RV Reality Check: The First-Ever RV Competition Show Hits the Road | I Heart RVing
A Survival Show for RVers? Sign Us Up!
Reality TV has thrown people into the jungle, the desert, and even a house full of strangers who should never live together. But finally—finally!—someone had the genius idea to bring RVs into the mix. This March, the National RV Training Academy (NRVTA) launched RV Unplugged, the first-ever reality competition show where RVers go head-to-head in survival-style challenges.
Think Survivor but with more propane tanks and fewer awkward tribal councils. Eight teams of seasoned road warriors are battling for a $10,000 grand prize, proving once and for all who can truly thrive off-grid. But the real question is: Could you hack it?
What’s the Deal with RV Unplugged?
Imagine this: You’re out in the wild, with nothing but your RV, your wits, and a few crucial tools. No cozy campground amenities. Just pure, unfiltered, off-grid RVing at its most rugged. That’s the premise of RV Unplugged.
Each episode throws competitors into real-world survival scenarios—think mechanical breakdowns, power outages, and boondocking dilemmas. The team that adapts, overcomes, and thrives the best takes home the cash. And let’s be honest—$10,000 could buy a lot of gas right now.
Meet the Contestants: RVers Like You (Only Perhaps Slightly More Competitive)
The eight competing teams represent a mix of RV lifestyles—full-timers, weekend warriors, and maybe even a few folks who just figured out how to empty their black tanks. What unites them? A shared love of the open road—and a willingness to fight for their title as the ultimate RV survivalists.
While RV Unplugged hasn’t dropped the full cast list yet, we do know that contestants will have to outsmart, outdrive, and outlast each other in ways that will test their skills (and probably their patience).
The Off-Grid Challenges We Hope to See
If we were designing the competition, these would be our top challenges:
- The “Gray Tank Surprise” Challenge—Contestants must figure out what to do when their gray tank mysteriously overflows in the middle of the night.
- The “Find an Open Campsite on a Holiday Weekend” Mission—Competitors race to secure a last-minute boondocking spot—without cell service.
- The “Extreme Weather Survival” Test—One team gets a freak winter storm. Another? A sudden heatwave. Only those who properly winterize (or keep their A/C running off-grid) survive.
- The “Dump Station Duel” Face-Off—Two teams must navigate a busy dump station while dealing with a surprise “equipment malfunction.” First one to clean up wins.
We can only hope the show is this ridiculous—and this real.
Where & How to Watch
The show will air on the RV Unplugged YouTube channel, with nine full episodes planned. That means you won’t need some obscure cable subscription to tune in—just hop online and watch the drama unfold for free.
NRVTA’s Tony Flammia has high hopes for the show, saying, “We are really excited to see people tune in and learn what kind of fun and adventures people enjoy with the RV lifestyle.” Translation: Get ready for equal parts inspiration and second-hand stress.
Could You Survive RV Unplugged?
Think you could handle a real-life RV competition? Here’s a quick checklist to see if you’d thrive—or barely survive:
✅ Can you park your rig on the first try, without yelling at your co-pilot?
✅ Do you have a real backup plan when your power goes out—not just “hope it comes back on”?
✅ Can you find a free camping spot in a national park without driving in circles for three hours?
✅ Do you know how to make a gourmet meal over a campfire (or at least edible hot dogs)?
✅ When things go sideways, do you laugh it off? (Rather than immediately start Googling “Where to sell RVs fast”)
If you checked all five boxes, congrats—you might just be RV Unplugged material. If not? Well, maybe just watching the show is a better bet.
The Verdict: A Must-Watch for RVers
We don’t know about you, but RV Unplugged is exactly the kind of ridiculous, road-warrior entertainment we’ve been waiting for. Whether you’re a full-time RVer or just a weekend adventurer, this show promises plenty of laughs, tips, and possibly a few (or too many to count) “what not to do” lessons.
Will it inspire a new generation of boondocking daredevils? Or will it just confirm that some people should not be trusted with an RV? Either way, we’ll be watching.
Source: https://iheartrving.com/blog/rv-reality-check-the-first-ever-rv-competition-show-hits-the-road/
