RETURN TO INDEX
| Resources and sponsors
Camping World - 3,100 RV Products Online!
Camping World is the world's largest supplier of RV parts and accessories. We have online shopping, mail order catalogs and 30 retail locations nationwide. Sign up for your free catalog subscription today!
Fantasy RV Tours — Worldwide Caravans!
Fantasy RV Tours is in the business of making RVer’s travel dreams come true. We now conduct caravans all over the United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and in exotic overseas locations. Click to learn more.
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
Learn about other popular websites about RVing.
|
|
 
Not signed up to receive this? Sign up now!
|
Read this book before you buy an RV. Learn how to get your best price! More info or order
|
RV Traveler #50
March 16, 2003
|
|
Please help this newsletter grow by telling your friends about it.
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!
Get more information or join
THIS NEWSLETTER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Beginners Guide to RVing
Free Campgrounds of the West
RV Bookstore
RV Links
RV Jokes
SPONSORS
Camping World
Fantasy RV Tours
Explorer RV Insurance
Poulsbo RV: America's Best RV Prices
THIS ISSUE'S EMAIL CIRCULATION: 46,687
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.
FROM CHUCK WOODBURY
editor, http://www.RVtraveler.com
Welcome to Issue 50 of the RV Traveler Newsletter.
It's raining in Medford, Ore., and I'm typing inside my waterproof
home on wheels. My four week trip from Seattle to Arizona and
back is almost over. A week ago I was basking in 80 degree sunshine.
Today it's 50-something and soggy. A wicked rainstorm is headed
my way, so the miles ahead, mostly on Interstate 5 with its parade
of big rig trucks, may not be pleasant. Yesterday, however, I was
pushed along by a glorious 20-30 mph tailwind. I decided to go a
little farther than I had originally planned to take advantage of
this "gas saving" blessing from Mother Nature.
And speaking of gas. . . boy, has this been one expensive trip!
Gas prices in California were seldom below $2 a gallon. In Arizona,
it was about 30 cents a gallon less, about the same as back in my
home state of Washington. Here in Oregon, the price is slightly more
than Washington, but less than California. The most I paid was
$2.19 in Needles, Calif., where some stations were charging more
than $2.40. The cheapest gas throughout the trip was at Pilot
truck stops, followed by Arco stations.
To squeeze as many miles per gallon as possible, I drove slower
than normal, setting my cruise control to 57 miles per hour while
on Interstates. On two-lane roads I speeded up a bit to avoid
holding up the auto traffic. I also kept my holding tanks as close
to empty (and therefore lightweight) as possible, and made sure
the air in my tires was at recommended pressures. The result
was that I was able to squeeze about 10-15 percent more miles
per gallon than during most of my trips, when I typically travel
the speed limit.
Yet despite the high gas prices, there are a lot of RVs on the road.
In Arizona, the traffic at times was an equal mix of autos and
RVs, especially in the Lake Havasu City area. I wonder, of course,
how many more RVs there would be if gas were cheaper. In Quartzsite,
Ariz., where I visited some budget-minded RVers holed up in
Long Term Visitor Areas (seven months of camping for $125),
there was some anxiety about the cost of heading north once the
desert temps became intolerable. To RVers getting by on
Social Security and not much else, the difference between $1.35 a
gallon and $2.00 a gallon is huge.
Do you have any tips about saving gas that you would share with
the readers of this newsletter? Please email them to me
(outwest@seanet.com) and I'll publish some next week.
More about my trip next issue. . .
ALASKA MILEPOST DIRECTORY FOR 2003 NOW AVAILABLE
The 2003 Milepost guide and directory is hot off the press. If you
are headed to Alaska, the Yukon Territory, British Columbia,
Alberta or the Northwest Territories, this 55th edition guidebook
is a "must have." Get info or order.
QUARTZSITE, ARIZONA. SEE IT ON DVD!
Visit the Boondocking Capital of the West on DVD. Like being there!
TROUBLESHOOTING, REPAIRING AND INSTALLING A COOLING UNIT
The refrigerator is one item that helps make RV users feel at home
on the road. But when the refrigerator doesn't work, it just isn't
cool. Here are a few tips to help you determine if the spoiled food
and warm drinks are the result of a problem in the refrigerator
itself or with something else that's causing the cooling unit not
to function.
NEWS FROM THE ESCAPEES
The Escapees is the largest club for full time RVers. It issues regular
press releases about issues related to its members. Popular topics
include news about laws relating to towing, maximum lengths of
RVs on America's highways, full-time RVer voting concerns and more.
Read current news and archives of all recent releases.
2003 Trailer Life Campgrounds and RV Park Directory
Only $13.95. Save 50%. More than 12,000 campgrounds listed!
LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALLING BARGAIN
We don't normally write about cheap long distance phone services, but
we feel compelled to write about OneSuite.com, which offers 2.9 cent
per minute long distance calling within the USA. International calls are
5.5 cents a minute to Canada, 5.9 cents to France and a nickel to
England. You don't have to switch your long distance carrier. Just
sign up with a credit card and prepay as little as $10. You'll receive
a confirmation with an 800 number to use to make your calls and a
PIN. The only glitch for RVers is that there is a 55 cents surcharge
when using phone booths. Still, what a deal at other times. I have no
business relationship with this company other than as a customer.
