a quick comment to help the RV Refrigerator run better is I switch a 1 gallon jug of frozen water from the freezer to the refrigerator section daily and refreeze the thawed water into ice. It helps with the interior temps in the summer and helps the refrigerator work better. YOU can also use the ice water when things get really steaming.
As a soon-to-be rver, I have to tell you that I really appreciate that you put this kind of material out. Sure, it's nice to see the pretty mountains and the fantastic scenery, but dealing with this kind of situation, getting a view of what a bad day could look like, is invaluable. Thank you!
FYI- As an upcoming RV’er I will share what someone once shared with me…… when we began our Journey …. NEVER EVER go without a back up generator that will run the amount of voltage and wattage you need to run your AC units, Refrigerators, lights, stove whatever…. always remember this!
Yes - Reviews are a great source of information. That's why we posted our problems in a WV KOA that took three moves to find a pedestal that was properly wired.
I really like how well you present your information and don't ramble on with superfluous commentary. In September we bought our third RV and first 5th wheel, and I've learned SO MANY technical tips and maintenance info that's been a game changer in helping us either avoid issues, or prevent problems. Thanks for providing such great content, and keep it coming!
Wife and I stayed in that same park at the end of July while we were headed to Sedona for the winter. Like you, we found that the power was aweful. We ended up in the space just down from where you were parked next to that building. Lucily we only stayed for 2 days. When we pulled in we told the fellow at the gate, who was very nice, that we needed good power because we had issues in the past, he was very helpful. We still blew the breaker during the day a few times. We ended up in Camp Verde outside of Sedona and it was hot, but the power never became an issue. Thanks for the great videos !!
Worst RV park. I stayed there when we first started. We will not be going back. I wrote to Scott their VP. No response but after dealing with their manager I can see it's a management issue.
My wife and I love watching all your videos. Here is a tip for you. In the future, when you travel on HOT days, run your generator while you are driving to your next location. This will keep your RV cooler and your refrigerator will stay cooler as well because it won't be using propane it will be on the electric. I do this all the time and it works great.
We normally do that, but we were having issues with our genny and inverter at the time: ruclips.net/video/53_w0SBAh9c/видео.html. And, this was before we upgraded to the Victron.
Vegas RV Parks are notorious for low voltage in the summer. I think their grid is beyond its limit. Sites closer to the transformers can be a bit better, but not much. When we travel on hot days we run the generator and ACs while driving so the rig is cool when we arrive.
Oh we had the same BS at Wright’s Beach in Penticton this past summer summer. It was 114 F in our trailer - our EMS prevented any power going to the AC - the camps ground wouldn’t let us run our generator and they told us we could leave - oh there would be no refund! That will be our last time there…surprising that some RV parks miss out on opportunities to help their clients.
Hey Chad and Tara. Next time your are in extreme heat. If you have sufficient water supply, a spray of water on the condenser coils will reduce the temperature of the condenser coils. reducing the load on the compressor. I have used a water spray when the condenser fan failed. The water spray kept air conditioner running until a proper could be made. Good luck.
Great video! Glad you are all safe and able to continue the trip. Not sure if I missed it but would recommend when on the side of a state highway always have a spotter looking at the direction of traffic and pull as far as possible away from the lanes. Take it from a former highway worker erranr vehicles are more common than we may think. Keep up the great work and stay safe.
Wow, I can’t even imagine camping in 110+ temps! Glad you all were able to make it through the ordeal. I can relate to your fridge issues, we’ve had the same troubles here in South Georgia and Florida in the summer time. Wild fridge temp swings between daytime & nighttime. Finally got fed up with it and pitched the absorption unit and put in a new Dometic 12volt fridge. We had already upgraded to lithium/solar and everything works great! Looking forward to seeing more of the trip. 😉
Oh, I feel your pain…we did about the same visit to Vegas 1st of July, but only on a motorcycle! Rode down from Carson City at night to avoid really bad heat..104 at midnight arriving at our hotel that did have good AC. Got to bend with the troubles, you guys did well , especially with the violin player! be of good cheer…
Love my exhaust brake! I always have it on, even when not towing…..I just wish I didn’t have to manually turn it on every time I start my Ram 3500. I’ve forgotten to turn it back on when towing before as well.
Trucker here…you’re very fortunate your rig didn’t go up in flames. If this happens again, remember this…ALWAYS keep driving until the smoke goes away. When you see trailers burned up on the side of the road, it’s from drivers riding the brakes too much, they panic and stop asap. THATS when the fire starts! If you keep driving for a few miles after it flattens out, the wind will do 2 things - help prevents flames from forming as well as cool the brakes down. Once they’re cooled down THEN pull over and assess the damage. It sounds like you did have a few miles of flatter terrain before pulling over, which 100% saved your rig
Tara, always remember that guy has to try very hard everyday to be a jerk, it is a hell of a lot easier to be nice. Girl, you done good standing up for yourself.
awesome video. So many folks come out on the road with a Disneyland frame of mind. You folks give them an honest taste of reality. Thankyou. Full timer 5 years now.
Just now saw this video. So sorry you had so much trouble at the Vegas RV park. We stayed at the same park in March 21, and LOVED it. We are tiny at only 16 feet, and only 30 Amp. They were very accommodating with our need to be near a bath house.
