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I love the Cottonwood and Sedona area. Nice you found your lovely little niche 😀 Thanks for sharing!
Ya, I’m with Old John, definitely they are great to have and use but if you don’t have one, how necessary or likely is it that you’d need one…? It’s the same discussion with insurance.
I also do not have one.
Good luck deciding and happy trails! 😀
Yes, Kalait is right. You may have to search you other bins to locate the drain. Mine aren’t in the same bin as all my hook ups. In fact I have two drains on mine, one for each side of the RV. Maybe so it can drain faster and easier.
Good luck finding it and congrats on the new purchase!
Happy trails 😀
I think it’s less about being snobbish and more about attempting to screen out the drug dealers/abusers, and really “white trash” sorts that can find their way into the RV living scene.
A lot will consider you if you ask and meet them in person. 🙂
Hi Ashley, congrats on your new move and job! I’d recommend buying your RV after getting to Phoenix. There are a lot of RVs in Arizona in general because of all the snow birds that come down from the north during the summer. Many travel or live in their RVs and when they leave, many people decide to sell for whatever reason.
Also, you don’t want to trust a new vehicle to take you across the country if you’re not very familiar with it yet.
I wouldn’t limit yourself to a brand like Winnebago, just go on Craigslist and see what’s available for the price you want. You can also check local papers. I can almost guarantee you’ll find at least a little bit of variety of RVs for sale in the Phoenix area.
Best of luck to you, I hope this helps a bit! 😀
Hi Tamara, my RV came with shower hooks but I just use regular ones you can buy at any store nowadays. They should all fit. I also use a regular shower curtain not specific to an RV however, I cut the bottom off of the curtain so it was a bit shorter to fit the shorter shower.
I hope this helps!
Happy trails 😀
Hi Michel, thanks for your post.
Be careful, this smell could be coming from electrical wires that are melting because the AC is pulling too much current or neutral wires are not properly installed.
Have you identified that the smell comes from the AC or can you sniff around your breaker panel to see if perhaps the smell is coming from there.
Please address your breaker box immediately as this is a common smell when a large appliance is turned on and wires are melting.
If you are certain it’s not coming from an electrical source, you could also check your condensation pan on you AC unit.
Best of luck, take care!
Gosh Andy, I have no idea. I’d say start by contacting a shipping company. Also, have you fully ruled out anything that is manufactured and/or sold in Europe? I would imagine that to be thousands of dollars/pounds cheaper.
Perhaps there are some American brand RVs that are already sold a little closer to you.
Best of luck in that. Please update us on what you decide to do. I hope for the best for you guys and your new adventures! Thanks so much for tuning in 😀
Hi jskline, depending on your tank size, let’s say yours would be approximately 50 gallons, that’s over 400 lbs of additional weight you’re adding to the RV. It definitely impacts the mileage you get out of your RV. However, you must factor that against the convenience of having fresh water ready to go or using the restroom while traveling, washing hands…
I hope that little bit of insight helps!
I don’t know much about vermiculite floor tile but one of the first things that came up when I googled it was that it could potentially be a health hazard due to the asbestos content. I couldn’t find a place that even sells it in the form of a floor tile.
If you go for ceramic tiles keep in mind these could potentially break or crack if you move the RV. Even just leveling the RV could cause faults in the fragile flooring material. If you did use these, you would definitely need to get a grout that’s for more porous materials like marble and such to accommodate any potential shifting and movement in the floor.
As for the engineered hardwood flooring, I think it would make a beautiful floor in your RV. Keep in mind it may have a unique or additional maintenance or upkeep and may be less water resistant. I wouldn’t worry about the weight if you’re not planning on moving.
The nice thing about the hardwood floors is you may have the option of adding a thin rubber or foam layer underneath the flooring which would make the floors a bit softer to walk on as well as add addition thermal and sound insulation.
Best of luck on your decisions!
Thanks for the tip Vin. How often do you find you have to clean out your tank when using this? How many people are using the facility aboard your RV?
Thanks!
Hi Crys, I have seen pics of these leather belt floors and they look pretty cool! However, I can’t get out of my mind how hard they might be to keep clean and how easily softer belts would scuff under heavy traffic. But regardless, it’s an awesome idea!
As for epoxy, if you poured it fully over the belts, then you would just have a smooth glossy floor with a background of belts. If you poured a little bit of epoxy over them, ideally it might work to remove the deeper cracks but any epoxy that touched the top of the belts would make them rigid. If it was just a thin layer of rigidity of parts of the belts, they could crack and hurt to walk on. I’d skip the epoxy idea unless you just want to encase them and have a hard smooth floor.
I think nails are an appropriate means to stick them to the floor. You’d probably want to nail each belt every 3-5 inches though. Anything bigger your toe could catch and could trip you potentially.
It sounds like a lot of work and maintenance for a floor. Especially a floor in a small area that gets traffic almost always in the same places. Perhaps the seat of a dinette would be more suitable for this kind of project.
