Author: Jeffrey Kontur

The TRUTH about mismatched solar panels

It’s very common for almost anyone with solar to show off their solar panels. What is not at all common is for them to have mismatched solar panels. There are good reasons why, but there are also easy ways around the problems they can cause. I explain in this short...

How to Keep Used Toilet Paper OUT of Your Black Tank

Black tank clogs? Composting toilet? What do you do with used toilet paper? Here’s a quick and simple trick. Want more tips and tricks like this? Want to save yourself from potentially costly RV mistakes? Whether you’re in a van, skoolie, travel trailer, fifth wheel, or motorhome, 50+ Ways That...

Saguaro Cactus are EVERYWHERE!

Ask any eight-year-old kid — or I guess really just about anyone — to draw a cactus and they’re almost certain to draw a saguaro. Well, they really do exist. Not in all desert areas. But in southwestern Arizona and southeastern California, around the area near Quartzsite, they are all...

Checking out DIY RVs in the Desert

Having a fat-tire electric bike is great. It’s able to handle the desert terrain. From deep, soft sand to rough gravel. So I’ve spent a lot of time riding around the desert and checking out some of the RVs parked out here near Quartzsite, Arizona. My favorites are all the...

Off-grid Power in Quartzsite

Life — all three months that I plan to be out here — in Quartzsite is a lot different from life in the “real world”. I’m not really sure what the term self-sufficient means to most people. In fairness, this isn’t like living on the open prairie in the 1800s....

Cross Country in a Weekend (or Two)

A 2,500 mile thunder run is absolutely not my preferred pace of travel. I put a great deal of time and effort into building a life that would allow me to travel and explore at a somewhat leisurely pace. Unfortunately, elements of this particular trip are dictated by constraints that...