Cruise America RV review and walk through - updated for 2021/2022

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! Thank you for watching my Cruise America walk through video. My wife and I have rented Cruise America RV's six times and made three previous videos. We've received a lot of positive feedback from many people, and are glad to help introduce new renters to the RV experience. Recently we had an opportunity to rent one of the new 2021 model year vehicles. There are a few updates to these newer vehicles including a higher quality interior finish (more gray instead of brown), digital dash that displays things like range/miles until empty, more USB charging ports, updated appliances, improved motor/transmission (smoother, slightly better mileage) and a proper shower door. We wanted to record an updated walk through video to show some of these new features. If you are interested, here are links to our previous videos: 30' RV review and walk through: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJiyoICHZsRno6M 25' RV review and walk through: kzbin.info/www/bejne/imnMiqSsrreBd9E How to empty gray and black wastewater tanks in a Cruise America RV: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHalloWAd9l2d9U If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments. If this video is helpful to you, please 'like' and 'subscribe' to my channel. It really helps me out a lot. Thanks!

[@CompTechMike]

Two of the most common questions we get are "how much does it cost?" and "what sort of mileage do you get?" Because of the generalized nature of these questions it's impossible to give an exact answer. Regarding the price to rent, there is no "fixed price". There are many variables involved. For example: what model/size RV you are renting, how far you plan on driving, if you are renting during "peak" or "off peak" season, how far in advance you make your reservation, whether you're using the generator (which has an hourly usage charge), if you need any optional extras (such as cooking kit or bedding kit), etc. Also they do periodically offer deals and specials if you get on their email list. I like to compare it to the price of a nice hotel ($100-$300 per night), with the bonus that you get your own full kitchen and can bring your pets along. Your best bet is to go to the Cruise America website where you can select from the available options to get a better idea of cost: www.cruiseamerica.com/rv-rentals Regarding the mileage, in our experience we averaged around 12-14 mpg with the 25' RV and around 8-10 mpg with the larger 30' RV (slightly higher with the newer vehicles due to more efficient engines and transmissions). Again, there are many variables involved such as how much weight (including people and equipment) you are carrying, whether you are driving across flat terrain or up & down mountains, highway or city stop-and-go traffic, and of course how heavy your foot is! One other consideration is if you are running the generator while driving (for example: to run the rooftop AC to cool passengers in the back) the generator also draws from the main fuel tank. As a safety feature (to prevent you from running out of gas) it will not turn on if the level of gas in the tank is too low. Hope this helps!

[@danielking6426]

Thanks Mike. I am going on my first trip with Cruise America in a few months. Your videos have been immensely helpful!

[@CompTechMike]

You're welcome! Glad to help. 😊

[@shelleywalker6225]

Thanks Mike, your tour of the CA RV is helpful since most of the corporate videos are several years old. Hope you, your wife and furbaby had a great trip.

[@CompTechMike]

Thanks Shelley! We appreciate your comment and are glad to help. My wife and I both had minor surgery before leaving for our most recent trip so it was a bit challenging for us. Getting older is no joke! 😉🤣 We still managed to have a great time taking our new dog to Virginia Beach. If you're ever in the area we recommend First Landing State Park. It has many campsites (with water and electric hookups) a few minutes walk from the beach, great hiking trails and nature programs (we did a "Blackbeard's treasure hunt" and found the treasure chest at the end!), and is an easy drive into Virginia Beach proper if you want to go to the shops and boardwalk. The 4th St. Municipal Lot public parking lot has plenty of space for RV parking and low daily rates so you can spend a day at the shops and boardwalk. Here's a picture of our dog (a Chihuahua / Boston Terrier mix) after getting to run and play in the ocean for his first time. 😻 imgur.com/a/stbomwq

[@tom-fp2fv]

Me again. Definitely nicer this newer one, one thing we don’t have in Europe is the generator. We’ll have high powered battery bank that most things that will off and be charged off the vehicle when running / solar. Most will last a few days. Most campsites have electric hook ups. Generators on any site wouldn’t go down well in the U.K. lol

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! Yes, the generator definitely has its pros and cons. I think with the battery bank you can't run the air conditioner, however? The US definitely seems to have more off-grid "boondock" camping (in BLM state and federally owned land, for example) than the U.K., at least from what the media shows us over here. 😉 I'd like to experience it over there someday though. Safe travels!

