Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
More fun to share from our recent visit in Elkin, NC. Minutes from Byrds Branch Campground are a number of hike and bike trails. Hiking Carter Falls is just a short walk from the campground, I found a great 1.5 mile trek an easy walk along a well-marked trail. This was perfect for an early March hike – cool morning, moderate trail and great views of the rolling waterfalls. Little was in bloom, yet the daffodils we’re popping out hinting Spring was around the corner.
The Trail
The trail was not very difficult. For the most part, very even with a few areas that was slightly rocky. The walk on the edge of the river was well marked and safe to take great pictures and videos of the rolling water. Elevations weren’t challenging and the trip end to end and enjoying the great view took a couple hours.
The Falls
Carter Falls isn’t one of high elevation. The river area is a series of rolling drops. The sounds and views of the water were extra special with the build up from rains earlier in the week. This gave quite the presentation on this hike. Continuing along the trail, you reach and area where an old power house existed. The power house and flues are long gone, but remnants of the flue supports along the river and the power house foundation still remain. While the falls subside in this area, there’s still smaller falls to enjoy.
A great morning to take in a little nature and experience more Elkin, NC has to offer.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
One of the main reasons for this visit was the Elkin NC vineyard tours in this thriving wine region. We discovered this area last year when we stopped at Mt Airy, NC to take in all the Andy and Mayberry sites. Having an extra day, we drove 20 minutes south on I-77 and discovered this region had thirty award winning vineyards all ranging from large estates to smaller, quaint vineyards. Joan and I knew we had to return and during this stop we planned to travel the area and see the beautiful sites and taste these great wines.
Roaring River Vineyards
Our first stop was at Roaring River Vineyards, just a short 20 minute drive from the campground. Here we started with a delicious lunch from the Chez Josephine Restaurant. The adjoining tasting room offered very comfortable surroundings with a view of the river, plush seating around the fireplace and a bar with wines served by the vineyard’s owner. The wines were very good and reasonably priced. Our favorites were the Merlot and Chambourcin.
Next to the tasting room is a Lodge offering suites overlooking the river – a great place for a weekend get-a-away. They also have an indoor and a covered pavilion for events. This vineyard is also a Harvest Hosts site.
Jones Von Drehle Vineyards
Our next stop for the day was at Jones Von Drehle Vineyards and Winery. As we approached the winery, we were greeted by a large vineyard with rolling hills and the tasting room located at the top. The tasting room was roomy and over looked the vineyard. The staff was very friendly and shared much about the winery and their delicious wines. There were two options for the tasting, an Estate and a Reserve. Joan went the Estate route to sample both whites and reds and I went the Reserve route with the dried reds. This was a great ending to day 1 of our Elkin NC vineyard tours. The entire selection of wines became quick favorites and we couldn’t walk away without one of these excellent wines. We’re looking forward to sharing the 2012 Merlot Reserve when we return home.
There much planned for the future of Jones Von Drehle. Next to the tasting room, the construction of a new event space will be completed soon. We enjoyed the visit, the friendly folks, the great views and Joan got the special treat of meeting Chloe, the famous golden retriever.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Hi everyone. So many who watch our YouTube channel or follow the ilovervlife.com blog have contacted us about the Coronavirus and RV travel, wishing Joan and I well and sharing prayers for our health and safety. We have met so many of you in our travels along with others yet to come and greatly appreciate all of concern and best wishes.
To be brief, we have cut our spring travels short and returned home. To many unknowns at this stage. We found many of the sites we wanted to visit and most of the activities we like to do were closed until further notice. No issues with groceries other than the hoarded items we are seeing in the news. We are both well, taking the recommended precautions and hope you all are doing the same.
In the video below, we were heading down the Interstate on a long 8 hour plus drive home. We wanted to give everyone a short, yet personal update on our travels. No issues at the present with rest stops open in South Carolina and Georgia, and we had no problems getting fuel. We’ve also had a number of fulltime RV’ers contact us asking if we know of any campgrounds that may offer longer term stays till outbreak subsides. We have contacted several and know of some private campgrounds that still have limited space available. We’re always glad to help the community and may not have an answer, but will respond to all questions that come to us from our www.ilovervlife.com/contact page or from the comments on our YouTube channel to do our best to help where we can.
Lastly, we have a number of videos that we will release from our recent travels. These will continue for the next month or so. We hope this gives you some escape, even for just a little while. We also hope and pray the Coronavirus outbreak passes soon, and the nation and our community can return to the life we enjoy. For now, stay safe and healthy, do those things that are important for your family, and don’t let the stress of the continue onslaught of media create undue fear.
We great appreciation to our iLoveRVlife family of viewers,
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
We discovered Elkin, NC last year when we visited Mt. Airy with all things Andy and Mayberry. A day before we left the area, we learned there were a number of award winning vineyards in the area. At one of the vineyards, we meet a couple who were staying at Byrds Branch Campground. Wanting to return to the area to visit the vineyards, we stayed at Byrds Branch Campground for a week. Our plans expanded to also take in a number of the hiking trails and enjoy the quaint community of Elkin, NC. We found the campground to be family friendly, reasonably priced and in a perfect location to enjoy all things Elkin, NC and Yadkin County.
The Vineyards
Checking into Byrds Branch Campground, our owners gave us a four page list of all the fun things to do in the area. Wanting to take in a number of wineries and vineyards, the list had 30 vineyards and tasting rooms clustered in 9 groups by mileage. This saved Joan and I so much time in our research and driving time to enjoy as we planned our wine tastings for the week. We were able to visit 7 vineyards this go round leaving so many when we turn to the area.
The Restaurants
This list also contained a full page of area restaurants from simple fast food, local favorites and several up and coming brew pubs. Balancing our time between home cooking in the RV, we dined at a few of the local favorites enjoying Skull Camp Smokehouse and Brewery and Mazzini’s.
Hiking and Biking
The campground list continued with a third full page of hiking and bike trails. The listing shared trail length and difficulty. Two of the trails experienced were steps from the campground where we saw waterfalls, streams and a treat with one ending at a local vineyard.
We prefer staying at a family owned campground where available. We like the local feel and friendliness we often experience. This was certainly the case at Byrds Branch Campground in Elkin, NC and we look forward to returning.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
There’s so much to see and do in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, TN. We have traveled to the area for years and I was in search for something different. And something different I certainly found – Floyd Garrett’s Muscle Car Museum in Sevierville, TN. What an amazing place with over 90 muscle cars worth over 8 million dollars! For me, the tour was a flashback to my high school days in the 70’s when muscle cars were king and all the guys rolled in every morning showing off iron muscle and the hot cars.
The Muscle Car Museum Collection
I could have camped out at the Muscle Car Museum all day. 90 cars of all types, all manufacturers, some highly modified and others looking like they had just rolled off the showroom floor in the 1960s and 70s. An incredible collection that you can get close to, see the details of each car, interiors and engine bays. It was impossible to pick a favorite. The closest I could come to narrow my selection was a top 25 and that was going to be a task.
The list of cars is amazing and speaking with the museum curator, the display changes often with cars rotating off the floor only to be replaced with the next muscle car beauty. I must admit, the older Mustangs, Camaros and Chevelles were hard to beat. Then you turn the corner and find rare 442s, GTOs and a Hemi Cuda. I was in muscle car overload.
Like vintage muscle cars?
Don’t drive by the Muscle Car Museum in Sevierville, TN without stopping. For a meager sum of eleven dollars to enter, it’s a great place to relive, for just a few hours, those great cars we experienced from the 60’s and 70’s. And if you’re not from that era, the younger crowd can see how awesome dad and granddad were when we had 400 horsepower and could burn a set of tires off a car in less than a quarter mile.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
We started our winter trip. Joan wanted to see some snow before Spring. How can I say no! So off we went to Tennessee for a few days. We stopped in Pigeon Forge, TN. This was going to be a budget stop. The week was not going to be filled with the music and variety entertainment destinations we typically experience. Although, we did have plans to go to Dollywood and being the master planner that I am, I didn’t realize the theme park was closed in February. Not to be dismayed, we still had a great time. We did a little shopping, visited some of the fun places and made an afternoon in cold and snowy Gatlinburg.
My Day Out
Day one it rained. All day. Inches. Didn’t think it would ever stop. Day two, I was ready to leave the four walls of the RV. Joan decided to stay in, so out I went to see some of the fun stuff I wanted to do. First stop – Boot Junkies. The name of the store could not have fit my addiction better. I have a huge hang up for western style boots and yes, I found what I wanted with the luck of having a factory rep in the store for the day.
Next stop was Smokey Mountain Knife Works. Oh my! How can any building house so many knives? From the dollar cheap, top factory brands, to rare custom made knives, I spent several hours looking and touching the wares.
The Historic Old Mill
Joan and I have traveled to the Pigeon Forge –Gatlinburg area for more years than I want to count. From all these trips, we did not know about the Historic Old Mill. Making a traffic turnaround one evening we found this interesting place and decided to return the next day.
The area is a collection of restaurants, cafes, and a wide variety of eclectic shops. Anchored by an 1830 gristmill mill, we found clothing, pottery, great food and my favorite, a custom knife maker’s school. Topping off the stop is the beautiful mill dam and grist mill water wheel. Definitely, a post card view you should see when visiting this area.
Gatlinburg
The last day of the visit, I spent a few hours in Gatlinburg. This was the first time I’ve returned since the devastating fires. So much has changed. It’s a fun destination, with shops of all kinds and plenty of activates to keep adults and kids entertained.
This was a different stop for us. Joan wanted snow before Spring and nature delivered. Cold? You bet! The visit to Pigeon Forge was fun. More of a time to get away, chill out and just enjoy the area.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Hiking Panther Creek Falls made a perfect day on this crisp October fall morning. The trail to the falls is a 3.5 mile hike over moderate terrain. Our son Joel came to join me on the hike adding a little bonding benefit to the day.
The Trail
The trail starts with moderate elevations and is rather rocky and has a large amount of exposed roots. Not difficult, but you do have to watch your step. The lower half of the trails is much flatter running along side of the creek bed.
Throughout the hike you can hear the rushing water and there are great views along the creek before you reach the falls. We ran into several hikers who had packed in for the weekend staying in a number of the primitive camping spots along the trails.
The Falls
The Panther Creek Falls were very pretty. Not high waterfalls as many of the others we’ve visited in the area, but long rolling rocks. We were told this is a popular spot in the summer months with a number of pools at the bottom of the falls where you can wade in. Definitely not something I wanted to do on this chilly day.
For those who want to add to the hike, there’s another 4.5 mile hike beyond the falls to Yohnah Dam. Just make sure you have some energy bars and extra water for this longer stretch.
One other benefit to this beautiful area. Adjacent to the paved parking is a day use area. Check out the video for this unique spot for family gatherings or a cookout with friends.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
We had the opportunity to visit The Hermitage, the 7th president of the United States, Andrew Jackson’s home in Nashville TN. Andrew Jackson purchased the land in the early 1800’s completing the first home between 1819 and 1821. The current structure is the 3rd rebuild completed in 1837 after heavy fire damage. This was a great opportunity to visit a part of early 1800’s history, discover life during this period, even the political struggles that had a great impact on our nation.
One other point. There are many aspects of life during this period and this presidency that offer dark parts to US history and the people it impacted. A statement was made by one of the presenters during the introductory video viewed in the museum stating: “History is messy.” I couldn’t agree more. I’m a huge history buff. My hope is we learn from our history, regardless of what it was at that time, and never to return to the darker parts.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
As you travel along I-75 through Middle Georgia, there is a treat for anyone who enjoys military history and aircraft. The Museum of Aviation is located on the edge of Robins Air Force Base and is open to the public free of charge. The museum is located on 51 acres with four buildings containing 85 historic U.S. Air Force aircraft and other exhibits. The impeccably restore aircraft and exhibits cover WWII, Korea, and Vietnam to present. We took a self-guided tour thought the buildings with museum volunteers available share a wealth of information about each exhibit.
The Buildings
The four buildings contained much more than restored air craft. We were amazed at the amount of pictures, uniforms, and detailed explanation about the life of the air personal who served the bombing wings missions and purpose of the aircraft. The Scott Hanger was equally interesting containing a number of aircraft in the process of restoration and we were able to see the progress being made with each.
The Grounds
The tour continued outside the four building with other air craft located throughout the grounds including a B-52, C-141, C-130, and much more. The outside area also contains a number of covered picnic areas, restrooms, playground and a large parking area suitable for the largest tour bus or RV.
Join us in the video below as we tour The Museum of Aviation.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
When it comes to the topic of RV trip planning, this is the single most requested topic we receive from our website contact page and our I Love RV Life YouTube channel. We understand the unknowns so many face when dealing with long distance RV travel – the miles to travel, services needed on the trip, the unknown of campground availability, suitability of the campground and so much more. RV trip planning can eliminate much of the unknowns especially for those who have a big rig RV, long travel trailer or a fifth wheel. Knowing the time of travel and having a suitable campground to meet your needs is a great benefit especially if you are covering very long distances over an extended period of time.
One of our goals at I Love RV Life is to share our travels and the fun places Joan and I visit. Traveling thousands of miles a year, I want to share the process we use for our RV trip planning.
RV Trip Planning Tools
Most of what we use is free and online with one exception. We use Google Maps for our distance planning and route management. We also use Google calendar to maintain all trip information including travel routes, reservation confirmation, along with detail directions to each camp site. An added benefit with Google Calendar is the ability to share with family. This is a simple one time process within Google Calendar registering an email address for those who will be able to view your calendar. The remaining tool is Allstays for our campground research.
RV Trip Planning With Allstays
There are a number of methods to use Allstays including iPhone apps in addition to free and fee based web access plans. We have used all and prefer the paid web access plan. At the time of the blog, a one year subscription is $32.95 and our preference is the three year plan for $79.85. We have found the minor investment for subscription service yields many more benefits with the ease of locating campgrounds, fuels stops, dump stations, propane, highway information and so much more. While iPhone apps are available, we find the web based access to be far more feature rich when using a laptop, tablet or phone. Below is a list of some of the Allstays Pro features:
Full Screen Maps Campground Ratings Latitude and Longitude Tools Rest Areas Propane Road Hazards Nearby Places
Campground Information Tent Camping Truck Stops Lodge Members RV Dealers GPS Weather City and State Maps
This is a short list of the many features offers in the AllStays Pro subscription. I show some as part of our RV travel planning in the video below. If you would interested in purchasing an Allstays Pro subscription, please consider using this Allstays Pro link and support our website.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not everyone wants to create and contribute to a YouTube vlog. But, everyone should think about documenting their RV travels regardless if your chose to develop a YouTube channel, at least save the memories of all the great places visited. There are a wide range options to consider for vlogging cameras or that personal camera to share videos and pictures with friends and family. Below are options for vlogging cameras that we use at I Love RV Life that are budget friendly as well as cameras that have a reasonable price tag in the event you want to expand the quality of you video content.
Is there a perfect RV vlogging camera? Maybe. In the video we discuss our “run and gun” style of video recording. What we find important is to use a camera that meets a particular our video style at an affordable cost. There are so many options available when searching for a camera and frankly, it can be overwhelming as well as costly, especially if a camera purchased done not provide the desired results.
We have a number of cameras that we have purchased starting with the very basic and later expanding as we experienced viewer growth from our I Love RV Life website and YouTube channel. All have served us very well, meet our “run and gun” style of video recording and each has their purpose. Any of the cameras that I’ll list below have the ability to provide good videos and some providing great photos of our RV travels. We wanted to provide this short list of vlogging cameras for those starting out on a budget as well as those who may be at the point of stepping up their game a bit.
Your Smart Phone
In this day and age, everyone has a smart phone in their pocket that contains a camera feature. Some of the new iPhone and Android phones provide excellent photo and video capabilities. This is where I Love RV Life began, but we quickly outgrew the limited features of a phone camera. Below are pros and cons of using a phone as a vlogging camera.
Pros:
No additional investment
Handy. It’s in your pocket all of the time.
Most of the new generation phones have great photo and video features
Large screen for viewing
Wide range of moderately priced accessories to improve video and photo capture
Cons:
Little to no stabilization. Video can be jerky
Limited zoom capabilities for those far away shots
Video can pixelate when moving the camera across a scene
Sony HDR CX455
The Sony HDR CX455 is a simple to use, full featured camcorder that fits in the palm of your hand. This was our next step to improve our video production. The camcorder provides great high definition video along with the ability to take a reasonable quality picture. At the time of this blog, you can find this camera around $400.
Pros:
Small form factor. Fits in the palm of your hand
Provides good high definition video even in lower light indoor shots with up to a 30X digital zoom
Varying battery size for all day shooting
Ability to add a standard SD memory card for video storage
Offers some stabilization for minor camera movement
Cons:
The zoom capability is digital and can be a little grainy on lower light, longer distance shots
No ability to add external lenses for wide shots or longer distance shots
Stabilization is not adequate for running or aggressive hiking.
Has a jack for an external microphone, but not place to mount
Canon T6i DSLR
We wanted a DSLR camera that would improve our video recording along with the opportunity to create better pictures for our website galleries. We looked at a number of cameras and settled on the Canon T6i. We use this vlogging camera for half of our video creation.
Canon has an extensive line of cameras from lower end consumer models to very expensive professional offerings. We found the Cannon T6i to have all the features we needed at an excellent price point. Aside from the camera, we use a 10-18mm wide angle EF-S lens for most of our vlogging. This lens is great for close up shoots supporting a crisp wide field of view. We also use a 75-300mm lens for long distance shots giving clear, bright video and photos. A Rhodes VideoMic GO completes our vlogging camera set up to improve the audio when shooting outdoor video. This not an inexpensive purchase, but on the mid to lower end of DSLR cameras. Basic body and lens kits run in the $600 range, our 10-18mm wide angle lens costs $250 and the microphone with wind cover can be found for $120.
Pros:
Excellent high definition video and 24-megapixel photos
Ability to use a wide range of lens to meet the style of video and photo shots
Has a jack for an external microphone and hot shoe to mount
Easy to use auto set options for focus and lighting
Cons:
Can be expensive adding lens and accessories
Learning curve for all options available to maximize video quality
Not suitable for dusty or wet environments
Poor video stabilization
GoPro Hero 8
This has become our go to vlogging camera for all of our action style video recording. We love using the GoPro Hero 8 camera. When we pack our vlogging cameras, the GoPro Hero 8 is always the first to go in our bag. Adding a few accessories has made a substantial improvement in our video production. Super simple to use. Compact in size, the GoPro 8 is easy to carry around and allows us to maintain a low profile we recording video in crowded areas. Excellent video quality and superb video stabilization in most aggressive hiking situations or use along bumpy roads. With a couple of batteries, we can shoot all day with the camera. We have expanded with reasonably priced cases and mics all listed below in the Products section. Not the least expensive, but great features with a base price of $350.
Pros:
Compact platform making it easy to carry.
A multitude of accessories including, SD memory cards, extra batteries, mounting options, cases, interfaces and mics.
Extremely good stabilization providing quality high definition video in some of the more demanding vlogging opportunities.
Simple push button to record and push again to stop.
Cons:
Small fixed screen offering menu access and short view times to set up a shot. Screen does not flip for selfie styled shots
Can take pictures, but difficult to frame shots
JI Osmo Pocket
The DJI Osmo Pocket is the first camera of its kind to focus on many of the needs of video vloggers. This is our most recent purchase and we’re looking forward to using more and more as we document our RV travels. Extremely compact, supporting a 3-axis stabilized camera, the DJI Osmo Pocket provides stunning HD and 4K video long with 12-megapixel photos. The camera has been available for a little over a year at the time of this blog. A wide range of accessories are available expanding the capabilities of this video platform. We’re looking forward to using this camera more and more in the upcoming year.
Pros:
Pocket size camera that’s easy to carry and available to shoot video or pictures in a few seconds
Shoots HD and 4K video and also shoots 12-megapixel photos with the press of one button
Great for forward and selfie modes of shooting
Accessory shoe to connect phones for larger viewing screen along with a wide range of interfaces
Very stable video when walking or running
Cons:
Very small thumbnail sized screen to frame shots
Contains an internal battery. Requires an external source to charge.
