Issue 181. An alert for this issue was emailed to 106,000 RVers
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2006 Mapquest RV & Campsites Guide & Atlas
Finally, a road atlas especially for RVers! This 2006 Mapquest road atlas and campground directory is outstanding! Complete with US state and Canadian province road maps, color photos and 3,700 campground listings. Read more or order.
Editor's Corner
By Chuck Woodbury
Even though a night at a
private RV park will cost you $25 and up these days (often way up), and
the cost of public campgrounds is $15 and up, there are still many
places where you can stay for free or nearly free. The evidence is a
mouse click away at our website FreeCampgrounds.com,
where readers have already identified more than 820 places where an
RVer can stay for free or less than $10. Surprisingly, dozens of these
spots offer hookups — typically electricity — but some provide water
and sewer as well!
The beauty of
FreeCampgrounds.com is that RVers supply the information about a
location and then other RVers add comments. And so when a visitor to
the website locates a potential place to stay, there are often comments
from RVers who stayed there recently, which indicates that the camping
spot is still there, and still free or nearly free. The trouble with
printed directories that list free or inexpensive campgrounds is that
by the time you show up at one of the campgrounds listed, it may no
longer be there or no longer be free. A lot can change from the time a
directory is compliled, printed, distributed and then referenced by a
camper. A city park that once permitted free stays may now be a
softball field. A free public campground may now be $15.
IN THIS TIME OF HIGH GAS PRICES,
finding a free or inexpensive place to spend an occasional night can
help keep a budget in check. And when the place offers more than one
night of complimentary camping in a park-like setting, well, that's
about as good as it gets for RVers on a budget.
Of course, many of the
listings on FreeCampgrounds.com are for parking lots or truck stops
which are anything but scenic. But as most avid RVers know, every night
on the road need not be at ground zero of Scenic Splendor. Sooner or
later we all find ourselves in places like that, where the beauty can
take our breath away.
I urge you to bookmark FreeCampgrounds.com.
Refer it before you head out on your next RV adventure. It might end up
saving you a few dollars along the way. And in your travels if you come
upon a free or inexpensive place that is not already listed, please
consider posting the details on the website. It's easy! Other RVers
will definitely appreciate it!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you own a retail store that caters to RVers
and would like to sell many of the most popular books and DVDs from
RVbookstore.com, please contact us about our new wholesalers program.
Our catalog is online and it's easy as pie to order. Email
chuck@RVtravel.com for information.
Free Gas Fridays: Be sure to check in next Friday morning at RVbookstore.com for a chance to win free gasoline (or diesel).
Pot of Gold Contest News
No winner last week. The pot is now $265 cash. Check each weekday at RVbookstore.com between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Pacific time) to see if you live in the Zip Code of the Day. Our last winner pocketed a cool $380!
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Incredibly, it is perfectly okay to park at dawn or twilight! |
This Week's Reader Survey
How satisfied are you with the workmanship on your RV? Answer here.
Past reader surveys and results
How did RV Travel readers respond to this question:
"Have you ever stayed overnight in your RV at Wal-Mart?"
Learn how more than 1800 readers responded.
GET A FREE ISSUE OF TRAILER LIFE OR MOTORHOME MAGAZINE
KNOWLEDGE QUIZ
Three Quizzes Today. Win super duper prizes!
Look for a pop quiz or two with terrific prizes most weeks at RVbookstore.com.
Sign up to receive an email alert of quiz start times.
Fractional RV Ownership
CoachShare is a better way to own a luxury motorcoach!
Do
you dream of owning a luxurious motorcoach, but don't want the
year-round expense and hassles of private ownership? Why not "share" a
luxury coach with CoachShare? Pay only for the time you need and save
up to 80 percent over full-time ownership. Learn more.
RV Boondocking Tips
By Russ and Tina Demaris
You'll be Dam'd
Some
RVers swear by river camping near dams and reservoirs. While the
specter of terrorism has tightened security, some dam operators allow
free RV overnighting near their constructs. While the US Army Corps of
Engineers often has campgrounds
on reservoirs, we're talking about more primitive (and often free)
camping in semi-developed areas near these big river blockers.
