By far the best upgrade to make immediately will be Lithium Batteries: 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗼 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: www.enduropowerbatteries.com/?ref=switchitup 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲: SWITCHITUP
I achieve a higher average heart rate on my electric bike than on the carbon hadtail you see in the background. But I have a feeling you don't pedal much anyway.
I'm not one for responding to most videos but in this case I'm going to. All of the suggestions in this video were good and valid. I would just re-prioritize them and it is for safety purposes only. I would put the TPMS system in the first place; let me explain. We were traveling on a Sunday. We had just had a separating tire replaced. WE were in the middle of nowhere on a Sunday when our TPMS system let us know that we were losing air on that particular tire. We were able to stop and change the low tire prior to the tire being damaged. When we got to a tire repair we were told that the valve stem was not replaced and it had "let go". Since we were towing the loaded toy hauler there was considerable weight on the back of the truck and it wouldn't have taken long to destroy that tire. Additionally, I don't know about the stability of the truck had the tire completely gone flat. That one incident actually paid for the TPMS system. The other items could be addressed in any order the owner would like to, but I'm of the opinion that safety comes first, always.
Thanks for taking the time to watch and share your experience. It helps the entire community. Glad what could have been a terrible situation was just a "situation" instead. Safe travels to you all!
Doing all the things. And I agree with all of your upgrades. I bought w replacement AGM batts 3 yrs ago, wish I'd known because we would have spent the $$ on lithium and been done. When those are wore out lithium will replace them.
One more... about $400-$500 concerns water. We use the Clear Source 3 stage water filter to run any water we load into the RV, whether into the fresh water tank or straight city water. My wife further runs drinking water through a Pur jug style filter. We have very clean water (and water lines) and that is another "peace of mind' thing as well as protecting our investment. So... electrical power, Internet, tire management, water. (We have a travel trailer so no need for a goosebox, but if we had a 5th wheel we'd want that too.) The ebike idea is looking good too.
Just got a popup truck camper to live in full time, so I'm going small, but fantastic tips! I've considered them all and decided to switch to all of them! Thanks for making me feel like a genius.
I start full time with my wife and son next month with our new toy hauler. TPMS system crossed my mind first trip to buy one and You saying about temperature reading being useful for noticing a blowout before it happens is great advice! I will no longer be buying the other generic tpms
Me and my wife have been watching your site since you started on the road, I have retired and got a class A 41" and getting are home ready to sale and then hit the for RV LIFE.
The pull test is needed if you have what I would say is a lesser hitch. We have a BW companion hitch. Once the king pin is in place the arm automatically moves into place. Install the pin and it's not going anywhere. Simple to see and use. The down side is the hitch weights a ton. I have to have help getting it in and out. Our next RV if that ever occurs will be a Pin.
Just starting to do my research..I hope to have my rig July 2024... next year....some very important tips...as a safety professional I love this...that was great thinking..THANKS!!
I have an old 2000 Monaco dynasty motorhome so I don’t have the hitch. I fly to a Honda pilot and put a foldable E bike in the back. I have a compressor conversion on my nor cold fridge and I went a little more on the batteries. I now have 800 amp hours of lithium. And I agree I love them. Thanks for the video.
TH-camr for several years, just discovered you and happy for it. Really appreciated this video as it cuts to the chase. We are in our 70’s and retired with dwindling budget and good to be reminded about first up items based on style of being out there. We enjoy boondocking and don’t have $15,000-20k to spend on the whole solar setup or a big bank of lithiums but are looking into picking up a few to speed up charging and increase efficiency. Will look at you other videos and research which brand to go with as there is a big price and quality spread. Subscribed. Thanks
Thank you and glad you enjoyed the video. I will say sometimes we banter a bit and can be long winded at times in other videos but hope you always come away with a smile and possibly learn something along the way. Really appreciate you watching.
Thank you for this video. We haven't started quite yet, but we are trying to eliminate the mistakes before we make them. We hadn't considered 3 of the four, and the one we did consider we were incomplete in knowledge, so waw. Game changer on the batteries because I was going to go marine grade.
I like the Resse goose ball idea and the TPMS system. Tough call on lithium batteries: I've been using 4 6-volt golf cart lead acid batteries with our rig. They handle the residential fridge for a couple of days. The increased fire risk of lithium bugs me.
Mark and Mary Kay Pierce here from Mansfield Ohio. We stopped the video and tried to guess what you were going to say and lucked out with 3 correct guesses. We were surprised you didn’t say anything about “Switching Up” the RV mattress. Always enjoy your videos. Thank you.
Great video, agree with all of them, I did the lithium upgrade on my 2022 Grand Design Momentum and it was about $2500 and I did all the work. I only went with (2) 100ah batteries and all the converter and Victron components.
