Where the Rubber Meets the Road

"Don't make me use my safety manager voice."

~Random T-Shirt~ 

If you've ever wondered about the importance of good tires on your rig, this blog is for you. Let's talk about it.

Several years ago, I bought a brand new, 28' bumper pull. Pulled it right off the lot with my sparkly 1/2 ton Chevy Z71. (We're going to talk about that WAY more in later blogs). I had no clue what tires were on it, how they were rated, or even the brand. They were brand new, right? 

For the first several months I only pulled from state park to state park every 14 days. Clearly, I was living in it. I had exactly zero issues with my shiny new camper and my soft, glowing tires. Zero.

But next, I decided to pull my 28', 7,000 lb (loaded) rig from Nebraska all the way to Corpus Christi, Texas.  (I promise, we are SO going to talk about towing very soon). You know how many tire issues I had on that trip? Also, zero. Do you know why? I was LUCKY!! I mean, I was beyond lucky. I drove too fast for too long because I hadn't a clue. It was winter, so the pavement was cool, and apparently I had them aired up correctly, but I now know I dodged bullet after bullet.

Ask almost any RVer, full timer or otherwise, what their most common roadside issue is, and they'll tell you. It's tires. Do you know why? Because the tires that come on your new camper are crap. With rare exception, they aren't rated appropriately for the weight you're carrying nor the speed you're driving. If you're running with your factory-installed tires in the summer, driving more than 65 mph, with them supporting 3-5 tons of tin and cheap wood, the question isn't whether or not you'll have a blowout. It's when. 

I had a lengthy discussion with an RV tech once about tires. (which now makes me a certified expert. lol). What he told me made the blood run out of my face. According to this tech, most RV tires are rated to pull 50 miles at a time at 50 mph or less. In other words, these tires are meant for the weekender who stocks up on beer and runs down to the local state fishing lake. They are (IN GENERAL!) NOT meant to be pulled down the road for miles on end at speeds you should avoid.

So, what can you as an RV owner, do to reduce the odds of you having a blowout? Well, the most obvious would be to replace your crappy tires with light truck tires, 10 ply or above. Whether you do that or decide to roll the dice on your crappy ones like I did, you can also do things like making sure the air pressure is correct, keep your speed under 65 mph (or less, what's the rush?), and when possible, avoid towing in extreme conditions, especially heat. And for god's sake try to stay off the logging roads. 

But wait, there's more!

My wife and I now own a 37' diesel pusher and pull a Jeep TJ toad (and yes, you need to pay attention to the tires on your toad, too). We bought the rig used with low miles and the ginormous semi-truck tires on this thing looked great. No cracks in the sidewalls, great tread. Away we went down the road to places like South Dakota, Wyoming, North Carolina (Yes, North Carolina while carrying my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, two cats and a coondog). Know how many tire issues we had? Yep. Zero. Know why? Again...LUCKY!!! 

While on the return trip from North Carolina, we happened to park next to a guy that had the same Freightliner frame we run on and we started comparing notes. Apparently, he'd been on the road with his rig for 12 years or more and he had a few great suggestions. In the midst of all that he took a lap around the rig and took at hard look at the tires. Now HIS face turned white.

"Did you know these tires are all over 10 years old?" he asked. 

I responded, "Well, first of all, how do you know that? And secondly, so what? They're in great shape."

That's when I learned something VERY important about big truck tires. "Young man," he said. "Truck tires don't wear out. They TIME out." 

"Say what?"

Basically, he made me promise we'd at least replace the steering tires when we got home, which we did...at $650 each (remember, we're RVing on a budget. And while this definitely falls under the "Do as I say, not as I do" category, we've continued to run on the drive tires with no issues, yet. It's in the budget and if you're in our situation, I'd tell you to do it sooner than later. We do check them for damage frequently, keep them properly inflated, keep them covered when we sit more than a couple days, avoid speeds generally over 62 mph (1500-1700 rpms), especially in the heat, and...remember those two steering tires? Yep, those are spares and our jeep serves as a holding cell for them while we travel. Is it ideal? No. Should you do it? Also no. 

While this is by no means intended to be expert advice, it is some stuff that we've learned along the way and we hope it helps. As always, your mileage may vary...literally and figuratively.

If you like the info found in the blog, please become a follower.

Remember...Stay safe. Be Smart. See ya on the road. 

  

 

 

Keep It or Sell It: The Great Debate

 

“In every homeowner lies the heart of the place they call home.”

