Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Hi Roman, what a great choice of lifestyle you’re interested in! 😀
These types of trailers in your video are called fifth wheelers. You can get a used one of similar age and look for ABOUT $60,000USD or more.
Obviously the older you get, the cheaper you can find them for as well as the smaller you get, the cheaper they are.
You can also get smaller trailers that hook to the ball style hitch that doesn’t require a special connection in the bed of the truck and also can be towed with smaller trucks and vehicles.
I have several viewers who are in Scandinavia and Germany that mention they have trailers or RVs so you might be able to find them closer to you. If you buy in one of these colder countries you may find they are better prepared for colder weather.
Also, there are “four season” RVs and trailers that are much better insulated.
The video I have done for XP Campers is here. He is from Germany and manufactures and sells in US and (I think) Germany. According to the owner they can take -20F temps ok:
Check out this thread from my RV Living Forum that has several people discussing winter RVing. There is good information here.
As for insulating, I just did a video about adding insulation that you might find handy:
Best of luck. Let us know how it goes.
Thanks!
That Airstream is AWESOME! Congratulations on your decisions!
Have faith, you will feel comfortable driving this after just a few hours if not less. Mine drives like a big boat. It’s easy and smooth, but huge!
We’re not always used to such big vehicles. You’ll have to slow down MUCH sooner and be careful about the speed which you can reach on the highway. There’s no rush.
Highways are easier than backroads in my opinion. Like Roger said, they’re bigger as well as offer you much more time of straight, constant speeds to let your heart rate slow down so you can get used to it.
I think you’ll be very happy with your stunning new Airstream! Thanks for showing the pic!
Best of luck, you’ll do GREAT!
Happy trails!
Hi Jim, to post pics they need an associated link. So if you put them on instargam or photobucket then use the link to them, they will show up.
I’d love to see pics! Sounds like you’ve got it made. I love the well water too!
Vincenzo, there’s a gold rush in a way. Southern California is one of the most popular hubs for multiple business sectors in the world, has paradise weather and fauna year round and comes with miles and miles of beautiful beaches full of beautiful people. People from around the world are constantly trying to move and live there.
Kirsten, you need to start your engine periodically if you’re parked for a while. When I’m parked long term, I start it weekly (every Wednesday) for 15-20 minutes.
Good luck!
Yes, I’ve heard of Twitch. Video games, online gambling… Wonder if there’s something I could do on there, not being a gamer or gambler..?
The floor is doing great. I’ve been in some extreme heat, too lately. I would recommend using it. Good! luck
I’ve had zero problems with my awesome new floor. I’m loving it everyday. It was a wise choice to use the vinyl tile composite and recommend it to you guys as well if it’s going to get hot and humid. I recommend it also because some of the pieces you’ll have to cut will be so wonky and weirdly shaped that it won’t be able to naturally fit with the tongue-and-groove system that floating floors use.
Floating floors can work in very large rectangular rooms but the RV is a little less friendly for them.
Best of luck with your flooring and post some pics when you’re done!
That looks fantastic! I love the back splash, too! I see your Bounder is almost identical in layout and even cabinets and hardware as mine.
Very cool, thanks for sharing! Stay tuned I’m in the middle of doing my counters right now.
Hey Vin, congratulations! What an exciting adventure you have embarked on. I’m happy to hear you’ve attained some inspiration and info from me and wish you the best.
To post pics, they need to have a URL link. So you can put them on sites like instagram and pintrest and use the associated URL in here to display them.
Can’t wait to see the pics. Happy trails!
There are fixed trailers that are called mobile homes and are usually permanently parked in mobile home parks. There are also travel trailers, fifth wheelers and RVs that can also be fixed by just leaving them in one spot. Some mobile home parks will accept the later types or can be parked in some RV parks long term.
The difference in the later compared to renting an apartment is that they are mobile and don’t require much of any sort of lease. It seems this style would fit your situation well as you could move around whenever needed, wherever needed and for cheaper than most apartments.