To investigate which glues might be best, I’d recommend going to a hardware store and asking someone in that department.
To prepare your floor, you just need to remove your carpet and any nails or staples (which could be a lot in an RV) and pour floor leveler if it’s not already leveled pretty well, or leave as is for the belts since they’ll contour the floor easily. Since you’re laying down flooring that is not water resistant you’ll need to get a sealer or polyurethane to paint over all the wood sub-flooring. You’d also have an option to include a rubber or foam padding that would cover the wood sub-floor, making it more water resistant and then adding the belts.
This sounds like a fun project. Best of luck with it! 😀
Hi jskline, I wouldn’t limit yourself to class C because you think class A would be harder to drive. I don’t have a hard time driving Rhea Rada and once I got her I had to drive her immediately and quickly got used to it. The difference is just the height of the drivers seat. You can get used to it pretty easily. Either way, always keep your mind alert when driving because they take longer to stop and you’re also several feet taller and longer than what you’re used to.
Consider too that a Class A may allow in more light because the entire front is windows. Also, Class Cs will likely have cab doors in addition to the coach door. My class A only has a coach door. Some class As also have driving area doors or maybe just a driver side door.
Best of luck and happy trails! 😀
Thank you XBlingman! I’m happy to hear that you enjoy my videos. Thanks for this great idea. I appreciate your input! 😀
Hi Triton, sorry it’s taken me this long to fix that. I’ve got it working now. Thanks for letting me know about it!
Happy trails! 😀
Hi Ray, check out this forum conversation with a bunch of different answers on just this very topic. You probably didn’t see it before because it was on the second page of this forum but I changed that.
https://www.pippenings.com/rv-living/rv-motorhome-life-forum/topic/internet-on-the-road/
You may also benefit from checking out this conversation about reliable RV internet access:
Happy trails!
Pippi PetersonHi Dusty, There’s a lot to know about maintaining and taking care of your RV. I started out knowing almost nothing and I learned everything as time went on and as I needed to.
I kind of wish I knew how much I would have liked it earlier so I could have started earlier though I don’t regret how anything played out.
I’d say if you can’t think of anything you require or need and can’t see any hang ups now, you should be fine. There will undoubtedly be some getting used to it and settling in.
Best of luck with it and happy trails!
Sounds like an interesting deal. You’d have to get the engine checked out for sure. Check all the appliances. Hard to judge without knowing much about it. If you like it, that’s a pretty good price tag I’d say.
Hi XBlingman, the fall of 2016 will mark three years in my RV. I did a video about making money in your RV. You can check it out here:
And, I’ve had several different people help me with the camera but I usually use a tripod.
To learn more about working from your RV check out these topics on this site.
I hear you on climate being important; it is to me too. Best of luck with your relocation and endeavors! 🙂
Hi Anh, I tow my car. I would not get by without one. If you’re planning on parking in one spot for a while, it’s a great idea to consider a fifth wheeler or trailer because of the lower cost to insure and register and no need for engine maintenance.
Check out this thread for some great conversation of buying an RV vs a trailer: https://www.pippenings.com/rv-living/rv-motorhome-life-forum/topic/i-cant-decide-what-to-buy/
Let us know what you decide. Congrats on the journey!! 😀
Thanks for the great tip Melio!!
Oh and don’t for get the lighter fluid, just leave it in there after your trip. You’ll thank yourself next year! 😉
Happy trails
Good luck boondocking in So Cal on a regular basis. I have almost always parked at some sort of camp site or RV park. I do tow my car behind. There’s no way I’d be driving my RV around in So Cal traffic regularly. It’s not my lifestyle but it certainly could be yours.
Let us know if you find anything out. Cheers and best of luck!
This is hard to imagine without a pic. Some trailers’ wires are very far away from where the trailer mounts to the tow ball. I’d say as much slack as possible is always good and use zip ties when they come in handy.
Does that help? Perhaps you can post a pic…
First of all, it’s your life and not your dad’s life. And it never will be his life, all of your actions will be yours to deal with. So do what you want. Locking yourself into monthly payments that require you to have a well paying job for 30 years is pretty scary in my mind so I wouldn’t ever say this is a good idea to someone. But to each their own. Not everyone has a free spirit and frisky feet to move around and live simply.
Have you gone in to talk face to face to the manager or owner at that park? I’d try that first. If you can, give them a pic of the RV you plan to buy and let them see who you are. If they absolutely won’t take you as a long term resident, I would highly suggest staying at one of the other parks. It’s convenient to have the same address. And your girls might make best friends with some of the other kids in the park. Sure, it could be farther from their school, but wouldn’t that be nice if they’re friends that they always wanted to hang out with were only yards away? It’s possible.
