You are so correct about all of the so-called brand ambassadors out there singing the praises of everything from toilet paper to griddles to specific RV brands and models. When you've got the manufacturer's giving products away to TH-cam channels, does anyone actually believe they are giving honest feedback?
We also show products on our channel that we have found value in, but we show you how it has helped our life and it's up to you to decide if it will help you! The brand ambassadors are not always allowed to tell the truth about the bad side of the products only the good!
I think that there are a couple of things that you do need from the start: a surge protector and a water pressure regulator. I believe that those two items in addition to the other four you mentioned are essential. Great video. Looking forward to the other items you do think we need video.
While we do have a surge protector and we do reccomend one in our next video this was about what you don't need! They are a good idea but you don't need it to start! water pressure regulator is a relatively cheap accessory and not really an upgrade in our opinion!
@@PavingNewPaths I have heard a lot of RVers say that the ones with the gauge on them are better, but more expensive and prone to breaking easier. I have the cheap one that is preset. What's your opinion?
@@johnbell4976 I have the one with the gauge on it as it is fully adjustable, and you can dial in the pressure for your rig! The ones without the gauge are preset at say 50psi and you can't take advantage of any pressure higher if it was available! We have used our adjustable one for 2 years now with no issues! But we don't leave it hooked up when its below freezing! That is what causes them to go bad!
Great advice. We have been RVing for many years, in almost every type of RV. We recently changed from a large Class A DP to a camper van. We now have less space and carry just what we use daily and it is the best RVing experience ever. Your comments about figuring out how you RV first is right on target. Everyone does RVing different, and I have wasted 10’s of thousand on gear through the years! Safe Travels!!
Thank you! We were getting ready to outfit our RV with every upgrade possible before we even stayed one night in it! Some of these things we bought and still use and some were a waste of money! We wanted to share our experience and let the viewers know you don't need much to get started and you won't know what you need until you do start! So get out there and figure out what it is you want from this and make improvements to enhance that goal!
@lawrencewiddis2447 Well, I agree, they put a lot of effort into making this 28 minute video. But I tink we should tank them anyway, it's the least we can do.
Thanks for the video. You can go broke getting all the fancy stuff that people think you need. We mostly dry camp in our small camper, which suits us just fine. We have a portable generator for when it rains or is too cloudy for our portable solar panels. We see people that have installed panels on top of their RV's and they have to park in the sun. We park in the shade and put our panels in the sun. Keeps the camper a lot cooler. I like your idea of starting off slow and seeing what you really need. That's what we've done and it works great. The big thing is to use your RV and have fun.
Thanks for watching! I like the idea of the rv being in the shade and the panels being in the sun! Many don't think about that! I wish we could say we didn't buy lots of things we didn't need, bit at least we were able to make a video to prevent others from making our mistakes!
Added to your four things to absolutely have, a water pressure regulator and surge protector. Both have saved us on several occasions. Thanks for the video
Best advice I have heard "Learn and know what your RV is and can do." Also, I'm old school military "PMCS- Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services" you do this and it will slow your problems some. I do this regularly and still this past year I had a tire blow out then 3 more in travel. TP good and tires felt good stopped and checked still when may pops decide to go they go. Now I have Goodyear tires not may pops. I still travel without a lot of things that would be nice to have but we enjoy the trips as we go.
Yes, we also believe you should find out what your rig can do and how you intend to use it before adding and upgrading things! We also think that a gadget should never take the place of actually getting out and looking at things and doing inspections and maintenance (back up cameras, RV GPS and TPMS systems)! We upgraded a lot of things we never used like we thought because we didn't understand how we were going to use the RV for our experience!
What a breath of fresh air! It is so easy to get carried away with the" gotta have it's " when really like you said, people camped for years without most of this stuff! Thanks for a great video and looking forward to the upgrade video.
Thank you! I am just like you and was tired of seeing all these videos telling me what we had to have to enjoy RVing! I decided you guys should know you don't need much to get out there and start the RV life! Most of these products are great but until you know how you intend to camp most of them could be a waste of money and will never provide value to your experience!
I wish I would have seen this before I started. I would like to say that listening to the TH-cam influencers I thought solar would have extended our journey and save us money in the long run but I have 2 big hairy dogs that like it cold and running one AC unit just wont cut it so I spent 15k on solar that would have paid for the park fees for our 6 month journey and I may have been able to stay out for 9 mos!!! Anyway, thanks for sharing your time and knowledge with us again.
We were right there with you regarding solar! Thank goodness the installer was nowhere near Texas when we called for pricing! After further research, it showed us that it would take years upon years for us to recoup that cost while boondocking and using solar, so we ultimately decided against it. Now we know that even with solar, we can boondocj extensively because with a wife and kids, we would run out of water way before we ran out of solar!
@@PavingNewPaths That's a math question. I probably spent around $7000 buying materials, and installing everything myself for my solar and lithium setup. Will I ever save $7000 using it? Probably not. But the only reason I did it is so I could go boondocking at harvest host locations without hook ups. So for me, it is kind of worth it.
@@alaska-bornfloridaman Thats why we made the video so many people buy these upgrades they will never use! For you it's awesome because you see all the benefits of it! For us it would be a waste of money! But we thought we needed it!
Wifey and I are going full time in a year and I'd already been looking to install the liquidspring suspension on our Tiffin. Thanks for talking me off the ledge. I'm going to wait and see how it goes.
This is what we have found works best, get out there and see what you think of the rig and the experience! Then make upgrades that enhance that experience! How will you know if the upgrade was an upgrade if you didn't even experience the rig in the stock form!
Thanks fam. This is the realest RV video I've watched ever.I love it. I just bought my raptor 415 last weekend. So I been watching RV TH-cam for the last year. This video is the best. You got my subscription
You are sooooo bang on! The only reason why I like my back up camera is that I use it for reference while driving for lane changes to gauge where other vehicles are and for reference while backing up. Never do I back up without a buddy and if alone, regardless of cameras I am checking mirrors and in and out of the vehicle to make sure everything is clear. I like my surge protector just for peace of mind and the water regulator because one camp ground we stayed at had crazy water and blew a line. That brings me to a must have, water sensors in the bathroom behind the toilet, under the sink, under the kitchen sink and right beside the water pump. Any leak you will be notified. What you don't need also but I need is a bidet. Cuts down on the toilet paper and makes sure you are clean. There are tons of stuff to make your life easier but you said it, only really four things needed to get started and you hit the nail in the head.
We have several of these products we mentioned but we also fell into the trap of buying everything TH-cam said we needed to start living fulltime in the RV! We wanted to share with our viewers that you don't need any upgrades to start the life and you shouldn't spend any money until you know exactly what it is you plan on getting out of the RV life! Once you know then its ok to upgrade the things that enhance that experience!
Thank you for good advice. How common is it in campgrounds that they have somewhere to empty a cassette, let’s say you don’t have a black water tank and hose.
@@PavingNewPaths Get that, just trying to compare. In Europe most RVs and mobile homes have cassettes or if they have a tank they are not connected but have to go to the dump station.
Yes I would love to see your upgrades. I don't RV but in 30 yrs of Law Enforcement I have helped change some tires. One needs a good jack that will support the weight of there RV and a four way lug wench. The tire tool on your truck is not the same size as the nuts on your Trailor wheels. That said you might go years without getting a flat
We are currently working on an upgrade video! We have also thought about making a video on how to change a flat tire on the RV or the truck with the RV hooked up! There are several creative ways you can use your rig and tools to get the job done!
The best way to get and keep extra water just go to a farm store and buy a 100 gallon tank for that 5th wheel. We have a 50 gallon water tank we take it with us. Our water tank is 54 gallons with the black and grey tanks that hold 30 gallons a piece.
We can hold a massive amount of water and would still run out before we ran out of power! We have 160 gallons of fresh water, 108 grey and 108 black! For us with kids we are never going to boondock maybe in the future we can downsize rigs and utilize the benefits of dry camping!
@@PavingNewPaths yes but you are missing some great places to camp. We camp in places that even the biggest of fifth wheels can get into and you got really good fishing right there and there are many things for kids to do. Extra water is the key. When you make it to WV, please let me know and we can come show some beautiful places that you need the water tank but it is wonderful place for kids to play and see wildlife. Just email me with a date. My 5 foot wife loves those beautiful babies and would love to sit and play games with them. Your family is simply awesome. Just let us know and we would love to meet your whole family.
They definitely aren't bad products and we even have one ourselves! But I don't believe you don't need it to get started! So many people, us included, get hung up on all the upgrades you need before you can hit the road!
@@TRUMP_WAS_RIGHT_ABOUT_EVRYTHNG I can answer that, Tires can blowout for a variety of reasons like balding, nails poking holes, overinflation, old tires having bad sidewalls with cracks running about, overloading your tires beyond its rated weight capacity. But a big one is underinflation, if your tires require (for example) 45 psi but only sits at 14 psi, youll not only have a flat but you'll blow your flat tire out. Always check your tire pressure.
Like you, I purchased a lot I didn’t need from other videos. I quickly realized the kind of camping you do drives what you really need. If more rustic dry docking you need different things than rv resorts. Most videos only show what they used and didn’t call out there are different types of camping. I’m glad yours shows things you don’t really need to help newcomers out. Wish it was around when I started RVing
We found there are videos out there telling you everything you need to go RVing! They don't give much context to how they camp or use the RV! So unless you are planning to camp exactly like them you maynit get the full benefit of the upgrades! Bottom line we think you should go out there with nothing and upgrade the things that will provide value to your experience!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! We’re planning to hit the road full time in the next 6 months and thought we needed alllll of these things. Everything you’ve shared makes perfect sense and has shifted our perspective. We will make upgrades as needed, thank you!
Thank you! We fell into the trap of buying and upgrading things before we ever spent one night in the RV! Now 2 years later we realize that some of these things are nice to have but none of them are actually needed to enjoy the fulltime RV life!
Thank you, Kevin, for a good video as usual! I think there is a fifth item one needs from the get-go and that is a surge guard. Doesn't have to be the more expensive hard-wired one like I have, it can be a basic plug-in, as long as you have one to protect your electrical system. As you know, a faulty pedestal can cause majorly expensive damage to your rig. Or even a drastic change in power in an over-loaded park. Love your channel❣️
Thank you! We do have a hardwired surge protector as well and we do think if you are going to RV often you should have one! However, we made the video to let people know you don't need to go out and spend tons of money on all these gadgets to get out there and start RVing!
100% AGREE!! We nose dived into full time RVing with a 40ft fifth wheel and ZERO extra accessories, modifications, or upgrades. We slowly added what we needed but all in all it ended up being very little. This is very different from what I was told and being stubborn ended up saving a lot of money in the long run!
We fell into the trap of buying and upgrading everything before we even spent one night in the RV! I drew the line when it got to suspension and solar stuff! We were convinced we needed all of this stuff because the internet said so! We wish we would have started RVing like you and upgraded things along the way to enhance the experience!
Solar works for me with lithium batteries it came with my montana fithwheel. When my camper in storage I can turn on the Residential refrigerator A-day before I go camping. You can work on your camper in storage with all the power you need. The biggest benefit is batteries lead acid last if you're lucky 2 years. In Iowa in the winter you have to take out your lead acid batteries take them home,put them on a Battery charger maintainer. Lithium you just turn off the solar.
