Thank you for sharing. You give a cautionary lesson in how things can go wrong and then continue to snowball for the worse. It is valuable to note that although you certainly had a string of bad luck some preventative steps would have been helpful or may help someone in similar situations. A couple RV 'rules' come to mind, 1) never drive tired 2) plan to arrive early at a destination rather than late since unfortunate things often happen that cause delays 3) research routes especially through mountains where lack cell signal, quickly changing weather, and winding roads can make for many difficulties 4) do check tires and brakes for heat build up, many RVers have hand held temperature guns to do a quick check plus have a tire pressure monitoring system that also notes tire temps so if tires are getting too hot it can be caught hopefully before a blow out 5) although it is easy to pack RVs full of possessions when travelling, as you know well RVs can breakdown, accidents occur, or you need to move out quickly. Being able to grab and go or pack out with more ease will save money and time. In addition the less you have the less you can lose or need to replace 6) having a satellite phone or messenger could be a life saver 7) having more than one roadside membership may be beneficial when towing. If neither is responding efficiently then arranging for your own tow may still be a cost saving over leaving an RV in a dangerous location. 8) calling the police as soon as cell service was available may have been helpful as state patrol may have added that to a patrol route which could have helped with avoiding theft or helped if the police noted that there was a breach before you returned 9) always have a plan b and c lined up if a destination doesn't work out, if plans need changed and don't cling too tightly to any specific schedule or agenda Your story may help others avoid some problems and issues. Which leads to 10) know when to quit. RVing isn't for everyone and when it is adding more stress to your life than enjoyment that is the time to switch gears. Best wishes on all your future travels whatever form they take.
@wanderinwhilewecan9 ай бұрын
100% agree! Our plan that day was to drive for a couple of hours, unfortunately the situation (fires and smoke) forced us to keep going - I wish we didn't have to but for sure so many lessons from this experience!
@dorothytravis4936 ай бұрын
Well said
@normanreed72982 жыл бұрын
A TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) would have solved most of your problems. The tire minder TPMS that I have told me when I had a tire leak before it became a issue. It also monitors tire temperature. If you ever decide to try it again get a TPMS before hitting the road.
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
100% We bought one the next year when we got back on the road and I LOVED having the piece of mind of know the pressure and temperature of the tires. Totally worth it! Thanks for your comment and for watching!
@davidcann8762 жыл бұрын
So sorry for your loss and your troubles on the road. Sharing your experiences is very interesting and helpful. God bless you in your endeavors. You are very brave!
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thank you David! We really appreciate your kind words!
@davemartino65342 жыл бұрын
I am very sorry that this happened to you. Thank you for sharing this story. It must be hard emotionally to document such a crazy and frustrating event. One thing that I take away from this story is that RV maintenance needs to be job #1. I bought a smaller (
@trustme7731 Жыл бұрын
You aren't an oddball, or I'm an oddball too. The tire cupping could also be from misalignment of the axles causing a tow in/tow out condition and dog tracking. Carefully measure from the coupler to the outboard end of each axle.
@911Getaways2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your honesty and letting us know the reality. So many times You Tube and Instagram can paint such a false picture of RV life and it always seems so amazing. After watching your video and hearing your story, we have given much thought to our future plans and have taken things in a much better direction! And PS…. We love Fritz! We also have a dog named Fritz that hates other dogs so we know the struggle😉
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much! Yes, while full-time RVing can be a lot of fun and we really enjoy the freedom of it, it can also be very difficult. Staying on top of your truck and trailers maintenance is so important as well as taking each trip's safe seriously because things can go wrong really quickly. While we did decide to get off the road, it ended up being a temporary one and when we came back, we were prepared and had a completely different experience. So what did you guys decide to go live on a boat instead!? haha! Thank you about Fritz and that is so funny you also have a dog named Fritz! Yea...he is a handful but of course we love him. Thanks for watching and your nice comment!
@FeralCatSanctuary2 жыл бұрын
What a wonderful couple you are! My heart hurt so much for both of you watching the last video. As you can see, I manage and care for a colony of about 50 feral cats. I have done that for 30+ years. Before that I had dogs. I can tell you that the pain of losing the dogs I had to old age, or disease was always more devastating than it seemed possible to survive. Since then, my heart has grown smaller being with the colony cats and saying good-by to the ones who had to be put down for illness or old age. I piece of my heart has gone with each one and not one of them has left my soul. They never do. The dogs and cats stay with you every day. It never gets easier you just learn to survive without them. Blessings to you both.
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
What a nice comment! Thank you! And good on you for your help caring for so many cats! We need more people in the world like you
@JRJones333 Жыл бұрын
Wow! You had a rough 2020 from the three videos I watched. I've read and heard of the horror stories of full time RVing. I don't think it is something my wife and I could do. The school of hard knocks is not an easy education, but I'm sure you learned a lot of what to do and not to do if you decide to do it again. I think it takes courage to do what you did and even though you had difficult challenges, you seem to have handled it like a pro and came out ok on the other end. Those memories, good and bad, you will look back on fondly and be able to share them with kids and grandkids for years to come.
@mmark48 Жыл бұрын
My gf I enjoyed your videos. So sorry to see all the bad things that have happened to you two. WE are 58 and 61 years old and started full timing about 5 months ago. So we appreciate you sharing your experiences. I dont see any more videos that you have posted. WE would love to hear that you had a happy ending to all of this. Thanks again!
