IOWA TORNADOS. What Happened? SCRAPMANIA. AMERICA'S LARGEST in IOWA. HDT RV Travel. Fulltime RV Life

Published 2024-06-13
Iowa 80 is the worlds largest truck stop and we need it with severe weather in the area and along our path. Do we move on or wait it out? What can happen?

Tornado warning and watches were all around us. Not the best of conditions when you're driving in an RV. What do we do?

Probably our most unusual Harvest Host overnight spot but this trip is full of surprises. Time for projects and I hope it will fit.

Come join our Facebook Group, Big Truck Big Travels for more details such as Alaska itinerary, annual costs and RV stuff.

Facebook Group "Big Truck Big Travels" (see links above)

#rvlife #spacecraft #fulltimerv #customrv #lifeintheslowlane #hdt #whataburger #hdtrailers #hdtrvtravel #harvesthost #harvesthosts #campendium #wanderlust #boondocking #lg #rvroadtrip #traveltips #rvlife #rv #travel #travelvlog #campgrounds #rvliving #rvcouple #lifeintheslowlane #thankshanks #rvtravel #blm #roadtrip #epic #wildlife #wildrvlife #iowa #scrapbooking #iowa80 #hdtravels #heavydutytruck #heavydutytrucks

RV Camping
We like to "Switch it Up" between resorts and campgrounds and boondocking is always an option.

We draw inspiration from Keep Your Daydream KYD, Less Junk More Journey, Finding Our Someday and Changing Lanes. We normally travel in an HDT similar to YouTube channels Suite Travels, Switch it Up and Watts on Wheels. I also get some ideas from the editing style of Happily Ever Hanks (Happilyeverhanks) #thankshanks and believe it or not, I actually learned something from MRBeast Mr Beast video's as well. We're not exactly taking Life in the Slow Lane but we do stop and smell the roses.

Our journey is the destination. We want to share our experiences of our discovery of What's Next.

I get my music from:
Epidemicsound.com
Tracks:
Five Tribes by Hunter Quinn
Unanswered Questions by Plain Strolls
Virginia Highway by Tigerblood Jewel

Amazon Shop (no extra charge to you)
A convenient way to see (or buy) the items you see in the video's which may help in your adventure.
www.amazon.com/shop/bigtruckbigtravels

We use the TSD card for diesel fuel and save a bundle each time we fill up our Big Rig. We also use it to fill up our Onan generator.

The big blue boards (XL version) we use sometimes to get us "un-stuck" is from:
Gotreads.com

Our Class C is built by Thor Motorcoach on a Ford F550 chassis. It's a production build Magnitude model XG32. We tow our red Jeep Wrangler Sahara behind it. We've made some modifications to it so that we can boondock comfortably. Lithium batteries, Victron 3000w multi-plus inverter, dual alternators charge while traveling and mods to the water system greatly enhance it's boondocking capabilities.

Our extreme completely custom 5th wheel is built on a semi-trailer chassis with air suspension and air brakes. Completely loaded it weighs 42,000 lbs rolling down the highway. And we do roll down the highway nearly every week. You see, we believe that if your home has wheels they should be used.

Vehicles:
2016 Volvo VNL780 "Voyager"
2016 Smart fortwo "Pathfinder"
2019 SpaceCraft Custom built semi-trailer 5th wheel "Orion"
2023 Thor Magnitude XG32 Class C "Curiosity"
2017 Jeep Wrangler Sahara "Artemis"

Power system:
3250 watts of solar with Panasonic panels
30.1 KWH of Lithium batteries
2- 4K watt Magnum Inverters deliver power as if we are on shore power
2- 4K watt 240v Cotek Inverters deliver additional power for our LG Mini split HVAC and stove

Coachnet is our roadside assistance company we use but hopefully we don't use them too often. LOL

We are not sponsored by Whataburger but I do enjoy them anytime I can get my hands on one. They used to be just out of Texas but they have expanded.

BIg Truck Big Travels video's are based on our personal experience and not meant nor portrayed as experts in anything we do or say. It's our life on the road and our opinions are not meant to be construed as advice. Enjoy life on the road.