Wow, I feel your pain for sure. Alice and I had a very similar issue in Maine this summer but the park owner didn't try to work with us at all. When I went into the office the second time to report an electric issue and talk to him about LOW VOLTAGE his answer was to start yelling at me and KICK us out. No offer of another site just strait to getting kicked out. I actually recorded him yelling at me and I chose to put it into the video we did because he was the owner. We found out he has had several reports of electric issues and hasn't addressed them. We stayed at the same RV Park in Las Vegas as you guys in January. Thanks for sharing. This may have been the first video where Chad made an appearance without a hat.
@@ChangingLanes we agree completely which is sad, because the potential damage caused be be very expensive. Alice and I love watching you two and Phil and Stacy.
Great video! I have to giggle at how you truly dislike the heat. I guess growing up in 120 degrees summers for the last 57 years I'm use to it. I even hike all summer. Grand Canyon last yr and at the bottom it was 127 degrees and it was HOT 🔥 glad you made it down the mountain safely!
Great info. We have heard of rolling blackouts in CA, last winters loss of power in TX. House or RV we need to be prepared with water, fuel, food. Right now our situation is crazy doesn’t matter where you are.
We were in Vegas late August, on the way to Flagstaff. Spent the night there, but 120 degrees and miserable traffic. Just a place you have to go through to get somewhere else.
For those who are wondering why go somewhere like Vegas thats so hot in July.... We were in Northern Montana over July 4 and it was over 100 for about a week!.. haha...definitely unexpected heat. We were boondocking so we had to deal with it in our own ways. So sorry you had such a bad experience with the Park peeps... but good attitudes all around (considering). Happy Travels!
Oh yes, the power grid in the basin during the summer is horrible! NV Energy offers an incentive NOT to run the AC and high current drawing items during the day. Although we have a place in Henderson, we have our 5er at Desert Eagle (Nellis AFB) when we have company staying in town. Never had an issue with power from the 50A and run both ACs 24/7. There are several great RV resorts in the basin, bummer to hear about your issues and there is absolutely no excuse for the attitude from "that one guy". Awesome job handling the issues and glad you enjoyed the area. Happy RVing and keep those videos coming!
After 3 hours of changing sites etc, I can't believe how calm Chad is... the Goldie Locks comment is so funny! I don't think I'd have the patience to be joking by then... You guys are great!
We can identify with camping in a very hot location - we camped in Big Bend National Park (TX) this summer (July) and it was over 100 degrees. We had issues with electric there - the 50 amp breaker kept blowing on the pedestal so I was forced to use the 30 amp one and our Victron Inverter on boost to get 2 AC units running. We were fine the day and night. The next morning we went hiking and left our dogs in the camper, knowing that with our batteries and inverter they would be fine even if the power went out. We did shut off one AC unit in the bedroom just in case there was a power issue the other one would continue to run. One of our dogs was in the bedroom and when we got back the main room in the camper was about 82 degrees but the bedroom was over 90 degrees since it was 106 degrees and we were in full sunlight on an asphalt parking area (Grand Village at Big Bend). Lesson learned ... need 2 AC units running during the day to keep the camper cool enough when it is over 100 degrees (we have a smaller Grand Design Solitude S-2939RL). Our dogs were fine except we had to be careful about the asphalt because it was very hot for their little paws - over 130 degrees. I installed some fans in the top vent area of our RV fridge that worked great even in hot temperatures. We have the 12CuFt version so it is not as large an area to keep cool. Someday I may convert it to a 12V compressor system with one of the JC Refrigeration kits they sell in Indiana. Before I installed the extra fans the fridge would get too warm and the freezer would get warm on hot (over 90 degree) days. Now it works fine.
Gosh that could have been very dangerous for your pups. You were lucky. I hope you are more careful with leaving them in such heat for any length of time. And the asphalt and dirt or sand will burn their paws in such high heat. I always take off my shoe and test it if it burns my foot it will burn their paws too. Miserable times, been there done that. I got a stroller for my babies when the ground is to hot.
Until you get a residential refrigerator please look into the ARP control with extra fans. It will also protect your refrigerator. Also look into adding an additional baffle at the top of your refrigerator cooling unit.
The voltage at my home in San Bernardino varied from 108 to 130 volts. I had to help a business owner install a voltage conditioner because he was losing computers during July and August due to the extreme voltage drops. BTW, I installed a 12 volt bus to power my wifi modems and routers instead of the AC system. This way they stay active while traveling! I had a similar problem dropping down from the TT in Idyllwild CA. Discovered that the dealer had jacked the brakes on the 5th wheel/
Hi just a suggestion: when you're merging on the traffic is crank it up on the paved shoulder, until you get up to highway speed, then merge into the lane of travel ( love been driving Semi for 32 yrs. with Walmart now) 😉
Chad, in addition to turning your Jake brake on you should also put your transmission in a lower gear so it'll also help your brakes. As a truck driver, I drop down a mountain in a lower gear with Jake brake on and rarely touch my brakes, or just tap them. Thanks Lavon
We live in Vegas, soon to move into our 2017 Thor Challenger 38KT in Boulder City. We have learned so much from you two and Phil and Stacy and thank you so much for all your experiences.
