What Happens on RV Pack Down & Move Day? See Our Routine Inside & Out

[@gvc56100]

I've seen literally a couple of hundred RV videos and this is the first one that showed a complete beginning to end close down....thanks , good job... Guy

[@Rvlove]

+Guy Mooglie Great - thank you! We found the same - we never saw a complete end to end video so we decided to create our own! Just wished it had existed for us when we started out! :)

[@terryl8447]

RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett n

[@mettahuttravels3183]

A comprehensive breakdown of packing up. thanks guys.

[@Rvlove]

You're welcome!

[@usahome]

Wow! So glad KZbin started adding your videos in my recommendation feed. I definitely subscribed and clicked the alert bell. I find myself watching your videos with a notepad to jot down all the great ideas. Thanks so much!

[@Rvlove]

Thank you for your kind words and for subscribing. We love hearing that our content is informative and entertaining. Thank you again.

[@Chavezrealestate]

Thanks so much Julie for the quick response. I will check out bed bath and beyond.

[@happyhobos4194]

One of the best video's I have seen about what all it takes to pack up a full time rig. Its a good thing you have that dinette to store everything under! For a minute there I thought your might be able to store the mini under the table instead of towing it LOL

[@Rvlove]

+Happy Hobo Haha wouldn't that be handy! Initially we wanted the dining table with chairs but now we love having the dinette for storage under the seats and under the table for travel day

[@tinacoladas617]

Great video. Never would've thought so much goes into preparing the RV for travel. It is my dream to get a RV one day and travel across the US. i just have to figure out a way to make that dream come true. Anywho, please keep these videos coming. very inspiring! Good job!

[@Rvlove]

+tinacoladas617 Keep putting focus and intention on your dream and it will happen! Thanks for the positive feedback! :)

[@LivinliteNet1]

Awesome video guys! It is amazing how much work goes into a pack down. We had no idea either when we got on the road. Great tips here and we picked up a back flow preventer from your amazon store after watching Marc flush the black tank. Great vid! - Erik & Kala

[@Rvlove]

+LivinLite.net Thanks guys - yes a lot of work but have it down to an art form now - doesn't really take that long and is worth it!

[@debbiefromillinois532]

Great video! Thanks for taking the time to share it with us.

[@Rvlove]

+Debbie Schneider Welcome! :)

[@genesmith6509]

"Secure the cabin" is what I tell my wife and jokingly, she says "I, I Captain" Good Video, it's easy to forget things. Coffee Pot and things don't mix well with the floor! Looks like a lot of work, think I'll stay home for now! Nice rig. Stay safe!

[@Rvlove]

+Gene Smith Thanks :)

[@Rvlove]

+Gene Smith Thanks :)

[@EnjoyingLifesJourney]

Loved the video, picked up some helpful tips! Thank You for the check list, it will be a great starting point to help us create ours!!

[@Rvlove]

+Enjoying Lifes Journey Awesome! :)

[@jerryedmonds3022]

I love this video! Great information. Also, what a cool way to store your iMac!

[@Rvlove]

+Jerry Edmonds Thanks Jerry - that iLugger rocks!

[@Raisinglebaryoga]

This is fantastic!!! Thank you so much!! The video is so helpful, and then I saw your checklist!! 100%!! You've helped me greatly!!!

[@Rvlove]

Great - glad you found it helpful!

[@PaddyWagonTravels]

Wow! What a great video. You explained things so well and you are both so organized. Great job and thank you for sharing your process. Thumbs up!!!

[@Rvlove]

+The Paddy Wagon Thanks Patrick! :)

[@redbearalaska2416]

Slides really do make the difference when u held back on the leveling jacks to the very end that is very important... Great video🐻

[@Rvlove]

+Red bear Alaska Yep sure is! Glad you enjoyed it. We love our slides, so much extra living space!

[@ernestoquintero747]

Great job in teaching this newbie, I won't get my RV till May/June time period, can't wait.

[@Rvlove]

+Ernesto Q Glad you found it helpful!

[@nielswil]

Love to see how it is done. This is a dream for me, getting to nirth america and living the life as a rv-er. Thank you for sharing.

[@Rvlove]

You will love it! It's a great country to travel by road/rv! glad you found the video helpful

[@nielswil]

Glad you knew i was talking about north america, lol. I love travelling by road. I like to watch this kind of videos, just in case. You never know what the future will bring.

