Save Your Money, You'll Thank Us Later! Stop Buying These Things! Fulltime RV Living!
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- Опубликовано: 26 июн 2024
- After living in our RV for two years and often being asked if we have a list of things, we bought to get started RV’ing, we decided it was time to answer that question! You’ll be surprised to learn, that despite what you may have watched on other RUclips channels, the list of “must-haves” is actually very short!
We were in the same boat as you when we got started! We read all the articles, watched all the RUclips videos and did the same research, because we didn’t want to be on the road and find ourselves in a bind! We created a very long list of things to buy and spent a lot of money on things we didn’t necessarily need, before we even traveled one mile in our RV.
This video will save you time, money and headache by solving that question of, “What exactly do I need to get started RV’ing?” Whether you will be a weekender or live in your RV fulltime, we think you should get out there and learn your rig and how you will use it, before you waste a lot of money, on things you don’t need!
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A video of things not to buy? This isn't going to make you too popular with RUclips.
@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL It's one of our most popular videos!
@@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLLI definitely appreciate it! ⚘️
You are so correct about all of the so-called brand ambassadors out there singing the praises of everything from toilet paper to griddles to specific RV brands and models. When you've got the manufacturer's giving products away to RUclips channels, does anyone actually believe they are giving honest feedback?
We also show products on our channel that we have found value in, but we show you how it has helped our life and it's up to you to decide if it will help you! The brand ambassadors are not always allowed to tell the truth about the bad side of the products only the good!
@@PavingNewPaths Hello, what is the contact info for the company that offers the full solar setup?
Welcome to having a RUclips channel
Great advice. We have been RVing for many years, in almost every type of RV. We recently changed from a large Class A DP to a camper van. We now have less space and carry just what we use daily and it is the best RVing experience ever. Your comments about figuring out how you RV first is right on target. Everyone does RVing different, and I have wasted 10’s of thousand on gear through the years! Safe Travels!!
Thank you! We were getting ready to outfit our RV with every upgrade possible before we even stayed one night in it! Some of these things we bought and still use and some were a waste of money! We wanted to share our experience and let the viewers know you don't need much to get started and you won't know what you need until you do start! So get out there and figure out what it is you want from this and make improvements to enhance that goal!
I think that there are a couple of things that you do need from the start: a surge protector and a water pressure regulator. I believe that those two items in addition to the other four you mentioned are essential. Great video. Looking forward to the other items you do think we need video.
While we do have a surge protector and we do reccomend one in our next video this was about what you don't need! They are a good idea but you don't need it to start! water pressure regulator is a relatively cheap accessory and not really an upgrade in our opinion!
read my mind. I read your comment after I commented the same thing
@@PavingNewPaths I have heard a lot of RVers say that the ones with the gauge on them are better, but more expensive and prone to breaking easier. I have the cheap one that is preset. What's your opinion?
@@johnbell4976 I have the one with the gauge on it as it is fully adjustable, and you can dial in the pressure for your rig! The ones without the gauge are preset at say 50psi and you can't take advantage of any pressure higher if it was available! We have used our adjustable one for 2 years now with no issues! But we don't leave it hooked up when its below freezing! That is what causes them to go bad!
Tools!
What are essential tools to have when you pick up your travel trailer or coach?
Thanks for the video. You can go broke getting all the fancy stuff that people think you need. We mostly dry camp in our small camper, which suits us just fine. We have a portable generator for when it rains or is too cloudy for our portable solar panels. We see people that have installed panels on top of their RV's and they have to park in the sun. We park in the shade and put our panels in the sun. Keeps the camper a lot cooler. I like your idea of starting off slow and seeing what you really need. That's what we've done and it works great. The big thing is to use your RV and have fun.
Thanks for watching! I like the idea of the rv being in the shade and the panels being in the sun! Many don't think about that! I wish we could say we didn't buy lots of things we didn't need, bit at least we were able to make a video to prevent others from making our mistakes!
What a breath of fresh air! It is so easy to get carried away with the" gotta have it's " when really like you said, people camped for years without most of this stuff! Thanks for a great video and looking forward to the upgrade video.
Thank you! I am just like you and was tired of seeing all these videos telling me what we had to have to enjoy RVing! I decided you guys should know you don't need much to get out there and start the RV life! Most of these products are great but until you know how you intend to camp most of them could be a waste of money and will never provide value to your experience!
Added to your four things to absolutely have, a water pressure regulator and surge protector. Both have saved us on several occasions. Thanks for the video
Yes, those are both great to have! Thanks for adding to our list!
A valterra valve is a must!!! Ask me how I know. 😂
@@tamydoshier5139 Yes but you dont need that to get started! We have a video coming out where we talk about the things that are worth getting!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! We’re planning to hit the road full time in the next 6 months and thought we needed alllll of these things. Everything you’ve shared makes perfect sense and has shifted our perspective. We will make upgrades as needed, thank you!
Thank you! We fell into the trap of buying and upgrading things before we ever spent one night in the RV! Now 2 years later we realize that some of these things are nice to have but none of them are actually needed to enjoy the fulltime RV life!
100% right on the MorRyde suspension upgrade of shackles and wet bolts. I've installed them now on two different trailers and the improvement of the ride of the trailer and the additional wheel alignment stability is astounding. Also much quieter suspension movements. No more creaking and popping from the trailer. And it makes pivot point maintenance a breeze.
The wet bolts and shackle kit was a night and day difference in the creaking and popping plus we can now lubricate all the connections down there! The biggest improvement we found was the morryde crossbraces to tie the equalizer and shackle hangers together from frame rail to frame rail!
