05/21/2018
My Electric Bike and Trailer
May 21, 2018
Living full time in a class A motorhome means there are many places you want or need to go that you can't get your rig into, or even park near.
You can drag a towed car or motorcycle, but this will require tag and insurance.
I decided on a electric bike because of cost, and they are fun. The first one I bought was a custom built Beiou carbon fiber with a 1200 watt motor and 56 volt Dauphin battery. Everything on it was top notch, rust resistant and it would go 34 mph and climb steep hills with no peddling. I paid the builder $1,750 and added a trailer and replaced the carbon fiber seat for a more comfortable one, so I had about $2,000 in a bike/trailer that I thought would last me a lifetime.
It was stolen the 14th of August 2017 at the Dunes RV Resort in Copalis Beach WA. along with my trailer. I had a heavy duty cable lock, that was easily cut off.
I waited around a week to see if the police could recover it, then decided I did not want to continue my cross country trip with out getting another. I did not want to put as much money in the next one I and searching YouTube, I chose the Ancheer 26" Bike with a 36 volt battery and 250 watt motor. I ordered it and another trailer from Amazon.
It worked well enough to climb the hills of San Francisco, pulls me and the trailer 17 mph and has proved safe and reliable. And as with my first bike I charge it off my solar panels.
Al Gore would be so proud of me living green, while he flies over in his private jet.
On Oct 6, 2016 while boondocking at a Walmart off the 101 in California, I woke up to discover the bike had been stolen of the back of my coach. Again I had a heavy cable combination lock that had been cut.
I called the Police, "I was getting tired of this" and shortly later a officer arrived to take a report. He asked me what brand of bike it was and when I told him, he says," We have your bike. We caught the guy who stole it". He used a knife to rob a convenience store and then another. I could not believe my good luck.
I had to go down to the station, prove I owned it, and load it up and went back to the Walmart where I replaced the handlebar bag "gone" and bought two locks. Another heavy cable combination, and a Kryptonite steel bar lock, and spent another night at the Walmart.
A shame you have to double lock your stuff.
Available at www.trailbumsupply.com
05/13/2018
Getting A Driving License While Being A Nomad.
May 3, 2018
As my Florida Driver License was about to expire, I returned to my former city of St Petersburg FL to spend the winter months. My license was good till June 1 and I thought that there would be no problems and arriving in mid November, I was in no hurry to renew. RV parking in Pinellas County is expensive and boondocking is almost nonexistent. I had to come in order to pick up some items left at a friends place.
I had a thought that I might be able to park my rig in a storage lot. My rig is self contained with solar panels, so no need for generator noise. I found a lot behind a motel that had WiFi and worked a deal for $200 a month. Just a grass lot, but on a bus route, and close to stores and close to where I had lived.
My electric bike and trailer took care of all my travel needs, and I settled in to enjoy the weather.
The WiFi from the motel was weak, even though I have a booster in my rig. It was good enough for me to search about for a great solution I bought a Verizon Jetpack 3G with 2 months prepaid unlmited service for about $90. I have renewed it for $10 per month. It works great, everywhere I have been. I am streaming live Fox News while I am posting this blog, and it's what I have used to create this website.
The bike and trailer, and the solar panels I use are listed on this site. Contact me for info and a link for the Jetpack.
Having lived at the same address for 40 years, I never thought it would be a problem. But in March I called to get a appointment I was told the things I would need to bring. My Driver License, my Birth Certificate, my Social Security card, and a recent power bill for my address.
Now I had my license, but no Berth Certificate, so I went to the State website and through their approved third party, online filed and got a certified copy for $30 and it took 10 days. I had my Social Security card, but I had not been there for years. I did have mail addressed to that address forwarded to my PO Box.
So my options were to ask a friend or relative to say I rented from them, or rent a lot or apartment for I don't know how long FL requires. Asking people for favors is something I don't like doing so I searched about, and found that there were mailbox services in states that gave you paperwork that states that your home base is there, and your mail is forwarded to you.
The largest is Americas Mailbox http://www.americas-mailbox.com/home/plans
Their minimum package is $275 And they only do South Dakota. And a lot of advantages there.
At the end of my quest I found, https://www.escapees.com/ that has the same service, cheaper and in Florida. My tag was still good till 06/18 and my insurance was paid up till 04/18 so not having to drive to South Dakota, Texas or Nevada, and change everything made sense.
Joining the club was $40 and the mailbox, deposit and yearly fee was $199.00.
After filling out and notarizing, the paperwork then mailing it back they contacted me for my credit card info, after that within a hour they emailed me the paperwork needed.
Their FL operation is located in Bushnell FL. that is in Sumter County. They are also in other states.
I decided to go to their site in Bushnell, because the wait time in Pinellas is very long, and I knew that they would be familiar with the paperwork.
I have to admit it was so nice and easy. I went to Sumter Oaks RV Park 4602 County Rd 673 Bushnell, FL 33513 and the VERY NICE people who own the very nice park, were very helpful.
