Not really knowing what to expect, perhaps a little naively, I initially moved into our brand new trailer full time in early August 2019 while Kim prepared the condo for our final move from Ottawa to BC. Well here we are, close to 20,000 km of towing and over six months of living in Imagine’inn full time. A good time to look at some of those initial purchases and decisions we made preparing for our journey. https://newneckofthewoods.com/getting-ready-our-upfront-costs-before-we-travel/
In the case of our actual trailer and truck purchase, we will do a more detailed analysis at the end of this trip as part of the all important review and process as to what worked and what didn’t with our core RV components and our preferred camping life style. Without further ado, here we go .. Not following any specific order.
- Tow Mirrors: From BoostAutoParts, They were pricey (Canadian dollar didn’t help) and I installed them at the campsite the day before we left. So worth the effort and price. Much better than the clip on types we have seen on other tow vehicles and excellent sight lines when fully extended. A must have.
- Batteries: We didn’t get the very pricey, but highly regarded, Lithium type batteries but opted for the less expensive deep cycle 6v in a tandem configuration over the 12v. The 6V batteries have thicker internal plates which provide more reserve capacity and typically last longer. Prognosis? Mixed. With only the use of the factory installed battery monitor it is difficult to gauge effectiveness as it only looks at the battery voltage which varies depending on the current load or discharge of the battery. I will say this, they have not run down to show 1/3 on the factory display so I am glad we bought a second battery. For serious off grid camping, probably best to purchase multiple lithium batteries with a good quality digital monitor to provide live stats.
- Solar panel: We purchased a nice little portable ground deployed 100w unit, kept in a travel case that is easy to set up and better direct towards the sun. It has worked as designed. However, there are some flaws with this set up for our camping style.
- Not enough power is generated back to the batteries to provide a deep cycle for when we are dry camping multiple days. We were lucky we had as much sun as we did.
- We are hesitant to leave it out when we leave the trailer while camping outside of an established campground. We locked it but that is a hassle and the cable could be cut easy enough.
- Did not want to leave it out at night due to the controller being partially exposed.
- Takes up room in storage when not in use.
- You have to continue to direct the panels towards the sun to maximize effectiveness.
We didn’t have the experience, location and expertise to install multiple panels on the roof of our trailer but more importantly, we didn’t know what we would need. Now we do, I would install at least two panels on the roof and keep the portable in case the trailer is in shade. There are several excellent blogs on this subject and blueprints to do this yourself. Speaking of blueprints, our manufacturer Grand Design doesn’t seem to believe in publishing schematics for its models so it makes it more difficult to know where to drill etc.
- Bike Rack: Fellow campers are generally a friendly and curious lot. The two comments we often get asked are. “Wow, GMC Canyon has a diesel?!” And “cool bike rack”. It does look good, is very handy when driving and backing into a space but it has proven to be a pain to take off the inside bike. We’re just starting to figure out the best configuration on hanging the two bikes. The instructions were a joke on how to set up the bikes properly. Our dealer was no help to explain how to best load the bikes. I think there might be better options out there.
- Cell booster: weBoost, Let’s start with the positives. Was easy to install with superior instructions and packaging…. and it works ! We went with AT&T as our WiFi data plan provider and our Simplyconnect US plan roams with multiple providers. On a few occasions we had zero bars and no service or intermittent one bar and some limited service. When the weBoost was on, in all cases, cell coverage improved and came in extra handy on various occasions while needing to deal with important matters. Cons? It is very expensive, could the calls have waited or could we have climbed or driven to a suitable location? Maybe. It is also somewhat permanent in that in many cases, like ours, a hole must be drilled for the coaxial cable so you can’t really unplug the unit and take it with you..at least I wouldn’t. This makes the price point a possible factor. Another negative for us is that we don’t have the ability to run the booster terminal off of a 12v charge, at least not feasibly but the product does come with this option. This makes the unit ineffective unless the generator is used when off grid. Inconvenient and noisy.
- AT&T netgear hotspot. I did a lot of research and for us, there were limited options to get a data package without a contract for a company with good coverage of states we wished to visit. We did not want a 1-2 year contract, nor did we want a phone. The actual hotspot device is excellent, with a super good battery. The plan we have is a bit frustrating as it was $75 for 15 Gb a month. We soon found out 15 gigs is not a lot, even when limiting downloads and avoiding streaming. We just learned that Verizon now offers unlimited data packages for $60. Where were you when we needed you Verizon?You were way too expensive and limited when we did our comparison. We now need to look to have our MiFi device unlocked and look to switch over for our remaining 3 months, or not, we’ll see. Regardless I stand behind a specific hotspot device as opposed to using a phone. We are able to connect 5 devices seamlessly (could be more), have over 10 hours of battery use in one charge and could bring the unit anywhere we go.
- Power surge protector: A must purchase. Using with the generator added comfort in knowing the electronics of the trailer were also being protected. We have talked to people that have had their electronics damaged without using one. You have to see some campground’s hook ups to appreciate the insurance this unit provides.
- Max air vents: These or a smart fan that can detect rain or snow are a must to allow you to keep vents open. They look good on the roof.
- Rear trailer camera: Has been a nice addition but is it worth the money? Probably would invest elsewhere with a “do over” … but .. since we had it installed, there is a certain comfort seeing directly behind, ie. who is tailgating or getting a grip on the steering wheel while a transport truck switch lanes at the last second swooshing by at 80 miles an hour. The main purpose is for backing into a spot and if you are alone, it is a must. With someone to help you back up, it makes the camera somewhat redundant. The other problem? Half the time you can’t see due to a setting sun.
- Generator: Honda and Yamaha set the standard but are so expensive. Hoping I didn’t cheap out, I purchased the Firman from Costco and it has turned into a great purchase so far. Starts first time, every time and is as quiet as anyone else’s (amusingly those without a Honda or Yamaha). Bought the 3000w model so it can run the air conditioning ( which we haven’t needed yet). Learning that you can get an inverter to handle initial A/C load I would buy a smaller, lighter, unit if purchasing again, like maybe a Honda or Yamaha?!
- BBQ: I love the Napoleon TRAVELQ bbq. We’re talking quality here. Stores pretty easily in the “garage” and the table sets up in an instant. It does have faults though, the cheap plastic control knobs located in the front didn’t survive the California coast’s winds and it would be good to have a lower heat setting. That said, Napoleon has great customer service. I sent an email concerning the knobs and they responded within 5 minutes asking where they can ship replacements.
- Water pressure gauge One of those essentials that don’t do anything flashy except keep the plumbing intact. A must have.
- Anderson 360 Ultimate travel gear: The kit includes levellers, stabilizer pads, a mat, chalks and rapid jack which doubles as a trailer jack mount. Initially expensive but they have worked really well and we recommend. Even the duffel bag is hanging in there. We put some marine anti slip tape underneath the levellers so they won’t move on asphalt which helped a lot. Luckily we haven’t needed the rapid tire jack.
- Miscellaneous: One of the most important additions has been adding a 2 1/2 to 3 inch memory foam topper to each of the beds.
I think that is about it. Buying a truck and trailer are expensive purchases. Buying all of the other required equipment really added up on top of that and there was very little room financially for error. In some cases, watching RV related YouTube posting where they reviewed equipment really helped with the decision making process. In other cases, like the BBQ and bike rack, we went with what we thought would be good for us. Anyway, so far so good and everything we have, including the truck and trailer, are holding up really well. Now it’s time to go find our new neck of the woods !