That works for you so it is a benefit! However litium batteries are not required unless you dry camp or have a solar set up with an inverter! We travel fulltime and are never not hooked up to power or have the generator running for more than a day! For us a lithium battery is a waste of money as we only need it to provide 12v power on days we are traveling! Because we are always hooked up and never in storage our lead acid battery is always maintained! Ours is 3 years old and I don't see why it won't last, but if it needed replacement another lead acid will go in its place!
LOL. Our Level Pro when we traveled in our pickup camper was my mom. She'd get in the camper and tell my dad when it was level. Our stabilizers were 2 2×4s that we pushed under the camper overhang one on each side. Crude but cheap and worked just fine. Even in a tornado and severe hailstorm. We put both 2x4s on the opposite side from the direction the wind was blowing. We stopped at a roadside picnic site that night after dodging storms all day. We were actually going to go to town and sleep in a motel but dad changed his mind and we stopped at the roadside park just outside the city limits sign. The next morning we drove through a town that was more. The tornado had destroyed the motel we were headed to. Every building was smashed, every house had roofs torn off at the least. The truck and camper were extremely dented from the hail that lasted for at least 15 minutes. It was pretty awful. The camper rocked and rolled that night but those 2x4s kept us upright. That was sometime in the second half of the 1960s because we were returning home to Kansas from a fishing trip to Canada. A pickup camper is different than dragging a trailer but we had no gizmos. Just a tire guage and our eyes and ears. My dad checked the tires at each stop. He checked everything mechanical before we left. He did carry fuses, a can of motor oil, tools, a spare tire and a spare tire for the boat trailer. Those were fun days. Memories... like the ones your kids are making too.
That is a great story and a great memory for you! We do carry all the tools and extras needed to help us if we have issues on the road! We really wanted people to know you don't need any of these gadgets to get out there and start enjoying the RV life! When we started this our real goal was, we wanted to slow time down! We fell the world is full of gadgets and devices that steal your time and attention! Yes, we have a big RV that has a lot of cool features, but we wanted to minimize the gadgets in our life and make it more about the adventure and not about the things!
I would add a cheap level. I have a free bubble level app on my phone. I have a bumper pull trailer so have to do all the leveling myself. Sometimes the auto level systems are out of level so will need to you the level to reestablish level. I would recommend a 10 by 2 board cut into 2 foot sections for leveling, not much money and not much weight.
All great items however if you have an auto level system you don't need to use boards to level the rig prior to unhitching the trailer will level itself! If your site is so unlevel that it lifts the tires off the ground on one side, then yes adding boards would help stabilize the rig but if the site is that bad maybe it's not a good idea to be there in the first place!
I suggest if you don't have an automatic changeover for propane on your rig to get one since you said you have 30# tanks and maybe purchase another tank or two. I had run out of propane in the middle of the night on cold mornings and it is not fun. With a changeover and an extra tank when the window shows red you can drive to the propane store with two or three tanks and get them filled. One is still hooked up. I know the condensation method helps but an empty tank from a changeover alert on the gauge is better.
Our rig had an auto change over valve and we know our rig will run 7 days on both tanks if the weather is really cold! We move every 7 to 10 days so we typically top off the tanks before every move! So far we have never run out!
100% right on the MorRyde suspension upgrade of shackles and wet bolts. I've installed them now on two different trailers and the improvement of the ride of the trailer and the additional wheel alignment stability is astounding. Also much quieter suspension movements. No more creaking and popping from the trailer. And it makes pivot point maintenance a breeze.
The wet bolts and shackle kit was a night and day difference in the creaking and popping plus we can now lubricate all the connections down there! The biggest improvement we found was the morryde crossbraces to tie the equalizer and shackle hangers together from frame rail to frame rail!
We kicked around memberships as well. We ended up with a Boondockers Welcome membership but really haven't utilized it to its full potential. We got locked in at a cheaper rate and used the Hanks promo code to get it even cheaper. Reason we did was on our trip to TN this summer we couldn't park our camper at the timeshare we were staying at with family. We looked at storing it at several places, including booking a campsite we didn't intend on staying at, and they were all more expensive than the BW membership. Planning a trip put west this spring and might try to use it on that trip.
We used the goodsam and the passport america for a year and found the way we travel and stay we hardly ever got the benefits of the memberships! If you move often and don't stay more than a week both of those plans will save you tons of money! We had ideas of using boondockers welcome but it never really worked out for us!
Really enjoy your channel and look forward to the next video! and yes, a video on the "upgrades" that you found you needed would be nice. We are now on our 3rd camper, only part timers, yes one can have way too much maintenance items! Thanks for posting!
Thank you! We are working on the upgrade video of all the things we did that added value to our experience! I still carry to much maintenance items, but I am getting better!
Level mate pro isn’t needed for people that don’t have auto level. It’s cheaper to buy curved levelers and mount a large bubble level on the front of your camper that you can see in your rear view mirror.
We said it wasn't needed for a rig with auto level! We mentioned that if you have Class B, or C, or an RV without Auto Level it could benefit you in helping set up your rig! You absolutely don't need it but if it enhances your experience then you should always upgrade things make your life easier!
Wow ferd is just getting the external camera hook ups in the trucks? That has been around since at least 2016 for GM and Freightliner. I thought they all offered it. The rubber stoppers you can mount on the springs are liked by many that install them. A full solar/lithium setup costs more than you will get out of it, it is more of a benefit for when you would go daniel boonedocking. This is a good list. Number one thing is to get out there with what you have now. My daughters did not want to tent camp, they loved it when we went out in the middle of no where tent camping. You know we want to see what else you have done. Stay safe.
Ford has offered the integrated back up camera but now they are going to have 360 birds eye view integrated! Basically there will be several cameras you can put on the sides and rear of the RV and see everything on the trucks navigation screen! It has the potential to be very useful but I would like to see it first hand and how it actually works! Solar is one of those things I don't think you ever recover your cost unless you plan on living off grid or boondocking all the time! We are working on a video now of all the things we did upgrade!
@@PavingNewPaths Find someone with a GM they can probably show you how the camera in the ford will work, sure it is going to be the same. GM has had the 360 view and stuff a while. The full solar/lithium takes about a decade to recover the cost with full time camping, but if you have money it is nice if you are going off grid. We always did fine with out the solar. I am older though, you have a lovely wife, 3 kids and a dog. Divorced a decade ago, 3 kids grown up but left all their pets behind. lol want a cat?
While we are brand ambassadors/partners for a few companies, we say no to about 90-95% of the brands that contact us! We never want our viewers to feel we are just trying to sell them something!
@@PavingNewPaths we can tell by watching your videos that you an your family are good honest people. Keep the videos coming! The good or the bad. Safe travels!
I didn't see this comment when I posted on your previous comment! So, thanks for sticking around and watching more videos! Glad you didn't fall into the trap of buying everything, when it isn't needed, like so many of us did! We felt we really needed to make this video to make the idea of getting out there and rving less stressful, because when you put the list together of all the things TH-camrs say you need, it is a daunting list!
Good honest video. One note: all those "new" Super Duty features are in my 2022 Super Duty Lariet Premium with trailer tow package. The camera system has to be wired from back of trailer to the truck. That's a no for me. The Ford navigation system has the worst routing of any GPS I have used and it's POI database is mostly useless. The blind spot monitoring does work well with my 30 foot travel trailer.
Thank you! We currently use the Hammer App and I verify the route that is safe for us! Then I use my navigation in my truck as reference only! I am curious about the blind spot monitoring and how well it would work! Having that indicator in the mirror that someone is next to my RV would be a great reminder of where people are when traveling!
@@PavingNewPaths The blind spot warning works very well. I don't rely on it, but it it's nice to have. Although I do tend to use it more the few times I pass a truck. Enter in trailer information and it just works. On the 2022, it is limited to trailer length of 33 feet. I do not know if that changed for 2023.
You are right none of these items are not needed till you hit the road. I will add number 5 of must have. And that is RV capable roadside assistance. In my first year I found out exactly what AAA won't help you with and how expensive it is to pay out of pocket. Good Sam ERS or Coachnet (what I have had the last 6 years) are the two I trust to provide service no matter if its driven or towed RV.
That is a good point and something you should consider once you figure out how you intend to use the RV! We have roadside assistance included in our insurance policy for the RV and the Truck! We have never had to use it or had any real issues while traveling but that is also why we tend keep our travel days to 300 miles or less and we stay up on our pre travel day maintenance!
@@PavingNewPaths As long as its specifically to the RV too. Both AAA and Progressive at the time said I was covered for both, until I needed to be towed with trailer attached. Then magically I was not covered. We just switched back to progressive and use their ERS, yet I keep coachnet around because they do cover tows and calls of that nature.
I agree with the physical checking of the tires and hubs, also the camera issue they can be handy , but there’s no substitute for getting out of your vehicle, obtaining a visual and forming a plan , I notice most of the full timers out there do this even though they have 20 cameras, nothing beats team work but I’m not against the cameras, just don’t rely on them.
We think before you add cameras you should be able to drive and maneuver you rig without them! Once you understand how to do that then we think adding gadgets as a supplement is ok but don't ever rely on them! We found out early that even if we had a camera me and my wife get out and walk the site and discuss where we want to set up and point out all the things to watch out for!
I up graded to an AGM battery for more amp hr. Igot a 12 volt frig and we blow up 3. Now with the AGM battery and having it pluged in all the time when it os parked . It work good I herd this is the 3 generation of this frig finger crossed. You are so right on your list .
We are on shore power or generator 100% of the time! The only time we rely on the battery is during travel days between campgrounds! I have considered going to an AGM if my lead acid ever fails! I believe since we are always plugged in the battery is being maintained as opposed to those RV's that don't get used all the time!
I agree these are not "must haves." But I use our backup camera mostly while on the road. It's very helpful when passing 18-wheelers or slower traffic. It gives me a good view of when I'm clear to get back into the main lane. Oh, we built those jack pads last month.
I think that is one of the only good uses of the backup camera! We also believe that you should be comfortable driving your rig without the gadgets before adding them! How are you enjoying the jack pads!
Great video my family we do alot of of grid forest camping out west I use things different then the resort campground need maybe once a year we camp with hookups and I'll take everything out that I will not use
Great video. I have a 2019 cougar fifth wheel and do not have auto level. So still have to do it the old fashion way. I do not have propane tank sensors. I never heard anything good about them. Not reliable. I have my own blocks. And 2x12 for under the tire to level if necessary. Would love to see a video of what upgrades you did do.
Thank you! If your RV doesn't auto level the level mate pro is a great tool! We have the propane tank sensors and I used them all the time at first, now I just open the door and check them the old-fashioned way! In the wintertime when it matters you can visually see the tank level on the tanks! We are working on a video now on the upgrades we did do!
Very good video Kevin ! I agree with you on almost everything on your list. When we rv, we do what I would call destination rv’ing. Usually to one area of the country for about a month or two. The one membership we do like is Harvest Host for our 1 night stopovers. It’s boondocking and the majority of stops we can run our generator. We do like our Garmin RV gps because the wife uses it like a iPad tablet. Spot on about the TPMS, backup cameras, snap pads and rugs. My favorite “gadget” would be quick disconnects on water hose connections.
