New Gear for Season Eight
At the beginning of every travel season, we always seem to find new things to buy and bring along. Some items are replacements or improvements over what we had. Others are new desires or interests. We hope our list helps inspire you to make your journeys more comfortable and safe.
Item Six: Collapsible Water Bin
Item Seven: Glass Storage Containers
Item Ten: New Fresh Water Hose and Sewer Hose
Item Eleven: Exterior Windshield Cover
Item Twelve: Archery Equipment
Item Thirteen: Replacement Radio Antenna
Item One: Smaller Vacuum
We originally traveled with a Black and Decker Dustbuster (paid link). It was somewhat small and compact, but large enough that we stored it in the outside kitchen compartment. We replaced it with the Fanatic Slim V8 Mate Cordless Car Vacuum (paid link). It’s small enough that we store it in the center upper cubby in the cab area. In addition, it uses a USB connection instead of a little charging base that the Black and Decker used, which makes it easier to recharge. We don’t use the vacuum a lot, but it is nicer to have it more conveniently located inside Red Tail (our Winnebago EKKO).
Item Two: New Shovel
We always travel with a collapsible shovel, although we’ve never used it. But we still like having it with us for emergencies. If we’re stuck in snow or mud, there is nothing better than a shovel. We gave our previous shovel to our daughter, as she was driving in some questionable snowy conditions. So we replaced ours with a more rugged one, which can also be used like a pickaxe or pick hoe. It’s the Rhino USA Folding Survival Shovel (paid link).
Item Three: New E-bikes
We previously owned two Rad Power Expand 5 E-bikes. We liked that we could easily store them in Red Tail’s gear garage and enjoyed all of the power they had to help us up steep hills. But, Ann has extremely long legs (a 37 inch inseam), and the bike was too small for her. She was hoping that when her knees would start bothering her due to the improper fit, she could just turn on the pedal assist to make up for it. It turns out that it just made riding less fun for Ann. So we started looking for an e-bike that would fit her.
What also helped with our decision was that there was a battery recall on the Rad Power e-bikes issued by the U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission. Rad Power was not offering a replacement, since replacing them all would bankrupt the company. The replacement was a SafeShield battery which cost $449 and was currently out-of-stock. Shortly afterwards, Rad Power filed for bankruptcy in December 2025. Our criteria for new bikes, in addition to fitting Ann, were that they could fit into the EKKO gear garage, they had a nice range of bike gears, and they had enough power to get us up hills.
Even though the Rad Power Expand 5 bikes folded, we did not fold them when storing them. But we did fold down the handle bars. We preferred not removing a tire to get the bikes into the gear garage, so that pretty much limited us to the bikes that were foldable, since they generally had a shorter wheel base and had handle bars that folded down. Of course, being a foldable bike usually meant a smaller frame, which was at odds with getting a bike that would fit Ann.
We wanted a nice range of bike gears because we ride our e-bikes with the pedal assist turned off much of the time, as we like to get some good exercise most of the time. The pedal assist is more like insurance for us. We want it there for steep and/or long hills, strong head winds, or when our rides are a little too long or too hard and our legs give out. Occassionally we’ll ride with the pedal assist when we are using the e-bikes purely as transportation and we don’t want to work up a sweat, like riding to a nice restaurant for dinner. The Rad Power Expand 5 had seven bike gears, which suited our style of riding pretty well.
The Expand 5 bikes came with 750 Watt motors, which is the maximum power allowed for an e-bike in the United States. We never encountered a situation where we felt like we didn’t have enough power. We wondered if we could get by with less power. When we were in Europe during Season Seven, we rented e-bikes four different times. Each time, we encountered a hill that the motor could not handle and we had to walk our bikes up. We found out later that Europe limits e-bikes to 250 Watt motors. So we knew we wanted more than 250 Watts.
We heard that Winnebago sells Blaupunkt e-bikes (unpaid link), so when we went to Forest City for our EKKO’s solar wiring recall in November 2025, we decided to test ride the Blaupunkt . Yes, Blaupunkt is the same company that makes car radios. Even though they are a German company, they make a version of their e-bike for the United States. It is a foldable bike, with six bike gears and a 350 Watt motor. Before we left for Forest City, Ann bought a longer seat post that was intended for the Blaupunkt and brought it with her.
