Dawn and I have been camping together for almost 35 years, starting with tents and eventually working our way through motorcycles, pop-ups, travel trailers, and fifth wheels. These days we travel with our Grand Design Reflection 295RL—and, of course, Odie Dog, who has a habit of becoming the star of many of these stories.
Everything you read here is based on something that actually happened to us somewhere along the road. I may have a little fun telling the story, but the broken equipment, questionable decisions, campground adventures, towing lessons, great meals, and occasional disasters are all very real.
This blog is where I share our camping stories, campground and restaurant reviews, RV gear, towing experiences, cooking, travel, and whatever else happens along the way.
If you’re new here, I’ve picked out a few favorite stories below that are a good place to start. Hopefully one makes you laugh, helps with your own camping adventures, or at least keeps you from making one of the mistakes I’ve already made for you.
Want to know how we got here? Read more about Mark, Dawn & Odie.
New Here? Start With These
If this is your first visit, these four stories are a pretty good introduction to what this blog is all about. Some involve camping. Some involve questionable decisions. Most involve something not going exactly according to plan.
How to Ruin a Camping Trip in 3 Minutes
2027 Southern Illinois Meet & Greet
Planning ahead for 2027? The Southern Illinois Meet & Greet returns September 21–26, 2027. Get the campground details, reservation information, and event updates here.
Our Stories & Adventures
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First Tow With the Duramax: Was Switching From the Ram 2500 Gas Worth It?
Our first towing trip with the 2025 Chevy 2500HD Duramax was only 76 miles round trip, but it was enough to make one thing very clear—the difference from our 2024 Ram 2500 gas truck is huge. From interstate acceleration to climbing hills, the Duramax, Allison 10-speed, and heavier suspension made towing our Grand Design 295RL…
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Hughes Power Watchdog 50-Amp EPO Review: Expensive? Yes. Worth It? Absolutely.
Before we ever unhook the fifth wheel, I test the campground power. Our Hughes Power Watchdog 50-Amp EPO gives us surge protection, automatic power shutoff, Bluetooth monitoring, and a little extra peace of mind every time we camp.
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Hollywood Racks RV Rider HR1700 Review: Is It Worth $650 for Your Fifth Wheel?
We needed a bike rack tough enough to carry two Lectric XP Lite 2 e-bikes behind our fifth wheel, and the Hollywood RV Rider HR1700 looked like the answer. At nearly $650, it definitely isn’t cheap—but when you have a couple thousand dollars’ worth of bikes riding behind the camper, cheap probably shouldn’t be the…
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BulletPoint RubiGrid Review: My 2025 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Towing Setup
I installed the BulletPoint RubiGrid in our 2025 Chevy Silverado 2500HD to hold my phone and 10-inch towing monitor. Here’s how the installation went, what I like about it, what I don’t, and whether I think the roughly $200 setup was worth it.
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Bauer NE Bluetooth Keyless Entry Review: An RV Upgrade I Should Have Done Sooner
I installed the Bauer NE Bluetooth Keyless Entry lock on our 2025 Grand Design Reflection 295RL. Installation took about 20 minutes, and now we can unlock the camper with the keypad, phone, Apple Watch, or a regular key. Here’s what I like, what I don’t, and whether I think it’s worth the money.