Russ and Tina Demaris are authors of RV Boondocking Basics and Boondocking Tips for RVers: More Fun Without Hookups
Books and videos about Boondocking
Locate Wal-Mart stores
Use this directory to plan free overnight stays.
Get easy driving directions to every Wal-Mart in America.
Learn more about the Wal-Mart Locator or order. 20% Off.
RV Park charged with gouging after hurricane
The
Louisiana attorney general has filed suit against the Natalbany Creek
Campground in Amite for alleged price gouging after Hurricane Katrina,
according to the Associated Press. The suit says the owner hiked
monthly rates from $350 to $900 as the campground filled up with
evacuees.
Best RV Websites
Read the latest issue of RV-Links. Learn about outstanding websites and information on the Web for RVers.
ABCs of RVing:
For absolute beginners and RV novices only.
QUESTION: What is a conversion vehicle? ANSWER:
Simply put, conversion vehicles are luxury passenger vehicles designed
for travel and everyday use. They include vans, SUVs and pickup trucks.
Conversion vehicles are manufactured by an automaker, then modified for
added comfort and recreation use by a company specializing in
customized vehicles. These changes may include windows, carpeting,
paneling, seats, sofas and accessories. Ideal as RV tow vehicles,
conversion vehicles are sold by auto dealers rather than RV dealers and
typically sell for roughly $30,000 to $60,000.
The basics of RV insurance and of RV financing.
Beginners Guide to RVing: Articles and information for brand new RVers. Learn the ropes.
New Additions to FreeCampgrounds.com
Free or inexpensive places to camp with your RV
Dos Chiquitas Restaurant: Bethany, Missouri
I-35
exit 93 on the northwest corner. Ten pull-through sites on an old
campground. Uncrowded and quieter than Wal-Mart parking lot. Just tell
the restaurant people. Free.
BLM land, Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Just
a few miles north of town on U.S. 95 between mile markers 190 and 191.
North of the airport on the east side of the highway is Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) land where a lot of RVers dry camp in the winter
season. Open year round but too hot in the summer. Free.
Lowe's: Charleston, West Virginia
Lowe's
parking lot on corridor G out of Charleston. Ask permission to spend
one night in the parking lot. There is quite a bit of security around.
Free.
The information above was provided by visitors to FreeCampgrounds.com. The information has not been verified.
Learn about 820 free and inexpensive campgrounds at FreeCampgrounds.com
Bumper Snicker
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for the weekend."
Read other funny bumper stickers or buy them.
NEED AN RV LOAN?
Learn if you qualify in 60 seconds
Financial Underwriters Network (F.U.N.) provides exceptional service and low loan rates. Learn if you qualify.
RVing to Mexico
Mexico RVing experts Dot and Bill Bell discuss barbecues, photocopying documents and avoiding Mexico City. Read the article.
Guidebooks and DVDs about RVing in Mexico
When renting an RV makes sense
Books & DVDs at RVbookstore.com
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2005 Big Rig Best Bets Campground Directory
Drive a king-sized RV? This directory is for you. Buy or get info.
Manage Your RV's 12 Volt System
Learn all about your RVs 12-volt electrical system including how to upgrade and operate it and troubleshoot problems.
Truck Stops love RVers! Directory tells what they offer!
The 2005 RVers Friend lists
every Travel Center in the U.S. and Canada and the services each
provides RVers. Learn which offer overnight stays, dump stations,
Internet access, propane or other services. Learn more or order for only $12.95
RVers Guide to Solar Battery Charging
Learn everything an RVer needs to know to enjoy the comforts of household power through the power of the sun.
Buying an RV?
Don't buy one before reading The RV Buyers Survival Guide.
Ex-RV sales manager Bob Randall reveals how to get the best deal from
an RV dealer. Don't pay too much. Available as printed book or instant
eBook.
