We are the Hintons: Chris, Suzannah, Kiersten, Matthew, and Corbin. We live life on our terms and share our adventures with blogs, vlogs, travel tips & reviews. Our goal is to travel the world, one hop at a time. We're currently living the full-time RV life so we can explore the U.S. with the comforts of our home. That means we also get to explore RV living so we do reviews, etc. on RV products to help others enjoy the RV lifestyle. In the end, we're travel nerds who didn't know where we wanted to settle down so we decided to search the world for experiences. We want to help others find their path so remember, "Life's an Adventure, Hop On!"
Thanks for posting this. I’m about to order one of these, so I’m doing my homework. Yours is the first video I’ve seen where you actually explain where the HERM connector is on a Coleman Mach. 👍👍
They’re a little bit different on each model but that’s one of the great things with SoftStartRV. They have install guides for all the models and you can also do the rooftop install assistance where they walk you through it on the phone. It was fantastic having them on the phone to tell me where things were and clarify things if I had questions. Good luck and enjoy the product!!
I mean it’s still is way too much ranging from $80 to $190 for rv camp I can pay that much money to stay in classy hotel . We just paid 150k for our rv and just find out some prices about campsites and some are astonishing shocking how expensive it is
This was filmed a few years ago and prices definitely aren’t getting better anywhere. City parks, state parks, Harvest Hosts, Boondockers Welcome and straight up boondocking will save you $$.
I went to go visit his grave as I approached it there was a weird looking bird that scared the crap out of me that flew away then a spider had drop down on me i have been questioning myself is he really laying in that grave with his buddies next to him i also notice all the bullets ppl was leaving was gone did billy take them lol
They worked great for keeping things level with a 15,000lb 5th wheel. Never had any issues and so much more affordable than airbags. Spokane is my hometown but we’re now settled in Maine.
I had a pair on an S-10 and currently on my 2018 Frontier. The were both easier to put on than yours was, and they both worked great when towing my RVs👍
What is “the right setup” with batteries and solar panels? I have a 200w panel with one deep cycle battery and a 2000w inverter. What else do I need to have AC while boondocking.
We don’t have experience with solar but fellow RVers like @roadventures and a few others had solar and SoftStartRVs on board. It would be important to know on what your needs are, how much power do you normally draw without using a/c, and how much when you are, and then start looking at what the right setup is for your needs. The SoftStartRV isn’t going to change the amount required to run it, just lower the amount to start it and every time the compressor kicks on.
We’re boondockers who are planning a snowbird trip. I don’t want to boon dock the entire time, and would like to stay at a few campgrounds and meet people. Thanks for the information.
Great views; great suggestions...but any trip so affected by the pandemic ought to be re-done to be applicable to normal conditions eg in 2024. I made notes, but I consider them incomplete.
If we could go back to the Grand Canyon today we’d do it. And we’d film it all. Ha ha. We have a video, shot in 2019, when we stayed for 2 weeks. Here’s the link m.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JVNgDEMuuWE.html&pp=ygUdR3JhbmQgY2FueW9uIGhpbnRvbiB0aGUgdHJhaWw%3D Again, we would love to go back and make a new one though.
if memory serves; I believe you can get air bags as an option on the rear of the RAM 2500/3500, and get the 4 corners self leveling air ride on the RAM 1500 standard equipment on the Limited, and the new Tungsten, and optional equipment on all the other RAM 1500.
I installed Timbren SES units in my previous 1995 Safari Van, 2021 Safari AWD van, 2009 GMC Montana mini-van, 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT and installed in my current 2021 GMC 1500 X.31 . Love Timbren SES units so much, my next future Tow Vehicle will have Timbren SES units as well. Install them, gap them with 1-1.5 inch empty load and leave them. Note: The secret is ensuring 1/2" to 3/4" gap via provided spacer steel plates. IMO, Timbrens should be factory optional inclusions - instead of Air Bags/Air Hoses that leak and a hassle to always air up / air down.... Timbren SES is install and leave it. Towing life should be back to simple solutions....