@jayb35182 жыл бұрын
I feel your pain, Mid May, went on first trip of the year, and while on the way had a right rear blow out, but it blew through the floor of the trailer and the tread reached into through the floor and grabbed the majority of the wires in the back of the Electrical panel (Imagine 2500rl has electrical panel right above tires). ripped the wires and coax cables down, wrapped around the axle three times, and pulled hard enough to pull the wires that were routed up the wall and across the ceiling, and ripped the ceiling. Needless to say, having issues with Insurance company and repair shop agreeing on initial estimate to start work, with the repair shop seemingly refusing to call insurance to reconcile the difference between their two quotes. and this doesn't include damage that potentially has not been discovered yet. Not that many collision repair shops around me and the next shop on my list can' t even look at it until January. so with less than 3500 mile son the camper, I have a camper with a hole in it sitting in my yard, making payments. all I can hope for is that if it's not totaled that once it's repaired I can get a fair price for it by selling. I am done with camping too...SHouldn't be this much of a headache. especially when the shop you are trying to get to repair it is the same place I bought the trailer... OH well.
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Ah! I am sorry to hear of your troubles. Yea...there are A LOT of things to consider when towing which can make it very challenging and frustrating. When we got off the road, we ended up making A LOT of upgrades which definitely made things better. Thanks for your comment and for watching!
@frankthetank1256 Жыл бұрын
I’ve done almost 2 years on the road full time with a brand new RV Motorhome and let me tell all those thinking about doing it. It’s been great, but it’s also hard work. Many obstacles to overcome and deal with. It makes for a lot of stories by the campfire. Glad you guys are safe 👍🏼
@billjensen6216 Жыл бұрын
I watched all of these videos. And enjoyed then. You did a fantastic job at the documentary of your trip. To say you had an adventure is true. Sorry for the loss you had with Roomy. It's never easy losing a fur, baby. My heart goes out to you. Keep up the amazing adventures, and enjoy all you can when while you can. Thanks again for the great videos.
@alexjasonchandler2 жыл бұрын
Proper tow vehicle leveling as well as realizing most trailer tires are only rated for 55mph is critical. That is why it is very common for people to get E-rated tires rated for 87mph, which I installed on day 1 and never go over 65 personally. Due to other factors of concern like trailer sway which is amplified by higher speeds. Also people will install suspension airbags and or special hitches that allow for leveling adjustment (assuming you're not squatting, which is over-towing & very dangerous). That Rockwood mini lite was 5,500 lbs unloaded. Your Toyota Highlander at the time was rated for 5,000lbs max, which means the dealer sold that to you, because he could not because he should. I realize you later got the Dodge Ram Truck. But the tire blowouts and the axle blowout were both a result of too much weight on one set of axles/tires, not distributing the load across both axles and all 4 tires. Which is why under-towing can also be a problem, if the trailer is not level, because rather than squatting you are now teetering the other direction, causing the same load distribution problem. Improper load distribution, causes instability, instability inevitably triggers a trailer sway situation, especially when passing or be passed by large Semi's and at higher speeds. This video link does an excellent job braking down trailer sway dynamics and causes - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gMt1eKZmyryyc58.html&ab_channel=L2SFBC-RobertPepper-autojourno
@marksac50802 жыл бұрын
I feel for them but have to say there were lots of amateur decisions made that could have been avoided. They need to look more closely at their decision-making skills or lack of decision-making skills. It was not Progressive's fault that they put themselves in a bad situation. And maybe they chose Progressive to save money? Hmm buy cheap, pay twice. My advice, get back on the road and learn from YOUR mistakes. What's important is that you learn from your mistakes. No crying... get back on that pony. Don't drive all day to the point of exhaustion, bad things will happen, don't push your rig so hard, bad things will happen. Pay more attention to the route you pick, or bad things might happen.
@sararook82242 жыл бұрын
Excellent reply!
@jamescawthern75932 жыл бұрын
These 2 are just another pair of inexperienced modern day gypsy grifters with no skills, knowledge or talent clumsily mooching their way around the internet instead of going and getting jobs.
@wanderinwhilewecan Жыл бұрын
@@marksac5080, we are for sure not experts, but some decisions were out of our control, unfortunately! The plan that day was to drive less than 3 hours! From Hood River to Bend but due to the fires and heavy smoke, we had to improvise. Bad things happen, we accept our mistakes and learn from them! We did get back on the road, stronger than ever ;)
@carmenosmanski45042 жыл бұрын
WOW! All I can say is I'm glad you two weren't hurt at all. Those were some awful experiences but it seems you learned a lot from having gone through so much. Take care and enjoy your new adventures in Turkey. Be safe!
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Hey Carmen! Thank you, yes it was a very tough time but all part of the adventure :) I hope you and Robert are well and all is good here in Turkey. We leave for Italy next month to start another adventure. Chat soon!
@delinquense3 ай бұрын
I "laughed" at the comments about the cigarette smoke. I feel your pain. 😢 Thanks for sharing your adventures. They are more valuable than you might know or think in that people who watch them will put a lot more effort into their future RV planning decisions.
@wango556 Жыл бұрын
I fulltime. I definitely do not fault you guys for choosing another path. In the end, you have to do what is best for you and your family. You did what most people won’t. Be proud. It might come back around after some time. Head up
@Mr_D5552 жыл бұрын
So sorry for the loss for your Fur Baby, we lost our Golden (Maggie) this week and it's been an empty hole in my heart without her.
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for your kind words. I am sorry to hear about your loss and I hope you make it through this next period as easily as possible. We know it's tough.
@mikemanjo24582 жыл бұрын
I am so sorry for your losses. I can only imagine how devastating this would be. However, those are just “things” that can be replaced. God certainly protected the three of you from a tragic accident by keeping the trailer upright. He must have something special planned for you three. Thanks for the info on Progressive (our current insurer). It makes me angry, too, that they were not kinder and more helpful to your situation. It’s so good of you to help others not to endure that. Prayers for you as you continue to travel and experience wonderful things. Jane in SC ❤️🙏🏻
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thank you Mike! Yes, you are right and could replace those things. If you ever have a theft make sure you document the forced entry otherwise they won't cover it. We wish you safe travels as well as and thank you for watching!