As for the gathering of trailers being safe or not, it totally depends on the gathering, the individuals, the physical location. Some parks have super snazzy rigs parked for half the year for the retirees to enjoy the seasonal weather while the next row over you could have some pretty trashy, stereotypical folks. I’ve met a lot of families who opt out of traditional lifestyles to save money yet still own their own home and park/live in the RV parks.
Common sense is required, as anywhere, as well as approaching the lifestyle with an open mind. Best of luck to you.
Hi Allan, sorry to hear about your loss. Your new situation sounds full of simplicity, charm and life though. Best of luck to you and your family and happy trails. Thanks for sharing. 😀
Check out this thread. Seems you might be looking to join this conversation. There’s already a lot of great information about this here: https://www.pippenings.com/rv-living/rv-motorhome-life-forum/topic/winter-rving/
Best of luck!
Fantastic Vin!! Many congratulations, how exciting. Best of luck on your new journies. Sounds like there’s a lot of good heart and soul left in the RV for you.
Happy trails!
Craig this is totally possible. To add to the great advice already here, note that some RV parks actually have fenced spots! Awesome for us dog owners! If you’re staying for some time, you can also put up your own temporary fencing. It’s done all the time.
I’ve seen RV families with four to six humans! If they can do it, you can with your precious fur babies.
😀 Best of luck Craig to you and your pack!
Craig this is totally possible. To add to the great advice already here, note that some RV parks actually have fenced spots! Awesome for us dog owners! If you’re staying for some time, you can also put up your own temporary fencing. It’s done all the time.
I’ve seen RV families with four to six humans! If they can do it, you can with your precious fur babies.
😀 Best of luck Craig to you and your pack!
For those who might need a reference to join the conversation, here is the video with the awning track hooks:
I can imagine the fun you had trying to explain what this is at Home Depot 😀
That is 1/8 inch aluminum piping. I bought mine online. If you’d like an easier route, I’ll sell you 6 of the track hook/loops for $10.Best of luck!
Shawn, the shade sails are a miracle. They provided an immediate difference and are holding up fine in the sun and wind.
Good luck 😀
Hi Jhil, here’s a great check list you can use that mentions everything you’d want to look at. I suggest doing a few walk through inspections to get a good feel of several different models.vehicles. Then pic one or two you’d consider and bring out a mechanic to look at the tougher items.
Best of luck!
You’re options are greater if you plan to hang around the same city. That way you can get any job but still be mobile for trips or moves.
I’ve met a lot of line workers, welders, electricians that move around a lot depending on their jobs. Living in their RVs and trailers or almost necessary for their lifestyle.
Hi Royson, I do get a little bit from the videos. I honestly don’t know if subscribing has anything to do with it or not. I think it mostly has to do with the ads and whether skipping them or not makes a difference I’m not certain either.
Thanks so much anyway for your support. 🙂
Ooooh, I love the new look. The black on the bottom makes it look sleek and fancy. Are you doing this yourself?
Any tips on painting your own rig..? Paint type…
Fantastic, I’d love to see the final pic! Thanks for sharing! 😀
Wow, maustin, that’s a steal nowadays. I looked into RV parks in Ventura and undoubtedly called the one you’re at. The cheapest in the area I found was in Oxnard for $675. Some folks who have been there for a while still get the cheaper price but it’s certainly gone up since. I’m sorry to hear you have to move. I hope you find another good deal!
I used to work for a company that did this and when I left, some clients wanted to stay with me and I acquired a few others from doing so.
Wow, that sounds like a FUN project! Do you leave the wings on? Do you buy special land to permanently park it or can something like this be transported? I’d love to know what the cost of the plane would be before renovations or even if the seats are still in there. I’ve seen a couple of these in some articles and just love to look through the pics.
Best of luck with this. I hope you get it and even more, share the pics on here of the renovations. So cool!
Take care
Jemyl, I love your gorilla story!
I2M, if you’re going to be staying at RV parks, I definitely don’t recommend telling them your girl is not friendly. As long as you can fully control her, there’s no reason for anyone to know that. However, if you’re staying for a while, this could eventually get found out and may lead to a dismissal.