[@tom-fp2fv]

@@CompTechMike Scotland is different in terms you can park up most places and camp including tents as there is a right to roam. England and Wales is a little more restricted but nothing stopping you from stopping in a layby on the side of the road for the night. Yes you wouldn’t be able to run AC off batteries but then for most part the U.K. isn’t overly hot, only really needed in Southern Europe. Definitely come over, see the London sights then get out of their as that’s not the real U.K. if you manage too remember me and drop me a message and I’ll give you some great places to see 👍🏻 all the best.

[@jamesh1113]

We just rented this same RV and your video has been super helpful! Covered all the main points and was straight forward.

[@CompTechMike]

You're welcome! Glad to help. Safe travels! 😊

[@OurFamilyAdventures]

I am looking at buying one of these and I live in VA. I am glad to know they are good to work with. I may travel to see them one day soon.

[@CompTechMike]

You're welcome! We hope to own one someday, as well. 😊

[@cubgsan]

Good day to you! This is a senior rider on Honda from Japan. Enjoying camping and video uploading. Your camping car video is so great !! Awesome! Full supported ! Have a nice day my friend !!

[@CompTechMike]

Thank you! Glad to help. Safe travels! 😊

[@robertdragoff6909]

I am seriously considering buying one of these and living in it full time, so I’m glad to see this video on a 2021 model and at first I was going to hate what they did to the bathroom especially the shower, but I like the wooden door. From what you said in a previous video that old shower door wasn’t the greatest anyways. Great video and I learned a lot.

[@CompTechMike]

Nice! Glad the video was helpful. We hope to own one someday, as well. The newer models have a few minor improvements, the new door on the shower is much better than the "sectional" plastic door on the older ones. Just be careful stepping down out of it, it's much further than it looks. 😆

[@spiest78]

Even better than the previous video! I am looking to rent as well from the Manassas, VA facility! First time renter, coming from Europe and looking to drive to Miami (one-way rental). As said in the previous video, very informative and helpful! Keep it up!

[@CompTechMike]

You're welcome! Have a safe trip! ☺️

[@go5582]

hi mike . i was considering to CARV. as of 2024 03/15/2024 for a 4 month trip, 118 days, 40,000 miles it s going to cost me $4.20 per mile. the 2024 ford c30 has 20100 miles . it was very beautiful interior and exterior

[@CompTechMike]

Wow! A four month trip? It might be cheaper to just purchase a used one. We've never been able to do more than a few days at a time. Safe travels!

[@deanagomez3040]

Thanks for this video, Mike. I found it more helpful than any other video I've seen. Can you let me know, when you set up at a campground that does not have electrical, what things do you have to run the generator to use? Microwave, A/C, heat? Anything else?

[@CompTechMike]

Hi Deana! Thanks for checking out my video. This is a pretty common question. When "boondocking", or camping at a site without electrical hookups, you'll need to turn on the generator to run the rooftop air conditioner, microwave, and the household-style electrical outlets in the back. I believe the furnace can run without it, but as we typically camp in warmer weather we've only ever needed to use the furnace once (so am not sure about that). The fridge will run off propane and the interior lights and water pump can operate off the household battery (just be fairly frugal with your power usage and turn off anything when not in use). One suggestion I have is if you have very small electrical needs (for example: charging phones) you can charge those from the 12V and USB outlets in the front of the cab. Those run off the same 12V system as the engine and do not require the generator be running to provide power. We also bring along several small battery-powered appliances such as a fan and a "Jackery" to provide supplemental electrical power without having to run the generator as often. Hope this helps, safe travels!

