Reality Of RV Life, Injured Off Grid, RV Solar Mistake | RV Living

😁ABOUT THIS EPISODE: S4E11
The reality of RV life can be quite different than what some people show it to be! We’ll show you the true behind the scenes reality of RV living and you definitely don’t want to miss this!! Also, of course when we’re out exploring in the middle of nowhere is when injuries happen. We’ll show you how we deal with them and what you can do to be better prepared. It’s hard to admit, but we made a big mistake with our RV solar system and we’ll share the truth with you as we always do! One of our most asked questions is how do you get mail and packages on the road? We’re happy to show you what we do. Also, we’ve got more new stunning scenery for you since you always tell us how much you love it! As we travel we’ll always share the reality of full time RV life and traveling full time! We’ll honestly show you our good times, our challenges and all of our fun and epic RV adventures and travel adventures in our RV life vlog and travel vlog! As we are blessed to learn things about travel life, being a nomad, RV travel, RV ownership, RV maintenance, RV living and more and make mistakes of our own, we’ll share it all with you so you can learn alongside us! For us, the best part of RV life is our RV community! Our dreams have come true in living the full time RV life traveling full time as nomads in our Grand Design Reflection 337RLS fifth wheel RV camper. We’re just a travel couple who love nomad life with full time traveling and want to share everything with you with our travel couple vlog! If you like our RV life vlog RV video and want to see more RV living full time, please go to our KZbin channel, subscribe and hit that notification bell so you never miss an episode!
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[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

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[@ChasingOurSunshine]

We have been thinking about getting Maya some hose boots! But that jumping cactus 🌵 is mean!! Deb has felt Mathew’s pain! 😂

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Maya would look cute in those boots! We do not like the jumping cactus and why do they call them teddy bear cactus as they are not cuddly, LOL 😂 Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@dalemarshall9736]

"Over the river through the woods" are volunteer boondockers spending the winter working in back country of KOFA and have a lot of good insights into the back part of KOFA

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

"To grandma's house, we go!" We have that song stuck in our heads now, LOL 😂 We would like to explore more of Kofa! Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@SuperSushidog]

We finally finished the 48v phase of our solar system we told y'all about a year ago, while we were moochdocking with friends down in Yuma. BTW if you're staying at the Imperial Dam LTVA, the Christian Service center there will receive your mail and packages for free. This might save you some time and gas vs driving back to Q. In addition to our 620w side mounted liftable array and 12v system we racked 8, 550w solar panels down the length of our 35ft Class A, 15" off our roof, above our AC, vents, etc. We built the rack out of 2" aluminum angle with the front 2 panels sloping down at a shallow 9.5-degrees to meet the roof, gently easing airflow over the array, making the RV more stable with less wind drag driving down the road. It covers our entire roof, providing some nice shade with plenty of cooling air underneath, increasing solar output and reducing the heat load on the air conditioners too, though our overall height is still just under 12 ft. We mounted a Sungold Power all-in-one 48V, 5,000W Inverter/100A charge controller/battery charger, breakers and a Lnex battery monitor on the wall in our bedroom, saving us space as well as money compared to a system with individual components. Our 48v battery uses 16, 320ah prismatic cells and a 200amp Heltec BMS to keep it safe. Together with our 560ah 12v bank, we have a total of 23.5 kwh of batteries onboard - kept charged by 5,020 watts of solar. We removed the rooftop A/C we had in the bedroom and replaced it with an EG4 28.5 seer-2, 12k btu mini-split heat pump on the upper rear of our motorhome. It's super quiet and cools as well as our 14.5k btu soft start equipped Furrion we installed up front. This second phase provides 24/7 off-grid air conditioning and heat from the heat pump. We can run both A/Cs, microwave and still have power left over to charge our battery when the sun is shining, even in winter. Last night we ran our heat-pump in heat mode all night (which consumes a little more battery power than it does in cooling mode) and yet our 48v battery was only down to 66% this morning. It was full before noon under cloudy skies here in NM today. I attribute this to the high voltage at which our system runs, (over 300 volts) so it makes power with very little sunlight. For example, at 9am this morning, under overcast skies, I saw over 400 watts going into my battery in addition to running the heat pump. We now have total off-grid electrical self-sufficiency. We keep the aging generator that came with our 1999 motorhome reserved for emergency back-up use only. But now, after our system is finished, I doubt we'll ever need to use it - that is unless a camping neighbor runs short on power and needs us to run them an extension cord to "hook a brother up." 😉 Take care, we hope to see y'all down the road one day.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

