RV Traveler Email Newsletter #22

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RV Traveler #22
July 21, 2002

Please help this newsletter grow by telling your friends about it.

THIS NEWSLETTER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Beginners Guide to RVing
Free Campgrounds of the West
RV Links
RV Jokes
RV Bookstore

SPONSORS
Camping World
Fantasy RV Tours
Explorer RV Insurance
Poulsbo RV

THIS ISSUE'S EMAIL CIRCULATION: 22,825

FROM CHUCK WOODBURY
editor, http://www.RVtraveler.com

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the 22nd issue of the RV Traveler Newsletter, brought to
you by the websites and sponsors above.

As I said to you last time, this issue is being sent to you while I
am traveling in Eastern Europe. Today, I am in Transylvania in
Romania, where I will dine at Dracula's house. The real Dracula
bore little resemblance to the Hollywood version, but I'm still planning
to order a bloody steak (just kidding!). On Friday, my wife, daughter
and I will arrive in Amsterdam for five days before returning home to
Seattle. A few weeks after that, we'll be off in our motorhome for a
trip along the Oregon and northern California coasts and then
inland for a few days in the Gold Rush country.

A fellow wrote to me recently asking for advice for a fast RV trip he
was making cross country with his kids. I offered this advice: "Don't pull into
popular campgrounds at 3 p.m. or later on a Friday or Saturday and expect
to get a site. Either make reservations or plan your weekend stays at
less popular areas and then stay in the popular places Sunday night through
Thursday when crowding is less of a problem. Also, avoid the Interstate
highways as much as possible: the old two-laners are much more
interesting. And, finally, instead of stopping at McDonald's and Burger Kings,
etc., try local cafes."

And a final note: Because I put this issue together before leaving on my trip,
a website link or two below may have gone bad. Most should work, though.

RV FINANCING. GET A QUICK QUOTE
Financial Underwriters Network provides exceptional customer service
and exceptional interest rates. Get a quick online quote and caring service.

WHY WE TRAVEL BY RV
Read about a woman and her son's stay at the "Motel Bad Idea."
You will be reminded of why RVers travel the way they do!
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/living/travel/3433499.htm

AIRSTREAM DEBUTS SCALED DOWN LAND-YACHT
http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/newsdesk/index.cfm?RecordID=431

. . . and a great website for Airstream enthusiasts:
http://www.AirstreamCentral.com

STUDY UNDERWAY OF STATIC-CAUSED FIRES AT GAS PUMPS
An international petroleum equipment association has issued motorists
a warning to be cautious of static electricity at gasoline pumps,
which can potentially cause a fire and result in serious injury and property
damage. It appears that static electricity is most often generated when motorists
get back into their vehicles while refueling, said Robert N. Renkes, executive
vice president. "While filling up their vehicles with gasoline, many motorists
will return to their cars to stay warm, make a phone call, or retrieve their
purse or wallet," he said. "When they slide out of their car, static charge is
generated. Then, when they touch the nozzle, a spark can ignite fuel vapors
around the nozzle." Read more: http://www.pei.org/news/static.htm

FLOAT IN YOUR RV
So you think you and your recreational vehicle have taken some pretty memorable
vacations together? Well, wait until you hear about this waterborne option: a
floating RV park. Floating not because the river floods the campsite, but because
the river is the campsite. Read more at
http://orlandosentinel.com/travel/orl-trav-cruzcol072901.story

HOME VIDEOS HELP NEW RV OWNERS LEARN HOW TO USE THEIR RIGS
RV Education 101 presents two videos on how to operate everything
on a motorhome or trailer/fifth wheel. Each VHS video is 75-minutes
long and very useful to anyone new to RVing. Read more or order at
http://www.NewRVer.com/RV101.htm

Pop Up Trailer Video: http://www.newrver.com/popupvideo.html

WORKAMPING TIP
By Jaimie Hall, author of "Support Your RV Lifestyle: An Insider's
Guide To Working On the Road." http://www.RVbookstore.com/support.html

"When you are looking for work on the road, be sure to ask what perks the
employer is offering or has available. Perks are the extras that indirectly
add to your compensation and fun.
-- Free or reduced-cost laundry, propane, meals.
-- Store discounts
--Passes to area attractions.
One couple received a free glacier flight-seeing tour in Alaska. Others,
working at Lake Powell for a season, are eligible for a free week’s
houseboat vacation, paying only for insurance and fuel."

