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MEET JASON & RAE The Getaway Couple By Brian Newman and Rae and Jason Miller
VOL.1, ISSUE 6
CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2021
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i everybody! I am Mike from RVBlogger and the creator of RV Camping Magazine! We have a great lineup of exciting and helpful articles this month!
In this issue, we meet Rae and Jason Miller – The Getaway Couple! Rae and Jason have been full-time RVers for over 4 years. They have a great YouTube following of over 65,000 subscribers that features their lessons learned, RV tips and tricks, and the best places to visit in the US! We had the chance to interview them in this month’s issue and we think you will find them as down to earth and genuine as we did. In this month’s RV Renovation section we feature a gorgeous RV renovation by the Vintageglampers, Beth and Eric Cronin. Their vintage camper renovation of their 1968 Serro Scotty “canned ham” is truly amazing! And they show you how they remodeled it from start to finish.
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In our Are We There Yet? department, Lauren and Aaron Grijalva, the Wanderpreneurs, take us along for a boondocking journey in Sedona Arizona. The photos are beautiful and you will be booking your visit to the area after seeing the amazing landscapes they captured. Planning on doing some “moochdocking” over the holidays? The National RV Training Academy provides us with an article called - Is it Safe to Plug in Your RV at Home? If you plan to plug your RV into your home, or a relative’s home over the holidays, you won’t want to miss this article and video! The folks at the NRVTA are real pros, and they are committed to training people how to service and use their RVs safely! And finally, in our RV Kitchen department we feature some awesome recipes for a complete Thanksgiving Dinner while camping from Kim Hanna at campingforfoodies.com. These recipes look delicious and they make cooking a turkey at your campsite a breeze! We hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the Magazine and please share it with your friends! Mike at RVBlogger
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NUTS AND BOLTS
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IS IT SAFE TO PLUG IN YOUR RV AT HOME?
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his is a common question many new RVers ask. You’ve just purchased an RV and are excited to get it home to prepare for your first adventure. However, the power cord doesn’t look like it would fit into any standard home outlets. At first appearance, the cord is so big that it looks like you’re trying to plug in a battleship. People can buy adapter cords that would enable their 30or 50-amp power cord to be plugged into a typical 120-volt wall socket, but is it safe? The quick-and-easy answer is “No.” Don’t use a converter to draw electricity from a typical home socket to power a 30- or 50-amp RV. Two things can happen: • You will draw so much power from your house that the socket will overload. Hopefully, it would just trip a circuit breaker. However, it could generate so much heat that, depending upon what you’re trying to power, it could start a fire. • You won’t draw enough power from your 120-volt home electrical system. So you risk damaging important and sensitive electronic components on the RV. There is a better option, although it will cost some money. To be truly safe, hire an experienced electrician to install an RV-specific 30- or 50-amp outlet on the outside of your house. For less than $200, you can even install your own RV-style pedestal. That way, if you ever upgrade or downgrade your RV, then you won’t have to hire the electrician to make another modification. An additional benefit of installing a pedestal is that one of your RV buddies might show up at your home someday and you’ll be able to accommodate that rig, regardless of how much power it uses.
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HELP THE ELECTRICIAN However, you have to be very clear with the electrician that the outlet or pedestal needs to be set up to deliver 120-volt electricity. “Most of the 30-amp appliances in your house, like your oven or clothes dryer, actually run off 240-volt power,” said Todd Henson, an instructor with the National RV Training Academy. “So a residential electrician will need to make an easy modification to reduce the electrical load on that power line.” If the electrician doesn’t understand what the outlet will be used for, and it is hooked up to a 240-volt power line, you’ll wind up with two hot streams of electricity. And, if that happens, hideous things can occur not only to your expensive RV, but also to your likely even more expensive house.
could blow up in your face,” Todd explained. An RV pedestal will have a place for a hot connection, a neutral connection and a ground connection.
Remember what happened when the Ghostbusters tried to “cross the streams?” Yeah, you don’t want that to happen to you!
“It is nearly impossible for a trained electrician to set up a pedestal the wrong way,” he added.
“With two legs of electricity, at one point you have electrons coming in and electrons going out at the other point. When the connection is made, things
What if you’re visiting someone’s home and they claim to have 30-amp service available to power an RV, should you trust the claim?
MOOCHDOCKING CONCERNS
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“However, you have to be very clear with the electrician that the outlet or pedestal needs to be set up to deliver 120-volt electricity.”
Moochdocking is a term RVers use for parking for RV free on someone else’s property. It might be their driveway, the street in front of their house or somewhere on their land. The benefit is that you’re getting free electricity. “If their power is not set up correctly and you plug your RV into their outlet, then whip-bam-boom, you’ve lost your whole rig’s electrical system,” said Todd. He recommends purchasing a volt meter or multimeter at a local hardware store. It’s a device with two prongs. Insert one prong into each of the thin, slanted connections of a 30-amp outlet. The NOVEMBER 2021
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RV CAMPING meter will show it is delivering either 120-volt or 240-volt power. “If it shows 120-volt power, you are good to go,” he added. “If it shows 240 volts, don’t try to plug in your RV or bad things will happen.” For 50-amp power, insert the prongs into the thin connectors on the right and left side of the outlet. Don’t insert the prongs into the upper or lower connectors. “When the multimeter prongs are inserted into the right and left side, if the display reads 240 volts, then you know the power is set up correctly and it’s okay to insert your RV’s 50-amp power cord,” Todd explained. If you want to learn more about how RV electricity works and how to fix the majority of problems you’ll encounter on your rig, check out the educational programs offered by the National RV Training Academy. You can also find information about becoming a certified RV technician or inspector by visiting www.nrvta.com.
The National RV Training Academy
The National RV Training Academy is the premier licensed career school for RV Technicians and RV Inspectors and provide training for RV Owners. For more information about the National RV Training Academy, Call (903) 386-0444 or visit www.nrvta.com.
NOVEMBER 2021
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Traditional Thanksgiving Recipes FOR DINNER AT YOUR CAMPSITE! BY KIM HANNA
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id you ever think about camping on a major food holiday? Sure, lots of people camp on Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day. But what about Thanksgiving? Here is a great lineup of Thanksgiving camping recipes to enjoy turkey and all the trimmings!
