Category: RV Life

Interim Dreaming

On By The Flying DutchmanIn RV Life, Travel3 Comments

Since I bought an interim truck to hold me over until I can buy the big truck, Cristy and I started thinking about buying an interim trailer to hold us over until we can buy the big trailer.  My Ram 1500 has a max trailer weight of 6050 lbs so I began looking for a lightweight travel trailer I could safely tow with my Ram.  After doing some research I came across Lance Travel Trailers.  Lance is well known for their truck campers but they also make some really nice, light travel trailers.

The largest model my truck can safely tow is the 1985.  It has a maximum weight of 5700 lbs.

The 1985 is small enough to fit into most state and national park campgrounds, easily towed, yet JUST big enough to be livable for more than overnight trips.  It’s literally the biggest little trailer I could find.

Fully loaded the trailer will be over 5000 lbs.  The Ram 1500 owner’s manual strongly recommends using a weight distribution hitch for trailers over 5000 lbs.  For that I’ll go with the Andersen 3344 no-sway hitch.  This type of hitch transfers some of the trailer’s weight to the front wheels of your towing vehicle.  What’s really nice is that no modifications need to be made to your vehicle, the weight distribution hitch clamps to the frame of the trailer’s hitch.

We’re not quite ready to buy the trailer but this is the new plan.  We will still move toward the bigger truck and trailer but for now this is what we will learn the ropes on.

 

Goodbye Sienna, Hello Ram

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Opinion, RV Life, WorkLeave a comment

img_20161119_143059After 18 years of reliable service we decided it was time to put our 1998 Toyota Sienna out to pasture.  I knew that I wanted a Ram 3500 to be our tow vehicle when we eventually start travelling full time.  I also knew that we won’t be able to live that lifestyle for another 7 to 10 years.  There would be no point in having a Ram 3500 as my daily driver for the next 7 years.  But I also knew the Sienna wasn’t going to last another 7 years.  After discussing it with my wife she suggested I get an interim truck.  After searching around a little I finally settled on a bare bones Ram 1500.  This particular truck has storage compartments on either side of the bed, and basic instrumentation.  I went basic so the truck wouldn’t be an attractive target for thieves.

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It’s good to finally have a vehicle that doesn’t sound like it’s about to fall apart, will pass smog, and can tow heavier loads than the minivan could.  I’m even starting to think about a small travel trailer so my wife and I can do some camping.

Anderson Ultimate Hitch 2

On By The Flying DutchmanIn RV LifeLeave a comment

I just received comment in my blog from Andersen Hitches.  It seems they have improved the coupling device on their hitch by adding a funnel which guides the ball hitch into the coupler.  This makes hitching up far more easy and gives a little room for “slop” when hitching up.  I know that this feature will definitely be a benefit to me personally. 🙂

Here’s what the hitch comes with…

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You can see the new addition of the funnel and how cleverly designed it is.  It just bolts on the receiver assembly which bolts to the kingpin of your coach.

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Not sure if owners of existing hitches can fit these to their units but it would appear you could add it easily.  If the size of the aluminum billet hasn’t changed then this would be a no-brainer addition.

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You can see that once fitted on the kingpin of your coach, it will be much easier to hitch to your tow vehicle.  You can be 3 inches off-center in any direction and still hitch up easily.

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Andersen seems to be an innovative company that keeps refining and enhancing their products.  I think my mind is made up.  I’m going Andersen Ultimate 2… too!

 

NOTE:  I’ve received no promotion or incentive from anyone to write this article.

 

Project 2023

On By The Flying DutchmanIn RV LifeLeave a comment

So after looking at finances and life situations we have to change our timeline for retirement somewhat.  There will be some financial penalties if I retire before the age of 59.5 so we have to push Project 2020 off until 2023.  So the full-time RV life will have to wait just a bit longer.  If you’ve noticed the countdown timer on the side of my webpage you’ll further notice that it has changed to reflect our change in timeline.

RV Dreaming

On By The Flying DutchmanIn RV Life, TravelLeave a comment

The great thing about dreams is that you can dream whatever you want.  Dreams don’t have to be grounded in reality.  Sometimes though you can realize your dreams even if only for a short time.  Cristy and I got to do just that for a few hours this past weekend.  We traveled down to Pomona to visit the Best RV Show at the Pomona Fairplex.  Or goal was to evaluate the two models of Grand Design 5th wheel coaches we had been considering.  Then we experienced the first of two surprises this year at the show.

The first surprise was that Grand Design has introduced a new model and we fell in love with it.  It’s Grand Design Solitude 300GK.

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We like the fact that it’s only 35 feet long, has a separate closet for the washer/dryer, and a telescoping TV that reveals a huge picture window when the TV is lowered.   Which is where we’ll probably keep it.  Our absolute favorite model is the new 360RL but at almost 40 feet long is just a little too long for us.  Most state and national parks cap out at 35 feet so that’s what we’re trying to stick to.

The other surprise was that we found out that Winnebago has purchased Grand Design RV.  We aren’t sure how to take this news yet.  It could be very good depending on what the intentions of Winnebago are but it could also spell the end of Grand Design as we know it.  Since we are a few years away from purchasing we have time to find out.

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As I read this press release the more I think that Thor was probably posturing for a hostile takeover of GD and they decided to ally with a name synonymous with the RV industry rather than get swallowed up by Thor.  At any rate as I already said, time will tell.

Despite this news Cristy and I really enjoyed our time away.  We got to be with each other and spend time talking or just being quiet and enjoying the passing scenery.  Car travel has kind of become our refuge from the world.  We load up our snacks, crank up our favorite tunes on Spotify and hit the road.  It’s fun to dream about when this will be our reality.  For now we get to live it in bits and pieces and that’s enough.  For now.

