What hard lessons have you learned with your camper?? Comment below! Also check out the full video with more details about our camper here: kzitem.info/news/bejne/s6F5qqpqh5V-ipg
@snogoosey
9 ай бұрын
Everything i know now is from watching three youtubers. Finding our Someday FOS, keep your daydream KYD, and working for the wild. The first two are seasoned full time campers. The last one was full time until they got sick of it i think. The last one also will give u a good idea of how excited u get at first then evolves to where u are getting now. Im not full timing but what these three teach you is everything you need. Of course there are others that concentrate on how to fix or nice upgrades but check these three out
@Genxslacker1
9 ай бұрын
Welcome to the 'club.' 🫤You hit on everything we ran into when we bought our camper trailer. Tow ratings are a mysterious form of Sanskrit, and when you add vehicle load capacity to the equation, you change the scenario and have to recalculate. We wanted a small camper, under 20 ft, so we could easily meet any campground size and length requirements and we wouldn't have to upgrade our truck; I have a Ram 1500 4x4, and its towing capacity (officially) is 6,250 to 7,520 lbs. and a load capacity of 2300 lbs. With those numbers, we assumed we had plenty of options; nope! The original plan was to load my motorcycle and our electric bikes in the truck bed and haul the rest of our gear in the trailer. When we started looking at the smaller trailers, we saw immediately that the build quality standards were horrendous. We did find a camper we liked and had better quality and overall aesthetics. The problem is we totally blew our budget; the better, more acceptable quality standard came with a much higher price tag and killed our towing capacity because instead of a 4500 to 500. trailer we were now towing a 6500 lbs. trailer that pushed my 1500 to its limits. It is fun, but it is expensive. If my wife and I were younger we would go back to camping in tents, which we really liked.
@rodneyyoung8096
9 ай бұрын
I've been giving this trailer thing a lot of thought. Got it down to this. There are no motor homes or trailer companies that produce products under quality standards like the automotive industry. After purchasing an rv, most people have them tied up for repairs most of the time within the first couple of years. They usually only have a couple of guys smart enough to repair them, ? And good luck on that. I'd rater have a 3 to 5 year old motor home and pul a real trailer for heavy weight. Ford had a great gas engine back in the day. Diesel engines pull very well. The Ford engine can be repaired almost anywhere you go. That's an advantage. Breaking down the money for repairs is about the same. Gas more maintenance. Diesel is very expensive when things go wrong. It's very expensive to stay in rv camping. Most of the folks that traveled and KZitemd for a living got out. They sold their rv for as much as they paid for them new. As for my traveling with my wife now that we are retired. We were always active and enjoyed the camping and traveling. But it's turned into the hogeist money 💰 grab ever. So we get reservations at high end hotel's . Same thing with pickup trucks. It would take a Dooley to pull what i want. If you checked the wrecking yards for RV's , you should be surprised at the many fires that put them there. If you put a camera in your RV you would see how violently gnarly it was inside during the pull. A lot of people were upgrading the suspensions and smoothing things out . When I was young I worked at a proto shop for Fleetwood corporation. All Sadly constructed. There are some quality builders. They are vary, vary expensive. Someone could run you off the road. And who knows how much the insurance would cost. I'm a retired professional tradesman . Union 433 L. A. I can build anything. Could build a very quality trailer. And it's crazy expensive. No advantage to it other than quality. Hope you and yours think everything way ahead. You don't want to be a pore person whenever you need to retire. Thos that don't plan, don't 🏆 win. As for my honey and myself we can enjoy the hotel's near the beach ⛱️ 😎 or anyplace we want. You ever see someone running 🏃♂️ and there slow. They need to loose the trailer if they want to win
@2wheeltravels
9 ай бұрын
Hi Jess, We also had a tow behind for a couple years and quickly realized this was not a great option for motorcycle lovers. So we invested in a class A. We Love it.
@IndigenousSteed
9 ай бұрын
This video just popped back up in my news feed and I thought of something very disturbing.. It's important to have a decent amount of tongue weight and have your load properly balanced. If a trailer starts swaying something ain't right. Every year I see two or three trailers mangled upside down that could have been fine if they would have slowed down and or balanced their load. There is a great towing KZitem video on it using a model.
@captainjim605
9 ай бұрын
We have been RVing for 35 years; riding motorcycles for over 50 years. My wife hooked me on the idea of RVing by saying "We could haul the bikes south in the winter." You are learning lessons that every RVer discovers when they get into it. You have to pay more to get something with a good build quality. Over the years, we have had: 3 diesel pushers, one Class A gas, a toyhauler, 2 Class B campervans, a high-end 5th wheel, and currently have a low profile Class C (our downsize RV). And 31 motorycles/scooters over the years. The toyhauler was the worst build quality. We towed the the 5th wheel and toyhauler with a 3/4 ton diesel pickup... that one RV salesman said, "That truck will tow anything on the lot." In the words of the philosopher Maury Pauvich: "That was a lie!" Most of those BIG 5th wheel toyhaulers need a one ton diesel or a dedicated medium duty truck (like a Freightliner). It isn't JUST the weight - you also have to consider the pin weight (5th wheel) or tongue weight (travel trailer), and the cargo carrying capacity. For the last decade or so, we've hauled the bikes in a FeatherLite cargo trailer (excellent build quality) behind the RV. We generally go out for several months at a time. At times, we have double towed, with the cargo trailer behind our crossover SUV behind the motorhome. That is not legal in some states, so we occasionally have to unhook and drive separately. You have to research the double towing laws in each state you will pass through. And the maximum length allowed. If you don't have a generator in your toyhauler, boondocking is going to be tough. Additional batteries won't help you if you have no way of charging them - might extend your time between plugging in by a day or two. $400 a week at a state park seems unusually high. We have stayed at very nice upscale RV resorts for less than that, and generally around $800/month plus electric. We are not fans of boondocking. Oh, it sounds like an inexpensive way to travel, but the key to being happy when RVing is living comfortably in your rig... and boondocking doesn't work for the way we like to live while out. We boat cruised for a few years - we understand how to conserve battery and water usage with daily life onboard. Your RV story is common - you don't know what you don't know. You will learn what to look for - and what to look out for - with your RV journey. The saying is common with full-time RVers: "buy your 3rd RV first." It often takes getting to the 3rd RV to understand what you want from it. I knew what to expect when you first posted about this toyhauler. Good luck with this journey - there is more to learn compared to buying bikes. Captain Jim and the Blonde
@russpost2557
9 ай бұрын
As they say " there is no perfect rig"
@dennyclosser8456
9 ай бұрын
Buddy, whatever you do for a living you must do it well I am envious of all the toys that you’ve had. I’ve had multiple bikes but just bought one flatbed trailer from a custom builder which I can haul 4000 pounds no problem single axle. And then I have a single axle 6 x 10 covered trailerthat I can put two electric glides in no problem and never had a problem with them even with a half ton truck although it will suck the gas. Much better with the three-quarter ton or one ton.
@captainjim605
9 ай бұрын
But once you've done the RVing thing for a couple decades, you learn what is the best for you. It's tough when someone first gets into RVing and finds that the reality doesn't match up to the expectations.
@tru3sk1ll
9 ай бұрын
I can't recommend triple towing enough, toy haulers are heavy mother f'ers, require 3/4 or full ton trucks, your RV always smells like gas, rubber and oil, and the furtniture sucks, not to mention the toy hauler upcharging, I have a '16 Ram 1500, and 28' ultralite trailer towing a 3x motorcycle trailer, all within California standards,a lthough I did get my CDL, just follow height/weight whatever, stay in the west and you're fine, I go to Cal, Az, Colorado, montana, Idaho, my motorcycle trailer I got used for $700, and my trailer was $20,000, I figure I'm just as functional with about $100k less in investment
@recordingwhiz
9 ай бұрын
That is why after years of RV-ing, we now pull a 5th wheel with a diesel Dually 3500. lightweight RVs are made like crap because they have to be made with the absolutely lightest materials so they can market them to people trying to get away with pulling it with a 1500. and NEVER EVER trust an RV sales guy EVER...
