Six rules for RV happiness

Yesterday I wrote an article on David and Sue McCarron's Volvo sleeper cab. They are out having the time of their lives RVing around the country and touring local areas on their motorcycles once they set-up camp.
David shared his philosophy of RVing which he calls, "Six rules for RV happiness."
1. Any driving day must be limited to 250 miles or five hours.

2. Regardless of rule one you must stop in time to completely set-up completely in daylight

3. You must set-up for at least 48 hours

4. Because of the size limitations of the 5th wheel they limit occupancy as follows: Drinks for six, dinner for four, sleeps two. The sleeper cab is the "condo" for overnight guests.

5. The driver does not start the engine until the "navigoddess" knows where we are going and how we are going to get there.

6. If in snow, you're doing it wrong!

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Will RV snowbirds fly south or stay home in 2008?

How will fuel prices and the uncertain economy effect the winter migration of RV snow birds this year? Some of my full-timer friends have already begun their journey from parts north headed toward the beautiful sunsets of southern California, Arizona, the Rio Grand Valley and Florida. Many of them live in park models or in their RV at a park model adult community. Not surprisingly, many of them left their RVs at their favorite park and drove their car or pick-up home at the end of last season.Southern destination adult parks are very popular and park models are becoming increasing popular options for senior adult living. These parks have everything you need including church services, swimming pools and spas, work-out rooms, craft and hobby shops, tennis, shuffle board, horse shoes, community sponsored dances, potlucks, bingo and all manner of entertainment. You can participate as much or as little as suits your lifestyle.

The Bureau of Land Management in California and Arizona normally sees thousands of migrating RVers spending the winter months boondocking in the desert. During the last few years Mexico has also experienced a greater number of RVers descending on it's beaches.

The Rio Grand Valley boasts over 350 adult "Winter Texan" parks and last year they were close to full. So were the parks in Florida and along the gulf coast. The big question is whether they will flock back to their winter roost or stay closer to home.Not all snowbirds exhibit the same habits during the migration period. For instance, many prefer to stay home until after the holidays to be with family then make a mad dash for the boarder. Others begin slowly making their way south sometime in October with the idea of being in place by mid November. Some decide not to go at all, but after the first snow fall change their minds.Quartzsite, Arizona is a good place to take the pulse of how the migration is moving since it is a kind of mecca for south western bound RVers. Last year attendance was significantly down at Quartzsite and many friends of mine who are vendors have told me they will not return in 2008. You can count on me reporting live from Quartzsite this year as the RV season hopefully kicks into high gear.It remails to be seen just how many RVers will stay home. I'm forecasting a significant drop in the numbers of RVers heading south in 2008. I anticipate a high park reservation cancellation rate (perhaps as much as 20% or more) even though current reservations look promising. So if you're not sure whether you'll head south this winter don't let the lack of a reservation stop you.

Senior adults who maku up the lion's share of the snowbird demographic have suffered losses to their retirement investments due to recent market turmoil which will dramatically affect RV travel plans this year.

Regardless of what happens with the economy there will be an RV snowbird migration this year. It may be smaller than previous years, but it will not be cancelled. Snowbirds are invested in the RV lifestyle and are also invested in long time friendships that are renewed each winter as the flock gathers in the southernmost regions of our nation. For a snowbird, winter is the best time of year! Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

How fast can you be ready for a weekend RV trip?

Earlier this summer I attended a Coachmen RV rally in Centreville, Michigan. These RVers had a great time eating together, playing games, enjoying great entertainment and one night we all watched the movie "RV" on the big screen. Let me tell you, there's nothing quite like watching "RV" with a room full of fellow RVers. The laughter was uproarious and Mrs. Professor and I had a great time!

One evening at dinner, I brought out my video camera and began questioning my fellow RVers about how long it took them to prepare for a weekend camping trip. The responses ranged from 30 minutes to a week. Bob & Gail Ring said it only took them 30 minutes,while Rick & Rita Frey disagreed on the prep time by a few days.Our Canadian friends Floyd & Lil Zimmer weren't exactly sure.I hope you'll enjoy the video as much as I did making it. In my opinion, RVers are the most enjoyable people you'll ever meet. They are fun loving, happy, positive people who enhance my life every time I'm around them (which is quite a bit if you've followed this blog for long). Excuse me, but I need to start getting ready for our next RV weekend trip to the Oregon coast - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.

How can you live full time in the confines of your RV?

Friends have asked us how we can live full time in the cramped quarters of an RV. This is an reasonable question for which I have a reasonable answer. If you go back in your family tree a few generations you’ll find ancestors who lived in small dwellings (often one or two rooms) in which they raised families, cooked, did laundry and made most of their own clothing. They also raised and preserved much of their own food and still had time for church.If these ancestors were alive today, they might ask us the opposite question, “How can we live in such large dwellings?” They would be lost in the average-sized American house.

RV living is far more advanced than what our ancestors had. RVers have indoor plumbing, microwave and convection ovens, cooktops, refrigerators, electric lights, computers, indoor/outdoor stereo, TV’s everywhere, cell phones and combo washer/dryers. Some RVs even have dishwashers.Many modern RVs have more storage and counter space than did 1800s kitchens. With slide-out rooms RV galleys have become even more spacious.
I would wager most any 1800s American family would have gladly moved from their one room dwelling into a modern day RV. They would have the same or even more living space and modern conveniences to boot. So the reason we live well in our RV is because we have everything we need and want, making life very comfortable.

People who question the full time RV lifestyle need to think outside the box, because much of the RV lifestyle happens outside the confines of the RV box. With awnings, outdoor entertainment, BBQs, portable tables and very comfortable folding chairs and lounges, outdoor living is an extension of your living quarters. Besides, most full time RVers follow the great weather by moving where they can enjoy the outdoors year round.

When I lived in a ginormous stick house I had loads of extra work including mowing, watering, fertilizing, winterizing, painting, cleaning, repairing, weeding, cleaning gutters, shoveling snow, and so-on (makes me tired just thinking about it). I have a new set of maintenance requirements for my RV, but they are much more manageable and make for easy living. I still need to look after the care and maintenance of two motorized vehicles (the motorhome and the towed vehicle), but I had to take care of two vehicles even when I lived in a stick house.

Our expenses are greatly diminished compared to living in a stick house. Even with increased fuel prices we still save money living the full time RV lifestyle. It allows us to visit our kids and grandkids (who are scattered over several states) much more frequently than when we were stationary. We have hundreds of RV friends we’ve met over the years. RVers are the friendliest people on the planet. We get to see great places and do interesting things we wouldn't otherwise be able to experience. We pay no property tax and our monthly space rental at RV campgrounds is a fraction of our former house payment.

Everything we need is right at our fingertips and best of all we sleep in our own comfortable bed every night whether we’re in Arizona or Maine, Florida or Montana. Giving you the full story - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV sign language saves time and space

Roger Conley (left) and his friend Richard (both from Reese Michigan) joke around at a recent Coachmen rally. Like many RVers Roger wanted to display he and his wife's name and where they are from. Nancy and Roger were relaxing under the awning one day and came up with this brilliant idea. Instead of the usual hand carved sign, he attached a weatherproof sign to the side of his slide-out. He used rivets to hold the sign in place and it it slides in and out past the rubber gaskets no problem.He doesn't have to store a sign every time he breaks camp or remember to put it out when he sets up. It's a self deploying "automatic" sign that's easy to install. You can make the sign yourself or have a sign shop make one for you. If you have an unusually long name and a short slide, you have a problem, but you could always run it vertically.

Signing off - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

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Grandma and Grandpa Love Their RV
Have your grandchildren ever asked you, “Grandma and Grandpa, where do you go in your motorhome?” Well, here’s a great way to answer their question: give them this wonderful children’s book, which shows them with words and dozens of colorful drawings where you go and what you do when you go away with your motorhome, fifth wheel or trailer. It explains that you worked hard all your life and now it’s time for you to play -- by pursuing your favorite hobby, RVing. Learn more or order.

RVs improving international relations

Renting an RV from CruiseAmerica is a great way for out-of-country visitors to see the U.S.A. The Moeller family from Dessau, Germany are enjoying Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with one of these RV motorhome rentals. They were camped next to us at the Tee Pee Campground in Mackinac City, Michigan. They came here to pick up their daughter, Mathilde, who was an exchange student here this past year. They wisely decided to combine an RV vacation along the way. The father Frank is a vascular surgeon and their son Paul is a first year medical student. The mom, Adrea, is a hospital secretary who says, “Americans are very nice here, everyone is very friendly and helpful.” Frank says, “The cars (he means motorhomes) here are big and not fit in campground in Germany.” We gave them a tour of our motorhome and spent the evening visiting with them using the daughter (who learned English well during her stay) as an interpreter. “Das is gut, Ja?” is about the extent of my German, but with hand signals, drawings, and an interpreter we had an excellent visit.The kids were having a great time as our long time RV friend Bill Isetts entertained the kids by making balloon animals and hats. RVers, no matter where they’re from are the nicest people on the planet and RVing is the best way to see the planet. In our travels we’ve met RVers from all over the world and have seen RVs that have actually been around the world. Frankly, I think the world would be a more peaceful and friendly place if everyone was an RVer! Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

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Woodall's 2006 Go & Rent Directory
The Woodall’s 2006 Rent & Go Guide will guide you to RV and campground lodging rentals for the USA, Canada or Mexico. This slim guide is helpful whether you want to plan a family vacation, find a great place to stay on a sportsman trip, or rent an RV before you buy one. Learn more or order.

Gloves look cool and make RV hook-up chores cleaner

The controversy over whether to wear gloves while dumping sewer tanks will continue as long as there are RVs, but that’s not what this article is about. This is a story about how wearing work gloves while hooking up your 5th wheel, travel trailer or the tow car to the motorhome is a good idea.I used to do all the pre-travel hook-up chores without wearing gloves. When I finished and was ready to climb into the drivers seat I would look at my hands and think, “how did they get so dirty?” I'd have to spend a few minutes washing and drying my hands before we could hit the road.

Wearing gloves will help keep your hands clean AND abrasion free. How many times have you cut your hands or busted your knuckles doing hook-up duty? Leather and rubber dot gloves also assist your grip.When necessary, you can easily remove a glove to do delicate work like fishing a key out of your pocket and unlocking a lock.I also like to wear gloves when pumping fuel as it keeps the smell off my hands and helps me grip the nozzle. It also looks cool when you put them in your hip pocket while walking into the Truck Plaza. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

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DVD: Trailer Towing, Weights, Hitch Work & Backing Video
Learn how to tow your trailer the safe and easy way. In this DVD RV expert Mark Polk shows you everything you need to know about towing, weights, hitch work and backing. Essential viewing for new trailer owners. Learn more or order.

