My first encounter with RVing is memorable for an odd reason. My parents bought a “Siesta” cab-over camper for my father’s ’78 GMC, Sierra Classic pickup, complete with a 454 and the Camper Special package. The family’s maiden voyage to Benbow in the Redwood Forest in Northern California could have been the start of a lifetime of adventures. But we never used the RV again.

The camper became a driveway ornament, weathering in the sun like a forgotten relic. Visions of open roads, exploration and discovery vanished.

My dad eventually concocted a plan to save the camper from ruin by rolling it into the garage on a dolly he custom fabricated. There it has stayed for 45 years.

A time capsule of family dreams unrealized, the Siesta camper served as a hangout during my teens. It was also an occasional refuge for dad during family spats.

The camper still resides in the same garage. Now, as the property’s owner, I contemplate its extraction and potential revival. But my passion for RVing goes beyond the relic of my childhood.

Making up for past mistakes

Years later, inspired by good memories (and ignoring family arguments about why we bought the camper), my wife and I decided to enter the RVing world on our own terms. Determined to avoid the mistakes my parents made, we have embraced the RV lifestyle. I’m not going to let our RV sit unused. We hit the road often.

The Inaugural Journey

Our first RV, a travel trailer I tracked down in Minnesota, launched our adventure. We drove from the San Francisco Bay Area to Minnesota, and RVed our way back. It was an epic road trip through the Dakotas, Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial and Yellowstone National Park.

We discovered quirky roadside attractions like Wall Drug and the Pioneer Auto Show. We stumbled upon charming communities with stunning scenery, like Dubois, Wyoming, where we spent several days on a whim—and found out that Jackalope bite.     

The trip was an education. We learned RVing is a test of patience, problem-solving and a love for tinkering as much as it is for discovery and adventure. If you “survive” a cross-county journey and still love RVing, you’re probably an RVer at heart.

The Art of Driving a Big Rig

Driving an RV requires concentration. You’re constantly watching clearances, calculating tail swing, avoiding curbs and visualizing corners impossible to see. It’s mentally exhausting. But for some reason, I love it. The challenge of navigating a 55-foot-long rig on narrow roads or in tight RV parks is oddly gratifying. But I prefer not to do it at midnight in the rain, which has happened a few times.

The Tinkerer’s Domain

Part of the RV experience is the hands-on work that comes with it. As a lifelong car enthusiast with a background in the auto trades, I find satisfaction in solving the puzzles that RVing presents.

Setting up camp is as much an adventure as it is a chore. The satisfaction of leveling a trailer on uneven ground or mastering a tricky back-in spot is unparalleled—if you’re into that sort of thing.

A Total Eclipse of my Wallet

A trip to Texas for the 2024 total solar eclipse proved to be one of our most memorable. It was a mix of celestial awe and mechanical disaster. My truck’s transfer case developed a hole in the housing, leaking fluid and running dry as we dragged our rig into the middle of nowhere.

Finding parts for an HD pickup in rural Quitaque, Texas became a logistical nightmare. But Caprock Canyons State Park in Briscoe County, Texas is the most spectacular place I’ve ever been stranded. We woke up to a wild Buffalo grazing outside our door.

After making temporary repairs we limped into Loyd Park campground in Grand Prairie, Texas, just in time to setup for the solar eclipse.

Finding a reputable mechanic willing to drop what they’re doing and rebuild your transfer case was an adventure of its own. (Fun fact: Every auto repair shop in Texas has a lift that can accommodate a crew cab long bed 4×4 pickup.)

On the day of the eclipse, under a clear blue sky, we were joined by several friends who flew-in and joined us last minute. It was all worth it.

Lessons of the Road

It doesn’t take long to learn what works and what doesn’t in RV travel. We don’t like having a rigid schedule; the road trip to Texas drove that lesson home. We had to stick to a tight timeline, and it was a grind. Passing places we wanted to stop and visit, like Winslow, Arizona, the Petrified Forest and the Meteor Crater was frustrating. Spontaneity is the way we like to RV.

We’d rather spend the night in a Walmart parking lot than make advance campground reservations and have to adhere to a strict schedule. We strive to remain flexible.

The Joys of RVing

I value the “mobile cabin” aspect of RV travel. It offers challenges and unparalleled rewards—from the comfort of sleeping in your own bed,  having a private bathroom and the camaraderie of sharing an eclipse viewing with friends.

We also always take our dog. RV travel is much more comfortable for pets than other forms of travel. Whether it’s a cross-country trek or a short trip to visit family, having our RV makes every journey feel like home – even for our dog.

Waking from a Siesta

As for the cab-over camper sitting in my garage, I haven’t given up hope. It’s not self-contained and it lacks modern amenities, like a furnace. But it’s fully trimmed out in 70s orange draperies and cool hippie flowered upholstery. I’m overwhelmed with nostalgia whenever I look at it. And the camper’s simplicity is charming.

The Siesta will ride again. I plan to repair it, load it up on one of my trucks and hit the road. Perhaps we’ll visit Benbow again, 50 years later.