RVing the Alaska Highway
Join Bob and Judy Howen as they drive the Alaska Highway in their motorhome. See the road through their front window. Visit campgrounds and other RVer attractions.
Quartzsite, Arizona. See it on DVD!
Visit the Boondocking Capital of the West on DVD. Like being there!
2005 Campground Directories
. . . from Trailer Life, Woodall's and Frommer's.
Headed to Alaska? The Milepost is the #1 guide to getting there.
DVDs show how to operate your RV
Learn how to use every system, how to set up, how to drive or pull your RV and more. Class A motorhome • Class C motorhome • Pop Up • Travel Trailer/Fifth Wheel
Camp at Casino RV Parks. . . (Sometimes for FREE)
Learn which casinos have RV parks and which ones offer free overnight stays in their parking lots. Learn more.
Next Exit Directory. . . Don't get lost!
Never take a wrong exit off an Interstate highway again. The 2005 Next Exit
lists every exit along every Interstate and what's at each:
campgrounds, fuel, truck stops, casinos, malls, rest areas, hospitals
and more. A bargain at only $12.95.
Camping and RVing with Dogs
Get expert advice on traveling with a dog and learn about dog-friendly campgrounds and RV parks Learn more or order
2005 Guide to Free Campgrounds of the West
Tired of paying too much for campgrounds. How about staying for free (or nearly free). Learn more or order.
Traveler's Guide To The Firearm Laws of the 50 States
Don't carry a weapon across state lines without knowing the laws. Explains the specific gun laws of every U.S. state.
All The Stuff You Need To Know About RVing
The best book for beginning RVers. Order or get more information.
Books and DVDs about how to buy an RV
Books about earning an income on the road
RV books for less than $9.99
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Super fast delivery. Nine out of ten orders (Mon.-Sat.) ship within 6 hours. "You need it, so we speed it!" |
Never
owned an RV and thinking about buying one? Consider renting one first.
Renting enables you to try various types of RVs and learn from actual
experience which one best suits your needs. Or perhaps you already know
and enjoy the RV lifestyle but aren't ready to own. Motorhomes are the
most popular rental model. However, travel trailers, truck campers and
folding camping trailers are also available. Most RV rental companies
provide "housekeeping" packages (dishes, pots, pans, etc.) for a
nominal fee. RV rental dealers fully instruct customers in the
operation of their vehicles. Even if you're driving or towing an RV for
the first time, features like automatic transmissions, power brakes and
steering make it easy for experienced drivers to adjust to the
difference in size, height and weight. More than 460 national chain
outlets and local RV dealerships rent RVs, and many offer
state-of-the-art, late model year units. A growing number of
campgrounds also offer on-site rentals.
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!
Bill's Hint
"It
is very easy to become careless about hitching up your travel trailer.
You may do it more than once a day when traveling and you tend to 'look
without seeing,' and that can be very dangerous. Problems that occur
with the hitch/trailer may not be apparent until they become major. A
lost wheel or an uncoupled hitch could easily total your trailer, as
well as your tow vehicle."
From Trailers Made Easy
Visit Camping World for RV supplies and accessories
Women on the RV Road
Sell or keep the home?
Women,
more often than men, end up alone after the loss of a spouse. At such a
time, a woman may decide that she no longer wants to live in her big
home. Her thoughts may turn to traveling full-tiime by RV. But what to
do with the house? Should she sell it and give up what amounts to a
good investment — and sever the ties with her fixed-foundation past?
One solution is to put the home's contents into storage and rent out
the house for a year. After the time has past, either move back home or
keep renting it and continue to travel, or sell the home and its
contents and then return to the road as a truly free spirit.
EXPLORER RV: INSURANCE TO PROTECT & SAVE
Owners
of motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels & medium-duty tow
vehicles save up to 15% over our largest competitors by tailoring their
coverage from over a dozen options. Learn more or get a quote.
