No, they don't. And if you're living off-grid with solar power and trucked in water, a modern HE washer uses less water, less detergent, and less energy. Less water and detergent is also better on your septic system. Modern HE washers are also gentler on clothing, meaning your clothes last longer.
Eric for a shade for your pool/hottub get a 5 gallon bucket a 3 foot section of PVC pipe and a bag of cement. Cement the pipe in the bucket then get a patio umbrella that should give you a good amount of shade. If you want it to look fancy get a planter to set the bucket in.
Hi Eric, We live in Phoenix and are also Rv'ers. A suggestion on your fridge before you pull it out. It is possible the coils at the top of the fridge under the roof vent need to be cleaned. It does not take much of this Arizona dirt to reduce the cooling capacity. I take the roof fridge vent off and place a couple of towels under it and use a spray bottle of Simple Green of similar and spray the coils then rinse with a spray of water. I have to do this every year to keep our fridge cooling. Just don't get the electrical components below wet, might be a good idea to cut the power first. Also a 12v fan placed in the side opening to circulate the air can help. I also have installed the flat computer style fans on the top of the coils to increase air flow.
My friend's fridge had similar problems, got hot but didn't cool. Turned out some insulation had come loose and blocked the hot air exit through the roof vent. Take the cover off and check. Should be a lot of heat coming out when the gas is on. Only other likely cause if it is not working on gas or electric is lose of coolant, usually due to corrosion. Smells like ammonia.
You are living the good life now Eric!! Nothing like having your own digs to enjoy without having to “ please the man” ie…no dogs around the pool, No laundry between 10:00 pm and 9: am…..not running….no loud music….no camp fires…..and on and on. You have made a great choice!!🤗👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I'm 78 and have hung out many a clothesline of clothes in freezing winter and hot summer months..and I always laugh at the newbies at how they hang clothes on the line. If done right there are no lines or pin marks on the clothes. Eric will figure it out, if not he will wear the results and probably care less of other's opinions.. God Bless His Little Heart...
So glad you have your "basecamp" to live at. I enjoy your adventures there as much as I do when you're on the road. When you're at basecamp you can work on your RV problems and also have friends there to help a little. Keep it up and good luck with all your RV issues!
Eric, don’t waste the wash water by draining it in the septic. Do a gray water drain hose for the washer that you can move to the trees close to the blue box. The trees will appreciate it. 🌲🌳🏕️
Hi Eric, YOU really tickle me! I LOVE to see you so happy and content. So many of your amazing traits are starting to show. You are very practical, very smart and your are a bargain hunter! YEA! You are really making your home stead so comfortable. You are developing a well run sanctuary. Your pets look up to you and Love you very much. I always get so excited when you post. Thank you Eric for sharing part of your life with us. Hugs to YOU and your fur babies.Louise
Our puppy responded well to some advice from a police dog owner friend. Tons of treats in your pocket all the time. Every time you say his name and he turns….treats..he will begin to always come to you thinking ,mmmmmm treats perhaps. Worked for our Multipoo Louie. love the place
recycling the water is a must where ever you live...Eric will figure out how to make the most of the water he has. He mentioned water is cheap..it maybe...IF..and WHEN you can get it. I would still set up gutters on the blue box for a rain catch to use if and when necessary. Now..rain water..THAT is cheap.
Eric, If you didn't lose the ammonia in the coils you should be able to fix your fridge. Dirty burner, bad control board or thermister, dirt or insect nests where the air flows on the outside of your fridge. Add a 12 volt fan so air flows better up to the roof exhaust for the fridge. Bad heating coil for cooling on the 120 volt side. Bad solenoid for the propane. Too much clutter inside the fridge stopping air circulation. Add a 12 volt or battery poweref fan to better circulate air inside the fridge.
I thought of a free standing patio umbrella. You could weight the stand with sand so the wind won't blow it away and the patio umbrella stands in it. It is portable but you don't have to hold it.
Sweet find and valable items for living and homesteading. We bought a half cow from our daughter in laws family so had to buy a freezer to keep it in. Nothing these days are made like they used to. LOL even RV's. Our 2009 was built stronger than our 2021 RV 2009 was better materials. But but think I would have cleaned out the washing machine....js.... Tig is growing and so cute! Hope the cats have adjusted to him. Glad these bumps in the road are not getting you down like they used to. Glad you have plans and back up plans!
Hook the hose on another tub and save your rinse water from one load and use it in the following wash load and you can save water that way. Loving the new homestead videos!
It seems like you need just electric installed on the property. You could put in a few pedestals and the power each building. The solar could then be a backup. Also, curious about how you replace the RV fridge for a dorm fridge/freezer combo. My RV fridge only works on propane, the electric and generator power doesn’t cool it. I’m happy to see you happy on your property. Stay safe.
😎🤔💭eric before you pull your fridge Put a fan at the bottom of the opening on the outside of your RV and pointed up the chimney towards the roof of your RV and turn it on run your fridge on propane and give it a little time two three hours to see if it cools, with all that excessive heat that you're going through your refrigerator is probably not venting right and overheating the ammonia in the coils It will cause a vapor lock and you will lose your cooling, give it a try and see what happens if it doesn't work you can always replace the fridge, but a little fan is lots cheaper than going through all that work. Good luck👍👋✌
I admire these "kids". I am 77, have heard of the younger generation is having it "soft". You have put in a lot of work. Been following your channel since the black van.
Hmm, I would suggest getting some sort of external method to check the water level in the 500gal tank. So you don't need to keep opening the top to check the level. Every time you open it, your allowing the introduction of dirt, dust and bugs to enter. You should be able to find many types of "water tank level monitoring systems".