@OurLicencetoTravel2 жыл бұрын
How devastating! So sorry for the loss of your best friend... In the 4 years, we have been full-time. We lost our 2 doxies (due to age) and it took quite a while to recover. While staying in the Teton area we were boondocking at Spread creak dispersed camping area while Gabby Petito was there just before her discovery less than 1000 yards from our campsite. Not trying to one up. Just that nomatter where you go, even in sticks and bricks, bad things can happen. Glad to see that you guys have recovered! Hope you get back on the road again soon! You seem to have quite a zest for life. Don't let anyone or anything keep you down...🙏❤️ OLT
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thank you and I am sorry for your loss. I hope you didn't lose them both at the same time that would be so difficult. You are absolutely correct things can happen wherever you are and that is crazy you were so close to where they found Gabby Petito. What a sad story. Spoiler alert, after about 6 months off the road, we went back traveling full-time...and now we are living in Turkey so yup, we LOVE to travel haha Thank you for watching and for your comment. Safe travels!
@OurLicencetoTravel2 жыл бұрын
@@wanderinwhilewecan That's so awesome! Glad to see you "back in the saddle again" 😁. We lost them about a year apart and yea it was devastating all the same... It took us a year to find another forever friend, his name is Grizz and his IG page gets more views than the KZfaq channel. 🤣. Hope that when your back Conus, we get to meet up on the road. 👍🙏❤️ Travel Safe, OLT
@bomabompakarasch4230 Жыл бұрын
I support your decision ugh You persevered longer than I could have.
@hobbs4288 Жыл бұрын
I appreciate your honest video. You broke several RV cardinal rules. You were rushed and drove too long. This situation was unfortunate but I hope if you decide to do this again I hope you make some changes to how you travel. Good luck!
@rvhtravels11 ай бұрын
It is certainly becoming more difficult to full time RV, what with the weather changes and the seemingly poor quality of equipment now a days. In our one year adventure, we had run bearings and a broken leaf spring. Had to run from storms, high winds, snow and hail..... both trailer and truck sustained hail damage, what a nightmare to get repaired. In fact getting anything repaired on the road is a nightmare. Generally you cannot get an appointment for weeks, roadside assist goes only so far. I fully understand and appreciate your decision.
@pjballs69 Жыл бұрын
Rv 101, never drive after 5pm, have a tire pressure monitoring system, and always stay with your trailer. You didn't get robbed, you're trailer got burglarized.
@mojavedesertsonorandesert95312 жыл бұрын
Bummer for the bad experience. I have found for me that a good size 4×4 truck with a large size utility camper works best. Your more mobile, less headaches. Better fuel milage.
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@sandysergent2 жыл бұрын
I've had my home robbed, I get it! You feel so violated, physically violated! Someone's hands were all over your things, all over your personal belongings, nothing feels clean and in fact it, it all feels somehow contaminated. It is such an awful feeling. I don't fault you for giving up, your learning curves were huge! But I do hope you get back out there one day. If it were just the robbery, I would tell you that you're letting them win but, I understand it's way more than that.
@1-SmallStep2 жыл бұрын
I moved.
@Knuckledragnation Жыл бұрын
Nobody blames you for your choice. I totally woulda felt violated as well. Crazy thing is on an 11 state, 8,000 mile motorcycle trip my wife & I were on last summer we left Eureka, CA on our way to Grants Pass, OR and I took the wrong route and ended up going through the same mountain range you did on CA-299. I never knew it had crazy history like you mentioned although it doesn’t surprise me. Sorry to hear about your unfortunate experiences. To have certain things happen during long trips is something I don’t want to happen but try and not get to tied up emotionally when it does. Albeit what you and your wife experienced is definitely a next level set back for sure. My wife and I just purchased a Toy Hauler and truck to take our home with us and venture out from there on the motorcycle. I appreciate you sharing your experiences. Good luck! ✌🏽
@nancypalomino5820 Жыл бұрын
Just found you on you tube! Great job & so sad you lost Roomy, the wreck… robbed. Total adventure for sure! Best to you & Barbara
@DavidBrown-jt7yi2 жыл бұрын
I understand getting off the road full time. It certainly isn’t as glamorous as KZfaq makes it out to be. I wouldn’t quit RV’ing on a part time basis at all. Think about all the memories you already have even though they aren’t all positive.
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Absolutely! After the first year and a half on the road, you truly realize how important it is to stay on top of the truck and trailer's maintenance otherwise these things happen. I never truly understood the importance of re-greasing and repacking the wheel bearings of the trailer and rarely saw that talked about it in most KZfaq videos. After the axel hub failure you better believe I put that on my maintenance schedule LOL! But agreed, when things aren't breaking, we love the lifestyle. Thank you so much for your comment and for watching!
@outbackwack368 Жыл бұрын
Wow, your travel experience during that time seriously qualifies as "A Series of Unfortunate Events"! I hope time has healed your wounds!
@fallenangel10492 жыл бұрын
Top 2 insurance companies are State Farm and Farmers….sorry to here you were robbed….wouldn’t use Progressive. They wanted to junk my dads Delta Oldsmobile that was in a small car accident and all we needed was a new bumper for the car and we even said a used one would be fine. It was a fight for a 300.00 bumper.
@WApnj2 жыл бұрын
Getting kick down by life and standing up to continue on is sometimes not possible. Good to have thought it through. Best wishes for your new path.
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much!
@usmcmsgt5487Ай бұрын
To help with accidents or being robbed have a 24/7 Ring Cam and recording load up in the cloud so even if they steal cam or it gets damaged in wreck it will still show what happened. I use mine to check on my mom and warn me if mom is trying to get out of the house.
@PrincePalmUwU Жыл бұрын
I had watched all 3 videos what a week, month we are sending vibes your way for better days to come. hang in there and if you need a break we understand. much love!
@THEBOSS-vn2ky Жыл бұрын
Purple hair that was it for me
@vannesareay94352 жыл бұрын
That is a string of unfortunate things. I agree about the robbery. It seems after that happens it's so hard to make it feel like home again. Onto new adventures. Bless you and take special care.
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thank you Vannesa!