As far as dry camping at rest stops and parking lots, I suggest don’t ever get out of your RV. Most would probably assume a couple to be travelling in it. If you do have to go shopping or use a public shower, don’t do it where you plan to camp over night.
If you’re at an RV park for a week or so where someone is more likely to realize you’re travelling alone then just keep to yourself. There’s usually some sort of manager on site or some type of staff. If you get a bad feeling about someone, then you can always bring it up to the park manager.
I find, RVers in general are very friendly people just wanting to travel around or go visit family. What you wouldn’t do in a large apartment complex, don’t do in your RV park settings.
I also recommend not letting fear get the best of you. Thoughts become things, as some say. And in general, people are good. Usually strangers can be nicer to other strangers than they are to their own loved one. That being said, use all common sense and listen and act on your intuition.
Happy trails!
Hi Twomoreau, check out the RV Internet thread for some related answers to internet options: https://www.pippenings.com/rv-living/rv-motorhome-life-forum/topic/internet-on-the-road/
As far as Skyping, if you are using a cellular data plan you’ll need a fast enough speed to Skype, or if you will be staying put you can get a cable or DSL connection from your parking spot, like in an RV park.
You can expect most RV parks to have free wi-fi nowadays though you can’t always rely on a good connection to it.
Talking about desktop power, if you are boondocking you will need to run all AC powered electronics and appliances through an inverter to convert them to DC. Older RVs often have converters vs inverters. If this is the case, while boon docking you will not be able to run your traditional (non RV) electronics.
If you are plugged into shore power (like at a park, or someone’s house…city electricity) then you can run all your electronics and appliances just fine.
My first thought is to buy in Palm Springs and RV in Oregon. Why?
Living in your RV in Palm Springs does not offer many locations to drive to except LA and Phoenix. It’s so empty out there, lots of desert. RVing in Oregon has abundant and many unique options, locations, weather… You’ve got the lush valley and coast on the west side, higher, drier desert centrally, Washington just above you and only a few hours to Canada. You’ve got the mountains, the forest, lakes, rivers. In an RV you can make all these locations your home for the summer…and you should! In my (native Oregonian) opinion, Oregon has the best summers.
Also, if you own a mod home, there’s a chance you might be there more often during some years. If you haven’t experienced solid grey skies and drizzle for 3 months straight and don’t know if you can handle weather-induced depression, don’t make yourself permanent there. On this same note, if you’ve already got established friends and fave joints, why not make that your more established residency.
Also, Oregon has the highest property taxes.
Oregon also has cheaper gas than CA however, they’re getting up there every year…but CA prices also rise. So why not drive where it’s cheaper?
In Oregon you can expect mold and mildew which would be less likely in dry Palm Springs.
Also, you can expect cheaper RV park rates in Oregon.
Downsides:
Registering your RV in Oregon is about $400 cheaper than in California.best of luck, let us know what you do 🙂
Interesting. Thank you for sharing, Debbie! I use laundry detergent sometimes and it works great! I’ve heard of the Borax one but never tried it. I will though.
Thanks so much and happy trails! 😀
Thank you, Anthony. Are you talking about the Xantrex one?
That’s a crazy darn good price for propane. Funny how it varies so much even in the same geographies, not at all like gas where all prices are only cents different.
Thanks for the great tip! 😀
Happy trails!
Will do PRg! I love free gifts! 🙂 By any chance, are you the one that posted this expo on my facebook page?
For my seat cushions I like to wash them in the washing machine with a cup of bleach. Surprisingly the bleach does not whiten or stain the cushions. Seat cushions are disgusting in my mind. Think about all the places you sit during the day, in public places then to come home and sit on those. A good strong wash with bleach totally sets my mind at ease.
But after washing, I love the idea of spray painting them. I’d never heard of upholstery spray paint before.
Thanks for that. Are you using a lav mic? The sound is coming in great for being so far away and outside.
Yeah, unless you have a wicked awesome solar setup with a lot of amps, you’ll need a generator for your AC.