It might not be an option for you or them, but have you considered another school? That could also be an option to consider. Also, if you are using this as a regular long term home and aren’t a mechanic, I highly suggest getting a 5th wheeler or standard trailer. They’re easier and cheaper to register and insure and require no mechanical maintenance that an engine would. If you don’t know how to tow it around and only need to get it to the park for it to sit for a while, rent a truck for that day.
I hope you get some good insight and advantage from my advice. Best of luck to you guys. Please let me know how it goes and what you end up doing. Congrats on your independent-minded choices! 😀 You can do this!!!
Hi Maxine, sounds like a fun time. My RV is 34 feet long. I’m not in the lifestyle of moving around all the time and boondocking at new places. When I move, I tow my car so I have regular, daily transport if I need it. If you are planning on boondocking and travelling around regularly, you will either need to do all your errands in your RV or tow a small car. There’s the option too, to rent a car for the day if you want to go somewhere that your RV can’t go. But if there are regular roads that aren’t too crazy and your RV is in good shape, you should be able to get it there, like up a mountain or to the grocery store 😉
Happy trails and have a safe and enjoyable trip!
Great info TR. Here the link to my playlist with a bunch of RV maintenance videos. Good luck Syrenan!
LOL, You must be referring to this video:
I actually got a lot of use out of mine. I’d use it almost daily to fill up Andiamo’s outside water dish. But more recently, I’ve started only using distilled water so I haven’t used it for about a month. I also water my flower pots with it. I can see how it could be seen as useless in the scenarios you experienced but it’s certainly useful in many other situations and circumstances.
Sorry to hear you had so much trouble with yours. I’m glad it’s fixed now! Nice idea with the PVC plug.
Happy trails!
Hi Rob, I suspect Hunter will LOVE it! As long as he is fine travelling in cars. Andiamo is a little shy of the RV when we begin to drive but settles down after a while on the road.
Yes, a lot of dog parks won’t let them be unattended outside. Not all have or enforce this rule though. Especially those with longer term residents. However, if you’re regularly travelling around and in unfamiliar territories, would YOU want to leave him unattended outside? I wouldn’t.
I suggest calling where you plan to stay to see if they’ll allow your specific set up. They might allow it even if the website says no. I recommend calling anyway even if they’re website says no about anything, not just dogs.
Best of luck and most importantly, have a great time! 😀
It’s not the fact that motorhomes are gas or diesel that make them reliable or unreliable, it’s the fact that a motorhome requires the maintenance of a vehicle and a house in one. The vibrations of a huge vehicle going down the road and vibrating for hours on end can contribute to all the things that can fail on them, along with regular wear and tear. If you want something easier or what you might call reliable would be to get a trailer that is your house that doesn’t need all the maintenance that goes into an engine and mechanics of an RV.
Best of luck with your decisions! 😀
Here’s more info about using ProGuard’s Rubber Roof:
It sounds like it could be an electrical issue, like a loose or mouse-chewed wire. Perhaps try changing the spark plug and check the plug’s electrical connection.
You may also want to check the oil level. There’ could be a sensor that won’t let it run if it’s low on oil.
You can also check the air filter. Even you can just remove it to see if it will start without it.
I had a problem with mine. The neutral line that connects up in the distribution panel got fried. I don’t totally understand it. But I learned that a lot of older RVs that are only 30amps can have this happen. You could check there to make sure all your wires look healthy and safe. Best of luck!
Yes, the floor can take quite some time. I think in total mine took about three months because I got a little more bored of all the cuts and slow process. I lived with the wood floor in the bedroom for a bit of time because of it. Hopefully if it doesn’t get done, you guys can just leave it til you get back and get some ore motivation.
Don’t worry about what you might forget, you’ll have a great list for next time after this trip! 😀
Best of luck and happy trails! 🙂
Hi Vin, I don’t have a digital reader for my LP level. However, it sounds like a problem with the reader or the sensor. Perhaps you could call the digital reader’s manufacturer and see if it has a reset option. They also might suggest a new sensor, which could be the problem.
Does your tank have an analog reader connected to the tank that you can read outside? Mine has a gauge that I can see where the levels are at that’s not dependent on digital technology. Perhaps in the meantime you can reference yours if your tank is equipped with one.
Best of luck, if you find anything more, would you please let us know what the issue is? Thank you!
If you’re going to crack open your floor, you can see what you’ve currently got. It’s probably an OSB type or standard plywood. The OSB looks like big chunks of flat wood glued together. The standard plywood will be composed of multiple layers of thin wood glued on top of each other. You’ll want to match the same height you’ve got, 3/4 or 3/8. I’d stay away from anything that has particles, like particle board or MDF. Anything that’s just particles glued together can swell and warp with any contact to moisture.
If you just replace pieces of your floor, be sure to get a leveler to fill in the cracks afterward so your new floor can lay evening on top. You can get a leveler that you spackle on yourself, or a more liquidy one that will level it’s self. Be sure you’re parked on an even surface before doing that though.
Best of luck with your project!! 😀 Let us know how it goes.
