Real life in an rv. We really enjoyed and learned from the video. The goats have Beagle ears! So much fun to watch that part, and the king turkey. Many thanks, Ray. Godspeed.
Never would have thought to mix the Happy Camper in the toilet bowl. I would usually "forget" to put it in so I didn't have to dig out another bucket and make the concoction. Always pays to watch "beginner videos"; never know what new trick I can pick up. Thanks Ray!
This video just made me anxious and really excited at the same time. We just paid off our 5th wheel and are saving to pay cash for our truck right now. This just re-energized me to keep going to have everything paid for before we hit the road full time!
Thanks for sharing how you set up your fifth wheel. We enjoyed the “petting zoo” experience and the beautiful views out your windows for your “office”! Happy camping!
Thanks for the great video, Ray. We’ve had our Travel Trailer for 5 years, but have mainly camped at County and State Parks. Saddle mountain isn’t too far from me. I may have to take the family out there for my first true Boondocking adventure. Looks like a great setup the rancher has for folks who are dry camping out that way. Thanks again!
You're welcome. There are scads of camping spots on about a half dozen or so gravel access roads. The smoothest and flattest seems to be this entrance - 33.464475, -113.062397 Cheers! Ray
We love Cibola NWA and Saddleback when we’re near Phoenix. If you get to the Tucson area and would like a clean restroom and shower, try Catalina State Park and option for the dirt, no hookups, overflow lot(s). And they have a free sewer dump for campers on the way out of the park. $15/night. Az state parks have some of the cleanest restrooms we’ve seen. And Catalina SP has great hiking trails. Lastly, we got chased out of the upper reaches of Death Valley last Tuesday (2/27) by snow!! Go figure.
Cool! Thanks, for the info on Catalina. I've heard its great. :) We like Gibert Ray campground in Tucson Mountain County Park over that way. Cheer! Ray
So funny! At 11:30 I was hearing the dog and saw the head bobble on the dash. “That’s the tiniest dog I’ve ever seen!” I thought to myself. Then immediately I realized it was not your pet. Thanks for the laugh! I appreciate your video, even the petting zoo.
Terrific video Ray! Looks like a perfect camping spot! I'm definitely going to have to get one of those portable solar panels when we start boondocking!
I was in Sedona last week right before the storms, was cold but dry. We stayed in oakcreek at a hotel by the trails, beautiful! Checked out the 2 RV parks, both are by the stream but the Park by 89a north was the nicer of the two, small but right in town. Cheers!
Thanks, I've stayed in that one before, about 6 years ago. Right under Snoopy rock. Was an easy walk to town. We are hoping to do some boondocking on the forest lands instead this time. Cheers! Ray
Great video Ray! Love seeing the real deal, of what you do to get setup for boondocking. Not many people do this, it’s all very edited and hollywoodized with cheesy music and “cinematic” b-roll nonsense. RVing is not a dramatic pop-culture reality show, as so many seem to want to portray it. This was great! And watch out for those turkeys! They can get nasty and aggressive pretty quickly. Anything for a good photo, I guess ;)
Great video Ray! I don’t know if your buddies prototype rubber jack pads are the snap pad brand, but that’s what I have (snap pads) which snap on to the jacks feet and stay there even when traveling. They are awesome! I used your amazon affiliate links for them, the LevelMatePRO and Anderson levelers along with a few other goodies when we picked up our new rig. I find the LevelMatePRO very handy when initially finding a level spot. Our last rig was 41’ long and obviously the longer it is, the harder it is to find a perfectly level spot so I wished I had it with that rig. Our new rig has auto 6pt leveling and man you haven’t lived till you’ve had it! Lol. One thing I did on our old rig was upgrade the front jack legs to stronger legs with separate motors. Being as the front jacks were the only powered legs on that coach, having the ability to utilize them separately from each other made it really easy to keep the coach chassis from any twisting or torquing and not having to shim one side. I wired two new toggle switches to the same area the single control original toggle switch was. It really was a great upgrade and easy to install. It is hard to beat the 6pt leveling tough and the “return to hitch height” feature. Ps, great tips on the RV Lock! Holding the “1” button silenced the lock and holding the lock button is way better than punching the code in 👌🏻 Thanks Ray! Love, Love Your RV! ❤️
Cool, I think they might be, as my friend knows the Snap Pad guy pretty well. They don't have a design out that fits my landing gear. I guess they stick on pretty good, eh?. I wouldn't want to be behind one coming off at highway speed. :) The other thing I wonder about with the snap pad is if it grounds out it may be more likely to damage the leg since it would grip versus slide. I go over a lot of uneven ground driving onto boondocking sites, often dragging a rear stabilizer a bit in dips and across berms Cheers, Ray
If you're interested I have a blog post detailing why we like the fifth wheel - www.loveyourrv.com/10-reasons-why-we-chose-a-fifth-wheel-trailer/ Cheers, Ray
After showing my wife your video on the Phoenix area she asked about kayaking lakes in the area and we found Pleasant Lake. So now she is much more excited about heading to the states in the winter. It will be a few years before we retire but watching your videos gives us an idea of what we can expect. I would have to have to break out the come-a-long to get her away from those goats. Cheers from B.C. Where it is still snowing. Sheesh!!