Sounds like fun, best of luck to you guys 😀
Thanks Bob 🙂 Are you going to be traveling with this van or leaving it put? You can always put the solar panels off to the side if you won’t be travelling much which might alleviate the need for a hard top.
Best of luck with it.
Do you really need AC in Canada? [mind boggled] 😉
I drive my 34′ class A and usually with a 15′ toad behind. I didn’t start young. It has absolutely nothing to do with gender by the way. It only has to do with belief in yourself.
If there were an intrinsic difference in how men and women drive it would obviously be pointed out in insurance rates. Oh wait, it is! There’s a reason insurance for men is higher than it is for women.
Tell your wife you’re going to take a nap while she drives on the next road trip. By the time you guys get back, she’ll definitely be a better driver than you 😉
Good luck!
Thanks Jay! 😀 The flooring I used is a vinyl composite tile. It’s different in laminate in that it can withstand water better. Take note before you install laminate in wet areas, bathroom and kitchen. The laminate will begin to warp if left with standing water or moisture.
Best of luck with your guys’ redesign!
I recall someone telling me once to never buy a used rental vehicle because of the crazy use that can be put into them. I’m guessing refurbished means new carpet and maybe a replacement of a faucet if it was leaking…
Call me skeptical but I would tend to not even think they are ‘professionally’ maintained. I bet a mechanic just brushed through the basics before it’s rented out again.
However, it is certainly an option and maybe the price point matches the potential downsides.
Best of luck with your decision. Let us know what you end up doing. It’s an exciting change! 😀
Some RV parks do allow mail service. You just have to call around to get all your questions answered and find a good fit. I actually did a video about this specifically. You might want to check it out to get some more ideas and answers.
RBuzz, how do you hook up your Big Buddy inside? Do you have a DOT tank that you bring in?
I saw in someone’s RV a propane valve he installed. He put a T in the gas line behind the stove and fed it out through the kitchen counter wall and hooked up a cool antique looking propane valve to connect his propane-powered ceramic brick heater. It was pretty impressive! And the heat from that thing was instant and strong.
Yeah, I find even cleaners like Lysol, when sprayed near mine will trigger the alarm.
I’m not even sure where you’d find the solenoid for this. Would it be more immediately behind the actual alarm’s face plate or would it be down near the propane?
Interesting that the newer alarms don’t have that. Thanks for the suggestion! 🙂
It depends 100% on what you do with your media stuff. I do a lot of design work so I like to have a large screen. Of course, less is always better in an RV but I need my computer and monitor, attachable keyboard, and tablet for the most ease of my work. Therefore I have no inclination to get rid of any of it.
I’m not sure what I would upgrade to unless you mean a better computer that doesn’t shut down randomly on me 😉 Ack! I guess I could get a super thin flat screen monitor but my current one works fine I don’t feel the need to change it.
Best of luck with your set up!
Hey Roadie, I tow my car where I go. It would not be an ideal life for me to go grocery shopping and run all my errands in the RV.
Best of luck!
Hi Nick, If you’re driving around in your RV, it can get expensive really quick. However, if you’re parked you’ll still need to maintain the basics. You’ll probably want to change your oil (because you need to run the engine regularly even if parked), make repairs as needed for example if you find a leak has arisen…
As a renter, the owner takes care of all the organizing of repair folk and associated costs but when you own, you’re the one doing so. But I still think it comes out way cheaper, more rewarding plus it’s yours.
As far as the weather, check out this thread on this forum where several folks are discussing the idea of RV living in colder climates.
Best of luck and keep saving!
Hi Newbee, it’s pretty much the same as leaving your dog at home while you’re at work except your home is an RV. If you park in an RV park, you may be able to set up a fenced in area around or to the side of your RV that your dog could hang out in while you’re gone, depending on the weather, or if the temps are more extreme you can leave him inside. Dogs in general like smaller spaces anyway.
I’ve never heard of doggy day care at RV parks however you could always hook up with someone who has a dog at the park and trade watching them.
