Hello! We’re Darren and Stephanie, and we’ve been devoting our lives to traveling the world since our wedding in 2013. Together we’ve seen over 20 countries in just five years. We love to experience the food, culture, people, and sights that the world has to offer, so we spend every free minute scheming how to see another new place. While we would love to hang up our day job hats and travel full-time, that hasn’t been in the cards for us just yet. In the meantime, we try to take at least one international trip each year (two if we can swing it). Thanks so much for following along on our adventures. We hope that the videos, blogs, and resources found here inspire you to get out and see as much of this planet as you possibly can.
I picked the 180 for the dry bathroom. The other features were standard on most models. We scaled down from an Artic Fox 25R. Back in 2017, they weren't trying to roll them out too fast. The fit and finish are pretty great. We realized we spent more time outside than in and wanted to tow with either vehicle. We bring two trailers to 1830s Trapper Rendezvous, one to sleep in and a cargo trailer for our primitive camp.
Well….zero. We hit a deer and did $15k or so worth of damage, so we used that as an excuse to upgrade to a 3/4 ton. I recall us averaging around 8-10 mpg with the f150.
Your videos are excellent! I became an immediate subscriber. Please keep up the great work! I’m planning a trip to Albania and would like to get in touch with the tour operator you used. Thank you in advance
Thanks! We stayed at a wonderful place with an amazing restaurant. It was however not close to the ferry terminal. Here’s a link to the property. Highly recommend. www.mrizizanave.al
Just bought the the new XLS 22BHE model. It's similar size to this but with the Murphy bed and a bunkhouse in a slide which is literally a private room! It is amazing how well Grand Design is able to use the space. All of their XLS 22 models use the space SO WELL! Also their new micro sized AIM trailers are incredible. Think R-Pod size but the same quality as GD and innovative use of space. Some of those trailers that are less than 20' feel like they are bigger than most 25' trailers.
It's crazy how expensive R-pods got considering how bare-bones cheap they are. They're so basic and yet people were asking like $35k for them a couple years ago. Still way overpriced. In fact, all of the travel trailers are... But what's crazy is you can get an GD XLS or AIM for the same price range as cherokee's that look like someone went to home depot and then installed all the cheapest material they could find by themselves.
i just drove across the country a couple of weeks ago..Driving up the gjirokastër is a royal bitch. your turn radius has gotta be on point, reflexes gotta be on point
I am leaving in 4 weeks to do the Inca trail with G-Adventures.. I am 68 yrs old and former US Marine; so I like challenging myself. I did to Mt Everest Base Camp 10 yrs ago with G-Adventures and Mt Kilimanjaro 8 years ago with them as well. I know this will be challenging; but I also KNOW I will complete it and it will be memorable...thank you for the info: question? How is the tipping done? Do we give one tip and what is customary? Amounts would be appreciated instead of “what you feel” thank you in advance...
Amazing that you’ve done Everest base camp and Kilimanjaro. Both are on our list but probably out of reach for us at this point. For the porters, we took up a collection on the last night. I feel like we tossed in $20-$40 but they deserved more. We weren’t very well off at the time, it was about as much as we could spare. Our guides we tipped once individually at the end of the trip. We had two guides. I think we gave them both maybe $20-$40 but honestly don’t remember. Again, they deserved more than we gave and would give more now if we had the opportunity. Hope that helps a little.
The tour company we used provided vouchers good for any b&b in a large network. We booked on the network site and paid with the vouchers on arrival. I think it was bandbireland.com, if I remember correctly.
Thanks for the video! Funny question: I heard there are only public toilets during this trail. Did G Adventure provide you there own thing, like some other companies do?
Thanks! G Adventures did not set up any sort of latrine for us. Each camp site and meal stop had a public toilet. Some were western toilets. Some were squat toilets. Some were more modern than others. I’d recommend practicing your squat stance before you go. LOL.
Are you pulling your 22MLE with a 1500 Truck. I plan to pull it with a 1500 GMC. I in the market to buy one right now and my truck seems adequate, but it’s borderline. I will be using weight distribution/sway control. Thank you in advance. Nice job on your trailer video
We towed it with a ford 150 with a max towing package for a couple years. I hit a deer in it and near totaled it and ended up trading for a superduty. The f150 did decently but felt a little iffy at times. Superduty is way more comfy.
did you pick up your rental car back at the airport, or somewhere in Dublin? If the airport, how did you make your way back to the airport from Dublin?