I am thinking the world would not come to a screeching halt if the males of camp did bathroom business out in good old mother nature. 5 days....... that black tank should not be full. Great Vid!!! Thank you. BTW visited 111 Salton sea today. Returning next week for 5 days at Salt Creek.Beautiful weather.
The 5-day figure was because the weather is changing then warming up and we can move to the mountains, not a max time we can camp without filling the black tank. We can comfortably go for around 10 days or more. Have fun at the Salton Sea!
You live quite the life Ray. Thanks for all the tips. I've had a couple of TT's, a small Class C, and Saturday I will be picking up a New light 5th wheel, so I'm sure I will be looking back at many of your previous videos of tips and tricks. I have never pulled a 5er. Looking forward to the new experience.
You're welcome. Don't know if you have it yet, but I have a free eBook available for fifth wheel owners - www.loveyourrv.com/rving-fifth-wheel-free-ebook-love-rv/ Cheers, Ray
My preference and the sweet spot for my truck and trailer is between 58 - 62 MPH Good safety and fuel economy. Occasionally I'll do 65 if the traffic is demanding it. Sometimes it's better to be with the flow of traffic than have them constantly trying to get around you.
The reason I'm asking is I'm going to be toward the upper end of my GVWR with my current tow vehicle. I was thinking 60-62 mph. We'll see if it works, if not, I may need to upgrade my truck.
Thank you Ray, i was wondering the make of your hitch. I liked the way yours hooked up and found one used that was like new. Really like the fact that when it locks, it is locked
Thanks for the great video, Ray! While boondocking, have you ever had any problems with outlaw types? Thanks again, my husband and I love your videos!!
You're welcome. Thanks for watching. No, we've never had any problems. Not to say something can't happen but I doubt the odds are any greater than being at home in the city. In fact, I'd bet the city is less safe. Criminals tend to like the cover and being able to blend in.
5th wheelers appear to be the most complicated RV's for camp set-ups. Interesting to see the process. I liked that area since your last visit a few weeks, ago. Enjoi the views and relaxation!
Ever consider using a retractable leash to tie out your dog? She will have more freedom, but will be less likely to get tangled than a standard leash. I believe that Ben Franklin wanted the Turkey, not the Bald Eagle, to be the national bird of the USA. I used to service the big blue filtered water vending machines in Colorado. The operator of the mini-farm could make even more money by selling visitors food for the goats and other animals to eat! (One of the goats must be called "Casper" -- you know, Casper the Friendly Goat.) Have fun.
haha, doesn't matter what length leash she has she will be at the end. ;) I have a long rope for her I often used, but as she has gotten older I've kept her close, she is getting a little too old to fight off an opportunistic coyote.
Ray, delightful set-up video. You are such a wonderful putterer. Gorgeous site, too. Love the slices of your life you let us share. Howled at the portable beagles anchor. LOL
We enjoy your videos and learn something every time we watch them. I copied your solar setup too. (Four 100 watt flex panels and two 6 volt Costco batteries controlled by your Bogart system.). We are first time RV's with a 24 foot Cub Cadet. Looking forward to our first trip soon.