If I could only do 4 things, it would be: 1. Upgrade to HD shackles & wet bolts with bronze bushings at all joints , and rubber equalizers if the unit didn’t come with them (like the MoRyde CRE-3000’s). 2. Air Bags for your truck. I use the AirLift system with an EasyAir compressor for adjustments on the fly. 3. TPMS / Tire Pressure Monitor System. I use the TireMinder A1AS system on my 46’ toy hauler. Plenty of signal range. 4. All-Steel Tires, at least one load range higher than stock. I like the TransEagle ST Radials. Will replace the Goodyear Endurance tires on my toy hauler when it’s time…
I've watched a lot of RV videos, including all of the tips and mods that are published. Those are good, but these are excellent! Heard some outstanding points that nobody has mentioned.
Largely agree with everything. We opted for the Andersen hitch primarily for the weight (pulling a Solitude 310gk with a SRW RAM 3500), but agree TMPS, lithium, and even e-bikes are a must. I would add a generator if your rig didn't come with one. We plan to add a cell booster once we go full time in a couple years, but as weekend warriors we typically have cell/internet in our camping area. Great video - thanks!
If you have ever had a tire issue as we have, a TPMS is number one. The others on the list are also very good but you can work around them. However, a flat tire and/or blow out could kill you going down the road. I’d also want to have a good road service just in case something happens and we all know it will. It’s no fun parked alongside the road, in an unfamiliar area, wondering who to call especially on week-ends or after hours.
I’m an old computer field engineer and I have never seen a splice connector that did not fail over a short period of time. My suggestion is to solder the connections. I would never use a splice connector on a RV with lots of vibrations.
TOTALLY agree with Reese and Lithium. WE LOVE BOTH. (Cheese & I actually installed the Reese hitch ourselves!) Another item may be the bed mattress? What do you use? RV mattresses are not made for comfort! Good info for newbies!
Awesome info! I was telling some ladies at the Huddle I leave my Berkey put together and on the floor of the shower when we travel. It keeps filtering and has not tipped over yet, even on I-40 in AZ!!
Totally agree. We did these upgrades in our first year of travel as well. However, we have had trouble with Wi-Fi services working long term. We finally simplified our system and reverted to mobile hotspots from Verizon and T-Mobile. Coverage has been good between the two, but we would always use up our data and get throttled. Last week we bought and installed Starlink. We are extremely pleased with its service so far. Having the option of both satellite and cell to stay connected has been a game changer.
Great video and great ideas on Must Have upgrades. We had a Gen-Y Gooseneck installed on our trailer before we ever pulled it off the lot. Our Alliance Valor came with solar and Lithium. But we opted for the Upgrade package 300ah of batteries and 960watts of panels. We purchased the Tireminder system for the trailer. What tire pressures are you running on the Truck? ⚠️ Not sure if you are aware but the Ram Trucks 10thousand GVW and up Do Not have a tire Warning System⚠️ We have a 21 Ram and it tells you what the tire pressure is but No Warning of a low or flat tire ⚠️⚠️ Found out this out when I had the right front go flat driving down the road at 11:00 pm a couple weeks ago 😲😪
Hey, new subscriber here. We're on the road sometimes 7 months out of the year with our toyhauler. We have the electric bikes but we fly the drone in search of the perfect boon docking area. You're right about the battery upgrade. The wife and I just re-upgraded to the LiFePO4 270ah battery which is overkill but why not and of couse, all Victron ... Great video ... I'm going to check out your other vids because you can never know what other great ideas someone else discovered that we haven't thought of.
Letric bikes are USA made in Phoenix, Az. We use the Anderson hitch for our 5th wheel.the base takes up some space but it's rock solid and ultra safe. The price is approx. 750$. Git mine used on Ebay for 425$. The entire weight is approx. 35 lbs.
Lectric eBikes are not made in Phoenix . they are built in China. I thought they were built AZ. But when I was talking to customer service, I was telling them how my Nephi had bought a bike from a place in China. and has had no customer services at all. he had to get up in the middle of the nite to talk with anyone and then you could not understand anyone. I was saying how grateful I was that they were built here in the USA. and I was lucky to deal with them. that when they told me that their bikes were from China too. They did not need to tell me that. It's not the first time I have talk with them. Evetime I Call them I always seem to get someone and understood what they talk about and eager to help 1-5 I give them 5 And I am buying a new bike from them>there honest too
So glad your channel showed up in my feed, just subbed. I agree 1000% on the lithium! When we first got our new 5th wheel we had it parked in our driveway plugged into a typical 20 amp outlet and the gfci tripped and didn't notice it for at least 3 days and as you guessed, batteries were dead. Lithium is addictive though lol. I originally just wanted 1 or 2 lithium batteries but that quickly turned into 4 batteries and a whole solar system installed. We're not big boone dockers but more of incase the SHTF we have a comfortable place to stay but we've had to use the system a few times at full hook up camp grounds due to their electric getting knocked out and it was nice to have specially when we weren't inconvenienced hardly at all and they comped our stay. Our truck came with a 32k rated Reese 5th wheel hitch but it's fairly heavy and takes up a lot of room in the bed so Ive been looking into a goose neck type hitch, even when I take the head off to lighten the load it's still a PITA!
