mobile internet for a travel trailer

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Flipper35

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  • #1
    So, with the new camper and my option to wfh some days, is there a decently affordable mobile internet? I ask because the wifi hotspot in the van is under $200 for the year for unlimited data.

    Would like to be able to park somewhere, national park or something, for a few days and get some work done then sight see. Won't need it for the winter but if a yearly plan is decently discounted I would go with that. So far I see $90 per month for mobile internet or $50 per month for a tablet then add on for hot spot. I will just add a hot spot to our plan for that, but like the idea of a better antenna.
     
    Paladin

    Paladin

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  • #2
    I think the common choices are basically Starlink (whatever that goes for now, $150 a month?), or some version of LTE/5G service from whatever provider fits your needs. I think I would test out Mint Mobile to see how it goes if you think you can stay under 5GB per month or something. It works out to be under $200 a year. If you need more data then you have to go up on the plan.
     
    Andrewcw

    Andrewcw

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  • #4
    Assuming the USA market. Other then Starlink. Buying a dedicated Hotspot is near useless. Most of them now have restrictions just like Cellphones have. If you're OK with prioritized data then I'd pick the some other network that isn't your current cellphone carrier as the option. MVNO's definitely have made this option without contracts possible. You'll probably just end up getting a cellphone and using it as a hotspot considering most hotspots no longer have a RJ45 Ethernet connection.
     
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    Flipper35

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  • #6
    Starlink is out of the question based on price alone. $600 for the equipment and then $150 per month when using it five or six days a month in the spring/summer/fall.

    We have never hit a dead spot in the van with the dedicated hot spot and 4G.

    Mint might be an option if we wanted just a phone/tablet with a hot spot for those instances, but would prefer a proper mobile unit. Andrew, AT&T, T Mobile all have mobile internet plans with mobile routers that go with them, but they run $90ish per month. If we lived in the camper I would go that route or even possibly Starlink.
     
    Andrewcw

    Andrewcw

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  • #9
    So you're basically going to pay more. Cellphone companies don't want you using a "Cellphone" plan on a hotspot. It's a gamble they take that you're not really going to use "unlimited" or whatever data to the max capacity. But once you put it on a dedicated Hotspot device they're fairly certain you're going to be one of the heavy use users.

    You're looking maybe for something like this. https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-x3000/ And finagling a sim card into it.

    Personally i'd go Cellphone Hotspot. And then Double nat off that with one of these. https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-sft1200/ if i needed ethernet connections. Considering most applications/VPN now know how to traverse multiple layers of NAT.
     
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    Flipper35

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  • #11
    Andrewcw said:
    So you're basically going to pay more. Cellphone companies don't want you using a "Cellphone" plan on a hotspot. It's a gamble they take that you're not really going to use "unlimited" or whatever data to the max capacity. But once you put it on a dedicated Hotspot device they're fairly certain you're going to be one of the heavy use users.

    You're looking maybe for something like this. https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-x3000/ And finagling a sim card into it.

    Personally i'd go Cellphone Hotspot. And then Double nat off that with one of these. https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-sft1200/ if i needed ethernet connections. Considering most applications/VPN now know how to traverse multiple layers of NAT.
    Click to expand...
    Pay more compared to which? As stated, I could use a tablet on Mint or wherever, or a small data plan for the mobile hot spot. Companies also have specific plans for mobile hot spots as well, just like in our van. If I did Mint/Boost/whomever, the 5GB plan is far less expensive than Starlink. Not sure camping would use that much, even if I were working all week.

    Whatever we do I would like decent coverage. As I said, using the hotspot from our phone is far less than ideal.

    So far, only Starlink is out of the question as purchasing the equipment and $150 per month is far higher price than even AT&T's unlimited data for mobile hotspots at $80 per month.

    There are the business internet for construction companies that are not geofenced as well.

    The gl-inet looks intriguing and will look further into that as they have a section in reference to RVs.

    Thanks again.
     
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    uno2tres

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  • #12
    Visible (Verizon MVNO) is $25/month for unlimited deprioritized data, including hotspot— as far as I can tell, it’s still truly unlimited, I used it extensively while on the road summer 2022, 100GB+ for multiple consecutive months. In rural areas, you won’t notice deprioritization, but it sucks in urban areas.

    Mint (what I’m on now) is much better for day to day urban use, but they make you call in to port your number out and give you the hard sell.
     
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    Drizzt321

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  • #14
    Flipper35 said:
    national park or something
    Click to expand...
    A lot of national parks are out where there is poor to no cell signal. A cell booster might, if up on a mast, help somewhat while parked. Otherwise, satellite (HughesNet/Starlnk). Starlink would be the general satellite recommendation in my book. However, you generally need a decently sized unobstructed field of view of the sky, which in more forested parks (trees/shade can be nice!) is more desired. Again, a mast might help some, if you can get it up 20-30ft in the air.

    What trailer? There are a fair number of mounts out there these days if you have a ladder on the back to put up a 1.5-2" tube that breaks apart. I wouldn't want it up if you're getting 45+ mph gusts, but for more normal winds with the occasional gust, solidly attached in 2+ places on a rear ladder or similar on the trailer and that sort of mount will be sturdy and stable.

    BTW, those cell booster can work, if you've got an OK signal, but then you'd separately need a hot spot or phone hot spot add-on.
     
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    Flipper35

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  • #15
    It is a 1979 Avion 34 footer.

    I was looking at the dome antenna to replace the TV aerial that is there. The gl-inet also does wifi repeating. Most parks have free wifi. Not sure how well it would work, but there it is. May just give up internet at remote locations. Just thought it would be nice to use and not burn up PTO.