RVing brings a new "fest" every weekend

Summertime is party-time in towns and villages all across America allowing RVers many opportunities to join in. I recently reported on the National Cherry Festival and last week we attended the “Alpenfest” in Gaylord, Michigan. The Chamber Maids (as in Chamber of Commerce) Karen Lamb (left) and Gail Skerratt (right) welcome visitors to the Alpenfest.The town of Gaylord is already decorated like an authentic alpine village but when they close off main street and set up the tents it turns into pure Michigan fun.

They celebrate all week with live entertainment. The outdoor restaurant features great German food with a live band playing authentic German music.The carnival anchors one end of town while young and old alike enjoy the festivities. A variety of German/Austrian food along with the standard carnival fair is offered on a side street.Vendors sell their wares as bands entertain on the museum lawn.Fun events for kids and adults are scheduled every day of the event. There is never a dull moment during Alpenfest.

Roaming the country RVers have the unique opportunity to enjoy many of these events in their travels. To find out about these festivals stop at the various State Information and Welcome Centers along the highways of America. They’ll provide you with maps and brochures on upcoming events, RV parks and area attractions.

Discovering the United States of America one village at a time - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

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Watch It Made In The USA
See your favorite products made in their factories. RVers who love to “stop along the way” will find this classic guidebook a superb reference for both roadside learning and entertainment. Learn more or order.

Personalized RV signs say alot about the RV community

RVers are perhaps the friendliest people you'll encounter on this planet. The entire RV lifestyle invites hospitality and friendly discourse. When you arrive at an RV destination people walk by and greet you and frequently stop and chat. They will invite you to their RV for refreshments, offer you a chair and shoot the breeze. It doesn't take long before you become acquainted with all your neighbors. This social phenomena doesn't happen at hotels and motels across America. At hotels people enter their rooms and shut the door never to be seen again unless they emerge for ice or to go out to dinner.

Artist Heidi Breidenstein helps RVers display their hospitality by painting customized RV signs. Here is an example of a 5th wheel sign. These signs are made of vinyl so they'll stand up to weather. You can have a motorhome sign displaying any message. Your name or home town and state can be in the little sign by the campfire. Most RV parks allow you to walk close enough to your neighbor's RV that you can easily read these signs.
Heidi will paint anything you want on these RV signs. You can hang these on the RV or you can purchase a display stand. The signs are $32 plus $6.95 shipping and handling. You can order a sign by calling 1 (800) 508-8380. You can get more information here: Canterbury Creations.
Heidi will personalize the signs by painting the stripe on the RV the same color as the stripe on your rig. She says she'll do, "any wording on any sign in any color". You may have seen Heidi in action at the Tampa, Florida or Hershey, Pennsylvania RV shows.

Sign up for one today - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

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Flea Market U.S.A.
Learn where to find more than 1,000 flea markets and swap meets in all fifty states of the USA. Get locations of where the markets are, when they are held and get a phone number to call for more information. Learn more or order.

Do you remove your shoes before entering your RV

Removing street shoes at the entrance of your RV keeps the carpet cleaner. I have a rule when we are at the fair with our grandkids - NO SHOES IN THE RV ! After my FFA and 4-H grandkids have been in the pig stalls, sheep pens and horse barns the shoes and boots are not allowed inside.We normally wear our street shoes in the house when the campground is clean and free of contaminating elements like mud and dirt. When it rains or we are camped in the dirt the shoes come off at the door. An outside vinyl or foam mat with a door mat is a must when camped in the dirt.Having a throw rug down in the entrance area helps a great deal. When we do remove our shoes we place them on the throw rug at the entrance. If you leave your shoes outside you might find a surprise the next morning. Rain water, spiders, scorpions (when you camp in the desert) and who knows what else may be in your shoes if you leave them outdoors.

Some RVers put a container at the entrance for shoes like a plastic wash basin or a laundry basket. I leave a pair of slip on sandals by the door and go barefoot most of the time. Leave a comment below and tell us what you do. Sorting out the RV shoe issue - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Visit the new and improved RVbookstore.com

RVers employ a cool idea for outdoor living

I’m seeing something of a trend in RVing lately that involves the use of apartment sized refrigerators. These units are small enough to take with you and very nice for storing beverages on the patio. This frees up space in the RV refrigerator for more goodies and is convenient for outdoor living. Besides storing beverages, you can prepare a platter of burgers for the BBQ and store them in the outdoor refrigerator while you’re waiting for the coals to heat up. I frequently see these units plugged into the extra 110 outlet at the campsite utility box which frees up the 15 amp circuit in the RV for operating things like hair dryers and coffee pots. If you plan on staying at a park for a few weeks, and enjoy patio living you may want to consider picking up one of these small refrigerators. If you’re camping where there are bears, raccoons or teenagers forget it! Try to keep these refrigerators out of direct sunlight because they work better in the shade. Keeping you posted on cool RV ideas - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Why Do RVers Like Swap Meets

RVs and swap meets seem to go together. I like the idea of swap meets because it gets you outside and walking. All too frequently it gets you spending as well. I've been to a half dozen swap meets in the southern part of the country these last few months and RVers have been well represented. Wherever RVers congregate, swap meet vendors spring up who cater to RVers. Today I am asking why is it so many RVers enjoy the swap meet experience? Is it because they get a better deal on stuff? Perhaps it's just the experience of rubbing shoulders in the public square. It's certainly an "activity" that can be enjoyed by everyone. Maybe it's the food or the "fair like" atmosphere. When I ask people why they like it I get different responses so it can't be nailed down to one thing. The draw for me is I want to see if there is something I might want. Heaven knows I don't need to collect more stuff to weigh down my RV, but there I am anyway. To be honest, I can't isolate what draws me to swap meets I just know I like them and that's enough. Outdoor markets are as old as human culture. We've tried to make this phenomenon more sophisticated by moving indoors into structures we call "malls." But the indoor commercialization of this ancient human swap meet custom has sterilized the experience and therefore swap meets continue to thrive all over America and the world. Some of the larger swap meets are seeing a trend toward becoming a "mall" themselves with covered structures and semi-permanent stalls. Frequently you see the same vendor with a stall on each row. Personally, I like a swap meet to have a little dust, a breeze, popcorn scattered here and there, maw and pop vendors and folks who just bring their garage sale stuff. Perhaps you can add to this article by telling us why you enjoy or don't enjoy the American swap meet by clicking on "comments" below and sharing your thoughts. Swapping stories across America - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Tent Camping Verses RV Luxury

We are camped at the beach in Corpus Christi for the next two weeks and yesterday was an RV soup day. By that I mean you stay inside, play games and have hot soup while the elements rage outside your comfortable RV. The picture below was taken about 100 yards away from our RV site.Like many families we started off tent camping. On cold, windy and rainy days we looked with envy at our campground neighbors snuggled in their warm and dry RVs. Tent camping is good in ideal weather but when it turns bad the tents seem to vanish from the campground. A well stocked RV allows you to wait out the storm and continue your family fun. We graduated from a tent to a pop-up followed by a travel trailer, fifth wheels and now a motorhome. Some of our most memorable family times were spent playing games around the RV table. You can do this in a tent, but the lighting isn't as good and when it's raining, cold and miserable everyone just wants to snuggle up in their sleeping bag. Sometime during the middle of the night water seeps through the "waterproof" tent floor and the camping trip is ruined. Not so with the RV next door, where the kids are laughing and having a great time playing Yahtzee and drinking hot chocolate. Tenting can only take you as far as the weather will cooperate. RVing on the other hand will take you through the curtain of wind driven rain to a bright new day. You'll be dry, refreshed and ready for adventure while the tent campers are coping with hanging everything up to dry or packing up to go home. I still rely on a tent when I go backpacking, but during a storm I'll take an RV over a tent any day! Braving the elements in the lap of RV luxury - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Northern RVers Considered “Winter Texans” Y’all

We are staying at a very nice RV park in Alamo, Texas down near the southernmost tip of Texas. Our full-time RV lifestyle allows us to visit places and stay a few weeks as we explore the surrounding areas. Mrs. Professor is an avid bird watcher so we are observing the winter migration of our feathered friends as they return home from their South American vacations. This area is famous for birding and in fact has birds you won’t see anywhere else in the U.S. or Canada. This Green Jay resides mostly in Mexico and South America but can be seen hanging out in south Texas. Birds are a big tourist draw, but the main attraction is the winter weather. There are hundreds of RV parks that receive thousands of migrating northerners each year. By mid April most have departed their winter digs to head back north. Most of these parks cater to the 55 plus age group and range from spartan to upscale. The majority of the mid-range parks have the same amenities as the upscale parks including copious group activities keeping you so busy you’ll need to hire a secretary to keep track of your schedule. Park models are very popular and “Winter Texans” who bring their RVs usually reserve the same RV pad each year. This allows them to build storage sheds and leave their outdoor furniture, golf carts, bikes and stuff in Texas until they return the next winter. Southern Texas can get strong winds but the worst winter here beats a blizzard any day. Farming in the Rio Grande Valley produces many crops including wonderful grapefruit, oranges and onions. Many Caucasian Texans in this area speak Spanish just as well as folks of Hispanic descent and it’s not unusual to hear people conversing back and forth in both English and Spanish in restaurants and stores. Southern Texas is a true multicultural community offering a dazzling array of activities, events, shopping and dining. It’s no wonder more RVers are flocking here each year. New RV parks are being built throughout the area in anticipation of increasing numbers of the “boomer generation” retiring and hitting the RV road. Out tracking RV migration patterns and nesting behaviors - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

What Does The Future Hold For RVers

April Fool's Day is a good day to fool around with future RV ideas. I try to stay on the cutting edge of all things RV, but sometimes I just have to close my eyes and imagine what’s over the horizon for us. Science fiction writers have seen and written about future technology long before it became reality. I thought April first would be appropriate for me to try my hand at this. Here are some of the things I see happening in the near future:Smaller is better. RV enthusiasts who have been touring around in large motorhomes and 5th wheels will begin to downsize to smaller more fuel efficient units.