Love it when you are crazy. Love the way you interact with each other. But, it is great when you are serious as well. Thanks Brazen Brits for showing you to me. Peace, Bob.
Your suggestion for Tireminder helped me decide. I have been holding off for a year. Now I bought it. I also recommend upgrading tires if they are China bombs. Great job on your videos.
Recommend you look at the Continental H rated tire. Speed rated at 75mph. Plus tire is a 14ply. Safe travels and roads Brian and Cindy, "xtreambydesign with passion"
Great tips THANK YOU And Here is a Tip for you from a lcal don't follow NF 25 North to Randle! It looks like you are on the east side of St Helens, The drive up to the Viewpoint is worth it But not towing, But the drive out is a horrible road better to go out to I 5 a woodland Via Cougar on 503 past the swift reservoir, Your truck is heavy duty enough but it will knock your teeth out on a bike if you mistake a shadow for a frost heave crack!
I did Randle to Cougar last month. Randle to the St. Helens turnoff is a garbage road. Such massive sunken grade, many ledges over 8” with gashes in the pavement. Ditch the trailer in the lot right off the turn to St. Helens. 99 and 25 are good from the summit lot to Cougar.
Awesome video. Just found you guys and soooooo glad I did. We have a trailer, and there are so many videos out there telling you what to buy. Over the 2 years we have been out there, I have found that you guys are spot on with the protect your investment concept. Thanks so much! I will sub!
Great video. We also Agree on your choices. We both have our Lectric bikes and really enjoy them. Your scooters are great also, but we have a golf cart to drive around the campgrounds. That way we can enjoy our wine and Scotch as we make campground friends. Lol.. Stay where you are, it's terrible hot in KC now... Mark and Patty
Just found your page/site. I have a Travel Trailer TH. Love my Rease WD with options. Agree, go with their stuff. Will consider your setup if I go 5er. TPS is a must, but as a driver, one needs to pay attention.
I’m cheap, and just part time but wanted internet. So the travel trailer had a Wi-Fi booster built in so we could get a signal with it on our T-mobile phones, with hotspot, but it had a limited data plan and a limited range for the laptops and IPads. We have the senior T-Mobile plan because text and internet are international…we also cruise. So that service is $90 for two lines, then T-mobile came out with Wireless internet for the home. So I figured….why not take the home internet base unit ($50) with us when we travel and put it under the booster in the trailer with unlimited data. Sure enough…works like a charm. Now I can sit probably 50 yds from the trailer with my laptop and have internet. The neighbor at home said I could hook your security system cameras into his wifi system, which will notify me if someone gets near the house. The interior house security is through a separate cellular system. So phones and wireless internet is $140/mo. with the Senior plan.
Todd good video, we are getting ready to order bikes, 4 100 amp hour lithium going in our Rig, we do the Anderson hitch pretty easy to pull out but not as easy as the ball. Tire minder, check and internet on the go too. Love you guys
I thought for sure that an honorable mention would go to a dustpan and foxtail brush for the "sawdust fairy". Or maybe seatbelts for your picnic table.
I very much like the video and more so to here honest opinion’s you guys have! We have a class A and try to add things as we go or can afford too do. Next would like to work on the lithium. Thanks for what your doing😊
Haven’t seen where your headed, but your in my state! I’m in eastern Washington near Spokane, and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Come moochdock at Legacy Farm Christmas Trees. Love your videos
Great tip!!!! I wish I would have done the gooseneck hitch when we started earlier this year...but plan to upgrade to one soon. Lithium batteries are a must have as you said. We upgraded those before our first trip. Same with the TPMS. Not sure why anyone would tow an RV without it. BTW....what bike rack do you use?
Supposedly you don't want to buy just any lithium battery but you want LiFePO4 batteries which are the safest of the lithium batteries, because they will not catch fire, and won’t even overheat. Even if you puncture the battery it will not catch fire. This is a massive upgrade over other lithium batteries, which can overheat and catch fire. The LiFePO4 battery has the edge over lithium ion, in terms of cycle life (it lasts 4-5x longer), and safety. The costs have come way down also. I just purchased 2 LIfePo4 batteries for $340.00 each. They are 100ah each and bought them on Amazon with free delivery.
Great informational video. We started part timing about the same time as you started full timing. Sure wish we had a a goose neck instead of the standard hitch !!
Thanks for the tips. We have Lectric bikes. Love them. The batteries were bought brand new when we bout our used RV but we have looked at lithium. We have a Motorhome do no need for the hitch info but good info to pass on. You guys always have good info and fun. Todd you seem a little Stressed in this video. I hope all is well and you guys have safe travels and always have fun.
Hey John- welcome aboard! We are glad you are joining us along the journey! We have Himiway ebikes. We like them a lot, the fat tires really allow us to get in some great locations. Their customer service has much to be desired- I wish we could find a great product with great service. But until then we are still happy with the product.
That's a tough one... we are at 28,000 miles towed in 19 months on our original tires. So there is much debate on that one... we see Pros and Cons... maybe not immediate for most to spend money on...
