We have yet to find a good reason for why this seems to be true, it seems to be one of the industry’s great mysteries. While we can’t solve that problem today, we think we may have found a small slice of how to fix part of the problem. Replacing those terrible plastic RV faucets!

We all know there are some amazing residential plumbing fixture companies out there that make some very durable and high end stuff. We installed a Moen Motionsense Kitchen Faucet in our rig a little over a year ago and it has been flawless and shows zero signs of wear after 12+ months even though we regularly subject it to terribly hard water. Thats great, but that faucet was over $350.00 which is not worth the expense to the average RV’er (in our opinion).

Amazon is flooded with Chinese made alternatives and we’ve tried a few but the vast majority were either poorly made internally or had issues with the finish over time making them not worth the trouble.  Don’t take our word for it, just look at the reviews closely and you’ll see what we are talking out.

Enter AOSGYA, a company founded in 2015 but with a factory that has over 40 years of plumbing specific, manufacturing experience. We don’t know this for sure, but after examining their products closely, we are fairly certain the company either currently or previously manufactured components for other top brands including Delta Faucets. Now before you read too much further, be careful as AOSGYA also makes cheaper plastic component faucets so stick to the stuff that is $75-$120 if you want the quality of what we discuss in the video. Ok enough disclaimers, let’s talk about AOSGYA.

AOSGYA claims to have taken that 40+ years of industry experience and expertise and launched a line of consumer direct products that are substantially higher in quality than the majority of their Chinese made counterparts. From the limited amount of products we’ve tested, they do in fact seem to make some very good kitchen & bathroom faucets available on Amazon with free Prime shipping for between $65-$130.

Not only are they extremely well made for the price point, they are CUPC Certified and Certified Lead Free. Not bad for the price point and better quality than anything we’ve seen so far in this price point.

If you are looking for the best, stick with Moen, Kohler and others carried by specialty plumbing supplies stores. If you are looking for a good quality, aggressively priced alternative to the plastic components made for the RV industry, we think this is a great option at an excellent value.

Where to Purchase?

AOSGYA kitchen and bathroom faucets are available for purchase on Amazon. The majority of the kitchen faucets available include free Amazon Prime shipping for Prime members and also have discount codes for an additional 5-15% off depending on the model at the time of this post (early 2019). Links for some of their popular models are available below or you can browse their amazon home page here.

Click on the images above for direct amazon links.

What do you think?

What are your thoughts? Would you rather spend a few dollars more and go with a name brand faucet from Moen, Kohler, Delta or another brand? Are you happy with your RV faucets as is and don’t think its much of a big deal in the first place? We would to hear from you in the comment section below.

The post Ditch That Plastic RV Faucet For Under $99? appeared first on LivinLite.net.

Exhaust tips come in a variety of materials but chrome and stainless steal are common. Chrome has the ability to be easily polished, is inexpensive and produces a mirror shine when properly maintained. Stainless steel doesn’t produce quite the shine, but unless your rocking a chromed out Harley it is pretty hard to tell the difference. Stainless steel is for the most part.. stainless!! Meaning it does a much better job resisting rust and other corrosion which makes it worth the extra money in our opinion. In this video we replace our chrome exhaust tip with a stainless steel model that is much more resistant to corrosion and rust!

Onan Generator Exhaust Replacement Tip

Amazon Links Below!

• Exhaust Tip: https://amzn.to/2q9TPgt
• 2″ to 2.5″ stainless exhaust adapter: https://amzn.to/2qa4pEf
• Generator Exhaust Tip Option (Cummins Generators):  https://amzn.to/2Sgje4S
• Anti-Seize Lubricant: https://amzn.to/2qaqpPm
• Ridgid Jobmax Cordless Tool: https://amzn.to/2D307GV
• Ridgid Jobmax Corded Tool: https://amzn.to/2D5tGYL
• Ridgid Jobmax Complete Head Kit (individual tools can be purchased at home depot): https://amzn.to/2SgsTbt

The post Aqua-hot Exhaust Upgrade – Stainless! appeared first on LivinLite.net.

