@@cynthiaogrey4330 I think the stuff we post on IG automatically goes on FB. But we don't actively respond to comments or anything on Facebook. Too many platforms to maintain. 😁 So we are active here on YT comments and Instagram when it comes to interacting! -J
I live in Custer country SD, When I was moving here for work, I lived in my SUV and cargo trailer for 4 months while looking for a place to live in, its hard with that because of empty houses reserved for AirBnBs for seasonal rental. So I parked on a county road "almost" rest area. its like a large pull of the road that is totally separated from the road, but its not designated as a rest area, just open paved area. anyways, one of the nights I was woken up by state trooper, he said camping is not allowed there. I asked him if he remembered what that place looked like a week ago, he said yes, so I told him to look around again. he did, and he was like, what are you talking about, I then explained that I took about 40 bags of 33 gallon trash bags of garbage to the dump, last few day, cleaning this area up. I then Explained that I understand that they don't want campers there because of trash, but I was more than willing to stop by their statin or forest rangers and get a permit or agreement. next day after my shift at work, I went to the forest ranger station, started talking about the location. the ranger at the front desk was like, wait, that was you who cleaned up there? I thought it was a local YMCA. then I explained him what my situation was and he was like "hold on". he called someone, an old man came owner, who was some kind of boss there. he is like, "this guy"? -yeap!. so after some pleasantries he is like, "camp all you want, also let me get your plates and name so I can tell cops to leave you alone, I will tell them you are one of us" and he did. a year later I was stopped for speeding and cop ran my name, comes back and says, "why didn't you say you are one of us?" lol, they really put me in a system as one of cops, but to be fair I am actually now working on becoming a deputy reserve for assistance to them when they need extra people. so yes, stay good and hopefully we can turn camping community into a better picture from others point of view.
I LOVE THIS STORY!!! ALL OF THIS. I'm literally tearing up right now not just because of you, but because the people around you didn't just pass you off but took time to see that you were benefiting the community. THANK YOU for doing all of that and THANK YOU for sharing. -J
When boondocking, we save our dishwater in a bucket for the day and use that to put out the fire at night. Saves grey tank storage and fresh water. We put a screen door metal screen protector on our door when the grands were little. Cheep, simple from Lowes.
Awesome way to conserve your water! We checked out some metal at Ace hardware but it was more than we wanted to pay for a DIY option - however - we haven't looked at lowes yet! -J
50ish years ago my folks joined NCHA which is the National Campers and Hikers Assoc. Even back then our motto was to always leave the place cleaner than you found it. I miss those days.
What a sad statement of what our society has become that you feel compelled to make a video about being polite and respectful. Great video and really liked the way it was presented. Hopefully it makes an impact. Have a great day.
It's true. Almost all of this stuff is just common sense type stuff...but I'm afraid we have a generation or two (my own included) that either wasn't taught it, or had just decided the message is for someone else and not them. -J
Okay, this is just the opinion of an old widowed lady who lives in a fifth wheel with two pups. But, I THINK TRINITY COMPLETES YOU!!! What an amazing, beautiful addition to two amazing, beautiful people! Dogs are always worth the effort, time and money.❤TN Nana
Trinity has been such a blessing to our family. She may blast through some screens, have an independent streak, and take up too much room on the furniture...but she's where she belongs. And we got the better end of the deal. -J
@@OpenRoading I just love watching her live her best life! Bunnies have a special place in my heart as well. I raised show rabbits back in the late 60s and early 70s. My favorite was a blue and white huge girl who won some blue ribbons for me at the fair. What sweet animals!
@@cathyjay2569 We do too. We were on a short "hike" today in some snow and just watching her have a blast running through the snow brought us so much joy. -J
Video idea for you. A video from the dog’s perspective. Trinity is a very lucky dog to be adopted by a young active couple that loves to travel. She gets to go so many places But doing a video for those who love to travel with their dogs would be a great area to cover.
I definitely have to say you guys are certainly "hitting your stride". Your energy is real and sincere. I really like your editing. You certainly don't make this appear that you have to work at creating a very entertaining video. Your message is so sensible, but, unfortunately, needs to be said. It's always the 1% who wreck things for the rest of us! Great job on this video. Safe travels. My son and I road our Harleys to Monument Valley from Wisc. in 2018 and stayed in Bluff. Loved every mile of that area. Safe travels!
Thanks so much! I so appreciate you taking the time to encourage us and I love that we make it look like it's not hard work. 😂 That's the goal! Now I won't tell you that I was up till 2am on Wednesday and 1am on Thursday finishing this one off. 😂😂😂😂😂😂 You are dead on with the 1% although I'm afraid that percentage is growing. We've been traveling now for 5 years and it seems like the problem is getting worse and not better. 👀 -J
Whenever I’m about to do something I think “would an idiot do that thing, and if they would I don’t do that thing” Always funny and entertaining you guys 😅
Trinity was so proud of herself 😂 thank you for sharing another beautiful trip, plus all of those common sense tips that people tend to forget when they camp. Safe travels, can't wait for your next video😊 hopefully you have Trinity's DNA results by then, so many of us are waiting to see what she is 😅
Thank You for the 9 "don't be am idiot when boon-docking". I really like it when you picked up other peoples trash. We boondocks every chance we get. I hate most campgrounds because they like a parking lot. Window to window, "do you have any Gray Poupon"? Keep up the good work. You are real people, like Greg & Victoria (Wild RV Life).
I love that you guys take great care of your pets... your vehicle & R V. Also the way you gently remind people to respect the areas they camp in. Pack in Pack out.
Ok... Craig from WildRVLife better not be drinking anything when he sees someone say I take good care of my vehicle....because if he does he's going to spit it out over his laptop. 😂 I'm trying to do better on that end. But the pets!! They rule the place. -J
You need to do the tour! It was so worth every penny. You go off the road and if you get a Native driver you will be given such a treat. Our driver invited us to a drum circle. I felt like I was in his church service! Incredible experience. Worth. Every. Penny!
That poor girl finally found a loving home and has separation anxiety now and trying to make sure you didn't just leave her like the last people ... she might also see that little bed as a temporary thing but the couch as a more permanent place to sleep. She's so happy now she has a family to protect and that loves and keeps her comfortable. What a beautiful creature. I live fulltime in my RV in a year round campground that has a lot of transient traffic here in Florida and I can't tell you how much it annoys me that complete strangers will just walk around my camper as if they belong right up in my grill. arrrgggg ... that and the dust storm that swirls by because they can't come off the paved road onto the limerock/dirt road and slow down to the posted 5mph. It's hard to not see an idiot as the idiot they portray themselves to be.
She's actually quite good on the anxiety front. We've left her in the RV for a while and she usually just sleeps the time away. Never chews on anything or goes crazy. I think it was different this time because we were visibly doing stuff outside....and she wanted to do stuff outside. 😂 And yeah - people walking through campsites...I just do not get it. It's like they think the personal space ends at your four walls. -J
Loved your sassiness. Very good messaging. It’s sad to see the results of unthoughtful people. Don’t be too hard on Trinity. She just loves to be with you and acts out of natural instincts. 😂
Another awesome video! I love all your movie clips and soundbites… and the music in this one was 🔥! But the very best of course is Joseph, Kalyn, Trin, and Cody. Thanks for sharing from the heart-even with the sass-for the sake of being good stewards of what we’ve been given. ❤❤❤
Being a full-timer RV’er, 99% of the time boondocking, I 100% agree with all 9 of your topics. I loathe litterbugs. Soooo much. The second is getting dusted out. Great video.
I've encountered still-smoldering campfires even at an empty site in a managed campground! It shocks me that anyone could leave a fire without making sure it was fully put out.