What kind of research can I do to give me the raw review you just gave for your electric bikes. After all of that, I want the same make and model you have 😐 Thanks for the tips.
These are really great tips. Thank you! We haven’t started our full time journey yet but we had to buy a hitch pretty fast and ended up with b&w companion hitch which is great but extremely heavy. We also have a 2021 Dodge Ram. We already discovered that it’s a pain to move it every time we want to use the back of the truck. So the Reese upgrade is out for us, but we’ve done everything else you mentioned except for the battery upgrade. It’s definitely on the list though.
We are going to up grade to a GEN-Y gooseneck in the middle of august don’t like dealing with the air bag on the trailair hitch. Solar is a possibility in the future. E bikes are also in the future. Our Riverstone 42fskg has the TSD TPMS all ready installed.
Perfect timing for this video. We are closing on our new RV on Friday and picking it up in about 2 weeks. I really enjoyed this video. We are purchasing a class A so Reese hitch is not needed. However, the other four suggestions are very timely. Our class A has an RV Fridge and two AC units. We were thinking about lithium batteries because we had remembered you recommending this before. Do you know if 1 lithium will operate two AC units over night? Also, we are planning to get e bikes also. We were looking at foldable versions so we can store them inside the rig to protect them. Any recommendations for foldable e bikes? Very much looking forward to joining you on one of your huddles. I have followed you since day 1 and really cant wait to finally meet you two. Thanks your friend from New England, Lynne.
Honestly if you could get at least 200Amp hours for overnight it would be best... Harrison will help you answer questions... bikes foldable I would say lectric... We would love to see you at a Huddle!
I'm no expert by any means, but I don't think you can effectively run AC on batteries for any length of time without a huge investment. I think the typical RV AC draws about 100Ah of power, so you could imagine the number of batteries you would need to run two ACs for several hours! (You would also need an inverter capable of that kind of power draw.) We run our lights, tv, refrigerator, etc. off the batteries and a 3k inverter, but for AC, we power up our generator. We currently have two 100Ah batteries, but would like to increase to four (plus a couple more solar panels).
You won't be running two air conditioners over night on battery power. On the battery power that Todd has...you could run one air conditioner for a little over an hour. The amount of batteries you would need to run an air conditioner all night...crazy. Then you would have to charge all those batteries up the next day.
Love this content, esp re lithium & Internet !!! Also Reese if ever go the 5th wheel route. Seeing vids of crushed p/u backends & a man who almost lost his arm or hand have been my big no to 5th wheels until now.
By far the best upgrade to make immediately will be Lithium Batteries: 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗼 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀:
www.enduropowerbatteries.com/?ref=switchitup
𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲: SWITCHITUP
Goose necks are great as long as you have an eight foot bed in your truck.
Rear camera is also something I invested in.
it may sound crazy, but there was a time when people actually "peddled" to make a bicycle move - we burned calories - nobody seemed to mind
There was a time when no one cared what other people did as well.
Pedaled…
What is peddled? LOL
I achieve a higher average heart rate on my electric bike than on the carbon hadtail you see in the background. But I have a feeling you don't pedal much anyway.
Don’t act too self righteous Remy. You were also a child when you did that.
I'm not one for responding to most videos but in this case I'm going to. All of the suggestions in this video were good and valid. I would just re-prioritize them and it is for safety purposes only. I would put the TPMS system in the first place; let me explain. We were traveling on a Sunday. We had just had a separating tire replaced. WE were in the middle of nowhere on a Sunday when our TPMS system let us know that we were losing air on that particular tire. We were able to stop and change the low tire prior to the tire being damaged. When we got to a tire repair we were told that the valve stem was not replaced and it had "let go". Since we were towing the loaded toy hauler there was considerable weight on the back of the truck and it wouldn't have taken long to destroy that tire. Additionally, I don't know about the stability of the truck had the tire completely gone flat. That one incident actually paid for the TPMS system. The other items could be addressed in any order the owner would like to, but I'm of the opinion that safety comes first, always.
Thanks for taking the time to watch and share your experience. It helps the entire community. Glad what could have been a terrible situation was just a "situation" instead. Safe travels to you all!
Doing all the things. And I agree with all of your upgrades. I bought w replacement AGM batts 3 yrs ago, wish I'd known because we would have spent the $$ on lithium and been done. When those are wore out lithium will replace them.
Lithium battery is a game changer, and the bike to explore.
One more... about $400-$500 concerns water. We use the Clear Source 3 stage water filter to run any water we load into the RV, whether into the fresh water tank or straight city water. My wife further runs drinking water through a Pur jug style filter. We have very clean water (and water lines) and that is another "peace of mind' thing as well as protecting our investment. So... electrical power, Internet, tire management, water. (We have a travel trailer so no need for a goosebox, but if we had a 5th wheel we'd want that too.) The ebike idea is looking good too.
Thank you for being real people with real tips !!
Just got a popup truck camper to live in full time, so I'm going small, but fantastic tips! I've considered them all and decided to switch to all of them! Thanks for making me feel like a genius.