I arrived about 1.30 pm and still needed to print out the paperwork, and fill it out, and they told me the library was the only place around, so I went there and there was enough room to park my rig, and 15 min later it was done.
I then went to the driver license office, parked my rig in the parking lot "could never have done that in Pinellas" and within 20 min walked out of there with my license $66 and went to the local Walmart "RV Friendly" and scoped it out.
They told me that I could boondock there for free, but I returned because they were selling propane for $2.80 per gal, and that is cheap. In their listing on Escapees said they only charged $5, but they raised it to $8. I did not care, something that I had worried over for weeks was over.
It was the nicest dry camp spot I have ever stayed at. I almost wanted to die there. The next morning I went down to fill up the propane and as I was paying for it, I wanted to pay for the dump fee " listed as $10 on website" and be directed where to go. I was told the dump fee was included, and directed to a vacant RV site to dump and fill up water tanks. WHAT A DEAL!
www.escapees.com/sumteroaks
05/13/2018
Urban Boondocking
May 9, 2018
Urban Boondocking is something akin to dry camping where you pay a small fee to a property owner to park overnight without hookup to water, sewer or power except with boondocking, you don't pay.
In rural areas it can be just as hard to find places to park as urban cities. A lot of areas have no overnight parking ordinances sponsored by that areas Hotel and Restaurant Association, that see little/no benefit from RVers being in their area. They don't have signs announcing this as you enter a area, but it is a fair bet that most tourist dependent areas have them. It is no fun to have officer friendly beat on your door at 3 in the morning to tell you about it.
.For the last 3 years I have been a member of www.overnightrvparking.com and traveled across the country using this service. The subscription cost is $24.99 per year and if you answer "referred" to how you heard about them, and give my name John Anderson and the email address that I used signing up. [email protected], you get a free month added to your membership, and I get one to. It's a win/win.
There are free sites that list places, and I use them to, but they list places that from local knowledge of Saint Petersburg FL. and other cities, that I know you wouldn't get away with. But they do list some possibilities not covered in my subscribed site.
Now I am mostly a Urban Boondocker because I am in a 34 foot class A motorhome and a lot of places that Rural Boondockers can. use in a van, class B or truck camper at BLM land or county parks are rough and to narrow for two rigs to pass, and no places to turn around, along with tree branches under the 12 foot 6 inch height that I need to keep them from raking my roof and damaging it, and/or my solar panels, and vent covers..
I like urban boondocking because of easy access, paved roads, conveniences and WiFi and cellular services. And most have a sample of the beauty of the area/region. But you have more law enforcement, and chairmen of a comminity representing the community
Rules of Boondocking beyond the oblivious of not parking in areas posted.NO PARKING.
1 Have a valid Drivers License.
2 Have a valid License Plate.
3 Have a currant Insurance Policy
4 When you chose a site, it is a good idea to pick up trash around the outside, because you do not want to be blamed for it, or accused of depositing it.
5 Keep your dog on a leash and pick up # 2 if in areas, that are likely to be stepped in
6 Keep quite, no loud music. Do not draw attention to yourself or disturb others and do not run generators after 9 pm, or extend your slides and fire up the barbecue.
7 DO NO HARM.
I have stayed in spots for weeks without incident and save them for my own use. You can find yours also.
Overnight RV Parking
05/11/2018
Solar Panels and Power Systems for RVs
May 10, 2018
The first 2 years I was living in my RV, I was using my house batteries "New" and a inverter for power. When I would unplug from shore power the batteries would be fully charged and would last about 3 days normal usage before I had to plug in the generator and throw in a charge.
My RV has a 6500 KW propane generator that is rather expensive to operate. And the batteries need many hours to recharge "10 to 14 hr" because .the battery charger on the rig is low amp and that is the system built in to my RV.
I bought a small generator from Harbor Freight for under $100 that would run about 5 hours on a gallon of gas mixed with 2 cycle oil that I mix in a 5 gal gas container putting 3 gallon of the highest grade gas and 2 cycle oil that would cost me about 8 or 9 dollars depending on where I was. While I was running the generator I was able to run my computer, TV and a fan, plus charge my rechargeable devices.
The rub was that I was discharging my batteries to the point my inverter would sound the alarm that there was not enough power to continue, and then I would get the generator out and run it for a gallon's worth of power that would last a few days,
Finally on the return trip to Florida they puked, and having bought them at Walmart with a two year free replacement, I went into a Georgia Walmart and changed them out. The lady at the auto counter was not to happy to see me drag them in a cart. Always keep your receipts. When I arrived back in St Pete I hooked up to power and before I started my cross country trip in April, I had two solar panels and a controller installed by a professional. Total cost about $500.
I thought it would cut down the amount of generator use, but to my surprise I did not have to run my generator till mid December, and did not need to after mid January. I think that I am at the break even point for the investment. And the fact that my batteries will last longer, by not being drained, and that I don't have to unload and reload the generator makes the choice a easy one.
These are the items on my RV. Available at www.tralbumsupply.com
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www.tralbumsupply.com