Camera mounted on a built-in mechanical stabilizer. Could be damaged if dropped.
Not weather proof
Crosstour Action Camera
Everyone needs what I call a “beater camera”. Something cheap, takes reasonable video, can be used in more challenging shots and if lost or damaged, you haven’t blown your budget. That where the Crosstour Action Camera fits our video vlogging camera needs. This Chinese GoPro styled knock off, comes with a waterproof case, a basic mount, couple of batteries and I can stick virtually anywhere to get that out-of-the-way video shot. These can be found in the $30 to $40 range.
Pros:
Reasonable HD video
Comes with a few accessories and extra batteries
Fits standard GoPro style of mounts
Simple push button operations
Inexpensive
Cons:
Poor battery life
Fair stabilization
Poor documentation
That’s our current list of vlogging cameras. This list is where we started and now what’s used weekly to make I Love RV Life video and photos. As our needs expand, you can be assured, so will our camera and accessory inventory. View the video below for more detailed information about our vlogging cameras, how we use and why you may want to consider one from this list as you document your RV travels.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Several months ago we installed the Haloview 7” Wireless Range Dominator System on our 5th wheel. (See the blog here – Haloview RD7 Backup Camera). We were so impressed with the quality of the system and the simplicity of installation that we planned to expand the system to include front and side RV cameras. Haloview contacted us and provided us with these cameras to evaluate. The video below shows the installation of both the Haloview Wireless RV Side Marker Light Cameras and the CA109 Wireless High Definition License Plate Camera.
Haloview Wireless RV Side Marker Light Cameras
The installation of the RV Side Marker Light Cameras could not have been easier. I took the extra step to ensure I had ample voltage to the cameras replacing all of the markers with LED bulbs. Although Haloview did not make this a requirement, by replacing all of the incandescent T-10 bulbs reduced the power from 5 watts to 1.7 watts increase available power to the new marker light cameras nearly 3 times.
In less than an hour, I removed the existing left and right marker lights located near the front of the 5th wheel, reconnect the power wires to the new side marker light cameras and called this step of the project complete.
CA109 Wireless High Definition License Plate Camera
Haloview also provided a license plate camera to install on the front of our Ford F-350 truck. The camera bracket provided will fit any generic license plate, but I opted for more of a factory installation. I took the extra step of installing the camera in the front truck grill and powering the camera by splicing power wired into one of the truck parking lights. This gives us the ability to use the camera when towing the 5th wheel or uncoupled while we are touring an area. The preference for this factory look increased our effort from a simple 1 hour installation to 4 hours, but the final results worked great and looked fantastic.
Using the Haloview Digital Wireless Rear View Monitor
The Haloview M7108 7″ 720P HD Digital Wireless Rear View Monitor is the star of the show. This wireless monitor has an extremely simple interface to configure as well as operate making the cameras installation a breeze. Two methods are available to view the camera, using the SELECT button to switch from camera to camera or connecting the provided auxiliary cable connecting to the trucks left and right signal wires. For time reasons, we opted to use the SELECT button for now, but will add the signal leads at a later date. See the video below for a more in depth review of the Haloview M7108 Monitor.
The power of the Haloview system is its ability to adapt to any type of an RV. For those who have smaller campers or Class C motorhomes, a simple rear wireless camera and monitor can be installed in a few hours. For those of us who have much longer RVs, there are wired and hybrid wired/wireless solutions to increase your view of the road and ensure video quality.
Our thanks to Haloview for the opportunity to review this product. We have provided product links below if you are looking for camera solution for your RV.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Let’s face it. RV travel along our highways can be a challenge, especially when it comes to rough roads, pot holes and construction. Our last trip was especially challenging and after 5 years of travel we broke a leaf spring hanger. To our good fortune, it occurred close to home and we were able to make it back without damage to our tires or axle. With our next trip weeks away, it was time to tackle the job of trailer suspension repair and make the 5th wheel road worthy.
Being a realist, I understand that most RV owners do not have the luxury of a shop and tools to repair a trailer suspension. My goal was to show the task and the steps required to repair a broken leaf spring hanger so you can be prepared in the event this happens to you.
This repair can be expensive
It’s not the parts in question, but the labor required to remove the old hanger and protect the undercarriage from the sparks generated from grinding and welding. The new hanger and bolt was $20 total, but I had 4 hours in removing wheels, grinding and welding. So be prepared for a large labor bill if you ever have to face any type of trailer suspension repair.
For Joan and I, the task is done and we’re ready to return to our RV travels. The video below condenses much of the time for the repair, but I show each steps from start to finish.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Let’s face it. RV travel along our highways can be a challenge, especially when it comes to rough roads, pot holes and construction. Our last trip was especially challenging and after 5 years of travel we broke a leaf spring hanger. To our good fortune, it occurred close to home and we were able to make it back without damage to our tires or axle. With our next trip weeks away, it was time to tackle the job of trailer suspension repair and make the 5th wheel road worthy.
Being a realist, I understand that most RV owners do not have the luxury of a shop and tools to repair a trailer suspension. My goal was to show the task and the steps required to repair a broken leaf spring hanger so you can be prepared in the event this happens to you.
This repair can be expensive
It’s not the parts in question, but the labor required to remove the old hanger and protect the undercarriage from the sparks generated from grinding and welding. The new hanger and bolt was $20 total, but I had 4 hours in removing wheels, grinding and welding. So be prepared for a large labor bill if you ever have to face any type of trailer suspension repair.
For Joan and I, the task is done and we’re ready to return to our RV travels. The video below condenses much of the time for the repair, but I show each steps from start to finish.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not everyone wants to create and contribute to a YouTube vlog. But, everyone should think about documenting their RV travels regardless if your chose to develop a YouTube channel, at least save the memories of all the great places visited. There are a wide range options to consider for vlogging cameras or that personal camera to share videos and pictures with friends and family. Below are options for vlogging cameras that we use at I Love RV Life that are budget friendly as well as cameras that have a reasonable price tag in the event you want to expand the quality of you video content.
Is there a perfect RV vlogging camera? Maybe. In the video we discuss our “run and gun” style of video recording. What we find important is to use a camera that meets a particular our video style at an affordable cost. There are so many options available when searching for a camera and frankly, it can be overwhelming as well as costly, especially if a camera purchased done not provide the desired results.
We have a number of cameras that we have purchased starting with the very basic and later expanding as we experienced viewer growth from our I Love RV Life website and YouTube channel. All have served us very well, meet our “run and gun” style of video recording and each has their purpose. Any of the cameras that I’ll list below have the ability to provide good videos and some providing great photos of our RV travels. We wanted to provide this short list of vlogging cameras for those starting out on a budget as well as those who may be at the point of stepping up their game a bit.
Your Smart Phone
In this day and age, everyone has a smart phone in their pocket that contains a camera feature. Some of the new iPhone and Android phones provide excellent photo and video capabilities. This is where I Love RV Life began, but we quickly outgrew the limited features of a phone camera. Below are pros and cons of using a phone as a vlogging camera.
Pros:
No additional investment
Handy. It’s in your pocket all of the time.
Most of the new generation phones have great photo and video features
Large screen for viewing
Wide range of moderately priced accessories to improve video and photo capture
Cons:
Little to no stabilization. Video can be jerky
Limited zoom capabilities for those far away shots
Video can pixelate when moving the camera across a scene
Sony HDR CX455
The Sony HDR CX455 is a simple to use, full featured camcorder that fits in the palm of your hand. This was our next step to improve our video production. The camcorder provides great high definition video along with the ability to take a reasonable quality picture. At the time of this blog, you can find this camera around $400.
Pros:
Small form factor. Fits in the palm of your hand
Provides good high definition video even in lower light indoor shots with up to a 30X digital zoom
Varying battery size for all day shooting
Ability to add a standard SD memory card for video storage
Offers some stabilization for minor camera movement
Cons:
The zoom capability is digital and can be a little grainy on lower light, longer distance shots
No ability to add external lenses for wide shots or longer distance shots
Stabilization is not adequate for running or aggressive hiking.
Has a jack for an external microphone, but not place to mount
Canon T6i DSLR
We wanted a DSLR camera that would improve our video recording along with the opportunity to create better pictures for our website galleries. We looked at a number of cameras and settled on the Canon T6i. We use this vlogging camera for half of our video creation.
Canon has an extensive line of cameras from lower end consumer models to very expensive professional offerings. We found the Cannon T6i to have all the features we needed at an excellent price point. Aside from the camera, we use a 10-18mm wide angle EF-S lens for most of our vlogging. This lens is great for close up shoots supporting a crisp wide field of view. We also use a 75-300mm lens for long distance shots giving clear, bright video and photos. A Rhodes VideoMic GO completes our vlogging camera set up to improve the audio when shooting outdoor video. This not an inexpensive purchase, but on the mid to lower end of DSLR cameras. Basic body and lens kits run in the $600 range, our 10-18mm wide angle lens costs $250 and the microphone with wind cover can be found for $120.
Pros:
Excellent high definition video and 24-megapixel photos
Ability to use a wide range of lens to meet the style of video and photo shots
Has a jack for an external microphone and hot shoe to mount
Easy to use auto set options for focus and lighting
Cons:
Can be expensive adding lens and accessories
Learning curve for all options available to maximize video quality
Not suitable for dusty or wet environments
Poor video stabilization
GoPro Hero 8
This has become our go to vlogging camera for all of our action style video recording. We love using the GoPro Hero 8 camera. When we pack our vlogging cameras, the GoPro Hero 8 is always the first to go in our bag. Adding a few accessories has made a substantial improvement in our video production. Super simple to use. Compact in size, the GoPro 8 is easy to carry around and allows us to maintain a low profile we recording video in crowded areas. Excellent video quality and superb video stabilization in most aggressive hiking situations or use along bumpy roads. With a couple of batteries, we can shoot all day with the camera. We have expanded with reasonably priced cases and mics all listed below in the Products section. Not the least expensive, but great features with a base price of $350.
Pros:
Compact platform making it easy to carry.
A multitude of accessories including, SD memory cards, extra batteries, mounting options, cases, interfaces and mics.
Extremely good stabilization providing quality high definition video in some of the more demanding vlogging opportunities.
Simple push button to record and push again to stop.
Cons:
Small fixed screen offering menu access and short view times to set up a shot. Screen does not flip for selfie styled shots
Can take pictures, but difficult to frame shots
JI Osmo Pocket
The DJI Osmo Pocket is the first camera of its kind to focus on many of the needs of video vloggers. This is our most recent purchase and we’re looking forward to using more and more as we document our RV travels. Extremely compact, supporting a 3-axis stabilized camera, the DJI Osmo Pocket provides stunning HD and 4K video long with 12-megapixel photos. The camera has been available for a little over a year at the time of this blog. A wide range of accessories are available expanding the capabilities of this video platform. We’re looking forward to using this camera more and more in the upcoming year.
Pros:
Pocket size camera that’s easy to carry and available to shoot video or pictures in a few seconds
Shoots HD and 4K video and also shoots 12-megapixel photos with the press of one button
Great for forward and selfie modes of shooting
Accessory shoe to connect phones for larger viewing screen along with a wide range of interfaces
Very stable video when walking or running
Cons:
Very small thumbnail sized screen to frame shots
Contains an internal battery. Requires an external source to charge.
Camera mounted on a built-in mechanical stabilizer. Could be damaged if dropped.
Not weather proof
Crosstour Action Camera
Everyone needs what I call a “beater camera”. Something cheap, takes reasonable video, can be used in more challenging shots and if lost or damaged, you haven’t blown your budget. That where the Crosstour Action Camera fits our video vlogging camera needs. This Chinese GoPro styled knock off, comes with a waterproof case, a basic mount, couple of batteries and I can stick virtually anywhere to get that out-of-the-way video shot. These can be found in the $30 to $40 range.
Pros:
Reasonable HD video
Comes with a few accessories and extra batteries
Fits standard GoPro style of mounts
Simple push button operations
Inexpensive
Cons:
Poor battery life
Fair stabilization
Poor documentation
That’s our current list of vlogging cameras. This list is where we started and now what’s used weekly to make I Love RV Life video and photos. As our needs expand, you can be assured, so will our camera and accessory inventory. View the video below for more detailed information about our vlogging cameras, how we use and why you may want to consider one from this list as you document your RV travels.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
As you travel along I-75 through Middle Georgia, there is a treat for anyone who enjoys military history and aircraft. The Museum of Aviation is located on the edge of Robins Air Force Base and is open to the public free of charge. The museum is located on 51 acres with four buildings containing 85 historic U.S. Air Force aircraft and other exhibits. The impeccably restore aircraft and exhibits cover WWII, Korea, and Vietnam to present. We took a self-guided tour thought the buildings with museum volunteers available share a wealth of information about each exhibit.
The Buildings
The four buildings contained much more than restored air craft. We were amazed at the amount of pictures, uniforms, and detailed explanation about the life of the air personal who served the bombing wings missions and purpose of the aircraft. The Scott Hanger was equally interesting containing a number of aircraft in the process of restoration and we were able to see the progress being made with each.
The Grounds
The tour continued outside the four building with other air craft located throughout the grounds including a B-52, C-141, C-130, and much more. The outside area also contains a number of covered picnic areas, restrooms, playground and a large parking area suitable for the largest tour bus or RV.
Join us in the video below as we tour The Museum of Aviation.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
When it comes to the topic of RV trip planning, this is the single most requested topic we receive from our website contact page and our I Love RV Life YouTube channel. We understand the unknowns so many face when dealing with long distance RV travel – the miles to travel, services needed on the trip, the unknown of campground availability, suitability of the campground and so much more. RV trip planning can eliminate much of the unknowns especially for those who have a big rig RV, long travel trailer or a fifth wheel. Knowing the time of travel and having a suitable campground to meet your needs is a great benefit especially if you are covering very long distances over an extended period of time.
One of our goals at I Love RV Life is to share our travels and the fun places Joan and I visit. Traveling thousands of miles a year, I want to share the process we use for our RV trip planning.
RV Trip Planning Tools
Most of what we use is free and online with one exception. We use Google Maps for our distance planning and route management. We also use Google calendar to maintain all trip information including travel routes, reservation confirmation, along with detail directions to each camp site. An added benefit with Google Calendar is the ability to share with family. This is a simple one time process within Google Calendar registering an email address for those who will be able to view your calendar. The remaining tool is Allstays for our campground research.
RV Trip Planning With Allstays
There are a number of methods to use Allstays including iPhone apps in addition to free and fee based web access plans. We have used all and prefer the paid web access plan. At the time of the blog, a one year subscription is $32.95 and our preference is the three year plan for $79.85. We have found the minor investment for subscription service yields many more benefits with the ease of locating campgrounds, fuels stops, dump stations, propane, highway information and so much more. While iPhone apps are available, we find the web based access to be far more feature rich when using a laptop, tablet or phone. Below is a list of some of the Allstays Pro features:
Full Screen Maps Campground Ratings Latitude and Longitude Tools Rest Areas Propane Road Hazards Nearby Places
Campground Information Tent Camping Truck Stops Lodge Members RV Dealers GPS Weather City and State Maps
This is a short list of the many features offers in the AllStays Pro subscription. I show some as part of our RV travel planning in the video below. If you would interested in purchasing an Allstays Pro subscription, please consider using this Allstays Pro link and support our website.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Hiking Panther Creek Falls made a perfect day on this crisp October fall morning. The trail to the falls is a 3.5 mile hike over moderate terrain. Our son Joel came to join me on the hike adding a little bonding benefit to the day.
The Trail
The trail starts with moderate elevations and is rather rocky and has a large amount of exposed roots. Not difficult, but you do have to watch your step. The lower half of the trails is much flatter running along side of the creek bed.
Throughout the hike you can hear the rushing water and there are great views along the creek before you reach the falls. We ran into several hikers who had packed in for the weekend staying in a number of the primitive camping spots along the trails.
The Falls
The Panther Creek Falls were very pretty. Not high waterfalls as many of the others we’ve visited in the area, but long rolling rocks. We were told this is a popular spot in the summer months with a number of pools at the bottom of the falls where you can wade in. Definitely not something I wanted to do on this chilly day.
For those who want to add to the hike, there’s another 4.5 mile hike beyond the falls to Yohnah Dam. Just make sure you have some energy bars and extra water for this longer stretch.
One other benefit to this beautiful area. Adjacent to the paved parking is a day use area. Check out the video for this unique spot for family gatherings or a cookout with friends.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
We had the opportunity to visit The Hermitage, the 7th president of the United States, Andrew Jackson’s home in Nashville TN. Andrew Jackson purchased the land in the early 1800’s completing the first home between 1819 and 1821. The current structure is the 3rd rebuild completed in 1837 after heavy fire damage. This was a great opportunity to visit a part of early 1800’s history, discover life during this period, even the political struggles that had a great impact on our nation.
One other point. There are many aspects of life during this period and this presidency that offer dark parts to US history and the people it impacted. A statement was made by one of the presenters during the introductory video viewed in the museum stating: “History is messy.” I couldn’t agree more. I’m a huge history buff. My hope is we learn from our history, regardless of what it was at that time, and never to return to the darker parts.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Merry Christmas from I Love RV Life! We’re home for Christmas. We so enjoy this time of year – fun with family and friends. This time is a mixture of Christmas school musicals and church plays with our talented granddaughter Jaymi Kate, big meals with family and of course, watching our favorite Christmas movies.
Our new tradition is going to downtown Macon, GA for the Christmas lights. Our friend Bryan Nichols and his team spend countless days and hours decorating Popular St. and Third St. as their Christmas Gift to everyone. As our son Joel shared: “This make me feel like Christmas!” I agree Joel. And to all of our iLoveRVLife YouTube viewers and to those we have met along our RV travels – Joan, Jerry, Joel, Julie, Josh, Jake, Jaymi Kate and Jilli Beth wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
While recently visiting the North Georgia Mountains, we took a day trip to Amicalola Falls State Park. It has been a number of years since our last visit. The park is a beautiful place to hike, see the amazing sites nature has to offer, along with a wide variety of photo opportunities. Aside for the nature trails and waterfalls, Amicalola Falls State Park offers a variety of lodging options including a campground on top of the mountains, cabin rentals and a lodge with stunning views of the mountains and valleys.
The Amicalola Falls
Amicalola Falls are an amazing site. The falls tower up the mountains side at 729 feet making them the tallest falls in Georgia and the third-highest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. For the adventurist, a path starts at the bottom of the mountain in front of the Welcome Center. A short walk along a path is bordered by the creek at the base of the falls. Midway you are greeted by an amazing view of the fall’s base. From an observation deck, 175 steps lead to a bridge in the middle of the falls. This is the most picturesque views of the falls.
Standing midway of the falls, the bridge view is spectacular. A view of the steepest section of the falls displays the sounds of the water cascading along the rocks, the view to the bottom of the falls and the first sights of the mountains to the south. To reach the top of the falls, another set of 425 steps leads to the observation deck above.
For some, the hike may be too strenuous, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from visiting Amicalola Falls and enjoying the amazing views. A short drive up the paved road toward the Lodge, you’ll find a parking area and short .3 mile paved path to the midpoint bridge. The path is fairly level with no steps. To continue to the top of the falls, continue up the road toward the Lodge where you’ll find more parking and a short, easy walk to the observation deck.
The views from the top of the falls are breath taking. The sounds of the falling water, the expansive site of the valley then the cascading mountain ridges in the background offer amazing picture after picture. Also at the top of the falls is a park with seating, picnic areas and an amphitheater. Continuing across the bridge you come upon the beginning of the 2,180 mile long Appalachian Trail that leads to Mt. Katahdin in Maine.
The Campground
At the top of the mountain are 24 wooded camp sites. Each sight has ample space for the largest camper and natural barriers between each site. Water and electric are available at each site and a dump stations is located near the entrance. The campground has large grassy areas for the kids to play, a pavilion and bath facilities with a laundry. The campground provides access to many of the hiking trails, minutes from the top of the falls and a short walk to the lodge.
