I can't believe you don't have more subscribers. Even people who don't RV or camp should love y'all's videos. Y'all are cute, funny, smart, and never boring. I only watch y'all and the Hanks. Keep it up!
Of all the rv TH-camrs you guys really make me smile. You are so genuine and enjoyable to watch I look forward to your videos every week. Although some days I feel for Craig and his stress level. I travel full time in a 43 foot toy hauler and I really understand his stresses. Keep it up guys!
Thank you so much for that compliment!! And thank you for joining us each week. You definitely understand the stress of big rig towing then! Some of the roads out there will surely make you tense up, or other drivers on the road. Lol those are probably the worst
A big metal hose clamp over the Valterra valve works pretty good to hold it on without gluing it. At a truck stop reefer is a type of box trailer that is refrigerated. The cooling unit “reefer” runs on diesel. So if you select tractor and reefer it keeps the pump running and allows you to pull forward to fill the reefer tank up with diesel. It’s still just regular #2 diesel not the off road red diesel. Keep the good videos going.
We workcamped in Mackinac City the summer of 2023 (same year y'all went there). We made 20 + trips over the Mighty Mac Bridge. It scared the daylights out of me the first several times and we weren't pulling the RV. Y'all just drove over it like it was nothing. We did end up taking the RV up to the UP to Lake Superior, so we went over the bridge twice towing. Can't believe how calm y'all were about it.
Omg I can’t believe you didn’t give us more Mackinac Bridge content on your way over! It’s MI’s pride and joy. Also I am catching up on old videos… I hope you took the ferry to the island while you were there!
As a former truck driver. I never go to a blue beacon unless it my last option. They use the same water to wash the next vehicle only it’s ran through a filter. So that’s why you see those streaks after washing. I call them the Steaking beacon. Mom and pop truck washes are a lot better and cheaper.
We've been to Blue Beacon many times. The last time, they knocked a tail light cover off the camper. Several times ago, it caused our fridge to stop working. It messed up a censor or something, but hubs was able to figure it out and get it going again.
So cool you guys decided to do Harvest Host. I don’t drink either so it’s why I haven’t paid a lot of attention to it. Curious how you guys end up liking it. Thanks for another fun video!
We don’t drink either, but we love staying at the farms - there are so many options! Highly recommend Harvest Hosts. 😁 We even have a Harvest Host playlist. 😉 th-cam.com/play/PLUisLIU4g3rWVaiDK6vl2fpUMGHShkCNM.html&si=n9UMMMIlFkwYoCDl
Blue beacons are commonly known as streakin beacons! I would use them when i was an owner/operator. Some do a good job some not so much. But if they're not busy you can go back around. Most of the time there's a line.
Go to a movie like the olden days. 😊😊 its nice and cool. I usually take my blanket from the car in case its too cold. They have the REALLY comfy seats and cheaper than gas 😊😊
16:12 My.man.was in the carwashing business for 13 years. Always wax the more the better. Rainx a must. Why didn't they towel dry with all the hands-on stuff. ALWAYS TIP the hands-on team.
Not sure if this as been addressed. Reefer fuel is not dyed as farm diesel is. Reefer fuel is the same fuel you use in the truck engine. It is not charged a road tax. That’s the only difference.
It's not stand upside down and drink frog juice, Craig, to get rid of hiccups. It's bend over and drink water from a glass or coffee mug. And also try not to let it go up your nose while you're doing it. It works every time!
You may know this....tip: when using your Fantastic type ceiling fans, close up the RV, turn on a fan (the furthest from the area where you are using) on exhaust and then open a window in the area you are in. Been doing that in all our RV's and homes for more than 50 years. Good luck!
I’m a BDW host in south eastern Washington, and also have a property in Minnesota. We meet some of the coolest people. Have not done the full harvest host yet for when we are traveling. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Well thank you for being a BDW host!! we have used them a number of times and always enjoyed talking with the hosts, I agree that it helps connect you with some awesome people!
Hey guys! Thanks for bring up the Valterra valve issue - I have had the same ? / problem. I read in the comments a fix. If you don’t have it yet, get the Open Roads card. Can save a lot of $$ on the diesel. Safe travels.
I second this. I hardly ever pay credit price at all major chain truck stops. The biggest cost to run a semi truck is fuel. Maverik Nitro Fuel Card gives you 10 cents per gallon savings on gas and fuel
We are host for HH and allow more nights and power. It’s nice meeting other rvers and having them stay with us while we’re not traveling. Hope you enjoy the HH side.
Ol’ Craig I had to laugh when you started to sing “On the Road Again.” Every time we head out in our MotorHome I sing that song, I’m glad I’m not the only one :)
I'm really surprised you can't bring in the slides just using the power from the truck wiring. We don't have a monster land barge like you guys, but all the RVs we've had would roll in the slides just from the truck, even if the RV batteries were dead.