Weird, Wacky and/or Wonderful Festivals
Pinnacle Mountain Park Rendezvous: West Little Rock, Arkansas
Experience
the American frontier the way it was in the early 1800s, Oct. 15 and
16. Pinnacle Mountain Park is transformed into an era of American
history with a mountain man camp, pioneer settlement and Native
American village. At a children's village, visitors can make crafts
similar to those of pioneer children. Also: canoe rides, climbing wall,
horseback rides, demonstrations and food and craft vendors.
Information: (501) 868-5806.
Do you camp in a Pop Up Trailer?
Then you will enjoy Pop Up Times, America’s only magazine devoted to camping with a pop up. Learn more.
Museum of the Week
Indianapolis Speedway Hall of Fame Museum: Indianapolis, Indiana
The
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, a National Historic
Landmark, is five miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis at the
famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Along with 75 vintage cars on
display, including more than 30 Indy winners, the museum's 48-seat Tony
Hulman Theater offers a 20-minute presentation of rare historic footage
and Indianapolis 500 highlights. A third of the 250,000 annual visitors
tour the museum during May when the Indy 500 is held. The museum is
open every day but Christmas Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with longer
hours during the annual Memorial Day race weekend. Information: (317)
492-6784.
Buying an RV? Get online prices
from dealers in your area & SAVE!
In
less than 60 seconds, request quotes on new or used RVs from up to
three dealers in your area. Compare quotes to find your best deal! No
charge, no obligation. Learn more or get quotes.
Trivia
The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400.
This issue's Knowledge Quiz
THREE QUIZZES TODAY
Prizes: The fabulous DVD Alaska By RV,
a seriously awesome battery powered Tub Trout (it really swims!), and
the always-in-demand RVbookstore.com coffee mug where "coffee tastes
better."
Answer the Quizzes here at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and Noon., Pacific Time, Oct. 9.
Knowledge Quiz official rules
Join the Good Sam Club.Only $19 a year. Save on campground fees.
Zany Business Slogan of the Week
"The Answer To Your Hangups." — Washington state art lamination company
Seen a good one? Email it to the editor.
Want to travel full-time with an RV?
Anyone who is thinking of traveling full-time with an RV will have his or her questions answered in this wonderful 90-minute DVD. Interviews with dozens of fulltimers as well as experts on the lifestyle. Learn more or order.
DID YOU KNOW?
Many
years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen
Only, Ladies Forbidden," and thus the word GOLF entered into the
English language.
Do you tow dinghy behind your motorhome?
Then you need Protect-a-Tow to protect it from flying debris. Also protects hitch, wiring, safety cables & more. Get information.
RV Tech Topics
Getting clean water costs less than you think
Ah,
cool, clear water! If you're using a pitcher filtration system or
something attached to the side of your faucet, consider an inline water
filter. They're available at Camping World for under $25 and last for a
year. Attach the pressure regulator to the campground faucet, then the
filter and your hose for safe, delicious drinking water.
Test your blades
Check
the condition of your windshield wiper blades before you leave on a
trip. This is one of those things we don't think about until the next
time we need them.
Leveling a trailer or fifth wheel: Not difficult
Leveling
a fifth wheel or travel trailer is something we have to do just about
every time we park our rigs. But it's not difficult. The basic
principles apply to all trailers. Here from RVer Jerry Brown are some
some hands-on tips and suggested tools and other items that can make things easier.
Tires: Your RV's most vulnerable component
The
tires on your RV are the most vulnerable component affected by
overloading the RV. There are numerous reasons for this. First and
foremost is when the tires are not inflated properly for the load.
Failure to maintain correct tire pressure can result in fast tread
wear, uneven wear, poor handling, and excessive heat build up, which
can lead to tire failure. Another problem is when you weigh your RV the
total weight of the axles may be within the axles weight rating but it
may be overloaded on one side of the axle or the other. For example,
let’s say you have an axle that is rated for 6,000 pounds. When we
weigh the RV the weight on that particular axle is 5,950 pounds. We are
within the weight rating for the axle, but when we weigh each axle end
separately, we discover that one end weighs 3,400 pounds and the other
end weighs 2,550 pounds. We are still within the 6,000- pound axle
weight rating, but the tires are rated for 3,000 at 80 psi. This means
the axle end that weighs 3,400 pounds is overloading the tire by 400
pounds, even if the inflation pressure is correct. — Mark Polk (Learn about Mark Polk's RV "How-to" DVDs and eBooks.