Did you forget your leveling blocks at 4:44? Also, just screw on some chicken wire on the inside of the door for an easy and cheap fix to keep Trinity inside! :)
No excuses for trashing our beautiful world. Enjoy watching your videos. I rode my Harley through Monument Valley with no problems. Just take your time. ❤❤
It doesn't look like they allow motorcycles on their road anymore. 😳 They allow them through Valley of the Gods nearby but monument valley had a sign up and we didn't see a single motorcycle on the route. -J
Thanks for the vital reminders. Unfortunately, it is obvious common sense and mutual respect / kindness are not so common. I am from and living in NH, and the disrespect for the land saddens me. Thanks again. Have fun and safe travels to and in Alaska!😊
Some people are just pigs! You kept it family-friendly by using the word "idiot"! Anyway, it was great how you combined the advice with the awesome scenery of the parks you explored! And Trinity now owns the couch! We have two couches 🛋 in our living room, and we call one of them Max's couch! 😅 🐩 She wanted to be with you guys so much that she went right through the door! ❤ 😀
The number of times ive taken water in bucket off my grey water tank, to put out fire pitts that people just drive away from. They get up in morning, throw every piece of wood they have one fire have their morning coffee, then drive away. Grey water is your friend, i bucket it over and douse they're fires
We’ve been binge watching ever since we found you guys! So obviously we love watching. Yay, glad we found you! (warning: rant ahead 😊) I’ve just got to say, there’s another channel we used to thoroughly enjoy watching and *dont anymore* because they spent too much time yaking into the camera about what *we, the viewers* should and shouldn’t do., and for the record, we always abide by the etiquette rules you spent way too much time on. Rant over. We still love you 😊.
HAHA! I hear you loud and clear and I can absolutely promise you that our channel will be 90% or more pure entertainment. But being the opinionated guy that I am I'm sure I'll sneak some of my opinions in there from time to time...and occasionally...like this one...they will get a dedicated video when I get worked up enough. 😁😂 -J
We were just in Monument Valley last month! We camped nearby and had incredible sunrises and sunsets. It's beautiful but you're right....THOSE ROADS!!! I was just grateful we had a pickup and not a van or car! And all of your rules when boondocking are spot on. You would think they were all obvious, common sense things but they're not. #8 and #9 are my biggest pet peeves. We boondock along a lot of different forest service roads in Arizona and I'm always amazed at how many fires we have to put out. My kids have gotten really good at making a fire pit "soup" by pouring water in the smoldering ashes and stirring it all around until everything is dead out. They also know to leave our boondock site (and those nearby) even better than we found them but it seems each year we fill more and more trashbags full of other people's trash! Sadly...the people who need to hear your rules the most will never take the time to watch your video :(
I'd love to build a growing community of people like you who go above and beyond. We, of course, cannot get everyone to "behave" but the more people we can get to start leading by example the bigger difference we can make as a whole. -J
Awesome again, hey if you stop by a Harbor Freight tool store, you can pick up a cordless 3/8 impact and a socket, that makes raising and lowering the trailer jacks much faster and easier.
Would you mind sending me a link to RVopenroading@gmail.com? (I have links turned off in the comments). When I search that I don't find what I have on here. And when I search Self Adhesive Automotive trim I only have choices of Red, Black, or Chrome so I must be digging in the wrong places! -J
On your trip to or from Alaska you will almost certainly encounter wildfires - mostly started by lightning (but not always). We were escorted thru a fire near the north end of the Cassiar Hwy with flames on the edge of the road! Scary. We also boondocked in the Bisti Wilderness Area a little north and west of where you were (I think) at Bisti/De-Na-Zin - absolutely beautiful. Your tips are absolutely rules that should be followed by everyone that uses public lands. I got a trash picker-upper that I take use every time we boondock. My old boy scout leader always said "leave it better than you found it". Thanks for the excellent video and for taking us along on your journey.
We we're near some fires 2 years ago outside of Crater Lake. We camped about a mile from the Firefighters camp. We talked to them and they were like - you're safe - but if we leave you should leave. 😂 Good advice I think. -J
@@OpenRoading Definitely. When I worked back-stage at concerts the pyro guy would wear a shirt that said: I'm the PYRO tech - if you see me running try to keep up!" on the back.
Great video! When we went to Monument Valley we got great views/pictures from the visitor center! No need to go on the dirt road! Love Trinity! He just wants to play ❤with you guys!
So cool! We want to do more exploring there when we have more time. So many cool formations and we just went a couple hundred yards in like real tourists. 😂 -J
I love this content, overall great personalities! …. Oh, and your editing is phenomenal! Joe, I start to cringe when I see you at the dump station without any gloves on. One suggestion to you is to invest in some nitrile gloves! They are a must to keep your hands clean while you empty out your tanks! 🚽💩
Thanks so much!!! As you follow the channel you will find that I am a no-gloves dump station guy. While I’m not afraid of the occasional oopsie splash I also don’t run my hands inside the hoses and wash my hands when I’m done. Parents change diapers on a daily basis without gloves. We pump gas with no gloves. We handle the dirtiest thing of all - cash - with no gloves. 😀 But I also have no issue with those who wear gloves! More power to you! Just don’t leave them on the ground at the dump station for me to pick up which happens far far too often. -J
Really enjoy your videos. But, oh my dear young folks, the song you referenced is by The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. I know, I know..."ok Boomer", but I loved her as one of my favorite Motown artists. ❤
Yes indeed! We tossed Aretha Franklin's name up on the screen there while Kalyn said the wrong name 👀 Wanted to give credit where credit was due before I murdered the song. 😂 -J
@@OpenRoading, Sorry I was folding clothes and missed that. Check out some of her other songs like "Spirit in the Dark" and "Think" and of course her version of the great Carol King song, "Natural Woman". Kalyn, she'll change your life.
I could do dispersed camping between Sedona and Flagstaff off the service road this summer. If you stop at the visitor center they will give you a map.
Take your time heading North. The weather here wont warm up. Everyday has been in the high 20's to low 40's. Still have 3 feet of snow in the yard. Someday I will see the Sun. But great video
It appears that the issues (with Boondocking Idiots) that you are dealing with in the States, are very similar to the problems with what we refer to as Free Camping sites here in Australia!! Seems to have really only become an issue since COVID as we now have so many more travellers out there!! 😳🤷♂️
More travelers could be part of it for sure - but the attitudes of the travelers are the biggest problem. We are at a new spot this week and already I've picked up quite a bit of trash. More people isn't necessarily bad - but people who are unwilling to even do basic cleaning up after themselves is just crazy. -J
Really enjoyed this video, so many great tips on how to be respectful and not to be an idiot. PS we had planned to stop at Bisti but got behind on our drive day so didn't make it. Looks amazing. - K and M
Well done guys! People have become so selfish culturally. So many don't even realize it. Just oblivious. It's what they've always known. Thanks for another great video!
@@OpenRoading 100%, no doubt. Love that you guys get it. Really glad to find your channel through Craig and Victoria. Really looking forward to your adventure in Alaska. My first base was Eielson AFB, in Fairbanks. I lived in Alaska for 4 years. I've also been stationed in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico among other places. Your channel has been so fun to catch up on!
Your RV is so cute! Would love to see a full tour one day! We have opposing sides for the main living area: which is great for having TONS of space, but not so great if you want to get inside real quick on travel days 🫣 We can get inside and get to half of the fridge, the whole coffee bar (yay), the bathroom, and bedroom. But you’re definitely not chilling in the living space until a slide is opened 😅
We so want duel slides...but yeah...that part about them kinda stinks! There's always pros and cons to things! Tour is coming! We wanted to finish the decals first but the tour is now ON the content schedule! -J
As a deputy Sheriff in Colorado, who worked in National Forest areas free public camping (Boondocking) is great. However, we had numerous people pull in set up camp, trash the area and leave. Even leaving RVs behind for the state or forest service to clean up. It affects everyone unfortunately.
We just found a huge piece of someone’s awning at our latest boondocking spot. It’s so frustrating! We did find a National Forest campground who was willing to take it and break it down to put in their dumpsters. Thank you for all you do! -K
It's so simple - but I think every RV channel should do a form of this video (like many have long before us!). This message needs to be repeated over and over again from as many voices as possible. -J
Regarding your upcoming trip north, here are two places in Canada that you absolutely must visit in the Yukon/BC. Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park (make reservations or use the overflow area) and the town of Dawson City. The territorial park is across the river from Dawson City on a free ferry. Unless you love bad gravel roads, resist the urge to carry on to Chicken, Alaska. Overall, we have found the Yukon to be more authentic and enjoyable than Alaska. The towns of Stewart, BC and Hyder, Alaska are also worth a visit. You will be able to cross from Canada to the US and back without going through US customs. While there, ask the locals for the story behind that story! Meridian Lake Provincial Park is a nice place to stay while visiting Stewart/Hyder.