We ended up using the truck to juice up the batteries some. You also can, in most cases, use the power from the truck to pull up jacks and slides in, but there is a potential to blow fuses because you "should" really only be using your RV batteries to power them to ensure correct voltage, etc. But, I think many people do it all the time without problems.
I'm a truck driver I've been in streaking Beacon a laugh. That's why they call them streaking because they streak everything up. And if you don't like how they wash it, you can always go around and make them wash it again.
First thing I would have done is plug in the 50 amp, then cranked up both A/C's,😁 then level and set up.....lol . You guys are the best.....I love how you guys roll with it no matter what happens, RVing at its best!
I live just south of Grand Rapids Michigan, i love your videos. It never gets old crossing the Mackinac bridge, however it does get sketchy in the winter time!
thank you for watching!! and I can't imagine crossing that bridge with snow and I bet it can get icy too! Actually, I can't really imagine being in Michigan in the winter at all 🤣 (but I am from Florida lol)
On the top! Not the bottom, it will leak over time. I just replaced that section on our rig due to poor placement of the screw. I plan to use some good electrical tape. Done, no holes.
Just saw this video. Finally an area I’m familiar with. If this was Labor Day weekend we were on the other side of the Straits where you crossed the bridge. How cool was that!! Just missed ya all!! BTW, enjoying your videos, hang in there and stay safe!!
We went 1010 miles Labor Day weekend and lost our tow vehicle two hours into the trip. Had vehicle towed. Enterprise Truck Rental brought us a truck to rent ($2300 for 10 days) and we continued on our way. Purpose of our trip was to take our Bronco to CO for trail riding, so that was a bust. But otherwise, it was a good trip. 18 days to get a fuel pump, returning rental truck 100 miles away and then 100 miles to go pick up the Bronco when it’s ready are all minor inconveniences. We don’t have any choice but just to go with the flow…. We boondocked through Harvest Hosts which worked out great, thankfully. Forgot to mention, we were broken down in the edge of the road where the speed limit was 75 and we had two dogs. Luckily, our generator only weighs 45 lbs and my husband hooked it up so we could sit in the TT comfortably (100 degrees outside) but terrified bc trucks coming by at 75 mph rocked the 15 ft TT like crazy! I really thought we might die.
Oh no!! that was surely a trip to remember I bet. Too bad you didn't get to take the Bronco to CO, that would have been real fun, but I'm glad you were still able to make the best of it! That is definitely the story of RV life, just having to go with the flow, and you never know where that flow is going to take you!
Michigan has more lakes than any state. For those that have never been there everyone is shocked at our Great Lakes. Enjoy the beautiful state of Michigan there is a lot to see there! ❤
1100 miles over 3 days doesn't happen for me anymore. Used to be like that in my first 2 years. Now that is a 5 day trip or 2 weekends if I don't travel during the workweek. :) I agree. BB is ok when in a pinch. Wish more RV parks allowed you to wash your rig/tow vehicle. I don't let BB use any brushes and no acid. Things they use on the semi-trucks. Too harsh on the clear coat and I don't trust the brushes are not contaminated. You are so right about how much time/energy we put into knowing the weather where we are and where we are going. I love Windy for weather where I am at. You found a pretty cool weather app for travel days! Tollbooths stress me out. Lately I have been getting lucky and they just bill my license plate. Glad you made it with no traffic incidents. Another enjoyable episode. p.s. Those rear door covers for the dogs that you mentioned using in your truck in a previous vid, are now in mine and I love them. Appreciate the Pro Tip. :)
We try not to do these long hauls too often either because they are quite exhausting! Good points about the BB wash. And so glad those door covers are working for you!! They have really helped protect our doors. I know they'd be covered in scratches if we didn't have them. Thank you for watching!
We will be getting our Brinkley in November. So excited. We have watched you all faithfully since you got yours. About hiccups. I get them several times a day. Every time I eat, get out of bed, roll over. It’s just part of my life. That trip of yours seems like a really long one. We’ve gone from S.F. to Phoenix and stopped over twice, and had bad weather over the grapevine pass, sleeting sideways and zero visibility. This was in March in a 35 ft motorhome not towing anything. They were long during days! We do plan to get a Valterra gate valve since we don’t like surprises and plan to tuck our generator closer to the tailgate. We already have it, a Predator from Harbor Freight. One of our first long trips in the Brinkley will be back over that darn grapevine to visit Rich Solar for our install. I’ll mention the fuse issues when we go down there. We are starting out without an inverter, just a BB GC3 and will have to just wing it that first night if we stop. At least we know how to get there, and plan to catch a NASCAR race in Fontana. AFTER solar goes on. We decided on the 2900 for size and weight, no dogs currently but maybe another schnauzer in the future. Under20 lbs. We joined the Brinkley Facebook group - I’ve never had Facebook ever and it’s a bit scary for me since I’m very private but I did it. If you guys are on there I will look for you. Sorry so long, lots to cover! ❤ you both. And by the way, I chew gum when I’m driving, never any other time!
