Below, you’ll find the various products, services, subscriptions and other resources that we use on a regular basis. (For now, none of these links are affiliate links but that could change…)
Subscriptions & Memberships
Coach-Net (emergency road service):
Harvest Hosts (overnight stays):
KoA Rewards
RV Navigation
Google Maps (app): You just can’t beat “Maps” for navigation on a smartphone. There are no “bugs” or usability issues and updates to traffic conditions are fast. There are two big downsides, however. First, the directions are not necessarily “RV friendly.” On a recent trip, Maps took us down a road that included a bridge for which The Cup was way over the weight limit. Second, Maps is very insistent that you take Google’s “eco-friendly” route. You may have different plans, but Google will change your route without notice.
Waze makes navigation a little more fun as you’ll be able to see other “Wazers” on the map. Waze was acquired by Google in 2013 and the services share some data. Waze routes are occasionally different from what Maps suggests but it’s still not RV friendly.
RV LIFE Trip Wizard (online, app): We use RV LIFE Trip Wizard for trip planning, but now their app provides “RV friendly” navigation. It works well, although on a recent trip the app had us leave the interstate one exit early and travel five miles out of the way, supposedly to avoid a dirt road. The app took us on a dirt road when the RV park was just off the next exit, on a paved road.
Route 66 Navigation (app): We are looking forward to using this KYD-recommended app on our Route 66 trip.
Sygic Truck (app): This one’s not very intuitive. We bought it but it hasn’t seen much use yet.
Other Stuff
Internet & Wifi: You will find a full description of our connectivity system here.
12 Volts, 120 Volts, & Solar: How we power The Cup. Info on our new 2,700-watt solar system is here.
Tires: BFGoodrich Commercial T/A All Season 2, LT235/85R16E. Purchased from and installed locally by University Tire, Loganville GA. Approximately $1,700. We decided on the tire based on reviews, RV forums, etc. Rather than buy the tires online or through a membership, we chose to build a relationship with a local vendor for tires, installation, and service. We worked with Crystal (csands[@]utireautomotive.com).
Apps We Use
CAT Scale / Weigh My Truck
iExit
Love’s Connect
Recreation.gov
Route 66
RV LIFE
Also installed: KOA, Opensignal, ParkAdvisor, Pilot Flying J myRewards, Roadtrippers, Sygic Truck, The Dyrt, Togo RV, UC Public CG
Online Resources
RVillage – Large online RV community site. Think “Facebook for RVers.” It’s a great way to share your adventures, and RVers can be a good info resource in a pinch. Also check out the iRV2.com forums, a service of RVLIFE.
Keep Your Daydream – Marc and Trish Leach have not only built an incredible online resource for RVers but their weekly Youtube videos will inspire you to end the wishful thinking and over-planning and start your travel adventure now.
RVLIFE’s Trip Wizard and Togo RV’s Roadtrippers are both really good trip planners. We use Trip Wizard almost exclusively because RVLIFE’s companion GPS navigation app is much better than Togo RV’s offering.
For campground reviews (essential for trip planning), we use both Togo’s Campendium and RVLIFE’s Campground Reviews but tend to favor the latter. We use Campground Reviews to publish our own reviews as well.