"Home is where you park it." 

 

If you're at that stage of RV living where you're trying to make a decision about keeping your home or selling it all and hitting the road, this blog entry is for you. Along with what kind of truck to pull your rig with, this HAS to be among the top debates amongst RVers. 

Let's talk about it. 

Look, I get it. I get the allure of the adventure. I get the rush of selling it all and hitting the open road. I really do. I was a firefighter for nearly 24 years. I've felt the rush of entering a home with ambient temperatures at the ceiling of 800 degrees fahrenheit, or more. It was SO exciting! But here's the thing. I never went in without backup or a RIT team standing at the ready. So, before you sell it all and hit the road, let's talk about some questions to ask yourself. It's imperative you be honest. 

1. How old are you? Assuming you're retirement age or older, how much longer can you unhook, crawl underneath the rig, or even walk up the stairs to your rig?

If you're still young, this is less of a factor than someone my age (65). If the unforeseen happens, you have time to recover physically or financially. For me, I'm one wrong step away from breaking a hip and being unable to drive our Class A. Where would we go?

2. What will you do with the funds from selling it all? The obvious answer is that you'll invest it in something that promises decent returns. If your plan is to use those funds to finance your travel, then refer back to question 1.  

Here's the financial thing to consider and I'll use an example. We met a couple in South Dakota who had sold their house and belongings in California to RV full time. They invested the money and told us they'd use it to buy a different place when they were done on the road.  BUT, and be sure you're honest about this question, will your investment keep up with the appreciation of the housing market? If you know it will, go for it. If you're not sure, you're going to leave RV life with a mortgage. However, it's a fact that some folks have a long-term care facility already picked out. We don't.

Obviously, if you're still young and/or working, or rich, this is a moot point. You can do what you want and be safe. If you're living on a small fixed income the way we are, I encourage you to think longer term.

3. Can you afford to do both? We're blessed in that we CAN do both. We can keep our safety net, but only because our modest house is paid for and so is our Class A. (An older model, low mileage diesel we got for a song).

4. How is this going to fit in with your family life? The kids still going to come visit? The grandkids? Are they all supportive? 

When it comes to this "debate," we easily see both sides of the aisle. There are SO many mitigating factors.

It's becoming more and more common for people to choose RV life as a means of survival. Mortgages and rents are ridiculous and, as we've discussed in other blogs, there is a way to travel on the cheap. Likewise, our world continues to become seemingly more stressful and divided, and living on the open road has so much appeal, it's difficult to put into words.

There's just one more thing I want you to consider, especially if you believe RV life is cheaper than home ownership. (It can be, but it isn't always). Imagine putting your brick and mortar on a trailer and pulling it down the road. Imagine what that would do to it. In essence, every time you move your rig, you're putting your house through an earthquake. Eventually, you will have damage and you will have costly repairs. Remember, it's a good idea to be handy and/or rich.

Even if you decided to park your rig permanently, don't make the mistake of thinking you'll be able to cool it in the summer or heat it in the winter like you can a brick and mortar. You're living in a tin can with paper-thin insulation and it will NOT be the same. Obviously there are exceptions to all of this, but in my experience, very few. People get caught off guard with this last one all the time. 

It's a decision clearly left to the individual and no one can tell you what's best for you. I can tell you the conclusion we reached, and if possible, we'll never be without a place to come back to. We're happy to be a resource, but we certainly can't tell you what's best for you; only what's best for us. 

If you like our content, please follow the blog to receive instant updates and comment about what decision you've made and why. We all do best when we help each other.

Stay safe, Be smart. See ya on the road. 

 

 

 

 

 

Broad Strokes: Some Things Before You Get Started

“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.”     ~J.R.R. Tolkien~

 

I've seen enough social media advice regarding RV's that it seems imperative to always include a small disclaimer. I am not an expert on RV repair, RV planning, or most anything else regarding RV life. What my wife and I both are, is a source for you to put in the mix as you make your own decisions about things. 

If you're just getting started on RV life, or if you've been doing it for awhile with only weekend trips on Memorial Day, this list of broad-stroke items are some things you might consider before you ever get started. Questions you need to answer for yourself, if you will. My intention is to cover each of these and more in some detail in later videos. But for now, start doing your homework before you ever pull out of the driveway.

Let's talk about it.

