Never a residential fridge. Propane is so much more reliable for us. Don't have to worry about hooking up. They make large ones now. We will order our 5th wheel with one. Also we go queen size on the bed for more room in the bedroom. we are used to queen. Yes on the tankless water heater. We have the automatic light bars from Amazon in our cabinets. Package of 3 for about $15. We have a dashcam, important to have one. I would get one that looks both out front and inside the cab. Mine doesn't look in the cab, which is the most common type today. It also records sound inside the cab. Just say a license plate number and you have it. It takes a micro SD card. Great discussion and video. Thanks again.
We went to Costco to get our mattress for around $400. We found one packed in a box and it even came with wheels to get it out of the store LOL!! It was much easier to get into the rv while in the box. After we took it out of the box we laid it on the bed and cut open the plastic wrap keeping it rolled up. It was cool to see it kind of self inflate. We got the 18" foam in queen size. We prefer queen because sheets and bedding are sooo much cheaper and I don't mean just a little. There seems to be a huge price hike from queen to king but not twin to full to queen. It is crazy. I also like the queen for the added space, but because we went with a traditional foam queen and not a RV mattress it is longer than the bed frame, however the slide still closes with it. For comfort.... I absolutely love it. I will never go back to a tradition spring or air mattress. I like it better than our king sleep number in our sticks and bricks.
Hi Mercedes and John! My hubbie and I aren't FT...yet! But we have taken several extended vacations in our unit. Laundry tips - I learned, from my grandmother, to line dry your clothes straight from the wash first until they are mostly dry. Then, you can tumble a few pieces at a time to finish drying and it softens them back up. Almost no wrinkles! I haven't actually timed the difference, but i feel like it doesn't take a whole lot of extra time, because the dryer takes soooo long! If the weather is nice out, I hang the heavier stuff (jeans, towels, etc) outside on a rack that hooks onto the roof ladder. For the rest, I have some clothes line that I tie to the overhead cabinet handles in our bedroom and drape from side to side. Since we aren't in there in the daytime, the laundry isn't in the way. #2, NEVER put dryer sheets in a small dryer. They will clog up any dryer filter, but the small ones get it quicker. A test to see if yours is clogged: after you take off the lint, run some water on it. If the water just sits there, you know air can't go through. It's easy to clean with dish soap and a soft nylon brush. Keep up the great work and congrats on the Amazon store!!
I removed my dining table and chairs out of the rv, and replaced a 3cu Danby refrigerator there, then purchased a 3cu Igloo freezer chest next to it after my Norcold fridge broke 4 years ago, which has now become my food pantry on the bottom half, and the top freezer is for my 2 dogs vitamins and treats now. I've since put a Black & Decker air fryer, rotisserie, toaster oven on top of the Danby fridge, and my Vita Mix there too, or in my deep freezer to keep liquids fresh. And for water, I bought a ceramic crock water dispenser and stand for $10 on Facebook's Market Place, and i use 3, 3gal water bottles i refill at Water Kiosk here in Henderson Nv for $1 a bottle, 1 gal is 25 cents. BTW, i purchased my Class A from Camping "crazy" World. Love your videos, thanks!
Wow! You've done quite a lot of modifications. That's so important though. You have to make the RV functional for your use. Thank you for sharing. Lots of good ideas.
Great Job. 1. Hot water - I can run both electric and gas to heat water fast. This was something that my RV technician told us during delivery. I tried it and it works. Comes in handy with the washer and shower eating up the hot water. 2. I am looking to add a Tripod for the 5th wheel. The washer shakes the RV. Not that it will eliminate the shaking, but it will reduce it. Any help on that one would be great. Can't agree more with the leveling system. Best Item!!!
Great tip on the water heater! We added the tripod and the wheel stabilizers and the difference with the shake from the washer was amazing! Removed 75% of the shake. Please purchase thru our new store😀 Thank you for the water heater tip Brad💚👍😀
Great information and advice. I like your straightforward approach. Impressed with how your little one kept herself entertained in the background. Keep up the great work folks.
Look in to hard wired LED puck lights for your cabinets. I converted all 9 of my under cabinet puck lights to LED in about an hour. Along the same line, you can get LED strip lights that daisy-chain together. Each product has their own little plug style transformer and are easy on the batteries if you don't have shore power.
We just put in a new mattress from "Wilderness RV Mattress" (wildernessrvmattress.com) and we love it! It came shrunken in a box so it was easy to carry straight into the rig. Then we opened the box, unrolled the mattress, removed the plastic, and it expanded in-place really quick--less than 10 minutes. It's very comfortable and we like it better than the one we had in our house!
Legally Homeless that sounds easy enough! Thank you so much! Yeah the mattress topper helped but it can only do so much! We’ve added this to our list of RV Odd Squad recommendations! 👍😊🤗
Just want to add for anyone new and getting a foam mattress, in the colder climates, you really have to watch out for condensation under the mattress, if you don't stay on top of it, it can get really nasty under the mattress.
For your lights issue inside, look for Oxyled in the Amazon store. It is very bright, motion sensing, it allows for easy install, and is rechargeable. This takes away the need for batteries - thus reducing costs. Since they are motion sensing, it also may work for your outside too (I have not tried them outside yet. )
On our diesel pusher I added a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TireMinder i10 TPMS for RVs and Trailers w/ Signal Booster - 10 Tire Sensors). It has a slow leak alarm, a fast leak alarm and a high temperature alarm. If you get the 10 sensors it will even monitor the tire pressure in your toad's tires.
You asked the right person for a matress..seeing I get spinal injections every other month, plus a spinal cord stimulator; all that said..We have a Queen sz. Detroit Matress that we bought at Art Van Furniture Store in the Trailer, ( not easy to get in, but sooooo worth it). The other is a king sz. that's in our house, it's made by Diamond Matresses, comes vacuumed packed except the 2 "twin bases", again purchased from Art Van. The exact model we purchased is no longer in what they sell as I did call them for the names. I hope you find what you require...a good night's sleep is not just a want, it is a needed requirement for good health and attitude. God bless you 3, and stay safe.💛☺💛
That was one thing my hubby & I agree on is NO RV SLIDES!!! I've seen so many RVer's have trouble with the slides.. & I THANK YOU both for the GOOD/BAD/WANT things for RV's SURE helps me on which to get & which Not to get!!! Still gutting ours tho. & will take time & Money to rebuild LOVES/HUGS to ALL!!! GOD BLESS!!!
Everything has it's pro and con. I wish there were solutions that were all good. But it seems like w/RVing, every choice has it's unique pros and cons.
Mattress insiders out of Colorado makes custom RV mattresses .Thats where we got ours from ,love it. Recommended by "RV Love". They have a small show room in Colorado for you to see and feel.
I just bought a truma aqua go water heater for my 04 Super C for $1600 and it is so worth it! Truma is by far the best. No scalding and as soon as you turn the shower on it is hot instantly! Also, awesome video!
Hi guys, You asked for tips so heres one you may or my not no know.......... I see your blue def box in the back of your truck. At Walmart it's $12 and change plus tax. I bought 2 and reuse the containers. I then refill mine at truck stops. One near my house is only $7 with tax at the def pump to fill it. I'm sure price very but it will alway be cheaper at a truck stop. Just about 1/2 price. Have a Jesus filled day Greg in Michigan
Greg, I just read your comment to John & he loves it . Thank you so much for sharing this tip. We'll take all the tips we can get. We're the mistake channel. It be nice to change that. :-)
Not sure how the sizing would work but my husband and I purchased an Aireloom king mattress a few years ago for our house. They are expensive ($4000-$7000) but very high quality beds and totally worth it. Also, I love your videos and it's awesome you guys are enjoying your life and traveling. My husband and I would love to do it someday.
Hello, it's me again. We just purchased an Alto R1713 from Safari Condo. Our solar is terrific. We're able to boondock with plenty of power to run our lights and propane fridge.
We are not FT, but love your videos! Genuine, honest and entertaining. My comment is a bit off topic but something I wonder about a lot as I see young couples RV full time with their children: how do you know your child is receiving the social interaction and education they need in their toddler and pre-school years. I'm married to an elementary teacher and my daughter-inlaw is a Early Childhood Education specialist, so we've discussed this at home. Both emphasize the importance of pre-schoolers having quality social interactions with other family and kids. It seems this would be a challenge in an FT RV lifestyle. You guys have been so open and honest with other aspects of FT RVing, I'd love to see your thoughts and perspective on this topic in a future video. My apologies if this is a taboo topic, but it is one that I think many people in your situation would have an interest. Thanks for you wonderful videos.