While big rig friendly, there is one word of caution. The road leading the campground is a long with a 25% incline grade. Make sure your tow vehicle or motorized RV has the horse power to reach the top. It’s steep!
If you don’t have an RV and still want to experience the rustic side of the park, there are a number of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom cabins.
The Lodge
Few state parks we’ve visited include lodging. The Amicalola Falls Lodge is located along the top ridge providing breath-taking views of the valley’s and mountains. The facility offers hotel style rooms and service. The Lodge has a restaurant, meeting rooms, outdoor deck and veranda. This is a great location for weddings, corporate events, or a pampered weekend to enjoy the mountain views after a day at one of the many North Georgia vineyards.
Amazing Zip Line Course
If you are up for something designed for the heartiest of thrill seeker, consider one of the zip line tours. Appropriately named, the Screaming Eagle Aerial Adventure Tour, the zip lines range from short treks through the trees to the longest at 2,000 feet from one mountain top to another at 250 feet across deep valleys. Just seeing the course from the ground was enough to get the adrenaline flowing. This is one amazing course.
Whether a day trip, long weekend or 14 day stay at the campground, Amicalola Falls State Park offers the quite peace of the mountain trails, stunning views of the falls, valleys and mountains, along with wide range of activities for the adventure.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
We took a couple of days to tour a few of the North Georgia sites from our recent trip. Our first stop was Brasstown Bald located around a 15 minute drive south of Blairsville, GA or 60 minutes from our favorite campground in Cleveland, GA. This is the highest peak in Georgia at 4,784 feet. On this early December day, we still had a little snow along the trails, mild winds and low 30 ℉ in the middle of the day. We had super clear skies and the views were spectacular.
The Trail
From the parking area, there is paved trail that extends .6 miles to the top of the mountain. It’s a strenuous hike with a steep, but manageable rise along the trail. There are several stops along with way with seats and informative markers to catch your breath before you reach the summit. For those who have physical challenges, there is another option to visit the top. For a few dollars, a van is provided to take you to the Observation Deck and back.
If you are up for the hike, the walk along the trail is something to see. Although this was a winter day, the trail was boarded by an abundance of wild mountain laurel and rhododendron. With the elevations, these will flower in the late summer and should offer an amazing walk along the trail. Even without the blooms, the views were great with teases along way where you can see the rising mountain peaks surrounding the bald.
The Interpretative Center and Observation Deck
We made it to the top. Wow, this is something to see! We stopped first to see a short movie about the ecology of the mountain. Then off to the Interpretative Center to see displays and take in some of the history about the area and surrounding mountains. Then up the steps to the observation deck.
The views from the deck are amazing. One this clear day, we could see the mountains surrounding Georgia along with the southern peaks of Tennessee and North Carolina, and northwestern peaks of South Carolina. No clouds, little haze and you could see for miles. Looking south, you can see the mountain peaks that support the Appalachian Trail from Amicalola State Park, past Springer Mountain and on. If you follow the blog, you know what’s coming next….that right “it was some kinda pretty”!
The walk back down the trail is a breeze. Compared to the assent, it took minutes. Next to the parking lot is a small gift shop with basics for the hike, refreshments, and a few mementos to remember the hike. A friendly staff is available to address questions about the area and the trail.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
We just completed 3 months of RV travel. But, the beginning was not our best planning effort. And to top it off, we had more travel issues with truck problems, bad roads, hurricanes, wreck delays and damage to our 5th wheel. Regardless of how well you can plan a trip and the preventative maintenance performed on your RV, challenges can happen. Even with these unplanned issues, we still had a great time traveling, seeing the sites and meeting fellow RV travelers along the way.
Bad Roads
To say we ran into some bad roads is an understatement. I-95 in South Carolina is a mess. I’m amazed at the condition of this major stretch of Interstate. It’s riddled with large pot holes, uneven concrete and giant cracks. We discovered that it doesn’t matter if traveling north or south, I-95 in South Carolina needs some serious repairs. Fortunately, the State roads off I-95 to our Huntington Beach destination we well maintained and gave some relief.
I wish I could report this was the only area with poor roads. We took US-65 from Gulf Port, MS on our route to Vicksburg. This highway is one giant stretch of uneven concrete. Speaking with others RV’ers once we arrived in Vicksburg, everyone asked why we didn’t take one of the state roads. We just didn’t know. Goes to prove it’s always good to ask about a route if you’re not familiar with a new area of travel. The last bad leg was the I-440 bypass around the southeastern area of Little Rock. Simply one word – Aweful.
We’ve faced bad roads before, but this was stretch after stretch. The 5th wheel suffered too. A number of broken light fixtures, bent the electric fireplace bracket and somewhere along the route, we fractured one of the axle leaf spring hangers and it snapped in two on the way home.
Truck Problems
We are very particular when it comes to the maintenance of our F-350 dually and the 5th wheel. But, there are somethings that you can’t see or plan for. Between Vicksburg, MS and Hot Springs, AR the engine light came on. Our diesel exhaust fluid heaters shorted out. Fortunately, the fine folks at Sparks Ford in Malvern, AR was able to make a quick repair and get us back on the road. And to top it off, the repairs were covered by a recall and it didn’t cost a penny.
That wasn’t the end of our truck issues. Ninety miles from Nashville, TN, we blew our turbo hose. We had no idea what happen. We first thought the engine was blown, but no smoke, fluid leaking, not even an engine light, all we experience was a huge loss of power. Making it to Nashville was quite the task and the following morning I’m at Town and Country Ford. Excellent customer service again. They discovered and replaced a blown turbo hose. A couple hours later and a swipe of the credit card we were back on the road.
Trip Planning and Our Time
I don’t know what I was thinking. 3,000 miles to cover these destinations, not including the touring miles, 7 states and all this in 6 weeks was a whirlwind of RV travel. For most of the trip, we set up, toured, and repacked several times a week. This may be a reasonable way to travel in a Class A, B or C, but for a 5th wheel or travel trailer, we found it to be physically draining. Plus with all of the video recorded, it took weeks to edit and air.
What We Learned
Even with our very busy RV travel and miles covered, we still had a great time. Even with the bad roads we managed. And even with the vehicle problems, each was quickly resolved and travel continued. Going forward we’re returning to our preferred mode of RV travel – 10 days to 2 weeks per campground. We’re going to plan better to provide a balance of play, tour, work and rest time.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
This is the second trip Joan and I made to Memphis TN over the last 4 years. Our first visit was all about Elvis and a night on Beale St. But this time we want history of Memphis music with a daytime visit of Beale St along with stops at the Rock n Soul Museum, Sun Records and we couldn’t leave without a stop at the Stax Record Museum. While music is a huge draw for all things Memphis, there’s one amazing place we had to see – the iconic Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid. All made a very interesting day experiencing the sights and sounds of Memphis.
Beale Street
Our first stop was Beale St. Walking along the street, peaking inside the many music venues, shops and restaurants, Joan and I both agreed this area is one of the coolest places in Memphis. As we walked along the street, great blues music was coming from all directions. If you visit Beale St, make sure you go to B.B King’s Blues Club. Great music and the barbeque is good too. But there’s much more to feed that blues music craving. There’s Alfred’s on Beale, Silky O’Sullivans, Jerry Lee Lewis’ Honky Tonk, Tin Roof and the list goes on and on. We also wanted a quick Memphis style lunch before we left Beale St. and stopped at King’s Palace known for the excellent gumbo.
Rock n Soul Museum
At the corner of Beale St. and B.B. King Blvd. we found the Memphis TN Rock n Soul Museum. The self-guided tour provided a look into the history of not only Memphis music, but the artists and many contributors who made an impact in blues, R&B, Rock and so much more. This museum starts with the roots of the blues, originating in the farms and fields of the south. Displays show many of the early artists who were inspired by the work songs from the fields which created the classic American genre of music.
The museum contained music, videos, displays of instruments and recording equipment from the 1930s through the 1970s along with a classic mixing board from Ardent Studios where so many of my favorite artists recorded. I was amazed to see how the many artists and the city of Memphis set the tone for so much music and impacted musicians from around the world.
Sun Studios
Out next stops was Sun Studios which many tout as the birthplace of Rock and Roll. Here, young up and coming artists from the 1950s and 60s including Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and so many more started their music careers. Known first as Rockabilly, this Memphis inspired music soon migrated to be known as Rock and Roll and set the foundation for many artists and new forms of music.
The bottom floor contains a small café along with a wide variety of merchandize. The upstairs contains the original recording studio. We wanted to take the tour, but 3 tour buses unloaded as we arrived and it would have been several hours before we could tour. A visit downstairs and some mechanize met our immediate needs.
Stax Records
Next was the Stax Record Museum. Sharing a love of R&B from my teen years growing up in Macon, GA, I couldn’t leave Memphis TN without a visit to the Stax Record Museum. Otis Redding from Macon, GA was one of Stax biggest stars. There were several displays dedicated to his career, but there was so much more. This list of Stax artists and their memorabilia seemed to be endless including Al Green, Booker T and the MGs, Wilson Picket, the Mar-Keys, Carla Thomas, Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, the great R&B guitarist – Steve Cropper, and so many more.
Music was everywhere. Many of the artist’s costumes and other memorabilia were displayed along with the wild gold Cadillac owned by Isaac Hayes. The studio had been recreated with much of the original mixing board, amps, speakers and instruments. It was amazing to think of all the great music and artists who stood next to this equipment and recorded so much great music. The last stop was a long corridor which had hundreds of album covers, gold and platinum records all recorded at Stax.
Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid
Sure, Joan and I came for Memphis music, but we had to stop at one of the most unusual retails outlets in the US, Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid. 535,000 square feet of retail space dedicated to outdoor activities, this Bass Pro Shops was something to experience. From the building’s origin as a sports venue, the skyboxes have not been converted into a 103 room wilderness hotel with private screened porches overlooking the man-made cypress swamp retail space below.
The space is massive with fishing and pleasure boats floating in the indoor stream, clothing, upstairs gun center, fishing gear and so much more. Two restaurants are located on the main floor along with a bowling alley, aquariums, live alligators and a 28-story freestanding elevator to the glass observation deck. One of the most unusual experiences to be enjoyed by everyone.
Rock N Soul Museum – https://www.memphisrocknsoul.org/ Sun Records – https://www.sunrecords.com/ Stax Museum – https://staxmuseum.com/ Memphis Beale St. – http://www.bealestreet.com/ Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid – https://stores.basspro.com/us/tn/memphis/1-bass-pro-dr.html
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Over the past several years, we have been looking for a backup camera to use with our 40 foot 5th wheel. Due to length of the 5th wheel, coupled with a long wheel base Super Duty F-350, we haven’t been able to find a backup camera solution that would work reliably. Until now! The team at Haloview contacted us stating they now have a solution for long RVs with a system capable of operating up to 80 feet in length using their new Haloview Range Dominator 7 backup camera. Looking for a reliable system for the last 5 years, we were very interested in installing and testing the RD7.
Backup Camera 5th Wheel Challenges
When dealing with long RV’s, there’s a challenge when considering a backup camera solution. The challenge is further amplified when a 5th wheel comes into play. For wireless solutions, we have the distance from the rear camera to the truck dash that typically exceeds the working distance from camera to monitor and then we have the metal structure of the truck cab further impacting the video transmission. Our tests of past wireless cameras gave less than favorable results due to our attempt at transmitting 52 feet to the truck dash monitor. The signal would drop out from time-to-time causing blank screens or the video would pixelate to the point of being unusable.
End-to-end wired backup cameras are an option that typically provides a quality signal, but with a 5th wheel, we’ve now added a break in space between the RV and the truck. Due to this break in connectivity between truck and 5th wheel, we have to come up with a creative solution to power the camera from the truck, adding a weather proof connection to route a cable around the pin box, then cable through the truck bed and on to the truck cab monitor. For our needs, a hardwire-only solution was more trouble than it’s worth.
The Haloview Range Dominator 7
Haloview contacted us to review their wireless backup cameras. We shared our past experienced with our 40 foot 5th wheel and failures from the past. Haloview’s response: “We fixed that”. And I’ll add; a very creative fix they have indeed. The Haloview Range Dominator 7 or RD7 is a hybrid wired and wireless solution with claims of a working distance from camera to monitor up to 80 feet in length. For our application, this was perfect. Our distance from backup camera to truck dash was around 52 feet.
Receiving the RD7, the box contained all the parts required for Haloview’s recommended installation. Clicking to enlarge the picture on the right, Haloview suggests mounting the backup camera in the back of the RV and running the supplied cable to the front 5th wheel cap connecting to the wireless transmitter. A power inserter is supplied and due to the low power requirements of the transmitter, suggest using a rear marker light for power. This is a simple installation that should take the better part of an afternoon to complete.
Our RD7 Installation
While the installation recommended by Haloview works, our preference was more of a factory style install. We found the supplied 12 meter cable provided sufficient reach to run from the backup camera mount, through the rear wall and the floor, then route under the 5th wheel to the front bay where power and wireless transmitted was installed. While hiding the wires provided that “factory” look, it tripled our installation time. Removing all the bolts from one side of the black underpinning and running the cable from front to back, then replacing the bolts took about 2 hours with the overall installation taking around 6 hours.
Finding power for the wireless transmitter was easy. Our front bay had a spare fuse block and adding the wiring with an inline fuse took minutes. We also took an extra step adding a power switch between the 12V DC connection and the wireless transmitter. Although not required, we wanted that extra assurance of removing power from the transmitter when we weren’t traveling. Click the simple wiring diagram on the right to enlarge with the full installation shown in the video below.
The Cab Monitor
The Haloview RD7 monitor is feature rich. It’s capable of supporting 4 wireless cameras offering a solution for rear, left/right side and front along with a number of display options. The monitor also contains a memory slot to for recording. There is an easy to use menu for all the features and we found the monitor setup to be very intuitive.
We have limited dash real estate with our current 8 inch GPS tablet, but fortunately, Haloview provides several powering options along with brackets to install the wireless backup monitor. The large 7 inch, 720P high definition monitor provides a vivid display and we wanted to ensure we had good visibility of the unit while traveling. Our solution was to use the 12V DC dash power plug and the bracket, installing the monitor on the front of our center console.
Our Results
To say we are thrilled with the installation and performance of the Haloview Range Dominator 7 backup camera is an understatement. The factory look of the installation turned out better than expected. The video quality of the camera and monitor provides a wide view of multiple lanes along with a very detailed presentation of the all things behind us. And with a transmission length from the wireless monitor to camera transmitter now at 12 feet, we have zero video drop outs or pixilation.
We have provided links below the video of the Haloview products along with the items we used for our factory style installation.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
If you plan to travel to Memphis, TN, there’s a few campgrounds close to the center of town to consider. We thought we’d seek a different experience on this stop with a weeks stay at Tom Sawyers RV Park located in West Memphis, AR. The campground is minutes from the heart of downtown Memphis, TN just across the Tennessee – Arkansas state line. We found the campground to be spacious, offer full hook-ups along with the novelty of our 5th wheel located feet from the banks of the Mississippi River.
The campground
We chose one of the premium riverside campgrounds for our stay. This camp site offered 50 amps, water and sewer connections along with the benefit of a level concrete pad to park the 5th wheel. One of the benefits in our spot was the unobstructed view of the Mississippi River from our awning. Comfortable evening breezes and watching the river traffic made this a unique experience. Click the picture to the right to view the park map.
I have to tip my hat to the efforts by the campground owners. You may remember the severe flooding experienced by many Arkansas residents during February 2019. Due to the campground’s location between the town’s flood levies and the Mississippi River, it wasn’t spared during this time. From the efforts of the owners, the campground was re-opened in July of this year. For the most part, there was little evidence of the flood with the exception of some minor tree debris along the riverbank and some cosmetics along the gravel roads and drainage area. None of this had an impact on our stay.
The area and Memphis, TN
West Memphis, AR is a small town, but offered the amenities we needed during our stay from chain grocery stores, Wal-Mart and a variety or restaurants. There’s a large casino minutes nearby, but we skipped this go round.
The main draw for us was the easy access to downtown Memphis. A short 15 minutes from the campground, we were at Beale St to visit some of the blues clubs (B.B. Kings is a favorite offering great music and excellent Barbeque. At the corner of Beale St. and B.B. King Blvd. is the Rock and Soul Museum, a definite stop to explore the impact of Memphis music. Leaving the downtown area, we traveled to the amazing Bass Pro Shops at the Memphis Pyramid, then on to the birthplace of Rockabilly, Sun Studios and finally the Stax Records Museum where many of our favorite R&B artists recorded throughout the 60s and 70s.
We thoroughly enjoyed our Tom Sawyers RV Park stay and along with our time in Memphis, TN. Below is the video tour of our stay at Tom Sawyers RV Park.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Joan and I are in the middle of a 3,000 mile trip. We’ve wanted to visit Hot Springs, AR for some time. There are a wide range of campground options in and around Hot Springs, but on this leg of the trip and after some very long towing miles, we thought we would treat ourselves to more of a premium camping experience. To state Catherines Landing is a nice campground is an understatement. This is a very nice campground offering premium camping spots, full hook-ups and so much more.
The Campground
There are a number of options for camp sites. The paved roads to each site contain level concrete pads and landscaped green space between each camper. I also liked the fact the camper spots were staggered, giving the impression of a larger space where you’re not window to window to your next door neighbor. Sites and prices vary from back-in, pull-through and lake side. Sites are equipped with power options from 30 to 100 amps, picnic table, fire rings and reasonable Wi-Fi service is accessible throughout the campground.
The Amenities
The campground offers much to do and experience. There is a very large pool, splash pad and large playground for the kids, a zip line course, boat and kayak rental to use on Lake Catherine, an entertainment room with projector and large screen, large onsite laundry, and a well-equipped fitness room. The campground is pet friendly providing plenty of green space plus a large, fenced dog run. They also offer one of the largest covered pavilions we’ve seen in a campground with ample seating, bathroom facilities, large bar area and giant overhead fans.
With all of the fun things to do at Catherines Landing, there still remain the many sites, tours and fun things to see and experience in Hot Springs. Our stay provided a much needed time to relax and Catherines Landing provided that ideal place.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Joan and I took some time to walk around the historic district of Vicksburg, MS. Close to the river and minutes from the old train station we found the Lower Mississippi River Museum. The museum has been created by the US Army Corps of Engineers and access is free. The museum provides an extensive amount of information about the Mississippi river and river life in the area. There is an excellent movie about the river and how it has impacted the area throughout the years. The museum also documented the great flood of 1927 which displaced over 900,000 people.
The Museum
The museum has a number of displays describing the use of steamboats and the major impact the Mississippi river made on transportation during the 1800s. Aside from the riverboat models, there are a number of pictures and information about this period of transportation and trade. One area of interest was a large wall timeline showing life along the river from the later 1700s to present.
M/V Mississippi IV
Another area of interest is the M/V Mississippi IV and the displays showing life aboard this vessel. The former towboat was used by the US Corps of Engineers for over 30 years. The Mississippi IV served multiple roles to for the Corps delivering goods and equipment along the river project sites. This workboat, its powerful engines and size made it an ideal vessel to handle large towing needs, rough waters and annual river inspections.
Entering the main floor of the vessel we discovered the hearing area, a large public space and dining area. The boat has 22 staterooms and can transport 150 passengers and was often used by the Corps as a giant floating ambassador. The Mississippi IV was often used to host public meetings for the Mississippi River Commission. We were able to tour the main and second deck house, engine rooms and the pilot house. Although decommissioned in 1993, the vessel saw duty again in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and was used as a flowing command center.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
There is so much history in Vicksburg, MS that we had difficulty picking those few locations to fit into our short visit. Our second stop in town features the Old Court House Museum located in heart of the historic district of Vicksburg. The court house is an amazing building completed in 1858 and has been deemed to be one of Vicksburg’s most historic structures. The two stories of the Old Court House Museum contain a rich representation of life in Vicksburg before, during and after the Civil War.