Best of luck! Don’t fret too much about the dog situation. They’re incredible adaptable and I bet he’d love to see you relaxed or excited about a new living situation 🙂
Fantastic info! My pan doesn’t have the bolt drain but comes fully off to drain. Thanks for sharing! I’ll get to this soon enough 🙂
Great advice, RBuzz, thank you! I’ve experienced something electrical fixing itself before but never put the ideas together that issues that sometimes fix themselves are electrical whereas mechanical issues don’t. Really good point and rule of thumb.
I was worried about the older RV requirements as well but really, you just have to call the park. Send them some pictures, let them know you take care of it’s appearance and see what they can do.
I talk about this very issue in one of my videos and also discuss other things to consider when hunting for a nice parking space. You might gain some info from watching it.
Good luck and happy trails 🙂
Hi Ken, this sounds a little sketchy to me. However, I’d add that it would totally depend on the price.
Is the delamination around all the windows or just one? Does it look like it was from multiple instances or maybe just from the window open once during a storm? I hope some of this helps.
Best of luck and happy trails 🙂
I recently stuffed steel wool into any holes I could find where mice were wandering through. Hopefully I’ll never need it again but at least some prevention is now in place. The spray foam is a great idea, too.
A tankless water heater would be great. If I didn’t have projects lined up the wazoo I would replace all my grey piping (poly B/polybutelene) with flexy pex piping.
The grey piping is suppose to be unreliable. however, mine has been fine (KNOCK ON WOOD!)
The weight issue is definitely something to consider. More so for the flooring than the kitchen I’d say but important regardless.
Honestly I haven’t looked fully into it yet however I have removed a lot of weight already by tearing out furniture that was original. I also don’t travel with the allotted four persons. That saves extra space/weight.
Something to consider. Thanks for the thought. 🙂
Hi Mortequi, all you need is a friend or relative that will let you use their address as a permanent address. Banks often have an option for a permanent address and another option for a mailing address.
If you won’t be staying in one place for a long time you can sign up with USPS to get all your mail directed towards ‘your’ address (your friend’s place) to the nearest post office to you when requested. It costs a little under a hundred a year for this service.
I LOVE the DIY stuff. Thanks for the great info!
I did hear something that put some fear into me about DIY roofing. Maybe you can shed some light. One of the techs at Camping World said one time to never do my own roof or use some sort of product because it turns to a gummy glue.
Is this the stuff you were mentioning at Home Depot? I do recall him mentioning Dicor being good. I hardly remember the facts he was talking about though.
Is the prep spray also Dicor? Are there any other specifics that could help someone make sure to get the right Dicor product? Where did you buy these two items at?
Thanks!!
Hi Jay, yes, you can either upload your pics to your own server or use links from Facebook or Pintrest or some other site that has direct links to images.
By the way, that’s a great idea to let folks help contribute to the site. Thanks 🙂
Thanks Don. I’ve since bought the warmer LED’s. They’re great for energy consumption however I still find they get very hot. I thought they weren’t supposed to do that..
Hi Don, I’m familiar with the Oxygenics shower head. I’ve actually improved my pressure situation since that video 😉 Thank you for the advice.
If you want to post pics on this forum the pics need to already be on the web with a link. There are many ways to do so including Facebook and Pintrest, I believe.
A ew people on here are going to the Good Sam rally in Phoenix next month. You may want to check them out.
Awesome! I’d love to be able to rebuild engines and transmissions. Great job, it sounds like a lot of fun! Happy trails 🙂
I totally agree about driving less hours than you might in a car and arriving before dark. After all, travelling in your RV is about leisure and recreation, so why go crazy on daily hours.
And like Michael points out, watching other people’s driving is very important. I get more tired driving an RV just because there’s so much more to consider and keep in mind with your driving and others’ than in a car.
Safe and happy trails!
Great additions, Michael. It touches a point that I think is very important: to not go crazy on your first purchase. Living in an RV is a different lifestyle and testing it out without a huge payment is ideal over committing to something bigger than your wallet.
Take care and happy trails!
Fantastic advice Scootertrash. This expand spray is good, too in bins with electric cables in them. I find when I get a mouse, they always visit every bin with an electrical cable because of the holes in them. Filling up one hole can reduce the space the mouse has to roam, reducing the space to clean. Darn mice! Prevention is better than prescription!