@matthewmansfield2384
9 ай бұрын
the dually really is the ticket. That's what we wanted but when we bought our diesel, they were very hard to come by - especially 4x4...
@captdramamine
9 ай бұрын
Never trust a sales rep... period hahaha. I went shopping for a Mazda RX8 when they first came out in 2004. The salesman told me it had a V6. I learned to drive on a first gen RX7. I know all about the Wankel rotary. I looked at the sales rep with disappointment, said the word "Wankel" and walked away.
@JRotten
9 ай бұрын
True, that's why I bite the bullet years ago with a F350 dually. Buy once, cry once. 5th wheel tows do much better too.
@threeftr3349
9 ай бұрын
@@matthewmansfield2384 They were hard to find for us as well. Funny, I just looked earlier today to see what our 2017 Ram Laramie longhorn would cost today, and there are dozens of duallys for sale online. And all the ones I found similar to ours were all more money than what we paid in 2019.
@Martin-gc9jy
9 ай бұрын
Find old diesel good condition without DEF my 05 dodge 2500 gets 20mpg pulling what ever I ask it to
@kenkenyon444
9 ай бұрын
My wife and I bought a 41 foot 5th wheel to live in and we did for 5 years but the price of living in parks long term kept going up and pretty soon we were paying as much as I was for the house I sold. So it definitely wasn't worth it!
@master6676
9 ай бұрын
I am a 30 year over the road trucker, so a little experience driving and towing. Also a 5th wheel owner, after 2 years of searching, I completely gave up on a decent price with any quality at all. Now in the process of building out a cargo trailer. Plain and simple rv's, campers, and even motor coaches are cr'p.
@ND-tu7ww
9 ай бұрын
I dreamed about combining two things I enjoy for years....camping and motorcycles. Did ton of research but can only get you so far. Decided to rent before we purchase and happy we did. Since we owned a 3500 Ram DRW we rented 45 ft Cyclone toy hauler. Had an awesome trip with kids. However quickly realized a trip axle 45 ft trailer is just too big. Settled on 40 ft Grand Design 349mr with upgraded truck F450. Perfect combination IMO (for us at least). So while I agree do your research don't wait too long to pull the trigger on something you love. Tomorrow is never promised for anyone. Get out there and enjoy!!!
@joeg8269
9 ай бұрын
Honestly, for all the "good" that is possible by owning an RV, every time I hear what I would consider a horror story (then find out is pretty common), I couldn't imagine dropping that amount of money on one. A moto-journalist explained on a podcast - remember, you're not buying a vehicle, you're buying a house that has the ability to be mobile. Regardless of the brand on the RV, it is constructed from numerous sub-contracting companies that rarely collaborate to ensure all components work seamlessly and often maintain individual varying warranties.
@SandraOrtmann1976
9 ай бұрын
Yes, trailer towing is definitely learning curve. Luckily my husband had a truck driver licence, so he knew everything about towing loads (he still has his knowledge of course, but had to give up his license as he is now over 50. German law). We started out with a very solid towing vehicle - a Diesel with tons of power in the low revs (Opel Frontera 2.8l), which is very important for easy manouevering in tight spots and for ease of tow at inclines. This fantastic vehicle was followed by a petrol-fuelled SUV with less towing capacity. It still has a permanent 4 wheel drive and reduction, but the power now is in the upper revs. Which is not as great, but we have to live with it. Before we hauled my horse around, so comfortable towing was paramount (particularly if you tow two of these guys. You must not make any compromises regarding safety and comfort here). Nowadays, it is just out trailer with camping gear and/or two motorcycles. The horse trailer was also much easier to tow, as it had much less wind resistance. Our current trailer when the tall cover is on is square shaped, so it wants to be towed. We feel our vehicle really struggle with this on the Autobahn, it is no fun. But I am sure it will get worse in the future, when we have to replace this car (a Subaru Forester). I know of no electric car which has even this towing capacity. But we shall see...right now it runs great, and boxer engines are known for longevity.
@seriously195
9 ай бұрын
Yeah, I am semi-retired and I tow the brand new RVs (travel trailers and 5th Wheels) from the manufacturer area in Northern Indiana to dealerships all over the US and Canada and I can tell you that your experience is the norm. More than 95% of the RVs built are low grade materials with slap and stick construction (as you found out by needing to re-hang most of your wall boards already). On the maiden voyage of these trailers I take, a full third have something falling apart because screws come out or were not glued well and at least half of the trailers have some damage (cabinets flapping open and breaking, closet doors banging and getting scratched, TV mounts coming loose, etc.). Only the remaining 5% are built well with quality materials and as you can guess, they can be incredibly expensive (as if $35K to $75K for a travel trailer is not expensive enough but think 5x to 10x that price range or more). When anyone asks what I would choose for a trailer (and I too take my bikes along) I reply with: have a quality all aluminum car hauler built then outfit it they way you want. The base trailer will probably be $20k to $25K (for the size of the toy hauler you show in your video) then another $10k to $20k for the interior and cargo fitment (there are plenty of YT videos showing just that). This way you have what amenities you want at the quality level you want and save $20k to $40k by doing the labor yourself. For the truck: 1/2 ton trucks are really not meant for the weight and distance hauling of this type. Yes, they can do it but this puts a lot of extra strain on all of the components of the truck and can considerably shorten the service life of individual parts (especially the expensive ones like engine, trans, transfer case, diffs) or the entire truck. Think of trucks like this: 1/2 ton are like homeowner/hobbyist power tools (think Black & Decker, Ryobi, etc.), 3/4 Ton trucks are like serious DIYer/Jobsite power tools (think Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita, etc.) and 1 Ton trucks are like industrial power tools (think Hilti). For the most part, the difference between 3/4 to and 1 ton trucks is the heavier suspension parts in the 1 Ton (translating to heavier payload capacity) although sometimes you can only get some options for the 1 ton trucks not available on the 3/4 ton trucks (such as more HD trans and dual rear wheels). Mine is a Ram 2500 Megacab, 6.7 Cummins diesel, Mopar 6 speed auto, Timbren overload springs and I installed a 80 gallon diesel transfer tank in the bed. I would think something this (the Chevy version) would be overkill for you unless you truly did transition to full time RV life or close to it like one or more distance trips a month. In your current case, I would highly recommend some overload springs like the Timbrens (these do NOT increase your payload capacity just make the truck ride level when loaded, meaning no tail squat), weight distribution hitch/bars with anti-sway control (if you don't already have these), and when you are driving on the highway use the tow/haul mode (if your truck has it - or just make sure it does not go into and out of OD a lot, called shuttle shifting - this can damage the trans quickly) just set the cruise on 64 to 67 and leave it (your truck will show you what speed works best by good towing MPG, decent power, and steady trans gear). Yes, I know it seems slow but this makes a big difference in the MPG and the wear and tear on the equipment. For payload capacity, this is usually pretty straight forward based on the truck wight class (1/2, 3/4, 1 ton) with some variances and this is stated in the owners manual. Just note, these will probably state a gross weight so remember to calculate everything the truck will carry (passengers, fuel, gear, trailer tongue weight, etc.). For the Tow capacity: Unfortunately for each model of truck there is usually several tow capacities (sometimes quit a a few) since optioning the truck effects this number. Adding some options add weight without adding anything to the tow function (cab size - standard, extra, crew, extra fuel tank, second alternator, etc.) so they can reduce tow capacity where other options add capability to towing (additional engine coolant and/or oil cooling, large capacity trans cooling, diff gearing, etc.) will increase rated tow capacity. Many times it is difficult to find the actual tow capacity without digging and knowing all of your specifics. The internet is a good place since many online owners groups do the research and post for fellow owners where you can enter the VIN and it will provide you with an options build sheet for your specific truck. For the camping: Yes, private and public campgrounds can get expensive quickly. If you do really enjoy it, look at installing a solar system so you can boondock and check out federal lands (BLM and National Forests) where there are free places (14 day limit) and look into the site 'boondockers welcome' where individuals allow fellow campers to stay on their private property. Some have hock-ups some not, some have single night some multiple but they are all over. Several apps will show county parks all over the US with camping where there are some free or low cost spots (again, check out YT videos). Finally, I would recommend you find an RV scale to check you your set-up when loaded and ready to go (Good Sam is a resource - and again, YT videos showing how it is done). This is different from the truck scales at the truck stops or the DOT scale houses along the freeways. The RV scales will weigh each tire (truck and trailer) individually and show how the tow vehicle and trailer weights are from front to back AND side to side. This way you can see if anything is out of balance in any direction as well as the weight distributions to make sure you are not getting into dangerous situations unknowingly.
