A question from an RVtravel.com reader to Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor.
Dear Gary, I am new to the RV world and have a question. Should our water filter go between the faucet and the hose, or between the hose and the RV? Or, does it not matter? Thanks, Debi (no city/state)
Dear Debi, Welcome to the world of RVs! Believe it or not, this question comes up more often than you’d think. From a water flow perspective, it really doesn’t matter. But I subscribe to the thought that it’s best to place an in-line filter or purifier as close to the water source as possible, typically right at the campground spigot. That way you are protecting the hose itself, as well as the fresh water demand system in the RV. Oftentimes it’s near impossible to drain all the water from the hose, and over time, contaminates could gather in a stored hose and then be forced directly into the system the next time you hook up.
Additionally, it’s wise to connect both ends of the coiled hose together prior to storing it in the rig. And it’s always beneficial to carry an adjustable city water pressure regulator as you travel too.
Summer is here. As I write this, it is 90+ degrees and we are in for at least a week of hot weather. And if you haven’t thought about it, the rays of that bright sun burning in your RV’s front windows are wreaking havoc on the materials that cover your seats and dash. You likely have put seat covers on your seats, but have you protected your dash?
Action Awnings and Upholstery has recently introduced an expansive line of custom dash covers to prevent damage to this vulnerable part of your motorhome. But what does a dash cover actually do?
1) Provides sunlight protection: Since your dashboard is placed specifically under the windshield, it’s presented to an everyday assault of daylight and UV rays. But with a dash cover, your dashboard gets a solid shield against UV rays.
2) Reduces glare: A dash is generally quite shiny, and is also angled perfectly to reflect sunlight right into the eyes of the driver. The suede material will remove the glare, making it safer driving on a sunny day.
3) Prevents heat damage: The dash in your motorhome is not designed to sustain the UV rays and heat of the intense sun.
4) Blocks dirt, dust, and scratches: Dirt and dust particles can undoubtedly make little scratches that gradually dull your finish. By adding a dashboard cover, your dash keeps its looks.
5) Protects your dash from damages caused by cats’ and dogs’ nails cutting into the vinyl.
6) Reduces inside temperature: The dash is the part of your motorhome interior which is exposed to the greatest amount of sunlight. A specifically designed dashmat will absorb much of that heat and reduce the air temperature in the RV.
For more information, free samples, or to place an order visit the Action Awnings and Upholstery website.
You can find Bob Difley’s RVing ebooks onAmazon Kindle.
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Issue 747 • Week of June 18-24, 2016
Editor’s corner With Chuck Woodbury Chuck(at)RVtravel.com
The WiFi in RV parks stinks. Now, for RVers who truly “camp” — who enjoy nature with no need or desire to stay connected to the outside world — this does not matter one bit. But for RVers like me, who need to stay in touch using the Internet, the fact is, most RV parks that advertise WiFi are stretching the truth. I don’t care if it’s KOA or Joe’s RV Park, in most parks the WiFi doesn’t work or it’s so slow it’s worthless.
Stopped at a picnic area in California’s Modoc National Forest on our way back to Seattle.
Suppose an RV park were to advertise water hookups but only had a single garden hose coming into the park. That water would need to be split up to serve all campers, plus water the lawns, flush the park’s toilets, etc. Each camper would get a dribble unless they turned on their faucet at 3 a.m., when everyone else was asleep.
And while there are exceptions, that’s the way it is with the WiFi in RV parks— except we’re talking bandwidth, not water. If more than a handful of RVers are online at once, and if one or two decide they’ll watch Netflix — “the heck with everyone else” — then good luck to other campers getting online at anything better-than-dial-up speed or even connecting at all.
I speak from experience — my four-month trip last year cross-country and back, and more recently this past week as Gail and I worked our way slowly from Las Vegas to Seattle in our new motorhome.
For anyone who needs to get online dependably, there is one simple solution — sign up for phone and data service with Verizon Wireless. I have used the company for more than a decade, and most RVers I know who need dependable Internet access use it, too. Forget Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile and others: They do not have the wide coverage of Verizon, especially in rural areas where many of us travel.
