Full-Time RVers – How We Stay Connected and Work From the Road

We get a lot of questions about how we make a living and stay connected while on the road. As full-time RVers and full-time employees, we have to make sure we’re connected at all times so we can work remotely no matter where we are located. We’re a little (ok a lot) untraditional in that all 3 of us have work-from-home jobs that allow us to be wherever we want to be. That gives us the freedom to live in the RV, travel the country, and work from wherever we are at the time. The downside to this is not having a home internet connection and a constant source of reliable internet.

First off, we use Verizon Wireless as our cell carrier. We did a lot of research about whether we should stick with Verizon or switch carriers and it seemed Verizon was the most reliable option for our traveling needs. They haven’t failed us yet so that’s been good so far. We each have an iPhone and we also have a MiFi 7730L Jetpack for our WiFi needs. We’re currently using about 300 GB of data each month so that one Jetpack is not enough. Thank goodness for companies renting out unlimited cellular plans. We would get throttled a lot if we only had the single Verizon Jetpack. We rent a truly unlimited data plan from someone that allows us to video conference all day, every day.

The most important item we own is the WeBoost Drive 4G-X RV Signal Booster. This thing has saved us on more than one occasion. We’ve never been out of cell phone range with Verizon, but sometimes in rural areas, it can be quite slow. Being in the social media field, I’m constantly uploading large files and documents online and with a weaker signal, it takes much longer than it should to upload these files. The 4G-X RV booster has allowed me to join video conferences when I would not have been able to do so with our Verizon coverage. The 4G-X is used by a lot of first responders who need to ensure they have a constant connection – with that being said, we trust this device a lot.

Installation was pretty simple, but also a little bit scary because you do have to drill a hole in the outside of your RV (yikes!). They provide a cap that keeps the moisture out of the camper and seals off the hole you drill. It is pretty basic installation for the most part. After you figure out where you want to put the inside booster antenna and the outside antenna, you drill the hole and run the cable through. Plug in your booster and get rolling! Ok, so there’s a little more to it than that but not much. It is pretty simple!

One major thing to note – the inside antenna booster only works within a few inches of the device you’re using. So if you’re using it to boost a cell phone, you pretty much have to hold the cell phone and the booster near each other to achieve any boost. For me, I use it for my MiFi Jetpack. I’ve figured out the sweet spot of where to place the booster and where to place the Jetpack to get optimal boosting. When talking on the phone, I generally leave my phone near it, wear my Apple AirPods, and walk around while I’m talking.

We love our RV booster so much that we also have the same booster, but the car version – the WeBoost 4G-X. It works just as well, but doesn’t require any drilling or semi-permanent placement like the RV version. The original car version has a magnetic antenna for the roof of the car rather than a large bolted on booster like the RV.

The WeBoost really has allowed us to continue this lifestyle on the road while working full-time. It really wouldn’t have been possible without it. First responders trust it enough to use it for their jobs and emergency calls – it works that well and it works with all cell phone carriers.

We also each have designated work spaces. I have a desk in my room, Mom has working space in her room, and Dad utilizes the living room area. We have doors that close off each area allowing us to all three take phone calls. The set up is perfect for us and allows to be a full-time RV family!

7 Things All RVers Should Have on Board

Road & Home RV Supplies Full-Time RV Blog Family

We’ve been on the road full-time for a little over a year now, so I think it is about time for a must-have list! Whether you’re new to the RV lifestyle or you’ve been living or traveling in your RV for years, there’s just certain items you should always have on board with you. Here’s my list of 7 things every RVer should have on board.

