RV Traveler Email Newsletter #60

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SIEMENS 65 WATT RV SOLAR PANEL HOLIDAY SALE
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This issue's email circulation: 53,647

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

Welcome to issue number 60 of the largest RV email
newsletter in the world that's written by a man who
divides his time between a home-office and a
motorhome-office.

I received the following letter from a reader, and it got
me thinking. Here's part of what Cindy Spainhour wrote:

"My husband and I recently purchased an RV so I could
accompany him when he's out of town working. We had
never given any thought to severe weather emergency
procedures if they were needed while on the road.

"Well, recently we had to give it some thought while
traveling in the Midwest, when we were dealing with both
tornado warnings and touchdowns. My first concern was if
the campground where we would stay had a procedure in
place in case of an emergency. Fortunately, it did. Two
nights later we had to take action. It was a comfort to know
that we had a plan to follow.

"Would you please inform your readers that they should make
their own emergency plans and learn the procedures of
campgrounds where they stay?"

Ms. Spainhour's letter reminded me of a terrifying hour
that my wife, daughter (then three-years old) and I spent in an
Illinois RV park. Being from California, where a tornado is
virtually unheard of, the thought of even being near one is
terrifying.

We pulled into our RV park at about 3 p.m. The rain was
pounding so loud that we could barely hear each other speak.
Lightning and thunder were blasting virtually overhead. On the
radio, the announcers were talking of tornadoes. The three of us
were nervous and scared. We had no idea what to do should
one appear.

And then the announcement came: An official tornado warning.
The twister was near town and moving closer.

After a few minutes, which seemed an eternity, we decided
that staying in the motorhome was unwise. We had no emergency
plan, nor had we bothered to ask about one at the park when
we arrived.

So, in our rain slickers, we dashed through mud and mud
puddles to the RV park office. There, we found other anxious
campers. The tornado had moved closer and it was time to do
what we could to protect ourselves. The park had little to offer
other than its building. Believing that the tornado could strike
at any moment, my wife, daughter and I slipped under a pool
table. I remember thinking, "Yeah. . . right, this is really going
to protect us!" But there was no place better. I remember how
scared I was for my little girl. I held her tightly in my arms,
feeling powerless to protect her if the twister should appear.
Never in my life had I felt so vulnerable. All I could do was
hold Emily and pray for our family's safety.

Fortunately, fifteen very long minutes later, the radio
broadcast an all-clear: the tornado was no longer a threat.
We climbed out from under the pool table and returned to
our RV, shaken but safe.

If I were in a potentially threatening situation like this again,
I would not be so casual about where I stayed. I would pick an
RV park where there was, indeed, an emergency shelter. Or I
might check into a motel, or even park by an emergency shelter
until the storm passed.

The advice of Cincy Spainhour about having an emergency plan
is good, and something you and your family should discuss.

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

SAVE ON CAMPING WITH NATIONAL PARK PASSES
Okay. . . the price of gas is still up and the cost of a campsite
sure hasn't gone down over the last year. So it's always nice
to save a few dollars here and there. One great way is to buy
a National Parks pass. Here is a rundown of the those
available, all of which can stretch your dollars.

2003 Trailer Life Campgrounds and RV Park Directory
Only $13.95. Save 50%. More than 12,000 campgrounds listed!

DIESEL PRICES DOWN YET AGAIN
On-highway diesel prices declined again for the 10th week in a row,
according to figures released May 19. The national, average,
at-the-pump diesel price decreased 0.1 cent to $1.443 a gallon, the
Energy Information Administration reported May 19. Three areas
still retain the dollar-fifty mark: New England, where the price is
$1.581; the Central Atlantic, where the price is $1.590; and
California, where the price is $1.522.

DIESEL FUEL SMELLS LIKE FRENCH FRIES!
A group of college students is trying to show drivers of diesel
vehicles that alternatives to petroleum-based fuel are viable.
A 1960s-style Project Bio-Bus is now underway, with a group of
college students traveling across the country in a diesel-engine
powered bus fueled by various vegetable oils. For the most part,
the oil is provided by cafeterias and fast-food restaurants. The
students strain the oil before using it to fuel the bus. Biodiesel, a
fuel made from refined vegetable oils and other products, has been
used in some diesel engines. That fuel, often used in a blended form
with standard diesel fuel, offers lower emissions and can be made
from such products as soybeans or from waste food oils. There can
be some unexpected side-effects when using an alternative fuel,
the most obvious one being the smell of the exhaust. According to
one passenger on the Bio Bus, it smells "a little bit like whatever
it was used to fry. Sometimes you get onion rings, french fries or
chicken patties."