The topic is not taboo. Frankly, It's a struggle. Luckily most TT parks have playgrounds to that helps. But we consider that too- All of the time. The answer is we don't know and we're figuring that out as we go. But of course it is a concern.
The owl security camera / vehicle alarm will record the incident before and after you can also save the incident I believe you can save it to your phone.
For dash cam and solar go with what big rig truckers use. These people live in their trucks and know what works 24-7. You all are still awesome. I gave notice and am retiring at the end of the month so the plan is to do more of what you do... Because like you say, "life is short"...
Great idea! Thank you for this. You know, I find that advice and products that truckers use are good ideas. Congratulations on your retirement! How exciting! :-)
@@RVOddCouple please be careful. Read the warranty very carefully and pay attention to what they find acceptable. My wife and I have had a very bad experience with this company, and we are not difficult to do business with.
What I did in my house was buy the less expensive 60 LED small solar light from Harbor Freight. I wanted one in my backyard in the back without running wires. And be portable. I had a 4x4 post, 4ft tall. Cemented the post into a large coffee can. Then put it in a Home Depot bucket. Weighed it down with water or stones.after I chose a location. Mounted the light and it's small square solar panel on the top. So now portable to move, reposition by just moving or rotation the bucket. When I go RV, I'll bring it. Being post and coffee can , it's slimmer to store. I can use the bucket for carrying until settled. The portability of the light I like
Awesome video! Moston USB rechargeable magnetic motion sensor under the cabinet led lights. (3 pack)...I love these lights. You can also get non-rechargeable one as well. Either way, you can't go wrong. These are on Amazon. The new wave is lithium battery solar system. I like your generator setup much better. Down the road a bit, I would suggest a toy hauler with an onboard generator. They are super awesome and you already have the truck to pull it. Best Wishes! 😎🇺🇸
Hey y’all A tip on getting your laundry not so wrinkly. Wash them like normal take them out and fold them why they’re still wet then place back in and put a towel on top of the load and then dry the first two items might be wrinkly on top but the rest of them will be pretty much wrinkle free and the plus side is when you pull them out there already folded. Sounds crazy but it’s in the manual !!
IKEA has a great selection of mattresses with a combo innerspring and fixed memory foam topper for 700-900 $. Ours is6 years old and still going strong. We have back and joint issues had have no pain in the morning anymore. Congrats on the Amazon store! Love this video too. Great information as usual!
I so agree on the slide toppers, and I have saved your auto leveling system cause some are not so easy and seem to be clumsy.. another great video guys thanks...hugs to you all🤗💓
I use the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery on the back of my RV so it will catch anyone trying to do anything or take something. I put a wyze camera in the window inside to see on the sides.
Brandon Corley Thank You! You just made my day. That’s an awesome compliment. We stayed up really late making this and you just made it worth it! ❤️❤️❤️
The two best upgrades we have made to our 5th wheel are electric over hydraulic disc brakes with HD shackles and wetbolts , and a Sleep Number R5 RV king mattress. We liked it so much, we bought one for the house. Great video!
Awesome scenery along the river! It took me 9 years to finally add a slide topper awning to my truck camper. I made a video when I installed it. The channel named All about RVs did a really good video on tankless water heaters. Jared does good videos. Once I find that video I will post it here.
Great video, it was interesting to hear what upgrades were most useful for you. I would add a battery powered leaf blower with medium capacity. It is very handy for blowing off any debris that accumulates on your awning and slide toppers. It also works very good when the coach is wet from rain. We have a sleep number mattress in our coach and we are not sure yet how its going to work out. The plus is that it will never sag like our foam mattress did
We have the Purple Mattress. King is not quite a king. My king sheets are a bit loose. No more humps or valleys. Ever. Check it out it is totally worth it. No bugs. No turning over or rotating. Great for our backs....oh we are 70’s. Love love love the purple!
I would not have even commented if it were not for the strange and annoying sucking noises on the video. This is not a dig against the parents or the child. And, the last I will say. Jennifer Shu M. D. makes this medical observation that I believe should be given some credence. Most parents would reply defensively as if the child was some sort of personal possession to be at the mercy of uninformed decisions and the consequences be dammed. The child is a child and should never be left to their own will when regarding personal issues, not to exclude health. Sometimes constraints are necessary. In this matter no personal judgment is intended. 😉 “Still, it's a good idea to switch your kid to a sippy cup now because the longer you wait, the tougher it will become for him to let it go. Health issues also come into play: "Nursing on a bottle's nipple throughout the day and night means your child's teeth are in prolonged contact with milk or juice, and that can cause cavities," says Jennifer Shu, M.D.,
Yes first thing I thought of too while watching was why is Sage still using a bottle! Time for her to advance to the next step. 😉😁 It will only benefit her in the long run.
I was wondering how long comments about this would come up. Please be considerate of family “norms” meaning each child develops at a different pace, some are advanced in some areas like potty training ( my grandson took 3+ years to get out of diapers while his brother was out in under 2) and comments should be left to trailers alone, if you want to leave comments about children, go to channels on children
someone may have mentioned this, but I'm too lazy to read comments: have you tried flipping your mattress - at least the foam one you added to the top - on a regular basis. Turn it or flip the ends to get even wear .
I must disagree. Please don't purchase anything from My Pillow. All of the products are overpriced (even with sales) for just chopped foam with a casing around it. Plus, the owner supports some ideologies that I don't think you'd like to contribute to.
You might look at Will Prowse channel. He is really an expert at solar and has a book out explaining the who; system configuration and all the parts. Y'all havagudun!
I recommend the purple mattress. We have a very expensive mattress at home and now we sleep better in our RV because of the purple mattress.2 They are designed to be used without a box spring and they have a foam boarder so they can be cut down to fit if needed. Ours spills over the RV King boards a bit but isn't hurting anything. It squeezed into our original space just fine. This winter I will remake the wood supports to accommodate the added size best I can. Can't recommend it enough.
Original Mattress Factory will custom make a mattress to your specific measurements, just pick out the mattress, give them the measurements, and it only costs about $80 extra. My friends did this for their RV, top of their line orthopedic mattress reasonably priced. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
Wow! That sounds awesome! Thank you Laurie! We'll have to check them out.... Especially since they make them to specific measurements! That would be perfect. Thank you again!
JD with Big Truck Big RV just did a video on the Haloview side visibility system. You basically replace a side marker light with a camera, it's a easy upgrade you might look into.
We bought mattresses from Mattress insider in Colorado. They have an office in Littleton, CO and they custom cut mattresses for rv‘s. We have a Travato 59k and they fit perfectly and we were able to pick the firmness to fit our comfort level.
@@RVOddCouple it's fun learning about this camping life. I never really gave it much thought. So watching your and other TH-cam channels on this subject is enlightening. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽😍
John...enjoy your videos...just an FYI...they are called "slide outs" and the awning is a "slide topper". You are right about how beneficial they are to trouble-free slide out use. Keep up the great info and enjoy your travels!
Every RVer should own a Berkey. Congrats on your Amazon Store. You are unstoppable! I love your channel and look forward to every new video. Thanks for such good information! :)
Thank you so much for the sincere well wishes! We are so grateful for the support and love of the RV Odd Squad. We couldn't agree with you more on the Berkey! We love our berkey! We're excited and grateful! :-)
I am so happy i found your channel! Your the best i have found. I am in the research stage of rving full time. Thanks so much for being so honest! I have gotten so much great info from you guys!
schadracmertis85 Great question. We average $10/night with our TT membership and Passport America. We like to stay at least a week. But even longer if possible.
Truma AquaGo is the best out there. Installation must be done by a trained installer. As for washing machines, you should have gotten the separate units. You can do two loads at a time; one washing and one drying. Where did you get your water filters?
We will check this out! Maybe you are right on the dbl unit but we chose the extra space, maybe we switch in the future😀👍 Check out our Water Filter video, it's all in there😀 Thank you Rick!
I bought a bed in a box last year at walmart. It is a full size but for me it perfect. Have had it for a year and still in perfect condition. Sleep great on it.