Hidden electronics. It’s a fact of life electronic devices are being integrated into RVs. Until recently the problem has been electronic clutter consisting of cables, boxes, power cords and the like. Increasingly you’ll see streamlined electronics that use wireless technologies like bluetooth that eliminate the clutter. How about an RV key fob that not only locks the door but extends and retracts the slides? Entertainment will “pop-up” or “pull-down” as televisions and multimedia devices will emerge from a cabinet or drop down from the ceiling. iPod type devices are already replacing old school CDs as the new RV sound system of choice. How about a central battery recharger that remotely recharges all your batteries on all your electronic gear, from your toothbrush to your cell phones and cameras? That would get rid of about eight charging cords in my RV.

Connected to the world. More campgrounds and RV parks will have wireless internet. Television programs you really want to view will be available for download via the internet onto your computer or TV for viewing whenever you wish.

Supercharged self-contained RVs. As the race for alternative fuel sources heats up, RVers will benefit from solar panels with a smaller footprint, super-batteries that have extended lifetimes and new charging systems managing power from multiple sources. New solar reflective paint and window treatments will keep the inside of your RV cooler. Solar paint will perform like a huge solar panel. You won’t need solar panels because the RV’s paint will be a solar collector turning sunlight into electricity. Even the transparent coating on your windows will be solar electric collectors.

Turn here dummy! Global Positioning Satellite system data will be conveniently located in a heads-up display like in the cockpits of modern fighter aircraft. Whoever is driving just plugs in their personal USB thumb drive and the heads-up display will be arranged just how they like it. It will also monitor your alertness and sound a warning if you close your eyes longer than it takes to blink. The windshield will completely block out the rising or setting sun by automatically checking your eye position in comparison with the sunlight and turn on reflector blockers embedded in the windshield glass. These modern sun shades will be just large enough to effectively block out the glare from the sun and will move and adjust automatically with the position of your eyes.

No more wet holding tanks for the toilet. RV’s will be equipped with space age solid waste management toilets that will employ vacuum assist and use lasers to decompose the waste to a small plastic bag full of ashes. Just toss the ashes in the dumpster when it’s full.

Minor medical care and lab work will be done over the computer without ever seeing a doctor. Small portable diagnostic equipment will be incorporated into your personal computer system so you can receive immediate feedback right in the comfort of your RV overlooking a secluded lake somewhere in Alaska. You’ll still need to make the trip to the drug store or have UPS deliver.

Diesel power will be replaced by jet engines on larger motorhomes. Alternative fuel burning efficient turbofan engines will power heavy motorhomes. A small but powerful jet engine will produce electric power that will in turn drive the electric motors on each wheel of the motorhome. The enormous amount of electric power generated will also charge the house batteries and be able to run every appliance in your RV at once.

Fleet maintenance will be the new approach to RV care. GPS systems will monitor every type of RV as they travel, keeping track of the mileage and generating automatic emails to the owner telling when maintenance is required. The fleet maintenance computer will also communicate with the RV onboard computer to monitor any problems as they arise while you drive down the road enjoying the scenery.

An onboard campground reservation system will tell you where all the campgrounds and RV parks are at your destination before you get there and will make a reservation for you. You will receive confirmation and the site number. It will automatically pay for the space with your credit card and all you have to do is pull into the space when you arrive. You don’t have to hunt down someone to assign you a space. If you’re not going to arrive at your destination because of delay, the onboard computer will use the current GPS information to recalculate and reserve a site at a different campground.

If you have more ideas like this, please click the comments link and tell us your thoughts.

Looking over the horizon - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Northward RV Snowbird Migration Begins In Earnest

I was out walking the dog around the RV campground this evening. The sun settling behind the chocolate colored hills emitting a pleasant glow as dusk settled on the park. The birds quited their talk and folks were out visiting with each other in the cool of the day. Down here near Yuma, Arizona it's been in the 80s and 90s and we've had to resort to using our air conditioners in the afternoons. The warmer days make for very pleasant mornings and evenings. We're enjoying sleeping with our bedroom windows open as a gentle breeze ambles through. For many, this is the call to begin following the warm temperature "sweet spot" as it slowly moves northward. The parks down here are beginning to thin out as evidenced by the many empty RV spaces. Spring migration has officially begun. Canadians are especially anxious to return home because they can only be out of Canada a few months each year otherwise they lose their health care coverage. As these snowbirds prepare to leave they have goodbye parties and it's not unusual to see a group of coffee drinkers gathering in the morning to see off RV friends with whom they've spent the winter. Camaraderie is tremendous as always in the RV community. So, as I'm walking the dog I meet Jim from Idaho who just pulled in this afternoon. He's just passing through, but his wife offers me a cold drink. RVers, as a whole, are kind, considerate and just plain nice folks. When I returned to our motorhome our Canadian neighbor, Wayne, brought some hot dogs he just picked up in Mexico. The Mexican border is walking distance from our RV park and Wayne has been buying these hot dogs for several years from the same vendor. He usually comes back across the border with an armload of these for fellow RVers. My wife (who is munching on the half that is missing in the photo) says they are the best hot dogs she's ever tasted and I must agree. Somebody needs to sign this guy up for a Mexican hot dog franchise....Wow! With this kind of hospitality and kindness rampant in the RV community it's no wonder people flock back to these campgrounds each winter. It's not unusual for life long friendship bonds to develop in these RV parks. You will be hard pressed to find a more loving and caring community of people than those who call themselves RVers. So now you understand if you see someone wiping an eye as they say "goodby" to their snowbird buddies. The flight back north has officially begun. Reporting from the southwest - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Enhance Your RV Lifestyle With A Portable Spa

The RV lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to give up luxury. I enjoyed my hot tub spa when we lived in a stick house and now you can bring your spa along with you wherever you go. This “Elegant Comfort Spa2Go” is the most affordable and portable hot tub I’ve seen. This system is great because it all fits into this box for easy storage. Just take it out of the box, inflate, fill and plug it into a 110 electric power source and you’re ready to relax. It seats two to four adults depending on the size and shape of the adult. Here Joy Marshall demonstrates how the floating insulation cover fits on the spa. The fabric cover holds the insulation cover in place and locks down with these easy release clips. You can purchase this for $899.00 bucks including free shipping. This spa will delight you with 127 powerful turbo jets to soothe your soul, not to mention your aches and pains. Order one of these units by contacting Larry & Joy Marshall at (541) 488-3121 (9 to 5 Pacific time) or visit their website here FunLifestyles. They also sell the “Elegant Comfort Spa-N-A-Box” which also runs on standard 110 electric. It looks more like a traditional permanent spa with the attractive wood sides. This spa requires two boxes for storage, but will also seat 4 to 6 adults. It sets up in 20 minutes using a durable vinyl liner. It costs $1,499.00 with free shipping. Since this model requires two boxes, you might want to consider storing them in the back of the towed vehicle when traveling. I met the Marshalls at Quartzsite where they were demonstrating and selling their many excellent products. As readers you need to know I do not receive compensation for advertising products I review. I do it for fun and enjoyment. Sometimes vendors will send me a product for free so I can show you how it works, but other than that I’m not compensated for any product reviews I bring to your attention. Since I’m a free-lance journalist I’m free to tell you If I don’t like something and my long time readers know I’m not bashful if I have a negative opinion about something. So to all my readers I salute you and say "Thank You" for your continued readership. Exposing you to new products enhancing the RV lifestyle - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.

RV Pet Cemetery Becomes A Monument To Man's Best Friends

We are at Sleepy Hollow RV park near the boarder of Mexico in Winterhaven, California. I like to walk and hike and often discover interesting things. Yesterday I came upon an RV pet cemetery. I know it’s an RV pet cemetery because it’s surrounded by RVers boondocking in the desert. RVers love their pets and nothing brings that home more than a stroll through a monument like this. Before you pass under the sign, you read this tribute carved in a wooden sign:
“Goodbye Old Friend You’ll Be In My Heart Forever. They will not go quietly. The pets who shared our lives in subtle ways they let us know their spirit still survives. Old habits still make us think we hear a scratching at the door or step back when we drop a tasty morsel on the floor. Our feet still go around the place the food dish used to be, and sometimes coming home at night we miss them terribly. And although time might bring new friends and a new food dish to fill. That one place in our hearts belongs to them and always will.”

Snoopy is buried here along with a host of other cats and dogs. Another carved sign reads, “Whoever you are your kindness means more than you’d ever guess. The flowers on every grave. The flag that flies high. The Work on the flowers. You watch over our pets. Than you so much! Muffins parents.” Grave markers clearly indicate names like Tiffany, Sarge, Ruff, Buddy, Blaki, Angel and Blue. Pets like Drummer are commemorated with faded yellow photographs and silk flowers. Brew was obviously Canadian and liked to play. Toby was in the guard dog business. While Fletch inspired this poem by Chris:
Tribute to a Dog

No words can truly thank the dog.
No money match its worth,
As, quite content, it lives to love
Some master here on earth.

A dog will never ask for much,
Some water, warmth and play,
And in exchange, no questions asked,
It gives its life away.

A dog is happy on request,
No matter when or where,
If ever you may need support,
Just call and they’ll be there.

Prepared in their own special way,
To help with all their might,
Those sympathetic eyes confirm,
That right or wrong, you’re right.

Though in this life we know not much,
Beginning unto end,
Still, with a dog, at least we know
We’ll always have a friend.