The Court House
Walking up the steps to the court house, you are greeted by massive 30 foot tall stone columns. The court house presents a stately presence and it’s understood why the American Institute of Architects has named this one of the 20 most outstanding courthouses in America. The court house is located on one of the highest hills overlooking the bluff to the Mississippi River with the building becoming a target of much Union shelling during the Civil War only to suffer one major hit. Over the years, the court house suffered from years of neglect along with a direct hit from a tornado in 1953. Fortunately, the Warren County Historical Society took over stewardship of this beautiful building and in 1948 opened the doors to the museum displaying an extensive exhibition of Vicksburg artifacts.
Tour the Court House
The lower floor has a very large display of Civil War artifacts including clothing, cannon shells, bullets, letters, actual newspaper articles, flags and so much more. One room contains furniture used during mid-1800’s with rare china, along with other home furnishings. The rooms on the second floor has actual period clothing from the 1800’s, dolls and toys. The final area was the court room, left untouched for tour. One of the outstanding features is the cast iron railings used throughout the court room.
The Court House Grounds
Walking around the court house grounds, we were taken by the old oak and magnolia trees that have survived so much conflict. The building provides a striking pose on top of the bluff overlooking the city down to the Mississippi River. One very interesting item that remains from the Civil War lies at the base of the large stone columns. At each pad you can see the remnants of graffiti. This graffiti is not modern or recent, but left by the Union soldiers who camped on the hill after the fall of Vicksburg.
The tour of the Old Court House Museum provides a rare view into Vicksburg during the 1800’s. Our thanks to Vicksburg and the Warren County Historical Society for their hard work maintaining this piece of history and their warm welcome.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Our trip to Vicksburg, MS included a visit to the National Military Park Vicksburg also known as the Vicksburg Civil War Battlefield. I’ve always been interested in Civil War History for a number of reasons. It’s hard to grasp the scale of the war in this day and age as to the events that lead to so much destruction and loss of life. We hear the saying in so many ways, but philosopher George Santayana stated: “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” My objective on this trip was to learn more about this period, its places and the people it affected. My videos and blogs are intended to share the sites as they exist today. I’ll leave the opinions to those with far more knowledge about the events of this time and hope you’ll enjoy sharing in my adventure.
The Importance of Vicksburg
At the time of the Civil War, Vicksburg was a major commercial shipping port and railroad hub. Jefferson Davis share that Vicksburg was a key component that held the South’s two halves together. Both the Confederate and the Union Armies knew this to be a fact.
Vicksburg exists on a high bluff overlooking the Mississippi River and the lands east. Confederate leadership created a riverfront battery and surrounding fort consisting of 170 cannons and over 18,000 soldiers. Abraham Lincoln knew Vicksburg as a key location for the Confederate Army and charged his General Ulysses Grant to attack and capture the city. Grant assembles an army of 45,000 soldiers and began the assault in May of 1863.
The Vicksburg Battlefield
We started our visit at the Visitors Center watching a well-produced video of the Park and battle that ensued. The center also had a number of displays explaining the events of the Vicksburg campaign. Touring the site, you can see monument after monument dedicated to the Union forces that fought in the Vicksburg campaign. Driving throughout the battlefield I was able to see gun placements, deep scars in the earth where trenches and soldiers lived, fought and died. Standing today over these tranquil large hills and overlooking the landscape it was difficult to image that the overall campaign that lasted over 43 days and took many thousands of Union and Confederate lives. While the Union was not able to overtake Vicksburg, surrounded, cut off from all supplies, and suffering from disease and little food, the Confederate Army surrendered Vicksburg on July 4, 1863.
The USS Cairo Gunboat
Working our way around the park and near the end we found the USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum. On site is the partially reconstructed USS Cairo Gunboat, one of seven river ironclads operated by the Union Navy. The gunboat reached the Vicksburg in 1862 and the aggressive defenses of Vicksburg. The USS Cairo was struck by canon fire that left a catastrophic whole in the wooden bow causing it to sink in twelve minutes. The gun boat was forgotten and rested in the deep Mississippi River covered in silt and mud until discovered in 1964. We are now able to walk through the gunboat, see its construction and weapons. The museum next door contain a treasure trove of weapons, personal property and so much more to give a glimpse at how the sailors lived on the ship.
The National Cemetery
The last area viewed was the National Cemetery located at the north end of the park. Here you see a chilling reminder of the spoils of war and the resting place of over 17,000 Union soldiers covering 116 acres of the park. Confederate soldiers who died in the campaign were buried in the Vicksburg City Cemetery.
A trip to Vicksburg would not be complete without a visit to the National Military Park Vicksburg. See the video below as we experienced the park.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
We have wanted to travel to Vicksburg, MS for some time to experience this city’s rich history. Wanting a comfortable campground close by, we found the Ameristar Casino RV Park to be perfect for our needs. Located minutes from Exit 1-A off I-20, the campground is next to the center of Vicksburg. From the campground we were able to experience the national park, museums, numerous restaurants, groceries, big box stores and of course, the casino.
The Campground
The campground was very cost effective. Paved roads throughout and all spaces were concrete with some offering shade. The sites were a mix of 30 and 50 amps, water, sewer, cable and reasonable WiFi. The office lobby was assessable 24 hours a day with access to the coin laundry, bathrooms, showers, a comfortable lounge in the front and a small swimming pool just outside the doors. A shuttle was available to take us to the casino for gaming or to enjoy the restaurant or buffet. We had a great sense of safety in Vicksburg, but the campground offered 24-hour security and was well lit. Click on the picture to the right for an enlarged park map.
The campground was very popular. Many stopped for the day for an overnight stay with about half of the campers enjoying the many Vicksburg sites. For the amenities and camping rates, the Ameristar Casino RV Park was a bargain with the added benefit of being minutes for all things Vicksburg.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
I love American history. From those who lived on this land before the settlers arrive and throughout the history of the amazing country. On this trip, we have experience so much from historic homes, a lighthouse and forts, but this stop was different. Joan and I had the opportunity to visit Mobile, AL and visit the Battle Ship Memorial Park. We were able to tour a huge piece of WWII history – The USS Alabama Battleship, USS Drum Submarine and a wide variety of military aircraft that was involved in various wartime efforts. Touring the battleship was an amazing experience showing how 2,500 Sailors and Marines lived on this floating city protecting the United States throughout WWII. And our tour didn’t stop with the battleship. We were able to walk through a submarine and see a wide range of aircraft. An amazing day and great appreciation for those who served our country.
USS Alabama
The USS Alabama began its mission in 1943. 45,000 tons of steel and machine, the “Mighty A” served in a number of notable campaigns throughout the Pacific. Walking across the deck, we were amazed at not only the amount of armament, but the sheer size. I must admit, I stood in awe under the giant 3-gun turrets with the capability of accurately firing a 2,700 pound shell, 16” in diameter, traveling over 1,500 miles per hour and the ability to reach a distance of nearly 21 miles. The armament didn’t stop there with numerous 5”, 40mm and 20mm guns wrapping the outer edges of the ship.
But, the big guns weren’t the only interest. We were able to walk throughout the ship to see how life and tasks existed. The ship was self-contained to meet not only the basic needs to emergency services. We were able to see where the offices and enlisted lived, their living quarters, kitchen, dining, even a soda fountain. You could see the ship wasn’t designed for much downtime with such a critical wartime mission that laid ahead for those manning the ship.
The engineering used in the 1940’s from building the ship, its propulsion and electronics was something to see. We were able to tour parts of the engine room. As one could image, the 4 engine rooms producing 130,000 hp was massive with the ability to push this 680 foot, over 40,000 ton ship at 28 knots. In the video, we also show some of the sophisticated electronic systems used to maintain the ship. Computers of this period filled rooms, taking a wide range of highly trained individuals to maintain. Each filled an important task and was designed to operate under the most extreme conditions. Leave the USS Alabama Battleship was not the end of the day. The Memorial Park had much more in store.
USS Drum
Having the ability to see a WWII American submarine is a very rare experience. The USS Drum is the oldest American submarine on public display. While a fraction of the size of the battleship experience, the tour was no less informative. The 311 foot submarine supported a maximum of 75 day missions and designed to operate at depths up to 300 feet.
Entering the submarine, our first site was the 6 forward, 21” torpedo tubes. We continued through to see living quarters, operations, the engine room and the aft with 4 more torpedo tubes. It was difficult to grasp how life must have been for the 8 offices and 75 enlisted men that crewed this submarine. To state that living on a submarine was minimal and confined is an understatement. Space is given to the critical mission of operating the submarine and any remaining space to supporting the crew. We left the submarine with great appreciation of the men who served in the extreme capacity protecting the shipping lanes during WWII.
The Aircraft Museum and Park Memorials.
The Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion has a large collection of air craft. Various jets and helicopters are displayed. One of particular interest was the restored helicopter used by presidents from Nixon to George H. W. Bush.
Outside of the pavilion we saw a rare A-12 Black Bird. This is an amazing aircraft capable of speeds at 2,300 miles per hour and altitudes over 93,000 feet. The pavilion had a video from one of the pilots that flew this aircraft supporting spy missions in the mid 1960’s. A Vietnam War era B-52 Stratofortress was on display. The sheer size and massive engines on this aircraft were something the experience. The grounds also contained an extensive amount of tanks, boats, planes, artillery and memorials.
A great experience that Joan and I are grateful to share this Memorial and honor the brave men who served on this USS Alabama, The USS Drum and the various aircraft.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
While visiting Gulf Shores, AL we discovered the Fort Morgan Alabama Historic Site located on the point of Fort Morgan Peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay. This fort has an extensive history starting as Fort Bowyer during the War of 1812 then as Fort Morgan protecting this critical shipping lane from 1819 through the Civil War, WWI and WWII. The site is an amazing piece of military architecture with well-preserved seacoast fortifications along with the wide range of modifications made throughout this fort’s historic career.
The Fort from 1819 – 1864
The fort has changed much over the years. The original 1819 construction consisted of local brick along with granite, sandstone and ironwork shipped from New York. The fort was a key defense for the Confederate Army and in 1861 as a major defense for Mobile Bay. In 1864, the Union shelled the fort in one of the most intense bombardments of a single fort ever recorded during the Civil War with the Confederate army surrendering the following day.
The Fort in WWI and WWII
Starting in 1895 and until WWII, much of the fort saw new fortifications. During WWI, 2,000 troops were stationed at the Fort and a substantial expansion occurred to support the Army’s. And again in 1941, The US Navy occupied the fort to renew the coast defenses and in 1944, the fort was abandoned for the last time, officially ending its role as a coastal defense mission.
Today, you can walk the grounds of this historic fort. Visit the seacoast fortifications, talk to the many volunteers about life in the fort. The grounds offer an extensive museum of historical artifacts from life at the fort and it use over 125 years. The Fort Morgan Alabama Historical Site is a great way to spend part of a day enjoying the beautiful surrounding and a fortunate piece of American history not lost.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Joan and I travel on a budget. Every now and then we will splurge on a campground that may be at the higher end of our budget, but then we’re looking for places along our travel route that may be a little more affordable. One such place is Rainbow Plantation Campground located in Summerdale, AL. We have stayed in a number of Escapees campgrounds and always found them to cater to those who are the occasional RV traveler, full timer or long timer as the multi-month style of RV’ing that Joan and I experience.
About Escapees
Just a note about Escapees. We have been members from day one of our RV travels. Escapees is as much a community as it is an organization. Starting in 1978, Escapees was created to remove some of the challenges RV’ers faces with long term travels. They offer services such as mail forwarding, an advocacy program for RV needs and a number of Rainbow Parks from Florida to Washington State. We’ve stayed in several of the Rainbow Park campgrounds and have found them not only very affordable, but perfect for our style of travel and needed amenities while we are on the road.
The Location
Rainbow Plantation Campground is located about halfway between I-10 and Gulf Shores, AL. The beach is located 15 minutes from the campground where Gulf Shores State Park is located with free beach parking and access to beautiful sugar sand beaches. Fort Morgan is a great historical stop less than 30 minutes west of the beach providing a view in to how we protected our shores from the War of 1812 until the end of WWII. And Mobile, AL is 30 minutes away from the campground with a multitude of sites to see including the USS Alabama and much more.
The Campground
The campground offers water, up to 50 amp electrical connections and sewer. Paved roads provide access to the sites and each camping spot is hard packed grass covered and level. One thing that is unique about Rainbow Park Campground is the double width sites with deep green space behind each spot. Add the many that sites that have beautiful, sweeping live oak trees and the camping experience is idea. The campground also has a club house, laundry and pool. Click the map on the right for more information.
Great coastal food
When you travel to this area, you must experience to coastal food. From high-end 5 star to those favorite local spots, there is no shortage of places to experience the local seafood cuisine that is a mix of the coast, home style Alabama and even a little bayous influence that makes each eatery a little different.
Friendly, very affordable, short access to the beach, great places to tour, ample shopping and restaurants makes this an ideal place to spend time enjoying the Alabama coast.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Our campground travel formula is pretty simple. We have a budget we need to manage for each trip since we may be on the road for over three months at a time. On this trip, we started off with a splurge that was at the top of our expense list which meant we had to find campgrounds that would be less costly going forward. This can be a bit of a challenge since low cost doesn’t always equate with nice campgrounds. Well the latter certainly wasn’t the case for Eastbank Core of Engineer Campground located next to Chattahoochee, FL and Bainbridge, GA. This campsite is an absolute jewel.
The Local Area
We needed some down time. Over a short period, we had traveled a number of miles and toured some really interesting places. Joan and I wanted to just take it easy for a few days. Leaving the Georgia cost heading to Alabama, we needed to find a stop for a few days in the middle of our route. I’ve looked online at Eastbank COE campground for several years, but the opportunity never existed for us to book a stay. We didn’t expect much, located in a very rural location with the closest shopping for basic grocery needs provided by a Dollar Store. We thought this will be OK for a few nights. We’ll just rest and move on. Wow! Were we wrong! This was a fantastic campground with great camping sites topped off with amazing views of Lake Seminole.
The Campground
The campground has 67 sites, 65 with electric and water hookup and many supporting 50 amps. There’s a very nice bathhouse with laundry facilities, dump station on the way out of the campground, boat ramp and picnic sites. Lake Seminole is massive with a surface area of 37,500 acres of water and 376 miles of shore. From the campground, most sites have views of the lake that are stunning. The sites have a substantial amount of green space between the campers, all the roads are paved and the camping sites are either crush gravel or paved concrete. Click the map on the right for site availability.
While the area is limited for touring spots and places of interest, the campground does offer public access to the dam. This was a great place to walk and see this marvel of engineering.
This is a beautiful campground, huge sites, fantastic views, off the beaten path, quite, relaxing, just the prescription for Joan and me after a busy month of travel.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
On a recent trip to the Georgia coast, we took a day to see the sites at St. Simons Island. St. Simons Island is the largest of the Golden Isles barrier Islands. The Poet Sidney Lanier immortalized this island in his poem Marshes of the Glynn. “Affable live-oak, leaning low,– Thus–with your favor–soft, with a reverent hand, (Not lightly touching your person, Lord of the land!) Bending your beauty aside, with a step I stand” Sidney Lanier 1842-1881 – The Marshes of the Glynn.
And as the poet exclaimed, that is exactly what Joan and I experienced. There are wonderful places to tour where the natural beauty of the island has been preserved. And the live oaks on the island….breathtaking. There is also a wide range of things to see and do including beaches, museums, shops, championship golf courses, exceptional restaurants and so much more.
Fort Frederica
We spent part of the day touring Fort Frederica. This is a beautiful site that has been restored to show the area where a vibrant English colony was established in 1733 and flourished until the British garrison was withdrawn in 1758. Many of the town’s people left and time reclaimed much of the settlement. Today, we were able walk the streets, see the tabby foundation ruins and a part of the fort.
We started at the museum near the entrance to the fort. We viewed many of the items discovered from archaeological excavations. The museum also provided a glimpse into much of the past history. Leaving the museum we were greeted by the stunning site of Fort Frederica. The ancient, Spanish moss filled live oaks were simply stunning. We were able to walk along the same streets mapped in 1733 viewing the tabby foundations where homes had been. At the end of Broadstreet, we found the remnants of the fort overlooking Frederica River.
This is a beautiful site. Peaceful, stunning views and well preserve nature. The tour of the fort provided a wonderful morning on the island.
St. Simons Lighthouse
Our next stop was the St. Simons Lighthouse and Museum overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the entrance to Saint Simons Sound. This is the second lighthouse with construction completing in 1872. The lighthouse is 104 feet tall and continues to operate today. At the base of the lighthouse is the Keeper’s dwelling where we were able to see artifacts from the days of the keepers. Here we could see how the dozen keepers lived until the lighthouse was automated in the mid-1950s.
We also walked to the top of the lighthouse. The 129 steps were definitely worth the effort. A number of landings along the steps provided a window to tease the view for what waited at the top. The views from the landing atop the lighthouse were spectacular. Directly in front is the Atlantic Ocean providing a view as far as the eye can see. To the right is the edge of Jekyll Island and to the north is the town of St. Simons and a live oak canopy covering the island. Simply beautiful.
There was so much to see and do at St. Simons that could have filled a week or more. We enjoyed our day trip with these two locations and the wonderful visual memories offered.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
If you have been following our travels, you know we enjoy visiting historical sites. We like to find places off the beaten path and enjoy sharing the sites with others. And the older, the better. That was the case with our recent tour of Fort King George Historical Site located in Darien, GA on the edge of the Altamaha River. Manned from 1721 to 1736, this is the oldest English fort remaining on the Georgia coast. General Oglethorpe brought Scottish Highlanders to the fort in 1736 and named the settlement Darien. Darien mean protector and was Oglethorpe’s plan to add protection to the southern Georgia coast.
The early inhabitants
Walking through the fort, we were able to visit a reconstruction of the British fort as it may have existed in in the early 1700’s. Using records from this period to reconstruct the site, we found a blockhouse, officer’s quarter, barracks and more. The buildings are open to walk through providing a view into what life may have been for those who lived in the garrison at this time.
Nature trails
Leaving the garrisoned walls, we followed the nature trail along the marshes. The trailed offered spectacular views of the marshes. Along the trail, we found a recreation of a Scottish Highlanders’ home. Nearing the end of the trail, we discovered the tabby ruins of three sawmills that operated on the site during the 1800’s. We finished out visit near the entrance. Walking along the edge of the marsh and under ancient, Spanish moss filled live oak trees, we came upon a small cemetery where over 150 British soldiers were laid to rest. Peaceful surroundings, but further proof of the harsh living conditions experienced in the early 1700s.
As you travel along I-95 and just minutes from exit 49, take a few hours to visit this unique view of life in the earlier 1700’s. Also treat yourself to some of the local restaurants. Our favorites are Skippers Fish Camp and Mudcat Charlies, both offering the freshest local seafood. And stay a couple days. Inland Harbor RV Park is just off exit 49. The local folks are very welcoming, the atmosphere is laid back and enjoy seeing the sites and local cuisine.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Just minutes off I-95 at exit 49 is Inland Harbor RV Park in Darien, GA. The campground is located about 60 miles south of Savannah and 20 miles north of St. Simons. The campground is big rig friendly offering easy access, large pull-thorough spaces, full hook-ups with cable, Wi-Fi, bath houses and laundry. The park has a number of well shaded spots and green space between each camper. This is a pretty campground and a welcomed stop after a long day of towing the 5th wheel from South Carolina. The town of Darien is 5 minutes away where you can restock grocery items, but there’s much more to this area than just a campground.
A Travelers Rest
This campground really is a travelers rest as you travel I-95, but there are other treasures nearby that you’ll want to consider adding a few days to you stop. There are excellent restaurants in Darien that features local catch, fantastic crab stew (a local specialty) and more so, fresh shrimp usually caught that morning. Two of our favorites that are just minutes from the campground are Skippers Fish Camp and Mudcat Charlie’s. Both have great food, are local favorites and super friendly.