@joylockwood Жыл бұрын
At first I was kind of blaming you all for leaving the truck unattended but after I thought about it I'm really glad you did because one of you really could have been hurt or killed had you stayed behind.
@wanderinwhilewecan Жыл бұрын
We really did not want to, but at the moment was the best decision we could've made. Things are replaceable, we are NOT, right?
@markj102 жыл бұрын
It’s to bad you need to worry about thieves wherever you go, and that includes insurance companies! It’s hard to RV travel in the summers with fires, smoke, gas prices and crowded campgrounds. I aways look forward to late Fall :) At least you are ok and now have stories for the grandkids!
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Hi Mark! Thank you for your nice comments and for watching. 100% agreed regarding the summers (especially the last 3). We already have enough on our minds when it comes to keeping up on maintenance, not crashing and camp site availability. Theft is definitely more rare but man when it happens it hurts. I hope you have safe travels!
@gregsayles9253 Жыл бұрын
AAA has an RV-Tow privilege (up to 200 miles with a New Jersey policy with nation-wide coverage)--Also, Geico towing (for short tows) is very-easy to deal with; unlike Progressive & other's I've heard of/ Great Video's!--U have a great way to tell your tales...
@bguilha2 жыл бұрын
I remember that freaking smell so vividly 😡😡😡 2020 a year of tough lessons 👊🏻
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Yea basically a how to guide of things you SHOULD NOT do… well thankfully we survived it
@ronanderson9551 Жыл бұрын
Someone thinking about full-time living in an RV needs to watch this first.
@dorothytravis4936 ай бұрын
Sorry you had such problems in your travels. Take care
@johnlanier5244 Жыл бұрын
Hi Dan and Barbara, just watched your videos while recovering from COVID this week. Thank you both for sharing your stories as it will help many other RVers traveling the roads. I must say you did not help me dry up my runny nose and eyes when I heard about Roomie. Been there many times before and still have all of our babies ashes with us. Highly recommend cremation and take the babies with you 💜. Please keep posting wherever you both travel as I enjoy watching you both have so much fun (besides the obvious) and travel on. JP ps. I am changing my RV locks as soon as I am better 🥹
@geraldjones8925 Жыл бұрын
A good practice is to place a bare hand on each tire and hub at each stop. Just a few pounds of pressure in air will cause a hot tire.
@dmeyer8937 Жыл бұрын
Do not put a hand on a metal hub after driving. The burns are not pleasant. You can sense the heat by holding a flat palm near the hub, or better yet your can get a handheld infrared thermometer. Best practice is a TPMS with pressure and temperature sensing which can alert you of a tire going flat or overheating.
@silaslongshot9412 жыл бұрын
Seems your robber had the usual CH751 "universal key" that every cheap manufacturer uses for the storage bay doors. Having no cell service forced the issue, but if it was available at the breakdown site, I would have spent the nite in the trailer. Having a concealed carry permit eases worries of someone trying to rob you on the side of the road like that. Your luck seems to run in a rut of finding the worst possible routes and motels in drug dealer zones. More places were a carry permit would really be nice.
@johnmackey3937 Жыл бұрын
Gun laws vary by state/county, is it worth having "in case"? You might run into legal issues, I've heard/read that often gun owners have the gun used on them.
@mrglip911 Жыл бұрын
Just started watching your channel and adventures. If there was no such thing as bad luck you wouldn’t have any. We experienced a tire blowout and had minor damage. But axle failure wow. When you watch how they make these rvs you will get a good perspective on why this happens
@ClearwaterChad2 жыл бұрын
I have a "Friend" who was robbed in a similar circumstance and my "friend" broke the door that was picked and left wide open because the claim would have been denied.
@rebeccapinion49972 жыл бұрын
Thank goodness you both are ok. Glad that the couple who stopped didn’t hurt either of you. I don’t blame you for stopping full time, we only go for 6 weeks and it was so stressful. Enjoy being young!
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thank you Rebecca! Yes, while it was a horrible experience to have our home violated and our things stolen on top of the breakdown, the most important thing was that we were all safe. Full-timing is not all fun and games. Our time off of the road ended up being temporary as we went back 6 months later but that time, we made sure not to drive more than 5 hours on a drive day, always go through our checklist before leaving and after arriving, making sure we kept track of every maintenance service of the truck and the trailer, etc. This greatly helped reduce problems and we thankfully didn't have any repeats of the same things we went through. Thanks for watching and safe travels!
@JohnJohnson-hl1vi8 ай бұрын
Almost anyone can rv when everything is hunky-dorie! You guys have the" Let's-go!" spirit. Good for you.
@lyfandeth4 ай бұрын
You don't need internet to get GPS co-ordinates. The GPS unit in your phone can be queried all by itself. And if you have a solo GPS in the rig, that's another good reason why.
@adamdraper3335 Жыл бұрын
What a yarn! The 3 vids were worth the watch.
@isabelgomezbassols97922 жыл бұрын
Danny and Barbara you had an amazing life together
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thank you Isa! Love you and hope you are doing better!
@nordberg76312 жыл бұрын
You two are such a delightful couple. My wife and I are quite fond of you. We are so sorry to hear about Roomy.
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Aw! Thank you so much! I appreciate your nice comment and for watching!
@collinsfriend1 Жыл бұрын
You know, it's not just pot growers it's mobile meth labs. There are parts of highway 20 and 29 that your car will be stripped in hours. I think you were probably right about the second couple checking things out. They may have even contemplated an armed robbery. Knowing help was coming was a deterrent. Otherwise, seeing your truck there they would have either moved on, or pretended it was theirs if you too were just pulled over.
@aryedowling2978 Жыл бұрын
Great video. Just an FYI don’t fly drones next to fires. It effects air support for those fires so they can’t do their job. You were pretty far away but that’s still too close in my opinion. Coming from an ex-wildland firefighter
@fvsmith2 жыл бұрын
I hope y’all found a better insurance company! Mistakes learned, not to be repeated.