They are within spitting distance. (For photos, see Rushmore in the morning. If you are a Veteran, please stay for the Flag Ceremony at day's end. You'll be forever thankful.) Take the day and learn stuff.
Thanks for all the info! Never thought about keeping fridge cooker, I put reflectix up above the my fridge ( on outside of fridge) because of the heat from fridge. Will that mess up my fridge?
Good information on things to see and do In Maine. As for museums I would add the Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor to that list. It houses items of all sorts of transportation with a history of Maine as the overall theme. There is a minimal entry fee that is well worth it.
Removing my timbren ses from my f250. Picked up my brand new 4840lb trailer loaded it up with my load and my truck squatted a lot. Will replace it with airlift.
Yea, I had to do the same. I have a 2020 GMC 3500 dually hauling a large truck camper. Got the severe service ones and the truck still squatted too much. Had to go to air bags to level my load. Cheers
When you close the dumps directly under the unit the airflow goes to the vents. When you open the dumps the airflow comes out from under the unit and very little air gets to the vents. When you put in an RV Airflow, 100% of the air gets sent to the vents.
Just as an fyi, when I was doing research into purchasing a soft start type product a talked to bot Soft Start as well as to Coleman who have a similar product. Importantly, the Coleman Customer Service Representative told me that if you use any soft start type product other than. Coleman Soft Start on a Coleman RV A/C, it voids the warranty on the Coleman A /C. The dealer where I bought my new camper put the competitors Soft Start on the Coleman A/C without knowing they voided the Coleman A/C unit warranty. Just an fyi. I can only assuem the Coleman rep was telling me the truth but you never know.
This is something that has been brought up multiple times and it’s a very valid question and something people should look at. There is an info on the SoftStartRV website concerning this (link below). Could a manufacturer not stand by a warranty? Sure. What happens when you buy a Coleman SoftStart and install it wrong? Are they going to stand by the warranty? It’s an aftermarket part. SoftStartRV comes with a 2-3 yr warranty which covers your compressor. If your manufacturer won’t cover the compressor and its damaged by the SoftStartRV they will replace the compressor. I can see Coleman’s side. They make a soft start device. What better way to make sure people don’t buy the competitors product then by saying they won’t cover their warranty if you don’t use their product. www.softstartrv.com/faq/
We installed these before picking up our fifth wheel. We’d seen a lot of similar setups with the load causing sag and wanted to avoid that. The options were air bag system, timbrens, or sumo shocks. After a lot of research we decided on the timbrens and they worked perfectly for our situation.
Question. I just purchased this unit for a cabin application. You mentioned a dog bone for continuous…. How do I split circuits for microwave, tv, and lights
If you need more than the two standard ac sockets you could use a splitter or an adapter. When we wanted to run more than two items we just grabbed one of it power strips and plugged that in. We shut some things off when using microwaves, coffee pots, and other things that use a lot of power for a short duration.
I recommend you contact SoftStartRV customer support. EveryRV has a different standard draw. Even if you’re not “running” appliances there is a small draw. The refrigerator, etc, starts requiring power as soon as you plug in, etc.
This is a great video!! We live in Maine as well and are planning a trip to Key West around December. You have given us a lot of options to look at. Any thoughts on hotels? I see you had your camper.
We were in our RV for most of the time staying at the Sigsbee campground. We stayed a week in the Navy lodging. If someone in your party is a veteran you should look at that option. There is no more affordable lodging than that. A lot of the action is down toward the southern part of the island. The restaurants, bars, places to see, etc. But nothing is really far away no matter where you stay.
It should be able to start and run. The big thing is understanding your power usage. You won’t be able to use appliances at the same time but if you’re just doing an a/c unit you should be fine.
I have them too. I didn't take my tires off and it was easy. I put two by fours between the bump and the axle and use a jack under the axle to seat them. I have had them for about four year on a 2500HD with a fifth wheel and I'm glad I went that way instead of airbags. The ride is really great. Safe Travels.
If you’re able to get things booked in advance we recommend that. If you want to go to the Dry Tortugas you need to book that months in advance. We failed to do that and missed out. If you’re wanting to do multiple water activities contact the company ahead of time and see about a discount as well.