Sites and Tours
There are a number very interesting sites to see that are minutes from the campground. Fort King George Historic Site provides a look into life in 1721 which served as the southernmost outpost of the British Empire until 1727. A short 20 minute drive south brings you to St. Simons Island with Fort Frederica National Monument with the remnants of the 1736 town established by James Oglethorpe. Then cap the visit off with a tour of the St. Simons Lighthouse and Museum built in 1872. Plus great costal food before you return to the camper.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
While camping at Huntington State Park near Murrells Inlet, SC, we discovered Atalaya Castle located between the campground’s north and south loops. If you are a follower of my past blogs and YouTube videos, you know that I am a huge history fan. I’m equally intrigued in places where unique architecture exists. Atalaya Castle filled both of these interests. Atalaya Castle was built as a summer resident by philanthropist Archer M. Huntington and his wife, the sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington in the mid-1930s.
The Watchtower
Atalaya means “watchtower” in Spanish. The castle is a Moorish design made of brick and concrete containing 30 rooms in a U shaped structure. As you approach the grounds, you first notice a large tower that rises 40 feet in height in the center of the gardens. A covered walkway stretches from the main entrance of the gardens, under the tower, to the foyer entrance at the center of the home.
The Castle’s Location
I found the castle to be unique for someone of substantial means in the 1930s. Located on 1000’s of acres of pristine coastal forest, steps away from the beach dunes, living in this winter home must have been a welcome retreat from a busy New York life and the business demands of Archer and Anna. Thinking of this area located between today’s Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet, this must have been a place to escape. In the 1930’s, no bridges existed to the island with the only access provided by boat or ferry.
The Castle and Gardens
It is a castle, although small in design, the outer structure surrounds beautiful gardens. Now over eighty years later, these beautiful gardens continue to welcome visitors. One element I found interesting were the beautiful, ornate iron grills placed over the windows in the garden and outer walls. The grills added to the Moorish charm and displayed exception craftsmanship of the time. The rooms inside the castle were surprisingly small when one considers this to be the winter residence of one of the richest people in America. Thick masonry walls and large windows made the building tolerable for the hot temperatures. The castle contained:
a single bedroom for Archer and Anna with separate baths,
library,
office,
a very large studio and courtyard for Anna’s sculpting,
a secretary’s room,
small kitchen and dining, and
resident servant’s and housekeeper’s quarters.
There were no guest bedrooms or guest quarters on the property. The castle was meant to be a private place for escape.
All That Remains
Sadly, all that remains of the castle are the bear walls and ceilings. Nothing remains of the furnishings and the interior has weathered over time. Yet, the castle still displays a striking pose as to what it may have offered the Huntington’s for their winter stays in the 1930’s and ‘40s.
There is much more to see and experience of this unique American castle. Enjoy the tour in the video below and I hope you have the opportunity to visit Atalaya Castle in Huntington Beach State Park.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
We were going to skip the beach this year. After a number of years traveling throughout Florida, we wanted new places to visit and sites to see. I had a friend share about a camping trip to Huntington State Park Campground between Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet, SC. Little did we know the special treat in-store for us.
All good things come to those who wait
Not wanting to make comparisons to the beaches we traveled to in the past, we discovered there was quite a bit of distance yet to travel from I-95 to the beach. From the Interstate exit, we still had almost 2 hours to reach the campground on State roads. I mentioned to Joan the old adage that all good things come to those who wait. Reading reviews of the campground and looking at pictures on the web in no way prepared us for this amazing campground.
The campgrounds
This was a splurge stop for us. We saved a little extra knowing the full hook up sites would be pricey, but all roads were paved, concrete sites, full hook-ups with 50 amps and sewer (rare for a State park) and even reasonable Wi-Fi (even more rare for a State park). The premium area looked new, with fresh concrete; even the bath and laundry facility had little use. There is a second loop of campgrounds at the north end of the park. These were older, 30 amps only and no sewer with 3 dump stations outside the entrance. These were very spacious and like the premium area, many had large live oaks providing shade. Some kinda’ pretty!
The beach
I have to share about the beach. The park is large, 2500 acres and the beach seemed to be endless. There were many times we could count the amount of people in our area on one hand. Great sand, cool water, reasonable waves and a great breeze made the beach experience exceptional.
But the beach is just one of the attractions. Numerous walking and biking paths were scatter throughout the park, great views of the marshes, wildlife (we saw deer several times), bird watching, playgrounds for the kids and the spectacular Atalaya Castle.
Great restaurants
Then there is the food! Leaving the campground and traveling north 2 miles, you enter Murrells Inlet and what is known as “food row”. Wow! Dozens of amazing restaurants offering simple to five star seafood dishes. We blew the budget and ate out 4 times in one week. From the great food to the live music, we just could not get enough.
What a great trip – campground, beach, castle, hikes, beautiful scenery and amazing food. We just could not get enough of Huntington Beach State Park Campground and the surrounding area.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Joan and I have owned our 5th wheel for five years. If you are in a similar situation, you have discovered that things break overtime. Just as owning a home, vehicle and anything mechanical, maintenance and repairs are needed from use. That’s the case with today’s project: Repair RV Fireplace. One crisp, early Spring morning this year, we were enjoying the RV Fireplace electric heater and then: Snap, Crackle, Pop! Sparks flew from the top, the breaker blew and that was the end of the heater. We are getting ready for a long trip, like the convenience of the RV fireplace heater and after much searching, found a replacement.
Finding a replacement RV fireplace
After a long search, we found a replacement RV fireplace at etrailer.com – same model and size as the unit that failed. We consider a repair, but parts were hard to source and the cost ended up close to that of a new unit. In the video, I mentioned this would be the shortest video I ever created. Thought was to take the old RV fireplace off the mounting bracket and hang the new unit in its place. Wrong! After 5 years, the mounting brackets had changed. Only option was a complete new installation.
Installing the RV Fireplace
The new RV fireplace came with mounting instructions, but unfortunately, they were useless. The instructions were based on a flat wall installation and I had to fit inside of a cove style door. It was very time consuming, measuring and remeasuring to ensure the fit and off camera, I’ll admit, patience ran a little thin. Advice for those planning to tackle a similar repair:
Take your time.
Measure
Then measure again before you start drilling for the mounting the bracket.
Once the bracket was in place, it took less than a minute to hang the RV fireplace, plug in and turn on. We couldn’t be happier with the installation. The newer unit has a few extra features. And the fireplace display is more attractive over the previous unit. Overall, we’re glad we tackled the Repair RV Fireplace project and are looking forward to having our heater back for those brisk Fall and early Spring mornings.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
For those who have an RV that is several years’ old, repairs often pop up due to general wear and tear. We recently experienced a water leak around the skylight in our bathroom. We inspect our roof at least twice a year and even with this effort, very fine cracks occurred in the RV skylight during our travels. On a recent trip, enough road vibration, hot sun then cool North Carolina evenings open these cracks. After a hard rain we discovered water dripping from the bathroom ceiling and knew we needed to act quickly.
Temporary RV Skylight Repair
The RV Skylight is in two pieces. The inside unit is part aesthetics and part light diffuser. I removed the inside unit and discovered very fine cracks around the base rising up to the edge of the outside skylight. It was easy to see where water was seeping inside. Equally concerning, was the beginning of mildew and mold on the inside edge of the wood. We suspect gentle leaking started allowing a small amount of water to enter, but the cracks had not increased in size to allow larger amounts of water into the bathroom ceiling.
I caught the water leak early, treated the area multiple times with 100% bleach and a good scrub with a souring pad. I also went on top of the RV and applied Dicor Self Leveling Compound over the crack in the RV Skylight and again on the inside. This gave some assurance that we could stop the leaks until a more permanent RV Skylight replacement could be made. Allowing the inside wood to dry throughorly, I replaced the inside unit.
Removing the Cracked RV Skylight
Fortunately, an exact size RV Skylight replacement was found on Amazon. Replacing the crack unit took about an hour. First step is to remove the old lap sealant compound from around the RV skylight. This took a little patience and gentle force to scrape the lap sealant first from the top and around the screws of the plastic.
Next is to work a paint scraper underneath the RV skylight to release any sealant bonding the unit to the roof. I like using a 6-in-1 painters tool to remove the lap sealant. This tool is ridged, has a beveled edge and with careful use can easily slide against the roof without ripping or tearing the fabric. Once the old RV Skylight is removed, I take a few extra steps to ensure the roof is clean and the old lap sealant is removed. One note, it’s very difficult to remove 100% if the old lap sealant. Work to make the roof surface as flat as possible without damaging the roof fabric.
Installing the new RV Skylight
This new RV Skylight was an Amazon reseller product. It had limited screw holes, about a third of those found in the Heartland unit. I matched the old and new skylights together, marked where the holes should be located and carefully drilled, ensuring not the crack the plastic.
Now apply a thin bead of lap sealant on the roof, just inside the screw holes. This will provide an extra bond for the RV Skylight to the roof. Placed the new skylight on the roof and lined up the holes to match. Here where more cautions applies. I did not want to over tighten the screws. I believe this was part of the reason the old skylight cracked, having too much pressure on the plastic adding stress and eventual failure.
Last step was to cover the screws and sides with lap sealant and we were done.
Overall, not a difficult installation. Using extra care removing the damage RV skylight is key and most of all, liberally applying lap sealant will ensure new leaks will not occur.
Heavy Duty RV Camper Trailer Exterior Skylight – 18″ x 26″ OD – https://amzn.to/2YSzr2k T his was the exact size replacement for the existing RV Skylight. We found a wide range of sizes on Amazon.
Dicor Self-Leveling Lap Sealanthttps://amzn.to/2LGSXgF Creates a secure, secondary seal along the roof’s edges, air vents, vent pipes and screw heads. Compatible TPO RV roofs.
6-in-1 Painters Toolhttps://amzn.to/2HlK5ce 6 uses in one tool include gouger, scraper, putty remover, spreader and roller cleaner. Great for removing laps sealant from your RV roof.
Black and Decker Cordless Drillhttps://amzn.to/2wVlCUX This is a very handy drill for general installations plus those quick fixes – a loose drawer, replacing cabinet screws or just minor maintenance where a good cordless drill is needed.
Kline 11-in-1 Multi Toolhttps://amzn.to/2JPLM3x It would be great to have a toolbox filled with every tool I may possibly need. This is one of my favorites. I keep this multi-tool screwdriver in the RV for those times when you just need to tighten something. Well made and a good quality product.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
I’ve always been intrigued with the idea of searching for Georgia gold. Prior to the 1849 California Gold rush, Georgia had its own starting in the early 1830’s. While the Georgia gold boom was short lived, it’s still known today as having the purest gold ever found. My search started with a tour of the Consolidated Gold mine, traveling nearly 900 feet underground. From there, the journey continued to the Dahlonega Gold Museum located in the restored 1836 Lumpkin Country Courthouse, one of the oldest courthouse buildings in Georgia. We continued our walk around the old Dahlonega town square taking in the sites and few other interesting artifacts along the way.
Consolidated Gold Mine
Consolidated Gold Mine hasn’t operated in over 100 years, but tours are offered every day into the largest hard rock gold mine east of the Mississippi. We had a great tour guide who offered not only the history of the mine, but life in general for the miners who worked the rich quartz veins for Georgia gold. The tour took us deep underground into the mine shafts where gold was mined, where gold deposits still exist, to the tools used and even how dynamite (without the boom!) blasted tons of rock to expose rich deposits of gold.
Leaving the mine, there is an amazing display of gem stones taken from around the mine and surrounding area along with beautiful jewelry created by the amazing artisans who work at Consolidated today. And adding to the fun, we finished our tour panning for gold. Dredge is brought from the bottom of the Chestatee River and my pan delivered 3 small nuggets. Maybe I didn’t strike it rich, but I had a ton of fun!
Dahlonega Gold Museum
Our next stop was in the heart of the downtown square. The location of the restored 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse now houses the Dahlonega Gold Museum. The beautifully restored building is made of brick from the surrounding area and is said to contain gold in each brick. Fitting now that the old Court House is home to the gold museum. The lower floor contains a number of historical elements from large gold nuggets, some weighing over 5 ounces, to an amazing collection of extremely rare gold coins minted at the Dahlonega Mint up to the beginning of the Civil War.
The upstairs offers an excellent video of the origins of the Georgia gold rush along with a view of life for the many miners and families during the late 1880s until the beginning of World War II when mining operations stopped.
Downtown Dahlonega
Our search for gold didn’t stop at the mines or the museum. Our walk along the square and side streets offered more history into mining. Many of the building built during this period still stand. Large scale mining implements are on display on the side streets.
Dahlonega offers a wide variety of shops, great dining options along with a number of tasting rooms from many of the fine vineyards located in the area.
I didn’t yell “there’s gold in them thar’ hills” but, I panned for a little gold, discovered a wealth of information and experienced a ton of fun while searching for Georgia gold in Dahlonega.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
If you’ve ever been to Helen, GA, then you know it’s one of those special places. Joan and I first visited Helen in the mid 80’s. Much has changed since then, but the town hasn’t lost the quaintness that has made this Bavarian inspired town so special. Helen is best known for its Oktoberfest. It’s huge! Tens of thousands come on the weekends for the events, music, vendors, food and of course, the beer gardens. This was our first summer trip and the scene was much more laid back, but just as fun.
Helen, GA Fun
There’s much to do in Helen proper. Great tubing, zip lines, a large water park, shops and more shops of all things German, food, fudge, jewelry – I could go on and on. Plus just minutes outside of Helen is Georgia’s growing wine region with excellent award winning vineyards. We were not going to shop, at least that what I thought, but Joan had other goals in mind. Of all things, she found a Navajo Indian jewelry store and I purchased an early anniversary gift. Ok, not German, but still fun. For a small sample of the shop fun, just watch the video.
Great German Food
German food? Of course, there are all forms from giant pretzels to amazing restaurants. We stopped in Bodensee located on 64 Munich Strasse just across the bridge. Simply….go! Small, quaint atmosphere, great service and equally great food. Joan and I had the sampler platter for two with sauerbraten, schweinebraten, beef roll, sausage, smoke pork chop, spaetzel, sauerkraut, red cabbage, German potato salad, great German beers, goodness this place was incredible.
Eating more than I thought was humanly possible, shopping with Joan, which is close to a full contact sport, we settle for a while in one of the tavern gardens for live music. It wasn’t Oktoberfest, but we found summers in Helen, GA are just as fun.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
We were a few miles south of Blairsville, GA and took the afternoon to see some of the beautiful North Georgia waterfalls in the area. All along Highway 19, we started at Vogel State Park, next on to Helton Creek Falls and finished the day at DeSoto Falls. All are located along a 5 mile drive with easy access to each. We also stopped at a few spots along the way. A favorite is the Walasi-Yi Center and Mountain Store found at the top of Neel Gap located along the Appalachian Trail.
Vogel State Park and Campground
Our first stop was Vogel State Park and Campground. This is a jewel of a park located on the edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The park covers 233 acres with a large lake, rustic log cabins, cottages, lake with beach, multiple playgrounds, and so much more. We didn’t stay at the campground, but we drove through and the video below shows the many of the campers and loops. For the length of our 5th wheel, it’s just too tight to attempt a stay, but if your RV is in the low 30 foot range, there are ample camping spots that are perfect for up to a 14 day stay.
But we came for the waterfall. At the north end of the Park, the lake spills into a fantastic waterfall. An easy walk along a short trail from the dam and you are treated to a stunning site. There’s no access to walk near the water, but an observation deck is located near the bottom of the falls. This spot is perfect for pictures or just sit and take in the scene without risking a tumble along the rocks.
Helton Creek Falls
Helton Creek Falls is located a few miles south of Vogel State Park. The drive to the falls is part of the adventure itself. The road from Highway 19 starts as paved and quickly becomes a very narrow and very bumpy two mile drive. Driving a dually ton truck added to the challenge with single lanes around curves and limited pull-overs for passing traffic. This shouldn’t detour you from going to the falls. Everyone we met along the drive understood the challenge and met us with a smile – just take your time, be careful and enjoy the view.
Arriving at Helton Creek Falls, we were greeted by the sounds of falling water from the road. A very easy and short walk took us to the base of the two waterfalls. For the middle of a summer week, there were a number of people enjoying the water, sliding along the rocks and swimming in the natural pools. It’s easy to walk to the base of the lower falls, wade in the creek and take pictures. The upper falls are several hundred feet tall with a substantial water flow providing a stunning show down the rocks. The upper falls has a large natural pool at the bottom and we found about a dozen folks swimming and enjoying the ledges along the falls.
Walasi-Yi Center and Mountain Store
Continuing south along Highway 19, we stopped at the top of the mountain range at Neel Gap. Located on the top is the Walasi-Yi Center and Mountain Store with the Appalachian Trail running through the middle of the Center. This is a nice stop along the waterfall tour to see the beautiful mountains from the observation deck and maybe even talk to a few hikers who started the 4 day AT trek from Springer Mountain.
DeSoto Falls Recreation Area
DeSoto Falls was our last stop of the day. Located 5 miles from Vogel State Park, the area offers picnic sites, camping, and hiking to the two falls. I you plan to camp, you’ll need to be in a tent or a smaller self-contained camper. The sites offer no power or dump station, a couple pit toilets are available, and water is provided by centrally located faucets in the campground. If equipped for this style of camping, the area is very nice, heavily wooded with sites along the creek. A great place to escape to during the hot summer months.
We hiked to the north falls, the larger of the two around two miles from the entrance. The trail is mostly level with a few spots offering minor hills that are not too strenuous. The trail follows the creek from the falls and offers great views along the way. For this hike, the mountain laurel was still in bloom. Although late in the season, the blooms were falling, but there flora still decorated the sides of the trails. One note, in the spring of 2018, a substantial storm struck the North Georgia Mountains. As a result, there is still visible damage seen along the trails and the falls. Great efforts have been made to restore the observation deck, make the trails accessible, but many of the fallen trees can still be seen. This in no way should deter a day hiker from enjoying the trails or the falls.
These are but a few of the many beautiful North Georgia waterfalls located in this area. Vogel State Park, Helton Creek Falls and DeSoto Falls maybe the easiest to access, all three offering a great way to spend part of the day experiencing these wonderful North Georgia sites.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Having fun in the Smoky Mountains is exactly what Joan and I experienced spending a fun week with the kids, grandkids running around the Smoky Mountain National Park, Bryson City, Cherokee and camping in the community of Deep Creek, NC. This is our first return to this area after 2 years and we discovered so many things to experience that we missed from our last visit.
The Road to Nowhere
Yes, the Road to Nowhere does exist. And as the name implies, it really doesn’t go anywhere. Intrigued with the name, we took the entire group to explore. The road is located on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The US Government promised to build Lakeview Drive to connect Bryson City to the City of Fontana after hundreds of family gave up their home for the building of Fontana Dam. Construction began, creating 6 miles of road and an extensive tunnel through a mountain, then World War II halted construction. After the war, the effort fell into cost and environmental issues and the road was never completed. Today, you can walk the road up through the tunnel with a well-developed trailhead at the beginning of the Noland Creek Trail and continues for over 11 miles.
The walk from the parking area to the end of the tunnel offered a moderate incline and was fun to see the beautiful mountain surroundings while the kids had so much fun running along the trail and tunnel.
Elk Viewing in the Smoky Mountain National Park
Driving to the edge of the Smoky Mountain National Park just outside Cherokee, NC, we arrived at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Around 8:00PM this evening, we had the treat of watching several dozen elk graze in the open field next to the Center. The elk population was reintroduced to the Great Smoky Mountains in the early 2000’s after they were overhunted and eliminated from the area in the min-1800’s.
Viewing the elk was a tremendous site. The whole crew didn’t want to leave. A fun experience for the entire family to see these beautiful animals in their natural habitat.