[@CyclicRedundancy1]

That was a very cool video. Thank you for making it!

[@Rvlove]

+Pete Austin Thank you, glad you enjoyed it :)

[@joanhazelgrove9444]

Very helpful. I updated my checklists from some info you mentioned.

[@Rvlove]

Good to hear!

[@BottomleyAdventures]

Good video. We use checklists for everything we do in our RV, lest we forget something expensive. Fortunately, the Freightliner chassis has a built-in customizable checklist on the driving computer that we use so we can tick off each one before driving. Oh and Julie is really short. :)

[@Rvlove]

+KB9OKB Sounds handy. Thanks for highlighting the obvious - I kinda realized I was short a long time ago! ;)

[@jeanpeters-khan567]

Great video! Answered so many questions!

[@Rvlove]

Glad to hear it! This is the stuff we wanted to know before we hit the road!

[@rvdreamin836]

Hi guys. Great video as usual. Thanks vin

[@dfisher747747]

Very informative... you are living the dream!

[@Rvlove]

+Dan Fisher :) We are

[@raysater4083]

Another good show mates.

[@Rvlove]

+Ray Sater Thanks Ray

[@Jimmythekid007]

Picking up my class c 32 ft. in two weeks. Thanks , see you on the road :)

[@Rvlove]

+Jim Bo 007 Yay you! Congrats!

[@loueverett7656]

Great video. Thank you for posting.

[@Rvlove]

+Lou Everett Thanks and you're very welcome!

[@geodiscobowl]

Excellent choice in bikes!

[@Rvlove]

+geodiscobowl Hehe we have a couple more new ones now :) ANother video on that soonish

[@patricebourque7929]

Thanks for the checklist!

[@Rvlove]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@DavidSmith-vo3nd]

Thank you that was very informational! I enjoyed it very much thank you again.

[@Rvlove]

+David Smith You're welcome! Glad you found it helpful :)

[@illuminate1970]

Excellent video, Guys! Thanks, and safe travels! :)

[@Rvlove]

+Dawn of Illumination Thanks and same to you!

[@RxMixer]

Excellent video guys!! Can I assume that you don't have a roof antenna? Like you said, ALL coaches are different... Just wanted to know. Thanks. Later...Terry PS don't forget those leveling blocks!! lol

[@Rvlove]

+RxMixer Haha great minds think alike - see the related blog posts where we mention both the antenna and the blocks! www.rvlove.com/2016/02/18/rv-packdown-move-day-video-checklist/ We DO have a roof antenna, but we never use it - see the blog post above for comments on that :)

[@hellkatkitty]

great vid, very informative. thanks, you two :)

[@Rvlove]

+Bethany P Thanks - glad you found it helpful :)

[@brotherdaymusic]

Hi guys! You are so efficient! Wondering if Kym and I can do all this stuff...lol....if we get the old Barth? Sure hope so!!!¿¿¿

[@Rvlove]

+Day Kelly Absolutely :)

[@Wildonthego]

It was fun to watch what you do to pack up and go. :) By the way, how often do you check your lug nuts?

[@Rvlove]

+WildontheGo Not too often!

[@JohnCamara7dominion7]

I don't yet own an RV. I am currently in the research phase. Thank you for the information on your video.

[@Rvlove]

+John Camara You're welcome!

[@timothykalio157]

Sir if you want an rv, it really depends on the purpose for it. If you want more of a luxury living style, i would recommend having a prevost marathon. However if you want an rv with workimg space, then you should try going for either entegra anthem or newmar Dutch star

[@n1spirit]

Love your channel but I've noticed something with these earlier videos (hoping you have addressed it with the later videos but mentioning it here just in case). One of the sticking points for many KZbin channels is paying really close attention to the audio in their videos. Audio levels and clarity (voices not competing too much with added distractions in the background, etc.) are really important. The last thing most viewers (especially if we're viewing on a larger monitor from a distance) want to do is have to approach the computer again to turn the speaker levels up, knowing that when a commercial comes on we're likely going to be returning to turn the volume down - though in truth I often do so to skip the ads anyway. The audio on one of the channel videos I was watching a short while ago was REALLY quite low. Only intended as constructive criticism; I'm loving the channel. Safe travels, y'all. EDITED to add: Regarding bringing in your slides, I learned the heard way to do a quick sweep of the floor in front of the slides before bringing them in. Had something get caught up under one on one trip and did not catch it right away. After bring the slide in and out a few times I had a nice little scratch in the floor to remind me that a quick sweep is always in order before bringing them in. (That was my experience anyway.) The added benefit is you don't have to worry about sweeping when you get to your destination - unless you just want to be extra diligent. :)

