| From RVbookstore.com Archived Issues Weekend of April 25, 2009
Issue 375 of RV Travel
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 experienced RVers, too! 67 minutes. Learn more or order.
Editor's corner By Chuck Woodbury  Follow me on TwitterDear reader,   Last issue's reader survey question results were interesting and I suspect representative of the population as a whole. We asked if you considered yourself an outgoing person (an extrovert) or more reserved (an introvert). Slightly more than half of you considered yourself more the outgoing type -- but less than eight percent of you thought of yourself as very outgoing.I suppose it's not so easy putting such a label on ourselves. Some people who meet me would probably say that I am outgoing. But, really, I consider myself as reserved, even shy. I don't go around shaking hands and introducing myself at campgrounds but keep mostly to myself. But if a fellow camper should stop by my campsite I am very happy to talk and would probably appear very outgoing. One survey question related to this that I have thought about asking is whether you wear a smile or a frown on your face in your everyday life. Stand on a street corner sometime and watch people pass: you will notice that most of them have a neutral expression, neither a smile nor a frown. But every so often, you will see someone with a very pleasant smile and you get the feeling that's how they look most of the time. I realize that sometimes people wear a smile because they just received good news or they're thinking of their kid or something like that. But I'm pretty sure that some of these people default to a smile, just as others default to a frown. It's the way their face goes when it's on auto-pilot. If your spouse or a good friend is close by, ask him or her about your own expression: "Do I mostly smile or frown, or just look neutral?" It could be the start of an interesting discussion.  Harry Truman's Excellent AdventureLast issue I wrote about a new book about former President Harry Truman and his wife Bess who headed off on a long road trip -- just the two of them -- shortly after the President and First Lady left the White House. Waitresses and motel clerks must have thought their eyes were playing tricks on them when the couple sat down at their table for a tuna sandwich or walked in to get a room for the night. We had eight copies of the book on hand at RVbookstore.com last weekend, which I thought would be plenty for readers who might want to buy one. Wrong! All eight copies were gone by the time most of you woke up. So, for those who missed out, there are now more available, still at 25 percent off the cover price. If you want to get one, do it here. Congratulations Adrienne! Adrienne Kristine, the administrator of the RVtravel.com forum, recently won first prize in an essay contest held by the San Francisco chapter of the American Association of University Women. Her essay was on the subject of gender and pay equity. Adrienne received $500, a year's membership in AAUW and the opportunity to speak at the group's 125th anniversary celebration. Congratulations Adrienne! Stay in touch with Adrienne on Twitter.  ATTENTION: Early returns from a tweet Friday at Twitter are showing a fascinating response to this issue's reader survey question (below). Be sure to respond, and see how others have responded.
 2009 Next Exit DirectoryThis should be an essential guide for every road-tripping RVer! Learn what you will find at every Interstate highway exit: gas/diesel fuel, campgrounds, truck stops, casinos, stores, malls, hospitals, factory outlet stores, parks and more. Learn more. Get the latest RV news headlines at TwitterKeep up with the latest in RV news and information at our new RV Travel headline service at Twitter.com. Plus, you'll be the first to get an alert about each new issue of the weekly RVtravel.com newsletter. Go there now. Other Twitters to follow RV Bookstore RV Travel editor Chuck Woodbury Julianne Crane, RV Wheel Life RVtravel.com forum moderator Adrienne Kristine RV Wal-Mart: Overnight RV parking news RV Businesses that have joined Twitter recently: Cruise America, Thousand Trails, Good Sam Club, RV Business Magazine, Winnebago, RVtoyOutlet.com, WIT Club, Bella Terra RV Resort, Passport America, Workamper News, Country Coach, RV Pro Magazine, PPL Motorhomes. DID YOU MISS last issue of this newsletter? If so, read it here. READ BACK ISSUES: Click here. RVtravel.com Forum Update as of 4/24/09 at 3:30 pm: 9,619 registered members, 26,431 messages. RVtravel.com Alexa ranking: 79,105* *Rank in the world among tens of millions of websites. Number of RVtravel.com followers at Twitter: 2,013  Number of free and inexpensive campgrounds now profiled at FreeCampgrounds.com (as of 4/24/09): 1,766  Essential for Fulltimers!2009 Selecting An RV Home Base For would-be fulltimers, which state to establish an official home base is critical. Picking the wrong state can result in paying thousands of dollars extra each year in taxes or RV registration fees. Don't let that happen! This best selling guidebook is an essential planning tool. Learn more or order. RVers: Avoid Automotive Repair Rip Offs Let's face it: Even the most talented RV do-it-yourself-er can't do everything there is to do: there just isn't time. And for many of us, when you get down to the mechanics of drive-train repair, we're in over our heads. That means we're stuck depending on a paid mechanic. With so many horror stories, how can you avoid auto repair ripoffs? Here are some tips.  