Living the Solo RV Life
In today’s video we are so excited to show you our progress of our upgrade & remodel. Some times when you vision an end product, it doesn’t turn out that way. Well…this turned out better than we planned. Now to get our new couch and the Livingroom area will be complete. So excited to share it with you! Click the picture and it will take you right to the video.
On Sunday, June 5th we posted a new video about our summer workamping gig and how Dora is trying deal with co-workers that don’t share the same work ethic. It has been a huge challenge and at some point you figure out how to deal with them and continue the job OR when do you “tap out?’ How do you deal with rude or bully coworkers? Learning how to deal with difficult coworkers in a constructive way can help you navigate tricky situations while creating a positive work environment.
Lead by example. Lets say this can be an inner battle in itself. But, when dealing with a difficult coworker, start by looking itno your own behavior. Consider whether you’ve been communicating adequately. You may not be required to make a change, but try to objectively evaluate your role in the conflict—if any. If possible, consult a neutral party (preferably, not another coworker) who can objectively assess the situation.
Confront the situation clearly and respectfully. When confronting a difficult coworker, it’s best to focus on your feelings rather than the other person’s actions. For example, instead of saying, “You always interrupt me when I’m speaking,” try saying, “I feel dismissed when I am not able to finish sharing my thoughts.”
We (I) need to learn how to manage different personalities. Sometimes, avoiding conflict in the workplace boils down to knowing how to manage different personality types. One coworker might require ample social interaction to feel engaged, while another might prefer to keep their work life and personal life separate. Learning and accepting how other team members operate can help set you up for a successful workamping gig.
Refrain from engaging in office gossip. Gossip is part of a toxic work culture. When coworkers engage in gossip on a daily basis, it can exacerbate employee insecurities and damage the self-esteem of your coworkers. Refusing to engage in office gossip can help improve your working relationships as your coworkers will know you’re a safe individual with whom they can place their trust.
Maintain a focus on your own work. This is super hard for me because our current gig is what I would think should be a ‘team player’ position. There are many types of difficult coworkers, but one of the most common is a person who’s constantly distracting you from getting actual work done. They may want to discuss personal issues, take frequent breaks, or ask you for too many favors such as doing their assigned tasks. Be direct with a coworker like this. Try stating, “I’m sorry, but I have a lot of work to do and I really don’t have time.”
The next step would be to talk with a manager about the issue. If a coworker’s behavior is making you feel uncomfortable, and you’ve done everything in your power to reconcile the situation, consider bringing it to your supervisor. If all else fails, talk to your human resources department. Because if a coworker is making you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, document these instances to the best of your ability and speak with an HR professional.
Since our video posted Dora has made a few changes at work. We will update you in an upcoming video and blog post. Major changes are coming.
On todays video we finish up our RV Slide Repair. AND Ed makes sure that we do not have another ‘shocking’ experience.
We will say; we learned a lot of what NOT to do, but also learned what we should do to make our floor repairs to last for years to come. Check out the video and let us know your thoughts and what you would have done.
Click on the picture of our hole in the floor and it will take you directly to the video.
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Cost?
In todays blog, I will go over the initial costs of your RV purchase because it is certainly lower than buying a sticks & bricks home. On average RVs can cost between $10,000 to $300,000 or more depending on the style, brand and features. On the lower end for a RV being towed behind a truck, it may cost $20,000. The lower end for a 5th wheel may cost $40,000. And most motorized RVs start around $100,000. Just keep in mind, if you choose a towable RV, you need to consider the cost of your tow vehicle. The average price for pick up trucks range from $42,000 to $90,000 OR above. Again it all depends on your preferences. So…lets say you purchase a mid-range RV & Truck spending $100,000. If you were to purchase a motorized RV spending $100.000. Would you also need to purchase a toad? (A vehicle to pull behind your motorized RV) If so, lets add on another $40,000. So your total purchase price would be $140.000. Many people choose to RV this way and that’s great if this is your choose this. But, the way I tend to look at things is now you have 2 motors etc. to maintain. So if you choose a towable RV and a truck, you will only have one motor to maintain. But….. what ever you choose for YOU to get out there, DO IT!
As always please do your research. Do not depend on a sales person to know all the towing capacity details about your potential new tow vehicle or motorized RV. A great resource for these details is autoguide.com. Do the calculations BEFORE you purchase. Now get prepared to look at what fits in your budget and what you can safely tow OR drive.
