RV Life Challenges: From Tornadoes to Mud Trap

When I named this blog MissadVANture, I thought I was being clever—a little wink at the unpredictable chaos of RV life. What I didn’t expect was just how literal that name would feel this winter. A little self-deprecating. A nod to the inevitable hiccups of life on the road.

But this winter, the joke felt like it was on me.

It started with a tornado. A real one. Not a "crazy windstorm"—a full-force, tree-snapping, roof-lifting tornado that tore through my off-grid property and took my van with it. I stood there, soaked and stunned, looking at my Sprinter under a tree. The same van that was supposed to take me to Mexico.

Instead? I had to break out the backup: a 35-foot Class A motorhome I'd driven solo through mountain passes in winter—but still hadn't planned on taking to Mexico this time.

Surviving a Tornado

Losing the van wasn’t just a logistical blow—it was a gut punch. That rig was built for stealth, efficiency, and freedom. The Class A? She’s a beast. A comfortable beast, but one I hadn’t planned to take down Baja roads this time—even though I’ve piloted it solo through mountain passes in the dead of winter.

The shift was more than mechanical. It was emotional. The Sprinter was my vacation plan. The motorhome is my home that only adventures when really needed. Certainly not for the roads of the Baja Penninsula

For more weather-related chaos, I’ve shared what happened when I faced down a powerful gust in The Reality of Van Life: Surviving a Wind Storm.

Transitioning to a Class A Motorhome

Breaking camp wasn't a triumphant moment. It was messy. Literally.

Power cords buried under leaf litter. Bins of supplies I hadn’t touched in a year. Mud up to my ankles. And questions—so many questions. What do I pack for months in Mexico? What do I leave behind? What if I never come back?

Preparing for International Travel

Prepping a rig for cross-border travel is intense in normal weather. Add post-tornado chaos and relentless rain, and it becomes a muddy, limb-dodging obstacle course.

I was climbing over downed trees just to reach my propane. Scooping water out of storage bays. Swearing at clouds. And somewhere in there, trying to remember where I packed the spare diesel filter.

It wasn’t cute. It wasn’t Instagrammable. But it was real.

If you're looking into off-grid setups, I highly recommend checking out my thoughts on this portable solar generator for off-grid life.

When Your RV Gets Stuck in the Driveway

Here’s the part that really tested me: after all that effort, after packing, prepping, and finally climbing behind the wheel—I didn’t get ten feet.

The motorhome sank. Right in my own damn driveway. Into fresh gravel I’d laid months ago with my own two hands.

Tires spinning. Jacks straining. My house, literally stuck.

I tried planks. Rocks. Swearing. I even tried optimism. Eventually, I got it free—but not without deep ruts and deeper doubts.

If you’re planning to tow, avoid my mistakes and read up on how to tow a car behind an RV. You’ll thank me later.

Lessons from the Road

I made it to Mexico. That part’s coming in Part 2.

But here’s what I’ve learned so far: RV life isn’t just sunsets and skylines. It’s grit. It's knowing how to dig out your home with a shovel and questionable traction.

You figure it out. Because you have to.

And maybe that’s the point. RV life doesn’t hand you lessons—it throws them at your windshield and dares you to keep going.

If you're looking for the polished version of this lifestyle, you won’t find it here. But if you want the truth, stick around. I've got more to say.

And if you want even more behind-the-scenes chaos, grab my eBook Rolling Solo. It's just $5 CAD for the PDF and dives deep into how I chose each rig over the years, what I really need in a van for full-time living, and how I make this chaos work on the road. It also helps keep this beast rolling—or at least helps pay for the next extraction.

Author Bio: Royanne has been living full-time in RVs since 2009. She started with a stationary fifth wheel on Vancouver Island, weathered Alberta winters solo in a 35-foot Class A, and took her van nearly everywhere—including film industry gigs in the Lower Mainland. She’s crossed the border into Mexico more than once in both the van and the motorhome. Through MissadVANture, she shares the unfiltered reality of RV life—raw, resourceful, and relentlessly honest.. She’s piloted a 35-foot Class A solo through winter mountain passes, survived Alberta winters in a fifth wheel, and crossed the border into Mexico more than once in both a van and a motorhome. Through MissadVANture, she shares the unfiltered reality of RV life—raw, resourceful, and relentlessly honest.. She's chased sun, freedom, and the occasional catastrophe across North America. Her blog MissadVANture shares raw, real-life stories from the road—no filter, no fluff.