Thank you! This was exactly what the video was intended to prove you have found what things enhance your way of traveling and only purchased the ones the benefit you! We fell into the trap of buying and upgrading everything before we even really knew how we planned on traveling!
Now, this is a great video, and you are so correct regarding these other channels. When we hit the road, the checks were going out and yes, I gifted a lot of items I never used. The only thing a would add to the need list, surge protector, you might get away with it, but it will only take one. I always check our tires before we depart a location, for correct tire pressure and I also torque the lug nuts. Great video
Thank you! This was a list of the things you don't need to buy to get started! We have a video of the things we think you should spend your money on coming soon and we do recommend a surge protector! It has saved us several times!
Enjoyed the advice, we are first year campers with a new travel trailer and there is a bunch of stuff we don't need thanks for all the videos I watch all of them
Long time RV’r. 5r, Class C and now a large teardrop. Folks get hung up on keeping up with the internet “Jones’s “. We conserve resources and boondock a lot. You nailed it on lithium and solar! Just earned a new follower.
Thanks so much! We wish we had found advice from seasoned rv'ers like you before we got started! We spent a lot of time and money on things we could have done without because we watched a lot of videos telling us all the things we needed to get started! We appreciate you subscribing to our channel and giving your feedback!
We are part time RVers with plans on becoming full timers this January. Over the past 4 years we have purchased all the things that you mention in this video. No, I didn't have to have them but now I feel like we are ready to go full time.
That's great that you feel prepared! We didn't feel prepared either until we bought all the things! The problem was, we had never stayed a night in the rv and didn't know how we were going to camp! So some of the things we bought were a huge waste of money!
We’ve been RVing for about 25 years. We are on our 5th or 6th rv. I finally quit putting a milk crate full of stuff I never used in my last rv. Cleaners, connectors, assorted adapters etc. One thing I don’t think you mentioned is a portable dump tank. So many full hook up campgrounds that wouldn’t assume that you will need one. Like you said, one of the things you don’t need to start. If you do, then you can get one.
We learn all the time and are constantly making changes on what we have as well as things we no longer really need! We are working on a video now of the things that we have upgraded that added value to our experience!
We use our fresh water hose only to fill the tank, we do not hook up to city water so we don't need a regulator our water tank .This keeps our fresh water moving in the tank an not getting stagnant.I have a backup camera ,it came with it ,like you i don't use it to backup i only use it to check the jeep in tow. Your video very good we are looking forward to seeing more.
We also even when using city water hookups fill our tanks and keep water circulating through the system! Since we fulltime we sanitize our freshwater tanks every couple of months to make sure they stay fresh! We made this video to talk about the things you don't need! Because we realized many of our viewers are just like us they were purchasing things they may not ever use! We suggest you get out there and figure out what you're looking for in your RV experience and upgrade the things that help you achieve that!
It took doing it the wrong way to figure out the way we should have done it! We bought all the things, with the exception of accessories for dashboard of truck, and wasted so much money! Hindsight is always 20/20!
Love this video. I know I have watched it before and may have commented. BUT you are absolutely correct, yes i made the lists and yes i got some of the items((OKAY FINE A LOT OF the items)) that i "learned" about. ONLY to find out we only use about half.. YES all these things are GREAT, but once we got out we realized we didnt have to have them to camp!! like your grandparents --My grandparents camped in a camper never had any of these things. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
We did the same thing, started buying all the things, because that's what you think you need to go camping! You really don't need much to get out there and start exploring!
Great info well presented! Yes would like to here about your add ins. I hope your family is doing well. I am sure you will update on Aleisha soon. Again take care I do enjoy your videos. Safe travels! :)
I too have been RVing for several years. I don't have a channel but I live watching all of you guys that do have a channel. This is probably the BEST video I've ever watched for newbies. I hope every new RVer gets to see this. Love your videos. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! We fell into the trap of buying everything TH-cam told us we needed! We wanted to make a video that was real and that you don't need any of these things to get started! Until you know how you intend to RV you shouldn't upgrade anything!
Hey Kevin love the content!! Any more do's and don'ts that you can think of to put into a Video? Like good hiking, or scenery to check out. Or mabey where not to check out during hot and cold seasons.
Thank you! We didn't want our viewers to fall into the same trap we did when starting out! We purchased so many things that were not needed because we thought we needed to have them!
When we bought our first about a month ago. We have family that had 3 before. They told us what is needed and what is nice or you don't need. As a commercial driver I am in the habit of G.O.A.L. and walk around each stop.
One thing else for electrical would be electrical management for the pedestal. I’ve a 34 foot class C and tho it has auto level I made the same blocks for the levelers. Plus a couple spares. A length of 2x12 and screws and nylon feathers attached with a loop at the ends I use a 21/2 foot stick with a hook on the end so when I’m done with them I pull them out by the cord. Easy on the knees. I agree 100% with what you only need. That’s all I had. Since my class C was a wandering Wanda I put sumos front and rear and a beefier steering stabilizer. That was worth the investment. Watch your channel a lot.👍
Thank you! We wanted to let people know you don't need very much at all to enjoy the RV life! We are working on a video of the things we do use and have added value to our experience now! A surge protector is on that list as well as a few other items!
I use the backup camera to see how far I am ahead of vehicle passing and when safe to pull in front of the car/trailer is safely passed. Another object I keep on front windshield is a Vantrue N2 dash cam…insurance company loves that you have one in case of accidents. As far as disc brakes, I ordered when had specially build with 8K axles and h rated tires and with gen and solar panel, and 3 AC units. All was worth it to me.
If you know what kind of experience, you intend to have, and the upgrades add benefit to your experience then they are worth doing! But the point of the video was to let people know you don't need a single upgrade to enjoy your RV and you should only upgrade the things that will make your experience better!
The solar is fully dependent on the type of camping you do. If you stay in parks all the time, it has no purpose. If you boondock most of the time, and don't want to or can't run your generator, then it is exceptional. Our trailer came with a full solar setup from the factory and we boondock more than we stay in parks so it is absolutely worth it and i will be expanding it soon. But i fully agree with you Kevin on the lithium. They sound great but also seem like an enormous waste of money.
Thats what this video was about until you know how you intend to use your RV you shouldn't spend any money on upgrades! Instead get out there and figure out what type of experience you want and then make improvements to enhance that experience! You know that you will be boondocking or dry camping so solar and lithium make sense for you! But for us staying in full hook up parks all the time they make no sense! I didn't want our viewers to feel like they have to get stuff because the internet said you need it!
I agree with everything you said! We have a good water hose and a sewer hose and a EPO. We only camped at one campground where I couldn’t hookup sewer hose so the day we were leaving I just backed up and dumped. Great video!
Thank you! I am not saying any of these products are not great, but they may not be great for everyone! Until you know how you intend to travel and camp there is no way you can know which products will enhance your experience!
How many house batteries do you have on board? I have been thinking about upgrading the batteries and at least adding a second lead acid battery. Yes, I would enjoy your take on the things you have added to your trailer. Looking forward to it.
We currently only have one lead acid battery and have traveled for 2 years with just that running the RV when we are traveling down the road! We spend 100% of our time hooked up to shore power or with generator running! That is why for us the type of battery doesn't matter! We learned early that boondocking would never work for us right now and if we did do it the generator would be our power! We are currently working on a video of the things we did find value in adding!
Totally agree! I spent maybe $2,000 on upgrades to my new motorhome in 2015. Extra sewer and extension cords for strange camping sites. A good onboard surge protector and cheap little interior convenience gadgets. Never had a tpms and drove coast to coast over 6 years. Checked pressure while filling up. Don't overdue it folks. Enjoy it for what it's meant to be. Not just another pursuit to buy a lot of "stuff" that could end up ruining your long term enjoyment 😄
Thank you! Ours came with a Onan 5500W gas generator! I believe it is the standard generator they use on just about all the Toy Haulers from any brand! It is enough to run all 3 A/C Units but if you need to use the microwave or dryer you need to turn one of the A/C units off first! We only know that because we did experiments to see what it could and couldn't run! We mostly use it now if we stop for a long lunch or sleep in a truck stop or rest area on our way to the next campground!
Great insight. I was full time in my RV for over a year before it became ‘trendy’ and totally agree with you. It’s an RV. You’re moving around in it. You want to stay light and flexible. The less stuff you take and the more streamlined you can make your life the better. This is especially true for limiting your clothing items as well as your cooking process. In the US we love to collect ‘stuff’ but the truth is, there’s almost always more of that stuff along your journey.
This is why we live this way, less is more! We sold everything and travel fulltime, we also wanted to let people know it's not always a vacation when you travel fulltime! These things will break and need attention, but if you can make the repairs yourself you will be far better off in the end!
As a professional truck driver who backs trailers up numerous times a day Monday through Friday for over 20 years... An actual backup camera is not necessary and neither are the side cameras but I will say the side cameras I would love to have on all my semi truck trailers.
I feel like you should know how to do it without devices and if you want to add them later for a little extra help that is fine! The side cameras would be nice to see those things you may not see that are next to you!
@@PavingNewPaths I totally agree. You got to know how to do the job in the traditional manner because if you can't... As soon as your technology fails then you're stuck. I had a teenage girl in Walmart parking lot once ask me to pull out of my parking spot in front of her because she couldn't back her car out of the parking spot because her backup camera quit working. I'm not making this up!
Yes if you don't have auto levelers it is awesome! I bought it because I thought it was a great product before I ever understoon how an RV with an auto leveling system works!
I'm more worried about what's up top branches and possible eletric wires and things like that. I have the capability of extending my trucks blind spot warning from my truck to my trailer iv used it on my flat deck trailer but only a short distance so didn't end up needing it so not sure how well it works.
Thats us we are also more worried about what is up top and, on the sides, than what is behind us! Thats why we decided against ever adding the back up camera as we have a system and it works! I get out all the time and look if I am not sure!
Your viedo was right on though I have not traveled across the US.I have owned tagalong, fifth wheels and a motor home. I have found that common sense, checking and rechecking will serve you just as well. I think you have cleared up a lot of things in this video ( thanks )
Thank you! We have found that gadgets can enhance your life when used correctly! But most people will rely on the device and stop using good practices to do things! Like TPMS and Back Up Cameras!
One thing you didn’t talk about was roadside assistance there’s a few companies out there you guys can do your own research and decide what works for you, but I know at one point I had issues with my truck and AAA was more than happy to come tow the truck but they were leaving the camper on the side of the highway and told me good luck with that, so find one that’s RV friendly and most of them offer a tire repair and tire replacement which is nice because of you blow a tire nowadays that’s $300
The purpose of the video was the things you don't need to buy to start RVing! The roadside assistance is something one should also evaluate and decide if it is something that would benefit the way they use their RV!
@@PavingNewPaths yes sir but again it’s something I’ve learned over my 30 years it’s build this out more than once they can get pretty expensive to have your camper towed somewhere or your truck towed somewhere specially a fifth wheel camper not very easily to find a friend that has a fifth wheel set up in the truck lol
Wonderful video! I hope it reaches many newbies. We purchased our Momentum in March of this year and fell into the trap of buying so many extras. Thanks, TH-cam! While I do love the TPMS and Furrion cameras, I agree with almost everything you mentioned. The Garmin RV GPS has put us on several sketchy Texas backroads, we don’t use it anymore. Bought Good Sam and Passport America, only use Texas State Parks. Ditched the snap pads after the third trip.