When you own a big r.v. trailer i will tell you from over 30 years full time experience. It will cost the average 25' fifth wheel and truck $500 in repairs and maintenance every 100 miles you tow that trailer. If you want to go full time for life buy a new semi truck and a 25' box trailer preferably with a working refer unit . Have two big slide outs installed on both sides with stability jacks . Then build your interiors to your liking and the quality you want . Then you are set for life .
So sorry you had to deal with electrical issues in record high heat. You remained remarkably “cool” in spite of these issues. As a fellow RVer, the name of the park would be greatly appreciated since some of us are heading that way next year and are working on reservations for the coming year right now.🌞
I spent a summer in vegas in an rv park. Thankfully my AC and RV fridge did just fine. Covered all my windows with that solar reflective. That really helped.
Forever learning. Thanks, never knew about the draw on the input Line AC . Now monitoring all our AC unit power drag on the input lines. Fortunately, this ground has good 118 AC. even with both units working. Discovered another factor : This rig isn't insulated well enough. Even at 92 degrees, this rig can't keep up and the units run for hours.
What an adventure shall we say you guys took. We have been to Vegas several times and once I repeat once I had to be there in July it was 116. Never again will we do that. At that time our RV had but one AC. It was kind of the trip you want to forget. Our new Solitude has 3 AC units like you and even then in 100 with no shade its hard to keep it cool inside. Keep em coming just love your videos.
Big difference in mean negative people and your telling what happened to you. Video was good for people to think about asking if the camp electricity can handle the loads. If you guys got a HDT like a Western Star you could stop your trailer even if the trailer brakes failed. Sorry for pointing that out after a scare. At least you have Chad and even frustrated he knew what to do for the electricity, many people would be completely lost. Stay safe and healthy guys.
My engine brake shuts off too when I turn off the truck. Would be great if truck manufacturers would provide a setting to default engine brake to ON whenever a trailer is connected. Better to have it on and not need it vs. needing it and it is OFF. Glad y’all made it safe and sound.
Lol, love the video. It's not always roses on the road. Also, love it when you take roads we have also been on. We had a stop in Vegas this summer and totally related. Too stinking hot!
Yes, you are absolutely correct that these RV fridges suck! We lost all our food 2 weeks ago in Florida (and it's winter here now)! Next time it will be a residential fridge with lots of batteries and a big invertor and generator. Good video thanks.
I'm Glad you guys share the good and the bad with folks. I was wondering why you shared this video so late. My wife and I are ready to start our adventures. We ordered our Momentum a bit ago and are still waiting for it to arrive. We are so happy your channel has educated us of things and topics, we never even though about before. Thank You! :-) Go Air Force!
Hi! I'm a lifelong electrician and know the there are a lot of electricians that use Ohms law wrong. Keep in mind that as the voltage drops across a load (resistance) the wattage also drops. Therefore, as voltage drops on a circuit, so does amperage. The only way to get the full wattage out of a lamp or inductive load (AC unit) is to apply the rated voltage. Sorry that electrician didn't know that, a lot of guys learn this stuff early on in school but don't how to use it for trouble shooting later on.
We carry a voltage checker. About $15.00 at camping stores. Always check level and voltage first thing. Also we have our generator ready for any emergency. Travel safe. Robert Woods
I know that grade out of Page too. Hated it it. We lost an alternator going down it this fall. Ended up getting that fixed in Flagstaff. Was there in early September and it was hot then too.
chad must have some experience or schooling in electrical engineering, he always knows so much about electrical work i can’t always follow along. very knowledgeable!
I engage my engine brake all the time. The reason is if you continuously exercise the turbo it is less likely to seize when you get a lot of miles on the truck.
I live in north central Texas, accustomed to summer and even I know not to go to Vegas in summer. HAHA Sounds like just normal RV traveling. ,nothing goes bad until -- your running late, it's raining, it's snowing, it's cold and wind is howling, hot and NO wind, then it's all bets are off. Kudos for having a good attitude about it. Going through what y all did and then get your fiddle playing friend, wouldn't have helped but I'm afraid I would've had to be locked up. No excuse for folks to act that way. Again 👍👍 for the way you handled the whole situation. Take a shower, cool off and get a cool beverage. Put on happy face and move on, otherwise you just ruin your trip. Glad it worked out and you didn't lose your smile 😁. Happy trails.
I have found that many parks are not updated electrically. Also with so many new RVs having electric fireplaces as more turn them on at night it lowers the watts available. This is where the surge protector saves so much damage. Hard to deal with when you pay for the electrc that is not there. Might as well dry camp.
We camped this past summer in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. We stayed in Big Bend around 110-115F, started off boondocking, but moved to the RV campground because our kiddos got sick. The RV campground was so empty we had solid 119 volts the entire time we stayed in Big Bend. A lot of the issues you described with electricity are pre brownout-like symptoms. Everything is running so hard on the grid it’s difficult to get nominal service delivered to everybody. We also experimented with some of those alternate cooling methods for the fridge and it helped some. For example, we ran our generator on propane instead of gasoline so it would run cooler, putting shade over the air conditioner unit itself, and others. As far as engine braking, we use ours every time we tow/haul as it puts less stress on the brakes and adds additional assurance that we can stop in time. Summer camping in the desert is not for the faint of heart and, for those considering it, requires a good bit of planning especially if you prefer boondocking over hookups. Stay safe out there and happy travels!