Command Hooks – Let’s be real. Command Hooks were secretly invented for RVs. Ok, maybe they weren’t actually invented for RVs, but there truly is no better way to hang and organize items without drilling holes or damaging walls. With the various types of hooks available now, you can use Command Hooks to organize just about anything in your RV. We use them for everything from key hooks to cord organizers to décor hangers.
Diffuser – While this one might not be a necessity, a diffuser is a great substitute for candles. I love burning candles and the aroma they disperse across a room, but since it really isn’t safe to burn candles in an RV, I’m almost always diffusing scented oils for a clean, fresh environment.
Level – I hate when our RV doors slowly creep closed or the shower doesn’t quite drain all the way because we aren’t precisely level. While we might not always get it just right, we keep a small level right inside the door of the RV, so when we park at a new location, it is always easily accessible.
Tape Measure – While a tape measure is good to have on hand for a variety of uses, you can use it to determine if you have enough space to let your RV slides out. The worst thing is when you get parked and leveled, but you go to put your slides out only to find out you’re an inch too close to something like a tree or the electric box. Open your tape measure to your slides and use a permanent marker to mark your distances. If you have multiple slide depths, be sure to mark the various depths on your tape measure.
Surge Protector – I think it goes without saying that surge protectors are immensely valuable, but I often see people hooked up to electric without them. Don’t use the mentality of “There are no storms here” or “The power never goes out here” when deciding whether or not to use a surge protector. A power outage is always out of your hands, and it only takes one time for an electrical surge to cause damage. Did you know many of the RV surge protectors come with a replacement warranty? Some companies will replace your surge protector for free if it gets fried from a surge.
Tire Pressure Gauge – Never leave for a trip without checking your tire pressure. We travel with an air compressor in our front storage so we can always fill our tires on the go. While you may not have room (or the weight capacity) for an air compressor, a tire pressure gauge weighs next to nothing. Keep one in a handy location and check your tire pressure before traveling in your RV. This will help keep you and your family a little safer on the road. Plus, tire pressure is a huge contributor to gas mileage.
Extra Hookup Supplies – No matter how you travel in your RV, whether it be casual travels or full-time living, you should always have extra supplies for hooking up at campsites. We see so many people purchasing longer water hoses, additional sewer hoses, and even new electrical cords from campground stores. While it is nice that a lot of campgrounds have these items for purchase, they are frequently overpriced and often not exactly what you need. Most people buying in a campground store are purchasing out of necessity rather than by choice. By traveling with an extra set of hookups, you’ll always be prepared, no matter what situation may arise. Road & Home has put together a nifty Ready for the Road Checklist and we travel with extras of almost all the items on their list. You just never know what kind of campground setup or hazard you may run across while traveling!

*We’d like to extend a huge thanks to Road & Home for sponsoring this blog post and sending us a backpack of supplies including their Ready for the Road Checklist which you can find HERE. Road & Home products can be found online via their website and at many Lowe’s stores across the country.*

Flames and Trails: Minimizing the Dangers of Camping

RedRock RV and Camping Park Island Park Idaho Campground Review

I’d like to welcome a guest writer to the blog today! Welcome Jamie Strand!

Simply put, camping is awesome. The immersion in nature, sense of adventurousness, socialization under a starry night sky, and fresh nature air are just some of camping’s many perks; however, the enjoyment that camping provides should not be put at risk by unsafe practices.

There are two specific aspects of camping which must be carefully planned out and tended to in order to minimize the chance of personal injury and harm to nature and others. The first is hiking, a means which many tent campers rely upon to reach their campsite. The other is safe protocol pertaining to the camp fire, a near-universal facet of camping trips. An earnest approach to both hiking and fire safety will help ensure that your excursion is a success.

Hiking: The Right Steps
Hike Safe specializes in informing the public of safe hiking methods. The makings of a safe, scenic hike begin with planning and packing. Essentials pertaining to the hike include a compass, map, safety whistle, appropriate and sturdy footwear, warm clothing, water, protein-packed food, a jacket for rain and cold, a flashlight, and more.

It is also advised that you plan your hike well in advance of the trip, consulting park rangers or other authorities to ensure that the trail is clear and free of any obstacles or recent changes in terrain. Leave your hike plan with somebody you trust who will not be going on the trip, informing them of your planned route, expected time of travel, and plans in case of emergency.

It is recommended that hikers stay in pairs or larger groups, avoiding separation from their companions; however, those who choose to hike solo should adhere to these tips and the concerns which come with a solo hiking and/or camping trip.

Drinking alcohol before hiking is strongly discouraged, as attentiveness to where one is placing their feet as they hike is of the utmost importance. This is necessary to avoid both changes in the terrain – which may result in sprained ankles – and stepping on wildlife which may pose a threat.

Fire Safety: What Would Smokey Do?
In certain regions, wildfires are a very real threat. Campers must always be prepared for the worst-case scenario, which means knowing how to prevent wildfires as well as how to react should they be confronted with an existing one.