@johnnybirge8070
6 ай бұрын
Very informative! Thank you for the info
@LittleOLosBurnouts
3 ай бұрын
Solid advice here Also Too much truck is way better than not enough unless you like changing your underwear frequently
@blackfire5179
3 ай бұрын
Thank you for this information.
@sharonhirsch1173
9 ай бұрын
Thanks for your honest review. I seriously looked at motor homes until a refrigerator door handle came off in my hand when I tried to open it. Sticker price was somewhere around $100,000 for this model with the poor quality. After that I decided I would rather take my motorcycle, car, or truck and tent camp or motel for the night. I do wish you the best with your experience and at least Jordan can fix most problems. Ride Safe
@robfromtoledo9514
6 ай бұрын
You have a great point. For the cost of a nice sized camper and truck big enough to pull it you can rent a lot of hotel rooms and tow a couple bikes with a small utility trailer behind it with just about anything. I'd miss the sitting around the campfire and stuff but wouldn't miss emptying the black tanks, the bugs, and high price to camp anymore. Almost as much as a room in some places.
@bradleyyounger8499
9 ай бұрын
Boondocking is the only affordable way to camp. Some solar and batteries.. 12v ac and a diesel parking heater. A small 2000 generator to charge when you need and you're good to go
@captdramamine
9 ай бұрын
Hey Jess. I recently purchased a toy hauler as well. Your model was on my short list. I ended up getting a 2016 Grey Wolf 22rr Limited. I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee v6 with 5K tow rating. My trailer's dry weight is 4700 lbs. With my 2010 Ultra Limited and personal affects I am just over the rated limit. So far my Jeep has more than exceeded my expectations. I do have upgraded brakes on the Jeep though. I highly recommend upgrading brakes on all vehicles. OEM brakes pass government requirements, but that's about it. The Jeep also has air suspension and a tow package. The trailer has onboard brakes as well. That was a lifesaver towing in the mountains of Virginia. There are several websites for cheap or free campsites. I currently have a t-mobile/Metro hotspot 4g 100 gigs for $50 a month. It was a special sale so I don't know if that's still available. Traveling with a camper is a different beast. You definitely need to plan ahead. I am from Tampa and live vicariously through you, Shadetree and Che. Love you and your husband's videos. keep them coming.
@maddog7999
9 ай бұрын
you are WAY over th rated limit. do the math again
@tomckay1
9 ай бұрын
@@maddog7999 OMG yes! I read @captdramamine 's post and was thinking, so a 2010 Ultra... fresh water, LP, food, pots and pans, silverware, clothes & gear all weigh 300lbs or less?
@FreewheelerLover
9 ай бұрын
My husband has talked about getting a camper, as he used to have one when his kids were younger. I told him with buying a camper plus all the other expenses of camping, it would be more cost effective, for us to just stay in hotels.
@OneSssyRedhead
9 ай бұрын
We did the math, and once fuel gets above around $3.50, it IS typically more cost effective to stay in hotels or motels.
@gregleonard7391
8 ай бұрын
That's not the point. The experience is missing and everything can't always be about money
@jasonmelby6221
5 ай бұрын
I think there is more to the equation than just fuel and hotel cost. What about the cost of eating out 3 meals for a family vs cooking at camp? Not to mention the intangibles of family time at camp vs crammed in a hotel room.
@alandeon
2 ай бұрын
yeah but you can't have a campfire and watch the stairs every night at a hotel....
@namerican8510
8 ай бұрын
I couldn't stress enough that you need to secure your motorcycles in the trailer and transfer the center mark of the wheels directly to the exterior of the trailer and add support gussets at those locations to reduce floor flex, especially when having 4wheelers loaded into them because their wheels tend to be closer to the walls and extend past the exterior part of the frame. Also, if you're using weight distribution devices on the tongue be sure to remove them when driving on dirt roads that have deep ruts or dips unless you want to have your frame buckle or frame twist which causes wall and window blowouts. One of the most important things that often is overlooked in maintenance is to frequently check your lugnuts torque and maintain your wheel bearings, a lot of heat is generated there and too much or to little grease causes them to get hot and fail or transfers heat to everything around it like brakes and tires which causes premature failure. You are correct that they are made like junk.
@shawnmaxwell1221
9 ай бұрын
One lesson that I learned when we use to have a camper, is always check your water lines inside after connecting to city water connection. One night while camping, I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and put my feet on the floor and it was like walking on a sponge. The water line that was under the couch that my daughter was sleeping on came apart in the middle of the night and ran for hours. When I went outside to shut the water off, the water was just running out of all the walls onto the ground. Luckily we were able to get use of a large shop vac, it took hours to clean that mess up and than it smelled bad for awhile until we got home and let it air out. After that I never left the city water supply turned on when I wasn’t at the camper.
@IndigenousSteed
9 ай бұрын
Oh yeah always use a water pressure regulator.
@matthewmansfield2384
9 ай бұрын
Make sure to have the pressure regulating hose attachment too
@IndigenousSteed
9 ай бұрын
@matthewmansfield2384 ☝️right what he said, I ment to say lol
@JaimeRestrepo61
9 ай бұрын
Good advice.
@jeffpaul738
9 ай бұрын
Your first camper is your first mistake. your second camper you get everything straightened out that you messed up buying the first one. Ask me how I know.
@Kenelz1
9 ай бұрын
I spent four winters on the road, mostly between AZ and FL. The gas truck had to go, a used diesel Duramax was night and day better. Campgrounds weren't too expensive back then, but I spent most nights in parking lots (rest stops, Cracker Barrel, Wal-Mart etc). I used campgrounds when tanks needed empying, and FW. Its hard to believe your rig didn't come with a furnace, I've had tiny TTs that always had one. Its been a while though, I bought a house in Florida during the great recession, sold the trailer. Now I'm six months in Florida, and six months northern Michigan, the best of both worlds. A bike at each place, only have to get my body back and forth.
@thetrailbuzzard
9 ай бұрын
Love the topic! I think a lot of us end up feeling this way about the overall cost of toy hauler traveling like you guys are doing. I have always wanted to do exactly what you're doing. I finally gave up on the idea of it all. I'm going to use my half ton truck with 9 foot ramp to load my bike and go. Camping with occasional hotels and a variety of eating out and cooking while camping. I make good money at what i do for a living and I still can't make sense of what it costs to travel. Great vid and thanks for sharing!
@chiefdog1019
9 ай бұрын
We sold our TT after 5 years. They are built very cheaply. Fortunately I can fix almost anything that goes wrong but way more upkeep and repairs than it’s worth. We are now back into tent camping!
