Truck
We initially wanted to get the Ford Trailer TPMS to have everything in the dash. But the more we dug into it, the more complicated it got.
First, the sensors have to be installed into the rims (replacing the valve stems) and there was a lot of confusion about the size of the valve stems and compatibility with our wheels. Second, the system is not completely wireless with a simple repeater like the TST unit. For some reason, it requires wiring to the trailer. You can see the kit and all the wires here: accessories.ford.com…
On top of the complicated install, it’s much more expensive than the TST and doesn’t monitor temperature (only pressure). The bottom line is, it was more complicated and more expensive for a less capable system that can’t be easily moved to a new trailer.
For our first year (2018), we used the CoPilot GPS app on our iPhones. It stores maps locally and allows you to input RV dimensions and weight in and will route accordingly. However, after an update to the app, it started doing some really crazy routing (get off this exit, do a U-turn and get back on, etc).
In February of 2019, we switched to the Rand McNally OverDryve 7 RV GPS and it was much better than CoPilot. However, after about 6 months, it started giving us some strange routing also. By this time, Eric and Tami (TechnoRV) had changed their recommendation to the Garmin units.
In October of 2019, we switched to the Garmin RV 890 and it is AWESOME! Great big display, voice prompts (that aren't overbearing), and it finds rest areas, service stations, etc along our route with ease! We will have a full review and comparison HERE.
Note: We also did some testing of the GPS feature of RVLIfe (RV Trip wizard) and, while we LOVE RV Trip Wizard, the GPS navigation is lacking. Its routes (compared to the Garmin) can sometimes be MUCH longer. This just solidifies the Garmin RV 890 as our #1 pick.
We have AAA Premier RV Plus Motorcycle which covers everything we have. It runs about $246/yr.
We've only used it once for the motorcycle, so we're not exactly experts on how well it works for the RV. But, we've had AAA for many years (pre RV) and the few times we've needed it AAA was on the ball.
Yes and no. Yes, it does provide DC power at a low current (maybe around 3-5A DC). This would trickle charge the batteries if there were no load on them. However, we run our fridge via the inverter when traveling which draws about 45 Amps DC. Thus, the batteries still draw down while we travel.
Our F350 does have the extra alternator and could provide a lot more power, but we'd need to run dedicated cabling for that. That is on the wish list. We just haven't gotten to it yet.
If you have steel valve stems and enough room for them, the flow through sensors are great! They make it much simpler to add or remove air.
We have flow-through on the RV and caps on the truck. The rims on the truck just don't leave enough space to be able to get an air chuck on them.
Another item of note on the cap sensors. Many of them come with an outer shell that just spins and you need to use a special wrench to get them on and off. This is an anti-theft feature, but it's also very annoying to use that little wrench. I removed and discarded our spinner shell – they just screw apart and come right off.
Short answer: It depends on the state.
There's a lot of confusion on this topic. Yes, some states have Class A CDL or some type of non-commercial endorsement requirements for RV's over certain weights. However, Florida (our home state), as well as about half of the other states, do not. In Florida, drivers of recreational vehicles are exempt from the requirement to obtain a commercial driver's license. section 322.53(2) (d), Florida Statutes. (www.flhsmv.gov…)
Since every state honors the driving and license requirements of every other state, we are perfectly legal to drive in all 50 states under our standard Florida license.
In regards to Federal CDL Requirements, see: www.fmcsa.dot.gov…
Question 3: Does part 383 apply to drivers of recreational vehicles?
Guidance: No, if the vehicle is used strictly for non-business purposes.
Here are a few articles that discuss the topic for each state:
www.campanda.com…
www.outdoorsy.com…
All of that said, our personal opinion is that rigs as large and heavy as ours should require some type of extra certification or endorsement as well as training.
We cover some of the CDL issues here if interested: youtu.be/EY0GfrZIxxs?t=496…
Yes. We looked at that as well as the TPMS system that integrates. The trailer camera system is hard wired, requiring a wiring bundle be run all the way to the back of the RV from the bumper of the truck. That, combined with the price, makes it a non-starter for us. It's also not clear if the camera will operate in motion. We use our camera primarily while driving to get a view behind us and almost never for backing. Every other camera integrated shuts off when in motion, so we have no reason to believe this is different.
All in all, it's just way too expensive, too difficult to install, and has limited functionality.
In contrast, the furrion camera system we have was super easy to install (wireless), and runs in-motion, giving us a full time view behind the RV when driving.
RV
When we first started RV shopping, we had tankless water heater as a desired item and thought we might upgrade to one. However, after using our standard electric / propane tank (12 gal) water heater for over a year full time… we've never run out of hot water. Even with visitors staying with us. So, the Truma tankless fell to the nice to have but not necessary category. I have enough projects on the to-do list… ?
The 399TH was a strong candidate, making the top 2or 3. But on the 399, there were a couple of things that we weren't keen on:
One issue was internal accessibility with the slides in. We wanted to be able to get to our fridge, bathroom and bedroom at rest stops or the occasional location where we can't put out slides. On the 399 only the one rear bath is accessible and only if it's not blocked by something in the garage.
Another issue was the washer / dryer prep. We knew we wanted stackable units versus combo, and we wanted the dryer vented to the outside. In the 399TH, the W/D prep is in the middle of the garage making venting difficult. There are also controls on the wall above the prep, meaning they'd need to be relocated, or some sort of cabinet build around the washer/dryer. All doable but a lot of extra work. Plus we really like the W/D in the bedroom.
The third issue was the patio on the passenger side and all of the nice big windows being on the driver side, which has a lovely view of the front of our neighbors or, better yet, the back of their rig and poop hose. ? We also weren't sure how much we'd like the patio since it really only holds 2 people. If you want to watch a game or something outside and have more than that, some will be on the ground looking up over the rail. In reality this never happens as it's usually just two of us. But it was something we thought about.
Everyone has different priorities and there's no such thing as the “perfect” RV, just perfect enough for you. If we could have everything, our RV would be 75 feet long!
For us (and I think for most), the first step was finding the right floorplan for our needs. There were a couple of brands with similar floorplans but, to us, the Grand Designs just felt more solid with better construction than other's we looked at. Once we were leaning toward GDRV, we researched their warranty, customer service and support. We wanted to make sure that the warranty did not preclude full time living and also that they would work directly with us on any warranty issues, with a mobile tech or sending us parts directly. We also asked around on the Grand Design Owners Facebook page. All of that checked out and we went with it. We've not regretted our choice one bit! Our home has been wonderful and the minor issues we've had were handled directly as they promised.
