What RV is BEST for full timing? RV Tech Advice 

Winnebago view 2005-06 best choise for the money and engine built mine makes 18 MPG diesel .

*Which

Lol....so true!

But I still like the tag line. We all need the extra encouragement to slow down and take the turn a little wider.

Thanks!

Glad I could help!

Coming soon!Thanks for watching!

@goo, * Staples into particle board. * Holes! In! The! Roof!. * Assembled by minimum-wage first-day-on-the-job on a hung-over Monday. * chinesium tires. . We delivered RecreateVehicles manufacturer-to-dealer and dealer-to-shows. We are convinced all RecreateVehicles are designed by the same committee of non-camping accountants. Slap on a different decal, charge a different price. . I am also convinced RecreateVehicle sales-people are failed dentists... with a sadistic streak. They enjoy inflicting pain on unsuspecting buyers.

Awesome, thanks for sharing!

Glad it was helpful!

@G, What temperature do you keep the inside of your rig.

@@largemarge1603 During the day, we are often out and about so I keep it on 80 since we are not in the TT. When we get back I turn the air cond to 74 and at night we sleep at about 71 or 72. Our TT is only 24 feet and we have a 15K BTU ac unit.

Me too!

My pleasure!

We bought a brand new 2023 Heartland Mallard IDM26 a few months ago and have had electrical and plumbing issues as well... The microwave didn't work first outing; wasn't even plugged in, the outlet fell out of the wall, and the outlet read open neutral on my diagnostic equipment. The p trap under the kitchen sink came loose and dumped water all over under the sink. Bunch of other small, dumb issues as well (random screws rattling loose, trim pieces loose, floor squeaks at night, couch squeaks, bugs keep getting inside from somewhere, the solar controller wiring wasn't even hooked up, etc.). Tried to get warranty work, Camping World said they'd need to hold onto it for months. We full time, so I am just fixing stuff myself.

Thanks for watching!

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks for the request! I've added those to my list :)

@kirk, To compare, visit your local insurance salvage pool or wrecking yard aka 'dismantlers'. . We delivered RecreateVehicles, including BillionBuxBus conversions. Waiting for paperwork, we wandered the assembly area. We watched a forklift raise the center of a frame higher than our heads before the dropping ends cleared the floor. The box structure of the quarters provides the majority of the structural rigidity. . Any impact or trauma to the box transforms the RecreateVehicle to a trampoline. . But they have pretty decals!

Us too

I'm working on a review video of some 5th wheels that I think you will find helpful. Stay tuned!

They will sell for about what you paid for them. They are better in every way to 99.9% of other RV's.

I'll add them to my list, thanks for watching!

They are crap like the rest. There's zero consistency in RV's... Except if you consider they are consistently made terrible?

Appreciate your insite and description of a proper DIY upgrade 👍🏻

I have a review video including Grand Design coming out tomorrow! As for inspections, unfortunately I'm not able to take any jobs now as I'm focusing just on RU-vid and my course. Watch my video on why RV service is bad for my best reccomendations on finding a tech or inspector. Thanks for watching!

Added to my list, thanks for watching!

Haven't look at Ember yet, but have several Jaycos coming up. Thanks for watching!

Class C is a broad category, is there a more specific size you are looking at?

@A, I need to see your RequirementsStatement. * experience * souls aboard * duration off-grid * full-time live-aboard. . On skoolie and other home-built forums, we recommend: * acquire a likely candidate * toss in some car-camping gear * go have fun. Acquiring or building the rig prior to using it risks forcing the adventure to fit the rig. . Walk a RecreateVehicle park or resort. Chat with owners of rigs you might consider. . Join a caravan of experienced travellers. Watch, listen, offer to help. . Avoid believing 'this rig is my forever rig'. You grow and change, your rig needs evolve.

I have been RV'ing since 1973. The class B was reliable and a great unit. Bought a used class C and had continuous problems. Bought a used TT but got rid of it due to water damage I was not aware of upon purchase. Bought a new TT and it has been excellent. Class C's have a lot of stuff that can go wrong.

@@Gman-qm6bv Which make do you own?

@@NewYorkGiant518 Right now we have a Coachmen Freedom Express TT.

Great suggestions, I've added those 4 to my list. I plan to do some head-to-head comparison videos so stay tuned

@buck. See my reply to 'googleuser' in this comment thread.

I’d like you to compare some brands that aren’t made in Elkhart County, IN. Northwood/ORV/Oliver/NuCamp come to mind. Thanks!

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll add it to my list

Coming soon!

Grand Design is on my list and I've got several I plan to review - stay tuned!

Would you include F550 chassis or are you looking for more of a big rig chsssis?

Added it to my list! Thanks for the request

Awesome, I'm planning to do several head-to-head reviews where I show different brands at different prices and review them for the quality of the build. Coming soon!

Added to my list, thanks for watching!

Thanks for the request, added it to my list :)

Thanks for watching!

It's a problem on both. Gas or electric can break the fridge if it's on in sub 25 F. The issue is the ammonia in the fridge that gels because of the cold

I'll add that to my list, thanks for watching!

They are great for travel if you have enough battery and solar to run for the amount of time you want to travel. You really have to start with the desired run time and size your battery bank and solar accordingly.

@use, Excellent q. In our ExpeditionVehicle, we use a dual-zone 61qt SnoMaster. It sips micro amps per decade. . On our ExpeditionVehicle, we have six 305-Watt photovoltaic, a total of 1,830-Watts. These top our ancient bank of eight 105ah Lifeline AGM. . Two decades full-time live-aboard, we boondock exclusively. . [edited to add] For a 12vdc fridge, look into any of the 'expedition' series. These are engineered for extended travel over rough terrain. They are designed with excess insulation and substantial innerds. One example is National Luna, built in South Afrika for the harshest conditions.