I’d suggest a porcelain one since it’s going to get a lot of use. You can order online or go somewhere like Camping World and pick one up. They replace just like ones in traditional stick homes.
Best of luck! 😀
If you’re a good driver, cautious and aware, you don’t need a class Andie. Just take a weekend trip and you’ll feel like a pro afterward. Just don’t get cocky because you need to always be aware of everything. Happy travelling! 😀
Does the attachment have a cap that screws on when a hose extension isn’t in place? Is that when it’s leaking, or leaking with the hose attached?
If it has a cap to close it off and it’s leaking then, look inside the cap. There might be a rubber washer in there. You can try to replace the rubber washer. Perhaps even, there’s room for a washer and it’s not there. You could then take the cap to a hardware store and ask for a rubber washer or o-ring to go in it.
You can also get some plumbers tape, which is a non-sticky thin Teflon tape (again at any hardware store). Wrap it a few times around the male part of the fitting and then screw the cap or hose back on. It’s always better to use as little tape as possible because it can crack certain materials like plastic over time, or maybe never. Wrap it flatly around the fitting while pulling to get some stretch. It should stick to itself. Also make sure to wrap in the direction that you’d tighten, so that when you’re tightening the fitting, you’re not screwing the tape off backward.
Let me know how it goes 🙂
Yikes, those sprayer heads have a handle to turn them on to spray. Just like regular garden sprayer heads. And they only spray if you are letting water in (by flushing) while holding the sprayer head handle down. Is it possible the head is sitting where the handle is being pressed in and allowing water that way? Check that first.
Second, you might just want to go get another one. I had one on my last toilet. I recall it was attached to the hose just by a hose clamp. If yours has that, you can loosen the hose clamp, remove the sprayer head and put on another sprayer head and re-tighten. There’s probably another hose clamp where it connects at the back of the toilet to the hose. A new sprayer head might come with a hose in which case you might want to use that one instead of the older one.
Best of luck! Let me know how it goes.
Hi, thanks for sharing. Definitely don’t resign to the books under the bed. That said let me ask you how many books you have and how big of a bookshelf is it? If it’s one of those short 3 footers, I think you’ll be fine with the weight.
Are you driving around regularly? If so, do you need all the books on your travels? That’s a lot of weight to port around. However, if you’re not driving around regularly, then don’t worry about the weight distribution or the size of the bookshelf.
Best of luck, let us know what you come up with.
Pippi Peterson 😀
I think you’re on the right track. A trailer is less maintenance in many ways. Take a truck to a mechanic isn’t as scary as taking an RV in.
I think I’m understanding you’d prefer a regular trailer that hitches to the back vs a 5th wheeler that would take up space in the be of your truck. Aside from personal preferences of anyone looking, the only difference I would point out is that some people prefer the feel of towing a 5th wheeler vs a regular trailer. Also, the other difference I’d remark on from my personal experience is the 5th wheelers have a great big feel because their ceilings are like 12 feet tall or something huge feeling in the main living area because of their hunch-back type roof.
So, take those two things into consideration in your research. Best of luck! Let us know what you decide! 😀 Happy trails
Thanks so much for sharing, Stephen. Sounds like a great idea to get the heavy TV out of there. Happy trails! 😀
Very interesting. Yeah, the weight issue is true. I guess it depends on what the user is intending to do. Long term living in a smaller vicinity might benefit from slides but the weekend warriors or constant travelers might prefer the lighter weight of a trailer with no slides. Thanks so much for your input Mike! 😀
Beautiful wood! Thanks so much for sharing your solar stuff. I may hit you up when I’ve got more momentum in my own endeavors. Happy trails 😀
I think a toy hauler would absolutely serve you. Then you’d have your truck to get around locally til you move again. Best of luck, I love your wood carving table idea! 😀
Yes, I do drive it. It’s surprisingly easy to drive but you have to always be aware of your surroundings and remember how big and heavy you are. It’s kind of like driving a big boat, smooth and bouncy.
Best to ya!
That is a great question I’ve written a whole article about. Best RV Flooring Options. I hope you get enough information from the article: https://www.pippenings.com/rv-living/rv-renovations-best-flooring-options/
Hi Richard, thanks for your interest. My first question to you would be are you planning to drive around regularly or do you think you’ll stay put for a couple months at a time?
My next question is, have you RVed at all before? Sometimes folks may buy a nice RV and travel for a summer and realize it’s not for them, or they don’t like all the maintenance involved.
If you bought a 5th wheeler and traveled around with that, then your local mode of transportation would be a big truck. That’s something to consider if you’d mind the large vehicle and gas it requires for local errands and shopping.
A friend of mine has a 5th wheeler that’s a toy hauler and he has a big room in the back with a residential sized washer and dryer and a large trunk-type freezer and bunk beds. He says they all ride very easily though with all that extra weight it wouldn’t be ideal for on-going travel.
Are you leaning towards one or the other?
