Tag: Boondocking

January 2026

Hello Everyone,

As we wrap up January, you’ll find us at El Dorado Ranch in the Baja of Mexico. This month has been shaped by relaxation and time for reflection, reminding us once again how quickly time moves when you live life on the road. By the middle of next month, we will have been in Mexico for 90 days, and although we have struggled a bit with the social scene, which is sometimes difficult to fit this nomadic lifestyle into a world of “sticks & bricks”, we have met some very interesting people. We have enjoyed the low humidity of the desert with the luxury of a sandy beach, we have enjoyed the amenities, as well as proximity of markets and supplies. We have not made any commitment for next winter but we have not ruled it out either

LOOKING AHEAD:

Key Dates:

  • Mid-February will have us crossing the international border back into the United States

Plans & Highlights:

  • Some much-needed Amazon orders & a Costco visit to restock
  • Finding a quiet boondocking spot in the LTVA at Imperial Dam
  • Visiting with friends in Southwest Arizona

Bucket List Items:

  • Explore the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
  • Explore the Mitty Lake Wildlife Area

BLOG POSTS THIS MONTH:

Travel & Destinations:

  • El Dorado Ranch – an overview of the history behind this development  ►read more
  • Boyce Thompson Arboretum – Arizona’s best kept secret of desert beauty  ►read more
  • Valley of Fire – Nevada’s first state park a world away from Las Vegas  ►read more
  • Mexican Postal Service – an overview ►read more
  • Border crossing 2026 – updated process ►read more

RV Tech & Gear:

  • SeeLeveL Tank Monitor – A look at how tanks should be monitored (and its Canadian)  ►read more
  • Solar For Dummies – Re-published from December 2019  ►read more

Lifestyle & Reflections:

  • IPTV Streaming – Not for everyone but an amazing service for travelers  ►read more
  • Public Mobility – How we saved over a thousand dollars and sacrificed nothing  ►read more

THIS MONTH IN PHOTOS:

LESSONS FROM THE ROAD

After 8+ Years of Full-Time RV Living

This month’s takeaway:

Full-Time RV living is an amazing adventure or series of adventures. If you remember that this a “Lifestyle not an extended Vacation” take your time and be flexible with your schedule.

UPDATES & PROJECTS

Rig Update:

After an extensive search for a replacement torque rod, the original has been re-welded and re-installed until a new one can be obtained once, we are back in civilization. I have spent most of my working life in the “service” industry and was appalled by the arrogance and price gouging that I experienced from some sources. I know we drive and live in a 28-year-old coach, but that is the choice we have made, and it burns me to know some people are being so mistreated. While under Thunder there are several items that need to be addressed like a leaking left rear axle seal (it was replaced on Vancouver Island in 2022) and our leaking water tank and 28 years indicate I need some repair work in the basement floor, as well as regular service work like oil & filter. So, I’m looking for a lot or driveway back in Ontario where I can make some of these repairs this summer, if anyone knows of a spot please reach out.

Systems / Solar / Connectivity:

As I look back over last year’s numbers it has become apparent that we cannot yet boondock without supplementing our power with a generator, I’m creating a blog to explain why and what we need to do to survive off grid. It will bore some, but it will explain our issues in detail and offer some solutions as well as talk about things like winter sunshine and daylight hour compared to “solar hour” plus options and opinions for someone looking to add solar. Also I will be publishing a Solar Blog Series that will address some of the mystery in great detail and depth.

Blog & Creative:

Those of you who have been following our blog for an extended period of time will know that last year was not a good year for our blog, call it burn out, lazy or just tired I was close to stepping away from the blog, but not  being a quitter I decided to ask for help and while friends were supportive they were too kind. So I feed all 500+ blogs into an AI program and asked for a critique and constructive help, and the results were both comforting an eye opener as well. For over a month now I have been creating my blogs in my word processer and then loading the file into the AI app and have been pleased with the newer, cleaner and readable style reducing some of my rambling. On Facebook I have started a photo a day project and so far I have been able to find something to capture and present, we will see if I can make it to day 365.

I have managed to put together a short video of our home this month. ►see video

PS: The upcoming Solar Blog Series will be separated by travel blogs and equipment reviews ten solar blogs in a row would even be too much for me. ☺

Miss Laurie’s Artwork:

Her talent never fails to amaze me, whether it in acrylic paint or watercolor and now she is experimenting with pencil drawings. So, this month between pickleball, seashells, swimming, or corn hole, spending time in the coach painting has not been a priority, here are her creations.

Mister Sam’s Photo of the Month:

Thank you for following along and being part of our journey.