Fun trip. We are full timers and have been for years. We are never in a hurry to get anywhere. Thats the whole point for us as retirees. We get there when we do. And I drive if I want to. Or hang out at a Harvest or boon dock between the RV parks or state parks/ national parks. And try to get as many Geocach hits along the way. Never in a hurry. NO STRESS!! Have fun!
Craig, instead of fuses on the solar maybe use in-line weather proof circuit breakers. Use breakers about 20% higher rated than the highest amperage your solar produces. Adding a dc to dc charger is a great ad-on, not hard to do. It will manage the charge rate for your lithium batteries so they don't try to pull too many amps from your trucks alternator. Safe travels!
We have four 300AH batteries in the bay of our Z3100 and it is enough to run 1 of our ACs overnight (8-10 hours depending on temps). Wanted to make sure we could boondock for at least 1 night in hotter weather and it has worked great over last 2 months.
Welcome to Michigan guys. We live about 85 miles south of Mackinac City, just outside of Grayling. We ill be passing thru there on our way to the UP for a week long camping trip to Tahquamenon Falls. Really enjoy your videos. We would be glad to host you guys any time on our property with water and electric hook-up. (Sorry, only 20amp)
Oh that's so awesome!! We're heading further south, but this whole area is such a great place to be! well, in the summer. i'm not so sure on those Michigan winters lol!
Did it for work with t f350 and a 30ft trailer. The truck and trailer was super filthy. I was charged $65 for a basic wash 🧼. It was worth it for the convenience and time.
Refer is the refrigerator fuel for temperature control trailers. It’s the same fuel as truck diesel. You still pay taxes on it. Just you can claim a credit on fuel tax filing.
We recently brought our Chevy Silverado and 23’ Airstream (no citrus) through the Blue Beacon Truck Wash outside of Knoxville. My husband was thrilled with the job because it usually takes us all day to wash both vehicles. I, on the other hand, found that for the $93. (Including a nice tip) it wasn’t worth the cost. There was still a dirt film left behind that I could drag my finger through and see that the Airstream was not as clean as when we give our rig a nice “bath” ourselves.
I have had trucks and rvs for 40 years. In my experience it’s the same with both and all over the nation, some truck washes are better than others as it is with any service. They’ll never get it 100% clean but it’s like you said, it gets the bugs off and it looks better than being dirty
I highly suggest you buy metal replacements for the pull handle which valterra also makes for $7. The plastic versions that come with it get brittle and snap eventually if you full time. Just twist off the old plastic one and twist on the new metal one.
Oh, I wish we had known you were so close to us in Waupaca! We live in New London & have an urban farm. You could have stayed here with full hookups & I would have fed you guys. Only for you guys, though. We are not on Harvest Host. My hubby said to tell you that if you had your old rig you wouldn't have had to wait for the sun to come up to put your slides in. You had Craig power then. He misses Craig pushing them in. Have fun on your travels & stay safe.
It didn't look like Maverick thought you got too many snacks...🙃 I know y'all aren't used to trips that long. Years ago, I drove a truck, an 1100 miles was a straight-thru trip for me. Eighteen - 24hours depending on where it was. I'm glad you got to full hook-ups so you could cool off and have water! Y'all have fun!
Maverick couldn't even fathom the possibility of there being such a thing as "too many snacks" 🤣🤣 I bet those were long days!! Definitely not something we're used to, thank you for watching!!
To kill flies if you tie rubber bands together you can stretch them out and aim at the fly and kill them without harming what they are perched on. If you use light weight bands knot the end to make a small killing ball. I have done this for many years and it works great and is fun besides. I hope you try it as I think you will have fun and kill more flies quickly. Great videos. I was fulltime back in 2000 to 2002. God bless you guys.
I was a truck driver for years and I’ve used Blue Beacon a lot and have had great luck. They’re real good on making it right before you leave the site so next time tell them of the problem areas
Next time go back around and make them rewash it. I’m a truck driver. Sometimes it takes 2-3 try’s for them to get it perfect. Blue beacons moto should be get a streakin at the blue beacon.
You guys are great, love watching your videos. Best way to get rid of hiccups is to eat a nice big tablespoon of smooth peanut butter…does the trick everytime
Ok you 2 $83,00 is good price an you just pull out door an stop an check out then if not sadufied on wash you walk in get manager come look He will have come around an wash it all again. But part of what I seen was run off from top you look up there's a rain washer over rig. I'm a 45 years of otr truck driver too. So my rigs got washed every week somewhere at truck washs.
Use the little cotter pin on your valtera valve to lock it in, you should see a little hole in on of the teeth, it wont twist off with the cotter pin in.