[@CompTechMike]

I didn't show it in this video, but if you don't bring any other tools, I recommend everyone have a Leatherman or multitool and also a set of adjustable pliers before starting their RV adventure. These are great for tightening things like hose lines and other general purpose tasks. You should be able to pick them up at any local hardware store or on sites like Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/Irwin-Tools-VISE-GRIP-GrooveLock-2078709/dp/B000FK1R0W/

[@Norseman2]

I never go away without my Leatherman and EDC a Leatherman Squirt 😄

[@hypnoticz9]

Good walk around video. Probably will rent one for MDW

[@CompTechMike]

Awesome! Have a great trip! 😊

[@charlesritter1862]

Thanks for the detailed video. I am going to rent one this coming Christmas break and want to know if there is a propane quick connect for an outside grill ?

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! Thanks for the comment. You can see the inside of the propane filling area at 6:53 minutes into the video. I've never hooked up an outside grill and do not believe CA supports this. There is a fill nozzle, but not sure if there's any way to safely connect an adapter. Personally when we use an outside grill we just use the little green propane bottles you can buy at any Walmart or camping supply store. Hope this helps!

[@CompTechMike]

We are also fans of the "RV Lifestyle" page with Mike and Jennifer Wendland. If you'd like to learn more about the RV lifestyle, you can check their pages out here: rvlifestyle.com/ kzbin.info facebook.com/groups/107546969404291 www.linkedin.com/company/rvlifestyle/ instagram.com/rvlifestylemike/ twitter.com/rvlifestylemike/ www.pinterest.com/rvlifestylemike/

[@EelcoZomer]

Hey Mike thank you for your videos! As an international traveler can you advise us what to do with a camping table and chairs? Cruise america doesnt seem to include those but we are not taking them back to Europe if we have to buy that... 😂 Tips are welcome!

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! Thanks for checking out my Cruise America walk through videos. Those are great questions. Unless something has changed since the last time we rented, there is a small table stored in the outside storage area of the vehicle. I mention it around the 1:15 minute mark of the video. It's underneath, right next to the spare tire area. Regarding chairs, I recommend checking with the office you're renting from. If you can't find them on the website try calling them directly. The rental location near us has chairs available for rent (I think it was $15 each, but I can't recall exactly). So my suggestion would be to give the rental location where you're picking the vehicle up from a call and see if they have any. If they don't, you can usually find cheap chairs at places like Walmart or outdoor stores (Dick's, Cabella's, Camping World, etc.). Maybe buy them and pass them along to other campers when you leave? Another option would be somewhere like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, but I'm not sure you want to be running around hunting down chairs during what sounds like an already full trip. Easiest option in my opinion would be to just get some cheap ones and give them away when you're done. But other people might have better suggestions. 😄 Safe travels!

[@thecrazyranga3981]

very helpful mike thank you very much. im looking at traveling for one month im from Australia. the propane refill how do you refill this?

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! Thanks for checking out my video. I show the propane tank / fill area around the 6:50 minute mark. The vehicles are usually 2/3rds to full when you pick up. They ask that you return the vehicle at the same level as when you left, so depending on how much you use you may need to top off (propane lasts a long time). To buy propane you can typically go to any garden supply store, and many places like Lowes or Home Depot may have it as well. Also some of the larger roadside truck stops. It's a lot like buying gas, just push the nozzle onto the connector to fill. Most places have an employee who can help you. There's always KZbin videos, as well. 😉 Safe travels!

[@MrElv93]

Hi Mike, Thanks for your video, it has already helped me a lot even though we didn’t start our trip yet 😁 One question from my side - as Cruise America does not provide child seats and we have to bring our own, do you know what kind of seat I should buy to be able to place it in Standard 25ft RV? I see that in the table area there are only lap seatbelts and the only seats I’m familiar with requires point belts or iso fix to be mounted. Thanks in advance!

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! Thanks for checking out my video. I'm glad it is helpful. We don't have kids so I've never installed a car seat, but check out this link to the Cruise America website: www.cruiseamerica.com/trip-inspiration/how-to-set-up-a-car-seat-rv-laws It mentions there is a "teather attachment" on the dinette seats for attaching a car seat. Maybe you can call them and ask for a better picture of how this works? Or stop by a local rental office? I do have an updated video here that might also be helpful to you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5OloHRmrZp5pdk If I ever make another video, will definitely try to include a picture of the "teather attachment". Thanks for the idea! 😊

[@samroberts4892]

Hi mike , great video so traverling solo denver to yellowstone , want to know how long can i go disperse camping boondocking etc with out a need to fill power i will be conservative with everything and habe booked a few camps in between .. i would be grateful for any information for firstimer , these videos have been very informative and just bought leatherman too but any advice to make stress free as possible will be great ..

