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Page Contents
March 5, 2022
Members edition
Cover story
Why many more Americans will choose RVs as permanent homes
By Chuck Woodbury
PUBLISHER
(We apologize for the delay in publishing this story. There was a problem, but it’s fixed now.)
I
am starting to wonder if the next “big thing” is for countless millions of Americans to buy RVs to live in rather than live in a sticks-and-bricks home—the kind with a permanent foundation, that cannot be moved, which is what most people live in today. The same applies to residents in other areas prone to natural disasters—floods, tornadoes, hurricanes…
Here’s why I’m thinking this.
First: In the past few weeks…
News stories discussed a new program in California that helps homeowners in fire-prone areas afford homeowners insurance. Apparently, premiums in some areas have tripled or the insurance has been canceled altogether—the fire risk is too high. Some residents can no longer afford to stay.
So why not just buy an RV? That’s my question.
Face it, today’s larger rigs are as comfortable as most homes. When a fire or other disaster threatens, drive away. Marcus Lemonis, Camping World’s celebrity CEO and King Midas wannabe will sell anyone with some level of creditworthiness a cheap RV with low 20-year payments. Buy it, drive it away—home sweet mobile home. Hey, if your finances get really bad, default on your payment. Who’s goin’ to find you to repossess it?
And there are more reasons to live in an RV (soaring apartment rents, high home prices, “street camping,” and so many RVs today that are built more for living than camping…). But, wait! There’s more…
Today’s RV review…
Ember RV ROK—a small but mighty overlanding trailer
Tony writes, “I like a lot of what Ember RV is doing, and while I am not the likely customer for this trailer, so what? The people who might buy this will likely see this as a home run. The build quality and materials are really first-rate, and that suspension is as good as it gets.”
Tony reviewed five other RVs this week! Did you miss them? Click here to read.
Crowds, noise, trash force these work campers to “retire”
By Brenda Odom
We have been campers for more than 30 years; we have been work campers for the past five of those. Before that, we spent a year managing a large coastal RV resort. In other words, I doubt we would be called “newbies.” … Continue reading why these work campers are becoming “just campers” here.
This spare trailer tire got ripped to shreds, but why?
Folks, we don’t know the story about this spare trailer tire ripped to shreds, and neither does reader Dana Eulert, who sent this to us. But the moral of the story? Don’t do this at home… or something like that? You won’t believe this!
Around the Campfire: Will rising RVing costs force RVers off the road?
By Gail Marsh
She swiped at a tear as it tracked down her cheek. Her husband reached for her hand in support. Harold and Ginny are what I call “long-haul RVers.” Traveling since their retirement 18 years ago, the couple contemplated their future around the campfire a few nights ago. Our conversation made me wonder, “Will rising RVing costs force RVers off the road?” Continue reading and share your thoughts here.
Highlights from this week’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter
• Is RVer stuck with sticky black water valve?
• RV Safety Tip: Merging into traffic… the right way
• Maintaining and replacing insert molding helps avoid damage, mold and rot
• 10 easy ways to fix 10 irritating problems in the RV
• Before driving RV, please engage brain
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Working remotely from an RV: Taking the first step
By Gail Marsh
It’s all my fault. I regularly send pictures and sightseeing reports back to our children. I endlessly and enthusiastically endorse the RV lifestyle and promote the benefits of moving from place to place as my husband and I meet new folks, learn new things, and enjoy almost every moment of living in our RV for months on end. It’s no wonder I feel like it’s all my fault they want to start working remotely from an RV! Continue reading about the first step to working remotely from an RV.
A new RV for under $6,000? Not a pop-up—It’s a KLEOX!
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Prices for new RVs are jumping faster than a kangaroo. If you’re trying to buy your “first” RV, it’s no doubt discouraging. But if your tastes are simple, you can buy a new, hard-side RV for under $6,000. It’s a KLEOX—a teardrop trailer that scales in at less than 500 pounds. But be prepared—if it’s KLEOX, it’s bound to be simple! Check this out.
A fun, unique Harvest Hosts location: RVing at Sawdust Alpacas
By Cheri Sicard
When I saw the listing for the Sawdust Alpacas in Fallon, Nevada, among the Harvest Hosts offerings, I immediately started planning how to work them into my travels. RV camping next to a herd of adorable alpacas? With optional low-priced water and electrical hookups to boot? Sign me up! … Read about this wonderful adventure (despite a vehicle breakdown) here.
