Chickery's Travels

Chickery's Travels logo. A blue-green Earth globe with continents surrounded by dots with an arrow denoting movement or travel and "Chickery's Travels" as part of the dotted circle. Next to this is a photo of their blue and white Arctic Fox 5th Wheel with the awning out.
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  • Campground Reviews
    • Alabama
      • Gunter Hill Campground (Montgomery, Alabama)
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      • Aspen Campground (Payson, Arizona)
      • LazyDays KOA (Tucson, Arizona)
      • Lost Dutchman State Park (Phoenix, AZ)
    • Arkansas
      • Catherine’s Landing (Hot Springs, Arkansas)
      • Downtown Riverside RV Park (Little Rock, Arkansas)
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      • Crescent City Redwoods KOA (Crescent City, California)
      • Sea Breeze RV Park (Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station)
    • Florida
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      • Blue Angel Naval Recreation Area (Pensacola, FL)
      • Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Southeast FL)
      • LazyDays RV Resort (Tampa, FL)
      • MacDill AFB FamCamp (Tampa, FL)
      • Patrick AFB FamCamp (Cocoa Beach, FL)
      • Rainbow Springs State Park & Campground (Ocala, FL)
      • Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness (Orlando, FL)
        • Halloween at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
        • Chickery’s Travels Podcast Episode 5: Fort Wilderness Campground Review
    • Maryland
      • Cherry Hill Park (College Park, Maryland)
    • Michigan
      • Port Huron KOA (Kimball, Michigan)
    • Nevada
      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
      • Boondocking Near Las Vegas
    • Oklahoma
      • Oklahoma City East KOA (Choctaw, Oklahoma)
    • Texas
      • Best Campgrounds in Texas
      • Alsatian RV Resort (Castroville, Texas)
      • Maverick Ranch (Lajitas, Texas)
      • Texas Wine Country Jellystone (Fredericksburg, Texas)
    • Tennessee
      • Crossville I-40 KOA (Crossville, TN)
      • Midway RV Park (Memphis, TN)
    • Virginia
      • Fort Belvoir Travel Camp (Alexandria, VA)
    • Washington
      • Crescent Bar RV Resort (Quincy, Washington)
  • USA
    • Arizona
      • Apache Trail: A Crazy, Scary, Beautiful Drive
      • Lost Dutchman State Park (Phoenix, Arizona)
      • Phoenix Faves
    • District of Columbia
      • Budget Friendly Fun in Washington D.C.
      • Favorite Hikes near Washington DC
      • Indoor Skydiving and TopGolf: Just Another Day of Family Fun!
    • Florida
      • Best Walt Disney World Festivals For Adults
      • Blowing Rocks Preserve – Jupiter Island, Florida
      • Bok Tower Gardens
      • Daytona Beach – The World’s Most Famous Beach
      • Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
      • Gasparilla – Tampa’s Pirate Invasion
      • 3 Days on the Nature Coast 
      • Florida Freshwater Springs on the Nature Coast
      • Halloween at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
      • Kennedy Space Center – Cape Canaveral
      • Island Hopping at Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks
      • Must See Sights in St. Augustine, FL – America’s Oldest City
      • Navy UDT-SEAL Museum – Fort Pierce, Florida
      • Rainbow Springs State Park & Campground (Ocala, Florida)
      • Sunny Sarasota
      • Tampa
        • Get Back to Nature in Tampa Bay
        • Take Me Out to the Ball Game – Spring Training in Tampa, FL
        • The 5 Best Beaches in the Tampa Bay Area
        • Why We Love Tampa
      • Tarpon Springs – The Gulf Coast Town with Greek Flavor
      • Top 5 Things to Do on Florida’s Space Coast
      • What Not to Do When Kayaking on the Weeki Wachee River
      • Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
    • Georgia
      • Visiting Atlanta? Don’t Miss These Civil Rights Museums
    • Illinois
      • One Day In The Windy City – Chicago Itinerary
    • Maine
      • Coastal Maine Vacation
      • Monhegan Island Maine
      • Two Days in Acadia National Park
    • Nevada
      • Planning an RV Trip to Nevada
      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
    • Tennessee
      • Burgess Falls: 3 For 1 Waterfall Special
      • National Civil Rights Museum – Memphis, TN
      • Window Cliffs, TN – I’m Not Afraid of Heights, But I am Afraid of Falling!
      • WWII History in Tennessee
    • Texas
      • Best Eats in Fredericksburg