Great insight. I was full time in my RV for over a year before it became ‘trendy’ and totally agree with you. It’s an RV. You’re moving around in it. You want to stay light and flexible. The less stuff you take and the more streamlined you can make your life the better. This is especially true for limiting your clothing items as well as your cooking process.
In the US we love to collect ‘stuff’ but the truth is, there’s almost always more of that stuff along your journey.
This is why we live this way, less is more! We sold everything and travel fulltime, we also wanted to let people know it's not always a vacation when you travel fulltime! These things will break and need attention, but if you can make the repairs yourself you will be far better off in the end!
TPMS saved us with 2 blowouts on one trip. Both times the TPMS went off right before blowout and and saved me from shredding my RV
They definitely aren't bad products and we even have one ourselves! But I don't believe you don't need it to get started! So many people, us included, get hung up on all the upgrades you need before you can hit the road!
any idea what lead to the blow outs? bad tires i.e. recalls or road hazard punctures?
@@TRUMP_WAS_RIGHT_ABOUT_EVRYTHNG I can answer that, Tires can blowout for a variety of reasons like balding, nails poking holes, overinflation, old tires having bad sidewalls with cracks running about, overloading your tires beyond its rated weight capacity. But a big one is underinflation, if your tires require (for example) 45 psi but only sits at 14 psi, youll not only have a flat but you'll blow your flat tire out. Always check your tire pressure.
Underinflation is the big one, your right. The tires get hot when they are underinflated.
We are part time RVers with plans on becoming full timers this January. Over the past 4 years we have purchased all the things that you mention in this video. No, I didn't have to have them but now I feel like we are ready to go full time.
That's great that you feel prepared! We didn't feel prepared either until we bought all the things! The problem was, we had never stayed a night in the rv and didn't know how we were going to camp! So some of the things we bought were a huge waste of money!
Thank you...thank you for being so honest. Wow! We need more people like you and your wife...again, THANK YOU!
Thanks Lisa! Just trying to save others from spending money on things that aren't necessary!
You are sooooo bang on! The only reason why I like my back up camera is that I use it for reference while driving for lane changes to gauge where other vehicles are and for reference while backing up. Never do I back up without a buddy and if alone, regardless of cameras I am checking mirrors and in and out of the vehicle to make sure everything is clear.
I like my surge protector just for peace of mind and the water regulator because one camp ground we stayed at had crazy water and blew a line. That brings me to a must have, water sensors in the bathroom behind the toilet, under the sink, under the kitchen sink and right beside the water pump. Any leak you will be notified.
What you don't need also but I need is a bidet. Cuts down on the toilet paper and makes sure you are clean.
There are tons of stuff to make your life easier but you said it, only really four things needed to get started and you hit the nail in the head.
We have several of these products we mentioned but we also fell into the trap of buying everything RUclips said we needed to start living fulltime in the RV! We wanted to share with our viewers that you don't need any upgrades to start the life and you shouldn't spend any money until you know exactly what it is you plan on getting out of the RV life! Once you know then its ok to upgrade the things that enhance that experience!
Totally agree! I spent maybe $2,000 on upgrades to my new motorhome in 2015. Extra sewer and extension cords for strange camping sites. A good onboard surge protector and cheap little interior convenience gadgets. Never had a tpms and drove coast to coast over 6 years. Checked pressure while filling up. Don't overdue it folks. Enjoy it for what it's meant to be. Not just another pursuit to buy a lot of "stuff" that could end up ruining your long term enjoyment 😄
This is spot on! It's easy to get caught up in making lists of things you think you need!
Good video, after 7 yrs of rv ownership I've upgraded to 4 x 6v batteries, 2x 100w panels and an electric tongue jack, i also upgraded my propane from 2x 20lb tanks to 40lb tanks.. also, for jack pads i just cut an old 2x6 i had laying around..
Thank you! Those are all very good upgrades and ones you made to enhance the experience you were having!
Best advice I have heard "Learn and know what your RV is and can do." Also, I'm old school military "PMCS- Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services" you do this and it will slow your problems some. I do this regularly and still this past year I had a tire blow out then 3 more in travel. TP good and tires felt good stopped and checked still when may pops decide to go they go. Now I have Goodyear tires not may pops. I still travel without a lot of things that would be nice to have but we enjoy the trips as we go.
Yes, we also believe you should find out what your rig can do and how you intend to use it before adding and upgrading things! We also think that a gadget should never take the place of actually getting out and looking at things and doing inspections and maintenance (back up cameras, RV GPS and TPMS systems)! We upgraded a lot of things we never used like we thought because we didn't understand how we were going to use the RV for our experience!
100% AGREE!! We nose dived into full time RVing with a 40ft fifth wheel and ZERO extra accessories, modifications, or upgrades. We slowly added what we needed but all in all it ended up being very little. This is very different from what I was told and being stubborn ended up saving a lot of money in the long run!
Good Job brother. Sometimes being stubborn can be a good thing. Thanks for sharing. 👍
We fell into the trap of buying and upgrading everything before we even spent one night in the RV! I drew the line when it got to suspension and solar stuff! We were convinced we needed all of this stuff because the internet said so! We wish we would have started RVing like you and upgraded things along the way to enhance the experience!
Yes, to the upgrade videos and more DIY's. Very helpful.
Thank you! We are working on the upgrade video now and have an interesting experiment video coming out sunday!