There are two common ways to get online through Verizon or other services. Use your phone as a personal hotspot using Bluetooth, or purchase a Jetpack MiFi device. Either way, several people can get online at the same time. But here’s what some people do not know: the Jetpack will connect to the Internet much faster than a cell phone’s personal hotspot — typically five to ten times faster in my experience. Any Verizon store can provide the details. By the way, Verizon didn’t pay me to say this. I’m simply a satisfied customer.
P.S. I’ll write about my new motorhome next week. For those of you who missed the last issue, where I wrote about it and included a few photos, just click the link right below.
Did you miss last week’s issue of RV Travel?Read it here. LEAVE A COMMENT: If you have a comment about this issue, feel free to submit it using the form at the bottom of this page.
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Evergreen finally confirms shutdown
After a week of rumors, officials at EverGreen Recreational Vehicles officially announced the closing of the business. The RV manufacturer, which touted itself as an environmentally friendly, cutting-edge firm, let workers go and closed its doors last week, former employees and Elkhart County government officials said. EverGreen officials had remained quiet, not responding to media inquiries on developments until this week. Read more.
Reduce air drag and boost fuel efficiency — Airtab® your RV! Just peel and stick Airtabs™ to the rear sides and the rear roof of your RV coach or trailer to create swirls of air that reduce aerodynamic drag, save fuel and improve stability. Airtabs™ dramatically reduce trailer ‘fish tailing’ and crosswinds pressure to RVs from passing trucks, while improving fuel efficiency 2% – 5%! Click on the video. Click here for more information about using Airtabs™. Click here to purchase Airtabs™.
Reader RVs What RV do you drive or tow?
Send us a photo of your RV (and tow vehicle) with a 150-200 word description of where and how often you travel with it, and what you like or don’t like about it. Include your name(s) and hometown. We’ll post them to RVtravel.com. Send to assistant editor Diane McGovern at Diane(at)RVtravel.com .
CLICK HERE to see last week’s RV Travel Reader RVs.
Light up your RV with Boogey Lights! RV accent lighting is all the rage! Just look around the RV park! Enter Boogey Lights®! These robust, super-bright, state-of-the-art LED lights with hi-tech controller technology represent the next generation in LED lighting for RVs. The AWNING & UNDER-GLOW LIGHT KITS are specifically designed to withstand harsh operating environments. Don’t waste your money on junk! Get Boogey Lights! You can even control them with your Smart Phone! Learn more or click the video for a demonstration.
The demand for RVs in North America just continues to grow. In 2014 the demand was worth $16 billion. Looking forward, estimates suggest the demand will hit more than $20 billion by 2020. Source: Market Research Store.
On the other hand, U.S. sales of new motorhomes hit a major pothole in April according Statistical Surveys Inc. Overall motorhome registrations dropped more than 5 percent compared to April 2015. Class A sales took the worst hit, dropping more than 8 percent. Class C rigs also put the brakes on, down 3 percent.
Is your RV central to your work? RV group Escapees would like you to take a brief survey on your lifestyle and your work to help them provide resources for folks like you. The survey takes about five minutes to complete and can be found here.
In a small turnaround from reporting that state parks have taken yet another financial hit, lawmakers in Kentucky have actually pumped $18 million into their state’s park budget. Governor Matt Bevin described the action as a bit small and not nearly enough, but he is happy to have gotten some funding after what he called “a tug of war.” Park officials say the money will first go to toward safety improvements then to “aesthetics.”
Officials at Indiana’s Hoosier National Forest want to change campground fees at both German Ridge and Saddle Lake campgrounds in order to have funds to improve both sites. The proposed new fees would be $8 at German Ridge (presently $4) and $5 at Saddle Lake (presently free). Age, wear and tear, vandalism and theft have created a backlog of needed improvements. Send your comments before September 30 to Mike Chaveas, Hoosier National Forest, 811 Constitution Avenue, Bedford, IN 47421.