I start full time with my wife and son next month with our new toy hauler. TPMS system crossed my mind first trip to buy one and You saying about temperature reading being useful for noticing a blowout before it happens is great advice! I will no longer be buying the other generic tpms
I have to take the time to give major props at how luxurious the inside of the camper looks, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING :)
Me and my wife have been watching your site since you started on the road, I have retired and got a class A 41" and getting are home ready to sale and then hit the for RV LIFE.
This is fantastic - Congrats!
The pull test is needed if you have what I would say is a lesser hitch. We have a BW companion hitch. Once the king pin is in place the arm automatically moves into place. Install the pin and it's not going anywhere. Simple to see and use. The down side is the hitch weights a ton. I have to have help getting it in and out. Our next RV if that ever occurs will be a Pin.
Just starting to do my research..I hope to have my rig July 2024... next year....some very important tips...as a safety professional I love this...that was great thinking..THANKS!!
I have an old 2000 Monaco dynasty motorhome so I don’t have the hitch. I fly to a Honda pilot and put a foldable E bike in the back. I have a compressor conversion on my nor cold fridge and I went a little more on the batteries. I now have 800 amp hours of lithium. And I agree I love them. Thanks for the video.
That is a sweet spot you found in national forest land, some of the roads can be rough.
TH-camr for several years, just discovered you and happy for it. Really appreciated this video as it cuts to the chase. We are in our 70’s and retired with dwindling budget and good to be reminded about first up items based on style of being out there. We enjoy boondocking and don’t have $15,000-20k to spend on the whole solar setup or a big bank of lithiums but are looking into picking up a few to speed up charging and increase efficiency. Will look at you other videos and research which brand to go with as there is a big price and quality spread. Subscribed. Thanks
Thank you and glad you enjoyed the video. I will say sometimes we banter a bit and can be long winded at times in other videos but hope you always come away with a smile and possibly learn something along the way. Really appreciate you watching.
Gooseneck IS the way to go!
Actually the very first thing we upgraded, even before we camped, was replace the mattress.
Great vid. Thanks for for real life wisdom
THANK YOU!!! I love when you guys teach us how. Us weekenders need your knowledge!
I purchased the goosebox last year and put it on my fifth wheel, It beats the hell out of a fifth wheel, The ride of the trailer is night and day
We are glad you like yours as much as we do - love having our truck bed for other items
Thank you for this video. We haven't started quite yet, but we are trying to eliminate the mistakes before we make them. We hadn't considered 3 of the four, and the one we did consider we were incomplete in knowledge, so waw. Game changer on the batteries because I was going to go marine grade.
I like the Resse goose ball idea and the TPMS system.
Tough call on lithium batteries: I've been using 4 6-volt golf cart lead acid batteries with our rig. They handle the residential fridge for a couple of days. The increased fire risk of lithium bugs me.
Go with LifeP04 batteries. A lot safer.
One of the most informative cool dudes I’ve seen
Mark and Mary Kay Pierce here from Mansfield Ohio. We stopped the video and tried to guess what you were going to say and lucked out with 3 correct guesses. We were surprised you didn’t say anything about “Switching Up” the RV mattress. Always enjoy your videos. Thank you.
Dang.. forgot about mattress... we did do that before we left... that would have been a great suggestion.
Great video, agree with all of them, I did the lithium upgrade on my 2022 Grand Design Momentum and it was about $2500 and I did all the work. I only went with (2) 100ah batteries and all the converter and Victron components.
Where did you go to get.your batteries and victron stuff.
If I could only do 4 things, it would be:
1. Upgrade to HD shackles & wet bolts with bronze bushings at all joints , and rubber equalizers if the unit didn’t come with them (like the MoRyde CRE-3000’s).
2. Air Bags for your truck. I use the AirLift system with an EasyAir compressor for adjustments on the fly.
3. TPMS / Tire Pressure Monitor System. I use the TireMinder A1AS system on my 46’ toy hauler. Plenty of signal range.
4. All-Steel Tires, at least one load range higher than stock. I like the TransEagle ST Radials. Will replace the Goodyear Endurance tires on my toy hauler when it’s time…
Can you explain the 4th must have better for me. "All steel tires"
That is cool my friend.
First things we did was upgrade the electrical system, install lithium batteries, new tires and sumo springs. Well worth
I've watched a lot of RV videos, including all of the tips and mods that are published. Those are good, but these are excellent! Heard some outstanding points that nobody has mentioned.
Largely agree with everything. We opted for the Andersen hitch primarily for the weight (pulling a Solitude 310gk with a SRW RAM 3500), but agree TMPS, lithium, and even e-bikes are a must. I would add a generator if your rig didn't come with one. We plan to add a cell booster once we go full time in a couple years, but as weekend warriors we typically have cell/internet in our camping area. Great video - thanks!
One of the best you have done. I like the "seasoned" approach and frankness about your experiences.
