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Camping & Parks

Tips for slipping your rig into a narrow campsite

RV Staff -
By Bob Difley You will find many of the most scenic, nature-focused, and "nesty" campgrounds in national and state forests and parks. They often are...

Finding a campsite getting nerve-racking?

RV Staff -
 Dear RV Shrink: This RV lifestyle is supposed to be relaxing, but trying to get a space in a campground is nerve-racking. My...

Boondocking along America’s Byways

RV Staff -
By Dave Helgeson America's Byways is a great website for RVers and is especially useful for those of us that boondock in the western United...

Leveling vs. stabilizing an RV

RV Staff -
  There is a big difference between stabilizing and leveling an RV. You need to know the difference to properly use the equipment on your...

Drumi: the foot-powered washing machine

Bob Difley -
By Bob DifleyThe Drumi is a foot-powered washing machine that uses minimal amounts of water and no electricity. It is compact and easy to...

Alternatives to expensive RV resorts and campgrounds

RV Staff -
By Bob Difley It's easy to find a campground when traveling, even in unfamiliar territory. You simply pull out your Trailer Life or Woodall's Campground...

RVers crowded out in Yellowstone. What to do?

RV Staff -
Dear RV Shrink: We are in Yellowstone and we don't have a reservation. We had no idea that half the world would be here...

Maximize your boondocking site

RV Staff -
By Dave HelgesonYou’ve arrived at a selected boondocking site and are ready to set up camp. Unlike a developed campground with a predetermined space...

Gray water in the boondocks: Know the rules

RV Staff -
By Dave HelgesonPotty parity – Equal number of restrooms for men and women, yet the line to the women‘s room is out the door...

Generators: Less is more

RV Staff -
By Dave HelgesonWhen it comes to boondocking I subscribe to the “less is more” philosophy.The majority of boondockers own a generator for one reason:...

How a hospital stay can help you save water

RV Staff -
As RVers, it's natural for us to be a bit on the "conservative" side. After all, fresh water comes dear, and places to put...

National Park Getaway: Olympic National Park

RV Staff -
By Barb Maynes, Public Information Officer, Olympic National ParkIn the far northwest corner of Washington, the park protects a varied landscape and three distinctly...

Beware of battery-draining phantom loads

Chuck Woodbury -
By Russ and Tiña De MarisPhantom loads are electrical connections to your batteries that continually draw power, however small.Loads that are run off the...

Free camping along the Colorado River near Quartzsite

Chuck Woodbury -
By Russ and Tiña De MarisWith summer coming along soon, the snowbirds have flown their winter "coop" in Quartzsite. Yes, the weather is actually...

Do “Campground Full” signs really mean full?

Chuck Woodbury -
When on the road and looking for an overnight stop don’t drive by campgrounds with “Campground Full” signs at their entrance. Often, rangers and campground...

What can we do about vandalized public property?

RV Staff -
Dear RV Shrink: One of the comments someone made under last week's column caught my attention. We have not spent much time in campgrounds during the...

Desolenator enables water independence: Just add sun

Bob Difley -
By Bob Difley The first paragraph you read on Desolenator's  website states: "Desolenator is a clean technology venture that has developed and patented what’s on track...

Boondocking 101: Solar power for your RV

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris For those who haven't experienced boondocking, a question often pops up: "Where do you get the stuff you need...

Guidelines for overnighting in an RV at Wal-Mart

RV Staff -
Thanks to WalmartLocator.com for permission to reprint this. Some of the most respected RV consumer clubs have joined together to support your right to park...

Keeping your RV cool in hot summer heat

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris While the best place to be when summer's heat turns the landscape to "broil" is someplace cool, it's not...

Non-traditional places to stay overnight in an RV

RV Staff -
Many RVers stay the night in non-traditional free camping areas — those not officially designated “campgrounds.” Here are some relevant comments and suggestions on...

RV backing? Get on same signal “wavelength.”

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris If you've recently gotten into RVing, you know that backing your RV into a spot can be one of...

Can you plug a friend’s RV into yours to charge his batteries?

RV Staff -
By Chris Dougherty Certified RV technician Dear Chris, I am a new RVer and have a new Class C motorhome which we purchased this spring. I have...

Bagging sewer waste to prevent tank fill-up?

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris Being an occasional "follower" of various RV discussion groups – forums, if you will – we run across some,...

