Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
Hello. Currently a wannabe, doing as much reading as I can about all the topics that go into the lifestyle. Here are a few conclusions we've come to, in a vacuum, but with massive reading to help us understand everything, from changing to LED lighting, to using gray water to flush to toilet (hey, you're flushing the toilet in there, not cooking) to building a solar system (I've learned how to build a superior system to the pre-packaged stuff sold to the RV folks who don't really want to learn that much, or aren't worried about getting the most from the system your money can buy.
I'm building a fairly powerful system for an RV, with room for scaling up. Or down.
I'm a musician (rock and roll; think Chuck Berry, not Van Halen), photojournalist (30 years in, newspapers), web designer, Macintosh geek, budding RV solar system designer (so I'd like to think and so far only on paper), trout fisherman, Giants, Warriors and 49ers fan, cat lover (real men love cats, we have three who will ride with us), recreational shooter (cans, fruit, steel plates, clay pigeons) but not a gun nut. Politically very, very far left. I've read my Nikolai.
I dream of the FT lifestyle because nothing would please me more than to not be tied to real estate, electric utilities (at least for my domicile's power) and the "grid," in general. Lover of wildlife.
Sounds like you are off to a great start in your research. Reading is where we began our adventure years ago. I have to say it was an exciting time in the whole process, just dreaming about what was in our future. I sense that many folk don't take enough time enjoying the whole reading and learning part of the adventure.
I'm sorry that you are a 49'ers fan but I like your choice of rock and roll. Even us Seahawk fans had a rough year. There is always next year.
Enjoy your time as you make your plans.
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Russ & Terri Ranger
Travel since July 2013
Home base: Buckeye,AZ
Wandering the USA & Canada in our Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40' PDT Motorhome
Travel so far: 49 States - International Travel -19 countries
Great to hear you have some new ideas for RVs. The manufacturers can be a little set in their ways, but changes will happen if someone leads the way. Right now seems like instead of optimizing the basic systems, they are adding more slides, granite, and shiny stuff.
Sounds like you are off to a great start in your research. Reading is where we began our adventure years ago. I have to say it was an exciting time in the whole process, just dreaming about what was in our future. I sense that many folk don't take enough time enjoying the whole reading and learning part of the adventure.
I'm sorry that you are a 49'ers fan but I like your choice of rock and roll. Even us Seahawk fans had a rough year. There is always next year.
Enjoy your time as you make your plans.
Yeah, tough year, though the second half of the season was an exciting time for 49er fans - Jimmy Garoppolo sure reminds me of a certain Mr. Montana, who *is* the GOAT, not that creep in New England.
Finding out a lot how Americans get gouged on solar gear. I will have a post about that, presently.
Great to hear you have some new ideas for RVs. The manufacturers can be a little set in their ways, but changes will happen if someone leads the way. Right now seems like instead of optimizing the basic systems, they are adding more slides, granite, and shiny stuff.
The manufacturers are trying to put out a product as cheaply, yet at a maximum price point. I was referring to solar systems as much as anything. Americans get royally screwed because they're sold a bill of goods (in this case, in the form of a "kit") instead of finding out a few things for themselves. I'll have a long post about that, presently.
"(I've learned how to build a superior system to the pre-packaged stuff sold to the RV folks who don't really want to learn that much, or aren't worried about getting the most from the system your money can buy."
Welcome but no need to take a swipe at those of us that bought a solar kit/system...and my WindyNation kit works very well. I used everything in the kit but had to buy additional wire.
-- Edited by LarryW21 on Wednesday 17th of January 2018 10:26:56 AM
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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.
but I like your choice of rock and roll. Even us Seahawk fans had a rough year. There is always next year.