Not all Blue Beacon's are the same. Some locations do a really GREAT job! FYI the Cheyenne Wy location does a wonderful job. We've been using them for the last 38 years.
We have used the truck wash before, and like you , they did just an ok job🥴. You mentioned installing the soft starts-we did and did not have good luck with them. A mobil tech came and took it out and he said he would not advise them, they could damage the ac unit. We bought 2 compact, light weight generators that can run in line together. They do the trick just fine.
Interesting! We had a soft start on our last RV and it seemed to do fine, but will do a little more research. We do really like being able to run the A/C on just the solar power when the sun is out
Have a soft start on our 5th wheel and it allows us to run it on 15amp plug in. The only thing that a soft start does, is alleviate the start spike in power. That allows us to run with only a 2000 watt generator when no plug ins handy.
I’m surprised y’all don’t have a Open Roads fuel card! We use HH as much as we can when traveling. We’ve stayed at peach orchards, cattle ranches and other places that aren’t wineries or breweries.
good to know about HH! I think we are going to enjoy getting to take advantage of more of the locations. We need to get signed up for Open Roads, we have just never done it!
The reefer fuel option is to mark the gallons put in for the reefer. Most states you can file for road tax rebate on reefer fuel used for each state, I run refrigerated loads as well. DEF at the pumps is half the price of DEF in the containers, quality is pretty much the same
I can't believe you don't have more subscribers. Even people who don't RV or camp should love y'all's videos. Y'all are cute, funny, smart, and never boring. I only watch y'all and the Hanks. Keep it up!
Thank you so much!! It means a lot to get good feedback like this. Thanks for watching!
I second that!
For the amount of time they've been on TH-cam, they're doing REALLY WELL for subscribers I think. They'll just keep growing. :)
Go girl
I agree
Of all the rv TH-camrs you guys really make me smile. You are so genuine and enjoyable to watch I look forward to your videos every week. Although some days I feel for Craig and his stress level. I travel full time in a 43 foot toy hauler and I really understand his stresses. Keep it up guys!
Thank you so much for that compliment!! And thank you for joining us each week. You definitely understand the stress of big rig towing then! Some of the roads out there will surely make you tense up, or other drivers on the road. Lol those are probably the worst
A big metal hose clamp over the Valterra valve works pretty good to hold it on without gluing it. At a truck stop reefer is a type of box trailer that is refrigerated. The cooling unit “reefer” runs on diesel. So if you select tractor and reefer it keeps the pump running and allows you to pull forward to fill the reefer tank up with diesel. It’s still just regular #2 diesel not the off road red diesel.
Keep the good videos going.
We workcamped in Mackinac City the summer of 2023 (same year y'all went there). We made 20 + trips over the Mighty Mac Bridge. It scared the daylights out of me the first several times and we weren't pulling the RV. Y'all just drove over it like it was nothing. We did end up taking the RV up to the UP to Lake Superior, so we went over the bridge twice towing. Can't believe how calm y'all were about it.
I tune in for Craig’s antics!
Omg I can’t believe you didn’t give us more Mackinac Bridge content on your way over! It’s MI’s pride and joy. Also I am catching up on old videos… I hope you took the ferry to the island while you were there!
As a former truck driver. I never go to a blue beacon unless it my last option. They use the same water to wash the next vehicle only it’s ran through a filter. So that’s why you see those streaks after washing. I call them the Steaking beacon. Mom and pop truck washes are a lot better and cheaper.
Glue it
Stay safe & keep hydrated. Gorgeous pups!!
Show the bedroom
Slide again
I have used them and they did an excellent job, I had absolutely no complaints.
We've been to Blue Beacon many times. The last time, they knocked a tail light cover off the camper. Several times ago, it caused our fridge to stop working. It messed up a censor or something, but hubs was able to figure it out and get it going again.
So cool you guys decided to do Harvest Host. I don’t drink either so it’s why I haven’t paid a lot of attention to it. Curious how you guys end up liking it. Thanks for another fun video!
We don’t drink either, but we love staying at the farms - there are so many options! Highly recommend Harvest Hosts. 😁
We even have a Harvest Host playlist. 😉
th-cam.com/play/PLUisLIU4g3rWVaiDK6vl2fpUMGHShkCNM.html&si=n9UMMMIlFkwYoCDl
Blue beacons are commonly known as streakin beacons! I would use them when i was an owner/operator. Some do a good job some not so much. But if they're not busy you can go back around. Most of the time there's a line.
LOL we have just learned of this nickname through the comments on this video. I was surprised there wasn't a line when we showed up!
Go to a movie like the olden days. 😊😊 its nice and cool. I usually take my blanket from the car in case its too cold. They have the REALLY comfy seats and cheaper than gas 😊😊
I would go back and show them what they missed.
Y’all crack me up! I really enjoy watching you two! Always fun and tell it all! Love it! Safe travels!