@1234597114
9 ай бұрын
I have camper experience starting in the 70’s with my parents, then myself since the 80’s. Campers, starting in the late 80’s early 90’s started getting really crappy. I’ve had truck campers, trailers and pop up’s. The new stuff is horrible, I don’t care what brand it is and massively over priced! A few years ago I watched a video on KZitem of a manufacturer building new travel trailers. I couldn’t believe they actually showed the hack work to the public. Garbage! That being said, as for battery power. I bought the BLUETTI AC200max power station. Game changer! It has a built in 30 amp rv outlet. Get some solar panels to charge it and voilà! Extra battery packs can be added for additional capacity. Don’t waste money wiring in batteries and inverters to your trailer. The AC200max can plug in to your existing RV shore power plug. Or there is an accessory cable from BLUETTI to plug straight in to the camper fuse panel. and It’s portable, Look it up on the BLUETTI website. All portable power stations will work, but the the built in RV plug on the AC200max sets it apart.
@conradeggers1062
3 ай бұрын
Great video taken at Hide-A-Way Harbor in Astatula, FL. Thanks for choosing us!
@ASMRrides
9 ай бұрын
About camping cost. You might want to look up camping memberships or passes that include unlimited camping. Right now I'm down in New Mexico for the winter in my toy hauler on their annual state park camping pass for like $250 for unlimited camping. If Florida is your one and only pick to stay the winter 1000 trails membership may be something to look into.
@evensteven0254
9 ай бұрын
I've learned a lot from owning a camper. I now know there will always be something that needs repaired no matter what you buy. My wife and I bought a 1978 coachmen 20' bumper pull camper. I didnt know what I was getting myself into but I ended up having to replace most of the wood framing in the walls due to rot and so so much more. At least the trailer frame was still good. lol!!! Four months later after 250+ hours of time & having some regrets along the way; We pulled it to Galveston for it's maiden voyage with no problems & have had a blast with it ever since but I have some repairs to do before spring. lol
@tarynsanmartino8930
9 ай бұрын
Hiya Jen, Belated Merry Christmas and wishing you both a very Happy and healthy New year! So good to hear from you and learn about the trial and tribulations experiencing towing the toy hauler. Also appreciate your descriptions of the expenses incurred while camping. I noticed a previous reply regarding the type of truck you actually need to safely haul these trailers and it sure is eye opening to say the least. I know someone who just invested in a dually diesel to haul a multi horse trailer camper. Upgraded from what you have just to be able to level out the load. She had to talk with a professional trailer truck driver to get the low down on what she actually needed. It really is a shame that these dealers have minimal knowledge about such things with regard to weight capacity and safe hauling. Or perhaps just want to sell a particular truck off the lot. Sorry to mention, but noteworthy the following - The catalyst for the upgraded truck purchase resulted from seeing a very unfortunate accident of an overturned trailer similar to her own, also carrying precious cargo. 😢 You are very wise to be sharing your observations and own experiences during this trip. Be safe and enjoy your travels.
@leedanielson7452
9 ай бұрын
How do we learn most things in life?? By experience… The next time, you guys go trailer shopping or truck shopping you will have a ton of experience under your belt so you will know exactly what you want and what you need!!! Happy New Year everybody!!!❤👍👏🏻🍻🍾🥂🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
@dasvtx
9 ай бұрын
I don't own a travel trailer, but there are a LOT of RV related channels on you tube that I have come across showing just how poorly these trailers are constructed. It's not just the 'entry level' ones either - it's VERY expensive 100K plus trailers that are complete junk. It's stunning to me. Just another - things are never what they appear in the brochures - life lesson. 😞
@bobgil3464
4 ай бұрын
I think we all been there done that. I am having problems not with tow ratings but the GWVR. You might confirmed you are not overweight with the motorcycles in the trailer, you may be surprised. Go to the CAT scales at Loves or Flying J. You might install SUMOs on the axles.
@johnpagejr.7628
9 ай бұрын
Jess and Jordan check out Cheap RV living. Bob Wells has video's on all the things you talked about in this video. If you have not figured it out yet people are building out cargo trailers because it is cheaper and far more reliable than current trailer or RV's .Gone Again on KZitem is a older couple that travel all over off grid in a kited out cargo trailer. They have reviews on solar and gas generators and lot of other stuff. E trailer also has video's that would be helpful about towing as well as part's.
@rexross1461
9 ай бұрын
Life is so much easier and cheaper just to stay in hotels in the end lol
@don-tj7su
9 ай бұрын
If you spend time in florida for the winter then buy your own piece of land in an area that has little to no restrictions and set it up then save yourself all the money paying to park somewhere...areas around ocala and Putnam County and areas in Sebring FL land costs aren't bad or can be financed with a small monthly Payment unless you just buy it...saves a ton a money in the long run
@MorrisandMaryGorko-ym8hp
9 ай бұрын
All RVS are junk. You don't have to buy them at those outrageous prices. They're all a money pit that you will not get rid of without losing big time. Good Luck HAHA
@AngelTorres-se9zf
9 ай бұрын
I'm a RVer and everything you are going through I went through. Family and I love to RV so much I had to learn on my own also. When it comes to a tow vehicle and knowing what trailer can be towed with a specific tow vehicle the most important number you need to know is "payload" (cargo carrying capacity). I now have a F-350 dually and my "payload" is 5500lbs. My "max tow" is 27,000lbs. Payload is the weight of stuff that can be loaded in your tow vehicle including the weight of driver, passengers, cargo in bed/trunk and the tongue weight of a trailer. Most 1500 pickups have a payload of 1500-1700lbs. Some trailers have a tongue weight starting at 500lbs. If your truck has a payload of 1500 and the trailer tongue weight is 500 you have 1000lbs of payload left. The lower the payload the less you can carry and the smaller you can tow. I learned a lot from KYD, Big Truck Big RV, Changing Lanes and other RVers about towing and RVing in general. Hope your not discouraged keep camping and riding it can come together and hopefully you can find the fun in all of it. Thank you for sharing your video and I hope I helped a little.😊
@heribertocavazos1469
9 ай бұрын
It all depends on the type of Campground you stay at. The most my wife and I paid traveling from california to Montana then across to Ohio then to Texas was $60.00 a night. About $400.00 for seven days at a KOA. Yes luxury has a price , even on a 5th wheel. Unless you boondocks somewhere. Yes planning is the most important part of traveling. Being members to some KOA programs has its benifits.
@mrc9699
9 ай бұрын
Unfortunately, you haven't learned the hardest lesson yet . . . the real cost of RVing over the long term . . . prepare to be shocked. I speak from experience . . . . .
@jenniferoliver1267
9 ай бұрын
ALSO IF TOWING IS NEEDED it is sometimes a Seperate cost from insurance.( AAA is seperate)
@vintagetrk
9 ай бұрын
A half ton truck is not stoat enough to haul a toy hauler that’s loaded. You need a 3/4 ton at minimum. Salesmen are just trying to unload inventory. Best bet for toy hauler info is KZitem camper and toy hauler channels.