. . . IF THIS FUEL ever gains widespread use, the smell of a passing
diesel pusher in the campground might make campers want to make
a beeline for a nearby burger joint.

ESSENTIAL READING ABOUT RVing IN ALASKA AND CANADA
Alaska By RV, Western Canada By RV, Eastern Canada By RV:
http://www.RVbookstore.com/howens.html. And don't forget the
2003 ALASKA MILEPOST DIRECTORY. If you are headed to Alaska,
Yukon Territory, BC, Alberta or NW Territories, this 55th edition
guidebook is essential. Get info or order.

FOR THE MODERN CAMPER, S'MORES, CNN, AND A DVD
As many Americans head out for their first camping foray of
the summer over Memorial Day weekend, they'll be taking along
the usual tents, sleeping bags, and Coleman lanterns. They'll
also be carting along DVD libraries, instant-messaging systems,
portable hot showers, butane ovens that make gourmet brownies,
and enough amenities to make Martha Stewart feel comfortable
among the wood ticks. Read more.

TOWING TIPS FOR YOUR TOAD
Do you tow a car behind your motorhome? Here are some
tips about how to do it safely.

PROPANE: ON OR OFF WHILE ROLLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY?
If there is one topic of conversation that is almost always hotly
debated, it's whether it's okay — or not okay — to travel
with your propane turned on. And even more hotly debated
is whether it's okay to travel with your RV's refrigerator
operating on propane. RVing experts Joe and Vicki Kieva
give their opinion.

HEALTH INSURANCE FOR FULL-TIME RVers
Here is a list of insurance agents that are said to offer health
insurance for full time RVers. If you live the full-time lifestyle
or plan to, perhaps there is some useful information here.

GOOD SAM EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE
Protects you, your spouse, AND all children age 25 or younger
(living at home or attending college), your RV, AND all household
cars, SUVs, minivans, and pick-ups! Only $79.95!
KEEPING A MOTORHOME ENGINE COOL WHILE TOWING
From Motorhome Magazine: "Driving motorhomes in
extreme temperatures while climbing hills and towing a dinghy
vehicle can cause overheating. Here's a tip that may make you
uncomfortable, but could just keep your engine's coolant from
boiling. If the engine temperature gets near the danger zone,
shut off the dash air-conditioner, open the windows and turn on
the heater (not defrost, which runs the air-conditioner compressor,
too) as hot as it can go with high fan speed. This often reduces
coolant temperatures by 10 to 15 degrees. Never drive with
an overheated engine." Motorhome subscription information.

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

RV COLLECTOR ENJOYS MOBILE COMFORTS OF HOME
David Woodworth has a true appreciation for his 2003 Itasca
Horizon RV — he knows how far recreational vehicles have come.
Woodworth began touring the country in his state-of-the-art RV
in April, trailering one of the country’s oldest RVs with him. The
32-foot RV he rides in has almost all the comforts of home,
including satellite television, central heating and air conditioning,
a microwave, a gas oven and a bathroom. His 1916 Automobile
Telescope Apartment, however, barely has room for two. Read more

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.

2003 BIG RIGS BEST BETS CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY
A directory of campgrounds that accommodate large RVs.

'CAMPING' AT WAL-MART HOME VIDEO AND DVD
Documentary film interviews RVers 'camping' at Wal-Mart

THE RVers BIBLE
Superb, bestseller reference, from buying an RV to using it.

SURVIVAL OF THE RV SNOWBIRDS
A classic guide about "boondocking" (RVing on the cheap)

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.

ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR RVers II
Covers everything the RVer needs to know from A to Z

QUARTZSITE HOME VIDEO AND DVD
Take an armchair visit to the RV Boondocking Capital of the West
on VHS home video or DVD

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.

VIDEO: ROCKY MOUNTAINS BY RV
Visit Yellowstone, Tetons, Glacier and Rocky Mountain Nat. Parks

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

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!

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.

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 53,000 RVers next Sunday.