Happy trails!
Yeah, I’m planning on adding solar this year, too. I’m pretty excited about it. I’ll be making my own panels. Stay tuned for that video! 😀
Hi Andrew, this is an interesting question. I don’t know but I might guess that it’s because of the vintage appeal. Being silver, they may also reflect sunlight a little better.
Thank you, Tiresmoke for these fantastic suggestions, all so very true and important.
I’d like to add a point, too, to the newbies that if you want to get into fulltime RV living and don’t have your rig yet, don’t go big at first. Get something on the cheaper side to test out the lifestyle. Living in an RV is a different lifestyle than what we’re most brought up to. So test it out for at least a year before committing to a bigger and grander purchase.
Happy trails!
Thanks Jimmy Jimbo and super congrats Jimmy Rants. I’m glad to have you guys and your knowlede and questions here. 😀
There are RVs that are called four season RVs and have much better insulation than most. If you already have your rig you can do things like swap the windows out for double paned ones. Note that you can not put regular windows into an RV. The glass needs to be tempered and shatter in a specific way in case of impact.
You’ll also want to look into the different things to do with plumbing. My RV had some sort of bypass on the hot water heater that needed to be utilized in freezing weather, I removed mine because it was leaking and I much prefer to be warm than cold.
And just like traditional homes, you need to protect your pipes on cold nights. However in a traditional home, often it’s sufficient to put a Styrofoam cap over the outside faucets whereas an RV pretty much has its plumbing a tad more exposed to the cooler weather and therefore needs the pipes drained or at least the pressure released with some air space to allow for the water in the pipes to expand when freezing.
I’m sure there are RVs built for constant freezing temps but in many standard RVs, if it were freezing outside, you could never make use of the pipes, meaning you wouldn’t have any water…
Hi Kalait, you can also get hot spots that plug into your computer via USB. There are so many different companies that do this. You could shop around for a good deal. At one point I looked into using one called clear. It had no contract and I paid about $50 a month with unlimited data (I use a lot of data as I upload and download a lot as well as enjoy watching videos on the internet). If you are like most people though you could probably find an even better deal but with a cap on the amount of data you can use.
Just google “usb hotspots” to start out with and I think you’ll be set. you can compare those offers to your phone’s plan. Remember to check the coverages of each plan just like you might with the phone companies. Some only work in certain areas, or can be spotty on the outskirts of town.
Also, if you are planning to stay in RV parks often or every once in a while, you can usually snag ones that offer free WiFi.
Best of luck with it 😀
Central vacuuming! That sounds nice!
Ya the new flooring is vinyl. The idea is to reduce the need to vacuum. Sweeping seems so much more efficient for me.
A murphy bed is a great idea but in practicality, I think I wouldn’t ever put it away. For now I’ll stick with my nice sawed mattress 😉
Hi Bob, great ideas about the decoupage. I think I may end up doing something like that or painting something cool on it with polyurethane on top. However it still leaves the fragile wood a little less protected than the current laminate/formica top or if I were to put something like pennies on top…
I read about a women who put shells on her counter. Same idea as the pennies but just with shells instead. We’ll see. I’ve got a while before I start tackling that.
I’ve already got all the ‘fixins’ for the penny countertop. I should be good to start once I get a few other things in order first.
Wow, congratulations Jim!! How exciting. I watched your video. I’m vicariously excited for you. Your shower looks particularly tall, too!
Glad to hear a lot of the parts are coming together serendipitously and in such a great way.
Happy trails! 😀
I’ve never been so I can’t give the best advice. They cost a good penny to get in and then you’re camping with a bunch of people near you with what seems like a floor room that might be a cross between Camping World and a home and garden show. Not that that’s a bad thing.
I’ve heard a couple different folks mention the Escapees rallies and that they can be fun. I’m sure they all can be and it really depends on the go-er 🙂
But again, I’ve never been to one before, only seen pamphlets and ads.
Best of luck with your decision to start RVing!