Looks sleek! I think my mom has those same exact curtains somewhere in her house 😉
I’ve never been inside one of the aluminum trailers. What’s the material that covers the ceiling and walls? How much insulation does it have or is it just the metal with the stuff inside?
Thanks!
I’ve come across Handy Bob’s materials online. He’s full of great info. Mike/Umbilical, do you recall why he wasn’t into the Xantrex inverters? Also, when was it posted. Apparently they are sort of starting new after a big controversy. Either way, would be good info to know. Thanks!
Fun to always see inside other people’s homes/trailers. My first thought was, wow, that’s a lot of wood paneling. Then I looked up and saw that’s exactly what I have just different wood design. Thanks for sharing!
Hey Umbilical, thanks for your thoughts 🙂 Any background on why you say 5th wheelers seem to be in disfavor these days? Just curious. The other day someone said they knew an owner of one that had a frequently leaky roof.
Hi Jay, thanks for posting this. It looks like the image link might be broken. Can you double check it please?
Also, it seems you never used this yourself as you say you haven’t checked any of the appliances. Can you give a history of it please? I’d love to see as many pics as you’ve got.
Thanks!
Hi Honkakangasl, Sprinkles will absolutely work on top of these cracker candies. They don’t need to be stored in the refrigerator if you plan to eat them within a week or two. However, they can be stored in the freezer and eaten at a much later time.
Sometimes though, the caramel (sugar and butter) aren’t cooked hot enough or long enough and don’t reach the right chemistry (becoming candy) and can become sticky if left out of the fridge. So it might be a good idea to keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to eat them. It won’t hurt.
Best of luck and happy holidays!
Just found another video. I found them! They are Global X Vehicles 😀
These two were parked in the “owners” section so I don’t know the brand or if they even have their own brand. Sorry! 🙁
I looked through my raw video footage to see if I could find anything else but didn’t see anything.
Perhaps a close second to this is the Earth Cruiser vehicles.
Best of luck in your vehicle conversion!
Thanks for posting these! I love the red floors and great electrical set up you’ve got going. Looks like a fun project. Any pics of the inside of the trailer? 🙂
It’s called a multi tool. You can attach different head types like a sander, cutting edge… I got mine at Harbor Freight with their in house brand name. You’ll find it if you go to one of those.
Congratulations Jimmie! How exciting! You did the best thing you can do right away which is get new tires. One Camping World I talked to said 85% of their business is damages from tires blowing out. Yikes.
Best of luck and congrats on the new life ahead 😀
Hi Roselyd, my first question would be how big is the area that you’re thinking of replacing AND where is it in the trailer?
In a lot of RVs and trailers, the walls are mostly Styrofoam with fiberglass on the outside and some sort of thin paneling on the inside. So you may only need to replace the paneling on the inside.
I’m guessing you could just use 1/4 inch plywood or lauan which would be a bit cheaper. But depending on the size, if it’s fairly small, the price difference is only a couple bucks and then get the better of the two, plywood.
OR… depending on the area, size and location, you could scrap trying to make it exactly as it was and do something creative like adding wainscoting
or 3D wall paneling
to add a more luxurious feel to your home.
Also, as long as you’re replacing wall portions, I’d suggest trying to add in some extra insulation while you’ve got it all opened up whether if it’s with reflectix
or styrofoam.
If you’re planning on painting all the walls in your home, you might encounter wallpaper. Check out this video for some tips.
Good luck, please add pics. I’d love to see the area before and after and could offer some better advice if I could see it.
Joanna, I’m happy my videos have helped you in some way! Welcome to the easier lifestyle!!! 😀
Good luck with your search for a travelling partner.
Can I kindly suggest some unsolicited advice that I’m learning from my own experience?
It would be to not look to someone else to provide for you in anyway (as in having a truck) but perhaps see yourself as a magnificent creator that you are and trust that what you need will come. Then hit the road yourself and I promise you’ll find someone way better that way than waiting for one to come to you so that you can go do something (like travel). If you wait for someone to bring you something, you’ve given up all your power 😉Best of luck and may you experience everything that you desire, because you are worthy of it all!!!
Follow this link to read about your RV wall material question.
Hi Roselyd, definitely, definitely, definitely get reflectix
type material to cover your windows. No curtain is going to compare. Please check out this video for a demo. If you get a huge roll of the stuff you can line your cabinets, any walls if you don’t care about the silver look and even your roof. All of this will make a huge difference.
I would stay away from mini blinds if they’re metal. Though the wood ones would be nice and an extra protection from heat. I had ‘black-out’ curtains from IKEA, that hardly blacked anything out but they supposedly help with thermal protection, too. I have those in my living room area and are easy to open and close. The original curtains were heavy and dark colored. Good for blocking light and heat but they were chewed through and demolished by the mice that owned the RV before me 😉
I did keep those curtains in the bedroom though because it’s nice to be able to completely block light sometimes while sleeping. However the reflectix
I’m going to try to mice your wall question to a more appropriate section of the forum where you might get more answers than hidden in this thread. I’ll also add my two cents there.