@egyptianhebrew91 Жыл бұрын
Welcome to my world but my life has been a life of stories and struggle which make life worth living, hope you and barbara stay together forever.
@aeonicone50863 ай бұрын
So here I am surfing the net last night when I found the channel. And all I can say is just wooooooooooooow that's alot and I cannot fault yall at all for choosing to end it. I'm curious was any formal complaint filed against the vet that ignored you Whats going on now a year later? I realize these videos are all years old. But I watched them all
@foxiedogitchypaws71412 жыл бұрын
Fur kids 🦊🐕🐕🛣️🤗🤗🤗 I was going to change my insurance company to progressive, I have changed my mind. You both haven't had time to heal, emotionally, mentally and even money wise. Take time to heal, maybe 5 years down the road you both will be ready to go on adventures again. Come to Alabama and Foxie Dog will show you around🦊🛣️🐕🐕🤗🤗 Thanks 🙏
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Haha sounds good, we loved Alabama! All of this did happen about 2 years ago (I finally got around to make a video about it) so we were definitely able to heal and even did decide to go back full-time 6-7 months later but more videos to follow on that. Thanks Foxie Dog!
@commonsense246 Жыл бұрын
I just cannot believe how much bad luck you guys have had in just 2 years! We have traveled in all the same parks and areas as you and nothing has ever happened in any way. It astounds me! No wonder you bailed...understand completely! I pray that you are nothing but blessed from this day on...God bless you both! And I hope you can pick up your camping some day, but maybe not full time, yeah!?
@chodson652 жыл бұрын
Sorry for your losses. Did the trailer flip with the Hensley. I wanted to show my wife the highlights of your three videos.
@trudieconroy41672 жыл бұрын
Ok I’m so anxious listening to you. You poor kids. You have had such bad luck. And yet you made it through.
@timothymitchell64152 жыл бұрын
Sorry to hear of your bad "luck". Perhaps you are meant to quit it. After 16 years full-timing, I still have a lot to see and people to meet. I too have been close to fires but never evacuated. Never robbed, but a few little things have disappeared. I am older now and not nearly as adventurous. I have had a tire blow out w/o my knowing it until the second tire on the same side blew - in the middle of nowhere CA (hwy 39). I have learned to dry camp between where I left and where I am going. That means a full water tank. I now dry camp for months at a time on BLM lands (two weeks here and two there, repeat). Sometimes I find an abandoned building and park behind it for a few days. I have a loaded 12ga at the door if the coyotes bait my dog away from the RV. The black ice RV wreck this April was my first real problem. That just took time and cost me money. I had time and sucked up the cost. Trust in God and there is nothing that cannot be handled. Arranging priorities with Him as the foremost principle makes life easier by far. The rest of the stuff that happens is just stuff that happens. Look for the reasons why. There are no accidents. An "accident" is a convenient way of not explaining it in depth. lol // Portland. I spent a summer just N or PortL before they lost their collective brain cell. It was very nice. I recently spent five weeks in the LA area and attended Grace Community Church in Sun Valley every Sunday. Great experience. I lived in CA years ago when it was great, but that state is a memory now. Notably, of all the many people in CA with whom I had conversation recently, all were very sad at what was happening to their state. ALL OF 'EM! Their personal stories with dealing with the nut-jobs and nutty laws were sometimes horrific. Some were planning to move out of the state they once loved. They now love the memory of the nearest thing on earth to a paradise. Good luck on your next adventure in a stationary home.
@michelleh2921 Жыл бұрын
Yep, you don't need me to beat you over the head about what others have told you. Which is to do research and know your trailer. I would also like to say Thank you because as Newbies one year in we did learn somethings from your experience. We learned that we need to change the type lock we have on the front door. Also not a good idea to travel long hours especially when you maybe driving mountainous regions. You did get decent insurance and they would have covered your losses had you been able to prove rv was locked. We've all made mistakes it's all part of the journey. So Don't be discouraged, knock off the dust and try again some day. We wish you both the best.
@sararook82242 жыл бұрын
WOW I watched all three videos. You guys went through hell. Let me introduce myself. I'm 65 years old. I've been RVing for 40 years. I mean absolutely no disrespect in my comments to follow. Your first mistake that kind of got the story rolling is improper equipment. In my opinion you started out wrong. I think it should be illegal to tow any trailer over 2k with a half ton truck. Yes I know all the limits bla bla bla... You began your adventure with the tail, (your rv) wagging the dog, (your truck). I know what the specs are etc. Throw all that out the window! You should have purchased a substantial truck that would command a very strong response to the rv. That's not possible with a half ton truck, can't do it. I've never towed with a half ton it's just too dangerous in my experience. I've seen to many rigs such as yours on there side. Y'all should have invested in a ¾ heavy duty truck that would command the trailer and not the other way around. There is just not enough weight or braking power in a half ton. It's simply very seriously dangerous. Yes that truck will pull or stop that trailer on flat ground until it doesn't as you experienced. When in an emergency situations those weights become irrelevant because force and dynamics become extreme forces that dwarf your specs. You literally were in a situation where the trailer was wagging the truck. Not good and not safe. I've pulled multiple trailers with heavy-duty trucks well over a million miles. I've driven many of those same roads as y'all did in my rig without incident. I never tow over 60mph for one thing. I don't care if you're driving a tank and towing an empty 500lb utility trailer. Going over 60mph is just increasing your odds greatly of things going wrong. I have an F250 diesel that has modified suspension and top of the line equalizer hitch with an added sway bar. My truck tells the trailer what to do and not the other way around. I have plenty of braking power and engine power to pull my trailer around with the utmost control. I've pulled my trailers coast to coast and have never experienced an accident of any kind. My present trailer is a 26' Jayco. Can you pull it with a half ton? Absolutely. I'm not doing it. You must be able to absolutely dominate your rig in the most dire of situations. It's only safe. I also will never have anything but 4 wheel drive either. Can't tell how many times it has saved me and I've pulled that trailer into some very far off the beaten path places. If I wouldn't have had a 4x4 heavy-duty truck I would have had problems. Because I had an over capable vehicle I was never in a bind. It's a safety thing. Like I said I can't tell you how many rigs such as yours I've seen in ditches over the years and I just shake my head and hope they learned a lesson and no one was injured, as we pass by. I hope I've not offended you as this is not my intention. I'm just an lady with a lot of real world experience and trying to pass it along. You guy's are a lovely couple and family and I send all my love! Because that's how we should all treat each other. I see many other newbie mistakes in your travels but this is getting long. Like I always tell people, go bigger than you need for safety and trouble free travel. I hope you don't give up the RV life and will come back to the states and try again in the future! Good luck and big hugs from southeast Texas! I enjoyed your videos, take care!