Added them to my list, thanks for the suggestion!

Unfortunately no. Propane mode and electric mode are alternative heat sources to boil the ammonia in the cooling unit. Because the problem is with the ammonia in the cooling unit gelling, it does not matter what heat sources you use. Norcold makes a cold weather kit which is a heater that allows for operating down to 0deg Farenheit, and Dometic makes a replacement vent door with no vents for use under 45 deg Farenheit. It just blocks air flow and should make the fridge operable down to -22 deg Farenheit. That is what they advertise, I don't have enough data to say how well those systems work as I just get called to fix the ones where people did nothing 🤣

So you won't be surprised that I gave it a very low score in the review video I just posted....sorry to hear that you are dealing with that.

I've not, but I've added to my list to review!

Driving is not a problem. If it stays out of level front to back more than 6 degrees when you are parked it can damage the cooling unit and even be a fire hazard. I full-timed for a year and a half on the road constantly with a gas fridge and never had issues. Thanks for watching!

Awesome, thanks for watching!

Staples into particle board while wearing a mask aka 'face-mask'.

Residential and 12 volt refridgerators don't have the cold weather limitations like gas absorption. Running from an inverter is fine for travel, you just are limited in drive time by the amount of solar and battery capacity you have.

@@undercoverrvtech My Tiffin charges the house batteries while driving, so that eliminates that issue.

Word of caution....if you don't have a DC to DC charger between the house and chassis batteries, if the house batteries get low they will draw excessive current from the engine alternator and can damage the solinoid or the alternator. For example, I recently had to replace a blown 125amp fuse on a motorhome with a large lithium battery bank because they were running the AC off inverter power while traveling. When the battery bank got low it drew more than 125 amps from the alternator and blew the fuse. I've replaced many solinoids that were damaged by high current on motorhomes with standard batteries because the solinoid is usually only rated for 80 continuous duty. Because of the alternator limitations, you don't want to put a more heavy duty solinoid in. Easiest thing is to only discharge batteries 50%. If you want to cycle them deeper, or have lithium, I reccomend a DC to DC charger because it limits the charge output to an amperage level that is safe for all components. On your Tiffen, I don't know what you battery set up is, or your travel habits, so I don't know if you would run into problems. But I would encourage you to keep an eye on the charge level of the batteries while traveling and run the generator if needed to keep up the charge.

@@undercoverrvtech Thanks and will do.

Thanks for the feedback! Is it a Norcold?

@@undercoverrvtech yes it may not last as long but I won't get left out in time of need also added cu in

What is the coldest temperature you have operated it in?

@@undercoverrvtech 65* LOL it didn't cost me any more so in case I get caught in bad weather but that ain't going to happen

Thanks for the request - added it to my list!

Hi! I agree - what are the best truck campers - I’m most interested in the four season models. Thanks!

Gas/electric combo is a gas absorption refrigerator. It can just use electricity to boil the ammonia in the system rather than a propane flame. Same for a 3-way refrigerator, it just has both 12v dc and 120v ac heating elements in addition to gas flame.

I can count on one finger the number of people I've heard with that complaint! Lol....good for you keeping things clean! The lip is to help stop the fridge from falling out during transit if the screws come loose.

Wish I could send a drawing of what I mean by a separate slide for the fridge , the lip would still be there so the fridge would be stable while traveling just that section of the slide would slide separately. Hard to explain, but it's in my head. 😆 😂

I've not had the chance to see them, but have added to my list to review!

Because that can damage the alternator voltage regulator if the battery is too low. I generally reccomend using a DC to DC charger if recharging from the alternator.

@@undercoverrvtech It’s built into my EcoFlow Power Kit.

That's why I only looked for 05-07 DP also has to do with weight limits newer than that cut cargo capacity

@@theodorehyatt1782 That's smart too! Figure if I have to tow anyway I only need 1 engine with the truck, as a well built 5th wheel has way less to break down than a more complex motorhome & a truck is easier to get serviced. Those older DPs sure are sweet though.

@@celestepalm6949 well built fifth wheels are hard to find and you're back to DEF with pick up which aren't going to cost any less at the shop they call Cummings the million mile motor

@@theodorehyatt1782 On that note, I haven't ruled out a gas dually.

@@theodorehyatt1782 2003, after converting a commercial truck to our ExpeditionVehicle -- GVWR 29,000# -- we fabricated our toy-hauler on a similar commercial chassis. Zero staples into particle board.

Are you one of those annoying people that refer to your RV as a coach? I don’t see the problem calling all RVs a camper.

​​@@jasonjac123Camper, sits in a truck bed. That's the definition where I'm from. They are very distinct from travel trailers, 5th wheels and motorized RV classes.

it is a camper

@@jasonjac123 are you one of those simpleminded millenials that wants to constantly change the english language. A camper sits in the back of a pickup, get it through your head

Really you must have a great life if him calling an rv a camper is your biggest problem

The ammonia in the cooling unit turns to gel and lowers the liquid level in the boiler which can cause a slight overheating condition that causes sodium chromate (anti rusting agent) to crystallize which can block off small tubes and irreversibly damage the cooling unit. Sometimes they gel and then thaw out and work again eventually, but it is hit or miss. Technically there is a cold weather kit for these refrigerators, but I don't know how successful they are as I've not talk to any customers that have used them.

@@undercoverrvtech Thanks for the info.

Thanks for all your info , I didn’t know about the low temp for absorbent refrige and one winter in Idaho , I had to block of all outside ventilation.