We were in Vegas last Aug for a few days and it was hot. We stayed at the RV fam camp at Nellis Air Force Base and had no problems with power or getting a spot. That’s one perk of being retired military. Glad that the rest of your trip went good.
were you on that mountain-y stretch on I-15 through AZ at the time with your brakes? That's where we were when we lost a tire off the rear trailer axel...yes, the tire just flew off into the median. A car pulled up next to me yelling something, we thought she said something about a tire so we pulled off as soon as we could (there's no shoulder through there so it was over a mile before I could pull over). Thank God no one was hurt by our rogue tire. Of course there was no cell service there and it was dusk so we hobbled to the next exit which happened to have boondocking. We were able to retrieve the TPMS that night and the tire the next morning after a trip back to St. George to purchase lug nuts to put the tire (which was totally fine) back on the trailer. Just one of the many crazy adventures we've had RVing. Btw, Tara, I hope you're able to figure out something to heal your health. My husband was shocked by how much weight you've lost!
I appreciate you showing the good, the bad and ugly of RV life and how you dealt with it. I really enjoyed the videos you showed with Phil and Stacy. Semper Fi and Merry Christmas.
Curious if you have ever considered getting some Shade Cloth and Covering the top and sides of the trailer. Our trailer has a black skin like yours and it really makes a huge difference. I purchased small suction cup tie downs and have found it to help greatly and cooling the RV Down.
Electrical code for RV parks assumes that no more than 50% of the rated capacity will be used at any time. This is part of the problem. Check for voltage drops throughout your system, also, particularly at either side of the twist lock. Also, soft start devices for AC units really work. The locked-rotor starting current of the compressor is what is blowing your breaker.
Arizona & Las Vegas in the June - August is kind of like Minnesota December - February. You just have to stay inside 90% of the time. Except in the desert there's no snow to shovel.
Stayed at this park twice both going and coming from Sturgis. We had no issues with power at 30 Amps anyways. Lost a tire 120 miles south and it took out the jumper cable to the house batteries. At the same time we lost our dash air and spent three days getting various repairs completed. While running around daily it meant no pre-cooling until late afternoon. Just getting the interior cool enough to sleep was a chore even with a box fan inside. We lost another MH tire that trip and trailer tire as well. It was to say at the least a memorable trip. We are engaged in ministry and truly felt we were in the midst of a spiritual battle at times. Sometimes you just have to roll with it. I will say that small businesses in Vegas were extremely helpful in fitting us in to their busy schedules. We try to avoid LV in the summer especially, but it is the most expedient route.
(This is kayak Mark) I mentioned to you a while back but I got a DRV with disc brakes I'm not happy my disc brakes drag I bought a 50 lb fish scale had a strap around the tire and it takes 36 lb to make the tires go round there is a recall from the NTSA on September 23rd mine is a two axles so it has the 9000 lb.
The fiddle player should have got a foot where the sun dont shine... There is NO excuse for that kind of Behavior when you are in the hospitality business...Great job guys 👍👍👍
![New Hampshire | Mt Washington [Full Time RV Life]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fh-cHLBksK4/mqdefault.jpg)
a quick comment to help the RV Refrigerator run better is I switch a 1 gallon jug of frozen water from the freezer to the refrigerator section daily and refreeze the thawed water into ice. It helps with the interior temps in the summer and helps the refrigerator work better. YOU can also use the ice water when things get really steaming.
The whole North America is in your hands and you choose Vegas in July. Us from NE think you're crazy, gland it all worked out, after few bumps.
Hello? If you noticed, they said they had prior commitments but if hindsights 2020, they don’t recommend it lol
As a soon-to-be rver, I have to tell you that I really appreciate that you put this kind of material out. Sure, it's nice to see the pretty mountains and the fantastic scenery, but dealing with this kind of situation, getting a view of what a bad day could look like, is invaluable. Thank you!
FYI- As an upcoming RV’er I will share what someone once shared with me…… when we began our Journey …. NEVER EVER go without a back up generator that will run the amount of voltage and wattage you need to run your AC units, Refrigerators, lights, stove whatever…. always remember this!
“How you deal with it determines how it affects you”. Literally the best advice I think you’ve ever given in any video!
Yes - Reviews are a great source of information. That's why we posted our problems in a WV KOA that took three moves to find a pedestal that was properly wired.
I really like how well you present your information and don't ramble on with superfluous commentary. In September we bought our third RV and first 5th wheel, and I've learned SO MANY technical tips and maintenance info that's been a game changer in helping us either avoid issues, or prevent problems. Thanks for providing such great content, and keep it coming!
Agreed
I keep a technical diary with solutions taught and fluid brands etc. Has been helpful as a reference.
Wife and I stayed in that same park at the end of July while we were headed to Sedona for the winter. Like you, we found that the power was aweful. We ended up in the space just down from where you were parked next to that building. Lucily we only stayed for 2 days. When we pulled in we told the fellow at the gate, who was very nice, that we needed good power because we had issues in the past, he was very helpful. We still blew the breaker during the day a few times. We ended up in Camp Verde outside of Sedona and it was hot, but the power never became an issue. Thanks for the great videos !!
Love the dog seat. We have one for our rat terrier. We call it his throne. He is 14 and goes to sleep as soon as we get going.
