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!

Bike Racks Are Expensive

 I recently purchased a Weize hitch bike rack for my truck and RV. I went to various shops searching for the perfect rack. Some racks were obviously cheap while others were priced for those with more hefty incomes.

Talking about upscale. Most bike racks at REI were in the $400 to $700 range. A bit pricy and definitely more than I was willing to pay. I finally found a rack that was both strong and functional. It was definitely not as beautiful as the high end brands Thule, Küat and Yakima.

As I like to say (I am not very original). You can't everything! So I compromised and spent $170 on a sturdy Weize rack. I have traveled with it to a pair of Texas state parks and nearby cycling trails. So far, it has held up rather nicely for hundreds of smooth and a few bumpy miles.

By the way, the bumpiest road I have driven on that tested the metal of the Weize rack is a few blocks from my house. Hulen Street, is shockingly bumpy for about a block. That road has tossed my truck around, but my rack survived without a crack or issue.

I look forward to thousands of highway miles lugging our bikes. Fun times ahead. Cycling! RVing!

https://youtu.be/NQpgzZLPMU8

Lake Ray Roberts State Park

My wife and I took a day trip to Lake Ray Roberts State Park. The Texas State Park is located near Denton (20 miles) and Pilot Point (7 miles). The park offers a large and sandy beach for swimming and wading. There is a picnic and playground area nearby. You have many camping and fun options at Lake Ray Roberts.

Fishing and boating attracts many to the large scenic lake. Annie and I came to enjoy hiking and cycling. If you get hungry and didn't pack a lunch. The nearby tiny town of Pilot Point offered us several restaurants to choose from.

If you are an equestrian, this park has plenty to offer you too! I saw many beautiful horses during my time there. If I had some land, I would consider getting one. How about you?

On a sunny day, there are plenty of folks enjoying the beach and picnic areas.

Link to YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/IddmM7bLtc0

Should I Sell My New Travel Trailer Since I'm Not Using It?

I have had a travel trailer. for about 9 months. The problem is, my schedule and the availability of camp sites. Since I barely use my travel trailer, should I sell it?

I could put the cash from the sale in savings, stocks or in a vacation fund. What do you think?

Again, since I'm not using the RV as much as I had hoped maybe I should sell it. I have come to that important and honest realization. My wife and I are still relatively fit and ambulatory. Tent camping may be a great option until WE CAN'T!

Here's a link to my YouTube video. Thanks for watching.

RV versus Air Travel? Which Is More Affordable?

 In this video I compare the price of airfare versus camping. I love camping, but this summer I primarily camped in Tejas. In my (Californian) opinion, amazing camping options are few and far between in Texas.

Since owning my Rockwood Mini Lite travel trailer, I have figured out that towing long distances isn't cheap. In 2022, the price of gas has fluctuated tremendously. In early 2021, regular gas was selling for $2.75 a gallon in Texas. As recently as June of 2022, it was going for $4.75! Thankfully, the price of gasoline is slowly coming down.

Traveling in your gas guzzling RV is now more expensive than ever. Shorter trips are more economical, but no fun. If I lived in California I could camp at nearby beaches and mountains. But in Texas the beach is 6 hours away and there are no major mountain ranges nearby other than Big Bend.

Photo: River front camping near New Braunfels, Texas

For those of you who have seen my Global Warming videos. I would love to own an EV truck and pollute less. But that isn't in my budget for at least another 5 years (I'll be 75). That's my reality. Unless Tesla, Rivian, Ford or Chevy can give a substantial discount. Dare to dream!

Photo: GMC Hummer EV (Daddy likes!)

Todd Dunn YouTube:

https://youtu.be/eBFD7YGnMtc https://youtu.be/1NlSPuASv8Q

RV Lots For Sale: Buying Land For Your RV!

 You see them on YouTube. Folks (old an not so old) trying to get you to spend your hard earned cash on land for your RV. RV parking lots for sale!

Are you ready to buy land for your RV. Would you like to create a base campsite and a home in Tennessee or Florida. Maybe in California or Maine. You have options.

It can get expensive. With global warming, you have to be careful where you plop down your cash when purchasing undeveloped or developed land. You can quickly get underwater. Literally!!!

Boerne, Texas July 29, 2022

Smartphone pix while playing tourist on a very hot July in Texas.

