Choosing a truck for full-time travel - Gas vs diesel

One of the biggest decisions you’ll face when choosing a truck for hard work–like handling a camper full-time–is whether to opt for a gas engine or a diesel engine. It’s a hotly debated topic, and we fully understand why. Both sides have pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages, and compelling traits that could sway the average buyer in either direction.

We grappled with this dilemma for a long while as we tried to determine which truck to buy for our full-time travel needs. As the foundation of any RVer’s or overlander’s rig, the truck needs to check several boxes–from tow rating to reliability. With so many options on the market and arguably no “perfect” solution, much of this decision comes down to preference, willingness to compromise, and a touch of hopefulness.

Our previous HD truck was a gas Ford F-250.

Things to know:

We’re going on the road full-time in 2025, so we need a truck to facilitate our new lifestyle. Among the many factors influencing our decision, the age-old debate of gas vs diesel is at the forefront.

Note: By the time you read this, we might already have a truck. Our intent is not to mislead you, we simply wrote these blogs well in advance!

Choosing a gas or diesel truck

As our experience with building Jeeps for off-roading and overland travel grew, so did our intentionality. Instead of opting for modifications that looked cool or tires that were absurdly oversized (just because we could), we started to make decisions based on realistic use-case scenarios, what we had learned from building previous Jeeps, and what made sense rather than getting carried away.

While the full-size, heavy-duty truck platform is relatively new to us–especially for full-time travel–those same principles applied to our approach for this build. I’m sure we’ll make some mistakes and adjustments along the way, but the goal is to be intentional and build the truck to facilitate our lifestyle and travel. It doesn’t need to be over the top; it just needs to fit the factors we’re basing our purchase on.

Cost of diesel versus gas

As badly as we’re hoping to follow a rainbow to a bucket of gold, it hasn’t happened yet. So, we’re operating on a decent but far-from-endless budget, making cost an incredibly influential factor in our truck-buying decision. There are a few ways in which the cost debate between gas and diesel trucks plays out, and we tried to consider it from all angles.

Fuel prices fluctuate, so we were determined not to let this particular consideration play too large a role in our decision. That said, gas prices are substantially lower than diesel in some areas of the country, and that can make a difference in your wallet (even if the diesel gets better fuel economy).

Price was a factor in our last truck purchase - we opted to save money upfront by getting a gas engine.

The real price difference between the two options comes in other forms. The upfront cost, for example, is substantially more when you opt for a diesel engine. Most manufacturers in the HD segment charge between $8,000 and $10,000 more for a diesel engine than they do for their gas models. That’s a huge chunk of change that takes years to potentially recoup in the form of resale value or vehicle lifetime (diesel has a reputation for longevity, though there is a debate now that the EPA has neutered them).

Additionally, maintaining and repairing diesel trucks is notoriously more expensive. From routine oil changes to replacing components as they wear out, you pay a price to enjoy the advantages diesel trucks boast.

If all of that sounds like gas has a slight cost advantage these days, you’re spot on. However, the fuel efficiency, longevity, and resale value of diesel engines can offset a lot of that difference if you don’t run into any substantial maintenance and repair bills.

Slight edge to gas

Diesel vs gas - engine complexity

Gas engines, especially simplified options like Ford’s 7.3L Godzilla, tend to be simpler than their diesel counterparts. If you want proof, just pop the hood on gas and diesel models and compare them. The gas engine looks quite tame and manageable comparatively.

In theory, this translates to easier maintenance and repairs, especially if you plan to do any of the work yourself. Given our intention to travel full-time, this does not factor heavily into our decision. While I am perfectly capable of doing routine maintenance and repairs–and actually enjoy doing some of these projects myself–it is unlikely that we will have the time, workspace, and tools to perform such tasks when on the road. As such, we will undoubtedly rely on professionals should the necessity ever arise.