[@Rvlove]

Thanks Michael. Yes, we've been learning as we go over the years, and gradually updating our equipment as budget allows. This video is quite old now so we hope you find an improvement with the more recent videos. Sadly there is nothing we can do about the older ones... but audio is always the biggest challenge to 'get right'. Good point you make about those watching on large monitors from a distance, it would be annoying to have to adjust the volume... hopefully our videos and audio will just continue to improve over time! Cheers and thanks for the constructive criticism... always welcome when kindly delivered as you did :) Most of us start out making videos and just keep learning/improving as we go. Safe travels!

[@n1spirit]

@@Rvlove - Awww, thanks for the response. I don't recall noticing the audio balancing issues on the first couple of videos (which were more recent) so I agree, you probably have it figured out now. Presently I'm viewing videos from your "Fulltime RV Living: Life on the Road" playlist and am on the 40th video (where you are talking about Paul at the naked bookstore in Quartzsite). He's quite the character; this isn't the first I've heard about Paul. LOL. Keep up the great work and thanks to you both for sharing your journey with us. 😃

[@kimnowell]

Great video, noticed your beautiful duvet because I had liked that one also at pottery barn. I did order another coastal print one; but had a question regarding the insert; did you purchase the insert at pottery barn and if so, which one? I was reading the different kinds they offer and was not sure. I have not had a duvet cover before so this is new to me. Thanks alot, have learned alot from watching your videos as we are preparing to hit the road. That was awesome that you had that great "meet up" and so many turned out. Saw that on facebook. Also hope everything is worked out on your coach.

[@Rvlove]

Hi Kim, sorry not sure what you mean by insert? I bought 2 duvet covers - 1 queen for the bed and 1 double to cover the valance behind the bed, plus 2 pillow cases and yep, good eye - pottery barn! All good with the coach now thanks for asking!

[@kimnowell]

I totally didnt explain myself Julie, :) The duvet insert, what you put your duvet cover on. The comforter inside your duvet cover. Hope that explains it better. Just wondered if you found any special deal on one or purchased one at pottery barn. Thanks alot Julie

[@billlong5979]

You really have to hand it to short girls - they can't reach it themselves. LOL Julie was so good at jumping into the front seat to reach buttons and things. Good video and good food for thought. You guys are a great team.

[@Rvlove]

+Bill Long Ha thanks BIll, yep i stand up on anything to reach everything, just used to it. Thank you :)

[@chrisdeverill5386]

Great informative video. Great job. Are you by any chance using a rogue wave for boosting Wifi in the sites? Nice to see a full size Mac out there. Would love to bring mine instead of a laptop.

[@Rvlove]

Thanks Chris - we use a booster for our MIFI devices in the rig - this is the latest version of the one we have (our model has been discontinued by the manufacturer) amzn.to/1rub3mq Yes I LOVE my full-size Mac, but am sorry to report I'm in the process of selling it... as we have plans for more international travel as well and a laptop is much easier for that, I now have an external monitor as well.

[@nosdehgan4401]

Hi Guys, love all the information you guys are sharing. I noticed in the video when you retracting the leveling Jack's you use blocks under the jacks and I noticed you had few under the front tires. why do you have to put blocks under tires...?? Thanks and keep it up... someday my wife and I will cross your path... 😊😊

[@Rvlove]

Hi Nos! Actually we have a video to share on that soonish, but short answer is.. ours being a GAS coach, means we don't have the ability to lower our coach for leveling purposes like many diesels do. While we have auto leveling jacks, it is UNSAFE and definitely not recommended to level the RV with the jacks alone IF it means any of the tires are off the ground. You'd be putting way too much faith in the jacks not failing and potentially having your rv crash down and cause damage to the rv, your contents or passengers. Hence the leveling blocks which help raise the rv to help level it, and of course when the rv goes higher, you need to put blocks under the jacks as well, so they don't overextend and can reach safely. Hope that helps as a starting point and Marc will explain in a video soon as well. Note - leveling blocks are likely not as necessary for many newer Diesel Pushers but even those may need blocks on occasion to get level on an uneven site. Happy Trails!