Port O'Conner RV Park - Port O'Conner, Texas

I spent several days camping, playing and fishing in Port O'Conner, Texas. What a great respite from my boring Fort Worth suburban existence. I highly recommend Port O'Conner RV Park. Their weekly and monthly rates are fantastic. Here's a link to their website ... https://pocrvp.com

UPDATED! AoLithium Lithium Battery For RVs

#AoLithium has launched an upgraded version of of their 12V 100Ah - 4S battery. Here are the updated battery specifications:

1) Support up to 4 in series, 4 in parallel, or both in series and parallel to form a 48V 400Ah system. 2) Maximum Pulse discharge current: 200A＜10s. 3) Terminals are not recessed. Other than that, the function and appearance are the same as the original 12V 100Ah battery. UL62133 certificate for 100Ah battery pack, UL1642 certificate for 100Ah cells. The batteries will arrive at AoLithium's West Coast warehouse by the end of June 2022. Current (June 23, 2022) AoLithium pricing is $599.99. By using the $30 off coupon code the price will drop to $569.99 per unit. Support my modest channel by using the discount code ... RVTA. AoLithium link: https://aolithium.com/products/12v-100ah-4s-lithium-battery-with-bluetooth Specifications link: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0583/7271/8767/files/12V100Ah-4S_Battery_Specification.pdf Aolithium Contact Information: support@aolithium.com http://www.aolithium.com Aolithium 4278 N Harbor Blvd Bldg 2 (dock 2-6) La Habra, CA 90631

RVing at Port O'Connor, Texas

Annie and I spent the first week of June at an RV park in Port O'Connor, Texas. Succinctly, the venue was called Port O'Connor RV Park. That's easy to remember.

The Gulf region is known for great beaches and fishing. I enjoyed both. We spent the week not only in Port O'Connor but in Rockport and Seafrift. All three communities are enjoying a boom in residential real estate. Beach front property is relatively inexpensive in Seafrift and Port O'Connor. Rockport, not so much. 

Here are several photos from my week in the region. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comment. Annie and I have been to the area many times. We love it.

Go RVing Team Continues To Reach Diverse Audiences

May 12, 2022 

RV Industry Association Staff

For more than two decades, Go RVing has been the leader in diversifying the RVing audience in an effort to grow and expand the overall market. While the major core target market of RV buyer are families, identifying new potential RVers and engaging with them through traditional and digital media as well as experiential events and social influencers, is key to sustaining the lifestyle cherished by millions of Americans.

Building strong influencer relationships is also key to authentically connecting with audiences. With this in mind, the Go RVing team recently sponsored several influencers on a trip to North Texas Jellystone Park. Some of these influencers, who are bilingual in Spanish, published content about their trip that reached audiences who are also bilingual or speak primarily Spanish. This is another avenue through which Go RVing aims to increase the diversity of potential RVers and connect with its range of audiences. Check out what influencers Brenda Cisneros and Rory Lassanske had to say below about their visit to Jellystone and the benefits of staying in a Park Model RV during their trip.

Mejorando mi hogar (Brenda Cisneros)

Brenda Cisnero highlighted her and her family’s trip to North Texas Jellystone Park, where they enjoyed the various outdoor activities that the resort had to offer, which range from crafts to paintball to games. She also highlighted the Park Model RV that she stayed in during her visit.

Mamá Contemporánea (Rory Lassanske)

Rory Lassanske shared her trip with her followers, where she enjoyed glamping with her family and taking part in the park’s wealth of activities. Rory also emphasized that visitors would be able to stay at the park in their RVs during their visit.

Research from KOA shows that Hispanic (Latino) campers has grown from 1.9 million Hispanic camping households in 2014 to 6.3 million Hispanic camping households in 2020. By working with influencer like Brenda and Rory, Go RVing is able to authentically reach an audience that has shown a growing desire to camp and RV.

Favorite Greater San Francisco Bay Area Coffee Shops

I remember riding Liz's bike (my wife and her friends are in the pool) from her San Rafael home to the Coffee Roastery. There I would sit and enjoy a relaxing hot brew. Similarly, I'd enjoy a #coffee and a respite at many other shops throughout my 50 years in the Bay Area. Great memories. More to come. #coffeeshops #northerncaliforniacoffeeshops

Favorite Greater San Francisco Bay Area Coffee Shops

Stationaery

San Carlos Street, 

3 NE of 6th Avenue, 

San Carlos Street

Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921

Mr. Toots Coffeehouse

231 Esplanade #100

Capitola, CA 95010

Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting

1330 Pacific Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Roy's Station Coffee and Tea

197 Jackson Street

San Jose, CA 95112

Village Pantry

184 2nd Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Peet's Coffee

2197 Fillmore Street

San Francisco, CA 94115

Equater Coffees

2 Miller Avenue

Mill Valley, CA 94941

The Coffee Roastery

701 San Anselmo Avenue

San Anselmo, CA 94960

My short list.