Road-tested lessons from My 500-Square-Foot Life
The Banks family shares their best tips for RV maintenance, organization and full-time travel
If you've spent any time browsing RV content on Instagram, you may have come across @my_500_sqft_life. Behind the account are Chris and Kelly Banks, full-time RVers who share the realities of life on the road with their daughter Emma and two dogs, Harper and Casen. From creative storage solutions and campground life to major renovations and repair projects, they've built a loyal following by documenting the practical side of RV living.
What sets the Banks family apart is their hands-on approach. Rather than calling in help for every problem, they have spent years learning how to repair, modify, and improve their home on wheels themselves. Along the way, they've transformed challenges into opportunities, developing systems that make full-time travel more comfortable, affordable, and sustainable. In this Q&A, Kelly shares some of the family's best maintenance tips, favourite upgrades, and lessons learned from five years of life on the road.
Can you start by telling us a little bit about yourselves?
Hey there, we’re the Banks family—Chris, Kelly, our teen Emma, plus our two adventure pups, Harper and Casen.
Five years ago, this all started with weekend camping trips. Now, it’s the life we built—full-time on the road, debt-free, and doing work we actually love.
In between, there’s been a lot of growth: from our first camper to full-time RV life, from routines to work camping and flexible income, from “someday” plans to intentionally building a life that fits our family.
Chris is the problem-solver and tech brain behind our setup—always finding smarter, more efficient ways to make RV life run smoothly (and fixing just about anything along the way). He retired at 40 this past December and is now building his mobile RV service business.
I’m Kelly—the one making our space feel like home wherever we park. I love cooking from scratch (yes, even bread in the RV oven), capturing our travels through photos, and sharing the real-life systems that help make this lifestyle sustainable.
Emma is our creative soul—always crafting, exploring, and learning through the places we visit. She shares her creations and reminds us daily why we chose this path.
Harper, our loyal sidekick, and Casen, our playful explorer, make sure every stop includes walks, laughs, and a little extra chaos. This life didn’t happen overnight, but it’s one we’re proud of.
What’s the most game-changing DIY repair you’ve done that saved your family the most money or stress on the road?
Chris installed an auxiliary fuel tank in our truck for travel days and pulling our RV! It also allows Chris to get up to 80 gallons of diesel where the price is better!
Can you walk us through a repair you wish you’d known how to do earlier in your RV journey?
It would have definitely helped if we would have known that most RV air conditioning systems and ducts need to be checked and usually resealed to ensure proper airflow for the best performance.
What’s one beginner-friendly repair every RVer should learn before hitting the road full-time?
Every RVer should absolutely know how to check their tires. It is crucial that the tires are free from defects or cracks, and that the tire pressure is set to the proper level. Even just a few PSI high or low could make the difference and cause tires to wear incorrectly or affect handling.
What tools do you consider non-negotiable for RV repairs, and why?
Tire inflator, basic socket/wrench/screwdriver set, level, drill or impact, hammer, and trim nails would all be at the top of our list for an RVer starting out. There are definitely other tools one might need for specific repairs.
Have you ever had a repair go hilariously wrong or surprisingly right—and what did you learn from it?
When Chris noticed a small leak in the underneath storage bay of our RV, he started investigating the damage and it just kept going! Everything he took apart or uncovered kept showing signs of water intrusion. After stripping the entire storage bays down, including the floor, Chris was able to rebuild with lighter and more durable materials and even redesign to safely add more space.
What’s a DIY upgrade that dramatically improved your 500-sq.-ft. life but cost less than $100?
Chris replaced having a water softener with a water descaler in our water filtration set-up. It was about $90, but it makes a big improvement on our water quality without the weight and constant maintenance that the water softener had.
Our water descaler is used in conjunction with a triple-stage water filter, and we have a reverse osmosis system for our drinking water.
How do you decide when to DIY a repair versus calling in a professional?
As a lifetime DIYer, previous mechanic, and RVer for 32 years, Chris determined most repairs he can research and teach himself along the way.
The only repair we called in a professional for was when we first purchased our fifth wheel to double-check and fix any repairs in our air conditioner ducting, as that was a major complaint of RVers with our model of RV.
Not only did that repair cost a lot, Chris also had to go through and still fix the majority of our ducting because the technician did not open everything needed to complete the repairs. This was one of the main catalysts for Chris DIYing all of our repairs, and even starting his own RV services company.
What are some small-space hacks that made your RV feel significantly bigger or more functional?
We use:
- Baskets and storage bins for the best space utilization in our RV.
- Clear organizers in our fridge and freezers to keep them travel-ready, yet also easy to stock and use.
- Different types of baskets and racks in our kitchen cabinets to keep our pantry items and cooking essentials sorted.
- Several wall-mounted racks in our bathrooms to keep items in place and save a lot of time not having to pack.
How do you manage storage for kids, pets, tools, and school supplies in such a small space?
Chris redesigned Emma’s whole room to incorporate more storage space for her items and provide a desk area for homeschool. He added additional adjustable shelving in her cabinets for clothing and also school supplies.
We have two dogs, and we are able to keep their items stored by redesigning our living area. We removed the loveseat and four-seat wall-mounted table, and replaced it with a longer couch and two crates for the dogs. Chris added crate table toppers, and canvas totes that are attached hold our dogs’ supplies and toys.
When Chris redesigned the under-storage bays, he also added areas for tool organizers. Chris uses different totes, cases, bags, and toolboxes to keep everything accessible and easy to use.
How has the RV community shaped your journey—online or in person?
We love sharing our RV journey online and meeting so many friends in person. There truly is no community like the RV community!!
It doesn’t matter if you need help with a major repair, a tip to keep things running smoothly, recommendations for travel adventures, or just a quick boost in positivity—the RV community shows up and supports each of us!
What advice would you give to families dreaming of full-time RV life but feeling intimidated by the logistics or repairs?
The best advice we can give is to take time to consider all the possibilities.There are absolutely amazing days; there are also days where nothing seems to go right! Staying calm and assessing each issue one at a time is the easiest way to make it through those hard days.
Not every post online is the full picture. You also don’t need your RV life to look like anyone else’s! Some people move every day and live off-grid; some people don’t move for months or even a year at a time. When so many outcomes are possible, it’s easy to get sidetracked comparing your lifestyle to others.
There’s always time to make changes along the way, so you don't need to hit the ground running at full speed. Sometimes it takes time to get things set up or purchase different things.
There are going to be repairs needed constantly, as it’s your home bouncing down the road!
