Issue 356 of RV Travel Learn about RV camping, RV travel, RV news and much more. This newsletter is funded through sales at RVbookstore.com, the World's Largest RV Bookstore specializing in books and DVDs about RVs and the RV lifestyle. Email alerts for this issue were sent to 71,008 readers.
To ensure you continue to receive email alerts for this newsletter, please place the following email address in your own email address book: rvtraveler@topica.email-publisher.comEditor's corner By Chuck Woodbury
VIDEO COMMENT FROM EDITOR: Good news and bad news for RVers.
Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it. I am referring to the building of RVs. I suppose it's possible to put eight slide outs on a single RV or include three bathrooms. But, really, when is enough "enough?" And when does an RV manufacturer quit making what it likes and start making what its customers want?
I paid close attention to the news from the just-ended National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky. This is the Super Bowl of trade shows for the makers of RVs and accessories.
I was happy to learn that both Winnebago and Fleetwood displayed concept hybrid motorhomes. These are not on the market and may not be for a long time. Still, it's nice to see the companies show an interest in building more fuel efficient vehicles. Frankly, they should have showed these off years ago so they could be on the market today.
BUT I SHOOK MY HEAD IN DISBELIEF at Fleetwood's glowing press release of its new, roomier motorhomes for 2009. Three out of the four were longer than 40 feet, and the other was 34 feet. To me, this would be like the auto industry boasting about the debut of new (gas-guzzling) model SUVs! I suspect these "improved" motorhomes have been on the drawing boards for awhile, and the company is just following through. But Fleetwood is financially troubled and just "following through" on plans of yesterday isn't good enough. It takes a half-dozen shares of Fleetwood's anemic stock to buy a decent cup of coffee. So what the heck is the company doing boasting about king-sized RVs when the market for such fuel-guzzling behemoths is right up there with new SUVs? (To its credit, in a separate press release, Fleetwood did anounce two new lightweight trailer lines).
Just look at General Motors: It was a stupid company for decades because it built what it wanted to build and not what the public wanted -- and it did a sloppy job at that. And now it's begging the public to bail it out. We'll see. Nobody but honest-to-goodness buyers will bail out RV companies.
RV manufacturers whose mission is to sell in volume should put the skids on production of monster RVs, and start concentrating on quality products that can be towed by small cars or powered by fuel-efficient engines. Progress is definitely underway, but too many RV makers are still stuck in their old ways.
Yes, there will always be a market for big motorhomes and fifth wheel trailers -- for well-off full-timers and celebrities. But now is not a good time to focus on that market. There is already a glut of 2008 models to be sold, even 2007 models. Maybe Fleetwood's marketing folks -- and all builders of "bigger is better" RVs -- should look back to the late '50s and study the introduction of the VW Bug with its brilliant "Think Small" ad campaign. While American automakers kept cranking out big ol' gas hogs, the Germans and then the Japanese introduced cars that were smaller, fuel-efficient and dependable. American automakers stood by blindly like crash test dummies as their lion's share of the market vaporized.
* * * HOLIDAY SHOPPING NOTE As you probably know, this newsletter is made possible by sales at RVbookstore.com -- the world's largest store specializing in titles about RVs and the RV lifestyle. When you're doing your holiday shopping would you please consider giving your favorite RVer a book or DVD from RVbookstore.com? They will love it, and the proceeds will help our store and this newsletter keep rolling along! Thanks!
RV industry as we know it doomed? RVtravel.com blogger and Professor of RVing Jim Twamley offers his most biting commentary to date about the future of RVing. Whether you agree with him or not, this should be MUST reading. Jim has been writing for a year now about big problems in the RV industry, and most of what he has predicted has come true. But this is his gloomiest appraisal yet of an industry that he believes is on an irreversible slide. Read his story and please leave a comment.
And the GOOD NEWS: The price of a barrel of crude oil dropped to $47 on Friday (down from $147 in July) so watch for even lower gas prices. Whatever the future of the RV industry, the fact is that if you already own an RV, now is a great time to hit the road and enjoy it without punishing your pocketbook. 2008 Wal-Mart Atlas & Bonus "No Overnight RV Parking" Directory Order the best-selling Wal-Mart Atlas and receive the "No Overnight Parking" Directory for FREE. SAVE $9.90! Most Wal-Mart stores permit a free overnight stay in RVs. The 2008 Wal-Mart Atlas provides driving directions to more than 4,000 Wal-Marts and Sam's Clubs. It lists which stores sell diesel, have pharmacies -- and it provides store GPS coordinates. The "No Park" Directory lists more than 350 stores that DO NOT allow stays! Learn more or order. Race track to sell seasonal RV space for $15,000 Texas Motor Speedway is altering the seating in the backstretch to welcome RVers with money to burn in a new area known as "Burnout Alley." If you're looking for a cheap seat, this isn't for you. Learn more. RV shipments may fall to 12-year low Shipments by U.S. RV manufacturers may dip to a 12-year low this year and drop further in 2009, according to a University of Michigan researcher. If so, it would be the fewest shipments since 1996 and a 30 percent drop from last year. Read more.