FRW, don’t get discouraged about working at parks and it requiring too much manual labor. There are so many different set ups and they may only require 4 or 5 hours a couple times a week. Sometimes, it’s just checking folks in, picking up trash or walking the grounds. Remember aside from National Parks, there is also the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife and don’t forget about private parks, too. I suggest you search “work camping” online. There are so many sites that display available options.
Best of luck! 😀
Hey YarrVee, congrats on the awesome new job. One door closes and another opens, right? I’m just wondering what the interest is in establishing domicile in Florida, or is it just because the new gig is headquartered there?
Congrats and happy trails 😀
Thanks LovingLife, there are kinks to work out but that’s normal. Have fun on here. There’s more and more great posts each day.
This is awesome, Michael! What’s the specifics on the rubberized material? Did you spray it, brush it on, was it already on the plywood? Does it have a brand name I can look into?
Have you been cooking on a wood burning stove before? I’ve made popcorn and heated water on them. They definitely don’t seem like something you just jump over to from a regular stove but I imagine you get in the groove just as you do when going from electric to natural gas, to propane—they all cook very differently.
Will you be moving around a bit? If so, how much wood do you think you’ll need to bring with you to stay sufficient with the stove?
And just out of curiosity, what’s the highest voltage appliance that you’ve figured into your life? I’m guessing air conditioning is out of the mix??
Congrats on this awesome achievement. How exciting. Keep us updated, please! 😀
Hi Lance, how exciting! It’s a little hard to tell what’s going on, where the water is coming from—ceiling or floor or what this little nook is normally meant for—sitting?
But either way it seems like a fun project. Please show the final images, I’d love to see them. Are you replacing any flooring or walls?
Hi Bob, I didn’t get a link. Can you post it here, please? I’d love to read it. At the top of the white area where you type responses, there’re a bunch of buttons with abbreviations and such. The third one in says LINK. You can use this to create a link over words or you can just paste it in.
I’ve heard that about shops not changing the filter or somehow doing a flush without dropping the pan and therefore not even getting near the filter.
I’m planning on doing this on my own soon; dropping the pan and replacing the filter and fluid. Do you have any tips?
Also, I’ve heard older rigs like Rhea (1992) shouldn’t get the transmission fluid flush as it can be bad for them. Do you have any words on this?
Super great advice, Bob! Thank you for this.
p.s. “Rolling projectile” — Made me laugh out loud 🙂 However, in a way, it’s not funny but kind of serious.
Great tip, GVJeeper! I’m going to try this. Do you use this in replacement of the chemical cleaners or in addition?
Also, what’s your thinking about dumping when full and not before. I always find there’s a thin line when waiting for my grey to fill as I now try to avoid it getting so full it begins to fill the bathtub; worst smell ever!
To avoid this I try to dump routinely, like after so many dishwashings or showers and don’t dare to let it get near what I think may be full because I might forget and suddenly the shower water is not draining any more while I’m standing in it. 😉
Hi Lisa, sounds like a great plan and exciting, too! When I moved into my RV I thought electric heating would be cheaper as well. I brought in my portable oil heater that I used in my apartment and where it seemed I was getting a low electrical bill, about $70 per month.
Once in my RV, when the colder nights hit I started using my oil heater which worked fabulously. In effort to try and reduce costs and because day time temps in southern California did not really permit the use of a heater, I’d turn the heater off during the day. My first electric bill shocked me with the price of almost $200! I’m guessing it is because of turning it on and off.
So my first recommendation is if you’re going electric, to leave the heater on and let it do it’s business. Open door and windows if necessary during the day. Although this was just my experience with a particular electric oil heater. Others may not be as draining.
My second advice would be to actually test out the efficiency of your propane heater before writing it off. I now only use my propane heater. It’s incredibly efficient and heats up quickly. Mine runs on a thermostat so I turn it on at night and set it to about 60. If the temps cool down to that it turns on for a little bit.
I remember when I moved into my RV I thought I would plow through my propane but surprisingly I can make it last for months.