 

Buy a Wind Muff Will You?

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Opinion, RV LifeLeave a comment

I’ve been watching a lot of YouTube videos lately published by folks who live full time in their RVs.  I enjoy dreaming about living that lifestyle and like to live it vicariously through these folks.  The production value and polish they put on the videos is amazing but I have one nit to pick with several of these videlo vloggers.  I have seen more than one person, and sometimes a couple, that are doing a monologe or dialog about what’s going on in their lives but you can only catch about every 5th word because the wind is blowing so hard and distorts the audio.  But the folks putting the video up on YouTube just don’t seem to care whether you hear them or not.  They have to know because they do a lot of post video processing and editing.  I could go on but since a picture is worth a thousand words:

 

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Moron Trailer Hitches

On By The Flying DutchmanIn RV Life6 Comments

Um… I mean… More on trailer hitches.  Ahem.

So I’ve been studying these hitches more tonight and ran across this Andersen Ultimate 5th Wheel Hitch.

 

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The way it works is you connect the frame above to a gooseneck hitch in the bed of your truck and cinch it down.  You then connect an adapter assembly to your 5th wheel king pin.

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The adapter stays connected to the king pin.  To hitch the trailer you lower it down onto the ball at the top of the frame shown above.  The benefit of this hitch is that it doesn’t need to be lubricated, and is very easy to remove from the bed of the truck.  And because it only weighs 35 lbs, you don’t kill yourself taking it out.  And you have a clean truck bed when you’re not towing.

The downside is that since it is a ball adapter, many states require you to also use safety chains with the trailer.  Meh.  No big deal.  At any rate, I can still change my mind since I’m still dreaming.

Truck Research

On By The Flying DutchmanIn RV LifeLeave a comment

Well, there isn’t a whole lot going on in the flying world or the RV world.  We’re really just kind of in a holding pattern, dreaming.  One thing I haven’t done a whole lot of is trying to find the beast of a truck that will pull our home on wheels.  Well, that’s not exactly true. I’ve done enough research to know I want a RAM 3500, dually, long bed, crew cab, tow prep, auto level, 4.10 rear axle ratio, AISIN transmission.  I know I want to buy it from Dennis Dhillon Dodge in Boise/Nampa ID.  I know I’ll have to special order it because almost no one carries the truck I’m looking for.  But other than that I haven’t looked into it too much. 🙂

I figure I need to get another year or two out of my van and I’ll trade it in and buy the truck at the same time. I also believe this truck will pull any Solitude we end up purchasing.  Right now we’re settled on the 369RL but who knows what Grand Design will come out with in a few years?  I’ve spec’ed out the truck here: Ram 3500 – Vehicle Summary

Along with the truck I’ll need a good 5th wheel hitch.  The B&W hitch has received very good reviews.  The only bad review I’ve heard is that the hitch is very heavy.

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Yeah, looks pretty heavy!  But it fits into the Ram factory 5th wheel mounts with no problem.  Even though it’s a heavy hitch, I like the fact that it is easily removable (with help).  I have heard of people simply leaving it hitched up to their trailer, unlatching the bed mounts, and using the trailer’s leveling system to lift the hitch off the bed, and drive out from under it.  Then you can use the full bed of the truck.  When you’re done, drive back under the hitch, have the trailer lower back down, and re-latch the hitch to the truck.  I’m sure that’s easier said than done. 🙂

On the Road Internet

On By The Flying DutchmanIn RV Life2 Comments

One of the many things I’ve been thinking about when considering RV’ing is Internet connectivity.  How do I ensure I stay connected?  I’ve researched solutions from several companies, and gotten some great ideas from Technomadia.com.  I think I’ve finally come up with a good workable solution that will have multiple sources of Internet that I can select to keep me connected.  Here’s basically what it looks like

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The elitepack_shop_01-228x228WiFi Ranger Elite and WiFi Ranger Go2 are sold as a package from WiFi Ranger.  The Elite is a signal booster and antenna combo and the Go2 is a router that has multiple inputs and a small ethernet switch.  It can use the ethernet ports or USB as Internet gateways.  It then sets up an internal WiFi network that you connect to.  Internet can come from the RV Park via the Elite antenna or via a hotspot tether to the Go2 via USB.

 

 

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Since RV parks and campgrounds don’t always have the strongest cellular signals need some way to amplify those signals.  To bring in these weak signals for the Hotspot (or cell phones) I’m planning on also adding a signal booster like the one from WeBoost.  It will work with all North American cellular networks and will boost data and voice signals.  And will work with more than one phone at a time.  It comes with an external antenna that can be mounted on the RV or even your vehicle while you’re traveling.

So there you have it.  With multiple inputs and amplifiers this should pull in Internet where ever I happen to be.

Cal-Expo RV and Boat Show

On By The Flying DutchmanIn RV LifeLeave a comment

I spent Saturday morning at the Cal-Expo RV and Boat Show in Sacramento.    The boats were interesting but that’s not what I went there for.  I went to take a look at Grand Design RV’s newest model the 380GK.  It’s basically the 35′ foot version of it’s bigger brother the 384GK.  I really like the floor plan of the 384GK the best but at 40 feet long it seems a bit long for a trailer towing newbie like me.  The 380GK is 5 feet shorter but has same great kitchen layout as the 384GK.

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After looking at the model, however, I’ve decided that we’re going to stick with the 369RL. While we love the spaciousness of the 384GK and the basement storage is HUGE, the problem is the pantry space is limited and it’s load carrying capacity is less than the 369.  Though I like the 380GK, it just doesn’t have the interior storage that I think we’re going to need.  I think we’ll stick with the 369RL.

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