Worst RV park. I stayed there when we first started. We will not be going back. I wrote to Scott their VP. No response but after dealing with their manager I can see it's a management issue.
My wife and I love watching all your videos. Here is a tip for you. In the future, when you travel on HOT days, run your generator while you are driving to your next location. This will keep your RV cooler and your refrigerator will stay cooler as well because it won't be using propane it will be on the electric. I do this all the time and it works great.
We normally do that, but we were having issues with our genny and inverter at the time: ruclips.net/video/53_w0SBAh9c/видео.html. And, this was before we upgraded to the Victron.
No apologies necessary. You did better than I would have. Honest and helpful video. Thanks.
Laser temp gun - Golden! Great info on the challenges of high temperature weather.
I like Chad’s attitude. Through all this. Kudos to the both of you.
Vegas RV Parks are notorious for low voltage in the summer. I think their grid is beyond its limit. Sites closer to the transformers can be a bit better, but not much. When we travel on hot days we run the generator and ACs while driving so the rig is cool when we arrive.
Wonder why they get such high ratings on RVLife - 4.2?? Makes you wonder if you can trust these ratings
Oh we had the same BS at Wright’s Beach in Penticton this past summer summer. It was 114 F in our trailer - our EMS prevented any power going to the AC - the camps ground wouldn’t let us run our generator and they told us we could leave - oh there would be no refund!
That will be our last time there…surprising that some RV parks miss out on opportunities to help their clients.
You know, that new look... the braids, they look pretty good. Happy camping!
Hey Chad and Tara. Next time your are in extreme heat. If you have sufficient water supply, a spray of water on the condenser coils will reduce the temperature of the condenser coils. reducing the load on the compressor. I have used a water spray when the condenser fan failed. The water spray kept air conditioner running until a proper could be made. Good luck.
Great video! Glad you are all safe and able to continue the trip. Not sure if I missed it but would recommend when on the side of a state highway always have a spotter looking at the direction of traffic and pull as far as possible away from the lanes. Take it from a former highway worker erranr vehicles are more common than we may think. Keep up the great work and stay safe.
Wow, I can’t even imagine camping in 110+ temps! Glad you all were able to make it through the ordeal. I can relate to your fridge issues, we’ve had the same troubles here in South Georgia and Florida in the summer time. Wild fridge temp swings between daytime & nighttime. Finally got fed up with it and pitched the absorption unit and put in a new Dometic 12volt fridge. We had already upgraded to lithium/solar and everything works great! Looking forward to seeing more of the trip. 😉
Oh, I feel your pain…we did about the same visit to Vegas 1st of July, but only on a motorcycle! Rode down from Carson City at night to avoid really bad heat..104 at midnight arriving at our hotel that did have good AC. Got to bend with the troubles, you guys did well , especially with the violin player! be of good cheer…
Love my exhaust brake! I always have it on, even when not towing…..I just wish I didn’t have to manually turn it on every time I start my Ram 3500. I’ve forgotten to turn it back on when towing before as well.
Trucker here…you’re very fortunate your rig didn’t go up in flames. If this happens again, remember this…ALWAYS keep driving until the smoke goes away. When you see trailers burned up on the side of the road, it’s from drivers riding the brakes too much, they panic and stop asap. THATS when the fire starts! If you keep driving for a few miles after it flattens out, the wind will do 2 things - help prevents flames from forming as well as cool the brakes down. Once they’re cooled down THEN pull over and assess the damage.
It sounds like you did have a few miles of flatter terrain before pulling over, which 100% saved your rig
Tara, always remember that guy has to try very hard everyday to be a jerk, it is a hell of a lot easier to be nice. Girl, you done good standing up for yourself.
My family and I are in Fayetteville with an average of 124 volts. However this RV resort is the best we’ve seen in our travels.
awesome video. So many folks come out on the road with a Disneyland frame of mind. You folks give them an honest taste of reality. Thankyou. Full timer 5 years now.
Another GREAT video that is chock full of great and valuable information. Thank you again! Kev & Suni
No negativity in the video, just real life and you handled it very well!
Just now saw this video. So sorry you had so much trouble at the Vegas RV park. We stayed at the same park in March 21, and LOVED it. We are tiny at only 16 feet, and only 30 Amp. They were very accommodating with our need to be near a bath house.
Never had a Diesel engine before now. Love it but even when I am in normal traffic without towing I turn on the engine brake. Makes stopping better
Wow, I feel your pain for sure. Alice and I had a very similar issue in Maine this summer but the park owner didn't try to work with us at all. When I went into the office the second time to report an electric issue and talk to him about LOW VOLTAGE his answer was to start yelling at me and KICK us out. No offer of another site just strait to getting kicked out. I actually recorded him yelling at me and I chose to put it into the video we did because he was the owner. We found out he has had several reports of electric issues and hasn't addressed them. We stayed at the same RV Park in Las Vegas as you guys in January. Thanks for sharing. This may have been the first video where Chad made an appearance without a hat.
Some park owners would rather have their head in the sand and hope the electrical problem just goes away. 😞
@@ChangingLanes we agree completely which is sad, because the potential damage caused be be very expensive. Alice and I love watching you two and Phil and Stacy.