Advertise in this newsletter
or on one of our many RV websites. More than a 800,000 RVers turn to us
for news and information every month. Interested? Call Kristin at
425-744-0415 or email her at kristin@rvtravel.com.
RVing Resources. . .
Archives of early issues of RV Travel
Upcoming RV Shows
RV-Links
Loads of links to great websites about RVing
Investigate a company with the
Better Business Bureau before making a purchase.
RV Travel Forum
Exchange ideas and information with other RVers.
Full Time RVing
RV Recalls
Workamping Information
Worth Pondering
"Half the unhappiness of the world is due to the failure of plans which were never reasonable, and often impossible." — Edgar Watson Howe
Random RV Thought
With
many of the possessions of our lives, the expectation of acquiring the
object is often more exciting than the product itself. Whether it's a
new camera, dress or home sprinkler system, we dream about the item and
how it will enhance our life. But usually, once acquired, the product
soon becomes just another possession. That's not true with an RV, which
continues to captivate most owners for years and years. Perhaps it's
because an RV is more than a "thing." It's a magic carpet that takes us
on grand, memorable adventures. Anyone who has traveled with their
small children in an RV and then had to sell the RV years later can
come to tears seeing the RV drive away with all its memories. An
elderly couple, too old to travel anymore, will likely feel the same.
RVs provide an ongoing source of wonder to those who own them. And
unlike most of the miscellany in our lives, the passion an owner feels
for an RV rarely dims.
Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But
we may get something wrong. We're just human! So don't go spending
$10,000 on something we said was good just because we said so, or
fixing something like we suggested (check with your own technician
first). Maybe we made a mistake. So be sure to check things out.
RV Travel is rated PG* by the Zoo Institute of Toronto (ZIT)
RV Travel is copyright 2005 by RVbookstore.com.
Our International Headquarters: RVbookstore.com, 170 W. Dayton Street,
Suite 103, Edmonds WA 98020, USA, Earth, Milky Way, Known Universe,
Unknown Universe.
RVbookstore.com
is a proud member of the Better Business Bureau. We strive for
excellence in all we do and that's the absolutely, 100 percent and
honest truth. Our customers receive really, really fast service. We
move so fast in sending out a customer's order that sometimes we look
like big ol' human blurs. Our motto is "You need it so we speed it, and
no truer words were ever spoken! If you're in Edmonds, Wash., stop
by to tour our offices and warehouse. We're a block from the fishing
pier near the traffic holding area for the Kingston Ferry, gateway to
the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas.
*Pretty good
RV Travel staff
Editor: Chuck Woodbury. Contributors: Russ and Tiña Demaris, Malia Lane, Chris Dougherty, Mark Polk, Bill and Dot Bell. Proofreader: Adrienne Kristine. Website Administrator: Zoey Platt. Office Manager: Jody Allcott. Warehouse Manager: Walter Cardwell. Clapper Loader: Emily Woodbury. Mascot: Captain Jack Platt -- the Energizer Doggie.
2006
RVers Friend
(Truckstop Directory)
This handy directory lists every Travel Center in the U.S. and Canada
and the services each provides to RVers.
|
2006
Mapquest RV & Campsites
Finally, a road atlas especially for RVers. This road atlas and campground
directory is the first publication of its kind. Complete with state and
Canadian province road maps, color photos and 3700 campground listings.
|
RV Travel
Get one full year of RV Travel Magazine from the editors of RVtravel.com.
One of the most refreshing RV periodicals you've ever seen. Published
quarterly.
Learn more or subscribe |
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Complete guide to Books and DVDs for Beginning and Novice RVers! Click
here. |