Do you enjoy model railroading? There's a discussion going in the RVtravel.com forum about model railroading. I just posted a response. The kid in me still loves model railroads -- or as I have always called them, "Electric trains." If you enjoy playing with pint-sized trains, you might want to check out this forum.
Half of workers at SunnyBrook RV get pink slips SunnyBrook RV has laid off about 120 employees. The 17 year-old Indiana company makes travel trailers, fifth wheel trailers and toyhaulers at its plant in Middlebury, Indiana. Read more. Get our FREE magazine! Drive the Alcan to America's Last Frontier, envision yourself on Nova Scotia's miles of coastal drives, celebrate Mardi Gras, cross the border to sunny Mexico, form friendships you'll treasure the rest of your days. All arrangements, including RV parks, by Tracks RV Tours, est. 1975. Click here for your FREE full-color magazine of our many adventures or call 800-351-6053. Getting dental work done in Mexico. Part 3
Professor of RVing, Jim Twamley takes you back to Mexico in this third installment of his five part series "Dental Tourism." If you're not covered by a dental plan, then learn from Jim about no frills high quality dental work in Mexico border towns at a fraction of the price you'd pay in the USA. In this episode, Jim crosses the U.S. border in Del Rio, Texas to visit Acuna, Mexico.
The 2008-2009 Trailer Life RV Road Atlas Besides
showing highways and other roads, this large-format road atlas shows
more than 10,000 campgrounds, plus RV service centers, tourist
attractions and 1,600 state parks, plus a special Tech Tips section. Learn more or order for only $16.95. (Cover price, $29.95)
How to deal with a moose on the loose Visitors to Alaska and other places will sometimes come upon a moose along the road. The creatures are fun to photograph, but they can pose a danger: each year they cause unnecessary human deaths. Here are some suggestions about surviving an encounter with a moose.
Boondock at the hospital After RVtravel.com blogger Russ De Maris visited a big city hospital recently, he learned he didn't necessarily need to book a hotel room if the visit included an overnight stay. He could just bring along his RV and hole up in the parking lot -- just as others were already doing. Read more. FREE SHIPPING
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RV maker Jayco debuts fuel-efficient motorhome Jayco, Inc. has unveiled its newest compact Class C motorhome, the Precept. The Class C motorhome is built on the very popular Dodge Sprinter chassis and is powered by a Mercedes-Benz 3.0-L CDI six-cylinder turbo diesel engine.
Stay the night in an Airstream on a hotel roof! Yup, that's right. A very enterprising South African businessman has imported seven Airstream trailers and hoisted them onto the roof of his Capetown hotel. Soon, visitors can stay the night in the world's first rooftop RV park. No campfires though. Read more and a pic.
Income of RV maker Thor plummets The net income of Thor Industries, the largest maker of RVs, plummeted 87 percent compared to a year ago, the company has announced. Read more.
Advice and information for Beginning RVers NewRVer.com is THE source for information, advice and guidance for brand new RVers, and even for experienced RVers who are in the market for a new rig. Check it out. Headed to Alaska? Check out RVbookstore.com's selection of books and DVDs about travel to and in Alaska. Click here. Tips on RV battery warranties and date codes Up high on the list of RVers' "awfulest" things to have happen on a trip is the failure of the "house" deep cycle battery. It does happen. Here are some tips on ways to help ensure it doesn't happen to you.
Getting "upside down" on an RV loan can cost you big bucks! Don't get upside down when buying an RV. And we don't mean getting that way through a rollover accident, although don't do that either. "Getting upside down" means owning more on your RV than you can sell it for. Learn more.
