When Kirsten considers her five-year RV voyage, she recalls numerous occasions for celebration. The pair has witnessed the transformation of their dismal, grey RVs into vibrant, welcoming sanctuaries. By moving to a music-centric community, Devin has been able to advance his profession as a musician, according to Kirsten, and the pair can now go out with friends without worrying about their finances.
While there have been many positive experiences, Kirsten said that the pair has also made numerous blunders while living in a little home. Here are eight of their toughest roadblocks, how they could have avoided them, and what they’ve learned from traveling.
In 2021, Kirsten’s dog turned on a tap by accident, flooding their second RV. Now, she never departs without turning off the water fully.
In 2021, one of the couple’s canines created an unintended flood.
fifth wheel living/Instagram
Kirsten and Devin live with three dogs in their modest RV spaces. Kirsten left one day in 2021 and returned to a flooded RV, she said.
“That RV was flooded because my dog opened the faucet while I was away,” she explained.
Her insurance company deemed the flooded RV a total loss, and Devin and Kirsten subsequently acquired a new RV.
But, according to Kirsten, they learnt their lesson. Today, whenever either of them departs for an extended period of time, they fully turn off the water at their campground spigot.
Kirsten advised it regardless of whether you have pets because a pipe could rupture or a variety of other things could go wrong.
“If anything does occur, you won’t experience a catastrophic flood as we did,” she said.
Kirsten also advises prospective buyers to view the RV in person before to purchase, a lesson she learned the hard way.
Kirsten stated that she and her husband toured the most current RV they acquired.
fifth wheel living/Instagram
“One of our biggest blunders was not physically inspecting an RV before to purchase,” she stated.
When the couple decided to downsize and acquire a second RV, they viewed mock-up photographs and the layout online. Kirsten recalls the model selling out quickly, so she and her husband decided to purchase it before to seeing it in person.
Kirsten stated, “We’ll never repeat that.”
Kirsten stated that the web images made the space appear to be larger than 100 square feet, and they were unable to assess any manufacturing defects that may have happened with the RV.
Now, according to Kirsten, the couple purchases used RVs that they can view in person before to purchase.
This allows the Trouts to ask specific concerns regarding hookups and water damage, and they can “see what the last RV owner went through,” as she explained.
When Kirsten inspects prospective new RVs, she takes notes and recordings.
Kirsten Trout stated that she did not take enough notes during her first RV tour.
fifth wheel living/Instagram
When purchasing their first RV, according to Kirsten, they viewed numerous models with varying amenities and features.
Kirsten felt quite overwhelmed by the event, especially because she did not take enough notes throughout the tours.
She recalls RV retailers and owners requesting that she not record footage while visiting RVs. She complied and then proceeded to forget the RVs’ conveniences, connections, and features.
“It would have been good to actually have that walkthrough and be able to recall what the various RV components were utilized for,” she added.
For instance, if Kirsten had taken better notes on one of the tours, she wouldn’t have spent hours searching YouTube for a video on how to empty and clean the black tank, which holds all the sewage and was discussed on one of the trips, she said.
Now, she either insists on recording or takes notes so she doesn’t forget the specifics of a potential property, she explained.
When Kirsten initially began living in an RV, she had not yet mastered the art of “purging.”
A crowded counter in the RV of Kirsten Trout.
fifth wheel living/Instagram
In just a few hundred square feet of space, disorder quickly accumulates, according to Kirsten. Closets might begin to overflow, kitchen cupboards can become stuffed with food, and the décor can become overbearing.
When moving from an apartment to an RV, Kirsten initially believed she and her husband would be required to perform a one-time purge.
They disposed of the great bulk of their furniture, sold household belongings, and reduced the size of their closets.
However, she rapidly found that discarding goods such as clothing and decorations is an ongoing task. Kirsten stated that nearly five years later, she still regularly discards items to maximize her space.
“This week, I informed my husband that when he returns home, we will be discarding clothing,” she stated.
Now, Kirsten foregoes permanent upgrades in favor of renter-friendly alternatives.
Kirsten Trout used to paint and make permanent alterations to her RVs in the past, but now she depends on removable wallpaper and non-permanent DIY techniques.
fifth wheel living/Instagram
Kirsten and Devin renovated their first two RVs extensively before living in them. They removed cabinets, painted walls, and made other permanent alterations to their homes.
However, according to Kirsten, a few of these costly and time-consuming upgrades were occasionally a mistake. When they painted their second RV, for instance, Kirsten recalls the paint odors lingering in her home for days.
She stated that for her previous two RV restorations, she has prioritized basic DIY projects. She has replaced wet paint with removable wallpaper and nails with Command Hooks. This allows her to alter and refresh the space without causing damage to her property.
Kirsten stated that she will never again purchase an RV without a washer and dryer.
The washer and dryer setup in the RV of Kirsten Trout.
fifth wheel living/Instagram
The first three RVs that Kirsten and Devin inhabited lacked a washer and dryer.
However, their present RV offers this convenience, and Kirsten stated that she will never return to a life without it.
She stated, “I don’t know how I lived without a washer and dryer for so many years.”
Kirsten erroneously believed that living in a small space necessitated sacrificing amenities such as a fireplace and washing facilities, but she now understands that it’s all about compromise.
It may be necessary to have a smaller fireplace or give up some closet space, she noted, but you can still have a washer and dryer.
She wished she had discovered and joined the internet RV community earlier.
Kirsten Trout stated that she no longer fears asking questions.
fifth wheel living/Instagram
Today, Kirsten is not hesitant to ask any question of her TikTok fans or RV Facebook groups.
But when she first began living in an RV, she was unaware of the existence of these clubs. When she finally identified them, she revealed that she occasionally feared appearing foolish by asking simple questions.
She stated, “I’m more confident now.” “I’ve realized that one need not feel dumb. No question is foolish.”
In addition, she stated that everyone she has met in person or online is eager and happy to assist.
She stated, “I wish I had sought assistance from these groups years earlier.”