Deploy the beagle! Lol! nice campsite with beautiful views. You always seem to get nice views Ray. When I get out there I want to find some of these spots.
Deploy the Beagle!! Hahaha We have the same whiney issue when camping. He actually runs side to side in the truck in the back as we corner to sniff the side we corner on. Sheesh Priorities!!!
I do the bulk of the cooking grocery shopping, meal planning, Anne is a low carb eater so most of our food is fresh which means more frequent trips to replenish. Usually, I shop every about 7 days and jam the fridge and freezer. We may be boondocked but most times we are within 5-30 miles of a decent sized grocery store. I usually cook enough for dinner so the next day we eat leftovers, quick and easy to heat up in the gas oven with a pan and foil.
Thanks for another great video Ray, and it was nice chatting with you the other day. So how much is that beagle in the windshield the one with the wobbly head?
I like to try and point to the midday sun for max solar on my nose mounted solar and minimal sun entering our large windows at the back and slide side. Then we can use the awning to shade the afternoon sun during the hottest part of the day.
They were a free review item from Lippert - www.loveyourrv.com/elephant-feet-trailer-jack-pads-and-shoes-review/ So far they held up a few years, and I don't baby them. I have them on the front and back.
You make such great videos and Ann's photos are beautiful so I'm curious what cameras and video editing software do you both use. I have an old Sony DSR-SR82 and DSC-P10 Cyber Shot and thinking I'm going to need to upgrade.
Thank you! Here is what I'm using - www.loveyourrv.com/love-your-rv-photo-and-video-creation-tools/ have upgraded the computer and software but still using the Sony's. Here is a link to most of Anne's gear - annemckinnell.com/category/gear/ She uses larger Canon DSLR and big lenses for wildlife and smaller Sony mirrorless for landscapes. We both really like the little Sony mirrorless cameras, great photos out of them but nice and light for hiking around with. Cheers! Ray
Just found and subbed your channel. Sure enjoy the videos I've watched so far and a lot more to check out. I do have a question. My wife and I have never RVed out West before. most of your videos it seems quite windy. is that normal out there? Thanks in advance Have a Jesus filled day Greg in Michigan
Thanks! Yes, there is often wind in the southwest deserts, no trees to block it. :) But the crappy mics on my camcorder exaggerates it, looking to upgrade soon so I can put a mic on it with wind suppression. Cheers, Ray
A little off topic... wondering what you do for firewood while on the road? We've camped at some of these boondocking sites and often find a fire ring, made of stones. Might be nice to have a fire sometimes but have no idea where we could get wood to burn. Any ideas? Thanks for taking the time to make the great video!
I usually store my trash in one of my trucks toolboxes in the bed, I don't boondock much in bear country but other critters are around. A.lot of people simply burn it in a campfire.
Great video, thanks for sharing. What kind of box do you have the solar panel mounted to in the bed of your truck? I'm looking for a box just like that. Thanks!
Hi Ray, great vid. Two questions: I think I saw grease on your hitch. I use the plastic disc on my 5th wheel with no grease, am I doing something wrong? Second Question I noticed how fast your truck started. I used to have a 7.3L Ford truck 1999 but did you do anything to your engine? Mine never started that good. Thanks enjoy your day!
No, I have the disc too, just some grease has migrated lately from the hitch slider mechanism. We haven't been anywhere for months where I could give it a good wash and relube. It starts a little slow on a cold morning otherwise it starts great once warmed up. I have newer batteries and keep the connections clean. Takes a lot of juice to crank these 7.3L so any bit of bad contacts or weak battery makes a big difference. :)
Thanks for sharing your set up routine. Do you ever have to worry about any unwanted interactions with snakes, scorpions or other undesirables? Especially with Angie...
You're welcome, Rod. Not too much unless the temps are really warm. I addressed the dangerous critter question a bit in this recent video - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MhrydClGEQs.html I asked my subscribers for their feedback and many replied in the comments section. Cheers! Ray
Wow I must be getting oldheimers, lol. We have been catching all of your videos for quite some time. Thanks Ray for the reminder and sorry for re-hashing something that you covered already. You guys have a great night and see you on the next one.
what is the map that youre looking at, that shows all the rv spots? is that a memebrship service from someone? I love your beagle, and I think I'll be getting my very own!