If you have ever had a tire issue as we have, a TPMS is number one. The others on the list are also very good but you can work around them. However, a flat tire and/or blow out could kill you going down the road. I’d also want to have a good road service just in case something happens and we all know it will. It’s no fun parked alongside the road, in an unfamiliar area, wondering who to call especially on week-ends or after hours.
Very well done video! It’s amazing how much knowledge us RVers gain over time.
I’m an old computer field engineer and I have never seen a splice connector that did not fail over a short period of time. My suggestion is to solder the connections. I would never use a splice connector on a RV with lots of vibrations.
TOTALLY agree with Reese and Lithium. WE LOVE BOTH. (Cheese & I actually installed the Reese hitch ourselves!) Another item may be the bed mattress? What do you use? RV mattresses are not made for comfort! Good info for newbies!
💙 Glad you are loving the Goose Box!
Nice video. Keep up the travels.
Awesome info! I was telling some ladies at the Huddle I leave my Berkey put together and on the floor of the shower when we travel. It keeps filtering and has not tipped over yet, even on I-40 in AZ!!
Great tip!
Those were terrific ideas that I definitely will invest into. Thanks so much and safe travels....✌️
Travel safely and have so much fun making memories!
Totally agree. We did these upgrades in our first year of travel as well. However, we have had trouble with Wi-Fi services working long term. We finally simplified our system and reverted to mobile hotspots from Verizon and T-Mobile. Coverage has been good between the two, but we would always use up our data and get throttled. Last week we bought and installed Starlink. We are extremely pleased with its service so far. Having the option of both satellite and cell to stay connected has been a game changer.
Great video and great ideas on Must Have upgrades.
We had a Gen-Y Gooseneck installed on our trailer before we ever pulled it off the lot.
Our Alliance Valor came with solar and Lithium. But we opted for the Upgrade package 300ah of batteries and 960watts of panels.
We purchased the Tireminder system for the trailer.
What tire pressures are you running on the Truck?
⚠️ Not sure if you are aware but the Ram Trucks 10thousand GVW and up Do Not have a tire Warning System⚠️
We have a 21 Ram and it tells you what the tire pressure is but No Warning of a low or flat tire ⚠️⚠️
Found out this out when I had the right front go flat driving down the road at 11:00 pm a couple weeks ago 😲😪
Hey, new subscriber here. We're on the road sometimes 7 months out of the year with our toyhauler. We have the electric bikes but we fly the drone in search of the perfect boon docking area. You're right about the battery upgrade. The wife and I just re-upgraded to the LiFePO4 270ah battery which is overkill but why not and of couse, all Victron ...
Great video ... I'm going to check out your other vids because you can never know what other great ideas someone else discovered that we haven't thought of.
Welcome aboard! We are glad to have you here - thanks for watching and subscribing!
Letric bikes are USA made in Phoenix, Az.
We use the Anderson hitch for our 5th wheel.the base takes up some space but it's rock solid and ultra safe. The price is approx. 750$. Git mine used on Ebay for 425$. The entire weight is approx. 35 lbs.
Lectric eBikes are not made in Phoenix . they are built in China. I thought they were built AZ. But when I was talking to customer service, I was telling them how my Nephi had bought a bike from a place in China. and has had no customer services at all. he had to get up in the middle of the nite to talk with anyone and then you could not understand anyone. I was saying how grateful I was that they were built here in the USA. and I was lucky to deal with them. that when they told me that their bikes were from China too. They did not need to tell me that. It's not the first time I have talk with them. Evetime I Call them I always seem to get someone and understood what they talk about and eager to help 1-5 I give them 5 And I am buying a new bike from them>there honest too
been considering upgrading my batteries and you just convinced me to pull the trigger
So glad your channel showed up in my feed, just subbed. I agree 1000% on the lithium! When we first got our new 5th wheel we had it parked in our driveway plugged into a typical 20 amp outlet and the gfci tripped and didn't notice it for at least 3 days and as you guessed, batteries were dead. Lithium is addictive though lol. I originally just wanted 1 or 2 lithium batteries but that quickly turned into 4 batteries and a whole solar system installed. We're not big boone dockers but more of incase the SHTF we have a comfortable place to stay but we've had to use the system a few times at full hook up camp grounds due to their electric getting knocked out and it was nice to have specially when we weren't inconvenienced hardly at all and they comped our stay. Our truck came with a 32k rated Reese 5th wheel hitch but it's fairly heavy and takes up a lot of room in the bed so Ive been looking into a goose neck type hitch, even when I take the head off to lighten the load it's still a PITA!
Love it when you are crazy. Love the way you interact with each other. But, it is great when you are serious as well. Thanks Brazen Brits for showing you to me.
Peace, Bob.
Love your videos. Thank you. Enduro batteries are at the top of my list.
Good choice!
Your suggestion for Tireminder helped me decide. I have been holding off for a year. Now I bought it. I also recommend upgrading tires if they are China bombs. Great job on your videos.