Have you watched my propane video yet? It talks about how much propane I spend in different seasons, how to calculate how much you will spend and also how to refill without moving your rig.
Best of luck with your move and with grad school. I love the Texas hill country by the way! 😀
Hi Apshoaf, keep looking. $600 is pretty steep, however it definitely depends on the location. Great locations like northern New Mexico, southern California, bay area California, Sedona Arizona and apparently Colorado (haven’t been there with my RV yet) and of course other locations you can think of that offer natural beauty and other desirable amenities which attract tourists by the thousands are surely going to be more expensive than lesser sought out areas.
That being said, there’s almost always some competition. The best way I’ve found is to Google and list out all the RV parks in the area I’m going to and call each one. Just as GVJeeper said, they don’t always advertise monthly rates. And don’t worry about the daily rates; monthly rates are always cheaper, even in fancy pants locations like Malibu. Be prepared to ask lots of questions if you need certain things in your life, like internet, pet restrictions… Also, ask about additional costs like free/paid wifi…
If you haven’t seen my RV living video about finding a great parking space I recommend that, too as it lists a bunch of details that might not come to mind at first.
Hi Jim, obviously every deal, situation and RV/trailer are VERY VERY different but you might consider 8K-20K as a good starting point. If you want a little more luxury you’ll be on the 20K+. Please remember this is in general.
This doesn’t mean you can’t find a deal for less than 8k however you may need to do some minor renovations, repairs or replacements.
There’s no extra cost usually for sewage/dump. However many parks when paying based on a monthly stay will charge for electricity and I’ve even encountered a couple that charge for water. But generally water is included.
If you stay based on daily rates, almost always everything is included. Keep in mind if you stay for a few weeks, a month price may be cheaper and don’t expect the manager to clue you into this. So ask a lot of questions and do your research.
Happy trails!
Hi Ken, I’m pretty certain they have the truck type, however it may depend on the year. I know a lot of newer class A’s are now being built with a larger chassis which may effect the engine type.
You can also check the engine ID by referencing the VIN number. Whether it specifies the deck height or truck vs commercial, I’m uncertain on this.
Best of luck!
Hi Sboznoz, an RV in my opinion is never too long for full time living. The more the merrier from my point of view. Yeah, YarrVee, slide outs rock and I just wish I could magically make mine have three or four…or at least one!
Best of luck in the decision Sboz, and YarrVee has a great point about having some cash on hand to manage unexpected circumstances. 🙂
Hey Dan, this forum pulls from Gravatar (.com) which is a platform that you can create a profile that extends across many different online settings. So go there and create your profile which will be used on any other site, too, that uses Gravatar to create avatars 😀
Awesome feedback, Bob. I’ve got tentative plans to sometime in the next couple weeks (maybe days) to change my fluid and filter. Stay tuned for a video 🙂
As for the coolant testers and after market coolers, I’ll definitely have to peer into that a bit more.
Thanks so much for the great input 😀
Pippi
Hi Jim, since you already have a truck there are so many reasons to go with a trailer, particularly a fifth wheeler if your truck can pull one. With an RV, there’s a whole new set of engine maintenance and the wheels are bigger meaning they’re more expensive than on a trailer. Also depending on the state, it has to be driven to the local (local to your permanent address) DMV to get registered. If you’re out of state, or living in it and not driving as much, this can be a hassle.
One downside to trailers vs RVs is that when you’re travelling, passengers can not get up to get a drink or use the restroom while actually driving but have to wait to stop. If you’re not going to be travelling too often or don’t mind stopping, this isn’t a big deal obviously.
Also, I couldn’t stress it enough….go with slideouts no matter what!
Best of luck. Let us know what you end up with 😀
Pippi
Thanks for asking RVWiz, although I can not answer the question about the ferry system mentioned, I do want to point out that most RV parks will charge significantly more for “onesies-twosies” stays but will lower the price for monthly visitors. If you’re looking to stay longer term, be sure to ask about reduced monthly prices.
Best of luck!
Excellent tip, Paul. Thank you so much! And for those who may have had their batteries die, be sure to see if you have a warranty on them; you just may get another one for free!