How it Happened: The invention of the potato chip
By Gail Marsh
There is controversy over the actual origin of the potato chip. There! I’m saying that upfront. The thing is, folks who dispute the most common explanation do not have an alternative version. So, whether it’s an urban legend, hearsay, or a totally fabricated story, what follows is the most commonly accepted explanation on the invention of the potato chip, so here goes!
Rambler Ranch: A shrine to old cars, Americana in rural Colorado
RV travelers in Colorado can find their way through small towns, drive across open ranges, visit national parks and sightsee in quirky towns, museums and monuments. Rambler Ranch personifies the state’s connection to the past. A minute’s drive from County Rd. 21 in Elizabeth, Colo., Rambler Ranch is perched in a clearing of trees on the outskirts of the small town about 45 miles southeast of Denver. Read more.
Clintoons • By Clint Norrell
MORE OF CLINT
See some of Clint’s recent cartoons. They’re wonderful!
Reader Poll
When relaxing outside your RV in an RV park, do you like it when others stop to talk?
Please let us know. After you click your response, you’ll see how others have responded. Feel free to leave a comment.
Read previous polls — thousands of them! Fascinating!
CONTEST
Is this your RV?
Win a $25 Amazon gift certificate if today’s RV photo shows your rig
Every day we post a photo of an RV either submitted by its owner or by our editors as they move about the country.
Click here to see if your RV made it into today’s issue.
Saturday Giveaway!
How would you like to win a set of Collapsible Food Storage Containers?
How to win
We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today (March 5, 2022) by 7 p.m. Pacific time. Remember, you can only enter once and after we notify you by email via RVcontests@gmail.com that you won, you have 24 hours to respond or we’ll give the prize to someone else.
Click here to enter or see last week’s winner!
Ask Dave
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and author of the “RV Handbook” as well as the Managing Editor of the RV Repair Club.
7-pin connector plug coming apart. Can I fix it?
Dear Dave,
I accidentally pulled away from my trailer with the electric cable still connected and partially separated the cable from the connecter housing. However, everything still works fine. How do I reinforce this connection to prevent further damage? —Tim
Click here to see more questions for Dave.
Visit Dave’s forum. Ask him a question or help answer one from another reader. Click here.
RV Gadgets and Gizmos
with Tony Barthel
Keep mice out of your RV while in storage with the BoxKat
How do you keep mice out of your RV? Aside from a slew of house cats, we learned of another option when we recently had the chance to speak with Tom Sharp, inventor of a device called the BoxKat. And, to be upfront, BoxKat is an RVtravel.com advertiser.
The BoxKat is, very simply, a corrugated plastic barrier that you assemble around your RV. The barrier is 14” tall and there are interconnecting accordion-style panels that allow the individual pieces to adjust to uneven surfaces. It’s one of those simple but brilliant solutions that could help you eliminate the mouse problem from your RV. Check this out!
Relax Sauna: A portable sauna for your RV. Goodbye aches and pains!
There are a lot of gadgets I’ve reviewed here that are essential to RV life. But this one is a bit more extravagant. We’ve been testing the Relax Sauna portable sauna for a few weeks now and my wife has become addicted to it. Now, I can just see you out there holding your iPads and saying, “What? A sauna in an RV?”
Yes. A portable one. The Relax Sauna is truly a portable sauna that can legitimately take about the same space in your cargo bay as a couple of folding chairs. Mmmm. Wouldn’t this feel good after a long day of driving?
RVelectricity™
with Mike Sokol
Swimming around boat docks can be dangerous, even deadly
Dear Readers,
Last week we had 72 degree weather for a few days IN MARYLAND! Wow, that’s crazy for Maryland at the end of February. The motorcycles and convertibles were out on the streets, the Lenten roses and crocus in our garden were blooming, and I’m doing a little grilling with my pellet smoker. And as I was driving by the Potomac River I even noticed a few boats out on the water. So, since spring is almost officially here, now is a great time to remind you about the dangers of ESD or Electric Shock Drowning. This is important!
Just Ask Mike (J.A.M.) Session: Powering your house from a portable generator (including information on the CarGenerator™ Home Integration Kit).
NEW! Visit Mike’s new RVelectricity Forum on RVtravel.com.
RV Short Stops
Outdoor markets in Yuma
By Julianne G. Crane
The first shopping spree on any stopover in Yuma always includes the two big outdoor markets—Arizona Market Place and Yuma Swap Meet. Free parking for RVs. Oh, these look like so much fun!
RV Tire Safety
Will your tire blow up if you inflate it above its “Max PSI”?
