FYI AI tools for RVers

[Neal]

AI is here and if you're not already dabbling in it and you probably are even with google search and not even know it, you should really start learning it. I started with chatGPT and I'm a paid subscriber now, it's been a huge help with handling my mother's situation before and after passing, my personal matters, recipe ideas, you name it, everything. It is well worth the money but I used free for a long time with no issue but got to using it more that I paid up.

I've been using tools in my developer environment for some time now and it is unbelievable. Yes, it's going to replace people, I'm paying the max plan now Claude code which is 200/mo for the highest tier and it is far cheaper than hiring a developer and I'm getting months of work done practically daily. It is that good! I've moved from Github copilot to Claude code both desktop and CLI use, it is unbelievable!!! But I've also used Claude AI for other things such as when I pooched this server and had to rebuild it I let it guide me through the process for optimal setup and yes, we came out better than we were before. It's helped me fix server issues I could never resolve. I use it in financial questions with swing trading, etc. Claude AI is now my goto tool over chatGPT but I still use chatGPT as well for my more generic stuff.

I've been watching some YouTube content on AI tools such as this channel and these tools are growing so fast. If you use any of them, be sure to check into the plugins, connectors and all of the 3rd party integrations.

How does this apply to RVing? I'm going to start using it for trip planning but also things to do. I notice Claude on my phone even had a Trip Advisor connector as well as All Trails and many more.

I open the discussion so we can all learn from each other in how AI is folding into our RV lifestyle for planning and getting the most out of our stays at destinations.

ChatGPT

Claude AI

Grok is part of X

And there are more, I only use the first two above. Be sure to install them on your phone but also your computer, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/@PaulJLipsky

 

[murphysranch]

Its all over my head at this point, but I look forward to what you're able to teach me.

 

[Neal]

Its all over my head at this point, but I look forward to what you're able to teach me.

I suggest as a first start just installing the apps or go to their websites and use them instead of google search and see what they tell you. They will learn about you as you go and help shape questions in the future. Nothing to be intimidated about or concerned about, just use it as a search tool and you'll be amazed.

 

[Phillbo]

I just ask my wife. She knows everything.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

I suggest as a first start just installing the apps or go to their websites and use them instead of google search and see what they tell you. They will learn about you as you go and help shape questions in the future. Nothing to be intimidated about or concerned about, just use it as a search tool and you'll be amazed.

I sometimes scratch my head when it says: Since you are a DIY, this should be easy for you to do.

 

[GypsyR]

Anybody a got tip or two on AI usage for me? ChatGPT in particular and even just Google searches. A number of times here lately I've wanted to ask a question and exclude the obvious everyday answer. Today it was "What would cause a car's air conditioning evaporator box to sweat water?" Now any time you have water dripping from that area in a car it's REALLY common that the condensate drain tube is clogged or kinked or something. I KNOW that. I could NOT get the query to not return results without "drain tube" in them. Page after page of blaming the drain tubes plus fixes for them, etc. Completely irrelevant to my issue.
(Suspecting a dirty cabin filter to be the main contributing culprit).

On Google searches I was looking for a certain TV, TCL model 123A (or whatever) but for the life of me I could not get Google Shopping to exclude model 123B. Used to be easy to Google model 123a -video -Youtube or whatever. Nowadays you can't even use the minus sign to exclude things it seems. I used to have at least fair Google-fu skills but it seems the rules have changed with the integration of AI. Finding it harder to get the results I'm after in many cases. I seem to be getting force-fed what something "thinks" is the best answer rather than correct answers. Which surely seems backwards progression. Or is it all just me?

 

[John&Andrea]

I have used ChatGPT and it has helped me in my research. We are on a first name basis now.
I was recently diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR). We had never heard of it and was some what confused. Chat has been my medical book. It has helped.

 

[Buster]

I used Google Gemini (Search) to suggest an RV trip from Prince George BC to Las Vegas NV. I didn't give Gemini any suggestions other than I wanted a leisurely trip of 25 days and to cross the boarder in MT. I then had a back and forth conversation where it asked me a few questions and then I told it to map out my trip.

This is what it provided (i'll just post the first 6 days to limit the length) including a ferry crossing, driving restrictions and various recommendations -

Day 1: Prince George to Valemount (3 hours RV driving)
RV Drive: Head east out of Prince George on Highway 16. It is a wide, flat, excellent commercial trucking route.
Stop 1: Ancient Forest Boardwalk (RV Accessible): Pull the 45' RV right into the large tour-bus friendly gravel loop. Walk the incredible ancient cedar boardwalks.
Stop 2: Mount Robson Visitor Centre (RV Accessible): Pull into the massive, designated long-vehicle parking stalls. Admire the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
Action: Unhook your toad at the Visitor Centre parking lot for a quick 5-minute drive down the road to Overlander Falls (where RV parking is too tight). Re-hook and head to camp.
RV Base Camp: iRVs recomendation: Irvin's Park & Campground or Robson Meadows Campground (both have massive pull-through sites).

Day 2: Valemount to Clearwater / Wells Gray (1.5 hours RV driving)
RV Drive: Travel south on Highway 5, a smooth, wide highway with rolling hills.
Camp First: Drive straight to your campground in Clearwater and fully unhook your toad. [1]
Toad Excursion 1: Blue River Safari: Drive the toad 45 minutes back north (or hit it on the way down before checking in) to the River Safari docks. Take a jet-boat eco-tour to spot grizzly bears.
Toad Excursion 2: Wells Gray Waterfalls: Drive your toad up the winding Clearwater Valley Road inside Wells Gray Provincial Park. Easily park at Spahats Falls and the towering Helmken Falls (which are difficult to maneuver in a 45' rig).
RV Base Camp: iRVs recommendation: Wells Gray Golf Resort & RV Park or Clearwater Valley Resort (excellent big-rig pull-throughs).