There are even graves for a stray cat and dog that were hit by a car.On Pee Dee and Pandi’s grave there’s a bit of humor with a sign that reads:
“Heaven goes by favor, if it went by merit, you would stay out and YOUR DOG would go in.” This pet cemetery is free because it doesn’t cost you any money to bury your pet, but it will cost you emotionally as you can’t help but shed a tear as you think about all the love these pets gave their owners over the years. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

I'll Take My Own RV Bed Please

One of the best things about an RV is the bed. As a Navy Chaplain Recruiter my area of responsibility covered all the states west of the Mississippi including Alaska, Hawaii and Guam. This job required me to spend many nights in hotel rooms across the country. I can tell you that I sleep far better in my own bed than any hotel or motel bed I've ever encountered. Who knows what unpleasantness the hotel mattress and bedspread have endured. I can't even bear to walk barefoot across the carpet. I prefer to take along my own mattress in my RV. I have a nice foam topper with fitted sheets and a down blanket. When I fall into my RV bed it embraces me with comfort. I close my eyes and am consumed with sleep is a matter of minutes. Not so with a hotel bed. Sometimes I was tempted to sleep on the floor thinking it would be softer. So for me, one of the outstanding features of an RV is the luxury of your own bed. Even when I backpack I take along a Slumberjack self inflating mattress. My RV hotel room follows me wherever I go exactly the way I like it. So be thankful and sleep well my RV friends as you think of the thousands of unfortunate hotel guests who will lie awake tonight desperately trying to get comfortable. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Making The Decision To RV Full Time

Like all important decisions in life the leap to full time RVing is right at the top. We're beginning our fourth year as full timers and looking back I can honestly say it's one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. I’ve wanted to write about this issue for a while and was waiting for a good couple to interview on the subject. This is Dale and Lisa Forsythe. They’ve been RVing for nine years and full-timing for three. I asked Dale what influenced their decision to go full time and he said that they both liked traveling and wanted to retire early. They also wanted to do it while they were still healthy enough to enjoy the experience. He’s got a pacemaker and the health issue was particularly important to Lisa because both her mom and dad died in their 60’s. They started full-timing when he was 54 and she was 45. I asked how he went about preparing to make the leap. Dale told me that Lisa wasn’t too keen on the idea at first so he started planning how they could do it. He read books and internet articles and every time they went camping he would find the full-time RVers and “pick their brains.” She went along with him when he did this and began to warm up to the idea.They decided they would try it and if either one didn’t like it they would stop. Dale says when people would ask her about it at first she would say “We’ll try it for 10 years…” but she doesn’t say that anymore, now she just says she’ a “full-timer” and loves the lifestyle. They sold their house and divided up their stuff between two daughters. Lisa gets to see some of her “former” stuff from time to time when they visit with them. She says the full-time lifestyle taught her to be satisfied with less and to focus on more important things in life instead of the accumulation of more stuff. They full time in this nice New Horizon 5er. Their favorite travel destination is Cody, Wyoming at Buffalo Bill State Park. Her least favorite part about full time RVing is the lack of a bathtub and having to use a laundry. They solve the bathtub issue by checking into a nice hotel a couple times a year. Their preferred camping style is boondocking and they travel with their two dogs Micah (top) and Mocha (bottom). If you’re thinking about becoming a full-time RVer you should know that there are thousands of us out here from all walks of life in all kinds of RV rigs. Talk to us next time you go camping or just come to an RV park or campground where we hang out and we’ll tell you everything we know about the lifestyle good and bad. Living the dream - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Is Campground Hosting In Your RVing Future?

Long time RVer Carol Ferguson strolled into the American Land & Leisure booth at an RV rally four years ago never intending to be a campground host. As it turns out, she and her husband signed on for a year as the hosts at French Meadows by Squaw Valley, California and hosted there for two years followed by another two years of hosting at Sugar Pine Meadows in Foresthill, California. They get a campsite with full hook-ups and propane for free and are paid the minimum wage of the state in which the park is located. They even get a cool looking uniform. Last I checked, American Land & Leisure supplies campground hosts for 449 campgrounds. This company is the official concessionaire for National Forrest campgrounds. The typical work schedule is from 20 to 40 hours a week per person depending on the campground. No experience is necessary but it’s a good idea to have a short resume when you apply. You will be given an interview and if you are a suitable candidate they'll process your application, do a background investigation and assign you a campground. You must have a suitable “full-time livable” RV and be available from May to Labor Day. You may call them for more information at (1800) 342-2267 or check out their website here American Land & Leisure. Helping you stay gainfully employed - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Absentee RVers Give Quartzsite and Southwest a Wake-Up Call

Checking back with several vendors from the recent Quartzsite RV show it turns out they estimate attendance was down anywhere from 30 to 50 percent this year. Sales were also down as the usual crowds failed to materialize for the 2008 season. A vendor said, "Having done the show twice, in 2005 & 2006, we and other vendors see a dramatic downturn in traffic, perhaps 40% attendee decrease and profits off 50%." With his cap off and scratching his head another vendor theorizes that folks are absent this year because of high fuel prices and a lousy economy. Some think Quartzsite is suffering because the city has turned against boondocking RVers and is trying to make Quartzsite into a resort town like Palm Springs. Prime vendor spots have recently been lost to commercial RV dealerships in Quartzsite. But the story doesn’t end in the dust bowl of Quartzsite, the contagion is present all over the south west. Saturday I went to the swap meet at Goodyear a suburb of Pheonix, Arizona. Last year this place was so packed you had to keep checking your wallet pocket because people were bumping into you at every turn. This year you could fire a cannon down the walkway and not injure anyone. Vendors here report sales are down more than 50 percent from last year. About one third of the swap meet complex was vacant where last year it was full of vendors. Something is wrong and I’m not sure what it is. 2008 could be the slowest RV season ever here in the south west. Keeping my fingers on the pulse of the RV scene - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers Benefit From Credit Cards, Debit Cards and ATMs While on the Road

When my grandparents were full-time RVers back in the early 80’s they had the advantage of credit cards but still had to write physical checks and pay the bills by mail. Today you can pay your credit card bills over the phone or by internet. Also, ATM machines are ubiquitous providing modern RVers with multiple access points to cash and banking services.My brother-in-law calls these crisp $20 bills "Yuppie Bucks." Modern banking has greatly enhanced the RV lifestyle but there are hazards to avoid. From the time American Express issued their first credit card in 1958 quickly followed by the BankAmericard (now VISA), Americans have been relying more and more on easy credit. According to the Federal Reserve the average American family has two to eight credit cards and carries a balance equal to 5% of their annual income. Approximately 40% of Americans pay their credit cards off monthly (which is good practice). My recommendation is to carry as few credit cards as possible. The fewer cards the less tracking you have to do and spending less time on the phone and more time enjoying RVing. Two years ago I purchased a new set of tires for my 5th wheel somewhere in Montana. Since I’m from Oregon my credit card company didn’t want to approve the $1200 charge until they spoke with me in person. Credit card fraud is a big problem so you may need to go through this drill from time to time. When I interviewed American Express spokesperson Monica Beaupre she recommended RVers use a mixture of payment options when traveling including credit cards, Debit/ATM cards, travelers cheques and cash. You’ll need the cash for meals, tips, shopping, refreshments, entertainment and incidentals. Using a credit card is a great way to track your spending and provide a record of all your purchases. Today credit card companies like American Express offer travel insurances including purchase protection, dispute resolution, emergency assistance, and 24 hour card replacement if lost or stolen. You can also enroll in credit card programs that offer incentives like cash-back, air miles and various other rewards. The average credit card interest rate in America is around 13.5%. Be aware that some credit card companies like Discover use the Two-Cycle Average Daily Balance method of computing finance charges which effectively doubles your charges when compared to the standard APR computation method. Bottom line, pay off your balance on time each month and you won’t have to worry about those nasty finance charges. Charging down the RV road - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Does Your RV Really Need Solar Panels

Many RVs sport solar panels and the question is whether you need them for your style of RVing. Solar electric systems have been a part of the RV scene for several years and they are effective electric power producers. These systems use photovoltaic modules to turn sunlight into electricity. The good news is they are becoming more effective and less expensive as new technology grows. RVs using these systems are wired allowing the solar panels to charge the house batteries through a charge controller. A charge controller is very important because it regulates the amount of electricity sent to your house batteries preventing over or under charging conditions. If you have enough solar panels and batteries you can generate enough electricity to live comfortably without ever being plugged into an external power source. To use your AC appliances, you’ll also need an inverter to change 12 volt DC to 110 volt AC power. If your style of RVing includes extended periods of time in the wilderness away from electricity then you have three choices: 1. Use candles 2. Use a generator or 3. Rely on solar energy. If you rarely boondock (camp without hook-ups) then you really don’t need a solar system. Some RVers like to have a solar electric system “just in case” but they rarely use it. When I ask them what they mean by “just in case” they usually mean the power grid going down or natural disasters in any event they're prepared “just in case”. Whether or not you should go to the trouble and expense to install a solar electric system boils down to how you choose to camp. If you are or plan to become a serious boondocker, then you’ll need an efficient solar electric system. If on the other hand you almost always stay at RV parks, then you seriously don’t need solar. If you store your RV without keeping it connected to shore power consider installing a small solar electric system. This will keep your batteries charged and ready to go (provided you do proper battery maintenance). Many boondockers also use wind powered electric generators for additional power. Whether or not you need wind power depends a great deal on how and where you camp. There are many reputable companies (here is one SolarSummit)that will sell you a kit to install a system yourself and there are also dealers who will do the installation for you. Keeping you charged up about RVing - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Hate Your Job? Need a Lifestyle Change? Consider Becoming a Full Time RV Work-Camper

Not only is it possible but thousands of RVers are already doing it. They’ve taken charge of their own lives and are enjoying full time RVing while working on the road. I know this is true because I’ve met hundreds of them on the road and have written about them (“Can You Do Your Job While Full Time RVing?”). All kinds of jobs are available, especially “seasonal jobs.” Whether you’re a medical professional, a handyman, or are just plain reliable help there are work camper jobs out there just for you. Before you march in tomorrow and quit your current job, I strongly suggest you purchase two excellent resources and study them. Jaimie Hall is a successful work camper and has written a book called “Support Your RV Lifestyle”. You can read more about it and buy it here RVbookstore.com. The other resource is the DVD from the RV Seminar Series called “Working on the RV Road” presented by Jaimie Hall with a forward by Chuck Woodbury. You can read more about it and purchase it here RVbookstore.com Seminar. Jaimie does a great job telling you how to locate jobs, apply and land these jobs and answers many more questions about the full-time RV lifestyle. Jaimie is an excellent speaker and gifted writer. Trust me on this, if you’re even remotely considering becoming a work camper you NEED these resources. Helping you achieve your RV dreams - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Have You Made Your RV Resolutions For 2008