Very good video Kevin ! I agree with you on almost everything on your list. When we rv, we do what I would call destination rv’ing. Usually to one area of the country for about a month or two. The one membership we do like is Harvest Host for our 1 night stopovers. It’s boondocking and the majority of stops we can run our generator. We do like our Garmin RV gps because the wife uses it like a iPad tablet. Spot on about the TPMS, backup cameras, snap pads and rugs. My favorite “gadget” would be quick disconnects on water hose connections.
Thank you! This was exactly what the video was intended to prove you have found what things enhance your way of traveling and only purchased the ones the benefit you! We fell into the trap of buying and upgrading everything before we even really knew how we planned on traveling!
Wifey and I are going full time in a year and I'd already been looking to install the liquidspring suspension on our Tiffin. Thanks for talking me off the ledge. I'm going to wait and see how it goes.
This is what we have found works best, get out there and see what you think of the rig and the experience! Then make upgrades that enhance that experience! How will you know if the upgrade was an upgrade if you didn't even experience the rig in the stock form!
Thank you, Kevin, for a good video as usual! I think there is a fifth item one needs from the get-go and that is a surge guard. Doesn't have to be the more expensive hard-wired one like I have, it can be a basic plug-in, as long as you have one to protect your electrical system. As you know, a faulty pedestal can cause majorly expensive damage to your rig. Or even a drastic change in power in an over-loaded park.
Love your channel❣️
Thank you! We do have a hardwired surge protector as well and we do think if you are going to RV often you should have one! However, we made the video to let people know you don't need to go out and spend tons of money on all these gadgets to get out there and start RVing!
@@PavingNewPaths 👍
The backup camera is great. I have it on my truck camper and wired to continuos power so I can use it while driving. It works as a great rear view mirror. No blind spots.
For you it makes sense you have a truck camper! For most people it is something you might never use or at the very least shouldn't rely on!
Like you, I purchased a lot I didn’t need from other videos. I quickly realized the kind of camping you do drives what you really need. If more rustic dry docking you need different things than rv resorts. Most videos only show what they used and didn’t call out there are different types of camping. I’m glad yours shows things you don’t really need to help newcomers out. Wish it was around when I started RVing
We found there are videos out there telling you everything you need to go RVing! They don't give much context to how they camp or use the RV! So unless you are planning to camp exactly like them you maynit get the full benefit of the upgrades! Bottom line we think you should go out there with nothing and upgrade the things that will provide value to your experience!
Great, informative video! Helpful info for someone that is in the very early stages of planning.
Thanks!
Good video, I agree that folks should probably try the rig out for a year before making a lot of upgrades. That being said, part of the joy of the RV life for me are making the upgrades. Obviously if you're not the type that enjoys the creativity expressed through, for example, installing your own solar, then the only reason to do it is for the benefit that you might drive from it. For me though the actual installation process is part of the overall experience and one of the reasons I love the RV lifestyle.
Kevin is the same way! He loves the planning and execution of an idea!
Good sensible advice for this old man and his wife who are new to RVing. I appreciate your logic and insight. Thanks.
You're very welcome!
Stumbled upon your channel and loved it. Thanks for your honesty, common sense and being humble. Thanks again.
We're so glad you found our channel and are enjoying our content! We hope you'll subscribe and stay awhile!
Great advice. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks!
I agree with the physical checking of the tires and hubs, also the camera issue they can be handy , but there’s no substitute for getting out of your vehicle, obtaining a visual and forming a plan , I notice most of the full timers out there do this even though they have 20 cameras, nothing beats team work but I’m not against the cameras, just don’t rely on them.
We think before you add cameras you should be able to drive and maneuver you rig without them! Once you understand how to do that then we think adding gadgets as a supplement is ok but don't ever rely on them! We found out early that even if we had a camera me and my wife get out and walk the site and discuss where we want to set up and point out all the things to watch out for!
Long time RV’r. 5r, Class C and now a large teardrop. Folks get hung up on keeping up with the internet “Jones’s “. We conserve resources and boondock a lot. You nailed it on lithium and solar! Just earned a new follower.
Thanks so much! We wish we had found advice from seasoned rv'ers like you before we got started! We spent a lot of time and money on things we could have done without because we watched a lot of videos telling us all the things we needed to get started! We appreciate you subscribing to our channel and giving your feedback!
Thanks for the video. I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks like you on all these extra gadgets.
Thank you! I fell for it and bought so many of these things! I wanted to let our viewers know you don't need any of this to get out and enjoy RVing!
This was by far your best solo video. Get well soon Alicia.
Thank you!
One of the lessons I’ve learned in my first month of full-timing it (as someone who has been sort of forced into this lifestyle given the current economy and desire to stay in my home state) is that if I’m still breathing-the dream lives on. There will be major stressors and setbacks, especially if you go with a used rv… but nothing is impossible. Things can get extremely difficult, but difficult does not mean IMPOSSIBLE!
We bought used on purpose and set aside the difference in cost as a repair fund! Besides the roof everything was very minor and easy to fix! We wanted to show that even with great maintenance and care if you use your RV it will have issues!
Thanks brother, for your honesty and experience.
You're very welcome!
I use the backup camera to see how far I am ahead of vehicle passing and when safe to pull in front of the car/trailer is safely passed. Another object I keep on front windshield is a Vantrue N2 dash cam…insurance company loves that you have one in case of accidents. As far as disc brakes, I ordered when had specially build with 8K axles and h rated tires and with gen and solar panel, and 3 AC units. All was worth it to me.
If you know what kind of experience, you intend to have, and the upgrades add benefit to your experience then they are worth doing! But the point of the video was to let people know you don't need a single upgrade to enjoy your RV and you should only upgrade the things that will make your experience better!