You always seem to have back-ups Eric. That is such a blessing. When we were traveling for 3 years we stressed over losing our fridge. We sold our RV and bought a tiny cottage in the country for many reasons and hubby has us set-up with solar and batteries. We are so thankful that you have fellow RV'ERS there. Love Tig much!! ❤🐶😺😺
One of the dumbest restrictions which a lot of cities focus on washing is drying clothes outside. Some people do considered drying clothes outside as an offensive. Yet during the summer, it is more economical as well as ecological to dry clothes outside. Drying clothes is not a sign of troubles with white trash, but one of economic sense. Instead of discouraging line drying, Line drying should be encourage. Note - If you continue to have troubles with your fridge, take a look into buying a 12 volt fridge.
@@johnnylightning1491 if your state has a law which "legalizes" alternative forms of energy, then even HOA's cannot tell you that a clothesline is not allowed. Florida's law is "Title XI Section 163.04: Energy devices based on renewable resources"
I miss my old washer! The newer ones wont open once they start, they're locked, so I can't add more clothes, bleach, dye or anything. Plus I agree they don't clean as well, I have to set more buttons to get the same, easy use as before all the technology took over. Great ideas for your homestead, looking forward to more.
Most new washing machines have a way to unlock the door during use. Usually it involves pressing the pause button and waiting several seconds to unlock. Even our new front loader can be paused, unlocked, and opened during a cycle, except when the drum is full of water.
I replaced my RV fridge with a Magic Chef 10cf fridge, width was nearly the same just a little thinner but the height was higher, had to cut the trim like 2” but it works great, screwed it down and then used metal straps at the top to hold it in place.
Front load washing machines use less water and detergent. They clean better than top loaders and spin wet laundry almost dry. Our last front loader was a Frigidaire Gallery, and It lasted over 20 years with zero breakdowns. Just remember to leave the door ajar between uses, to let the system dry out. The new washer/dryer we have are from Samsung with steam injection and so far we've been very pleased with them.
We have a whirlpool washer we've had for probably 26 year's fixed a couple for 5 bucks each time! Gotta have the agitator!!! Don't like new ones that only last a few year's! We were told by the guy where we got the part to fix it to never give up on it ! Love Tig and Tara and Opie!!! And all the visitors and fur visitors!!❤😊
Hi let your water from the washer water your trees just run a long hose and use biodegradable soap you dont want all that water in your septic .that how I did mine for 20 yrs the yard loved it
I think you should put the trinket collection in storage or something and use the space in the blue shed to set up your utility things. Electric, fridge/freezer, washers and so on.
Definitely don't need a dryer where you're at. About 10-15 minutes hanging outside and they're dry. I remember swimming and getting out of the water to smoke a cigarette back when I smoked. Jean shorts were dry as a bone before I was even done with the cigarette.
It sucks so bad when the fridge dies. What a huge expense and just the labor of getting the old one out and the new one in is daunting. I'm glad you've got other options out in your shed. RV systems can really be a pain when they decide to quit. Any chance you might buy a mobile home (or tiny house) and set it up on some blocks and just keep the RV for travel? It would be so great now that you have your own land. I hope you can make that happen in the next year or two. You deserve a nice comfortable home base. Congrats on the washing machine ! Huge score.
Place quilts/blankets/ quilted packing wraps over and around the chest freezer to keep contents cool. Sounds odd but it works. Just make sure you do not block any ventilation outlet it may need.
Given the coolers and chest freezer are out of direct sunlight, I doubt there are benefits to doing such a thing. Sounds to me like placing blankets around a cooler or chest freezer could become a breeding ground for mold and mildew, insects, rodents, and become a fire trap. Many chest freezers actually use the side walls for passive heat exchange and placing a blanket over the freezer will actually make the unit less efficient. The entire freezer needs airflow to draw the heat away.
@markfellhauer352 I did say don't block any ventilation outlet. The fact is he's in Arizona ... (I don't believe that building is air-conditioned or even a fan moving around or thru the building), he's going to have temperature-related and rodent problems anyway. Oh well....🤷♀️
@twilightshealy4152 - Many if not most chest style freezers do not have a "ventilation outlet" - instead they use the body of the freezer as a heat sink for the condenser phase of the refrigeration cycle. That is the pipes that return the refrigerant to a liquid state run through the space between the insulation and the case of the freezer (usually metal), making the whole outside of the freezer the way that the unit disposes heat. Covering the outside of the chest freezer holds the heat in and makes the freezer's compressor work harder and makes the interior of chest freezer warmer. It can also cause the freezer to sweat water and freeze the insulation. If your chest freezer has a "ventilation outlet" it's most likely for the compressor, but not for the condenser. BTW, I live in Arizona and have lived in the desert southwest for about 40 years. If you admit he's already going to have rodent problems why would you advise he provide a convenient place for rodents to nest? Rodents here carry Hantavirus and bubonic plague - Specifically rodents have tested positive for the plague in Concho in recent years. You want as much of a hospital environment in the places you live and store food.
The clothes have to be taken down as soon as they feel dry..Or if possible pick a calm day. At least Eric doesn't have the wind that Caravan Carolyn has on her property.
Should be a mark on the back of the washer that tells what the height of the drain should be . To low and may syphon the water out . To high and it may not spin the clothes as dry .
You now have a freezer, freeze a jug of water, like the size of a gallon of milk, or several of them, once frozen solid, put them in the fridge or a cooler. It is just like an old fashioned ice box
The tall agitators are the 'BEST'! I bought my daughter a brand-new set, came home after washing my clothes in it, and washed them all over again using the 'BREATHING MOBILE WASHER. You should have seen all the nastiness in the water. Good choice Eric!