@lrobie123 Жыл бұрын
totally correct
@user-vw3ll9ky2p Жыл бұрын
indeed
@marixaacevedo8498 Жыл бұрын
Sharing your thoughts on the truck and RV, I have a 28’ and have 1 ton truck.
@estherrucci99254 ай бұрын
To sararock: you were very empathetic. NOT!! you were more into showing off how much you know about towing, truck size etc. I don't care if you are 65 or 105 yrs old. They learned some hard lessons and it was sad. Then to lose a beloved dog. Damn woman no heart. I give them a lot of credit to tell their stories and relived everything. And on top of that, tell others to learn from their experience. I felt very sorry for them. Much love to them. You 0 Many blessings to them. I
@rvingtheusa Жыл бұрын
thankfully all my breakdowns have been in convenient areas and mobile service was available. I was lucky in Texas as the mobile service was ending his friday and 2hrs away. I saw a phone number on a wall of a building for TV repair called and the young man was 45 min away. He came and fixed my problem in 30 min. Was to late to travel so stayed in a Walmart parking lot for the night along with several other campers. That was my first Walmart experience. I see so many problems with trailers makes me glad I got a motor home. It's over 20 but does the job. I always have a ck up every 3000 miles to make sure all looks good. I never travel longer then 250 miles a day always with empty tanks. That's enough stress for a vehicle carrying a full load. yes south Idaho and most of Utah is so worth the trip. Love it there to bad winters are so bad or I would stay yr round.
@deee.7952 Жыл бұрын
When you go RVing use Good Sams. They have a Road Side Assistance that includes being able pick up your RV, boat, or what ever you are towing. It's not just for your car or truck. Don't go RVing without it :)
@henrymorgan39822 жыл бұрын
It was not meant to be. Good call. Aloha!
@henryromero67362 жыл бұрын
I believe that most full timers quit with in 3 to 5 year. Full,timing is not for every one.
@josephinecallahan-mccabe4823 Жыл бұрын
OMG..so sad an experience. BTW you have a wonderful voice recording. I was moved, so sad, angry all with you. Then.I hear your next video is about "getting back on road".. REALLY? Have a decent lock, have a gun, forget hitching anything. Love to you both!
@wanderinwhilewecan Жыл бұрын
What a nice compliment! Thank you so much and for watching!
@robertwynkoop68 Жыл бұрын
My roadside plan is to just call someone to get the camper off the road immediately, even if it means getting towed twice. I do not plan to count on any roadside plan, mainly because of stories like this, waiting for hours for a call center.
@sad754yt2 жыл бұрын
If you ever decide to go full time again or even part time you should think about a truck camper and a 3/4 ton truck. Lot less worries .
@wanderinwhilewecan Жыл бұрын
I absolutely agree!
@trustme7731 Жыл бұрын
The delay in getting a tow truck is because insurance companies that have towing coverage will contact 20 towing companies to see who will do it the cheapest. If the cheapest towing company is backed up 6 hours, the insurance company doesn't care. They really don't care about you. I've never seen a hub damaged like this from heat. It may have been defective from the beginning since the other hubs and brakes didn't fail. It didn't fall off because the outer bearing and nut held it on. The hub can't pass over them. Did you check the other hubs for heat when you stopped? If you didn't, you should have. In fact, when doing a lot of up and down driving you should stop and check their temperature often and every time you stop for any reason, such as getting gas. Check the truck too. Each brake hub should be the same temp. although on the truck, the front might be warmer. If not, somethings wrong. It could be that that brake was adjusted tighter than the others causing it to do more work than the others. Checking each wheel for brake adjustment needs to be a regular thing. Just jack up each wheel and spin it by hand. It should spin freely with a slight drag that you will hear. Have her apply the brake while you spin the wheel to see that the brake engages. Learn how to adjust them yourself. When you are driving while you are braking check the trailer for any sway or pull. A clear indication that something is wrong. When safe to do so, apply the brakes hard and see the reaction. Did each tire skid? When stopped at a light that's on a slight incline, put the truck in neutral and release the brakes to see if it rolls freely indicating that the trailer AND the truck brakes are fulling releasing and not dragging. Something that causes excessive heat. Keep in mind that a COMPLETE flushing of hydraulic brake systems is a regular maintenance thing and should certainly be done at every brake job. The fluid should be clear.
@sheilabaggarley421 Жыл бұрын
So very sorry you had such a horrible time in your trip. Be safe
@michaelpetty84162 жыл бұрын
I’m glad you guys are ok. The stuff, while expensive, can be replaced. Something I noticed after watching your accident video. Your 1/2 ton Dodge, while rated to tow the weight of your trailer, is NOT rated to tow an RV of that size. Anything over 6000 lbs and/or 25 ft (ball to bumper) should use a 3/4 ton or above. Tow ratings on trucks today are deceiving at best. Truck and RV dealers know nothing. Just making the sale. I encourage you guys to get back out there. Life is short. Continue to build those lasting memories.