Here’s another thing I did for some extra insulation:
If you’re going to the hotspots in the winter, I can imagine you run into little vacancy. However, are you using Google? Because there will probably be more options than on the app. Just Google RV parks to find them in any area and then call to ask about vacancy. You’re bound to find one spot just for you! I can’t imagine many RV parks being savvy enough in the management area to be constantly updating an app or even know about it. The ones that do, are the ones that probably show up number one on Google and so fill up faster. And it doesn’t mean they’re better…
Best of luck!
I was going to say new tires, but if it’s a great price, that can easily be accepted. Don’t worry about the age. If you like it, that’s enough. I’d recommend to make sure you know you’re other options before settling, just to avoid the possibility of seeing something a week later and thinking, ‘Doh, I should have thought of that!’…like slides!
Sounds like you tested all the appliances, take a peek at the propane tank. It’s probably in need of a sanding and repainting. Make sure to check if you have a converter or inverter as your power source. Inverters are seeming to be the best way to go. My old converter didn’t actually charge the house batteries.
Test the generator if it has one. Plug it into shore power to make sure all works and run it off the batteries to make sure all that works too.
I’m assuming you tested the appliances? Did you check to make sure the fridge runs on electric AND gas and both work?
Do both the roof AC units work? Do the furnaces work? Does the AC and heater in the dash work? Do the electric stairs work with the engine off and on? Does it have jacks and those all work?
Did you go up on the roof. Any saggy spots? Does the roof membrane have any bubbles under it?
Does it have an awning (price difference). Two 6V batteries are better than one 12V battery for house power (small price difference there too).
Check the ceiling indoors for stain spots. Make sure to look at the ceiling INSIDE cabinets where it can go undetected.
Hopefully you’ve got some idea from this
Let us know how it goes and if you get it. Please post pics too. How exciting! Best of luck to you 🙂
Please let us know if you do this and be careful. I think if you have a bad feeling about it, it’d be better to avoid. Best of luck!
Hi Charles, I SOOO much want to see the pics in the first post but because there’s a password required on the Dropbox account, they come across as broken and not viewable. Can you remove the password on the folder? The picture in the second post works though! Maybe you can do the same thing you did with that one on the others?
What is that grey paint that you got on there? It looks sleek with the white trim. Are there real/regular dual paned windows in the back? I’m guessing you’re going to remove the rust and paint the bumper ans stairs. I think you should paint them bright yellow 😀
Looks fabulous and I really hope to see the other pics!
Please do let me know how it turns out. It sounds delicious! No worries, we all have a lot of (duh) moments but usually only the confident ones make it accessibly known 😉
Yeah, good thing you disposed of the van idea. That wouldn’t be a comfortable long term solution. Class A’s, class Cs trailers and fifth wheels are all usually plenty of standing room. Though I’ve never judged ‘plenty’ when standing 6’5″ tall!
A fifth wheeler might be the most desirable to you because they are like 10 or more feet in the common area because of how they have a curved or hunchback-looking roof. The bedroom though might be the same size as a small RV but there’s not much space in there anyway except for hanging up clothes and laying on the bed.
Fifth wheelers are also nice because some have multiple rooms. If you get one with slides you’ll be living in luxury!
Best of luck, let us know what you get and how it turns out 🙂
The moth balls technique has to do with the potent, undesireable smell. It’s probably the same reason it works with moths. Dryer sheets also work as do several essential oils like peppermint. Good you’ve found what works for you!
Thank you so much Traveling Cota. There’s a yellow button that says Donate, right below the picture of my on this website. It’s a thin picture with colored shapes on it. At the bottom you’ll see a Donate button. I appreciate that so much!
Also, on YouTube there is a “Support” button on my YouTube main page. Either way works about the same.
Thanks again. Everything helps me along 😀
Kind regards,
Pippi PetersonThe electric jacks are great! They can still be used with blocks of wood or stone bricks when the area isn’t even enough and can be fine tuned from right inside your RV. Since leveling is most necessary for the fridge and older RVs can tend to shift a little making the installed bubble levels not 100% trustworthy, I recommend getting a little bubble level that you can keep in your fridge or freezer and level your jacks to that.
Best of luck! You’ll find a lot of advice throughout this forum.
Take care, happy trails! 😀
Nice I love it. I’ll give it a try. I’ve had success blocking ant trails with Bounce dryer sheets as well.
Certainly not cute in any way! In fact I was watching a supposedly ‘cute’ hedgehog video on Facebook the other day and couldn’t see the cuteness for recognition of its rodent-like features which brings out the mouse-hate in me.
The ivory soap is an interesting technique. I’ve heard of the spray foam but hadn’t yet heard that you have to use the whole can right away. Makes sense though! Great advice.