Draw

The driving experience of gas and diesel trucks

Through the years (and our shopping process), we have driven quite a few gas and diesel trucks. While it is impossible to get an accurate feel for how they will handle a load without replicating such a scenario, the driving experience between the two fuel options is noticeably different. If you’re going to be living out of your truck and camper, that experience takes a little more precedence than it might otherwise.

Our 7.3L Godzilla F-250 was a blast to drive off-road.

While the gas engines we’ve experienced felt more nimble and easy to maneuver–a definite advantage in tight city streets and when off-road–the diesel models made up for their heavy-footedness with undeniable low-end torque and impressive passing ability.

We have enough experiential knowledge with adding weight to vehicles to know that low-end power matters a lot. This is especially true when driving some of the steep mountain passes out West. Diesel definitely wins here, and since we won’t be tackling as many off-road trails as we have in the past, we feel inclined to give diesel the end here.

Edge to diesel

Is Gas or Diesel Better?

We wish it was as clear-cut as one fuel type being superior to the other–that would make this process much easier for us–but in the modern age of trucks, it’s hard to say with certainty that one has a distinct edge. At the end of the day, it depends on your needs, preferences, and how you intend to use the truck. Thankfully, we’re spoiled for choice, and I hope that continues for decades to come despite politically motivated wars against this fuel type or that combustion engine.

What do you think? Is gas better than diesel in 2024? Or do the inherent advantages of diesel engines still make them the better choice?

We’re hitting the road full-time in 2025, and we’d love for you to come along for the ride. In the meantime, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions, and hard-earned knowledge. We value your input and experience in making these and other travel-related decisions!

- Riley + Hanna

Choosing a truck for full-time travel - Brands and trim levels

Brand rivalries are loads of fun to observe (and jokingly participate in), but at the end of the day, we’re not terribly brand loyal. Sure, we’ve had a handful of Jeeps and a couple of Fords, but that’s not because we detest other manufacturers–we’ve simply always purchased the vehicles that appealed to us for one reason or another.

Our latest Jeep - a bare-bones two-door Wrangler (hand-crank windows, anyone?!)

As we began our hunt for the ideal truck for our impending full-time travel, we did so with (relatively) open minds. We have limited experience with heavy-duty trucks (and zero experience with one-ton trucks), so we wanted to be thorough and allow our research and test drives–not any preconceived bias–to shape our path forward.

Things to know:

We’re hitting the road full-time in 2025, and we need to choose a truck to facilitate that adventure. Part of the purchasing process is determining which truck brand and trim level we want to call our home!

Note: By the time you read this, we might already have a truck. Our intent is not to mislead you, we simply wrote these blogs well in advance!

What is the Best Truck for Full-Time Travel?

There are many factors to consider when choosing what vehicle to buy. Throw in the wrinkle of living in said vehicle, and the decision suddenly feels even more potent–you want to make sure you get it right the first time.

Among those many factors are two relatively personal considerations–brand and trim level.

Choosing a Truck Brand for RV Travel

While it seems that brand loyalty is a big deal to a lot of people, especially in the world of trucks, we have never been overly concerned with this brand versus that brand. Based on our vehicle history, we’ve clearly gravitated toward certain brands (Jeep and Ford), but it was always because the vehicles appealed to us, not because we had a sense of loyalty toward those brands.

Our Ford F-250 treated us very well.

When we started looking at heavy-duty trucks, we decided to drive one from each of the big three manufacturers–Ford, Ram, and GM. So, we did exactly that, test driving a Ford Super Duty, Ram 3500, and GMC Sierra HD (we did not drive a Chevy since the platform shares so much overlap with the GMC).

In addition to test driving a handful of trucks, we (and by we, I mean Riley) spent hours researching, reading forums, and watching videos about the trucks on our list. Ultimately, we narrowed our shopping list down to two brands–Ford and Ram.