Once again it's the end of another great RV year and time to bring on the next exciting chapters in your RV adventures. I want to share a few thoughts about your resolutions or lack of them. We know from experience that most people who make resolutions on New Year's Eve have difficulty achieving them (especially those involving weight loss). We also know that you can't be successful at anything in life unless you have a plan. Planning is essential to achieving success whether it's taking a trip, running a business or altering your lifestyle. If you don't have a plan, chances are you'll not be satisfied with the end result. During my working years I would lay out a plan for the new year and post my goals in my day planner. My goals were in several categories, financial, physical fitness, intellectual pursuits, spiritual development and family. I would not just write out what my goals were, I would also write out steps I would take to achieve my goals then I would check up on my progress monthly. RV goals were always included. What were my RV goals? They usually included upgrades to the RV and plans for family trips. We usually took one extended trip and several weekend trips with the family in the RV. It never occurred to me that I would one day become a "full-time RVer" until I began meeting full-timers more frequently on our trips. Once our last child went off to college, I began to seriously think about becoming a full time RVer. Becoming a "full-timer" or even a "half-timer" requires some serious planning. The transition from a stick house to wheel-estate is a big step. If you're thinking about putting more RV into your lifestyle, then I encourage you to write out your goals and then take the necessary steps to achieve them. There are so many things to consider before you hit the RV trail you can't afford to stumble along without a plan. Even at the pinnacle of our retirement years we make plans and set goals. There are so many things to see and do on the RV trail that you need a plan (a simple and flexible plan) to assist you in the pursuit of your dreams. I'm not suggesting that full-time RVers need a hard driving set of goals, rather have a simple plan that will keep you moving and experiencing new things. The mere fact of increased fuel costs mandates a more practical approach to our trip planning. So, get out pencil and paper and rough out where you want to go and where you want to be this time next year. Happy New Year! Helping you look down the road and over the horizon - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

I’m Dreaming of the Desert in My RV

I’ve been making a desk for our motorhome using a relative’s workshop near Placerville, California. They also have full hook-us which makes it nice for us full-timers to be able to stay a few weeks and get some remodeling done. A nice thing about this lifestyle is it allows you to visit relatives and friends scattered all over the country. California is notorious for good weather, but Placerville is not San Diego and it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here. It was below freezing last night and I’ve been dreaming of the desert. We’ll be heading that direction after Christmas because it’s wonderful. Some folks don’t understand what’s so nice about the desert, it's a desolate place. The desert of the great South Western United States is teaming with life. I’ve seen huge bucks in this desert, birds galore and more than my share of cacti. If you go outside on a cloudless night you’ll be treated to the best light show in the universe. When I lived in snow country, I longed for warmer weather and dreamed of the desert. I didn’t mind playing in the snow (I enjoy snowboarding) but I certainly don’t want to live in it. So, when I retired, we headed straight for the desert and found it to be refreshingly warm and relaxing. Many of my readers are already in warmer climates and the rest of us are wishing we were there. For me, part of the fun of traveling is thinking about the next place you’ll be. I derive enjoyment just “pondering” what lies on the road ahead, even if I’ve been there a dozen times. Sometimes when I’m driving down a road I haven’t been on for quite some time, I suddenly realize that I’ve visualized the place just a few weeks prior. Sometimes I know I’ll see a certain landmark around the next corner even though I haven’t been there for years. Traveling is pleasurable, and seeing it in your mind before you get there is half the fun. Thinking warm thoughts - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers Take Navy Showers to Conserve Water

Water conservation and RVing go hand in hand. Americans use 80 to 100 gallons of water per person every day. Conversely, RVers use much less water than residential homes. We use less water in the bathroom, less water to do dishes and less water to shower. When boondocking for long periods RVers become even more water conscious. This is where a Navy Shower comes in. For those of you who didn't have the privilege of serving in the U.S. Navy let me explain how we arrived at the term “Navy Shower.” Ships and submarines at sea use desalination plants to convert salty sea-water into potable water. Sometimes (too frequently if you ask me) these desalination plants would malfunction and the engineering department (Snipes) would tear it all apart, fix it, then reassemble it. This usually took a couple days (if we were lucky). In the meantime the crew was required to ration water which meant we could only use enough water to soap-up and rinse off. The procedure was to turn on the water, get wet then immediately turn it off (no luxury of waiting for hot water). Next you would soap-up your body and lather up your hair. Then you did a quick rinse and you were done. This way the ship’s company was able to conserve enough water for essentials like cooking and washing dishes. Hence the term “Navy shower” came into English usage. Like the Navy, RVers use this technique to ration fresh water. The shower-head pictured above is the typical RV shower-head. More efficient water saving shower-heads are available. Some “hard core” boondockers even recycle their shower water to flush the toilet. With the use of solar and wind power, water conservation practices and low impact camping, the RV lifestyle can be much friendlier to the environment than a typical residential home. Wishing you fair winds and following seas - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Happy Thanksgiving RVers

What do RVers have to be thankful for?

T toll-free roads
H holiday weekends
A automatic leveler
N National Parks pass
K keyless entry
S spectacular scenery

G God’s creations
I interstate highways
V vacation
I inverter
N nice neighbors
G GPS


Some great destinations for RVers to consider:

T Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (Virginia)
H Henry Doorly Zoo (Nebraska)
A Acadia National Park (Maine)
N Niagara Falls (New York)
K Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks (California)
S San Antonio Riverwalk (Texas)

G Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee/North Carolina)
I Indian Memorial at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Montana)
V Vermont!
I Inyo National Forest (California)
N National Mall (Washington D.C.)
G Going-to-the-Sun Road (Montana)

Happy Thanksgiving - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Don’t Let RV Road Angst Spoil Your Fun

Some RVers are too proud to admit it, but a certain amount of secret angst rides along while driving down the road. It’s the nagging feeling that something is not quite right with your rig even though you’ve checked everything twice. It can be a funny noise you’ve never heard before or the haunting memory of a spot of fluid on the asphalt under your engine. You run several scenarios through your mind including your engine flaming out on a narrow road with no place to pull off or a blow-out on some tumbleweed infested road in Nevada where the last service station was boarded up with a sign reading, “Regular Unleaded $1.32”. We handle this RV road angst by telling ourselves it will be OK because even in the worst case scenario our refrigerator still works, the bed is comfortable and even though we don’t have cell phone coverage out here in the desert someone will help us before we run out of food and water. Then your heart beats rapidly when a warning light illuminates on your instrument panel. “What’s it gonna be this time? Transmission? Engine? Tires?” You have a hundred thoughts run through your brain in a fraction of a second. You look down at the red light on your dash and see it’s only the exhaust brake indicator and not a problem at all. RV road angst is real and it only gets reinforced with all those stupid Good Sam and Camping World junk mailings telling you to dump your insurance and sign up with them because your piece of junk RV is going to break down the very next time you go out and they want to be the first ones to tow you back to some expensive repair shop. I don’t even open this junk mail anymore because it makes my blood pressure go up thinking about being towed. Unfortunately, until Japanese companies start making RV’s, we’ll have to put up with our RV’s breaking down on the side of the road. By the way, if you have a diesel pusher motorhome do not let the tow-truck operator tow your rig until he has physically disengaged the drive train (see your operator’s manual) or it will ruin your automatic transmission. Also, should you break down pull over as far as practical and be very careful of traffic when putting out emergency flares and triangles. Keep these items on the curb side of your vehicle so you don’t have to open a storage door on the traffic side of your RV. Should you have a flat on a class A motorhome, don’t even think about changing it yourself - call a tow truck. Even on smaller RV’s think twice before changing a tire yourself. One of my dear friends had one of his legs amputated when a drunk driver ran over his legs while on the roadside changing a flat tire on his Travel Trailer. Your good sense and judgment will help resolve any problem RV road angst can bring. So, keep on RVing with a smile on your face because the worst day RVing is better than the best day at work. Jim Twamley - Professor of RVing

Early Work Campers Rode the Rails

Many RVers today are work campers using their RVs as living quarters while they work on the road. Work campers represent a wide range of occupations including medical professionals, artists, construction crews, relief workers, campground hosts and many others. However, RVers were not the first workers to take their homes on the road. One of these early work campers captured my attention as a youngster. He was sitting in a rolling red car at the end of a long train. I vividly remember waiving to him as he sat in the caboose dressed in stripped overalls a red bandanna around his neck and a conductor hat. Leaning on the open bay window, one arm cocked over the sill he returned my wave and for a moment I visualized myself as that guy, riding the rails seeing all manner of strange and wonderful things. I also began to wonder what that strange little car looked like inside as my boyhood imagination began to fill in the blanks. As it turns out, the caboose was very much like an RV with accommodations like bunks for sleeping, an oil stove for warmth and cooking, a conductor’s office and any creature comforts the crew wanted to include. No one knows for sure how the “caboose” came by it’s name as they also had many other names like “clown car,” “doghouse” and “hearse” among others. Pictured above is a 1930’s vintage “Bay Window Caboose” because it’s midsection extended out like a bay window. This allowed the crew to better view the sides of the train. The caboose carried the conductor, a brakeman and a flagman. Before automatic air brakes the engineer signaled the caboose with the train whistle and the brakeman would climb out onto the cars and begin cranking the braking wheels. Another brakeman riding in the engine would work his way towards the rear and meet the caboose brakeman in the middle after setting the brakes on all the cars. Once the train stopped the flagman would get out and walk a good distance to the rear of the train and use flags (lanterns at night) to warn other trains they were stopped. As the train proceeded down the tracks crew members would watch the wheels of the train for smoke emanating from friction bearings and other signs of trouble. The caboose served as a home away from home for crew-members who were often away for days or weeks at a time. The end of the line came for the caboose when it was replaced by air brakes and “End of Train” devices referred to by railroad crews as FREDs (Flashing Rear End Device). These devices allow the engineer to monitor and control the longest trains without the help of additional crew members. Trains hold a special fascination for the kid in me. Each time I see one, I imagine being the engineer rolling down the line, one hand on the throttle the other on the whistle. When the train passes and the guard rails ascend back to their century posts, I ease my big diesel pusher across the tracks and smile. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Homeless Veterans Live in RV’s

