TLDR;
Eva zu Beck explores the world of RV life in a 40-foot RV, contrasting it with her usual minimalist overlanding style. She navigates the challenges of driving and managing a large RV, experiences the comforts and conveniences it offers, and compares it to her truck, Odyssey. Ultimately, while she appreciates the RV experience, she prefers the freedom and flexibility of her truck for adventurous travel.
- Driving a 40-foot RV presents unique challenges, including manoeuvring and highway driving.
- RV parks offer amenities but come with a significant cost.
- RV life provides comfort and convenience, but lacks the freedom of overlanding in a smaller vehicle.
Introduction to RV Life [0:00]
Eva introduces her new 40-foot RV, a vehicle type common in the USA but rare in Europe. Despite her preference for minimalist camping and overlanding, she aims to understand the appeal of RV life, especially with her truck currently undergoing repairs. She invites viewers to follow her journey as she navigates the challenges and quirks of this all-American version of camping.
Driving the Giant [0:49]
Eva faces the initial challenge of driving the massive RV, which requires no special license despite its size. She practices turning in the lot, highlighting the difficulty of manoeuvring such a large vehicle. Insurance for the two-day rental cost $550. After some practice, she decides to brave the highway, noting the overwhelming awareness of the vehicle's size and the feeling of everything else being tiny.
RV Park Experience [3:31]
Eva drives 50 miles to an RV park suitable for large rigs, as wild camping is not an option due to the RV's size. She mentions that RV holidays are increasingly popular, with 25 million Americans RVing annually, but the cost can be high, with her class of RV averaging $400,000 to buy. She arrives at the KOA campsite, which costs $160 for two nights, including amenities like electricity, water, sewage disposal, a pool, and internet.
Exploring the RV [4:59]
Eva expresses her fascination with slide outs, which expand the living space of the RV. She demonstrates how to connect the RV to the park's utilities, including electricity and water, deferring the sewage disposal task. She observes the names of other RVs in the park, noting their themes of dreamy locations and adventure. She also promotes her Patreon page, where she shares behind-the-scenes content from her videos.
Gourmet Dinner and RV Comforts [8:17]
Eva highlights the convenience of having a full kitchen in the RV, complete with a gas stove, microwave, and sink. She prepares a "gourmet" dinner of powdered mashed potatoes and spinach. Later, she enjoys reading and plays a word game in the spacious interior. She notes that the bedroom is larger than her entire truck and appreciates the comfort, despite the stressful learning curve of driving and setting up the RV.
RV Tour and Meeting Full-Time RVers [10:33]
Eva goes for a run, using a borrowed truck as RV is too big to drive to the trailhead, and enjoys a warm shower in the RV. She gives a tour of the RV, showcasing the cockpit, living space, kitchen, full-size shower, bathroom with a remote-controlled bidet, and bedroom. She also points out the washing machine, a rare feature. She then meets Kathy and Mike, a couple who lived in an RV full-time for five years, who share their experiences and insights into the RV lifestyle, highlighting the freedom it offers.
Preparing for Departure and Sewage Disposal [15:49]
Eva prepares the RV for departure, which involves retracting the slide outs. She then faces the unpleasant task of cleaning out the sewage water. The process is fraught with leaks and bad smells, reinforcing her aversion to this aspect of RV life.
Refuelling and Final Thoughts [17:43]
Eva fills up the RV at a truck stop, due to its size, and is shocked by the cost of fuel, spending $137 to cover just 90 miles. Despite appreciating the comfort and convenience of the RV, she concludes that she prefers the freedom and flexibility of her truck, Odyssey, for adventurous travel. She looks forward to returning to the mountains in her truck.