For anyone else reading that might have not heard this technique, using steel wool is another trick to plug up holes. Peppermint also acts as a deterrent fragrance, however you have to keep spraying it to work long term. They make little pouches designed for this you can buy and stuff in cabinets but I found the smells go away after a few months.
Yay, awesome!! Mine are both dry as can be too and occasionally leak. I guess I might be looking at a new drain as well in the future 🙂
To include pictures they need to be posted online somewhere like Pintrest, Facebook… That way they have a URL and you can include that URL for the photo to be displayed.
I’m working on starting up my ‘solar system’ too. I’m so excited about it. It’s going to take a bit of time though.
Good luck, I hope to see your pics!
Even though you’ve disconnected, I’m guessing the batteries will be dead, rechargable but dead. If you can leave a trickle charger on them, that’d be best. I’ve heard of some people who even remove the batteries completely and bring them inside their homes for the winter while the RV is not in use.
Good luck!
Oh yes, I was excited to learn about this a few years ago. It’s definitely worth a check in every state you’ve ever had an address.
Great idea Gary! Thanks so much for sharing. This is something I’ve wondered myself. How much does the fabric/plastic covers actually worked. Glad you found a great work around 😀
I’ve got new and improved Oxygenics coming in the mail, called the Fury! I will be reporting on it soon. I’m getting another one to give away for free to one lucky viewer. Stay tuned for the details on that 😀
I’m getting one and will let you know shortly! 😀
I’m also getting another one to give away! Stay tuned for all the info on that.
You’re welcome Daniel. Best of luck on what seems like some fabulous renovations and DIY projects! 😀
Great info Greg! Just an FYI to others reading, some states might not have a DHS but instead the health and food assistance benefits go through the DES.
Since Obama Care, each state now has a department to offer health insurance to those qualifying. So somebody could also Google ‘ “my state” health insurance ‘.
Best of luck and thanks for the tip!
Interesting the lower BTU units work better than the bigger ones. I hear you though, 80 is a good ‘cool’ temp with them. I know the 50 amp system coaches can run two roof units which helps significantly.
I’m wondering if you had made sure the Coleman units were cleaned inside, filters and coils. After having done my video about getting cooler temps by just cleaning the filters, a bunch of folks chimed in to say cleaning the coils and inside the indoor cover, as well, can make a huge difference in the cooler temps it can put out.
Kudos on the new installation! It might be worth putting a layer of thin insulation on the plywood, whether it be reflectix material or even a thinner rigid insulation. You can get small pieces at your local big name hardware store for only a couple bucks.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Greg, this is completely going to depend on what part of the country you want to stay in. I recall from an earlier post you’re in the midwest but looking to move to a warmer winter climate.
In all areas I’ve stayed, RV park rent is cheaper than apartments. However, RV park costs in California (along the coasts and near bigger cities) can easily rival or be more than apartments in less desirable or less popular locations (which would be almost anywhere other than NY). As of 2014-2015 you should expect to pay at least $700-800 in southern California to park. Some of these parks can easily be snooty because of their high demand from a never-ending flow of customers.
When I say snooty, I mean they might be stricter than other parks on reinforcing the RV age rule, not allowing certain types of dogs. The rule where folks have to leave for a certain amount of time like 72 hours, or reapply to stay there, that is because certain states or counties have rules against RV parks that state a preference against long term residents. BUT, this can and is sometimes overlooked by the park managers. They have ways to get around the 72 hour absent requirement, reapplying rule… I recommend you call them and speak to them on the phone. You’ll find some of them are way friendlier than their website and rules would lead you to believe.
Some states like Oklahoma and more central states that aren’t a popular tourist destination, you can find rates in the $100s near cities. States like Arizona and New Mexico can also offer rates in the $100s but usually those parks are further away from cities. The more urban parks might cost generally in the $300s-$400s. However, both of these two states offer some unique, trendy spots like Sedona, Flagstaff, Taos and Santa Fe which can reach into the $600s or more. Texas, like Oregon offer a variety of prices, too depending on the city and proximity to such city. San Antonio might ring in on average about $300-$500, where it’s more popular and trendy neighbor, Austin could range from $400-$500+. Near trendy Portland, Oregon (prices are on the rise for everything) and Bend and you might find something for $500s-$600 but smaller, less popular cities you may even snag a $300s range.
In general, if you’re parked long term, you can bet on paying for your own electric but often water, sewage, garbage are included. A lot of parks also offer free WiFi though you’ll be competing with your neighbors for bandwidth. If WiFi is important, be sure to ask and see if they have options to get your own before settling on one.
I’ve talked with a few folks who have gotten those pass programs and for long-term full-timers, from what I hear, it’s not always that beneficial unless you’re moving around a lot.
Keep in mind these are generalizations! Always do your homework first. I hope this has been helpful. Best of luck with your decisions. Let us know how it goes and what you end up doing!
Happy trails!
I agree with Roger. As a flat fee, they want to get in and get out. The customer would want to ask questions about this and that and maybe just get in the way.