I know we are hitting Dawson City and I do think we are going to be hitting up the Yukon at some point (but Kalyn does all the planning so I'm not 100% sure on that!) Thanks for the advice! -J
Yay! It's always tricky because I don't want them to interrupt the flow but at the same time they can be some good laugh out loud moments. So thank you for that feedback! -J
We camp and ride mules, 4 legged ones, in Oklahoma and Arkansas mainly. We ride in some pretty remote and rugged places. We see lots of trash on the trails, its really sad. We have also had run ins with people on those loud dirt bikes that aren't even suppose to be on the trails. At least we can hear them coming and get off the trails befor we they run over us. People are just rude and crude
Thanks! We love so much in NM! (although we're currently in FL. 👀) If you ever are curious about the order of the videos (since youtube doesn't do a good job of putting them in order automatically) You can go here: ➡️ www.youtube.com/@OpenRoading/videos Make sure "Latest" is selected and everything is sorted from newest to oldest. 🙂 -J
When your setting up the camper, what product and/or app are y’all using to get the camper leveled? Also a great reminder to everyone to be considerate of the environment and other people to pack it in, pack it out!
@@OpenRoading Thank you very much for your response! I have a truck camper and this might be the product that I’m looking for to easier leveling. I’ll look on Amazon for it. Safe travels.
If you are traveling the Alcan to AK then you better be prepared for gravely rough roads. And narrow roads and 100’s of miles between stops. I haven’t traveled it in many many years but it’s rough in spots. Can’t wait to see how it goes. It’s beautiful and an awesome adventure for sure. ❤️❤️❤️
"I haven’t traveled it in many many years" I think you're in for a bit of a surprise when you watch our adventure this year. The roads are much much better now from what I have seen and according to the milepost guide there are a lot more fuel stations (although still decently spread out) -J
The only "unpaved" (really underpaved) section of the Alcan was an area around Destruction Bay. Top of the world Highway and YT 9 south of Dawson City are gravel, but very well maintained.
I don’t camp or RV but like watching your videos! This was very informative on what you should be doing. Vehicles need a “No Dust” rule similar to boats and the “No wake” rule.
There is a recent movie called The Marksman with Liam Neesom that was released in Jan of 2021. Some scenes were filmed in several places of New Mexico, one in the town of Belen, NM. Belen is just down the road a bit from Bisto Badlands where you two are out walking with Trinity. That Badlands matches a few scenes in the movie. Just Hollywood trivia for your channel to enjoy. 😊
With rule 9 you need to add to that one that in some places especially in Canada you may not be allowed to grab dead wood on the ground or cut down certain things for firewood. You may have to buy it and take it in with you?
I guess you’ve never boondocked in Florida during the summer. Everyone runs the generator 24/7. You should build a 3-sided plywood box with hard foam insulation to cover the generator to dampen the sound.
If your in a scenario where everyone is running generators that wouldn't be a problem of course. 😁 But you are correct - Having lived in and enjoyed Florida for several years, I have zero desire to be in our RV in Florida in the summer. -J
I see that is Joe Skeen. We tried to stop there once but all the level spots were taken and didn't want to park on a hill. We were very disappointed in it looks like no Maintenace
That's a good option if you don't have a solar setup. For us if we run out of juice it means the hasn't been out for a while. So we have a generator for a backup charging source. If you already have a solar setup, I'd either recommend expanding the setup or getting a backup generator over a completely separate solar generator. -J
@@OpenRoading gotta be done on time, don't forget what the minimum thickness is allowed for the brakes, and add some more space. I make my employer, replace brakes on my truck before they get to the minimum.
@@OpenRoading I would absolutely do that. I myself about to do some work on my 1999 GMC suburban, I need to redo my rear brakes, then on my trailer swap idlers into electric brakes. The more braking the better
Thanks for doing this video. People are so rude and disrespectful, but most of all ungrateful. It was nice meeting you today. maybe our paths will cross again someday. Safe travels.
Thanks so so much for stopping by and saying hi! We made it through our 500 mile trek unscathed the next day! 🙂 Do you mind if I share our photo in the RUclips Community? (if you could - I'd love the photo with Mike in it as well - you could email it to me at rvopenroading@gmail.com) - J
Our drawers have very basic hardware but they do have a catch so they don't pop out (we have to lift the drawer before pulling to open). The desk doesn't have that but I have a solution I'm working on. The cabinets have a clasp that is supposed to hold them closed...and it does mostly a good job.... 😂 -J
Monument valley fun fact. Don't climb the buttes. Clint Eastwood was the last to cli?b there. He was tasked to remove any climbing equipment at the end of filming. Now I can't think of the exact movie.
@@OpenRoading I didn't realize it was that strict. I should have looked for the movie. The well in this case thumbnail shows him with a backwoods cigar and a Mexican shawl. Or should we say Latin? Still an old classic, as am I. Also, how much can the motorcycle carrier hold? My cruiser weighs in at 700lb
@@OpenRoading well I am going by the dry weight plus all I have added, and 700 is my best guess. Will you tell me the manufacturer, and whare I might inquire about it?
@@On-down-the-road Oh sure! All the links are in the description of this video we did specifically on the carrier! ruclips.net/video/M0uB_iU3QLs/видео.htmlsi=PXUoBGEStxaFC4Tg
I'll have to give that a shot. I had a soft start given to me but I've never installed it because I knew we didn't have enough solar to make it possible for that application. -J
@@OpenRoading You don't need solar for the SS. That said, with it, it will greatly reduce the starting amperage which will reduce the battery draw down. I had a 15,000 AC unit and a 2000 watt Honda generator. I will not run. I added the SS and was then able to run it with the Generator.
@@chrisschiel6741 true true. I worded that very poorly. I just meant that I hadn't thought about using it for a generator. My thought was to install it if I ever got enough juice in my solar and battery setup to consider running it off that. 🙂 But now I may try to install it next winter knowing that I might be able to run it off my small gen! -J
I don't understand why people are to lazy to put trash where it belongs. I get so angry and sad just driving on the highway and seeing trash people throw out of their vehicles 😡 probably the same people who can't return their shopping carts to the cart corral. Even though Trinity broke the screen im still leaving a❤ for her and Cody ❤
Yes, we've been to Monument Valley. Remember, there isn't too much industry out there, so much of the money is used to support the people Navajo Nation. Also, next time you need ro visit Goulding's Lodge to check out the hidden arch. It's a neat spot and very photogenic! 👍
"isn't too much industry" I'd suggest starting a road maintenance industry. 😁 We visited Monument Valley and also Valley of the Gods. Both were beautiful...one was free and the roads were practically the same. I understand what you are saying...but in my opinion....if you don't make the experience better than the free one......you could be leaving tourism dollars on the table. Just my 2 cents (or $16). Thanks for the tip on Goulding's Lodge! -J
Grey water open dumping is hot button topic! After reading up about long term sequelae we decided to use biodegradable products whenever possible - soaps, toothpaste, etc. It’s a process for sure but we’ve achieved about 70 - 80% compliant products. Sometimes it’s time to celebrate the baby steps!
Yeah...I was not sure whether to toss it in here because I know it's a lightning rod for some. I know products matter but generally in places where I've dumped gray water I've seen plant life in that area (when we are there for 2 weeks) be noticeably greener than the plants around. So for me, I'm ok with it where allowed and yeah, do your best to make the water as good as you can - but I don't think I'll ever have a problem with someone dumping grays as long as they are doing it in a good manner (not dumping it all over the site). -J
As a youngster my grandparents would take us tent camping .. we had to “police” our site before setting up and again when we left! GPa said we had to leave it better than we found it!
Read through (I think) all the comments so far and can't believe nobody mentioned Joe's comment when leaving "Forrest Gump Point" - I saw what you did there...spot on! Also, was wondering, do you leave the StarLink receiver out once it's been set up - saw it sitting on the ground when you pulled back into camp after being gone all day.