Really enjoy your channel and look forward to the next video! and yes, a video on the "upgrades" that you found you needed would be nice. We are now on our 3rd camper, only part timers, yes one can have way too much maintenance items! Thanks for posting!
Thank you! We are working on the upgrade video of all the things we did that added value to our experience! I still carry to much maintenance items, but I am getting better!
I like your thinking Kevin. Less is More. And usually the more breaks down and doesnt work. Just more Pain in the A... Youre a smart guy.
It took doing it the wrong way to figure out the way we should have done it! We bought all the things, with the exception of accessories for dashboard of truck, and wasted so much money! Hindsight is always 20/20!
One thing else for electrical would be electrical management for the pedestal. I’ve a 34 foot class C and tho it has auto level I made the same blocks for the levelers. Plus a couple spares. A length of 2x12 and screws and nylon feathers attached with a loop at the ends I use a 21/2 foot stick with a hook on the end so when I’m done with them I pull them out by the cord. Easy on the knees. I agree 100% with what you only need. That’s all I had. Since my class C was a wandering Wanda I put sumos front and rear and a beefier steering stabilizer. That was worth the investment. Watch your channel a lot.👍
Thank you! We wanted to let people know you don't need very much at all to enjoy the RV life! We are working on a video of the things we do use and have added value to our experience now! A surge protector is on that list as well as a few other items!
You are absolutely correct on everything you said. It’s All about the money..
Sad, but true!
You have lots of good points !👍
Thanks!
I agree these are not "must haves." But I use our backup camera mostly while on the road. It's very helpful when passing 18-wheelers or slower traffic. It gives me a good view of when I'm clear to get back into the main lane. Oh, we built those jack pads last month.
I think that is one of the only good uses of the backup camera! We also believe that you should be comfortable driving your rig without the gadgets before adding them! How are you enjoying the jack pads!
5O YR LONG HAUL ,JUST REIIRED, I HAD 8 CAMERS ON MY RIG ,I USED REAR CAMERA THE SAME AS YOU DID. WONT RUN ONE WITH OUT IT,
!. I am glad that you kept going back to what YOU MIGHT need WHEN STARTING OUT. Need when starting out. 2. I am also glad that you also kept referencing the difference between NICE to have VS NEED to have. My wife and I have put 40K miles towing RVS since 2007. Having said that, you know we are not full-timers. I am so glad that you made references a number of times that you are full-timers. And lastly, I am glad that you kept reminding the readers that everyone's specific needs or COMFORT levels are different. Overall, a very good video.
Thanks for your feedback! It's definitely important to reference some of these things because the type of rv'er you plan to be, locations you'll travel to, etc. determine some of your needs. And wants are great, but they definitely shouldn't stop you from getting out there to travel, like they did us! We had a huge list of what we thought were needs! Turns out, lots we could have done without!
Great video! I am about to start "RV-life" without ever having ventured too far from army "camping"...and your video 100% alleviated thw majority of my "extra expenditure" concerns. Much obliged!!
This is one of your best videos. I have gone through some of the same thought process and realized we did not need all these gadgets. We did the morryde shackles and I am considering the sumo springs which is a fraction of the cost of that independent suspension which I don’t need
Good for you for not wasting your money like so many of us have! It's easy to fall into the trap! When you really think about what you're hauling and where you'll be staying, you'll know what you want vs. need!
Kevin thank you so much for a well done and well thought out video. I really liked how you said that you use mostly your mirrors. I am the same way. I learned to use mirrors at a very young age. Then driving a truck in the oilfield I really learned to use them. The only reason I would want a rear camera is for actually driving. It would help seeing small cars being to close to me. Maybe it would be a good overall view, but I'm with you getting out and having my wife guide me is much safer. As for the video about the stuff you have upgraded, I would love to see that. Its funny my wife watches for your videos like a hawk. Stay Safe and God Bless all of you.
Thank you! I am not saying the backup camera is a bad idea, but I would suggest you be comfortable driving and parking your set up without it before adding one! We have found that once we got a routine down for parking the rig, we realized the camera would not be adding much value to us! We are working on a video now on the upgrades we have done that added value for us! Hope your wife is enjoying your hoodie! We appreciate the support!
Great great video. Really good advise. Thanks Kevin. Lets see the mod's/upgrades. Take care, hope Alicia is recovering well.
Thanks! We are working on the upgrades video! And Alecia just got out of the 6 week check-up appointment and recovery is going well!
I truly appreciate this video! Thanks for putting it together.
You're most welcome!
Enjoyed the advice, we are first year campers with a new travel trailer and there is a bunch of stuff we don't need thanks for all the videos I watch all of them
Thank you! We fell in the trap of buying everything we thought we needed and found out we didn't really need much at all to get started!
Great chat about Luxury items - if you have the money, go for it. I think you forget about much of this list when you "get on" with traveling.
Yes, we wish we would have waited to see what we really needed! It would have saved us a lot of time and money!
One of the best/informative videos I have watched in years.Ty
Thanks! So glad to hear you found it helpful!
We’ve been RVing for about 25 years. We are on our 5th or 6th rv. I finally quit putting a milk crate full of stuff I never used in my last rv. Cleaners, connectors, assorted adapters etc. One thing I don’t think you mentioned is a portable dump tank. So many full hook up campgrounds that wouldn’t assume that you will need one. Like you said, one of the things you don’t need to start. If you do, then you can get one.
We learn all the time and are constantly making changes on what we have as well as things we no longer really need! We are working on a video now of the things that we have upgraded that added value to our experience!