1. The Main Dish:Turkey We have made Thanksgiving Turkey at the campsite using several different methods. We list 4 methods below so you can choose the one that works best for you. Just make sure you use a meat thermometer to ensure the meat is fully cooked before serving it.
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©allrecipes
1. PROPANE GRILL You can make a whole turkey on a propane grill. If you don’t want to fuss too much with trying to maintain a constant temperature for a roasted bird, using a propane grill might be the way to go. You can almost “set it and forget it” when it comes to temperature control when using a good quality propane grill.
2. SMOKEY JOE Our favorite way to cook turkey when we are camping is using our little Smokey Joe. We use our normal charcoal grill that we have simply modified (check out our blog article for tips to show you how) to handle a decent-sized turkey so we can feed 8-10 people.
3. PROPANE FRYER You can also deep fry your turkey with a propane fryer. This is one of the easiest and quickest methods for cooking a turkey in the wilderness. The great news is that you won’t have to worry about making a mess with a little bit of splattering grease when you are out in the wild.
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Propane Grill Smokey Joe Propane Fryer
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4. DUTCH OVEN If you are not cooking for a lot of people, roasting a turkey breast is a great option. They easily fit in a small RV oven or a regular camp Dutch oven on a meat rack. If you are camping with large groups or you just want leftovers, you’ll have to do something a little more complex.
2. Traditional Side Dishes If you’re camping with family members, you probably agree on those special recipes that must be included on your full Thanksgiving dinner menu. I’m sharing our “regulars” that I have adapted for campsite cooking.
Dutch Oven
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CLASSIC SAGE SAUSAGE DRESSING
GRILLED SPICED POTATOES These Grilled Spiced Potatoes combine sweet potatoes, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder and a few other spices. They get wrapped in individual foil packets which is great when we have a smaller crowd. If we have over 8 people, will do a big pot of mashed potatoes too.
©Serious Eats
This Classic Sage Sausage Dressing is a great cast iron Dutch Oven side dish. You’ll throw together a little day-old bread, chicken broth, onions, celery and sage sausage to make this family favorite. If you don’t want to make dressing that is completely from scratch, try frying up some sage sausage and adding it to a box of Stove Top Stuffing. Classic Sage Sausage Dressing
CRANBERRY AND TOASTED ALMOND SPINACH SALAD ©Go Diary Free
A cold Cranberry And Toasted Almond Spinach Salad is a simple way to put a fresh green veggie on the table. This recipe features fresh spinach that is jazzed up with a simple homemade dressing, some dried cranberries and toasted nuts.
Grilled Spiced Potatoes
ORANGE SCENTED CRANBERRY SAUCE
©Hidden Valley® Ranch
You could just open a can of cranberry sauce if you want to avoid the work of preparing the recipe but I would not recommend it. The fresh cranberries, orange juice and walnuts combine to make this simple recipe taste AMAZING! No matter where our family is celebrating Thanksgiving day, we can’t make enough of this Orange Scented Cranberry Sauce! There
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is a price to be paid if we run out … so, I make more than I think we need and if there are any leftovers, we use a spoonful as an ice cream topping or as a mix-in for cocktails!
Thanksgiving Dessert UPPER CRUST APPLE PIE
©Once Upon a Chef
Our entire family loves this Upper Crust Apple Pie so we make this when our camping group is smaller. If we have a group with over 8 people, we will also make a pumpkin pie to make sure everyone has a sweet treat to end the big feast! Orange Scented Cranberry Sauce
Upper Crust Apple Pie
©The Upper Crust ©Health Benefit Time RVBLOGGER.COM
You won’t believe how easy it is to make this pie. Throw together some apple slices, cinnamon and sugar then top it with a really simple upper crust. Forget about using an entire stick of butter, this recipe only calls for a tablespoon and a bit of shortening.
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Meal Timing for Thanksgiving Camping Recipes Timing the big Thanksgiving camping dinner can be a bit of a mystery. If you want to make sure every recipe is done at the same time and without chaos in your camp kitchen … get these tips on meal timing for your recipes for your entire Thanksgiving dinner. It is a given that tent campers are cooking everything outside … but … one of the best RV tips and hacks for an RV Thanksgiving dinner is using your outdoor cooking equipment more than your RV kitchen for this big holiday meal feast!
Why Camping on Thanksgiving is a Great Idea RELAXATION IS PART OF CAMPING AND THANKSGIVING • The Thanksgiving holiday season is all about giving thanks. NOVEMBER 2021
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©Hip Camp
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©Outside Nomad
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HANGING WITH THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE • In our hectic lives we don’t always make time for the really important things in life … the people we love. • You can remedy that … Friends and family go with Thanksgiving and camping. The big meal preparation • If you are making a Thanksgiving feast at home, a big kitchen is usually a necessity. • When camping, there is always room to spread out and use lots of cooking methods. You can cook with camp stoves, Dutch ovens, campfires and possibly even RV stoves and ovens.
©Allrecipes
THANKSGIVING AND CAMPING FOCUS ON FOOD • The “What’s on the menu?” question is common at Thanksgiving celebrations and at campsites around the globe.
“In our hectic lives we don’t always make time for the really important things in life … the people we love.”
About the Author Kim Hanna is the creator of Camping For Foodies®. On her blog, www. campingforfoodies.com, she shares her passion for camping, hiking and cooking as well as living a balanced yet dreampursuing life. Kim has appeared on several local TV networks, in magazines and at live special events inspiring others to unplug from their hectic lives one camp recipe at a time.
She believes many adults are so consumed with their 24/7 connected lives, they don’t take time to enjoy nature and live in the moment. Kim is a contributor to AZ Outdoor Magazine and has her own cooking segment on the Great Food Good Neighbors TV show. Kim is a Christian and lives in Phoenix with her husband and two cats.
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THE GETAWAY COUPLE BY BRIAN NEWMAN AND RAE & JASON MILLER
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ae and Jason Miller had dreams of traveling around the world for a year. They would see the sights, explore those quaint villages, and have the time of their life. Then Plan A disappeared when a Doberman mix puppy chose them. Instead, a suggested online video showed them how the couple could get away and bring their Doberman mix, Carmen, with them. Four years later, Rae and Jason have become YouTube Influencers, led presentations at RV shows, and have partnerships with many famous RV brands. The Millers have also had features in The Washington Post, Trailer Life Magazine, New York Magazine, and other top publications.
