Ep. 67 Driver’s Edition – New Battle Born Batteries, Internet, Towing Capacity, and Tires

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5G or Starlink for RVers

5G service can deliver up to 20 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) peak data rates and 100+ Megabits-per-second (Mbps). This new interface, which uses a millimeter-wave spectrum, enables more devices within the same geographic area; 4G can support about 4,000 devices per square kilometer, whereas 5G will support around one million. The shorter wavelength means 5G can carry a lot of data much faster than 4G, but it also means a much shorter range. 4G wavelengths have a range of about 10 miles. 5G wavelengths have a range of about 1,000 feet, not even 2% of 4G’s range.

We think we’re a little ways down the road before 5G is widespread enough for RV use, but we think maybe StarLink could be the answer for fast, dependable internet while on the road and in a shorter time period. SpaceX is working on an antenna that will connect vehicles like semi-trucks and RVs to its satellite internet network. Elon Musk says the antenna will not be for “connecting Tesla cars to Starlink,” saying that the user “terminal is much too big.”

Starlink is the company’s capital-intensive project to build an interconnected internet network with thousands of satellites, known in the space industry as a constellation, designed to deliver high-speed internet to consumers anywhere on the planet. Kenny and Sean do not believe this is something we see for the general public this year, but hopefully, this will become a reality for us very soon, with Beta testers already out on the road now.

Battle Born Batteries Game Changer

Dragonfly Energy introduced two new battery models for its consumer line, Battle Born Batteries: the BB8D and the BBGC3. They are both 12V 270 Ah deep cycle batteries with different form factors that use the same reliable LiFePO4 technology as our other batteries.

The BB8D is 21.29 inches L x 11.59 inches W x 10.01 inches H weighs 75 pounds.

The BBGC3 is 22.83 inches L x 7.09 inches W x 13.15 inches H and weighs 75 pounds.

Here are the dimensions of their 100amp batteries for comparison: 12.75L × 6.87W × 8.95H in and weigh 31lbs.

Battle Born Batteries Auction for Charity

Battle Born Batteries, connected with Care Camps, a non-profit organization that hosts specialized camps for children with cancer. They are currently holding a charity auction event, where they are selling open box components on our fundraising page.

Starting on March 15th at 9 am PST, the sale of open box components will take place on the company’s Greater Giving auction page. These items are open box components that were used by their engineering department and will be sold as-is. The auction will end on Friday, March 19th at 5 pm PST, at the link here: http://www.battlebornauctionforcarecamps.com/ .

Tow Rating and Cargo Capacity

Figuring out how much a truck can tow is a complicated process. If you are towing with your truck, especially travel trailers and fifth wheels, you need to know your towing weight to ensure you are as safe as possible. Sean recently made a very comprehensive video on how to know you are within spec while towing. He explains the differences in many of the terms manufacturers use when describing vehicles’ weights in different scenarios. We also talk about the importance of tire ratings when it comes to towing and cargo capacity.

TDS Ladder & Discount code for Little Giant Epic Ladder

Our next episode is with TDS Ladder. Chris Procopio is the owner of the company, and TDS Ladder is a factory-direct store for Little Giant. We learned what it means to be a factory-direct store and how that all came to be. It is a fascinating story. As a thank you, Chris is offering a $100 discount on the new Little Giant ladder starting April 1st. Use discount code RV100, but remember this code will not work until April 1stand ends at the end of April.

You can check out TDS Ladder here: https://tdsladders.com/.

We hope you enjoyed this episode and ask if you could leave a rating or review. This helps the show’s ranking and allows it to reach a larger audience. Take care, everyone, and safe travels!!

We would like to thank Battle Born Batteries for sponsoring this episode.

Battle Born Batteries are the best name in the RV and Marine Industries. These lithium batteries are designed and assembled in the USA, backed by a 10-year warranty. The best solution for your battery anxiety, so check them out!

If you are interested in sponsorship for the podcast email us at Sean@beyondthewheelpodcast.com or Kenny@beyondthewheelpodcast.com. We have several packages available.