Below, we’ve laid out some of the pros that compelled us to list Ford and Ram as our top two truck brands for full-time travel. Why did we leave the GMC and Chevy off our list? While there were a few other contributors to this decision, the primary factor was based on personal preference–we have always liked solid front axle vehicles, and the GM trucks come with independent front suspension (IFS).

• Off-road capability. Thanks to the solid front axle, the Ford and Ram trucks have a more traditional off-road-worthy design. You can eke a bit more off-road performance out of these trucks than an IFS alternative, especially at the HD level. Note: we are aware of GMC’s amazing partnership with American Expedition Vehicles and the off-road goodies now available from the factory on their HD trucks. However, those models are far outside of our price range.

• Aftermarket modification and support. It seems most aftermarket manufacturers are focused on bringing parts and accessories to the Ram and Ford platforms, giving us more options to modify our truck to our preferences and needs.

• Aesthetics. While we don’t mind the looks of the GMC trucks (especially those AEV varieties), we gravitate toward Ford and Ram from a purely visual perspective.

• Experience. We have hands-on experience with both brands (or brands adjacent to them), giving us a degree of comfort and familiarity. The interior of a Ram echoes that of a Jeep, and we’ve had (and loved) a Super Duty before.

• Observation. While we see our fair share of GMC and Chevy trucks on the road, we noticed a lot more Fords and Rams pulling trailers and working in commercial settings. While anecdotal, this definitely affected our perception of those two brands.

Truck Trims - A Luxury Land Yacht?

If you’ve ever played around with the “truck builder” configurators on manufacturers’ websites, you know that the number of options and level of customization available is astounding. In some ways, this is great–it gives you an opportunity to tailor your truck to your specifications. On the other hand, it can be overwhelming, and prices sure do add up quickly.

Because we got a late start to the truck buying party, we don’t have the luxury of ordering a custom truck to our exact preferences. Instead, we used these online tools to explore the various trim levels available from Ram and Ford, make a list of must-haves and that-would-be-nices, and see how different options might influence the final price.

As a reader of this blog, there’s a good chance you know how ridiculous truck prices have gotten and how excessive many of the trim levels are these days. While it’s amazing that you can get massaging seats and luxury finishes in an HD pickup truck, we have no need or interest in such a bougie rig.

Chowder, our certified comfort expert, loved the posh interior of the F-250 Lariat.

In fact, our previous F-250 was a Lariat, and it was too fancy for us. Some of the features were neat, but we definitely didn’t need them. So, this time around, we would be focusing on lower trim levels–Tradesman and Big Horn for Ram and XL and XLT for Ford.

Here are a few of the features we wanted. Some are what we’d call necessities, while others are more wishlist items.

• Four-wheel drive is an absolute must.

• A decent screen for the backup camera.

• 360-degree cameras would be nice. We had them on the F-250, and they were convenient with the camper.

• A big enough back seat for Chowder.

• Power mirrors would be a huge bonus.

• We don’t want “advanced safety features,” as they may not play nice with modifications.

• Large fuel tank.

That’s about it! If that seems like a pretty simple list, it’s because it is. However, when you throw in other prerequisites–like cab size, bed size, and engine preference–you’d be surprised how few matching trucks are available.

Come One, Come All

Whether we buy a Ford or a Ram or lose our minds and import a Unimog, lovers of all brands are welcome here. Please share your experiences with the different truck brands, leave some recommendations about trim options that are full-time must-haves, and otherwise help us out as we narrow down our list of potential trucks to purchase.

While we have a bit of a reputation for swapping vehicles every two years (a trait Riley inherited from his grandfather), we’re hoping that this truck is reliable and sticks around for a long while. Only time will tell, but that’s the intent!

Tune in next time for the next bit of brainstorming as we continue through our truck-buying thought process. We hope you’ll join us on our journey as we convert into full-time travelers and help us out along the way as we inevitably hit bumps in the road.

In the meantime, don’t be shy–feel free to leave a comment below, send us a message, or otherwise join our little community!