As you may have gathered from a couple t-shirts, I'm a retired firefighter who worked nearly 24 years in a very large, very busy metropolitan area. We had a saying in the fire service. "If it weren't for stupid people, we'd be out of work." No truer words were every spoken. As it turns out, my later years were also spent staffing a rescue boat on a 17,000 acre recreational lake. Stupid people on boats put stupid people on the highways to shame. And then, then I retired and began to RV. Sweet Mary there are a lot of people pulling or driving RV's that fly by the seat of their pants. They shouldn't be. It's dangerous.

If you're not one of those people and have done your due diligence, I apologize. But you also realize that what I've said is true. We're not perfect, but we've done a lot of homework. You should too.

Step One: Whether you're buying a new 42' 5th Wheel or a used camper van, you simply MUST become familiar with your rig. In fact, you need to become an expert. If it's new, get a thorough familiarization tour before you ever leave the lot. If it's used, have the previous owner go over ALL of it with you. Make a list. Get it all covered. Here is just a small list of the things you should know. (Remember, we'll get to some of these in detail on future blogs and TikTok videos, so be sure to follow us on both to get the latest updates). 

 -How much does your rig weigh?

-What is the tongue weight, if applicable?

-What's the minimum/maximum capacity for the vehicle I'm towing it with? (If applicable. I'll have A LOT more to say on this later).

What kind of tires does it have? How old are they? If new, just how cheap a tire did the manufacture use? 

How does the door lock? How does the awning operate? How do you level it? What is the fuel capacity (propane, diesel, gasoline, etc as applicable)? Holding tank limits (fresh water, gray water, black water)? How do you light the hot water heater and is it gas only or electric, also? How do you light the furnace?  Do you know what every switch in the entire rig does? Where is the fuse panel? Where are the breakers? How do you set the "mode" on your refrigerator and is it adjusted correctly? How does the microwave work? If used, when were the wheel bearings last serviced? Brakes? Are the wipers in good shape? Can you operate the thermostat?

This list is in no way all-inclusive, but it's a good start.  I would cautiously encourage you to consult social media and the caution applies, as well, to our content. I have had SOME success utilizing RV-specific Facebook pages (search for the groups that work for you), but I can assure you, those pages are wrought with ridiculous drama and answers will vary based on experience and smarts. Answers can be useful, but some of them are just plain scary and dangerous. Become informed!! YouTube can also be a great resource, and I have figured out more than one repair by watching videos related to my issue.

Once you have all your questions answered regarding your rig, I implore you; camp in it a couple times in your driveway. Feeling confident? Head to your local state park within 50 miles and do a couple weekends there. Take the risk out of forgetting things. Learn under the safety net of proximity things you still need to learn before you tackle a big trip. The road, RV parks, rustic campsites, etc are all full of people who aren't yet ready to be doing this. Don't be one of them. If it helps, I'd give the same advice to a person buying a motorcycle. Being informed may just save your life, or at a minimum, a major headache.  Even more importantly, it may save the life of someone else.

Look, I fully realize this one is a bit preachy, but if you're new, it won't be long until you understand why. Like many things in life, if we all work together to be advocates for each other, we all get a more fulfilling and safe experience.

Be safe. Be smart. See ya on the road! 

Reviewing Carbolyn Park, Pomona Lake, Lyndon, Kansas

  

 

 Camping Review: Carbolyn Park, Lyndon, Kansas

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233450?tab=ratings 

*All information in these blog entries is intended to be just that, information. Our intention is not to tell you what you should or should not do. Our intention is to share our experience with you in hopes you can add it to your collective and make a sound decision that works for your particular situation. 

Two years ago,  my wife and I attempted a trip to Dallas, Texas to see some friends and march in the St Paddy's Day Parade. We made it as far as a place just south of Topeka, Kansas before our trip came to a screeching halt.

As we headed south from Topeka, a ridiculous gust of wind tore our awning from the side of our motorhome. When the awning met the highway shoulder, it took some of the front of our roof with it. After climbing to the roof to finish the deconstruction, we limped down the highway to the closest safe place. That place was Carbolyn Park near Lyndon, Kansas.

It was an oasis on a sandstorm of a trip and it was from there we regrouped to get our rig patched up enough to make it home. 

This year, as we began our five-month trek south, we determined to show eastern Kansas we weren't scared and took the same route with Carbolyn Park as the destination.

I've shared the link above and we highly recommend you pull up the site on recreation. gov. There you'll find size, prices, activities, etc. What you won't find is my opinion. So, let's talk about.