    We got it at an estate sale. The window is fixed now.

    trailer.jpg
     
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    Drizzt321

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  • #16
    Wow, triple axle, big old trailer. Hope you got a very thorough inspection on everything. Also consider converting all the lights/etc to 12v, and get a LiFePO4 house battery for it, with charging from the tow-vehicle as well as shore power. Possibly add solar. And they make MUCH more effective and efficient 12/24v compressor fridges these days. Personally I'd ditch the 3-way fridge it probably came with and upgrade to one of those. Provided there's sufficient ventilation for it, which probably is because if it's a 3-way, needs a vent for the propane side.

    Back to the rest, I'd actually say take it on 2 or 3 trips of a 3-4 day length first, to some parks, and see how it is actually inside them. Maybe with booster/repeater, if they aren't too expensive, to see how well they work. Also what sort of overhead clearance you have. Recreation.gov has pictures of their sites, mostly accurate, and you can check GMaps satellite view. Might actually generally be Starlink compatible most places, or close enough to get an OK connection.

    I found it definitely took me multiple trips and start using my little 14.5' trailer to start seeing how I'd live inside it, how to organize myself, etc. Definitely make sure you have a spare tire, lift/tools to change it, and actually practice it once before you need to. Have a basic toolkit with you, some spare fuses, any shore power adapters, black/grey water drain adapters/etc you might come across. Should only amount to a couple to be safe.

    Also get the bearings re-greased. When I got mine, apparently the owner hadn't had the grease changed in quite a long time. They didn't fail, but apparently was getting close. And if there are trailer brakes, get those checked as well. And ensure you have a brake controller to actually use them, they make a HUGE difference in stopping distance, especially if you end up going through hilly/mountainous areas. Which a ton of national parks are.
     
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    Flipper35

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  • #17
    It needs some work, but most everything works. Lights in the interior are getting replaced with LED. Had no batteries so ordered 2 200AH LiFePo4 along with the inverter/converter and the 12v-12v charger so it won't tax the alternator charging down the road. Getting a 12v fridge, bought a new commode for it that is more water efficient. Needs the emergency breakaway brake fixed but the brakes work. Got 7 new tires already since the ones we towed it home with were from 2007, that was a slow night. We have a 16' V nose cargo so we had the brake controller already in the truck. Have a weight distribution hitch as well. The front rock guard needed the hinge replaced. Going to check the spindles for grease and gas lines next. Plumbing has a small leak at the water heater and the shower drain is plugged. Have a 2.5 ton hydraulic jack that I need to see if it will fit under to lift a wheel. The Avion trailers are all independent suspension so it trails nice and smooth the two times we hauled it (once to get it home, once to replace the tires).

    Got the backup cameras, rear and two side on the marker lights since it is a pain to park at home. Cargo trailer is easy with the dolly that connects to the garden tractor, but it is 2250# empty and the Avion is 6500# empty. Little heavier than we were looking for since the truck is only rated to 8000#.

    Needs a good cleaning inside and out. The local flooring place had luxury vinyl planks on closeout to replace the floor. Got a new couch to replace the old and there is a desk going in front to replace that love seat. There are only four of us so the sleeping situation is good given our 6'1" 8th grader doesn't fit on the love seat anyway and we already had a bed for him to use as we were originally going to use the cargo trailer for camping until we stumbled on this one.

    Wife is looking at freeze dryers so all we have to do is add boiling water to have beef stew or what not and save space in the fridge/freezer.
     
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    Drizzt321

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  • #18
    Ha! Ok, so you're pretty decently prepared.

    Just remember, the only thing more expensive than an older trailer/RV is a boat.

    Myself, when I had my vintage in last to add a new fresh water tank, turns out a couple of the cross-L brackets need replacing. Great. So now I'm taking it back this weekend and spending MORE money and getting them replaced. All in all, it's in really good shape for it's age, so long as I keep up with the maintenance and don't slide on fixing something that needs it right away, until it balloons and is a huge problem.
     
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    Flipper35

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  • #19
    Drizzt321 said:
    Ha! Ok, so you're pretty decently prepared.

    Just remember, the only thing more expensive than an older trailer/RV is a boat.

    Myself, when I had my vintage in last to add a new fresh water tank, turns out a couple of the cross-L brackets need replacing. Great. So now I'm taking it back this weekend and spending MORE money and getting them replaced. All in all, it's in really good shape for it's age, so long as I keep up with the maintenance and don't slide on fixing something that needs it right away, until it balloons and is a huge problem.
    Click to expand...
    The two happiest days with a boat is they day you buy it and the day you sell it.

    The Avion are well built units so they hold up well and have dealt with trailers of some sort most of my life so I have that going for me.

    I also have the tools and space to do a lot of this ourselves. The breakaway I will leave to the pros though.

    The AC works good, forgot to mention that.

    Anyone have a suggestion on a good 12v fridge?
     
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    Drizzt321

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  • #20
    Dometic (https://www.dometic.com/en-us/outdoor/rv-and-van/refrigerators/rv-refrigerators) and Norcold (https://norcold.com/) are good brands, I'm using Novakool (https://www.novakool.com/) because they had one that fits the weird hole in my vintage trailer. Vitrifugo (https://www.vitrifrigo.com/us/us/) is also really good, although a bit more marine focused. They do offer pre-charged quick-connect units so you can turn a ice box into a fridge/freezer unit. Which is more of a marine thing than an RV thing, but if you wanted to do some kind of custom sized/shaped unit it's a reasonable option.
     
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