16:12 My.man.was in the carwashing business for 13 years. Always wax the more the better. Rainx a must. Why didn't they towel dry with all the hands-on stuff. ALWAYS TIP the hands-on team.
At blue beacon, you can go back around if they missed spots, I do it with my semi all the time
Ahhh good to know!!
Yup I was gonna say the same go back around show them what they missed.
Not sure if this as been addressed. Reefer fuel is not dyed as farm diesel is. Reefer fuel is the same fuel you use in the truck engine. It is not charged a road tax. That’s the only difference.
Your truck is it a 2500 or 3500? Love your videos😅.
It’s a 3500, and thanks so much!!
You can ALWAYS go back thru truck wash having them clean missed areas.
It's not stand upside down and drink frog juice, Craig, to get rid of hiccups. It's bend over and drink water from a glass or coffee mug. And also try not to let it go up your nose while you're doing it. It works every time!
I'm pretty sure frog juice is involved, lol.
I was talking about Blue Beacon..
You may know this....tip: when using your Fantastic type ceiling fans, close up the RV, turn on a fan (the furthest from the area where you are using) on exhaust and then open a window in the area you are in. Been doing that in all our RV's and homes for more than 50 years. Good luck!
Yesss! It’s crazy how good those fans can actually circulate the air! Even with the crazy heat, they at least kept it below the outside temp!
I’m a BDW host in south eastern Washington, and also have a property in Minnesota. We meet some of the coolest people. Have not done the full harvest host yet for when we are traveling. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Well thank you for being a BDW host!! we have used them a number of times and always enjoyed talking with the hosts, I agree that it helps connect you with some awesome people!
Used blue beacon once a week for 42 years.. yes 42 years. Fast great job then when they uped there game adding rain x....game changer ..you two ROCK.
We usually travel about 65 unless the speed limit is lower. Life’s too short to be in a hurry!!
We are usually at about 65 too. The frustration does admittedly come out when we’re behind someone driving 45 in a 55-60 speed limit area 😆
Are you planning on attending the Hershey RV show?
No, not this year, but as of right now, we are planning on attending the Tampa rv show.
Hey guys! Thanks for bring up the Valterra valve issue - I have had the same ? / problem. I read in the comments a fix. If you don’t have it yet, get the Open Roads card. Can save a lot of $$ on the diesel. Safe travels.
ooh glad you found your answer too!! and yes, we need to sign up for that! thank you!
I second this. I hardly ever pay credit price at all major chain truck stops. The biggest cost to run a semi truck is fuel. Maverik Nitro Fuel Card gives you 10 cents per gallon savings on gas and fuel
We are host for HH and allow more nights and power. It’s nice meeting other rvers and having them stay with us while we’re not traveling. Hope you enjoy the HH side.
Ol’ Craig I had to laugh when you started to sing “On the Road Again.” Every time we head out in our MotorHome I sing that song, I’m glad I’m not the only one :)
Waupaca is a nice little town. Stay safe and healthy.
it was such a pretty and peaceful place!
I'm really surprised you can't bring in the slides just using the power from the truck wiring. We don't have a monster land barge like you guys, but all the RVs we've had would roll in the slides just from the truck, even if the RV batteries were dead.
They apparently never turned the ignition on and started it. The altinator would be more than Enough power.
We ended up using the truck to juice up the batteries some. You also can, in most cases, use the power from the truck to pull up jacks and slides in, but there is a potential to blow fuses because you "should" really only be using your RV batteries to power them to ensure correct voltage, etc. But, I think many people do it all the time without problems.
@@wildrvlifeYeah, I've never blown a fuse, but you have a much bigger rig than ours, so your slides and jacks may pull more current than ours.
I'm a truck driver I've been in streaking Beacon a laugh. That's why they call them streaking because they streak everything up. And if you don't like how they wash it, you can always go around and make them wash it again.
First thing I would have done is plug in the 50 amp, then cranked up both A/C's,😁 then level and set up.....lol . You guys are the best.....I love how you guys roll with it no matter what happens, RVing at its best!
hahah we got that A/C on pretty quick after arrival! thank you so much for joining us on our adventures!
I live just south of Grand Rapids Michigan, i love your videos. It never gets old crossing the Mackinac bridge, however it does get sketchy in the winter time!
thank you for watching!! and I can't imagine crossing that bridge with snow and I bet it can get icy too! Actually, I can't really imagine being in Michigan in the winter at all 🤣 (but I am from Florida lol)
Just put a tap screw in the body of the valve to pin it to the mount. Do NOT glue it......
Thank you!! Good idea!
On the top! Not the bottom, it will leak over time. I just replaced that section on our rig due to poor placement of the screw. I plan to use some good electrical tape. Done, no holes.
Would plumber’s tape work?
@@Elizabeth-rq1vi Oh, that silicone stuff? Yeah, probably. It grips well. Comes off clean too. I might use that instead!