See you down the road,

Laurie & Brian

The Buchanan’s Rolling Down the Road

www.thebuchanansrollingdowntheroad.com

Day 3045

One Year Later: Our Experience With the Garnet SeeLeveL 709‑BTP7 RV Tank Monitoring System

After a year of full‑time travel and real‑world use, I wanted to share our hands‑on experience with the Garnet Instruments SeeLeveL RV tank monitoring system. This is not a first‑impression or bench review — this is based on everyday RV living, regular dumping cycles, boondocking, and travel across multiple regions.

Why We Upgraded Our RV Tank Gauges

This upgrade actually started with a freshwater tank replacement.

During that project, we had full access to our tank compartments — something that doesn’t happen often in an RV. With everything already opened up, it made sense to finally address another long‑standing frustration: unreliable factory tank gauges.

Like many RVers, our coach originally relied on a traditional probe‑style monitoring system. You know the kind:

  • Reads in vague thirds (Empty / 1⁄3 / 2⁄3 / Full)
  • Frequently shows “Full” when the tank clearly isn’t
  • Becomes unreliable as soon as residue builds up inside the tank

Since the tanks were already being worked on, this was the perfect opportunity to install a system we’d been considering for a long time — Garnet Instruments’ SeeLeveL system.

The SeeLeveL System We Installed

We chose the Garnet SeeLeveL 709‑BTP7, which is their Bluetooth‑enabled, multi‑tank RV system.

Our installation includes:

  • SeeLeveL 709‑BTP7 display module
  • Bluetooth connectivity to the SeeLeveL mobile app
  • External sender strips mounted on each tank

This setup allows us to monitor:

  • Fresh water tank
  • Grey water tank
  • Black water tank
  • Propane (onboard) tank
  • Additional tanks as needed (up to 7 total)
  • Battery voltage

The Bluetooth feature means we can see all of this information directly on our phone or tablet, which fits perfectly with how we travel and live in the RV.

How the SeeLeveL System Works (And Why It’s Different)

The biggest difference with the SeeLeveL system is how it senses tank levels.

Instead of probes inside the tank, SeeLeveL uses external vertical sender strips mounted to the outside of the tank wall. These senders read the fluid level through the tank material and provide a true digital measurement.

Key advantages:

  • No sensors inside the tank to foul or corrode
  • No false readings caused by waste buildup
  • Continuous percentage‑based readings instead of “guesswork”
  • Sender strips can be trimmed or stacked to match tank height

In practice, this means the readings stay accurate — even after a year of use.

Accuracy After One Full Year of Use

This is where the SeeLeveL system really shines.

After a year of dumping cycles and refills, the readings:

  • Match actual tank levels extremely closely
  • Change smoothly as tanks fill or empty
  • Have not drifted or required recalibration

When the system says a tank is 72% full, it genuinely is. That level of precision is incredibly helpful when boondocking or planning dump stops.

This is the first RV tank monitoring system we’ve owned that we actually trust.

Bluetooth App Experience

The Bluetooth version has been a great addition.

From the app we can:

  • View all tank levels in real‑time
  • See exact percentages instead of bars or lights
  • Check battery voltage at a glance
  • Read tanks without being inside the RV

The Bluetooth connection has been stable, and the app has worked consistently across devices. It enables you to track fills and dumps on your phone as it happens.

Installation Notes

Installation was straightforward for anyone comfortable with basic RV wiring and access to tank compartments.

General steps included:

  1. Measuring tank heights
  2. Trimming and mounting sender strips
  3. Running wiring to the display module
  4. Pairing the Bluetooth unit

No drilling into tanks was required — which alone makes this system appealing.

We were able to reuse the original tank sensor wiring – a real bonus

Photos & Real‑World Readings

The photos show the monitor installed, the solid state construction of the rear view and the filling of our fresh water tank on phone & tablet. The app allows each tank to be named, you can chose the colour of the level, the three large terminals on the back view were for the pump switch.

These images clearly show how precise and readable the system is in daily use.

Overall Value & Final Thoughts (Rolling Down The Road Verdict)

After a year of use, I can confidently say:

  • The SeeLeveL system is worth every dollar
  • Accuracy has remained consistent over time
  • Bluetooth adds real‑world convenience
  • External sensors eliminate the biggest weaknesses of traditional RV gauges

If you’re tired of guessing your tank levels or dealing with unreliable factory gauges, this is an upgrade that actually delivers on its promises.

Would We Install It Again?

Absolutely — without hesitation.

The Garnet SeeLeveL RV system has become one of those upgrades you stop thinking about because it just works. And in the RV world, that’s about the highest praise you can give.

If you’re considering upgrading your RV tank monitoring system and want accurate, dependable readings, the SeeLeveL system deserves a serious look.

Day 3030