Tubing Deep Creek
When we think about fun in the Smoky Mountains, it’s tubing in Deep Creek. We camped 50 yards from the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in the community of Deep Creek, NC. The National Park service has opened a one-mile section of Deep Creek through the park and it continues to campgrounds located outside the park entrance. For our group, our RVs were parked on the edge of the creek and we could complete our tubing experience walking up the bank to our camping spot.
For our tubing, water flow was moderate and we were able to experience a bouncy ride from the upper section through the calmer section at the lower part of the Park. Watch the video. Smiles abound as the crew took multiple tubing rides every day.
Museum of the Cherokee Indian
Joan and I took the afternoon and drove to Cherokee, NC to visit the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. Joan’s great grandmother was Cherokee and she has a great interest in learning more about her Indian heritage. The museum exhibits were amazing dating back over 13,000 years from the Paleo-Indian period to the tragic Trail of Tears. The museum provided a wide range of priceless artifacts, displays, interactive presentations along with documentation of their life in this area from the past to present.
Darnell Farms
We took an afternoon and ventured to Darnell Farms, located on the edge of Bryson City. This family owned farm, while operating as a large commercial produce farm, has not lost its roots of friendliness and supporting the local community. During our visit, the kids enjoyed the playground along the side of the river while the adults enjoyed to cool breezes and mountain scenery.
The market was stocked with fresh produce and fruit. And yes, we loaded up for the week. All grown in the local farm, the strawberries and vine-ripened tomatoes were everyone’s favorite. The Farm also offers a frozen fruit treat that was amazing. What a fun place to visit along with the wonderful, fresh produce.
We experienced so much fun in the Smoky Mountains with our return visit to the North Carolina Mountains and so enjoyed the experiences and seeing the sites of Bryson City, Cherokee and Deep Creek NC.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Smoky Mountain Campground is located in Deep Creek, NC just minutes outside of Bryson City, NC. The campground is less than 100 feet from the Deep Creek entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The Deep Creek, NC area is well know of tubing the creek from the Smoky Mountain National Park to the camgrounds scatted along West Deep Creek Rd. But, there is so much to see and do in this area and we just scratched the surface with the tubing.
This is our second trip to the Bryson City, NC area and we wanted to make the best of our time at Smoky Mountain Campground. Hiking the Park, hunting waterfalls, site of Cherokee, NC just minutes away, downtown Bryson City with shops, delicious farm to table restaurants, craft breweries, Smoky Mountain Railroad into the mountains, kayaking….I could go on and on.
This is a great place to spend a summer camping trip with tubing along Deep Creek, great hiking trails and wonderful opportunities to video and photograph the creeks, waterfalls and scenes along the way. We had a great time with the kids spending almost a week in the campground with side trips into Bryson City and Cherokee, NC.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
For more information Smoky Mountain Campground, visit their website at Smoky Mountain Campground – http://smokymtncampground.com/
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Joan and I always look forward to discovering new vineyards and wineries in our RV travels. While staying in Mt. Airy, NC we discovered there were over 30 vineyards within a 30 minute drive from our location at Mayberry Campground. We took an afternoon to explore the area and settled in Yadkin County, just on the edge of Elkin, NC. We found two North Carolina wineries of interest – Shelton Vineyards and Grassy Creek Vineyards, and had a great time touring and tasting a number of exceptional wines.
North Carolina Wineries of Yadkin County
In Yadkin County, there are over a dozen commercial wine producers. From small boutique farms to larger commercial operations, each has a distinctive presence along with variation in their wine making to create some great vintages from this area. In addition to wines, several vineyards have restaurants or cafes, bed and breakfast, wedding venues and special events throughout the year. Visit this link to learn more about the Yadkin Valley Wine Country.
Shelton Vineyards
Shelton Vineyards was our first stop. We had the fortunate experience to meet the vineyard manager and he offer to take us on a tour of the winery. It was amazing to see and hear about Shelton Vineyards wine making process, where the grapes are crush and processed to the many barrels of aging wine. Our tasting and the sample of the wines capped off our visit. My favorites were the Cabernet Franc, Merlot and an excellent Cabernet Sauvignon. Joan was very fond of the Estate Chardonnay and their Riesling.
The grounds at Shelton Vineyards are picturesque. Rolling hills, acres upon acres of grape vines, along with the beautiful tasting room made the visual experience of Shelton Vineyards complete. Joan and I had a great visit along with great wines.
Grassy Creek Vineyards
Our next stop, Grassy Creek Vineyards where we meet owner and winemaker, Jim Douthit. What a treat to talk with Jim and learn about his vineyard along with his wine making philosophy. Equally fun was the group at the winery – a mix of locals and tasters like Joan and I, and we so enjoyed to homey atmosphere and the feeling we belonged.
The wines were fantastic. Sometimes you visit a winery and you taste a few good wines and others that may not meet expectations. Not the case at Grassy Creek, Jim’s wines were superb. I’m not a fan of a steel cast Chardonnay, but Jim had the most amazing bottle I’ve ever tasted. Equally delicious were the Chambourcin (my favorite), the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Joan, a fan of the sweeter wines, fell head over heels for the Perfect Pear, a Traminette and Sémillon wine infused with pear juice.
What a wonderful day visiting these North Carolina wineries, seeing the beautiful rolling hills and vineyards around Yadkin Valley. We look forward to returning soon and experiencing more of this great region.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
We continue our tour of the North Georgia Wine country and discovered Cavender Creek Vineyards in Dahlonega, GA. We were fortunate to meet Claire Livingston, the owner of Cavender Creek and we immediately felt like we had come home. We are especially fond of vineyards and wineries where you are part of the farm and the wine making. We were able to talk to Claire’s wine maker and took a brief tour where the grapes are pressed and the wine is made. Must admit, that was a special treat.
We really enjoyed the Cavender wines. A wide variety to interest both my and Joan’s varied tastes. Especially interesting is the vineyard’s abundance of Norton grapes. This American grape dates back to it’s early 1800’s origins. The Cavender wines made with this grape were full bodied and simply delicious. You’ll enjoy this quaint wine tasting room where information about the wines and vineyards are shared.
We also had the unexpected opportunity to visit a 200 year old cabin where you can rent for short term stays. The cabin was disassembled in East Tennessee and brought to the vineyards. It really is an amazing cabin containing a living space, two bedrooms and a second floor porch with amazing views of the vineyard.
There’s also a venue for weddings and special events overlooking the vineyard.
Cavender Creek Vineyards was a such a fun place with good wine, new found friends and beautiful views. This has become one of our special places in North Georgia where Joan and I plan to return often.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Joan and I were looking for a fun place to visit in the upper part of North Carolina. We found Mayberry Campground located in Mt. Airy, NC. Mayberry Campground is located minutes from the interchange of I-77 and I-74 a few miles from the Virginia State line. We found the campground to be big rig friendly with easy access to enter the campground as well as the multitude of camping sites.
Things to do
The campground in minutes from all of the sites around Mt. Airy including the Andy Griffith Museum (learn more here) and all the fun things offered throughout downtown. The campground is also centrally located to visit the nearly 30 wineries and vineyards most within a 30 minute or less drive. Stone Mountain State Park is nearby, a 600-foot granite face landmark mountain, offering great hiking and the restored Hutchinson Homestead, a mid-19th century mountain farm.
Camground amenities
Mayberry Campground is the perfect destination campground when Joan and I are looking to tour an area. Long, pull-through campsites with ample space for the 5th wheel and our F-350 ton truck along with all the amenities to make the stay convenient including 50 amp electric, water, sewer, cable and WiFi. The campground offers a coin laundry, a number of group pavilions, playgrounds for the kids and is pet friendly.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Joan and I are huge Andy Griffith fans. We watch the old reruns with Andy, Barney, Opie and the rest of the gang on a regular basis. We were looking for some summer time in the North Carolina Mountains and found a number of nice campgrounds near Mt. Airy, NC – the town used as the model for the Andy Griffith’s Show’s Mayberry. Staying nearby at MayBerry Campground, we spent the day visiting the Andy Griffith Museum and the town of Mt. Airy.
Andy Griffith Museum
When we think of Mayberry, front is center is Andy Griffith filling the role as Andy Taylor. The Andy Griffith Museum has a large collection of memorabilia about Andy growing up in Mt. Airy along with artifacts from the Andy Griffith show and later his work from Matlock. The collection is extensive with props for Andy, Barney, and Goober plus the desk and surroundings from the program’s courthouse, wardrobe, scripts, pictures, and so much more. The curators did a great job honoring Andy Griffith’s legacy and his contributions to TV and film.
Eng and Chang Bunker
Don’t leave the museum area without taking the steps down to the Eng and Chang Bunker museum located on the lower level of the Andy Griffith Playhouse. Eng and Chang, known as the famous Siamese Twins, migrated to Mt. Airy in 1830’s. Marrying sisters, Adelaide and Sarah Yate, the two families produced 22 children. The twins making their fortune touring the world, now became successful Surry County, NC landowners and farmers. The museum provides a good view of their life and the large family of Bunker’s that followed.
Downtown Mt. Airy
But our visit didn’t stop at the museum. Downtown Mt. Airy is a beautiful town with great period architecture and everything Mayberry. The downtown area offers a large number of restaurants from basic diner to the more elaborate fare. We enjoyed visiting one of the many soda fountains, a flashback to the 50’s and 60’s. And if you need Mayberry souvenirs, no problem. Gifts shops galore can be found with everything and I mean everything Mayberry!
Visit a little bit of Mayberry
As we left downtown Mt. Airy, we stumbled upon a tourist spot that was created to look like a small part of Mayberry from the TV show. We found the courthouse (with Joan locked up in Otis’ cell), the Mayberry Hotel, and of course, Wally’s Service Station. This is a great stop to pick up one more Mayberry trinket, plus see the reproduction of a piece of the TV town. And if you want the full Mayberry experience, ride through Mt. Airy in one of the replica sheriff cars. Just too much fun.
The Mt. Airy and Mayberry experience was so much fun. Just one of those great opportunities why Joan and love RV life.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Joan and I are fond of state and federal parks. Sometimes we’re looking for a quiet place to escape where others are located in areas that feed our tour desires. Lake Hartwell State Park gave us one of those great places to escape. A beautiful campground found in South Carolina just minutes from the Georgia State line.
Camp Sites
Lake Hartwell State Park is located on the edge of a massive 56,000 acre lake spanning across two states. The Park provides two types of camping styles from the hideaway in the woods to lake side lots. A wide range of activities are supported for boating, fishing, hiking or just casual relaxation.
We found a wide variety of camping supported by 115 sites. There was a variety of back-ins and pull-throughs for the smallest pop-up to large Class A’s. Our 40 foot 5th wheel and long bed dually F-350 fit our wooded camp site with ease. Many of the pull-through sites were at least 75 in length. One added benefit was all roads and campgrounds were paved with many having nice graveled areas for common space, the picnic table and fire ring.
Budget Friendly
At the time of this blog, the cost per evening was $24 a day. We found that to be a bargain. All sites offered 30 amps of electric and water with 2 dump stations as you exit the campground. Our 5th wheel is equipment with a residential refrigerator, two air conditions and a microwave, plus Joan will primp with a 1500 watt hair dryer. Attempting to use two of any of these high-power electric appliances at the same time while connected to a 30 amp connection, just won’t work and will trip the outside breaker every time. Just being conscious of what appliance needs to be used, caused no issues with power and really wasn’t an inconvenience.
Campground Amenities
What impressed us most was all of the amenities offered by the campground – great common space at the park office with free Wi-Fi, a camping store, $1 washer and dryers, boat ramp, fishing pier, lake side picnic areas and an abundance of clean bathhouses close to the campsites.
Lake Hartwell State Park was a great find for camping – family friendly, easy on the budget, with all the lake activities for a fun weekend or week long escape.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
We get questions all of the time: “Where do you buy those camping lights”? They weren’t purchased, we made them! So easy, just minutes to make, a short piece of recycled 4×4 post, a couple of hand tools, an inexpensive outdoor solar powered outdoor light and a couple of deck screws. For time sake, the video shows the actual construction taking about 7 to 8 minutes, but real time it took less than 15 minutes from start to finish. Here’s how to make your own camping lights.
You’ll need 27 inches of 4×4 post to make the base. This can be purchased at a local home improvement store or if you can find a short piece to recycle, all the better. For our project, we located a piece of 4×4 that had been thrown away. It was perfect, weathered, but not rotten or full or insects. If recycled, ensuring the lack of insects is very important to not introduce into your camper storage area. You will also need a solar powered, outdoor LED light. These can be purchased at the big box home improvements stores or Walmart for less than $7.
Tools and parts required for the project:
Saw, hand or powered
Drill with screw driver attachment
1/2-inch drill bit to create countersink holes halfway through the posts
7/8-inch drill bit to create a hole for the light base
Measuring tape
4 -3 inch deck screws
27-inches of 4×4 post
Solar powered, outdoor LED light
Construction:
Cut the posts into three pieces – a 12”, 9” and a 6”. We didn’t want our light base too tall to prevent gusty weather from blowing over.
Countersink holes half way thru the 9” and 6” post approximately 2” from the top and bottom.
Place the 12” post on a flat surface. Lay the 9” post on top with the countersunk holes facing up. Make sure the bottoms of the two posts are even. Now screw the 9” post to the 12” post using two deck screws.
Lay the screwed 12” and 9” post flat. Place the 6” post on top of the 12” post with the countersunk holes facing up. Using the remaining 2 deck screws to attached the post. Again, ensure the base of the 6” post is even with the bottom of the two other posts.
Set 3 attached posts upright. Drill a 7/8-inch whole into the top of the 12 inch post. This hole could vary depending in the size of the solar LED light base post. Depth of the hole should be around 2 to 3 inches.
Remove the tubular post from the solar powered LED light, exposing the short base. Insert into the newly drilled 7/8-inch hole and that’s it.
Super simple. Minutes to build. Using a couple of these makes a great addition, providing patio style camping lights around your site.
Black and Decker Cordless Drillhttps://amzn.to/2wVlCUX This is a very handy drill for general installations plus those quick fixes – a loose drawer, replacing cabinet screws or just minor maintenance where a good cordless drill is needed.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
The RV storage area or garage can become one of the more unorganized areas in your RV. Things get piled in, broken items crammed in the back, that place where things haven’t been used in over a year and probably never will be used again. If you’ve owned an RV for at least a year, you know the drill. For those new to the RV lifestyle or maybe a reminder for those who have camped for much longer periods, here are a few tips about packing your RV storage area.
Evaluate
This may seem counter intuitive, but my first tip in packing your RV storage area is to pull everything out and I mean everything. Clean out the trash, throw away any broken items. Then start the evaluation. I lay everything from the garage outside of the RV where it’s easy to view. Eliminate those items where you have two of something and only one is used. Most of use carry things around year after year and have never used and probably never will – stop hauling it around. There may be instances where you may need certain tools or the manual crank for the slides. These are worthwhile emergency items, so determine what is important and what is unused garage clutter.
What’s really needed
Here are a few items that Joan and I use in our RV travels. The list may vary depending on the time of year, but these are the basics.
Chairs. Purchase a good quality camping chair, well-made and something that has a slide slant in the back to make sitting comfortable. Also, carry the amount of chairs for those traveling in the RV. For Joan and I, that’s two. We find if visitors come by, we sit at the picnic table or for the evening campfire, everyone brings their favorite chair.
A small folding camping side table. We have a both a plastic and aluminum version. The plastic table was retired this year. Just wasn’t used. So out it goes. These folding tables are very easy to store and perfect between the camping chairs for drinks or the place for your noon meal outside.
6 foot folding table. This is our outdoor kitchen. Folds into a 36” by 30” square, but unfolds into a 6’ table with space for the grill and cooking utensils.
Two outdoor camping rugs. A large 9’ by 12’ and a smaller 6’ by 9’. These are handy to keep sand and dirt from tracking in the camper plus providing a nice area for the sitting area outside. We have the two sizes to minimize placement in the grassy area of the camping spot.
A portable air compressor. This may seem like overkill, but we often travel for several months, moving every week or two. Checking and maintaining proper tire pressure is important for safe and trouble free travel. With truck and 5th wheel, we are 56’ in length and it’s difficult to find a place to air the tires, plus our tires require 110 lbs of pressure. Not something you’ll accomplish at a convenience store and we don’t want to fight the lines at a truck stop just for air.
Tools. Everyone’s needs are different, but we carry those items for basic repairs – cordless drill, small socket set, pliers, wire cutters, camping hatchet, screw drivers, etc. We store in a small tool bag where everything fits.
Satellite dish and stand. We have a Winegard X2 for our Dish Outdoors service. Takes up a good bit of garage space, it’s lightweight, easy in and out. The RV is our home and we want TV entertainment as we travel.
Electrical cords, hoses, cleaning items, disposable gloves, paper towels, etc. These are those miscellaneous list of items that are similar, yet unique to the RV you own and your travel lifestyle. My recommendation is to find a location that’s easy to access, where each item has its place and the item can be hung or stored when not used.
We review the RV garage storage area twice a year. The first effort is the longest trying to determine what you really need for RV travel. The next time, is less and every time thereafter is minutes. In the video below, it took less than an hour to pull everything out, vacuum the space, toss what wasn’t needed and replace in an organized fashion. Now everything fits, it won’t move around and break, and most of all, it will be easy to access we less time to set up and store again as we travel to the next campground.
Core folding camping chair – https://amzn.to/2Xb8Wbv Cozy quilted seat; padded hard arms provide extra support and comfort.
Folding camping table – https://amzn.to/2X8vrxT Made from sturdy aluminum, it doesn’t rust regardless of the weather. We use at our camp site and the beach.
9′ x 12′ Camping Mat – https://amzn.to/2RikxQHThis allows us to place 4 chairs and a couple of small camping tables to enjoy the company of our fellow RV travelers.
6 X 9 Camping Mat – https://amzn.to/2IKbi7M This mat is great to use in closer areas near the entry of your camper.
Porter Cable Pancake Air Compressor – https://amzn.to/2IfJklx 120 volt, 150 psi max tank pressure.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
There are those “must have” items when you head out for a camping trip. Aside from the typical items, food, entertainment, clothing, the dog….it’s those camping essentials to ensure you can connect the campground amenities along with a few items to keep your camper safe. Over the last many years, we have bought a number of items that have worked and those that were a complete waste of money. In the video we share the camping essentials that we believe are must items. None shown are new. They are used every day we camp and we never leave home without them.
Camco RhinoFLEX 15ft RV Sewer Hose Kit
While not the most expensive RV sewer hose, the Camco RhinoFLEX 15ft RV Sewer Hose Kit had severed us well for several years. We’ve used in hot and cold climates and we’ve always had a solid connection. The handy elbow and bayonet adapter provide a tight seal to the campground dump station.
Camco RhinoFLEX 10ft RV Sewer Hose Extension Kit
It never fails. Once or twice a year we go to a campground with full hook-ups where our 15ft RV sewer hose will not reach the campground dump station. This Camco RhinoFLEX 10ft RV Sewer Hose Extension is that perfect addition for those occasions providing a quick fix for our stay.
Valterra 45 Degree Clearview Sewer Adapter
This simple item allows you to monitor your black tank waster to ensure the tank flows clear before you close the release valve. This is helpful if you have a blank tank flush system allowing you to see the black tank outflow until the water becomes clear.
Sewer Hose Donut
We use the sewer hose donut most time in older private owned, state or federal campgrounds where a screw in connection will not work. The donut provides a rubber seal connecting the RV sewer hose for an odor proof connection to dump station.
Heavy Duty Rubber Chocks
These can be bought from Amazon, Harbor Freight and Tractor Supply. Heavy, solid rubber construction providing a stable block to help prevent your RV from rolling forward or backward. I have a set of 4 and place in the front and back of a wheel on each side of the RV. A must to ensure you secure your camper.
RV Drinking Water Hose
This is one of those items you don’t want to purchase on the cheap. This 25ft hose usually run less than $10. We have two for those times when the water spigot is just in the wrong place. For closer distances, we don’t have a bunch of hose and one 25ft works best.
