RVing Archives - Page 3 of 9 - The New Lighter Life

Challenges of RVing with Kids

February 2014

“How hard is it really to do the RV-thing with a family?” I get this question (and all sorts of variations) several times a month from blog readers and friends. ...

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RV Countertops ~ The Options

January 2014

Previously, we updated our RV countertops with countertop paint. That didn’t go so well, which I wrote about here. We’re ready to do some more work on our counter. Today ...

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Travel Trailer, Motorhome, or 5th Wheel ~ Which is Best for Families

December 2013

When we set out on our full-time RV, we explored all the options for what would be best for our family of 6. Each particular RV type has pros and ...

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7 Tips for Using a Laundromat

December 2013

Using a communal laundromat has some obvious challenges. After a year and a half of dealing with the laundry monster via a laundromat, I’ve come away with some tricks up ...

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Toilet Paper Test Save Money on RV or Septic Safe

Best Toilet Paper for RV- How to Save Money

December 2013

Today’s post is getting into the nitty-gritty of RVing and discussing the best toilet paper for RV. If you’ve ever priced RV-specific toilet paper, you’ll know that it’s pretty much ...

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The Big Detour to a House

December 2013

Today’s post has been difficult for me to formulate. I’ve pondered this one for over a month now and haven’t figured out exactly how to share this bit of news ...

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Moving on Up…Errr…Over

December 2013

I’ve been on a huge blogging break. An unintentional one really, but life happens. We’ve been busy. Actually too busy! I won’t go into all that but I wanted to ...

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The Easy Way to Touch Up Paint

October 2013

If you’ve been following along with our blog, you’ll notice a trend. Embarrassingly, I’ve admitted over and over again that we have some open projects to complete. One of those ...

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Small Kitchen Tools and Equipment

October 2013

Living in a camper and prepping meals for a family of 6, has been an adventure. If you’re faced with a small kitchen space, this post will help you not ...

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One Year RV Anniversary - The Big lessons our family of 6 learned

Our First RV Anniversary

October 2013

One year ago, we sold nearly everything that we owned and moved our family of 6 into a 300 square foot RV. What a trip! In celebration this monumentous ...

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8 responses to “Challenges of RVing with Kids”

latrecia

March 2014

We are a full time RV family of 5! Our RV is smaller than yours but we’ve found several ways to make it work for us. I LOVE how you’ve decorated your rig!

Julie

March 2014

Thank you Latrecia! Best wishes on your RVing adventures!

Reply

niina

August 2015

we are planning a year travelling around Australia in a converted bus with our four kids under 8. Im looking for all the help in planning. this post was very helpful. thankyou!! it hasent deterred me but will help me plan for the challenges.

Julie

October 2015

That’s right Nina! Knowledge is power! Hope you guys have a blast!

Reply

Julie

October 2015

Yes we shopped a minimum of once a week when we had the RV. It was tough to keep fresh produce and we couldn’t bulk shop (something we had always done before). It can be done, just an added challenge.

Amanda R

December 2015

I’m thinking of taking my two kids around the US alone. My hubs is stuck in one location with his job, but I’m a photographer so I am location independent. I’m a little nervous about traveling alone with a 2 and 4 year old, but it’s been a dream of mine for years. I’m in the planning stages now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated’1

Julie

January 2016

I don’t know how to advise you Amanda. I know it is a dream of yours but I personally could not imagine undertaking traveling the US with little ones without my husband. It is almost always the very best for families to be together. My one recommendation for you would be to see if you can find a way to do it together, with your husband. Career change for him? Or maybe wait a few years and work toward that career change.

Reply
Regina

September 2016

Let me tell you a little about our experience. We moved from a 2100 sqft house that was my dream house. Granite, slate and travertine throughout. Floor to ceiling stone fireplace in CA. I was not happy to move into a camper in KY with 3 kids 1-5. Not to mention one that wasn’t taken care of and lived in for a year with 4 kids by previous owners. We put it on a piece of land with electric, sewer, and city water in place. The rain that summer was the worst locals had seen in a long time as well as the winter. There were times the winds were so high (on top of a hill) that the camper was rocking. We feared it rolling down the hill. My husband had to go out and tie it down with heavy anchors. Every 2 weeks the toilet would smell to high heaven and he would have to bring in a hose to clean it out. Pipes froze in the winter. Went 3 days without water. When I pipe burst on the back of the toilet he had to replum it. The lock broke so we couldn’t get in one day and he had to replace that. The walls sweated so badly in the winter that many things mildewed. We found that putting plastic film over them helped along with buying a dehumidifier and storing bowls with strainers and rock salt in cabinets, storage areas and under furniture to absorb the moisture. Homeschooling was hard for all the reasons Julie mentioned. Nap times were non existent for the same reasons I couldn’t send my 3 and 5 year old out alone and rock a baby to sleep. Lots of filthy wet, muddy, urine soaked laundry piled up till we could get to the laundromat which was pricy and rough with 3 littles. So I say all this to shine some light on the challenges you may face that will be that much harder traveling without your husband. And don’t forget, traveling and not parking for extended time means possible vehicle trouble, flat tires and such. Kids have to go everywhere with you since you have no one to let them stay with. Gas stations, potty, stores. I’m not trying to talk you out of it, but I personally hated my husband for the year we lived in the camper. I felt like he ignored my protests of how much I knew I couldn’t do it before he bought it. I hated being cooped up in bad weather with streaking little people under foot (headphones and iPod helps btw, LOL). I felt like I missed out on so much. That my kids lacked room to be kids. Room for their toys. I felt like I lost a year of my life. I’m claustrophobic so I know that played a role in my woes. I also was made to live in a camper for a year when I was a kid in a family of 7. My parents just married, each having 2 of their own and a new baby together. Life with steps that I barely knew and cramped in tight quarters made me loath ever living that way. Just keep in mind it’s not all rainbows. I know people who are doing it or have done it and were and are fine with it. I’m not that person. Good luck. I hope you are able to plan ahead and make it an enjoyable experience. If it becomes too much you can always return home to hubby ? Maybe make it shorter trips if you have to ?