If you're debating on which brand, what we recommend is to join owners groups for each on FaceBook, and ask the owners what they think. You'll get lot's of negative comments on every brand so be prepared for that. Any time you sell thousands of RV's you're going to have some haters. But I think you'll find that the Grand Design owners will also have lots and lots of positive to say.
Our decision to buy a fifth wheel toy hauler over a class A diesel pusher was primarily economic precipitated by weight. Bringing Lucile (our 2017 Indian Roadmaster) was a MUST.
Lucile weighs about 950lbs with fuel. Since we didn't want to deal with a trailer (and we wanted to flat tow a daily driver), we were looking at lift systems (like Hydralift). When you do the math on a 950lbs motorcycle plus a 400lb lift and factor in leverage based on the average distance from the rear axle to the bumper, it adds around 2000lbs to the rear axle. That put us in tag-axle territory, which starts getting WAY up in price. So, we had a choice between waiting another year to save more money , or investigating a plan B. So, we started looking at toy hauler options. The only Class A toy hauler we found was a Gas model by Thor. Nope.
Then we found fifth wheels! The more we looked at fifth wheel toy haulers the more we realized that, perhaps, it should have been our Plan A all along. A lot more living space when converting the garage to an office / guest suite, two full baths, kitchen with island, etc. And the financial aspect fit too. Class A option: Roughly $300K rig (tag axle) plus $30K daily driver plus around $10K for the lift, braking system, tow system, etc ($350K minimum). Fiver Toy Hauler option: $60K Truck plus $90K rig ($150K) AND we get more living space. That was an option we could fit in our budget and timeline. We've not regretted it a bit!
We initially wanted to get the Ford Trailer TPMS to have everything in the dash. But the more we dug into it, the more complicated it got.
First, the sensors have to be installed into the rims (replacing the valve stems) and there was a lot of confusion about the size of the valve stems and compatibility with our wheels. Second, the system is not completely wireless with a simple repeater like the TST unit. For some reason, it requires wiring to the trailer. You can see the kit and all the wires here: accessories.ford.com…
On top of the complicated install, it’s much more expensive than the TST and doesn’t monitor temperature (only pressure). The bottom line is, it was more complicated and more expensive for a less capable system that can’t be easily moved to a new trailer.
His name is Steve, and his number is (941) 650-6006. He worked on our Momentum 397TH twice over the years and will do some work on our 410THR soon. We were amazed at the high quality of repairs he can do with his mobile setup.
When we just do a quick overnight stay, we generally stay hooked up if we have room for it. Makes for easy departure the next day. If we are already fairly level, I will use the Lippert hydraulic leveler system and level manually, taking care to not put any odd stress on the hitch (no side/side or lifting).
We are on our second set of Westlake G rated tires. Our first set lasted over 27,000 miles and almost 3 years before our first blowout. We attribute that blowout to all of the potholes we hit that day in New York, but it's anyone's guess.
Since we were on our way to Elkhart for some work with Grand Design, we just opted for a new set of the same.
Wait… aren't Westlake tires all “China Bombs”???
The origin of the moniker “china bomb”, as near as we can tell, came about in 2016/2017 in reference to the E rated Westlake tires having a bad run of blowouts. We're not sure if it was a bad batch of tires, or if the tires were under-rated for the application (heavy toy haulers). Regardless, the name stuck and became tied to all Westlake tires even though the G rated Westlakes have a very good track record. Grand Design started putting the G rated tires on the Momentum line in 2017.
If we had to pick a different brand, we've heard great things about Sailun and Good Year.
The bottom line is, take care of your tires, inspect them regularly, and use a good TPMS.
We shopped around and found Progressive to be the best option for us. It's Full Timers with Total Loss Replacement/Purchase Price (got this instead of GAP coverage) and costs us about $1500/yr. If you full time, be up front with the insurance company and get appropriate coverage.
Our washer and dryer are both Splendide brand. The washer is model ARWXF129W and the dryer is TVM63F.
We DO like them a lot! Sure, they're not the giant full-sized LG's we had in our sticks and bricks, but they do a very good job and it's nice to be able to do laundry in our own home. It's also nice to have them as separate units versus a combo unit. Note: the dryer is vented to the outside. We've heard a lot of bad reviews about non-vented combo units.
We did not install them. We wanted to be able to do out own laundry on day one of RV life, so we negotiated them into the price and had them installed by our dealer (LazyDays youtu.be/fN1_igB-tDQ… ) prior to delivery. We also just didn't want that big of a project on day one! ?
These are the tiles: changinglanesrv.com…
I estimate I used about 10-12 tiles total (lots of cutting). I used our cordless circular saw with a masonry blade to cut them. Also, the tiles are self-adhesive, but I added a layer of 3M 77 spray adhesive to be sure we got a good stick. ??
We got tired of seeing sagging coroplast under the front half (drop-frame) of our RV. We even had one section come loose on one side at one point and had to re-attach it.
To fix the sagging and provide better support for the insulation under our RV, we used 1″ angle aluminum from Lowes as an added support mechanism. I cut it to a length to fit just inside the LED strips and bolted it directly to the frame using self-tapping stainless steel bolts. I pre-drilled holes in the angle aluminum and made starter holes in the frame.
Our awnings are Carefree brand, so we thought it best to buy the same brand of drop shade. We selected this one.
In comes in two parts with the short end (3′) connecting into the awning in the groove (just slides right in). That 3′ section stays on and gets rolled up with the awning. The long 9′ section sippers on and we bungee it down using stakes.
Installing the shade is super simple, but your awning does have to be designed for it. Most awnings have a channel built into the rolling part and the shade just slides right into it from either end.
We leave that main awning our all the time unless the forecast is for winds over 14MPH, or if we're expecting thunderstorms. All of our other awnings, we manage while we're there (pulling them in if they start to get strong winds), and retract when we leave. The awning on our main slide does auto-retrace if it detects buffeting from the wind, but we still bring it in when we leave.
For our first year (2018), we used the CoPilot GPS app on our iPhones. It stores maps locally and allows you to input RV dimensions and weight in and will route accordingly. However, after an update to the app, it started doing some really crazy routing (get off this exit, do a U-turn and get back on, etc).