@jenkins1979
9 ай бұрын
Sounds like you bought a Pandemic camper.They were just thrown together cuz everyone wanted to go camping during covid
@RebelCowboysRVs
9 ай бұрын
Tow rating is confusing because it is complicated. How much your truck weighs matters. How good your braked are matters. What gear ratio you have matters. But the main thing to think about is payload capacity. How much weight is your truck built to hold up. Traditionally a half ton truck is meant to carry just that, a half a ton. Thats 1000 pounds. The tongue weight of your trailer needs to be at a minimum 10% of the total trailer weight. If the truck can only hold up 1000, and the weight on the tongue that the truck has to hold up has to be at least 10%, your upper limit is a 10 K trailer. And thats using a 5th wheel or gooseneck, nothing else in the truck an no other limiting factors. In reality, you are in the truck, an your stuff is too. That takes away from that. And in your case, the weight is not in the truck, its hanging off the back of the truck. There is a 3 foot lever between the trailer hitch an your rear axle. So that limits you too. A RV dealer should know all this. But they are trying to sell you an RV. If they told you the truth, the truth is that no one makes the trailer your truck needs. So he would not get a sale. Trailers are simple. There is a plate on the trailer that says how much it weighs dry. Another that shows how much it can weight usually marked GVRW. The space between the two is how much stuff you can put in it. And the GVWR is what you need to look at to figure out if you can pull it. That has to be below what your truck is rated for and tongue weight, (marked or atleast 10% of GVWR) must be less than your truck is rated to hold up. And in the case of a bumper pull, what the hitch is rated to hold up. You are always in trouble when you buy the truck first. The truck now dictates what you can pull. Now the RV dealer has to find a trailer to sell you. When you buy the truck first, the weigh it can pull is not something you think about. So when you see the the price of the 1 ton truck beside the half ton truck, you will buy the cheaper truck. Now the dealer wants to sell you a trailer. But no triler works behind your truck. So he lies. An thats why most RVers start in to much trailer on to little truck, an have to upgrade truck. If you buy the trailer first, you are getting the trailer you need. There is probabaly a trailer on the lot that does what you need. Now you can take that trailer specs to a truck dealer an he will have a truck that will pull that trailer safely. Its his job to get you in a truck big enough. If he has any reason to lie, its to sell you even bigger an safer than you need. That can hurt your wallet, but its much better than risking your life. RV parks are about money. You are paying their mortgage and them an income. Commercial mortgages are not 30 years either, its half that. So moving whenever you want, you are paying for that privilege. Usually more than, what it would cost to buy your own bit of land. Say you get a deal for a month at an RV campground. $500 a month is good in today's world. If you get it that cheap, thats probably without power included. If you want to be in the woods, you can buy a acre or under for something like $5K. If you just want to boondock, your set. If you want to turn it in to an RV spot, you will have another $5K in it. You can get some real good deals where a mobile home use to set. They are practically RV ready. But how much it costs is meaningless other than you need to be able to afford it. Because that is not spent money in the normal sense. That property holds the same or more value when you are done using it. You are not paying someone elses mortgage, you are converting money in to land. That land then can be converted back in to money later. 10 months paying $500, is $5000. So you can RV park for 10 months or buy a piece of property for the same money. Sure its not going to be where you really want to be, but neither is the cheap RV parks. The places you really want to be may cost more, but the RV parks there cost proportionally more too. Buy property near where you want to be, if you dont like it, sell an buy elsewhere. Put back more money each time an buy better. Looking at a wooded lot a few hundered yards from the Tn river now. 1 acre, nowhere I would want to build a house, but RV lot nice, for $6K. This is near my current home in the mountains. I have my eye on a few other places in warmer parts of the country too.
@Pwpapa.7
9 ай бұрын
Those camper just want to sell you can that’s if you give a shit about your truck pulling it or not they’ll say yeah not a problem
@leedanielson7452
9 ай бұрын
Experience is a great teacher… Its really the only teacher…You guys are awesome!!!🥰👍👏🏻
@goldgeologist5320
9 ай бұрын
RVs suck plain and simple. The wind resistance is huge! The fuel consumption is huge!
@jeffessmann6784
9 ай бұрын
Watch your tire pressure and your trailer tires if they get 4 to 5 years old get new ones the manufacturers put the cheapest tires you can get on new tralers check the date codes and pressure recommendations
@jasonfecteau4868
9 ай бұрын
Payload is the number 1 limiting factor when towing with a 1/2 ton. It's listed on the door jam of every truck. 👍
@maddog7999
9 ай бұрын
she has a 1/4ton. a 1500. and she shldnt be hauling that rig with it
@donalddesilets7640
9 ай бұрын
It is a half ton @@maddog7999
@jasonfecteau4868
9 ай бұрын
1500 or 150s are halftons 👍
@RealJayPowell
9 ай бұрын
@@maddog7999 what???
@maddog7999
9 ай бұрын
@@jasonfecteau4868 right i forgot the classes. but its also a frivolous number meaning nothing.
@russpost2557
9 ай бұрын
2 mortages , bike payments , insurance ect ect ... .. the american dream
@SwimCoach8
9 ай бұрын
A friend, life long rider/builder decided to get a toy hauler. Couldn't find anything that suited, so he built his own from a bare trailer. It was beautiful. After three trips, he was so disgusted with camping and the costs, the fact his wife wouldn't drive it (too big), he sold his rig. Bought a nice hauler for just the bikes and stays at hotels and air bnb's. His wife helps with the driving and they are both way happier on the road. They have a tent thing that hooks to the cap on their truck. They use it for boon docking but only for a night or two at a time. Said the BLM land near Moab and Mexican Hat, Utah was beautiful. BLM camping is no services but it's free. I know some folks love it....I just hear to many bad stories.
@jenkins1979
9 ай бұрын
I wish we could have sat down with you and explained all that.Salesmen just want a sale...that's it
@AllensAutomotiveReparations
9 ай бұрын
Depending on the type of camping you want to do from long trips, boon docking, or parking in a camp ground there are campers to suit your needs however for long haulers who boon dock and want to bring their toys (bikes, jeeps etc) a motorhome is one of the best options. For instance most motorhomes have an onboard generator, these are great for boon docking but if you also have a solar system with a couple batteries it can also charge those up as well. The motor home can also be used to charge solar batteries when its being driven via the vehicles altenator. Most motor homes can easily tow a small 12ft enclosed trailer for your bikes and this gets them out of your living space but still protected from weather and theft when camping. You also have the option of diesel or gas powered motorhomes and there is a wide....wide range of sizes and classes but most Class C's (van front) will easily tow a 12 ft enclosed trailer and I doubt you could pack enough to overload its weight rating. Most dont actually use the tow vehicle (inclement weather aside) when they bring toys like Motorcycles so often times a truck is not required once you get where yor going until its time to leave. Motorhomes are not made for speed though you wont get where you are going any faster and size is an issue (bridges etc) but no more so then you are already dealing with the plus though is you can get up and go to the bathroom (if you trust your husband) while on the road or make a sandwich or go take a nap without pulling over. My 2 cents.
@gunsnrides7248
9 ай бұрын
I agree. Most toy haulers are built way too cheap. They're not made the hall motorbikes they're made to haul bicycles. I ended up buying a car hauler and building my own camper out of it. Good luck!
@danielstewart7732
9 ай бұрын
1st Mistake, you didn't get a ATC Toy Hauler, 100% Aluminum, from top to bottom, and front to back. They are worth every penny. :)
@OmeOmai
3 ай бұрын
100% ! We just purchased our first (and probably ONLY ATC) toy hauler after trying to be sales up by RV rep for these pieces of junk that were falling apart PARKED In a parking lot!
@kenkenyon444
9 ай бұрын
If you don't have a generator on your trailer it won't be good experience
@bigj200016
9 ай бұрын
I can definitely relate. I bought a camper towards the max tow rating on my 2019 Ranger, which would be with my motorcycle loaded in it about 7200 lbs. Soon after buying the camper, I quickly learned that while I probably would be okay pulling this rig, it wouldn’t be an enjoyable experience. So I ended up buying a 2007 F250. Now I kind of wish I would have bought a larger camper, something in the 10000 lb range.
@bigj200016
9 ай бұрын
@@maddog7999 not really. Even if I went 10k dry weight, with bike plus other stuff, I’d probably be in the neighborhood if 11.5k. That’d still leave about 1k margin below the tow rating of the F250. While with the Ranger, I was about 300lbs from tow rating.
@maddog7999
9 ай бұрын
@@bigj200016 yes. you can go bigger. what i am saying is; if you do, you will be slowly working your way back to issues like you had with the ranger. its nuance. not absolute zero.