In this video we remove the shoddy work and install a surface mount waterproof PVC conduit box that will not only be much more reliable and weatherproof but also a place where we can run additional wires to the inside of our coach should we need to in the future. This method can be used to run wires for solar, ethernet, cable tv, satellite and just about anything else you can think of!

Materials List

• 4″x4″x2″ Weatherproof Junction Box – Amazon: https://amzn.to/2zscLw6 or Home Depot Link: Here
• Titanium Step Bit Set – Amazon: https://amzn.to/2zr1xIh
• Cat 5e QuickPort Terminations – Amazon: https://amzn.to/2xQ8PDq
• 18″ Wire-Pull Drill Bit for Drilling Roof – Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QWlXQ7
• Cable Gland Assortment – Amazon: https://amzn.to/2zr1Rqt
• EternaClean RV Roof Solvent/Cleaner – Amazon: https://amzn.to/2xFfh0R
• Dicor Roof Sealant – Amazon: (4pack white: https://amzn.to/2zs2YGs) (single white: https://amzn.to/2xNyInD)
• Super Flex Self Leveling Sealant Black – Camping World Link
• Cat5e/Cat6 Termination Ends – Amazon: https://amzn.to/2zrJdyL
• Dielectric Grease – Amazon: https://amzn.to/2zqXpbd – Home Depot Pump

Tools List

• Excellent Roof Putty Knife – Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/2N1esEj
• Ethernet Termination Tool: Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/2DrQ92V

Interested in learning how to terminate ethernet cable?

Checkout this video on how to do it!

The post RV Roof Drilling & Wiring – Tips For Leak Free Success appeared first on LivinLite.net.

It’s been nearly 3 years since we cut ties with the stick & brick lifestyle and started living on the road. We’ve learned a lot in those three years, and our setup has evolved quite a bit over that time to ensure we stay connected for work and play. Mobile internet & staying connected on the road is essential for us. Whether it’s posting the blog post you are reading right now or making sure we can do our day jobs, we need to be connected at all times to maintain our mobile lifestyle.

To help folks decide what solution is best for them we’ve put together the following article which goes into the 3 main components we feel are most important for staying connected. We will then go into detail on what options are available for each component depending on what features are important to you, and what your budget is.

Mobile Internet & Staying Connected – Summary of Our Setup

There are 3 key components to our mobile internet setup. They work together to ensure we remain connected in 99% of the locations we visit. The 3 components are listed below along with a detailed summary of what each item is used for.

1. Unlimited Data Plans – Since we use our setup for work and for streaming media (play) we consume quite a bit of data. We have unlimited data plans with Verizon and AT&T, two of the nations best carriers from a speed and coverage perspective. More on that below and if you are interested in getting your hands on an unlimited data plan yourself, click here to learn more.
2. Mobile Router (Livinlite Store Link) – An electronic device similar to a home router, but it uses wireless connections such as campground wifi or cellular connections (or a combination of both) to connect your devices to the internet. We will get into that more below as well.
3. Cellular Booster (Livinlite Store Link)- Cell boosters improve the cellular signal on your device by boosting the signal sent from the cell tower inside your mobile home or RV. These are especially helpful in rural areas where signal strength may be a problem.

Each of the 3 major components we’ve listed above play vital roles in our connectivity solution. Let’s dive into each item further and discuss the various options out there for each component.

Unlimited Data Plans (Livinlite Store Link)

Unlimited data is a topic in itself, actually it’s an entire blog in itself as there are just too many things that can be said about cellular data and how it works. Most carriers are currently, as of February 2018, offering so-called “unlimited” data plans but there are some restrictions that vary from carrier to carrier. Typically these plans range from $60-$90 per month and often come with a two year contract and discounted equipment access. With just about all carriers there are data caps, usually around 22GB per month in which if you hit that limit your service and speed “may” be impacted. Once you hit the data limit, it is possible that your connection will be slowed by the carrier. Some carriers “de-prioritized” users that are over their limit. This means that if you are in areas of high network congestion the carrier may slow down your speeds. The specifics vary by cellular carrier and change from month to month, making it hard to keep track.