Thank you! We also bought everything we saw because we thought we needed it! We ultimately found out we would have been better off just getting out there and figuring out how we planned on using the RV and then upgrading the things that would enhance that! We wanted our viewers to know you don't need anything to get started, just get out there and start doing it!
Katy K I have the 890. I've had real good luck so far. Did you have a lot of problems or just one or two. I would not sell it or get rid of it but knowing issues others may have had with it would influence me on whether or to recommend it or not. Several of the channels I watch use it and they all said they liked it but always had at least a secondary source as well. We love Texas state parks as well. Have you ever camped at Jamacia Beach RV Resort? We loved it. We will definatly go back.
Great video! I am about to start "RV-life" without ever having ventured too far from army "camping"...and your video 100% alleviated thw majority of my "extra expenditure" concerns. Much obliged!!
Your right Kevin there is a lot of things you don’t need I’m a like that I’m a DIY man and I agree you are always near a store that can go get it if it break’s good video hope Alicia is doing well
I'm was a single dad of two girls for 18 years!a real single dad too many sacrifices to name,now they are both in collage focused and happy,ZERO DADDYS ISSUES! I'm FREE!I am taking off,I wanna see my country,solo not even a dog. Basically bro I can get a dog what do you recommend I get what kind of truck and what of travel trailer, toy hauler,fifth wheel ETC..there's too many subcategories and I don't know what to get.used is fine for me money is not an issue it's overkill that I want to avoid., I don't trust the sales people, this is weird but trust you. I like like your style.I don't mind rough necking it a bit I'm old school I don't like a lot of gadgets and I am very Hands-On with all my belongings. I'm a professional driver I can safely drive anything. Even if you could send me in the right direction I would really appreciate your time.as it will surely affect my adventure.
Kevin, You are spot on! Many of the TH-camrs get free stuff and make you think you need it. They do t have to pay for it, so it is great to have. I just wanted to tell you that speed ratings for tires are not speed limits. The “rating” is for “best” performance. Like over that speed the tire might start to increase its circumference slightly. Going over that number is not going to blow them up. Best wishes, Kevin
Thank you! We have a few sponsored items and partnerships that we show on this channel from time to time but we will never show a product that we aren't actually using in our everyday lives! There are a lot of videos out there that only want to show you all the products they have deals with over and over again! We are like you we don't like to feel like we are being sold every time we watch a video! What I meant was that hotshot driver probably pulled your RV from Indiana to your dealership as fast as he could drive usually over the speed limit!
@@PavingNewPaths I used to watch a channel and the guy got a large tractor with a front end loader, and almost every attachment that the company made for free. A couple years later, he went on a 10 minute video rant because someone commented that he wished he could have those attachments but was too “poor” to afford them. He ranted because the guy said he was poor! My comment to him was polite but firm that he should not take FREE stuff and rant because someone said he couldn’t afford them. Don’t watch that hypocritical Ahole since.
@@KevinCoop1 We watch a lot of channels that we know get these products for free, and that is perfectly fine! There are several things if they said we will give this to you for free if you make a video about it, I would do it! Why wouldn't you if you have the opportunity, but we have been very selective in the product we do choose to show you guys on this channel!
If I only knew this 12 months ago. You are exactly right, you dont need it, I had my 5th wheel moved to an annual site 12 months ago ( because my 2022 Ford F350 hadn't arrived yet, that I now know I didnt need and may never even tow with it, no regrets on the truck though) and bought a lot of the stuff I didn't need and never used, like the backup camera with the side cameras for almost $800. snap pads, extra hoses, and so much more. I love your videos.
Thank you so much we are glad you enjoy the videos! We also fell into the trap of buying everything we saw because we thought we needed it! We have found we would have been better off just getting out there and figuring out how we planned on using the RV and then upgrading the things that would enhance that experience!
This is one of your best videos. I have gone through some of the same thought process and realized we did not need all these gadgets. We did the morryde shackles and I am considering the sumo springs which is a fraction of the cost of that independent suspension which I don’t need
Good for you for not wasting your money like so many of us have! It's easy to fall into the trap! When you really think about what you're hauling and where you'll be staying, you'll know what you want vs. need!
Great video as always! Discovered your videos as you arrived the Northeast recentlyi ( New Jersey here) and am enjoying all your content! ( especially the trip from Delaware and the discussion of going on the Cape May Ferry). I would say add a surge protector ( saved us on our maiden voyage with our TT!!!) a water pressure regulator and a water filter system to your list of must haves. My parents had a travel trailer that they towed up and down the East Coast coast back in the 60s and NEVER had all this fancy stuff! (Air bags on a Ford Galaxy with a Reese WDH would have the tow "experts" passing out now! ) Know your equipment, get out and enjoy it! Safe travels to you!!
Thank you we are glad you are enjoying the videos! We made this video to let people know these products aren't bad but you don't need any of them to get started RV'ing! The point we wanted to share was get out there and figure out what experience you want, then make upgrades to enhance that experience! We made a follow up video on the things we have found value in upgrading! You can check it out here th-cam.com/video/wW6FxWI1Ofg/w-d-xo.html
I been pulling a 5 th wheel since 1992 and didn’t have anything that all these new trailer have. We just bought a new 5th wheel this year in July and was telling the sales guy no on all that stuff they were trying to sell us. ( got by 19 years without it) great info
@14:15 - Regarding lithium batteries, I have to somewhat disagree. While I will agree that you don't NEED them, many newer RV's have 12v exclusive refrigerators. My 2020 Wolf Pup has a 10 cu ft Furrion refrigerator (a MAJOR selling point for us), but it uses 50+ah per day (if you actually want to keep things cold). So, on a weekend dry trip (usually Friday evening to Sunday evening) it will pull my 2 group 27 batteries below the halfway point, and I will be replacing them both before the year is out ($300 / year). 100 ah lithium batteries are now down to about $350 each, so for $700 I have more than enough capacity to last a 3 day weekend. I mention this because when we were looking to buy our camper, every dealer said the same thing: the small 50 watt solar would be enough to take care of the refrigerator for a weekend, but that's not exactly true and, frankly, rather deceptive. Obviously, this isn't a concern if you have electric hookups, or if you have a smaller fridge (or no fridge). But it's something to think about, especially if you are a weekend warrior.
I also stated in the video that until you know how you plan on using your RV do not buy any of these things! You do know how your planning on using the RV and you are going to DRY camp, so lithium make sense for you! I see so many people that have no intentions of ever camping without full hookups spend so much money on lithium upgrades!
@@PavingNewPaths And I agree completely. I only wanted to point it out, because many people buy smaller rigs for weekend use, and the dealers would have you believe that you'd be all set with the lead acid batteries. I also feel that smaller rigs are more often used boondocking / dry camping at state parks, etc, by people that aren't as experienced with the whole RV / camping scene, and they may quickly be left wondering why their batteries won't last the weekend. But you are absolutely correct - know what you're doing, and set your rig up accordingly 🙂
Nice to have, but not a necessity to get started. I've never had a problem over the years. Biggest problem I've had is usually with low water pressure.
Thank you! This was all the things you don't need to get started! We have a video we are working on about the things you should consider buying and could enhance your rv life coming out soon! We have an onboard surge protector installed and do recommend one, but you don't need it to start!
We film almost everything on a gopro hero 8! we have a video coming soon where we used the cannon eos m50 because we shot alot in 4k! But 98% of every video we have ever made was done with 2 gopros!
Subscribe for all of our adventures: th-cam.com/users/PavingNewPaths
A video of things not to buy? This isn't going to make you too popular with TH-cam.
@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL It's one of our most popular videos!
@@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLLI definitely appreciate it! ⚘️
@@PavingNewPathswhat about in earth quakes I live in CA and it's possible but in a camper or rv
You are so correct about all of the so-called brand ambassadors out there singing the praises of everything from toilet paper to griddles to specific RV brands and models. When you've got the manufacturer's giving products away to TH-cam channels, does anyone actually believe they are giving honest feedback?
We also show products on our channel that we have found value in, but we show you how it has helped our life and it's up to you to decide if it will help you! The brand ambassadors are not always allowed to tell the truth about the bad side of the products only the good!
@@PavingNewPaths Hello, what is the contact info for the company that offers the full solar setup?
Welcome to having a TH-cam channel
I think that there are a couple of things that you do need from the start: a surge protector and a water pressure regulator. I believe that those two items in addition to the other four you mentioned are essential. Great video. Looking forward to the other items you do think we need video.
While we do have a surge protector and we do reccomend one in our next video this was about what you don't need! They are a good idea but you don't need it to start! water pressure regulator is a relatively cheap accessory and not really an upgrade in our opinion!
read my mind. I read your comment after I commented the same thing
@@PavingNewPaths I have heard a lot of RVers say that the ones with the gauge on them are better, but more expensive and prone to breaking easier. I have the cheap one that is preset. What's your opinion?
@@johnbell4976 I have the one with the gauge on it as it is fully adjustable, and you can dial in the pressure for your rig! The ones without the gauge are preset at say 50psi and you can't take advantage of any pressure higher if it was available! We have used our adjustable one for 2 years now with no issues! But we don't leave it hooked up when its below freezing! That is what causes them to go bad!
Tools!
What are essential tools to have when you pick up your travel trailer or coach?
Great advice. We have been RVing for many years, in almost every type of RV. We recently changed from a large Class A DP to a camper van. We now have less space and carry just what we use daily and it is the best RVing experience ever. Your comments about figuring out how you RV first is right on target. Everyone does RVing different, and I have wasted 10’s of thousand on gear through the years! Safe Travels!!
Thank you! We were getting ready to outfit our RV with every upgrade possible before we even stayed one night in it! Some of these things we bought and still use and some were a waste of money! We wanted to share our experience and let the viewers know you don't need much to get started and you won't know what you need until you do start! So get out there and figure out what it is you want from this and make improvements to enhance that goal!
Unless you hang for 3-4 days in one dry camp. Tanks insufficient.
@lawrencewiddis2447 Well, I agree, they put a lot of effort into making this 28 minute video. But I tink we should tank them anyway, it's the least we can do.
Thanks for the video. You can go broke getting all the fancy stuff that people think you need. We mostly dry camp in our small camper, which suits us just fine. We have a portable generator for when it rains or is too cloudy for our portable solar panels. We see people that have installed panels on top of their RV's and they have to park in the sun. We park in the shade and put our panels in the sun. Keeps the camper a lot cooler. I like your idea of starting off slow and seeing what you really need. That's what we've done and it works great. The big thing is to use your RV and have fun.
Thanks for watching! I like the idea of the rv being in the shade and the panels being in the sun! Many don't think about that! I wish we could say we didn't buy lots of things we didn't need, bit at least we were able to make a video to prevent others from making our mistakes!
Added to your four things to absolutely have, a water pressure regulator and surge protector. Both have saved us on several occasions. Thanks for the video
Yes, those are both great to have! Thanks for adding to our list!
A valterra valve is a must!!! Ask me how I know. 😂
@@tamydoshier5139 Yes but you dont need that to get started! We have a video coming out where we talk about the things that are worth getting!