Recommend you look at the Continental H rated tire. Speed rated at 75mph. Plus tire is a 14ply. Safe travels and roads Brian and Cindy, "xtreambydesign with passion"
Great tips THANK YOU And Here is a Tip for you from a lcal don't follow NF 25 North to Randle! It looks like you are on the east side of St Helens, The drive up to the Viewpoint is worth it But not towing, But the drive out is a horrible road better to go out to I 5 a woodland Via Cougar on 503 past the swift reservoir, Your truck is heavy duty enough but it will knock your teeth out on a bike if you mistake a shadow for a frost heave crack!
I did Randle to Cougar last month. Randle to the St. Helens turnoff is a garbage road. Such massive sunken grade, many ledges over 8” with gashes in the pavement. Ditch the trailer in the lot right off the turn to St. Helens. 99 and 25 are good from the summit lot to Cougar.
Thanks for all the good information, is very helpful for folks that are starting out!
Great information guys...I'm happy to be a new subscriber ❤
New subscriber, I just got a Jayco 166FBS and I'm just learning the RV life, great video thanks 👍
Hey Welcome aboard - we appreciate you subscribing and taking the time to watch and leave a comment!
Great video. We have 4 of your 5 tips purchased and installed.
Good clear no BS tips and suggestions. Thanks
We are here for all you no BS answers...lol. thanks for watching and love your comment!
Awesome video. Just found you guys and soooooo glad I did. We have a trailer, and there are so many videos out there telling you what to buy. Over the 2 years we have been out there, I have found that you guys are spot on with the protect your investment concept. Thanks so much! I will sub!
Great video. We also Agree on your choices. We both have our Lectric bikes and really enjoy them. Your scooters are great also, but we have a golf cart to drive around the campgrounds. That way we can enjoy our wine and Scotch as we make campground friends. Lol..
Stay where you are, it's terrible hot in KC now...
Mark and Patty
Great tips, enjoy your channel. 👍👍👍 hope you enjoyed the PNW and the Volcano👍👍👍
That’s a seriously amazing kitchen with home grade appliances. Are those also upgrades?
Those were standard options on the Grand Design 395ms-r.
Excellent stuff! Enjoy your day! 👍👏🥰🎉🙏
Excellent information. Great job
Great tips! Lithium is on the list for us soon!
Just found your page/site. I have a Travel Trailer TH. Love my Rease WD with options. Agree, go with their stuff. Will consider your setup if I go 5er. TPS is a must, but as a driver, one needs to pay attention.
Agree - thanks for stopping by and taking the time to watch and leave a comment.
Great! What about on travel day do you use your on board or off board Nav system?
Great tips!!! Love your honest sharing
Love yall already..i want to see the e bikes!!
I like your authenticity 🖖🏾
we take or batteries out in the winter then charge em up for summer. is that bad too
I’m cheap, and just part time but wanted internet. So the travel trailer had a Wi-Fi booster built in so we could get a signal with it on our T-mobile phones, with hotspot, but it had a limited data plan and a limited range for the laptops and IPads. We have the senior T-Mobile plan because text and internet are international…we also cruise. So that service is $90 for two lines, then T-mobile came out with Wireless internet for the home. So I figured….why not take the home internet base unit ($50) with us when we travel and put it under the booster in the trailer with unlimited data. Sure enough…works like a charm. Now I can sit probably 50 yds from the trailer with my laptop and have internet. The neighbor at home said I could hook your security system cameras into his wifi system, which will notify me if someone gets near the house. The interior house security is through a separate cellular system. So phones and wireless internet is $140/mo. with the Senior plan.
Good tip! Thanks for sharing and following along this journey!
Great video Todd. Loved it. Safe travels.
Todd good video, we are getting ready to order bikes, 4 100 amp hour lithium going in our Rig, we do the Anderson hitch pretty easy to pull out but not as easy as the ball. Tire minder, check and internet on the go too. Love you guys
I thought for sure that an honorable mention would go to a dustpan and foxtail brush for the "sawdust fairy".
Or maybe seatbelts for your picnic table.
Bahahahaha...we are know there are no seat belts on picnic tables.. but they are dangerous.
Agree LiFe4 batteries are a must.
MOFI Router is my solution for cellular internet on the road. Works well with a SIM Card and unlimited data plan
YOU GUY'S ARE GREAT, YOU GAVE ME GREAT KNOWLEDGE. THANK'S MICHAEL
I very much like the video and more so to here honest opinion’s you guys have!
We have a class A and try to add things as we go or can afford too do. Next would like to work on the lithium.
Thanks for what your doing😊
Thank you for watching and for taking the time to leave a comment. It means a lot to us. Safe travels to you!
Haven’t seen where your headed, but your in my state! I’m in eastern Washington near Spokane, and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Come moochdock at Legacy Farm Christmas Trees. Love your videos
Great tip!!!! I wish I would have done the gooseneck hitch when we started earlier this year...but plan to upgrade to one soon. Lithium batteries are a must have as you said. We upgraded those before our first trip. Same with the TPMS. Not sure why anyone would tow an RV without it. BTW....what bike rack do you use?
Following what bike rack
Yes, please tell what bike rack. Love this video
Which bike rack do you have? Would you recommend it?