[@CompTechMike]

Hi Sam! Thanks for checking out my videos. In our experience camping at sites without full hookups, the biggest challenge was the gray water tank (sinks & shower) filling up. That tank is the smallest out of all the tanks on these vehicles, and since my wife & I like to shower each day, wash dishes, etc., we found we could only go about three days without finding a place to dump it. Everything else lasted a good while for us; fresh water, propane, etc., we've never had any trouble with. And we typically only use the generator for a few hours a day, so no issues there. I could see if you were staying somewhere very hot (and needed to run the generator for AC) you might have more challenges with that... Otherwise, just take your time. Drive safe. Plan your exit route whenever pulling into a gas station. If you feel nervous driving, practice in a parking lot before hitting the highway. Many RV'ers go by the "330 rule". That means don't drive more than 330 miles in a day and don't arrive at your campsite after 3:30pm (to have time to set up before the sun sets). Read through the comments on KZbin videos, many good suggestions have already been mentioned. Last, check out rvlifestyle.com/ RV Lifestyle social media groups and KZbin channel. They have a ton of information on their page. Safe travels!

[@samroberts4892]

@@CompTechMike thank you very much vert great information I will stick to that 3 30 rule too very good thank you

[@Jeremy-jx4kq]

This is a great overview, thanks so much! I have a couple of first-timer questions regarding the electric system….from your video and others, my understanding is that unless you have an electric site, you have to run the generator to get A/C, heater, electrical outlets and microwave. Those items will not run at all unless you’re plugged in or running the generator so if I’m at a National Park campground without electrical hookup I can only use these items during permitted generator hours? Also the generator doesn’t store a charge, so I can’t run the generator during allowed hours to charge it up and then run those items with it off. The auxiliary battery will run lights and that gets charged by running the engine (as with a car battery) or by plugging in? How about the water pump? Is that generator or auxiliary battery? Also, the fridge can run on either plug-in power, generator or propane? Auxiliary power too? I’m really just trying to get an idea of what we’d have and not have in a campground with no power hookup. The trip we are planning would have us staying there for 3 nights and we’d be looking to get hookups at other campgrounds along the way. Again, much appreciated!

[@CompTechMike]

Hi Jeremy! Thanks for watching and commenting on my video. You are correct - the household-style 110v AC outlets, the microwave, and the rooftop air conditioner all require the vehicle to be hooked up to shoreline power or the generator running to operate. Large appliances like these require more power than a single battery can provide (1500 watts microwave, 2200 watts AC, etc.). More advanced RV's with multiple batteries and large solar panels can run them for short periods, but that's outside the capabilities of the vehicles Cruise America rents. The fridge will run off either electric or propane, as long as one or the other is available and the "auto" button has been depressed (normally done by the rental office as part of the check-out process). The furnace runs on propane. It warms up quick, I believe it may shut off automatically after two hours but honestly we've only ever needed to use it one time. Not entirely sure if it also uses electric - maybe for the blower fan? The water heater runs on propane, as does the stove. You can use those any time. Water heater takes about 15 minutes to warm up after turning on, so we normally turn it on while brushing our teeth or getting our clothes out before jumping in the shower, and turn off when done to conserve propane. The water pump runs off the household battery. You can turn it on at any time to provide water pressure. It's not necessary to use if connected to an external water source (hose or spigot). It's convenient if you need to pull over to use the bathroom or whatever while traveling, you can just flick the switch to turn it on and get water pressure. The lights also run off the household battery. You can turn those on at any time, vehicle operating or not. Personally we've had no trouble staying three days without hookups. We used our resources sparingly, and charged cell phones with a small power inverter that connected to the vehicle's 12v outlet on the dashboard (which gets constant power from the engine battery). We also used that to run a small travel fan, and brought along a power bank for extra power (actually a vehicle jumpstarter box that I keep in my truck for emergencies). The biggest issue we had was the grey water tank filled up fast. The 30' RV has a 40 gallon fresh water tank but only a 22 gallon grey tank (where water from showers and sink go). We like to wash dishes after eating and take showers every day, so even with just the two of us and our dog, we had filled the grey tank after three days and had to drive down to the campsite entrance, where there was a dump station. Hope this helps!