Aside from Camping World messing up the back up camera what is your full length? I thought I read somewhere that 42' is the limit inside an RV so 40' is kind of pushing it. We have a Furrion rear observation camera and never had an issue but then again we are only 28'. Safe Travels!
I recently bought and installed a Renogy 200W solar system on Amazon. A little pricey, but had everything necessary for the install and keeps the house batteries maxed even on cloudy days. www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B015DEY2TM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. This is the Canadian version but also available in the USA
I don't know if you have them on your RV or or not but if you get a chance look up centramatic wheel balancers. I'm a semi truck driver and those things could prolong the tread life of your tires as much as two to three times. And making for semi trucks, RVs, motorcycles even. Used in addition to your standard wheel balancing. When you're out on the interstate and pull into a big truck stop likeTA or somebody that has a shop they have brochures on it.
Interesting. I've never heard of centramatic wheel balancers. If we have them we don't know it. Embarrassed to admit it but would rather be honest. :-)
They're not small. Basically to install them you just Jack it up remove your wheel put this disc on and put your wheel back on your done. And around the disk is a rain filled with like lead shot and sand I think what is automatically will go to the out-of-balance portion of the diameter. They're a little pricey flat kind of make that money back in not buying tires. Just Google centramatic. You could also install them on your Towing vehicle as well as your RV.
@@RVOddCouple I'll guarantee that you don't. On either the truck or the 5th wheel. *Centramatics are the bomb though.* They're an extra expense upfront, but pay for themselves many times over in the long run.
The best Dashcam for the money is the VIOFO A129 Duo. I paid S159.00 on Amazon and it goes on sale all the time. You get 2 dashcam one for the front and one for the back. I don't know how you would wire the rear cam.
On the Fridge the lock for traveling is a super cool system. Believe it or not some RV's rely on the magnet seals to keep the door closed. Round a corner to fast or quick lane change to avoid something and boom the fridge door flies open. Not fun! Also, the only time I've turned the ice maker on is to winterize it with antifreeze. Sometime we don't head for warmer weather until after Christmas. So pink ice.This is flushed out and a ten pound bag fits. We'll use bottled water for cooking and drinking, refills are 25 cents so not a big deal, a buck to a buck and a half a week. That is our answer to crappy water. Any water coming in, however, is pressure checked to 45 PSI, filtered, softened and again filtered. A tip on your water heater, turn on both the electric and the propane, recovery time is shortened. "On demand" is not a good idea if you're boondocking and trying to conserve water. Also, since your are traveling, get rid of the China bombs on your rig. Suggest you go to an American Made tire, the next load range up. If your rims aren't heavy enough, upgrade them also. and don't forget about the spare. Invest in a torque wrench and a six side deep well socket that fix the lug nuts. Also I carry an Andersen Hitches Rapid Jack 3620. I've changed a tire in under 12 minutes using it. While I talking about the stuff that makes it possible to take your rig down the road, you need to have your wheel bearings check and HAND REPACK not pumped in through the zerk.... Doing that simple blows grease out the seal and into the drum area where it can get onto the brake pads. I pull my FR hubs apart after 4000 miles and, yep the grease was blown out the back of the seals. Now if the factory can't get it right(and they designed it) how in the hell will you know you got it right? Suggest that you check out MORRYDE for suspension parts, pin boxes that help reduce the road jerking and solid steps. This are a few of their after market upgrades. DW loves the steps, no bounce...rock solid. We don't full time but we will put 6 to 8000 mile a year on our 5th. wheel. Up graded a 40' Forrest River Sierra two year ago. A lot of the interior looks similar and /Iwe have done a lot of upgrades. Good luck on your travels. WildBill
I have most of the same upgrades as you (including the Winegard Connect 2.0, which I actually haven’t tried yet). In terms of solar, I have Battle Born lithium batteries, Zamp solar panels, and Victron inverter/solar charger/battery monitor. Battle Born can put together a complete package for you, and they’re awesome folks.
Brian, thank you so much! Appreciate your support and it's beyond humbling to think we have RV Odd Squad in S. Africa. Have we already made you president of the S. African chapter of the RV Odd Squad? Very stringent application process. (just kidding.) . :-)
Concerning the tankless water heater, my husband is right now taking the one we just bought out. If you always have FULL hookups, so you can just let the water flow, then you'll love it. If you don't always have sewer hookups, and you have to watch your output, then don't get a tankless water heater! Or be prepared to always have the water on for just enough to only have cold water running out before you should turn it off to save water. Nothing is 'instant,' and it takes several to many seconds for the water to start to get warm, so you are going to either fill up your holding tanks very quickly or mostly be working in cold water. Just a heads-up. And, yes, we called the manufacturer to make sure we weren't doing something wrong, and we're not; he says that's how it works.
Never considered this but you bring up a great point! Those precious seconds of cold water mean less days boondocking. Hmmm.... Now you got us thinking!
@@RVOddCouple Yes, again, it's great for a long hot continuous shower, but not good for sailor showers because every time you turn your water off, even for just a moment, when you turn it back on, it takes several seconds for it to heat the water back up, and the colder it is outside, the quicker and colder the water gets cold and longer to get hot again. And forget about washing your dishes in hot water if you're trying to conserve by turning on and off a lot; but it works great if you can turn on the water and leave it on. Sorry to be redundant, but people need to know this. Thankfully, they took it back and refunded our money, but, boy, what a day my husband had getting it in, and then he had to spend another day getting it back out and putting the old back in. Thank you!
We purchased a Tochta mattress last year. They custom make them to your specifications: size, firmness, thickness, etc Very happy with it. Miss the donettes😉
We got the upgraded Serta mattress for RVs with Memory Foam, it comes in an RV Queen or RV King and is the most comfortable mattress ever. IMHO We are not full timers but our home mattress and box spring is a brand new Posture Peadic (sp) and the RV Bed is more comfortable. My wife has a chronic minor back pain issue for the past 30 years (Compressed disk) and in the RV she has no pain... She even took a 16km (10 Mile) hike last week down a rocky and hilly trail.... WHAAAAT? I am 60... and the slide cover flapping is curable with a softly inflated beach ball to add tension and a curve to the slide topper, just don't forget them up there ;)
@@RVOddCouple When the time comes, let's talk. So-called drop-in replacements are $1,000/100Ah. I design and build custom lithium packs with more capacity and features for the price of lead acid. That is, unless you get Battle Born to comp you a couple pair.
Really great video of info for those starting out full time. Even as a part-timer, things like auto levelling and a larger fridge are upgrades I wish I had.
Appreciate the feedback. We never considered it but whether you're full time or part time, some of these things can bring a lot of comfort to camping. :-)
Have you considered a solar shower? That needs no electricity. Solar lights are electricity free and I'd recommend rechargeable batteries and a solar battery charger- NO electricity- free power.
Tina Gallagher I’m going to research this. I’ve never heard of a solar shower. I wrote this down and added to my list of RV Odd Squad recommendations. 👍👍👍😊
@@JasonBrown-tb9cy That would be the last straw. "John you have to take a shower outside under a tree using a bag of water!" I'll be inside blowdrying my hair. lol . poor guy!
@@RVOddCouple -- I had all the solar showers I ever want in Vietnam. You never knew what temperature the water would be. If it had been raining, the vaporization of the water off the surface of the bag would cool it back down and be down right cold. No way to warm it up or cool it down. NO THANK YOU!! My propane water heater is consistent in temperature, recovers fast between showers so that I could take a shower as soon as my late wife would clear out of the bathroom, and there was plenty do do the dishes. Propane tank water heater for me!!
We went to mattress hub and got a queen pillow to for 299 our RV had a king mattress but there was not enough room around the bed. We have about at 4 to 5 ledge around bed now. It’s great for the remote and for cell phone. Since the campers don’t come in the side tables it’s worked great for us
We bought a Montana Hybrid RV Mattress from Wilderness RV Mattress. It was pricey but it is the absolute best mattress we have ever slept on, anywhere. Well worth it! Couldn't get any sleep with the old one & now we don't want to get out of bed!
Just bought a new Casita no awning, wouldn't have one. Now I do like the canopy and screen tents like clam and gazel but no awnings to repair for me after they have been ripped off. Central vacs are great as well when they work. Every big rv with a central vac didn't work. Bot I do like central vacs because I walk around constantly with a hand vac. I always keep an electric space heater and another great addition to camp ground camping is an ELECTRIC GRILL
Look into a Aukey 4K dash camera. I tried many different dash cam and a few have failed within 6 months either from bad hardware of software glitches. For a tankless water heater, the Truma Aqua-go seems to be a solid unit.