California’s high fire danger has already brought about recreational fire restrictions on all Bureau of Land Management lands in Tulare, Fresno, Kings, Kern, Madera, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. Counties encompassed by the Mother Load Field Office (Yuba County south to Mariposa County), 14 counties in all, are under the same restrictions. While portable stoves may be used, users must still possess a valid California campfire permit.
A new county-owned RV park at the Jackson County Expo in Medford, Ore., is due to open July 1 and become fully operational this fall. It has been on the drawing board for 36 years but was delayed due to primarily economic reasons. It will offer a 92-space park with 50-amp electrical sites, Wi-Fi and shower facilities, among other amenities. The nightly rate for a standard 60-foot space is $38, and $40 for 75-foot spots. Source: Mail Tribune.
Camping World Holdings Inc. on Monday filed documents for an initial public offering. Camping World logged $3.33 billion in revenue in 2015, up 25 percent from a year earlier, and recorded a 43 percent rise in profit to $178.5 million in the year. The company said in a filing it has about 3.1 million active customers. Camping World estimates nine million households in the U.S. own an RV, a number “we believe has grown consistently over the past 20 years, including during the last economic downturn.” Source: MarketWatch.com.
Photo: National Park Service courtesy of Susan Luckie Reilly
A living, breathing tie-in to this year’s centennial celebration of America’s park system has a centennial of her own. Susan Luckie Reilly was born in 1916, and began serving as a ranger-naturalist at the then Joshua Tree National Monument (California) in 1965. A celebration for Reilly will be held at Joshua Tree National Park on June 22 at the Oasis Visitor Center.
Detroit wants you to buy a new pickup to haul your towable. Now GM joins Ford with offering specialized rear-view cameras for the trailer hauling set. No, this isn’t a backup cam that turns on when you hit reverse, but a camera set up to let you watch over your fifth-wheel hitch while motoring down the road. GM’s “IntelliHaul” system will tack on around $1,000 for the option. Other cameras can be fitted, too, for other views, at less than $400 a pop. But if your truck runs off the lot for $60,000 or more, what’s another grand for a camera system?
A 50-year-old man died in southern Colorado Sunday after a microburst apparently threw his RV trailer about 40 feet, according to the Otero County Sheriff’s Office. He was killed near Highway 194 on County Road 33. The man’s name has not been released, pending an autopsy and notification of family. Source: 7NEWS@thedenverchannel.com.
RVs & Electric Bikes – the perfect match! An Electric Bike is the perfect, simplest and most affordable way of sorting all the ‘challenges’ of RV’ing. Get around camp effortlessly, visit the sites or town nearby without unhooking or simply enjoy a fun ride with fellow campers! Click here to discover our electric bikesand get free shipping & returns, and 0% financing on any new EVELO.
More News
Niagara Falls
Name the nation’s oldest state park. Did you get Niagara Falls in New York? Righto! And now the nation’s oldest state park will get a $17 million cash infusion to attract more visitors. When the work is done there will be more waterfront green space and enhanced walking trails. You’ll see the first installment this summer at Terrapin Point.
A Texas appeals court has ruled that the families of two men killed when flood waters carried off their RVs from a Guadalupe River campground are not entitled to compensation. The court ruled that the RV park had no duty to warn tenants of “hazards that are open and obvious,” like a potentially flooding river. The court cited examples of ice, mud and other natural occurrences which are beyond a landowner’s control and which visitors should be aware of and guard against.
Longtime RVer and travel writer Gordon Groene died March 21, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Janet Groene, whose recipes appear weekly in this newsletter. In Gordon’s memory, Janet is donating their much-beloved and much-used 21-foot 1970 Fan-Hanomag diesel RV — still in complete and operating condition, thanks to Gordon — to the permanent collection at the Tallahassee Antique Car Museum. No other fully operating units are known to exist. Learn more.