New RVer asks: How do I plan day’s end?

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris A family man finally has his new RV and the first big road trip is coming up. "How do...

How’s your “leave no trace” knowledge?

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris A columnist in an Idaho newspaper has a few gripes about bad campground behavior. Trash in fire rings, dog...

Campsite “arrival” and “departure” checklists

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris Camping with your RV can seem like a complicated process when you're first getting started – kind of like...

The appeal of boondocking in the desert

RV Staff -
By Greg Illes Originally published in November, 2014 Soon, my wife and I will hit the road again. Even though it's not the ideal season for...

Insect repellent is tough on mosquitoes, other biting bugs

RV Staff -
When mosquitoes and other biting insects target you in your campsite or on the trail, you need to get tough. And so should your...

12-volt fan moves lots of air. Breeze may keep mosquitoes away

RV Staff -
The powerful, high volume, Endless Breeze portable 12-volt fan from Fan-tastic Vent uses an automotive type motor and twelve inch blade operating at three speeds. The...

Buggy night in camp? Bugout shelter keeps bugs away

RV Staff -
When Cam Bresinger incorporated his company Nemo he was still in college. Only two months later, following his graduation, Cam moved it into an...

Charge your cell phone with a campfire

RV Staff -
By Chuck Woodbury RVtravel.com I suspect that headline grabbed you. It sounds ridiculous! But it's true. It's about a device called the Power Pot, which for...

Portable LED lantern separates into four individual lanterns

RV Staff -
By Chuck Woodbury RVtravel.com Coleman has a hit in its Quad LED Lantern. Not only does it perform well as a powerful lantern, but it is...

Mosquitoes — deal with them (even if you can’t beat them)

RV Staff -
By Greg Illes The first thing you'll always hear about mosquitoes is DEET, the active ingredient in the most-effective (to date) repellent. "Get some DEET...

Apps help you find public lands

RV Staff -
By Dave Helgeson The U.S. federal government controls nearly 650 million acres of land owned by you and me, the taxpayers of this great nation....

We know what the Lone Ranger did with his trash – How about yours?

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris It's a problem that doesn't get much play —but what do you do with the trash? Many "boondocking" locations...

Kill flies with electric zapper. Fun, too!

RV Staff -
The Electric Fly Swatter will easily kill all flying insects including mosquitoes, flies and gnats just by waving at them with the swatter, and...

Use the GOAL method to back up your RV

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris   For many new RVers, the greatest challenge of the new lifestyle is that of backing up the rig. Even...

New RVer asks: What do camp site length restrictions mean?

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris "We are transitioning from tent camping to towing a travel trailer this year. We will be towing a 19.5'...

Go your awning carpet one better

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris No matter where we travel, for some reason as RVers we want to somewhat "civilize" the world. At night...

Give your pet more room to roam in the campground

Chuck Woodbury -
Many pet owners are not satisfied at the tight restrictions placed on their pet's freedom of movement by portable fences and enclosures or by...

Three day rule can enrich camping experience

RV Staff -
By Gerry Bruder When I was a new RVer, I rushed from campground to campground like a shopper scurrying through the aisles at a department...

Free camping — at wildlife refuges

RV Staff -
By Bib Difley Be on the lookout for Fish and Wildlife refuges, both national and state, for good boondocking and cheap camping opportunities. When there...

Best ways to choose a campground

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris Not all campsites are created equal. Some differences are obvious — the view from the site in one can...

Trying to save money? Read the fine print!

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris It seems a common thread among RVers is that of trying to get the most mileage out of the...

Extend your stay with these battery saving tips

RV Staff -
Whether you're stopping for the night at a Wal-Mart or dry camping for a week in the outback, you will at some time need...

Needed: a new kind of campground

RV Staff -
By Chuck Woodbury, editor RVtravel.com I wrote this a couple of years ago after returning from a cross country trip in my motorhome. For whatever...

Cleaning up looks good and feels good

RV Staff -
By Greg Illes We've all rolled into a campsite and found trash lying around. Cans and bottles and candy wrappers are the usual offenses, but...

Craft a clothing kit for any encounter

RV Staff -
By Greg Illes My wife and I have a running joke — she asks me how the weather is going to be, and I tell her that...

Dry camping? Remember your batteries

RV Staff -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris There's a lot of beauty that can be reached only when "dry camping" or boondocking. If you're new to...
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