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We at RV Camping Magazine had the opportunity to catch up with the Getaway Couple, Rae and Jason Miller, to learn about their adventures on the road, find out their best advice for RV newbies, and get some insight on their RV Masterclass program.
Tips for New RV Owners 1. HOW DID YOU START THE GETAWAY COUPLE, AND WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING YOUTUBERS? We hit the road in July of 2017, and we posted our first YouTube video on September 29 of the same year. We decided to start Getaway Couple to share every side of RVing and show our journey from the start. So our first vlog is literally our first day
on the road! We’d have to say our two favorite things about being YouTubers are sharing our knowledge and the community that came from it. We’ve learned so much, and we love sharing all of it; the good, the bad, and the ugly. While it can be embarrassing to share our mistakes, it’s essential that we do because so many folks have told us they have prevented issues by learning from us. That’s the ultimate win for us! Our “Getaway Gang” has been nothing but supportive as we move forward on our RVing journey. We’ve met some great people all over the U.S. because of YouTube. When we were first researching RVing, we didn’t realize the people in this space would play a significant role in our lives. We thought NOVEMBER 2021
we were just hitting the road for adventure, but having our community is what has made this journey memorable.
2. HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME FULL-TIMERS IN YOUR 5TH WHEEL, AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT IT? Initially, we were trying to figure out how to travel overseas fulltime. We were saving money, paying off debt, and putting our plans in place to quit our jobs and travel the world for one year. However, during our research phase, we got Carmen, our Doberman mix. We weren’t planning on getting a dog, but she ended up in our lives the day after Christmas, and we knew she was a part of our family as soon as we saw her. While watching travel bloggers on
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“ Rae and Jason Miller would see the sights, explore those quaint villages, and have the time of their life.” RVBLOGGER.COM
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YouTube, we saw a recommended video about RVing. Curious, we watched it, and both thought, “What? You can live in an RV!?”. We discussed this option a bit more and realized that this was the best choice for two main reasons. 1) We could bring Carmen along on our adventures, and 2) we didn’t have to limit our trip to one year since Jason could continue to work in Cyber Security remotely. Things started to fall in place once we made this decision. Within a year, we purchased our RV and hit the road. What we love most about our fifth wheel is the floorplan. We have a Grand Design Solitude 375RES. When we were looking at RVs, we knew an open concept floorplan wasn’t for us. The living room,
kitchen, and bedroom in our rig feel like separate rooms, and we love it. We like to divide work and play mentally, and since we work from the RV, having different spaces for this was important to us.
3. WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN WHEN YOU BEGAN RVING? RAE: I wish I had known how hard full-time living could be for some people initially. I remember watching videos online, thinking this lifestyle was just full of adventure and life-changing experiences. I couldn’t wait to get out there. While RVing is great, there are a whole slew of problems that come along with it. And if you’ve never RVed before, there is a steep learning NOVEMBER 2021
Floorplan for Grand Design Solitude 375RES from Getaway Couple Blog “Best Grand Design Solitude Floorplans."
curve. I remember hitting three months on the road feeling like I was doing something wrong because I wasn’t as happy as the people I watched before we left. This feeling was one of the main reasons we decided to open up 100% on our YouTube channel. We wanted people to see that there are challenges when you live full-time in an RV, but if you can overcome them, that’s what truly makes full-time living rewarding. JASON: I wish I had known how stressful having a large RV could be. While having the space is excellent and traveling out west is a breeze, towing a 42-foot fifth wheel on the east coast is a wild ride. I’m glad we’re doing it now with years of experience under
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my belt instead of our first year on the road like we planned.
4. WHAT’S YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR NEWBIE RVERS? We tell every newbie RVer to slow down. It’s so common to want to hit the road and go, go, go. We were like that too. Eventually, you will hit a wall moving at a fast pace. Of course, if you’re on a timeline, you do have to stay on schedule. But if you’re full-time
for an indefinite period, you need to pace yourself. We like to follow the 2/2/2 rule, which means drive no more than 200 miles a day, get to your campground before 2 pm, and stay at least 2 nights in each place. While the 2/2/2 rule is still fast, in our opinion, it should help prevent some burnout. Another vital piece of advice is to understand that problems will arise. Something will NOVEMBER 2021
break, plans will get canceled, construction and road closures will happen. You have to learn to roll with the punches. Everything is fixable as long as you have the right attitude.
5. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE RV CAMPING LOCATION, AND WHY? ARE THERE ANY STATES YOU HAVE NOT VISITED YET? It’s so hard to choose just one favorite camping location.
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But one that sticks out in our memories is a boondocking location outside of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. It was right on the Portneuf River but only a few minutes from the adorable little downtown. We rafted down the river and soaked in the local hot springs facility. It was perfect! We technically haven’t visited the New England area, but by the time the RV Camping Magazine
SENSE OF COMMUNITY WHILE ON THE ROAD?
readers enjoy this article, we’ll have some of those states crossed off the “to-do” list. We’ve been trying to get to Maine for four years, so it’s exhilarating to us that we can finally check these states off our bucket list. The only other two states we haven’t visited are West Virginia and Alaska.
Our Getaway Gang was our first sense of community on the road. We met a member in person last year who said she was our 16th subscriber! There are still people in our Gang that we’ve never met face to face, but we’ve messaged often.
6. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO FORM FRIENDSHIPS AND A
We’ve also made friends through rallies and Instagram.
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“It’s so hard to choose just one favorite camping location. But one that sticks out in our memories is a boondocking location outside of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho.” Rallies are a great way to make friends quickly, and we highly recommend every newbie RVer attend one sooner than later. Depending on your interests, many rallies have different activities, so it’s easy to find like-minded individuals. As for Instagram, we would reach out to people in the same area and see if they wanted to grab a drink or dinner. When it comes to finding community on the road, you have to put yourself out there a bit more, but it’s totally worth it!