You are the first to notice! 😂 Figured it would be a fun easter egg instead of calling it out. So....at risk of putting this on the internet... yes...we generally do leave our starlink receiver out. It hasn't been stolen...yet. lol. Eventually I want to get it rigged to the RV where it would be harder to steal. I'm not a crook but I think the only thing someone could do with just the dish is maybe sell it online? But seems like a lot of work for your common thief when they could break into almost any RV and potentially find things of higher value. -J
Hubby and I really appreciate that you clean the camp areas. We also clean our camp areas. Our motto is to leave it cleaner than when we arrived. My biggest pet peeve is cigarette butts. And I’m a smoker
"Our motto is to leave it cleaner than when we arrived" I'm sure you have found that is a very easy motto to follow through on anymore. It's crazy how bad some places are. -J
I know you're always getting corrected on pronunciation, but, it is pronounced Bisti with a long I at the end. That Sinclair in Farmington you dumped at is a regular stop for me. Great people that work there!
Great tips. Not sassy at all. I invite you to go to the Oklahoma City area and learn about the history of Native Americans in our country. The First Americans Museum tells the sobering truth of American history as it relates to the tribes....and so you might have a different perspective on the $8/person to enter Monument Valley.... hope you enjoyed it. We look forward to spending time there.
I'm thankful that I got an education that didn't sugar coat history. So between that and things I've been able to witness in our travels I'm not blissfully unaware of our history. However, and I don't want to get too deep in the weeds here, I fail to see how history relates to an $8 entry fee and the condition of roads in a park today. If the US National park facilities are falling apart and someone complains - the rightful target of the complaint is the US government because they collect the fees along with our tax dollars that go to upkeep those facilities. When it comes to Monument Valley if someone has an issue with the maintenance, the people in charge of maintaining it are the ones who you would "blame" for the issue. I don't see how in the world you could blame that on anyone who is dead and gone. History matters. But we are neither responsible for it nor victims of it. It is there for us to learn from and move forward to better things. -J
Forget the gross aspect of not following the rules of burying poop, it is a serious health hazard and a common way for potentially dangerous diseases to spread.
Oh for sure!! Although I have a nephew that literally played in raw sewage once as a toddler (true story) and I'm pretty sure he's going to grow up to have superpowers. 😂 -J
I am sitting here laughing. At 32:20 you call out the girls. Take a close look again. I think you are lucky those guys were in a good mood. And now I laugh a little more.
I knew it! I KNEW I was going to catch (Well deserved) grief for this. 😂😂😂😂😂 I didn't notice it until it was already uploaded to RUclips this morning. 😂 -J
at about 4:40 of this video, it looks like you left your orange levelling blocks behind. No wonder you got away on time.😄 Would love to know if Im correct?
Remember…there is a camera there filming the RV leave too. 😁 After Kalyn stopped recording she grabbed the leveling blocks on her way back to the truck. -J
Your screen door is what we call a Daytona. Our black lab did that to us. They do make a screen protector for animals for the campers. Hope you guys have a great trip in Alaska.
She likes it better than the seat but we discovered that she needed more "softness" (because she's a princess after all 🙄 😂) so we put a fluffy blanket over it and now she loves it. It's also nice because it gives Cody his own space underneath! -J
I noticed that you have a harness on Trinity, but you hooked the leash up to the collar. Much safer, and easier to hook the leash to the harness. Also, noticed that you misspelled "dispersed" on one of your graphics...Us English majors do pay attention to this kind of stuff...lol
I'm trying to get in the habit of walking around our boondocking areas with a trash bag at some point before we leave. I'm currently doing it less than 50% of our locations but I want to bring it up to 100%. -J
I’m a Florida resident and can’t tell you how many windshields I’ve gone through. Strangely, none when I drove my van to Alaska, but all 5 (!) in the lower 48. 😂 Travel on!
LOL! There are more than a few people that don't think our rig is going to survive Alaska. 😂 They may be right, but I'm more of the mind that we've taken her up many forest roads that are worse. -J
@@OpenRoading I drive up in 2019 in my 2WD Chevy van and didn’t have any problem. If you’re crossing some frost heaves just slow down and you’ll be good. Don’t let Trinity play with the teddy bears…🙃
@@Vantasticviews2 Haha! NO! I just saw some drone video of a husky hanging out with some bears and I was like "I WOULD DIE OF A HEART ATTACK IF I SAW TRINITY DOING THAT!" -J
Follow us on Instagram for more real time updates!
➡ instagram.com/openroading
Do not use Instagram
@@cynthiaogrey4330 Then don't follow us there! 😁 -J
@@OpenRoading HAHAHA 😂. So you will keep showing the same things on fb as you do on instagram????
@@cynthiaogrey4330 I think the stuff we post on IG automatically goes on FB. But we don't actively respond to comments or anything on Facebook. Too many platforms to maintain. 😁 So we are active here on YT comments and Instagram when it comes to interacting! -J
I live in Custer country SD, When I was moving here for work, I lived in my SUV and cargo trailer for 4 months while looking for a place to live in, its hard with that because of empty houses reserved for AirBnBs for seasonal rental. So I parked on a county road "almost" rest area. its like a large pull of the road that is totally separated from the road, but its not designated as a rest area, just open paved area. anyways, one of the nights I was woken up by state trooper, he said camping is not allowed there. I asked him if he remembered what that place looked like a week ago, he said yes, so I told him to look around again. he did, and he was like, what are you talking about, I then explained that I took about 40 bags of 33 gallon trash bags of garbage to the dump, last few day, cleaning this area up. I then Explained that I understand that they don't want campers there because of trash, but I was more than willing to stop by their statin or forest rangers and get a permit or agreement. next day after my shift at work, I went to the forest ranger station, started talking about the location. the ranger at the front desk was like, wait, that was you who cleaned up there? I thought it was a local YMCA. then I explained him what my situation was and he was like "hold on". he called someone, an old man came owner, who was some kind of boss there. he is like, "this guy"? -yeap!. so after some pleasantries he is like, "camp all you want, also let me get your plates and name so I can tell cops to leave you alone, I will tell them you are one of us" and he did. a year later I was stopped for speeding and cop ran my name, comes back and says, "why didn't you say you are one of us?" lol, they really put me in a system as one of cops, but to be fair I am actually now working on becoming a deputy reserve for assistance to them when they need extra people.
so yes, stay good and hopefully we can turn camping community into a better picture from others point of view.
I LOVE THIS STORY!!! ALL OF THIS. I'm literally tearing up right now not just because of you, but because the people around you didn't just pass you off but took time to see that you were benefiting the community. THANK YOU for doing all of that and THANK YOU for sharing. -J
@@OpenRoading thank you. Yes I am trying to be a part of community
Such an awesome story!
When boondocking, we save our dishwater in a bucket for the day and use that to put out the fire at night. Saves grey tank storage and fresh water. We put a screen door metal screen protector on our door when the grands were little. Cheep, simple from Lowes.
Awesome way to conserve your water! We checked out some metal at Ace hardware but it was more than we wanted to pay for a DIY option - however - we haven't looked at lowes yet! -J
50ish years ago my folks joined NCHA which is the National Campers and Hikers Assoc. Even back then our motto was to always leave the place cleaner than you found it. I miss those days.
We've lost a lot of common respect over the years. -J
What a sad statement of what our society has become that you feel compelled to make a video about being polite and respectful. Great video and really liked the way it was presented. Hopefully it makes an impact. Have a great day.
It's true. Almost all of this stuff is just common sense type stuff...but I'm afraid we have a generation or two (my own included) that either wasn't taught it, or had just decided the message is for someone else and not them. -J
Loved watching Trinity play in the maze. Forgive her for the door, she just wanted to come out and play with you both.
Haha - of course she's forgiven. She runs the place. -J
Okay, this is just the opinion of an old widowed lady who lives in a fifth wheel with two pups. But, I THINK TRINITY COMPLETES YOU!!! What an amazing, beautiful addition to two amazing, beautiful people! Dogs are always worth the effort, time and money.❤TN Nana
Trinity has been such a blessing to our family. She may blast through some screens, have an independent streak, and take up too much room on the furniture...but she's where she belongs. And we got the better end of the deal. -J
@@OpenRoading I just love watching her live her best life! Bunnies have a special place in my heart as well. I raised show rabbits back in the late 60s and early 70s. My favorite was a blue and white huge girl who won some blue ribbons for me at the fair. What sweet animals!
@@cathyjay2569 We do too. We were on a short "hike" today in some snow and just watching her have a blast running through the snow brought us so much joy. -J
Video idea for you.
A video from the dog’s perspective.
Trinity is a very lucky dog to be adopted by a young active couple that loves to travel. She gets to go so many places
But doing a video for those who love to travel with their dogs would be a great area to cover.