Short video shows how to install an RV vent cover A vent cover for your RV allows air to get into and ventilate through your RV at any time without letting debris and rain into your motorhome, travel trailer or other recreational vehicle. This short video hosted by RV Today host Stew Olsen shows you how to properly install a MaxAir vent cover from start to finish.Business not so bad for Canadian RV dealers While dealerships are closing doors around the U.S., Canadian RV dealers say things aren't so bad up north. Some say that sales this year are around a par with last, in fact. Still, they want help from the government to smooth the sales ways. Read more.  2008 Wal-Mart Atlas & FREE 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. Best way to use a generator to charge your RV batteries As more and more RVers begin to consider the fun and benefits of boondocking, as opposed to RV park camping, keeping the batteries charged is a frequent topic of campfire conversations and RV forum entries. Many approach their experiences, not with an on-board generator, but bringing along a portable generator. Lots of them have connections to "charge" 12-volt batteries. Is this the best way to go? Find out.  No need to tow a dinghy behind this motorhomeWhy tow a car behind your motorhome when the RV can just swallow up the car into its belly? In this one minute video, watch as a big coach does just that. Why, if this isn't just plain amazing, what is?Check your tires before heading off on your next RV trip The Tire Industry Safety Council urges owners of recreational vehicles to pay close attention to their vehicle weight, load distribution, and tire inflation pressure before heading off on their next RV road trip. "RV owners who take the time to check their tires for proper inflation and loading can avoid the aggravation and expense of a possible breakdown on the road," says Council Chairman Donald B. Shea. Read more.  MORE POPULAR THAN EVER!2009 Trailer Life RV Parks & Campground Navigator CD-ROM America's most popular RV campground directory is now on 2 CD-ROM disks. The user friendly interface provides the ultimate RV travel planning software for the U.S. and Canada. This is the best CD-ROM RV park and campground directory. Retail price: $59.95. Now 38% off -- only $36.99. Learn more or order Affinity Group struggles in down economy Georgia State Park giving away RV in spring contest  Corps Camping Guide to Corps of Engineers Campgrounds This best-selling guidebook describes more than 600 Corps-managed campgrounds suitable for RVs on nearly 200 lakes around the USA. Haven't camped at a Corps of Engineers' facility? Then you've missed out! Learn more or order Big Southern Calif. RV show postponed from April to June The Pomona RV & Travel Show, originally scheduled for April 23-26, has been rescheduled for June 19-21 when it will become a part of Summer Fest '09. In addition to the RV show, visitors can attend the boat, home and backyard and computer show for a single admission price.  No foolin' -- these fulltimers are enjoying lifeIt's always fun to read about people who don't take themselves too seriously and are living their dream. Odel King and Laurie Brown are such a couple. They've been on the RV road since April Fools Day, 2003. RVWheelLife blogger Julianne Crane profiles these interesting people. WD-40 fan club site is fun (and useful) One of the handiest items at home or in the RV is WD-40, the lubricating spray that no one should be without. At the WD-40 Fan Club website, readers have helped build a "2000 Uses List." Check it out.   12V Heated Stainless Steel Travel Mug! For RV Travel readers only! Reg. $14.99 -- ONLY $2.95  This stainless steel mug plugs into most 12-volt cigarette lighters, fits into most standard cup holders & is perfect for RV travel. Simple to use, spill-proof, safe & handy! Best of all, the heating element is contained in the base of the mug so no mineral or beverage residue can build up on the heating coil. Your drink stays isolated & warm & it's easy to clean! Learn more or order. Follow RV Toy Outlet on Twitter
The biggest annual RV rally -- called The Rally -- drew 3,112 registered RVs to the Expo New Mexico fairgrounds in Albuquerque, April 16-20. Although attendance was slightly down from last year, it was considered an excellent turnout. In 2010, The Rally will be held July 22-25 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Monaco Coach announced Friday, April 24, that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of its RV manufacturing assets to a unit of Navistar, Inc. for approximately $52 million. After paying off its creditors, there will be no money left for Monaco shareholders.
