UPDATE from your favorite songstress- soon to be full-timer!

[girasoledonna]

Hey everybody! I thought it was time I share an update on my progress with purchasing my 2003 Roadtrek 190 Popular 🙂 As many of you guys know, I found myself in the awesome, advantageous and extremely blessed position to purchase my trek with only 29K for $22,000 from a little old couple in Indiana. I was supposed to be financing the RV through a loan, but was refused my loan ( long story ) after they'd already "pre-approved" me for it. So it looked like all was lost. But the couple in IN was so touched by my story of traveling the world and playing music that they decided to let me purchase it over time!

So since July I have been making payments, and I've successfuly paid $11,00 towards it! I'm half there! I have to come up with the other half by November 1rst so my life has changed drastically to get to that goal. I am working 3 jobs and making about $1,000 a week, moving out of my apartment to couch-surf for the next 90 days, and selling all my belongings. I'm surprised how odd and unsettling it is feeling to do the latter 2 of the 3 things - but I know once I'm free of possessions I'll feel much better and have nothing but the open road ahead!

Anyway, so my plan is to leave in January, and I'll be working soon on booking my first 3 months of the tour. My record is almost done too!

I was hoping that any of you who full-time in a class B and who might have a RoadTrek (Dodge Chassis) 190 could give me advice. I want to know as much as I can about what I'm about to take on before I do it. Info perhaps on a security system for the trek, rear camera, etc would be helpful - but anything else you have to offer I'd love you to share! If there is somebody with the exact same vehicle or even just a 190 roadtrek popular - who wouldn't mind being men "mentor" 🙂 I'd really appreciate it.

I am a brazen lady and I'm def scared to be embarking on this mission alone - but I know I can do it. Thanks to everyone who has already showed me support 🙂

[Darrah]

So any new updates?

[Fastpaddler]

I have found that running my generator in a parking lot, especially a Walmart or big box store parking lot or, in fact, on the street--nobody cares. In fact, most wouldnt have a clue what is happening. So that is a good time to exercise the unit or, in fact, use it if you want to run the 110v microwave, run a toaster, kettle or even play a movie while using the Inverter. I dont like to run the generator in RV parks or State(Provincial) parks as those ecologically minded folks dont like noise as they contemplate the natural elements at work. Or something like that! I sing out loud with my lyric- tenor voice and sometimes play Blues harmonica and nobody complains--that would be really unsociable.

[gdoug83]

Escargot wrote:
I try to do this while I'm driving because I'm too impatient to stand around while the genset does its thing.

I'm too impatient to wait, too, so I run it while I cut the lawn. The neighbors can't hear the genset for the Husqvarna. :B

[Escargot]

You will want to "exercise" your generator on a monthly basis. Run it for at least 1/2 hour with a load. I run my AC when exercising my generator and I try to do this while I'm driving because I'm too impatient to stand around while the genset does its thing.

The monthly exercising prevents gas from going stale and gumming up the carburator; it also helps burn off / dry out accumulated moisture in your generator.

[girasoledonna]

Thanks SkiMore - I plan to have a nice fund of like 7-9K in an emergency fund for disaster 🙂 So that's good to know though - about the house batteries and the car batteries - that I can charge the house battery off the engine - since I'll be doing a lot of driving I may not need to use the generator much at all. I will take a look at the video. Thanks again 🙂

[SkiMore]

You have 2 types of batteries: engine battery and house battery(s)
Engine battery helps the engine start - just like a normal car battery
House battery(s) - is used by the house section of the RV for lights and stuff

Your house batteries won't be powerful enough to run the rear air conditioner or microwave. You will need to run the generator or connect up to external power for them.

The batteries can be charged by engine, generator, solar panel or external power (i.e. from a wall outlet or similar)

This video will help explain some of the technical stuff. I know it's not for your RV, but it shares the common systems with all/most RVs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKdr4Z1LBKY#t=269

Make sure you have some reserve money. Things break.

[Escargot]

girasoledonna wrote:
Learning curve is steep huh! Yikes! I'm a little scared!

Relax. You will learn as you go and you will not suffer from not knowing. One step at a time. You'll be okay.

ENJOY the voyage!

PS I concur, do. not. get. rid. of. your. generator. It's value added when you decide to sell or upgrade your rig.

[Darrah]

Good Job!!

[stan909]

Do Not get rid of that generator! Take good care of it and run it a couple of times a month. Excercising it running the air. Someday when you sell that will pay off handsomely. A new gen is over $3k.

[girasoledonna]

I don't think I'm going to go with Solar right away because I will be driving almost daily and not boondocking for days or a week at a time. I'm a working musician so I will be on the move a lot, and expect I can charge the battery that way pretty easily. I am sure having solar would be nice so that I could get rid of the generator altogether, but I don't have any extra money to put into my 22K vehicle that I'm already spending every penny I own on, so it's not in the cards for me right now. But I appreciate all the feedback!

[stan909]

I have solar on both my rigs and will never be without it but I never (or very nearly never) plug in and don 't like running my gen. In the Bounder we use it to microwave and for airconditioning while traveling. The van has no gen but I can see that changing in the future.The young lady posting is already strapped for cash as it is and may not need solar right away.

[candlback]

Well, I'm sold on solar. I have a 2002 Roadtrek Popular (since new), and a few years ago I put two 100 watt solar panels on the roof. I have never had a generator and only use A/C or microwave when plugged in to shore power.
I have heard so many stories about generators ("use it or lose it") and I don't miss one. With my 12 volt refigerator, my propane use is for cooking and heating only and I rarely buy propane. Once you get over the initial cost these things pay for themselves.
I also found out that I can run A/C and the refigerator when plugged into a house 15 amp fuse with no problem. The 110 runs the refigerator and only charges the battery (which in turns powers the refigerator)

[stan909]

Ditto on kimbolo 's statement concerning solar. Wait and see. You can add later.

[girasoledonna]

Learning curve is steep huh! Yikes! I'm a little scared!