In February of 2019, we switched to the Rand McNally OverDryve 7 RV GPS and it was much better than CoPilot. However, after about 6 months, it started giving us some strange routing also. By this time, Eric and Tami (TechnoRV) had changed their recommendation to the Garmin units.
In October of 2019, we switched to the Garmin RV 890 and it is AWESOME! Great big display, voice prompts (that aren't overbearing), and it finds rest areas, service stations, etc along our route with ease! We will have a full review and comparison HERE.
Note: We also did some testing of the GPS feature of RVLIfe (RV Trip wizard) and, while we LOVE RV Trip Wizard, the GPS navigation is lacking. Its routes (compared to the Garmin) can sometimes be MUCH longer. This just solidifies the Garmin RV 890 as our #1 pick.
Simple. Command Strips! We stock up on these and use them for everything! Our pictures, WiFi Ranger Router, Hotspots, Ring Alarm Keypads, Ring Video Doorbell, all using Command Strips.
We have some pictures that have been hanging for two years now with no issues.
We have AAA Premier RV Plus Motorcycle which covers everything we have. It runs about $246/yr.
We've only used it once for the motorcycle, so we're not exactly experts on how well it works for the RV. But, we've had AAA for many years (pre RV) and the few times we've needed it AAA was on the ball.
We have never used one, so we do not have any first hand experience. That said, we have seen images online of bent Andersen hitches, and a couple of viewers have sent us pics also. Our opinion on them is that we just don't trust it in a non-optimal situation like a hard braking or some kind of accident evading maneuver.
We started out using the Andersen Jack Blocks. We don't use them anymore because we've broken NINE of them (6 we bought and 4 replacements they sent us). Simply unreliable. The bottom edge would break off and they'd sink into the gravel/dirt/ whatever. They are rated for 6K, but broke way under that load. That experience was enough for us to just not trust our entire home (RV) to their engineering.
Many people do love them and they are definitely an easy hitch to manage. It's just not for us.
Our Dexter axles that were replaced when we did the MORryde Independent Suspension had an EZ-Lube system. While there is some controversy around using that versus removing and re-packing them, we did a mixture of both. The EZ-Lube is a nice and easy way to get new grease in as long as you're very careful to not blow out the rear seal.
Our new hubs on the MORryde system are re-pack only, so we will have a video on that when the time comes.
These are the curtains we used for both the back garage door area (in front of the 3 season doors) as well as for privacy between the living room and garage / guest suite. All super easy to install tension rods and they stay up during travel. Except for on I-90 / I-80 in Indiana! (worst road ever!) ?
✅ 3 season door tension rod
✅ 3 season door curtains
✅ Living / Garage door tension rod
✅ Living / Garage door curtain (1 panel)
While we've experimented with various things, we always come back to Happy Camper! It's biodegradable, environmentally friendly, septic tank friendly, and generally lasts about 2 weeks. Great stuff!
Currently, we have three 100Ah Battle Born batteries in parallel, giving us 300Ah. We plan on adding to this when we add solar.
The red “cans” under out jacks in some of our videos are Andersen Jack Blocks. We don't use them anymore because we've broken NINE of them (6 we bought and 4 replacements they sent us). Simply unreliable. The bottom edge would break off and they'd sink into the gravel / dirt / whatever.
We've switched to RV SnapPads and love them. They don't help lessen the jack extension like the Jack Blocks did, but they don't break and they stay on the rig, which is great when setting up and breaking down camp.
We've been using our RVSnapPads for several months now and really like them. They are much less expensive direct versus Amazon. changinglanesrv.com…
Note: The same company (RVSnapPad) is going to be coming out with a new product that will integrate with the SnapPads to help with the jack extension / stability this year. We will be helping them prototype those and will do do a video on them when they come out.
The manual recommends a low threshold of 10% below and a high threshold of 20-25% above your target pressure.
Thus, for our 110PSI tires (on the RV), we have a low of 99 PSI and a high of 135 PSI. We left the high temp setting at 158 degrees F.
When traveling, it's perfectly normal for the pressure to get into the 120s. In the summer, on the sunny side of the RV, we've even seen 130.
In many of our videos you will see a simplisafe alarm. We purchased that system thinking we could self-monitor, but simplisafe can only be remotely monitored, controlled, etc if you have their monitoring service. Alarm system monitoring is not possible when one moves every week or two, due to regulations around integration into the 911 system, etc. So, we couldn't actually arm it when leaving the RV. Sure, it would alarm, but there would be no way for us to be notified, no one to shut if off, and Daisy would go insane. We didn't know this when we bought it, so it was essentially just an expensive door chime for over a year
We've since switched to Ring for our security system and have a full article and video on that here.
We've heard this from several people (hence this FAQ entry). To be quite honest, we don't really understand why.
We read online all the time about condensation inside the RV windows, and the responses are usually recommending dual pane windows. To be fair, we've never had single pane windows, so we have no point of comparison. However, we can say that we've camped in all kinds of climates all over the US and have never had any condensation.
So, yes… We still stand behind our decision to order our dual pane windows and will have them on any future RV also.
UPDATE (May 2021)! We recently ran into viewers of ours in an RV park and somehow got on the topic of dual pane windows. They had an interesting situation where one of their windows needed to be replaced and it was erroneously replaced with a single pane window. Shortly thereafter, they saw they were getting condensation on the inside of that window. This picture clearly shows the difference dual pane windows can make in an RV!
Thank you to Brooke and Jeff (@behappedesigns) for allowing us to use their photo!
Our manual says the same thing. However, after consulting our RVIA Master Certified Tech (Todd), and a GDRV tech who worked on our RV recently, it's fine (and easier) to jack under the axle as long as you put the jack all the way out near the U-bolt. BUT, pay attention to the leaf springs. If they are getting compressed and you're getting a lot of resistance, use the frame. Another option (this tip came directly from the tech who worked on our RV) is to use the leveling system to just take a little pressure off the side on which you're working. Don't lift the whole set of tires off the ground.. just take a little pressure off and use the jack under the axle near the U-Bolt.
We have a filter in our wet bay and it filters all water coming into the RV, including the tanks. We do everything but drink it. For our drinking water, we use a Zero Water Dispenser to filter the water even more. We also plan on adding a triple-stage filter in the near future.
The MSRP for our RV as configured (we opted for most features) was around $127,000. We paid around $91,000. You can typically get 25-30% off MSRP. Grand Design has a build and price tool that was very helpful. We used that to build out the RV we wanted, then shopped the build around to get the best deal.