Best advice I have heard "Learn and know what your RV is and can do." Also, I'm old school military "PMCS- Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services" you do this and it will slow your problems some. I do this regularly and still this past year I had a tire blow out then 3 more in travel. TP good and tires felt good stopped and checked still when may pops decide to go they go. Now I have Goodyear tires not may pops. I still travel without a lot of things that would be nice to have but we enjoy the trips as we go.
Yes, we also believe you should find out what your rig can do and how you intend to use it before adding and upgrading things! We also think that a gadget should never take the place of actually getting out and looking at things and doing inspections and maintenance (back up cameras, RV GPS and TPMS systems)! We upgraded a lot of things we never used like we thought because we didn't understand how we were going to use the RV for our experience!
What a breath of fresh air! It is so easy to get carried away with the" gotta have it's " when really like you said, people camped for years without most of this stuff! Thanks for a great video and looking forward to the upgrade video.
Thank you! I am just like you and was tired of seeing all these videos telling me what we had to have to enjoy RVing! I decided you guys should know you don't need much to get out there and start the RV life! Most of these products are great but until you know how you intend to camp most of them could be a waste of money and will never provide value to your experience!
I wish I would have seen this before I started. I would like to say that listening to the TH-cam influencers I thought solar would have extended our journey and save us money in the long run but I have 2 big hairy dogs that like it cold and running one AC unit just wont cut it so I spent 15k on solar that would have paid for the park fees for our 6 month journey and I may have been able to stay out for 9 mos!!! Anyway, thanks for sharing your time and knowledge with us again.
We were right there with you regarding solar! Thank goodness the installer was nowhere near Texas when we called for pricing! After further research, it showed us that it would take years upon years for us to recoup that cost while boondocking and using solar, so we ultimately decided against it. Now we know that even with solar, we can boondocj extensively because with a wife and kids, we would run out of water way before we ran out of solar!
Solar, in my opinion, is worth it if you install it yourself to save money. Especially if you do any boondocking.
@@alaska-bornfloridaman it is awesome but will never pay for its self unless you utilized it!
@@PavingNewPaths
That's a math question. I probably spent around $7000 buying materials, and installing everything myself for my solar and lithium setup. Will I ever save $7000 using it? Probably not. But the only reason I did it is so I could go boondocking at harvest host locations without hook ups. So for me, it is kind of worth it.
@@alaska-bornfloridaman Thats why we made the video so many people buy these upgrades they will never use! For you it's awesome because you see all the benefits of it! For us it would be a waste of money! But we thought we needed it!
Wifey and I are going full time in a year and I'd already been looking to install the liquidspring suspension on our Tiffin. Thanks for talking me off the ledge. I'm going to wait and see how it goes.
This is what we have found works best, get out there and see what you think of the rig and the experience! Then make upgrades that enhance that experience! How will you know if the upgrade was an upgrade if you didn't even experience the rig in the stock form!
Thanks fam. This is the realest RV video I've watched ever.I love it. I just bought my raptor 415 last weekend. So I been watching RV TH-cam for the last year. This video is the best. You got my subscription
You are sooooo bang on! The only reason why I like my back up camera is that I use it for reference while driving for lane changes to gauge where other vehicles are and for reference while backing up. Never do I back up without a buddy and if alone, regardless of cameras I am checking mirrors and in and out of the vehicle to make sure everything is clear.
I like my surge protector just for peace of mind and the water regulator because one camp ground we stayed at had crazy water and blew a line. That brings me to a must have, water sensors in the bathroom behind the toilet, under the sink, under the kitchen sink and right beside the water pump. Any leak you will be notified.
What you don't need also but I need is a bidet. Cuts down on the toilet paper and makes sure you are clean.
There are tons of stuff to make your life easier but you said it, only really four things needed to get started and you hit the nail in the head.
We have several of these products we mentioned but we also fell into the trap of buying everything TH-cam said we needed to start living fulltime in the RV! We wanted to share with our viewers that you don't need any upgrades to start the life and you shouldn't spend any money until you know exactly what it is you plan on getting out of the RV life! Once you know then its ok to upgrade the things that enhance that experience!
Good sensible advice for this old man and his wife who are new to RVing. I appreciate your logic and insight. Thanks.
You're very welcome!
Thank you...thank you for being so honest. Wow! We need more people like you and your wife...again, THANK YOU!
Thanks Lisa! Just trying to save others from spending money on things that aren't necessary!
Stumbled upon your channel and loved it. Thanks for your honesty, common sense and being humble. Thanks again.
We're so glad you found our channel and are enjoying our content! We hope you'll subscribe and stay awhile!
Yes, to the upgrade videos and more DIY's. Very helpful.
Thank you! We are working on the upgrade video now and have an interesting experiment video coming out sunday!
Thank you for good advice.
How common is it in campgrounds that they have somewhere to empty a cassette, let’s say you don’t have a black water tank and hose.
Most campgrounds have dump stations! We however yend to stick to full hookups, since we are a family of 5!
@@PavingNewPaths Get that, just trying to compare. In Europe most RVs and mobile homes have cassettes or if they have a tank they are not connected but have to go to the dump station.
Yes I would love to see your upgrades. I don't RV but in 30 yrs of Law Enforcement I have helped change some tires. One needs a good jack that will support the weight of there RV and a four way lug wench. The tire tool on your truck is not the same size as the nuts on your Trailor wheels. That said you might go years without getting a flat
We are currently working on an upgrade video! We have also thought about making a video on how to change a flat tire on the RV or the truck with the RV hooked up! There are several creative ways you can use your rig and tools to get the job done!
I have a breaker bar in my truck and a socket for lugs of each trailer I own
The best way to get and keep extra water just go to a farm store and buy a 100 gallon tank for that 5th wheel. We have a 50 gallon water tank we take it with us. Our water tank is 54 gallons with the black and grey tanks that hold 30 gallons a piece.
We can hold a massive amount of water and would still run out before we ran out of power! We have 160 gallons of fresh water, 108 grey and 108 black! For us with kids we are never going to boondock maybe in the future we can downsize rigs and utilize the benefits of dry camping!
@@PavingNewPaths yes but you are missing some great places to camp. We camp in places that even the biggest of fifth wheels can get into and you got really good fishing right there and there are many things for kids to do. Extra water is the key. When you make it to WV, please let me know and we can come show some beautiful places that you need the water tank but it is wonderful place for kids to play and see wildlife. Just email me with a date. My 5 foot wife loves those beautiful babies and would love to sit and play games with them. Your family is simply awesome. Just let us know and we would love to meet your whole family.
TPMS saved us with 2 blowouts on one trip. Both times the TPMS went off right before blowout and and saved me from shredding my RV
They definitely aren't bad products and we even have one ourselves! But I don't believe you don't need it to get started! So many people, us included, get hung up on all the upgrades you need before you can hit the road!
any idea what lead to the blow outs? bad tires i.e. recalls or road hazard punctures?
@@TRUMP_WAS_RIGHT_ABOUT_EVRYTHNG I can answer that, Tires can blowout for a variety of reasons like balding, nails poking holes, overinflation, old tires having bad sidewalls with cracks running about, overloading your tires beyond its rated weight capacity. But a big one is underinflation, if your tires require (for example) 45 psi but only sits at 14 psi, youll not only have a flat but you'll blow your flat tire out. Always check your tire pressure.
Underinflation is the big one, your right. The tires get hot when they are underinflated.
TPMS won't monitor tire wear.
It won't go off when metal starts showing.
Like you, I purchased a lot I didn’t need from other videos. I quickly realized the kind of camping you do drives what you really need. If more rustic dry docking you need different things than rv resorts. Most videos only show what they used and didn’t call out there are different types of camping. I’m glad yours shows things you don’t really need to help newcomers out. Wish it was around when I started RVing
We found there are videos out there telling you everything you need to go RVing! They don't give much context to how they camp or use the RV! So unless you are planning to camp exactly like them you maynit get the full benefit of the upgrades! Bottom line we think you should go out there with nothing and upgrade the things that will provide value to your experience!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! We’re planning to hit the road full time in the next 6 months and thought we needed alllll of these things. Everything you’ve shared makes perfect sense and has shifted our perspective. We will make upgrades as needed, thank you!
Thank you! We fell into the trap of buying and upgrading things before we ever spent one night in the RV! Now 2 years later we realize that some of these things are nice to have but none of them are actually needed to enjoy the fulltime RV life!
Thanks for the video. I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks like you on all these extra gadgets.
Thank you! I fell for it and bought so many of these things! I wanted to let our viewers know you don't need any of this to get out and enjoy RVing!
Thank you, Kevin, for a good video as usual! I think there is a fifth item one needs from the get-go and that is a surge guard. Doesn't have to be the more expensive hard-wired one like I have, it can be a basic plug-in, as long as you have one to protect your electrical system. As you know, a faulty pedestal can cause majorly expensive damage to your rig. Or even a drastic change in power in an over-loaded park.
Love your channel❣️
Thank you! We do have a hardwired surge protector as well and we do think if you are going to RV often you should have one! However, we made the video to let people know you don't need to go out and spend tons of money on all these gadgets to get out there and start RVing!
@@PavingNewPaths 👍
We are subscribers and enjoy your content!! Great job and keep up the good work!! Happy travels to you!!❤
Thank you so much for subscribing and watching our videos! We really appreciate it! Safe travels to you, too!
100% AGREE!! We nose dived into full time RVing with a 40ft fifth wheel and ZERO extra accessories, modifications, or upgrades. We slowly added what we needed but all in all it ended up being very little. This is very different from what I was told and being stubborn ended up saving a lot of money in the long run!
Good Job brother. Sometimes being stubborn can be a good thing. Thanks for sharing. 👍
We fell into the trap of buying and upgrading everything before we even spent one night in the RV! I drew the line when it got to suspension and solar stuff! We were convinced we needed all of this stuff because the internet said so! We wish we would have started RVing like you and upgraded things along the way to enhance the experience!
Solar works for me with lithium batteries it came with my montana fithwheel. When my camper in storage I can turn on the Residential refrigerator A-day before I go camping. You can work on your camper in storage with all the power you need. The biggest benefit is batteries lead acid last if you're lucky 2 years. In Iowa in the winter you have to take out your lead acid batteries take them home,put them on a Battery charger maintainer. Lithium you just turn off the solar.
That works for you so it is a benefit! However litium batteries are not required unless you dry camp or have a solar set up with an inverter! We travel fulltime and are never not hooked up to power or have the generator running for more than a day! For us a lithium battery is a waste of money as we only need it to provide 12v power on days we are traveling! Because we are always hooked up and never in storage our lead acid battery is always maintained! Ours is 3 years old and I don't see why it won't last, but if it needed replacement another lead acid will go in its place!
LOL. Our Level Pro when we traveled in our pickup camper was my mom.
