Quick answer
I’m Evan, and I started building RME in July 2021 after going looking for other vanlifers on my first real trip. I wanted an easier way to meet people living the same way. Today I build it from a 2015 Ford shuttle bus that I share with my partner. The idea is still simple: make life on the road feel more connected.
Key points
- RME began with a real problem on my first trip: finding other people on the road.
- I started in July 2021 and still build the app from the bus I live in.
- Vans, RVs, buses, skoolies and other homes on wheels all belong here.
A cheap van, a trip to Idaho, and a missing connection
Before the van, I lived out of a sedan for a couple of weeks. Then came a cheap, low-roof 1995 van. It was a way to get out there and begin, without waiting for a perfect build.
On my first real trip up to Idaho, I went looking for other people living the same way. I could go somewhere new, but I could not find an app that helped me find my people there. The hardest part was never just finding a place to park. It was finding someone to share the place with.
That is where RME started. In July 2021 I began building the thing I had wanted on that trip.
Built from the life it is meant for
I met my partner when I started vanlife, and we have been traveling together. We eventually moved into a 2015 Ford shuttle bus. That bus is our home, and it is where I keep working on RME.
The practical side of road life is part of it, too. When the bus breaks, I like figuring out how to fix it. Building an app from the road comes from that same interest in working out a problem and making something useful.
I am not writing this from outside the community, imagining what nomads might need. I am building while living this way, and the first problem I wanted to solve was my own.
A place to find people and make plans
Meeting people remains at the center. From there, RME grew to include places to stop, events, caravans, posts, builds and a market. Trailprint gives you a personal map of the roads you have traveled.
Those features connect to the same reason I started: find somewhere to go, find people to meet, and have a way to stay in touch afterward. Seeing an event on a website is useful. Being able to talk to the people going and get updates in the app is what helps turn it into a plan.
I call RME a vanlife app, but that does not mean you need a van. I live in a bus. RV travelers, skoolie owners, people in cars and other vehicle-based nomads are part of this community. The vehicle is not the reason we have things in common.
The reason I keep building
I want the core of RME to help people connect without making it harder to get started. I want it to be useful on an ordinary travel day, when you are figuring out where to go and wondering who might be nearby.
If you are new to this life, you do not need a perfect rig or a polished story to belong. That first cheap van was enough for me to begin. RME is my attempt to make the people part of beginning a little easier.
For the longer photo story, visit About RME. For press, interviews or a question about what I am building, contact RME support. The media page has approved RME images and descriptions.
Frequently asked questions
Who built RME?
Evan started RME in July 2021 and continues building it while living on the road in a 2015 Ford shuttle bus.
Why did Evan start RME?
After looking for other vanlifers on his first real trip to Idaho, he wanted an app that made finding people and staying connected easier.
Is RME only for people in vans?
No. RME welcomes adult travelers in vans, RVs, buses, skoolies, cars and other homes on wheels.
Where can press find more information?
The About and Media pages contain the founder background and approved RME imagery. Use the Support page to get in touch.
Sources
Sources and further reading are listed below. Research dates and any illustrative assumptions are identified in the article. Tell us at support@roammeetexplore.com if something has changed.
Disclosure: RME publishes this page. We make RME. Other apps, events and tours mentioned are run by their respective organizations. Check their current details before making plans.