Harvest host is amazing....we never stayed at one we didn't like
You two are adorable. Great energy and a little sarcasm on top.
thank you so much!
Just saw this video. Finally an area I’m familiar with. If this was Labor Day weekend we were on the other side of the Straits where you crossed the bridge. How cool was that!! Just missed ya all!! BTW, enjoying your videos, hang in there and stay safe!!
That's awesome. We just missed you. And thank you!
We went 1010 miles Labor Day weekend and lost our tow vehicle two hours into the trip. Had vehicle towed. Enterprise Truck Rental brought us a truck to rent ($2300 for 10 days) and we continued on our way. Purpose of our trip was to take our Bronco to CO for trail riding, so that was a bust. But otherwise, it was a good trip. 18 days to get a fuel pump, returning rental truck 100 miles away and then 100 miles to go pick up the Bronco when it’s ready are all minor inconveniences. We don’t have any choice but just to go with the flow…. We boondocked through Harvest Hosts which worked out great, thankfully. Forgot to mention, we were broken down in the edge of the road where the speed limit was 75 and we had two dogs. Luckily, our generator only weighs 45 lbs and my husband hooked it up so we could sit in the TT comfortably (100 degrees outside) but terrified bc trucks coming by at 75 mph rocked the 15 ft TT like crazy! I really thought we might die.
Oh no!! that was surely a trip to remember I bet. Too bad you didn't get to take the Bronco to CO, that would have been real fun, but I'm glad you were still able to make the best of it! That is definitely the story of RV life, just having to go with the flow, and you never know where that flow is going to take you!
Michigan has more lakes than any state. For those that have never been there everyone is shocked at our Great Lakes. Enjoy the beautiful state of Michigan there is a lot to see there! ❤
It really is so shocking to see the Great Lakes, especially as you look out and can't even see the other side. So beautiful here!
1100 miles over 3 days doesn't happen for me anymore. Used to be like that in my first 2 years. Now that is a 5 day trip or 2 weekends if I don't travel during the workweek. :) I agree. BB is ok when in a pinch. Wish more RV parks allowed you to wash your rig/tow vehicle. I don't let BB use any brushes and no acid. Things they use on the semi-trucks. Too harsh on the clear coat and I don't trust the brushes are not contaminated. You are so right about how much time/energy we put into knowing the weather where we are and where we are going. I love Windy for weather where I am at. You found a pretty cool weather app for travel days! Tollbooths stress me out. Lately I have been getting lucky and they just bill my license plate. Glad you made it with no traffic incidents. Another enjoyable episode. p.s. Those rear door covers for the dogs that you mentioned using in your truck in a previous vid, are now in mine and I love them. Appreciate the Pro Tip. :)
We try not to do these long hauls too often either because they are quite exhausting! Good points about the BB wash. And so glad those door covers are working for you!! They have really helped protect our doors. I know they'd be covered in scratches if we didn't have them. Thank you for watching!
We will be getting our Brinkley in November. So excited. We have watched you all faithfully since you got yours. About hiccups. I get them several times a day. Every time I eat, get out of bed, roll over. It’s just part of my life. That trip of yours seems like a really long one. We’ve gone from S.F. to Phoenix and stopped over twice, and had bad weather over the grapevine pass, sleeting sideways and zero visibility. This was in March in a 35 ft motorhome not towing anything. They were long during days! We do plan to get a Valterra gate valve since we don’t like surprises and plan to tuck our generator closer to the tailgate. We already have it, a Predator from Harbor Freight. One of our first long trips in the Brinkley will be back over that darn grapevine to visit Rich Solar for our install. I’ll mention the fuse issues when we go down there. We are starting out without an inverter, just a BB GC3 and will have to just wing it that first night if we stop. At least we know how to get there, and plan to catch a NASCAR race in Fontana. AFTER solar goes on. We decided on the 2900 for size and weight, no dogs currently but maybe another schnauzer in the future. Under20 lbs. We joined the Brinkley Facebook group - I’ve never had Facebook ever and it’s a bit scary for me since I’m very private but I did it. If you guys are on there I will look for you. Sorry so long, lots to cover! ❤ you both. And by the way, I chew gum when I’m driving, never any other time!
Fun trip. We are full timers and have been for years. We are never in a hurry to get anywhere. Thats the whole point for us as retirees. We get there when we do. And I drive if I want to. Or hang out at a Harvest or boon dock between the RV parks or state parks/ national parks. And try to get as many Geocach hits along the way. Never in a hurry. NO STRESS!! Have fun!
Harvest Hosts are the best! Staying at farms is our favorite option.
I think you’ll find they’ll be some of your most relaxing stays. ☺️
Craig, instead of fuses on the solar maybe use in-line weather proof circuit breakers. Use breakers about 20% higher rated than the highest amperage your solar produces. Adding a dc to dc charger is a great ad-on, not hard to do. It will manage the charge rate for your lithium batteries so they don't try to pull too many amps from your trucks alternator. Safe travels!
