| From RVbookstore.com Archived Issues Weekend of June 27, 2009 NEW ARRIVALS TO RVbookstore.com  2008 Wal-Mart Atlas & Bonus "No Overnight RV Parking" Directory Order the popular 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 provides store GPS coordinates. The "No Park" Directory lists more than 350 stores that DO NOT allow stays! Learn more or order.
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Editor's corner By Chuck Woodbury  Follow me on TwitterDear reader,  I'm on the road, traveling with my daughter in our View motorhome. It's now 11 p.m. Thursday. We are camped in Moab, Utah after spending the day in Arches National Park. Is there a more beautiful place on Earth? I don't think so.I am having an incredibly wonderful time with Emily. At age 17, and heading off to college in another year, she may not be available much longer for adventures like this. So I am savoring every moment of this one. The joy I feel when I am with her day after day -- being Dad, and discovering new things about each other through all this time together. . . well, it's just the very best! I'll write more about my trip after Emily flies home from Las Vegas on July 2, when I'll have a couple of weeks alone to write as I move slowly north to Seattle. Photo: Arches National Park
 Fulltimers: Where to make your home baseFor 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 to you! The best-selling Choosing Your RV Home Base, published in 2009, is an essential planning tool. Learn more or order. Get the latest RV news headlines at TwitterKeep up with the latest in RV news and information at Twitter. LEARN HOW TO USE TWITTER. "Twitter Power" is the best "how-to" book about Twitter. Order it from RVbookstore.com DID YOU MISS last issue of this newsletter? If so, read it here. READ BACK ISSUES: Click here.
Fleetwood sold. No word yet on whether new company will honor RV owner warranties Once a giant in the RV industry, Fleetwood RV -- what remained of it after bankruptcy, its motorhome division), has been sold for a mere $53 million. Now, the big question is whether the new company will honor the warranties of Fleetwood customers. So far there is no word. Read more. New product promises to get rid of RV odors RVtravel.com bloggers Russ and Tina De Maris are suspicious of any product that capitalizes on the "As Seen on TV" tag. And so with some trepidation they checked out a jug of a new deodorizing product called "What Odor?" Did it work? Find out.  Video shows construction of 5th wheel RV, focus on wiringIn this eight-minute video take a personal tour of a fifth wheel trailer midway in its construction. The narrator points out all the wiring, what it will be used for, and shows where various devices will be installed. We found this video fascinating.  BEST SELLERS!2009 RVers Friend  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.
It will soon cost you more to enter Florida's 160 state parks. Beginning July 1, entrance fees will go up as much as $3 per car and year passes for some parks will go up by $40. New Horizons RV in Junction City, Kansas has hired back most of its laid off employees after sales picked up for its 2010 model fifth wheel trailer. Employment now stands at 38, up from 19 last fall. Year-to-date units delivered are still down 60 percent. More than 260,000 people visited Yellowstone National Park in May, a 20 percent increase from the same month a year ago. During the first five months of 2009, nearly 360,000 people entered the world's first national park. That is an increase of almost 11 percent from last year. According to travelers and editors from TripAdvisor, Utah's Zion National Park is the best in the country. Zion was No. 1 on a top 10 list of U.S. national parks. The publication picked Zion because its "stunning red monoliths and canyons of the park invite visitors to explore its beauty by camping, biking, touring by car, hiking and more.   16" x 20" Collapsible Container Low price for RV Travel readers only! List price: $19.99  ONLY $3.99 This is a best seller at RVtoyOutlet.com at its regular price of $19.99. But right now, RVtravel.com readers can get this collapsible container for only $3.99! This is a terrific portable bin -- takes up practically no space when you don't need it. It can be used for trash, laundry or storage, and it comes with a carrying bag. You cannot beat this price! Learn more or order, and see other specials exclusively for RVtravel.com readers.
Dear Gary, I have a Coleman air conditioner on the roof of my RV. I had a problem with water leaking inside through the air conditioner when it rained so I sealed around the edges of the roof unit. I have since been told not to do that, that the condenser must drain onto the roof and now I will have that condensate coming inside. I removed the shroud but am unable to locate the hole or holes in the drain pan to see where it drains. Could you tell me where the holes are located so I can make sure they are clear and draining properly? The unit is so old that I am afraid to remove it to replace the 14-inch gasket. -- Gus Tarver Read previous RV Doctor columns   Check with us on the Web for last minute bargains!See Alaska, Canada, Mexico or the World! Join Tracks to Adventure on RV tours around the globe or close to home. Tour with us to Alaska. Been to Copper Canyon in Mexico (what a trip!)? Join us in Canada, Australia, New Zealand -- or closer to home -- Branson or the Pacific Northwest. All arrangements including RV parks by Tracks RV Tours. Click here for your free full-color magazine or call us toll free at 800-351-6053. This Week's Reader Survey Would you loan your RV to your best friend for a weekend camping trip? Answer here. Last week's survey question Past reader surveys and results.   Bella Terra RV Resort FREE Summer Stay Program Bella Terra of Gulf Shores is kicking the season into high gear with a promotion you won't want to miss! Call NOW and ask about our FREE STAY Summer Vacation Program (certain restrictions apply). Also inquire about price incentives on the few remaining Phase One lots! Be sure to mention promo code - RV Travel !!! Call (866) 475-7746 or visit us at BellaTerraRVresort.com.