Today is Veteran’s Day and so we at RV Now render honors and salute you with the utmost respect and say a hearty “Thank You” for protecting our Constitution and American way of life. I’m a proud veteran and my son is currently a 2LT in the Army. So we love and appreciate our men and women in uniform past, present and future. This week we were told (interesting they chose this week to release this) supposedly one in four homeless people are veterans. There is a reason for this which I will explain. The National Alliance to End Homelessness, a non-profit organization, didn’t really go out and pole the homeless people using scientific means to arrive at this number, they just pulled it out of the air based on “estimated” data from the Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Census Bureau. I don’t know about you, but I find suspect any data the government produces. Why? Because it has been wrong so many times in the past. It’s not that the government is intentionally lying, it’s mostly in the way they ask questions and gather information and then marshal it to support a government program. The VA has a vested interest in making sure there are plenty of homeless veterans represented in the numbers because it increases funding for their homeless veterans program. Like it or not that’s just how government statistics work. OK, before you start sending me hate mail, let me tell you that I too am a homeless veteran because I live full time in an RV. The Census Bureau doesn’t have any other category in which to place me so I count in this stupid statistic. I’ve met thousands of veterans who are also full time RVers living quite comfortably in their RV’s worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. They don’t miss any meals and in fact they often go down the the senior center for free meals with their friends. When they do this they get “counted” as homeless seeking assistance. None of them are out holding a sign asking for money. That is not to say there are not a great many homeless veterans living on the street. The military taught them how to survive outdoors (the infantry jokingly refers to itself as the “mud and rain boys”). I’ve actually interviewed many homeless people (something the people writing these reports ought to try sometime). Some are veterans, most are not. Recently my brother-in-law and I picked up a hitchhiker who was a homeless veteran. He loved his lifestyle and would not change anything about his lifestyle. He gets a paycheck from the VA every month and has a checking and savings account. He likes to live in “camps” where groups of homeless people congregate. These people are not “insane” or suffering from some psychological war injury, although they will play that “game” with the VA in order to get a monthly check. No, these people actually CHOOSE to live like this. Just like I choose to be a full time RVer. Many people don’t understand how one could choose to be a full time RVer without being a taco short of a combo plate, but that’s the reality. I’m homeless by choice and wouldn’t have it any other way. Many more men would be homeless if it were not for the military giving them a shot at a good life. The military takes a snot nosed kid who has run over his parent/s and turns them into men. There are many successful men who can directly attribute their success to the discipline and skills they learned in the military. The military and the war in Iraq does NOT turn men into raving lunatics who panhandle on street corners. Take some time and actually go talk to these people with the signs and find out what their life is about - you’ll be surprised. The military is a microcosm of the U.S. population therefore we have our share of criminals in the military. These kids on the margins of the law somehow get waivers to join the military and we give them a chance. Unfortunately many of them do not change their ways and get booted out but they’re still considered “Veterans” by the VA depending on the type of discharge they get. I suspect these people would have been homeless anyway. Alcoholism and drug abuse are huge contributors to homelessness and veterans are no different than the rest of the population. The military has it’s share of alcoholics just like any other profession (however we weed out the druggies early because of aggressive drug testing). I tell you this to help you get a perspective on the issue because these so called “facts” presented by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the VA and other government organizations are manufactured to get funding for programs that we don’t need at taxpayers expense. The church was doing just fine taking care of the homeless until the government got involved and now it’s become a “Homeless Industry” with high paid CEO’s running not-for- profit organizations to take care of the “homeless problem”. These people take advantage of your caring heart and play your “heart strings” to get you to send money and support candidates who have a “homeless platform” with the aim to pass more laws and charge taxpayers more money to take care of something that is not a problem in the first place. In fact, I will argue that this new homeless industry has actually encouraged more homelessness. Why should someone have to work when everything is just handed to them? I’ve worked with the homeless and know first hand what I’m talking about. That's me in front of a warehouse full of food I was able to "rescue" from destruction and redirect to the truly needy. For the most part homeless people are homeless by choice. Their life choices lead them to this destination and nothing you do for them, no amount of money, no amount of food, no amount of shelter and no amount of love will make them choose differently. Still feeling sorry for them? Then go work with them for a while and see if you still feel the same way. Happy Veteran’s Day - Jim Twamley, Homeless Veteran and Professor of RVing

RV Roadside Delight

I'm on the road with my RV today so I'm filing this story early for your reading pleasure. Today's topic is "Roadside Delight." Sometimes we endure long stretches of road without much scenery to capture the imagination but during your travel day something is sure to surface to the level of "delight". This Woody passed me on the freeway and there was no way I was going to catch him, so I just admired this American classic as it vanished in the distance. I decided to pull into the next rest-stop and there waiting for me was this fine automobile. That's the thing about RVing, you never know when you'll see something interesting on the road. Just look at that marvelous woodwork - now that's craftsmanship. The lines on this car are stunning and back then it was made without lasers or robot welders. Here it is, a one car auto-show at a rest-stop. RVing is all about the journey and the life enhancing encounters you have along the way. You never know when you'll meet and make a new friend, see something you've never seen before, or like this day, something from the past. The nostalgic magic evoked fantasies of surfboards, swimsuits and sand. Beach Boys music began to echo in my brain and, well.... it was a good vibration! "Lets go surfin now, Everybodys learning how, Come on and safari with me" - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RV Now Before It’s Too Late

Ask any former full time RVer who’s now off the road and they’ll give you some sage advice. “Keep RVing as long as you can because once you stop you’re done.” I’m a full time RVer in my early 50’s and I plan to do this till I die, even if it kills me. It makes my heart glad when I see folks in their 80’s and 90’s out RVing. I know they love the great outdoors and their RV magic carpet is the perfect vehicle to bring them enjoyment. I have a friend who is a social worker in a major hospital. Her job is to work with terminally ill patients. She makes friends with these folks and walks with them to death’s door. She’s truly a remarkable person doing a job that most people can’t handle for more than a few months. She’s also a reader of RV Now and all of us here salute you for your selfless dedication to your patients. We were talking about her work last week and she said something that made me have an “Aha” moment. She told me it’s sad people wait until they’re dying before they really begin to live. Think about that for a moment. If you just found out you only had a few months or weeks what would you do differently? Hopefully you’re already maxing out your life’s credit card and wouldn’t need to change much. What RV trip would you take that you’ve always dreamed of? How would it alter you travel plans this year? How would it change your lifestyle? Let’s not wait until the last minute to begin living! Start today because today is really all you have. Give someone an extra hug, call that someone you’ve been meaning to call. Eat at better restaurants. Spend more time with the kids and grandkids. Give your husband an extra kiss. Hold your wife’s hand and present her with her favorite candy. Do the things you’ve always wanted to do like learn how to scuba dive, go on a cruise, get a massage, take a hot air balloon ride, watch more sunsets, or learn to play the ukulele. That wonderful, life enhancing, virtuous thing you’ve been thinking about, dreaming about, that occupies your thought life and makes you smile - go do it! Helping you peg your life’s speedometer before you get pulled over - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers and Hammocks a Perfect Match

RVers have long enjoyed napping in hammocks. However, in the old days, we had to find two trees close enough to rig up the hammock and then you had to worry about squirrels dropping pine cone bombs on you. No, that's not the Professor of RVing lying in repose at the mortuary (unless you consider Camping World a mortuary). No, it’s the Professor laying down on the job. This neat hammock folds up and fits into a carrying bag and is easy to assemble. For only $35.92 at Camping World it’s a great deal if you’re short. I’m 5 feet 10 inches tall and just barley fit on this hammock. It has a storage net underneath and comes with a carry bag. Now if you're into making your own gear check out this link to make your own hammock. Excuse me while I continue my research checking my eyelids for holes - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers Get a Charge from Discovering the Unique and Unusual

Trekking across this land in an RV is a wondrous life. I enjoy being surprised by the unknown around the next corner. The RV lifestyle exposes the rich textures of American culture. You actually get out in it, smell it, hear it, touch it…. experience it. RVing adds dimension to your existence so that every day when I wake up I wonder to myself, “What new thing will I see and experience today.” Since I’ve been a full time RVer my expectations for satisfying exploration have eclipsed anything I imagined before taking the leap, selling our house, buying an RV and hitting the road. My only regret is that I won’t be able to do or see it all - this country is just too big! The more you see of it the realization sets in that this vast country (which ordinary folk view as “fly-over” territory) contains so much cultural wealth that it would take ten lifetimes to experience it in any depth. So, I’ve begun to appreciate that fact and realize the benefits this lifestyle affords. We can park the RV and take our touring vehicle into the heart of our culture. As guests we are treated to a front row seat to the many places and people who make this such a wonderful place. I stopped in at a Batteries Plus store in Eugene, Oregon to purchase some video tape for my camcorder and met David Lawrence. For a year and a half David has been collecting AA batteries from customers who bring them for replacement. No two are exactly the same and, so far, he’s assembled 680 unique batteries. When asked which are the most unusual he pointed out the “pink” Energizer and the Spiderman as the most unique. It never ceases to amaze me what I find as I traverse the side streets of our cities and the backwaters of the countryside. You never know what new things tomorrow holds for you to enjoy, but rest assured, when you RV you can expect your life to be filled with unpredicted pleasure as you explore this land. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Pick Your Paper for the RV

RVers are huge consumers of paper products. In our coach we have over 15 kinds of paper that include toilet paper, boxes of tissue paper, wrapping paper, paper plates, boxes, paper bowls, paper towels, napkins, photo paper, printing paper, wax paper, stationary, scratch paper, news paper and paper bags. Face it, paper is here to stay and we are doing our part to help out the logging industry. But, you ask, do you really need that much paper? No, we don’t, but it makes RVing so much easier when we use disposable paper products. They decompose quickly in a landfill and are a major convenience. I would like to point out that the Professor has been using more paper towels than napkins as of late. They accomplish the same thing and are so much easier to grab off the roll than reaching up in the cupboard for the napkin basket. So, theoretically anyway, you could dispense with the napkins and rely on the roll instead. Helping to keep you on a roll - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RV Sign of the Times

RVers frequently use checklists to ensure that they are completely ready for travel. It’s a good idea, because it decreases the likelihood of an unpleasant episode down the road. This RV park exit sign in Tyler, Texas is a good start. Jim

RV Park Model Resort Living May be Your Cup of Tea

RV resort parks are all over North America but they are not all the same. Today I want to introduce you to the lifestyle of the 55+ generation RVers who take advantage of park models. A park model is a small mobile home (not to be confused with a full sized double wide mobile home you see in trailer parks) that is usually parked in a resort park and occupied during the winter months. Below is a model home in one of these parks. The majority of these parks are located in the south western United States and Florida. Many full time RVers use these parks for a home base in the winter. Some are skinny and some are wider - they come in several sizes and many different floor plans.RVers “rent” or “lease” a space in these parks on a yearly basis. These rents run anywhere from three to eight thousand a year depending on the quality and location of the park. Utilities are not included in your rent. These park models can be purchased new or used. If you purchase a used model it will be cheaper and most of the stuff you want is already included.A couple of our friends purchased used models for less than six thousand dollars and they had a carport, laundry room and storage unit already built on. You don’t have to have a park model to use these parks. Many RVers rent a site on which to park their motorhomes or 5th wheels so it’s not unusual to see a motorhome parked next to a park model. Full time RVers use these park models as a storage unit while they are off gallivanting around the country during the warmer months, then return in the winter. These parks also have RV storage areas so RVers can store their RV while they occupy the park model. The lifestyle in these parks includes many “activities” for the occupants including shopping trips, entertainment, games, computer club, wood shop, card tournaments, pot-lucks and church services. They usually have a “cruise director” that coordinates all the events. So if you’re the kind of person who likes this kind of lifestyle you should seriously look into buying a park model in one of these parks. Jim