Flash Floods: Don't be a stupid motorist When the rain comes in the desert, it can come hard and fast, creating temporary killer floods. You don't want to be caught up in one of these. So when you come up to a sign that says "Do Not Enter When Flooded," don't cross! Learn more. This information could save your life someday. RVs FOR SALE Motorhomes, Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, Truck Campers, Pop ups and much more. See the big selection at NewRVer.com. Click here Recent RV recalls Each month we list the latest recalls of RVs at RV-Recalls.com. Here are the most recent ones: October -- September -- August -- July -- June -- May -- April -- March -- February -- January
RV for sale for less than $6! Okay. . . it's a toy motorhome. But it's the best stocking stuffer any RVer could hope for. Even the editor of RVtravel.com has one -- "a great conversation piece," he says. And this mini-motorhome is only $5.87. Move its parts to create 12 different floor plans! Can your RV do that? Check out this great Holiday gift and hundreds of others -- not just kid's toys, but great RV gizmos, gadgets and accessories for the RVer kid in all of us. It's all at RVtoyOutlet.com!
UPDATED 2008 Fall and Winter RV Show Schedule Learn about RV shows through the winter of 2008. Check in here to learn when shows will be held in your area.
Best Selling Directory of RV Services at Truck Stops!
2009 RVer's Friend Now Available
This best-selling directory lists RV services at truck stops with free "camping," dumps, Internet, propane, repair services & more. Truck stops offer more to RVers than ever. Let this best selling book be your guide. Order the 2009 edition now! Learn more or order. Get an email alert for upcoming issues of this newsletter. It only takes 20 seconds to sign up. Your email address is never sold or shared with outsiders. No exceptions.
Workhorse UFO Chassis The hottest RV chassis going these days is the UFO from Workhorse. Poke around the company's website to learn about this chassis, and about everything else going on at Workhorse (which is a LOT). Don't miss the entertaining videos. Learn more.
Winnebago shows off new hybrid Class A motorhome Responding to demand for more fuel efficient RVs, Winnebago Industries, Inc. previewed a full-size hybrid concept Class A motorhome at the just concluded national RV trade show in Kentucky. Learn more.
Oh my goodess! RVing has changed through the years! Here is a fascinating newsreel clip from 1937 that marvels at the RV lifestyle. Back then RVers were called trailerists. See these RVers on the road and in trailer camps, some of which even included general stores on wheels and, as shown here, a mobile barber shop. And how about the price of a week's stay in an RV park. You won't believe the price! Watch the short video at RVvideos.com. Fleetwood RV debuts new travel trailers Fleetwood Enterprises' RV Group announced the launch of several new travel trailer and fifth wheel models during opening day of the 46th Annual National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky.
Find Services at Interstate Exits Never take a wrong exit off an Interstate highway again. The 2008 Next Exit lists every exit along every Interstate and details exactly what you will find at each: gas stations (including which brands and if they offer diesel), campgrounds, truck stops, casinos, laundries, retail stores, drug stores, hospitals, rest areas, and more!
Visits declining to America's National Forests If you feel a little less crowded these days when visiting a National Forest, there's a good reason: the number of visitors is down. Find out why.
Diesel engine offers new choice to Workhorse platform New Workhorse choices in diesel power have brought more fuel efficiency and pulling power into what was once the exclusive province of gas motorhomes. A front diesel engine option is now available for two proven and popular Class A motorhome chassis -- the Workhorse W20 and W22.
Fleetwood motorhomes to be auctioned Kruse International will hold a motorhome liquidation auction in partnership with Wilson Auction LTD on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Kruse Auction Park in Auburn, Indiana beginning at noon. Sixteen brand new 2007 and 2008 Fleetwood motorhomes will be sold at no reserve to the highest bidders. To reach the park, take exit 126 off of Interstate 69. For more information call Kruse International at 800-968-4444. What type of music is the RVers' favorite? A discussion has been going on at the RVtravel.com forum about RVers' favorite type of music. The original posting suggested it was country, but not everyone agreed. What do you think? Feel free to read what's been posted or contribute to it yourself.
. . . if you enjoy Country Music, you will enjoy Cliff Boyd's CD, RV Songs for You. Hear a clip from his hilarious tune "Waltzing Thru Wal-Mart." DVD shows how to drive a motorhome Learn how to drive a motorhome the right way from RVer/tour bus driver Lorrin Walsh and host Mark Polk. This should be essential viewing for co-pilots and novice RV drivers. And veteran RVers, too! 67 minutes. Save 10% at RVbookstore.com. Learn more or order.
A Woman's Perspective By Adrienne Kristine
Save time checking into a campground A fulltiming couple gave me this great idea: in large type, print your name, mailing address and phone number; type of RV, license number and state; type of toad, license number and state; any club name(s) like Escapees or Good Sam and membership number(s) on a half sheet of paper. Highlight, cut and paste the information on the bottom half of the page. Laminate the page and cut it in half. This can be done at any Kinko's or other copy center. Now when you check into a campground or RV park, you can hand the half page to the hard-working clerk so he or she will have all the information needed to get you to your site in a timely manner.
