PITFALLS to AVOID before You Purchase an RV (2023)

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Here is a quick link for that free checklist we mentioned 🤗 www.subdomain.happilyeverhanks.com/rvshoppingchecklist 👕Merch Store is FINALLY Here! www.skidoh.com/happily_ever_hanks/shop/home Catch-up on HappilyEverHanks from the beginning urlgeni.us/youtube/playlist/HEHPLAYLIST RV Newbies - START HERE urlgeni.us/youtube/playlist/RVNEWBIE

[@FawnFinch]

Why did you sell your tongue pull trailer for a fifth wheel ? Which one is a better deal?

[@ricksmith7631]

Pretty good video. I work as a tech for a major dealership, cant say who and ive been doing this since moses crossed the red sea. I like what you said and agree with it. The biggest thing I want newbies to remember is you are buying something that was put together in days, never meant to be lived in fulltime( most carry the caveat "not intended for full time residence") and most have a life expectancy of 10 years before real problems arise. I've camped since I was barely two feet tall in every kind of camper made, still got the pics-love the bowl haircut, thanks mom :) Anyways if I can put this very simple, all flash, little gash, remember I work on these things for a living and I have alot of work all the time. There are two kinds of campers, ones that are broken and ones that will become broken at the worst time - have a plan B when things break and extended warranties are nothing more than extended grabs at your bank account-youre still gonna be forking out some cash overall. dont settle for flashy things or salesman that want you to buy because you have outdoor speakers - theyre usually crap anyways and sound like crap when you turn the volume past 5. Salespeople are there for one thing, to earn a commission 10 to 15 percent of the price. I couldnt agree more with the space thing, make sure you arent planting your face in the vanity cabinet every time you want to pee....One thing i noticed with the layout on most of them, if you want to watch tv you better be a good contortionist or very flexible, and the furniture, who invents some of this, the Marquis de Sade, absolutely horrible for the most part and make sure the furniture is fastened down, nothing like tipping a recliner and having it come unhooked from the center section. The tables are usually fastened down with 1 inch screws so dont lean on the table getting up or junior is gonna have his dinner in his lap when the table breaks loose from the floor - the best designs are now fastened to the walls. Residential fridges are great but have at least two betteries for you boondockers and unless they are winterized properly the icemaker valve will shatter in winter, very expensive repair. Storage space is paramount, especially with smaller campers, you can never have enough storage space unless youre a minimalist and like to wear the same pair of undies all week, ick... Now they do try to design them to appeal to people but the workmanship is usually the first casualty. the factory has to move so fast and they drive screws into things and then give them a little extra twist to strip the screws out so cabinet doors will fall off. Trim is fastened with nailguns set for a zillion psi so expect trim to pop off all the time. Like you said the arctic package thing is tricky, all they have is foil bubble wrap lining the underbelly and rely on the furnace to duct heat underneath, this takes away from interior heating and a cold camper takes about 6 hours to heat til its livable at best. Remember this isnt your house furnace but a suitcase sized furnace that puts out about 25 percent of the heat your houses furnace will. The AC's work pretty good but depend solely on the exterior ambient temp and are rated to cool 20 degrees below that temp unless you want them running all the time. At night run the main AC and not the bedroom AC, it will duct into the bedroom and wont be so loud you cant sleep, during the day I like to use the Bedroom AC so I dont have the noise right above me. When you get a new camper, the first thing you want to do is camp in your driveway for a weekend, set it up, make it do its thing, check out all the features and make sure they work. A major part of my job is warranty work because the crack addict at the factory didnt install the sink traps or forgot to hook up the toilet water line. Check all the windows, make sure they open and close properly as well as the blinds and shades. You just financed this thing over the next 15 years and the unit depreciated 20 percent as soon as you took it over the curb from the dealership. I'm not downing on the manufacturers but their sole purpose is volume over quality. Ive seen several brands that were put together well and several that were basically glued together by a 3 yr old. this is the nature of the business and dealerships job is to sell these things even though they should be set on fire and sold for scrap metal. As for the customers, information is your biggest weapon, reviews, complaints, compliments all will help you, but all that aside dont settle, dont fall for high pressure from sales people. When you buy a camper, the onus is on you to learn everything you can about its operation and requirements. Many dont know but manufacturers require all the exterior seals to be checked every 90 days, water is a campers worst enemy since 90 percent of the interior is compressed paper and manufacturers will go to great lengths to shift the blame on the customer than themselves. I would rather spend my time repairing campers that suffered from genuine problems and not manufacturers callousness and carelessness. If something breaks and I fix it I establish a reputation with the customers and have many that insist I work on their unit, but if its a warranty or workmanship issue from the factory, Im dealing with pissed off customers who feel theyve been ripped off and taken advantage of - no happy camper there plus they dont want the camper they are paying 500 bucks a month on sitting in a shop over the summer. I've watched a few of your videos, just discovered your page, so im gonna look thru some more. Keep the good stuff coming you guys.

[@kelliewesthoff8024]

Thank you Rick. If you have a KZbin channel I’d love to follow you and your advice.

[@robertkiell]

or buy school bus or box truck to convert to rv and add lots of insulation in it to make it full time living

[@puddintame7794]

Really great information. It would be easier to read if it were broken up into paragraphs though.

[@chadfield376]

Great and informative reply; would be interested in an RV repair KZbin channel if you have one :-)

[@fit4ya1975]

Rick, what are your thoughts on Airstreams and the price for them now, is it worth it? Thanks for the above info, very helpful.