In a sad RV mystery, California Highway Patrol officials closed down the northbound lanes of the busy San Diego freeway (I-405) for a time June 7. A Freeway Service Patrol stopped when he spotted a motorhome parked on the shoulder, only to find a 74-year-old unidentified man crushed beneath the rig. Troopers say the man was the rig’s owner, and they speculate he was underneath making some kind of repair when he was pinned under the differential. When found, the rig’s engine was running, the transmission in drive. He was alone at the time of the accident.
Photo: National Park Service, Lava Flow Campground
Visitors to Idaho’s Craters of the Moon National Monument will find less camping available for several months. Lava Flow Campground, built five decades ago, will be shut down July 5 to allow for major renovations. Rangers will provide information on other camping options in the area.
Some people who went to move an RV on their property in Arlee, Mont., in early June made a gruesome discovery: The shower was stacked with furniture and clothing – and under the pile, the decomposing body of a young man. Police have now arrested Kassandra and Stephen Seese, who formerly lived in the RV, charging the latter with the murder of his nephew, Richard Warner, age 18. It’s alleged Seese killed his nephew with a hammer in February, and Kassandra assisted him in stashing the body in the shower. The couple then continued to live in the RV with the body until May.
Photo: Parks Canada
Wildlife run amok: Last week it was wolves raiding picnic coolers; This week it’s peek-a-boo-bears – all this at Alberta, Canada’s Banff National Park. Visitors to Castle Mountain Campground have been vamoosed because a black bear poked his face up to peer into a car window – considered conduct unbecoming a bruin. It’s possible somebody fed the bear from a car, and now the bear will suffer the consequences as rangers try to trap and relocate him. In the meantime, no camping allowed.
Casey Nocket, 23, who defaced rock formations in Western national parks in 2014, pleaded guilty Monday to defacing government property, according to the National Park Service. According to court documents, Nocket damaged rock formations within seven national parks over a 26-day period in 2014, drawing or painting on them using acrylic paints and markers. She was sentenced to two years’ probation and 200 hours of community service, and is banned from all lands administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Army Corps of Engineers during her probation period. Source: National Parks Traveler.
Last week we reported on fleas carrying bubonic plague in Arizona. This week it turned up near Lake Tahoe, Calif. A flea taken from a squirrel at the Fallen Leaf Campground tested positive for plague, and authorities have posted caution signs at the campground. Cat lovers beware: Felines are extremely susceptible to the plague. If your cat gets sick after playing with rodents, get to the vet.
Police in Elmore County, Idaho, were still scratching their heads after a high-speed chase involving a man in a stolen pickup towing an equally stolen travel trailer. Police stopped Anthony Lyle Foster for not staying in his lane, then found he was carrying someone else’s license – turned out his own was suspended. Foster then hit the gas, hitting speeds near 90 mph, making sharp turns to try and “ditch” the trailer. It all ended when Foster missed a curve, stacked up the rig, then “bravely” left his passenger holding the bag while he attempted to run off. He didn’t get far, and is now calling the county jail home.
Local residents in New Zealand became suspicious when three men began offering them wads of cash to help launch a boat from a remote New Zealand beach and helped lead police to the nation’s largest-ever methamphetamine bust, police said Tuesday. Police pulled over an RV on Sunday which they found filled with suitcases and bags that contained a half-ton of the drug, worth about $316 million if sold on the streets. Source: The Seattle Times.
Keep up with RV Industry news throughout the week at RVbusiness.com.
Clean your RV… with beastly-good results! Your RV’s not your car, it’s your “beast.”
Your RV’s large surface area makes it a beast that collects more bugs, grit, grime, soot and industrial pollution than your car does. And it may have different surfaces of paint, fiberglass, vinyl and aluminum. Click on the video to watch Wade clean everything with Beast Wash as it cuts through slime and grime. You’ll see the difference. SALE! 5% off – Use code:Catclean15when ordering.
How do I inspect my tires?
Roger Marble, RV tire expert, receives emails asking about inspecting tires. He advises that you should do a thorough inspection annually, and that becomes even more important as times goes on. The problem is, few know even the basics of proper tire inspection, which involves a lot more than checking the tread or looking for large cracks in the sidewall. Learn the correct way to inspect your tires.