When we bought our first about a month ago. We have family that had 3 before. They told us what is needed and what is nice or you don't need. As a commercial driver I am in the habit of G.O.A.L. and walk around each stop.
We just felt there were so many videos out there telling you what you need! But none telling you why you don't need most of these things!
If I only knew this 12 months ago. You are exactly right, you dont need it, I had my 5th wheel moved to an annual site 12 months ago ( because my 2022 Ford F350 hadn't arrived yet, that I now know I didnt need and may never even tow with it, no regrets on the truck though) and bought a lot of the stuff I didn't need and never used, like the backup camera with the side cameras for almost $800. snap pads, extra hoses, and so much more. I love your videos.
Thank you so much we are glad you enjoy the videos! We also fell into the trap of buying everything we saw because we thought we needed it! We have found we would have been better off just getting out there and figuring out how we planned on using the RV and then upgrading the things that would enhance that experience!
Damn straight. Thinking makes sense. Great video man 👍
Thanks so much!
I been pulling a 5 th wheel since 1992 and didn’t have anything that all these new trailer have. We just bought a new 5th wheel this year in July and was telling the sales guy no on all that stuff they were trying to sell us. ( got by 19 years without it) great info
Good for you! I think the number one thing you don't need is the extended warranty from the dealer! Typically, it's a huge waste of money!
So many upgrade possibilities, it can be overwhelming. Thanks for going through these and being reasonable about what you do and do not need. I feel like you can go broke on upgrades that you don’t need - like a lift, upgraded suspension, lithium batteries, even solar. So many people spend money on this and don’t really use it. I appreciate your candidness.
Yes, the upgrade list can feel endless! We fell into the trap of over buying and over preparing and wasted a ton of money!
Now, this is a great video, and you are so correct regarding these other channels. When we hit the road, the checks were going out and yes, I gifted a lot of items I never used. The only thing a would add to the need list, surge protector, you might get away with it, but it will only take one. I always check our tires before we depart a location, for correct tire pressure and I also torque the lug nuts. Great video
Thank you! This was a list of the things you don't need to buy to get started! We have a video of the things we think you should spend your money on coming soon and we do recommend a surge protector! It has saved us several times!
@@PavingNewPaths sorry you are correct, jumped the gun, sorry about that
We are subscribers and enjoy your content!! Great job and keep up the good work!! Happy travels to you!!❤
Thank you so much for subscribing and watching our videos! We really appreciate it! Safe travels to you, too!
Another great video with some great information and yes I would love to see a video on your upgrades. Best wishes to Alecia and the little ones.
Thank you! We are working on a video about all the things we upgraded to make our experience better!
I agree with everything you said! We have a good water hose and a sewer hose and a EPO. We only camped at one campground where I couldn’t hookup sewer hose so the day we were leaving I just backed up and dumped. Great video!
Thank you! I am not saying any of these products are not great, but they may not be great for everyone! Until you know how you intend to travel and camp there is no way you can know which products will enhance your experience!
@@PavingNewPaths Exactly! Maybe one of these days we will meet you guys, until then stay safe!
EPO???
@@georgekatsinis5224 Emergency power off, or a surge protector
@@PavingNewPaths Thanks!
Well, you may not get a few affilliations but I'm so happy someone finally tells the truth . I bought into a lot of that crap I din't need. We have a motorhome and now have a box full of crap I don't use.
I was ok with that when I decided to make this video! We too watched all the videos and bought all the stuff not realizing we may never use it or benefit from most of it!
LOVE this "Common Sense" Video! Thank you! It's so easy to get "Carried Away"!!! FOMO is REAL!!! And as someone who is new to RVing, it's hard to sift through what we NEED verses HOW we will ultimately use it. Awesome Information! ~Big C in the DP 📢 ::: Air Horn 📢 ::: ::: Air Breaks! ::: 🚌🚌🚌
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! We also fell into the trap of buying every accessory and upgrade because everyone on youtube said you needed it! We learned quick you don't need much and until you know how you plan to travel you have no idea what you should be upgrading to enhance the experience you're trying to have!
Solar works for me with lithium batteries it came with my montana fithwheel. When my camper in storage I can turn on the Residential refrigerator A-day before I go camping. You can work on your camper in storage with all the power you need. The biggest benefit is batteries lead acid last if you're lucky 2 years. In Iowa in the winter you have to take out your lead acid batteries take them home,put them on a Battery charger maintainer. Lithium you just turn off the solar.
That works for you so it is a benefit! However litium batteries are not required unless you dry camp or have a solar set up with an inverter! We travel fulltime and are never not hooked up to power or have the generator running for more than a day! For us a lithium battery is a waste of money as we only need it to provide 12v power on days we are traveling! Because we are always hooked up and never in storage our lead acid battery is always maintained! Ours is 3 years old and I don't see why it won't last, but if it needed replacement another lead acid will go in its place!
LOL. Our Level Pro when we traveled in our pickup camper was my mom.
She'd get in the camper and tell my dad when it was level. Our stabilizers were 2 2×4s that we pushed under the camper overhang one on each side. Crude but cheap and worked just fine. Even in a tornado and severe hailstorm. We put both 2x4s on the opposite side from the direction the wind was blowing. We stopped at a roadside picnic site that night after dodging storms all day. We were actually going to go to town and sleep in a motel but dad changed his mind and we stopped at the roadside park just outside the city limits sign. The next morning we drove through a town that was more. The tornado had destroyed the motel we were headed to. Every building was smashed, every house had roofs torn off at the least. The truck and camper were extremely dented from the hail that lasted for at least 15 minutes. It was pretty awful. The camper rocked and rolled that night but those 2x4s kept us upright. That was sometime in the second half of the 1960s because we were returning home to Kansas from a fishing trip to Canada.