[@wgreenjr81]

I was all with you until you said get rid of the DVD players. Many of the state parks my wife and I frequent, there is no cell service and DVDs are a great form of entertainment when we just don't want to talk to each other anymore

[@kenandgwenhislop3176]

Agreed a cold and rainy night I can do a dvd line up. Signal is often a thing in state parks where the beauty is. Old school sometimes rules!

[@andrewparry8559]

Ya where I camp there is no cell signal or anything. Love the DVD player.

[@JandAReview1]

We had to buy a portable dvd player for our camper. Sometimes you can’t pick up over the air tv stations and no cell service, it’s nice to watch a DVD movie.

[@TxIndy01]

But, what decade are they going to finally switch those to Blue Ray which will also play DVD?

[@scar284]

I bought a DVD projector, I pull the curtain at the end of my bed, it separate's the bed from bathroom lol it a great screen:)

[@McScott76]

I disagree about the DVD player. Our RV doesn't have a built in one, but we have a separate player that we installed. We camp at a lot of state parks in remote areas that have sketchy or no cell service and no antenna reception. Having a DVD player allows us to still have family movie night or pass the time on a rainy day watching old seasons of sitcoms that we have on DVD.

[@McScott76]

Just bought a new travel trailer for our family. My number one piece of advice is this: While you're still in the shopping process, and once you think you've found "the one," flip your POV and pretend you're trying to talk yourself out of buying it. Look for every possible downside -- quality control issues, missing features, things that could go wrong or be difficult to repair. Pretend you're an RV inspector trying to save your client from making a mistake. This will force you to find all the problems and look at them objectively. If you can look at all those issues honestly and are still ok with buying it, go for it! You won't have nearly the buyer's remorse that you'll have when you discover them later. After the emotional high of buying our "perfect" travel trailer, I immediately started noticing things that made me uncomfortable or just didn't make sense. For example, ours is a bunkhouse, but it didn't come with a ladder to get into the top bunk. My plan was for the kids to just step on the bottom bunk to climb up into the top one. But not until after we bought it did I realize that the padded bumper on the edge of the bottom bunk was flimsy plastic wrapped in foam. Stepping on it would crush it. So I had to end up building a custom ladder and figure out how to mount it. After a few weeks of projects fixing, reinforcing and rebuilding things that were not installed properly, I'm finally starting to feel good about this travel trailer again. But those first few days I had MAJOR buyer's remorse. And honestly, I think we might have gone with a different model or manufacturer if I had been more diligent and objective during the buying process.

[@ooohhitskaren63]

I am in my research stage of whether to go and live full-time in an rv and move it 3 to 4 times a year to another state. In my research and my educational background in interior design, there are things that truly pop out at me as bad design, which will make using the rv unpleasant. I am into the toy hauler fifth wheels because I want to turn the "garage" space into an art studio. It's common on the toy haulers to have a tiny u-shaped kitchen. If the stove is in the center of the U, then you are forced to lean over the open oven door and try and get your heavy pot of food out, making it a possible hazard of falling. If the stove is on the side of the U, then you can stand on the side of the open door and reach in. I do it all the time at home. I also want a place to sit and eat, whether it's a table or bar space. I also know how much space in the garage I need for all my totes of yarn I have. I also look at the depths of the cabinets as to what they will hold in them. The position of the bed in the main bedroom is huge as well. If it's side to side, then there is room for a dresser. I also look to see if I have more than one place to hook a washer/dryer. If in the bedroom, how much hanging space will I lose. Also, whether they are using pocket doors to eliminate door clutter. I also see no need for 2 doors into the main bathroom. That causes issues on where to put the toilet properly, in my opinion. I also look at the wiring in the basement. If it looks like a huge mess, that's a pass for me. I saw a video of the cyclones and the spot where the solar was stored looked like a hot mess, it was all thrown in. I have a short list now to consider. Now I need to see some in person. KZbin videos have helped a ton.

[@philip2774]

@@ooohhitskaren63I think you need a Brinkley or better. I did a ton of research as a younger retired carpenter/builder (43yo) and ultimately, we ordered a G3950 with L couch, 8k axles, dual pane windows, washer dryer in bedroom, gooseneck genY hitch. The plumbing in every other one I toured was trash and so was the electrical and all the “woodwork.” Note that a washer dryer in the garage will likely not be vented to the exterior, which sounds like problems.. Also pay attention to the factory tours on KZbin to see how they are put together, what the bones are made of. For us, Brinkley was the lowest quality build we would consider investing in. There’s better but they are more $$ than we were willing to jump into..

[@brianl2875]

I found this video 2 weeks after i got my first RV. I'm not disappointed, my salesman wasnt pushy and we got the right RV for our family.

[@88corinutza]

Spot on Guys, We have a 2015 Silverado with 58,000 miles Gas Dually with 4:10 rear end. It gets 12 mpg empty and 6 MPG pulling a 9,000 lb TT and it HATES Hills. Diesel is the way to go

[@elenamarie25]

Good to know! I'm thinking about buying a travel trailer to live in full time so i can finally have my own place. I don't have a truck yet, not looking right now as I'll prob just park it at a campground and not move it, just hire someone to move it for me when I get it. If I do decide to travel with it, I'll def look at getting a diesel truck. Driving a vehicle that hates hills as someone who loves to go to the Rockies is no fun! Thanks!

[@janetswope5695]

Love love love our dinette! My husband cut holes in the ends of each bench, installed long tracks, built drawers on rollers, and now we have two huge, long drawers that pull out from under each bench. Tons of storage and we don’t have to remove cushions and wood panel to gain access to the storage.