Great video! I have to giggle at how you truly dislike the heat. I guess growing up in 120 degrees summers for the last 57 years I'm use to it. I even hike all summer. Grand Canyon last yr and at the bottom it was 127 degrees and it was HOT 🔥 glad you made it down the mountain safely!
We were in Moab UT and had similar power issues in July. You’ve got to keep track of your power!
Great info. We have heard of rolling blackouts in CA, last winters loss of power in TX. House or RV we need to be prepared with water, fuel, food. Right now our situation is crazy doesn’t matter where you are.
That’s serious heat! Great job at dealing with what life throws at you! Keep on trucking and stay safe!!
Very classy way of handling the situation. You did credit to the RV community.
You guys are so nice and for that can to speak to you is beyond words
I Love This Video Because Everyone Has A Day That Gets A Little iffy. God Bless You Both .
Thanks guys. I’m new 70 looking forward to getting on the road with my squeeze. I’m happy new year
I had a Tonka Truck like that I used to put it on a lowboy trailer when empty. It got a lot of attention.
We were in Vegas late August, on the way to Flagstaff. Spent the night there, but 120 degrees and miserable traffic. Just a place you have to go through to get somewhere else.
For those who are wondering why go somewhere like Vegas thats so hot in July.... We were in Northern Montana over July 4 and it was over 100 for about a week!.. haha...definitely unexpected heat. We were boondocking so we had to deal with it in our own ways. So sorry you had such a bad experience with the Park peeps... but good attitudes all around (considering). Happy Travels!
Oh yes, the power grid in the basin during the summer is horrible! NV Energy offers an incentive NOT to run the AC and high current drawing items during the day. Although we have a place in Henderson, we have our 5er at Desert Eagle (Nellis AFB) when we have company staying in town. Never had an issue with power from the 50A and run both ACs 24/7. There are several great RV resorts in the basin, bummer to hear about your issues and there is absolutely no excuse for the attitude from "that one guy". Awesome job handling the issues and glad you enjoyed the area. Happy RVing and keep those videos coming!
After 3 hours of changing sites etc, I can't believe how calm Chad is... the Goldie Locks comment is so funny! I don't think I'd have the patience to be joking by then... You guys are great!
We can identify with camping in a very hot location - we camped in Big Bend National Park (TX) this summer (July) and it was over 100 degrees. We had issues with electric there - the 50 amp breaker kept blowing on the pedestal so I was forced to use the 30 amp one and our Victron Inverter on boost to get 2 AC units running. We were fine the day and night. The next morning we went hiking and left our dogs in the camper, knowing that with our batteries and inverter they would be fine even if the power went out. We did shut off one AC unit in the bedroom just in case there was a power issue the other one would continue to run. One of our dogs was in the bedroom and when we got back the main room in the camper was about 82 degrees but the bedroom was over 90 degrees since it was 106 degrees and we were in full sunlight on an asphalt parking area (Grand Village at Big Bend). Lesson learned ... need 2 AC units running during the day to keep the camper cool enough when it is over 100 degrees (we have a smaller Grand Design Solitude S-2939RL). Our dogs were fine except we had to be careful about the asphalt because it was very hot for their little paws - over 130 degrees.
I installed some fans in the top vent area of our RV fridge that worked great even in hot temperatures. We have the 12CuFt version so it is not as large an area to keep cool. Someday I may convert it to a 12V compressor system with one of the JC Refrigeration kits they sell in Indiana. Before I installed the extra fans the fridge would get too warm and the freezer would get warm on hot (over 90 degree) days. Now it works fine.
Gosh that could have been very dangerous for your pups. You were lucky. I hope you are more careful with leaving them in such heat for any length of time. And the asphalt and dirt or sand will burn their paws in such high heat. I always take off my shoe and test it if it burns my foot it will burn their paws too. Miserable times, been there done that. I got a stroller for my babies when the ground is to hot.
Until you get a residential refrigerator please look into the ARP control with extra fans. It will also protect your refrigerator. Also look into adding an additional baffle at the top of your refrigerator cooling unit.
The voltage at my home in San Bernardino varied from 108 to 130 volts. I had to help a business owner install a voltage conditioner because he was losing computers during July and August due to the extreme voltage drops.
BTW, I installed a 12 volt bus to power my wifi modems and routers instead of the AC system. This way they stay active while traveling!
I had a similar problem dropping down from the TT in Idyllwild CA. Discovered that the dealer had jacked the brakes on the 5th wheel/
Hi just a suggestion: when you're merging on the traffic is crank it up on the paved shoulder, until you get up to highway speed, then merge into the lane of travel
( love been driving Semi for 32 yrs. with Walmart now) 😉
Words of wisdom for RV Life, "Roll with the punches." It's all about perspective. A lot of good info in the video. Thanks.
super experience at Sun City RV.! Lisa helped us find the RV we were looking for, thank youall!
Chad, in addition to turning your Jake brake on you should also put your transmission in a lower gear so it'll also help your brakes. As a truck driver, I drop down a mountain in a lower gear with Jake brake on and rarely touch my brakes, or just tap them.
Thanks Lavon
Alot of parks down that way have power issues. Maybe consider a "buck/boost" transformer setup in your basement just for these types of issues.