Now 22GB is quite a lot of data, and if you are not streaming a ton of video or if you do not use the connection every day you should be fine. If 22GB isn’t enough then you’ll need to get your hands on data plan that is not subject to these restrictions (at least for now). There are two options for getting your hands on a truly unlimited data plan from one of the major carriers. The first is doing an “Assumption of Liability” or AOL where you purchased an existing data plan without restrictions from a third party, usually someone on ebay, and then transfer their contract into your name. This option is complicated and the carriers do not seem to want to allow this anymore so be careful and do your homework.

The second option is a rental agreement. Essentially you pay a third party customer not affiliated with the carrier a premium (usually $120-$150 per month) to use their device on a monthly basis. The 3rd party sends you a device that has an unlimited data plan without data caps (grandfathered in from plans no longer available) and you use the device and pay that 3rd party each month. Payments are made through a third party payment processor like Paypal to protect everyone’s privacy and identity.  This option also has risks, but in general you are limited to whatever amount you send on a monthly basis and you can cancel at anytime. We have a partner who offers this service and you can sign up here while supplies last. NEVER send funds directly to a 3rd party or give anyone any personal information, use a verifiable service like Paypal or shop on our secure store powered by Stripe.com .  

If you are interested in an Assumption of Liability “AOL” or want to dive deeper into the topic, check out our article we did back in 2015 that covers much of the details on this process.

Mobile Routers

A “mobile router” or “mobile firewall” as it is also referred to, takes a single internet connection and splits it so it can be used by multiple devices located behind the mobile firewall. If you’ve ever used a Linksys, DLink or similar ‘home router’ it is essentially the same thing, but it uses cellular or wireless connections instead of your home cable model or DSL to connect your devices to the internet. Mobile routers come in all shapes and sizes and this also is a fairly large topic but we’ll try to keep it high level.

Most mobile routers today, have the ability to use either cellular data, public wifi networks or a combination of both as their internet source. They work by rebroadcasting that internet access wirelessly and/or wired to a small area for its owners use.  Mobile routers also act as firewalls, limiting the amount of traffic that can access devices from outside of your private network. There are still security issues with using any public wifi, but for the most part that risk is limited only to information you transmit to/from the internet when you correctly use a mobile router/firewall.

Mobile Routers come in all shapes and sizes. Here is a summary of some of the models we discussed in the above video and a summary of their pros and cons for your review. Livinlite offers hotspots with unlimited Verizon & AT&T data plans here (while supplies last).

MiFi Mobile Hotspot Probably the most commonly used mobile router, sold directly by Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and just about every cellular carrier. These tiny devices have cellular modems that pickup internet signals broadcasted by the cellular carriers and then rebroadcast those signals to a small local wireless network for private use. Many smartphones including the iPhone have mobile hotspot capabilities built right in, but they limit your ability to use your phone while they are in use which is why most serious users opt for a dedicated hotspot device.

Pros: Portable, inexpensive turn key solution that is supported by your mobile carrier. Some models support external antennas allowing you to improve cellular signal in remote locations. They also have a built in battery meaning they will continue to function for a few hours in the event of a power loss. Their single biggest pro in our opinion is that they are portable.

Cons: Limited to a single carrier (they will only work with the cellular carrier they were designed to work with), cellular antenna may not pickup cell signal in remote areas as well as units with a dedicated antenna, designed for up to 5-10 devices max, limited wireless power so you may need to remain close to the device to pickup a good signal, no option for wired connection (you can connect a single computer via tethering function however you will be limited to a single device in most cases).

Wifi Ranger One of the first companies to come to market with a product truly designed for RV & Marine use. The team at Wifi Ranger have been working on a perfected solution for wireless & cellular access for quite some time and we must say it has come a long way and is an extremely well designed solution. Most Wifi Ranger solutions come in two pieces, a roof mounted wifi receiver and an interior mounted router/wifi hotspot that rebroadcasts the roof signal inside of your RV. The interior router also has a USB port allowing it to use cellular internet as either it’s primary or secondary connection making for an excellent all around solution. The team at Wifi Ranger have developed custom software for these devices so that they can easily talk to each other acting as a single unified connectivity solution.

