Since we started the Blog it has been a race to keep up with posting photos of where we’ve been, but the other half of the blog is to share what we learn in the hope that it may be helpful to someone else.

1. Internet; is the cornerstone of being a Nomad these days. It’s not only important for planning our trips but for finding parts or repair shops in places we’ve never been. We currently have a 3GB hotspot on Darla’s Iphone, mostly we relay on WIFI at the RV campgrounds we stay at. Campground WIFI has come a long way in the last couple of years, and for right now its working well but its something we’re always looking at for a better way that’s affordable. Example; We pulled into our current campground and started leveling our 5th wheel so we could disconnect the truck from the 5th wheel when we noticed that the right side front landing gear was not operating therefore we could not disconnect from the truck. We got online and found an RV parts house in Kalispell MT 18 miles away that had the part. Next we went online to see if it was something we could do ourselves in the campground and it turned out it was. Our neighbors are also full timers who also had to go to Kalispell to pick up a part for their 5th wheel and offered me a ride to town to get the part. It took about 1 hour to replace the landing gear and disconnect the truck. Which leads to our next topic the RV Community.
2. RV Community; the RV community reminds me of the old days when neighbors helped you rebuild your barn because you were all in together. Online or in person most RV’er are willing to share information or their help if they can. Example; the example above is not the first time a fellow RV’er has come to our rescue. When we first bought our 5th wheel we had no idea how level and disconnect it. We went online and try to find information on the subject but really couldn’t find any step by step help so we started trying to disconnect the truck and trailer. I know we must have looked pretty lost because before long one of our neighbors showed up and asked if we needed help? He was kind enough to show us how to level and disconnect trailer. In return we try to make ourselves available to help when ever possible.
3. Leveling your RV; leveling your RV is important so your refrigerator works properly (an out of level refrigerator can be a fire hazard)  but also because if your not level the water in your shower can run away from the drain and pool in your shower. Also may create leaks around your shower because the water is going places it won’t go if you were level. Example; Last year we were in a camp site that was so unlevel, the best level we could get was 2% out of level. That was fine for the refrigerator but not so good for the shower. The shower started leaking on the floor from the seam between the glass side panels and the shower pan. Being that we were going to be in this site for a week I got some caulk, re-caulk the shower and let it dry for 24 hours problem solved.
4. Water Pressure and Water; Normally we are hooked to city water in an RV campground and water pressures vary dramatically. Most parks will not assume liability for damage to your rig from high water pressure or anything else for that matter (electrical surge, fallen trees, etc.). So it’s up to us to make sure the pressure is right for our 5th wheel. We have a regulator with a gauge and we have a regulator without a gauge that we used to keep the water pressure at the right level. The regulator are readily available online or at your local store in their RV section. No matter how hard we try one will always get by you. Example; We pull in to our camp site in Cedar City Utah and start our routine to level and hook up the water when I realize that the water pressure is off the charts high. The water is controlled by a handle and when the handle is up it’s on and when it’s down it’s off.  

We set the water pressure and everything seem find until we woke up in the morning and found water inside the 5th wheel in the kitchen. During the night apparently the handle move up in the full on position which was to much pressure for the water inlet on the side of the 5th wheel which leaked into the kitchen. So we decided that if we have a similar situation in the future to simply turn the water when we go to bed. Fortunately there was no damage to the 5th wheel.

Water and cold temperatures; water in the lines of your RV can freeze if the temperatures get to cold which can split your water lines and cause leaks when they warm up. Example; We pulled into our camp site in Deer Lodge MT and we got the 5th wheel hooked up and later that night we checked the overnight low for the area and saw it was going to be 34 degrees. Because it wasn’t going to drop below 32 degrees we didn’t shut the water off and drain the lines before we went to bed. But as luck would have it the temperature dropped to some where around 28 degrees and we woke up to frozen water lines. Once we realized the lines were frozen we turned off the water to the 5th wheel and fired up the furnace to heat the water lines and yet again a lesson learned without damage to the 5th wheel.

Our last thought is that the full time RV life style is an adventure that contains beautiful places, challenges, and an opportunity to learn more about yourself. But after all it is still life and we believe that Life is a Game of progress, not Perfection!