No, it was just Google maps. :) If you're interested, though, here are some of the ways I find camping spots - www.loveyourrv.com/find-rv-boondocking-campsites-us-south-west/ Cheers, Ray
Love the videos. How do you find your boon docking camping areas and know if the roads are okay to take your RV? Websites, or are you using blm maps? Thanks!
Thank you. Here is a post I wrote on the subject of finding boondocking sites - www.loveyourrv.com/find-rv-boondocking-campsites-us-south-west/ If I'm in doubt I'll unhook the truck and drive in a bit or walk in and check things out. It's good to see what other rigs are in there if a Class A is there I know that the ground handles weigh well and not much clearance is needed.
So Anne can start to organize things inside if the slide is in there's not much room move around. If we are dramatically off level I'll unhook and level first but otherwise, it hasn't hurt anything to open it a little off level. Cheers, Ray
Here is a completely different question I am betting, and, one that I am completely stuck on that I haven't had a good answer yet. I have a 1999 f250 7.3 L 6 speed standard tranny with a single rear axle with a triple leaf rear spring (was originally made as a Hot Shot truck that's sits a little high in the rear empty, so, I don't plan on dualing it). I have spent a lot of money on it to prepare it for traveling the entire continent (engine seals, rear axle seals and such) What tires would you recommend for hauling a trailer like yours? Yours is a dually that has a lot more rear rubber on the road. Mine is a single with a beefy rear leaf spring system. Thank you for your response.
I'd look at highway tires versus off-road, as the vast majority of the time you are traveling highways. Look for tires that can handle the load. Figure out what the max rear axle weight will be and get tires that have an extra margin of safety, also make sure the rims can handle the load. Any good tire shop should be able to set you up. I've had good luck with Toyo brand of tires. Not too expensive and seem to last a long while. I'm running Toyo Open Country HT
Awesome video Ray. Very, I've started shopping for a fifth wheel after finding my truck camper a little too tight for space. I've been looking at Northwood trailers after speaking with you. I've noticed a lot of different types of hitches for the trucks, some have air bags, some have nothing, while some have pins that slide the trailer towards the rear of the truck for backing up. What type works best and keeping the budget in mind. Some are $2000.00 maybe if yo don't have a video on this you could make one, thanks.
Thanks, Jim, I don't know too much about hitches, not enough to speak knowledgeably about them, have had the same one for 7 years and its worked great. But I think they no longer make the DSP hitches. I think if you stick with an 8-foot box you can go with just about any hitch you want, its the folks with the short box trucks that need the fancy slider hitches. Airbags are nice if you can afford them, I have one on my pin box, does a nice job of reducing stress on the fifth wheel frame. Etrailer is a pretty good source of info - www.etrailer.com/5th-wheel.htm They have video reviews and informational articles. Cheers! Ray
Another great video, thank you! I have a couple of questions (apologies if you've already covered these in other videos) - what wind speeds decide whether to park facing into the wind - - and do you have much trouble with the wind blowing over your solar panel?
I usually don't worry about it until the winds are over 50 MPH. Then I hook the truck up and try and point into the wind if possible. My previous ground panel blew over, even though I had mounted it on thick plywood. So this year I redesigned things and now bungee it to my ladder. www.loveyourrv.com/replacing-damaged-portable-solar-panel-plus-new-mounting/ Worked well and handled some pretty strong winds with no problems
I see that you use the word deploy a lot during setup. are you a Vet? or is that just cool full timer talk? So that old truck is getting the job done, eh? If I could get my wife to agree to full time, I would be right out there. Any tips on how to win her over.
No, just seems like a good word. Yes, love our old truck. :) Look for videos put out by female RVers, there are a lot, have her watch them to see what life is like from a female point of view. Maybe she is fearful. Some folks though just need a home base and stuff, not much you can do if that's what makes them happy.