Maybe someday! -J
I definitely have to say you guys are certainly "hitting your stride". Your energy is real and sincere. I really like your editing. You certainly don't make this appear that you have to work at creating a very entertaining video. Your message is so sensible, but, unfortunately, needs to be said. It's always the 1% who wreck things for the rest of us! Great job on this video. Safe travels. My son and I road our Harleys to Monument Valley from Wisc. in 2018 and stayed in Bluff. Loved every mile of that area. Safe travels!
Thanks so much! I so appreciate you taking the time to encourage us and I love that we make it look like it's not hard work. 😂 That's the goal!
Now I won't tell you that I was up till 2am on Wednesday and 1am on Thursday finishing this one off. 😂😂😂😂😂😂
You are dead on with the 1% although I'm afraid that percentage is growing. We've been traveling now for 5 years and it seems like the problem is getting worse and not better. 👀 -J
Whenever I’m about to do something I think “would an idiot do that thing, and if they would I don’t do that thing” Always funny and entertaining you guys 😅
Dwight Schrute advice for the win! 😂 -J
Trinity was so proud of herself 😂 thank you for sharing another beautiful trip, plus all of those common sense tips that people tend to forget when they camp. Safe travels, can't wait for your next video😊 hopefully you have Trinity's DNA results by then, so many of us are waiting to see what she is 😅
I can confirm...Trinitys DNA results are in the next video. They are....surprising. -J
I love how you advocate for the respect of our beautiful natural resources. Love seeing Trinity and Cody!
They're here for us to enjoy not destroy! 😁 -J
Thank You for the 9 "don't be am idiot when boon-docking". I really like it when you picked up other peoples trash. We boondocks every chance we get. I hate most campgrounds because they like a parking lot. Window to window, "do you have any Gray Poupon"?
Keep up the good work. You are real people, like Greg & Victoria (Wild RV Life).
Craig and Victoria are awesome! Such great friends.
Thanks so much for the encouragement! -J
I love that you guys take great care of your pets... your vehicle & R V.
Also the way you gently remind people to respect the areas they camp in. Pack in Pack out.
Ok... Craig from WildRVLife better not be drinking anything when he sees someone say I take good care of my vehicle....because if he does he's going to spit it out over his laptop. 😂
I'm trying to do better on that end. But the pets!! They rule the place. -J
You need to do the tour! It was so worth every penny. You go off the road and if you get a Native driver you will be given such a treat. Our driver invited us to a drum circle. I felt like I was in his church service! Incredible experience. Worth. Every. Penny!
That poor girl finally found a loving home and has separation anxiety now and trying to make sure you didn't just leave her like the last people ... she might also see that little bed as a temporary thing but the couch as a more permanent place to sleep. She's so happy now she has a family to protect and that loves and keeps her comfortable. What a beautiful creature. I live fulltime in my RV in a year round campground that has a lot of transient traffic here in Florida and I can't tell you how much it annoys me that complete strangers will just walk around my camper as if they belong right up in my grill. arrrgggg ... that and the dust storm that swirls by because they can't come off the paved road onto the limerock/dirt road and slow down to the posted 5mph. It's hard to not see an idiot as the idiot they portray themselves to be.
She's actually quite good on the anxiety front. We've left her in the RV for a while and she usually just sleeps the time away. Never chews on anything or goes crazy. I think it was different this time because we were visibly doing stuff outside....and she wanted to do stuff outside. 😂
And yeah - people walking through campsites...I just do not get it. It's like they think the personal space ends at your four walls. -J
Common courtesy/sense, not so common anymore but a good summary of respectful boondocking. Great video, keep them coming!
It's true. Common should probably simply be dropped from the phrase unfortunately. -J
Loved your sassiness. Very good messaging. It’s sad to see the results of unthoughtful people. Don’t be too hard on Trinity. She just loves to be with you and acts out of natural instincts. 😂
Haha! We weren't hard on her. She's too cute to be mad at. -J
Another awesome video! I love all your movie clips and soundbites… and the music in this one was 🔥! But the very best of course is Joseph, Kalyn, Trin, and Cody. Thanks for sharing from the heart-even with the sass-for the sake of being good stewards of what we’ve been given. ❤❤❤
I'm so sorry we don't have more videos for today's binge! 👀 I'm afraid you've caught up to us. lol. -J
Being a full-timer RV’er, 99% of the time boondocking, I 100% agree with all 9 of your topics.
I loathe litterbugs. Soooo much.
The second is getting dusted out.
Great video.
Thanks so much! -J
I've encountered still-smoldering campfires even at an empty site in a managed campground! It shocks me that anyone could leave a fire without making sure it was fully put out.
Right?? It’s the “it won’t happen to us” mindset.
Did you forget your leveling blocks at 4:44? Also, just screw on some chicken wire on the inside of the door for an easy and cheap fix to keep Trinity inside! :)
Nope! The camera girl grabbed them after she got the shot. 😃
We’re hoping to get something more aesthetic for the screen…still shopping though!! -J
No excuses for trashing our beautiful world. Enjoy watching your videos.
I rode my Harley through Monument Valley with no problems. Just take your time. ❤❤
It doesn't look like they allow motorcycles on their road anymore. 😳 They allow them through Valley of the Gods nearby but monument valley had a sign up and we didn't see a single motorcycle on the route. -J
Thanks for the vital reminders. Unfortunately, it is obvious common sense and mutual respect / kindness are not so common. I am from and living in NH, and the disrespect for the land saddens me. Thanks again. Have fun and safe travels to and in Alaska!😊
Love your state! The area we referenced was in/near the white mountains. We were there to hike the “prezies” -J
There are metal screens for pets that you can attach to your screen door for pets like your good girl! Another great video y’all!
Thanks for the tip! We've been looking into them because the last thing I need to do is replace the screen every 2 months 😂 -J
Some people are just pigs! You kept it family-friendly by using the word "idiot"! Anyway, it was great how you combined the advice with the awesome scenery of the parks you explored! And Trinity now owns the couch! We have two couches 🛋 in our living room, and we call one of them Max's couch! 😅 🐩 She wanted to be with you guys so much that she went right through the door! ❤ 😀
Family friendly is our MO! We felt like we were on the edge by saying idiot 100 times. 😂 -J
Pack it in, Pack it out! When we hike/camp in the rockies or in the boundary waters of MN we lived by that rule! Have fun and keep up the good work!
It's so simple to clean up after yourself! But yet...it's getting less and less common. -J
The number of times ive taken water in bucket off my grey water tank, to put out fire pitts that people just drive away from.
They get up in morning, throw every piece of wood they have one fire have their morning coffee, then drive away.
Grey water is your friend, i bucket it over and douse they're fires
Yes...the classic "let's get the fire going before we leave" 🙄👀
Not all heroes wear capes! Some carry a bucket of gray water. -J
We’ve been binge watching ever since we found you guys! So obviously we love watching. Yay, glad we found you! (warning: rant ahead 😊) I’ve just got to say, there’s another channel we used to thoroughly enjoy watching and *dont anymore* because they spent too much time yaking into the camera about what *we, the viewers* should and shouldn’t do., and for the record, we always abide by the etiquette rules you spent way too much time on. Rant over. We still love you 😊.
HAHA! I hear you loud and clear and I can absolutely promise you that our channel will be 90% or more pure entertainment. But being the opinionated guy that I am I'm sure I'll sneak some of my opinions in there from time to time...and occasionally...like this one...they will get a dedicated video when I get worked up enough. 😁😂 -J
@@OpenRoading😊
We were just in Monument Valley last month! We camped nearby and had incredible sunrises and sunsets. It's beautiful but you're right....THOSE ROADS!!! I was just grateful we had a pickup and not a van or car! And all of your rules when boondocking are spot on. You would think they were all obvious, common sense things but they're not. #8 and #9 are my biggest pet peeves. We boondock along a lot of different forest service roads in Arizona and I'm always amazed at how many fires we have to put out. My kids have gotten really good at making a fire pit "soup" by pouring water in the smoldering ashes and stirring it all around until everything is dead out. They also know to leave our boondock site (and those nearby) even better than we found them but it seems each year we fill more and more trashbags full of other people's trash! Sadly...the people who need to hear your rules the most will never take the time to watch your video :(
I'd love to build a growing community of people like you who go above and beyond. We, of course, cannot get everyone to "behave" but the more people we can get to start leading by example the bigger difference we can make as a whole. -J
Some great tips for everybody. It makes me sad when I see people abusing our camping places.