A pickup camper is different than dragging a trailer but we had no gizmos. Just a tire guage and our eyes and ears. My dad checked the tires at each stop. He checked everything mechanical before we left. He did carry fuses, a can of motor oil, tools, a spare tire and a spare tire for the boat trailer. Those were fun days. Memories... like the ones your kids are making too.
That is a great story and a great memory for you! We do carry all the tools and extras needed to help us if we have issues on the road! We really wanted people to know you don't need any of these gadgets to get out there and start enjoying the RV life! When we started this our real goal was, we wanted to slow time down! We fell the world is full of gadgets and devices that steal your time and attention! Yes, we have a big RV that has a lot of cool features, but we wanted to minimize the gadgets in our life and make it more about the adventure and not about the things!
@@PavingNewPaths you are doing a good job.
This is some awesome info everyone just getting started should watch this video !
Thank you! We didn't want our viewers to fall into the same trap we did when starting out! We purchased so many things that were not needed because we thought we needed to have them!
The best way to get and keep extra water just go to a farm store and buy a 100 gallon tank for that 5th wheel. We have a 50 gallon water tank we take it with us. Our water tank is 54 gallons with the black and grey tanks that hold 30 gallons a piece.
We can hold a massive amount of water and would still run out before we ran out of power! We have 160 gallons of fresh water, 108 grey and 108 black! For us with kids we are never going to boondock maybe in the future we can downsize rigs and utilize the benefits of dry camping!
@@PavingNewPaths yes but you are missing some great places to camp. We camp in places that even the biggest of fifth wheels can get into and you got really good fishing right there and there are many things for kids to do. Extra water is the key. When you make it to WV, please let me know and we can come show some beautiful places that you need the water tank but it is wonderful place for kids to play and see wildlife. Just email me with a date. My 5 foot wife loves those beautiful babies and would love to sit and play games with them. Your family is simply awesome. Just let us know and we would love to meet your whole family.
I have been RVing for 23 years and I agree 100%
Beware of RUclips channels that just advertise for companies.
Lithuim - Haa
Solar - Haa
Independent Suspension- Haa!
Worthless
I still use cut wood blocks I get free for my jacks.
They've convinced a lot of newbies to buy things that aren't needed right away! Good on you for seeing through it! We made our own jack blocks too!
wood blocks ? yes there still the best
Yes they are!
The solar is fully dependent on the type of camping you do. If you stay in parks all the time, it has no purpose. If you boondock most of the time, and don't want to or can't run your generator, then it is exceptional. Our trailer came with a full solar setup from the factory and we boondock more than we stay in parks so it is absolutely worth it and i will be expanding it soon. But i fully agree with you Kevin on the lithium. They sound great but also seem like an enormous waste of money.
Thats what this video was about until you know how you intend to use your RV you shouldn't spend any money on upgrades! Instead get out there and figure out what type of experience you want and then make improvements to enhance that experience! You know that you will be boondocking or dry camping so solar and lithium make sense for you! But for us staying in full hook up parks all the time they make no sense! I didn't want our viewers to feel like they have to get stuff because the internet said you need it!
That's good advice, start out simple and find out what works for your lifestyle, everybody's different with different needs and different rigs.
Yes indeed!
Fantastic video! Finally someone that isn't selling something and is using common sense about what's needed and what's not.
We're not full timers, but we've had various TT for 20 years now.
I don't have a TPMS. I have Ryobi 18V One+ tools, the drill for the stabilizers, a portable vacuum cleaner, and what I like the most is a tire inflater. It has the pressure gauge built in so I use it to check the trailer and truck tires before every travel day. If they aren't at the right pressure, just pull the trigger and top them off. Easie peasie.
I did get a backup camera installed at the dealer when we bought this last TT. Like you, I don't use it to back up, but it works so well to verify I have sufficient room to change lanes when I'm traveling. It is much more a safety device than a backing aid.
We don't use the RV GPS either. We did subscribe to RV Life and have a copy of the Motor Carrier's Road Atlas. We use the RV Life trip planner to plan out our longer trips. It generates routes to avoid low bridges, etc. We can double check against the Road Atlas.
I've thought about suspension upgrades and brakes, but I'm with you. I don't need to spend money on that until the existing parts go bad. After 20 years with TTs, I haven't had that happen yet.
I do love my LevelMate Pro. I use Anderson type leveling blocks and since the better half puts them under the wheels, I can level the TT before I get out of the truck. A huge time saver. Is it needed, no, but I wouldn't want to be without it now that I've been using it.
As for the 4 things you do need. I agree. When we got our first TT +20 years ago, the dealer recommended an extension cord for power, and extra length of water hose, 20 ft. of sewer hose. Turned out the first place we went to on the shake down cruise with the TT, we needed both the extension cord for power and water. I think I've only used it 3 or 4 times since, but when you do need it, it's a huge relieve knowing you have it.
I also like the expandible water hoses. They save space and work very well, especially at the dump stations to use the black water flush. You just need a ball valve attachment for them so you can cut off the water at the connection instead of having to go back around to the faucet everytime.
We fell into the trap when we started and bought everything every RUclips video said we needed to do this! After doing it for a while we wanted to make a video letting people know you don't need much of anything to start RV'ing and most of these products are nice upgrades but are not required! We stopped at the suspension and brakes and decided when they fail or need repair we can upgrade then!
Love to see your upgrades
Thanks! We are working in that video!
Thats awesome your very true and thank God you telling everyone
Thank you!