- Riley + Hanna

What truck should we buy?

Over the past five years, Hanna and I have had a lot of vehicles. Hanna likes to tease me about it, and while I am willing to acknowledge I might have an issue, I’d also argue that it’s a common one–we boys like cars!

We’ve had summer romances with Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators, a brief fling with a Ford Transit Van, and a situationship with a Ford F-250 Tremor. Time and again, we fall in love with a vehicle, only to shift our goals and make a change. Now, we’re doing it again.

Hanna takes in the Badlands in South Dakota.

You’ll notice that all of the vehicles I mentioned serve a purpose–they facilitate a lifestyle of adventure and travel. Hanna and I love getting outside, exploring, and traveling as much as possible. We’re beyond blessed that our jobs allow us to work remotely, meaning we can travel with almost unlimited freedom (so long as we can access the internet).

Things to know:

In 2025, we’re hitting the road full-time. We’ve flirted with this idea for years, and we’re finally giving in and giving it a fair shake. So, while we love our little two-door Jeep Wrangler, it’s time to buy a big old truck.

Note: By the time you read this, we might already have a truck. Our intent is not to mislead you, we simply wrote these blogs well in advance!

What to look for when truck shopping

Let me make this disclaimer very clear–I am not a vehicle expert. I have my share of experience buying, using, modifying, and maintaining our vehicles, but I am far from a mechanic. The intent of this blog is not to act as a truck buyer’s guide. Instead, it’s an exploration of our thought process as we try to choose the right truck for our travel plans.

Truck capacities - how much can you tow?

The first consideration for us was the capability of the truck. Because we will be using it to haul a camper around, there were certain non-negotiables when it came to the work capacity of the truck. A Tacoma wouldn’t cut it, and neither would an F-150. That leaves us with what GM would call an “HD” truck–a three-quarter or one-ton model.

Often, a three-quarter (250/2500) is more than adequate for camping. If you are towing a travel trailer or hauling a moderately-sized slide-in camper, a 250 will likely do. Once you step it up to the big leagues of fifth wheel campers and larger truck campers, you’ll want to invest in a 350 (or bigger).

Camping with friends near Silverton, CO.

Without giving away too much–we don’t want to reveal what camper we’re getting until it’s official–we are opting for a one-ton truck. We would rather have more truck than we might need, so we’re going for maximum towing and payload without crossing that threshold into 450+ territory.

Truck size - because the dog needs a backseat kingdom

After determining the class of truck you need, it’s time to sort through the various cab and bed combinations. Some manufacturers have more than others, but the basic options look something like this:

Bed Length

• Regular (6.5’ or 6.75’)

• Long (8’)

Cab Size

• Standard (No backseats)

• Extended (Half doors in rear)

• Crew (Full-size back doors)

For our uses, we knew we would need a long bed. The cab size debate was not so clear-cut. While we knew a standard cab was too small, the difference between an extended cab and a crew cab was minimal enough to spark a little controversy. The decision came down to a simple question–is it better to shorten the overall length of the truck to improve maneuverability in town and on trails, or is it better to have extra interior space for storage?

We are leaning toward a crew cab for the additional storage. With approximately 12” difference between the two, the increase in overall truck length seems pretty minimal, pushing us toward enjoying the extra interior space. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments below!

Trim levels - cowboys and kings

Truck trims have gotten a bit out of control as of late. Where it used to be base models and higher trims with some modern amenities, it’s now a luxury apartment versus a penthouse. No matter what you choose, you are going to have a comfortable and well-equipped truck (whether you like it or not).

Our last Ford was a Lariat, and it was more posh than we’d ever need. This time, we’re opting for the lowest possible trim, both to save money and to eliminate as many unnecessary additions as possible. Is it nice to have certain creature comforts (Hanna would argue heated seats are a necessity)? Absolutely. But do we need a 12” screen and leather seats? We definitely do not.