We both test rode the Blaupunkt. Keith liked it, especially since it weighed significantly less than the Expand 5, but it would not work for Ann. Even with the longer seat post, it was still about an inch too short for Ann. She also noticed that there was a noticeable rolling resistance when coasting, compared to our Rad e-bikes. The gear ratios made pedaling the bike above 15 mph difficult. It was hard to spin those feet fast enough to gain any more speed than that, even in 6th gear. Keith didn’t mind the lower power motor, as he normally only likes to ride at about 10 mph. Ann isn’t sure she’ll like that much loss of power. It’s not so much for the speed as it is for getting up steep hills.
When we got back home, Keith ordered a Blaupunkt. Ann kept researching. She discovered that Lectric e-bikes (unpaid link) were better for taller people, so she wanted to test ride one. Unfortunately, bike shops don’t stock Lectric e-bikes, but there was a small company based in Littleton, Colorado which ran a mobile shop called Generation E-bikes. Ann set up an appointment with them for a test ride.
Ann was concerned the standard seat post that came with the Lectric XP 4 (their foldable e-bike) would not be tall enough, but the shop owners, Brad and Michelle, insisted it would not be a problem. And they were right. The standard seat post, in its highest position, was a perfect fit for Ann. Yay! Lectric has several foldable models. The XP Lite2 only has one bike gear and only a 300 Watt motor, so we didn’t want that one. They also make a foldable trike, which we were also not interested in. The XP 4 has a Step-Over and a Step-Thru option along with a choice of a 500 Watt or 750 Watt motor. Ann rode the 500 Watt version and felt like it had plenty of power. The XP 4 has 8 bike gears, which seemed to have a nice range. Ann was so happy with the XP 4 that she bought it on the spot. She got the 500 Watt Step-Thru along with the comfort seat and suspension seat post.
After we went on a couple local bike rides together, Keith decided he liked the Lectric XP 4 better than the Blaupunkt. He realized that he would have trouble keeping up with Ann with the power and gears of the Blaupunkt. So he ordered a Lectric XP 4 online. He also got the 500 Watt version and he meant to also get the Step-Thru, but he goofed the order and got the Step-Over version instead. He opted for the standard bike seat, as he found that more comfortable for his body than the comfort seat. It was a pretty easy process to assemble the bike once it arrived.
Both Lectric bikes fit in the gear garage, but we made some adjustments to our set up. The Lectric XP 4 bike tires are only three inches wide while the Rad Power Expand 5 tires were four inches wide. So we narrowed the adjustable wheel chocks that hold the front tires. We also had aluminum channels to guide the bikes as we roll them into position in the gear garage. In order to narrow up the channels, we cut them length-wise down the middle, removing a slice. We originally installed the channels using double-side tape. When we re-installed them, we decide to screw them into place.
The last modification was to add a strip of ABS plastic to the back wall of the gear garage, next to the rear compartment door. We were concerned that the kick stand from one of the bikes might rub against the wall.
We’ve gone on a few bike rides since getting our Lectric e-bikes. We are really happy with them so far. We’ll probably do a more in depth review and comparison after we get some more miles and experience with them.
Item Four: New Camp Chairs
Our previous camp chairs were showing their age. The fabric had gained some holes. So we decided to replace them. We wanted something with good back support, but folded up small. We were not interested in something that rocked. Then we sat in the GCI Stowaway Rockers (paid link). They were very comfortable. We could sit up straight in them, with good back support. We could picture ourselves sitting in these things for long periods of time, perhaps with a laptop in our laps. But they also rocked. OK, maybe that will be nice, too. So we bought them.
They don’t fold up as small as our previous chairs, so we had to re-arrange the gear garage to accommodate them. (It looks like GCI Outdoor has recently come out with the Freestyle Rocker which folds up more compactly, so you may want to check that one out as well.) The top shelf we had installed in the gear garage, where we previously stored our chairs, would not work. The new chairs sit on the side shelf, held in place with bungee cords and some angle brackets to keep them from sliding around. Items that were previously on the side shelf are now on the top shelf. We cut away some of the metal lip at both ends of the side shelf to make getting some items in and out easier. Somehow, we made it all work.