It seems to be getting worse unfortunately. -J
Trinity running to her said “yelling, I’m free!”
FREEEEEEEEEEEE 😁 -J
Awesome again, hey if you stop by a Harbor Freight tool store, you can pick up a cordless 3/8 impact and a socket, that makes raising and lowering the trailer jacks much faster and easier.
haha! Right?! 5 years of doing it this way. Can you believe it?! -J
Farmington!!! That station is where we dump after a campout or a trip home. We always fill up before we dump
Isn't it cool when you see someone else at a spot you are familiar with on youtube? It's so fun! 😁 -J
FYI that rubber line that divides , the top half from the basement. That is called belting you came get it Amazon. Sometimes it also called rv belting
Would you mind sending me a link to RVopenroading@gmail.com? (I have links turned off in the comments).
When I search that I don't find what I have on here. And when I search Self Adhesive Automotive trim I only have choices of Red, Black, or Chrome so I must be digging in the wrong places! -J
One of the better parts of a Friday. Yay.
So glad! And Fridays are supposed to be good so being a better part of a good day is high praise! -J
On your trip to or from Alaska you will almost certainly encounter wildfires - mostly started by lightning (but not always). We were escorted thru a fire near the north end of the Cassiar Hwy with flames on the edge of the road! Scary. We also boondocked in the Bisti Wilderness Area a little north and west of where you were (I think) at Bisti/De-Na-Zin - absolutely beautiful. Your tips are absolutely rules that should be followed by everyone that uses public lands. I got a trash picker-upper that I take use every time we boondock. My old boy scout leader always said "leave it better than you found it". Thanks for the excellent video and for taking us along on your journey.
We we're near some fires 2 years ago outside of Crater Lake. We camped about a mile from the Firefighters camp. We talked to them and they were like - you're safe - but if we leave you should leave. 😂 Good advice I think. -J
@@OpenRoading Definitely. When I worked back-stage at concerts the pyro guy would wear a shirt that said: I'm the PYRO tech - if you see me running try to keep up!" on the back.
@@randyriggs4575 That's spectacular. -J
Great video! When we went to Monument Valley we got great views/pictures from the visitor center! No need to go on the dirt road! Love Trinity! He just wants to play ❤with you guys!
Yes - the best view is truly from the visitor center! -J
I was born in Farmington NM so I grew up hiking the Bisti Badlands and love finding the over 400 arches in that area as well.
So cool! We want to do more exploring there when we have more time. So many cool formations and we just went a couple hundred yards in like real tourists. 😂 -J
I love this content, overall great personalities! …. Oh, and your editing is phenomenal!
Joe, I start to cringe when I see you at the dump station without any gloves on.
One suggestion to you is to invest in some nitrile gloves! They are a must to keep your hands clean while you empty out your tanks! 🚽💩
Thanks so much!!! As you follow the channel you will find that I am a no-gloves dump station guy. While I’m not afraid of the occasional oopsie splash I also don’t run my hands inside the hoses and wash my hands when I’m done. Parents change diapers on a daily basis without gloves. We pump gas with no gloves. We handle the dirtiest thing of all - cash - with no gloves. 😀
But I also have no issue with those who wear gloves! More power to you! Just don’t leave them on the ground at the dump station for me to pick up which happens far far too often. -J
Really enjoy your videos. But, oh my dear young folks, the song you referenced is by The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. I know, I know..."ok Boomer", but I loved her as one of my favorite Motown artists. ❤
Yes indeed! We tossed Aretha Franklin's name up on the screen there while Kalyn said the wrong name 👀 Wanted to give credit where credit was due before I murdered the song. 😂 -J
@@OpenRoading, Sorry I was folding clothes and missed that. Check out some of her other songs like "Spirit in the Dark" and "Think" and of course her version of the great Carol King song, "Natural Woman". Kalyn, she'll change your life.
@@OpenRoading OMG - how funny! Perfect sync of the correct name popping up on the screen. I COMPLETELY MISSED TO BOO-BOO.
I could do dispersed camping between Sedona and Flagstaff off the service road this summer. If you stop at the visitor center they will give you a map.
We checked out a couple spots when we were there a couple years back but we were too early. The service roads were still closed. 😭 -J
Certain wood generates embers which (of course) can start an undetected (until it's too late) fire downwind, especially during dry season.
For sure! -J
Take your time heading North. The weather here wont warm up. Everyday has been in the high 20's to low 40's. Still have 3 feet of snow in the yard. Someday I will see the Sun. But great video
Haha! Hopefully it's liveable by Joe and Kalyn standards by mid June! That's the goal date. -J
Oh! And I got so wrapped up in the comment that I forgot to say Thank You again for your incredible generosity and support of the channel!! -J
It appears that the issues (with Boondocking Idiots) that you are dealing with in the States, are very similar to the problems with what we refer to as Free Camping sites here in Australia!!
Seems to have really only become an issue since COVID as we now have so many more travellers out there!! 😳🤷♂️
More travelers could be part of it for sure - but the attitudes of the travelers are the biggest problem. We are at a new spot this week and already I've picked up quite a bit of trash. More people isn't necessarily bad - but people who are unwilling to even do basic cleaning up after themselves is just crazy. -J
We use baby cupboard safety latches. If the door comes loose the catch keeps them shut.
Nice! -J
Really enjoyed this video, so many great tips on how to be respectful and not to be an idiot. PS we had planned to stop at Bisti but got behind on our drive day so didn't make it. Looks amazing. - K and M
If you get the chance block off more time than we did! It looks like it's a pretty incredible place to explore if you can hike in a mile or 2! -J
Well done guys! People have become so selfish culturally. So many don't even realize it. Just oblivious. It's what they've always known. Thanks for another great video!
"It's what they've always known." I think there is a mountain of sad truth that could be unpacked through that statement. - J
@@OpenRoading 100%, no doubt. Love that you guys get it. Really glad to find your channel through Craig and Victoria. Really looking forward to your adventure in Alaska. My first base was Eielson AFB, in Fairbanks. I lived in Alaska for 4 years. I've also been stationed in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico among other places. Your channel has been so fun to catch up on!
Your RV is so cute! Would love to see a full tour one day!
We have opposing sides for the main living area: which is great for having TONS of space, but not so great if you want to get inside real quick on travel days 🫣 We can get inside and get to half of the fridge, the whole coffee bar (yay), the bathroom, and bedroom. But you’re definitely not chilling in the living space until a slide is opened 😅
We so want duel slides...but yeah...that part about them kinda stinks! There's always pros and cons to things!
Tour is coming! We wanted to finish the decals first but the tour is now ON the content schedule! -J
As a deputy Sheriff in Colorado, who worked in National Forest areas free public camping (Boondocking) is great. However, we had numerous people pull in set up camp, trash the area and leave. Even leaving RVs behind for the state or forest service to clean up. It affects everyone unfortunately.
We just found a huge piece of someone’s awning at our latest boondocking spot. It’s so frustrating! We did find a National Forest campground who was willing to take it and break it down to put in their dumpsters. Thank you for all you do! -K
Thank you for saying what shouldn't have needed to be said.
Simple campsite adequate
It's so simple - but I think every RV channel should do a form of this video (like many have long before us!). This message needs to be repeated over and over again from as many voices as possible. -J
Regarding your upcoming trip north, here are two places in Canada that you absolutely must visit in the Yukon/BC. Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park (make reservations or use the overflow area) and the town of Dawson City. The territorial park is across the river from Dawson City on a free ferry. Unless you love bad gravel roads, resist the urge to carry on to Chicken, Alaska. Overall, we have found the Yukon to be more authentic and enjoyable than Alaska. The towns of Stewart, BC and Hyder, Alaska are also worth a visit. You will be able to cross from Canada to the US and back without going through US customs. While there, ask the locals for the story behind that story! Meridian Lake Provincial Park is a nice place to stay while visiting Stewart/Hyder.
I know we are hitting Dawson City and I do think we are going to be hitting up the Yukon at some point (but Kalyn does all the planning so I'm not 100% sure on that!) Thanks for the advice! -J
You need the screen defender from Lippert. It will keep Trinity from pushing the screen out. Thanks for another great video!