We loved our Tremor, but the Lariat trim package was unnecessary.

This category is very much a “to each their own” factor. We would rather have a little extra jingle in our pocket, even if it means missing out on the latest and great tech.

Gas or diesel - the immortal question

I mentioned at the beginning of this blog that I’m no truck expert, and this is where I feel the most out of my depth. We have plenty of experience with gas engines, including Ford’s impressive 7.3L Godzilla. On the flip side, we have zero experience with diesel engines. So, everything we’re factoring into our decision here is based on research and anecdotes.

Gas engines are popular, easy to get, and arguably easier to maintain. What they lack in efficiency, they make up for in cheaper repairs, lower gas prices (at the moment, at least), and simplicity–no DEF or other emissions nonsense here. They also tend to be much lighter, which can translate to better off-road ability.

Diesel engines are known for being incredibly powerful, more fuel efficient, and practically apocalypse-proof. Conversely, repairs on modern diesels are said to be expensive thanks to the complexity of their design. Throw in the horror stories people have about emissions equipment, and we feel a twinge of hesitancy when considering this route.

We’d love your insights on this particular topic. Would you choose a gas engine or a diesel? My heart says diesel, but there is more than a little uncertainty mixed in with that feeling.

Which truck brand is the best?

This particular piece of the truck buying puzzle can be a little controversial. There are strong proponents of each major brand, and understandably so. Every brand has its strengths, and I think that quality and durability is largely the same between every truck maker these days. That said, we have refined our search to two companies–Ford and Ram.

I would tell you that we’re clinging to the unforgivable offense of government bailouts, but the truth is much less dramatic–we have always preferred solid front axles. Independent front suspension (IFS) on a one-ton truck just doesn’t compute to me. Call me old-fashioned if you’d like.

We have always preferred solid axle vehicles.

So, we’re left with the Ford F-350 and the Ram 3500. Both are good-looking trucks that can be configured just about however you want them. The F-350 is available with the only gas engine we’d consider (the 7.3L), while both platforms are available with proven diesel powertrains–the 6.7L Powerstroke from Ford and the 6.7L Cummins from Ram.

Overall, I think we prefer the Ford. That said, we are not opposed to the Ram. This is another area where we just don’t have the experience and expertise to determine a clear winner. If you have experience with either platform (or better, both), please share it below. Your advice would go a long way toward helping us make the right decision!

Should we buy a new or used truck?

Traditional wisdom has always advised against buying a new vehicle. There’s a saying about your new car losing half its value as soon as you drive off the dealer lot, and while the pandemic did alter that briefly, it still holds true (in most situations). At the same time, there are some benefits to purchasing a new truck.

The pros of a new truck

• Better financing

• Clean slate for proper maintenance

• Factory warranty

• More control (maintenance, mods, use scenarios, etc.)

The pros of a used truck

• Lower purchase price

• Less depreciation

• Reduced insurance costs

At the end of the day, this decision largely comes down to your budget and your priorities. Our budget is not unlimited, so we will definitely be leaning toward a used truck, but the benefits of a new truck–especially the opportunity to meticulously care for it from day one–are worth considering.

What truck is right for us?

Based on the thoughts laid out above, Hanna and I have a decent idea of the truck we’re looking for. That said, there are still a lot of details to sort out, so the actual truck we purchase could look different than the one this blog seems to picture.

If we were to simplify our buying criteria–which is uniquely ours, not universal–it would look a little like this.

• Ford F-350 or a Ram 3500

• Crew cab with a long bed

• Base model (or close to it) - XL or XLT (Ford) or Tradesman (Ram)

• 6.7L Powerstroke or 6.7L Cummins diesel engine

• Lightly used

What do you think? Are we on the right track for living full-time on the road and going to some pretty remote locations? Is there anything you would do differently?

Please drop your suggestions, recommendations, and personal experiences below. We’d love to hear what you have to say as we make this important (and expensive) decision!