      • Enjoy a Bird’s Eye View of Texas Hill Country
  • RV Resources
    • 3 Simple Steps to Find the Best RV Campgrounds
    • 5 Years Full-Time RV: Lessons Learned & Biggest Regret
    • Boondocking – What We Learned From Our First Dry Camping Experience
    • Tips for Boondocking Success
    • Essential RV Gear
      • Essential RV Gear Guide
      • DIY RV Power & Solar Upgrade
      • RV Must Have: Tire Pressure Monitoring System
      • RV SnapPads Product Review
      • RVLOCK Keyless Entry Door Handle Installation and Review
      • Shop “RV Local” With TechnoRV
      • Top RV Gadgets & Accessories
      • Internet Solution(s) for Full-Time RVers
    • Living in an RV
      • 9 Lessons From 2 1/2 Years on the Road
      • Biggest Regret Full-Time RV Living
      • Dealing with my Biggest Full-Time Travel Struggle, Missing Family While Traveling
      • Downsizing: 3 Areas That Make The Biggest Impact
      • Full-Time RV: 2019 Year in Review
      • Full-Time RV: 2018 Year in Review
      • Full-Time RV Travel – 2017 Year In Review
      • How Full-Time RVers Celebrate the Holidays
      • Living in a Tiny, Traveling Home
      • Making Friends (and reconnecting with old friends) While Traveling Full-Time
      • Pros & Cons of Full-Time RV Travel
      • Learn How to RV Full-Time
      • RV Organization & Storage Ideas
      • Short-Term RV Storage: Leaving The RV Behind
      • Top 3 Lessons Learned & Biggest Regret: 3 Years Full-Time RV Living
      • What We Wish We Knew Before Full-Time RVing
      • Why We Are Traveling Full-Time In Our RV
    • Maintenance Tips
      • DIY Power Upgrade – “Solar Ready” Arctic Fox Fifth Wheel
      • DIY RV Power & Solar Upgrade
      • Easy DIY Project to Protect Your RV Water System
      • An Easy Way to Protect Your RV Water Heater
      • Odor Free RV Black Tank Tips
      • RV Condensation: What It Is, What It Does, and How To Stop It
    • Must Read Books Before Becoming A Full-time RVer
    • RV Organization & Storage Ideas
    • RV Remodel
      • Planning an RV Remodel
      • RV Kitchen Cooking Videos
      • Painting Your RV Interior
      • Update the RV Kitchen – Backsplashes & More
      • Updating Your RV Window Treatments
      • RV Bedroom Makeover
      • RV Remodel Costs with Before & After Photos
    • RV Holiday Tour – Decorating Our Small Space
    • RV Hurricane Evacuation
    • RV Misery Can Be Overcome By The Generosity Of Others
    • Slow Travel
    • Small Kitchen Cooking
      • Cooking Videos
      • Eating Healthy on Travel Days
    • Staying Healthy
      • Traveling with Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and Other Chronic Pain Conditions
    • Trip Planning
    • Traveling with Pets
      • RVing with Your Cat
      • Traveling with Restricted Breed Dogs
    • Why I Prefer RV Travel Over Flying
  • Travel Finance
    • 5 Tips to Save on RV Travel
    • 5 Ways to Fund Full-Time Travel
    • Full-Time RV Expenses
      • Annual Full-Time RV Expenses – The Big Three
    • Five Credit Card Strategies To Improve Travel
    • How Much Do Campgrounds Cost?
    • How Much Does it Cost to RV Full-Time?
    • How to Camp for Free
    • How to Start a Profitable Blog
    • How to Save Money on RV Fuel Costs
    • How We Earn A Living While Traveling Full-Time (And How You Can Too)
    • How We Paid $139,000 of Debt in 2 Years While Full-Time RVing
    • Learn How to Finance Your Dreams
    • The Top 7 Ways to Save Money While Traveling Full-Time
    • Roadmap to Financial Freedom
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report April 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report May 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report June 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report July 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report August 2018
      • Roadmap to Financial Freedom: Accountability Report September/October 2018
    • RV Purchasing
      • Benefits of Renting an RV
      • Should I Buy A New or Used RV?
      • The True Cost of Financing an RV
      • Why You Should Attend An RV Show
      • Florida RV SuperShow 2018
    • Save Money Using the Public Library (On More Than Just Books)
  • Military Travel
    • Guide To Using Military Campgrounds
    • Health Care for Retired Military Full-Time RVers
    • Why Military Retirees Should Fly Space-A
  • Videos
  • About Us
    • RV Shows We’re Attending
    • Contact Us
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    • Why We Are Full-Time RVers