@perrywannamaker1969
9 ай бұрын
FYI the only difference between a f150 truck and a F 250 truck is 500lbs rating. I know because we have several hundred of each vehicle and have to conform to the DOT regulations every day
@bigj200016
9 ай бұрын
@@perrywannamaker1969 I know my 07 has the diesel engine, so it’s at 12.5k. Not sure where a v8 f150 is tow rating wise
@ftby59mikeD
9 ай бұрын
Living is learning. After owning two toy haulers pulled by both gas & diesel trucks, I've settled on leaving my existing t/h camper at a storage facility near our favorite bike week destination. We haul our bikes in a dedicated trailer behind my 1/2 ton, then pay a resort 'hauler' to bring it to the site. We've found that this is the most economical & least stressful way to go. To each his own. Ride safe!👍
@xentat4711
9 ай бұрын
Great video, and thanks for sharing. You hit the nail on the head with this one. My experience was pretty much the same as yours. I purchased a Class C to trailer tow the bikes and work on the road. I sold it two weeks ago at a huge loss. The last straw for me was Sturgis 2023: I towed the bikes and stayed at a campground. Even though it was nice, the trip cost twice as much as it did when I have ridden there and stayed in hotels, etc. I completely agree with you on the repairs; even though I had a warranty, it either didn't cover repairs, or the dealer couldn't get to it in months, or I was in the middle of nowhere, and I had to complete repairs to continue the journey. Thanks for sharing: I hope that folks that consider purchasing a RV or travel trailer watch your video and do the research: I know I wish I would have done a lot more research before purchasing mine.
@freddetro7020
9 ай бұрын
I believe that you can buy and add on a tow package to just about any pickup. You can find it aftermarket,and Jordan might be able to handle that. BUT the most important part of this whole video is that I learned how to pronounce chaulk!
@maddog7999
9 ай бұрын
for distance, the two bikes in the bed would be stress on the truck. add to that the whole damn camper??? no. they need a bigger truck with a diesel. and yes. you can purchase hitches and suspension upgrades, but a proper hauler has much more than that. oversized oil and trans fluid coolers. bigger engines. beefier transmissions. bigger brakes. steel wheels. thicker axles. etc etc etc. you cant just haul anything with anything. and 1/4ton trucks are made for Harry Homeowner who buys a new dryer or fridge once a year and needs to get it home. no more
@chrisbarbour9533
6 ай бұрын
What nobody ain't telling you you can buy weight for your truck beef up suspension underneath and you'll be okay have your husband look into it
@MotoFamMayhem
Ай бұрын
Actually you can't do that 😅
@Redpawdave
9 ай бұрын
Adrienne and I bought a used Pace Arrow motor home and buzzed around , pulling our bikes in a enclosed fiberglass dirt bike trailer. I got really tired of the whole thing from driving carefully planned (boring ) trips to feeling like we had to fix our own meals rather than eating out. We have since found we'd rather just ride the road bikes, travel light, and stay in much more interesting (and 'off the beaten path") places. The portable house thing kinda ruined the whole idea of the trip for us And cost more than "bikin' light".
@Work2733
9 ай бұрын
I contacted the manufacturer and they blew me off. There is no regulations to really hold them accountable.
@MrGus4440
9 ай бұрын
Comment on the build quality. The Covid years build quality is the worst quality years for everything.
@HerTwoWheels
9 ай бұрын
I know. And we definitely got a covid year one 🤦♀️
@theadventuresofonewire
9 ай бұрын
I hear ya on how confusing tow ratings and whatnot can be at first. I had to do a lot of researching before I bought my toy hauler and deciding on what kind of truck I would need to tow it safely and comfortably. (I ended up buying a 2500 to tow my 34' toy hauler) The number that is more important to pay attention to instead of max tow rating is your max payload capacity. You may run out of available payload capacity before you hit the max towing capacity, depending on your truck and what options it is equipped with. This number should be on your door sticker. Your truck has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), which is the max your truck can weigh. You take your curb weight and subtract that from your GVWR and you have your max payload. Curb weight is the weight of the vehicle, including a full tank of fuel and all standard equipment. It does not include the weight of any passengers, cargo, or optional equipment. So if you have a truck with a payload rating of 1500 lbs, add 300 lbs for 2 passengers, 100 lbs for your hitch, you are down to 1100 lbs of available payload left, assuming you have not added any other aftermarket items to your truck, and you are not hauling anything else in your truck. Now if you have an 8000 lb travel trailer, the tongue weight would be in the neighborhood of 1100-1200 lbs, and you are now at your payload limit. And that is only with an 8000 lb camper, and nothing in the truck but a driver and one passenger. I have also learned that when towing, slow and steady wins the race. I set my cruise control at 65 and just enjoy the ride. I seem to get better fuel mileage at that speed too. Anyway, enjoy y'alls trips and keep the shiny side up!
@badasstrucker79
9 ай бұрын
We travel full time with 2 bikes also Just fyi your furnace runs off 12v and the battery should keep you warm over night and truck should charge that battery during the day
@FWMCBigFoot
9 ай бұрын
12v and propane, and as you say, should be fine overnight.
@65Max
6 ай бұрын
Had a toy-hauler years ago for my '03 883 Sportster and '05 Ultra Classic. Used it for trips allover the eastern US. 1/2 ton trucks usually can't efficiently or sometimes safely tow a reasonably large trailer. The more weight you have at the BACK of the trailer, the more unstable it can be on the road. ESSENTIAL to have a good anti-sway hitch truck-to-trailer. WiFi? I traveled 28 days last summer SE to NE to W & back and occasionally used hotspot from my AT&T iPhone, otherwise mooch-docked at friends/relatives or campgrounds for Internet. Total camping cost for that trip was $590.25 for 16 nights, 1 night hotel and the rest boon or mooch-docking (Cracker Barrels overnight & relatives for longer stays). Brought a good and quiet portable gen that I already had and only one, 80 AH marine battery. 2x30 gallons of propane were more that necessary. The 2021, 21' mini-lite trailer worked well with my 20 year old 1/2 ton Silverado (11 MPG average for the trip). Can't wait to get back on the road again. No longer riding but son is a H-D salesman with a 10 bikes/month average turnover.
@erich.4305
9 ай бұрын
interesting video. I wonder if it would be cheaper or the same cost to just have a small trailer to haul the bikes and then just stay in simple air bnbs
@robertvilliard3402
9 ай бұрын
Bigger truck, Bigger camper, 😃👍🇺🇸
@MrPAULONEAL
9 ай бұрын
A 2500 at least is better for towing.
@CageFreeMoto
9 ай бұрын
You may already know, but you can pause your cable service billing which I have done in the past. This will save you from paying for WiFi when you’re away from home. I am sure not all cable companies are the same but may be worth a call to save $$. Very informative video, thanks for creating and sharing your experience.
@Wind.Road.Therapy
9 ай бұрын
You may not remember, but we discussed this all at Forgotten Angels before you bought your RV. In time you will get into a rhythm with RV'ing. As for boondocking, more batteries will not help you and just cause more weight. A good quiet generator will help you out tremendously. In regards to tow vehicles, I learned that you purchase the RV first, then the tow vehicle. Have the tow vehicles that you want in mind. Just wait to pull the trigger, in case you end up with a heavier RV. Good luck, travel safely and Happy New Year. 🤙🏼
@FFL-vg9ro
9 ай бұрын
Camping was inexpensive before covid. We’d travel 2k miles cross country a couple times a year and pay $10 at small town municipal parks, and maybe as much as $35 at an RV park. Post-covid we have not found a site under $50 and more often its closer to $65-$70. People are paying it, so there’s no pressure to lower rates. Sucks.
@sippycup6762
9 ай бұрын
Supply chain
@threeftr3349
9 ай бұрын
Just like mobile parks, we have seen a campground being bought out. The first thing they do is jack the price up. A dozen or so extended stay campers every summer were priced out, or was told we don't do extended summer stays. No personal relationships, just a 1-800 number call center.