[@Jeremy-jx4kq]

@@CompTechMike thanks so much, this is extremely helpful! If I can convince my wife, I think we’ll be giving it a try this spring! I want to eventually do a Utah/Arizona trip where we fly into Denver or Vegas and rent one there, but a shorter test run is definitely in the works soon!

[@toeternitoe9261]

Great video Mike! One question from my side: can you charge a phone or so during driving? I thought I have somewhere it’s not possible, is this true? Thanks for answering!

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! Thanks for checking out my video. Yes, while driving the 12V and USB outlets in the dashboard are all active. So you can charge your phone through any of those. The household-style electrical outlets and USB ports in the back of the vehicle are not active unless the generator is running or you're plugged into shoreline power, but the outlets in the cab are active at all times. Safe travels!

[@pepecap]

Can you plug in a TV and have it on for the kids to watch while driving ?

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! I just saw your comment on my other video. As I replied there, the Cruise America rental RV's are basic "no frills" units and do not include a TV. If you bring a household-style TV into the unit you can plug it into the electrical outlets, however you'll need to run the generator while driving. The 110V AC outlets in the back are not "live" when the generator is not running or you're not connected to shoreline power. My recommendation if you really want to watch TV in the vehicle would be to bring along a tablet or laptop computer. These are much more portable than a bulky home TV (and less likely to be damaged if they fall over, for example). Hope this helps!

[@AN-jw2oe]

Thank you, so helpful!! Are there 2 bars for hangers inside of those tall cabinets in the bedroom?

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! Thanks for checking out my Cruise America walk through videos. Yes, there is a hanger bar inside each of the large cabinets in the back. I focus on them a little more clearly just after the 20:00 minute mark in my previous video, here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJiyoICHZsRno6M

[@jonathankeller7276]

Hi Mike, thanks for your video! Do you know the size of that rear cargo area? Could you fit a bike (or two?) in there?

[@CompTechMike]

Hi Jonathan! Thanks for watching and commenting on my video. The Cruise America website lists the "outside storage space" of the 30' RV as being 93 cubic feet, or "2.3 cubic meters". In real-world terms, I think you could definitely fit a bicycle or two in there, assuming they are normal-size bikes (not e-bikes or something) and that you can use basic hand tools to do something like remove the front wheels. I don't own a bike and haven't tried, but this is my gut feeling, anyway. Another option: the vehicles have external tow hitches. If you were to use a hitch-mounted carrier you should be able to easily transport a couple bikes. I'd recommend checking with your local rental office, they may have more suggestions or experience traveling with bikes. Have a great trip!

[@Geladass]

thanks I told them no 30 ft. I drive a mini coop and am 4 ft 7 going only with my son

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! I recommend talking to your local Cruise America rental office to see what they have available. My particular location only has 25' or 30' vehicles available, but I know some have smaller options such as "compact" or "compact plus" that are smaller and may suit your needs better. Some even have travel trailers. Just depends on what your particular office has. Safe travels!

[@Yo-ux6fm]

Hi Mike, Thanks for your videos. I am planning to do a route along the west coast of approximately 14 days in a motorhome. approximately 2000 miles. Only 3 travelers. I am going to contract the complete package and I am between the C30 Large 2312 Euros (the dollar and the euro are similar today), the C25 2714 euros, c21 compact plus 3062 and compact c19 3110. which one do you recommend? The point is that the C30 large costs much less than small motorhomes. The price pushes me to rent the c30 but I am afraid that it will have much more fuel consumption and in the end it will be more expensive. On the other hand, I have no experience with motorhomes, so I don't know how we will manage with a caravan as large as the c30 large. What is your opinion on both issues? Thank you very much for your attention

[@cynthiawhite6961]

Hi Mike, thank you for your videos. I'm renting a 25' on a one-way from California to Virginia. I don't plan on stopping at campsites, only at rest stops, so I won't be hooking up to water and power. Will I be able to use the propane, and the generator be enough to take me all the way across? Can I bring an extra propane tank? And, if yes, where does it hook up?