That is an awesome solar setup! Thanks for sharing that with us! We have heard of the Christian Service Center and used them to get our mail last time. That is a very nice place! 😀 Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@timaz1066]

May I suggest the next time you come to Quartzsite to use a Moon Mountain Mail as they charge the same fee but they are open 8 to 6 Monday through Friday and eight to noon on Saturday. It makes it much easier for people that are still working on the road. Thanks for the video. When you decide to add a couple more panels, just put them on tilt racks. And as someone else said when it’s cloudy, your flat panels actually do better than the tilted ones. I know this because I have both on my motorhome.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Thanks for sharing the info with us and thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@edwilliams968]

Yep, jumping cactus needles have barbs. There may be some stuff on the needles but i usually just swear a bunch and pull them out the best I can. I give the Jumping cactus a wide berth. you should be able to add the tilt kits to your solar. It really makes a differenct.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

The jumping cactus needles are very painful and no fun at all! We tried to avoid them and then the dog got one stuck in her paw and Matthew was trying to help the dog and then it jumped on him! 😱Thanks for the info about the solar tilt kits! Thanks for watching too! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@badgerpa9]

You can use both cacti and cactuses. Dictionaries use both. I learned cacti is multiple cactus same type and cactuses are multiple types of cacti. Both would be accurate there.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Good to know! Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching too! 😃 ~ Shion and Matthew

[@Roger30303030]

Hearing about your solar set up that’s pretty much everybody. I follow the bigger the better right. So thank you for more info.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

You are welcome! Thanks for watching! 😀 ~ Shion and Matthew

[@campinwiththeconfers]

Those cactus are no joke! I learned the hard way last Nov when we were in AZ!

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Right! They hurt so bad! Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@thewanderingshores]

We haven't camped at Kofa yet but looks like a great place. We honked in your direction as we drove by while you were there too. Those CACTUSESSSSS are no joke, we ran into them a couple times on hikes. Great video you guys.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Y'all are going to love Kofa whenever y'all boondock here! We remember y'all driving by on your way to Imperial Dam! Hope things are going well in gate guarding world! Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@Elizabeth-rq1vi]

Those are wannabe mountains! Mere hills. 😂. I agree with Matthew, cactuses sounds better. We’re heading out for our mega trip April 20 & plan to try to figure out how to collect rainwater so I can wash the dishes & wash my hair. The cactus prickles worry me with our puppy , he lives to sniff so I worry he may get poked. Now I know what cactus to really give a wide birth

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

We hope y'all have fun on your mega trip! 😀 We hope your puppy is able to stay unharmed! Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@Terry-JoWhitehead]

Awesome! One day we’ll cross paths again with y’all. Week from today we’ll be in Tupelo, MS.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

We hope to see y'all again soon! Have fun in Tupelo! Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@RVCruisin]

Poor Annabelle!😢 oh and Matthew...I brush on one of those once and 1 pair of tweezers 1 hour, 1 bucket of tears later I had all of them out of my bedind!

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Oh wow! That does sound painful! Sorry you had to experience that! Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@CherishtheJourneyy]

I put a small piece of tape on the outside dryer vent lid to keep it from flapping. Also those are jumping cactus and yes they suck if you get stuck

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Thanks for sharing the tip about the tape! The jumping cactus hurt really bad when you get stuck for sure! Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@doublediamondrailroad5949]

That’s usin’ your Noodle! 😂

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

LOL 😂

[@RVingwithLuck]

You need to get a few LiTime 230 amp hour lithium batteries! $619 for the double size one.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Thanks for the info and thanks for watching too! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@wondererschasinghorizons]

We love our solar also, the only regret was not making the panels tiltable. We end up running our generator an hour a day on overcast winter days😢