@rodneyhanbaum697
9 ай бұрын
Definitely feel yalls pain with the expense of and quality of travel trailers. Happy New Year to you n Jordan ❤
@davidhertzog2628
9 ай бұрын
It was affordable until everyone wanted to do it. Use to be what lower middle class did to get out for vacation. Spots always available and cheap. But on the flip side most campgrounds are nicer/upgraded since more people wanna go. So that is kinda nice too
@RonaldKane-r9u
9 ай бұрын
I've been cross country 4times. It's probably good that you started small so you can check to see if it works for you. Between 2 bikes and the RV there is ALWAYS something that needs attention. It's all part of the adventures of camping!
@johnny5fabrication521
9 ай бұрын
Biggest thing I’ve learned over the years I have towed campers is cargo capacity of trucks and tongue weights of trailers is in a way rarely fully discussed honestly. Even though the gvwr and cargo capacities are marked on the side of the trailer and in the door jam of the truck something I hope can help some people is those weights are completely empty and dry weights. If you’re half ton truck says it has a 2,000 pound cargo capacity it does but salesman don’t really mention that includes everything in the truck also like the people and pets and tools and everything else that you might have in the cab of your truck or in the bed. Also trailer tongue weight is empty and dry also and doesn’t include the weight of the battery or propane tanks or the weight of the items you have stored towards the front of your camper. Like you said wish salesman and manufacturers were more clear about that information, unfortunately takes tons of research or years of experience to learn about it all. Sorry for the long comment but hopefully it can help someone out here.
@threeftr3349
9 ай бұрын
Totally agree with you. Research before you buy. sales just sells, its everyone's responsibility to know their wt limits. If there is ever an accident, you could be held liable, or your insurance may not cover you if they find out you were grossly over weight. We went through the same thing weighing our truck and 5ver at a cat scale more than once. Now with a dually we are covered, and not even close to the 80% limit. Also the floor plan of an RV can drastically change the tongue weight. Front kitchens typically contributes to a heavier tongue weight. Adding air bags, or any other additions to the tow vehicle doesn't change the GVWR of the truck/vehicle which is set my the manufacture. We recently was at Camping World there was a new 5ver 36 feet, 14k gross capacity wt, but it only had 2-6k axles. ?? They all are cutting corners, Folks, buyer beware, look past the fancy interior, kitchen island, big TV's. Look at the numbers, how much can you put in the RV? Some of those number are very low. Look at the axles, tire information, slide out mechanisms, inside all cabinets, look at the roof, underbelly, inside all of compartments etc .What is the wt capacity of the garage? Bring a notebook, write it all down, then go home and narrow down your choices and keep crunching the numbers before you buy. When you do buy, tell them you will be checking everything. Take the time to make sure every single component works-AC, heat, water tanks,, faucets, appliances, shower, awning, walk the roof, before you drive away from the lot. Sometimes buying used or private can make sense as long as a person who knows what to look for, looks at it first. PS Don't ever buy any RV from Camping World, we only shop for toilet paper, and related parts. Always remember many of these RV's have significant mark up. They can raise the retail price, then discount it so it looks like you are getting a deal.
@mrmbr
9 ай бұрын
Having been through this with trucks and campers... Think of truck and camper capacity as sleeping bag ratings...yet 1000x more expensive
@boostedlss6450
9 ай бұрын
I went full time 2 years ago with a truck bed camper, and let me tell you, finding the right truck to carry the load was the biggest challenge. I ended up with a dually Silverado, but the payload, once loaded up was right on the bubble for the limit. I also ride, and have lately been considering a toy hauler for my bikes, but honestly the quality of most stuff these days is lacking IMO. I'll probably just end up going with a cargo trailer because I LOVE my camper, and the Duramax won't care a bit.
@zackarybrown6752
8 ай бұрын
I've seen a lot of good things about Ecoflow batteries. One thing you can do for your truck is upgrade the gas tank to a bigger size assuming that works with your current weight limitations. It would help some with gas stop planning.
@billmcmurtrie1142
9 ай бұрын
Sounds like you need to upgrade to at least a 3/4 or one ton pickup. Also, maybe a toy hauler with lp gas heating in addition to solar and generators. Best of luck to you and Jordan in your travels.
@cbrippee
9 ай бұрын
A truly great video Jess, explaining to your followers what the perils of the new type camper/toy haulers trailers is all about and the expense of this activity. I knew these trailers were mass produced, (many in northern Indiana) with lightweight and inferior materials and workmanship. A close friend your age has bought two in the past 3 years, and alarmed us, his friends of the same problems you mentioned. A person may be better off, shoping for a higher quality, slightly used one from the latter 1900s. My parents owned 2 different ones in the 1970s and 80s and never experienced the problems you state, and we used it a lot.
@Meathunterrods
9 ай бұрын
I feel your pain with this same issue. I’ve owned all types of trailers and still to this day haven’t found a nice well built toy hauler/camper. Having owed a farm for years and many ag trailers I’ve come to this decision. The aluminum horse trailers with living quarters are actually built the best. The gooseneck trailers are easier to maneuver in tight spots but heavier in most cases. While your down south consider looking at a bloomer or platinum brand horse trailer or similar. They aren’t cheap but well built and can haul heavy loads and last a lifetime. They also hold a much better resale value on the quality brands. You can do a conversion yourself or buy one with living quarters already installed. I think you will find these much better built for loads and quality is so much better. Happy Travel and Happy New Year
@kurtcunningham9899
9 ай бұрын
Look in to a t mobile hot spot Jess
@119topdawg
9 ай бұрын
It’s not that your salesperson didn’t understand, they just don’t care - it’s about getting a sale out the door
@09dave1952
9 ай бұрын
I've owned and towed campers for 50 years, started with a little 18-footer to the toy hauler that is almost 45 feet we have now. It's been a learning experience the whole time. I can't imagine starting out cold with some of the rigs out there now. Trying to learn all of that stuff in a short time would be difficult. Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on things though so hang in there. Our toy is a side by side , gave up motorcycles 24 years ago when we hit a deer (and survived).
@larrygrubbs4158
25 күн бұрын
So, the problem is that you're combining two different areas of camping: full-time camping and vacation camping. Most who do full-time camping typically sell everything and go all in on the full-time camping experience. Now, the exception is if you're rich enough to have both, and I don't think you fit into this category, or you wouldn't be posting this video. The average campsite is around $70 a night for full hookups. This puts you in that $ 400-a-week range. Now, keep in mind a hotel is generally around $200 a night, and that's about $1200 a week. So, when you compare this, you see the per night is still cheaper than a hotel. Now, if you figure the monthly payment on your camper, you might be close to the hotel night rate, but you will be camping. Now the build quality issue, you get what you pay for. I did tons of research before buying our toy hauler, and yes, we went new and paid a bit more for new and quality, but I was willing to sacrifice for peace of mind. Regarding wifi, we use the hotspots on our phones, which gives us plenty (as long as we have service) in between campsites. And yes the truck makes the difference. Like you, I had a 1500, and although it would pull the trailer, it was such a stress on the truck and my nerves. We have moved up to a 2500 High Country and it does great.
@ShopStuff0416
9 ай бұрын
I have an ecoflow with solar panels. Had a decent black friday deal on it.
@wcgsmusicman
9 ай бұрын
Jess, we have some friends that use Harvest Hosts for long term, cheaper (like free!) camping. Some of the campsites are wineries, breweries, and farms.
@ronschaffhauser819
9 ай бұрын
Equipment = weight
@KG-theknickerbockerkid
9 ай бұрын
The vehicle manufacturers are really giving an estimate of the towing capability of the vehicle under the best conditions (no hills, no wind, perfect roads, sunny skies, angels singing from the heavens, etc). I reckon the RV sales representatives dont really understand all the factors that go into towing beyond the limited training they probably get. I wonder if anyone has converted a smaller school bus into an RV. That would be cool.