Our F350 Lariat was around $63K. Our F450 Platinum was $93K (which is MSRP) and we got $61,500 for our F350 trade-in.
Short answer: Not long enough! There a few things to factor in when asking how long something can run on an inverter…
First – Can the inverter run it at all? For that, we need to know how many watts an item uses. While some appliances publish this information, most do not or only publish the amperage. To convert Amps to Watts it's Amps x Voltage = Watts. A typical RV AC unit uses about 13 Amps. So, 13 Amps x 120 Volts = 1560 Watts. Also, consider a minimum of 10% power loss converting DC to AC (what the inverter does). So, that's about 1700 Watts. Considering that's not the only thing running at any given time, a 2000W Inverter will be cutting it close but a 3000W Inverter will do it just fine. Note: many inverters can also provide surge ability above their rated capacity for short periods of time, which can help with the initial surge from an AC start. The batteries also need to be able to handle this.
Second – Can your batteries supply enough DC Amps for your Inverter? For this, we use the same formula in reverse. Assuming a 3000W inverter, it's 3000Watts / 12Volts = 250Amps. So, the battery bank needs to be able to supply 250Amps Continuous to max out the inverter. Use the same formula for the AC: 1700Watts / 12Volts = 142Amps. A higher voltage battery system can also be used which will lower the amperage for inverting. This will, however, require a DC to DC converter to lower the voltage to 12V for the rest of the RV.
Third – How long can I run it? Batteries are typically rated for both Amps (how many Amps it can supply continuously) and Amp Hours (Ah) (how long it can provide those amps). Let's use the battery bank from our last Inverter video, which is ten 100Ah batteries in parallel. Now, we're dealing with a battery bank capable of 1000Ah. If we take the 1000Ah divided by the 142Amps, we get 7.04. With no other loads, we could run one AC for about 7 hours. Assuming the AC unit will cycle on and off, we are able to run our AC all night without issue.
So, as you can see, without a HUGE and expensive battery bank, running ACs on Inverter isn't very practical. Adding a ton of solar to offset some of that improves things, but it's still all about the batteries.
As chance would have it, our portable workbench fit perfectly inside our slide tray and our 22″ Blackstone Griddle fits perfectly on top of that. It's not mounted or anything, but just sits on top. This allows me to simply lift and remove the griddle if I need my whole workbench. The tray extends away from the RV plenty to avoid any heat on the RV and we leave it extended until the griddle cools before sliding the tray back in.
The seal was holding up really well, but we no longer have that door. 😳
When we were getting some work done with Grand Design RV and Lippert in September of 2020, we opted to test out Lippert's new “weatherproof” door: www.lci1.com….
This new door should negate the need for sealing, which is awesome! Time will tell if it lives up to expectations.
I should also note that it doesn't matter if we are hitched to the truck or not. The only time it might matter is if we need to raise the nose of the RV to lower the rear of the RV, making the ramp approach more shallow.
- Wheeldock – wheeldock.com…
- Locking Ratchet Soft-Tye Tie-Downs with Heavy-Duty Latch Hooks – amzn.to/2OnhHwL…
- Deluxe Simulated Sheepskin Thick/Plush Soft-Tye Covers – amzn.to/3etjqvg…
We use the AP Products Propane Tank Gas Level Indicators. Been using them since we got the RV and they work great. You can also get the sensors by themselves and use the phone app.
Honestly, we really can't tell a difference in towing. Both seem to mitigate any chucking and provide a nice ride. However, the MORRyde pin box is zero maintenance and is a little shorter and lighter. So, that give it a slight edge in our minds.
I use this Waterless RV Wash Wax Mop Kit and LOVE it! I can wash/wax the whole 44 foot rig in about two hours! Three hours if there are a lot of bugs on the cap. Maybe four, if I want to really detail beyond what I can do with the wedge tools in this kit. And it's a “dry” wash, so you can even use it in the majority of parks that don't allow washing, or charge extra to allow you to wash with water.
We've also had the rig cleaned twice at a truck wash. The first one was not a Blu Beacon and they scratched it up a bit (very light brush marks), after which we had it washed and waxed professionally to remove the scratches. Expensive mistake! More recently, the rig was VERY dirty from dust storms and we tried a Blue Beacon truck wash. That one did a great job on the rig AND truck for $44. Will use them again when we can, and maintain using our wash-wax-all kit.
This can be a hot-button topic online. Many say “no big deal we do it all the time for years and years”. And some say “you're going to burn up in a fiery death”.
Truth is, there's not a lot of data showing a preponderance of propane fires on the road. We also think that a big factor is how the propane lines are run in relation to the wheels. If the propane lines go over the wheels or are anywhere near the axles, it's a really good idea to shut off the propane while traveling. A blowout can tear things in the adjacent area up quite a bit! This is just our opinion.
It's definitely a safer move to shut off a fuel source while traveling regardless of line proximity to tires. That said, we traveled with our propane fridge on for about a year (our first year RVing) before we upgraded our batteries with enough Amp Hours to handle running the fridge on our inverter for a whole travel day. We now run on 120V AC via the inverter while we travel.
Short answer – we don't. It's fairly common for black tank sensors to become useless after only a couple of full black tank cycles. At first, this was frustrating as we really thought we'd need to know the status of our tanks all the time. In reality, you just dump once a week or when the toilet “burbs”. When completely full, the water in the toilet will release a gas bubble when flushed that becomes more and more pronounced as it gets more full. We haven't had accurate black tank sensors in over 3 years.
This upgrade was done for us by Grand Design and Lippert for us to test them out. From what we understand, to get the doors, you need to go through an RV dealer since it's not a simple DIY installation. There are some measurements that need to be taken to see if they will fit. Some RV's with the older model have the happijack system too far back to allow installation. For us, we barely made it and only because we had removed the benches from our happijack.
We'd recommend contacting Lippert directly to ask since availability and polices are always changing.
No. We have the stock Dexter 7K axles with electric drum brakes and Westlake G rated tires. Well over 15,000 miles so far with no issues. We take good care of them and monitor them with a TPMS.
Don't mistake the Westlake G rated for “china bombs”. I watch this issue very closely online. The E rated Westlakes had the bad reputation and were dubbed the “china bombs”. So, now, some just consider all Westlakes bad, but they're wrong. The only issue I've seen with Westlake G rated was a curb job.
The thing about an RV GPS is it's designed to find the best route from point A to point B based on the criteria entered (size of RV, road type preferences, etc). And most GPSs do this dynamically based on traffic and can also re-route you if you make a wrong turn.
