Why the Winnebago Minnie is an Ideal Fit for a Nature-Loving Park Ranger

Why the Winnebago Minnie is an Ideal Fit for a Nature-Loving Park Ranger
Get inspired by this heartwarming Winnebago owner story.

By: Brooke Baum, GoLife Blog Editor

Part of the appeal of RV life is the sense of adventure and freedom that fills you when you hit the open road. RVing allows you to be flexible with your plans, change routes, and spontaneously explore new places or try new activities. The places you go, experiences you have, and often even RV life itself, can change your perspective and help you better align yourself with your priorities. That's why so many people are quick to sing the praises of RVing! However, you may be challenged to find someone more enthusiastic about RV life in a Winnebago than Clay Dickson.

How a Long-Term RV Trip Turned into a Lifestyle

When Clay started volunteering at state parks in 2019, he only intended to commit to two years as part of a planned sabbatical from work. He actually worked two full-time jobs for the five years prior in order to be able to take that time to volunteer and get to be outdoors more often. He purchased a Winnebago Minnie travel trailer to use as his home base since many of the parks also had campgrounds on site – plus, he already had a passion for camping!

Clay RVed and volunteered in about ten parks, but it wasn't long into the experience that he realized how much he loved working with the state parks and how well the role fit with RVing. Then, in a happy and unexpected twist, he was invited to stay on as an employee. So, his two-year sabbatical turned into a career change that he couldn't be more excited about! If you ever get a chance to meet Clay, you won't be able to miss his enthusiasm for his outdoor-focused lifestyle.

Clay absolutely loves to be close to nature. He was stuck behind a desk at his prior job, so that gives him an even deeper appreciation for getting to be outside so often as a ranger with Florida State Parks. In his free time, he especially enjoys being near the water - surfing, beach cruising, knee boarding, fishing, and jet skiing. He's also passionate about hiking and playing the steel drums, and he likes to ride his scooter around to explore the area. 

Having his comfortable and reliable Winnebago travel trailer to come back to after a day of outdoor fun really helps him enjoy his work and hobbies even more. Getting to park his rolling home right where he is working and being so close to great outdoor activities has been an ideal fit for Clay. "This lifestyle of camping just makes you want to get out and about," he shared.

Why the Winnebago Minnie?

When looking for an RV to use during his sabbatical, Clay did a lot of research and decided that Winnebago seemed to be the best built and have the most sturdiness. He had built his own little teardrop camper about 15 years ago but wanted something more stable since he would be using it long-term. And he is happy to report that he has had no problems since buying his Winnebago Minnie in 2019!

If you are considering joining the RV life, Clay suggests talking to actual owners at parks and campgrounds to get authentic insights on different RV types. Reading blog posts, attending RV shows, and using online resources is also a big help. However, getting to have hands-on experience and gathering feedback from actual owners was the most valuable to Clay during his research phase.

Initially, Clay looked at another Winnebago trailer that had a smaller bunkhouse floorplan, but he decided to go with a larger travel trailer since he was planning to use it for a long-term RV trip. He thinks the layout of his Winnebago Minnie 2455bhs is awesome - even after spending much more time in it than he originally planned. 

He loves the slideout with U-shaped dinette and the oversized bunkhouse. He uses the bunkhouse for storage and has added an accordion-style shade to cover the area and have a cleaner look inside his RV.

Clay also appreciates that the Winnebago Minnie is light and very easy to tow around without needing a big truck. He prefers having a towable since he can take his truck on errands or outdoor adventures and leave his RV safely at the campground.

"I would tell anybody that I am a Winnebago fan," Clay sincerely shared. "The Winnebago Minnie is the perfect camper for anybody who wants an RV for extended living while traveling - mine has been good to me and it is just a great, well-built camper." However, he can't help but keep an eye out for new Winnebago models and is excited about what he is seeing.

Special thanks to Clay for taking the time to share his story and photos! We'd love to hear why your Winnebago is a great fit for your lifestyle in the comments. For more inspiring Winnebago owner stories, browse the “life” section of the GoLife blog.

For ideas on how you can volunteer while traveling in your RV, read this article with more stories about how Winnebago owners are giving back. Plus, GoLife Perks Members can receive 50% off a one-year membership to CamperGigs—a map-searchable platform that helps you find RV-friendly volunteer opportunities. Learn more.