Always seems like when it rains it pours. Like most problems they have a way of working out. Being at a home base with good friends around is always a good remedy. 😊
The dometic fridges have a flaw in the design were after awhile the ammonia gas in the coils eats the coil out from the inside. Eventually they rupture and no longer cool. There is an Amish company that make a 12v upgrade coil replacement for half the price of a replacement coil. That way you are able to reuse the fridge that is already fitted to the space
I've been through the desert on a horse with no name, it felt good to be out of the rain. In the desert you can remember your name cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain.
My sister had a front loader that was great. Then they started requiring them to conserve water. Now the front and top loaders in the last 10 years are horrible because they use so little water. Since my car died I have to use the laundry here in the park that are the newer front loaders. I soak all my clothes before started it. Then during the fill for rinse I had more water.
Omg! I can’t believe how big Tig got! He has definitely outgrown Winter! Sounds like he is in the naughty phase like Winter. Makes sense since they are the same age. She’s usually better after she plays with Kellogg because he can almost match her energy and somewhat tire her out. Hope we see you all down the road again. We always appreciate play dates for Winter with other pups that can spend some of her energy. 😂
Those top loading machines without all the stuff to go wrong are the best! Stopping when you lift the lid is a safety feature. I didn't realize that putting liquid fabric softener in your washing machine will gunk up the innerds so I just use a half or third of a sheet of a non-scented softener in the dryer. Tig is so sweet.
In my experience, everything breaks during the heat of the summer, when my bills are at their highest. It can really get me down sometimes. But, things always work out. It's better not to let your stress get you down. You DO have resources & backups. Everything will be fine, and the repairs will give you more stuff to put in a video. 💙
I am sure you will work out all your issues with your motor home. It does seem everything happens at once. Clothes dried in the line smell wonderful. Enjoy your company. Take care of yourself, Tara, Tig and Opie.
I have to say great video as always. It was so awesome to see the two pups in your pool (Hot Tub) I hope everybody's having a good time with you and your fur babies.❤👌👍😊
Did you try sliding the temperature control inside the goes up and down the coils? I watched a video on you tube and it helped me figure out why my frig wouldn’t get cold. Try that first if you haven’t already.
Such a smart guy...older washers work so much better and don't take forever to run a load of clothes. Plus, the clothes are cleaner. You should run loads with vinegar too. Take care.
Great video Eric!! You got this. Glad you have the back ups and friends there to enjoy movie night. Tig is growing like a weed, so cute!! Is Tara doing better with him? Opie seems to take things in stride. Be well, and be happy!! God Bless! ~Alice
Gosh, what a good day watching your homey day. For me, your channel just keeps getting better. You were 1st place from the beginning and though I added others you are still #1. Julie other lovely people, you are still #1. Thanks for the fun with you and the furr family. That’s part of why I like all of you. Love their pets!
I realized after several years that propane is not as efficient once you get past 5000 ft elevation propane is not as efficient. I haven’t ever had decent dometic fridge, my 2018 coachmen has a Norcold and it’s great. Looks like your doing well and OMG that pup is awesome
Our RV fridge was doing the same thing. Turned out to be the sensor that controls the cooling fan in the back. That needs to be working on hot days. After we replaced the sensor and added an extra fan as well. It fixed the problem and was a cheap fix. Check that fan and see if it is working.
I think you should make Babe the Blue box your home when you’re living there and get a truck and small toy hauler for your adventures. That would make perfect sense for your setup.
I used to own a house in the country and we dumped all of our grey water through piping to the field next door instead of putting all that detergent etc into our septic tank and leach field.
Eric take a look at the burn chamber on the RV fridge, take the tin cover off, three screws. You will be able to follow to wires up, there is a reset switch there. As long as there is no yellow powder , you are not leaking ammonia. Try replacing the control board before you rip the fridge out, replaced mine this year was about $180 CDN.
First of all I love your place. Keep on making the improvements. Why don't you fix blue up to be a small cabin type. All you have to do is put a bed in there and maybe a chair or two. And get something to heat your place in the winter like a small wood stove. You got this. Things go wrong but you just gotta fix it one at a time. Be safe out there. And keep enjoying your place.
We use a clothesline in the summer and wood drying racks in our large house in the winter, we have an old dryer that has spin only/no heat on it so we tumble the clothes after we hang them on the clothesline.
We went to home Depot bought an apartment size 13 cubic foot refrigerator put it in the place of our norcold and built shelves around it, works great on travel days on the inverter and no more propane!
JC Refrigeration in Shipshewana IN converts dead Dometic's into 12 volt fridges. Or they will ship the parts to you. Price is around $900. And mine never pulls more than 7ah and Hans can stay where he's at. Oh, and 3 year warranty too
Odd, because almost universally, experts agree that front loading washers clean laundry better while using less water and electricity - and are generally gentler on clothing. Even if a front-loader were slightly worse at cleaning laundry, the fact that they use much less water should be a consideration when someone lives off-grid, with solar power, trucked-in water, and a septic system - like Eric.
Challenges are put into our life to motivate our creativity..Blessings come to those who have prepared for possibilities knowingly or unknowingly..You Got This Big Guy !!! Thank you for sharing.
Time will tell if they are reliable in the long run. I've had very bad luck with GE branded appliances over the years. And even worse luck with GE branded lights and lighting fixtures. I will no longer buy anything GE branded.