I kinda thought the same thing especially when she was gnawing on the nipple...I tuned out...the longer you wait the harder it is...I understood that TH-cam disables comments on videos with children like Less Junk More Journey...wondering what is the difference?
Great video and I am following the mattress discussion as we will be looking for something new too! I have to agree with the donut discussion earlier, they need to be in the video somewhere to prove you are not robots!!
I have an Excel instant hot water heater mounted in my camper bathroom above the toilet. It says it ventless, but best to always have a roof vent or window open when using it . For a wall mounted one it is the best because the propane valve inside it is metal instead of rubber so it won’t wear out as easily
*A word of caution: Ventless propane tankless water heaters are only to be installed in outdoor spaces. Direct venting (horizontal through the wall or vertical through the ceiling) is required for every interior installation.* In addition to smoke and CO detectors, every vehicle with propane appliances/devices, plumbing and/or storage onboard needs to have a propane detector! Propane is heavier than air and has the potential to combust from contact with standing pilots, as well as suffocate.
@@RVOddCouple Your rig should be equipped with a Safe-T-Alert 45-Series Combo Carbon Monoxide Propane Alarm that looks like this: cdn3.volusion.com/3jgn5.2xoqu/v/vspfiles/photos/SAF45-741-BL-2T.jpg?1538724449 *Note that the panel says "TEST WEEKLY".* ;)
Your planning solar. If you dont know, mortonsonthemove, KYD, and allaboutrvs all have great vids on what they have done for solar. Battle Born Batteries is the way to go for the battery section of the system. A complete inverter/converter/charge controller is the only way to go for powering your RV. It automatically switches between shore and battery power without interruption, keeps your batteries at peak performance, and if your running on a gen and need a little extra power for an appliance, it will add that power from the battery system. Love you guys Thanks for all you do. Be safe and enjoy this life.
Thank you so much! We appreciate your kind words and you sharing your tips. You know BB Batteries are the most recommended by the RV Odd Squad. When so many people recommend the same company, that means something. :-)
Very informative video again!! If I was to add any advice to your list is getting F, G or H rated tires for your RV. Most dealers use E rated and they won’t handle the loads and speeds. When I do purchase my RV (soon I hope) i will require the dealership to upgrade the tires as part of the deal, or I go elsewhere. Last thing I want is a blow out which usually causes lots of damage to the RV. The water video you guys did was a eye opener and I will be following your advice on that for sure👍😃
We are happy to announce our NEW Amazon Store. Thank you for your support
www.amazon.com/shop/rvoddcouple
Congratulations on the Amazon link. Will use for sure.
NICE and Congrats!
Congrats on your website and new business venture. Will definitely have a look.
@@racheljones4884 I use them. We are not full timers but I find this easier to get to my dishes.
yay! Odd (couple) question: do you not get paid for your youtube videos?
Never a residential fridge. Propane is so much more reliable for us. Don't have to worry about hooking up. They make large ones now. We will order our 5th wheel with one.
Also we go queen size on the bed for more room in the bedroom. we are used to queen.
Yes on the tankless water heater.
We have the automatic light bars from Amazon in our cabinets. Package of 3 for about $15.
We have a dashcam, important to have one. I would get one that looks both out front and inside the cab. Mine doesn't look in the cab, which is the most common type today. It also records sound inside the cab. Just say a license plate number and you have it. It takes a micro SD card.
Great discussion and video.
Thanks again.
Great info! Thank you for sharing your experience Mark👍😀💚
I had both, we stay at an rv resort. An totally go with residential over dual.
We went to Costco to get our mattress for around $400. We found one packed in a box and it even came with wheels to get it out of the store LOL!! It was much easier to get into the rv while in the box. After we took it out of the box we laid it on the bed and cut open the plastic wrap keeping it rolled up. It was cool to see it kind of self inflate. We got the 18" foam in queen size. We prefer queen because sheets and bedding are sooo much cheaper and I don't mean just a little. There seems to be a huge price hike from queen to king but not twin to full to queen. It is crazy. I also like the queen for the added space, but because we went with a traditional foam queen and not a RV mattress it is longer than the bed frame, however the slide still closes with it. For comfort.... I absolutely love it. I will never go back to a tradition spring or air mattress. I like it better than our king sleep number in our sticks and bricks.
This Couple are a BLESSING.....
Thank you Bob! Humbled! :-)
Hi Mercedes and John! My hubbie and I aren't FT...yet! But we have taken several extended vacations in our unit. Laundry tips - I learned, from my grandmother, to line dry your clothes straight from the wash first until they are mostly dry. Then, you can tumble a few pieces at a time to finish drying and it softens them back up. Almost no wrinkles! I haven't actually timed the difference, but i feel like it doesn't take a whole lot of extra time, because the dryer takes soooo long! If the weather is nice out, I hang the heavier stuff (jeans, towels, etc) outside on a rack that hooks onto the roof ladder. For the rest, I have some clothes line that I tie to the overhead cabinet handles in our bedroom and drape from side to side. Since we aren't in there in the daytime, the laundry isn't in the way. #2, NEVER put dryer sheets in a small dryer. They will clog up any dryer filter, but the small ones get it quicker. A test to see if yours is clogged: after you take off the lint, run some water on it. If the water just sits there, you know air can't go through. It's easy to clean with dish soap and a soft nylon brush. Keep up the great work and congrats on the Amazon store!!
Very helpful! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience Robin💚 Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours 🦃 Thanks again
I removed my dining table and chairs out of the rv, and replaced a 3cu Danby refrigerator there, then purchased a 3cu Igloo freezer chest next to it after my Norcold fridge broke 4 years ago, which has now become my food pantry on the bottom half, and the top freezer is for my 2 dogs vitamins and treats now. I've since put a Black & Decker air fryer, rotisserie, toaster oven on top of the Danby fridge, and my Vita Mix there too, or in my deep freezer to keep liquids fresh.
And for water, I bought a ceramic crock water dispenser and stand for $10 on Facebook's Market Place, and i use 3, 3gal water bottles i refill at Water Kiosk here in Henderson Nv for $1 a bottle, 1 gal is 25 cents.
BTW, i purchased my Class A from Camping "crazy" World.
Love your videos, thanks!
Wow! You've done quite a lot of modifications. That's so important though. You have to make the RV functional for your use. Thank you for sharing. Lots of good ideas.
Great Job.
1. Hot water - I can run both electric and gas to heat water fast. This was something that my RV technician told us during delivery. I tried it and it works. Comes in handy with the washer and shower eating up the hot water.
2. I am looking to add a Tripod for the 5th wheel. The washer shakes the RV. Not that it will eliminate the shaking, but it will reduce it. Any help on that one would be great.
Can't agree more with the leveling system. Best Item!!!
Great tip on the water heater! We added the tripod and the wheel stabilizers and the difference with the shake from the washer was amazing! Removed 75% of the shake. Please purchase thru our new store😀 Thank you for the water heater tip Brad💚👍😀
Add a electrical surge protector to your wish list. We had a power surge in an Encore park that resulted in a $400 repair to our dryer
Ouch Ouch Ouch. You're right. A power surge can be really expensive. We've met someone who had his whole RV's electrical system fried.
Yup! Power surge blew my 900$ dryer!
Great information and advice. I like your straightforward approach. Impressed with how your little one kept herself entertained in the background. Keep up the great work folks.
Thank you Richard😀👍💚 Sage had a blast💚
Check out Latex mattress. No allergies, dust mites, holds its shape much better then memory foam. It can be ordered online also.
We will! Thank you Dan👍😀
Latex can get rather hot though....so if you are a hot person naturally beware
Look in to hard wired LED puck lights for your cabinets. I converted all 9 of my under cabinet puck lights to LED in about an hour. Along the same line, you can get LED strip lights that daisy-chain together. Each product has their own little plug style transformer and are easy on the batteries if you don't have shore power.
Thank you Mike😀👍
We just put in a new mattress from "Wilderness RV Mattress" (wildernessrvmattress.com) and we love it! It came shrunken in a box so it was easy to carry straight into the rig. Then we opened the box, unrolled the mattress, removed the plastic, and it expanded in-place really quick--less than 10 minutes. It's very comfortable and we like it better than the one we had in our house!