Many famous dinosaur bones are about to come out of hiding. Dinosaur National Monument will get more than $13 million in federal stimulus funds to demolish and replace condemned portions of its Quarry Visitor Center, which has been closed for two years. The center houses the nation's premier quarry of Jurassic-period dinosaur bones. Florida may close many of its state parks because of the recession. Already, 19 have closed. The Washington state Department of Natural Resources is looking for vandals who heavily damaged Sherman Valley Campground in the Capitol State Forest last week. Wooden outhouses were pulled off their foundations, shot up and smashed. Two picnic tables and fencing were smashed and then burned. Call 360-902-1698 if you can help. Folding camping trailer manufacturer Livin' Lite Recreational Vehicles LLC has introduced its first travel trailer, the 15-foot, all-aluminum, 98% fully recyclable Camp Lite with a dry weight of 1,500 pounds. Tow it with practically anything that has an engine and four wheels. A ground squirrel found at the Doane Valley Campground on Palomar Mountain near San Diego has tested positive for plague. Notices have been posted to warn campers.
CoachShare, a San Diego based company that sells fractional ownership shares in luxury RVs, has announced that it will offer a money back guarantee to all of its customers. The guarantee lets new owners return their share within the first 90 days if they are not completely satisfied with the program. Florida RV dealer Lazydays has purchased for resale Fleetwood Industries Inc.'s remaining 154 travel trailers.
Dear Doctor, Will you please explain AC polarity and how to determine when it's correct at the campground pedestal? I participate on a website forum and some have tried to answer this resulting in confusion for most who read it. --Ray Fowler Read previous RV Doctor columns   Special discount: Save $500!Come along with us on THE OREGON TRAIL Join Tracks as we follow the footsteps of the pioneers who traveled west on the Oregon Trail. See the old wagon ruts. Savor steaks over the campfire. Ride a real Conestoga Wagon! Form friendships you'll treasure forever on this 33-day RV tour from Missouri to Oregon. All arrangements including RV parks by Tracks RV Tours. Click here for your FREE full-color magazine covering this tour and all our others or call 800-351-6053. This Week's Reader Survey If you had to choose between giving up watching TV or using the Internet, which would you choose? Answer here. Last week's survey question Past reader surveys and results Best selling Directory of RV services at Truck Stops!  Get your 2009 RVers FriendThis 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 -- just published! Learn more or order. Recent RV recalls Each month we list the latest recalls of RVs at RV-Recalls.com. Here are the most recent ones: 2009: January/February 2008: December -- November -- October -- September -- August -- July -- June -- May -- April -- March  RVs for saleMotorhomes, Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, Truck Campers, Pop ups and much more. See the big selection at NewRVer.com. Click here
RV Boondocking Tips Russ and Tina De Maris are the authors of RV Boondocking Basics.
 THE guide for Alaska-bound RVers! The 2009 Milepost is THE guide to visiting Alaska This is THE mile-by-mile guidebook for RV or auto travelers headed to Alaska, the Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Alberta and the Northwest Territories. If you only take one guidebook to Alaska, take this! Learn more or order at a discount price. A Woman's Perspective
How to make an RV look like "Home" Learn more about RVing as a woman.  Looking for a job while you travel?Visit Workamper News The RVers #1 source for finding jobs about "workamping"  The RV KitchenJanet Groene's Cookbooks for RVers: Big selection at RVbookstore.com  RV Buyers Survival Guide RV sales manager Bob Randall explains how to buy an RV including how to negotiate with a dealer, the most important part of the best-selling book. Now in its third edition, this book is one of RVbookstore.com's top best sellers. Learn more or order. NEWLY UPDATED Bella Terra RV Resort  Grand Opening Celebration May 6-10Now Open for Rental Occupancy! Your dream of five-star, luxury RV living is becoming a reality. Make a RV lot reservation now. Don't forget to ask about our Buy One/Get One Free Promotion. Make a RV lot reservation now. Call toll free 1-866-475-7746 or complete our reservation form online.