[@gerryhemmer1573]

Since we have 2 cats we're going to have the spaces under the dining benches made in to cubbys for the cats. With the back most part for storage. Litter box most likely will go in the bathtub as for the most part we won't be using it.

[@marshaclifton1535]

IM OLD. 68. I drive a Class A Winnebago Adventure with no problem. Fulltime

[@fred881]

so your old !!! I'm 69 just saying :) I am just starting full time any hints ? my biggest worry is where to stay .

[@InTheDirtAgain]

I'm a travel lab tech and try to stay in my 36ft travel trailer as much as possible, but RV parks in my current working area are super expensive. Can't believe some places want almost $1000/mo and they ARE NOT beachfront. Happy trails!

[@lisahertel2415]

Supply and demand

[@blackiron33]

Hi guys, love this video, I just want to say that on our 2018 Jayco HT T/T, I use the outside shower to flush out our black tank. I take the fresh water curly hose, and connect it to the black tank flush inlet, after connection on the quick release coupler, then turn on the pump for the shower, and it sends that fresh water to the black tank to flush it out. So easy, peasy.. Have a good day. Safe travels...

[@lizcort5047]

It was a rainy cold day in PA The mood was bad in every way Then I remembered it was Thursday HANKS DAY ! you don’t say ! POOF 💥 Bad mood gone away 😂

[@ocean_kin1922]

I'm planning on doing Travel Nursing after I finish college and I'm saving up for an RV to Renovate. I want to live debt free as well and save money to buy me and my parents a plot of land! Thank you so much for making these videos to help Newbies like me! 😊Keep doing what you're doing!

[@Ryte_Qwik]

Very heartwarming to see u taking care of ur parents, too. Wishing u a bright future. ❤

[@kentwicker6818]

My dogs are always turning on the sofa lights seat heater and massage. They use it more than I do 🤣

[@coolwater55]

😅

[@ddarkhelmett3684]

I had to pause and rewind 10 times to get all the advice Dexter gave. He packs in so much in such a short amount of time. Total Boss. As always #ThanksHanks

[@genevawilkerson4245]

Dexter😂😂😂😂😂😂way to stay PAWsitive Dexter!

[@genevawilkerson4245]

honestly guys, I was absolutely terrified after I saw the issue that you had with water twice underneath your RV. I would be a single 70 year old woman or 71 or 72 whatever trying to manage all that and maybe not have that handy mobile RV, troubleshooter like you did.

[@chrismcgaughey8599]

Dang it #happilyeverhanks I wish I would have seen your content - specifically this video - before we walked onto that big box dealer floor ‘just to look’ last September and ended up signing the contract on our 37’ behemoth the same day. We jumped into the #weekendrvlife with both feet. While I don’t regret buying AN RV, I would urge everyone to get out and look A LOT so you don’t make a $60K impulse purchase like we did. Great advice, love you all!

[@sherrithornton3073]

We have a 20' trailer and travel with our cat Mango. We cut a large hole in the bottom of one bedroom closet. She jumps down into the pass-thru where we have a cat bed and her litter box. She has her own cat room and litter stays out of the RV.

[@josephmelcher1312]

I bought a 2021 Dutchmen pre covid build it listed for $52,000 we bought it for $18k . Now the reason we got it so cheap was that it had an R title it was totaled from the rv lot for hale damage. The front had some ping pong ball size dings. It wasn't that bad looking. The inside still had that new wood smell. I have extensive RV experience and can upgrade and repair just about anything. The camper had some minor issues but it was minor. Be prepared to fix your problems the warranties are almost useless. Your rig will sit on the lot for months . The advice from these guys is spot on.

[@sandycochran2987]

I totally agree about all the crazy LED lights. We’re the designers thinking I was going to have a freaking rave every weekend in my 23 foot camper?!? They’ve been on once in 2.5 years of full time living.

[@RaeAguirre-sr8cu]

all these rv couples on youtube seem to really like eachother it makes me happy

[@erickessler6094]

Sooo funny! The sales folks I met also pumped the outside speakers and sofa lights. Lol. I told them, don't be one of those... "sharing" your music with me. 🧐 Cheers, Eric

[@HappilyEverHanks]

You get it, Eric haha!

[@roderickhance2088]

You guys nailed it on the outdoor speaker zoning! lol We do use ours, except I actually rewired the outside zone to a separate head unit in my outdoor kitchen so I can listen to whatever I want while the kidos are watching their shows inside. Great video as always guys!!

[@_pnjtravels]

This is such a good idea

[@roderickhance2088]

@@_pnjtravels It’s great when you want to chill outside and bbq with a beer and your tunes and the kids can still watch what they want with the main House entertainment unit.

[@vincentgonzales8917]

We use a Bluetooth JBL for our music. We can take it anywhere.

[@roderickhance2088]

@@vincentgonzales8917 those are great too, I have one to take with me, but I’m also a bit of an audiophile, so I like it so sound good a higher volumes when we’re out boon docking in desert type locations. Plus it was a fun project🤣

[@marymurphy2164]

I dont know how to turn off the outside speakers. Or how to play my own stuff from my cellphone. But then again, the neighbors probably don’t wanna hear about the 4 babies found in the wardrobe from an audible book.

[@BrohamerT]

I loved and can relate to so many of the glitzy items on the RVs not being useful, or even necessary. The one item you missed on the whole truck size issue is the payload. Too many people do not take that into account. Your insurance company sure will if you're in an accident and over your maximum payload. Great video. Keep them coming.