We have four 300AH batteries in the bay of our Z3100 and it is enough to run 1 of our ACs overnight (8-10 hours depending on temps). Wanted to make sure we could boondock for at least 1 night in hotter weather and it has worked great over last 2 months.
1200Ah of batteries? Holy moly. 😅
Yet another great film! Thanks! Now my Sunday after church is complete! Enjoyed it!
So glad you enjoyed it, thank you for joining us this week!
Long weekend…no reservations…. GOOD LUCK!!!!!
Welcome to Michigan guys. We live about 85 miles south of Mackinac City, just outside of Grayling. We ill be passing thru there on our way to the UP for a week long camping trip to Tahquamenon Falls. Really enjoy your videos. We would be glad to host you guys any time on our property with water and electric hook-up. (Sorry, only 20amp)
Oh that's so awesome!! We're heading further south, but this whole area is such a great place to be! well, in the summer. i'm not so sure on those Michigan winters lol!
Are you all near Forbush Cross Country Ski Shop?? We love it there! ❤
@@adventuresofMomDadGirlWhiteDog We are very close to Forbush Corners, maybe 8 miles south.
@@scotthansen1287 That's so cool! Love that area! We also love Lewiston. My husband's favorite burger is from Tally's Log Cabin. 🍔
Did it for work with t f350 and a 30ft trailer. The truck and trailer was super filthy.
I was charged $65 for a basic wash 🧼.
It was worth it for the convenience and time.
Yeah, that's what we were thinking, works in a pinch, just don't expect it to be perfect, which makes sense for the cost and convenience of it
I would have gone back in for a reclean
We drilled a hole in top of valve and out a screw in to keep it from turning.
If i can't get glue to stick to it, that will be what I do as well, most likely. I'm glad to hear it worked out for you guys.
We are from Vermont……RVing in Covert Michigan…..
Refer is the refrigerator fuel for temperature control trailers. It’s the same fuel as truck diesel. You still pay taxes on it. Just you can claim a credit on fuel tax filing.
Just found your channel & thought the dude Craig was Australian. 😆 what accent is that? Where are y’all from?
Love me some Blue Beacon washes
Should have used the generator for air
We recently brought our Chevy Silverado and 23’ Airstream (no citrus) through the Blue Beacon Truck Wash outside of Knoxville. My husband was thrilled with the job because it usually takes us all day to wash both vehicles. I, on the other hand, found that for the $93. (Including a nice tip) it wasn’t worth the cost. There was still a dirt film left behind that I could drag my finger through and see that the Airstream was not as clean as when we give our rig a nice “bath” ourselves.
Labor Day Weekend was super hot in Minnesota. I can't imagine not having AC. You guys rock!
Haha. Taking a deep breath and holding it in always works for me!
I was trying that and they just kept coming! 😆🤣
I have had trucks and rvs for 40 years. In my experience it’s the same with both and all over the nation, some truck washes are better than others as it is with any service. They’ll never get it 100% clean but it’s like you said, it gets the bugs off and it looks better than being dirty
I cut my Valtara valve OFF and bought the one that glues on, IT DOESN'T MOVE!!!
didn't even realize there was a permanent one you could buy!
I highly suggest you buy metal replacements for the pull handle which valterra also makes for $7. The plastic versions that come with it get brittle and snap eventually if you full time. Just twist off the old plastic one and twist on the new metal one.
Oh, I wish we had known you were so close to us in Waupaca! We live in New London & have an urban farm. You could have stayed here with full hookups & I would have fed you guys. Only for you guys, though. We are not on Harvest Host. My hubby said to tell you that if you had your old rig you wouldn't have had to wait for the sun to come up to put your slides in. You had Craig power then. He misses Craig pushing them in. Have fun on your travels & stay safe.
Thank you so much. It sounds like it would have been a fantastic place to stay. I don't think Craig will ever miss that rv. 😆
It didn't look like Maverick thought you got too many snacks...🙃 I know y'all aren't used to trips that long. Years ago, I drove a truck, an 1100 miles was a straight-thru trip for me. Eighteen - 24hours depending on where it was. I'm glad you got to full hook-ups so you could cool off and have water! Y'all have fun!
Maverick couldn't even fathom the possibility of there being such a thing as "too many snacks" 🤣🤣 I bet those were long days!! Definitely not something we're used to, thank you for watching!!
Dunn about spending that much on a wash, would use one if we actually had them. 😮😮😮.