August 23, 2020 by Julie Chickery Leave a Comment

6 Years Full-Time RV: Lessons Learned

We can’t believe it has been over six years since we moved out of our 2,400+ square foot home and into a 44′ fifth wheel RV! In honor of this anniversary, we wanted to share our top 6 lessons learned and a couple of regrets.

We’ll share more lessons than regrets, because honestly the full-time RV life was really great. The few bumps in the road along the way made for good stories, and we were always able to correct course when needed.

Tune in below to watch this two part video series.

Don’t go yet!

Click one of the hyperlinks below to learn more about:

Why we’re traveling full-time in an RV.

How to find the means to live the life of your dreams with our Full-Time RV Finance.

Sean & Kenny’s podcast, Beyond the Wheel, highlighting the people & products that make RVing great.

We'll share our top lessons learned after six years of full-time RV living and traveling. These tips will help full-time RVers, as well as those who take extended trips or snowbird. They are applicable to all types of RVs from the largest motorhomes and fifth wheels to vans and tiny trailers.

Filed Under: Living in an RV, RV Resources Tagged With: full-time rv, full-time rv regrets, rv lessons learned, rv life, rv lifestyle, rv lifestyle full time, rv regrets

May 28, 2018 by Julie 10 Comments

Boondocking – What We Learned From Our First Dry Camping Experience

If you know anything about us, or have looked at our campground reviews you’ll know we are a little spoiled. We are glampers (RV Resort regulars), not campers. Actually we like to say we are LIVING in our RV, not camping. So what were we to do when we found ourselves in a no hook-up boondocking situation for 2 (long, very long) weeks?

Boondocking aka Dry Camping

If you haven’t heard the term before, boondocking refers to camping without hookups (power, water, sewer), and is also called dry camping. It is very popular in rural areas, thus the name boondocking.

We have started using a program called Harvest Hosts where you can stay for free at farms, wineries, breweries, and golf courses.

Our RV Equipment

First off since we don’t boondock, or even stay at partial (gasp!) hookup sites, we had to work with what we had. Folks who do this regularly have installed things like solar panels and composting toilets or other water conservation methods. We have an Onan gas generator and fairly large water tanks. In preparation we bought a portable poop wagon (more on that later).

Lesson #1: Don’t Do It In Texas in Late May

While it may not officially be summer for another month, we had highs over 100 degrees on several days. It was HOT! While we can run two air conditioners in our Fifth Wheel on the generator, it burns a lot of gas! We thought we were going to get away with just using a battery operated fan, but not in that heat. Friends tell me that boondocking in temperate climates is much more enjoyable.

Lesson #2: Lead Acid Batteries Aren’t The Best Choice For Boondocking

Your lead acid batteries may have a 100% charge, but you can’t use it all. In fact, it is not recommended to deplete them beyond 50%. If you have a residential refrigerator like we do, you might want to upgrade. We upgraded to Lithium BattleBorn batteries and couldn’t be happier! Secondary to this, we learned that our inverter can only power the refrigerator. This meant we had no other power source while sleeping and no means to charge the batteries. So we also upgraded the inverter and converter. Below is the first of a 4-part series of videos on our power upgrade.

Lesson #3: We Use A Lot Of Water

One of the most inconvenient parts of boondocking or dry camping is the lack of a water source. You can get an additional water bladder or just get an RV with larger tanks (like we recently did). Luckily our first foray into boondocking was at a county fairground, so we were able to fill our fresh water tank when needed.