Besides being able to venture out without your trailer, is there a particular reason that you unhitch when parking? OK to remain connected if you don't plan to leave without the trailer?
I'm sure you know this about the weather already but I stayed in Sedona a couple years ago and we drove through a snow storm on the way in and rented a bike the next morning as the temps were well into the 60s. Also, what kind of tires do you run on that truck? That terrain looks rough.
Six years ago we visited Cottonwood and Sedona in mid-April, we saw highs in the 80's some days and a dusting of snow on others, mountain weather. I'm running Toyo Open Country HT If they can handle the pounding of many horrible sections of Interstate 5 at highway speeds, I have no worries going slow on this terrain. :) It's bumpy, but the ground is frim and the rocks are all quite smooth, not many sharp edges.
Hey I've been looking into buying an RV for boondocking and I'm interested in safety concerns. Have you every had problems with theft or people coming around and trying to harm you? Do boondockers keep firearms? Love to hear your thoughts.
Nope, no problems, 7 winter seasons boondocking now, can't say the same thing when I'm hanging around in more urban environments. That seems to be where the jerks are. We don't have firearms, but many do I'd imagine.
Is there any special permit or pass that is required to camp/RV in AZ BLM Lands....specifically Saddle Mountain, or is it just 14 Days max stay and then you have to leave? Thanks again!
Just answered my own question....Here is the specifics in case anyone else needs to know: In addition you can boondock anywhere on BLM land, unless specifically prohibited by signs or fences, for up to 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period, then you have to move at least 25 miles away. Cost for boondocking on open BLM land is free and you are permitted to camp anywhere that is off the road.The BLM has also established specific camping areas with undesignated campsites called Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVA) which usually provide some amenities, such as trash bins, a water supply, sometimes restrooms, and a host. The cost is currently $180 for the winter season from September 15 to April 15, and you can travel between LTVA locations. A short term pass for 14 days costs $40. No fees are charged for camping outside the LTVA areas in the open desert.These passes can be purchased from any BLM office or at the entrance to the LTVA,
Some BLM's (usually the busy ones) have volunteer camp hosts for registration and paper permits to stick on the rigs windows for the rangers to see. As far as I know, Saddle Mountain isn't patrolled as far as I can see so falls back on the 14-day rule and the honor system. I know because when I was visiting the dump station the guy told to me the previous RVer had claimed to be camped for a month so far and was heading back. I'm sure there aren't enough BLM rangers to patrol all the BLM lands, so at the quiet less used ones you can get away with a longer stay.
I thought you had demoed one when you were at the campground in Canada. that's why I bought one so I could use the fault toilets to pump my tanks . It's a lot easier to use the long black hose than trying to hook the monster hose up everytime.
Nope, not me, never have used one. I went a different route - www.loveyourrv.com/ultimate-rv-sewer-system-modification/ Makes it dead easy to dump and fast. I can see how a macerator pump would come in handy for some campers, though. Especially long stay boondockers that want to pump the waste into a tank in the truck bed.
My mistake I did watch your video with the system you use and it was at the same time I was doing research on the macerator, sorry I got you mixed up with another. I only watch a few folks when they are doing reviews. I enjoy your reviews and there was another i used to watch but unfortunately he's no longer with us. On your way North honk as you pass olympia, enjoy the rest of your snowboard travels this year. Give my best to Ann and you favorite 4 legged bassett.
It's made by Camco, you can find it at many RV part stores or on Amazon - www.amazon.com/dp/B00G258M1Q/?ref=exp_inf_pl_loveyourrv Comes in Black or White
We don't have fires much, not really our thing. If the wood happens to be left behind then I may have a fire but most times we don't have fires. I guess people buy it. This particular spot had quite a bit of dead ground wood.
Been saving up to replace the camcorder with one with external mic capability and will also buy quality mic with a wind sock. My mics are built into the plastic case near the lens opening. I've tried covering, doesn't work I think the wind is coming in through the lens opening itself. Cheers, Ray
Sorry, I wasn't in map view, I was in satellite 3D view so went with what I felt was the best perspective of the landscapes and BLM area. They have a little icon to spin the sat view with a red arrow showing north.