Explorer RV Insurance GET A FREE QUOTE Owners of motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels and medium duty tow vehicles save up to 15% over our largest competitors by tailoring their coverage from more than a dozen options. Get a quote now.
This Week's Reader Survey For motorhome owners: Do you pull a vehicle behind your RV? Answer here.
Last week's survey question When do you plan to take your next RV trip? Read the answer here.
Ask the RV Doctor Gary Bunzer, The RV Doctor is a well known RV author and the host of RV Roadtrips, the DIY Network cable television show. He is one of the RV industry's most sought after speakers and the host of the popular DVD Do It Yourself RV Care.
RVer wonders if bad water has damaged his RV water system
Dear RV Doctor, While camping at an older campground, the filter between the campground water and my trailer became clogged so I ran without it for a very short time. It seems that the campground has the older steel pipes and small particles have entered my trailer water system and has seriously reduced the flow at some of the faucets. Please tell me I don't have to re-plumb the entire system. --Steve Blades
PRICE REDUCTION. SAVE BIG RIGHT NOW. HURRY! 2008 Guide To The Firearm Laws of the 50 States RVers who travel with a firearm may not know that what's legal in their home state may be a felony in another. This guide explains current, specific gun laws for every state. Don't cross a state line with a gun without knowing the laws! Reg. $12.95.NOW ONLY $9.95. Learn more or order. Trivia The U.S. Postal Service delivers more mail in one day than Federal Express delivers in a year. Bella Terra RV Resort Now Open for Rental Occupancy! Your dream of five-star, luxury RV living is becoming a reality. At Bella Terra of Gulf Shores, we pride ourselves on creating unique travel experiences for our guests. Make a RV lot reservation now. Call toll free 1-866-475-7746 or complete our reservation form online.
Tire trials: Protection aids may not always be beneficial By Russ and Tina De Maris RV tires are susceptible to the rigors of weather, particularly when the rig sits in one spot for a long time. Tires contain an agent that keeps them supple, but this material is distributed through the tire as it rolls. A tire industry expert advises tires need to be protected, but not in the way after-market hawkers would have you believe. While "slick-em-ups" may make those expensive "rubber donuts" look good, potions containing petroleum, silicon or alcohol will do a lot more harm than good. Protect your tires from UV radiation by covering them when parked, be it with "tire guards" from the RV store or even chunks of old plywood. It's also best to park off concrete or asphalt, but if you can't, be sure to put a barrier between your tire and the hard stuff: a simple 99 cent table placemat works great. Russ and Tina De Maris are the authors of RV Boondocking Basics. Are you a veteran boondocker? Would you please share some of your tips and tricks at our RVtravel.com reader forum? We'll reprint some of your comments in this newsletter each week.
Visit Arizona's Finest RV Resorts Leave the cold and enter the warmth and fun of sunny Arizona. Click here to view resorts RV Tech Tip by Mark Polk
Fogging oil is good idea during storage
While a motorhome is in storage, if you don't plan on starting the unit, or won't be able to start it, buy some fogging oil from a marine supply store to protect the cylinder walls. When the unit is parked where it will be stored, spray the fogging oil into the engine intake downstream from the air filter with the engine at an idle. Complete the same steps on the generator. Follow the manufacturer's directions. Caution: Do not use this product in a diesel engine.
FMCA: The best club for motorhome owners If you drive a motorhome you should join the Family Motor Coaching Association, the largest and best club exclusively for motorhome owners. Many benefits including rallies, local chapters and thick monthly magazine. Special new member price of $35. Click here to learn more or join.
Goin' to the desert? It won't be long before the trek to Quartzsite, AZ begins. We are one couple who just loves the dust and sand. It seems it's "Take your chances" or boondock. Our health conditions make dry camping impractical. All the parties we have contacted say they only rent space on a first-come basis. Driving the 500 miles to find out there is no room at the inn doesn't make much sense. Can anyone tell me how we can get "full hook-up" reservations in Quartzsite? Power on board jump starter: please help Power on board jump start system for car, boat, truck, bike, tractor with air compressor (inflates tires) and 12 volt DC power supply (recharge electronics) and built-in light: can you use these inside your RV to, say, run a small TV and then when on shore electric, charge it back up?
Cleaning day/night shades I know my day/night shades need to be cleaned, but I am afraid of making things worse. I vacuum them but I know they are still dirty. Any suggestions?
Getting your pet to adapt to the RV How did you get your pet to adapt to the RV? I think I should have handled my situation differently.