We were warned that daily showering uses a lot of water. In fact, I’ve read several articles from regular boondockers that forgoing the daily shower is helpful. Not for us. We like our daily showers. In fact, I sometimes take more than one a day. For example, I shower after my workout/walk every morning. One day we went to the lake in the afternoon, so I showered again before bed. I did employ one technique for my showers that I don’t normally do. Some folks call it a “navy shower” where you get wet, turn off the water, lather up, turn back on the water to rinse. I didn’t love it, but it seemed to help a little.

I also filled up a bucket with the excess cold water while I was waiting for the water to warm up. Then we used that water to flush the toilet. i

Lesson #4: The Water Has To Go Somewhere

Access to fresh water is not the only reason to conserve. The other reason is that all the water you use has to go somewhere. We purchased a Thetford SmartTote2 Portable Waste Tank for this particular camping adventure. We used it once and didn’t love the process. Dumping from the RV into the portable system was simple, but going from it to the dump station sewer drain was not so easy. When you lift the hose show in the image below hose, there is no valve holding back the flow until you get it in the drain.

Thetford SmartTote2 Portable Waste Tank

We should have watched this video from Exploring the Local Life first. Robert explains how to overcome that particular challenge.

Will We Do It Again?

It really wasn’t so bad, and I think if we did it for a shorter period of time in a more temperate climate, we might even enjoy it. We’re going to take baby steps and check out some Corps of Engineer campgrounds with partial hookups.

UPDATE: WE DID IT AGAIN (AND AGAIN). CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE LESSONS LEARNED AND TIPS. 

Recommended Products To Improve Your Boondocking Experience

These are affiliate links, meaning if you purchase anything we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Lessons learned from our first dry camping or boondocking experience. Read the tips, hacks, and ideas for power and water. We also share how we coo in our trailer, along with some recipes and other ideas for food.  We shae many other tips for RV life and camping in motorhomes, fifth wheels, travel trailers, and campers.

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Filed Under: RV Resources Tagged With: boondocking, boondocking camping, boondocking rv, boondocking tips, camping without hookups, chickerys travels, dry camping, free camping, full time rv living, full time rv living in a fifth wheel, full time rving, full-time rv, off grid rv, rv life, rv lifestyle, rv lifestyle full time, RV Living, rv living cheap, rv living full time, rv living full time off grid

May 15, 2018 by Julie 4 Comments

RV Remodel Costs with Before & After Photos

If you’re thinking of remodeling your RV or even just sprucing it up a bit, you know it can be costly. We tried to stick to a budget during the process. In this article I’ll share our itemized costs, as well as a few tips for saving money.

Before & After Video

Want to skip the article and cut to the chase? Watch this short 3 minute video where we briefly discuss the costs and share before & after views of the RV.

RV Remodel Costs

Below I’ll explain what we accomplished during our mini RV renovation and makeover with the cost by category.

Paint

The first step to brightening up our RV was to paint over the beige and brown wallpaper. I used two coats of Glidden Gripper Primer and two coats of Glidden paint in eggshell finish. I also painted the wood trim on our valances with Glidden paint in satin finish. The total cost for the primer, paint, and paint supplies (brushes, pans, tape, drop cloth): $106.

Click here to see my article on Painting Over RV Wallpaper.

Curtains

The next step was to make no sew curtains. I purchased fabric shower curtains and used heat bond tape to shorten the hem. I also used fabric shower curtains to cover the sliding glass door over the deck in our toy hauler and the loft space. I needed 5 fabric shower curtains for the project. The total cost for the curtains, tension rods, and rings: $150.

Click here to read my post on options for Updating RV Window Treatments. It includes a tutorial on making no sew curtains and other inexpensive options.

Backsplash

Check out these ideas for a simple RV kitchen remodel or makeover. Simple things like paint and a new backsplash can truly transform your small space!

The backsplash that came with our RV was metallic brown and was falling down. Since the RV kitchen is really in the main living area, I decided I wanted to create a focal point with my new backsplash. I painted the panel pieces I purchased a bright teal that was also in my new curtains. Cost of new backsplash tiles (I already had the paint and supplies): $80.

Click here to see pictures of my changes, as well as other options to renovate your RV kitchen.