7. HOW HAS FULL-TIME RVING CHANGED YOU AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF THE WORLD? RAE: Without getting too mushy or philosophical, I can say that full-time RVing has made me look at certain situations with new eyes. Simply put, I used to be pretty uptight and needed things completed a certain way. Traveling has slowly released those traits, and I’m much better NOVEMBER 2021
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“We tell every newbie RVer to slow down.”
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“I’ve learned that I can let go of control, and things will still work out for the best.” We all hopped in the truck and started driving. We ended up having a great afternoon exploring and finding little roadside attractions we would never have stopped at otherwise. Since then, when we find ourselves with analysis paralysis, one of us will say to the other, “let’s just go.” It’s our sign to stop overthinking and start doing.
for it. I’ve learned that I can let go of control, and things will still work out for the best.
This is more of an inside joke between us, but we live by “let’s just go.” We visited Jason’s younger sister when we were JASON: RVing has taken me about three months into RVing. out of my bubble. We are from We couldn’t figure out what to California, and while I still think see or do in our short afternoon it’s one of the most beautiful together and were wasting far states, RVing has opened my too much time trying to figure it eyes to the U.S.’s uniquely out. Finally, Jason’s little sister diverse landscapes and lifestyles. just looked at us as said, “let’s just go!”.
8. DO YOU LIVE BY ANY PIECE OF ADVICE OR MOTTO?
So that’s exactly what we did. RVBLOGGER.COM
RV Masterclass 9. HOW DID YOU CREATE THE RV MASTERCLASS COURSES, AND WHAT CAN NEW RVERS EXPECT TO LEARN? We started RV Masterclass with Kyle and Olivia from Drivin’ and Vibin’ as well as Tom and Caitlin from Mortons on the Move. Initially, it was just an in-person class for people looking to buy their first RV, called RV Buyers Bootcamp. The event was a great success, so we planned
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RV CAMPING more in-person events, but then the pandemic hit. So we quickly transitioned to online education. It ended up working out perfectly because we could create more courses and get the information out to more people than we ever could in person. We then made Boondocking 101 and Preparing to Full-Time RV. Shortly after that, we teamed up with Kristen and Andy Murphy from Where Wild Ones Roam to create two more awesome courses. Kristen made Ready to Roadschool, and Andy launched Mobile Internet Explained. We call those five courses the RV Masterclass Signature Courses, but we promote and recommend 15 additional classes created by some incredible people in the RV community. Between the Signature Courses and additional courses we promote within the RV niche, new RVers can learn almost everything related to RVing. From buying your first RV to transitioning to full-time life to getting your kids set up to roadschool. There’s a little bit for everyone! In July of 2021, we sold RV Masterclass to RV LIFE. We are excited to have RV Masterclass acquired by such a fantastic company in the RV space. We know RV LIFE will be able to take RV Masterclass to the next level of online education. Our current courses will stay on the website, and RV LIFE will expand the educational offerings to make our valuable RVing resource NOVEMBER 2021
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even more helpful to the RV community.
Future Plans and How to Connect with Rae and Jason
10. WHAT’S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? We want to visit Alaska. By the time we get there, it will be our 50th state, which seems perfect for us. But, we also have big dreams to travel overseas. Now that we’ve RVed full-time for over four years in the U.S., we think RVing in other countries would be really fun. We would love to visit Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, and so, so much more! Honestly, there’s too much to list.
11. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
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RAE: I’d have to say teleportation. While RVing has taught me to slow down and enjoy the journey, being able to pop over to Europe for lunch would be pretty cool. Plus, it would be really helpful on those days I’m running late for things. JASON: I’d pick superspeed. It would allow me to see other parts of the country that I wouldn’t have been able to see otherwise. I love getting out into the wilderness, but I’m not a multi-day hiker, so superspeed to could get me to those places faster.
12. WHAT’S THE BEST WAY FOR OUR READERS TO CONNECT WITH AND LEARN FROM YOU?
to connect with us. You can find links to all of our social channels on getawaycouple. com and loads of RVing content there. Additionally, we highly recommend signing up for our daily newsletter (or a weekly wrapup if daily isn’t your style) that covers all things RVing!
Going Along with the Getaway Couple
When you watch Rae and Jason’s YouTube videos, they offer excellent and practical advice for everyone of every skill level in the RV Community. Yet, if you use the sort feature and look at the first video that the couple posted on September 29, 2017, you’ll see that they’re just like everybody else. In that video, they use words and phrases like:
Our website is the best way NOVEMBER 2021
Rae and Jason Presenting
• We think… • It took us longer than we wanted… • Our main concern… • That was our Wednesday. As you continue to watch their videos, you’ll see them learn something the easy way, the notso-easy way, and the “forget this, I wanna go home” way. Yet, they stuck it out and made it through their first year. When it comes to full-timing, the first year is always the hardest (although COVID-19 through us all for a loop). A big key to their success was starting their adventure in their local area. Rae comments that before they started the RV lifestyle, they would pass the Pinnacles National Park all the time
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“ We want to visit Alaska. By the time we get there, it will be our 50th state, which seems perfect for us.”
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without realizing the exciting opportunities waiting for them inside the park’s gates. So while they finished transitioning from their three-bedroom home to their 42-foot fifth wheel, the Getaway Couple used their local area to change their perspective from brick and sticks to full-time RVers. During those first weeks, when things didn’t go according to plan, Rae and Jason knew where they could get things fixed, buy additional items, and have their family support system nearby. Most new full-timers can’t wait to hit the gas pedal and get as far away as they can for that first adventure. Making critical mistakes at home is the best way to overcome them and avoid real trouble when you don’t have a lifeline available. RVBLOGGER.COM
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Boondoking IN SEDONA ARIZONA
I
f you read the New York Times article, "Sheltering in Place in an R.V. Is Not as Fun as It Sounds," published on May 1, 2020, you may have met Aaron and Lauren Grijalva, known as the Wanderpreneurs. Eighteen months before the Pandemic, they joined the full-time RV lifestyle and headed west from their Atlanta, GA home, eager to explore the beauty and vastness of the western United States. While exploring the west, they took some advice from a family member and headed to Sedona, Arizona. Instead of reserving a site at the nearby Thousand Trails campground, they chose to do a little more research on Campendium, finding a great place to boondock for a few days.