Ask the older truckers. I and them will tell you that gadgets will get you in trouble. All that junk on your dash or windshield will distract you from actually looking in your mirrors and knowing for sure where the other cars are. Keep those cameras and warning lights off my truck and camper. I will do it the tried and true way of mirrors, getting out and the little woman gives hand signals or calls me. It makes her happy to help so it means I get to eat and not sleep in the bed of the truck.
I believe you should know how to take care of your rig and be able to drive it and park it without gadgets! If you want to have some of these gadgets as supplements to help you that is fine! What I find is people begin to rely on the gadgets and forget to do the good practices that you should be doing! I will never back up without getting out as many times as I need to get the job done!
@@PavingNewPaths please do us a favor and scream that in any truckstop you go to. Maybe just maybe one of these new drivers will hear you and listen.
Awesome video,thank you!
Thank you!
TPMS saved me couple of times. Many times it warned me that the tire pressure has dropped below the minimum that I set at 25 PSI, usually it ends up being a nail o screw.... One time I was driving though construction zone, with only one lane open, so traffic wait for their turn, I drove over a rock or something, but did not think too much of it, little did I know that the tire got cracked, and when the tire loses pressure suddenly, the TPMS starts making a beeping sound to warn me, I still had over 50 PSI, but could see it dropping fast, like 1 PSI per second, but that gave me just enough time to get out of the construction site, not blocking all the traffic, and got lucky and found a place immediately to park, if it wasn't for the TPMS, it would have been a bigger issue to deal with. One time I woke up from an overnight at a Walmart, I started driving, did not even leave the parking lot yet, I hear a beeping sound, and yep one of the tires was completely flat. Of course I should have checked, before driving, but it was still dark. Yes, you can travel without one, but I would highly recommend a Tire Pressure Monitoring System
We think a TPMS is a great tool to have and we use one as well! Our point was you don't need them to get started and you should make sure you still check and verify your tires and not rely on a warning system to tell you something is already happening!
@@PavingNewPathsI understand, and I agree, also people did not have a TPMS when they travelled on horses, o on foot. I am just telling my experience, one of my first road trips, I had a flat, long story short, I spent 4 extra hours on an 8 hours trip. I was prepared, I tried to fix the tire by plugging it, but it kept leaking. I used the green slime liquid thingy, and that was the last time I tried that crap, because it also did not work, and made it impossible to fix the tire, but at least it pushed some air into the tire. I found out too late that the cheap Harbor Freight air pump for $10 was the problem, as it was providing weak air pressure, it was basically just pushing sound into my ears, instead of air. I did not always have a TPMS, but I wish that I did that day. Also, you can't always check and verify by yourself, due to weather, laziness, no time, and especially while you are driving
Very good advice. Thank you for the practical real world advice.
You are very welcome!
Your soo spot on, common sense ! The Ann Landers of campers needs! Lol with great respect loved your video. I’m 65 & been RVing since I was 11 years old camping my lifetime. Thank you for the clarity!!
Thank you for your kind words!
You are awesome a childhood friend is gifting me with a couple acres of land and now I gotta work my butt off to get a nice RV and this video is saved . Give me a minute to get everything right and I'll be back with a update
That's awesome! Let us know how it goes!
You need a Surge Protector and a Water regulator to protect your RV, then I would suggest leveling blocks 2 sets at least because most campgrounds are not as nice and level with a beautiful concrete pad.
This video was not about what you need! It was about what you don't need to start RVing! A surge protector is nice and we recommend one in our next video about the things we did upgrade! But it is not needed to start RVing! A water pressure regulator is not an upgrade it is accessory that is very inexpensive! We want to get the point across that in order to start RVing you don't need anything and you shouldn't buy anything until you get out there and figure out what experience your trying to get from your RV life! Blocks are nice but not needed until you know what type of camping you plan on doing!
We have the Levelmate Pro. Because we don't have the auto-levelers, it is a fantastic aid. Thanks for the suggestions.
Yes if you don't have auto levelers it is awesome! I bought it because I thought it was a great product before I ever understoon how an RV with an auto leveling system works!
Good job , you're exactly right
Thanks!
Correct on all those items
The only thing I have purchased after 3 years full-time is a screen attachment for my awning, and I wish I had back at the beginning it makes big difference during the summer time creating additional shade on the side of the RV and helps stabilize the awning
We wish we had done like you and waited to buy things instead of feeling like we needed to purchase everything before we even slept one night in the rv! We could have saved some serious money!
Great video and great information. I still continue to reevaluate my own camping equipment and experiences. I completely agree with everything that you mentioned in your video.
Thank you! We think some of these products are great and we even have some, but the internet is overflowing with all this info that you can't do RV without all of these things!
Great video Kevin,yes I would love to see your upgrades in a video.
Thanks! The upgrade video is in the works!
Great list, makes sense 👍
Thank you! We wanted to share our experience and let our viewers know you don't need to buy anything to get started RVing!
OMG YOU GAVE THE BEST ADVICE EVER!!!!
Thank you! It is true you should get out there and start RVing before you buy a bunch of stuff you may never use!
Thank you for this! My husband and I are getting ready to start full timing in the next couple months. The internet is covered in "must haves". We have gotten overwhelmed with all the options.
It is very overwhelming and expensive! In a few videos from now we will have a video with the upgrades we've made so be on the lookout for it! Certainly not must haves though!
Samantha, we are aiming to hit the road full time as well in the next 6 months! Would love to connect!
@@realrooted yes definitely!