We live in Vegas, soon to move into our 2017 Thor Challenger 38KT in Boulder City. We have learned so much from you two and Phil and Stacy and thank you so much for all your experiences.
Thank you for sharing all of this. It is a great help in a long term view of high heat areas. Great info. thanks.
We are so sorry y'all had to go through this! That is awful that the employee had no concern for y'all at all! Thanks for sharing! ~ Shion and Matthew
Thanks you two. Stay Calm and RV On
When you own a big r.v. trailer i will tell you from over 30 years full time experience. It will cost the average 25' fifth wheel and truck $500 in repairs and maintenance every 100 miles you tow that trailer. If you want to go full time for life buy a new semi truck and a 25' box trailer preferably with a working refer unit . Have two big slide outs installed on both sides with stability jacks . Then build your interiors to your liking and the quality you want . Then you are set for life .
So sorry you had to deal with electrical issues in record high heat. You remained remarkably “cool” in spite of these issues. As a fellow RVer, the name of the park would be greatly appreciated since some of us are heading that way next year and are working on reservations for the coming year right now.🌞
We showed the sign but didn't want to make it the target of the video.. It was Las Vegas RV Resort.
This is the best rv epasode I've ever seen!!! oh my we, my wife and I were laughing out loud Thank You and I hope this doesn't upsey you.
THX for no sugar coating!
So this is how the other half of RV'ers live :) Love the fact that you have a motorcycle with you, this is my goal also !
I spent a summer in vegas in an rv park. Thankfully my AC and RV fridge did just fine. Covered all my windows with that solar reflective. That really helped.
How cute SAS the little dump truck being hauled; I watched it five or six time.
Forever learning. Thanks, never knew about the draw on the input Line AC . Now monitoring all our AC unit power drag on the input lines. Fortunately, this ground has good 118 AC. even with both units working. Discovered another factor : This rig isn't insulated well enough. Even at 92 degrees, this rig can't keep up and the units run for hours.
What an adventure shall we say you guys took. We have been to Vegas several times and once I repeat once I had to be there in July it was 116. Never again will we do that. At that time our RV had but one AC. It was kind of the trip you want to forget. Our new Solitude has 3 AC units like you and even then in 100 with no shade its hard to keep it cool inside. Keep em coming just love your videos.
Big difference in mean negative people and your telling what happened to you. Video was good for people to think about asking if the camp electricity can handle the loads. If you guys got a HDT like a Western Star you could stop your trailer even if the trailer brakes failed. Sorry for pointing that out after a scare. At least you have Chad and even frustrated he knew what to do for the electricity, many people would be completely lost. Stay safe and healthy guys.
That’s why I am wintering in the Rio Grande valley and be out of there mid March south Texas heat and humidity is a killer.
My engine brake shuts off too when I turn off the truck. Would be great if truck manufacturers would provide a setting to default engine brake to ON whenever a trailer is connected. Better to have it on and not need it vs. needing it and it is OFF. Glad y’all made it safe and sound.
Very informative video. I always find it difficult to travel with others. A lot of give and take.
Lol, love the video. It's not always roses on the road. Also, love it when you take roads we have also been on. We had a stop in Vegas this summer and totally related. Too stinking hot!
Also, we stayed at Sam's Town and it was great. We didn't have any power issues.
Yes, you are absolutely correct that these RV fridges suck! We lost all our food 2 weeks ago in Florida (and it's winter here now)! Next time it will be a residential fridge with lots of batteries and a big invertor and generator. Good video thanks.
Thanks! - The negativity was minor. - The informavativity was priceless! - You guys rock.
“17 days?! We’re not gonna last 17 minutes!” Private Hudson.
I would have been so stressed about our dogs 🐕.
Wow! Can’t believe what that employee said. So bad. Good advice.
I'm Glad you guys share the good and the bad with folks. I was wondering why you shared this video so late. My wife and I are ready to start our adventures. We ordered our Momentum a bit ago and are still waiting for it to arrive. We are so happy your channel has educated us of things and topics, we never even though about before. Thank You! :-) Go Air Force!
#GoNavy! ⚓️ 😎
On the video timing, see: changinglanesrv.com/faq/?Display_FAQ=4759
Hi! I'm a lifelong electrician and know the there are a lot of electricians that use Ohms law wrong.
Keep in mind that as the voltage drops across a load (resistance) the wattage also drops. Therefore, as voltage drops on a circuit, so does amperage. The only way to get the full wattage out of a lamp or inductive load (AC unit) is to apply the rated voltage.
Sorry that electrician didn't know that, a lot of guys learn this stuff early on in school but don't how to use it for trouble shooting later on.
I know this video is old but for anyone doing hot heat RVing you can buy umbrellas for top AC units, it helps.
We carry a voltage checker. About $15.00 at camping stores. Always check level and voltage first thing. Also we have our generator ready for any emergency. Travel safe. Robert Woods
I know that grade out of Page too. Hated it it. We lost an alternator going down it this fall. Ended up getting that fixed in Flagstaff. Was there in early September and it was hot then too.
chad must have some experience or schooling in electrical engineering, he always knows so much about electrical work i can’t always follow along. very knowledgeable!
It’s almost a must for RVing.
Tara, your hair looks great long and wavy. Very elegant :). Safe travels!
So nice of you to not name the employee. You all are a class act!!