BY BRIAN NEWMAN AND THE WANDERPRENEURS AARON AND LAUREN GRIJALVA
Before the family member mentioned it, the Grijalvas hadn’t heard of Sedona. So the Wanderpreneurs invited us to join them as they discovered the incredible hiking trails on their visit to the area.
WHAT MAKES SEDONA SO SPECIAL? In Sedona, Arizona, there’s a saying that the 10,000 residents know and the over three million tourists leave with each year:
G-D CREATED THE GRAND CANYON, BUT HE LIVES IN SEDONA The town resides among the red rock mountains and deep canyon walls where the desert meets the Ponderosa Pine Forests of northern Arizona. You can find it south of Flagstaff if you take I-40 to I-17 towards Phoenix. You’ll take NOVEMBER 2021
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“Sedona is also an energy vortex for those who are on a spiritual journey. ” the exit for SR-89A and continue southwest until you reach the fork at SR-179. At that point, you’ll be on the eastern edge of Sedona. The town draws hikers and ATV riders from all over the country. Sedona is also an energy vortex for those who are on a spiritual journey. When you need to recover from the road, there are plenty of spas to massage out those hundreds of miles out of your body. Foodies can enjoy TexMex and Mexican cuisine as well as Italian, Thai, and American fare. You’ll also find the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village for open market shopping, the Uptown tourist section for souvenirs, and boutiques of Native American items in other districts. To see the sights, you can take a jeep tour or take a rented ATV ride with a guide through the desert. There are plenty of unique and protected rock formations worth seeing for yourself. Hiking trails range from beginner to advanced. The Seven Sacred Pools via Soldier Pass Trail is a beginner level that’s a little over a mile. Wilson Mountain Trail is an 11.5-mile trek that goes up the tallest mountain and challenges hikers with snow and mud during the winter. NOVEMBER 2021
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Image Source: Unsplash / dayoldblues
FINDING THE RIGHT SPOT Aaron and Lauren found their boondocking site by Nolan Tank. Towing their 42-foot 2016 Coachmen Chaparral 390QSMB with their 2014 Ford F-350 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel was somewhat of an adventure itself. The bumpy and rock-filled 4-6 mile dirt road was scared from the many ATVs running back and forth
over it. But, if Aaron or Lauren had any doubts about their truck of fifth wheel’s suspension, that road gave them a real test. Once they found a spot away from the road noise, the view was gorgeous. Red rock formations, desert vegetation, and large tree-like bushes gave them some natural privacy in their space. NOVEMBER 2021
the Devil’s Bridge is the largest natural sandstone arch in the area.
In addition, the iron-rich ground underneath them gave them a scenic camping experience, unlike anything they’ve had before. The boondocking area itself had plenty of room for motorhomes and travel trailers of all sizes. There’s even a big space for a caravan of coaches to circle up for club camping. The site they chose
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gave them an ample outdoor living space to comfortably spread out the camp chairs and other outdoor furniture, and they didn’t have to worry about disturbing the neighbors with their generator noise.
Wanderpreneur Family conquered three different hiking trails. Aaron and Lauren are very proud of the awareness and skills their kids show each time they head out on a trail. That’s why they choose paths that match their kids’ abilities.
THREE HIKES DURING A WEEK IN SEDONA
The trails they explored took them through the Coconino National Forest, close to their boondocking
During their week in Sedona, the
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site. The 1.856 million-acre forest is diverse with Sedona’s red rock desert landscapes. It also protects the Ponderosa pine forests, and reaches into alpine tundras.
CATHEDRAL ROCK HIKE The AllTrails App describes Cathedral Rock Hike as a popular 1.2-mile back trail with a moderate rating. It’s linear, so you can
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approach it from either parking lot and then head back the way you came. The route took the family through some picturesque landscapes of broad valleys with wind-carved buttes and desert vegetation. Some of the slopes have a steep angle, but Casen and Calista handled them like pros.
DOE MOUNTAIN TRAIL Doe Mountain is a 1.5-mile moderate trail that’s an out and back journey. Aaron and Lauren chose it because it was close to their campsite, and it’s the secondbest hike in the Sedona area. Much of the trail climbs up a mesa with
a series of switchbacks. When you reach the top, make sure you know which route you came from because there are several other trails this point connects.
DEVIL’S BRIDGE TRAIL AllTrails rates the Devil’s Bridge as a moderate trail that’s 3.9-miles long. It’s also linear and used for hiking and off-road driving. Like the other two trails, leashed dogs are allowed. The rock formation known as the Devil’s Bridge is the largest natural sandstone arch in the area. The trail is popular with tourists, NOVEMBER 2021
so expect crowds during the day. Originally, the beginning portion was a Jeep path that took people to the sandstone arch formation. There are steps on the trail and a steep climb at the other end. With a high clearance vehicle, people can drive half the trail. During this hike, the Wanderpreneurs met up with their college friends, the Micro Adventure Family. As the two families drew closer to the Devil’s Bridge, the arch became more intimidating than expected. To brave through it, they held hands to share their brave energy
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“In Sedona, Arizona, there’s a saying that the 10,000 residents know and the over three million tourists leave with each year.”
throughout. Conquering their fears, they all journeyed on together.
FINISHING THE TRIPS WITH FRIENDS, FOOD, AND A CAMPFIRE After the hike, the two families found a great place to enjoy the local evening flavors. The Grijalva’s joined their friends at their campsite for a campfire late into the night. Since this was the second time they met up, there were a lot of full-timer stories to catch up on and other tales to amaze. When it was time to move on, the four Wanderpreneurs agreed that Sedona, AZ needed a return trip. The combination of civilization and desert, extreme adventures and relaxing stillness, as well as other polarized equilibriums, makes this town worth the return trip. Next time, they may set their sights on some ATV action. Aaron, Lauren, Casen and Calista thought it would be fun to take a one year RV trip around the US back in 2018. Only a few months in, they realized this trip was going to become their new lifestyle. Now, after 3 years, they’ve traveled full time to 28 states and 33 National Parks and have no end in sight. They chase adventure and love traveling with friends, meeting new ones along the way. NOVEMBER 2021
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The Wanderpreneurs have multiple streams of income that fund their travels, including web design, digital marketing, content creation and buying/selling/ trading crypto. Casen and Calista enjoy unschooling and learning in many unique ways through their travels. The family documents their daily life and adventures on their blog and social media channels. Inspiring others to get outside and boldly make changes in order to live their best life is what they’re passionate about! You can follow along at http:// www.thewanderpreneurs.com and http://instagram.com/the. wanderpreneurs.