Most campers will find the prevention of wildfires most relevant, as safe fire practices should be adhered to by everybody who goes camping. Smokey the Bear serves as one of the foremost authorities when it comes to campfire safety, and his tips for choosing a fire pit location, preparing the pit, and controlling the fire once it gets going are wise.

If conditions are abnormally dry, it may be best not to light a fire at all; however, if fire-building is to occur, finding an existing fire pit is ideal. If a new pit is required, find a spot without low-lying or adjacent foliage, line the circular pit with rocks, and keep nearby a large water source while removing any flammable objects from the vicinity.

Once the fire is started, maintain vigilance as to its size, avoiding the addition of excess firewood once it comes to a steady burn. Ensure that those playing games do not come near the fire, and before going to bed, ensure that the fire is out and any smoldering logs are extinguished. In the morning, douse the fire pit with water and sweep your debris, as the party after you may not do so, resulting in an unnecessary fire hazard.

Safety First, Safety for All
So many wildfires have been caused by irresponsible campfire practices that Outside has called for the end of the campfire. Unfortunately, such a proposal is due mainly to unsafe camping practices by those who did not take the time to engage in campfire safety. It is imperative that one know when not to start a campfire, and if they do, how to adhere to behaviors that ensure the fire stays contained. In combination with hiking safety, the rules surrounding proper maintenance of a campfire must be exercised if a camping trip is to be regarded as a successful one.

Jamie Strand is an unashamed nerd. He teaches community college and loves spending time with his two daughters. He wants to share his love of science and math with kids today and that’s why he and a friend got together to create Scicamps.org.

Favorite Things: The Minimalists Podcast

The-Minimalists-RV-Life-Travel-Blog-Favorite-Things-Freeway-Gypsy

Let’s talk favorite things.
Let’s actually talk favorite Podcasts.

Everyone knows I love a good Podcast or a good book or a good Netflix binge or really anything that I can relate to or anything that makes me happy – I like.

But, today we’re talking about Favorite Things (which will hopefully become more a of regular series on the blog). And when it comes to favorite things, The Minimalists Podcast is one of my ultimate favorites. I was first introduced to Joshua and Ryan thanks to stumbling across their documentary on Netflix one day back when we were still living in a house with a ton of stuff we didn’t need and I was feeling overwhelmed by all the STUFF. Stuff we didn’t need. Stuff that was just filling corners. Stuff that was just there because the space was there. At the time of watching the documentary, we were an RV family on the weekends, I was working my office job, and I had purchased a house at 25 years old (which at the time felt like an accomplishment). Then it all started weighing me down. We started talking about full-time RVing, but we weren’t sure what we would do with all our stuff. I watched The Minimalists documentary on Netflix and started getting rid of everything I just didn’t need. I started purging. I sold over 15 trash bags of clothes, close to 50 pairs of shoes, and so much other stuff that was just unnecessary. Now when I think about how much I got rid of, it makes my head hurt to even imagine having that much stuff and that’s really just the clothes. I now have a closet with about 40 hangers and even that still seems like too much.

The Minimalists Podcast continuously brings all of the stuff into perspective. Joshua and Ryan have soothing voices and rational thinking behind why all the stuff is just stuff and methods for sorting through and getting rid of everything. I know you’re probably thinking, “Why do I need a Podcast to help me get rid of stuff?” and I get it. It sounds so easy to get rid of all the things you don’t need, but when it comes down to it, it’s easier said and thought about than done. Each time I listen to their Podcast, I come away thinking of something I can get rid of to simplify my life.

The best part is, they started this Podcast years ago so I’m still catching up. I hate starting a Podcast and having to wait for new episodes. With The Minimalists, I started from the beginning and just continued along. They have hundreds of episodes so I’m no where near being caught up. Anytime I need a little boost as to why we’re living so simply or I’m thinking about not having something that I want, I take a listen and most of the time realize I don’t need what I want. If I’m still thinking about the item I’m wanting in a few days, I start to evaluate if I need it or if a purchase would be just a quick, fleeting gratification.

This Podcast is great for anyone who feels overwhelmed by all their stuff, anyone trying to simplify their life, or anyone thinking about the RV lifestyle. While they didn’t create it for RVers, it really exemplifies what RV living is all about.

Take a listen and enjoy for yourself.