I engage my engine brake all the time. The reason is if you continuously exercise the turbo it is less likely to seize when you get a lot of miles on the truck.
I live in north central Texas, accustomed to summer and even I know not to go to Vegas in summer. HAHA
Sounds like just normal RV traveling. ,nothing goes bad until -- your running late, it's raining, it's snowing, it's cold and wind is howling, hot and NO wind, then it's all bets are off.
Kudos for having a good attitude about it. Going through what y all did and then get your fiddle playing friend, wouldn't have helped but I'm afraid I would've had to be locked up. No excuse for folks to act that way. Again 👍👍 for the way you handled the whole situation.
Take a shower, cool off and get a cool beverage. Put on happy face and move on, otherwise you just ruin your trip.
Glad it worked out and you didn't lose your smile 😁. Happy trails.
I have found that many parks are not updated electrically. Also with so many new RVs having electric fireplaces as more turn them on at night it lowers the watts available. This is where the surge protector saves so much damage. Hard to deal with when you pay for the electrc that is not there. Might as well dry camp.
Tara has the cutest “frowny face”! Love you guys!
We camped this past summer in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. We stayed in Big Bend around 110-115F, started off boondocking, but moved to the RV campground because our kiddos got sick. The RV campground was so empty we had solid 119 volts the entire time we stayed in Big Bend. A lot of the issues you described with electricity are pre brownout-like symptoms. Everything is running so hard on the grid it’s difficult to get nominal service delivered to everybody. We also experimented with some of those alternate cooling methods for the fridge and it helped some. For example, we ran our generator on propane instead of gasoline so it would run cooler, putting shade over the air conditioner unit itself, and others. As far as engine braking, we use ours every time we tow/haul as it puts less stress on the brakes and adds additional assurance that we can stop in time. Summer camping in the desert is not for the faint of heart and, for those considering it, requires a good bit of planning especially if you prefer boondocking over hookups. Stay safe out there and happy travels!
That’s why I converted my four-door fridge in my Monaco to a compressor fridge
We were in Vegas last Aug for a few days and it was hot. We stayed at the RV fam camp at Nellis Air Force Base and had no problems with power or getting a spot. That’s one perk of being retired military. Glad that the rest of your trip went good.
were you on that mountain-y stretch on I-15 through AZ at the time with your brakes? That's where we were when we lost a tire off the rear trailer axel...yes, the tire just flew off into the median. A car pulled up next to me yelling something, we thought she said something about a tire so we pulled off as soon as we could (there's no shoulder through there so it was over a mile before I could pull over). Thank God no one was hurt by our rogue tire. Of course there was no cell service there and it was dusk so we hobbled to the next exit which happened to have boondocking. We were able to retrieve the TPMS that night and the tire the next morning after a trip back to St. George to purchase lug nuts to put the tire (which was totally fine) back on the trailer. Just one of the many crazy adventures we've had RVing. Btw, Tara, I hope you're able to figure out something to heal your health. My husband was shocked by how much weight you've lost!
We’ve stayed at that park a couple of times, no electric issues, but it’s a tight squeeze maneuvering within that park.
We use the engine brake everywhere.
I appreciate you showing the good, the bad and ugly of RV life and how you dealt with it. I really enjoyed the videos you showed with Phil and Stacy. Semper Fi and Merry Christmas.
Curious if you have ever considered getting some Shade Cloth and Covering the top and sides of the trailer. Our trailer has a black skin like yours and it really makes a huge difference. I purchased small suction cup tie downs and have found it to help greatly and cooling the RV Down.
Great video. Hope you had a great Christmas and a happy new year.
Electrical code for RV parks assumes that no more than 50% of the rated capacity will be used at any time. This is part of the problem. Check for voltage drops throughout your system, also, particularly at either side of the twist lock. Also, soft start devices for AC units really work. The locked-rotor starting current of the compressor is what is blowing your breaker.
Arizona & Las Vegas in the June - August is kind of like Minnesota December - February. You just have to stay inside 90% of the time. Except in the desert there's no snow to shovel.
Stayed at this park twice both going and coming from Sturgis. We had no issues with power at 30 Amps anyways. Lost a tire 120 miles south and it took out the jumper cable to the house batteries. At the same time we lost our dash air and spent three days getting various repairs completed. While running around daily it meant no pre-cooling until late afternoon. Just getting the interior cool enough to sleep was a chore even with a box fan inside. We lost another MH tire that trip and trailer tire as well. It was to say at the least a memorable trip. We are engaged in ministry and truly felt we were in the midst of a spiritual battle at times. Sometimes you just have to roll with it. I will say that small businesses in Vegas were extremely helpful in fitting us in to their busy schedules. We try to avoid LV in the summer especially, but it is the most expedient route.
(This is kayak Mark) I mentioned to you a while back but I got a DRV with disc brakes I'm not happy my disc brakes drag I bought a 50 lb fish scale had a strap around the tire and it takes 36 lb to make the tires go round there is a recall from the NTSA on September 23rd mine is a two axles so it has the 9000 lb.
Wow! That's a lot of drag!
The fiddle player should have got a foot where the sun dont shine... There is NO excuse for that kind of Behavior when you are in the hospitality business...Great job guys 👍👍👍
Tow haul mode every time pulling regardless if flat or mountains, OEM manual