[@nosdehgan4401]

RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett Thank you so much for taking time explaining it. Had a feeling that was the reason. We are going to get a gas class a 40' also. We can't wait to hit the road. Be Safe and TTFN...😊😊

[@nosdehgan4401]

RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett Thank you so much for taking time explaining it. Had a feeling that was the reason. We are going to get a gas class a 40' also. We can't wait to hit the road. Be Safe and TTFN...😊😊

[@shabenny9667]

Wow uncul mark you have a lot to put awa 😝.PS bye the way I'm Sammy I remember having a sleep over in the rv that was fun😆😀😀😆 hope you and aunt July are having fun out on all of your adventers 😁

[@garyanderson9467]

When I hit the road a couple months ago, my trailer and truck were packed to the gills. I have since been getting rid of stuff along the way, either throwing stuff away or giving it to thrift stores. I still have a lot more stuff to get rid of, but I am sort of a hoarder and it's not easy to get rid of my stuff!

[@Rvlove]

+Gary Anderson Yes letting go of things is definitely a challenge - ours was packed to the gills when we started too but over time as we realized so many items we didn't use in a year it became easier to drop them off. It's one reason we like our gas coach which has less weight capacity than diesels.. if we were able to carry more weight we might be tempted to carry more gear but this keeps us mindful and not taking on things we simply don't need. Good luck! It's a great feeling to lighten your load - on every level :)

[@garyanderson9467]

That makes me feel better! Thanks.

[@nancypedersen6863]

Good video of take down. Do you hear much in the way of vibration and rattling with your Motorhome?

[@Rvlove]

No we really don't - a combination of a quality unit that is fairly well insulated and we store things well :)

[@odeannehartnett2538]

Did you hook the green flush hose to the campground water supply? What if others did not have the back flow valve? How would you make sure the water supply is sanitary?

[@Rvlove]

Good question. We wipe down the spicket and handle for it with a Clorox disinfecting wipe. We also run the water for a minute before hooking up the hose. It's the most we can do as we can never guarantee how others have used the top before us.... Oh and some campgrounds have backflow regulators built in / attached to their water spickets, which is nice.

[@kimberlyalexander6134]

Great video and thank you! I was wondering though what you do about the dishes, like plates, glasses in the cabinets while your traveling? We start here in a few weeks RVing for the first time and I'm a little nervous. ;)

[@Rvlove]

+KimBurly noneofyourbusiness Glad you enjoyed it - we just keep our kitchenware in the cupboards and nothing moves! We have Corelle dishware and acrylic drinking glasses. Our stemless wine glasses live in the box they came in so they are protected. Be sure to line the bottom of your cupboards with the good quality liner - it might help to see some of the kitchen items we use in our Amazon store - the liner I speak of is under the Kitchen and Cooking Category on page 5 at www.rvlove.com/A-store - So far the only thing that has ever broken while traveling is an egg - when the carton of eggs moved to the front of the fridge! Not bad for 18+ months of travel! Good luck!

[@Raisinglebaryoga]

If you have a campsite set up video/list, can you please direct me to it?? If not, I'd love to see one!!!

[@Rvlove]

Hi Em, hmmm we don't exactly have a set up video/list - in some ways you could reverse what we did here? But it's a good idea - noted!

[@NMjack2000]

It is nice to see how you both work together so well. I am just a RV Watcher I guess. Anyway I wanted to share a good ideal with you. That is to change out the Anode Rod in your water heater every so often depending on how much hard water you are being supplied with on the road. Hopefully your water heater is mounted in an area with enough room to change it out easily. I order my anode rods from Amazon.com as they seemed to be about the best source with good price on them. And also remember to drain your water heater tank every few months to get the sediment out of it. I do this on my tank on home especially due to the price increase for new water heaters so also keep on hand replacement heating elements for them also. We have very hard waterout here in New Mexico so I have learned to do this and get more years out of them. Please pass this along to your RV Friends and Neighbors.