Several years ago I replaced my recalled “Class Action Lawsuit” fire hazard Norcold fridge with an Energy Star Efficient Magic Chef 10.1 cu ft electric fridge for approx $250 or $350 from Home Depot. As I luv to cook I now have loads of fridge & freezer space to meet my needs. I did sacrifice an overhead cabinet as new fridge is taller but that’s ok.👩🍳
Those whirlpool direct drive (as their called) washers are very reliable and clean well. It's a common style that was made between the late 80s to the early 2010s. If a problem arises, there are plenty of parts and TH-cam videos available to fix it.
It's probably expensive as all get out to do, but wouldn't it be great to have electricity run out to your property? Everything could be plugged into it and you can use your solar equipment as backup power instead of main power. I may be incorrect but aren't those designed for back up instead of everyday use? Anyway, I am super stoked for you and have been thinking about doing something similar as you have. I would love to get a piece of property somewhere that I can snowbird to for the winter. Almost bought some property in south Florida back in 2019 but changed my mind because I didn't want to be in that area of the state. judging by the size of Tig's paws he looks like he is going to be a pretty good sized dog when he grows up. Good Luck with your RV woes. To bad that you're so far away from the Indiana/Michigan area. There's a place that I go to for replacement parts for my RV that sells stuff at very good prices. They have everything you can imagine there. You could almost build an RV from the stuff they sell there. Looking forward to your next video...
We started having issues with our gas absorption fridge not keeping cool enough even with added exterior and interior fans. We ended up going to JC Refrigeration. We had the cooling sustem replaced with a 12v dual compressor system that works amazing!!! Or just get a new gas absorption system. Great option with much better, custom made equipment.
When my fridge died in my 5th wheel i bought a cheap walmart smaller fridge and pulled out the rv one. Worked better than the rv one with roughly the same interior space, and was less than 200 canadian.
So, Eric, not to be crazy, but you could actually reuse that rinse water and wash water from your wash machine and put it in a sprayer of some sort and wet down your driveway after you get enough water to do that. You would need some sort of distribution system, but it’s a way to keep the dust down in the driveway.
As someone who cleans lots of homes & condo & vacant properties you are correct THE NEW WASHER/DRYERS SUCK! Most of my client complains about them & how often they need to be replaced or repaired. One client has a son who has had to replace 2 new washers in 3yrs because they break so easy.
I have a tabletop washing machine. t doesn't have a spin cycle so I have to wring out the clothes by hand. Eric's washer and spin dryer would be an upgrade for me.
When our propane / electric fridge quit in our Rv we just yanked it out and bought a similar sized one at Home Depot . Made mounts so it can't fall out or move and plugged it in . Done . Been just fine now for seven years .
Question. Are you going to insulate the blue box and cover the walls with something? Keep it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Help with coolers not having to work as hard.
Eric your absolutely right about those old school style agitator washing machines cleaning clothes much better than the new school washing machines without the agitator. I wish we kept our old one, even the white clothes came out whiter with the old style washing machine.
My dad said that when he was a boy they had a rain barrel higher than the washing machine and that’s what they washed clothes with. He said the water made the clothes come out soft.
Eric, I know you love your Mickey collection, but space seems too valuable with your current set up. That building could actually be a cabin!
He will ( I am sure) eventually get another one. Why copy Camper Van Kevin all way? He just needs to do what works for him. 😊
Like Eric says - but I'm probably doing it wrong,don't do what I do- blah, blah, blah.
His life, his choice. 👍🏻
He can always buy another shed. It's not like they're not going to make them anymore.
Those sheds are expensive and that type of collection isn’t worthy. My opinion only. It’s make a terrific cabin!
He will get more cabins....
You are 100% right about the older washing machines. They clean the clothes the best!
No, they don't. And if you're living off-grid with solar power and trucked in water, a modern HE washer uses less water, less detergent, and less energy. Less water and detergent is also better on your septic system. Modern HE washers are also gentler on clothing, meaning your clothes last longer.
Eric for a shade for your pool/hottub get a 5 gallon bucket a 3 foot section of PVC pipe and a bag of cement.
Cement the pipe in the bucket then get a patio umbrella that should give you a good amount of shade.
If you want it to look fancy get a planter to set the bucket in.
Or use 4 buckets and a shade cloth
Great idea
I used a plant container for the pipe and cement, and you can roll it to where ever you need it. Works great!
Agree!!!
then you are stuck with a bucket full of cement...
Hi Eric, We live in Phoenix and are also Rv'ers. A suggestion on your fridge before you pull it out. It is possible the coils at the top of the fridge under the roof vent need to be cleaned. It does not take much of this Arizona dirt to reduce the cooling capacity. I take the roof fridge vent off and place a couple of towels under it and use a spray bottle of Simple Green of similar and spray the coils then rinse with a spray of water. I have to do this every year to keep our fridge cooling. Just don't get the electrical components below wet, might be a good idea to cut the power first.
Also a 12v fan placed in the side opening to circulate the air can help. I also have installed the flat computer style fans on the top of the coils to increase air flow.
My friend's fridge had similar problems, got hot but didn't cool. Turned out some insulation had come loose and blocked the hot air exit through the roof vent. Take the cover off and check. Should be a lot of heat coming out when the gas is on. Only other likely cause if it is not working on gas or electric is lose of coolant, usually due to corrosion. Smells like ammonia.
@@waynert69Close. The refrigerant will crystalize in the lines if it is ran while not level.
You are living the good life now Eric!! Nothing like having your own digs to enjoy without having to “ please the man” ie…no dogs around the pool, No laundry between 10:00 pm and 9: am…..not running….no loud music….no camp fires…..and on and on. You have made a great choice!!🤗👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
If you hang your shirts by the tail, you will not have clothes pin marks on on shoulder. I love the old washers.
