Volume 2. Issue 35
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.
Please consider signing up for other newsletters from RVtravel.com. Easy unsubscribe if you don’t like what you see.
This newsletter is sponsored by our friends at Wholesale Warranties.
Quote of the day
“Go on with what your heart tells you, or you will lose all.” ―
Do motorhome owners really need a “toad”?
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Many full-time RVers hit the road with a travel trailer or fifth wheel. At day’s end they unhitch and have an “around town” vehicle ready for use. But for fulltimers who live in a motorhome, the decision has to be faced: Do we need a “toad” car to get around, or can we do without a car?
Some immediately ask: Why would anyone want to do without a toad car? There are some advantages of being “toadless.” If you’re full-timing on a tight budget, the extra cost of car insurance, gas and maintenance can make a big difference. Costs aside, taking a tow vehicle with you means additional complications: Can you tow “four wheels down,” or do you need to put your car on a dolly, or invest in a specialized driveline disconnect system?
Did you miss last weekend’s RV Travel Newsletters?
If so, here is some of what you missed…
- Campground Crowding: RVers cheat the system, use different names to book prime sites
- Goodbye homes; hello “mobile” homes
- Around the Campfire: What’s a fifth wheel tug test and should we be doing it?
- RV oven features and tips even experienced RVers don’t know
Features
Some of these articles are from past issues of RVtravel.com and have been updated for this newsletter.
Reasons to try before you buy. Why renting an RV is a good idea
Motorhome owners commonly tell stories of how they started with a pop-up, moved to a fifth wheel within six months and are now driving a 34-foot Class A after only a few years. Whether you are brand-new to RVing or a full-timer looking to make a change, starting with an RV rental so you can try it before you buy it might be the best way to go. Learn why here.
How do you alert another RVer to pull off the highway, or anywhere, to check their rig?
By Gail Marsh
As we travel in our fifth wheel, my husband and I try to be friendly. We’ll happily lend a hand or a tool to help a fellow RVer. … Our problem? We need a sign. We need a unique, warning sign – preferably an easy-to-do hand signal that can be generally accepted as an urgent caution to stop and check your rig! Why? Often, as folks leave their campsite we’ll notice something amiss. … Continue reading. Do you have any suggestions for a universal warning sign?
The magic of road trips
By Chris Epting
I wrote this essay almost twenty years ago. Now that the kids are grown, I’ve been reflecting on the magic of road trips, especially when you have the kids along. Reading this today, I think it holds up. What do YOU do to make road trips more interesting for kids, or grandkids?
We take as many car trips as we can, to as many fun and interesting and offbeat and historical places as we can. Certainly part of it is by design, as I am frequently in the middle of writing and researching a book. But the more meaningful part of it is the shared experience and sense of adventure; the chance to live life together as a family and, of course, for my wife and I to watch as our children discover, learn, grow, and just simply find their way. Continue reading. (Included are basic rules of the road for traveling with kids and grandkids.)
Reader poll
Quick tip
Full-timers and health insurance
[Insurance] affordability is in the eye of the beholder, but there are many companies that will provide varying levels of health insurance for a monthly or semi-annual fee. The obvious point here is even a short hospitalization can produce tens of thousands of dollars in costs and an office or urgent care visit with the attending tests can run into several thousands. If you set out on the full-time lifestyle without health insurance, you are betting everything you have that neither of you will become seriously ill. It’s a crapshoot, my friends. I cannot in good conscience recommend this lifestyle to you without your having adequate health insurance coverage. — “From So, you want to be an RVer? And Enjoy the RV Lifestyle? [Revised]” Available on Amazon
Cool gadget: We love this mouse trap
Nobody wants mice around; well, almost nobody. But they do show up at our homes and in our RVs, and they can do a lot of damage. Have you ever seen the damage these little fellows can cause chewing your home or RV wiring? Alas, a traditional mouse trap, while efficient, does kill the little buggers and some folks aren’t big on that, or they don’t particularly enjoy disposing of the cute little rodents with their beady popped-out eyes. Here’s a very creative and effective solution that won’t offend anyone — a simple device that traps mice and other small rodents without harming them. Learn more.
Pet First Aid. Part 1: The basic kit you should carry with you at all times
“Thank you all for your warm welcomes and great questions last week. I got quite a few questions about pet first aid: What should we have on board when we travel? Today, I look at what should definitely be in your pet’s first aid kit.” Read it here. (Note: You might want to bookmark that article or print it out. It’s like an encyclopedia of important information!)
Your assignment
What advice would give an aspiring full-time RVer?
From the editors: We asked our readers this question. Here is one response:
“Buy used (like a with a car, there’s a big depreciation with new) and have someone who knows RVs perform an inspection first. Don’t make an impulse decision and realize that your first purchase is probably not your last; there’s a learning curve.” —Karen Grace
Don’t miss today’s issue of our RV Daily Tips Newsletter. It’s a good one. Read it here.
Featured Recipe
Stuffed Cornbread
by Betty Gallagher from Spring, TX
This stuffed cornbread is an easy and budget-friendly weeknight meal. It’s hearty, satisfying, and full of flavor. American cheese adds a yummy gooeyness. Serve alone or with a spoonful of sour cream on top and Mexican corn on the side. This comforting crowd-pleaser would also be a-maz-ing topped with chili. Season the meat as you like and use your favorite cornbread mix.
Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
CONTACT US
Editorial (all but news): editor@rvtravel.com
Editorial (news): chuck@rvtravel.com
Advertising: Advertising@rvtravel.com
Help desk: Contact us.
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.
RVtravel.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless of this potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers.
Mail us at 9792 Edmonds Way, #265, Edmonds, WA 98020.
This newsletter is copyright 2022 by RV Travel LLC.
I have used the double sided tape and it does leave a mark if used on a cabinet door.
To get someone’s attention to a rig problem try moving your hand across the front of your neck. It’s pretty much a universal sign of something seriously wrong. And it works!