RV Life YouTubers Worth a Follow

April 5, 2020
By: Lost Road Mag Team

In this current climate, we're all looking for something to fill up our days at home.  This is when we can ALL breathe a collective sigh of relief and give a resounding "AMEN" for those YouTubers out there still creating content for us to enjoy.

For those of us who live vicariously through those families, couples, and solo travelers out there on the open road, there's a sweet relief from just being able to tune in right now to the "full timers'" current journeys and exploits.

As far as their current content, just like the rest of us, even full-timers can't escape a virus you can't see.  Many are having to make total 180 adjustments to their lives as well.  Some are even having to go as far as abandoning their vans and RVs (their LIVES) in order to travel back to the US (like this poor couple, who had to abandon their van in Argentina), or get back to a home base where they can hunker down with friends or family, as by this point, most state parks and even private RV resorts, are closed.  So unless their home on wheels is equipped with enough solar and water supply to boondock for an extended period of time, these modern day gypsies are no better off than the rest of us at the moment.  We've finally found the one thing that LITERALLY affects us all.  Corona isn't just for beach bum day drinkers anymore.

But in the meantime, there are still folks out there with ample old content to keep us occupied during these very strange times.  Some of our favorites here at the Lost Road are below.  It's not an exhaustive list, but if you love traveling and living out your adventures vicariously, the ten YouTubers below (in no particular order) are definitely worth a follow.  And some of them are still out on the road making current content.

1.  Matt's RV Reviews -  If you love touring RVs on the market like we do, Matt and his wife Andrea do an incredible job at making these tours non-boring and extremely informative at the same time.  Their camera work is solid, and Matt and Andrea are really just the cutest little couple, who embrace their cheekiness and love what they do.  They're also extremely appreciative of their followers, and they've got some great little catch phrases, like "Andrea-Approved" for certain seating arrangements, and "prime pooping position" for Matt's penchant for porcelain toilets and ample space for a comfortable #2 experience.

2.  We're the Russos -  This couple, who tend to love the smallest living experience possible, first spent time traveling cross-country in a sprinter conversion van.  They've since moved into a custom-ordered truck camper made by Overland Truck Campers.  Their content focuses on their love of the "small life," tours of conversion vans, small campers, and their search for the perfect tiny home on wheels.  In truth - their new truck camper is pretty much the bomb.  But they must REALLY love each other to be stuck in such close quarters together for so long.  Hats off to you both, Russos.

3.  Jarrod Tocci - This guy KNOWS his stealth camper vans.  He's lived in them, built them, and tours them all over the country.  What's a "stealth" camper van, you ask?  Check him out.  He'll provide all the deets you need to know.

4.  Number Juan Bus - This is an adorable family of three (plus their BIG dog) traveling around the country in their converted Skoolie named Juan.  The bus is gorgeous, and the family is even more so.  They've taken their bus all over North America, as far as Canada and Nova Scotia.  They also have content related to their actual build, so if you're considering creating your own skoolie home on wheels, this family is a great place to start, as they don't sugar coat the difficulties in the process.

5. Endless RVing -  These guys don't have a ton of followers yet (a little over 5k as of this publication), but they're a lesson in the rule on YouTube that number of subscribers doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the quality of content.  This family of three travels around the country in their souped up Class A.  Forget the converted vans, the old beat up, vintage-inspired skoolies.  This family understands that if they're going to live in something even part-time (like this family chooses), then they might as well be comfortable.  I mean, if home is where you lay your head at night, you should probably go ahead and have that memory foam pillow and down comforter, am I right?  Content focuses on RV show tours, class A motorhomes, and collaborations with other content creators.

6.  Big Truck Big RV -  This guy specializes in towables, specifically towable RVs for the family with the BAT - or the Big A$$ Truck, if you get our drift.  Think duallies, fifth wheels, towables that can haul your entire three story home if you so choose.  Tours are informative and geared towards those who care about the slide construction, the siding composite, and storage capacity.

7.  Five2Go - This family of four spent twenty months living full-time in their RV, traveling all across the country.  They recently sold their rig and settled down in a rental home in Colorado, but it's obvious they've already got the itch to get back out there, as they've recently started the search for a Class A motor home that can accommodate their family.  With one son and one daughter, they're looking for a rig that includes a bunk over the cab, as well as some additional sleeping space.  Bunkhouse?  Toy hauler?  It's still up in the air as to what they'll decide on, but our money's on that toy hauler.

8.  Eat See RV - This couple is the cutest.  They live full-time in a Class B camper van, but they're not ashamed to admit they like a little bit of comfort out on the road.  Recently, they featured on of the best Class B van floor plans we've ever seen in the Leisure Unity Travel Van.  They're currently suffering through the Coronavirus quarantine on the beach in Mexico.  We feel so bad for them.

9.  Long Long Honeymoon -  This couple has been living full-time and traveling in their Airstream trailer for years now.  Sean and Kristy, who refer to their channel as "LoLoHo," provide camping tips and tutorials, how-to videos, and for those Airstream fanatics out there, their channel is a must-watch.

10.  Our Lively Tribe -  Another full-time RV family made up of mom, dad, and THREE BOYS living in a 30 foot trailer.  They've taken their gift of renovating trailers to the next level and created a business out of it.  Dad tackles the actual renovation, then mom comes in and makes it CRAZY PINTEREST CUTE.   I mean, girl NAILS it.  White shiplap?  CHECK.  Plants & greenery?  CHECK.  Adorable games and home school areas for kids? CHECK AND CHECK.