Reply

latrecia

March 2014

We are a full time RV family of 5! Our RV is smaller than yours but we’ve found several ways to make it work for us. I LOVE how you’ve decorated your rig!

1. Julie
  
  March 2014
  
  Thank you Latrecia! Best wishes on your RVing adventures!
  
niina

August 2015

we are planning a year travelling around Australia in a converted bus with our four kids under 8. Im looking for all the help in planning. this post was very helpful. thankyou!! it hasent deterred me but will help me plan for the challenges.

1. Julie
  
  October 2015
  
  That’s right Nina! Knowledge is power! Hope you guys have a blast!
  
Julie

October 2015

Yes we shopped a minimum of once a week when we had the RV. It was tough to keep fresh produce and we couldn’t bulk shop (something we had always done before). It can be done, just an added challenge.

Amanda R

December 2015

I’m thinking of taking my two kids around the US alone. My hubs is stuck in one location with his job, but I’m a photographer so I am location independent. I’m a little nervous about traveling alone with a 2 and 4 year old, but it’s been a dream of mine for years. I’m in the planning stages now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated’1

1. Julie
  
  January 2016
  
  I don’t know how to advise you Amanda. I know it is a dream of yours but I personally could not imagine undertaking traveling the US with little ones without my husband. It is almost always the very best for families to be together. My one recommendation for you would be to see if you can find a way to do it together, with your husband. Career change for him? Or maybe wait a few years and work toward that career change.
  
2. Regina
  
  September 2016
  
  Let me tell you a little about our experience. We moved from a 2100 sqft house that was my dream house. Granite, slate and travertine throughout. Floor to ceiling stone fireplace in CA. I was not happy to move into a camper in KY with 3 kids 1-5. Not to mention one that wasn’t taken care of and lived in for a year with 4 kids by previous owners. We put it on a piece of land with electric, sewer, and city water in place. The rain that summer was the worst locals had seen in a long time as well as the winter. There were times the winds were so high (on top of a hill) that the camper was rocking. We feared it rolling down the hill. My husband had to go out and tie it down with heavy anchors. Every 2 weeks the toilet would smell to high heaven and he would have to bring in a hose to clean it out. Pipes froze in the winter. Went 3 days without water. When I pipe burst on the back of the toilet he had to replum it. The lock broke so we couldn’t get in one day and he had to replace that. The walls sweated so badly in the winter that many things mildewed. We found that putting plastic film over them helped along with buying a dehumidifier and storing bowls with strainers and rock salt in cabinets, storage areas and under furniture to absorb the moisture. Homeschooling was hard for all the reasons Julie mentioned. Nap times were non existent for the same reasons I couldn’t send my 3 and 5 year old out alone and rock a baby to sleep. Lots of filthy wet, muddy, urine soaked laundry piled up till we could get to the laundromat which was pricy and rough with 3 littles. So I say all this to shine some light on the challenges you may face that will be that much harder traveling without your husband. And don’t forget, traveling and not parking for extended time means possible vehicle trouble, flat tires and such. Kids have to go everywhere with you since you have no one to let them stay with. Gas stations, potty, stores. I’m not trying to talk you out of it, but I personally hated my husband for the year we lived in the camper. I felt like he ignored my protests of how much I knew I couldn’t do it before he bought it. I hated being cooped up in bad weather with streaking little people under foot (headphones and iPod helps btw, LOL). I felt like I missed out on so much. That my kids lacked room to be kids. Room for their toys. I felt like I lost a year of my life. I’m claustrophobic so I know that played a role in my woes. I also was made to live in a camper for a year when I was a kid in a family of 7. My parents just married, each having 2 of their own and a new baby together. Life with steps that I barely knew and cramped in tight quarters made me loath ever living that way. Just keep in mind it’s not all rainbows. I know people who are doing it or have done it and were and are fine with it. I’m not that person. Good luck. I hope you are able to plan ahead and make it an enjoyable experience. If it becomes too much you can always return home to hubby ? Maybe make it shorter trips if you have to ?