If you export a fixed route from any piece of software (RV Trip Wizard included), you are taking away the dynamic routing ability of a GPS and dumbing it down to just be a fancy map. Additionally, if the software exports a “trip” as just the start and end points, it's no different than entering the same destination on the GPS. So, not a lot of added value unless you have a lot of stops, or are exporting your entire vacation as one trip. But that just gets messy.
For us, a GPS “trip” is one day's travel. We put a ton of stays (usually several months out) into RV Trip Wizard, but are only worried about navigating to the next location for that day. So, we have the location entered into the GPS the night before and just click go in the morning. And, since we have the same location already in RV Trip Wizard, we use the RVLife App as a secondary GPS. Just click on the destination and go. Simple one-day navigation in both apps, backing each other up in case one gets wonky.
We had originally thought we might want to install a dishwasher after seeing them in Class A RVs. It was one of those “let's see if we really miss it” kind of things. While it would be nice to have, we haven't missed it very much. Kind of keeps one motivated to wash them right away after a meal. We're not sure where we would install one even if we wanted to. Don't think it would fit anywhere.
Yes and no. Yes, it does provide DC power at a low current (maybe around 3-5A DC). This would trickle charge the batteries if there were no load on them. However, we run our fridge via the inverter when traveling which draws about 45 Amps DC. Thus, the batteries still draw down while we travel.
Our F350 does have the extra alternator and could provide a lot more power, but we'd need to run dedicated cabling for that. That is on the wish list. We just haven't gotten to it yet.
No. We've never had an issue at all. But, then again, we ride an Indian, not a Harley… 😳 Just kidding! But we really never have had any smells at all. In the event that ever changes, our garage does have vents in the front and rear of the garage that can be configured to force airflow through the garage when traveling.
Yes! You can't see our EMS because it's hard-wired inside the RV. We currently have the Progressive Industries HW50C Hardwired EMS installed. However, we might be switching to this surge guard soon (changinglanesrv.com…) to review it for TechnoRV. It's newer and the remote display is a lot better.
Pedestal version: (changinglanesrv.com…)
Beware of the basic surge protectors. They are much less expensive but don’t protect against what kills most RV air conditioners, which is low voltage. And low voltage is more common than is should be in RV parks. A good EMS will protect against Open Ground, Open Neutral, Reverse Polarity, Over/Under Voltage, Accidental 240V, and Bad A/C Frequencies.
If you want to go really deep into the topic of RV surge protection, our friends Eric and Tami at TechnoRV have put together this fantastic in-depth article.
While the king pin stabilizers look like they might do a good job, and we've never heard anything to the contrary, we don't use one. Our RV's 6 point hydraulics keep the rig pretty stable. For us, the added stabilization they might create is outweighed (pun intended) by the need to stow and carry them around.
That said, many people do swear by them. We recommend trying one out if you're having issues with the option to return the product if it doesn't help.
If you have steel valve stems and enough room for them, the flow through sensors are great! They make it much simpler to add or remove air.
We have flow-through on the RV and caps on the truck. The rims on the truck just don't leave enough space to be able to get an air chuck on them.
Another item of note on the cap sensors. Many of them come with an outer shell that just spins and you need to use a special wrench to get them on and off. This is an anti-theft feature, but it's also very annoying to use that little wrench. I removed and discarded our spinner shell – they just screw apart and come right off.
Short answer: It depends on the state.
There's a lot of confusion on this topic. Yes, some states have Class A CDL or some type of non-commercial endorsement requirements for RV's over certain weights. However, Florida (our home state), as well as about half of the other states, do not. In Florida, drivers of recreational vehicles are exempt from the requirement to obtain a commercial driver's license. section 322.53(2) (d), Florida Statutes. (www.flhsmv.gov…)
Since every state honors the driving and license requirements of every other state, we are perfectly legal to drive in all 50 states under our standard Florida license.
In regards to Federal CDL Requirements, see: www.fmcsa.dot.gov…
Question 3: Does part 383 apply to drivers of recreational vehicles?
Guidance: No, if the vehicle is used strictly for non-business purposes.
Here are a few articles that discuss the topic for each state:
www.campanda.com…
www.outdoorsy.com…
All of that said, our personal opinion is that rigs as large and heavy as ours should require some type of extra certification or endorsement as well as training.
We cover some of the CDL issues here if interested: youtu.be/EY0GfrZIxxs?t=496…
We have streamed everything since day one. We have unlimited internet and have AppleTV's hooked up to all four TVs in the RV. We use YoutTube TV as our “service provider” and for any Live TV we want to watch or DVR (YouTubeTV has cloud-based DVR).
Yes! However, we rarely use it for backing up. We use it primarily while driving to make sure we have enough clearance behind us when changing lanes and such. That said, be sure any camera you buy is not limited to just backing up. Furrion used to have an “observation” model (good while driving), and a “backup” one (just for backing). However, it seems they are all observation models now.
We have an older version of this specific one.
These newer models now have versions with side cameras also, but we've not tried those.
Installation note!: Many new RVs come with the mount for the Furrion camera pre-installed. However, many (like ours), have that wired to an always hot 12v connection. This means it's powered 24/7 and can drain your batteries when boondocking, or in storage. We chose to re-wire it to our running lights. This way the camera is only powered when the truck is connected and our lights are on. So, it also serves as a reminder to turn our lights on when towing.
We have been in locations all over the East Coast of the U.S. and 20 or so out West. We've never had an issue finding a site, and we've stayed in Campgrounds, RV Parks, State Parks, COE (Army Core Of Engineers) Sites, etc. We plan ahead and make sure to call each site and confirm they can fit our RV if it's not obvious. We also use RV Trip Wizard, which has a lot of great tools to find locations. National Parks are much more size-restricted, but there are always great campgrounds and RV parks outside the national parks. We’ve only been to one or two sites where we didn’t have room for the patio.
The short answer to both is no. In our years on the road, we've been in all kinds of different climates and have never had condensation inside. While we attribute this to our dual pane windows, there's no way to be certain. But, we do know any future RV of ours will also have dual pane windows for sure!
UPDATE (May 2021)! We recently ran into viewers of ours in an RV park and somehow got on the topic of dual pane windows. They had an interesting situation where one of their windows needed to be replaced and it was erroneously replaced with a single pane window. Shortly thereafter, they saw they were getting condensation on the inside of that window. This picture clearly shows the difference dual pane windows can make in an RV!