We also encourage you to follow our journey as we prep for and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. We can’t wait to share our journey with you, grow our community, and make connections with like-minded folks who love trucks, travel, and the outdoors.

- Riley + Hanna

Why we decided to travel full-time

There’s a strange sense of confusion when you tell someone you plan to break the norm. If you’ve ever deviated from the traditional path of living–whether it’s in your job, your lifestyle, or way back in high school–you know the feeling.

Even the most supportive people in your life exude a sort of quiet uncertainty about your choices. They could love you to death, but they rarely understand why you’re doing what you’re doing. Hanna and I are familiar with this feeling. If you’re reading this, you probably are, too.

We’ve always done things a little bit differently. From school (hello, I have a Master’s Degree in Poetry) to our jobs (we started our own business), we’ve always bucked traditional wisdom and forged our own path. Now, we’re doing it again by choosing the nomadic lifestyle in 2025.

Things to know:

We’re hitting the road full-time in 2025, and it feels like it was a long time coming. Our personalities, individual and joint travel histories, and desires for our lives make this seemingly significant step feel like the most natural decision we’ve ever made.

Full-time travel in 2025

Travel is in our blood - a brief history of our journey to now

The adventurous side of life has always appealed to Hanna and me, both individually and as a couple. Before we became an item, we traveled in our own ways. These individual adventures set the stage for a relationship that would have a bit of wanderlust at its core.

I found myself returning time and again to the mountains of Western North Carolina, chasing the vistas and camping alongside babbling streams. I was driven by the feelings of freedom, independence, and childhood nostalgia. For generations, my father’s family put down roots in the Appalachian mountains. While they had a deep history in Old Florida, his family always seemed called to the mountains. He passed that down to me in the form of a longing for mountains always tugging at my heart.

Exploring the many forest roads of Western NC.

Hanna traveled, too. Her father was in the military and spent years in far-off places. That bold spirit of adventure was passed down to her, and she explored places like Alaska and Costa Rica with her family. She is a brave and passionate person who has traveled the US in a Mazda 6, done work-trade on Orcas Islands, and otherwise lived a life largely unbound from the traditional structure of Western society.

Once we (finally) became a couple, our traveling picked up pace dramatically. We camped in Walmart tents beside lakes, bought Jeeps, stayed in rooftop tents during snowfall, and ended up living in a truck camper for four months in 2023. While this is an extremely condensed version of our evolution to this point, it speaks volumes–we have proven to ourselves over the course of several years that travel is integral to who we are and what we love.

Embracing the adventurous life together as fresh-faced youths.

Starting a business - how we can work on the road full-time

Back in 2017, Hanna took a leap of faith. After doing breaking news at a couple of news outlets in Florida and a brief stint in a marketing position at a small business in St. Pete, she decided to strike out on her own. She left the less-than-stellar job she was working and started pursuing freelance writing projects.

She got her start on Upwork, a popular freelance site, and found herself working for pennies on the dollar. She would spend hours transcribing podcasts and other audio files, only to get paid next to nothing. Heck, her first client took the work and dipped, not paying her at all!

I could write a book about the things I admire about Hanna, and at the center of it all would be her sticktoitiveness. She is a persistent person who will fight for what she knows is right. As my dad would say, “She’s not stubborn; she’s determined.”

Long story short, she worked her tail off, and her career as a freelancer started to blossom. Toward the end of my time in grad school, I started helping out part-time. When I graduated, we both took on the freelance world with the reckless abandon that only young, spirited, and a little bit naive people can.

An early brand shoot we did for Boundless Copy.

Now, we operate a full-scale business. We have retainers with clients, have worked with massive corporations and small businesses, and have grown Hanna’s dream into a company that supports both of us. Are we rich? Absolutely not. But we work for ourselves, and that’s worth a lot more to us than a few extra bucks.