Another thing you need to consider & research on is how or what company will you be using to insure your RV, Tow vehicle or Motorhome? When I was researching for this post, I found the Top 5 RV Insurance Providers. Good Sam, Roamy, National General, RVInsurance.com and Progressive. Whether you use your RV as a full-time home or for occasional road trips, insurance is a must. To help determine which company is best for your needs, you can check with you current insurance first and compare policies. Please keep in mind when shopping, several insurance carriers will not write the policy IF you are living in your Rv. Please please do not ever hide your situation from your carrier. If at some point you have an accident, and they find our you are hiding your living situation from them, they can & will deny your claim.
Are you going back and forth between a towable and a motorized RV? Both have their pros and cons, and it all comes down to your lifestyle, your plans and your budget. If you’re not exactly sure what you will be using your RV for or how you plan to live or travel in it, slow down your purchase process. Taking your time will ensure you make smart decisions.
The RV lifestyle is booming. But is the current time a good time to buy? You are the only person that can answer that. But don’t wait too long. Be a savvy shopper and go for it!
Check out one of our recent videos, https://youtu.be/KnnO2ODVL3w as we discuss some of the costs associated with RVliving.
Well hang onto your booty, and watch Saturdays video. It will give you a sneak peak into the glamorous side. Well… maybe not so much. Well.. maybe all the normal maintenance and upkeep, but if we were living in a sticks & bricks we would have the same tasks. But… we wouldn’t change a thing. Who can say their house is on wheels, you can take it with you where ever you go and most importantly, our own potty? Not worrying about the dirty, filthy public restrooms is a huge perk for us. How about you? What are you favorite things about RVing?
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As you may know, we have been living Full-Time in our RV since 2009. When we decided to get rid of our Sticks n’Bricks, we started looking for more “OUT OF THE BOX” ways for us to make the income necessary to live a comfortable RVlifestyle. When we took our 1st camphost job in Tybee Island GA., I was able to do the job while Ed stayed in Iowa for a month to finish up his job then he joined me. This particular job was WORK FOR SITE only which worked great for the season. But after the 1st season there I started a Sales Job that I worked at a physical location during the summer. Once we headed south again, I was able to take that job with and work remotely. But after that year I found that the Sales Job was not something she wanted to do long term. So we began searching for all the options out there. We had NO idea how many different options were out there.
1 of the ways we look for opportunities are by subscribing to a FREE NEWSLETTER at, Workers On Wheels. New postings come right into your email on a weekly basis. There are volunteers positions to fully paid positions so it will fit everyone’s needs. On Workers On Wheels they also have services that allow you to post your resume for employers to see for a very low cost of $5.00 for 30 days OR if your an employer, you can post job openings for as little as $1.00 per day/minimum 30days.
As you would for any job, do your research before you accept the job. And if you are not able to make it to the job for any reason, and you’ve accepted the position, please be courteous and let them know so they can find a replacement.
The summer season has just begun so Ed and I hope as you get started on your new ventures, you have an enjoyable time living on the road, making money and making long lasting friendships.
Dora & Ed
While we had some time off to re-group, we spent a lot of time putting our website and YouTube Channel into the direction we initially had set. To share our experiences & help others live this lifestyle if they choose to. One of the ways we have improved is to dedicate a page on our website for ideas and where you can look for work. We will update the page often so make sure you subscribe to our Newsletter so you will know as soon as we post new information. You DO NOT want to miss out.
Our new page, Make Successful Income While RVing is a huge resource for you. We have put a lot of time into this so others can find ways to start this lifestyle as well. You do not have to be independently wealthy or have you huge pensions. You can do it if you put in the effort to look into some of the options we have listed. We have even included the links on WHERE TO LOOK for the jobs. But keep in mind this lifestyle is NOT for everyone or the different jobs may NOT be for you. We suggest that you do extensive research into each job, employer, requirements of the job and the location.
If you see something we’ve miss or you want us to add based on your needs, please feel free to send us a email at itsagoodliferv@gmail.com
Thanks! Dora & Ed
Ed and I are so excited to be coming back with YOU and our RV community. We have taken a few days off to focus on our channel goals and recoup from a busy work life. We have some finishing touches yet to complete, but our next video, will be posted on March 27th at 10am central time on our YouTube Channel, It’s A Good Life RV. Also, check out the changes on our website, www.itsagoodliferv.com.