Décor

After painting and adding curtains, I purchased some decorative items to provide some pops of color. This included a new cutting board, wall art, rope trim, and more. I could have saved here, by making some simple DIY items, but I got a little carried away shopping. Total cost of new décor: $251.

Furniture

Changing out your RV furniture is easier than you think! It's a great way to makeover your small space and make it work for you!

The most expensive part of our overall RV remodel was the furniture. We originally had a long brown 5-cushion sofa. I didn’t like it because half of it was directly across from the kitchen area. I decided to replace with recliners and a drop leaf dining table with chairs. After extensive shopping for recliners, we decided to purchase theater seating from Camping World for $1,755. It includes two electric recliners (with heat and massage) separated by a center console.  I purchased the perfect sized drop leaf table from Ikea for only $140. Finally, a friend of mine was selling two chairs she was replacing for only $60. Total cost of new furniture: $1,955.

Total Cost of Living Room/Kitchen Area Remodel: $2,542

While this may seem like a lot of money for such a small area, it really made it more functional for us. There are several ways to save money and achieve a very similar remodel. I’ve listed them below.

Ways to Save on an RV Remodel

Coupons & Sales

One tip that my friend and design consultant, Lisa Brown of Always on Liberty shared with me was to use coupons. You can find these the traditional way by getting a local Sunday paper and going through the sales flyers, but an easier way is to download the stores’ apps. Every store we shopped at had an app that provided coupons and notified you of sales. Most of them provided a special one-time coupon for downloading the app as well regular weekly coupons.

In addition to coupons, most stores have a bargain bin or special sales rack for things they no longer stock. When I went shopping with Lisa this is the first place she looked for items. Keep a list of things you’re looking for with measurements so you can be ready to jump on those good deals! My main problem here was being impatient. I wanted everything right away. Lisa was much smarter about her RV makeover and waited until an item was on sale to purchase it.

DIY

Another way to save money on an RV makeover is by making your own décor. There are so many fabulous tutorials on Pinterest if you are looking for ideas. For example, I could have saved more money by purchasing fabric using coupons and making my own curtains, but I fell in love with the fabric shower curtains that I ultimately used.

Furniture

As I mentioned above, our biggest ticket item was the tricked-out theater seats that Sean picked. Originally I had selected a similar option for only $599 (a savings of $956), but they were manual. Seeing how Sean is still working while we are traveling full-time (click here to read about how we earn an income on the road), we decided we could afford to splurge on this big ticket item.

Design Help

One of my favorite websites is RV Inspiration. It is filled with tons of ideas to help make your RV feel more like home. I was totally inspired by her article, Beach Themed RV Makeovers. She also has a fabulous book on RV organization and storage called Create Space From Thin Air: Ideas For Adding Storage To Your RV. This full-color, 36-page e-book will help you discover new potential storage space in your RV or tiny home! With over 75 color photos and 60+ ideas for storing and organizing, you cannot go wrong here.

Create Space From Thin Air: Tips and Tricks for Organizing Your Camper, RV, or Trailer. Filled with color photographs of numerous RV organization ideas.The book includes:

  • Ideas for adapting solutions to fit your needs
  • Ways to make use of vertical space for storage
  • Tips for finding and utilizing empty space
  • Ideas for modifying furniture and built-in spaces to add extra storage
  • Step-by-step action plan to help you discover the best storage solutions for your space

Sharing is caring! Feel free to share the image below on Pinterest. 

See the before and after of our RV remodel on a budget! Includes a full listing of costs for this minor RV renovation and interior makeover. Get ideas for your DIY RV makeover for the living room and kitchen to include new furniture, paint, curtains, backsplash, and more! I also provide tips and tricks for updating your RV interior. #RVremodel #RVmakeover #BudgetMakeover

Filed Under: RV Remodel Tagged With: camper remodel, camper remodel ideas, camper renovation, renovated rv, RV, RV interior makeover costs, rv life, rv life full time, rv lifestyle, rv living full time, RV makeover, RV Makeover on a budget, RV remodel, rv remodel before and after, RV remodel costs, rv remodel ideas, rv remodel tour, RV renovation, rv renovation before and after, RV Renovation costs, rv renovation diy, rv renovation ideas, rv renovation on a budget, rv renovation tour, travel trailer living, travel trailer tips and tricks

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