Meet the RV LIFE Experts: Lynne Fedorick

RV Life

Welcome to “Meet the RV LIFE Experts,” an exciting new feature where we get to know our expert team of writers and contributors. We all know the best advice comes from those who have truly lived the RV lifestyle. That’s why all of our RV experts have extensive, hands-on backgrounds in RVing. That way, they can share their firsthand experience and knowledge about every topic, from maintenance to new products to what to look for in a campground.

Whether you’re a longtime RVer or new to the community, our RV experts are here to provide you with reliable, insightful guidance tailored to your needs.

We kick off our series with Lynne Fedorick, a frequent RV LIFE and Camper Report contributor who currently calls Black Creek, British Columbia, Canada, home. Lynne is a freelance writer with more than 35 years of RVing experience. She specializes in fulltime RV life, great destinations for RVers, RV organization, RV news, RV tech, and dog behavior/training. Lynne draws on her professional dog trainer and firefighter background and extensive experience as a fulltime RVer.

So, how do you enjoy the RV Life?

I have had several types of RVs over the last 35-plus years. I am currently smitten with my Class A motorhome. My two pointers and I have traveled more than 20,000 miles in it. We explore off-leash dog parks, saunter along hiking trails, explore local attractions, and visit friends and family as we go. No matter where we’ve been, there’s always more to see.

If you had to RV with only one piece of gear (besides the essentials), what would it be and why?

I have three things I wouldn’t RV without. So it’s a tough choice. However, the dog hair and dust situation would be out of control in this carpeted RV without my Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner.

What are some of your favorite RV hacks that makes life easier?

Each of my dogs has a wearable Ruffwear Dirtbag dog towel that traps moisture and mud to keep the RV clean
I always use an road atlas or a road map to help prevent getting lost
Get a Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome membership. They’re well worth it

What’s something you bought that turned out to be a total waste of money, space, or just a terrible idea overall?

Hardwiring wiring my Jeep Wrangler’s tail lights for dinghy towing. I now use a wireless LED tail light system when I tow because it’s simple and easy to set up and take off. If I’d known about this system I wouldn’t have got the wiring on the Jeep done.

What’s one thing you see other campers do that secretly drives you nuts?

Letting dogs lunge and bark at passersby, having dogs off leash at a campground, and not picking up after their dogs. Maybe I’m getting old and grumpy.

What’s your personal travel superstition or pre-trip ritual?

Check and double-check that everything is in, unplugged, off, and closed, and that the the gas tank, propane tank and tires are filled. I also have a lucky scarab beetle from Egypt that rides on the dashboard.

What’s the oddest piece of gear or decoration you keep in your RV—and why?

I have a dummy long sword. Because I was studying historic martial arts a few years ago. I still have it … because you just never know ….

As an RV LIFE Expert, what’s your most innovative RV repair improvisation?

I had a leaky gasket around a taillight and couldn’t get the gasket I needed, so I made one out of heavy-duty double sided tape- It worked!

What’s the weirdest place you’ve ever had to park your RV for the night?

Of course, everywhere is strange when I first get there. Once, years ago, my young kids, dogs, and I were on a cross-country adventure with our truck camper when the alternator died on a mountain pass near Golden, British Columbia. There was no cell signal there, but luckily, there was a highway work crew office nearby that miraculously had a landline. I was able to get a tow truck who towed me to a garage, where we camped indoors for two nights while we waited for parts to arrive from Alberta. Yep. That was weird.

What’s the strangest thing that’s happened while you were RVing?

I guess the height of my introduction to Northern Ontario “hospitality” came when both Google Maps and Apple Maps had me turn left off the highway onto a side road. As I continued down the narrow, virtually abandoned road it occurred to me “This can’t be the right way”. However, there was no place on the road wide enough to turn my vehicle combination around. So I decided to continue driving. All I needed was a side road, or a snowplow turn out area.

Suddenly, I was driving past a sign that said “Private Property.” Beyond a huge lawn bordered by evergreen trees, I could see perhaps 30 RV trailers in what looked like an RV campground. Now I knew for sure there had to be somewhere to turn my 46-foot long rig around. I continued until I finally reached a campground office with a large gravel turnaround. It was big enough to get turned around so I could finally head back to the Trans Canada Highway.

Both Siri and Google Maps were now frantically instructing me to return to the route. I reached over and turned the stereo off as I lined up for the wide turn. Suddenly the screen door of the office slammed open, making way for the very angry middle aged woman who stormed out. I rolled down the window, and offered “Good morning” followed by “I’m so sorry, I got directed down here by Google Maps. I’m just turning around and I’ll be on my way.”

No big deal, right?

With my ignorance well advertised by my vehicle combination and license plates, I fully expected that this would be met with understanding. However the dark-haired woman lunged toward Daisy Mae (my motorhome) like a predator, screaming, ”That’s what everybody says” and a spew of words I’ll never remember. She moved to stand in front of my RV, blocking me from any escape. Soon a bald man appeared and after listening for a bit, he pulled her out of the way so I could leave.

I began to drive when suddenly Office Lady started howling, “Not that way! You need to turn around right here!” Pointing to a small patch of dirt in front of the workshop to my right. There was no way I would be able to make that turn without disconnecting the Jeep. Bald Man left to tinker in his workshop. I explained to her that I couldn’t back up, but if I just turned around in the gravel turn around I would be able to be on my way. “ED!!!” she screamed.

Baldy sighed and meandered out of the shaded workshop. He was clearly annoyed by the inconvenience. “Help her back up” the woman ordered.

I’m an RV LIFE expert. I don’t need help

I explained I didn’t need help. “The RV can’t back up towing the Jeep without wrecking the tow bar,” I told them. However, the only route out of there would be to do what the property owner requested. I pulled forward onto the dirt patch and then got out, unhooked the Jeep, turned Daisy Mae around and then hooked back up again.

At that time, I didn’tlock the Blue Ox tow bars or reset the brake system. I just wanted to get out of there and when I was far enough away I would adjust these..

When I was almost back to the main road, I stopped to reset the independent Patriot brake in the Jeep,and locked the tow bars. The whole process took less than two minutes. Just as I closed the door of the Jeep, I heard a dog barking and looked up. About 200 feet away stood a small blond woman, holding back a 120 lb king shepherd. He was undoubtedly the largest German Shepherd I had ever seen.

Suddenly the leash was off and the dog was racing toward me” as I hobbled as fast as I could to get into the RV. The powerful dog closed ground a lot faster than I could move. With the dog just a few yards away, I clambered up the steps and slammed the door. The thud that shook the RV when the dog hit the retracting entry steps announced that I had just cheated certain death.

I made my way back to the highway and resolved never to trust any GPS map app again. I always recommend using an atlas or roadmap for navigation. Not doing so turned out perilously for me that day.

What’s next for the RV LIFE Experts Series?

So, who will be the next RV LIFE expert? Stay tuned to find out.

More From Lynne

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