All Comments (21)
  • Thanks to everyone for noticing the anti-theft tag on the slipper. We had asked the associate if he removed it. We didn't see him but he said he did. When doing the video neither one of us saw until it was released! We did pay for it! Next time we'll check before we leave...hmmmm, Sondra thought she heard the alarm go off....LOL.
  • @dugman1550
    Select truck parking spaces will be painted green and informational signs equipped with Bluetooth technology will communicate with the ParkUnload app when a driver’s phone is in close proximity to the parking zone. Once the app detects the marked zone, the truck driver can park and check in to the selected parking space on the app. The app will show other drivers remaining spaces at the facility. Signs also will also provide drivers with additional information.
  • The trucks flip regularly on I-80 in Iowa and Nebraska with strong winds.
  • @screddot7074
    I'd like to say I admire David's driving skills, but I think it's really his determination.
  • @glennc8761
    Happy bday Sondra! David you cracked us up with, “the smell of scrap”. Keep up the great work….
  • As a scrapbooker I think this is my favorite ever episode. Happy you were able to stop and wait out that storm!
  • @katebarker5612
    Yea, Thursday night treat. I love watching you before I sleep. Thank you for showing this Brit the beauty of your country. I doubt I'll ever get a chance to visit so this is a close second.
  • Sondra, would you consider filming a journal/scrapbook flip through video? I'd love to see what you create!
  • Sondra's Scrapmania sojourn was clearly 2 days well spent. Happy Birthday, Princess!😂
  • @mpreston6267
    Visiting Scrapmania is on my bucket list. Another great scrapbook store to visit is Scrapbook Generations in Springfield, MO.
  • @pamelah53
    Sondra, I can really identify the feeling you get walking into a store like that! I’m a quilter and recovering knitter so our travels, although not full-time, often take me to new locations for fabric fun! My purchases don’t add up to a lot since I really have almost everything want. I’ve retired from managing a quilt shop, and I love visiting new places to see how those stores operate. I keep a Google map of stores all over the country as my to-do list!
  • @Sushi2735
    You two are doing it right! Smelling the roses along your travels. How fun to get to look for special sights to see that are off the freeway’s and are seeing things that are so easy to miss if you’re just destination oriented! Minnetonka slippers are the BEST, every year on the way to the lake I got Turquoise Minnetonka soft moccasins on the way to the lake, from the time I was 5 till I went away to college. Always the same style and color 😅😅😅😅😅
  • @loragunning5394
    I'm not into scapbooking, but I am into fiber arts and other crafts (candle making), so am deeply sympathetic with Sondra's excitement in regards to being able to spend 2 full days at Scapmania. For me, it would be a yarn barn, fabric warehouse, or crafting warehouse. Anything connected to fiber arts is my strong suit: knitting, crochet, macrame, embroidery, and of course sewing, and I usually design my own projects and create my own patterns. My mother was a custom clothing designer and seamstress/tailor, she taught me the basics from early childhood on, and I exceeded her teachings by taking classes on my own. I haven't had time this past decade or so to pursue these hobbies (which have occasionally been my livelihood, I have Fiber Arts resume) and have to admit I miss them. And, having been diagnosed with essential tremor (often confused w/Parkinson's) last year, my once clever, nimble fingers are now less so, despite daily medication. Like Parkinson's, it's a progressive disease, so not sure I'll ever really be able to enjoy my hobbies in the future, should I ever retire and have time. Count your blessings!
  • @Threadsandjars
    If anything, this trip should prove to you how blessed you both are! Not everyone misses tornadoes. Love the vid. And happy birthday lady!!! Be healthy, stay safe and many blessings, Morgan
  • The green lanes at the truck stops are a test program to identify whether there are open parking spaces. A trucker would use an app to check in or out. As a trucker approaches the truck stop he/ she can check the app to see if a green painted parking spot is available.
  • @krazedkamper
    Yay! I'm so happy that Sandra got the 🦭 slippers...I have 🐈 ! Minnetonka are the best!
  • Thank you for another delightful week of scrapping across America. Much thanks to Stacy and her crew. Nice to see Tammy and Jay. Continued safe and happy travels, Sondra and David, and I can't wait to see you day in the life episode next Thursday, God's willing.🙏🏾❤️👍🏾
  • @christygr
    I’m so glad you were able to avoid the tornadoes. Good call on waiting it out. Happy Birthday Sondra. I look forward to see your “boring” life on the road next week!