Yep,that is the correct way,..
I'm 78 and have hung out many a clothesline of clothes in freezing winter and hot summer months..and I always laugh at the newbies at how they hang clothes on the line. If done right there are no lines or pin marks on the clothes. Eric will figure it out, if not he will wear the results and probably care less of other's opinions.. God Bless His Little Heart...
@@janetfolkerts5827 I'm 73 grew up doing that
Sm 83 and always hung shirts by the tail!!!
So glad you have your "basecamp" to live at. I enjoy your adventures there as much as I do when you're on the road. When you're at basecamp you can work on your RV problems and also have friends there to help a little. Keep it up and good luck with all your RV issues!
Eric, don’t waste the wash water by draining it in the septic. Do a gray water drain hose for the washer that you can move to the trees close to the blue box. The trees will appreciate it. 🌲🌳🏕️
The line-dried layndry is the best... It literally dries in 30 minutes and saves so much power for other things :) 👕👖
Hi Eric, YOU really tickle me! I LOVE to see you so happy and content. So many of your amazing traits are starting to show. You are very practical, very smart and your are a bargain hunter! YEA! You are really making your home stead so comfortable. You are developing a well run sanctuary. Your pets look up to you and Love you very much. I always get so excited when you post. Thank you Eric for sharing part of your life with us. Hugs to YOU and your fur babies.Louise
Our puppy responded well to some advice from a police dog owner friend. Tons of treats in your pocket all the time. Every time you say his name and he turns….treats..he will begin to always come to you thinking ,mmmmmm treats perhaps. Worked for our Multipoo Louie. love the place
Back in the day we had a water hose hooked up to our drain and watered our backyard grass with the wash water.
recycling the water is a must where ever you live...Eric will figure out how to make the most of the water he has.
He mentioned water is cheap..it maybe...IF..and WHEN you can get it. I would still set up gutters on the blue box
for a rain catch to use if and when necessary. Now..rain water..THAT is cheap.
Before you trash the RV fridge. When you take it out, tumble it first. Then just plug it in and see if it starts cooling again.
Yup. Sometimes all they need is a good burping. Flip it over and the stand it back right side up. A lot of times that's all they need.
Worth the effort to try.
Tig is getting so big....he is so cute!
Eric,
If you didn't lose the ammonia in the coils you should be able to fix your fridge. Dirty burner, bad control board or thermister, dirt or insect nests where the air flows on the outside of your fridge. Add a 12 volt fan so air flows better up to the roof exhaust for the fridge. Bad heating coil for cooling on the 120 volt side. Bad solenoid for the propane. Too much clutter inside the fridge stopping air circulation. Add a 12 volt or battery poweref fan to better circulate air inside the fridge.
I thought of a free standing patio umbrella. You could weight the stand with sand so the wind won't blow it away and the patio umbrella stands in it. It is portable but you don't have to hold it.
Sweet find and valable items for living and homesteading. We bought a half cow from our daughter in laws family so had to buy a freezer to keep it in. Nothing these days are made like they used to. LOL even RV's. Our 2009 was built stronger than our 2021 RV 2009 was better materials. But but think I would have cleaned out the washing machine....js.... Tig is growing and so cute! Hope the cats have adjusted to him. Glad these bumps in the road are not getting you down like they used to. Glad you have plans and back up plans!
Hook the hose on another tub and save your rinse water from one load and use it in the following wash load and you can save water that way. Loving the new homestead videos!
It seems like you need just electric installed on the property. You could put in a few pedestals and the power each building. The solar could then be a backup.
Also, curious about how you replace the RV fridge for a dorm fridge/freezer combo. My RV fridge only works on propane, the electric and generator power doesn’t cool it.
I’m happy to see you happy on your property. Stay safe.
that would be great!
😎🤔💭eric before you pull your fridge Put a fan at the bottom of the opening on the outside of your RV and pointed up the chimney towards the roof of your RV and turn it on run your fridge on propane and give it a little time two three hours to see if it cools, with all that excessive heat that you're going through your refrigerator is probably not venting right and overheating the ammonia in the coils It will cause a vapor lock and you will lose your cooling, give it a try and see what happens if it doesn't work you can always replace the fridge, but a little fan is lots cheaper than going through all that work. Good luck👍👋✌
I admire these "kids". I am 77, have heard of the younger generation is having it "soft". You have put in a lot of work. Been following your channel since the black van.
Hmm, I would suggest getting some sort of external method to check the water level in the 500gal tank. So you don't need to keep opening the top to check the level. Every time you open it, your allowing the introduction of dirt, dust and bugs to enter. You should be able to find many types of "water tank level monitoring systems".
You always seem to have back-ups Eric. That is such a blessing. When we were traveling for 3 years we stressed over losing our fridge. We sold our RV and bought a tiny cottage in the country for many reasons and hubby has us set-up with solar and batteries. We are so thankful that you have fellow RV'ERS there. Love Tig much!! ❤🐶😺😺
One of the dumbest restrictions which a lot of cities focus on washing is drying clothes outside. Some people do considered drying clothes outside as an offensive. Yet during the summer, it is more economical as well as ecological to dry clothes outside. Drying clothes is not a sign of troubles with white trash, but one of economic sense. Instead of discouraging line drying, Line drying should be encourage.
Note - If you continue to have troubles with your fridge, take a look into buying a 12 volt fridge.