Thank you to Brooke and Jeff (@behappedesigns) for allowing us to use their photo!
Short answer is NO. Those DOT weigh stations are for commercial traffic only. We've never stopped at one and have never seen an RV in one.
OMG YES! When we first got our RV, we thought the mattress was actually pretty decent. That lasted about a month before it was super flat. We decided to try Mattress Insider‘s 8″ Luxury Gel Foam RV Mattress w/Organic Cotton (our king is 72″ x 80″). LOVE IT!!! It has the option of flipping it over for a firmer feel also. We've slept on it every night for 5 years and it's still as awesome as the day we got it! They have every imaginable RV size and can make custom sizes.
We liked it so much, we got the 5.5″ queen for the guest bed.
If you use our LINK you will get 5% off your purchase!
Yes. We looked at that as well as the TPMS system that integrates. The trailer camera system is hard wired, requiring a wiring bundle be run all the way to the back of the RV from the bumper of the truck. That, combined with the price, makes it a non-starter for us. It's also not clear if the camera will operate in motion. We use our camera primarily while driving to get a view behind us and almost never for backing. Every other camera integrated shuts off when in motion, so we have no reason to believe this is different.
All in all, it's just way too expensive, too difficult to install, and has limited functionality.
In contrast, the furrion camera system we have was super easy to install (wireless), and runs in-motion, giving us a full time view behind the RV when driving.
We chose to not buy an extended warranty. We knew we’d almost never be near our “home” dealer, so a warranty from our dealer (LazyDays) was out right away. When researching other warranties, it was a mixed bag of reviews. Mostly negative. However, KYD (Keep Your Daydream) recommends Wholesale Warranties (wholesalewarranties.com…). While we have no experience with them, we do trust Marc and Trish on their assessment. Warranties sold by RV dealers are almost always WAY over-priced.
For us, we knew going into this that we wanted to learn everything we could about our home and fix everything possible ourselves. That was one major reason for choosing GDRV: they will work directly with us on warranty work, and send parts directly.
But, that's us. If you're not into DIY repairs, a warranty might be a great idea. If possible, be sure to get one that allows mobile techs even if you have to pay the service fee.
Yes and no… It's a bit complicated.
The short answer is no. The DOT sticker on the side of the RV does not change. So, from a technical standpoint, the heavier axles (higher UVW) and a fixed weight rating (GVWR) means you have less “official” cargo capacity. The Independent suspension adds approximately 300 lbs per axle. We're not sure what's involved with getting the DOT sticker updated, but knowing government bureaucracy, it's likely not a simple process.
That's the “official” answer. However, on the real-life practical side, the answer is sort of. 🙄
In reality, this added weight means nothing in terms of the actual capacity of the RV since it is the foundation of the RV itself adding the weight. In fact, I’d bet the actual capacity is increased by an amount at least as large as the increase in axle weight, maybe more. But, this is just an opinion based on some common sense. The only things really affected by the added weight are the tires. So, that is something to keep in mind.
For our personal setup, each of our axles (including the tires) are rated at 7K. That's 21K of capacity for a 20K RV. And, considering only 75-80% of the RV's weight rides on the axles, we have a lot more capacity than we need. Thus, our official unofficial opinion is that we're considering the extra weight to be neutral.
This is just our personal take. The added weight of the IS is certainly something to consider if you're not comfortable padding your numbers a bit in a very unofficial fashion.
The short answer is no. In fact, before we got our Ring Security System, we purchased a SimpliSafe before we ever got our RV. You can see it in our original RV tour video. The trouble is with monitoring. To have a monitored system, you need a permanent address (for police dispatch and such), which doesn't work when you move all the time. And, the SimpliSafe system is crippled without monitoring. This is from Simplisafe:
“While most of our customers opt for 24/7 Monitoring with either our Standard Monitoring ($14.99/mo) or our Interactive Monitoring ($24.99/mo) plan, you do have the option of monitoring the system yourself for no additional cost. Unfortunately, while self-monitoring your system there are many limitations. Without 24/7 Monitoring you would only be able to Live Stream and receive Push Notifications from the SimpliSafe cameras but not the SimpliSafe system.”
simplisafe.com…
The Ring Security System, however, can be completely self-monitored. We've been using it for a couple of years now, and it's been great! It does require you have internet access.
We wondered the same thing when we saw the clear style grease cap on our installation. This is MORryde's response: “Yes, there is an oil bath option- however, we don’t recommend it for RV applications. RV’s typically will be parked for a period of time, which isn’t good for oil bath applications. DRV offered oil bath as part of the IS a few years ago and the incident rate wasn’t very good so they went back to grease. It is very, very rare that we install oil bath and we simply don’t recommend it.”
This has been a bit of a moving target, but this is the current status as of 2020-12-15. GDRV offers an 8K suspension upgrade on the build form. This is NOT the Independent suspension, but rather a standard set of axles and leaf springs rated at 8K versus the standard 7K.
The MORryde Independent Suspension can be installed prior to delivery from the factory to the dealer. However, it is no longer done as an option directly through Grand Design (where GDRV pays MORryde and invoices the dealer on the build) due to liability issues. Thus, you will not see it on the build and price tool.
Instead, GDRV will transport the RV to MORryde post-build (for a nominal fee) prior to going to transport (to the dealer). Long story short: It is possible, but MORryde needs to be paid directly by the customer. This should be coordinated by the customer with the dealer, GDRV, and MORryde.
Products
Our washer and dryer are both Splendide brand. The washer is model ARWXF129W and the dryer is TVM63F.
We DO like them a lot! Sure, they're not the giant full-sized LG's we had in our sticks and bricks, but they do a very good job and it's nice to be able to do laundry in our own home. It's also nice to have them as separate units versus a combo unit. Note: the dryer is vented to the outside. We've heard a lot of bad reviews about non-vented combo units.
We did not install them. We wanted to be able to do out own laundry on day one of RV life, so we negotiated them into the price and had them installed by our dealer (LazyDays youtu.be/fN1_igB-tDQ… ) prior to delivery. We also just didn't want that big of a project on day one! ?
Our awnings are Carefree brand, so we thought it best to buy the same brand of drop shade. We selected this one.
In comes in two parts with the short end (3′) connecting into the awning in the groove (just slides right in). That 3′ section stays on and gets rolled up with the awning. The long 9′ section sippers on and we bungee it down using stakes.