Your tire says “Max xx PSI at Max Load of yyy Pounds”. Will your tire blow up if you go above xx PSI? Find out what tire expert Roger Marble says here.
NEW! Ask Roger anything about RV tires on his new RV Tires Forum.
Recipe of the Day
Dubliner Irish Cheese Crusted Fish
by Debbie Rohan from Boerne, TX
Dubliner cheese has a more sharp taste to it than traditional cheddar cheese. It adds a great flavor that enhances the simple dinner. Panko crumbs mixed with the cheese and butter make the crust perfectly crunchy. Cod or any other type of white fish would work in this recipe.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“Smitty is out for a walk in the desert in Pahrump, Nevada.” —Barbara Stanbro
Brain Teaser
Find a number less than 100 that is increased by one-fifth of its value when its digits are reversed.
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday news newsletter. And please don’t spoil it for other readers by posting the answer in the comments.)
Trivia
The very first radio jingle of all time was an advertisement for Wheaties. In December of 1926, the Washburn Crosby Company (which later became General Mills) ran a commercial for the popular cereal on the Minneapolis radio station WCCO. Listen to it here. (Wow, have commercials changed!)
RVtravel.com Trivia: Do approximately two-thirds of our readers shop at Costco or NOT shop at Costco? Find out.
Laugh of the Week
Resources
“RVs: Who Makes What” – This is a new free directory from RVtravel.com which lists every U.S. RV manufacturer and their makes and models. Learn more and/or download a free PDF copy.
RV Show Directory: See if a show is coming soon to your area.
Stolen RVs — Help us recover these stolen RVs. The more eyes we have searching for them, the better chance of getting them back to their rightful owners, and maybe putting the crooks who stole them in the slammer! See the stolen RVs.
Great websites. Check out our favorite websites of the day! We compiled a list of (almost) all the websites we’ve ever posted, and we update it weekly.
Where to complain about bad RVs, dealers, service, RV parks. This is an ever-expanding list of resources where you can report, share or discuss your problems with RV manufacturers or dealers.
Best Club for RVers: Escapees. Click here to learn more or join. Endorsed by RVtravel.com.
Directory of RV parks with storm shelters
In case you’re on the road with your RV and the weather report is showing a tornado headed your way, have this list handy.
RV Clubs
Check out our Directory of RV Clubs and Organizations.
What does financing an RV for 20 years REALLY mean?
In case you missed this article the first time around, here it is again. Important! Click here.
Stuck with a lemon RV? Contact Ron Burdge, America’s premier RV lemon law attorney.
The Best RV Trip Planner Apps and Tools. Everything you need to help plan your trip is here.
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Did you miss last week’s RV Travel?
RVtravel.com Staff
Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Editor: Emily Woodbury. Associate editor: Diane McGovern. Senior editors: Russ and Tiña De Maris. Senior writers: Nanci Dixon, Tony Barthel, Mike Gast. Contributors: Mike Sokol, Gail Marsh, Roger Marble, Dave Solberg, Dave Helgeson, Janet Groene, Julianne Crane, Chris Guld, Machelle James, Scott Linden, James Raia, Kate Doherty, J.R. Montigel, Clint Norrell, Randall Brink, Chris Epting, Karel Carnohan, DVM, and Cheri Sicard. Special projects director: Jessica Sarvis. Moderators: Gary Gilmore, Linda Brady, Mark Gorrie. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. Special Reports: Bradford Geer. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.
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 simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.
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Thanks for fixing it.
What brand is that cat harness, please, and where can I get one?
Ditto
I really enjoyed this issue. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Sadly we sold and parted with our 5th wheel and dually yesterday. Why is simple; the unit sat on a major dealer lot for eight months for repairs. Included in that time was that the 42′ unit was forgotten about through four different service advisors. On the pick up day I noted that there was damage to the hitch, apparently a lot person tried to pick it up improperly and damaged the shock absorber and hitch plate. They replaced the damaged parts. This added to all of the other issues that we all know about and the high price of diesel has amounted to our decision to part ways with the RV lifestyle.
RVTravel is and always has been a great source of information for RVers, keep it up. With a tear in our eye and a wave to our RV and RVTravel we say goodbye. It’s been a good run.
Sorry to hear, Ken, but I totally understand your decision. As Popeye once said, “I had all I can stands, I can’t stands no more”.
Sorry to see you go, Ken. And we’re especially sorry to hear the circumstances of giving up your RVing. We hope things go better for you from here on out. Take care. 🙂 –Diane