The world of RVing is always evolving, and these days it’s all about how technology brings connectivity and opportunities for more freedom to the RV lifestyle. Here at Guaranty, we’re seeing RV manufacturers building new technology into their RV floorplans—everything from Bluetooth, to solar, to LED, to advanced GPS. Not only is this opening the RV lifestyle to a new tech savvy generation, it’s allowing full time RVers to stay connected to their families and friends in a new way. And, ironically, technology is also making it possible to get further off the grid and deeper into nature, away from the modern world.
Whether you’re looking for more connection, or a simpler RVing experience, we’ve got some high tech ideas and resources to help you. In this two-part blog, we’re going to look at technology that is particularly good for RVers, and we’re going to introduce you to some full time RVers who can help you determine what you need in order to have exactly the RV lifestyle you want. This week we’re going to begin with Internet connectivity on the road, and next week we’re going to take a look at solar options, composting toilets, and other cool RV lifestyle technology.
Figuring Out What You Need: Think About How Connected You Want to Be
If your goal is to have as much Internet connectivity as possible in any given circumstance, there are now tools and gadgets to help you pull in every bit of Wi-Fi you can, including RV specific routers, nanostations, wideband cellular antennas, cellular boosters, mobile hotspots and more. If, on the other hand, your goal is to get further away from the modern world and you’re okay with driving into town to get Internet service, then you may want to invest your time and resources into new technology that increases your RV’s livability instead, like RV solar panels, composting toilets, water distillers, etc. Or maybe you’re looking for some combination of it all so you have options. All these things are possible.
When you have a good sense of the end goal, you can start to create a plan and research your options for making your dream a reality. In terms of connectivity, be sure to look at WiFi Ranger products, which create WiFi solutions specifically for RVs and boats.
As you make plans, you can also create your budget. This way you can complete the necessary steps over however long you need without breaking the bank. New technology is exciting, but it can also be expensive, so don’t waste your money on things you’re not sure about. If you have any questions about a product or how well it will meet your RVing technology needs, you can always give our RV Service Department a call.
Ask the Experts: Find Out What the Fulltime RVers Are Doing
There’s no point in reinventing the wheel when other RVers have already done the legwork for you. If you’re not sure what you need or what your options are, there are a number of RVers online who can help you determine the right steps to get what you want and stay in your budget.
For instance, Cherie Ve Ard & Chris Dunphy at Technomadia.com should be a go-to when it comes to mobile Internet information for RVers. They travel and work in a “geeked out” 1961 vintage bus conversion from which they run their RV Mobile Internet Resource Center and provide RVers with all the information you could possibly need on getting and maintaining the level of mobile internet you want, including an online illustrated tour of their own ever changing mobile internet setup. As well as being mobile internet experts, they blog about their travels, their bus conversion, RVing resources and other awesome information that you might love. They say that there is currently no one single technology for mobile Internet connectivity that works in every situation or for every RVer. According to this tech-happy duo, “The most fundamental key to successfully staying online while on the road is having multiple pipelines ready to be tried at each location.” Fortunately, they’re ready to help you figure out what your solution is. If you’re new to mobile Internet, start with the overview at the RV Mobile Internet Resource Center. From there, book a private Internet advising session, during which they’ll help you assess your mobile internet needs and design the best setup that works with your lifestyle and budget. Alternatively, check out their book The Mobile Internet Handbook: 2016 U.S. Rvers Edition.
Also take a look at TheRVGeeks.com—Where RVers Turn To Learn for RV maintenance, repair & travel tips, as well as topics like DIY upgrading to LED lighting, info on Wi-Fi Ranger systems, RV roof antennae installation, using drones to help document your RVing adventures, and more. Primarily this is a how-to blog by a couple of guys who travel in a 2005 43’ Newmar Mountain Aire diesel pusher and perform most of their own minor service, repairs and upgrades. For hands on, do-it-yourself enthusiasts, there are a lot of gems here.
If you need assistance with learning the basics of how to manage some of the technology you already have or are considering, visit Jim and Chris Guld over at Geeks on Tour. They do technology training for RVers and their tutorial videos are a good place to learn the basics about the software and hardware you might need as you travel. You can get good training on how to manage your digital photos with Picasa, how to make travel videos and blogs, how to use your smartphone for researching destinations and navigation, etc. Visit them on Facebook and check out their tutorial videos on YouTube. If you become a member of their site, they’ll also be glad to help you with computer questions from the road, and the Gulds give private lessons if you need more focused learning. You can schedule a session with them if they happen to be in your area, or they’re happy to schedule a remote session with you via their Contact page.
With the help of RVing technology experts, you can bring on board exactly the technology you need to create the lifestyle you want. Next week we’re going to look at some of the biggest technology game changers when it comes to RVing, including solar for RVs, composting toilets, Rving apps, and more. If you have any questions, or if you’d like to see some of the cutting edge technology going into today’s RVs, give us a call or come on by Guaranty RV in Junction City.
For more information check out part 2 of our blog.
Photo: Bo Gordy-Stith