That's why it's best to not care what other people thinks lol
The builders next door have "asked" me to refrain from using my clothesline when the new houses next door go on the market next week 😂😂😂😂
🖕
@@Susie98052 Ask them how much it's worth to them. It is actually solar drying and I believe is protected in many areas.
@@johnnylightning1491 if your state has a law which "legalizes" alternative forms of energy, then even HOA's cannot tell you that a clothesline is not allowed. Florida's law is "Title XI Section 163.04: Energy devices based on renewable resources"
@@johnnylightning1491 I'm hanging out our "unmentionables" today and the realtors are touring the $3M house 😂 😂
I miss my old washer! The newer ones wont open once they start, they're locked, so I can't add more clothes, bleach, dye or anything. Plus I agree they don't clean as well, I have to set more buttons to get the same, easy use as before all the technology took over. Great ideas for your homestead, looking forward to more.
Most new washing machines have a way to unlock the door during use. Usually it involves pressing the pause button and waiting several seconds to unlock. Even our new front loader can be paused, unlocked, and opened during a cycle, except when the drum is full of water.
I replaced my RV fridge with a Magic Chef 10cf fridge, width was nearly the same just a little thinner but the height was higher, had to cut the trim like 2” but it works great, screwed it down and then used metal straps at the top to hold it in place.
Front load washing machines use less water and detergent. They clean better than top loaders and spin wet laundry almost dry. Our last front loader was a Frigidaire Gallery, and It lasted over 20 years with zero breakdowns. Just remember to leave the door ajar between uses, to let the system dry out. The new washer/dryer we have are from Samsung with steam injection and so far we've been very pleased with them.
We have a whirlpool washer we've had for probably 26 year's fixed a couple for 5 bucks each time! Gotta have the agitator!!! Don't like new ones that only last a few year's! We were told by the guy where we got the part to fix it to never give up on it !
Love Tig and Tara and Opie!!!
And all the visitors and fur visitors!!❤😊
Hi let your water from the washer water your trees just run a long hose and use biodegradable soap you dont want all that water in your septic .that how I did mine for 20 yrs the yard loved it
I think you should put the trinket collection in storage or something and use the space in the blue shed to set up your utility things. Electric, fridge/freezer, washers and so on.
Definitely don't need a dryer where you're at. About 10-15 minutes hanging outside and they're dry. I remember swimming and getting out of the water to smoke a cigarette back when I smoked. Jean shorts were dry as a bone before I was even done with the cigarette.
It sucks so bad when the fridge dies. What a huge expense and just the labor of getting the old one out and the new one in is daunting. I'm glad you've got other options out in your shed. RV systems can really be a pain when they decide to quit. Any chance you might buy a mobile home (or tiny house) and set it up on some blocks and just keep the RV for travel? It would be so great now that you have your own land. I hope you can make that happen in the next year or two. You deserve a nice comfortable home base. Congrats on the washing machine ! Huge score.
Try putting the washer on a tiny stilts so the washer wouldn't get water logged when on the rinsed cycle 👍😎😃
Place quilts/blankets/ quilted packing wraps over and around the chest freezer to keep contents cool. Sounds odd but it works. Just make sure you do not block any ventilation outlet it may need.
Given the coolers and chest freezer are out of direct sunlight, I doubt there are benefits to doing such a thing. Sounds to me like placing blankets around a cooler or chest freezer could become a breeding ground for mold and mildew, insects, rodents, and become a fire trap.
Many chest freezers actually use the side walls for passive heat exchange and placing a blanket over the freezer will actually make the unit less efficient. The entire freezer needs airflow to draw the heat away.
@markfellhauer352 I did say don't block any ventilation outlet. The fact is he's in Arizona ... (I don't believe that building is air-conditioned or even a fan moving around or thru the building), he's going to have temperature-related and rodent problems anyway.
Oh well....🤷♀️
@twilightshealy4152 - Many if not most chest style freezers do not have a "ventilation outlet" - instead they use the body of the freezer as a heat sink for the condenser phase of the refrigeration cycle. That is the pipes that return the refrigerant to a liquid state run through the space between the insulation and the case of the freezer (usually metal), making the whole outside of the freezer the way that the unit disposes heat. Covering the outside of the chest freezer holds the heat in and makes the freezer's compressor work harder and makes the interior of chest freezer warmer. It can also cause the freezer to sweat water and freeze the insulation. If your chest freezer has a "ventilation outlet" it's most likely for the compressor, but not for the condenser.
BTW, I live in Arizona and have lived in the desert southwest for about 40 years. If you admit he's already going to have rodent problems why would you advise he provide a convenient place for rodents to nest? Rodents here carry Hantavirus and bubonic plague - Specifically rodents have tested positive for the plague in Concho in recent years. You want as much of a hospital environment in the places you live and store food.
Love the property vids. Never saw you more alive!
caution, if that freezer looses power, that’s a lot of spoilage…..
I'm stationary in a 5th wheel and I gave up on my RV fridge as well. Just got a small fridge and separate freezer.
Love watching your Homestead Journey!!!
Only problem with line drying clothes in the desert is that darn dust! It raises havoc with line drying....clothes end needing to be washed again!!
The clothes have to be taken down as soon as they feel dry..Or if possible pick a calm day. At least Eric doesn't have the wind that Caravan Carolyn has on her property.
Around Phoenix a clothes line is just an invitation for birds to come and roost on it...and crap on your clothes.
Should be a mark on the back of the washer that tells what the height of the drain should be . To low and may syphon the water out . To high and it may not spin the clothes as dry .
Replace your refer with a 12v like Kevin did!! 450.00 at Home Depot......bigger interior. Made by Magic Chef.....