NOVEMBER 2021
Campground Virtual Tours Stop Guessing Start Picking
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HOT, STICKY & SWEATY IN YOUR RV? YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE. You have boondocked, guest-docked, or lot-docked on hot, humid nights. And before now, to stay cool, you needed a big, noisy gas generator (that kept you awake all night) to reliably activate your RV’s A/C units. Those days (and nights) are over! Now, you can start up your RV air conditioning easily, consistently and quietly with a SoftStartRV™ soft starter! Typically, a 2200-2500 series gas generator puts out 2.2-2.5 kilowatts of power and runs small and medium-sized appliances like dorm-style refrigerators, coffee makers, and small microwaves. With the SoftStartRV A/C power management system, you can use small gas generators like the Honda 2200i to power an RV’s A/C unit when you directly plug in your travel trailer.
Will SoftStartRV run my RV A/C on low power? Yes. A SoftStartRV high-performance soft starter powers up all RV A/Cs with smaller gensets – meaning less cost and less weight for your RV travels.
Key SoftStartRV advantages: • Start two A/Cs* on one 30-amp hook-up • Start one A/C with a small generator • Start your A/C on a 20-amp house circuit • Start your A/C with an onboard inverter * Requires one SoftStartRV unit per air conditioner.
The SoftStartRV is a smart, effective, lightweight, low-cost solution that keeps you cool and reduces the “clunking” compressor start-up noise. Its energy management technology reduces air conditioner start-up power demands by an amazing 70%. Since your Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) is always an issue, the SoftStartRV measures 6”x3”x3” and only weighs 2 pounds.
The best SoftStartRV features based on customer reviews • Starts RV A/Cs with a small generator (2200 series generators) • “Best In Industry” warranty included in the price • Small and light, barely affecting your CCC • FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the USA & Canada • Complete installation kit with all needed parts to fully integrate the product • Free online installation videos, guides and directions • LIVE tech support, real-time installation, and tech install ticket support • LED status lights: start, run, and fault • Built-In start capacitor • Waterproof case
Can I use SoftStartRV on my Motorhome or Travel Trailer?
huge energy spike required to activate the compressor.
may see a reduction in your A/C power shedding too.
The SoftStartRV works on any rooftop RV air conditioner. You could have a teardrop camper with a single 11,000 BTU air conditioner, a luxury Class A diesel motorhome with three 15,000 BTU A/C units, or anything in-between. The SoftStartRV power management system makes cooling your coach easy, allowing you to run more appliances.
Typical 13.5 or 15K BTU RV air conditioners can jump to 52 amps at activation. The massive amount of power is like flooring your gas pedal on your motorhome. Doing this to the A/C snaps the compressor awake, kick starts the fan and other A/C components. That’s why you hear “thumps” and feel the trailer “shake” when the unit starts.
The SoftStartRV comes with a RiskFree 90-Day Money-Back Guarantee of Satisfaction. It also comes with a 1-year Manufacturer’s Warranty.
Why RV Air Conditioners Need So Much Power Mike Sokol of RVelectricity.com, a long-time electric specialist in the RV world, compared a typical RV air conditioner start-up to an A/C unit with the SoftStartRV. He proved that the product drastically reduces the
By registering your SoftStartRV product online, the warranty can be extended for an additional year. The second year of warranty protection gives you the same manufacturer’s warranty protection during the first year.
With SoftStartRV, the power management technology gradually increases power, peaking around 24 amps. Then the compressor wakes up gently, the fan activates at its mid-cycle amperage, ultimately reducing power usage up to 65-70%. You
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RENOVATE YOUR RV
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H
ow did you know your partner was the one? Did they stand up to the Dad Test, did they pass the dog inspection, or did they survive the barrage of questions your friends fired at them? For Beth Cronin, it was when her husband Eric fell in love with her and her family’s 1968 Serro Scotty Canned Ham Travel Trailer. When your dream date includes silicone caulk and plywood, it takes a special someone to find a connection when you’re neck-deep in paint and sawdust.
BEAM ME UP
Scotty! THIS VINTAGE GLAMPER RESTORATION IS OUT OF THIS WORLD!
Beth, Eric, and their Chihuahua mix Lola enjoy the part-time RV lifestyle in their restored Scotty. Known as the Vintage Glampers, they have feature articles in Rootless Living and Vintage Trailers Magazines. In addition, the Cronin’s have been guests on the RV Advisor Podcast a couple of times.
BY BRIAN NEWMAN AND THE VINTAGEGLAMPERS - BETH AND ERIC CRONIN
Beth’s plans to restore the Serro Scotty had some false starts and took some time management to complete the restoration. Beth explains how she and Eric brought this Vintage Era Canned Ham travel trailer back to life, the history this specific RV has, and what they plan to do in the future.
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“Beth, Eric, and their Chihuahua mix Lola enjoy the part-time RV lifestyle in their restored Scotty.”
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Restoring Our 1968 Serro Scotty My dad and I purchased our 1968 vintage camper from the original owners of the trailer that had passed it down through four generations. When we told them we were going to revive it, they were thrilled. Eric and I love restoration and home projects, so this project was exciting and perfect for us.