Day 3: Clearwater to Revelstoke (3 hours RV driving)
RV Drive: Take Highway 5 to Kamloops, then head east on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway). This is a heavy commercial corridor fully built for big rigs.
Stop 1: The Last Spike (RV Accessible): Pull into the long, flat paved loop parking lot at Craigellachie to see where the historic railway was finished.
Camp First: Drive straight into Revelstoke, park the 45' RV at your campsite, and unhook the toad.
Toad Excursion: Revelstoke Mountain Coaster: Take the toad up to Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Zip down the ski hills on the Pipe Mountain Coaster without worrying about the tight, terraced parking lots.
RV Base Camp: iRVs recommendation: Williamson Lake Campground or Boulder Mountain Resort (both accommodate 45'+ rigs easily). [1]

Day 4: Revelstoke Alpine Exploring (0 hours RV driving)
RV Status: The big rig stays safely parked and plugged into shore power at your campsite all day.
Toad Excursion: Meadows in the Sky Parkway: Drive your toad up this incredible paved mountain highway. Switchback up to the summit of Mount Revelstoke to hike through subalpine wildflower fields. Remember, your RV is legally banned here due to the 26-foot length limit, so the toad is your golden ticket!
Evening: Use the toad to easily parallel park in historic downtown Revelstoke for dinner and local craft beer.

Day 5: Revelstoke to Nakusp Hot Springs (1.5 hours RV driving)
RV Drive: Drive south on Highway 23. It is paved and quiet.
Ferry Crossing: Drive the 45' RV directly onto the free Upper Arrow Lakes Ferry at Shelter Bay. It easily accommodates commercial semi-trucks. Turn off your propane tanks before boarding.
Stop 1: Halcyon Hot Springs (RV Accessible): Right off Highway 23, pull into their wide, terraced parking area for a luxurious soak overlooking the lake.
Camp First: Drive down to Nakusp and set up the RV at your campsite. Unhook the toad.
Toad Excursion: Nakusp Hot Springs: Use the toad to drive the narrow, twisty mountain road up to the forested Nakusp Hot Springs pools for a nighttime soak.
RV Base Camp: iRVs recommendation: Nakusp Village Campground (large-rig friendly) or the commercial sites at Halcyon Hot Springs Resort.

Day 6: Nakusp to Kaslo (1.5 hours RV driving)
RV Paved Route: Drive south on Highway 6 to New Denver, then take Highway 31A East over to Kaslo. This avoids the unpaved dirt nightmare of northern Highway 31. Highway 31A has tight curves but is completely paved and used by commercial trucks.
Camp & Unhook: Drive straight into Kaslo, park the RV at your final campsite, and unhook the toad.
Toad Excursion 1: Sandon Ghost Town & Idaho Peak: Drive the toad up the rough dirt mountain road into the Sandon Ghost Town to see the vintage trolley buses. If the weather is clear, continue up the steep dirt switchbacks to Idaho Peak for 360-degree alpine views.
Toad Excursion 2: Downtown Kaslo & SS Moyie: Drive the toad down to the tight waterfront streets to tour the historic SS Moyie sternwheeler and stroll the shops.
RV Base Camp: iRVs recommendation: Kaslo City Bay Park Campground (stunning waterfront sites that can book big rigs if reserved early).

Looks like a pretty good base trip that I could then modify as needed to suit my interests. I'm a believer, although "Trust but Verify" will absolutely be necessary until I get more familiar with it's recommendations including putting the actual route into the Garmin.

The one thing I did notice is that it didn't take into account check in times because it had the camp site as one of the first stops on some days which could be an issue but I'm guessing I could adjust as needed if the Excursions were exactly what I wanted to do.

I want to try Claude and Deepseek to see how they also play in this space - whether uniquely or to feed them this itinerary to see what they enhance.

 

[John&Andrea]

I used it some on our Utah trip earlier this year.

 

[Holdmybeer]

The guy who does " The Mariner" sailing videos on YT is a big proponent of using AI. He uses it for navigation, weather and routing. I'm restoring a little lido 14 sailing dinghy that sat abandoned for 22 years and it's been an extremely helpful fountain of information. Used it to fix a glitch in my iphone yesterday.

 

[Headhunter]

I use ChatGPT and used Copilot before that. The wealth of information is amazing. When I'm stuck on searches for firearms either on dates of manufacture, serial number, model numbers, they bring it all up. You can ask them anything.

I even got the correct stock plug gap sizes, and calibrator jet settings for a twenty year old Harley Davidson. Try finding that in your hand books. Even medical questions, history, road maps, and more. Yep I am a beliver.

HH

 

[Underboss]

I just did a trip routing with a decent number of parameters and it turned out pretty close to what I had planned on RV trip wizard. It took literally seconds compared to my 5 hour plan and research
I used Gemini

 

[Neal]

I'm starting to make my reservations for leaving next week. Here is an example of what I asked and I'm going through it's suggestions now (and later). First time using chatGPT for this. I still don't know what when or where but this is my first cut at figuring out post chassis service a plan.

 

[Old Islander]

I have used ChatGPT and it has helped me in my research. We are on a first name basis now.
I was recently diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR). We had never heard of it and was some what confused. Chat has been my medical book. It has helped.

Another family member and I have had that. Do they have you on Prednisone yet? They started me on a large dose, and I tapered off over six months. When finished, the polymyalgia was gone and has not returned in three years.

 

[Buster]

I really like the explanation that is provided for all of the decisions as it very quickly validates whether that is something I want to consider. The seasonal aspect wasn't something I thought AI would help with, but it certainly takes that into consideration.
'
Side note - I stayed at Creekwood Farms last year and i would recommend. Quiet area to explore the Smokies.