The Magic Chef 10.1 is out of stock everywhere. I ordered on Amazon, but they already emailed me that they cannot fulfill my order either.
@nomadicfanatic Sorry about that Eric. Couple of weeks ago Home Depot in Flagstaff had a couple. Wonder about Lowes?
You now have a freezer, freeze a jug of water, like the size of a gallon of milk, or several of them, once frozen solid, put them in the fridge or a cooler. It is just like an old fashioned ice box
FYI hang your T shirts from the bottom, so don't stretch you neckline.
We always have backups for our backups! Tig is adorable. You got lucky finding that sweet boy! 💕💕
The tall agitators are the 'BEST'! I bought my daughter a brand-new set, came home after washing my clothes in it, and washed them all over again using the 'BREATHING MOBILE WASHER. You should have seen all the nastiness in the water. Good choice Eric!
EXCELLENT!!! Switch is on the backside of the lid on washer!! Hang tshirts from bottom so you don't have points at the shoulder's!! 😂
Always seems like when it rains it pours. Like most problems they have a way of working out. Being at a home base with good friends around is always a good remedy. 😊
The dometic fridges have a flaw in the design were after awhile the ammonia gas in the coils eats the coil out from the inside. Eventually they rupture and no longer cool. There is an Amish company that make a 12v upgrade coil replacement for half the price of a replacement coil. That way you are able to reuse the fridge that is already fitted to the space
I've been through the desert on a horse with no name, it felt good to be out of the rain. In the desert you can remember your name cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain.
My sister had a front loader that was great. Then they started requiring them to conserve water. Now the front and top loaders in the last 10 years are horrible because they use so little water. Since my car died I have to use the laundry here in the park that are the newer front loaders. I soak all my clothes before started it. Then during the fill for rinse I had more water.
Omg! I can’t believe how big Tig got! He has definitely outgrown Winter! Sounds like he is in the naughty phase like Winter. Makes sense since they are the same age. She’s usually better after she plays with Kellogg because he can almost match her energy and somewhat tire her out. Hope we see you all down the road again. We always appreciate play dates for Winter with other pups that can spend some of her energy. 😂
Consider insulating the blue box so the walls don't radiant heat from the sun. Just saying...
Those top loading machines without all the stuff to go wrong are the best! Stopping when you lift the lid is a safety feature. I didn't realize that putting liquid fabric softener in your washing machine will gunk up the innerds so I just use a half or third of a sheet of a non-scented softener in the dryer. Tig is so sweet.
White vinegar works better than gunky fabric softener. Just put it into the fabric softener place.
No, they suck. The european kind is better and more economic.
@@pattierwin4380 we recently discovered this too. White vinegar all the way. Not going back to the other stuff
@@pattierwin4380 yes vinegar is better and it’s also cheaper
In my experience, everything breaks during the heat of the summer, when my bills are at their highest. It can really get me down sometimes. But, things always work out. It's better not to let your stress get you down. You DO have resources & backups. Everything will be fine, and the repairs will give you more stuff to put in a video. 💙
I am sure you will work out all your issues with your motor home. It does seem everything happens at once. Clothes dried in the line smell wonderful. Enjoy your company. Take care of yourself, Tara, Tig and Opie.
I have to say great video as always. It was so awesome to see the two pups in your pool (Hot Tub)
I hope everybody's having a good time with you and your fur babies.❤👌👍😊
Did you try sliding the temperature control inside the goes up and down the coils? I watched a video on you tube and it helped me figure out why my frig wouldn’t get cold. Try that first if you haven’t already.
Laundry uses a ton of water. Just be aware, most homes the washer uses more water than anything else other than bathing
Such a smart guy...older washers work so much better and don't take forever to run a load of clothes. Plus, the clothes are cleaner. You should run loads with vinegar too. Take care.
Great video Eric!! You got this. Glad you have the back ups and friends there to enjoy movie night. Tig is growing like a weed, so cute!! Is Tara doing better with him? Opie seems to take things in stride. Be well, and be happy!! God Bless! ~Alice
Gosh, what a good day watching your homey day. For me, your channel just keeps getting better. You were 1st place
from the beginning
and though I added others you are still #1.
Julie
other lovely people,
you are still #1.
Thanks for the fun with you and the furr
family. That’s part of
why I like all of you.
Love their pets!
Geeze, help edit that. What happened. Sorry, Eric.
I realized after several years that propane is not as efficient once you get past 5000 ft elevation propane is not as efficient. I haven’t ever had decent dometic fridge, my 2018 coachmen has a Norcold and it’s great. Looks like your doing well and OMG that pup is awesome
Our RV fridge was doing the same thing. Turned out to be the sensor that controls the cooling fan in the back. That needs to be working on hot days. After we replaced the sensor and added an extra fan as well. It fixed the problem and was a cheap fix. Check that fan and see if it is working.
If you don't level the washer and make it steady, it's not gonna last long. You can't have it shaking that much.
I think you should make Babe the Blue box your home when you’re living there and get a truck and small toy hauler for your adventures. That would make perfect sense for your setup.
A patio umbrella will work for hot tub.
House fridge from home depot around 10 to 11 cubic foot.
cut the cabnets to fit the fridge?
"I'm runnin outta room here quick"
Oh Eric Eric Eric
I love the new washer! 😊
I used to own a house in the country and we dumped all of our grey water through piping to the field next door instead of putting all that detergent etc into our septic tank and leach field.
Eric take a look at the burn chamber on the RV fridge, take the tin cover off, three screws. You will be able to follow to wires up, there is a reset switch there. As long as there is no yellow powder , you are not leaking ammonia. Try replacing the control board before you rip the fridge out, replaced mine this year was about $180 CDN.