Legally Homeless that sounds easy enough! Thank you so much! Yeah the mattress topper helped but it can only do so much! We’ve added this to our list of RV Odd Squad recommendations! 👍😊🤗
Just want to add for anyone new and getting a foam mattress, in the colder climates, you really have to watch out for condensation under the mattress, if you don't stay on top of it, it can get really nasty under the mattress.
This is the one I'm pretty sure I will be getting.
We second Wilderness Rv liked the one for the TT so much we bought a full size king for our home
I'm waiting for my Montana firm mattress to get here. Purchased from Wilderness!
For your lights issue inside, look for Oxyled in the Amazon store. It is very bright, motion sensing, it allows for easy install, and is rechargeable. This takes away the need for batteries - thus reducing costs. Since they are motion sensing, it also may work for your outside too (I have not tried them outside yet. )
Good to know! Thank you! We'll take all the recommendations we can get! :-)
Another upgrades to consider...variable water pressure reducer with gauge (not all parks have 40-60 psi)
Yes but that is in our essentials video😀👍
On our diesel pusher I added a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TireMinder i10 TPMS for RVs and Trailers w/ Signal Booster - 10 Tire Sensors). It has a slow leak alarm, a fast leak alarm and a high temperature alarm. If you get the 10 sensors it will even monitor the tire pressure in your toad's tires.
You asked the right person for a matress..seeing I get spinal injections every other month, plus a spinal cord stimulator; all that said..We have a Queen sz. Detroit Matress that we bought at Art Van Furniture Store in the Trailer, ( not easy to get in, but sooooo worth it). The other is a king sz. that's in our house, it's made by Diamond Matresses, comes vacuumed packed except the 2 "twin bases", again purchased from Art Van. The exact model we purchased is no longer in what they sell as I did call them for the names. I hope you find what you require...a good night's sleep is not just a want, it is a needed requirement for good health and attitude. God bless you 3, and stay safe.💛☺💛
Paula thank you for the recommendation! We'll add it to our list to check out. You're right. A good night's sleep is so important!
Mattress: Check Sterns & Foster. Opt for firmer w/pillow top. Best mattress I've ever bought.
Thank you for the tip Michael 👍😊
We bought our mattress for our TT from Amazon. It's a Zinus memory foam brand and we love it! Our queen 8 inch costed only $172.00.
That's a great price! I hadn't heard of that brand but I like memory foam. I'll check it out. :-)
That was one thing my hubby & I agree on is NO RV SLIDES!!! I've seen so many RVer's have trouble with the slides.. & I THANK YOU both for the GOOD/BAD/WANT things for RV's SURE helps me on which to get & which Not to get!!! Still gutting ours tho. & will take time & Money to rebuild LOVES/HUGS to ALL!!! GOD BLESS!!!
Everything has it's pro and con. I wish there were solutions that were all good. But it seems like w/RVing, every choice has it's unique pros and cons.
Mattress insiders out of Colorado makes custom RV mattresses .Thats where we got ours from ,love it. Recommended by "RV Love". They have a small show room in Colorado for you to see and feel.
Awesome! Thank you for the recommendation! :-) We're writing down tons of notes! :-)
@@RVOddCouple Many full-time RVer's and van dwellers swear by Mattress Insiders. Their prices are quite good, as well.
I just bought a truma aqua go water heater for my 04 Super C for $1600 and it is so worth it! Truma is by far the best. No scalding and as soon as you turn the shower on it is hot instantly! Also, awesome video!
Thank you so much. We really need a better water heater. :-)
Hi guys,
You asked for tips so heres one you may or my not no know..........
I see your blue def box in the back of your truck. At Walmart it's $12 and change plus tax. I bought 2 and reuse the containers. I then refill mine at truck stops. One near my house is only $7 with tax at the def pump to fill it.
I'm sure price very but it will alway be cheaper at a truck stop. Just about 1/2 price.
Have a Jesus filled day
Greg in Michigan
Greg, I just read your comment to John & he loves it . Thank you so much for sharing this tip. We'll take all the tips we can get. We're the mistake channel. It be nice to change that. :-)
Not sure how the sizing would work but my husband and I purchased an Aireloom king mattress a few years ago for our house. They are expensive ($4000-$7000) but very high quality beds and totally worth it.
Also, I love your videos and it's awesome you guys are enjoying your life and traveling. My husband and I would love to do it someday.
Thank you for the tip! We will look into this 👍😊
Great tips. First thing I did was get rid of the RV mattresses and put in a house hold queen mattresses.
We are hearing a lot of RV'ers do this! Thank you RV Dog💚👍😀
Hello, it's me again. We just purchased an Alto R1713 from Safari Condo. Our solar is terrific. We're able to boondock with plenty of power to run our lights and propane fridge.
Thank you for the recommendation Cliff💚👍😀
I agree with the slide toppers. Didn't come on my brand new Grand Design but I had them installed on all 4 slides right away.
Bernie Jagodzinski They rock! We Would definitely make sure we have them if we got another RV. 👍😊😃
We want to do the same thing....was it expensive to have installed?
@@bubblesplayhouse3146 I think it was around $2200.00 installed.
I did the same with my Montana, have for slides, well worth it.
We are not FT, but love your videos! Genuine, honest and entertaining. My comment is a bit off topic but something I wonder about a lot as I see young couples RV full time with their children: how do you know your child is receiving the social interaction and education they need in their toddler and pre-school years. I'm married to an elementary teacher and my daughter-inlaw is a Early Childhood Education specialist, so we've discussed this at home. Both emphasize the importance of pre-schoolers having quality social interactions with other family and kids. It seems this would be a challenge in an FT RV lifestyle. You guys have been so open and honest with other aspects of FT RVing, I'd love to see your thoughts and perspective on this topic in a future video. My apologies if this is a taboo topic, but it is one that I think many people in your situation would have an interest. Thanks for you wonderful videos.
The topic is not taboo. Frankly, It's a struggle. Luckily most TT parks have playgrounds to that helps. But we consider that too- All of the time. The answer is we don't know and we're figuring that out as we go. But of course it is a concern.
The owl security camera / vehicle alarm will record the incident before and after you can also save the incident I believe you can save it to your phone.
For dash cam and solar go with what big rig truckers use. These people live in their trucks and know what works 24-7. You all are still awesome. I gave notice and am retiring at the end of the month so the plan is to do more of what you do... Because like you say, "life is short"...
Great idea! Thank you for this. You know, I find that advice and products that truckers use are good ideas. Congratulations on your retirement! How exciting! :-)
The Original Mattress Factory makes high quality RV mattresses and can custom fit it to you and your rig. Worth the price!
Susan Wheat Thank you! We’re adding this to our list of RV Odd Squad recommendations. This mattress is for kids with good backs. Lol. 😂👍😊
@@RVOddCouple please be careful. Read the warranty very carefully and pay attention to what they find acceptable. My wife and I have had a very bad experience with this company, and we are not difficult to do business with.
@@randallbanta2021 appreciate the warning! :-)
My wife and I found a combination of memory foam and a topper works well. Memory foam alone is to hot. The topper makes the difference.
Thank you for the tip John! Happy Thanksgiving & Thank you
What I did in my house was buy the less expensive 60 LED small solar light from Harbor Freight. I wanted one in my backyard in the back without running wires. And be portable. I had a 4x4 post, 4ft tall. Cemented the post into a large coffee can. Then put it in a Home Depot bucket. Weighed it down with water or stones.after I chose a location. Mounted the light and it's small square solar panel on the top. So now portable to move, reposition by just moving or rotation the bucket.
When I go RV, I'll bring it. Being post and coffee can , it's slimmer to store. I can use the bucket for carrying until settled. The portability of the light I like
Wow, great tip. Thank you. I never considered this but I'll show this to John! :-)
Awesome video! Moston USB rechargeable magnetic motion sensor under the cabinet led lights. (3 pack)...I love these lights. You can also get non-rechargeable one as well. Either way, you can't go wrong. These are on Amazon. The new wave is lithium battery solar system. I like your generator setup much better. Down the road a bit, I would suggest a toy hauler with an onboard generator. They are super awesome and you already have the truck to pull it. Best Wishes! 😎🇺🇸
Don't recommend a toy hauler to my husband please! :-) Just kidding. Thank you for the light ideas. We'll look into it. :-)
Hey y’all A tip on getting your laundry not so wrinkly. Wash them like normal take them out and fold them why they’re still wet then place back in and put a towel on top of the load and then dry the first two items might be wrinkly on top but the rest of them will be pretty much wrinkle free and the plus side is when you pull them out there already folded. Sounds crazy but it’s in the manual !!