Water Pressure Regulator Valve
We camped in a park recently that had 90 pounds of water pressure at the spigot. Without a water pressure regulator we would have had water leaks all over the 5th wheel or worse yet, blown a water connection in a wall. We’ve tried a number of pressure regulators and this model has served us best. It provides an adjustment to allow you to set your desired pressure (we use 35lbs) and a gauge to ensure the water pressure is safe for your camper.
Surge Guard Power Protection
This unit has saved our electronic appliances on multiple occasions from faulty RV park power to the most violent electrical storms. Simple to use, no special set up. Continuously monitors for voltage and amp draw and reverse polarity (miswired pedestal, elevated ground voltage). These units can be purchased for both 30 amp and 50 amp powered RVs.
Dogbone Electrical Adapter 30 Amp Male to 50 Amp Female
This is adapter converts a 30 amp connection to a 50 amp. Although a connection with much lower amperage, we still are able to visit those beautiful state and federal parks only offering a 30 amp connection.
15 foot 50 Amp or 30 Amp Extension Cord
It never fails, at least a couple of times a year we arrive in a campground where our 30ft power cable will not reach the power pedestal. This 15ft extension cord saves the day and prevents us from having to move the 5th wheel often times, loosing space to park the truck or placing us to close to the campground access road. These can be purchase for 30 amp or 50 amp plugs and recommend extension cords with 10 gauge or large wire.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Managing a black tank is often the most feared task when one starts RV life. Not to worry. It really isn’t a big deal. There are several steps you should always remember – only human waste and RV/marine toilet paper goes into the tank. Give a good flush after use. Never leave the valve gate open on a full hook up site. And lastly and most important, use a quality black tank enzyme to speed the process of breaking down black tank solids. We recently tried RV Digest-It in our RV holding tanks and we couldn’t be happier with the results.
RV Digest-It
RV Digest-It is an eco-friendly, formaldehyde-free enzyme solution specifically designed for RV and marine use. One of the major turn-offs with many blank tank additives is the heavy use of perfumed scents to mask black tank odor. I don’t know which is worse, the perfumes or the black tank, but mixing both together is a very unpleasant smell.
We found RV Digest-It to be odor free, plus it did a great job reducing tank odor between dumps. We have been using the product over the last 6 weeks. Adding only 2 ounce to the black tank after each dump, we found all solids including toilet paper was liquefied. I found this quite amazing with only 2 ounces added to our 36 gallon black tank. Our travels started out in cool shirt sleeve weather, but the last several weeks have been in the mid 90’s. RV Digest-It has performed well minimizing tank odors.
Testing the effectiveness of RV Digest-It
In the video, we conducted a test to see how RV-Digest-It would work attempting to dissolve hard, dry dog food in just a couple of hours. We were amazed with the results. We’ve seen similar dog food left in the rain and days later was still intact. In slightly over 3 hours, the test virtually dissolved the dog food. This was a much tougher test than anything that should be found in RV holding tanks and proves why the product is so effective.
One other maintenance tip
We’ve had a number of viewers contact us recently requesting advice on clogged black tanks due to leaving the tank valve open for days or weeks and one who forgot to dump their black tank after their camping trip last Fall. These can be costly mistakes, fortunately products such as RV Digest-It can remedy quickly. Pour 16 ounces in your black tank followed by a couple of gallons of hot water. Let set for a couple of days and the enzyme in RV Digest-It will dissolve the heavy slug.
RV Digest-It Treatment Guide
We requested the Treatment Guide from Unique Camping and Marine, the manufacturers of RV Digest-It. This guide provides helpful tips on using the product for normal us, dry camping, recommended use by RV holding tank size along with a best practice to minimize black tank odor. Click here to download.
RV Digest-It Costs
Cost is very manageable. I’ve found the treatment running $16.00 to $20.00 for a 32 ounce bottle or 16 treatments. At $16.00 with Amazon prime, that’s $1.00 a treatment per dump for a very effective, environmental friendly and low cost method to maintain your RV black tank.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
We are often asked, “How do you find such great campgrounds and places to visit?” After a number of years of RV travel, we have found a number of website and phone apps that are invaluable in our RV trip planning. We break the video into two sections – the first demonstrating the web sites we use and the second showing the phone apps used as we travel from destination to destination.
Website based Google Maps
We start our RV travel planning to determine our stops along the way. We follow the 330 Rule – 330 miles per day or stopping at 3:30 in the afternoon, whichever comes first. Using Google maps, we map out the distance between campgrounds to fit this rule.
Website based ALLSTAYS
What a wonderful website. There is also an accompanying phone app for IOS devices, but we prefer the user experience offered by the website. ALLSTAYS has a feature rich PRO Version of the site and app that is well worth the costs (about the amount for a one night stay in a campground). We show the free parts of the site that is still very helpful in finding a campground based on the location from your Google Map search.
Website TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor also has a phone app version, but we prefer the ease of use offered by the website. We show the trick to finding campground reviews along with the useful information including reviews, sites in the area and restaurants.
Website Passport America
Passport America also has a phone app, but the speed in locating campgrounds and the support information is a breeze from the web. Passport America is membership based, but we found the payback often occurs in the first week of joining. Finding member campgrounds that offer camp sites at a 50% discount is huge and helps us maintain our travel budget.
Gas Buddy Phone App
This app saves us hundreds of dollars on our trips. In seconds you can find the best gas and diesel prices close to your location. You can also use for trip planning looking at the next destination, very helpful where State lines may be crossed and fuel prices jump in cost.
Google Maps Phone App
We give a brief overview of why and how we use Google Maps phone app as an alternative to a standalone GPS. For more information about how use Google Maps as a GPS see our blog at http://ilovervlife.com/google-maps-for-rv-travel/
Rest Stops Phone App
The helpful app show rest stops by state and highway. Easy to use and accurate to the mile marker. Great for those long trips where a leg stretch and bathroom break is needed.
Lowes Connect and Pilot/Flying J Phone App
Fuel getting low? Need to take a break and feed the family? Great apps to check on the next truck stop where the big rig RV will fit. Added benefit with the Pilot/Flying J app showing which truck stops are RV friendly.
Weather Bug Phone App
Great addition to our travel apps to show weather forecast along with maps and alert of potential weather hazards that may lie ahead.
These websites and phone apps have and continue to serve us well as we plan and travel around the US. A great addition to consider for your RV travel planning needs.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
As with anything, maintenance issues arise. This applies to a traditional home, your vehicle and your RV as well. Today, we’re dealing with our RV off-air antenna. Ours is the traditional “bat-wing” crank up antenna that’s found on the largest percentage of RVs on the road today. It has served us well over the last 5 years, but for the last year or so, we’ve had failures with the cranking mechanism stripping leaving the antenna in a state where we couldn’t crank up or down. We also had an issue where the plastic parts stripped again and we were unable to turn the antenna. Both instances left us without local TV programming until new parts could be orders and the antenna repaired. Choosing not to make a 3rd repair, we decided it was time to try something different. After some research, we chose the King Jack Antenna Model OA8500.
Purchase considerations
The user reviews of the King Jack Antenna were about what we expected. When we consider purchasing a product online, we use the verified purchaser “9 out of 10 rule”. If there is at least a 90% favorable rating review, we give the product the benefit of a doubt and try it. This antenna is comparable in price to the same bat-wing style as well as other alternatives.
Removing the old antenna
We start with the deconstruction of the old antenna. This wasn’t difficult and I discuss in the video the tools and care in removing the old antenna while protecting the RV roof. The task requires removing the lap sealant around the base of the antenna, screws and coax cable. Removing the old antenna took around an hour.
Installing the King Jack Antenna – outside components
Installation for the King Jack Antenna took about 2 hours. The roof top portion wasn’t difficult, but I took extra time to ensure all directions were followed, testing before everything was screwed in place and following up with a liberal use of lap sealant around all mounting surfaces and the tops of the screws. About the instructions, read them thoroughly. There are some very specific requirements on mounting and cable runs that are recommended. I followed each as specified with very good results.
Installing the King Jack Antenna – inside components
The inside parts were time consuming. Not a fault of the King Jack Antenna, but a fact of the coax cable from the original build not having any slack and not being labeled. I had to verify the 3 coax cables using a volt ohm meter, the power and ground leads prior to attaching to the new power inserter. Not a difficult task, but a few marking from the factory would have been nice. The lack of slack in the coax cables was also a little challenging, but patience prevailed.
Tuning the King Jack Antenna
Tuning the new antenna is a breeze and so much simpler than the crank up style. Again, the instruction provided the process – turn on power, turn attenuator clockwise, turn antenna until last LED lights, turn attenuator counterclockwise until LED flickers, slightly turn antenna until if stops flickering. Done. Less than a couple of minutes. Go to the RV, scan for channels and that’s it. Comparing the King Jack Antenna to the old bat-wing, every channel was received with the same strength or better.
Overall, we couldn’t be happier with the installation and performance of the King Jack Antenna. Plus, the added benefit of not cranking the antenna up or down and the ease of locating viewable off-air TV signals.
Products discussed in this video
KING OA8500 Jack HDTV Directional Over-the-Air Antennahttps://amzn.to/2Q4ptIh This is a simple, fast antenna pointing with 360-degree rotation that is up to 70 percent smaller than traditional RV antennas. We especially like the Built-in KING SureLock signal finder making it simple to locate TV stations.
KING MB8200 Antenna Mounting Platehttps://amzn.to/2VFM3wX Mounting plate covers existing holes to create a water-tight seal on the RV roof. Essential if replacing an bat-wing antenna.
Dicor Self-Leveling Lap Sealanthttps://amzn.to/2LGSXgF Creates a secure, secondary seal along the roof’s edges, air vents, vent pipes and screw heads. Compatible TPO RV roofs.
6-in-1 Painters Toolhttps://amzn.to/2HlK5ce 6 uses in one tool include gouger, scraper, putty remover, spreader and roller cleaner. Great for removing laps sealant from your RV roof.
Black and Decker Cordless Drillhttps://amzn.to/2wVlCUX This is a very handy drill for general installations plus those quick fixes – a loose drawer, replacing cabinet screws or just minor maintenance where a good cordless drill is needed.
Kline 11-in-1 Multi Toolhttps://amzn.to/2JPLM3x It would be great to have a toolbox filled with every tool I may possibly need. This is one of my favorites. I keep this multi-tool screwdriver in the RV for those times when you just need to tighten something. Well made and a good quality product.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Working from your RV. For Joan and I, this provides the livelihood needed to finance our travels. In the video we discuss the differences between workcamping and working from your RV. We typically think of workcamping as those temporary jobs requiring some form a physical labor outside of the RV, such as those required of a camp host, in an Amazon fulfillment center, beet harvest and others. Working from you RV often falls within the service industry.
How We Work From An RV
The methods, technology and cloud based services discussed in the video have been derived from a number of years of corporate travel and then updating to best fit the RV lifestyle. In the video we discuss:
Types of work
Your work space
Your work schedule
Online services that support working from an RV
Technology for the RV work space
Types of Work
One key item discussed in the video are the types of work that lends itself to RV travel. We researched and found a wide range of job types that fit the home base or RV lifestyle. As Internet marketers and web designers, our business and work was found in the top five of the list. Our research focused on the type of work that would have flexible hours, require little face-to-face time with clients and require minimal financial investment for the work environment. Click hereor on the picture to the right to download a copy of this list. Here you can research for possible jobs or agencies supporting these in-demand skills.
We also discussed the cloud-based services as well as the technical items needed for your work space. Of those discussed, we use each of these items daily in our RV based business and have provided the list below if you need to add to your RV work environment.
Products Discussed in This Video
https://amzn.to/2Heb35zWD 6TB Elements Desktop Hard Drive Fast data transfers; Formatted NTFS and compatible with Windows 10, Windows 8.1 or Windows 7; High-capacity add-on storage; Plug-and-play ready for Windows PCs.
https://amzn.to/2HaZgVwBrother MFC-J480DW – Wireless Inkjet Color All-in-One Printer Print, copy, scan, and fax with color inkjet technology. 100-sheet paper capacity up to 8.5″x14″ Print directly from your mobile device using AirPrint, Easy-to-setup wireless networking with other devices.
https://amzn.to/2YrawTHDell Inspiron 2019 Premium Flagship 15 3000 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare LCD Display. 7th Generation Intel Core i5-7200U. Windows 10. 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI 1.4, Headphone Microphone Combo Jack
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
FDR State Park and Campground is a located in Pine Mountain, GA, just minutes for I-185 and Columbus, GA. The camping area are made up of a number of loops with camp site ranging from spacious wooded lots to those with a great view of Lake Delanor.
Spacious Wood and Lake View Camping
The campground was very clean, lot sizes were reasonable, a number of small play grounds, water craft rentals, and several large bath houses The sites have water and electric with some having both 30 amp and 50 amp hookup. No sewer, but a large dump station is located at the back entrance leaving the campground. The roads are paved and the lots were graveled and level. All sites had picnic tables and fire rings and most had large spaces in between. There were a mix of back-in and pull-through sites and we saw a wide range of campers from tents to large 40 foot or larger 5th wheels and class A’s.
We arrive around 2:30PM on a Sunday with reservations. Good news, with the State of Georgia’s new reservation system, you can view the campground map and reserve your space. Reservations are recommended during the busier vacation periods, with the 100 campground sites filling up quickly.
Hiking, Biking and So Much More
This is a great area to tour and hike. The Pine Mountain Trails are minutes away offering over 40 miles of trails along with primitive camping for those overnight jaunts. The valley views from the Pine Mountain Ridge are fantastic. There’s much to do around the Park. Summer months provide a large swimming pool and picnic area, horseback riding, also within a 10 minute drive is The Little White House in Warm Springs, GA. This is well worth the small fee to tour and history buffs will have a field day. The little town Warm Springs is nearby with shops and a few eateries.
Nearby Pine Mountain, GA
Also 5 minutes east of the campground back entrance lies the town of Pine Mountain. Grocery stores, hardware, Dollar “whatever” were available along with an excellent Mexican restaurant, Oyster House, Fox Pizza (yummy) and others . And a destination into itself, Callaway Gardens offers golf, water recreation, hiking and biking, garden tours, and my favorite, the butterfly house.
This is a great campground to spend a long weekend or just soak up all the area has to offer for an extended 14 day stay.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Joan and I have been on a nature kick recently. Usually happens every year with everything in bloom and the desire to experience all Spring has to offer after a cold Winter. We visited Callaway Gardens located in Pine Mountain GA after stopping for a week in nearby FDR State Park and Campground. This is a great place to spend a day enjoying the beautiful gardens, bike and hiking trails and most of all, the butterfly house.
Callaway Gardens is a fun destination.
Joan and I spent this Spring day walking the many trails and gardens. I wish I had brought the bikes. There are miles of paved trails throughout the Gardens that would have made touring even more fun. Aside from enjoying all the outdoor sites, we visited a log cabin, the Discovery Center and the Butterfly Center. There was so much to do, we just ran out of time to see and do many of the activities offered.
Butterfly Center
One of our favorites was the Butterfly Center. We had so much fun walking around the atrium surrounded butterflies of all colors and shapes. I had to laugh at my video. While editing, I sounded like a little kid walking around. Needless to say, we had so much fun!
Other Activities
The Gardens offer year round golf, summer has a large beach and pavilion area, in the winter the Festival of Lights is a treat, along with a full calendar of activities from photography, gardening, fly fishing, and a wide ranges of other classes.
Callaway Gardens is a great destination. Hope you get a change to add to you RV travels.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
One of the great things about RV life is the adventure. When Joan and I plan to visit a new area for the first time, we Google and TripAdvisor to see if there are places of interest we may enjoy. You may find a few pictures or a blog, but sometimes, it’s hard to capture in a picture or words something very special nature has created. Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsten AL was one of those “Oh Wow!”” places.
You can view the Falls walking from the edge of the Park for free or pay a small fee to walk the trails to the base of the Falls and see other items of interest from Noccalula Falls Park. Our cost was $4 for access, a bargain, and we started our tour.
First stop was the Pioneer Village.
There we a number of log buildings moved to the property and restored. Many of these structures were over 190 years old and provided a glimpse into life of earlier settlers from nearby Tennessee. I show a number of these log buildings in the video including living quarters, blacksmith shop, general store and more. We visited the Falls in early spring and we show some of the gardens, the Gilliand- Reese Covered Bridge built in 1899 and other points of interest along the walking paths.
There were a number of venues for kids with the access to the Park including a Petting Zoo, playgrounds, riding the authentic Huntington miniature train and a wide range of picnic areas.
The main attraction is the Falls.
The Falls trails weren’t to difficult to manage. Relatively flat with the exception of some rocky sections near the Falls, we strolled through Black Creek Gorge to the Falls. Arriving at these 90-foot tall falls were something to see. And better yet, the trail took us behind the Falls with a rear view toward the creek. We couldn’t get enough video and pictures of the the rare view.
Heading back to the main Park, we took a short diversion to the Suspension Bridge crossing Black Creek. A bit of a trek, but worth it to see the Spring flowers in bloom, the massive rock out croppings along the gorge to the creek. Crossing the bridge, the trail continues outside of the private park to the public space and a campground area.
Noccalula Falls Park offers a great place to get-away, hike and enjoy nature or a fun destination for the entire family to spend a day.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
A little over a year ago we created a “kitty on-suite” for Mink and Molly. We needed a better place for the kitty litter box that would minimize tracking litter throughout the RV and make sifting the litter box a little easier. In our original video https://youtu.be/kDS3Q-pC1Gowe go though the steps we considered for the location and construction of the litter box on-suite.
New access door
After a year plus of travel, we needed to make a few improvements. First was the access door. Originally, we used peg board thinking air flow from the garage area would be needed to ventilate the litter box area. The assumption to ventilate was correct, but the peg board was not a good idea. We found in the spring and fall months with the windows and doors open, this created a draft, drawing odors from the litter box area into our living space. Fortunately, the fix was simple. A trip to a home improvement store and a purchase of a quarter inch thick piece of plexiglass provided a seal around the garage door opening.
Adding a vent fan
But we still had an issue. How to ventilate the area where the litter box is located. Simple, an inexpensive 12 volt computer fan. Since we had an LED light in the area, the fan addition was simple. Drill a whole to fit the circumference of the fan, splice into the 12 volt wire feeding the LED light and face the fan output to pull air out of the box area. Next we had to vent the fan output. We did not want to introduce odors into the garage. A vent typically used for RV battery installations proved to be perfect. Adding a flange to the outside of the box, a little 1 3/4″ flexible tubing and the battery vent drilled and installed into the side of the outside wall now provides the positive air flow needed to vent the litter box area. The fan has very low wattage requirements and is very quite.
If you’re considering this RV project, review the past video listed above and consider these “lessons learned” as you build your own RV kitty litter box.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
Part of the challenge of RV life is finding quality Internet service. It’s nonexistent in many campgrounds and where it is found, it’s overtaxed by those camping. Reasons are many, but the good news is there are affordable RV Internet solutions now offered by many of the cellular providers.
Cellular Internet service
At the date of this video, Verizon now offers an unlimited pre-pay cellular Internet service using a MiFi device. There’s nothing uniquely RV Internet about the Verizon plan other than it is very portable. The MiFi is a wireless cellular modem and router combined. Our MiFi supports up to 10 wireless devices which is ample for our work computer, iPad, cell phones and other devices in the RV. To date, we have not run into an area where Verizon was not accessible. We don’t boondock or dry camp and most of the private, state and federal parks were close enough to a Verizon cell tower for service. We did not always have the fastest of service, but have yet to travel without finding downloads at least 4Mb or higher and similar upload speeds.
Joan and I wanted to have some assurance our two kitty travelers were safe while we toured an area. After a scare last year where power was lost for most of the day in a very hot climate, we wanted to have some way to monitor temperatures in the 5th wheel as well as some form of video. With the MiFi as our base, we were well on our way.
