No Rest For The Wicked! RV Kitchen Cabinet Repairs!!

This is not the first time my kitchen cabinets fell apart. Bad news.

Tejano and Polka? Annie and I Love To Go Dancing!

This past weekend, Annie and I were in downtown Fort Worth enjoying some Tejano music. Yes, we danced. This Saturday Annie and I are headed to Muenster, Tejas to Polka at Germanfest. My wife loves to polka. Maybe I'll see you there.

 

Flagstaff 228BHSE (Sports Edition) Pop-Up Camper

I have been known to inspect RVs at DFW area dealerships. At these shops, I have captured videos on $400,000 Class A motorhomes to significantly more modest $15,000 travel trailers. In this new video series I look at Tent Pop-Up Campers. I've never checked out this class of RV before until I visited Western Campers in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tent campers are popular for several reasons:

1) Price - They are quite affordable. Many under $20,000.
2) Weight - They can be towed by many cars, small SUVs and trucks.
3) Aerodynamic - They aren't very tall. Typically shorter in height than the tow vehicle. So they cut through the air. You can see around them. Making travel less irritating.
4) Economical - Since they offer less wind resistance. They save campers money on fuel and energy.
5) Better Than a Tent? - For many a tent camper or pop-up trailer is a step up. You aren't sleeping on the ground if you were in a tent. Some models offer amenities such as toilets, stoves, air conditioners and even showers. Amazing!

Link to YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/8fI1rKVNTWE

Texas Spring Break Camping Adventure at Lake Mineral Wells State Park

Last week, I went camping at Lake Mineral Wells State Park. In this video I talk about my camping, hiking and biking experience. I had a lot of fun. My wife, not so much. Annie suffered through allergies. I also comment about the quality of the bathrooms and showers. This park is 60 miles west of Fort Worth and is hard to get a space at. So I split 5 days at two spots. You gotta do what you gotta do to go camping Lake Mineral Wells State Park.

RV Rooftop Solar and MPPT Upgrades

I have dreams of more rooftop solar and an MPPT charge controller. Dare to dream! Feel free to contact me if you can help me with my installation in 2023. Thanks.

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.