As we re-focused our intentions and goals for our channel, we felt that as a YouTuber, we could share our experiences with others so you could share it with others as well. “You know how these things start. One guy tells another guy something, then he tells two friends, and they tell two friends, and so on, and so on…”
We tend to consider it a given that sharing is a good thing. As kids, we’re taught (and made) to share our toys, our crayons, and our rooms. As we age, our toys and our personal space become larger and more expensive, and we share them less and less, but we still value the idea of sharing. There are lots of ways to share resources as adults, including your knowledge on how to fix your car, how to plan your road trip, prepare food, how we find our jobs, and just our experiences in the RV lifestyle. The benefits of sharing are many. Sharing can make the world a much better place.
We are so excited to drive our focus back on how we can show YOU how you too can live, travel and work from your RV. But also for YOU to show US how you are doing it. Our hopes are sharing with you our experiences and knowledge, our hope is that it will create happiness in your life as well.
Considering the issues we recently had towing, we felt this subject should be addressed. Our issue while towing was not the actual hitch in the bed of the truck but we felt it was time to talk about hitches. After doing a ton of research, I hope the information below will help you when choosing your hitch. But always, do you own research as well.
A fifth wheel trailer hooks up to the tow vehicle by fitting a pin into a hitch receiver, then clamping it in place. The receiver mounts so that the pin of the trailer carries the weight forward of the center line of the rear axle. This placement makes fifth wheel trailers stable and allows a fifth wheel trailer to haul more weight than a standard tongue hitch trailer, when you equip the tow vehicle with the correct hitch.
Things to consider to tow a fifth wheel, a pickup truck must be equipped with a fifth wheel hitch. These hitches have their own weight rating known as the Gross Trailer Weight Rating, or GTWR. The hitch you purchase must be able to handle the overall weight of your fifth wheel, including all the equipment and furniture inside it. The hitch must be mounted in such a way that your RV’s pin will end up just an inch away from the center of your truck’s rear axle. The hitch also comes standard with mounting pieces that includes several bolts and brackets that directly connect to the frame of your truck and not to the cargo bed. We have what is called the Puck System. The Puck System is mounted posts that install into the truck bed hard points (pucks). Some brands have their mounting posts in fixed positions on the hitch base. We like this system because it’s very easy to remove the hitch when not in use, so we can have access to the full bed. Plus the hitch comes out in 2 pieces making it easier for Ed and I to remove.
Determine the heaviest weight of the trailer being towed. The trailer weight should not exceed its gross vehicle weight rating. You can find the gross weight rating in the trailer’s owner’s manual, or on plate or sticker mounted to the side of the trailer. To calculate the needed hitch size, figure that the trailer will weigh its gross vehicle rated weight when you are towing it.
Calculate the hitch weight of the trailer. The owner’s manual may give a dry hitch weight, which is the hitch, or pin weight with an empty trailer. The loaded hitch weight of the trailer can be quite a bit higher. A rule of thumb with a fifth wheel trailer is to figure 20% of the total maximum weight of the trailer for the hitch weight.
Decide what type of hitch you need for your tow vehicle. If you have a long bed truck, generally eight feet, you can use a fixed fifth wheel hitch. If you have a shorter bed truck, you will probably want to use a sliding fifth wheel hitch to minimize the risk of damage on sharp turns. The sliding hitch allows the trailer to slide back, and give more room to the front of the truck for tight turns. But do your research because there are hitches out there that makes it a breeze to tow with a short bed.
Select a hitch that is higher in capacity than the gross vehicle weight rating of the trailer. The total hitch rating allows 20% of its rated weight for pin weight. If you know that your trailer has a higher pin weight than this 20% of the total hitch weight rating, then select the next higher weight capacity hitch.
We suggest that you look at each brand and pick one hitch in each brand. Then compare those hitches between each other. At the end of the day they all do a good job and you could spend hours/days reading posts of people’s opinions, getting nowhere. For example: personally we like the Puck System that came with our Ford truck but that may not be the best fit for you.
Choosing a hitch for a 5th wheel trailer is dictated by the kind of truck that will be pulling the trailer. Towing a 5th wheel is made more comfortable with the proper hitch. Each manufacturer has its own system and style, but some basic considerations need to be addressed when choosing the kind of hitch best designed for your situation.
In today’s video you will see we did both and enjoyed every minute of it.
Not Your Average Explorer 