[@Stranded-N-Paradise]

Thanks Hanks!! We made all the big mistakes as well then after 14 months of full time we determined that it wasn’t for us, purchased a house sold our 5th wheel. Long story short we found a 21 year old Airstream and rescued it, No frills, No Bells and whistles, we added our own bells and whistles to make it the way we wanted and what works for us. Wish we had done more research before we purchased the first one thank you for this video.

[@andreawalburg4641]

Totally agree with most of what you said. Less lights, more plug ins! I will say with the outdoor showers, our new rig has a spray port by the front door. It’s nice for spraying off muddy boots and the steps. Also the DVD player and CD players are handy for us full timing homeschool families! Great advice for people. Your videos helped us a lot when we first got started for sure!

[@horizonzeromom]

If you want to save a little extra space, you can always buy a PS4 or XBox One which allows for streaming, music, movies/tv shows (it has a Blu-Ray and CD player built in) and of course, gaming. It's a simple hookup to any TV/entertainment system and you really don't need anything else and you can sell the DVD and CD players. You can also hookup a portable hard drive to it so all of your media can be stored in one, compact place

[@Ourhappyplace2023]

Heated seats sounded amazing, by really only the bottom of the seat is heated and burning hot. Not what I am looking for after a long hike. Controls for lights, vibration and heat are way too sensitive too. But still love our Grand Design Imagine RBE 22. Perfect couples camper for empty nesters! Love your channel! Such a fun couple. Wishing you a lifetime of adventure and happiness!

[@BToddL]

We installed an outdoor remote control outlet to plug our recliners into. Easy to turn the bright lights off at night, and no chance of activating any of the (too easy to activate) buttons when not using any of the features. 22MLE

[@diverm2371]

@@BToddL how did you do that?

[@BToddL]

@@diverm2371 Here is what I used: DEWENWILS Outdoor Remote Control Outlet. I plugged it into one of the outlets the recliners are plugged into, and then plugged the recliners into it. I keep the wireless remote in the storage space between the recliners. Easy on/off.

[@user-rr9jg4lv7o]

We believe the big three interior characteristics to look for are 1) Bathroom accessibility 2) Fridge accessibility 3) couch-to-TV ratio.

[@ricksmith7631]

those are good but also look at master bed accessibility, what do you have to crawl over to get into bed and is the mattress long enough. being able to pull over at a stop and make lunch, get access to the fridge without having to run your slides. also do you have enough counter space to work in. my pet peeve is where they stick the tv in relation to the couch, some suck so bad

[@debbiehopper5288]

Thank you!!! We entered the dealership without knowing anything. We didn't decide on anything. We escaped!!! Lol.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

It's great to take a few tours before deciding! Best of luck to you guys :)

[@carlstrohmeyer]

Definitely helpful video. However, as a long timer RVer since 1986, I do take some issue with the comment on half ton PUs. Yes, many do not consider payload and hitch weight, but what many in social media seems to forget is weight distribution in the TRAILER! There are excellent videos proving this point. Our current 30-foot Cougar pulled by a Tundra has performed incredibly well for years with zero breakdowns (which I can not say the same for a 350 that broke on most every long trip). What people need to consider is not traveling with a full sewage if it is at the rear of the trailer as well as an empty FW tank if it is forward of the CG. Most issues with trailers taking control of the truck are the result of poor trailer weight and balance. Even a 1 ton can succumb to poor trailer loading or even a trailer that is much to heavy for the tow vehicle (IMO one should not exceed by much the truck weight with a travel trailer, rather go with a 5th wheel). For me, vehicle reliability is extremely important, so I will likely stick with my current half ton. Also, on a side note, I am also a long-time pilot where weight and balance is also important.

[@robertosgood961]

Dexter's advice was as always invaluable. Love you buddy!

[@christistevenson86]

Well done Hanks!! This should be mandatory viewing prior to any RV purchase. You knocked it out of the park!!❤

[@sov19871987]

😂😂😂 what exactly they covered that is required before buying one 🤡🤡🤡

[@Deanawat]

Great advice! Liked learning about the numbers and letters. We're part timers for hubby's job, have a Coleman 2515RL. It's perfect for us except for the teardrop shape for the bed. We're in our 60s and it's really hard to make the bed. So that Will be a consideration next time. Also, Next time we will have a fifth wheel and we like the size of yours. We had already decided to get the larger truck anyway because he does commercial construction and it's just easier to pull a camper with. Our indecision comes with whether or not to get diesel. We are also bikers and it interrupts our riding lives to not have a toy hauler. His job takes us to extremely small towns, sometimes with little to no access for groceries and other essentials. For instance the town we are in now we had to get a post office box for to get our Amazon deliveries. The local Walmart has absolutely no clean foods never mind organic. Sometimes the only available food is a Dollar general or gas station!

[@Oldoregonnurse]

The first thing we did when we bought our new TT was to buy a new truck to pull it. But more than that we wanted a truck big enough to tow it safely down some of the steeper and longer inclines that we frequently find ourselves on. The Tundra just couldn’t do it. We went diesel. Our first TT was a 17’ RPod and it was fine with the Tundra.

[@oliebob2484]

An added tip that we did was add a bidet to the toilet. Sounds a little boujee but saves on toilet paper, and as someone who enjoys a wet wipe they are not good in the tank. Bidet works great.