Working on the RV road
Also: The Umpqua National Forest in Oregon has openings for volunteer campground hosts at Eagle Rock and Horseshoe Bend campgrounds from May 15 until the end of September. Contact Coral Bailie at (541) 957-3425 or Steve Anderson at (541) 496-3532 Excellent book about Workamping: Support Your RV Lifestyle Finance your RV at RVfinancing.com RVfinancing.com is THE largest online RV financing company. Lowest rates nationwide. Visit its website or call 1-888-929-4424. Toll-free 24-hour recorded RV financing tips at 877-905-0060. Endorsed by RVtravel.com
 Photo of the weekNow, that's a big deterrent to speeders! Speeding down a highway this warning sign wouldn't exactly put fear into a motorist's mind -- at least not enough to back off the gas pedal! Chances are you won't see this sign in the USA. But you will in Great Britain, where a "Sleeping Policeman" is what we call a speed bump! And speaking of speed bumps. . .this 30-second commercial featuring a homemade speed bump will leave you folded up with laughter (it's in German, but that doesn't matter). Do not miss this! Books and DVDs about Fulltime RVing 
Tech Tips with Mark Polk What is LP gas? Find out about DVDs and eBooks by RV expert Mark Polk.
 The good ol' days. . .The human link between Charles Lindbergh and Wally Byum It's interesting when seemingly unrelated people and events have a common thread. A man named Hawley Bowlus was the shop foreman at Ryan Aircraft, in San Diego, Calif., and supervised the 1927 construction of Charles Lindbergh's famous trans-Atlantic airplane the Spirit of St. Louis. Later, Bowlus built gliders, which he and Lindbergh would fly together. In 1934, Bowlus focused his attention closer to earth, building the first all-aluminum travel trailer. In the two years that followed, he built 200 Road Chiefs. One of his salesmen was a fellow named Wally Byum, who would later found the Airstream trailer company. Bowlus wasn't all work, though. As a hobby he liked to build scale-model live steam trains. His trains plied the tracks of Travel Town in LA's Griffith Park for many years, bringing delight to the countless children and adults who rode on them. Photo: a 1947 Tatra 87 pulling 1935 Bowlus Road Chief (owned by Raul Blacksten)  Flea Market U.S.A.This is the best directory of flea markets and swap meets in the 50 U.S. states. In fact, it’s the only one we know of -- a valuable guide for both vendors and shoppers. And for only $6.99. What a steal! Published November 2008. Learn more or order. Check out these RV Travel Forum discussions Using your RV in an emergency In last week's newsletter, Adrienne Kristine reported how she had used her RV in an emergency. Her message struck home with a forum member who was reading the newsletter at that moment in her trailer in the driveway of her home. "Our water pipe going to the house broke this Friday and we had to shut off water to the house. Right in the driveway was our second home!" She continued, "Our original purpose for the trailer was to have a rolling motel when evacuating from hurricanes. Here was the solution to this emergency in our driveway. We bought the RV right after Katrina and now love camping as often as our business will let us!" Do you have a comment? How do I adjust the headlights on my motorhome? I have a '07 National Sea Breeze on a Workhorse W22 chassis. On our first trip we found out that the headlights are out of adjustment. One is high and the other is low; both are off center. I went to do a quick adjustment and found NO adjusting screws from the front. Crawled under next and still could not see any way to adjust the aim! How do I adjust these headlights? Can anyone help me? How can I get rid of the black streaks on side of my RV? A forum member is having a problem with black streaks down the side of her RV. "I am thinking this is caused from the rubber around the windows. Until just this year, it hasn't been bad. What's a person to use to get it off? I don't want to try 50 products and ruin the finish. Would just like to know what works best. Can you help her? Where is a good place to get RV bedding? It's time to get out and enjoy the motorhome after a hard winter in the northeast. We'd like to replace our bedding and were interested in knowing if any of you sage old pros (and newbies too!) have any good internet suggestions or links we may shop for bedding and accessories. Have done some Googling, but Camping World is the only viable site have come across so far. Our bed is a "short queen." Spending the night in rest areas, pros and cons Do you occasionally spend the night in a highway rest area in your RV? Do you feel safe? Ever had any problems? Would you share your experiences with other RVers? Many RVers are unsure about whether it's wise to stay the night in a rest area. When buying an RV to go fulltiming, read the warranty A forum member wrote: "I was reminded about it in a recent request for help that had been printed in Trailer Life. A customer who had an issue with their rig couldn't get support from the factory. Their warranty had expired the month before so that was one problem. The kicker was that the company advised the owner that use of their product for fulltiming voided the warranty. If you plan to fulltime in an RV, read the warranty very carefully for this escape clause. There is more than one RV manufacturer that will consider the warranty void if you fulltime in it. In the case here, the manufacturer was Dutchman. Be aware of what you are buying before you sign the papers. Do you have a comment?