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! Thanks for the comment. In our experience the propane lasts a very long time. We only use it for hot water / showers and do most of our cooking outside on a grill (either wood/charcoal or using the generic green propane bottles with a camp stove). We've only once ever needed to use the furnace but it seems very efficient (heats up quickly). We've never done a trip that long, our longest has been around 600 miles 3-4 days. We didn't run into issues with propane or fresh water, but what we found was that the grey water tank (where your water from showers, sinks, etc., goes) filled up the fastest. Depending on how many people you're traveling with you may want to plan a route that allows you to stop at a dump station every 2-3 days. You can check with outdoors stores, also many state parks are inexpensive to stay a night and use their dump station. Other typical "boondock" sites (Walmart parking lots, Cracker Barrel, Harvest Hosts, Boondocker's Welcome) do not have anywhere to dump your waste. So that's our experience - propane is cheap and easy to get (most outdoor stores, Home Depot, garden centers, etc.) and lasts a long time. There's only the one main internal tank (can't hook up an external tank) but it lasts a while. Water, also, tended to last a long time (at least for us). Just need to find somewhere to dump every few days. The fresh water tank is larger than the waste tanks. Unless you are going to exclusively use the toilet/sinks/water at rest stops, I would plan your route to include a campsite or state park at least once a week to dump the tanks. Hope this helps, have a safe trip!

[@charlesdeutsch4483]

Was there a big difference between driving the 25 footer and this model? I drive and ambulance for a living and it’s 23 feet long. Hopefully this drives similar!

[@CompTechMike]

Hi Charles! Thanks for checking out my video. Personally I found the 30' model more stable and had a bit more power (has a V10 engine, compared to the V8 in the 25'). Of course fuel economy is a bit worse, but otherwise we prefer everything about the 30' model. Coming from an ambulance, it's just a little bit longer. Should be easy for you. 🙂 Safe travels!

[@charlesdeutsch4483]

Hey Mike, question. So we are RVIng from Ohio to Miami and then getting on a 7 day cruise. My question is do you think the thing will start fine after sitting a week? I have a jumper box I may bring just Incase, but any special precautions I should take? Thanks!

[@CompTechMike]

Hi Charles! Thanks for checking out my video. To answer your question, these vehicles have a battery for the engine and also a separate battery for the household electrical system (e.g., the water pump and lights in the back, so you can turn these items on while driving). If the household battery was completely dead you should still be able to start the vehicle with the main battery. They also trickle charge off solar (but it's only about a 15 watt panel). That said, you should take all the usual precautions before leaving it. Make sure all the doors and windows are locked, nothing valuable in the underneath storage (easily broken into with common style keys), lights off, water pump off, propane off, fridge off and cleared out, maybe cracked open so it can air. Assuming you take these precautions, I would have no concerns about it sitting for a week. That said, I'd probably still bring my jump box (if it were me). Just one of those things - better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. 😉 Safe travels!

[@bmac5242]

Hope you see this before my trip. This has been informative and you answered many of my questions in the comments - thanks! Will I need to replace any propane and gasoline used when returning? If we had a break down on trip; are they good about getting a replacement quickly no matter where you're at? Or, would you have to wait for a repair? You said you're pretty much at the mercy of how others have left condition of the rv - Am I going to have to do a deep cleaning/disinfect before I leave on trip? Thanks for your help.