[@edpippin]

I liked the outdoor shower. I agree that the cord is very short but a compromise to that is that I went to Home Depot and got two things. One a short plumbing cord that screwed onto the shower box where the hose connects. Next I got a shut off that fit on the end of that hose in case while traveling you would no have a water leak. Lastly I got a 6 foot home shower head that I stored in the basement. We used it for washing dogs at the lake or beach and other personal items of ours. Also we did not have an outdoor Kitchen sink so we had two plastic tubs that we used the shower for to rinse and wash dishes when we cooked outside. We were not full time but weekend and some weekly travel trips that we often had up to 8 people in and out of a 28 rbbh. The Rear bathroom had its own entrance so travel days the bathroom was accessible and wet swimmers had an entrance to get to the shower. Your point on bathroom size was a good point. We had a small but useable vanity and toilet area but the offset to a little less room was we had a double size shower that had plenty of stand up room. The rear. Bath door also gave us a door to separate the living space so camping with dogs made it easier to come in the back without them charging out the front door.

[@jtoepke9763]

Great info video with good thought points for what do you really want/need in your Rv. I bought Open Range RL212FB travel trailer, foldable stow-able dining table, front full queen bed, rear wall bathroom, refrigerator, and pantry, one small loveseat slide-out, store in doorway steps. And able to tow with current 1/2 ton pickup. First season did not use the outside hose connections, the outdoor speakers or the under awning LED lights. We do seasonal summer camping with cooking and eating outside most days. This is the Ritz Carlton from the popup camper we enjoyed for ten years. Thanks hanks for keeping it real and simple for many of us.

[@danandtab7463]

the slide out advice seems particularly valuable. I'm watching youtube videos from RV places where they give the tour with the slides out, never showing slides in, and on SOME of these it's so obvious that it's practically unusable with the slides in. I think I'd prefer either no slides at all OR slides that are more for extra space and not always necessary.

[@laurajohnson1810]

Great tips! It was so nice to meet you at this show. I appreciate you accommodating us and allowing us to take a photo! Safe travels and hope to see you on the road again soon!

[@charleyhough4355]

Another awesome video, you rock. Too many people buy their RV and have buyers remorse after they get it home.

[@jimk5145]

I love the hanks. They break up the monotony of traditional "walk through" type videos.

[@danrodgers6762]

I run solo so i added a vhs/dvd player to my rig , i do not have any under lighting just the spice rack under the stove , my outdoor coiled hose is 15 feet and on the entrance side , i have a portable bluetooth speaker i can use whereever needed ... lots of good info for the shopping trip thought , good job as usual .Hope i can meet you two sometime

[@danrodgers6762]

Have been subsided with for about 5 months now

[@karolruttan2396]

My wife bought a used trailer, 19-foot Prolite Classic, last year over Facebook and they delivered it to us about 630kms. She just went from the pictures on Facebook. Guess we were lucky.

[@erinbarrett3363]

Great tips!!! We never used our outdoor speakers or the recliner lights either!! We are old school and have a ton of DVD's so we still would want that but noticed the new 310 didnt have a DVD player. We got to meet you today at the GD section of the Tampa show and I have to say my life if now complete lol!! We love the Hanks!!

[@luckyguy57]

Bedroom notes and toilet notes. So true. Check dinette seats and table for comfort- we can’t afford to gain weight or we won’t be able to sit at dinette

[@jimcyrus3070]

You two are amazing! We have an RV show coming up in Atlanta, and I have my list of things I am looking for in a class A. One big thing that nobody ever talks about is access with the slides in! We have a great Pyr who will need some room to be able to lie down and this is something I have been looking for.

[@FrederickGrose-u3k]

Very interesting and informative !!! all the episodes !!!

[@SophiaTheHobbit]

For real tho, I got my super tiny RV thanks to you guys. (we have a half ton truck) We rented an RV and we decided it was WAY too big for our needs and now year #2 with our tiny RV we are super happy. :D Thanks for your help!

[@cheryldunaway9177]

Hi Hanks!! We began living in a heartland pioneer a month ago while building in Ohio. Gets cold. We wanted to share that we’ve completely eliminated condensation on our large windows by draping a tarp from the roof over the entire pop out. It’s so surprising that we had to share. So far the lowest temp is 13 degrees. FYI. We have loved your videos. We knew nothing of camping before this. Thanks Hanks!!! The Dunaway’s

[@21psd]

Great video, you covered a lot of important points. Especially in regards to the tow vehicle, the rv dealer will always insist whatever truck you have, it will tow this rv just fine. Buyers need to do their own research to determine their trucks towing capacity, gross vehicle weight ratings, and gross combined weight ratings are. Base these ratings on the GVWR of the rv and not the curb (dry) weight. And make sure the tires on it are the correct load rating for that truck. The truck may have had its tires replaced at some point with a lower load range tire than what was OEM.

[@markreynolds9570]

Way better than another "Tamp Bay RV show" video. Thanks Hanks

[@dondartt684]

I totally agree with the let it rip. The only thing we use sparingly is the outside shower. We hook up a hose and rinse the dog with warm water. It’s also handy for washing the truck because of the water softener- less spotting.

[@rjshier9188]

We enjoy using our outdoor speakers. The one downfall with the speaker system is not remembering to turn off zone 2 when your watching inside the RV. The whole park doesn't care or want to hear what you're watching!