She'd get in the camper and tell my dad when it was level. Our stabilizers were 2 2×4s that we pushed under the camper overhang one on each side. Crude but cheap and worked just fine. Even in a tornado and severe hailstorm. We put both 2x4s on the opposite side from the direction the wind was blowing. We stopped at a roadside picnic site that night after dodging storms all day. We were actually going to go to town and sleep in a motel but dad changed his mind and we stopped at the roadside park just outside the city limits sign. The next morning we drove through a town that was more. The tornado had destroyed the motel we were headed to. Every building was smashed, every house had roofs torn off at the least. The truck and camper were extremely dented from the hail that lasted for at least 15 minutes. It was pretty awful. The camper rocked and rolled that night but those 2x4s kept us upright. That was sometime in the second half of the 1960s because we were returning home to Kansas from a fishing trip to Canada.
A pickup camper is different than dragging a trailer but we had no gizmos. Just a tire guage and our eyes and ears. My dad checked the tires at each stop. He checked everything mechanical before we left. He did carry fuses, a can of motor oil, tools, a spare tire and a spare tire for the boat trailer. Those were fun days. Memories... like the ones your kids are making too.
That is a great story and a great memory for you! We do carry all the tools and extras needed to help us if we have issues on the road! We really wanted people to know you don't need any of these gadgets to get out there and start enjoying the RV life! When we started this our real goal was, we wanted to slow time down! We fell the world is full of gadgets and devices that steal your time and attention! Yes, we have a big RV that has a lot of cool features, but we wanted to minimize the gadgets in our life and make it more about the adventure and not about the things!
@@PavingNewPaths you are doing a good job.
Great great video. Really good advise. Thanks Kevin. Lets see the mod's/upgrades. Take care, hope Alicia is recovering well.
Thanks! We are working on the upgrades video! And Alecia just got out of the 6 week check-up appointment and recovery is going well!
I would add a cheap level. I have a free bubble level app on my phone. I have a bumper pull trailer so have to do all the leveling myself. Sometimes the auto level systems are out of level so will need to you the level to reestablish level.
I would recommend a 10 by 2 board cut into 2 foot sections for leveling, not much money and not much weight.
All great items however if you have an auto level system you don't need to use boards to level the rig prior to unhitching the trailer will level itself! If your site is so unlevel that it lifts the tires off the ground on one side, then yes adding boards would help stabilize the rig but if the site is that bad maybe it's not a good idea to be there in the first place!
I suggest if you don't have an automatic changeover for propane on your rig to get one since you said you have 30# tanks and maybe purchase another tank or two. I had run out of propane in the middle of the night on cold mornings and it is not fun. With a changeover and an extra tank when the window shows red you can drive to the propane store with two or three tanks and get them filled. One is still hooked up. I know the condensation method helps but an empty tank from a changeover alert on the gauge is better.
Our rig had an auto change over valve and we know our rig will run 7 days on both tanks if the weather is really cold! We move every 7 to 10 days so we typically top off the tanks before every move! So far we have never run out!
Great, informative video! Helpful info for someone that is in the very early stages of planning.
Thanks!
Another great video with some great information and yes I would love to see a video on your upgrades. Best wishes to Alecia and the little ones.
Thank you! We are working on a video about all the things we upgraded to make our experience better!
100% right on the MorRyde suspension upgrade of shackles and wet bolts. I've installed them now on two different trailers and the improvement of the ride of the trailer and the additional wheel alignment stability is astounding. Also much quieter suspension movements. No more creaking and popping from the trailer. And it makes pivot point maintenance a breeze.
The wet bolts and shackle kit was a night and day difference in the creaking and popping plus we can now lubricate all the connections down there! The biggest improvement we found was the morryde crossbraces to tie the equalizer and shackle hangers together from frame rail to frame rail!
Great chat about Luxury items - if you have the money, go for it. I think you forget about much of this list when you "get on" with traveling.
Yes, we wish we would have waited to see what we really needed! It would have saved us a lot of time and money!
We kicked around memberships as well. We ended up with a Boondockers Welcome membership but really haven't utilized it to its full potential. We got locked in at a cheaper rate and used the Hanks promo code to get it even cheaper. Reason we did was on our trip to TN this summer we couldn't park our camper at the timeshare we were staying at with family. We looked at storing it at several places, including booking a campsite we didn't intend on staying at, and they were all more expensive than the BW membership. Planning a trip put west this spring and might try to use it on that trip.
We used the goodsam and the passport america for a year and found the way we travel and stay we hardly ever got the benefits of the memberships! If you move often and don't stay more than a week both of those plans will save you tons of money! We had ideas of using boondockers welcome but it never really worked out for us!
You could also take a coin and put it in the tread to check the depth of tread left!!
We travel fulltime and will likely replace all of our tires based on the date code before we ever run the tread off of them!
Really enjoy your channel and look forward to the next video! and yes, a video on the "upgrades" that you found you needed would be nice. We are now on our 3rd camper, only part timers, yes one can have way too much maintenance items! Thanks for posting!
Thank you! We are working on the upgrade video of all the things we did that added value to our experience! I still carry to much maintenance items, but I am getting better!
Level mate pro isn’t needed for people that don’t have auto level. It’s cheaper to buy curved levelers and mount a large bubble level on the front of your camper that you can see in your rear view mirror.
We said it wasn't needed for a rig with auto level! We mentioned that if you have Class B, or C, or an RV without Auto Level it could benefit you in helping set up your rig! You absolutely don't need it but if it enhances your experience then you should always upgrade things make your life easier!
Very good advice. Thank you for the practical real world advice.
You are very welcome!
One of the best/informative videos I have watched in years.Ty
Thanks! So glad to hear you found it helpful!
Wow ferd is just getting the external camera hook ups in the trucks? That has been around since at least 2016 for GM and Freightliner. I thought they all offered it. The rubber stoppers you can mount on the springs are liked by many that install them. A full solar/lithium setup costs more than you will get out of it, it is more of a benefit for when you would go daniel boonedocking. This is a good list. Number one thing is to get out there with what you have now. My daughters did not want to tent camp, they loved it when we went out in the middle of no where tent camping. You know we want to see what else you have done. Stay safe.
Ford has offered the integrated back up camera but now they are going to have 360 birds eye view integrated! Basically there will be several cameras you can put on the sides and rear of the RV and see everything on the trucks navigation screen! It has the potential to be very useful but I would like to see it first hand and how it actually works! Solar is one of those things I don't think you ever recover your cost unless you plan on living off grid or boondocking all the time! We are working on a video now of all the things we did upgrade!
@@PavingNewPaths Find someone with a GM they can probably show you how the camera in the ford will work, sure it is going to be the same. GM has had the 360 view and stuff a while. The full solar/lithium takes about a decade to recover the cost with full time camping, but if you have money it is nice if you are going off grid. We always did fine with out the solar. I am older though, you have a lovely wife, 3 kids and a dog. Divorced a decade ago, 3 kids grown up but left all their pets behind. lol want a cat?
Excellent video…..and yes, I would love to see a video on your camper’s enhancements.
Thanks! We have that video in the works!
Thanks for the great info an the honesty. Everyone seems to be a brand ambassador anyone with all the freebees they get. 👍
While we are brand ambassadors/partners for a few companies, we say no to about 90-95% of the brands that contact us! We never want our viewers to feel we are just trying to sell them something!
@@PavingNewPaths we can tell by watching your videos that you an your family are good honest people. Keep the videos coming! The good or the bad. Safe travels!
Great video really appreciate this one thought about many of those things been traveling for many years only have 2 of them
I didn't see this comment when I posted on your previous comment! So, thanks for sticking around and watching more videos! Glad you didn't fall into the trap of buying everything, when it isn't needed, like so many of us did! We felt we really needed to make this video to make the idea of getting out there and rving less stressful, because when you put the list together of all the things TH-camrs say you need, it is a daunting list!
Good honest video. One note: all those "new" Super Duty features are in my 2022 Super Duty Lariet Premium with trailer tow package. The camera system has to be wired from back of trailer to the truck. That's a no for me. The Ford navigation system has the worst routing of any GPS I have used and it's POI database is mostly useless. The blind spot monitoring does work well with my 30 foot travel trailer.
Thank you! We currently use the Hammer App and I verify the route that is safe for us! Then I use my navigation in my truck as reference only! I am curious about the blind spot monitoring and how well it would work! Having that indicator in the mirror that someone is next to my RV would be a great reminder of where people are when traveling!
@@PavingNewPaths The blind spot warning works very well. I don't rely on it, but it it's nice to have. Although I do tend to use it more the few times I pass a truck. Enter in trailer information and it just works. On the 2022, it is limited to trailer length of 33 feet. I do not know if that changed for 2023.
Like the merchandise
Would love to see the dually and trailer on a hoodie and hat. Good luck 👍
Thank you! We will look into that!
You are right none of these items are not needed till you hit the road. I will add number 5 of must have. And that is RV capable roadside assistance. In my first year I found out exactly what AAA won't help you with and how expensive it is to pay out of pocket. Good Sam ERS or Coachnet (what I have had the last 6 years) are the two I trust to provide service no matter if its driven or towed RV.
That is a good point and something you should consider once you figure out how you intend to use the RV! We have roadside assistance included in our insurance policy for the RV and the Truck! We have never had to use it or had any real issues while traveling but that is also why we tend keep our travel days to 300 miles or less and we stay up on our pre travel day maintenance!
@@PavingNewPaths As long as its specifically to the RV too. Both AAA and Progressive at the time said I was covered for both, until I needed to be towed with trailer attached. Then magically I was not covered. We just switched back to progressive and use their ERS, yet I keep coachnet around because they do cover tows and calls of that nature.
@@jamesbitb We have our truck and RV covered for fulltime use that is why we went with the provider we have!
I drove my new pace arrow from San Diego to Vancouver Island without TPMS! however I do have it now
I agree with the physical checking of the tires and hubs, also the camera issue they can be handy , but there’s no substitute for getting out of your vehicle, obtaining a visual and forming a plan , I notice most of the full timers out there do this even though they have 20 cameras, nothing beats team work but I’m not against the cameras, just don’t rely on them.
We think before you add cameras you should be able to drive and maneuver you rig without them! Once you understand how to do that then we think adding gadgets as a supplement is ok but don't ever rely on them! We found out early that even if we had a camera me and my wife get out and walk the site and discuss where we want to set up and point out all the things to watch out for!
I up graded to an AGM battery for more amp hr. Igot a 12 volt frig and we blow up 3. Now with the AGM battery and having it pluged in all the time when it os parked . It work good I herd this is the 3 generation of this frig finger crossed. You are so right on your list .
We are on shore power or generator 100% of the time! The only time we rely on the battery is during travel days between campgrounds! I have considered going to an AGM if my lead acid ever fails! I believe since we are always plugged in the battery is being maintained as opposed to those RV's that don't get used all the time!
I agree these are not "must haves." But I use our backup camera mostly while on the road. It's very helpful when passing 18-wheelers or slower traffic. It gives me a good view of when I'm clear to get back into the main lane. Oh, we built those jack pads last month.
I think that is one of the only good uses of the backup camera! We also believe that you should be comfortable driving your rig without the gadgets before adding them! How are you enjoying the jack pads!
5O YR LONG HAUL ,JUST REIIRED, I HAD 8 CAMERS ON MY RIG ,I USED REAR CAMERA THE SAME AS YOU DID. WONT RUN ONE WITH OUT IT,
Great video my family we do alot of of grid forest camping out west I use things different then the resort campground need maybe once a year we camp with hookups and I'll take everything out that I will not use
That's great! It's important to know how you will camp before you spend a lot of money on things you may not need!
