This post contains affiliate links.
Ricci and Kyle want their kids to grow up realizing that possessions and material things won’t last forever, so they chose to go tiny in a new 5th wheel RV!
Kyle is in the Army, so having a mobile home allows them to take it wherever the military may call them (state-side, of course). They live in an RV park close to Kyle’s post, that has lots of family-friend amenities.
Inside the RV the kids share an awesome bunk room, while Kyle and Ricci have a Master bedroom on the other side of the home. We got to do a Q&A with Ricci about their 6 months living tiny, which you can read after the awesome photo tour of their home. Follow them on Instagram here.
Don’t miss other interesting tiny homes like this one – join our FREE Tiny House Newsletter for more!
Life In KY In a Fifth Wheel RV: Interview
Images via @lifewiththehaynes/Instagram
It’s amazing how rugs and plants can really make a place!
Images via @lifewiththehaynes/Instagram
A real couch can make an RV feel like a house.
Images via @lifewiththehaynes/Instagram
I actually love the dark cabinets in this one!
Images via @lifewiththehaynes/Instagram
The dining area has wrap-around seating.
Images via @lifewiththehaynes/Instagram
Here’s their super-cozy bedroom.
Images via @lifewiththehaynes/Instagram
And the bunk room for the kiddos.
Images via @lifewiththehaynes/Instagram
They added the custom crib bunk for their baby.
Images via @lifewiththehaynes/Instagram
Here’s the bathroom with some awesome artwork.
Images via @lifewiththehaynes/Instagram
There’s even a tub for the kids!
Images via @lifewiththehaynes/Instagram
The kids have a great place to play outside.
Images via @lifewiththehaynes/Instagram
One very happy family!
Images via @lifewiththehaynes/Instagram
Ricci Talks About RV Life with Littles
What are your name(s)?
Kyle and Ricci Haynes
How many people (and animals) are living in your tiny house?
Five. We have three babies: Behr (4), Mayer (2), and Cypress-Claire (1)
How long have you lived tiny?
Since July so only about 6 months
What do you do for work? Or do you travel full-time?
Kyle is active duty Army and we are stationed at Fort Campbell, KY. I am a SAHM Fulltime with the littles and I do photography for “side cash” 😆 and I am currently spending all of my evening hours getting my Medical Coding Certification
What are you hoping to get out of living tiny?
We hope to teach our kids that at the end of the day it’s about the love and relationship you have with each other. All you need is Jesus and you cannot take the materialist things with you to Heaven. How much stuff you have doesn’t matter, it’s what you do with what you have that matters. We may not have a lot of things but we surely have a lot of love for each other.
How did you acquire your tiny house? Did you do a lot of renovations?
When we started living full time, Kyle was deployed. Being away from family and I’m the middle of a pandemic, a full renovation was unrealistic. It’s also a brand new fifth wheel so it would be silly for me to come in and gut it. So I just worked with what I had and made it look like a home that suit us. We had to make some renovations in the babies bunk room, like the babies custom built crib bunk. Other than that, no huge renovations.
What are bills/utilities like compared to before?
Honestly? They are still about the same. The only difference right now is that we own the fifth wheel and it’s considered an investment, instead of paying rent or living on post in military housing. Parking full time at an RV park isn’t as cheap as what people may assume.
How did you find a place to “park” your home? Or do you travel?
The RV park about 10 miles out from post is very nice and accommodates our family needs. It has a park/playground for our kids, a pool, fire pit area, walking trails, and they have allowed us to put our kids little trampoline out in our little front yard area
Before going tiny, what was life like?
We had a 4 bedroom 2.5 bath house and we just had some major financial goals we knew we wanted to meet and couldn’t do that by continuing the route we were going
Is there anything from your old life that you miss?
A long shower or bath! And being able to do laundry anytime I wanted (like after the babies went to bed) but one day we hope to convert our outdoor kitchen into a laundry room
What benefits are you experiencing after going tiny?
The fact that no matter where we go or get stationed to, we can take our home with us. It’s a form of stability. I’ve always desired stability for my kids and let’s face it, the military doesn’t provide that well. So in order for my husband (who loves his job) and I to have our cake and eat it too, we went tiny!
What about some challenges?
Sometimes people assume they aren’t able to come over and visit because they are afraid there won’t be enough room for them. There are also just natural learning challenges that have come up, with winter approaching and we are still considered new at this.
What makes your tiny home special?
It’s the first home that Kyle and I have owned together, and when you walk in you can definitely tell it’s our home.
What is your favorite part of your tiny home?
I am a neat organized freak so it’s nice that I don’t have so much to do to make sure it stays that way and I have so much more time for my babies!
What helpful advice would you give to others interested in going tiny?
Just do it! No looking back! Only ahead. It’s so freeing!
Anything I didn’t ask about that we should know?
Just wanted to clarify that my babies are happy and thriving. They don’t lack anything and don’t feel like they are missing out. They love their room, and “our bus”. They have adjusted so well! Cut out for the military life after all I suppose!
Can you remind me of your Instagram handle?
@lifewiththehaynes
Highlights:
- Brand new 5th wheel
- Minor renovations to make it home
- Family of 5
- Husband is in the Army
- Wife is a SAHM and photographer
- 3 Kids in bunk room
- Customized crib bottom bunk for littlest
- Master bedroom on other side
Learn More:
Related Stories:
- RV Living While Building a Cabin: Family of 6 Downsize
- From Townhouse to RV to Van Life: Chad & Leanna’s Adventures
- The Ramblr 2.0: Retro Themed $6.5k Budget RV Conversion
Our big thanks to Ricci for sharing! 🙏
You can share this using the e-mail and social media re-share buttons below. Thanks!
If you enjoyed this you’ll LOVE our Free Daily Tiny House Newsletter with even more!
You can also join our Small House Newsletter!
Also, try our Tiny Houses For Sale Newsletter! Thank you!
More Like This: Tiny Houses | RV Living | Family Tiny House Living | Interviews
See The Latest: Go Back Home to See Our Latest Tiny Houses
This post contains affiliate links.
Natalie C. McKee
Latest posts by Natalie C. McKee (see all)
- 714 Sq. Ft. Cabin in the Woods - April 24, 2024
- Boho XL Tiny House with Shou Sugi Ban Siding - April 24, 2024
- Kentucky Tiny House in the Woods - April 24, 2024
