My insights from an unforgettable RV adventure, and why it was still enjoyable

During a challenging 96-hour journey last week, my brand-new RV developed a roof leak, my son had a mishap on a campground playground that resulted in a broken arm, and my shiny 2020 Ram 1500 was damaged while parked at my campsite. Yet, by the time we returned home, my thoughts on the trip were, "I can’t wait to go camping again!" What transpired, and what lessons did I take away from this tumultuous week? Let’s explore.

Enjoying the valuable lessons of being an RV beginner

Since early May, I have been deeply engrossed in learning everything I can about recreational vehicles and towing. Despite all the studying and preparations, I have repeatedly heard from the larger RV community that there will inevitably be challenges and setbacks along the way.

RVs are intricate machines that function like homes on wheels. They house nearly every system found in a typical house while traveling at speeds exceeding 60 mph. Despite your best preparations, things are bound to go awry, and I experienced just that on the first day of our journey.

I embarked on a solo journey with my 4 and 6-year-olds from our home in Georgia to the picturesque mountains of Pigeon Forge, allowing their mom a couple of days to unwind and recharge after months of homeschooling and being with the kids non-stop since March.

My plan was to get some work done while the kids enjoyed the various amenities at the campground I had reserved. Unfortunately, Day One was marked by intermittent downpours from a cold front sweeping through the mountains, making my first experience towing in the hills quite nerve-racking. However, we did manage to enjoy some breathtaking views and a few fun stops in the Great Smoky Mountains.

We arrived at the campground (which I highly recommend, The Ridge in Pigeon Forge) and set up just as another wave of rain rolled in. After tucking the kids in for the night and taking a moment to unwind from the drive, I switched off the light in my camper's front room and closed my eyes. Within mere seconds, I felt drops of water landing directly on my cheek.

After a flip of the lights and a few choice words, I noticed a steady drip starting to run down the curved nose cap of the front room in my trailer. I had a leak. Since most of the water was streaming down the front wall, a bucket wouldn't suffice, and there was hardly any space to relocate a queen mattress inside the trailer. I quickly sent an email to the trailer's customer service, placed a few towels down, and thought, "They were right. The RV community is always right."

The next morning, a thorough inspection of my roof revealed obvious cracks in the sealant at the front of the trailer where the nose cap meets the roof. As is the case with both new and old RVs, it’s crucial to regularly check your roof for cracks. Not all sealants are created equal, and sometimes you just get unlucky. I shared a video of the issue with Keystone, who promptly responded that a mobile RV repair technician would come out to fix the leak until I could return to my dealer for the rework, covered under the three-year structural warranty offered by the company.

I extend my gratitude to Keystone, which has a dedicated call center and email response team solely focused on customer service, for their swift assistance. Keep in mind: my experience is not unique in the RV community. I neglected to inspect my roof before the trip. Lesson learned.

The fireman pole leap

Just two days after my water incident, we relocated to another campground for the weekend and were starting to enjoy ourselves on Friday afternoon, with work wrapped up and plenty of activities to discover in Pigeon Forge. While I was chatting with another dad whose daughter is the same age as mine at the playground, I witnessed my son jump for the fireman pole, grip it for a split second, then let go (for reasons only he knows) and fall straight to the ground.

When he got back on his feet, both the dad I was talking to and I could see from 20 yards away that his arm was clearly broken. I scooped him up, and while the dad, an ex-EMT, checked him over, I quickly googled urgent care and ER options in the area.

I called the nearest urgent care facility, which confirmed they could see my 6-year-old. With the help of the EMT, I managed to get both my son and daughter secured in the truck for the short drive. I also reached out to mom, who was happily enjoying her quiet time five hours away at home. She immediately started making her way to us.

I carried my son into the urgent care I had contacted, but they quickly informed me that I needed to take him to a different location for proper treatment. Back to the truck we went, struggling to get his arm through the car seat strap once more, and headed for the new facility.

A few hours later, he was fitted with a soft plaster cast and starting to calm down for the evening. We made him comfortable in his RV bed with a cushion to keep his arm elevated, and he and his sister were sound asleep about 30 minutes before my wife arrived. Feeling relieved that he was alright and that my backup was now with us, I settled in for the rest of the weekend. Little did I know, less than 24 hours later, the police would show up at my campsite.

My Tom Hanks 'Castaway' experience

After spending Saturday reassuring my son that he would be fine and enjoying some outdoor time, we tucked the kids into bed. I then stepped outside the front door of my RV to sit by the fire. The moment I opened the door, I noticed a pickup truck maneuvering its RV into the campsite across from us, getting uncomfortably close to my truck. Before I could take another step or shout a warning, I watched in disbelief as the gentleman backed his pickup right into the rear of mine.

At that moment, overwhelmed by the events of the past few days and watching my truck get hit, I found myself channeling Tom Hanks' character from Castaway, teetering on the brink of utter frustration and despair:

Without delving further into the accident's specifics, what frustrated me most at the time was knowing I had to spend time getting my truck repaired and navigating the insurance process.

I let my wife handle the conversation with the driver, who was quite apologetic, as well as with the police who arrived to file a report, ensuring there would be no ambiguity about liability for insurance purposes. With everything said and done, there was nothing left to do but crack open a few beers and ponder where it all went wrong.

I'm ready to hit the road again

2020 has certainly thrown a lot at all of us, each in our own unique way. By the time we returned home on Monday, I reflected on the fact that the trip was genuinely enjoyable. We immersed ourselves in nature, enjoyed our little bubble at the campsites nestled in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, and cherished quality moments together without the distractions of technology or hectic schedules.

I managed to get some work done while my kids explored the rivers, discovering how they carve out valleys. We even had a chat about what a coaxial cable is and how it powers our TV. Did I lose my patience a few times? Absolutely, but I wouldn't exchange those memories for anything in the world.

What have I learned? Both new and old RVs will inevitably face challenges. I’ll keep educating myself about them and will check the roof before every journey. Kids will get hurt, and sometimes bad luck is unavoidable. In the future, before heading to a new campsite, I’ll research the nearest urgent care that caters to children. Regarding my truck incident, I’ll park as far back in the campsite as possible and hope that lightning doesn’t strike twice.

This is already a fantastic family tale that we will recount for years to come. I encourage everyone to make the most of this year, stay safe, and when life hands you lemons, turn them into lemonade. I’m eagerly anticipating our next adventure.