As many people know, renovations usually come with their challenges, and we faced many challenges during the process. Our main issue was making the camper functional and safe for our use. The trailer came with all of its original fixtures, a full stove/oven, propane heater, light fixtures, even the original black tar linoleum floor, so to say we had our work cut out for us is an understatement. NOVEMBER 2021
Serro Scotty Hi-landers are made from 3 quarter-inch plywood, making them easy to work with compared to some of the materials used in modern campers. Initially, we removed all of the rotted wood, which meant removing a foot and a half of the frame on both sides, as well as completely rebuilding the rear end. In our case, the situation we
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“Luckily, the interior bones were in decent condition, and we were able to keep the original footprint.” had was a rare example, where the frame did not need much attention. We were able to save the original skins, windows, and door, and we had a local auto-
body shop restore the camper to the original color. Water damage often requires starting over, but we were able to fix only those spots that needed repair. NOVEMBER 2021
In terms of the interior, we had a lot of work to do. Luckily, the interior bones were in decent condition, and we were able to keep the original footprint. But as you might expect with anything “old,” the process was interesting. In the care of the previous family, the camper had received only minimal maintenance and updating, so making the trailer modern and functional was the hardest part. Originally, the model was complete with an oven, lighting fixtures, and heat provided
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before
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by propane, which can be great for off-the-grid camping. Still, the original propane lines needed replacement. With a lot of careful consideration on making things safe and practical, we removed all of the original propane and water lines, electrical wiring, and appliances. From there, with a clean slate, we decided where outlets and lighting would be of benefit, as well as some new additions like USB charging ports, wall fans, AC, which is a must in our opinion, and a smart TV. All electrical items use a modern power center similar to ones found in newer campers. Finally, we installed an entirely new stovetop in place of the original oven, which significantly improved storage underneath for kitchen items.
before “With a lot of careful consideration on making things safe and practical.” RVBLOGGER.COM
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We upgraded the water storage tank and pump used to supply water to the kitchen sink and could still use the plumbing for the grey water drain with a simple addition of a 5-gallon tote to store it. The bathroom used to have a functioning toilet and a blackwater tank, but both were missing when we bought the trailer. So we decided to tile the bathroom floor and use a portable toilet with the hopes of adding a shower next spring! As soon as we finished the utilities, it was time to move on to the fun stuff. The original model had a bunk above the main bed, but we added cabinetry to provide more storage. Since the tar linoleum was nearly impossible to remove, we installed a new underlayment layer over the linoleum and added a floating floor. In addition, we updated the interior design with paint, new cushions, and decor. We continue RVBLOGGER.COM
to make updates each year, depending on how our style ideas evolve. As antique enthusiasts, the experience of restoring a vintage camper has been an incredible experience for us. The people who stop us when we travel are always impressed by the camper’s design and use it as a modern travel trailer. We look forward to preserving our little piece of history, which may require some extra maintenance every year, but we look forward to it and all the adventures to come!
A Few Additional Fun Facts • We have been traveling in our camper as part-timers since 2017. • Our travel style is to go with the flow. We tend to do long weekend trips and occasional week-long trips. We went on our first road trip with the camper in 2018 to Gatlinburg, TN, and
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“The renovations cost approximately $4,500-$5,000.” visited the Smokey Mountains. We eventually want to put batteries in our camper to camp off the grid, but we require a full hook-up for now. • Eric and I both have full-time jobs and travel in our spare time. My job is remote, so I can work anywhere, but Eric’s career keeps us based in our hometown. • I pull my inspiration from Instagram and Pinterest. I would say my design style is vintage boho (if that’s a real thing). I have always loved using antiques and salvaged items in our home. • At first, we would just work on the camper on the weekends, but after a year and a half, we felt like we just wanted to get it done! So we ended up taking two months to work just about every day after work and on the weekends to finish. Finally, she was complete after countless trips to Home Depot, a lot of sweat, and a few grey hairs. • We did the work all ourselves! I consider myself handy, but my husband Eric is a jack of all NOVEMBER 2021
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trades, and it amazes me how he can figure anything out. It made the renovation a lot more cost-effective to be able to do it all on our own. • Eric and I both did not grow up camping. I originally bought the camper with my dad, and it sat in our driveway for about six months before I met Eric. When we started dating, I was lucky he fell in love with both of us (me and the camper). We renovated the trailer the first few years we were together. • The renovations cost approximately $4,500-$5,000.
• Towards the end of renovations, we were just so excited to be almost done that we installed the kitchen faucet backward by mistake. The handles turn outwards instead of inward, but it works out better and gives us more space in the sink.
The History of Serro Scotty Travel Trailers Beth and Eric’s Hi-Lander is one of the many models made by Serro Scotty between 1956-1997. John Serro founded the company in 1956 after he sold his car dealership to enjoy his retirement. Since he couldn’t sit still, he decided to design a lightweight RVBLOGGER.COM
travel trailer that was familyfriendly. After a few tries, his 13foot Canned Ham was an instant success at the 1959 trailer show, which resulted in his need to build a manufacturing plant. John also started a camping club, rally, and a campground for his customers. While people enjoyed the events, he had his repair team at the event to fix minor issues people had for free. Each year, he’d hold a raffle where the winner would get a new model. Serro built motorhomes, travel trailers, and fire safety houses to teach children about fire safety at their height. After the 1997 fire of
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“In addition, they’re always on the lookout for antique pieces or other items that’ll make the RV’s decor look that much better.” the original plant, the company restructured, only building the fire safety houses. From 2007-2014, William “Bill” Kerola brought the brand back to the RV World with a series of travel trailers. Unfortunately, they didn’t sell well enough to continue, but the original Serro Scotty travel trailers are still icons and a piece of RV history.
Where Will the Vintage Glampers Go From Here? Beth and Eric consider their 1968 Serro Scotty travel trailer still a work in progress. As they mentioned, their plans include adding house batteries. In addition, they’re always on the lookout for antique pieces or other items that’ll make the RV’s decor look that much better. If you want to learn more about them, you can check out their Vintage Glampers website and follow them on Instagram. NOVEMBER 2021
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What’s Next? FACTORY-INSTALLED RV SOLAR POWER BY
Christy Spencer, Marketing Director, Keystone RV Company
NOVEMBER 2021
O
ver the past few years, RV manufacturers have been dabbling with various degrees of factory-installed solar packages and “solar prep.” While there have been decent offerings in the marketplace (I’m partial to Montana’s original SolarFlex & Super SolarFlex, and Cougar’s OTG packages, but I’m admittedly biased), the world of quality-built RV solar power that offers truly useful benefits for campers has largely been relegated to aftermarket “upfitters.” Until now. Over the past three years, my company, Keystone RV, has seen skyrocketing demand for RV solar power. This trend has obviously been accelerated by the influx of new RV owners we’ve seen with the pandemic. On-board solar energy provides alternatives to packed campgrounds, not only opening up traditional boondocking options like BLM and Forest Service land, but also giving owners access to an influx of nontraditional campsites introduced to us through services like Campendium, Harvest Hosts, The Dyrt and even AirBNB. Owners with solar have the ability to camp in more interesting places, more often, and at a lesser cost than those beholden to shore power.