Pros: A single unified solution, nothing more to buy other than a USB modem from your cellular carrier, excellent technical support provided by the manufacture, excellent warranty support ensuring replacement parts are quickly shipped if needed, wireless receiving range is excellent, picking up even the most distant signals, U.S. based company, support for wired/wireless connections, can broadcast your private wifi signal via the roof antenna giving you exceptional range even outside your RV (make sure to be careful with this feature as it may impact other campers and their ability to use campground wifi), 12V and 120V support for a variety of installation options.

Cons: Only supports a single cellular carrier at a time. You could switch to a second carrier, but you would need to remove the USB modem and replace it with another one from the second carrier. Less resilient than the Pepwave, meaning that if it looses connectivity it may manually need to be reconnected more often (probably not noticeable for most users), less customizable advanced router options than the Pepwave such as site-to-site VPN (still a very capable router with plenty of advanced features).

UPDATE 4/11/2018: LIVINLITE.NET IS NOW AN AUTHORIZED PEPLINK & WEBOOST GLOBAL RESELLER WITH SAME DAY SHIPPING IN THE USA. Please email info@livinlite.net for pricing and product information as our online store is under development. We are shipping now. 

Pepwave Mobile Router(s) We consider this the gold standard in mobile connectivity if you do not plan on using campground or public wifi on a regular basis. The Peplink Pepwave Max BR1 mobile router has an integrated cellular modem that supports Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile. The unit has two sim card slots and a single cellular modem that can switch between either carrier sim automatically. You can configure the device to prefer a specific carrier, switch based on connectivity or data usage. You can configure the Pepwave to notify you via email when data limits have been reached and there is even a mobile app for your cell phone to administer the device from the comfort of the couch.

The Pepwave supports wifi-as-wan, meaning it will also rebroadcast local campground wifi or other public wifi hotspots, however it does not natively support a roof antenna. You can add a roof antenna, but all wifi signal including the signal for broadcasting inside your coach will utilize that signal antenna located on the roof so plan accordingly and check ranges.

The Pepwave is designed for mobile applications, it has a metal housing, 12v DC terminals and has been troublefree for us after 3 years of continuous use.

Pros: Multiple carrier support, long range cellular diversity antennas maximize signal strength, wired WAN support for users who have wired internet access (DSL/CABLE), wired LAN support for desktops or wired printers or other items, high power 2G wireless antenna for maximum range, 12v power ports (no inverter needed).

Cons: Expensive at $300-$500+ depending on the model, not really portable, once you install in your rig its primary use will be in your rig, no roof antenna – this is best if you have cellular data and do not rely on wireless.

Pepewave also makes a portable option that has many of the features of it’s older cousin but for a fraction of the price. The Pepwave Surf on the Go Mobile Router is a feature packed mobile router capable of picking up campground wifi as well as connecting to a USB cellular modem. The device also has a single wired ethernet port allowing you to connect a wired device (or a switch to connect multiple wired devices). The unit comes with suction cups allowing it to be window mounted inside of your RV so that it can pickup campground wifi signals in addition to using USB cellular modems. The wireless antenna in this unit is quite a bit larger than that used by a MiFi improving your wireless range near your coach. This is an excellent option for those looking to improve their connectivity options while also keeping the portability and budget under control.

Cell Booster

Cell boosters use an exterior mounted antenna, usually located on the roof of your RV and boost the cellular signal, repeating the boosted signal inside your RV using a smaller interior antenna. Our booster routinely boosts a barely usable cellular signal into a suitable signal that works for both voice and data saving us from having to move probably once a month. This is an optional component in any installation, but we find it’s a mobile-must-have for us. WeBoost has been a leader in cellular boosters for over a decade and they have recently released a number of mobile booster options which are listed below.

• weBoost RV Cellular Booster Drive 4G-X RV 470410 – Complete Kit
• weBoost Drive Sleek 470135 – Cradle Based Mobile Booster

What About Satellite Internet

Satellite internet is an option, especially for those looking to be connected in extremely remote areas where cell service is still not an option. In recent years satellite providers have improved the speed of satellite internet to now allow for streaming video (low definition), but the speeds are still much slower than 4G cellular and you will still need a clear line of site to the satellite. Now that may sound easy in a movable house, but in campgrounds and parks we have an obstructed satellite view about 10x more often then we find a lack of cellular signal. This has led us to seriously question our Direct TV Television subscription as we often cannot use it, if we had that problem with our internet, it would be a deal breaker.