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Michael! Not sure if you watched the video in between this one and the accident but in it we discuss the upgrades we made for the bigger trailer. When it came to our numbers with the bigger trailer we were within them although to be safe we added air bags, TPMS, upgraded equalizer, brass bushings and a Hensley Hitch. Not sure what you mean when you say that it is not rated to tow our new trailer although like I said we were within all of our numbers. If you mean we would be better off with a 3/4 ton truck, I 100% agree. No doubt that it would be a safer, sturdier and better ride but spending A LOT extra money on that wasn't an option and so we opted for upgrades which did absolutely make a big difference. Anyway, the events from this video happened almost 2 years ago and in the meantime, we got back on the road for another 7 months with zero problems and have since left the country (no longer RVing). Thank you for watching and safe travels to you as well!
@janetjacobsen11382 жыл бұрын
Wow June 17 2022 Sorry you are done You had bad luck New enjoyment is coming your way Enjoy your sticks and bricks We only go camping Now you can go camping Totally different God Bless you both 😊
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your comment Janet!
@knucklesandwich8786 Жыл бұрын
just looking at the photos, it appears there was no anti sway hitch being used to prevent the rollover. User error. But for the bearing failing, which led to the breakin, i would continue. It was a burglary, not a robbery.
@deannaselle78152 жыл бұрын
Ever consider a van??? Might have been a simplier way to travel. Bless you guys.
@sherylyeadon3155 Жыл бұрын
Yes 💕
@StacyAnneH3 ай бұрын
So when you really needed them, Flo and Jamie weren't around. What I've seen with roadside assistance is that most companies make you pay then they will reimburse you. AAA is about the only one that has the contracts so that you don't pay out of pocket.
@monicalifornia_2 жыл бұрын
Oh man. What a story. Glad it’s all in your rear view mirror.
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much! This was about 2 years ago and after about 6 months we did go back to full-timing which MUCH different results. Stay tuned and thank you for watching!
@robertnasser99372 жыл бұрын
California says it all, sorry for your loss
@pokernews916 Жыл бұрын
Wow what a story! Great videos. Hope you do more. Just bought our first TT. 27 footer. Had a question. Your last trailer was purchased used from the couple that didn't show up when you picked it up. Strange. But how old was it? I'm just curious in terms of life on tires and last time hubs were serviced and packed if ever. Yes 10 hours is a long drive but if I ever want to do a coast to coast I would hope it's possible to drive all day without overheating. Lastly, what brand tires? I bought a trailer that comes with very top of the line expensive tires. When I replace them it will be with equal or better. I've heard horror stories using off brands. So just curious if you don't mind sharing the make and model of the tire that blew. Was it the same spot where the hub broke?
@Theo88638 ай бұрын
Did you repack the wheel bearing and check the tires when you first got your replacement camper? I just got a toy hauler and plan to check all that. Replacing tires to new American made.
@usmcmsgt5487Ай бұрын
I didn’t think anyone could have it worse than me, but you guys over the last few videos I’ve seen has a pretty bad…… me I’m taking care of my mother who has Alzheimer’s and dementia. The worst that you can have she doesn’t change she can walk around, but she broke her hip when she fell and I have to deal with changing her diapers because she used to be able to use the bathroom like a normal adult but lately she’s just been pooping and peeing in the diapers so every time I have to give her a shower right afterwards. What makes it worse than that when she does it three times a day it drives me crazy and it is so gross. And she doesn’t sleep through the night and she will walk around where her husband is, which is my dad who passed away two years ago. I have to lock the doors to make sure she doesn’t get out and walk on her own so my life has been a living hell 24/7 since the beginning of 2021 ….. so me having a life is nonexistent. I don’t date I don’t go out. I can’t do much and if I do leave without my mom, it’s just in the front yard so she can see me through the window. I really don’t have any help and it’s sad to say this, but when my mom dies, I will be celebrating…. Pretty much at this point in time anyway I’m taking care of a stranger. She doesn’t really know who I am and that’s not the same mom I grew up with. But she’s the vessel that my mom used to be so I’m doing my best and trust me. No one wants to date a guy that lives with his mom even though I’m taking care of her.
@397coney7 Жыл бұрын
Anything that can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time🤷♂️. I would have stopped RVing too and locked myself in a closet😂. Seriously, seems like some this could have been avoided. I wont pick it apart, but when RVing, you need to cross all T’s and dot all 👀’s. Get the the best tires, tire monitors, anti-sway and weight distribution. Alarm, cameras and better locks for trailer. They are SUPER easy to break into. I would have had the trailer towed somewhere else. Not towable? I would have slept in it. Ill leave it at that. Lifes lessons learned. Sorry about doggo. They are family😢.
@wanderinwhilewecan Жыл бұрын
Thank you for your comment and for watching!
@craigkim5995 Жыл бұрын
Did you lock the deadbolt on the door? The handle lock is the 'generic' key but the deadbolt lock is not. Sorry to hear about your misfortune but if you RV long enough you'll experience all these things.
@adriandelcastillo1263 Жыл бұрын
Is a real sad story and really hope you forget these bad days. I honestly think, when you travel is never a good idea to put in that many hours at once. Travel trailers I do not think they're made to have those axels running for that long and even if they are rated to be ok, they are not..... Have a travel trailer and a boat trailer and there's always something, so I try not to exced more than 4 hours on the road also due to that the tires made for them will blowout within 6-8 hours. Hope We all have a good time instead of a nightmare as I mentioned it has happened to our trailers too. God Bless.
@Gmaillorraine2 жыл бұрын
Full time is not s doable in mt opinion unless you have allot of money for unknowns.. We haven't got our camper yet but I'm glad we picked a 4 wheel truck camper set up that sits in the back of our truck. Well also be self sufficient without the need for camp site hook ups. I'm also going to do trips at first that is not too far from home. Well also keep good insurance. This video helps me as I know tons less than you so we are truly beginner's. I also won't ever give up my home base.