 Carbolyn Park is a US Army Corp of Engineers facility and has several sites available for camping, all with electric and water. We visited in December, so the park was closed. "Closed" means the power and water are both turned off. It's dry-camping heaven and the best part? It's free when the park is closed.

Remember in a previous video I mentioned getting your Senior National Parks Pass ($80)? This is one of several places it will come in handy. Even during it's open season, Corp of Engineer properties will cost you half the usual camping fee. 

Carbolyn Park is lovely. The pads are gravel, but two of them are pull-thrus. There is lots of shade and they have shower and bathroom facilities when they're open. I'm told the fishing is pretty good, too! 

Carbolyn Park is not a 5 star RV resort. It's a well-maintained spot in the road that provides inexpensive camping during the warm months, and free camping in the off-season. Just come prepared with your own water supply and propane for heat. 

It fits beautifully in to our plan of inexpensive travel and boondocking. I give it 4/5 stars. Your mileage may vary.

See ya on the road!! 

 

Budgets and Boondocking

 

Budgets and Boondocking

 

If you’re wondering how you can afford to RV on a tight budget, this blog is for you. But first, a little disclaimer.

 *All information in these blog entries is intended to be just that, information. Our intention is not to tell you what you should or should not do. Our intention is to share our experience with you in hopes you can add it to your collective and make a sound decision that works for your particular situation.

 Ok, let’s talk about it.

`Gina and I maintain a home (utilities, upkeep, etc. Much more on keeping your home later), and travel extensively in our 37’ Class A Diesel Pusher with a Jeep TJ toad. We do this on a $4200 per month budget which includes a modest pension and social security. How? You gotta focus.

 When we first looked in to traveling in our motorhome, we were told it was too expensive and it would be cheaper to drive our HRV and stay in motels. So, we put it to the test. That premise simply isn’t true, IF you stick to some basic rules of RVing on the cheap.

 1.   You don’t travel every day. Sure, our Class A has a 90 gallon tank for fuel and filling it can hurt. So, we usually don’t let it get much below half a tank. It’s much less painful that way. But on average, it costs roughly $150 or so each time we fill it up. Your situation may vary based on several circumstances. If we traveled 400 miles a day, our budget would be gone before you know it. We limit our travel to 200-300 miles when we DO move and we stay multiple days. It stretches the fuel. We also utilize apps from places like Loves and Sinclair which can save us 10-25 cents per gallon or more. Explore your options. The apps are free. But how do you afford the camping costs?

2.   We boondock/dry camp whenever it’s practical and possible. We have a fully self-contained unit with an on-board generator, 100 gallons of fresh water and 40 gallons each of holding tanks for gray and black water, as well as, 30 gallons of propane for heat and the generator. We can easily stay a week or more in one spot if we manage our water usage and heat. We run the generator only when we need electricity for coffee, etc, and to charge our house batteries if needed. Use public showers and bathrooms if they have them. Our favorite places to boondock are at Corp of Engineer Parks, National Parks with dispersed camping options and in a pinch, Crack Barrel, Walmart, rest areas, etc. Invest in a senior national park pass. Camping anywhere in a national park is half price, and many corp of engineer places are free in the off-season. Also, entrance to exhibits is free. Our $80  pass pays for itself over and over and over again. Amenities obviously vary by location, but if you plan ahead and you’re self-contained, these are all great, inexpensive options. Download ALL the RV travel apps. They’re life-savers.

3.   Eat what’s in the camper. This is huge. If you eat out even half the time, your budget is out the window. Stock up on groceries and take the time to prepare meals in the rig. It’s fun!

4.   Avoid all the high-priced attractions. If you’re gonna travel on a budget, you can’t do it and spend time at expensive roadside attractions. They’ll eat you up.

These are the basic premises we follow for life on the road in a big RV while keeping  our home base. It can be challenging and we aren’t always 100% effective, but it’s fun to see what you can do on a dime. As a recommendation only, get a credit card that earns points and use it for everything, then pay it off every month. We actually pay ours off every Monday. Our airline points are huge and we just cashed in 800 dollars to use for a card payment. That’ll buy a lot of diesel fuel.

If you like what you’re reading, please help us continue down the road by following the blog and sharig it with your friends. Be sure to follow the spiritual and adventure side of things with Gina on Horsefeathers: Energy and Life on TikTok. Follow Matt on TikTok at RV with Matt and Gina.

In the next blog, I’ll review a couple Corp of Engineer properties we’ve used on this trip.

Thanks for watching!

See ya on the road!