RVers, Display “Zee Papers” With This Handy Hint

Fellow RVers, why is it that RV parks insist that we display our receipts in the windows of our rigs? Can they not remember that they assigned us a space for a few days or weeks? Is it that they want us to remember to leave on the correct day? Do they think we are going to sneak out and someone will secretly occupy our spot without paying? Why all the fuss? No campground host I’ve ever spoken with has a reasonable answer to this question. If you have the answer, please tell us in the “comments” section below. OK, so they want us to display our papers (reminds me of the old Casa Blanca movie) how do we “display” “zee papers” if our windows are covered up with an external sun shade that buttons to the coach? How is a 5th wheel owner supposed to display it in the “driver’s side window” when he’s out driving his truck away from the campground? Well, here is how one 5th wheel owner solved the problem. He put “zee papers” in “zee plastic document protector” and hung it on the door to his coach. Plastic is good because when they turn on zee sprinklers in the wee hours of the morning “zee papers” won’t get wet. Jim

What Do The Amish And RVers Have In Common?

We are currently in Amish country and have discovered a few interesting things that we RVers and the Amish share in common. While I was at Best Buy RVs one of the RV techs told me that the Amish frequently come into the store to purchase propane equipment. Below is our nephew Joe Manley and his wife Rachel (who just finished her second year of medical school). They are standing outside an Amish grocery store. Notice the propane light fixture behind them.It turns out that they use propane for lanterns, cooking and refrigerators. The Amish are not allowed to use utility companies because they want to be self sufficient and not have to rely on a “worldly” company for their daily energy requirements. They can purchase propane, gasoline and oil but can’t purchase electricity off the grid. They can, however, make their own electricity with wind, water or gas powered generators.
Yesterday we stopped at Fountain Acres Foods which is an Amish run deli, bakery and grocery store. We purchased some scrumptious baked goods including a chocolate shoo-fly pie, chocolate chip cookies and raisin bread.This store uses generators to power the refrigerators, compressed air to run the ceiling fans and propane for the lanterns. Notice the many skylights that flood the store with light during normal shopping hours. RVers, like the Amish, are capable of living completely separate from the power grid. We use the same type of appliances and technology that allow us to do so. The big difference is that we don’t use real horses to pull our rigs. If you want to visit Fountain Acres Foods take highway 27 North off of highway 70 in Indiana and drive about five miles, it will be on your right.

Organize Your Quarters For Laundry Day At The RV Park

Heading for the laundry room at the RV Park is never fun, in fact it can be downright frustrating at times. For instance, you peek into the room to make sure it is empty only to return with an armload of laundry and find all the washing machines full. How about when you get to the laundry room and discover that you don’t have enough quarters? Well, here’s an idea that will help you out. Go to your local film processing place and ask them for a couple empty plastic film canisters.Quarters fit neatly in these handy canisters and you can throw them in the glove compartment or the bottom of your laundry hamper and you’ll be ready next time you need to feed the washer and dryer.

Moving to a New Motorhome

From time to time all of us get the itch to change rigs. Sometimes it's because we need too and other times it's because we just want a change. A lot goes into the decision making process and with the cost of RVs nowdays, it should be a carefully made decision.

Larry and Valerie Ellert have been full timers for 14 months. Previously they owned a truck camper and three 5th wheels. The first year they purchased a 2003 39 foot Damon Escaper motorhome to begin their full time RV adventure. However after a year of full timing they decided they needed more coach, so they shopped around and purchased a new 2007 40 foot Tiffin Phaeton motorhome at LaMesa RV in Tucson, Arizona.Valerie wanted more cabinet space and especially a king-size bed.

Being a great cook, she also wanted a four door refrigerator and more kitchen space. This nifty drawer cabinet not only contains drawers but also pulls out to reveal a large kitchen work space. She also wanted tile instead of carpet.His and her lavatories (sinks for those who prefere the Latin term).

They both wanted a nice desk and comfortable desk chair. These items were lacking in their Escaper and that's why they switched to their new Tiffin Phaeton motorhome.This coach has a Caterpillar 350 horse power diesel pusher with a six speed Allison transmission built on a Freightliner chassis. Both Larry and Valerie are happy with their new motorhome and look forward to many years of full-time RVing adventure!

Can You Full Time in a Small RV?

Ron and Patty have been full time RVing together for a year and a half. Here they just finished picking up trash around the campgroud - Thank you Ron and Patty! Ron has been full-timing for 15 years and Patty has 20 years of RV experience. What makes this couple unique is that they full time in a 24 foot travel trailer. You might think that two people living full time in a 24 foot RV would be next to impossible. Yes there is more room on the space shuttle, but hey, this isn’t rocket science! Here are the advantages of a small unit like this:

It is within most everyone’s budget range.
It will fit in any campsite listed in the free campgrounds book and will fit in any federal and state campground.
There are few height restrictions (You can park under tree limbs and pass under low clearance bridges that other rigs can’t).
Smaller travel trailers are lighter and highly maneuverable, easy to park and pull.
Travel trailer overhead cabinets are easy to reach and once inside there are no more stairs to navigate.

There are also disadvantages compared to the larger rigs, such as less storage space, less battery storage and smaller tank capacity but these things are very manageable when you learn the secrets of resource conservation.

Ron & Patty own a Kodiak 24 RBSL ultra/lite by Skamper a Thor company. Ron says they engineered this unit well because they put the heater under the oven instead of the refrigerator. He especially likes the pass-through storage compartment in the front of the rig. The bathroom can accommodate two people and it has a walk-around queen size bed. What Patty likes most are the windows that light up the interior. Even during an overcast day, there is a light and airy feeling inside this rig. Since many RVers enjoy being outside much of the day a smaller unit is more than adequate. When you’re asleep it doesn’t matter if you’re in a mansion or a cardboard box – as long as you sleep good what does it matter? The bottom line is that your mattress is more important than how big your RV is!

Rick and Beckey Schramm have been full time RVers for a year now. They started out in a KZ travel trailer, but switched to a BIGFOOT travel trailer because it was a higher quality unit and since it is made in Canada is a true four season travel trailer. Beckey loves this 21 foot trailer because it has excellent window placement for great views. Beckey says it’s just the right size for two people, not too much upkeep and has double the storage of their last trailer. She’s right; the storage inside this trailer is amazing! Hat tip to the engineers of this BIGFOOT. They engineered this rig very well and you can take a virtual tour of BIGFOOT trailers here: http://www.bigfootrv.com/bigfootrv_travel_trailers_2500.html
If you are thinking about RVing full time or part time in a travel trailer, Rick says research it thoroughly and then do it. I agree! We had a travel trailer and loved it and a travel trailer may be just right for you.


Sometimes it rains and you have to stay indoors most of the day, and sure, things can seem a little claustrophobic at times, but all the essentials are there, a stove and oven, microwave, TV, refrigerator/freezer, couch, dinette, full bathroom, coffee pot, furnace, toaster, and all the creature comforts you will ever need. So get yourself an RV and get out here and enjoy the great outdoors!

My grandparents were full time RVers using a travel trailer back in the days when full time RVing was unheard of. Here is my grandfather, Sheldon Rockholt hooking-up his Wilderness travel trailer.
Finally, consider this about travel trailers, most are pulled by a pick-up truck with a topper. This means that you have the entire bed of your truck as storage. Think about it, a 5th wheel has a large basement storage area but the 5th wheel uses up most of the storage area in the back of the truck because of the hitch. You will have more storage capacity in the bed of the pick-up with a topper than you will with most 5th wheels. Keep this in mind when researching whether to purchase a travel trailer or a 5th wheel.

Homeschooling in an RV

I first heard about parents homeschooling their kids while living the full-time RV lifestyle from the book, “Take Back Your Life,” a great read by the way. Speaking of reading, check out the many great RV books at the RV Travel online bookstore, you can access them through the ads in the side column of this blog. This past summer my wife and I toured a village museum in Harding Montana. They have many antique buildings including a train station, doctor’s office, period homes and a one room schoolhouse pictured below. I often wondered what it would be like to be a student in a one room schoolhouse. My friend Stan Sowers grew up in Kansas and attended such a school. He said that one year there were only four students. Most of the students went on to college and did quite well for themselves. Homeschooling and the RV lifestyle is not much different from those one room schoolhouses of the Midwest. I was fortunate to meet Cindy and her wonderful family. Here is the interview:

RV Now: Cindy you have four children, live in an RV Travel Trailer (bunkhouse model) and homeschool your children. How long have you been home schooling?

Cindy: About three years now, the kids have been put in public school for short periods of time.

RV Now: How did you get started home schooling your children?

Cindy: My husband works away for about six months, so the family started going with him. It is too hard to put the kids into different schools every two months so we chose to homeschool.

RV Now: What does a typical home schooling day look like for your family?

Cindy: We get up and eat breakfast and try to begin schoolwork by 8 am. I try to have all the work they need to do for that day in their folders. My 4th grader generally goes into the bedroom and does his work, asking for help when needed. My 2nd grader and two Kinders sit at the table with me and I read the directions and help as needed. We take a snack break around 10am and generally are finished for the day by lunch time. The afternoon is for computer time, play time outside and cleaning up. Since we do travel so much I do take advantage of museums often. Usually on Fridays we have a field trip to a factory, a history museum, or a science museum. The kids love this and learn so much more than from a book. We do have "big days" and "easy days" too. We might work longer or shorter depending on what has been done in the week or even the weather.

RV Now: Recognizing there are differences between living in a standard house compared to an RV, what are the advantages and disadvantages of home schooling while living in an RV?

Cindy: It is a little more difficult in the RV, just for the room. It is a lot of books and materials to have readily available, not stored away somewhere. The table is small, the reason my oldest does most of his work in the bedroom. But, that is also an advantage because I am always close by to help them when needed.

