Is it an RV dream or an RV nightmare?
For us, it started as a dream in 2015 — and it’s safe to say, it’s become our full-time reality. And we love it!
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RV Dreams
Our RV journey started with a simple question: What would it be like to live a life of travel?
Lisa and I would ask that every year during our “Long Vacation.” We dreamed of visiting National Parks, relaxing at the beach, and waking up in the mountains — all with our two chocolate labs by our side.
But let’s be honest — tent camping in our 40s was starting to wear thin. The ground gets harder, and those early mornings get stiffer. So we started looking at RVs. A lot of RVs. From Travel Trailers to 5th Wheels to Class A, B, and C motorhomes — it was a dizzying rabbit hole.
How Much Will Our Dream Cost?
The motorhome we chose — a Thor Challenger 37YT — had an MSRP north of $200,000. But don’t ever pay sticker price on an RV. After a lot of research, we negotiated 28.6% off MSRP, which was a win in our book.
Since we’re not independently wealthy (surprise!), we financed the RV. The process was smoother than buying a house, but more detailed than buying a car.
Should We Sell or Rent Our Home?
We spent hours debating this one.
- Refinance? Tempting, but risky.
- Rent it? Sounds stable, but not simple.
- Sell it? That’s what we did.
In the end, selling our home gave us a strong down payment and peace of mind. No juggling mortgage + RV payments. No long-distance landlord duties.
Where Should We Go?
Everywhere! That was the first answer. But realistically, we focused on National Parks.
We’ve visited nearly 100 National Park units, and every journey has led to hidden gems — state parks, historic sites, and quirky roadside attractions. That’s the beauty of this lifestyle: the freedom to explore whatever calls your name.
Some of our favorite types of places to visit include:
- Hidden hikes and slot canyons
- Off-the-beaten-path towns
- Dog-friendly trails and beaches
- Scenic drives and epic photo spots
If you’ve got a recommendation — we’re all ears!
Turning Dreams Into Reality
As we closed on the sale of our house and downsized our lives into an RV, it became a reality. It’s wild how much “stuff” you realize you don’t need when you’re chasing freedom instead of square footage.
We eventually found the perfect Thor Challenger 37YT — featuring a blue Nassau exterior to match our Jeep, a Glacier Park interior, and Pacific cabinets. It was everything we wanted without compromising.
That decision — to wait for the right one instead of settling — was a game changer
Final Thoughts
Our RV dream didn’t happen overnight. It took planning, sacrifice, spreadsheets, and soul-searching. But here we are, living full-time on the road and sharing the journey one stop at a time.
We’d love to hear your story. Are you dreaming of RV life? Already living it? Got questions or unique travel spots we should check out?
Drop a comment below — we’d love to connect.
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