I Upgraded My Battery Box Plus Lithium Batteries. Where Did I Go Wrong?

DELUXE CAMPGROUND TOUR: Brushy Creek @ Lake O'the Pines Jefferson, Texas...

An extra long YouTube video. Perfect for insomniacs. Feel free to send me your comments, suggestions or questions. I'll try to answer them ASAP! I shot this video around Turkey Day 2022. My wife and I took a week off and traveled 3 and half hours to Jefferson, Texas. There we enjoyed a respite for the boring Fort Worth 'burbs. 

Top Four Takeaways From Our Trip!

1. Sandy beaches in many areas (not just rocks or mud)
2. This is a big lake. Texas size.
3. Lake O'the Pines has many inlets and parks. Some are for camping and others for day use.
4. Annie and I loved the scent of the pines. The first day we got there it was amazing!

Added 2 AoLithium Batteries

I've been working on updating my travel trailer. Finally, my #Haloview side marker camera issues are no longer. They work perfectly on my 2022 Rockwood Mini Lite 2205S. Today, I also installed my two #AoLithium batteries. So far so good. I kept my install super simple. My brain can only handle so much. 

Video link: https://youtu.be/dUzsX1Zxka0

They work perfect too. In April, I'll be adding a pair of 200 watt panels to the old roof. That should be fun. At least that's the plan.

Finally Picking Up My New RV

Finally. It's time to pickup my new 2022 Rockwood Mini Lite 2205S travel trailer from Wana RV in Shipshewana, Indiana. On the way there I will be stopping at hotels in Little Rock, Arkansas, Effingham, Illinois and finally in Shipshewana. This San Jose, California boy isn't looking forward to the cold upper Midwest winter weather. 

On the way back, I'll stay at various RV parks and do some boondocking. Most campgrounds in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri will be closed for the winter. Maybe I can relax at DeGrays Lake in Arkansas. Dare to dream. 

Should be fun producing several installation videos. First up is Haloview. I'll be adding their side and observation cameras to the travel trailer mix. I'm super excited about installing my Aolithium batteries. First I have to figure out how to wire them inside the pass through storage. You have to keep them warm and safe. Lithium batteries don't like freezing temperatures.

Here's a link to my YouTube video: https://youtu.be/y_Oe3GEq0Gs

Getting My Travel Trailer ... FINALLY!

Back in March 2021, I ordered a Rockwood Mini Lite 2205S from Wana RV of Shipshewana, Indiana. They noted to me prices would be increased in a month. So place your $1,000 nonrefundable deposit down today, rather than tomorrow. And I did. They said I would get my RV by August. It didn't. 

This week I was notified my RV would be built November 22, 2021. So my wife and I plan to pick up (Fort Worth to Shipshewana, Indiana) our modest travel trailer come early December. That's the plan. It's critical to know that I understand the difference between what the dealership pays and MSRP. I have seen the manufacturer invoices. On my travel trailer back in March the wholesale price would be under $20,000. The MSRP was around $35,000. Today, I am paying $25,000 plus TTL. 

I feel bad for the many RV customers who have been exploited. Sales staff are cruel beasts. Their task masters (managers) are only motivated by profit. I'm hopeful that Devin Puckett at Wana RV continues to hold up to his side of the bargain. That there aren't any surprise price hikes. So far I'm impressed with Devin and Wana RV.

That's me inside a Rockwood Mini Lite 2205S. I like what I see.

Apparently, invariably, inexorably, I'll be getting a call from Wana RV. That's supposed to be in August. I ordered a 2022 Rockwood Mini Lite 2205S travel trailer in February. We'll see. By the way. We are paying cash for the TT once it arrives.

I have already purchased most of the items required to operate and transport a travel trailer. Mundane items like the sewage hose to a surge protector are awaiting their intended purpose. Upgrades like more solar panels, a better charge controller and batteries are planned. More money!

I should have plenty of room for most of my newer cameras and tripods. I plan to take my Nikon D800, Panasonic Lumix G85, DJI Pocket 2 and various accessories. On the road, I will focus my lens on capturing a disappearing America. Remnants, hidden in far away spaces.

My wife is excited about our new family member (travel trailer). Can't wait to park it in the back yard alley. We'll work together as a team to make the TT unique. Annie and I are a modern couple. We enjoy working together. One of our first projects is to make the kitchen and storage areas more usable. No girl this or boy that. We'll keep you updated on our RV upgrades on our YouTube channel.

My New Rockwood Mini Lite 2205S Travel Trailer

On April 28, 2021 I plopped down a $1,000 deposit and ordered a Rockwood Mini Lite 2205S travel trailer from Wana RV. My wife and I have been planning and saving for this day for over 3 years. We expect delivery of the Mini Lite anywhere from August to November. 

There were many considerations in determining our purchase. I must have looked at over a hundred travel trailers before deciding that the 2205S was perfect for us. Let me detail some of my considerations.

UVW/Unloaded Vehicle Weight: The 2205S comes in at a bit over 5,100 pounds dry. I estimate I'll load the travel trailer with about 500 pounds of water, supplies and accessories. My truck has a 7,000 pound towing capacity. Going down the road with the water tanks 1/4 full, I'll be at about 5,500 pounds. That amount of weight should not over stress my truck.

Length: At under 24 feet, the Mini Lite should not be a big fat target for strong gusts of wind. That's a real concern for many RVers. Travel trailer slab surfaces are perfect sails. Obviously, a fishtailing travel trailer is no fun. I originally considered a 26 and 28 foot travel trailer, but decided a shorter one would create less headaches for my Chevrolet Colorado. A mid-size truck.

Price: My goal was to purchase a travel trailer for $25,000 plus TTL. I hit my goal perfectly. If I had a bigger budget, I would of purchased a higher end product. I've had my beady eyes on a Winnebago View 24D. That beauty lists for $185,000. Another RV I loved was the Oliver Legacy Elite 2. That Tennessee fiberglass molded travel trailer typically sells for over $65,000. Definitely out of my budget.

Construction & Amenities: You get what you pay for? In my price range you typically get fiberglass and Azdel construction plus aluminum framing, solid wood door and drawer fronts, a porcelain foot flush toilet, solid surface kitchen countertops, a DC fridge (the 2205S comes with a  Go Power190 watt solar panel, a modest charge controller and a 1,000 watt clean sine wave inverter) a residential queen bed, and in the case of the 2205S two very nice recliners. These comfy seats are in the Perfect TV Watching Position. 

In the end, I kept to my budget and limitations. I found a product that met most of my needs. The Mini Lite is a definite compromise. Like many enthusiasts, I look forward to personalizing my travel trailer. One goal is to make the Mini Lite more boondock capable. Feel free to contact me to share your suggestions, questions or comments.

Go to my RV & Travel Adventures YouTube channel. There you will find various RV reviews and details about my shopping process (including a build out sheet). Please subscribe! Thanks.