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Those cloudy days are no fun! Hoping for more sunshine as the days get longer and longer! Thanks for watching y'all! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@G19amc]

Yes Cacti is the “correct” plural for Cactus. But as a 51year AZ native we call 1 or multiple cactus - Cactus (without the emphasis on the S) Cholla cactus (jumping cactus) is very nasty.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

We agree that the jumping cactus are very nasty! Pretty to look at! Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@RV_Tips_Tricks_Travel]

Another great video guys.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Thank you so much and thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@joemontague217]

I don't tilt my panels. When it's cloudy .I don't think it makes much difference. Safe travels

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@Gopher7]

John Deere 😊

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

@@Gopher7 Matthew LOVES his John Deere Hat! Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@rene-ro6oe]

We have solar on the roof but ground deploy some when necessary.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

We have seen other people with both as well! That is another good option! Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching too! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@billchesney8949]

Adding a couple of panels will be equivalent to tilting your panels

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

We would love to add more panels one day! Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@DougBidniak]

Great video you guys. You are always so much fun to watch . And great ambassadors for the RCG. Travel Safe .

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Awe, thanks so much! 😀 🐔 We miss y'all already! Thanks for watching and safe travels to y'all too! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@jeffsteele1295]

Great video thanks so much Jeff and Donna

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@JarheadAndGingersJourney]

Okay, this one was hilarious. I wanna say it just to get ya. Cacti cacti cacti! 😂 love y'all! God bless.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

LOL 😂🌵🌵🌵 Thanks for watching y'all! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@johanstrieter-bh2wq]

Great RV looks like you guys are having a great time and more fun than you can stand. One of these days I am hoping to get to that exact spot.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

We LOVE RV Life and are enjoying it! We hope you can get a spot at Kofa too! It is an awesome boondocking area! Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@edwilliams968]

Jumping cactus may also be known as Teddy Bear cactus....

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

We have heard that too! Why it got that name, we have no idea since it is not something you want to hug like a Teddy Bear 🐻 LOL 😂 Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@TheGrayLifewithJimPearl]

Some day we hope to make it out to Quartzite

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

We hope y'all do too! We have had a good experience with Quartzsite! Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@malone1todd]

If you can, turn off inverter. An inverter uses power even it everything is turned off. Great to meet you at rally

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Thanks for the tip! It was so awesome meeting you too! 😀 Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@johncauthorn4765]

If your Champions is a duel fuel, the gas cap should be off or closed for propane and on or open for gas.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Thanks for the info and thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@timf6916]

Nice

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Thank you and thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@titaniumhen]

Cactuses!

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

LOL 😂🌵🌵🌵 Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@bertkelly7650]

Wife lets 2 bananas go so she can make banana bread with chocolate chips and walnuts...yum!

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

That sounds really awesome! Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@Lauren-vd4qe]

I think i wd store the bagged garbage in the truck bed not in the trailer. I wd use paper plates also; less water used.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Some people do that but we don't want to attract animals, so we just keep it in the RV. Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@Lauren-vd4qe]

well if its in a plastic bag tied shut in the desert in a closed pick up bed, what animals wd get into it? i dont think a coyote could smell it or wd b able to get into a close pick up bed. I live in an area rife with coyotes, u can hear them at night, i put my garbage bag on the porch outside for the hubby to put in the big plastic wheeled bin in the morning on his way to work. Never had 1 bag broken into in years. hmmm @@BrokenDreamsReborn

[@jamesstriblin1522]

The trails 5th wheels are taken on no wonder n frames break

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

We have had no frame issues. Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@donaldbest2765]

Paper products will burn in a campfire

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

We burned a lot cardboard during our campfires. Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@rene-ro6oe]

You can say cacti or cactuses.

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Good to know! 😀 Thanks for sharing! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@frederick6008]

Turn off all those lights😂

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

LOL 😂 We keep the lights off most of the time during the day but have to turn them on if we want to film because it is so dark. Thanks for watching! ~ Shion and Matthew

[@danantes5223]

Use duct tape and it takes the splinters and cactus stickers out

[@BrokenDreamsReborn]

Thanks for sharing that tip with us and thanks for watching too! ~ Shion and Matthew