WiFi temperature monitor
The first component was the addition of the GoVee WiFi temperature monitor by Minger. This is a standalone device that has built-in WiFi along with temperature and humidity monitors. It is battery operated making installation simple taking minutes to set up with the GoVee App. The big selling point for us was the ability to set a temperature alarm. In the event the temperature increases to the point we set, we receive an alarm and can return to the 5th wheel to make sure Mink and Molly are safe.
WiFi Camera
We also added a WiFi camera. This was the most challenging part of this project. Almost to the point, I feared it wasn’t possible to operated a WiFi camera over a cellular modem. After several attempts, multiple camera models, I settled on the Amazon Cloud Camera. This was a little higher of a price point that we had hoped, but bottom line, it works. Simple set up, very friendly app and additional security features offer that we could use at a later date. Features such as motion detection has to be disable with the movement of Mink and Molly constantly setting off alerts. Simple to disable. Now with the Cloud Cam, we can simply access the app, check on Mink and Molly anytime along with having that extra assurance they are safe in the event we receive a temperature alarm.
One note. Some may ask if the GoVee temperature monitor or Cloud Cam could be operated on campground WiFi. Maybe, but I would not want to risk when needed most and we failed to receive a temperature alarm.
Overall, a fun RV Internet project. A little challenging, but good results.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
We all reach this point in our RV travels where the USB cords and power management are nearing insanity. It doesn’t matter what we are driving from the largest Class A, to the smallest van, to the car pulling a popup, or in our case, the ton truck and a 5th wheel, the dash starts looking like something from a Frankenstein movie. Wires from one end of the dash to the other, every 12 volt power plug used, adapters with multiple USB plugs, then as a last straw, the multi-plug octopus thing that takes the wiring mess to a whole new realm. For our travels, there’s was a simple fix – using a dash cam hardwire kit.
It know this may not be for everyone, but for those who can manage the replacement of a 12 volt auto fuse, this is a simple project that took less than an hour. We are using a 12v-24v DC to 5v DC converter purchased off Amazon found here https://amzn.to/2XrIEPm. The kit had all the parts needed from the converter, 3 different types of fuse wiring adapters (I refer to these as “cheaters” in the video), and fuses for each.
Next was to find a power source. This effort took half of the project time. Here’s the challenge. I wanted a fuse source that only worked when the ignition switch was turned on. If the truck sits for days or longer, I won’t run the risk of draining the battery. I also didn’t want to use a fuse the was in use that may have high current demands. This could create a situation of blowing the fuse with the addition power demands of the kit. Referring to the truck owner’s manual, I found the fuse panels and use of each, then using a digital volt meter or a simple 12 volt test lamp, I verified my fuse power source was on with the ignition on and off with the key removed.
Next is running the wires. It may seem daunting, but a little patience goes a long way. Start at the device, plug in the adapter and gently hide the wires behind the headliner, dash, window, and moldings. Just take your time and use your fingers and something blunt like the end of a throw-away chop stick to push the wires into place.
Lastly, insert the fuses into the fuse wiring adapter, insert the adapter into the fuse panel, gently secure the excess wires behind the panels or glove box, replace all covers and you’re done.
We didn’t add the dash cam kit for all our USB powered devices. We still plug in the cell phones if needed. This project was for those devices used every time we start the truck. How nice it is to not fiddle with all the wires and tangles. For under $30 and a hour of time, this has made a much needed improvement.
Below are links if you’re interested in purchasing the products discussed in this video. Please note: Prices and availability of the products mentioned in this video are subject to change.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
We get so many questions about our RV jack pads. I made these after we experience several extended days of very strong winds while camping in Texas. I used some of the plastic types, but they cracked. I moved to a couple 2×6 boards to stack under the pads to keep the jacks from sinking in soft dirt and add a little extra height. After one of the evening wind storms, I was surprised to see the 2×6 boards had slid and the 5th wheel jacks we close to falling off.
I created these using two 24 inch pieces of pressure treated 6×6 and capped each, top and bottom with a 24 inch piece of pressure treated 2×12. All pieces were glued and screwed together. I also added a heavy duty galvanized folding gate handle to one side of each pad to make it easier to pull from the bed of the truck and place on the ground.
These are not light, especially until the pressure treated wood drys so watch the back lugging these things around. Once they dry our after a month or so they are more manageable, but as the name implies, these are heavy duty not just in function, but weight.
Below is picture diagram of the construction of the RV jack pads. If you prefer a printed version, just click on the picture for a printer ready PDF to download.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life! Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the right side of the page and click subscribe.
You don’t need as much as you thought you would. It’s easier than you think.
We may not travel as small as some out there. Our home is a 38 foot travel trailer pulled with our truck. There is a lot of places to store stuff and things. And let me tell you, when we pulled out of our driveway about six months ago, every nook and cranny was filled! We took advantage of all the storage space….drawers, cabinets, the pass through, under-bed storage, under-sofa storage…even under-dining-chair-seat storage. Not to mention, the entire bed of the truck was full with bike racks and storage bins on top.
But we needed all this stuff. Right? It all had a purpose. Didn’t it?
Not really. See we sold our house and decided to live fulltime on the road. It was not easy to decide what to keep, what to sell, what to donate. It was also next to impossible to actually know what we would need and what would work for us and our lifestyle on the road. We quickly discovered that we could research something to the ends of the internet, but until we were out there, nothing beat experience.
If I could go back, I would have started off with way less and buy what we needed as we needed it. There are simple things like our dish drying rack and garbage can that we have replaced b/c what we THOUGHT would work for us in the beginning didn’t. We wouldn’t have brought any glass or breakable cups or dishes. It is just more trouble for us than they are worth protecting them from breaking.
The biggest change? We would have bought a much smaller set up. We don’t need this much space. We like being outside. So, we have stuff to make our outside area very livable and fun to hang out in. There are so many empty cabinets and drawers now that we have gotten rid of so much unneeded items.
The bottom line is, you can live smaller than you ever imagined. This lifestyle really lends itself to that. You would be amazed at how much you don’t want for stuff once you get out there.
#pickyourbattles
Even the best relationships can get tested…or a little testy at times! So, when I step outside in the morning, I feel like I am truly stepping into the world. We could be on a beach, in the mountains, overlooking rolling hills….either way, I feel like the land is truly part of my home. When I step inside, Mike and I share a small space…even smaller if it is a driving day.Your partner’s wants and needs when it comes to a living space are highly concentrated. Talk to each other, make compromises, find what works for you. I’ll give you an example –
I don’t listen to music when I drive. I never have. The time I spend on the road I use to relax, decompress, and think. Music distracts me from that. For others, it does not. Mike listens to music all the time. Now, I am not opposed to music while driving, but as I write this post, we have logged roughly 23,000 miles. You hear A LOT of the same songs over and over and over and over. We have now found something we both can enjoy on the road for long periods of time – podcasts. This is what works for us!
Communication is key! Find a way to talk to each other openly and honestly so that your tiny living lifestyle is the relaxing and enjoyable experience you want it to be….not an exercise in breathing down one another’s throats. ????
#relax
Give yourself permission to relax. You don’t have to be on a traditional schedule if you don’t want to. You made a lifestyle change for a reason – a big one. Decide what aspects of your previous lifestyle is important and vital to your personal wellbeing. Keep those. For everything else, be flexible.
It was hard for us to just slow down. We were very used to a structured schedule. You make your life how you want it. If you prefer to do your work late into the evening like I do, you can have that luxury. You may like sitting at a coffee shop or on the beach. Go do it.
Also, give yourself permission to just hang out and enjoy a place for a while. You don’t have to rush through activities anymore because you have limited days away from the office. If you think you need another week to enjoy a national park or a cozy spot you found – take it. Likewise, if you feel like you have seen all there is to see, hitch up and go!!!
#vacationvibes
Even though you need to take the time to enjoy your surroundings, you are not on vacation. Money will go quickly if you act as so. It may be a learning curve, but you must learn how to LIVE the nomadic lifestyle in a way that is not frivolous.
We had to change our mindset so we were eating in more than eating out. Entertainment opportunities are found around every corner that are free or close to it. We reminded ourselves everyday that we did not eat out every night when we lived in a brick and mortar home, nor did we go out every day to “do stuff”.
In the beginning, we had great intentions of cooking or preparing most of our meals at the campsite. We quickly realized there was a learning curve when it came to cooking small, buying smaller quantities, new appliances….and just the overall learning what worked for us in this environment. We found ourselves eating out a lot, going out for cocktails, eating on the road on driving days, and buying lots and lots of coffee.
What worked for us? Getting back in the habit we had back home of meal planning and meal prepping. If we had our meals planned out for several days in advance, it was easier (and more cost effective) to shop. We also tailor a lot of our meals around the same things each week, so we maximize the use of a small refrigerator. For example, I made Cuban Pulled Pork on a Sunday. We made several meals using the meat in multiple ways – pork with sides, enchiladas, taco night, nacho night, and over a baked potato.
When it comes to cocktails – we love cocktails and cocktail bars. We seek them out everywhere we go. The one thing we have changed over the last few months is not paying for simple things we can make at home.
On our way to a new place, and upon our arrival, we make a list of the things we want to do. This way we can prioritize our activities and we don’t forget important dates and times. There are also free activities we list here like, take a bike ride or hike. Don’t forget to list these so you know you have your days filled with things that cost very little to nothing.
#campingstyle
What is your camping style?
You will learn this as you spend more time out there. Find places that fit your style and it will make for a happier you. Do you prefer the remote BLM land or the more social experience of an RV resort? Does boondocking tickle your fancy, or do you require full hookups, cable outlets, WIFI signal, and strong cell service? Do you prefer to pull into your perfectly level cement pad site unhitch and go? Or, do you relish the challenge of backing in at an angle onto a gravel site that cannot by ANY means be described as level?
You made the decision to get out there more to enjoy it. So, do you best to find the places that will allow you to do so. With that said, you must be flexible. We have learned that there are vast differences in expectations depending on location and time of year. EXPECT to find full parks and wait lists at the most desired parks in the winter in Florida and Arizona. EXPECT the same anywhere during festivals or anywhere within close proximity to a Disney Park. EXPECT full parks on the northern Atlantic coast in the summer. The beautiful state beaches in Florida and California?….yeah, EXPECT them to be booked out for eternity. They are gorgeous and worth the wait! These are just to name a few.
However, don’t forget to explore outside of your comfort zone, you never know what you may like if you just try it.
#sharingiscaring
Google is great, but the traveling community is your friend. Look for reviews of parks, products, restaurants, tips and tricks, etc. from fellow travelers. There is a sea of information out there and it has been so helpful to both Mike and I. I cannot tell you how many times we have solved simple problems by searching forums or watching YouTube videos. They are put out there by people that truly want to help others in the same situation.
As much as we love to watch and read about all of the wild and crazy things people are doing, the most helpful resource as new travelers when we come across a problem or question, has been other travelers. So, I want to tell everyone – “SHARING IS CARING!”
Share the good, the bad, and the ugly. We will be doing so. Also, there is a lack of real reviews of parks online. There are many types of travelers out there….not every park is for everyone. However, there is a void in real reviews. We stayed at this park one park in California that was great for train enthusiasts because there was a track that ran right through the front of the park. A train approximately every hour including overnight. I think I found one review online that mentioned this. Let’s help each other out. ????
Two heads are better than one….so thousands of people combined with all of their experience is the best resource you can have.
For any travelers out there….no matter your experience, what have you learned?
Valuable Tips & Info help you prepare for cold weather. Includes winterization instructions for full-time or part-time winter RV living.
It's FREE and there's no obligation... Download your copy today.
Thank You!
You will be redirected to the eBook download page shortly...
After you've had a read through, please let us know what you think about the 'How to Winterize Your RV' eBook.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
In this day and age, everyone has a smart phone in their pocket that contains a camera feature. Some of the new iPhone and Android phones provide excellent photo and video capabilities. This is where I Love RV Life began, but we quickly outgrew the limited features of a phone camera. Below are pros and cons of using a phone as a vlogging camera.
Let’s face it. RV travel along our highways can be a challenge, especially when it comes to rough roads, pot holes and construction. Our last trip was especially challenging and after 5 years of travel we broke a leaf spring hanger. To our good fortune, it occurred close to home and we were able to make it back without damage to our tires or axle. With our next trip weeks away, it was time to tackle the job of trailer suspension repair and make the 5th wheel road worthy.
It’s not the parts in question, but the labor required to remove the old hanger and protect the undercarriage from the sparks generated from grinding and welding. The new hanger and bolt was $20 total, but I had 4 hours in removing wheels, grinding and welding. So be prepared for a large labor bill if you ever have to face any type of trailer suspension repair.
Our first stop was Beale St. Walking along the street, peaking inside the many music venues, shops and restaurants, Joan and I both agreed this area is one of the coolest places in Memphis. As we walked along the street, great blues music was coming from all directions. If you visit Beale St, make sure you go to B.B King’s Blues Club. Great music and the barbeque is good too. But there’s much more to feed that blues music craving. There’s Alfred’s on Beale, Silky O’Sullivans, Jerry Lee Lewis’ Honky Tonk, Tin Roof and the list goes on and on. We also wanted a quick Memphis style lunch before we left Beale St. and stopped at King’s Palace known for the excellent gumbo.
At the corner of Beale St. and B.B. King Blvd. we found the Memphis TN Rock n Soul Museum. The self-guided tour provided a look into the history of not only Memphis music, but the artists and many contributors who made an impact in blues, R&B, Rock and so much more. This museum starts with the roots of the blues, originating in the farms and fields of the south. Displays show many of the early artists who were inspired by the work songs from the fields which created the classic American genre of music. 
Out next stops was Sun Studios which many tout as the birthplace of Rock and Roll. Here, young up and coming artists from the 1950s and 60s including Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and so many more started their music careers. Known first as Rockabilly, this Memphis inspired music soon migrated to be known as Rock and Roll and set the foundation for many artists and new forms of music. 
Next was the Stax Record Museum. Sharing a love of R&B from my teen years growing up in Macon, GA, I couldn’t leave Memphis TN without a visit to the Stax Record Museum. Otis Redding from Macon, GA was one of Stax biggest stars. There were several displays dedicated to his career, but there was so much more. This list of Stax artists and their memorabilia seemed to be endless including Al Green, Booker T and the MGs, Wilson Picket, the Mar-Keys, Carla Thomas, Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, the great R&B guitarist – Steve Cropper, and so many more. 
Sure, Joan and I came for Memphis music, but we had to stop at one of the most unusual retails outlets in the US, Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid. 535,000 square feet of retail space dedicated to outdoor activities, this Bass Pro Shops was something to experience. From the building’s origin as a sports venue, the skyboxes have not been converted into a 103 room wilderness hotel with private screened porches overlooking the man-made cypress swamp retail space below.
The main draw for us was the easy access to downtown Memphis. A short 15 minutes from the campground, we were at Beale St to visit some of the blues clubs (B.B. Kings is a favorite offering great music and excellent Barbeque. At the corner of Beale St. and B.B. King Blvd. is the Rock and Soul Museum, a definite stop to explore the impact of Memphis music. Leaving the downtown area, we traveled to the amazing Bass Pro Shops at the Memphis Pyramid, then on to the birthplace of Rockabilly, Sun Studios and finally the Stax Records Museum where many of our favorite R&B artists recorded throughout the 60s and 70s. 
The USS Alabama began its mission in 1943. 45,000 tons of steel and machine, the “Mighty A” served in a number of notable campaigns throughout the Pacific. Walking across the deck, we were amazed at not only the amount of armament, but the sheer size. I must admit, I stood in awe under the giant 3-gun turrets with the capability of accurately firing a 2,700 pound shell, 16” in diameter, traveling over 1,500 miles per hour and the ability to reach a distance of nearly 21 miles. The armament didn’t stop there with numerous 5”, 40mm and 20mm guns wrapping the outer edges of the ship.
Having the ability to see a WWII American submarine is a very rare experience. The USS Drum is the oldest American submarine on public display. While a fraction of the size of the battleship experience, the tour was no less informative. The 311 foot submarine supported a maximum of 75 day missions and designed to operate at depths up to 300 feet.
The Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion has a large collection of air craft. Various jets and helicopters are displayed. One of particular interest was the restored helicopter used by presidents from Nixon to George H. W. Bush.
I have to share about the beach. The park is large, 2500 acres and the beach seemed to be endless. There were many times we could count the amount of people in our area on one hand. Great sand, cool water, reasonable waves and a great breeze made the beach experience exceptional.
But the beach is just one of the attractions. Numerous walking and biking paths were scatter throughout the park, great views of the marshes, wildlife (we saw deer several times), bird watching, playgrounds for the kids and the spectacular Atalaya Castle.
After a long search, we found a replacement RV fireplace at 
The new RV fireplace came with mounting instructions, but unfortunately, they were useless. The instructions were based on a flat wall installation and I had to fit inside of a cove style door. It was very time consuming, measuring and remeasuring to ensure the fit and off camera, I’ll admit, patience ran a little thin. Advice for those planning to tackle a similar repair:
Consolidated Gold Mine hasn’t operated in over 100 years, but tours are offered every day into the largest hard rock gold mine east of the Mississippi. We had a great tour guide who offered not only the history of the mine, but life in general for the miners who worked the rich quartz veins for Georgia gold. The tour took us deep underground into the mine shafts where gold was mined, where gold deposits still exist, to the tools used and even how dynamite (without the boom!) blasted tons of rock to expose rich deposits of gold.
Leaving the mine, there is an amazing display of gem stones taken from around the mine and surrounding area along with beautiful jewelry created by the amazing artisans who work at Consolidated today. And adding to the fun, we finished our tour panning for gold. Dredge is brought from the bottom of the Chestatee River and my pan delivered 3 small nuggets. Maybe I didn’t strike it rich, but I had a ton of fun!
Our next stop was in the heart of the downtown square. The location of the restored 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse now houses the Dahlonega Gold Museum. The beautifully restored building is made of brick from the surrounding area and is said to contain gold in each brick. Fitting now that the old Court House is home to the gold museum. The lower floor contains a number of historical elements from large gold nuggets, some weighing over 5 ounces, to an amazing collection of extremely rare gold coins minted at the Dahlonega Mint up to the beginning of the Civil War.
Our search for gold didn’t stop at the mines or the museum. Our walk along the square and side streets offered more history into mining. Many of the building built during this period still stand. Large scale mining implements are on display on the side streets.
After a year plus of travel, we needed to make a few improvements. First was the access door. Originally, we used peg board thinking air flow from the garage area would be needed to ventilate the litter box area. The assumption to ventilate was correct, but the peg board was not a good idea. We found in the spring and fall months with the windows and doors open, this created a draft, drawing odors from the litter box area into our living space. Fortunately, the fix was simple. A trip to a home improvement store and a purchase of a quarter inch thick piece of plexiglass provided a seal around the garage door opening.
But we still had an issue. How to ventilate the area where the litter box is located. Simple, an inexpensive 12 volt computer fan. Since we had an LED light in the area, the fan addition was simple. Drill a whole to fit the circumference of the fan, splice into the 12 volt wire feeding the LED light and face the fan output to pull air out of the box area. Next we had to vent the fan output. We did not want to introduce odors into the garage. A vent typically used for RV battery installations proved to be perfect. Adding a flange to the outside of the box, a little 1 3/4″ flexible tubing and the battery vent drilled and installed into the side of the outside wall now provides the positive air flow needed to vent the litter box area. The fan has very low wattage requirements and is very quite. 
Next was to find a power source. This effort took half of the project time. Here’s the challenge. I wanted a fuse source that only worked when the ignition switch was turned on. If the truck sits for days or longer, I won’t run the risk of draining the battery. I also didn’t want to use a fuse the was in use that may have high current demands. This could create a situation of blowing the fuse with the addition power demands of the kit. Referring to the truck owner’s manual, I found the fuse panels and use of each, then using a digital volt meter or a simple 12 volt test lamp, I verified my fuse power source was on with the ignition on and off with the key removed. 
Lastly, insert the fuses into the fuse wiring adapter, insert the adapter into the fuse panel, gently secure the excess wires behind the panels or glove box, replace all covers and you’re done. 