Great video. I have a 2019 cougar fifth wheel and do not have auto level. So still have to do it the old fashion way. I do not have propane tank sensors. I never heard anything good about them. Not reliable. I have my own blocks. And 2x12 for under the tire to level if necessary. Would love to see a video of what upgrades you did do.
Thank you! If your RV doesn't auto level the level mate pro is a great tool! We have the propane tank sensors and I used them all the time at first, now I just open the door and check them the old-fashioned way! In the wintertime when it matters you can visually see the tank level on the tanks! We are working on a video now on the upgrades we did do!
Thanks brother, for your honesty and experience.
You're very welcome!
Very good video Kevin ! I agree with you on almost everything on your list. When we rv, we do what I would call destination rv’ing. Usually to one area of the country for about a month or two. The one membership we do like is Harvest Host for our 1 night stopovers. It’s boondocking and the majority of stops we can run our generator. We do like our Garmin RV gps because the wife uses it like a iPad tablet. Spot on about the TPMS, backup cameras, snap pads and rugs. My favorite “gadget” would be quick disconnects on water hose connections.
Thank you! This was exactly what the video was intended to prove you have found what things enhance your way of traveling and only purchased the ones the benefit you! We fell into the trap of buying and upgrading everything before we even really knew how we planned on traveling!
Thank you so much yes I would like to see what you found you did need it does help
Thanks! That video will be released soon!
Great video Kevin,yes I would love to see your upgrades in a video.
Thanks! The upgrade video is in the works!
Now, this is a great video, and you are so correct regarding these other channels. When we hit the road, the checks were going out and yes, I gifted a lot of items I never used. The only thing a would add to the need list, surge protector, you might get away with it, but it will only take one. I always check our tires before we depart a location, for correct tire pressure and I also torque the lug nuts. Great video
Thank you! This was a list of the things you don't need to buy to get started! We have a video of the things we think you should spend your money on coming soon and we do recommend a surge protector! It has saved us several times!
@@PavingNewPaths sorry you are correct, jumped the gun, sorry about that
Enjoyed the advice, we are first year campers with a new travel trailer and there is a bunch of stuff we don't need thanks for all the videos I watch all of them
Thank you! We fell in the trap of buying everything we thought we needed and found out we didn't really need much at all to get started!
Long time RV’r. 5r, Class C and now a large teardrop. Folks get hung up on keeping up with the internet “Jones’s “. We conserve resources and boondock a lot. You nailed it on lithium and solar! Just earned a new follower.
Thanks so much! We wish we had found advice from seasoned rv'ers like you before we got started! We spent a lot of time and money on things we could have done without because we watched a lot of videos telling us all the things we needed to get started! We appreciate you subscribing to our channel and giving your feedback!
We are part time RVers with plans on becoming full timers this January. Over the past 4 years we have purchased all the things that you mention in this video. No, I didn't have to have them but now I feel like we are ready to go full time.
That's great that you feel prepared! We didn't feel prepared either until we bought all the things! The problem was, we had never stayed a night in the rv and didn't know how we were going to camp! So some of the things we bought were a huge waste of money!
We’ve been RVing for about 25 years. We are on our 5th or 6th rv. I finally quit putting a milk crate full of stuff I never used in my last rv. Cleaners, connectors, assorted adapters etc. One thing I don’t think you mentioned is a portable dump tank. So many full hook up campgrounds that wouldn’t assume that you will need one. Like you said, one of the things you don’t need to start. If you do, then you can get one.
We learn all the time and are constantly making changes on what we have as well as things we no longer really need! We are working on a video now of the things that we have upgraded that added value to our experience!
We use our fresh water hose only to fill the tank, we do not hook up to city water so we don't need a regulator our water tank .This keeps our fresh water moving in the tank an not getting stagnant.I have a backup camera ,it came with it ,like you i don't use it to backup i only use it to check the jeep in tow. Your video very good we are looking forward to seeing more.
We also even when using city water hookups fill our tanks and keep water circulating through the system! Since we fulltime we sanitize our freshwater tanks every couple of months to make sure they stay fresh! We made this video to talk about the things you don't need! Because we realized many of our viewers are just like us they were purchasing things they may not ever use! We suggest you get out there and figure out what you're looking for in your RV experience and upgrade the things that help you achieve that!
I like your thinking Kevin. Less is More. And usually the more breaks down and doesnt work. Just more Pain in the A... Youre a smart guy.
It took doing it the wrong way to figure out the way we should have done it! We bought all the things, with the exception of accessories for dashboard of truck, and wasted so much money! Hindsight is always 20/20!
Love this video. I know I have watched it before and may have commented. BUT you are absolutely correct, yes i made the lists and yes i got some of the items((OKAY FINE A LOT OF the items)) that i "learned" about. ONLY to find out we only use about half.. YES all these things are GREAT, but once we got out we realized we didnt have to have them to camp!! like your grandparents --My grandparents camped in a camper never had any of these things. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
We did the same thing, started buying all the things, because that's what you think you need to go camping! You really don't need much to get out there and start exploring!
Great info well presented! Yes would like to here about your add ins. I hope your family is doing well. I am sure you will update on Aleisha soon. Again take care I do enjoy your videos. Safe travels! :)
Thank you! We are so glad you enjoy the videos! We are working on a video about the upgrades we did find value in and Alecia is doing great!
Thank you. Do you have a video on how you made your Own pads to put under your jacks? 👍
Thank you! Yes we do you can check it out here! th-cam.com/video/lOx5kcbkZwk/w-d-xo.html
I too have been RVing for several years. I don't have a channel but I live watching all of you guys that do have a channel. This is probably the BEST video I've ever watched for newbies. I hope every new RVer gets to see this. Love your videos. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! We fell into the trap of buying everything TH-cam told us we needed! We wanted to make a video that was real and that you don't need any of these things to get started! Until you know how you intend to RV you shouldn't upgrade anything!
Hey Kevin love the content!! Any more do's and don'ts that you can think of to put into a Video? Like good hiking, or scenery to check out. Or mabey where not to check out during hot and cold seasons.
Thank you! We could probably make a video of all the don'ts on just about any subject because we have made all the mistakes!
This was by far your best solo video. Get well soon Alicia.
Thank you!
This is some awesome info everyone just getting started should watch this video !
Thank you! We didn't want our viewers to fall into the same trap we did when starting out! We purchased so many things that were not needed because we thought we needed to have them!
When we bought our first about a month ago. We have family that had 3 before. They told us what is needed and what is nice or you don't need. As a commercial driver I am in the habit of G.O.A.L. and walk around each stop.
We just felt there were so many videos out there telling you what you need! But none telling you why you don't need most of these things!
One thing else for electrical would be electrical management for the pedestal. I’ve a 34 foot class C and tho it has auto level I made the same blocks for the levelers. Plus a couple spares. A length of 2x12 and screws and nylon feathers attached with a loop at the ends I use a 21/2 foot stick with a hook on the end so when I’m done with them I pull them out by the cord. Easy on the knees. I agree 100% with what you only need. That’s all I had. Since my class C was a wandering Wanda I put sumos front and rear and a beefier steering stabilizer. That was worth the investment. Watch your channel a lot.👍
Thank you! We wanted to let people know you don't need very much at all to enjoy the RV life! We are working on a video of the things we do use and have added value to our experience now! A surge protector is on that list as well as a few other items!
Great advice. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks!
I use the backup camera to see how far I am ahead of vehicle passing and when safe to pull in front of the car/trailer is safely passed. Another object I keep on front windshield is a Vantrue N2 dash cam…insurance company loves that you have one in case of accidents. As far as disc brakes, I ordered when had specially build with 8K axles and h rated tires and with gen and solar panel, and 3 AC units. All was worth it to me.
If you know what kind of experience, you intend to have, and the upgrades add benefit to your experience then they are worth doing! But the point of the video was to let people know you don't need a single upgrade to enjoy your RV and you should only upgrade the things that will make your experience better!
The solar is fully dependent on the type of camping you do. If you stay in parks all the time, it has no purpose. If you boondock most of the time, and don't want to or can't run your generator, then it is exceptional. Our trailer came with a full solar setup from the factory and we boondock more than we stay in parks so it is absolutely worth it and i will be expanding it soon. But i fully agree with you Kevin on the lithium. They sound great but also seem like an enormous waste of money.
Thats what this video was about until you know how you intend to use your RV you shouldn't spend any money on upgrades! Instead get out there and figure out what type of experience you want and then make improvements to enhance that experience! You know that you will be boondocking or dry camping so solar and lithium make sense for you! But for us staying in full hook up parks all the time they make no sense! I didn't want our viewers to feel like they have to get stuff because the internet said you need it!
Loved watch ing this video Kevin very interesting. How is Alecia doing. Hope alls well and luve to the family. 💜💜💜💜🙌
Thank you! Alecia is doing great and starting to walk again!
@@PavingNewPaths That's so good to hear. Can't wait for the travels Adventures. Lots of love from SA.💜💜💜💜🙌
I agree with everything you said! We have a good water hose and a sewer hose and a EPO. We only camped at one campground where I couldn’t hookup sewer hose so the day we were leaving I just backed up and dumped. Great video!
Thank you! I am not saying any of these products are not great, but they may not be great for everyone! Until you know how you intend to travel and camp there is no way you can know which products will enhance your experience!
@@PavingNewPaths Exactly! Maybe one of these days we will meet you guys, until then stay safe!
EPO???
@@georgekatsinis5224 Emergency power off, or a surge protector
@@PavingNewPaths Thanks!
How many house batteries do you have on board? I have been thinking about upgrading the batteries and at least adding a second lead acid battery. Yes, I would enjoy your take on the things you have added to your trailer. Looking forward to it.
We currently only have one lead acid battery and have traveled for 2 years with just that running the RV when we are traveling down the road! We spend 100% of our time hooked up to shore power or with generator running! That is why for us the type of battery doesn't matter! We learned early that boondocking would never work for us right now and if we did do it the generator would be our power! We are currently working on a video of the things we did find value in adding!
Totally agree! I spent maybe $2,000 on upgrades to my new motorhome in 2015. Extra sewer and extension cords for strange camping sites. A good onboard surge protector and cheap little interior convenience gadgets. Never had a tpms and drove coast to coast over 6 years. Checked pressure while filling up. Don't overdue it folks. Enjoy it for what it's meant to be. Not just another pursuit to buy a lot of "stuff" that could end up ruining your long term enjoyment 😄
This is spot on! It's easy to get caught up in making lists of things you think you need!
Thank you for the video, you Mention you use a generator, what kind and how watts you use for your Grand Design travel trailer ?
Thank you! Ours came with a Onan 5500W gas generator! I believe it is the standard generator they use on just about all the Toy Haulers from any brand! It is enough to run all 3 A/C Units but if you need to use the microwave or dryer you need to turn one of the A/C units off first! We only know that because we did experiments to see what it could and couldn't run! We mostly use it now if we stop for a long lunch or sleep in a truck stop or rest area on our way to the next campground!
Great insight. I was full time in my RV for over a year before it became ‘trendy’ and totally agree with you. It’s an RV. You’re moving around in it. You want to stay light and flexible. The less stuff you take and the more streamlined you can make your life the better. This is especially true for limiting your clothing items as well as your cooking process.