Item Five: New Roof Bag
We have always traveled in Red Tail with a roof bag. It holds Ann’s inflatable stand up paddle board. It sometimes holds our backpacking gear. However, the bag we had before kept developing holes from the buckles rubbing against the bag. We repaired it a few times with Gorilla tape, but felt it was time to try a different roof bag. Our first one was the 13 cubic foot RoofBag (paid link). The size fits perfectly in the open space between the rails on the roof. It was a vinyl coated polyester. The new one is a Sailnovo 15 cubic foot roof carrier (paid link). It is a similar size to the first one, so it fits in the same space on the roof. The outside is Oxford cloth with an interior PVC fabric lining. We’ll see if the Sailnovo holds up better.
We were concerned that the straps would slide along the rail on the driver’s side. So we installed a couple of eye bolts to the roof rails to keep the straps from moving along the rail.
Item Six: Collapsible Water Bin
This is a new item. We do have a plastic bin that we fill with rinse water for doing dishes. However, there was a time when Ann wanted to soak her feet. Using the same bin that we wash our dishes in seemed like a bad idea. So we bought a collapsible bin (paid link) that we can fill with water for times when we don’t want to use the dish bin. It stores pretty flat, so it doesn’t take up much space. We haven’t used it yet, so we’ll let you know when we do.
Item Seven: Glass Storage Containers
The food storage containers that we used to use for leftovers or other items were plastic. We had three large square ones and three small square ones with lids. Over time, they would stain and start to look rather grungy. Last Christmas, our daughter gave us some glass storage containers from a company called Bentgo (paid link). We’ve had some glass containers before, but they’ve always had plastic lids that don’t last very long before they break or split. The base of the Bentgo containers is made from borosilicate glass (which also goes by the trademark name of Pyrex). The lids are a combination of tempered glass and silicone. They include a small vent hole in the glass lid that can be closed by a silicone strap. This allows the container to have a strong seal when closed and a vent for microwave use when open. The containers come in round, rectangular and square shapes, in sets of varying sizes that nest inside of each other, thus taking up less space.
In order for six of the glass containers to fit in the same space in Red Tail that we previously had the six plastic ones, we needed two sets of the square containers. However, we only saw the square containers being sold from Bentgo in larger sets with some of the other shapes. But, we found a similar container from a company called EcoEvo (paid link). The only differences seem to be that the lids from EcoEvo only come in Grey compared with the multiple colors of Bentgo lids and the capacity of each container is not printed on the bottom of the container.
To keep the containers from rattling as we drive down the road, we put a piece of leftover shelf liner between each layer. The glass containers should not stain and the lids seem like they should last a lot longer than the plastic ones. Only time will tell, though. We’ll keep you updated.
Item Eight: Re-Zip Bags
In addition to the food containers, we also use bags to store food items. In the past, we’ve used Ziplock freezer bags, both the gallon size and the quart size. In order to save space, we only traveled with 6 of the gallon size and 6 of the quart size, washing the bags between uses. However, there are times during the season that the Ziplock bags break, tear, or otherwise leak. To replace them on the road means buying a whole box of them from the store, which is something we would rather not do.
At home, we use the silicone zippered bags. We like avoiding plastics and like that we can put the silicone bags in the dishwasher. But the silicone bags are thick and stiff, which takes up more space storing them and more space in the fridge. Plus, the advantage of putting them in the dishwasher is not an issue while traveling as we don’t have a dishwasher in Red Tail.
In addition to the Bentgo containers, our daughter also gave us some Re-Zip bags for Christmas. The Re-Zip bags are plastic, but seem sturdier than the Ziplock freezer bags. They say they are dishwasher safe, but the high heat of the dishwasher caused the bags to lose their original shape, so we wouldn’t recommend putting them in the dishwasher.
In fact, we’re not sure we would recommend these bags yet. They are a little thicker and stiffer than the Ziplocks. Putting an item in an appropriately sized bag becomes more important since the Re-Zip bags cannot be folded to reduce the unused space. We like that Re-Zip has bags with pleated bottoms, so that they can stand up vertically. However, we’ve noticed that Ziplock now has some pleated bags as well. We’re going to try the Re-Zip bags this season and see if we like them.