On the shopping list! -J
I really like the funny clips you’re inserting! Very cute😂
Yay! It's always tricky because I don't want them to interrupt the flow but at the same time they can be some good laugh out loud moments. So thank you for that feedback! -J
We camp and ride mules, 4 legged ones, in Oklahoma and Arkansas mainly. We ride in some pretty remote and rugged places. We see lots of trash on the trails, its really sad. We have also had run ins with people on those loud dirt bikes that aren't even suppose to be on the trails. At least we can hear them coming and get off the trails befor we they run over us. People are just rude and crude
And it seems to get worse every year. 😥 -J
We put locking/unlocking child locks on some of our cupboards. They’ve been great, very easy to use and work really well.
Nice! -J
Get some rubber gloves to keep by your wet bay.
Screen defenders work well.
Picking up a screen defender soon! -J
welcome to NM glad to see you in My state. I travel 550 a lot
Thanks! We love so much in NM! (although we're currently in FL. 👀)
If you ever are curious about the order of the videos (since youtube doesn't do a good job of putting them in order automatically) You can go here:
➡️ www.youtube.com/@OpenRoading/videos
Make sure "Latest" is selected and everything is sorted from newest to oldest. 🙂 -J
When your setting up the camper, what product and/or app are y’all using to get the camper leveled? Also a great reminder to everyone to be considerate of the environment and other people to pack it in, pack it out!
We have a levelmate! We really like it. We have to do all the leveling - but it tells us how far off we are. -J
@@OpenRoading Thank you very much for your response! I have a truck camper and this might be the product that I’m looking for to easier leveling. I’ll look on Amazon for it. Safe travels.
@@richardhoffkins9088 If you haven't found it yet: amzn.to/3QyHTl5
You have to set it up - but once you do it's good to go! -J
If you are traveling the Alcan to AK then you better be prepared for gravely rough roads. And narrow roads and 100’s of miles between stops. I haven’t traveled it in many many years but it’s rough in spots. Can’t wait to see how it goes. It’s beautiful and an awesome adventure for sure. ❤️❤️❤️
"I haven’t traveled it in many many years"
I think you're in for a bit of a surprise when you watch our adventure this year. The roads are much much better now from what I have seen and according to the milepost guide there are a lot more fuel stations (although still decently spread out) -J
The only "unpaved" (really underpaved) section of the Alcan was an area around Destruction Bay. Top of the world Highway and YT 9 south of Dawson City are gravel, but very well maintained.
@@kevincoughlin4459 That's what I've been seeing! Which is great. -J
I don’t camp or RV but like watching your videos! This was very informative on what you should be doing. Vehicles need a “No Dust” rule similar to boats and the “No wake” rule.
I like it! I don't see it happening....but I like it! -J
There is a recent movie called The Marksman with Liam Neesom that was released in Jan of 2021. Some scenes were filmed in several places of New Mexico, one in the town of Belen, NM. Belen is just down the road a bit from Bisto Badlands where you two are out walking with Trinity. That Badlands matches a few scenes in the movie. Just Hollywood trivia for your channel to enjoy. 😊
Thanks! I love it! We love seeing if we can match up places to locations! -J
With rule 9 you need to add to that one that in some places especially in Canada you may not be allowed to grab dead wood on the ground or cut down certain things for firewood. You may have to buy it and take it in with you?
I guess you’ve never boondocked in Florida during the summer. Everyone runs the generator 24/7. You should build a 3-sided plywood box with hard foam insulation to cover the generator to dampen the sound.
If your in a scenario where everyone is running generators that wouldn't be a problem of course. 😁 But you are correct - Having lived in and enjoyed Florida for several years, I have zero desire to be in our RV in Florida in the summer. -J
I see that is Joe Skeen. We tried to stop there once but all the level spots were taken and didn't want to park on a hill. We were very disappointed in it looks like no Maintenace
Not sure about the maintenance - it was all good when we were there last spring. But it is popular. -J
Jockey 3000 solar generator. No noise at all and it can be charged 3 ways solar, 110 or 12v truck while driving.
That's a good option if you don't have a solar setup. For us if we run out of juice it means the hasn't been out for a while. So we have a generator for a backup charging source.
If you already have a solar setup, I'd either recommend expanding the setup or getting a backup generator over a completely separate solar generator. -J
nice job using a parachute on the downhill. (trailer brakes)
Thanks! My parachute is getting a little old. I'm hoping to replace the canopy at some point. -J
@@OpenRoading gotta be done on time, don't forget what the minimum thickness is allowed for the brakes, and add some more space. I make my employer, replace brakes on my truck before they get to the minimum.
@@pdzh I want to do whole new hub assemblies. These ones are original and I'd love to get brand new ones on there. -J
@@OpenRoading I would absolutely do that. I myself about to do some work on my 1999 GMC suburban, I need to redo my rear brakes, then on my trailer swap idlers into electric brakes. The more braking the better
Thanks for doing this video. People are so rude and disrespectful, but most of all ungrateful. It was nice meeting you today. maybe our paths will cross again someday. Safe travels.
Thanks so so much for stopping by and saying hi! We made it through our 500 mile trek unscathed the next day! 🙂 Do you mind if I share our photo in the RUclips Community? (if you could - I'd love the photo with Mike in it as well - you could email it to me at rvopenroading@gmail.com) - J
Not sure if you have soft close hinges on your cabinet doors but that might help in keeping them closed during travel. Same goes for drawer slides.
Our drawers have very basic hardware but they do have a catch so they don't pop out (we have to lift the drawer before pulling to open). The desk doesn't have that but I have a solution I'm working on.
The cabinets have a clasp that is supposed to hold them closed...and it does mostly a good job.... 😂 -J
Monument valley fun fact. Don't climb the buttes. Clint Eastwood was the last to cli?b there. He was tasked to remove any climbing equipment at the end of filming. Now I can't think of the exact movie.
You’re not allowed on any trails (except for 1 I think) without a paid guide. -J
@@OpenRoading I didn't realize it was that strict. I should have looked for the movie. The well in this case thumbnail shows him with a backwoods cigar and a Mexican shawl. Or should we say Latin? Still an old classic, as am I. Also, how much can the motorcycle carrier hold? My cruiser weighs in at 700lb
@@On-down-the-road You would need a different one. This one is rated for 600lbs. -J
@@OpenRoading well I am going by the dry weight plus all I have added, and 700 is my best guess. Will you tell me the manufacturer, and whare I might inquire about it?
@@On-down-the-road Oh sure! All the links are in the description of this video we did specifically on the carrier! ruclips.net/video/M0uB_iU3QLs/видео.htmlsi=PXUoBGEStxaFC4Tg
If you install a soft start on your AC unit you can run it off a 2000 watt generator. I did with my 2000 watt Honda.
I'll have to give that a shot. I had a soft start given to me but I've never installed it because I knew we didn't have enough solar to make it possible for that application. -J
@@OpenRoading You don't need solar for the SS. That said, with it, it will greatly reduce the starting amperage which will reduce the battery draw down. I had a 15,000 AC unit and a 2000 watt Honda generator. I will not run. I added the SS and was then able to run it with the Generator.
@@chrisschiel6741 true true. I worded that very poorly. I just meant that I hadn't thought about using it for a generator. My thought was to install it if I ever got enough juice in my solar and battery setup to consider running it off that. 🙂 But now I may try to install it next winter knowing that I might be able to run it off my small gen! -J
I don't understand why people are to lazy to put trash where it belongs. I get so angry and sad just driving on the highway and seeing trash people throw out of their vehicles 😡 probably the same people who can't return their shopping carts to the cart corral. Even though Trinity broke the screen im still leaving a❤ for her and Cody ❤
Haha - she's always deserving of a ❤️. -J
Yes, we've been to Monument Valley. Remember, there isn't too much industry out there, so much of the money is used to support the people Navajo Nation. Also, next time you need ro visit Goulding's Lodge to check out the hidden arch. It's a neat spot and very photogenic! 👍
"isn't too much industry" I'd suggest starting a road maintenance industry. 😁
We visited Monument Valley and also Valley of the Gods. Both were beautiful...one was free and the roads were practically the same. I understand what you are saying...but in my opinion....if you don't make the experience better than the free one......you could be leaving tourism dollars on the table. Just my 2 cents (or $16).