We picked it up at a hertz in city center. There is a bus that runs from the airport to city center regularly. We took bus 747. Not sure if that’s still the active bus number.
During the hikes, we would stop and sit on a hillside or something. At meals and campsites, there were picnic tables and such set up for us. We didn’t carry personal chairs but never wished we had.
Thanks for the tour of you camper. We are looking at the same model. Curious to know what model and options you have on your truck. So many configurations will get different payload and towing capacities. I am looking at the Ford F150 Limited now which has a 14000 something GCWR.
I would recommend you put another cover over the bathroom vent. The plastic covers can dry out in the sun and crack. I learned that the hard way! Hope you enjoy your couples camper as much as we do ours.
I took a quick look. It appears to be available but you’ll need to call to book it now. www.cietours.com/travel-types/independent-adventures/self-drive-travelers-choice
Great video! I'm thankful for this, as it answers all of the questions that I had and brings my fears into check. Will definitely get training on some stairs ASAP!
Interstate towing speed restriction is based on weight. In Indiana, towing specific restrictions are triggered at 26,000 lbs. We don’t weigh close to that and cap our speed around 63-65.
Shoddy work seems to be the norm in this industry... anything hidden even slightly is just slapped together. I saw a video recently where some folks took apart their dinnete to create a work area and there literally jagged cutouts in the wall for no reason - you know someone made a mistake and then they just slapped the dinette in place to hide the mistake... sad!
If anyone is concerned about their R Pod 180 and sway while traveling, then get a hitch assembly with built-in anti-sway bars. I use a 2020 Crew cab Colorado, a fairly light pickup compared to a 1500 series Chevrolet to pull the R Pod 180 and the first thing I did at my dealer when I picked up the R POD was have him add the sway bar hitch. Going down the road, there is is NO sway and I'm frequently thinking I should look again and see if it's really there. Anti-Sway bars make all the difference in towing! NOTE: 20 years ago at 65 MPH on 85 South just into North Carolina, I nearly lost an1987 Ford 150 pickup with a Wells Cargo trailer to sway -- crossed both lanes and almost started into the median at 50 MPH before regaining control. That's why I believe in the value of sway bars for proper vehicle control.
Shocks are the only thing designed in your suspension to prevent bounce. upgrade your shocks to eliminate the bounce. you can get some that are adjustable for towing vs everyday driving.
cousin same style side slide out they drove to black hills yet return ran they zonk they transmission of ford-150.($1200) the RV dealer never said that the truck wouldn't pull of course over packing the truck might have affect it performance for. was under power est advice of mechanic said only trade for any F250..they still camp out just stay within 70 miles range 1 way & return plan.
I know this is 2 years old but i will tell you as a truck drive that you are 110% wrong about it being easier to learn to back up with a smaller trailer. The longer the trailer, the easier to back. It seems backwards but it is the truth!
The ultra lite lines are meant to roll from your driveway to the RV Park. Can't handle rough roads. Sad that nothing is made with USA Quality. They are slapping them together these days to meet demand. With the economy crashing many will be selling their camper to make their house payment. 😢 Congratulations 🎉 on your new rig! I hope you feel better soon. I deal with Lupus so I've been on the magical mystery healthcare tour. Hang in there and don't let them gaslight you on any symptoms you might be experiencing. ❤
I am watching your video 2 years later, and I purchase a 22 MLE and had the same or similars with it as with your R Pod. Now, after RVng for 2 years the size is big concern with my wife, She always thought 26ft was too long and now we are considering downsizing to a R Pod. I read several articles and forum on downsize RVng. It comes down to the type of RVng you do and comfortable with.
Not sure if you’re being serious or sarcastic, but the only debt we have is our home. Vehicles and toys are all bought and paid for, and we have no credit card debt. Outside of travel, we live quite frugally and have jobs that pay decently. I’m an accountant and a little OCD and have also literally tracked every penny we’ve spent for the entirety of our marriage (and long before that for myself) to help us monitor and stick to our financial goals. We had no money and made very little when we got married but were fortunate that neither of us brought any debt to the equation. Since then, we’ve worked hard to advance in our jobs and worked as a team to save and spend responsibly. Hope that helps.