RV HERITAGE: THE BEGINNING OF "MOTORIZED HOUSE CARS"
Motorized "house cars" first appeared in the early 1900s and were
essentially homemade conversions of passenger coaches or custom bodies
made to replace the passenger bodies on automobiles and early trucks. A
very few early units were custom built from the ground up for the very
rich. Read more: http://www.rvamerica.com/rvnews/current/heritage.cfm

HALF-PRICE CAMPING AT RV PARKS
If you camp more than a few weeks a year, this can save you a bundle!
http://www.newrver.com/happycamper.html

FREE MAP ALERTS LARGE RVs OF CALIFORNIA LIMITS
Drivers of motorhomes longer than 40 feet who plan to drive in
California should order a free map that shows on which roads their rigs
can be legally driven. To order, call 916-654-5741 or visit
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trksnwim/motion/bus-map/busmapinfo.htm .

RVing WITH BICYCLES
Traveling with two wheelers offers RVers the chance to soak up the
scenery while keeping fit. Learn more at. . .
http://www.campingworld.com/pc/rvm/output.cfm?id=37117

SUBSCRIBE TO THESE RV MAGAZINES. Best prices:
Motorhome, Trailer Life, RV Journal, RV Companion, Gypsy Journal
and Pop Up Times: http://www.NewRVer.com/rvmags.html

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT RV ROOFS
http://www.rv.org/p9686-2.htm

JOIN THE WORLD'S LARGEST RV CLUB. ONLY $19
Join the GOOD SAM club. Save on camping fees and receive
a free subscription to Highways Magazine! Only $19 a year!
http://www.newrver.com/gs.html

MILITARY CAMPGROUNDS OF THE SOUTHWEST
Head to this webpage and click on an area where you're interested in
find a military base that offers overnight camping.
http://www.travelbyroad.net/reg_dir/tmip_09600_3800.html

AGE AND EASTER EGGS
A reader wrote to us recently with a comment about old age and his
fading memory. "My memory is so short I can hide my own Easter
eggs," he said.

RV INSURANCE: Get an online quote from Explorer RV:
http://www.NewRVer.com/explorer.html

TOW RATING INFORMATION
Trailer Life compiles annual factory tow ratings for trucks, sport-utility
vehicles, vans and automobiles. Information on the magazine's website
currently offers tow-rating data for model years 1999-2002. You will
find it at http://www.trailerlife.com/output.cfm?id=42175 .

. . . more information about towing is at http://www.towingworld.com

BID ON AN RV AT eBAY
Don't just buy an RV! Bid on one! Steal a deal!
http://www.qksrv.net/click-245985-5902068

TRIVIA
Polk County, Florida, is comprised of more than 600 freshwater lakes
and is known as the "Black Bass Capital of the World."

BOMBS AWAY ON FIRES!
You've likely seen the TV images of fire fighting air tanker planes dropping
fire retardant on forest fires. But have you ever wondered what that pink
stuff they drop is made of? Here's the formula:
- 90 percent water
- 8-9 percent fertilizer (to jump-start growth in the burned area)
- Stabilizers
- Thickeners
- Coloring, so pilots can see where the retardant has been dropped.

. . . And, by the way, fire fighters are told get out of the way of a retardant
drop (the force of the fire retardant can knock off tree branches onto them).
However, on a hot day, with hot flames making it even hotter, getting dropped
on can be a welcome relief -- for a few minutes, that is, until the goopy
retardant dries. Firefighters describe the consistency of retardant as "pink snot."