@harleydave01
9 ай бұрын
You should have bought an ATC trailer. All aluminum. I understand they are really expensive. You would have to have a 2500 series truck to pull it unless you went to the larger one and them you would need to have a 3500. For off grid you will need a bank of batteries like battleborn plus everything that goes with them. These too are expensive. You mentioned how expensive camping is and I agree. I have done extensive research and it’s a dream of mine to live in a toy hauler but it’s proving to be cost prohibitive.
@harleydave01
9 ай бұрын
If you want to understand tow capacity look up big truck big rv on KZitem. He will walk you through what you need to know about the weight and how it’s applied.
@harleydave01
9 ай бұрын
Understand that all Rv’s have issues. They can be brand new and you still have to fix things.
@dearbulls
9 ай бұрын
We've been looking at travel trailers since before COVID, even before I started riding, and we didn't pull the trigger just because the build quality is too low.
@davidleabo4669
3 ай бұрын
I use a tandem tow trailer to take my motorcycle(and car) with me RVing. Internet I have T-Mobile. Just unplug from the 110 out let, move then plug in. I travelled from AZ to GA. No issues with internet. GA to Northern NY. NY to SD stopping at RV parks all the way and no problems from T-Mobile. One NRA RV park in NM we had low signal strength, but it was out in the middle of nowhere.
@LittleOLosBurnouts
3 ай бұрын
All pull behind campers are junk from what I’ve seen. Also, a camper salesperson will tell you your truck will pull whatever you’re looking to buy.
@fuelyourlegacy
8 ай бұрын
I'm just curious - does your phone not offer a hotspot capability that has enough bandwidth for traveling or have you ever tried that option for connectivity? I'm also a freelancer or online entrepreneur and when we've traveled I've always used my hotspot for working remotely - only issue is when we were in the mountains on a motorcycle trip and there was NO cell service at all. Since I already pay the mobile bill - I use it as a business expense and for wifi when I travel so that might be an option, unless you've already tried it. Great video, thanks for the insights! We have 4 kids at home still - so hauling the motorcycles like this is a goal of ours a few years from now!
@georgiahillbilly6150
9 ай бұрын
Plus the gas mileage sucks while towing
@DanielMorello
8 ай бұрын
I am only partway through your video but I’m sure you know this already …. never fully trust someone who’s trying to sell you something. My wife and I are looking forward to getting out a little more with some new members to the family, we tried to get our older cat into hanging out in our toy hauler a few years before we actually took her in 2020 but she wasn’t really having it. We are going to start off with two kittens within the next month, not living full-time in the RV, but just going on short 2 to 4 day trips. I’m looking forward to checking out more of your channel to see if I can gain any insight.
@willt1124
4 ай бұрын
Thanks for making this video! It was painfully relatable unfortunately lol. 2023 was my first year of full time travel. My setup was a little different: Silverado 1500, 6x12 enclosed tandem axle trailer with 2 Harleys and I moved around to lower-cost Airbnbs because my job as a physician has strict IT requirements for wired, secure internet. That being said, it was an adventure! A lot of what you said hit too close to home and I definitely got myself into some sticky spots along the way. I completely agree though that you don't know what you don't know when it comes to trucks, trailers and actual capabilities. After the season ended last November, my biggest takeaway from it all was EXACTLY what you said: start with the truck and worry about the trailer after that. Even just hauling a 6x12 enclosed with two Harleys, my 1500 was pushing it on the highway trips from coast to coast. Gas mileage was horrific. Mountain passes, struggle bus. If your goal is to stick with bumper-pull or 5th wheel, I think the truck is the bigger factor! As always, lesson learned. Again, thanks for making great content. Safe travels this season and ride safe :-)
@summerb9578
9 ай бұрын
Life on the road is just something you kind of learn along the way. My wife and I thought we had researched things pretty well before we purchased our first Class A and lived for a few years, bouncing around the US. Internet connectivity was a must with our jobs and most places were lacking, some even lacked sufficient cell coverage. With that in mind, we have Starlink, Verizon 5G cube, and our phones along with beefy laptops and multiple monitor setups. We have since upgraded our rig and only live in it part-time, but after the last few years the road is calling again. Part of what we are figuring out this time is how to bring my motorcycle along. I also highly recommend New Mexico, probably my favorite state for campgrounds and boondocking, especially near ABQ during the Balloon Fiesta. All of the hot air balloons are amazing. Happy New Year to you and your hubby.
@wornslapout
9 ай бұрын
We have a 33 foot 4 bunk house private master rv. We paid cash for our RV. It was used,2020 keystone 298bh purchased in 2022. We’ve used it 4 or 5 times. I tow it with a 2000 Ford Excursion. The RV weighs 6,901 lbs dry. We have plenty of room for stuff. Look on the inside of your door on your truck. It will give you a max GVTR. Mine is 18,000 lbs! Truck, plus cargo, plus rig! On RVs.. yes, they are crap until you get into the 6 figure price then they are built with normal quality of goods instead of cheap thin materials. They must be built light for towing. It’s an EARTHQUAKE ON WHEELS! Things will fall, will move. Buy water leak detectors, gas leak alarms, and understand this is normal for the RV world! You’re moving a house. On speed, never go over 60 mph. Buy tire monitors and stay safe. Make sure your tongue weight is not too light or too heavy and by all means BUY AN ANTI SWAY BAR SYSTEM FOR YOUR HITCH! Good luck!
@riveneva1519
9 ай бұрын
We bought our first toy hauler (A Forest River Grey Wolf 22RR) last year, and have used it to take our two bikes to various track events in our area. We use a F-150 with a towing package to tow it and it seems to do fine. You are correct about the learning curve - you learn about dumping the tanks, that there is never enough power when boondocking, the costs of traveling in a RV, and the build quality - there is no way to learn about RV life but to just get out there and jump in. The build quality on our RV is not the greatest, but we haven’t had any issues with the electrical, plumbing, or HVAC so far. It is my understanding that the RVs built pre-pandemic have a better build quality than the ones built during the pandemic, so if you are looking at used RVs a pre-pandemic model might be better. We just towed our RV half way across the U.S. because my partner got a new job opportunity in another state. The RV is currently located in a RV park with monthly rates, and she’s going to live in it for a few months while she settles in. We hope to buy a house here in the next few months. And yes, we brought two bikes with us 😊 This is our first extended trip and we’ve really enjoyed getting to experience a bit of the RV lifestyle. It was helpful that we had done several shorter trips to the track before this trip which helped us learn the ropes. The RV didn’t come with any instructions and you are basically on your own to figure things out.
@alandeon
2 ай бұрын
Which Camping trailer you you have that doesn't have a propane furnace? I thought they all came with a built in gas furnace just like the dual fridge that works on gas also. I've not seen a sleeper camper that didn't have those off grid things...
@birddog6700
9 ай бұрын
Should have searched out the trvl-trailor you tubers!! Duh!!! They could have taught you all you would've needed to know in a day! Based on the mistakes you made, I would say you did very little, if any research, and your sales people sucked!! Fyi....ANY trailering job will require a minimum 3/4 ton truck! (2whl drive can pull more than 4X4.) Get a diesel if at all possible.WAY stronger than a gas motor. Sorry, but even a little proper research would have prevented your mistakes... Buying vehicles 101 hmmm, 3k, 4-m/C's, 7500gvcw= 10500k and you still need to fill with water, gas, lpg, possessions, etc...Your truck was rated at 11k ???? Took 5 mins. to figure out you wasted your truck $$
@mzi03731
5 ай бұрын
RV quality is shocking. I've almost been tempted to contact the FTC over the practices. It's cheap wood, glue, caulk, and foam rumbling down the road. Even quality brands are not built well. I get very tempted to get back into RVing and keep backing out as I have PTSD from my last experience. They are money pits.
@brianhubbard4175
3 ай бұрын
Ecoflow would be my suggestion for off grid power for your camper. High quality and plenty of power. Keep the rubber on the road and safe travels.
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