Thanks for the tip on Goulding's Lodge! -J
Grey water open dumping is hot button topic! After reading up about long term sequelae we decided to use biodegradable products whenever possible - soaps, toothpaste, etc.
It’s a process for sure but we’ve achieved about 70 - 80% compliant products. Sometimes it’s time to celebrate the baby steps!
Yeah...I was not sure whether to toss it in here because I know it's a lightning rod for some. I know products matter but generally in places where I've dumped gray water I've seen plant life in that area (when we are there for 2 weeks) be noticeably greener than the plants around. So for me, I'm ok with it where allowed and yeah, do your best to make the water as good as you can - but I don't think I'll ever have a problem with someone dumping grays as long as they are doing it in a good manner (not dumping it all over the site). -J
As a youngster my grandparents would take us tent camping .. we had to “police” our site before setting up and again when we left! GPa said we had to leave it better than we found it!
Exactly! We sorely miss the lessons of those generations. -J
Read through (I think) all the comments so far and can't believe nobody mentioned Joe's comment when leaving "Forrest Gump Point" - I saw what you did there...spot on!
Also, was wondering, do you leave the StarLink receiver out once it's been set up - saw it sitting on the ground when you pulled back into camp after being gone all day.
You are the first to notice! 😂 Figured it would be a fun easter egg instead of calling it out.
So....at risk of putting this on the internet... yes...we generally do leave our starlink receiver out. It hasn't been stolen...yet. lol. Eventually I want to get it rigged to the RV where it would be harder to steal.
I'm not a crook but I think the only thing someone could do with just the dish is maybe sell it online? But seems like a lot of work for your common thief when they could break into almost any RV and potentially find things of higher value. -J
All good points for not only boondocking, but for camping in general. Thanks for sharing some great tips on how not to be an idiot.
Good point! It's all common sense stuff but as others have pointed out - common sense isn't so common anymore. -J
Hubby and I really appreciate that you clean the camp areas. We also clean our camp areas. Our motto is to leave it cleaner than when we arrived. My biggest pet peeve is cigarette butts. And I’m a smoker
"Our motto is to leave it cleaner than when we arrived" I'm sure you have found that is a very easy motto to follow through on anymore. It's crazy how bad some places are. -J
I know you're always getting corrected on pronunciation, but, it is pronounced Bisti with a long I at the end.
That Sinclair in Farmington you dumped at is a regular stop for me. Great people that work there!
I don't know what to say because when we looked up the proper pronunciation this is what it said: bi·stee 🤷🏼
Can't win!!! 😂 -J
Lippert makes a screen protector. Amazon carries it.
Thanks! -J
R-E-S-P-E-C-T song was a great example. Aretha Franklin was the artist😊
Yep! We have a correction graphic up there! -J
If y'all hit south Dakota and the hills again I would love to show you guys some places
I'm sure we will someday! -J
Great tips. Not sassy at all. I invite you to go to the Oklahoma City area and learn about the history of Native Americans in our country. The First Americans Museum tells the sobering truth of American history as it relates to the tribes....and so you might have a different perspective on the $8/person to enter Monument Valley.... hope you enjoyed it. We look forward to spending time there.
I'm thankful that I got an education that didn't sugar coat history. So between that and things I've been able to witness in our travels I'm not blissfully unaware of our history.
However, and I don't want to get too deep in the weeds here, I fail to see how history relates to an $8 entry fee and the condition of roads in a park today. If the US National park facilities are falling apart and someone complains - the rightful target of the complaint is the US government because they collect the fees along with our tax dollars that go to upkeep those facilities.
When it comes to Monument Valley if someone has an issue with the maintenance, the people in charge of maintaining it are the ones who you would "blame" for the issue. I don't see how in the world you could blame that on anyone who is dead and gone.
History matters. But we are neither responsible for it nor victims of it. It is there for us to learn from and move forward to better things. -J
Forget the gross aspect of not following the rules of burying poop, it is a serious health hazard and a common way for potentially dangerous diseases to spread.
Oh for sure!! Although I have a nephew that literally played in raw sewage once as a toddler (true story) and I'm pretty sure he's going to grow up to have superpowers. 😂 -J
@@OpenRoading 😂
We have enough silly Avenger characters. Poop Man isn't needed. 😅😅
@@PlanetEarth3141 LOL. Captain Crap? Super Septic? The Great BM? 😂(I probably shouldn't be responding to comments this late at night) -J
I am sitting here laughing. At 32:20 you call out the girls. Take a close look again. I think you are lucky those guys were in a good mood. And now I laugh a little more.
I knew it! I KNEW I was going to catch (Well deserved) grief for this. 😂😂😂😂😂
I didn't notice it until it was already uploaded to RUclips this morning. 😂 -J
Thanks!
Next time lunch is on me (well, cheap lunch)😂
So sweet of you. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity! 🤗 I'm always humbled when people go out of their way to support the channel. -J
I haven't seen you two paying Frisbee with dried cow paddies yet. Something my brother and I used to do living across the street from a pasture.
Welp....you're going to just have to keep watching the channel until we do! (and that my friends is how you get a lifetime subscriber. 😂) -J
at about 4:40 of this video, it looks like you left your orange levelling blocks behind. No wonder you got away on time.😄 Would love to know if Im correct?
Remember…there is a camera there filming the RV leave too. 😁 After Kalyn stopped recording she grabbed the leveling blocks on her way back to the truck. -J
Your screen door is what we call a Daytona. Our black lab did that to us. They do make a screen protector for animals for the campers. Hope you guys have a great trip in Alaska.
Emergency pet exit. 😂
Thanks so much! -J
Lol….my dogs destroyed my screen door! U guys got off lucky😂😂😂😂
haha! I'm just glad she didn't hurt herself! -J
When Trinity has the harness on, you may like the leash attached to that instead 🤷♂️
It’s both a front and back clip harness. We attached the leash to the front. It helps with pulling. 🙂 -K
@@OpenRoading The Gentle Leader has been a game changer for us and our Doggie.
Another good video! How is that smart girl Trinity liking the hammock in the truck ? Our dog loves it he feels more secure and comfortable .
She likes it better than the seat but we discovered that she needed more "softness" (because she's a princess after all 🙄 😂) so we put a fluffy blanket over it and now she loves it. It's also nice because it gives Cody his own space underneath! -J
Yes it is important that we respect the free camping and others very good points, thank you
For sure! -J
I noticed that you have a harness on Trinity, but you hooked the leash up to the collar. Much safer, and easier to hook the leash to the harness. Also, noticed that you misspelled "dispersed" on one of your graphics...Us English majors do pay attention to this kind of stuff...lol
We hooked the leash to the front eyelet on her harness. It helps turn her back if she pulls too hard. -J
We all needed to hear this - I do good AND I can do better!
I'm trying to get in the habit of walking around our boondocking areas with a trash bag at some point before we leave. I'm currently doing it less than 50% of our locations but I want to bring it up to 100%. -J
Thank for a great video with a good message. Hey, I like sassy! 😅
Haha! We try to be super upbeat in all our videos. This one was upbeat with a side of sass. 😂 -J
I believe that Trinity needs a backpack ❤
Working on finding her one. She needs to carry her own weight on hikes! 😁 -J
I’m a Florida resident and can’t tell you how many windshields I’ve gone through. Strangely, none when I drove my van to Alaska, but all 5 (!) in the lower 48. 😂 Travel on!
LOL! There are more than a few people that don't think our rig is going to survive Alaska. 😂 They may be right, but I'm more of the mind that we've taken her up many forest roads that are worse. -J
@@OpenRoading I drive up in 2019 in my 2WD Chevy van and didn’t have any problem. If you’re crossing some frost heaves just slow down and you’ll be good. Don’t let Trinity play with the teddy bears…🙃
@@Vantasticviews2 Haha! NO! I just saw some drone video of a husky hanging out with some bears and I was like "I WOULD DIE OF A HEART ATTACK IF I SAW TRINITY DOING THAT!"
-J
Well done. It’s all about RESPECT ❤
Just like Whitney Houston said! 😂 lol - That's gonna go down as one of our more "popular" errors. -J
Excellent boondocking rules! Great video as always! ❤😊
Thanks so much! -J