Man if it was that hot I'd be running my generator! Unless you can't at Walmart, I have no idea what the rules are
To kill flies if you tie rubber bands together you can stretch them out and aim at the fly and kill them without harming what they are perched on. If you use light weight bands knot the end to make a small killing ball. I have done this for many years and it works great and is fun besides. I hope you try it as I think you will have fun and kill more flies quickly. Great videos. I was fulltime back in 2000 to 2002. God bless you guys.
lol you sound like you know what you're doing when it comes to fly killing 😆 that is a good idea with the rubber bands! thanks for watching!
I was a truck driver for years and I’ve used Blue Beacon a lot and have had great luck. They’re real good on making it right before you leave the site so next time tell them of the problem areas
Take it back in have them wash it again never pay for dissatisfaction at a streakin Beacon. Safe travels
Ahh good to know! Thank you!!
American watching in the UK. Love your videos. Always brings a smile. 😁
thank you so much for watching!!
Definitely do videos more often
I wish we could put out more videos, maybe one day hopefully!
Ellijay is about an hour from here.. It's just beautiful over here.
Next time go back around and make them rewash it. I’m a truck driver. Sometimes it takes 2-3 try’s for them to get it perfect. Blue beacons moto should be get a streakin at the blue beacon.
Buy a short extension for sewer hose there will be some places that you will need it
You guys are great, love watching your videos. Best way to get rid of hiccups is to eat a nice big tablespoon of smooth peanut butter…does the trick everytime
Wash it your self i do all the time and im 76 yr old
At blue beacon, you pull out of the bay and stop. If they miss some spot they will make it right!
Mrs Blackfish is our fly killer, lost count on how many horsefly’s she nabbed on our camping adventure in northern AB 😂😂
hahah! someone has got to do the dirty work lol
This extension brings the hose further away from the ground. it easier in some cases to hook up your sewer hose to the drain
I agree the water did look ocean like. Beautiful scenery thanks for the ride along
thank you for watching!
We’ve camped there. Loved it except for the geese. Have a great time. Mandy
it really is a pretty campground, especially the lake!
“OL’ Craig” lmao. My name is Craig also….this cracks me up!! 😂🤣😂
Ok you 2 $83,00 is good price an you just pull out door an stop an check out then if not sadufied on wash you walk in get manager come look
He will have come around an wash it all again.
But part of what I seen was run off from top you look up there's a rain washer over rig.
I'm a 45 years of otr truck driver too. So my rigs got washed every week somewhere at truck washs.
Use the little cotter pin on your valtera valve to lock it in, you should see a little hole in on of the teeth, it wont twist off with the cotter pin in.
ahhh going to have to give it a closer look, thank you!
Not all Blue Beacon's are the same. Some locations do a really GREAT job! FYI the Cheyenne Wy location does a wonderful job. We've been using them for the last 38 years.
Lake Mitchell SD State Campground - $38 with full hookup, small but plenty of room for 5th wheelers - 5 min N of I-90.
good to know! thank you!
We have used the truck wash before, and like you , they did just an ok job🥴. You mentioned installing the soft starts-we did and did not have good luck with them. A mobil tech came and took it out and he said he would not advise them, they could damage the ac unit. We bought 2 compact, light weight generators that can run in line together. They do the trick just fine.
Interesting! We had a soft start on our last RV and it seemed to do fine, but will do a little more research. We do really like being able to run the A/C on just the solar power when the sun is out
Have a soft start on our 5th wheel and it allows us to run it on 15amp plug in. The only thing that a soft start does, is alleviate the start spike in power. That allows us to run with only a 2000 watt generator when no plug ins handy.
I have always found that hitching up the truck 7 pin and running the truck gives enough energy to pull in slides and don't have dc to dc.
Nice!! Thanks for the tip. I'm sure I'll run into more siruati9ns like that when I'm back east.
I drilled a small set screw into the sewer pipe to hold the valterra from spinning.
Good idea!!
Blue Beacons is my friend! Just be sure to tell them mild soap and easy on the pressure washer intensity. They'll fix it if it isn't clean.
ooh good to know! thank you!
You're welcome. Happy Trails!
it dont switch to off road diesel. it is not taxed thats all.
I’ve only been to three different locations in different states, and all of them more about the same as what you experienced
Love watching your adventures! God bless!
I’m surprised y’all don’t have a Open Roads fuel card! We use HH as much as we can when traveling. We’ve stayed at peach orchards, cattle ranches and other places that aren’t wineries or breweries.
good to know about HH! I think we are going to enjoy getting to take advantage of more of the locations. We need to get signed up for Open Roads, we have just never done it!
Red dye diesel is marked, refer fuel is the same, the third option is DEF in bulk. I own and drive a semi over the road.
Oh yeah, that sounds right for the third option.
The reefer fuel option is to mark the gallons put in for the reefer. Most states you can file for road tax rebate on reefer fuel used for each state, I run refrigerated loads as well. DEF at the pumps is half the price of DEF in the containers, quality is pretty much the same
We used Blue Beacon a couple of times - the last time they left dirt and streaks / never again !!