[@jeffreygunn3530]

My GeoPro is basically perfect for my needs. I typically go on trips of 2 weeks or so, which is fine. It doesn't have nearly enough storage for full time use. The tradeoff is that I can pull it with a full size SUV, and get into places you'd never dream of with a 5th wheel. I've never used the outside shower, but I recently got a dog, so I probably will in the future. The one thing on mine that I completely scrapped was the audio system. It came with the cheapest 2 zone unit Furrion sells, with even cheaper speakers. I looked up the factory speakers, out of curiosity. The indoor ceiling-mounted ones retail for $13 a pair, and the single outdoor one goes for $7. Sounded like the old transistor radios from the '60s. I installed a much nicer 3-zone head unit, replaced the ceiling speakers with a pair of Sony marine speakers on Zone 1 and added a sound bar under the TV on Zone 2. I got rid of the outside speaker, and ran a cable through the pass through storage that lets me plug in a pair of residential-style weatherproof speakers when I want music outside. I generally only use it when I'm out boondocking, though.

[@jenniferkey4715]

I want to say thank you for your videos I have not shopped for a rv in 20 years and now I need one for full time and your tips are awesome cause salesmen are like car salesmen after your 🤑 & as a single woman I don't like being taken advantage of .. thank you keep it coming 😁🤗

[@herb7877]

Nicely done! 45+ years of rv-n and NEVER have used the outdoor shower in any rv we’ve owned. We just took delivery of a new trailer and as you stated way to many small led lights on things that are not necessary. First few outings when we have hit the rack the Boss will ask if I left the light on in the kitchen or living area. Yes to the issues with the outdoor speakers as well.

[@stevedenoyer5956]

Oh gosh yes, some of those features in reality, it’s like really not a useful item. Looks shiny and exciting but you know you won’t use them. The only time I like accent lights is early morning or late in the evening. I do not like bright lights, even during the day, not sure why never have. One of this quirks we all have something thanks for the show!

[@ishmom1]

So agree with you guys on the outdoor speakers. But we have used the outdoor shower. My son uses it when he has to give the litter box a good cleaning. Also the very first time we ever used it was when we got our new RV and we were driving it back home we got in late to the Fair grounds that we were staying at and went to hook up our black tank and the valve hadn't been shut all the way or it vibrated loose don't really know and hate thinking about it. after the several days of traveling to get home this was our first time to hook up and my poor hubby oh it was so bad. I used that outdoor shower on him for sure that night. What a nightmare.

[@tonycaulk8619]

dim Motion lights throughout the rv is a must to not disturb people sleeping but also helps you not stump a toe on the way to the bathroom.

[@jeffrenner5960]

Thank for another great viedo.. our first camper we bought , we'll we had no idea and what sold us was the Murphy bed. Five years latter after much research and many shows later my wife found the camper of her dreams. Like you pointed out don't let the shiny stuff make your decisions. We waited several years for the right floor plan and items we wanted in our new rv. Also price should never be a factor in my book. Getting a entry level camper you will grow out of real quick and the quality may be not what you may expect. For a few grand more you can get a brand with superior quality.

[@katherinemcmahon509]

Outdoor speakers . Great! I have to listen to your music or TV instead of the birds and other nature sounds that I actually came to experience.

[@jarahkaren8074]

You guys make a great video - relaxed, amusing without trying too hard, and lots of 'telling it like it is'. Very watchable and good info.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

We appreciate you, Jarah!

[@michellembf4633]

I wish I saw this last year too!!! We bought a new trailer. And so far has been a pain. The kitchen sink drains into the black tank. Cheap materials we do love traveling once a month with our kids but oh boy if I knew now… thanks for the great videos!

[@frankzicari784]

I watch you guys all the time, my question is how did you get your wife to drive. We have been rving for years, we are married for 41 years and now retired, my wife will drive the truck by itself but not towing anything. We just bought a new truck and trailer (grand design) and are planning on doing alot of traveling, not full-time but traveling. I tell her that there is nothing to it, I said look at the Hank's she drives and she won't consider it. Well anyway you two are great together and keep the videos coming. We also take our cat now after watching you with dexter.

[@zschade27]

Not everyone needs a giant 5th wheel to take camping. 1/2 ton trucks are more than adequate for many regular sized trailers out there. Need a large trailer then fork out the 90k for the truck to tow it but if you dont then going half ton is more than fine.

[@donnitamartin2612]

Perfect video to watch right before the Tampa RV show! Great job guys! ❤

[@russyoung714]

The Youngs THANK the Hanks for their content!! Being forced out of the house we rent & looking to buy a 5th wheel toy hauler to live in full time. We are placing our new home in a park where my mother n law lives.. Gratefully, Russ Young

[@mikemanjo2458]

Great job! You did a great job telling the important things to look for! Especially for those like me who get distracted by shiny objects 🤣. No outside speakers or outside showers (people forget to winterize them.☔️💧💧💧 (Jane in SC ❤️ 🙏)

[@travelingon7458]

I love you guys, but we do use the outdoor shower, the speakers, and my husband loves the lights inside. 😂

[@vivianburrus8085]

My husband and I have been RV dreaming since about 2020. We have looked at rigs and what we thought we wanted has changed many times due to many of the things you have talked about here. We didn't have a tow vehicle yet which was the main thing that kept us from seriously considering buying anything (and learned a lot about that in an RV show workshop). We finally got our vehicle late last year so I'll definitely print out your checklist to take with us as we move from the dreaming stage to the buying stage!

[@CyberGirl2004]

I just retired and started to look into the RV's. In just two days I have learned so much and thanks for explaining the letters after the numbers. Yesterday I was asking my self that the heck those letters are for, because no one took the time or initiative to explain their meaning. Thanks again!!