*This article was not sponsored in any way*

Skoolies: All the rage or raging phase?

April 5, 2020
By: The Lost Road Mag Team 

These days, there are quite a few of us looking for a way to live a different, more mobile life.  One that gives us the freedom to roam, while also having some semblance of roots.  The history of mobile living isn't new to Americans.  But the incredible amount of mobile living alternatives out there these days can make your head spin if you really take the time to jump online and do a google search of that exact thing.

As you can imagine, the skoolie lifestyle really took off during the 1970's when the hippie gypsy movement was in full-swing.  At that time, skoolies were often seen as unique RVs, and were especially helpful for going across country to various music festivals (helloooo, Woodstock!), marches, and other forms of civil disobedience.  Those were the days, am I right?  Freedom of thought, deed, and the open road ahead.  Early school bus conversions weren't quie what they are today, however, as Do It Yourself RV points out, many folks nowadays still want to hold on to that old, vintage feel.

These days, skoolies are decked out with so many features that unless you got off the bus and stepped outside, you'd hardly know you weren't in a single family house.  You're likely to find a wood burning stove fireplace, sofa, a full-service kitchen (often complete with the finest fixtures - as many will tell you - when you go small, that frees the budget up to go BIG on the quality), full bathrooms complete with composting toilets, and a super cozy bedroom, some with beds right next to back doors that open, or with roof windows that open to the moon and stars at night.

From Inhabitat.com - the Mayes Family School Bus

Not too shabby, huh?

Some skoolies go even farther, with bunk beds for the kids, washing machines, and crates built into the side walls for dogs, bunnies, or whatever your heart's content.  But skoolie conversions aren't just for the free-spirited gypsy anymore.  These conversions have become a BIG business.  Some of the more well-known conversion companies include Skoolie.Homes, Blue Ridge Conversions, Paved to Pines, and many more.  If you're worried about finding a conversion company to do your build close to you, don't even sweat it -- most folks just go with who they love the most, and then buy a one-way ticket out to pick up their bus, and voila! Instant road trip home.  But by that point, aren't you already home?

Of course, there are some grown-up logistics to consider before you go packing your backpack, putting on your Chacos, and filling up your Nalgene bottle.  For instance, it's pretty tough to get proper insurance coverage on a skoolie.  Is it a home, or is it an automobile?  This is a pretty tricky distinction (as it's technically both) for an insurance company trying to determine a proper amount of coverage and what risk they're assuming through that coverage.  But if you do your part on the front end by speaking to human insurance reps, explaining your school bus isn't actually a school bus, but a repurposed RV, then that can take care of any misunderstandings on the front end.

Will owning a skoolie save you money in the long run?  That's yet to be determined, as it honestly depends on your lifestyle, as well as how much and how often you drive (the cost of diesel and gas is a HUGE variable - and one that's completely out of your control).  Our best tip on the financial aspect of skoolie life is to take the time to reach out and speak to some skoolie veterans to get a real feel for the cost.

For what it's worth, considering that current state of this world and its affairs, this conversion trend - whether it's school buses, vans, or old mobile homes, isn't going anywhere any time soon.

Rad Power Bikes has a new limited release out - and it's EVERYTHING

April 4, 2020
By: Lost Road Mag team

If you're a fan of the e-bike movement, then you've likely seen one of the more recent e-bikes on the market from Rad Power Bikes.  This company has done an incredible job at promoting their bikes through social media and affiliate marketing, but the good news is: their product is actually holding up to the hype.

Rad Power is able to keep the costs for consumers lower by cutting out the middle man and working directly with the customer, all through phone-based or online ordering.  Customers have a choice of a variety of e-bikes and a ton of customizations, as well.  One of the features that's made this bike so popular is its ability to add on a small passenger seat on the back (for smaller riders, as the payload capacity of most of these bikes is around 300 pounds), and even offers features and additions that work well for those in the delivery/gig economy.

Their newest e-bike, the RadrunnerPlus, is available for pre-order and will be a limited release.  The RadRunner Plus the best features available on their other versions in an all-in-one package.  E-bikes have really taken off of late, and it seems like Rad Power has figured out a way to gain a strong foothold in the market quickly, by being both affordable AND accessible.

From: Rad Power Bikes Website

With a 750 watt geared hub motor, a 300 pound payload capacity, 7-speed drivetrain, and up to 45 miles per charge, this bad boy is strong enough to last a full day of travelling around your neighborhood, small town, and can even tackle some off roads and hills while its at it.  Then there's also the ability to ride it whether it's day or night, as it comes fully wired and equipped with both headlight AND integrated brake light in the rear.

As far as their suite of other bikes, it's worth a good comb through their website to get a sense of what they offer.  Rad Power claims that for most bikes, they can ship next business day for the mainland U.S.

The immense growth in popularity of e-bikes over the past few years isn't likely to slow, so even if you're on the fence about purchasing an e-bike, and unsure whether you'll really ride it like you hope, the truth is, it's likely a great investment, as the market for good used e-bikes is strong, as any Craigslist search will show you.  There just aren't many used e-bikes out there in great shape.  The one negative to purchasing through a direct to customer company like Rad Power, however, is that if something does go wrong and you find yourself in need of a bike mechanic, there won't be many who've worked with their specific systems - but lets be honest - a battery is a battery, and a motor is a motor, and that's a small risk to take for an e-bike that offers as many incredible features for the price point as Rad Power.

You can find more information on Rad Power Bikes on their website.