"DRIVE" THE ALASKA HIGHWAY BEFORE YOU GO
Three new home videos provide a sneak preview of traveling north of
our border. "RV Alaska" details Bob and Judy Howen's 67-day, 6,700-mile
trip on the Alaska Highway and then in Alaska itself (with a return trip via
the Inland Passage by ferry). Their other videos, "Western Canada By RV"
and "Eastern Canada by RV" are equally entertaining. Read more about
these home videos or order at http://www.RVbookstore.com/howens.html

FORUM ABOUT RV TECHNICAL ISSUES
There's a wealth of information here. Read what others have written
or post a question yourself.
http://boards.eesite.com/board.cgi?boardset=RVForum&boardid=Maint&spec=4544527

BEST NATIONAL PARKS
from a survey by Child Magazine:
1. Grand Teton, Wyo.
2. Lassen Volcanic, Calif.
3. Voyageurs, Minn.
4. Rocky Mountain, Colo.
5. Big Bend, Texas
6. Mount Rainier, Wash.
7. Great Basin, Nev.
8. Mesa Verde, Colo.
9. Denali, Alaska
10. Yosemite, Calif.

BUMPER SNICKER:
Painted on the back of a motorhome: "The Cram-Alot Inn."
Have you seen a good RV bumper sticker? Let us know!
Write Chuck Woodbury outwest@seanet.com

EXTENDED RV WARRANTIES. GET AN ONLINE QUOTE
Buying an RV? Protect that investment with extended warranty coverage
from Web Direct Warranty. Fast online quotes; coverage for new and used
motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, slide-In and pop-up campers
at great prices. http://www.webdirectwarranty.com/connect2wdw.asp

A SHOCKING PROBLEM
We found this question while web browsing and thought it was worth
passing on. "I've just noticed something on my new-to-me '88 Lance camper:
when plugged in to shore power if I touch something metal on the camper
while being grounded outside the camper, I get shocked (feels like holding a
hot 110v wire and ground, only a little less of a shock). Everything electrical
that I've tried works on the camper. I'm no electrical wizard, but I do own a
multi-meter. Does anybody have advice where to start looking for the leak?
LEARN THE ANSWER: http://www.rverscorner.com/articles/shock.html

UTAH WEBSITE
The state of Utah has an info- and picture-packed website. If you are planning
to visit, sign up for the free newsletter, which will provide many travel ideas:
http://www.utah.com

BEST SELLING BOOKS ABOUT RVing

RV BUYERS SURVIVAL GUIDE (Also available as an ebook)
Buying an RV? You must read this first. Written by an ex-RV
sales manager who reveals all. Read this and save big money!
http://www.NewRVer.com/rvbook.html

NEW: CAMPING WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Describes more than 900 campgrounds across the USA managed by the
Corps of Engineers. A fabulous resource! Seniors camp for half-price.
http://www.RVbookstore.com/corps.html

RVers FRIEND
Learn what services truck stops provide RVers, including whether they
allow free overnight stays: http://www.NewRVer.com/rversfriend.html

FREE CAMPGROUNDS OF THE WEST (Also available as an ebook)
2002 edition: How and where to camp in an RV in the West for free.
Includes official campgrounds and "unofficial" places to stay.
http://www.FreeCampgrounds.com/guide.html

DON WRIGHT'S GUIDE TO FREE CAMPGROUNDS
Don Wright's long-awaited 2002 Free Campgrounds Directory is hot off
the press, this time in two editions, Eastern USA and Western USA. Lists all
free and inexpensive campgrounds including those far off the beaten path.
http://www.FreeCampgrounds.com/fcwright.html

BIG RIGS BEST BETS CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY
A directory of campgrounds that accommodate large RVs.
http://www.NewRVer.com/bigrigbook.html

MOTORHOMES MADE EASY, TRAILERS MADE EASY
These two books explain how to use everything on a motorhome
or trailer (or 5th wheel). And what a bargain at only $8.95 each!
http://www.NewRVer.com/easy.html

THE ABCs of RVing (Also available as an ebook)
A primer for new RVers written by Chuck Woodbury. Lots of info!
http://www.NewRVer.com/ABC.html