[@donniethomas2730]

Great video! There are a lot of videos out there that provide this type information but, you guys make it informative and entertaining at the same time. And, I'm with you on the speakers, lights and radio. Our radio is located in the bedroom and the light on the clock is so bright we have to find a way to cover it or it's like sleeping with the lights on. Keep on keeping us informed and entertained!!

[@sharonwolfe9600]

Very entertaining. Loved Dexter!

[@keannab157]

This video is De Bomb! Like you hit like every single point I feel like. Not to mention, you both are fun and entertaining to watch! Love it , thanks a bunch!

[@HappilyEverHanks]

Thank you so much for you kindness and great support 😊 We appreciate you!

[@frankd8180]

Great video - wish we had done more research before we got our TT. We lucked out when we got our Venture Ultra Lite because of the thousands off. Had a few hiccups on first 2 trips but got all fixed myself. We travel with 2 small and 1 big furkids. We got the TT for us to be able to take them camping with us. I must admit we only checked out a few TTs before we decided on one but reality hit when the suspension in my older GMC was not sufficient for towing. Week later newer truck and better payload. Thousands saved went towards the purchase of the truck. Lesson learned. Stay safe ! 😎

[@Traveler_GAL]

WOW 🤩 💥 Great Vid. Totally teachable. My daughter is in the market for a 5r to live in on the property. She can’t afford rent and we have land. And if she wants to move away… STOVE heck ya 4 burner I hate cooking everything in baby pans so I can use more than one burner. SIZE. 1. Too Big 30ft 2. Too Small 15ft 3. Just right 22ft. TRUCK 1. Ram 1500 suspension too soft no payload 2. F250 XL suspension too hard for daily driver 3. F150 with HD tow, perfect (Lariat). You have made so many good points going to have my daughter watch this one….

[@jeremystansak8002]

Love your videos! Your advice is spot on. Our first RV was a very small tow behind camper. We quickly outgrew it. I wish we would have sat down and listed all of our needs before diving in.

[@geraldrainville8412]

Lots of great info, thanks. We've been educating ourselves and RV shopping for 8 months now. Couldn't agree with you more about the outdoor speakers until recently. We plan on boondocking and visiting lots of rural area. I now love the outdoor speakers, as I will tie them into an app with custom sounds . Such as barking dogs that we (sensor) can trigger if we hear animals or humans getting inappropriately - too close. Still figuring, but essentially, the outdoor speakers can be well integrated into our security system.

[@timstrouse9357]

Great pre-purchase advise! This is exactly what we did before we purchased. We also measured the area at home where it would be stored as that is something people don't initially consider. We needed a toy hauler for our "hot rod", and limited to 40' long as there is no more room at the house to park and it is almost like paying as much for an appartment with RV storage facilities. We also knew ahead as to the size of the "garage" we needed so measured every RV for this also. The only major change we did was to remove the loveseat recliner and replaced it with a tri-fold loveseat / bed as with the hot rod in the garage, the bunks in the back are not accessible and we. Would have grandkids with us on occasion. Also, like you, it's not a matter of "if" something goes wrong, but "when". Our worst trip (last summer) involved 3 blowouts (3 separate times) that tore up the side skirting of the RV and blew the water heater cover off. Then to top it off 2 spring shackle bolts were broken off contributing to the tire issues. One of the Schwintek slide motors failed and the closet slide in the bedroom would not open during the 4 week trip we were on. But as you have also learned with all RVing, "Life Goes On". I could tell you more stories, but that will not surprise you guys

[@chrisandersonCR16]

You are right about the rv stereo. We have never used it, and actually, I don't know how it works.

[@2unruly]

Great video!!! We purchased our fifth wheel in 2012 for vacationing and have been snowbirding since 2014. Spending 5 months a year living in it. You hit on so many points that people really need to consider and take into account when purchasing an rv. Once again great job!!

[@mnmm5238]

My spouse wanted a very specific brand of RV. He ordered it having never been inside one, just seeing the specs online. I don't recommend! Pros: it's unique, it's a true 4 season, it's easy and inexpensive to run and has decent storage for all our stuff. It's also holding it resale value. Cons: it's TINY! Period. We have lived in it full time for 4 years and we're still happily married. It's a good thing that I'm willing to compromise and a good sport.😉 I guess my point is to be sure you both have the same expectations when purchasing a rig. #thankshanks for the great info.

[@mamawchip9426]

Great job, as usual! We have been full-time for 1-1/2 hrs. Thinking of making the jump to a fifth wheel, so this was timely.

[@58singleman]

My longest time traveling in my Travel Trailer was 18 months. Please consider a "used" RV. some of the bugs will be already taken care of. A used RV is also important because new RV's loose value at a very fast rate. Have owned several. My best deals were always bought out of someones back yard. If you find one like that get the owner to throw in the hitch gear, that alone will save $500.00 or so. If it has been sitting for e few years (very common ) put new tires on it, and a new house battery.

[@HappilyEverHanks]

This is really great information! Thank you for taking the time to share about the used RV market, because you are correct. There are a lot of great deals to be had from folks trying to sell. We appreciate your time and support in watching 😃

[@jamiboian795]

Love your ideas! I’ve been binge watching from the beginning. My husband and I and our two boys are planning to go full time in the next year or two.

[@Ditronian]

The free standing table is awesome...because you can easily throw it away to make room for the thing you actually want.

[@n1uno1965]

I greatly enjoyed your thoughts on what not to fall for! It does feel weird to sit on the toilet at an RV show but I do it anyway. Any tips on feeling the pressure to move on to another rig at a show because so many people are there? At a dealership, your usually the only one/couple in a rig so there less pressure to move on.

