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Camping World - 3,100 RV Products Online!
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Fantasy RV Tours — Worldwide Caravans!
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Buy or Sell Used Motorhomes or other RVs
Huge Texas consignment dealer provides a hassle-free way to buy or sell diesel pushers, motorhomes, 5th wheels or travel trailers.
Buying An RV?
You must read the new book "RV Buyers Survival Guide." Learn how much an RV dealer makes on each sale. Learn how low an offer you can make and still get the RV! Written by an RV sales manager, who reveals insider secrets. Read more.
Quality RV Rentals
Luxury Class C and Class A motorhome rentals in major U.S. and Canada cities. Unlimited mileage option for 14 days or more. Models are 2 years old or less in excellent condition. Finest rental units available.
Beginners Guide to RVing
Advice and information for beginning RVers and others thinking of taking up the recreational vehicle lifestyle.
Magazine is dedicated to RV travel in the West
RV Journal is the only magazine dedicated to RV travel in the American West. Each issues is packed with features and information. Subscribe here and receive free bonus issues.
KOA Kampgrounds: Get a KOA value card. Save 10% off your stay and get a free campground directory.
Exciting Jobs for RVers!
Workamper® News has helped more than 60,000 people find great jobs in great places since 1987.
Free RV Camping in the West
FreeCampgrounds.com is a directory of free RV campgrounds in the American West. These are often in small town city parks. Plus information on camping at casinos, truck stops, Wal-Mart and on U.S. public lands.
Pop Up Trailer Enthusiasts: Pop Up Times is the only magazine serving owners and would-be owners of folding camping trailers. Subscribe today for only $11.98. And check out our new "Pop Up 101" home video".
Good Sam Club: The largest RV club in America. Benefits include a superb monthly magazine, hundreds of local chapters and special interest groups, regional and national rallies, and discounts at campgrounds.
Inflatable Boats for RVers
Sea Eagle manufacturers easily storable inflatable boats perfect for RVers. When you need the boat, pump 'er up, climb aboard, and off you go.
Magazines for RVers
Get Trailer Life and Motorhome at the lowest prices. Plus, learn about other RV magazines — RV Companion, RV Journal, Pop Up Times, Gypsy Journal, RV Traveler and more.
Campground directory for owners of large motorhomes and fifth wheels
This wonderful directory lists RV parks where big rig motorhomes and towables can stay. Know ahead of time that the park where you are headed can accommodate your rig.
Dummies Guide to Buying a Used RV
Buying a used RV? Order this downloadable book. Written by a veteran RV service technician. Learn what to look for in a used RV. Read it and help avoid huge repair bills later! "Essential!
Best RV Club for Fulltimers!
Join the Escapees, the best RV club for fulltime RVers.
Half Price Camping for RVers: The Happy Camper Club offers its members half-price camping at more than 700 RV parks in the US and Canada. A one year membership is $49.95, and there are no contracts or hidden fees. Read more
Save On Camping Fees!
Don Wright's Guide to Free Campgrounds is hot off the press for 2002 — now in two editions, Western USA and Eastern USA. Includes free campsites plus those that cost $12 a night or less. Thousands of listings! Read more!
Websites about RVing
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RV Traveler #49
March 9, 2003
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THIS NEWSLETTER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
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THIS ISSUE'S EMAIL CIRCULATION: 45,876
RV FINANCING. GET A QUICK QUOTE
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and exceptional interest rates. Get a quick online quote and caring service.
FROM CHUCK WOODBURY
editor, http://www.RVtraveler.com
Welcome to Issue 49 of the RV Traveler Newsletter.
I am writing to you from beautiful and warm Quartzsite, Arizona.
Some people think Quartzsite is not beautiful, but an ugly desert
outpost. Frankly, if you drive through fast, it may seem that way.
The main drag is about an unappealing as a place could be. It's lined
with rag-tag mom and pop businesses and a series of flea markets
where you can buy everything from $2 sunglasses to solar panels to
petrified dinosaur dung. And it's all covered with a layer of dust.
Yet RVers swarm to Quartzsite every winter. They appreciate the
seasonally warm temperatures and the true beauty of the surrounding
desert. The year-round population is a mere 2,000, but it swells to
hundreds of thousands in January when RV snowbirds arrive from all
points "cold." But by late April, when the temperature starts hitting
100 degrees, Quartzsite goes to sleep, to awake again six months
later when the RV parade begins anew.
As I type now, it's 8 p.m. and my motorhome's door is wide open. The
temperature is perfect so I am wearing no shirt. A gentle breeze tickles
my shoulders, a natural massage. In a few minutes I'll step outside
to a night sky filled with a million stars. The Milky Way, not visible
from my urban home town near Seattle, is wonderfully magnificent.