Because our work is all digital–copywriting is our bread and butter–we can work from just about anywhere with an internet connection. It’s truly a blessing, and we don’t want to take it for granted. That’s another reason we’re hitting the road–to enjoy this beautiful world the best we can while we’re able to work remotely.

We’ve tried to settle down - restless souls and a historic housing market

For a long time, Hanna and I have fought against our nature. We’ve tried to split the difference, spending time in one location for six or eight months, then traveling for the rest of the year. We’ve also attempted to purchase a house (a few times). Neither of those routes has worked out well for us, and we’re starting to take it as a sign.

Since I graduated from grad school in 2019, we have mostly followed the formula of renting an apartment somewhere we like, calling that home base, and doing one or two substantial (month+) trips a year. The downside of this approach is obvious–it’s expensive, and there is nothing to show for your rental payment when it’s all said and done. Half the time, we were paying for somewhere to live, and we weren’t even there.

We have also flirted with home ownership. In fact, we’ve tried to purchase a home a handful of times in the last few years. It started with a tiny house, which we actually bought. Due to some issues with the property, it became a money pit and a massive headache, so we cut our losses and sold it. We then made offers on two other, more traditional homes. Neither worked out.

We never stopped searching, but with these downfalls and rising prices and interest rates, we have felt deterred from continuing to seriously consider home ownership–at least for the time being. Throw in the fact that buying a home is expensive–no matter how you slice it–and we knew we’d have to put off future travels for quite a while. No thanks!

You only get one shot - doing life our way

In the midst of yet another stressful conversation as we attempted to buy a home, Hanna and I had a good old-fashioned come-to-Jesus moment. We paused, looked at each other, and came to the conclusion, “Hey, we’ve always done things our way, and it has worked out just fine. We don’t have to buy a home or settle down just because it’s ‘what people do.’ We can live life the way that makes sense to us.”

There was a sense of peace that followed that realization. Traditional wisdom says that there’s a logical order to life. You proceed through the steps sequentially, and each phase corresponds with your age or where in life’s progression you currently are. But it doesn’t have to be that way, and we didn’t need to abandon our unique approach to living that has, by all accounts, worked out pretty well for us.

This conversation was tied to something else I had expressed to Hanna just days earlier. There is a constant battle within me that tries to balance making the most of every moment we have together with the urge to provide for her financially. I tried to summarize this with the following question:

“Is it better to leave you with a heart full of memories or a bank full of money?”

More memories like this, please.

As a kid, I was very sick. I struggled for years with an illness, ended up undergoing two massive surgeries, and am truly blessed to be here today. While I am (by my standards) entirely healthy now, there is always a nagging voice in the back of my head that reminds me tomorrow is never promised and questions what my life expectancy really is.

I don’t want to spend my days squirreling away money in hopes that we find stability and can one day travel with complete financial freedom. I want to make the most of our one shot to experience life together, and I want that time shared to be as beautiful and raw and memorable as humanly possible.

I want to live while I’m alive, and travel is an essential part of that shared experience for Hanna and myself.

Hitting the road - we’re going, and you’re coming with us

I know this blog has been a bit meandering and long-winded. If you’ve stuck it out this far, thank you so much!

In the coming weeks, I’ll dive into the logistics of how we plan to travel, some of the deeper motivations that inspire us, and our process of selecting the (hopefully) perfect camper for us. We’ll share stories from the road, post pictures and videos on social media, and do our very best to take you on our adventure with us.

Thank you for being part of this journey!

But this isn’t just about us–it’s about you. Already, the outpouring of support, excitement, and knowledge has been incredible. We’ve learned an unbelievable amount from experienced full-timers on YouTube, through Instagram, and in real-life conversations. With every comment, howdy, or little wave in a campground, our community grows, and we love that.

So, don’t be shy. Drop a line below, shoot us a message, and join us on our journey. We couldn’t be happier to have you.

- Riley + Hanna