However, I just searched their reviews on Yelp and they don’t seem to be motorhome/RV specialists. I would not trust a non motorhome person to test appliances.
Will they make sure the fridge works on electric and propane, will they test the automatic door steps, all burners on the stove, the water heater tank and if it leaks or not, the battery shut off switches…
Since you live in an area that may have a lot of knowledge about RVs, personally, I would search out an individual that could do it. There are a lot of good people out there. Often better than these big chains that hire teenagers that don’t really care about the customer.
If you found a great, trustworthy, do-gooder you could ask them why the coach electric doesn’t work (for example) and they could tell you, “it’s probably one of these solenoids”… whereas the shop would probably tell you you need to pay for a further inspection on an issue.
Either way, feel good about your decision and trust you’ll get all the knowledge you need. Congratulations on your new lifestyle choice!!!
How long is your drain tube? Is it rigid piping? Mine is only about a foot long so I would imagine a bristle brush on the end of a long wire handle would be able to clean out some access to it. Compressed air might work as well.
A hard lesson but now you know to put the cap back on. Sorry you have to deal with it now. Best of luck.
Sounds like some debris made its way in there over the year and a half without the cap on. Perhaps you could try putting a little bit of water in there, like a centimeter’s worth and drive around to slosh the water about and hopefully remove some of the debris that’s caught over the drain.
If it’s silt or dirt that’s on the bottom, adding more water would help dilute the mud to assist in draining more of the sediment.
Best of luck!
Hi Stephan, you have to check with the park you’re considering. But there’s no reason why their hookups differ in anyway than a traditional house. You would get an account with the internet company just like elsewhere and choose your speed.
Note, that some parks are limited to either DSL vs cable internet, so if you have a preference, do your homework first.
Happy streaming! 😀
I’d totally recommend slide outs, too for the extra space and walkways. Like Roger said, there’re a lot of personal preferences to take into account. I would say the bigger the better, but maybe you all like being in a couple feet of proximity on a regular basis. You might consider 30 ft or even 34 ft a minimum. Best of luck!
Bob, I’m sure you’ve met your goal if not surpassed it to hit the category of stealth/ninja/blackops efficiency. I’m always amazed at how much you do and all your knowledge. If we only had USP ports into our brains to immediately transfer knowledge. 😉
Wow, thanks for sharing Michael. It shows that if there’s a will, there’s a way!! Best of luck this winter 🙂
Yes, you can change the password. Before you login, but at the same location where you would enter your details, there’s a small orange text link that says “Lost Password”. You can click that and enter your email or username to get a link emailed to you where you will be provided another password. This can be directly edited. It is only there as a suggestion.
Thanks for participating 😀 Happy trails!
Hi Melissa, I did a video that addresses a couple of these questions:
In summary, yes, there can be issues with both of these. You just have to call ahead to plan out where you will stay and run everything by the managers first. Also, don’t just stick to what the websites may say. Call and ask to be sure if you find one you really like.
Best of luck!
This looks fabulous. It’s super bright and white in there. Great idea re-doing the carpet in the foot wells at the same time!
I haven’t removed any cabinets myself yet but both are easy to peer into/under and see they just need to be screwed out. I think you’ll do a fabulous job. Please post some pics how it turns out.
Best of luck 😀
Wow, I’m so excited for you! This is one of my next big projects to take on. Did you have to buy all four 6ers at the same time or can you use two old ones (like I’ve already got) and mix in two new ones?
Congrats 😀
Wow, Eric, that will be awesome. Please share some pics if you get any 😀
How long do you have to stay out there to see them? Are they regularly occurring?
You might also want to get some silicone caulking and caulk up the edges once it’s back in place. It sort of looks in the picture like the seams might not be very well sealed.
Hi Ira, I’m not exactly sure how much is coming away from the wall but I’d just go get some liquid nails and paste it back up myself.
Best of luck!
Depending on your inverter vs converter set up, you may also want to disconnect your coach batteries if you are plugged into shore to reduce extra wear on the batteries. I think this is only necessary if you have a converter though.
The answer to this depends on so many things including personal preference along with questions like, ‘how fit are you to begin with’, ‘are you already used to riding your bike for errands’, ‘are you willing to ride in all weather conditions of the area’…
Also, a question to you would be if you’re travelling regularly or parking for longer terms. If you’re travelling regularly, it shouldn’t be a big deal to hit the grocery store coming in or leaving town. If you’re staying for longer terms, towing a car wouldn’t be a big deal.
Yes, that’s a fantastic bio. You’ve got enough of a imagination, I think you’re all set!
As for the dating of the videos, I do date the vlog style videos. The other videos are more informative and timeless so don’t require one. Each video, by YouTube’s default, shows the date that it was posted. Another way to view the chronological order of videos is to go to my YouTube homepage and click the “Videos” tab. It will show all the videos from newest to oldest.