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Hi Lorraine, I do think it is possible but you really have to stay on top of your maintenance, be incredibly cautious especially when towing. The things that happened in this video and the previous 2, were all due to a lack of experience despite countless hours researching "best practices", etc. online. There really is no replacement for real world experience. I've absolutely considered a truck camper due to the convenience so sounds like you have a good set up and plan to do things close to home and for shorter time periods. I am glad you found the video helpful and feel free to ask any other questions. Safe travels!
@delinquense3 ай бұрын
Yes, the story about the young couple who spoke with you sounds a bit strange. Quite a bit. I think your spider senses were kicking in. Fewer things in life upset me more than having my stuff stolen. As you know, it's not so much about losing the stuff as it is the thought that someone would do this.. Plus the whole process of replacing your stuff which you may have personalized.
@TAGDIESEL11 ай бұрын
Rough time. Was the blow out tire the same one that had the bearing issue ?
@drcoolit Жыл бұрын
Shakespeare would have had a field day with your "battalions" of troubles! given the circumstances of your escapades I think you both handled things EXTREMELY well! you kept your wits about you, and despite what you may have thought about the efficacy of some of your actions I think you were very methodical and rational. even in retrospect I'm not sure there would have been a workaround for some of your issues. if ever the phrase "s**t happens" could be applied to a series of events, surely yours would qualify. or maybe just -- "when it rains -- it pours". sometimes experiences like this do as much to test us in some way as they might be seen as just coming across as "life events". if so, I would say you guys did OK!
@bethavery30322 жыл бұрын
Soo sorry for your beautifyldog roomie passig away God bless you all
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much Beth!
@jamesrolly23922 жыл бұрын
Sorry you had these difficulties and fully understand your decisions to stop the RV life. The area you where traveling is plagued by a new and relatively unknown at the time infection in the soil by in inhaling fungal spores called Valley Fever. Roomie may have been an early victim. The University of Arizona Health Sciences is conducting a study. Also technically you where not robbed. A robbery is the use or threat of force to a person it was a burglary and/or larceny. Keep up the videos we enjoyed them.
@lauravictorious4670 Жыл бұрын
Not everyone knows the difference between robbery and burglary. Ditto for jail and prison. Jail is 364 days sentence, prison is one day or more over a year.
@timsteinkamp22452 жыл бұрын
I think you know that no lock is secure. All they do is slow a person down. I had my box of extra checks stolen from my rig while in Hawaii and another time also had people move into my motorhome while I was south on vacation. I had my home broke into five times before I figured it was my neighbor. What do you do? You did say you had removed everything of value that morning. At least they didn't torch the trailer. I have nothing of value for the hassle of recording all the items and making a police report so I just moved on. Instead of treating life as an adventure you were expecting bliss. You know every time I went to the Oregon Coast it would rain and I thought I was unlucky too. See you in the future.
@brucegordon35662 жыл бұрын
Sorry Should have stopped in Klamath falls and spend a few days here Problems are stories some good some not so Life is good
@Auxbeam Жыл бұрын
Hi Do you need some great lighting for your car to help you better driving, off-road? We're the pro auto lighting manufacturer for nearly 20 year and we're looking for sponsorship!
@wanderinwhilewecan Жыл бұрын
Hello! Not anymore as my wife and I moved out of the country but thank you for reaching out!
@Auxbeam Жыл бұрын
@@wanderinwhilewecan No worry. Will you guys still doing outdoor and travel videos with your car:)
@FFL-vg9ro11 ай бұрын
Failure to know your route. Failure to regularly check your tire pressure and temperature. Failure to regularly check your hub temperatures - you just put your hand on each hub every couple hours - they don’t just fail instantaneously - they give you plenty of warning - if one hub is warmer than the others - you know you have an issue brewing - if you just pay attention. Good that you got off the road. You were inexperienced, winging it, and were grossly unprepared for what you were trying to do. Thousands of old people are able to manage life on the road, relying on their life-experiences to not get into the jams you put yourselves into, through your own lack of knowledge, planning, and inexperience. Every one of your disasters on the road, were predictable and preventable.
@StacyAnneH3 ай бұрын
All those photos of Turkey, but no stuffing
@deborahparker60422 жыл бұрын
This happened to me and my boyfriend with State Farm. We had to do the leg running and call other areas we sit on the side of the road for at least four hours and we just had a valve stem that went bad in the tire and tire was going flat. These call centers try to find places that are cheap to come out and do the roadside service. When we found a major roadside service that could do it the man told us that they call these cheaper places to come do the roadside service. We had to keep calling back to State Farm which is a call center and they said it would be the next day and we’re stuck on the side of a busy main highway.
@deborahparker60422 жыл бұрын
We had to get finally irritated demanded that we have somebody that will come out and do the roadside service if you will just call them and give them the information to come out that they would come do it. We insisted and push but like I said we are on side of the road for over four hours and then I forget how long it took to fix it not that long. So I think it’s all these insurance companies tries to find the cheapest roadside service before they’ll send somebody out.
@wanderinwhilewecan2 жыл бұрын
Yup you are absolutely correct and the horrible part is that typically a roadside assistance issue is an emergency or requires an immediate response which they absolutely know. That is why I definitely recommend using something like AAA. Thanks for watching!
@foxiedogitchypaws71412 жыл бұрын
@@wanderinwhilewecan why do you say AAA? Can you explain? Thank you! I use a different one not progressive or state farm mentioned in the other comment. I wish insurance companies would be honest. Cameras would have been a good idea to notify you when they broke in.
@sposatz Жыл бұрын
You guys are in Turkey now? Are you ok? Have you been affected by the earthquakes? Hope you’re well ❤
@wyatterpp2206 Жыл бұрын
Your number 1 bad decision was visiting 3 west coast states it’s sad for the people who have not seen west coast but it is what it is now
@reubenj.cogburn85469 ай бұрын
Be thankful that you didn't injure or kill anybody on the road by way of your incompetence