[@Rvlove]

+Jerry “NMsanduneman” Staeden Yes good tip thank you. Marc has drained and cleaned our Water Heater - he tried to change the Anode rod last summer then realized ours (being an Atwood) doesn't have one! But the water in NM is very hard, have to use water softener to avoid white marks on our dark clothes!

[@Chavezrealestate]

Hi Julie...what a great video as always. Im hoping you can help me out with where you purchased your carpet near the dining that you rolled up in this video? I love the pattern as its nearly the exact as I picked out for ours yesterday but the backing is the hard texture and yours appears to be the latex style being it rolled so easily? Please help...

[@Rvlove]

Hi Raymond, if it's the brown and white large rug you are talking about I got that at Bed Bath and Beyond about 1.5 years ago. They probably still have them? It's a fairly classic style. It does have the latex back and yes rolls easily. Hope that helps!

[@julieh3327]

Where did you get the bag for the iMac? I'm very interested in that and did not see any links for it. Thanks.

[@Rvlove]

HI Julie, it's called an Ilugger www.ilugger.com - i don't have that iMac anymore so am selling my iLugger case. They are great to store and protect desktop macs!

[@dannychisholm1131]

Hey guys. Thanks for the video. We kinda split up the duties also and then double check each other. So far, no mis-cues. I was curious about what you are using to secure the propane tank in the back. Could not tell exactly from the video. Looks like straps of some kind.

[@Rvlove]

Hi there - our propane tank has a built in strap. Good to see you have a system that works for you.

[@dannychisholm1131]

I was referring to your propane bottle that you use with the grill. When you put it in the bay it looked as if there was a strap securing it in place. I carry one the same size from time to time and was wondering if you had discovered a way to keep it safely in place. Thanks.

[@Rvlove]

Hi Danny, yes we were also referring to the portable propane tank for the BBQ and firepit, the bay of the RV has built-in straps to secure it. It's a handy feature for sure. Cheers

[@dannychisholm1131]

Marc and Julie, thanks so much for the responses. We are downsizing from a 40+ ft DP and have a Tiffin Open Road on order. Although a different model from yours the storage is practically the same. I was able to slow down the video to see the straps and that is a cool thing, but not sure they are still doing that. We'll see and if not I'll add my own. Really enjoyed the stories on driving your coach and your visits to Red Bay. We've been there twice. Ordered our coach with the Sumo Springs and putting a Safe T Plus on it when it gets to the dealership. We've had gas coaches previously so we know the differences, but hoping the new 6 speed transmission and torque available at lower RPM'S will soften the transition. Keep the stories coming and safe travels.

[@Rvlove]

Hi Danny, cool good for you - glad the vids have been helpful. Curious why you decided to switch from your 40+ DP to a gasser?

[@PineMountainVentures]

Does your procedure change for the slides if it is raining? Great video, Thanks!

[@Rvlove]

+PineMountainVentures No, because we have slide toppers - if you don't have those you would want to be prepared with towels to catch any moisture. Slide toppers are a great feature - we love them!

[@Rvlove]

+John Baker RVGeeks do great videos! We've learned a lot from them

[@dreamingofbeingfree1217]

Nice video.Have you had a lot of problems with your Rv? Also did you buy it New?

[@Rvlove]

+Luis Sousa No we bought it pre-loved and very few issues at all. Couple of repairs covered under extended service warranty. A blog post coming up about that soon at www.rvlove.com so if you subscribe you'll get an email alert when posted

[@Clj737]

Wow I didn't realize your rv had so much room.

[@Rvlove]

+Corwin Jones Yes we're lucky, it's really spacious with those slides!

[@Oklahomajewel1]

Love your videos. What do you do for your jobs, being that you work on the road?

[@Rvlove]

+Julie Green HI there - thank you, more about all that on our blog at www.rvlove.com/about-us/ and www.rvlove.com/faq/ and www.rvlove.com/2013/11/11/how-did-we-end-up-deciding-to-live-in-an-rv/ :)

[@rayworx]

This might be a little tardy.... but better late than never. My suggestion is about checking the tire pressure. I used to drive bus for the local transit company. The service manager used a label maker and mounted a label on each fender above the tire. That way there was no 'I forgot what the pressure was supposed to be' excuses.