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WHY HAVEN’T RV MANUFACTURERS DONE MORE WITH SOLAR POWER BEFORE NOW?
certainly isn’t for the faint of heart.
RV manufacturers have shied away from the comprehensive integration of full solar power packages for a few reasons. Manufacturers don’t always have dedicated R&D teams with solar experience and it can be difficult to know where to start. It can also be a challenge to convince each manufacturers’ RV brands to work together on a project of this scope since most RV brands typically are run fairly independently even if they ladder up to the same parent company. Lastly, introducing solar power systems into the manufacturing process requires a lot of planning and discipline. It
As we began to plan Keystone RV’s 2022 model year, the Keystone Innovation Lab pulled together a cross-functional team from product development, engineering, purchasing, and manufacturing to see if we could pull off a coup and add highquality solar energy packages to every RV we manufacture. As a part of this process, we worked with nearly every major solar power provider, ultimately selecting an independent supplier to avoid making sacrifices on the quality of specific components that a single source partner would require.
THE COMPANY WENT BIG.
NOVEMBER 2021
Crazy family Whitesands.
We combined forces with leading RV solar upfitter, Future Solutions, to design a series of four solar energy packages, pulling in high quality components from Victron Energy and Dragonfly Energy, among others. Dragonfly Energy branded batteries are the OEM version of the company’s legendary Battle Born batteries and are now available exclusively on Keystone RVs and through Keystone authorized dealers.
WHAT’S SOLARFLEX ALL ABOUT? With the exception of Residence and Retreat destination trailers, 2022 Keystone models will offer one of four factory-installed SolarFlex solar energy packages
rvblogger.com
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RV CAMPING – SolarFlex 200, SolarFlex 400i, SolarFlex 600i-L or SolarFlex 1200i-L. Each package is designed to both offer clear benefits for owners as-is, and come with builtin expansion options so owners can easily expand their RV’s solar capabilities as they become more comfortable in camping without shore power. This builtin flexibility is, in fact, why the packages were named SolarFlex. SolarFlex 200 offers a 200-watt solar panel, a 30 amp solar roof port, 15 amp Victron SmartSolar MPPT charge controller, a Bluetooth app to monitor available energy, a side port to add a Zamp portable panel, and a pre-wired 110v inverted loop so that owners can add an inverter to power
of years. With the SolarFlex 200 package, the RV’s battery will have the benefit of being topped up by the sun, keeping that battery in good shape and your credit card in your pocket. This means you can operate your RV’s 12V systems – water pump, 12v refrigerator, lights, slides and stabilizers when you’re not connected to shore power with less worry of depleting the battery.
their outlets if they choose. With parts stocked through authorized Keystone dealers, SolarFlex 200 is easily expandable for offgrid camping, but has definite advantages for owners who have no current interest camping without power hookups. Every RV owner knows the sinking feeling of a dead battery. We’ve all left a light on, had some kind of undetected parasitic draw, or something else that either irreversibly damages our battery’s charge capacity or depletes it entirely, forcing the purchase of yet another new battery. While lead acid batteries used in RVs should last six or seven years, the reality is that most owners end up buying a battery every couple
NOVEMBER 2021
Family picture at Guadalupe Mountains.
SolarFlex 400i scales up with two, 200-watt roof panels, a larger 30 amp charge controller and a 2000watt inverter with built-in transfer switch to provide current to that 110v loop for up to seven outlets in the coach. It also includes a Victron battery monitoring system, which allows owners to monitor
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their available energy and energy use via a Bluetooth app. This package offers a lot of bang for the buck and definitely puts camping off the grid within reach. SolarFlex 400i is also designed to be endlessly expandable with a Zamp Solar portable panel, upgraded 300-watt roof panels, a larger charge controller, and most importantly, this system has a second inverted loop wired to add power to an air conditioner. All expansion parts are set up for easy installation, available through authorized Keystone RV dealers, and are covered by the component manufacturers’ warranties and the RV’s original 1-year base limited warranty from Keystone. This is true even if expansion parts are installed after the unit is purchased. Many dealers are
anticipating SolarFlex 400i will be in such demand, they are preordering their inventory with this upgrade. With SolarFlex 600i-L and SolarFlex 1200i-L boondocking gets real. These two packages increase the solar panel collection (600 watts and 1200 watts, respectively) and charging speed. They also include inverted circuits for both 110v outlets and an air conditioner, and add Victron’s CerboGX energy monitoring system. The CerboGX app instantly displays how many hours of energy campers have on-hand based on the current power draw. CerboGX also incorporates Wi-Fi, so owners can monitor their system when they are away from the RV. The “L” in the package names indicates that NOVEMBER 2021
Sprinter Lifestyle.
these packages ship with GC3 270Ah Lithium ion batteries from Dragonfly Energy. Any seasoned boondocker will tell you that not all Lithium ion batteries are equal, and Keystone RV is giving our owners the best of the best. Like other SolarFlex parts, owners can purchase additional Dragonfly Energy GC3 batteries through Keystone authorized dealers.
FACTORY-INSTALLED SOLAR HAS A NUMBER OF ADVANTAGES For most of us, the idea of adding solar power to our rigs is overwhelming. It’s literally learning another language. It’s expensive and it means handing your RV for an extended period of time to someone who is going to open up walls, rewire, and drill a lot of holes in your coach.
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SolarFlex gives owners the buying power of one of the largest RV manufacturers in the world, efficiently installs wiring and components during the manufacturing process, and provides the assurance of quality design and engineering from the Keystone Innovation Lab. Plus, the system is fully covered by Keystone’s warranty and can be financed in with the vehicle purchase. With all of these advantages, it’s easy to see why the company made the huge commitment to bring this program to life. You can learn more about the basics of RV solar power and SolarFlex on the Keystone RV website or by visiting any one of our more than 1,200 dealers nationwide.
“SolarFlex gives owners the buying power of one of the largest RV manufacturers in the world, efficiently installs wiring and components during the manufacturing process, and provides the assurance of quality design and engineering from the Keystone Innovation Lab."
NOVEMBER 2021
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