And it has saved our family a bundle over the past year or so. Learn
more or sign up.
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
OREGON COAST GUIDE
It's one of the most scenic drives in the USA -- following U.S. 101
along the Oregon Coast. There are countless scenic pullouts and many
state parks with beautiful campgrounds, some just yards from the
shoreline. This online guide contains a wealth of information about
the area.
VOLUNTEERING AS YOU TRAVEL
For many RVers, the best thing about traveling is the people they meet.
One way to meet people, and to help make our world a better place in the
process is to volunteer as you travel. Here's a wonderful article that
explains how RVers can combine traveling and volunteering.
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
FREE VIDEO FOR NEW RVers
We haven't mentioned this video for awhile, so it's probably time
to once again urge everyone new to RVing to order the free
video from GoRVing.com. The 18-minute production is a great
introduction to RVing and should be a "must-view" for all RV
newbies. Get more info or to order the VHS video.
FIND A CHURCH
When Sunday comes and you're on the road some RVers look for
a nearby church. Not only is this a wonderful way to celebrate
one's faith, but it's also a great way to meet people and learn
something about their lives and their communities. Beliefnet.com
can help you find a church wherever you happen to be.
GROUP FOR WOMEN RVers
RVing Women is a wonderful organization for women RVers.
RV HISTORIAN TRAVELS IN OLD RV TO PROMOTE NEW ONES
David Woodworth is America's best known RV historian. He spends a
good part of each year traveling the USA in an old RV urging everyone
he meets (including the media) to buy a new one. Why? Find out.
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
From reader R. Bennett. Bumper sticker on motorhome struggling
up a Colorado mountain highway: "If you don't like my driving,
you should have left 5 minutes before ME!" Have you seen a good
one? Email it to Chuck Woodbury at outwest@seanet.com .
CANADIAN RV MAGAZINE'S WEBSITE IS PACKED WITH GOOD READING
RV Lifestyle Magazine is published in Canada for Canadians, but it's great
reading for RVers in the States as well. The magazine's website is
loaded with interesting stories and information including many travel
features. Take a look.
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
RV JOKE OF THE WEEK
An RVer named Stanley was stopped by a game warden in
Northern California as he was returning to his Roadtrek motorhome
with a bucket full of still-alive fish. "Do you have a license to catch
those fish?" the game warden asked. "No, sir. These are my pet fish,"
the man replied. "Pet fish?" the warden asked. "Yes, sir. Every night
I take these fish down to the lake where I'm camped and let them swim
around for awhile. When they hear my whistle, they jump right back
into the bucket and I take them back to the motorhome."
"That's a bunch of baloney," the game warden said as he reached for
his pad of citations. The man looked at the game warden for a moment
and then said, "If you don't believe me, then follow me back to the
lake to see how it works." Still suspicious, but curious, the game
warden agreed. And so they walked to the lake. There, the man poured
the fish into the lake, where they disappeared into the water. "Okay,"
said the game warden. "Call them back."
"Call who back?"
"The fish," replied the warden.
"What fish?" asked the man.
From RVjokes.com
TRAILER LIFE MAGAZINE. ONE YEAR $16.00. SAVE 67%
If you only subscribe to one RV magazine, this should be it!
AND YOU THINK GASOLINE IS EXPENSIVE!
Gasoline is more expensive than at anytime in American history,
but it's a bargain when compared to many other liquids we purchase
on a regular basis. Here, per gallon, are the prices of some
popular products:
Diet Snapple, 16 oz for $1.29. . .$10.32 per gallon
Lipton Ice Tea, 16 oz for $1.19. . .$ 9.52 per gallon
Gatorade, 20 oz for $1.59. . .$10.17 per gallon
Brake fluid, 12 oz for $3.15. . .$33.60 per gallon
Evian water, 9 oz for $1.49. . .$21.19 per gallon
Scope mouthwash, 1.5 oz for $0.99. . .$84.48 per gallon
Pepto Bismol, 4 oz for $3.85. . .$123.20 per gallon
Vick's Nyquil, 6 oz for $8.35. . .$178.13 per gallon
BREAKING NEWS
EL MONTE RV ANNOUNCES $1.35 GASOLINE
RV RETAIL MARKET REMAINS VIBRANT
BLUE BIRD INTRODUCES MORE AFFORDABLE WANDERLODGE
TRAILER LIFE UPGRADES ITS DIRECTORY LISTINGS SYSTEM
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:
About hooking up to electricity in a campground. "If you use
extension cords (always of the proper rating), make all connections
to the RV before finally plugging into the campground power. Then
you won't expose yourself to 'hot' connectors."
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
Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show, March 15-24
Cal Expo Spring RV Show, March 27-30, Sacramento, CA
Northwest Camper & RV Show, March 28-30, Traverse City, MI
Fort Lauderdale RV Show, March 28-30
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:
"When you rise in the morning, form a resolution to make the
day a happy one for a fellow creature." — Sydney Smith
RANDOM RV THOUGHT
"When you stay the night in a hotel or motel, you have to be
careful you don't leave something behind. But when you travel
by RV, your room comes along with you, so you don't have to
worry about forgetting something." 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 47,000 RVers next Sunday.
|