ridesnvibes22
May 5, 20231 min read
Meet Clyde!🐾
Clyde is a Staffordshire Terrier, aka Pitbull. He is 6 years old and loves to play tug-o-war, go for hikes, pull Colton on his skateboard...
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Welcome to RidesnVibes!
If you build your life around RV travel or want to… you’re in the right place. We are here to add to the exploration and inspire your next journey, through our adventures and experience.
Home: Welcome
FULL-TIME RV FAMILY
Riding & Vibing
Long gone are the days of waiting all year for one week of freedom. Like many people we know, the monotony, depression and boredom was setting in after the pandemic. We were in search of something more. Our family has gone through significant hardships and tragedy and the time was ‘now’ to change our way of life!
We started RidesnVibes_ in 2022 with the goal of inspiring others to travel in a way that’s both thrilling and meaningful. In June of 2022, we sacrificed everything we owned to ride and vibe the USA, via our tiny home on wheels. We currently own a 2022 Jayco North Point 377RLBH and 2022 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax diesel. The downsize was 2,000 square feet and we couldn’t be happier.
We like to think of ourselves as explorers, charting the path for our followers. Our hope is that this blog can help make your next travel experience the best one yet.
Pictured: Jayme (Dad), Meg (Mom), Colton (teen), Addie (preteen) and not shown is Clyde (dog).
Home: Our Motivation
Home: Planning and research phase
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Home(s)
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Home(s)
GET INSPIRED TO MAKE THE CHANGE!
Where to start? We wondered the same thing and it took a leap of faith to make it all happen. We went from a big house to a tiny home on wheels. We will talk more about the steps necessary to free yourself of the “stuff” and do more with less. If we can, you can too!
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research, plan, research, plan
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research, plan, research, plan
PLANNING STAGE
Sell what you own or keep for income?
We decided to sell, because we didn’t want to worry about house maintenance while on the road. Many other families have kept their house and rent it out, (Airbnb, VRBO, etc) for another source of income. This is a great idea and it works out for many people. We have the opportunity to work remotely, so the income wasn’t a big concern for us. It’s a personal choice and needs attention, because once it’s gone- it’s gone.
We completed all the steps to sell our home and it worked out well, as the market was at its peak. Our profit has provided us the financial security to purchase the RV and truck, with a savings that allows us to travel freely. If that is not an option for you… that’s okay! There are SO MANY opportunities to make money on the road! Remote jobs are everywhere now and the beauty is that you don’t need a huge income to sustain this lifestyle… especially if you plan ahead and join programs to save along the way. Don’t get me wrong, RV living isn’t cheap BUT it can be much less than a mortgage and utilities.
So, you decided to sell everything? It’s very overwhelming at first, physically and emotionally. We sorted through what to keep, donate, sell and store. Once we made the decisions, it was time to get it moving.
We started this process in February, in Massachusetts. YIKES, haha! Facebook marketplace was our best tool! We sold and advertised most of our belongings that way and had estate sales for 5 weekends in a row. We donated a lot of things to charity and local communities, which made us feel good. We sold our boat and vehicle to close friends and we were in good shape at that point!
In the meantime, we met with our realtor and started the selling process. You know… appraisals, repairs, cleaning and re-cleaning for showings and the open house. Our house sold very quickly and it made the process much easier.
...Okay, now to align the closing date with a move out date and oh yea, we NEED an RV and truck!
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So many RV's
RV-Park
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So many RV's
THE RV MARKET
This is where things can be tricky, Motorhome or camper? Fifth wheel or travel trailer? We honestly didn’t know the difference between any of it and it was like a different language at first! Don’t worry, you’ll learn quick!
First thing we did was talk to our friends that had RVs. We then searched online for HOURS, and I mean hours! We attended local RV shows and stepped inside some of our favorites. This is a personal choice and every make, model and floor plan needs research, just like a house. There are many resources to learn about this and I would also recommend you follow some RV families on social media to get a better idea of what you need.
Listen, RVs are NOT cheap and we all know they depreciate immediately, so do the work and ask the people. All RVs are manufactured quickly and with cheap materials, despite the price tag! Things will go wrong and repairs WILL be necessary along the journey. More to come on that subject!
Many people would advise you and your family “test-drive” RVs and see if you even like it. You could certainly ask someone you know with an RV or rent one. That is a great suggestion, and you should. We didn’t. 😅
We decided on a fifth wheel; (2022 Jayco North Point 377RLBH)
1. for added safety on the road while towing
2. the needed space for a family of 4 with a dog
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Truck & Hitch
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Truck & Hitch
LET’S TALK TRUCKS AND HITCHES
Once you’ve chosen the perfect RV, it’s time for a tow vehicle! There are many considerations in choosing the correct truck for your RV. Basically, the bigger the RV=the bigger the truck. You need to know the RV specifications, including gross weight and potential cargo weight. Research truck make and models thoroughly.
*Important things to consider; towing capacity, payload capacity, bed length, DRW vs SRW (dually or not) and fuel type. We highly recommend you discuss this with your RV and truck dealer. Don’t forget about comfort of riding, room inside the cab and storage.
We chose a 2022 GMC Sierra Denali 3500HD Duramax diesel with regular bed length. She is a BEAST and we call her Bonnie! 😎
Hitches are confusing, but basically the RV dealer can help you decide what will be suitable and safe for your rig and truck. There are sliding hitches, Gooseneck and ball hitches, (aka bumper pull). Fifth wheels require either a sliding or Gooseneck hitch. The big take home here is know your pin weight! That will determine what is safe to use for the weight of your RV and hitch.
We decided on a Demco Recon sliding GVWR 25k hitch. This allows for a greater turning radius, ensuring your RV doesn’t take out your back window!
Don’t make the same mistake we did and order a hitch online (to save money)… it wasn’t the right one and we were scrambling on departure day to find the right hitch!
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Work on the road
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Work on the road
ROAD WORK & INCOME
As we mentioned before, there are several ways to make money while traveling. This is probably the #1 most frequently asked question we get as full timers.
Meg is a nurse and can easily work remotely or do travel nursing work. However, there are MANY options and don’t let this one thing stop you, because it is possible to find work!
Check out the links below for some resources:
https://dailyremote.com/remote-work-blog/remote-jobs-to-do-while-travelling/amp/
https://www.happyvagabonds.com/
https://workampingjobs.com/workampingjobs.php
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Learning as we go
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Learning as we go
SCHOOLING ON THE ROAD
Have school aged kids? No sweat! Let’s assume the conversations were had and your kids are ready to hit the road. There are many options for education while traveling. Depending on your residency and mailing address, there are online charter schools for each state. We chose this route, because we still have a MA address and return home often. If this is of interest, check with your brick and mortar school staff and they will know how to direct you.
Here is a list of documents you may need for enrollment:
Students birth certificate
Proof of residency; (utility bills, property taxes, mortgage etc)
Student health examination & immunizations
Student report card/transcripts
Guardian ID
*Some school enrollments are based on a lottery system, so early inquiry is key!
Other options are; home/road schooling with a specific curriculum. (There are online resources to develop your own or purchase them).
Either way, let’s be real…. There is far more learning by experience through travel, than via textbook and computers. Check out some of our photos- it’s been a learning adventure! The kids have been enriched by history, culture environmental issues and more.
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