The Minimalist Podcast

Full-Time RVers – Campground / RV Park Review: Yosemite RV Resort an RVC Destination – Coarsegold, California

This post is way overdue! We stayed at Yosemite RV Resort – an RVC Destination just about a week after bring Cash home in October. It was great for us because it gave him plenty of space to run around with not many people around since we were here during the off season. They were dealing with the dry California weather while we were there so everything was very dusty, but there was nothing they could do about it. We can only imagine how beautiful this place must be when they aren’t in a drought. There are so many beautiful hills that would be green grass if there wasn’t such a water shortage.

This place has the best bath house I’ve ever seen. The stalls are huge with hooks for hanging clothes, towels, and more. They also have fully locking doors instead of just curtains you pull – this is a huge plus in my book! The entire shower area was fully tiled and seemed very new. The water was so hot, it could burn you. I love when I can’t turn the water all the way on high heat!

The laundry room here is decent, but not fantastic. While it was very close to our campsite, it was just your standard laundry room. Nothing about it stood out as above average, but there was nothing wrong with it either.

They do a great job at ensuring activities around for all ages. There was a pool up front near the office and there was a bounce house right near us. Each morning, they would come blow up the bounce house around 10 am and each night, they would come deflate it for the evening. There was also a very large dog park for dogs to run around free reign. If our new pup wasn’t so little, we definitely would have taken advantage of the large fenced in area for him, but he was too young to be in areas where other dogs have been.

This park was pretty convenient to Yosemite, but it was still an hour away. There were a couple of small little towns in between us, but nothing major. We were only here for a weekend so we could visit Yosemite and that was long enough for us. While the park was nice, there wasn’t much else around. There were very few restaurants in the area, but we did find this great whiskey distillery in the area called Oakhurst Spirits Distillery. We love visiting these unique, local distilleries. They’re always so different, but the best part is always listening to the stories of why and how they got started.

If you’re looking for some of our pictures from Yosemite National Park – go to this blog post for those.

Not Just a Dream – Our 1 Year Full-Time RV Living Anniversary

Full Time RV Blog Lifestyle 1 Year Anniversary

Dreamers dream.

Doers do.

But can we be dreamers and doers?

Absolutely.

Will it be easy?

No.

Will it be worth it?

Absolutely.

Nothing worth it is ever easy.

We’ve officially been on the road for 1 year as of June 18, 2018. While we started living in our RV a few months before we started traveling the RV, we’re calling this date our anniversary. This is the date we chose to quit just thinking about doing what we wanted to do and we actually did it. We haven’t had a city to call home in over a year and that’s quite thrilling. We’ve had temporary homes, but no permanent homes. At this point, we barely even consider Jacksonville our “home base.” Sure, it’s still where we go to doctor appointments, receive our mail, and have a storage unit that keeps getting smaller and smaller, but we have no physical presence there anymore.

In the last year, we’ve:

visited 25 different states
upgraded to a new camper
had a puppy join our family
met hundreds of nice fellow RVers
checked about a million things off our bucket list

The number one question we’re asked is: Where is your favorite place you’ve been? And, without any hesitation, all 3 of us will always answer South Dakota. We loved Custer State Park and Badlands National Park so much and those locations were some of our very first stops – only about 2 weeks into our adventure.

This is just a shout out to anyone out there even thinking about taking a risk and doing something crazy. Whether that’s making the decision to go full-time RVing or anything else life may be throwing your way, kudos to you for even thinking about making a move and doing something crazy. And for all of you thinking about starting the full-time RV journey, reach out to us if there’s anything we can do to help ease your nerves. We’re huge advocates of the lifestyle and would love to help give you that push to start the journey like we did. You definitely won’t regret it!

Full-Time RVers Visit Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park Full-Time RV Blog Family

Yosemite was stunning and completely unlike anything else we’ve seen. These gorgeous rock formations are so unique and beautiful to observe. It is no wonder so many people go rock climbing at Yosemite. I must say, we were a bit nervous about visiting as just the week before, a group of rock climbers were injured as some of the rock formations collapsed.