RV Now: Do you know of other families who live in RVs and home school?

Cindy: I did know of one other, but they no longer homeschool. Their oldest is now in high school and they have settled up in Idaho and she attends public school. The younger sibling does too.

RV Now: What tools, resources, organizations, web sites or blogs do you recommend for helping parents home school.

Cindy: We belong to a charter school so I get a tremendous amount of support from that. Of course, the internet is often used to for information. I would talk to more homeschool parents and attend homeschool conventions to look at materials. Every child is different and not one curriculum will suit each child. I like hands-on learning for my kids and use materials from Delta Education quite a bit. We have a support system of homeschool families too. There are all different grade levels and families who are new and families who have many years behind them doing this. I am the only one who travels in an RV however.

RV Now: What advice would you give parents who are thinking of doing this?

Cindy: Just do it!! I always thought homeschoolers were crazy, why not take the break while the kids are in school? But being forced into it, I realize all the benefits it has for our family. My children get along with each other better than many other families. There is a bonding that happens when the family learns together. The parent learns, too. I also love the flexibility of homeschooling, like going to places and you will take advantage of other moments. Because you know exactly what your child is learning about, you use it in every day moments to ask them questions and they will show you what they are learning in everyday situations. There isn't too many things better than to watch your child learn and to finally "get it" !!

Since doing this article I met another mom homeschooling her children while living the RV lifestyle. She told me about a resource that is specifically for RV homeschooling families and here is the link:

http://www.familiesontheroad.com/about.html

Think about this, you do a lesson on the Alamo and then actually go to the Alamo and do the tour - I think I would learn a lot more this way than just reading about it in a book. Jim

RV Background

New to the RV Travel Blogger Family: Jim and Marilyn Twamley

My wife and I have been camping and RVing since we were married. Our first RV was a VW van that we owned when I was stationed with the Army in Belgium. We had so much fun with this magic carpet that we still talk frequently about it. I took out the rear seats and built a platform for the bed and a galley in the rear, reachable when the back hatch was raised. We used an ice age cooler as our refridgerator and stowed our luggage under the platform bed. It was fitted with curtains and a foldable front windshield privacy screen. We toured 12 countries in Europe and we did nine of them with our VW RV. We did some tent camping and I did a lot of backpacking. Once the family began to grow we purchased a used Apache Pop-Up Tent Trailer. Pop-ups are a blast! They are light to tow and easy to set up. They are very spacious and are a great beginning RV for a family. Our next RV was a Komfort Travel Trailer. This was one of the “Komfort Light” models. The floor felt like you were walking on a trampoline, but we had a lot of great times in this trailer. Next we graduated to a 31 foot Wilderness 5th wheel by Fleetwood. This was a great starter 5er and we learned a lot about what we wanted and didn’t want from this unit. Our next and current “rig,” as we refer to them in Oregon, is a 34.5 HitchHiker II LS by NuWa.
I retired from the military with a colorful career. I started out in the Army as a medic stationed in Belgium. I got out of the Army and went to college and seminary then went into the Air Force through ROTC and became a Navigator flying KC-135s. After a few years of flying I was offered the opportunity to become a chaplain. I resigned my commission in the Air Force and joined the Navy as part of the Navy Chaplain Corps where I finished my military career. After retiring from the Navy we were pastors of a church in Klamath Falls Oregon.

My wife, Marilyn, and I have been full time RVing going on three years now. We love this lifestyle because it affords us the opportunity to travel and visit our many friends and family who are scattered all over the USA. We also enjoy the pure delight of traveling and seeing the world and RVing is the best and most economical way to do it! We have been avid readers of Chuck Woodbury’s outstanding work over the years and we look forward to being part of the RV TRAVEL team.

Before You Buy

RV'ing is a very economical way to live and see this country or any country for that matter. If you are not sure what kind of RV you want to do it in I suggest you rent one and take it out on a spin for a few nights. This will give you an idea of what you really need for this lifestyle in terms of space, comfort, amenities and the like. I know they are expensive to rent, but, it is a lot cheaper than buying something you have never tired and discovering that you don't like it. I don't know of anyplace that will rent you a 5th wheel, so you will need to talk to people who own them to find out what they think. You can tour them at most RV dealerships. Also try to go to RV shows where you can get lots of information. Promise yourself that you will not make any decisions to buy until you have thoroughly investigated all the possibilities. RV salesmen and women can bring on some high pressure tactics, leave when they do it. Just say, "Thanks for showing us around we must leave now" take the brochure and get off the lot. Study the rigs you like then see if you can rent one like it and if not just go spend a couple hours sitting in it, exploring it, talking about it, check it out thoroughly. OK, so how do you get a good deal? Decide what you want then email every dealer in the country (except the one you want to deal with) and tell them what you want (send them the model and the list of features you want) and that you are looking for the best price. Take the best price and fax your dealer an offer. Tell them you can purchase the rig at x number of dollars at another dealership and that you are offering them the same deal. If they don't want the deal, then go buy it in Montana or wherever you found the best price. The warranty is the same so it doesn't matter where you buy it because you can get warranty work done at any dealership and many RV repair facilities. I did this and saved about $20,000.00 off the list price. So before you buy, do your homework, go to an RV park and talk to the full timers. They will be happy to tell you what they think - believe me! They will show you their rigs and they will give you all kinds of advise. They will be a great resource for you. So, before you drive off the lot with a new rig, whatever kind you buy - new or used - motor home, travel trailer or 5th wheel, be sure you are satisfied that your research was complete. Happy trails. Jim

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS ! Full-time RV'rs celebrate Christmas all year long (every day is Christmas for us) anyway, Many RV parks have their own church and folks celebrate Christmas Eve services together and have fellowship and food - it's a good ole time! Others, because of their easy mobility are able to travel to visit with relatives and friends with all the comforts of home intact. RV'rs are able to spend time with friends and relatives while using their RV's as their hotel. It is a great way to get around! Merry Chrtistmas! "To us a Savior is born!"

Trash Talk

Why is that bag of trash on the hood of my truck? Good question. I've seen this being done for several years in many campgrounds and always wondered why they just didn't put the trash in the bed of the truck. Well, at many campgrounds the garbage is near the entrance/exit to the park so people routinely drop it off when they are leaving. I always just put the trash in the bed of the truck until recently when twice in one week I drove out of the park with my trash in the back of my truck. TWICE! Am I getting senile or what ?!?!?!? OK, what were we talking about. Trash, Yes! Well, when you put the trash on the hood of the truck, you don't forget it is there when you drive out of the park. Now we know why all those old timers do it that way :)

Our Rig

Our 2004 HitchHiker II LS has had multiple problems, enough to fill 3 pages single space, but our dealer was proficient in fixing most of the problems. (The dealer RV Tech told me the factory used a bad batch of caluking that year - and it's true on my rig). We are still fixing stuff even after the warranty ran out, but such is life as a full time RV'er. If Honda made RV's (please Honda, please please please consider making RV's!!!) we wouldn't have nearly as much warranty work. But alas this was made in Kansas and, well.... - it's CRAP! But so are all the other US RV's on the market. With all the problems, it's also home. Anyone have a similar perspective?

RV Lifestyle

(Note: This is a reprint of an article I submitted to the outstanding Charles Hughes Smith's web blogg http://www.oftwominds.com/blog.html)
My name is Jim. My wife and I raised 5 kids and when the last one finished college in 2005, we sold our house, put the money in the bank and hit the road as full time RV’rs. We live in our 36 foot 5th Wheel trailer with three slide outs. We have all the conveniences of our old stick house and more. Things like a microwave oven, refrigerator freezer, central heat and air and modern plumbing. We use satellite internet and TV, we have a combination washer/dryer, roomy bathroom facilities, comfortable bed (my wife prefers having her own bed when traveling – she can’t stand hotel beds). We use a cell phone as our only telephone and we have a mail forwarding service. We pay most of our bills on line and with the ubiquitous ATM machine we have access to cash whenever we need it.

We are able to visit friends and family members all over the country and we get to do and see things we never dreamed of prior to taking up this lifestyle. We consider ourselves full time RV’rs and not campers as one is a lifestyle and the other is temporary recreation. As RV’rs we are environmentally friendly as we only have one vehicle and actually use less fuel now than when we both worked and drove cars in a daily commute. You see, we don’t drive every day, we don’t have too. We find a nice RV park and stay a few weeks and explore the local area around the park. We are fully self contained (which means that during a power outage we still have full electrical power, water and sewer.) We consume less water and power and are therefore much more friendly to the environment than when we lived in our stick house. Full time RV’rs are fun and friendly people. We have a great time together, and it doesn’t take us long to make friends. I can honestly say that in one day’s time I get to know more people in a new RV park than I knew in our old stick house neighborhood.

Currently it is estimated that there are over one million full time RV’rs in the US. Many, like us, are fully retired (some with only Social Security and others with pensions) and others are “workcampers” who make good wages while living in their RVs. They can follow the work and many are raising children in this lifestyle through home-schooling. It’s one thing to read about the Alamo, but when your parents actually take you to all the places you read about, I think it makes history come alive for these kids. I wish I would have been raised this way! There is even a publication and website for “workcampers” that lists hundreds of job openings all over the country.

When people start getting evicted from their property because they had mortgages they couldn’t possibly afford, they will have limited basic living choices. Most will move in with relatives or rent if they can find a landlord willing to take the risk. But what if they did something entirely different? What if they took on an entirely different lifestyle and became full time “workcamper” RV’rs? Realistically you can purchase a nice used RV (there are many nice RVs on the market that are inexpensive) and become full time RV’rs. OK, where are they going to get the money to do that? You can do it for less than getting into a rental (first and last and security deposit and pet fee). It beats the heck out of living with your relatives (your relatives will like you better if you just visit and use some of their electricity for your RV from time to time than if you just flat out move in with them). And hey, maybe the relatives would be willing to loan or sell their RVs to these folks just so they won’t move in with them. J Your readers and their friends need to know that foreclosure is not the end of the world – in fact it may be a new lease on life, the beginning of a bright new world of adventure for them as full time RV’rs. Here are a couple of web sites where you can obtain more information about the full time RV lifestyle: http://www.rvtravel.com/, http://www.escapees.com/, http://www.workamper.com/ and http://www.trailerlife.com/.
See you on the road. Jim