We do that when we remember...Thank you Ben👍😀💚
We have a sleep number bed that we used in our sticks and bricks, queen size, that is perfect for us.
We have heard that those are nice and light. Thank you😀
so do we and the rig we're buying has one also.
IKEA has a great selection of mattresses with a combo innerspring and fixed memory foam topper for 700-900 $. Ours is6 years old and still going strong. We have back and joint issues had have no pain in the morning anymore.
Congrats on the Amazon store! Love this video too. Great information as usual!
Thanks for sharing👍😀 Thank you Diana💚
I so agree on the slide toppers, and I have saved your auto leveling system cause some are not so easy and seem to be clumsy.. another great video guys thanks...hugs to you all🤗💓
Thank you Robin👍😀💚
I use the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery on the back of my RV so it will catch anyone trying to do anything or take something. I put a wyze camera in the window inside to see on the sides.
Good idea. I'm adding this to our list to check out . Thank you for sharing this with us! :-)
I literally wait in anticipation of your videos! Sad huh?😂🤪🤗
Brandon Corley Thank You! You just made my day. That’s an awesome compliment. We stayed up really late making this and you just made it worth it! ❤️❤️❤️
Ha ha love you all! If you ever get to humid S.C. holler!
@@brandoncorley3142 You got it! :-)
Don't think you're alone Brandon, there are plenty of us, myself included that can't wait for the next video...lol
@@conniewatt2142 SAME HERE!!! ❤️❤️❤️
The two best upgrades we have made to our 5th wheel are electric over hydraulic disc brakes with HD shackles and wetbolts , and a Sleep Number R5 RV king mattress. We liked it so much, we bought one for the house. Great video!
Thank you for weighing in Joe👍😀
Awesome scenery along the river! It took me 9 years to finally add a slide topper awning to my truck camper. I made a video when I installed it.
The channel named All about RVs did a really good video on tankless water heaters. Jared does good videos. Once I find that video I will post it here.
Thank you Doug! We'll have to check that out. Poor John. The guy deserves warm water! lol . :-)
@@RVOddCouple Here's the video: th-cam.com/video/70VXZyMqS1o/w-d-xo.html
check your water heater setting before you by another one, we travel with three people and never have ran out of hot water
Will do! Thank you Eldon👍😀
Yesssss another video, love it. Can’t wait till your next live chat
We're excited. It will be fun! :-)
Great video, it was interesting to hear what upgrades were most useful for you. I would add a battery powered leaf blower with medium capacity. It is very handy for blowing off any debris that accumulates on your awning and slide toppers. It also works very good when the coach is wet from rain. We have a sleep number mattress in our coach and we are not sure yet how its going to work out. The plus is that it will never sag like our foam mattress did
Never considered a leaf blower...Great idea. Not sure about the sleep number due to lower back issues. Thank you Gene💚👍😀
Great video and ideas to remember. I have the Rexing V1 Dash cam and highly recommend it.
Awesome Dave! W'ell check this one out. Thank you as always👍😀💚
We have the Purple Mattress. King is not quite a king. My king sheets are a bit loose. No more humps or valleys. Ever.
Check it out it is totally worth it. No bugs. No turning over or rotating. Great for our backs....oh we are 70’s. Love love love the purple!
We hear a lot of good things about purple mattresses. We need to check it out.
A sippy cup would be good.
Thanks
Better than a thumb. Each child should have the freedom to develop at their own pace without judgement or constraint Sir.
I would not have even commented if it were not for the strange and annoying sucking noises on the video.
This is not a dig against the parents or the child. And, the last I will say.
Jennifer Shu M. D. makes this medical observation that I believe should be given some credence. Most parents would reply defensively as if the child was some sort of personal possession to be at the mercy of uninformed decisions and the consequences be dammed. The child is a child and should never be left to their own will when regarding personal issues, not to exclude health. Sometimes constraints are necessary. In this matter no personal judgment is intended. 😉
“Still, it's a good idea to switch your kid to a sippy cup now because the longer you wait, the tougher it will become for him to let it go. Health issues also come into play: "Nursing on a bottle's nipple throughout the day and night means your child's teeth are in prolonged contact with milk or juice, and that can cause cavities," says Jennifer Shu, M.D.,
Yes first thing I thought of too while watching was why is Sage still using a bottle! Time for her to advance to the next step. 😉😁 It will only benefit her in the long run.
I was wondering how long comments about this would come up. Please be considerate of family “norms” meaning each child develops at a different pace, some are advanced in some areas like potty training ( my grandson took 3+ years to get out of diapers while his brother was out in under 2) and comments should be left to trailers alone, if you want to leave comments about children, go to channels on children
someone may have mentioned this, but I'm too lazy to read comments: have you tried flipping your mattress - at least the foam one you added to the top - on a regular basis. Turn it or flip the ends to get even wear .
Great idea Carole! Yes we have😀👍 Thank you
My Dyson V7 Animal cordless is awesome. Small and hangs on the wall
Hmmm, never heard of this...We will check it out. Thank you
Agreed, we love our V7
Love mine too. Easier to move around than dragging the central vac hose every where
Whatever mattress you have, get the My Pillow mattress topper. And the My pillows too.
And yes 100% on dirt in the RV no matter what.
Always wondered about "My Pillow", Thank you for the tip! 👍😀💚
I must disagree. Please don't purchase anything from My Pillow. All of the products are overpriced (even with sales) for just chopped foam with a casing around it.
Plus, the owner supports some ideologies that I don't think you'd like to contribute to.
@@RVOddCouple My pillow is fantastic!! Plus I know several people who LOVE it! Great product!! Don't miss out!!
You might look at Will Prowse channel. He is really an expert at solar and has a book out explaining the who; system configuration and all the parts. Y'all havagudun!
We'll check that out. Thank you for sharing a solid solar resource! :-)
I recommend the purple mattress. We have a very expensive mattress at home and now we sleep better in our RV because of the purple mattress.2 They are designed to be used without a box spring and they have a foam boarder so they can be cut down to fit if needed. Ours spills over the RV King boards a bit but isn't hurting anything. It squeezed into our original space just fine. This winter I will remake the wood supports to accommodate the added size best I can. Can't recommend it enough.
You're the 3rd or 4th to recommend the purple mattress. If their mattress is as good as their commercials- I'm in!
Fantastic video guys. So many great tips. My next upgrade will be a woman who would love to move into my motor home 😃💏
LOL David! Now that would be an upgrade!💚😀👍
Original Mattress Factory will custom make a mattress to your specific measurements, just pick out the mattress, give them the measurements, and it only costs about $80 extra. My friends did this for their RV, top of their line orthopedic mattress reasonably priced. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
Wow! That sounds awesome! Thank you Laurie! We'll have to check them out.... Especially since they make them to specific measurements! That would be perfect. Thank you again!
Creativity RV gear list has some of your needs on her list.
Thank you! :-)
Yes, Robin is great! Also check out Fate Unbound for more great tips.
@@lorieatamian4532 yes I watch them also.
JD with Big Truck Big RV just did a video on the Haloview side visibility system. You basically replace a side marker light with a camera, it's a easy upgrade you might look into.
Thank you for letting us know. That sounds like a great idea! :-)
Thank you for sharing this information. Good stuff as always.
Thank you Keith👍😀💚
We bought mattresses from Mattress insider in Colorado. They have an office in Littleton, CO and they custom cut mattresses for rv‘s. We have a Travato 59k and they fit perfectly and we were able to pick the firmness to fit our comfort level.
We will check this out. We will be there (Littleton, CO) in 2 weeks. Thank you for the suggestion💚👍😀
Thanks! Things to really think about getting for upgrades. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽❤
You are welcome Patricia💚
@@RVOddCouple it's fun learning about this camping life. I never really gave it much thought. So watching your and other TH-cam channels on this subject is enlightening. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽😍
John...enjoy your videos...just an FYI...they are called "slide outs" and the awning is a "slide topper". You are right about how beneficial they are to trouble-free slide out use. Keep up the great info and enjoy your travels!
