A couple who purchased 4 RVs in 5 years shares the 8 biggest mistakes they've made while living tiny

Monica HumphriesSep 11, 2022, 17:02 IST

Kirsten and Devin Trout have made plenty of mistakes while living in four RVs in the last five years.fifth_wheel_living/Instagram

Kirsten and Devin Trout have lived in four RVs since moving into their first one in 2018.
While they love the tiny lifestyle, Kirsten told Insider that the couple has made some mistakes.

In 2018, Kirsten and Devin Trout moved into a 350-square-foot RV. Nearly five years and four RVs later, they're still loving the lifestyle.

A photo of Kirsten and Devin Trout when they moved into their second RV.fifth_wheel_living/Instagram

From floods to buying RVs that were too small, Kirsten told Insider that living and renovating RVs has been a rewarding yet bumpy road with many lessons learned.

Kirsten and Devin Trout told Insider that their RV gives them freedom.fifth_wheel_living/Instagram

In 2021, Kirsten's dog accidentally turned on a faucet and flooded their second RV. Now, she never leaves without completely shutting the water off.

One of the couple's dogs accidentally caused a flood in 2021.fifth_wheel_living/Instagram

The couple made the mistake of downsizing to 100 square feet after living in a 350-square-foot RV.

Side-by-side images of the 100-square-foot RV versus the 350-square-foot RV.fifth_wheel_living/Instagram

Kirsten also urges buyers to see the RV in person before buying, which is advice she learned the hard way.

Kirsten said she and her husband made sure to tour the most recent RV they purchased.fifth_wheel_living/Instagram

When Kirsten tours potential new RVs, she makes sure to take notes and videos.

Kirsten Trout said she didn't take enough notes when she toured her first RVs.fifth_wheel_living/Instagram

Kirsten said when she first started living in an RV, she hadn't perfected the skill of "purging."

A cluttered counter in Kirsten Trout's RV.fifth_wheel_living/Instagram

Kirsten skips permanent renovations now and opts for renter-friendly hacks.

In Kirsten Trout's old RVs, she used to paint and make permanent changes, now she relies on removable wallpaper and non-permanent DIY tricks.fifth_wheel_living/Instagram

Kirsten said she'll never buy another RV that doesn't have amenities like a washer and dryer.

The washer-and-dryer setup in Kirsten Trout's RV.fifth_wheel_living/Instagram

Finally, she wished she discovered and connected with the online RV community sooner.

Kirsten Trout said she's now not afraid to ask questions.fifth_wheel_living/Instagram

I was born and raised in Montana. These are the 10 most common mistakes I see tourists make when visiting the Big Sky state.

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