Interesting Forum  RVer Veterans: Here is the place where RVtravel.com forum members gather to exchange information about affairs that are common to veterans who also love to travel by RV. There is a lot of good information passed along here; some of it can help vets save some dollars on programs they may not know about.Read other Forum discussions  Best seller!Find Rest Areas, Welcome Centers & more With the 2008 Interstate Travel Guide you will quickly and easily locate rest areas, welcome centers, scenic turnouts, including a list of Flying J Travel Plaza locations popular with RVers. Learn more. Trivia In 1900, when San Francisco passed an ordinance prohibiting any new cemeteries, new burials were moved to the area around the small town of Colma. In 1912, San Francisco began relocating its existing cemeteries to Colma. Today, the town has 17 cemeteries for people and one for pets. The dead outnumber the living by a thousand to one: Colma has 1,500 residents and about 1.5 million graves.
  Books and DVDs about Route 66 at RVbookstore.com Random RV Thought Noises on your RV roof will likely get your attention much more than at home. Even a small bird walking on the roof makes noise. A pine cone dropping from a tree sounds like a bomb. A branch rubbing the roof in a strong wind can be annoying. On a rainy day, when the clouds open up, it can be hard to conduct a conversation until the downpour stops or slows.  Dog Friendly's Campground and RV Park GuideThis is a jam-packed, well-researched directory of campgrounds, filled with detailed information, about where you can camp with a dog in the USA and Canada. Learn more or order. Bill's Hints "If campground power is more than 50 feet away, you can use additional extensions, but you must reduce your electrical load to 15 or 20 amps." --From Trailers and Fifth Wheels Made Easy. 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.
Tourist Attraction Spotlight
 In Douglas, Wyoming, jackalopes rule!Every town has a claim to fame, or wishes it did. In Douglas, Wyo., the claim to fame is the "Jackalope Capital of the World." What's a jackalope, you ask (but you would only ask if you had never been to a trading post along any two-lane highway in the rural West)? It's a cross between a jackrabbit and an antelope -- a rare creature almost everywhere except in Douglas where you can buy a stuffed 'lope to put on your wall, or a toy stuffed one for your favorite little person. The town's Riverside City Park provides free overnight stays in RVs. Do you know of a terrific tourist attraction? Share it with the readers of this newsletter in the RVtravel.com forum.
eBooks: INSTANT READING! With eBooks you don't have to wait to read your book. Just place your order and your eBook will be delivered almost instantly to your email inbox. These eBooks are written by RV experts and delivered instantly in PDF format. Buying an RV the Smart Way I Have A Convection Oven in My RV. Now What? Complete Guide to Dinghy Towing Deep Cycle Battery Care and Maintenance The 3 Primary Systems of an RV: LP Gas, Water & Electricity Trailer Towing, Weights, Hitchwork and Backing RV NEWS HEADLINES: THE LATEST NEWS
Bumper Snicker
Worth Pondering "A girl can wait for the right man to come along, but in the meantime that still doesn't mean she can't have a wonderful time with all the wrong ones." --Cher
READ BACK ISSUES of this newsletter: Click here.  2009 Big Rigs Best Bets Campground Directory If you drive a king-sized RV, this directory is for you. The authors provide details about 1,100 RV parks throughout the USA and six Canadian Provinces that welcome long motorhomes and towable RVs. This should be an essential resource for owners of large RVs. Learn more or order 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. New laws for 2009.  2009 Guide To The Firearm Laws of the 50 StatesRVers 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! Learn more or order. 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. 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 and the Family Motor Coaching Association. RV Travel is copyright 2009 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. If you read this far, then "thanks a bunch!" Looking for a used motorhome? 
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News 
Ask the RV Doctor 
Several years ago, the following question was posted in the Women RVers' section of the RVtravel.com forum. Many RVing women have since responded, making this an excellent place for women who RV to learn about how to make their RVs look more like home than when they left the factory. The question: "I know this could be asked of the guys also, but my guy couldn't care less. My motorhome looks a lot like a motel and I need to make it look like mine. What have you done to make your home, your home?" 
The 2008-2009 
