After doing a good deal of research on my own I decided to get more help. Back in January I put out a call for help from friends and family to learn as much as I could about the RV lifestyle. https://deanorolls.com/2020/01/26/why-i-think-the-rv-life-is-for-me/ I had some great responses that were super helpful. I took what I learned and continued to do more research.
The responses got me so energized that we decided to get moving (and accelerate our plan a bit). I have another project that is moving along as well that accelerated my need for a truck. My 1938 Model A John Deere went to the paint shop earlier this year. Once it comes out, I’ll need to be able to move it around. I began researching what I’d need for that. I paired this research alongside what we might eventually need to pull the RV trailer that we will want. I was also tired of not having a truck when I needed it (which was surprisingly often).
A few months later and we have the truck and the RV trailer that we believe will work well for us for some time to come. I talk about everything in detail in the video, so I won’t repeat it all here. I cover what we purchased (Dodge RAM 150 Big Horn and Heartland Mallard M210RB), where we purchased (truck @ Franklin Dodge and trailer @ Camping World) and how that went, the initial trip home, and initial impressions of the truck and trailer based on the initial voyage. I also talk about how the Coronavirus and Depression 2.0 were brought to you all probably by my decisions to purchase an RV! SORRY!
For the non-readers head over to my YouTube channel “DeanoRolls” (subscribe while you are there). I’ll be posting videos of places we travel there if you are interested.
I’ve added my checklist for setting up and tearing down as well as what is in my bins (in case you might find it helpful).
4/4/2020
DeanoRolls (@deanoroll5) 
Yep, how is that ‘empty’ nest feeling these days?
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They can keep the place clean while we are gone!!! Ha!
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I just want to say that I love these videos. I also live in south Nashville, and my wife and I are about to purchase the same RV — the Heartland Mallard M210RB. We are also about to move into a 164-acre farm in Giles County, Tennessee. I have a Chevy Z71 to tow the RV. Watching these videos is like a mirror for my wife and me. I found these videos because I was searching for more info on the Heartland Mallard. Thanks so much for your vlog of this. We are in our 50’s and approaching retirement age as well, and we wanted to get a jump on the RV learning curve.
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I’m reminded of the Stepbrother’s scene…”did we just become best friend?!?!” LOL The RV has been great and the 1/2 ton truck pulls it perfectly. We’ve been completely happy with it (once we switched out the mattress). Thanks for the nice comment! Good luck out there!
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Deano,
Hey there my brother from another RV. Just had a question. My wife and I bought the same model and year Mallard you have. M210RB. I’m still a newbie with this. I hope this isn’t a stupid question, but we have no manuals on it other than the generic ones online. Could I ask where the hot water heater valves are? I think I have to take a panel off in the storage compartment but thought I’d ask first.
Also, we live in Nashville and plan on posting our RV trips to the state and national parks as well much like you guys did. We are planning on doing them all in the order you did them. Should be interesting. Nothing posted yet, but we are working on that.
http://www.youtube.com/@HartnRole
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Yep, there are two valves for the water heater. They are both together. On the driver side inside the small door on the front of the RV there is a panel. You remove the panel to access it. I just left the panel off so I could get to it easily whenever.
You’ll have fun. The first few trips you’ll get used to doing RV’ing after that you’ll get used to having fun getting off the couch. TN has some beautiful places to see. I don’t normally subscribe to a lot of channels but I’m a proud subscriber to @HartnRole and look forward to seeing ya’ll head out there. Have fun.
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