Installing the shade is super simple, but your awning does have to be designed for it. Most awnings have a channel built into the rolling part and the shade just slides right into it from either end.
We leave that main awning our all the time unless the forecast is for winds over 14MPH, or if we're expecting thunderstorms. All of our other awnings, we manage while we're there (pulling them in if they start to get strong winds), and retract when we leave. The awning on our main slide does auto-retrace if it detects buffeting from the wind, but we still bring it in when we leave.
For our first year (2018), we used the CoPilot GPS app on our iPhones. It stores maps locally and allows you to input RV dimensions and weight in and will route accordingly. However, after an update to the app, it started doing some really crazy routing (get off this exit, do a U-turn and get back on, etc).
In February of 2019, we switched to the Rand McNally OverDryve 7 RV GPS and it was much better than CoPilot. However, after about 6 months, it started giving us some strange routing also. By this time, Eric and Tami (TechnoRV) had changed their recommendation to the Garmin units.
In October of 2019, we switched to the Garmin RV 890 and it is AWESOME! Great big display, voice prompts (that aren't overbearing), and it finds rest areas, service stations, etc along our route with ease! We will have a full review and comparison HERE.
Note: We also did some testing of the GPS feature of RVLIfe (RV Trip wizard) and, while we LOVE RV Trip Wizard, the GPS navigation is lacking. Its routes (compared to the Garmin) can sometimes be MUCH longer. This just solidifies the Garmin RV 890 as our #1 pick.
We have never used one, so we do not have any first hand experience. That said, we have seen images online of bent Andersen hitches, and a couple of viewers have sent us pics also. Our opinion on them is that we just don't trust it in a non-optimal situation like a hard braking or some kind of accident evading maneuver.
We started out using the Andersen Jack Blocks. We don't use them anymore because we've broken NINE of them (6 we bought and 4 replacements they sent us). Simply unreliable. The bottom edge would break off and they'd sink into the gravel/dirt/ whatever. They are rated for 6K, but broke way under that load. That experience was enough for us to just not trust our entire home (RV) to their engineering.
Many people do love them and they are definitely an easy hitch to manage. It's just not for us.
These are the curtains we used for both the back garage door area (in front of the 3 season doors) as well as for privacy between the living room and garage / guest suite. All super easy to install tension rods and they stay up during travel. Except for on I-90 / I-80 in Indiana! (worst road ever!) ?
✅ 3 season door tension rod
✅ 3 season door curtains
✅ Living / Garage door tension rod
✅ Living / Garage door curtain (1 panel)
The red “cans” under out jacks in some of our videos are Andersen Jack Blocks. We don't use them anymore because we've broken NINE of them (6 we bought and 4 replacements they sent us). Simply unreliable. The bottom edge would break off and they'd sink into the gravel / dirt / whatever.
We've switched to RV SnapPads and love them. They don't help lessen the jack extension like the Jack Blocks did, but they don't break and they stay on the rig, which is great when setting up and breaking down camp.
We've been using our RVSnapPads for several months now and really like them. They are much less expensive direct versus Amazon. changinglanesrv.com…
Note: The same company (RVSnapPad) is going to be coming out with a new product that will integrate with the SnapPads to help with the jack extension / stability this year. We will be helping them prototype those and will do do a video on them when they come out.
In many of our videos you will see a simplisafe alarm. We purchased that system thinking we could self-monitor, but simplisafe can only be remotely monitored, controlled, etc if you have their monitoring service. Alarm system monitoring is not possible when one moves every week or two, due to regulations around integration into the 911 system, etc. So, we couldn't actually arm it when leaving the RV. Sure, it would alarm, but there would be no way for us to be notified, no one to shut if off, and Daisy would go insane. We didn't know this when we bought it, so it was essentially just an expensive door chime for over a year
We've since switched to Ring for our security system and have a full article and video on that here.
I should also note that it doesn't matter if we are hitched to the truck or not. The only time it might matter is if we need to raise the nose of the RV to lower the rear of the RV, making the ramp approach more shallow.
- Wheeldock – wheeldock.com…
- Locking Ratchet Soft-Tye Tie-Downs with Heavy-Duty Latch Hooks – amzn.to/2OnhHwL…
- Deluxe Simulated Sheepskin Thick/Plush Soft-Tye Covers – amzn.to/3etjqvg…
We use the AP Products Propane Tank Gas Level Indicators. Been using them since we got the RV and they work great. You can also get the sensors by themselves and use the phone app.
I use this Waterless RV Wash Wax Mop Kit and LOVE it! I can wash/wax the whole 44 foot rig in about two hours! Three hours if there are a lot of bugs on the cap. Maybe four, if I want to really detail beyond what I can do with the wedge tools in this kit. And it's a “dry” wash, so you can even use it in the majority of parks that don't allow washing, or charge extra to allow you to wash with water.
We've also had the rig cleaned twice at a truck wash. The first one was not a Blu Beacon and they scratched it up a bit (very light brush marks), after which we had it washed and waxed professionally to remove the scratches. Expensive mistake! More recently, the rig was VERY dirty from dust storms and we tried a Blue Beacon truck wash. That one did a great job on the rig AND truck for $44. Will use them again when we can, and maintain using our wash-wax-all kit.
Yes! You can't see our EMS because it's hard-wired inside the RV. We currently have the Progressive Industries HW50C Hardwired EMS installed. However, we might be switching to this surge guard soon (changinglanesrv.com…) to review it for TechnoRV. It's newer and the remote display is a lot better.
Pedestal version: (changinglanesrv.com…)
Beware of the basic surge protectors. They are much less expensive but don’t protect against what kills most RV air conditioners, which is low voltage. And low voltage is more common than is should be in RV parks. A good EMS will protect against Open Ground, Open Neutral, Reverse Polarity, Over/Under Voltage, Accidental 240V, and Bad A/C Frequencies.
If you want to go really deep into the topic of RV surge protection, our friends Eric and Tami at TechnoRV have put together this fantastic in-depth article.
If you have steel valve stems and enough room for them, the flow through sensors are great! They make it much simpler to add or remove air.
We have flow-through on the RV and caps on the truck. The rims on the truck just don't leave enough space to be able to get an air chuck on them.
Another item of note on the cap sensors. Many of them come with an outer shell that just spins and you need to use a special wrench to get them on and off. This is an anti-theft feature, but it's also very annoying to use that little wrench. I removed and discarded our spinner shell – they just screw apart and come right off.