[@Rvlove]

Great suggestion - thanks for sharing from your experience!

[@peggy1046]

Excellent video.

[@Rvlove]

Thanks glad you found it helpful

[@KimberlyNobleWinslow]

What's the purpose of the wheel covers?

[@Rvlove]

+ANobleBeauty Protects them from the sun mainly, keeps tires lasting longer

[@KimberlyNobleWinslow]

+RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett gotcha! thanks for the video. we enjoyed! :)

[@twoboldlygo459]

Hey guys, I've been debating whether or not to buy a CB radio for the coach. I see you have what looks like a COBRA C 75 WX ST hanging on the dash. Would you recommend getting a CB? Have you found it to be a useful addition to the coach? Would you recommend buying that particular radio? I like the idea of all the controls being housed in the handset and the unobtrusive nature of this CB. Looking forward to your insights. Thanks!

[@Rvlove]

+TwoBoldlyGo Haha it came with the coach and we have NEVER used it, but we have talked about it as we think it would be a good idea... just haven't gotten around to it yet lol

[@stevemazz3121]

+RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett ... if you ever learn to use a CB as an informational tool you will never drive without one again... if there is a slow down you can ask if anyone knows why... you become aware of those mile posts... if there is a reason to detour often you will hear it from truckers going the other way and can ask locals for directions. Lets more to it than hey good buddy.

[@gruivis]

Thanks so much for the videos! Just curious as to how much fresh water you keep at the beginning of a travel day.

[@Rvlove]

Hi there, it depends on how far we are traveling and if we are doing a dry camp overnighter en route - for example at a Walmart. In general we are traveling from one full hookup campground to another so don't feel the need to carry a lot of water which is very heavy - 8.3 lb per gallon I believe. So to answer your question though, we usually carry a max of 10-15 gallons while driving.

[@macmcdonald1072]

What about the tv antenna?

[@Rvlove]

+Mac McDonald We don't watch TV, so don't need to. But we did specifically mention this in our post and included it on our checklist for the benefit of others www.rvlove.com/2016/02/18/rv-packdown-move-day-video-checklist

[@elliesanimals6900]

How did you make the office

[@Rvlove]

We did a video on Marc's office conversion here kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKSoqoZnmpWqmKc - coming soon are two videos where we each talk in detail about our office space setup

[@Mandolin1944]

I don't flush the black tanks every time -- no need. Maybe once a week or so and then thoroughly before winterizing.

[@Rvlove]

We don't flush every time either - we do it as often as possible whenever the hose reaches!

[@Desertfox92308]

Like a well oiled machine:)

[@Rvlove]

+Norm K. We are a good team :)

[@volfan1nga]

Why 3 bikes?

[@Rvlove]

Hehe actually we have4 now - have filmed a video on that but it's not been produced/published - it's in the Q. Road bike = Marc's a road cyclist (his stress relief/therapy), tandem = so we can ride together, stay together, chat together on longer rides. Julie's cruiser = so she can get around campground solo, run to the ranger's office, collect mail etc. We have since sold the cruiser and now have 2 folding bikes (one each) which we fold and carry in the MINI on travel days. Marc's folding = 26" full size mountain bike and Julie's is a small 20" bike for campground errands.

[@TrzCharlie]

Good overview of packing to leave. Thanks for sharing. Check us out at blogspot wanderingtootsies

[@Rvlove]

thanks!

[@ljackson67]

Pack up, not down

[@rayroche94]

Lewisj67 I have always thought that "packing down" was the opposite to "setting up", but we all have different names for the activity, I guess.

[@Rvlove]

+Ray Roche Yep - no hard and fast rules for anything in the RV world or life for that matter - just what works for you! :)

[@brotherdaymusic]

Hi guys! You are so efficient! Wondering if Kym and I can do all this stuff...lol....if we get the old Barth? Sure hope so!!!¿¿¿

[@brotherdaymusic]

Hi guys! You are so efficient! Wondering if Kym and I can do all this stuff...lol....if we get the old Barth? Sure hope so!!!¿¿¿

[@brotherdaymusic]

Hi guys! You are so efficient! Wondering if Kym and I can do all this stuff...lol....if we get the old Barth? Sure hope so!!!¿¿¿