Driving U.S. 101 on the Oregon coast in winter Are there any year-round RV parks on this route? We are thinking about heading south end of January but really don't want to do I-5. Is it doable?
Interesting Forum: RVing in Mexico If you plan to travel to Mexico with your RV, then this is the place to learn about how to do it. Share information with other Mexico-bound RVers, ask a question or answer one. If you're already in Mexico or are a veteran traveler there, forum members would welcome your input. Read other Forum discussions
Visit Stonehenge with your RV without leaving the USA On a barren bluff overlooking the Columbia River is a full-size replica of Stonehenge, a near carbon copy of the more famous Stonehenge in England. Unlike the English Stonehenge which is mobbed daily with buses and wide eyed tourists, this is a lonely, quiet place and is easily accessible by any length RV.
Do you know of a terrific tourist attraction? Share it with the readers of this newsletter in the RVtravel.com forum.
Save on directories of Free Campgrounds The most comprehensive guides to free and inexpensive campgrounds in the East and West -- "must-haves" for budget-minded RVers. Save $5 by buying both East and West editions together. Learn more or order.
Bumper Snicker I've got the perfect body, but it's in the trunk and beginning to smell.
RV Emergency Road Service from the Good Sam Club Looking for the best RV benefits and the best value in a reliable RV emergency roadside service plan? Look no further than the Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service, the all-in-one roadside assistance club that caters specifically to RV owners. Learn more or sign up. Worth Pondering "Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the sidewalk before it stops snowing." -- Phyllis DillerBig Rigs Campground Directory now available on CD-ROM The hugely popular Big Rigs Best Bets Campground Directory is now available on CD-ROM. This is the premier guidebook to RV parks that cater to long RVs -- 32 feet and longer. Previously only available in printed form, the publishers have released the information in a searchable CD-ROM. Learn more.
About the editor Chuck Woodbury has explored America by RV for nearly three decades. In the '90s he published a quirky travel newspaper about his adventures and was an "on the road" writer for the New York Times Syndicate. Nowadays, he lives near Seattle where he drinks massive amounts of coffee and travels often in his motorhome and sometimes by plane when vast expanses of saltwater would turn his RV into a leaky submarine. He is the host of the Better Business Bureau DVD "Buying a Recreational Vehicle," the definitive guide to purchasing an RV the right way. RVs for sale at NewRVer.com. Check them out. RV Travel staff Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Contributing editors: Russ and Tina De Maris, Jim Twamley. Forum Administrator: Adrienne Kristine. Office Manager: Jody Allcott. Web Operations Guru: Zoey Platt. Clapper/Loader: Emily Woodbury.
Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally 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. At RVbookstore.com we strive for excellence in all we do and that's the honest truth (as opposed to the dishonest truth). Our customers receive really, really fast service. We move so fast in sending out a customer's order that sometimes we pass through the sound barrier, which really upsets our neighbors. Our motto is "You need it so we speed it," and no truer words were ever spoken!
RVbookstore.com and RVtravel.com are members of the Better Business Bureau. We are proud commercial members of the Escapees, the Family Motor Coaching Association and a sponsor of the 2008 Life On Wheels Conferences. RV Travel is copyright 2008 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, Expanding Universe.
Yes, there will always be a market for big motorhomes and fifth wheel trailers -- for well-off full-timers and celebrities. But now is not a good time to focus on that market. There is already a glut of 2008 models to be sold, even 2007 models. Maybe Fleetwood's marketing folks -- and all builders of "bigger is better" RVs -- should look back to the late '50s and study the introduction of the VW Bug with its brilliant "Think Small" ad campaign. While American automakers kept cranking out big ol' gas hogs, the Germans and then the Japanese introduced cars that were smaller, fuel-efficient and dependable. American automakers stood by blindly like crash test dummies as their lion's share of the market vaporized.
RV industry as we know it doomed?
Do you enjoy model railroading?
Get our FREE magazine!
The 2008-2009 Trailer Life RV Road Atlas 
RV for sale 
Oh my goodess! RVing has changed through the years!
Find Services at Interstate Exits
What type of music
Explorer RV Insurance
2008 Guide To The Firearm Laws of the 50 States
Visit Arizona's 
RV Tech Tip by Mark Polk
If you drive a motorhome you should join the Family Motor Coaching Association, the largest and best club exclusively for motorhome owners. Many benefits including rallies, local chapters and thick monthly magazine. Special new member price of $35. 
RVing in Mexico
Visit Stonehenge with your RV without leaving the USA
Big Rigs Campground Directory