Get you one of them reach out and over umbrellas to cover the spa.
My top loader sits outside too. Washing clothes outside is kinda fun.
That Tig is just so cute. Great video Eric!!
First of all I love your place. Keep on making the improvements. Why don't you fix blue up to be a small cabin type. All you have to do is put a bed in there and maybe a chair or two. And get something to heat your place in the winter like a small wood stove. You got this. Things go wrong but you just gotta fix it one at a time. Be safe out there. And keep enjoying your place.
We use a clothesline in the summer and wood drying racks in our large house in the winter, we have an old dryer that has spin only/no heat on it so we tumble the clothes after we hang them on the clothesline.
Great video. Love homesteading. ❤
We went to home Depot bought an apartment size 13 cubic foot refrigerator put it in the place of our norcold and built shelves around it, works great on travel days on the inverter and no more propane!
JC Refrigeration in Shipshewana IN converts dead Dometic's into
12 volt fridges. Or they will ship the parts to you. Price is around $900. And mine never pulls more than 7ah and Hans can stay where he's at. Oh, and 3 year warranty too
I totally agree original agitator style top loading washer gives me peace of mind that clothes get thoroughly cleaned. 💦
Odd, because almost universally, experts agree that front loading washers clean laundry better while using less water and electricity - and are generally gentler on clothing. Even if a front-loader were slightly worse at cleaning laundry, the fact that they use much less water should be a consideration when someone lives off-grid, with solar power, trucked-in water, and a septic system - like Eric.
Challenges are put into our life to motivate our creativity..Blessings come to those who have prepared for possibilities knowingly or unknowingly..You Got This Big Guy !!! Thank you for sharing.
Excellent choice for the washing machine the less bells and whistles, the better the machine.
I will say, I do like the new GE washer/dryer combo machines. They use very little energy, and runs off of 110v!
Time will tell if they are reliable in the long run. I've had very bad luck with GE branded appliances over the years. And even worse luck with GE branded lights and lighting fixtures. I will no longer buy anything GE branded.
Several years ago I replaced my recalled “Class Action Lawsuit” fire hazard Norcold fridge with an Energy Star Efficient Magic Chef 10.1 cu ft electric fridge for approx $250 or $350 from Home Depot. As I luv to cook I now have loads of fridge & freezer space to meet my needs. I did sacrifice an overhead cabinet as new fridge is taller but that’s ok.👩🍳
Those whirlpool direct drive (as their called) washers are very reliable and clean well. It's a common style that was made between the late 80s to the early 2010s. If a problem arises, there are plenty of parts and TH-cam videos available to fix it.
It's probably expensive as all get out to do, but wouldn't it be great to have electricity run out to your property? Everything could be plugged into it and you can use your solar equipment as backup power instead of main power. I may be incorrect but aren't those designed for back up instead of everyday use? Anyway, I am super stoked for you and have been thinking about doing something similar as you have. I would love to get a piece of property somewhere that I can snowbird to for the winter. Almost bought some property in south Florida back in 2019 but changed my mind because I didn't want to be in that area of the state. judging by the size of Tig's paws he looks like he is going to be a pretty good sized dog when he grows up. Good Luck with your RV woes. To bad that you're so far away from the Indiana/Michigan area. There's a place that I go to for replacement parts for my RV that sells stuff at very good prices. They have everything you can imagine there. You could almost build an RV from the stuff they sell there. Looking forward to your next video...
We started having issues with our gas absorption fridge not keeping cool enough even with added exterior and interior fans. We ended up going to JC Refrigeration. We had the cooling sustem replaced with a 12v dual compressor system that works amazing!!!
Or just get a new gas absorption system. Great option with much better, custom made equipment.
When my fridge died in my 5th wheel i bought a cheap walmart smaller fridge and pulled out the rv one. Worked better than the rv one with roughly the same interior space, and was less than 200 canadian.
So, Eric, not to be crazy, but you could actually reuse that rinse water and wash water from your wash machine and put it in a sprayer of some sort and wet down your driveway after you get enough water to do that. You would need some sort of distribution system, but it’s a way to keep the dust down in the driveway.
As someone who cleans lots of homes & condo & vacant properties you are correct THE NEW WASHER/DRYERS SUCK! Most of my client complains about them & how often they need to be replaced or repaired. One client has a son who has had to replace 2 new washers in 3yrs because they break so easy.
I have a tabletop washing machine. t doesn't have a spin cycle so I have to wring out the clothes by hand. Eric's washer and spin dryer would be an upgrade for me.
Keep fridge and freezer full and the are very efficient
Thx for the chuckle,in the hot tub holding a umbrella😎🐈⬛🐕
Silly is better than skin cancer!!!
I think an RV awning with tie down...the shade cloth that attaches to the awning and is tacked down on the ground, so it steadies the awning.
I have an old ringer washer that my grandmother used to wash all my uncle's mining clothes in until the mid-80s. It still works
When our propane / electric fridge quit in our Rv we just yanked it out and bought a similar sized one at Home Depot . Made mounts so it can't fall out or move and plugged it in . Done . Been just fine now for seven years .
Having a home base is the way to go.
Question. Are you going to insulate the blue box and cover the walls with something? Keep it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Help with coolers not having to work as hard.
Eric your absolutely right about those old school style agitator washing machines cleaning clothes much better than the new school washing machines without the agitator. I wish we kept our old one, even the white clothes came out whiter with the old style washing machine.
My dad said that when he was a boy they had a rain barrel higher than the washing machine and that’s what they washed clothes with. He said the water made the clothes come out soft.