RV Boondocking Tips Prepare for next trip as you come home: We have a "dump station" at our home base, handily located in the parking area. First thing on our return from a boondocking trip we always dump the gray water tank, and the black water if it's within two-thirds of being full. We also fill up the fresh water tank at the same time. That way, we're ready at a moment's notice to pull out. And if a disaster should strike, our own "disaster relief center" is ready to provide protection for us. Be careful with furnace when low on LP: When boondocking and using a forced air LP gas furnace (the standard on most RVs) be careful when getting low on propane. Most furnace blowers will continue running when the LP runs out, chewing up plenty of battery power, but producing no heat. 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. Recent RV recalls
Some features on vacation. . . --Photo of the Week --The Good Ol' Days --Tourist Attraction Spotlights --A Woman's Perspective --The RV Kitchen --Working on the RV Road . . . are taking a summer vacation break. They will return in the fall.  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 
Tech Tips Find out about DVDs and eBooks by RV expert Mark Polk.
 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 experienced RVers, too! 67 minutes. Save 10% at RVbookstore.com. Learn more or order.
Check out these RV Travel Forum discussions Slideout stuck out Our 2003 Cedar Creek 23.5 foot has the slide stuck out and won't close. I have lubed, cajoled, sworn and tried everything I can think of but it will not move. I have crawled under and applied power directly. I have removed the motor and it turns fine, and the gears move freely and do not appear broken or chipped. I cannot find a manual slider on this unit! Any thoughts? Air filters on RV furnaces Is there an air filter on an RV furnace like there are on a house furnace? I haven't pulled the panel on the front of mine to see. It seems to work just fine, but it's also 17 years old, and wondered if it needed any maintenance? Need to replace six-volt batteries. Will any type work? I need to replace my 6 volt house batteries (4 of them). There is no name on the current batteries. They are just a brown color. They are lead acid flooded. Will any 6 volt golf cart battery work? I have checked Sam's Club and they carry an Energizer 6 volt golf cart battery for about 75 dollars. What should I be looking for? Advice wanted about extended warranty company I was wondering if anyone has had experience with Master tech from American Financial Warranty. I can get it for a good price and I know the pros and cons about warranties. Is this a reliable company? What's involved in putting solar panels on an RV? Can anybody tell me what it takes to put solar panels on an RV, maybe a Class C motorhome? Are there solar installations made specifically for RVs?  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
 Interesting ForumWomen RVers: If you're a woman and travel by RV or want to, then here's where you can ask a question, answer one from another forum member, or just share information that you think would be helpful to other women who travel by RV or who would like to someday. G  uide 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 2009 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. Trivia Soft serve ice cream, invented in 1938, has less fat than regular ice cream. It contains air introduced at the time of freezing which helps make the ice cream taste creamier, smoother and lighter, and appear whiter than other ice cream. Dairy Queen is the largest seller of the product.
Random RV Thought If you travel by motorhome and don't pull another vehicle for local trips, consider bringing along a bicycle or two. They can be easily stored, either on a rack or in a storage compartment if they fold up. If you ever need a car, rent one. Enterprise will deliver to your campsite in many cases.  Buy or sell an RV!Whether you are buying or selling an RV, RV Trader is the place to do it. Still in the early stage of the buying process? You won't find a better place to research your new vehicle. See photos of RVs and videos, too. Search by type of RV, location, price, new or used. . . Visit RVtraderOnline.com Bill's Hints "Carry an extra 10 feet of sewer hose with appropriate fittings installed just in case the (campground) sewer is located too far from your waste outlet for your regular hose to reach." -- From Motorhomes Made Easy.
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
Bumper Snicker  Guide to FREE Campgrounds Western Edition! This is the most comprehensive guide to free and inexpensive campgrounds west of the Mississippi you will find -- a "must-have" directory for RVers who want to save money on camping. Learn more or order. Worth Pondering "Of course there is no formula for success except perhaps an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings." --Arthur Rubinstein
G  ood Stuff from the Good Sam ClubJoin the Club: $19 a year. Save on camping fees. Free magazine. Continuing Service Plan: No More Major Repair Bills! Get a Fast Quote RV Emergency Road Service: Special Low Rate! Join Today. Good Sam VIP Insurance for RVs. Free Quote. READ BACK ISSUES of this newsletter: Click here. 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  About the editorChuck 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. Visit Camping World for RV supplies and accessories 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. Books and DVDs about Fulltime RVing 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!" 
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