With one road in and the same road out (along with lots of construction at the park), we felt like it was quite busy for the off-season. (We were there in October and I wrote this post back then – I know, call me out for being a slacker and not getting these pictures posted!) It took a long time to get to the parking lot area and the gift shop ran out of ice cream on this record hot day, but we were able to enjoy the gorgeous views with the new pup in hand! He stole the show and there was even a line to pet him at one point. He loved the attention and was so sweet with all the kids asking to pet him. He’s such a trooper!

While we were visiting Yosemite, we saw so many rental RVs around and we couldn’t help but me reminded of our start! Before we were full-time RVers, we used to rent RVs to travel. Ultimately, renting RVs is how we fell in love with the lifestyle. Back when we were renting, options were super limited, but nowadays, there are so many options including RVshare. We seriously would have loved if RVshare was around back when we were renting RVs!

Camping Hacks from Full-Time RVers

Tasty Bite 5 Camping Hacks for First Time Campers RV

We love a good camping hack and we recently wrote a blog for Tasty Bite called 5 Camping Hacks for First-Timers. We’d love for you to go take a look and read some of our hacks! We’ll just leave that link right here for you 😉

Tasty Bite’s 5 Camping Hacks for First-Timers

We’re absolutely loving how easy it is to make meals with Tasty Bite products. They have a large variety of rice, veggies, and potatoes that make a great base for any meal. We’ve been using their Basmati Rice like crazy!

We Live in Our RV Full-Time and We Aren’t Retired

There’s a lot of reasons to choose RV living over your “regular” sticks and bricks home. Most people think those who are living a full-time RV lifestyle are retired and while sure, most people may be retired, the median age of RVers is slowly lowering. Many Millennials are turning to RVs for both vacation and living purposes. We’re a mixed age family – I was born in 1990 and that does make me a Millennial, but in 2017, my parents and I made the choice to sell the house, the cars, and as many of our belongings as possible for a life of freedom.

We work full-time from the RV. We travel full-time from the RV. Someone the other day mentioned we’re semi-retired and I beg to differ with that statement. For starters, I’m not even 30 yet and I actually really enjoy my line of work. We’re not semi-retired. We work just as many hours at our work from home job as we did when we had office jobs. The difference? No commute. No stress of the day-to-day office life. No office gossip because we don’t work around any of our coworkers. I get more accomplished in the same 40+ hours a week working from home than I ever did working in my last office job. While I do miss my teammates from my old job, it is just so freeing to not have the burden of office life.

I prefer to say we live a semi-minimalistic lifestyle rather than a semi-retired lifestyle. While I think calling ourselves minimalists would be extreme (we still have a lot of stuff), we have minimized our life to the necessary. We watch less TV and spend more time outside. We spend no time commuting to work and now we spend time actually cooking health, homemade meals instead of eating out or grabbing something to go on the way home from work. We’ve freed ourselves from the burdens of life that pin everyone down and we’ve become free people who live where we want, when we want, and how we want.

Have questions about the full-time RV life? Working from your RV? Or anything else RV related? Drop us a note in the comments, email us (freewaygypsy@gmail.com), or chat with us on Instagram (@FreewayGypsy). We’re always here to help out our fellow RVers or those interested in the lifestyle.

Full-Time RVers Visit Las Vegas – Britney Spears “Piece of Me” Concert at The Axis in Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino

Britney Spears Piece Of Me Tour Las Vegas RV Travel Blog

Britney. Freaking. Spears.

I’ve only wanted to go to a Britney Spears concert since I was 8 years old.

Actually, when I was 8 years old, I wanted to BE Britney Spears. There’s video to prove that (below) with some less-than-impressive 8-year-old singing and choreography, too. I’ve always been *extremely* graceful. Just kidding. Not graceful. Not even close. Now that I’m thinking about it, why am I putting this video on the internet? Also, green corduroy overalls with matching hat – Britney would have never worn that.

So, I bought tickets and convinced my BFF to fly out to Vegas for the concert. It was everything 8-year-old me dreamed of and more. Not to mention, her Vegas residency ended just a few weeks after the concert we went to which makes this a story about a girl named Lucky (see what I did there ;).

PS. I know there is a lot of controversy about whether Britney Spears sings or not during her concerts. For once in my life, I didn’t care if someone was singing or not because it was Britney Spears – and she’s queen – she can do what she wants. PSS. She says she has a background vocal track playing and she sings along with it. PSSS. I still don’t care. She’s Britney Spears. She can do what she wants.