[@PamW2009]

Outdoor speakers, rarely use. DVD player, yep, lots of campgrounds don't have cable and often poor wifi. We have soft, ambient lighting above our cabinets for at night and it's awesome. Dislike BRIGHT ceiling pucklights. Wish we could dim them. Maybe a video on that someday? Rarely use outdoor shower except maybe to wash very large pots or our electric griddle. Knew all the acronyms except "-R" so Residential Fridge is a newly learned one. Thanks Hanks. You make Thursday nights feel two Fridays in a row! 😗

[@ebjetfan]

Great videos ! Very interested in the full time rv lifestyle. I'd like to see you guys cover the finer points of driving your rv around between setups. Speed , distancing, weather, traffic, hight clearance etc. Does it all become 2nd nature ?

[@billsartelle353]

Maybe I can help. I drove semi trailer for 25 years. At first getting used to bridges,low over hangs was an earning curve. Yes I got in a pinch twice, had to back out and get turned around. Ont time in an ice storm I got caught on power line . I was smart enough not to try to get out and had a CB radio,cell phones were the old bag phones few and far between. So I got some one on the radio. They sent an ambulance, fire and rescue truck on standby. I sat couple hours till the power company got there took the wires off the truck and sent me on my way. Other wise with very little experience the height became second nature for me. You will learn fast to pay attention to warning sighns, check thr routes with an RV loaded GPS.

[@ebjetfan]

@@billsartelle353 Wow ! Great awareness in that situation. Aside from the height clearances, I would assume high winds are also one of the top concerns.

[@micheleulrich-hb2ok]

Hey, you hit on great points. I totally agree, we walked away from campers that you couldn't access if the slide was in. Our 2015 Rockwood 2109s is ideal. We didn't want all of the bling that we saw in a lot of the campers. Totally agree, outside speakers are unnecessary. We do use the DVD player because we camp in a lot of places where service is sketchy to nonexistent. Love watching your videos and all of your advice. Keep them coming!

[@obiwanboo7126]

You guys got such good chemistry and provide great insights. Sorry that you had to make the mistakes for us but thank you for making those mistakes for us!❤

[@christinebarnaby7303]

OMG I just found you and thank god!!!!!! I am binge watching now!!!!! We are thinking about that lifestyle and you are the first channel to make sense.

[@gypsycrossroads]

Once again... Dexter stole the show! I was listening until he came on and everything you said after that sounded like the Charlie Brown Teacher. My mind kept going back to that amazing input from Dexter! Great episode as always guys!! Super important info to make sure one buys the right RV for their needs and not the needs of the salesperson.

[@mayhem6765]

I will say that my SO and I sometimes have trouble sleeping at night so one of us is usually up for part of the night. We leave the lights under the sofa on because they are blue and make a great nightlight. It has saved my toes when I have gone through the cabin to use the toilet in the garage powder room so I don’t wake him up in the middle of the night.

[@lancecrowe2565]

Great video. Watching the clips from the leak that caused the water in the bottom made me curious to if anyone considered installing a bilge pump that works off of a float or water sensor. Maybe a good idea if a leak ever happens while sleeping or away from the RV.

[@Dustinheft]

I will have to argue with the DVD player, we camp at a lot of places that don't have cell service or wifi and we bring DVDs for the kiddos.

[@sharonwolfe9600]

Our advice (hanks have it right, just to emphasize) For full-timers, ladies, when you walk the bathroom, get in the shower. Move around. Can you bend over to shave your legs? Most ladies miss having a tub. So newer RVs seem to have the seat, but it is something to look at. Also in the bathroom, have your hubby put both hands under the faucet in the sink. Is there enough room for him to do so? In our current one, he cannot wash his hands without the water splashing up (a lot of it). As to the dining area, we are larger than most, and neither of us would be able to sit in the seats and pull into the table. So we don't even know if they were comfortable. Now there is a kitchen cart in that space, so we have more storage and counterspace. If you are fulltime, consider closet space, in our first RV we had a bunkroom for the kids, that had no closet and our bedroom had the stacked cabinets the had very little hanging space but no drawers. Also the 30/50 amp is important for fulltimers. With 30 amp, you can only run so much. Likely with a/c on no microwave or definitely not a second a/c. Thanks Hanks, we love you guys. Don't think I didn't notice the beginning in the Buc-ees parking lot.

[@ceciliapetrowsky2572]

We use the outdoor speakers. We like to hear/watch the evening news so if I’m cooking and my husband is sitting outside, we can both hear it. We always make sure the volume is very low to not disturb the neighbors.

[@onealmr]

I drove from Tennessee to Tampa, got a hotel room for a few days, and went to the RV show. I was there for hours and didn't see you all and the tickets for the meet-greet were sold out. I just wanted to meet you guys and shake yall's hands. I've been with you since before 13k followers. 😢

[@TheAverageJoeBro]

I hope you aren’t insinuating you can’t tow with a Half-Ton truck… I mean that Fifth wheel maybe not, but you can still tow with a half-ton quite a bit for some too. Especially with the right options on it.

[@DisabledNomads]

One thing we figured out is "How much space do you really need?" and to use caution regarding storage. Tons of storage is great, but one must make sure their rig can handle the weight of what they're storing. After loading, get to the nearest CAT scale and check.

[@TehDubster]

Nope. Just send it if youre parked full time.

[@Violet6776]

Baby Girl and Bandit (my kitties) are waiting for the Dexter spin off show! I only used the outdoor shower once, and that was because I didn't want to clean on the stuff we had stored in our shower out.