Most of the RVers who visit here hole up on government land that
surrounds town. It's flat desert with an occasional saguaro cactus, and
RVers pick a place that isn't already occupied and squat there for up to
seven months for a whopping $125 for the duration. They get their
parcel of real estate, a dump station, a water supply, dumpster,
primitive restrooms and pay phones. Or if they don't want the
amenities, they can go up the road and camp for 14 days for free. If
they yearn to be "uptown," they can choose from several dozen RV
parks in metro Quartzsite where a campsite with hookups goes for
$10 a night or less.
The RVs run the gamut from rolling palaces to dumpy trailers
that should have been junked 10 years ago. Near the highway, the
rigs are more presentable, but far, far back in the desert where
few people venture are hermits who wish to be left alone. "In some
places it looks worse than the poor areas of Mexico," one woman told
me. Yet these people are in the minority. Most have found a way to
live comfortably in their mobile houses, using solar panels or
windmills to generate power. They stay in touch with email and cell
phones, and live pretty much as they would in a traditional house. In
the last few days I have visited with a handful of these RVers,
who shared the stories of their lives with me freely and
enthusiastically for a home video I am producing on full-time RVing.
Countless thousands of the RVers here return each year and have
developed a long list of friends and social activities. For these people
the sense of community is far stronger than in their old hometowns.
"Mayberry RFD," the popular TV show of yesteryear starring
Andy Griffith that gloried traditional main streets and small town
values, is alive in Quartzsite, the big difference that these
"townfolk's" homes have wheels.
More about Quartzsite and other highlights of my current roadtrip
next issue.
QUARTZSITE, ARIZONA. SEE IT ON DVD!
Visit the Boondocking Capital of the West on DVD. Like being there!
SHARING THE ROAD WITH TRUCKERS
Sharing the road with automobiles is one thing, but sharing it with
huge big rig trucks is another. And a much more difficult
challenge. Here's an excellent article about how to better share the
road with monster eighteen wheelers.
DISCOVER WHAT'S ALONG 'ROADSIDE AMERICA'
Giant dinosaurs, world's largest things, muffler men, giant
balls of twine -- they're all to be found along the great American
roadside. And the best source of what these places are and
where they are is Roadside America.
2003 Trailer Life Campgrounds and RV Park Directory
Only $13.95. Save 50%. More than 12,000 campgrounds listed!
OWN A PICKUP TRUCK? A FIFTH WHEEL MAY BE FOR YOU
If you own a pickup truck and yearn to hit the road, a fifth-wheel
trailer may be for you. With all the amenities of home, they
provide a resting spot from which to explore. Read more.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT RV APPLIANCES
HOME VIDEOS ABOUT RVing IN ALASKA AND CANADA
Alaska By RV, Western Canada By RV, Eastern Canada By RV:
http://www.RVbookstore.com/howens.html
TEXAS GULF COAST GUIDE
About this time of year, a lot of RV snowbirds are camped along
the Texas Gulf Coast. Here, compliments of the Houston Chronicle,
is an excellent guide to the area.
... AND the Texas Campground Association has specific information
about RV camping in the area.
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
EMERGENCY WEATHER RADIO SERVICE
NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio
stations that broadcast continuous weather information from a
nearby National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts warnings,
watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day,
making it a single source for comprehensive weather and emergency
information. RVers who travel with a short wave radio (a good idea)
can tune in the network on certain radio frequencies. Find out where
they are.
RVing ON A BUDGET
Veteran RVers and authors Joe and Vicki Kieva offer advice about
RVing on a budget. You might pick up a few money saving tips here.
STATE BY STATE TOWING LAWS
GET ALARMED. . . AND BE SAFE
Combine a small amount of propane with a spark and you have a
devastating explosion. Indeed, a leaking or damaged propane system is
potentially the most dangerous thing you can have in an RV. But it's
not the only danger that RVers need to be aware of. Others include
carbon monoxide poisoning, fire and intruders. Read more.
TEN STEPS TO A HASSLE FREE RV TRIP
HOME VIDEOS HELP NEW RV OWNERS LEARN TO USE THEIR RIGS
RV Education 101 presents home videos on how to operate everything
on an RV. The VHS videos are very useful to anyone new to RVing.
Read more, view a Quicktime video clip, or order at:
Class A motorhome video
Class C motorhome video
Trailer/5th wheel video
Pop Up Trailer Video
BUMPER SNICKER
Seen on a diesel pusher on I-5 near Seattle: "Where are we going?
And why am I in this handbasket?" Have you seen a good one?
Email it to Chuck Woodbury at outwest@seanet.com .
CELL PHONES FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY
I wrote about this website several months ago, and many RVers
have requested the information again. So here it is: If you don't
own a cellular phone because you have little use for one, but would like
one for emergencies only, then here's a solution: an inexpensive phone
with no monthly fees and no prepaid cards to buy. The only time you
pay after buying the phone is when you urgently need to place a call.
Get more information.
Best-selling books and videos about RVing
RV TRAVELING TALES:
WOMEN'S JOURNEYS ON THE OPEN ROAD
Women who travel by RV tell about their lives. Superb!
THE NEXT EXIT 2003
Learn what stores and services are located at every Interstate exit.
