-er in me says, “RV independence has its limits. I need a fuel stop, oil change and a dump station. ”
Just what does self-contained mean to your RV lifestyle? Basically it means having your own vehicle and home with its own plumbing and electrical system. Your only need now is a safe, legal, affordable place to park.
Why Go Self-Contained?
1. It’s safer. You have everything you need to get through the day (or night) without stepping outside. If you don’t like the looks of the campground bathrooms, or you hate to go out after dark (bugs, animals, humans), or you’re on the road and dread those greasy gas station restrooms, you don’t have to take the dreaded “path to the bath.”
2. You’re independent on the highway. When you stop for lunch or a nap, you don’t have to look for a public restroom or a fast food restaurant. We were once trapped in a sudden traffic tie-up on an Interstate for three hours while authorities cleared a major accident. I could cook, eat, turn on reading lights, watch TV, use the bathroom and have all the comforts of home. If I’d known it would be that long, I could have baked a cake!
3. You control your environment by having your own heating and air plus and the means of running them without a campground hookup. Do you have allergies? Equip your RV with all the best filters and other safeguards.
4. When traveling in a self-contained rig you have more options at campgrounds. If you arrive late and no hookup sites are available, you can ask for a “dry” campsite in an overflow area and still have access to campground security and activities. You can also choose no campground at all. Where boondocking is permitted and safe, freebies are an option.
5. Your RV’s resale value is probably higher. The trend in RV’s is to more conveniences, even in the smallest RV’s.
The Down Side
1. Utilities take up room. However, there are down-size toilets and sinks, “wet” bathrooms, solar panels on the roof and many other ways to get a lot of conveniences into small spaces.
2. The more complicated the RV, the more maintenance is needed and the more breakdowns occur. I like the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) rule. Do you really need an electric step, remote control curtains and a heated/cooled driver’s seat?
3. When you depend on your RV’s systems, it’s wise to have back-ups. You need to restock the pantry, put air in tires, charge batteries, refill propane tanks, empty gray and black water tanks and so much more.
4. Now that crowds of new RV-ers are on the road, it’s more difficult to find places to park by day or overnight. More communities are banning RV street parking and many Walmarts no long allow free overnighting. Some are changing fines for over-staying the limit. Even though you need no services, you can’t just park anywhere and set up housekeeping.
We full-timed for 10 great years. We describe it, warts and all, from early beginning to a happy RV ending when we became part-timers again.
Do you dream of living and traveling in a complete home on wheels? Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition by Janet Groene & Gordon Groene is a total guide to the full-time life on wheels. Should you sell the house or rent it out? Downsize possessions or put them in storage? Too young to retire? See our chapter on ways to make a living anywhere. Kids on board? We cover home schooling and also an exit strategy if and when the time comes. Order at any book store or let Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you. https://amzn.to/29XFEkq
WHEN TRAVEL EMERGENCIES HAPPEN IN YOUR RV
SURVIVAL FOOD HANDBOOK is a guide to survival when you're Out There and out of fresh provisions. It's written just for RV travelers and campers who have limited storage space.
Whether it's fridge failure, or you're broke or quarantined or weathered in, stuff happens. See provisioning information, lists, tips and recipes made solely with stowed foods from supermarkets (not those expensive doomsday rations). Plan your personal three-day standby pantry with familiar, affordable staples for travel, home, boating and camping.
Kindle or paperback, it's a great gift idea for yourself or a friend. https://amzn.to/3mIfryC
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE SAMPLES OF POST POSTS
This blog usually posts weekly. To receive a quick poke when new posts go live, email janetgroene@yahoo.com and put RV Yes in the topic line. Your email is never sold nor shared.
No comments:
Post a Comment