Additional Resources

• RV Success School – Marc & Julie from RV Love, fellow full-timers head up the RV Success School. If you are thinking about hitting the road, this is the gold standard in mobile life education.
• RV Mobile Internet – Chris & Cherie from Technomadia, fellow full-timers, run a popular blog and member based service that has a tremendous amount of resources on the mobile internet topic.
• Unlimited Cellular Data Rental – Looking for an unlimited data plan with Verizon or AT&T – check here.

Purchase Links (verified resellers Amazon or 3GStore)

• Unlimited Cellular Data Rental – Looking for an unlimited data plan with Verizon or AT&T – check here.
• Wifi Ranger SkyPro Pack – Complete RV Connectivity Solution
• Wifi Ranger Elite AC 5G High Speed – Complete RV Connectivity Solution
• Pepwave Max BR1 Business Grade Mobile Router (email info@livinlite.net for pricing)
• Pepwave Surf on the Go Mobile Router (email info@livinlite.net for pricing)
• weBoost RV Cellular Booster Drive 4G-X RV 470410 – Complete Kit
• weBoost Drive Sleek 470135 – Cradle Based Mobile Booster
• Panasonic Desk Phone with Bluetooth Support (no Verizon home phone needed)

Questions?

For questions concerning setting up a solution of your own, feel free to post comments below. We will work to reply to your questions within 24 hours of posting.

The post Our Setup – Mobile Internet & Staying Connected appeared first on LivinLite.net.

Once we started looking into the idea of filming our setup we realized there was quite a bit to tell and much more than we could cram into a single blog post. Looks like its time for a series!

This is “Our Setup” – The Series

This will be the start of a serious of post/vlogs where we talk about our setup, the features and benefits, and if we regret any of our choices.  We encourage you to make comments and recommendations on any topics you would like to know/ learn more about, as the topics we will cover will be highly focused on what you want to hear more about. Now on to the good stuff..

Our Rig – “The Black Pearl”

This is our 45ft Enterga Aspire Motorhome that we’ve lived in full time for 3 years. It is a Class A diesel pusher with 4 slides. We purchased our coach from Motorhome Specialists in Alvarado, TX. After a year of researching several different, types, styles and RV set-ups we decided on the Entegra Aspire 44B even though it was a bit out of our price range. The layout was what we were looking for, a coach that had the durability and function to live and work in full time, while having a floor plan that resembled a traditional home setup for a couple. Even though it was 30% over our budget, once we experienced the Entegra’s quiet ride and superior insulation for ourselves, we couldn’t go back to looking at gas coaches in our budget.  Make sure to subscribe as we’ll be posting detailed videos on our Entegra, the 2 year bumper-to-bumper warranty and all manner of our experiences.

Our “Towed” Toad

For all of our non RV’ers a TOAD, also know as a “Dinghy” is a small vehicle being towed behind a large RV. Our Toad is a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (4 door), Rubicon edition. We’ve owned the jeep long before we decided to RV full time, but it turned out to be a great 4-down flat-tow vehicle. The Jeep’s off-road heritage actually lends itself really well to being towed. It has no steering lock (yup none) and does not require anything special to tow it with all 4 wheels on the ground. To tow we use a Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar  . We outfitted the Jeep with a Blue Ox Base Plate that allows our rig to be towed easily as well as a Air Force One Tow Braking System to ensure our vehicle meets all applicable laws for tow vehicle braking.  More on the tow setup later!

Motorcycle & Motorcycle Lift

Our 2010 BMW R1200GS Adventure motorcycle also comes along with us. We have a motorcycle lift on the back of our coach that allows us to carry the bike and the Jeep behind that. We’ve done videos on our motorcycle lift setup which can be found here and we will also post subsequent articles on this shortly!

Storage

Diesel pushers are expensive which is a huge draw back but they can carry a lot of weight as a nice trade off to their price. Pass-through storage and tons of clearance mean you can take it all! Check out our post on  “How much stuff can fit under A diesel Pusher” to learn more.