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! Thanks for checking out my Cruise America walk through video. Regarding propane and gasoline, they ask that you bring it back with the amount you left with. That means if it has half a tank when you leave, bring it back with a half a tank. Otherwise there may be a service charge (think it's $3.50 a gallon but your rental office will explain all that to you before you leave). And propane is easy to get at most garden supply stores, Tractor Supply, big box stores like Home Depot and Lowes often have it, as well. And regarding cleaning, the rental office does clean them before sending them out. But during peak times and times of high turnaround, they may not get them cleaned as much as some folks would like. So my point is to just be courteous to those who come after you and don't return it a filthy mess. At least "broom clean". What I'll do now is if we take it to the beach, I walk through the vehicle with my leaf blower and blow all the sand out the door before bringing it back, LOL. 😆 Regarding breakdowns and replacements, I suggest talking to your local rental office. We've never had a breakdown on any of our trips but I assume if something critical broke there would be options like dispatching a mobile tech or a credit/refund, depending on the nature of the incident and how far away you are from a service center (i.e., right down the street or a thousand miles away?). If it just needs something like a quart of oil, save your receipt and they'll reimburse you for that. Have a safe trip!

[@bmac5242]

@@CompTechMike Thank you so much for answering quickly and for all the info! Love the leaf blower idea!

[@charlesdeutsch4483]

When running the furnace on shore power, it doesn’t use any propane correct? Same with the fridge?

[@CompTechMike]

Hi Charles! When the furnace is running it uses both propane (to heat the air) and electric (to run the blower fan). The fridge will run on electric when connected to shore power.

[@Cati1993]

Hi, since they have vinyl on the beds and sofa’s, what is your tip regarding (extra?) sheets to avoid sweating during warm nights?

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! Thanks for checking out my Cruise America walk through video. Personally we have a couple plastic totes with all our camping gear ready to go. This includes normal household sheets / bottom sheet for the mattress. Then we'll throw a blanket or two (or an unzipped sleeping bag) over us for warmth. We typically camp in cooler temperatures so haven't had much of an issue with heat. If you do want to get a cooling pad, make sure you specify the correct size. For the mattress in the back of the 30' RV they're 60x74. Search on Amazon for "60 x 74 cooling mattress cover" gives a bunch of good results for RV usage: www.amazon.com/s?k=60+x+74+cooling+mattress+cover Camping World also typically has some in stock if you don't want to order online. And here's a link to the dimensions of all the mattresses in the vehicle: www.cruiseamerica.com/rv-adventures/rv-lifestyle/rv-mattress-sizes Hope this helps!

[@Cati1993]

@@CompTechMike thanks a million! The whole concept of a cooling pad I have never heard of. Interesting since I believe this is not so familiar in Europe. I was planning to bring my own mattress sheet (which comes in Europe with elastics on the corner so they sit snug and tight) but I think I will bring something like a molton which is like a cotton mattress protectee or something. I just doesn’t feel nice to your skin if you feel the effect of the vinyl through the sheets on your skin. I do understand why companies do this since a lot more hygienic. Thanks for the links! Oh and now I’m typing anyways maybe you know this too. We are a small family and thought to rent the 22ft van. I noticed though the kids need to sit way in the back in the dinette. Any experience how kids will deal with this? It feels very strange they sit way in the back 🤷‍♀️

[@CompTechMike]

@@Cati1993 Hi again! In my area the local rental office only stocks the 25' ("C25") and the 30' ("C30") vehicles. I noticed today that it looks like Cruise America has removed some of that nomenclature from their site. I assume when you say "the 22' van" you mean what they're now calling their "Compact Plus RV", correct? You might want to check on availability on that one; according to their website it's only available in their Carson (CA), Newark (CA), Las Vegas, and Mesa (AZ) locations. Personally we don't have kids. Just the wife & dog, and we still prefer the extra room of the largest model vehicle. I'm skimming the floor plans and it looks like the "Compact Plus" has a wet bath? Up to you whether you're comfortable with this? I know for us, we prefer our shower and toilet to be separate. The smaller ones are probably easier to drive and easier on gas, however. 😉 Anyhow, as far as kids riding all the way in the back, I can't say. Just speaking personally, I wish we'd done RV trips when I was a kid (40 years ago, haha). Would have loved playing tabletop games and watching the world go by from the dinette. Of course these days kids are usually glued to their screens so probably not as much window-watching as I would have done. I do know the far-back in these rental vehicles can be a bit bumpy but they're kids. They can handle it, right? 😆 I'd get whichever vehicle you feel comfortable driving and fits your budget & availability. Also recommend practice-driving somewhere like a school parking lot if you've never driven a large vehicle before, and plan your exit whenever pulling into a gas station. Don't pick the pump closest to the building. There's a lot of information in the comments, you can also check out "RV Lifestyle" Facebook group, blog, and KZbin channel. Mike and Jennifer Wendland are our inspiration when it comes to traveling and have many good sources of information to help plan your journey here: rvlifestyle.com/about-mike-and-jennifer-wendland/ Hope this helps, safe travels!