Yes! However, we rarely use it for backing up. We use it primarily while driving to make sure we have enough clearance behind us when changing lanes and such. That said, be sure any camera you buy is not limited to just backing up. Furrion used to have an “observation” model (good while driving), and a “backup” one (just for backing). However, it seems they are all observation models now.
We have an older version of this specific one.
These newer models now have versions with side cameras also, but we've not tried those.
Installation note!: Many new RVs come with the mount for the Furrion camera pre-installed. However, many (like ours), have that wired to an always hot 12v connection. This means it's powered 24/7 and can drain your batteries when boondocking, or in storage. We chose to re-wire it to our running lights. This way the camera is only powered when the truck is connected and our lights are on. So, it also serves as a reminder to turn our lights on when towing.
OMG YES! When we first got our RV, we thought the mattress was actually pretty decent. That lasted about a month before it was super flat. We decided to try Mattress Insider‘s 8″ Luxury Gel Foam RV Mattress w/Organic Cotton (our king is 72″ x 80″). LOVE IT!!! It has the option of flipping it over for a firmer feel also. We've slept on it every night for 5 years and it's still as awesome as the day we got it! They have every imaginable RV size and can make custom sizes.
We liked it so much, we got the 5.5″ queen for the guest bed.
If you use our LINK you will get 5% off your purchase!
Yes and no… It's a bit complicated.
The short answer is no. The DOT sticker on the side of the RV does not change. So, from a technical standpoint, the heavier axles (higher UVW) and a fixed weight rating (GVWR) means you have less “official” cargo capacity. The Independent suspension adds approximately 300 lbs per axle. We're not sure what's involved with getting the DOT sticker updated, but knowing government bureaucracy, it's likely not a simple process.
That's the “official” answer. However, on the real-life practical side, the answer is sort of. 🙄
In reality, this added weight means nothing in terms of the actual capacity of the RV since it is the foundation of the RV itself adding the weight. In fact, I’d bet the actual capacity is increased by an amount at least as large as the increase in axle weight, maybe more. But, this is just an opinion based on some common sense. The only things really affected by the added weight are the tires. So, that is something to keep in mind.
For our personal setup, each of our axles (including the tires) are rated at 7K. That's 21K of capacity for a 20K RV. And, considering only 75-80% of the RV's weight rides on the axles, we have a lot more capacity than we need. Thus, our official unofficial opinion is that we're considering the extra weight to be neutral.
This is just our personal take. The added weight of the IS is certainly something to consider if you're not comfortable padding your numbers a bit in a very unofficial fashion.
The short answer is no. In fact, before we got our Ring Security System, we purchased a SimpliSafe before we ever got our RV. You can see it in our original RV tour video. The trouble is with monitoring. To have a monitored system, you need a permanent address (for police dispatch and such), which doesn't work when you move all the time. And, the SimpliSafe system is crippled without monitoring. This is from Simplisafe:
“While most of our customers opt for 24/7 Monitoring with either our Standard Monitoring ($14.99/mo) or our Interactive Monitoring ($24.99/mo) plan, you do have the option of monitoring the system yourself for no additional cost. Unfortunately, while self-monitoring your system there are many limitations. Without 24/7 Monitoring you would only be able to Live Stream and receive Push Notifications from the SimpliSafe cameras but not the SimpliSafe system.”
simplisafe.com…
The Ring Security System, however, can be completely self-monitored. We've been using it for a couple of years now, and it's been great! It does require you have internet access.
Motorcycle
We have AAA Premier RV Plus Motorcycle which covers everything we have. It runs about $246/yr.
We've only used it once for the motorcycle, so we're not exactly experts on how well it works for the RV. But, we've had AAA for many years (pre RV) and the few times we've needed it AAA was on the ball.
I should also note that it doesn't matter if we are hitched to the truck or not. The only time it might matter is if we need to raise the nose of the RV to lower the rear of the RV, making the ramp approach more shallow.
- Wheeldock – wheeldock.com…
- Locking Ratchet Soft-Tye Tie-Downs with Heavy-Duty Latch Hooks – amzn.to/2OnhHwL…
- Deluxe Simulated Sheepskin Thick/Plush Soft-Tye Covers – amzn.to/3etjqvg…
No. We've never had an issue at all. But, then again, we ride an Indian, not a Harley… 😳 Just kidding! But we really never have had any smells at all. In the event that ever changes, our garage does have vents in the front and rear of the garage that can be configured to force airflow through the garage when traveling.
Miscellaneous
His name is Steve, and his number is (941) 650-6006. He worked on our Momentum 397TH twice over the years and will do some work on our 410THR soon. We were amazed at the high quality of repairs he can do with his mobile setup.
The thing about an RV GPS is it's designed to find the best route from point A to point B based on the criteria entered (size of RV, road type preferences, etc). And most GPSs do this dynamically based on traffic and can also re-route you if you make a wrong turn.
If you export a fixed route from any piece of software (RV Trip Wizard included), you are taking away the dynamic routing ability of a GPS and dumbing it down to just be a fancy map. Additionally, if the software exports a “trip” as just the start and end points, it's no different than entering the same destination on the GPS. So, not a lot of added value unless you have a lot of stops, or are exporting your entire vacation as one trip. But that just gets messy.
For us, a GPS “trip” is one day's travel. We put a ton of stays (usually several months out) into RV Trip Wizard, but are only worried about navigating to the next location for that day. So, we have the location entered into the GPS the night before and just click go in the morning. And, since we have the same location already in RV Trip Wizard, we use the RVLife App as a secondary GPS. Just click on the destination and go. Simple one-day navigation in both apps, backing each other up in case one gets wonky.
We have streamed everything since day one. We have unlimited internet and have AppleTV's hooked up to all four TVs in the RV. We use YoutTube TV as our “service provider” and for any Live TV we want to watch or DVR (YouTubeTV has cloud-based DVR).
We have been in locations all over the East Coast of the U.S. and 20 or so out West. We've never had an issue finding a site, and we've stayed in Campgrounds, RV Parks, State Parks, COE (Army Core Of Engineers) Sites, etc. We plan ahead and make sure to call each site and confirm they can fit our RV if it's not obvious. We also use RV Trip Wizard, which has a lot of great tools to find locations. National Parks are much more size-restricted, but there are always great campgrounds and RV parks outside the national parks. We’ve only been to one or two sites where we didn’t have room for the patio.