Note taken! Thank you Stewart👍💚😀
Every RVer should own a Berkey. Congrats on your Amazon Store. You are unstoppable! I love your channel and look forward to every new video. Thanks for such good information! :)
Thank you so much for the sincere well wishes! We are so grateful for the support and love of the RV Odd Squad. We couldn't agree with you more on the Berkey! We love our berkey! We're excited and grateful! :-)
I am so happy i found your channel! Your the best i have found. I am in the research stage of rving full time. Thanks so much for being so honest! I have gotten so much great info from you guys!
Thank you so much! Appreciate your kind words! Thank you for taking the time out of your day to share kindness with us. :-)
What is your average cost for camping grounds? And how long do you stay usually?
schadracmertis85 Great question. We average $10/night with our TT membership and Passport America. We like to stay at least a week. But even longer if possible.
RV Odd Couple
Did you pay off TT in full? If not wouldnt you factor that into your nightly cost?
Truma AquaGo is the best out there. Installation must be done by a trained installer. As for washing machines, you should have gotten the separate units. You can do two loads at a time; one washing and one drying. Where did you get your water filters?
We will check this out! Maybe you are right on the dbl unit but we chose the extra space, maybe we switch in the future😀👍 Check out our Water Filter video, it's all in there😀 Thank you Rick!
Tuft and needle mattress (spelling?) Can be bought on Amazon.
Lots of people are telling us about this😀 We never heard of this company! Thank you👍💚😀
we have a tuft & needle in our 5th wheel...amazing! worth the money and you can try it for 120 days
I bought a bed in a box last year at walmart. It is a full size but for me it perfect. Have had it for a year and still in perfect condition. Sleep great on it.
Good to know. Thank you for sharing. Yeah- my back is not happy! :-)
Bed in a box is a great mattress. I have the queen size. Still going strong 6 years later.
Buy a Sleep Number. We replaced our queen junk with a queen house mattress.
Thank you for the suggestion👍😀
Aside from Camping World messing up the back up camera what is your full length? I thought I read somewhere that 42' is the limit inside an RV so 40' is kind of pushing it. We have a Furrion rear observation camera and never had an issue but then again we are only 28'. Safe Travels!
Hi Jay, we are 41'7"
For your Solar, BattleBorn has some of the best package deals out there and great customer service also.
Thank you Darrin! A lot of others are telling us the same thing👍😀💚
Battle Born are LiFePO4 batteries. Better to go with an actual solar panel manufacturer.
I recently bought and installed a Renogy 200W solar system on Amazon. A little pricey, but had everything necessary for the install and keeps the house batteries maxed even on cloudy days. www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B015DEY2TM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. This is the Canadian version but also available in the USA
I don't know if you have them on your RV or or not but if you get a chance look up centramatic wheel balancers. I'm a semi truck driver and those things could prolong the tread life of your tires as much as two to three times. And making for semi trucks, RVs, motorcycles even. Used in addition to your standard wheel balancing. When you're out on the interstate and pull into a big truck stop likeTA or somebody that has a shop they have brochures on it.
Interesting. I've never heard of centramatic wheel balancers. If we have them we don't know it. Embarrassed to admit it but would rather be honest. :-)
They're not small. Basically to install them you just Jack it up remove your wheel put this disc on and put your wheel back on your done. And around the disk is a rain filled with like lead shot and sand I think what is automatically will go to the out-of-balance portion of the diameter. They're a little pricey flat kind of make that money back in not buying tires. Just Google centramatic. You could also install them on your Towing vehicle as well as your RV.
@@RVOddCouple I'll guarantee that you don't. On either the truck or the 5th wheel. *Centramatics are the bomb though.* They're an extra expense upfront, but pay for themselves many times over in the long run.
Next RV Upgrade, swapping powder donuts for Jelly.
LOL . The best upgrade ever. And it's cheaper than solar! :-)
NOooooo
@@ToriLynnH LOL Victoria😂💚
The best Dashcam for the money is the VIOFO A129 Duo. I paid S159.00 on Amazon and it goes on sale all the time. You get 2 dashcam one for the front and one for the back. I don't know how you would wire the rear cam.
Thank you for the tip
The name of the book is; Mobile Solar Power Made easy. I bought it on amazon for like $15.00. And I am not selling them LOL.
Thank you E. D. LOL...We know you💚
On the Fridge the lock for traveling is a super cool system. Believe it or not some RV's rely on the magnet seals to keep the door closed. Round a corner to fast or quick lane change to avoid something and boom the fridge door flies open. Not fun! Also, the only time I've turned the ice maker on is to winterize it with antifreeze. Sometime we don't head for warmer weather until after Christmas. So pink ice.This is flushed out and a ten pound bag fits. We'll use bottled water for cooking and drinking, refills are 25 cents so not a big deal, a buck to a buck and a half a week. That is our answer to crappy water. Any water coming in, however, is pressure checked to 45 PSI, filtered, softened and again filtered.
A tip on your water heater, turn on both the electric and the propane, recovery time is shortened. "On demand" is not a good idea if you're boondocking and trying to conserve water.
Also, since your are traveling, get rid of the China bombs on your rig. Suggest you go to an American Made tire, the next load range up. If your rims aren't heavy enough, upgrade them also. and don't forget about the spare. Invest in a torque wrench and a six side deep well socket that fix the lug nuts. Also I carry an Andersen Hitches Rapid Jack 3620. I've changed a tire in under 12 minutes using it.
While I talking about the stuff that makes it possible to take your rig down the road, you need to have your wheel bearings check and HAND REPACK not pumped in through the zerk.... Doing that simple blows grease out the seal and into the drum area where it can get onto the brake pads. I pull my FR hubs apart after 4000 miles and, yep the grease was blown out the back of the seals. Now if the factory can't get it right(and they designed it) how in the hell will you know you got it right?
Suggest that you check out MORRYDE for suspension parts, pin boxes that help reduce the road jerking and solid steps. This are a few of their after market upgrades. DW loves the steps, no bounce...rock solid.
We don't full time but we will put 6 to 8000 mile a year on our 5th. wheel. Up graded a 40' Forrest River Sierra two year ago. A lot of the interior looks similar and /Iwe have done a lot of upgrades.
Good luck on your travels.
WildBill
Great information Bill! Going to save this to our notes. Thank you 👍😀💚
You tuber Will Prowse he
will definitely help you decide on the solar power system you need for your rig.
Thank you Ross
I have most of the same upgrades as you (including the Winegard Connect 2.0, which I actually haven’t tried yet). In terms of solar, I have Battle Born lithium batteries, Zamp solar panels, and Victron inverter/solar charger/battery monitor. Battle Born can put together a complete package for you, and they’re awesome folks.
Thank you for this Eric💚👍😀
I love your videos all the way from South Africa
Brian, thank you so much! Appreciate your support and it's beyond humbling to think we have RV Odd Squad in S. Africa. Have we already made you president of the S. African chapter of the RV Odd Squad? Very stringent application process. (just kidding.) . :-)
Concerning the tankless water heater, my husband is right now taking the one we just bought out. If you always have FULL hookups, so you can just let the water flow, then you'll love it. If you don't always have sewer hookups, and you have to watch your output, then don't get a tankless water heater! Or be prepared to always have the water on for just enough to only have cold water running out before you should turn it off to save water. Nothing is 'instant,' and it takes several to many seconds for the water to start to get warm, so you are going to either fill up your holding tanks very quickly or mostly be working in cold water. Just a heads-up. And, yes, we called the manufacturer to make sure we weren't doing something wrong, and we're not; he says that's how it works.
Never considered this but you bring up a great point! Those precious seconds of cold water mean less days boondocking. Hmmm.... Now you got us thinking!
@@RVOddCouple Yes, again, it's great for a long hot continuous shower, but not good for sailor showers because every time you turn your water off, even for just a moment, when you turn it back on, it takes several seconds for it to heat the water back up, and the colder it is outside, the quicker and colder the water gets cold and longer to get hot again. And forget about washing your dishes in hot water if you're trying to conserve by turning on and off a lot; but it works great if you can turn on the water and leave it on. Sorry to be redundant, but people need to know this. Thankfully, they took it back and refunded our money, but, boy, what a day my husband had getting it in, and then he had to spend another day getting it back out and putting the old back in. Thank you!