Sun Powered!

We’ve added 10 160 watt solar panels made by Grape Solar to the roof of our bus and 6 Lifeline 300 amp hour batteries to store all that solar power. We have two 80 amp Outback Solar Flex Max Charge Controllers that convert the solar energy into 12 volts for our batteries and we are very happy with the setup. We utilized the factory solar wiring in our setup which has certain drawbacks that added to the overall cost of our setup (but meant we didn’t have to run huge battery cables down from the room). We will be posting future videos on our solar setup, in the meantime make sure to check out our video on adding cheap solar to your RV.

Come on In! (Entry)

The driving area, which is very important during travel days tends to be a waste of space when you are parked. To maximize the use of our front door area Erik crated a steering wheel table (video). We use this table and area as place where we put our mail/paperwork and leave our shoes to keep the rest of the RV clean. Above the steering wheel is a cabinet that we converted into a charging station for all of our blogging gear. And above the passenger seat is the control center. Where we have the solar controller, batter monitors and other major controls for the RV.

Lets Get to Work

We still work and not just on this blog, we both have full-time jobs. Erik works in technology and Kala in human resources. We converted the Entegra’s integrated dining room areas into a desk area for Erik. For the most part we left the setup as-is but we removed the supplied dinning chairs and replaced them with an office chair. We installed a printer in the under-cabinet and put a monitor, phone, headset and docking station near the window. Our complete internet setup video is here.  Stay tuned for a full post on our work setup coming soon!

Kala will either sit on the couch or use the passenger chair for her office. This nifty table from Camping World allows Kala’s desk to double as a coffee table and is also used quite a bit for eating dinner.

Beside having to stagger some work calls, this desk set up works well as it convert our living space into a traveling office during working hours.

Security

We’ve added a Canary Internet Security Camera that keeps an eye on our bus when we are away. The Canary security device allows us to monitor via video from our cell phone and also provides us with information about temperature, humidity and air quality. You need reliable, unlimited data cellular internet in order to use a system like this, but more on that later as we’ll be providing a complete write up of our connectivity in future videos posting shortly.

Our Kitchen

Our kitchen has a residential refrigerator, convention microwave, 2 propane burners and a ton of storage space. Our rig came with drawers inside each of the cabinets. We tracked down these shelves which are celled “Rev-a-shelf” and think they would make a great addition to any RV providing your cabinets are deep enough.

The only real issue we have encountered in our kitchen has been the kitchen faucet which we replaced twice under warranty. The RV grade faucets don’t seem to be durable enough to handle full-time use so we upgraded our faucet to a touch-less residential grade faucet made by Moen. This one has worked great for us so far, and we love that it is motion sense letting you easily turn on the water when you have dirty hands. 

The Bedroom

Our 2015 Entegra came with a Sleep Number bed.  While the Sleep Number was very comfortable and gave us more flexibility for firmness control, it also proved difficult when traveling at elevation. The bed would change firmness when the coach changed altitude and many folks have reported popping their mattress when climbing mountain passes. To prevent that from happening we replaced our mattress with a Tempurpedic and have been happy every since. There is quite a bit of bedroom storage in our RV and we think its plenty for two people. With seven drawers in the vanity, three large & deep cabinets above the the bed and storage under the bed we’ve got plenty of places to put things. That said, during our 3 years on the road we’ve figured out a bunch of organization and space saving tips.

Links for Items Featured in This Article

• Complete Internet Setup
• Unlimited Cellular Data Plans
• Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar
• Blue Ox Baseplate for Jeep Wrangler JK
• Air Force One Tow Braking System
• Rev-A-Shelf Pull Out Shelves on Amazon
• Moen Motionsense Faucet
• Canary Internet Security Camera

Thanks for Coming Over!

Thanks so much for coming on a tour of our home. We hope you enjoyed learning about our setup, and hope you stay tuned for future videos that go into much more depth on a variety of topics on all things mobile. Make sure to comment below on what you’d like to see us cover in future videos and see you on the road!

The post Our Setup Episode 1 – A Tour of our RV after Living on the Road for 3 Years appeared first on LivinLite.net.