We have the Himiway rack - we've struggled with it keeping the bikes secure when it's bouncing behind the RV - it does better behind the truck -
All good must haves.
Supposedly you don't want to buy just any lithium battery but you want LiFePO4 batteries which are the safest of the lithium batteries, because they will not catch fire, and won’t even overheat. Even if you puncture the battery it will not catch fire. This is a massive upgrade over other lithium batteries, which can overheat and catch fire. The LiFePO4 battery has the edge over lithium ion, in terms of cycle life (it lasts 4-5x longer), and safety. The costs have come way down also. I just purchased 2 LIfePo4 batteries for $340.00 each. They are 100ah each and bought them on Amazon with free delivery.
I’d probably choose a LiFe PO4 set up. Will last twice as long as the ion ones.
There is a snow-park calls Marble mountain is close to you if you want to be more close of the mountain.
Overcast,clouds will NOT affect star link, Only trees and snow and only snow if it accumulates on the dish.
Good tips, thanks!
Great informational video. We started part timing about the same time as you started full timing. Sure wish we had a a goose neck instead of the standard hitch !!
Thanks for the tips. We have Lectric bikes. Love them. The batteries were bought brand new when we bout our used RV but we have looked at lithium. We have a Motorhome do no need for the hitch info but good info to pass on. You guys always have good info and fun. Todd you seem a little
Stressed in this video. I hope all is well and you guys have safe travels and always have fun.
How about the mattress?
New subscriber. Thanks for the info. We are planning our move to fulltime by June 2023. What brand are your e-bikes?
Hey John- welcome aboard! We are glad you are joining us along the journey! We have Himiway ebikes. We like them a lot, the fat tires really allow us to get in some great locations. Their customer service has much to be desired- I wish we could find a great product with great service. But until then we are still happy with the product.
good information, thanks for the video.
Tires... get Tires. Upgrade to a HIGHER LOAD specs for your load. It's just that important for RV.
That's a tough one... we are at 28,000 miles towed in 19 months on our original tires. So there is much debate on that one... we see Pros and Cons... maybe not immediate for most to spend money on...
What kind of research can I do to give me the raw review you just gave for your electric bikes. After all of that, I want the same make and model you have 😐
Thanks for the tips.
These are really great tips. Thank you! We haven’t started our full time journey yet but we had to buy a hitch pretty fast and ended up with b&w companion hitch which is great but extremely heavy. We also have a 2021 Dodge Ram. We already discovered that it’s a pain to move it every time we want to use the back of the truck. So the Reese upgrade is out for us, but we’ve done everything else you mentioned except for the battery upgrade. It’s definitely on the list though.
We are going to up grade to a GEN-Y gooseneck in the middle of august don’t like dealing with the air bag on the trailair hitch. Solar is a possibility in the future. E bikes are also in the future. Our Riverstone 42fskg has the TSD TPMS all ready installed.
Thanks so much! Just ordered the Tireminder TPMS system! Been wondering which to order and I totally trust your opinion.
Yup just ordered the same
Also have a Samsung with an inverter - did u need to change your inverter to go lithium batteries??
We did not change our inverter but our converter did have to change.
Perfect timing for this video. We are closing on our new RV on Friday and picking it up in about 2 weeks. I really enjoyed this video. We are purchasing a class A so Reese hitch is not needed. However, the other four suggestions are very timely. Our class A has an RV Fridge and two AC units. We were thinking about lithium batteries because we had remembered you recommending this before. Do you know if 1 lithium will operate two AC units over night? Also, we are planning to get e bikes also. We were looking at foldable versions so we can store them inside the rig to protect them. Any recommendations for foldable e bikes? Very much looking forward to joining you on one of your huddles. I have followed you since day 1 and really cant wait to finally meet you two. Thanks your friend from New England, Lynne.
Honestly if you could get at least 200Amp hours for overnight it would be best... Harrison will help you answer questions... bikes foldable I would say lectric...
We would love to see you at a Huddle!
Thanks we will reach out to Harrison. Also we had picked Lectric also based on our research so glad you agree! Thank you!
I'm no expert by any means, but I don't think you can effectively run AC on batteries for any length of time without a huge investment. I think the typical RV AC draws about 100Ah of power, so you could imagine the number of batteries you would need to run two ACs for several hours! (You would also need an inverter capable of that kind of power draw.)
We run our lights, tv, refrigerator, etc. off the batteries and a 3k inverter, but for AC, we power up our generator. We currently have two 100Ah batteries, but would like to increase to four (plus a couple more solar panels).
You won't be running two air conditioners over night on battery power. On the battery power that Todd has...you could run one air conditioner for a little over an hour. The amount of batteries you would need to run an air conditioner all night...crazy. Then you would have to charge all those batteries up the next day.
Great information, thank you 😊
Great tips ty very much
Love this content, esp re lithium & Internet !!! Also Reese if ever go the 5th wheel route. Seeing vids of crushed p/u backends & a man who almost lost his arm or hand have been my big no to 5th wheels until now.