'CAMPING' AT WAL-MART HOME VIDEO AND DVD
hDocumentary film interviews RVers 'camping' at Wal-Mart
THE RVers BIBLE
Superb, bestseller reference, from buying an RV to using it.
HOW TO GET PAID $50,000 A YEAR TO DELIVER MOTORHOMES
2003 RVer's FRIEND
Learn what services America's truck stops offer RVers. Best Seller!
2003 GUIDE TO REST AREAS
Plus locations of Wal-Mart, Flying J, etc. Only $9.95
SUPPORT YOUR RV LIFESTYLE:
AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO WORKING ON THE ROAD
A superb guide about find work as your travel by RV.
VIDEO: TOP 40 RV CAMPING TIPS
RV experts Joe and Vicki Kieva reveal some very clever
ideas to save RVers time, money and hassles.
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.
YOUR HOME ON WHEELS
A wonderful book for new or aspiring full-time RVers:
MOUNTAIN PASS GUIDE, WEST AND EAST EDITIONS
Ever get surprised by a steep or narrow road on a mountain pass?
Don't be surprised again. These guides tell you everything you need to
know about driving over 700 mountain passes in the USA.
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION LAKES GUIDE.
Learn what to see and do at 250 lakes in the West and Midwest.
Most of these areas have low-cost campgrounds. Only $7.95
2003 MILITARY RV CAMPING
AND OUTDOOR RECREATION DIRECTORY
If you possess a military ID card, then here's your guide to
RV parks and other recreation facilities at military installations.
RV BUYERS SURVIVAL GUIDE (Also available as an instant 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!
MORE BOOKS, VIDEOS AND OTHER RV GOODIES
LIFE ON WHEELS RV CONFERENCE
Life on Wheels is a program that began at the University of Idaho
where RVers can "go to school" to learn virtually every aspect
of the RV lifestyle. Today the program has expanded to three
other campuses. Learn when and where.
TRAILER LIFE MAGAZINE. ONE YEAR $16.00. SAVE 67%
If you only subscribe to one RV magazine, this should be it!
HOW TO WEIGH YOUR RV
An overloaded RV is an accident waiting to happen. That's why it's
necessary to know the weight of your RV, and not just when empty
but when fully loaded. But how do you do it? Here's how.
YAHOO GROUP DISCUSSES POP UP TRAILERS
If you own a Pop Up trailer or plan to one day, you should sign up
for the Pop Up Camper Group at Yahoo. Members exchange information
and advice about camping with a pop up. To sign up or read message
head here.
BREAKING NEWS
FLEETWOOD REPORTS $18 MILLION LOSS
WASHINGTON STATE TAX COULD COST RVers A BUNDLE
TRAVEL TRAILER SHIPMENTS UP SHARPLY IN JANUARY
These articles were available when this email newsletter was issued.
HALF-PRICE CAMPING AT RV PARKS
Save 50% at more than 700 RV parks:
http://www.newrver.com/happycamper.html
BILL'S HINT:
From Trailers Made Easy:
"Your internal water system is rated for about 50 pounds of water
pressure. Unless you are certain that you have a pressure
regulator built-in, always add one to your hose before connecting
it to your pressure fitting. Install it on the water source end of
your hose."
RV INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
RV CLASSIFIEDS
RV JOKES, HUMOR AND FUNNY PHOTOS
INFLATABLE BOATS FOR RVers
Don't tow a boat. Pump one up! Easy storage in your RV!
GUIDE TO RV CLUBS
RV RECALLS
GAS AND DIESEL PRICES ACROSS THE USA
STATE TOURISM WEBSITES
UPCOMING RV SHOWS, RALLIES, SEMINARS
Sports, Vacation & Boat Show, March 13-16, Fort Wayne, IN
Port Huron Camper & RV Show, March 13-16, Port Huron, MI
Springfield RV & Camping Show, March 14-16, Springfield , IL
Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show, March 15-24
FMCA's 69th International Convention, March 21-23, Pomona, CA
Acadiana RV & Camping Show, March 21-23, Lafayette, LA
More information about these and other shows
Canada RV Shows
WORTH PONDERING:
"I'm in love with the potential of miracles. For me, the safest
place is out on a limb." — Shirley MacLaine
RANDOM RV THOUGHT
Submitted by reader R. Bennet of Denver: "Every trip in the RV
is a story." Do you have a Random RV Thought? Email it to
Chuck Woodbury at outwest@seanet.com.
The RV Traveler newsletter contains links to sites on the Internet
that are owned and operated by third parties. It is not responsible
for the availability of, or the content located on or through any
such third-party site.
PRIVACY STATEMENT:
This list's email addresses are never sold or otherwise made public.
This newsletter is copyrighted 2003 by Chuck Woodbury. You may
forward it to as many people as you like, but re-publication for
commercial purposes brings out the worst in our lawyers.
Advertise in this newsletter. Reach 46,000 RVers next Sunday.
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