In the US we love to collect ‘stuff’ but the truth is, there’s almost always more of that stuff along your journey.
This is why we live this way, less is more! We sold everything and travel fulltime, we also wanted to let people know it's not always a vacation when you travel fulltime! These things will break and need attention, but if you can make the repairs yourself you will be far better off in the end!
As a professional truck driver who backs trailers up numerous times a day Monday through Friday for over 20 years... An actual backup camera is not necessary and neither are the side cameras but I will say the side cameras I would love to have on all my semi truck trailers.
I feel like you should know how to do it without devices and if you want to add them later for a little extra help that is fine! The side cameras would be nice to see those things you may not see that are next to you!
@@PavingNewPaths I totally agree. You got to know how to do the job in the traditional manner because if you can't... As soon as your technology fails then you're stuck. I had a teenage girl in Walmart parking lot once ask me to pull out of my parking spot in front of her because she couldn't back her car out of the parking spot because her backup camera quit working. I'm not making this up!
We have the Levelmate Pro. Because we don't have the auto-levelers, it is a fantastic aid. Thanks for the suggestions.
Yes if you don't have auto levelers it is awesome! I bought it because I thought it was a great product before I ever understoon how an RV with an auto leveling system works!
I'm more worried about what's up top branches and possible eletric wires and things like that. I have the capability of extending my trucks blind spot warning from my truck to my trailer iv used it on my flat deck trailer but only a short distance so didn't end up needing it so not sure how well it works.
Thats us we are also more worried about what is up top and, on the sides, than what is behind us! Thats why we decided against ever adding the back up camera as we have a system and it works! I get out all the time and look if I am not sure!
Your viedo was right on though I have not traveled across the US.I have owned tagalong, fifth wheels and a motor home. I have found that common sense, checking and rechecking will serve you just as well. I think you have cleared up a lot of things in this video ( thanks )
Thank you! We have found that gadgets can enhance your life when used correctly! But most people will rely on the device and stop using good practices to do things! Like TPMS and Back Up Cameras!
@@PavingNewPaths That's very true when you start thinking about all the things you think you need ,it can be overwhelming.
One thing you didn’t talk about was roadside assistance there’s a few companies out there you guys can do your own research and decide what works for you, but I know at one point I had issues with my truck and AAA was more than happy to come tow the truck but they were leaving the camper on the side of the highway and told me good luck with that, so find one that’s RV friendly and most of them offer a tire repair and tire replacement which is nice because of you blow a tire nowadays that’s $300
The purpose of the video was the things you don't need to buy to start RVing! The roadside assistance is something one should also evaluate and decide if it is something that would benefit the way they use their RV!
@@PavingNewPaths yes sir but again it’s something I’ve learned over my 30 years it’s build this out more than once they can get pretty expensive to have your camper towed somewhere or your truck towed somewhere specially a fifth wheel camper not very easily to find a friend that has a fifth wheel set up in the truck lol
Wonderful video! I hope it reaches many newbies. We purchased our Momentum in March of this year and fell into the trap of buying so many extras. Thanks, TH-cam! While I do love the TPMS and Furrion cameras, I agree with almost everything you mentioned. The Garmin RV GPS has put us on several sketchy Texas backroads, we don’t use it anymore. Bought Good Sam and Passport America, only use Texas State Parks. Ditched the snap pads after the third trip.
Thank you! We also bought everything we saw because we thought we needed it! We ultimately found out we would have been better off just getting out there and figuring out how we planned on using the RV and then upgrading the things that would enhance that! We wanted our viewers to know you don't need anything to get started, just get out there and start doing it!
Katy K I have the 890. I've had real good luck so far. Did you have a lot of problems or just one or two. I would not sell it or get rid of it but knowing issues others may have had with it would influence me on whether or to recommend it or not. Several of the channels I watch use it and they all said they liked it but always had at least a secondary source as well. We love Texas state parks as well. Have you ever camped at Jamacia Beach RV Resort? We loved it. We will definatly go back.
Great video! I am about to start "RV-life" without ever having ventured too far from army "camping"...and your video 100% alleviated thw majority of my "extra expenditure" concerns. Much obliged!!
Your right Kevin there is a lot of things you don’t need I’m a like that I’m a DIY man and I agree you are always near a store that can go get it if it break’s good video hope Alicia is doing well
We've never been somewhere where we couldn't get something we needed in a pinch! Alecia is recovering well!
Thanks!
Thank you so much! We appreciate you!
I'm was a single dad of two girls for 18 years!a real single dad too many sacrifices to name,now they are both in collage focused and happy,ZERO DADDYS ISSUES! I'm FREE!I am taking off,I wanna see my country,solo not even a dog. Basically bro I can get a dog what do you recommend I get what kind of truck and what of travel trailer, toy hauler,fifth wheel ETC..there's too many subcategories and I don't know what to get.used is fine for me money is not an issue it's overkill that I want to avoid., I don't trust the sales people, this is weird but trust you. I like like your style.I don't mind rough necking it a bit I'm old school I don't like a lot of gadgets and I am very Hands-On with all my belongings. I'm a professional driver I can safely drive anything. Even if you could send me in the right direction I would really appreciate your time.as it will surely affect my adventure.
Message us on Facebook Messenger on our Paving New Paths Facebook page and maybe we can help you narrow down your search!
Kevin, You are spot on! Many of the TH-camrs get free stuff and make you think you need it. They do t have to pay for it, so it is great to have. I just wanted to tell you that speed ratings for tires are not speed limits. The “rating” is for “best” performance. Like over that speed the tire might start to increase its circumference slightly. Going over that number is not going to blow them up.
Best wishes, Kevin
Thank you! We have a few sponsored items and partnerships that we show on this channel from time to time but we will never show a product that we aren't actually using in our everyday lives! There are a lot of videos out there that only want to show you all the products they have deals with over and over again! We are like you we don't like to feel like we are being sold every time we watch a video! What I meant was that hotshot driver probably pulled your RV from Indiana to your dealership as fast as he could drive usually over the speed limit!
@@PavingNewPaths I used to watch a channel and the guy got a large tractor with a front end loader, and almost every attachment that the company made for free. A couple years later, he went on a 10 minute video rant because someone commented that he wished he could have those attachments but was too “poor” to afford them. He ranted because the guy said he was poor!
My comment to him was polite but firm that he should not take FREE stuff and rant because someone said he couldn’t afford them. Don’t watch that hypocritical Ahole since.
@@KevinCoop1 We watch a lot of channels that we know get these products for free, and that is perfectly fine! There are several things if they said we will give this to you for free if you make a video about it, I would do it! Why wouldn't you if you have the opportunity, but we have been very selective in the product we do choose to show you guys on this channel!
If I only knew this 12 months ago. You are exactly right, you dont need it, I had my 5th wheel moved to an annual site 12 months ago ( because my 2022 Ford F350 hadn't arrived yet, that I now know I didnt need and may never even tow with it, no regrets on the truck though) and bought a lot of the stuff I didn't need and never used, like the backup camera with the side cameras for almost $800. snap pads, extra hoses, and so much more. I love your videos.
Thank you so much we are glad you enjoy the videos! We also fell into the trap of buying everything we saw because we thought we needed it! We have found we would have been better off just getting out there and figuring out how we planned on using the RV and then upgrading the things that would enhance that experience!
This is one of your best videos. I have gone through some of the same thought process and realized we did not need all these gadgets. We did the morryde shackles and I am considering the sumo springs which is a fraction of the cost of that independent suspension which I don’t need
Good for you for not wasting your money like so many of us have! It's easy to fall into the trap! When you really think about what you're hauling and where you'll be staying, you'll know what you want vs. need!
Great video as always! Discovered your videos as you arrived the Northeast recentlyi ( New Jersey here) and am enjoying all your content! ( especially the trip from Delaware and the discussion of going on the Cape May Ferry). I would say add a surge protector ( saved us on our maiden voyage with our TT!!!) a water pressure regulator and a water filter system to your list of must haves. My parents had a travel trailer that they towed up and down the East Coast coast back in the 60s and NEVER had all this fancy stuff! (Air bags on a Ford Galaxy with a Reese WDH would have the tow "experts" passing out now! ) Know your equipment, get out and enjoy it! Safe travels to you!!
Thank you we are glad you are enjoying the videos! We made this video to let people know these products aren't bad but you don't need any of them to get started RV'ing! The point we wanted to share was get out there and figure out what experience you want, then make upgrades to enhance that experience! We made a follow up video on the things we have found value in upgrading! You can check it out here th-cam.com/video/wW6FxWI1Ofg/w-d-xo.html
I been pulling a 5 th wheel since 1992 and didn’t have anything that all these new trailer have. We just bought a new 5th wheel this year in July and was telling the sales guy no on all that stuff they were trying to sell us. ( got by 19 years without it) great info
Good for you! I think the number one thing you don't need is the extended warranty from the dealer! Typically, it's a huge waste of money!
@14:15 - Regarding lithium batteries, I have to somewhat disagree. While I will agree that you don't NEED them, many newer RV's have 12v exclusive refrigerators. My 2020 Wolf Pup has a 10 cu ft Furrion refrigerator (a MAJOR selling point for us), but it uses 50+ah per day (if you actually want to keep things cold). So, on a weekend dry trip (usually Friday evening to Sunday evening) it will pull my 2 group 27 batteries below the halfway point, and I will be replacing them both before the year is out ($300 / year). 100 ah lithium batteries are now down to about $350 each, so for $700 I have more than enough capacity to last a 3 day weekend.
I mention this because when we were looking to buy our camper, every dealer said the same thing: the small 50 watt solar would be enough to take care of the refrigerator for a weekend, but that's not exactly true and, frankly, rather deceptive.
Obviously, this isn't a concern if you have electric hookups, or if you have a smaller fridge (or no fridge). But it's something to think about, especially if you are a weekend warrior.
I also stated in the video that until you know how you plan on using your RV do not buy any of these things! You do know how your planning on using the RV and you are going to DRY camp, so lithium make sense for you! I see so many people that have no intentions of ever camping without full hookups spend so much money on lithium upgrades!
@@PavingNewPaths And I agree completely. I only wanted to point it out, because many people buy smaller rigs for weekend use, and the dealers would have you believe that you'd be all set with the lead acid batteries. I also feel that smaller rigs are more often used boondocking / dry camping at state parks, etc, by people that aren't as experienced with the whole RV / camping scene, and they may quickly be left wondering why their batteries won't last the weekend.
But you are absolutely correct - know what you're doing, and set your rig up accordingly 🙂
... and thank you for the video!
Nice video. What about a water pressure regulator and an electrical voltage surge protector
Nice to have, but not a necessity to get started. I've never had a problem over the years. Biggest problem I've had is usually with low water pressure.
Thank you! This was all the things you don't need to get started! We have a video we are working on about the things you should consider buying and could enhance your rv life coming out soon! We have an onboard surge protector installed and do recommend one, but you don't need it to start!
All you need to start RVing is a truck/fifth/travel/whatever trailer or a Motorhome. I need to know what you use to film your TH-cam videos.
We film almost everything on a gopro hero 8! we have a video coming soon where we used the cannon eos m50 because we shot alot in 4k! But 98% of every video we have ever made was done with 2 gopros!