Writing a first blog post is never easy. Where do you even begin? Perhaps the best place is by explaining why this website came to life in the first place.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by the idea of freedom. The freedom to set off whenever I feel like it, wake up somewhere new, and experience the world on my own terms. When my wife and I decided to sell almost everything we owned, buy a motorhome and embrace a new way of life, I was convinced I had finally found true freedom.
It didn’t take long, however, to realise that owning a motorhome doesn’t automatically make you free. Freedom also depends on knowledge, preparation and safety. The better you understand your vehicle and prepare for your journey, the more relaxed and enjoyable your travels become. ByRagnar grew out of this realisation and my desire to help others enjoy motorhome life without having to learn everything from scratch, as I did.
Who am I?
The photo was taken at the 3D Fun Art Museum in Lisbon
I grew up in the beautiful Eastfjords of Iceland, and I’m married to an amazing woman—an entirely unbiased opinion, of course. Together we have a wonderfully busy family and one loyal four-legged travelling companion.
Life has taught me many lessons, both good and difficult, and the past few years have been a period of rebuilding and finding balance again.
This website is part of that journey. It combines my passions for travel, practical solutions, craftsmanship and safety, but above all, it reflects my wish to share what I’ve learned with others. I’ve spent countless hours searching through international websites and YouTube channels, often wishing there was a practical resource like this available in Icelandic. That thought eventually became the inspiration for ByRagnar.
The Trip That Taught Me Humility
I’ll probably never forget our very first motorhome trip. We headed to Borgarfjörður, not because we wanted to travel far, but simply because I wanted to get to know the vehicle and learn how everything worked. I genuinely thought it would all be fairly straightforward.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Before long I found myself surrounded by switches, valves, tanks and systems I’d never seen before, desperately trying to work out how everything fitted together. What I had imagined would be a relaxing weekend away quickly turned into an intensive course in motorhome ownership.
One incident stands out above all the others. I kept filling the fresh water tank, but no matter how much water I poured in, it never seemed to fill up. When I walked around the outside of the motorhome, I noticed water running onto the ground beneath it.
I had absolutely no idea what was happening.
After a fair amount of Googling, I discovered that the frost drain valve might have been left open. I searched around until I eventually found the tiny valve, closed it, and almost magically, the leak stopped and the water tank finally filled as it should.
Today I can laugh about it, but at the time it made me realise just how little I actually knew.
The following two years became one long learning experience. Every trip seemed to teach me something new, and gradually I began to understand how the motorhome really worked.
Why Do I Focus So Much on Safety?
Over time I realised that the freedom I had been searching for wasn’t simply about being able to drive wherever I wanted. It came from the confidence of understanding my vehicle and knowing how to deal with problems when they appeared.
That’s exactly why safety plays such a big role on this website. Not because I believe it’s possible to prevent every problem, but because good preparation makes problems far less likely—and much easier to deal with when they do occur. This becomes even more important when travelling abroad or exploring new countries with your family.
Safety isn’t just about carrying a fire extinguisher or a first aid kit. It’s also about understanding your electrical system, knowing how your water system works, recognising potential issues before they become serious and setting off with confidence rather than uncertainty.
What Can You Expect to Find Here?
This is only the beginning.
Whether you’re preparing for your very first motorhome adventure or you’ve been travelling for years, I hope this website becomes a place you’ll return to time and time again.
If I can help you avoid a few of the mistakes I made, save you some unnecessary stress or simply make your journeys a little easier and more enjoyable, then ByRagnar will already have achieved its purpose.
Thank you for taking the time to read my very first post. I hope you’ll enjoy following this journey, and perhaps we’ll both learn something new along the way.
Thank you for stopping by—and welcome to the journey.
Warm regards,
Ragnar
Equipment I Use
Throughout my articles, I’ll occasionally recommend products that I’ve personally found useful, such as:
Fresh water hose
Water filter
Water pressure regulator
Tool kit
Affiliate Disclosure
Some of the links on this website are Amazon Associate links. If you choose to buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the continued development of ByRagnar. Thank you for your support.