Yes I would love to see your upgrades. I don't RV but in 30 yrs of Law Enforcement I have helped change some tires. One needs a good jack that will support the weight of there RV and a four way lug wench. The tire tool on your truck is not the same size as the nuts on your Trailor wheels. That said you might go years without getting a flat
We are currently working on an upgrade video! We have also thought about making a video on how to change a flat tire on the RV or the truck with the RV hooked up! There are several creative ways you can use your rig and tools to get the job done!
I have a breaker bar in my truck and a socket for lugs of each trailer I own
I enjoy watching any of your videos!!
Thank you!
Great video really appreciate this one thought about many of those things been traveling for many years only have 2 of them
I didn't see this comment when I posted on your previous comment! So, thanks for sticking around and watching more videos! Glad you didn't fall into the trap of buying everything, when it isn't needed, like so many of us did! We felt we really needed to make this video to make the idea of getting out there and rving less stressful, because when you put the list together of all the things RUclipsrs say you need, it is a daunting list!
I wish I would have seen this before I started. I would like to say that listening to the RUclips influencers I thought solar would have extended our journey and save us money in the long run but I have 2 big hairy dogs that like it cold and running one AC unit just wont cut it so I spent 15k on solar that would have paid for the park fees for our 6 month journey and I may have been able to stay out for 9 mos!!! Anyway, thanks for sharing your time and knowledge with us again.
We were right there with you regarding solar! Thank goodness the installer was nowhere near Texas when we called for pricing! After further research, it showed us that it would take years upon years for us to recoup that cost while boondocking and using solar, so we ultimately decided against it. Now we know that even with solar, we can boondocj extensively because with a wife and kids, we would run out of water way before we ran out of solar!
Solar, in my opinion, is worth it if you install it yourself to save money. Especially if you do any boondocking.
@@alaska-bornfloridaman it is awesome but will never pay for its self unless you utilized it!
@@PavingNewPaths
That's a math question. I probably spent around $7000 buying materials, and installing everything myself for my solar and lithium setup. Will I ever save $7000 using it? Probably not. But the only reason I did it is so I could go boondocking at harvest host locations without hook ups. So for me, it is kind of worth it.
@@alaska-bornfloridaman Thats why we made the video so many people buy these upgrades they will never use! For you it's awesome because you see all the benefits of it! For us it would be a waste of money! But we thought we needed it!
We kicked around memberships as well. We ended up with a Boondockers Welcome membership but really haven't utilized it to its full potential. We got locked in at a cheaper rate and used the Hanks promo code to get it even cheaper. Reason we did was on our trip to TN this summer we couldn't park our camper at the timeshare we were staying at with family. We looked at storing it at several places, including booking a campsite we didn't intend on staying at, and they were all more expensive than the BW membership. Planning a trip put west this spring and might try to use it on that trip.
We used the goodsam and the passport america for a year and found the way we travel and stay we hardly ever got the benefits of the memberships! If you move often and don't stay more than a week both of those plans will save you tons of money! We had ideas of using boondockers welcome but it never really worked out for us!
Awesome video! Great advice!
You're welcome!
Level mate pro isn’t needed for people that don’t have auto level. It’s cheaper to buy curved levelers and mount a large bubble level on the front of your camper that you can see in your rear view mirror.
We said it wasn't needed for a rig with auto level! We mentioned that if you have Class B, or C, or an RV without Auto Level it could benefit you in helping set up your rig! You absolutely don't need it but if it enhances your experience then you should always upgrade things make your life easier!
Your right Kevin there is a lot of things you don’t need I’m a like that I’m a DIY man and I agree you are always near a store that can go get it if it break’s good video hope Alicia is doing well
We've never been somewhere where we couldn't get something we needed in a pinch! Alecia is recovering well!
Thanks for the great info an the honesty. Everyone seems to be a brand ambassador anyone with all the freebees they get. 👍
While we are brand ambassadors/partners for a few companies, we say no to about 90-95% of the brands that contact us! We never want our viewers to feel we are just trying to sell them something!
@@PavingNewPaths we can tell by watching your videos that you an your family are good honest people. Keep the videos coming! The good or the bad. Safe travels!
Wow your so correct on other RUclipsrs getting their stuff for free all in hopes you’ll go buy it from them.
We do share products on our channel from time to time, so we are not totally against it! However, we try to show the product and how it has enhanced our way of living in the RV and it's up to you to decide if it will help you!
The backup camera is a misnomer. It is not for backing up. It's for changing lanes. *It is for changing lanes* and it is really essential for changing lanes. Even when you check your blind spot, it is still not good enough to know if the back end of your camper has cleared the cars behind you and the *only* way to have a 100% guarantee of that (Especially in heavy traffic) is to use a backup camera.
We believe you should be able to drive and park your setup without gadgets before you add gadgets that you rely on! If you only know how to do it with them, what will happen if they fail, and you don't have them! I also wonder how the generation before us ever went anywhere without all these gadgets!
We disagree a TPMS is not necessary. Ours saved us twice. The first time we picked up construction material in our tire when driving through road construction in Chicago. The TPMS warned us south of Chicago. Fortunately, we were able to get to a service center that could handle our camper and repair the tire. This happened when we bought our first camping trailer, early in our travels. The second time was recently coming home from Kentucky. The TPMS warned us one of our tires was losing air. Again, we were able to make it to a tire center, just in time. The tire was not repairable, but they helped us put on the spare. We also have a back up camera, not for parking, but as a travel aid.
We have a TPMS and do recommend one but it is not necessary to start enjoying the RV life! We want people to stop getting hung up on the gadgets and get out there and enjoy this life! After you figure out what experience you are trying to have then start upgrading!