[@Marzen216]

Wait, there's no TV??

[@CompTechMike]

Hi Marzen! Thanks for checking out my Cruise America walk through video. Yes, that is correct. These models are designed to be basic and "no frills". Adding a TV would just add complexity. You can always bring along a TV from home and plug it in, but my recommendation if TV is important to you is to bring a laptop or tablet. Some RV's from sites like RVShare or Outdoorsy do include TV's, but in that case you're renting from a private person instead of a rental company. Safe travels!

[@shelliepatton9568]

Do these rentals need a leveler or stabilizer?

[@CompTechMike]

Hi Shellie! Thanks for checking out my Cruise America walk through video. These rental RV's are pretty basic "no frills" units designed for first-time renters, and do not have an integrated leveling system. I would recommend seeking out flat campgrounds for your trip (many campgrounds have photos of the sites online) or bringing along some of those basic leveling blocks (the kind you drive up onto). If you specifically require an RV with a leveling system, maybe something more high-end from a site like RVshare or Outdoorsy may be more to your liking. Safe travels!

[@salt7evenfloatcenter29]

Previous videos 😊

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! I'm not sure I understand your comment. If you're looking for my older videos there's links in the description and in the top (pinned) comment. This new video is to highlight some of the features of the newer models. Hope it is helpful, thank you for watching!

[@Geladass]

your wife neds to do a video on her own on all of it

[@Geladass]

after 3k they can clean it

[@CompTechMike]

They do clean it. But I'm just suggesting to be respectful of the people who come after you, and sweep it out before returning it. They charge a fee if the vehicle is returned filthy. And in this day and age I normally wipe it down when we pick it up, as well. Just a little spray bottle of disinfectant and some wipes never hurts. 😊

[@Geladass]

so how long does the ac work on its own

[@CompTechMike]

Hello, just saw a bunch of additional comments from you. Not entirely sure I follow all your questions. Suggest writing a top-level comment with all your questions in one, if you still have any? Regarding the AC, the dashboard AC in the cab works just like any normal vehicle - any time the engine is running you can turn it on. For the large rooftop air conditioner to run you either need to be running the generator (which you can do while driving, if necessary), or plugged into 30A shoreline power (like at a campsite).

[@Geladass]

just remember that a female with no xp might be alone

[@CompTechMike]

If you watch channels like "RV Lifestyle" you'll see there are many thousands or millions of solo female RV travelers. Obviously you need to know your environment, not park anywhere unsafe, etc. I recommend checking out that channel (and especially their Sunday night 7pm livestream) for more tips on solo female traveling. rvlifestyle.com/

[@Geladass]

miles to go for what?

[@CompTechMike]

I'm sorry, when you comment this way I can't see what you're referring to. I assume you're commenting on the "estimated range remaining" setting? That's just like in any normal car - shows you how much estimated range remaining before you need to stop for gas.

[@Geladass]

I have ptsd after this

[@CompTechMike]

I'm sorry, I don't understand your comments. PTSD from what?

[@Norseman2]

😂

[@Norseman2]

@@CompTechMike I think he’s just making a joke.

[@Norseman2]

I’m really glad I came across your channel on my quest for putting together a great family cruise adventure!

[@charlestait5303]

Model name and number?

[@CompTechMike]

Hi! Thanks for checking out my Cruise America walk through video. Not sure I understand your question. Cruise America has several sizes of vehicle available for rental. The most common are the 30' model and the 25' model. However that may vary depending on what your particular rental office has available. Suggest checking out the Cruise America website for specifics on the different makes and models. Safe travels!

[@charlestait5303]

@@CompTechMike Thank you!

[@augustnabzdyk7993]

ᎮᏒᎧᎷᎧᏕᎷ ☺️

[@CompTechMike]

Huh?