The baby is so cute❤️
John says thank you! lol . :-)
We purchased a Tochta mattress last year. They custom make them to your specifications: size, firmness, thickness, etc Very happy with it.
Miss the donettes😉
LOL Lin, donettes will be back! Thank you for the tip. We'll check this out👍😀 Thank you
Can't go wrong with a sleep number mattress.
Thank you Deborah! We'll check them out💚👍😀
Thank you Deborah. Sleep number got a few recommendations. :-)
Sleep number su#%.. my $1000,00 sleep number is in a box because is was so uncomfortable! We went with a Purple mattress much better.
Purple is the brand name.
Oh yes you can go wrong with a sleep number bed! 1. Mold - continuous mold. 2. Backaches then more back aches. Steer clear of a sleep number.
We got the upgraded Serta mattress for RVs with Memory Foam, it comes in an RV Queen or RV King and is the most comfortable mattress ever. IMHO We are not full timers but our home mattress and box spring is a brand new Posture Peadic (sp) and the RV Bed is more comfortable. My wife has a chronic minor back pain issue for the past 30 years (Compressed disk) and in the RV she has no pain... She even took a 16km (10 Mile) hike last week down a rocky and hilly trail.... WHAAAAT? I am 60... and the slide cover flapping is curable with a softly inflated beach ball to add tension and a curve to the slide topper, just don't forget them up there ;)
How awesome is This!!! Great ideas & Tips! Thank you so much Don💚😀👍
Ever thought about lithium batteries. Might get a few more hours for the fridge.
Yes Michael, Lithium is our next battery purchase. Thank you👍💚😀
@@RVOddCouple When the time comes, let's talk. So-called drop-in replacements are $1,000/100Ah. I design and build custom lithium packs with more capacity and features for the price of lead acid. That is, unless you get Battle Born to comp you a couple pair.
@charlie cheeseface We'll have to check this out! Thanks Charlie👍😀
John Coloe I would like more info on what you do. Please send me a pm on messenger. Thanks!
@@marshaadams5501 John C is a wealth of info! :-)
Really great video of info for those starting out full time. Even as a part-timer, things like auto levelling and a larger fridge are upgrades I wish I had.
Appreciate the feedback. We never considered it but whether you're full time or part time, some of these things can bring a lot of comfort to camping. :-)
Have you considered a solar shower? That needs no electricity. Solar lights are electricity free and I'd recommend rechargeable batteries and a solar battery charger- NO electricity- free power.
Tina Gallagher I’m going to research this. I’ve never heard of a solar shower. I wrote this down and added to my list of RV Odd Squad recommendations. 👍👍👍😊
Is this the solar shower that consists of a bag you hang in a tree to heat up in the sun?
@@JasonBrown-tb9cy That would be the last straw. "John you have to take a shower outside under a tree using a bag of water!" I'll be inside blowdrying my hair. lol . poor guy!
@@RVOddCouple -- I had all the solar showers I ever want in Vietnam. You never knew what temperature the water would be. If it had been raining, the vaporization of the water off the surface of the bag would cool it back down and be down right cold. No way to warm it up or cool it down. NO THANK YOU!! My propane water heater is consistent in temperature, recovers fast between showers so that I could take a shower as soon as my late wife would clear out of the bathroom, and there was plenty do do the dishes. Propane tank water heater for me!!
@@RVOddCouple As self-professed "glampers", I'll predict that a solar shower isn't for you. Not hot enough. Not enough volume or flow. Also, outdoors!
We went to mattress hub and got a queen pillow to for 299 our RV had a king mattress but there was not enough room around the bed. We have about at 4 to 5 ledge around bed now. It’s great for the remote and for cell phone. Since the campers don’t come in the side tables it’s worked great for us
Love your channel. But why is your toddler still on a bottle?????
So enjoy watching your videos. You are like family, so honest and funny. Wait for new ones to appear. Thank you.
Camping World screw something up? LMAO!
The WORST!
We bought a Montana Hybrid RV Mattress from Wilderness RV Mattress. It was pricey but it is the absolute best mattress we have ever slept on, anywhere. Well worth it! Couldn't get any sleep with the old one & now we don't want to get out of bed!
Awesome! Thank you for the tip! We'll check this out. Thank you Ron👍😀
Check something called Beddy's at Beddy's.com it makes making the bed so easy
Thank you! We'll check it out! :-)
I just looked at it.....fantastic!!!!! Thank you Lisa!
Just bought a new Casita no awning, wouldn't have one. Now I do like the canopy and screen tents like clam and gazel but no awnings to repair for me after they have been ripped off. Central vacs are great as well when they work. Every big rv with a central vac didn't work. Bot I do like central vacs because I walk around constantly with a hand vac. I always keep an electric space heater and another great addition to camp ground camping is an ELECTRIC GRILL
Thank you for sharing your experience here👍💚😀
And next time i would love to see you all reverse the opening of “long story short...”
Brandon Corley We should say “short story long” and see who catches it. 😂
Yes!!!
They did change it up lol They left out a “with toddler and a dog”💕
We did. :-)
Look into a Aukey 4K dash camera. I tried many different dash cam and a few have failed within 6 months either from bad hardware of software glitches. For a tankless water heater, the Truma Aqua-go seems to be a solid unit.
Awesome! Thank you for the suggestions👍😀
John, you need to br trapped??? 🤣
LOL...Only to make the bed! 😂😂😂
We bought a Select Comfort (# bed) queen RV, best mattress we ever had in an RV. Just bought a 22’ Nash, will see how their OEM works long term.
Kind of off topic but, isn’t your daughter a little old to still be drinking from a bottle?
I kinda thought the same thing especially when she was gnawing on the nipple...I tuned out...the longer you wait the harder it is...I understood that TH-cam disables comments on videos with children like Less Junk More Journey...wondering what is the difference?
No ones business but theirs!
Off topic and no one's business. :-) No thank you to the armchair quarterbacking.
Great video and I am following the mattress discussion as we will be looking for something new too! I have to agree with the donut discussion earlier, they need to be in the video somewhere to prove you are not robots!!
@@tcwall61 RV Odd Squad is making it clear that without the donuts, the video just feels incomplete . :-)
I have an Excel instant hot water heater mounted in my camper bathroom above the toilet. It says it ventless, but best to always have a roof vent or window open when using it . For a wall mounted one it is the best because the propane valve inside it is metal instead of rubber so it won’t wear out as easily
Interesting! Thank you Zane👍😀
*A word of caution: Ventless propane tankless water heaters are only to be installed in outdoor spaces. Direct venting (horizontal through the wall or vertical through the ceiling) is required for every interior installation.*
In addition to smoke and CO detectors, every vehicle with propane appliances/devices, plumbing and/or storage onboard needs to have a propane detector! Propane is heavier than air and has the potential to combust from contact with standing pilots, as well as suffocate.
@@ARepublicIfYouCanKeepIt This is really good info! Thank you! We're checking our detectors now. :-)
@@RVOddCouple Your rig should be equipped with a Safe-T-Alert 45-Series Combo Carbon Monoxide Propane Alarm that looks like this: cdn3.volusion.com/3jgn5.2xoqu/v/vspfiles/photos/SAF45-741-BL-2T.jpg?1538724449
*Note that the panel says "TEST WEEKLY".* ;)
Your planning solar. If you dont know, mortonsonthemove, KYD, and allaboutrvs all have great vids on what they have done for solar.
Battle Born Batteries is the way to go for the battery section of the system. A complete inverter/converter/charge controller is the only way to go for powering your RV. It automatically switches between shore and battery power without interruption, keeps your batteries at peak performance, and if your running on a gen and need a little extra power for an appliance, it will add that power from the battery system.
Love you guys
Thanks for all you do. Be safe and enjoy this life.
Thank you so much! We appreciate your kind words and you sharing your tips. You know BB Batteries are the most recommended by the RV Odd Squad. When so many people recommend the same company, that means something. :-)
Very informative video again!! If I was to add any advice to your list is getting F, G or H rated tires for your RV. Most dealers use E rated and they won’t handle the loads and speeds. When I do purchase my RV (soon I hope) i will require the dealership to upgrade the tires as part of the deal, or I go elsewhere. Last thing I want is a blow out which usually causes lots of damage to the RV. The water video you guys did was a eye opener and I will be following your advice on that for sure👍😃