Our plan is to carry a variety of sizes which includes four gallon bags, two half-gallon bags, four quart bags, four 2-cup bags, and four snack size bags. All have the pleated bottoms except for the gallon bags. And yes, that is more bags than we were carrying before and we’ve moved where they are stored to accommodate that. We used to have the bags stored in the bottom drawer under the sink and we’ve moved them to the upper cabinet above the sink. They fit vertically alongside our Instant Pot.
The Re-Zip bags are much more expensive than Ziplock bags and they are still plastic. Our hope is that they will last a lot longer than Ziplock bags. The jury is still out on whether the Re-Zip bags are worthwhile or not.
Item Nine: FitRV Water Filter
At the end of Season Five, we replaced the 5 micron water filter under the sink with a 0.5 micron water filter. We like the 0.5 micron filter as it seems to improve the taste of the water, which can sometimes be noticeable as we fill our fresh water tank from a lot of different sources around the country. We replace the filter every season. For Season Eight, we decided to upgrade to an even better water filter, the one from the Fit RV 3-in-1 RV Water Filter Replacement Cartridge (paid link). It has a 5 micron filter in combination with a 0.2 micron filter and activated carbon. We haven’t used it yet, so we can’t comment on if there is any improvement in taste. But we definitely should have a close to 0% chance of getting sick from the water, no matter where we get our water from.
Item Ten: New Fresh Water Hose and Sewer Hose
Every season, we replace our fresh water hose and our sewer hose. It was probably especially important this time around because who knows what kind of germs and bacteria we would have been growing had those old hoses sat in storage for almost a year. We threw the old ones away before we left for Europe for Season Seven and bought replacement hoses after we came back from Europe.
Item Eleven: Exterior Windshield Cover
We have interior shades from VanMadeGear (unpaid link) for the front cab windows and windshield. However, exterior shades would provide better insulation against heat gain, as they don’t allow the sunlight to enter into the cab through the windows before being reflected back out. The one we bought is from Vanncamp designed for the Ford Transit (paid link). We’ll let you know how we like it as we gain more experience with it.
Item Twelve: Archery Equipment
Keith shot arrows in his backyard quite often as a kid. As we traveled around the country, he noticed how many state parks had archery ranges. There is also a city archery range not far from our house. So he has revived his childhood interest in archery. We’ll be carrying his archery equipment with us in Red Tail. Hopefully we stay at places where he can use his bow and arrows.
Item Thirteen: Replacement Radio Antenna
The original radio antenna that comes on the Ford Transit is over two feet tall. For some reason, Keith found it annoying (Ann did not share that opinion), so he replaced it with a much shorter one. The new one is the 3.8 inch aluminum antenna for Ford Transit (2013-2025) (paid link). It’s not very expensive (around $20), so Ann thinks it’s worth the money to make Keith happy.
Item Fourteen: Shorter Tire Air Chuck
The Viair air compressor kit (paid link) that we bought for Red Tail at the start of Season Five came with a long filler stick or tire air chuck to allow us to reach the tire valve of the inner tire of the dual tires.
However, the original one was rather cumbersome to use for the outer tire. So we replaced it with a slightly shorter chuck, which still reaches the inner tire, but is easier to use with the outer tire. The new one is the 6 inch dual head air chuck (paid link).
Item Fifteen: New GoPro
Ann has been using the GoPro Hero 10 Black for several years now, so she thought it was about time to upgrade. So she now has a GoPro 13 Black (paid link) with the Ultra Wide Lens Mod (paid link). Even though she didn’t take a GoPro with us on our trip to Europe last year, Ann still likes having one. It is easier to taking videos of us hiking down a trail with the GoPro compared with our iPhones. It also comes in handy for strapping to the front of her paddle board or for dipping in the water for those underwater shots. We’ll see how often she uses the Ultra Wide Lens.
Well, that’s it for our new gear for Season Eight. Hopefully you found this list useful. We’ll probably have another list next season!
Check out our related video: New Gear for Season Eight
(Ann)