Volume 2. Issue 18
Welcome to the Full-Time RVer Newsletter, published every other Wednesday by RVtravel.com. Here you’ll find helpful RV-related and full-time RV living tips from the pros, travel advice, and anything else of interest to full-timers or those who aspire to be. Thanks for joining us. We appreciate you. Please tell your friends about us.
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Quote of the day
“With freedom, flowers, books, and the moon, who could not be perfectly happy?”—Oscar Wilde
Full-time RVing: Living small while living large
By Jim Twamley
Jim Twamley’s writings were a favorite among our readers for many years. Jim’s health finally forced him to “hang up the keys,” but we like to dip into the archives and pull out pertinent “oldies” to share. Here’s one of them:
We love RVing. In fact, we enjoy it so much we sold our house and now we RV every day. We are living large while traveling in the comfort of our motorhome.
One Sunday while attending the church of a friend who pastors in Bend, Oregon, we were talking outside. He asked me, “So, how do you like full-time RVing?” to which I replied by directing his attention to the grand mountains in the distance and said, “This is our backyard and it extends throughout North America.” To which he replied, “Wow, I like what you’re doing with it.” RVing unlocks the freedom to live large!
However, living large requires that you learn to live small. RVing requires some changes in your living habits simply due to the confines of space. In this article, I cover some important housekeeping issues that will help you enjoy your RVing experience even more.
Did you miss last weekend’s RV Travel Newsletter?
If so, here is some of what you missed…
• Legislation to ban motorhome and portable generators threatens RVers
• What’s in store for RVers in 2022? We break down all the variables and decide what they mean
• RV Tire Safety: RVer thinks 65psi in TT tires is too much; asks for advice
• RV dealers aren’t happy with manufacturer relationships – They’re trying to improve, manufacturers apparently are not
Don’t miss today’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter! Trust us, it’s a good one!
Features
Some of these articles are from past issues of RVtravel.com and have been updated for this newsletter.
Tire pressure gauges lose accuracy over time. Here’s how to check them
By Mark Polk
I talk about the importance of checking inflation pressure in the tow vehicle and RV tires all the time, but is your tire pressure gauge giving you accurate information? … A tool every RV owner uses is a tire pressure gauge. But did you know a tire gauge can lose accuracy if it gets banged around in your toolbox? Find out how that can happen here.
RV awnings: Everything you need to know
By Tony Barthel
An awning seems so simple, especially on newer RVs where it opens at the touch of a button. There are a few basic tips to keeping your awning in top shape and looking great. There are armless awnings, manual awnings, and many other styles, but virtually all the mainstream RVs come with the power awning with the arms on the side of the coach. That’s the one I want to focus on today…. Learn all about types of awnings, care and cleaning of awnings, awning “rules,” cool upgrades, awning myths, and much more, here.
Make-ahead foil packet meals. Warning: You’ll drool
By Gail Marsh
Okay, so that title’s a bit of a mouthful. What’s a better mouthful is eating make-ahead foil packet meals. Yummy! What I like best about foil packet meals is that you can prepare them ahead of time. Once they’re prepared, store them in the fridge, and then cook them on the grill or in your RV oven. Options, people! And did I mention yummy? You’ll want to try these easy and delicious recipes, for sure!
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Reader poll
Is your RV’s kitchen too big, too small or just right?
Answer here and see how others responded.
Quick tip
Safe underbed storage advice
A story we ran about using caution when accessing “under bed” storage triggered a response from Larry P. Writing about gas struts that can sometimes fail, Larry observes about his own: “Not only did the struts not hold our bed up, it pulled the screws out of the wood frame holding the strut assemblies in place. To solve the issue I moved the two strut assemblies towards the bottom of the bed eight inches. Guess what? The bed stays up, no torn out screws, and it’s a whole lot easier to raise and lower. Math at work here!” Thanks, Larry, for the elevating suggestion.
Portable oxygen: Keep fresh air in your pocket
By Tony Barthel
The recommendation from the description tells us to start the day with a shot of pure oxygen which, I can imagine, would be quite the pick-me-up. Forget coffee. A shot of 100% pure oxygen might be just the trick to get you to start the day – perhaps like a finger-in-the-toaster kinda thing.
Many reviews state that this has been helpful at high altitudes and while climbing and hiking and other outdoor activities. Another reviewer, who has COPD, says they like this because it’s better than dragging a larger oxygen bottle around stores. Read more about this breath of fresh air here.
Is your engine in good shape? Pay attention now, or pay the price later
By Kate Doherty
I grew up listening to the ’70s and ’80s Fram oil filter ads with varying messages around the tagline, “You can pay me now, or pay me later.” These ads started by reminding vehicle owners of the importance of changing the oil filter when changing the oil in their vehicle’s engine. For diesel engines, this task should be listed in the first chapter of a maintenance manual. Proper and timely maintenance and testing analysis is essential to understanding what shape your engine is in. Learn more.
Selling your RV? Start here.
Selling your RV: How to prepare it before listing it for sale
Tony Barthel gives you an insider look at how you can prepare your RV before you list it for sale. How many photos should you take? What time of day should you take photos and what angles should you take them from? Why is lighting so important? What story are you trying to tell with your RV? Who are you selling it to, and why does that matter? All this, plus common mistake sellers make. If you’re thinking of selling, you’ll want to read this.
So you want to sell your RV? Here are the best places to sell, and why
By Nanci Dixon
Whether you have had it with crowded campgrounds, have discovered RVing is just not for you, or are looking to upgrade or downsize, you might be asking: “Where’s the best place to sell my RV?” Let’s find out. Read Nanci’s list (and bookmark it!) and learn all the possibilities you have when listing your RV for sale.
Your assignment
What advice would give an aspiring full-time RVer?
From the editors: We asked our readers this question. Here is one response:
“Full-timing is different than vacationing for a weekend or two weeks in the summer. You will still have all the things you tried to get away from for a while – laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc. The campfires are fewer and far between because you must purchase your wood, cannot move the wood from one place to another (that means leaving leftovers), and sometimes have to put up with NO FIRES as dictated by the campground. Some campgrounds have poor cell reception and many don’t have WiFi. You have to find new ways to get your mail and deal with medical issues. Despite this, the thrill of discovering new places and meeting new people can fill you with a travel bug that only full-timing will satisfy.” —Melody Thomas
3-in-1 NOAA radio, flashlight and phone charger must-have for RVers
This emergency hand-crank radio is a necessity for RVers. Keep it somewhere safe – you never know when it will come in handy. The 3-in-1 radio is also a bright LED flashlight and a smartphone charger. The radio can be charged via solar charging, hand cranking or a USB plug. You’ll want to buy one here.
Featured recipe
Bacon & Bleu Cheese Potato Salad
by Barbara Pace from The Villages, FL
Hmmm. Bacon and blue cheese. How can you go wrong? This is the perfect potato salad recipe if you’re a fan of blue cheese. The flavors are fabulous! Next time I make this, I’m going to try and grill the potatoes like Barbara originally did. I bet that will add even more flavor. Perfect for summer cookouts!
Yum, that’s a good combo! Get the recipe.
Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury.
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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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When we bought a new mattress for our bed we did not realize that the struts for under the bed could not hold it up. We just got a piece of wood and use that to keep it up and get under the bed. Simple solution solved. Otherwise it would be empty air space. Love the mattress and the piece of wood to hold it up.