Steeles on Wheels : A Year on the Road in an Rv (Capital Travels) [Paperback]

Mark Steele (Author), Donia Steele (Author)

Book Description

Series: Capital Travels | Publication Date: February 1, 2002

A candid and personal look at an adventurous new lifestyle – living full-time on the road in a recreational vehicle.

1.5 million Americans live on the road. This book tells you what itÂ’s like.

There are thousands of retirees every year that are exchanging the stability of a permanent house for the adventure of a house of wheels

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to take off in a camper one day and never come back? Steeles on Wheels chronicles a year in the life of a 50-something couple who are doing just that — living full-time in a 34-foot recreational vehicle. With humor and candor, Steeles on Wheels answers the most common questions about living on the road, such as managing money, getting along in close quarters, the issue of “legal residency,” big-rig driving skills, sewer hookups, how to choose campgrounds, living without a phone, getting mail, and much more. Also included are charts, checklists, and practical survival tips. E-mail letters to friends and family, along with some written from the sassy viewpoint of the traveling family dog, convey the delights of the ever-changing scenery and non-stop adventures of living in an RV. The book is an armchair travel guide to a daring, yet economical new lifestyle for the 21st century.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book is both a journal of their travels and a laymanÂ’s guide to RV living." -- Glenn Dromgoole, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

"The book is written with real humor and the stories told with palpable warmth...." -- WoodallÂ’s Camper Ways

"This is a must read...You wonÂ’t be able to put it down!" -- Stephanie Bernhagen, RV Hometown

"Â’Steeles on WheelsÂ’ is written in a breezy, wish-you-were-here style. ItÂ’s like reading a letter from a friend." --Chicago Tribune

About the Author

Mark and Donia Steele are lifelong travelers. They have been all over Europe, the South Seas, and every state in the U.S. except Alaska. Ms. Steele has been a professional writer and editor for most of her life, working at the Washington Star and Time-Life Inc. Under the name Donia Mills, she has also published The Rules of the Game (Viking, 1969) and A Long Way Home From Troy (Viking, 1971). Mark Steele has enjoyed varied careers as a journalist, book editor, home repair contractor, and house inspector.

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Capital Books; 1 edition (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892123673
• ISBN-13: 978-1892123671
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,050,762 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Three for the road, May 1, 2002

By 

Jaimie Hall "Calamity Jaimie" (Travelin' the US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Steeles on Wheels : A Year on the Road in an Rv (Capital Travels) (Paperback)

For anyone dreaming or considering the fulltime RV lifestyle, this is a must read. Between humorous e-mail accounts of their adventures from all three of them (Mark, Donia and Cleo the dog), the book is peppered with how-to's and explanations of how the full-time lifestyle works. And newbie or experienced RVer, you'll want pencil in hand to add new places to your list to visit. I particularly enjoyed reading about the regional foods and interesting restaurants and laughed, remembering the ajustments that must be made when downsizing into an RV. Great read!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully witty book, March 9, 2002

By 

Stephanie Bernhagen (Anywhere, USA (full-timer)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Steeles on Wheels : A Year on the Road in an Rv (Capital Travels) (Paperback)

Steeles on Wheels is a wonderfully witty book that ingeniously weaves together the Steele's first year full-timing adventures, with e-mails home and answers to the most often asked questions about full-timing. The Steeles are not bashful about sharing their blunders, finding humor in their own misadventures. Cleo's four-legged look at this nomadic lifestyle will bring smiles to pet lovers everywhere. This is a must read for those considering full-timing, friends and family trying to figure out what this bug called hitch-itch is all about and for seasoned full-timers looking for a good chuckle at newbie adventures...

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steeles on Wheels, February 2, 2004

By 

Bar 20 (Livermore, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Steeles on Wheels : A Year on the Road in an Rv (Capital Travels) (Paperback)

Every single other reviewer gave this book five stars and I am no exception. I have read most of the books on full time RVing and this is the best one I have read. It is very well written, is both amusing and informative. The Steele's take you through how they decided to quit their jobs, buy an RV and see the country along with their dog Cleo. They include mistakes they made along the way. I am reading this book a second time and find it just as enjoyable as the first time I read it.
What I liked most about this book was that the Steele's chose a 5th wheel trailer as their means of travel and why they chose it. My wife and I are planing to do the same thing as they did, except in a Class A motorhome. Some of the the other books I have read were very prejudiced against Class A's, however the Steele's choice of a 5th wheel was because that is what they thought worked best for them. They did give the pro's and con's for both, and unlike some other authors who gave only the pro's for 5th wheels and the con's for motorhomes.
Probably the the only negative thing I would say is they started out with more then your average full timer is going to have availble to them. Mrs. Steele retired early from here job at age 55 with a $3000 a month pension plus full medical coverage for the rest of her life. Most pensions in the private sector have been replaced by 401k plans which can't be used without penalty until age 59 1/2 plus no medical until Medicare takesover at age 65.
This is an excellent read, this book along with the Moller's book "Full time RVing" are the two books to read if you are contemplating this lifestyle.