Holding tank tips for the stationary RV
While the term “recreational vehicle” fosters visions of hitting the open road and exploring new sights and new civilizations, we don’t always boldly go where we haven’t gone before. Sometimes we stay in the same place for a couple of weeks or even months. Having a “stationary RV” means special care of the black water holding tank. Learn more.
Why do men talk about their RVs as if they’re women?
At first, RVer Julie Schneider thought the men in her RV life were talking, in mostly flattering ways, about women, perhaps bragging about their wives. Then, one day, she realized they weren’t talking about women at all, but their RVs! Read more.
Slideouts “out” okay at Walmart?
Walmart “overnighting” has its attractions —low cost, easy in and out, handy to shopping — the list goes on. Of course, it’s not without its detractors, including RV park owners and even other RVers. Here are some tips from Russ and Tiña De Maris regarding “proper etiquette” when spending a night at Walmart — which might help tone down the “bad press.” Read more.
No more roof leaks, for life, guaranteed!
Now with locations in TX, FL, MS, AZ and NC!
RV FlexArmor® is a sprayed RV roof that is 187 mils thick, has no more caulking joints and is the proven RV roof alternative for over a decade. Guaranteed not to leak for your RV’s lifetime! “Your company gets an A+.” —Marsha G., customer. Click on our new video showing how we handle air conditioners. •Click here for more information at our website, or call 1-844-FLEXARMOR. •Click here to visit our Facebook page.
Taking photos may enhance a trip experience
According to a new multi-university study, reported on Gizmag.com, taking snapshots can actually make your experiences more enjoyable. Learn why.
Simplify backing into your RV space If you tow, you’ve probably suffered through the stress that comes along with backing into your space in the campground with everyone watching, not to mention the sometimes-heated discussions between the driver and the “director.” But here’s a potential solution. Learn more.
Think rubber tires will protect your RV from lightning? Think again! When lightning is striking all around, do you think your RV, riding atop rubber tires, will protect you from being struck? Well, hate to spoil your confidence, but the tires won’t. The fact is, in some RVs you will be heavily protected in your RV, but in others you might as well just stand outside. Learn more by watching this video.
How to write a useful description of tire failure for NHTSA
Here from tire expert Roger Marble is Part 3 of how to post a complaint with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration regarding tire failures. (Parts 1 and 2 are linked in the article.) NHTSA needs facts in order to consider if an investigation is warranted, and Roger explains how to supply that information. Learn more.
Don’t get stuck along the road Good Sam’s Roadside Assistance will come to your aid! See why half a million customers have signed on to Good Sam Roadside Assistance! Learn more.
Better to flat-tow dinghy or use tow dolly?
Chris Dougherty, certified RV technician, explains some pros and cons of flat towing, dinghy towing or trailer towing, as well as which he prefers and why. Read more.
Scotty, we need more power — solar power, that is! — Part 1
With a nod to the 50th anniversary of the debut of the original “Star Trek” TV series, Rich “The Wanderman” reminisces about that as he works on the third generation of solar panels on his RV. Due to the tiny size of his roof, he’s had to get custom-built panels twice; but with improvements in panels he can now go with a stock size, reducing the cost while increasing the number of panels and the power generated. Read more.
This week in history Week of June 18-24 Compiled by Dell Bert
1944 — President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs G.I. Bill.
1953 — Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are executed for espionage.
1975 — The movie “Jaws” is released.
1977 — First oil from Prudhoe Bay begins flowing down trans-Alaska pipeline.
1983 — Sally Ride becomes first American woman in space.
2013 — James Gandolfini, TV’s Tony Soprano, dies at age 51.
Discover the RV Warranty Taking the Community by Storm! The best RV warranty coverage just got better: Introducing the Viking Protection Plan, a policy designed for maximum coverage and ease of use, all backed by the customer satisfaction guaranteed by RVer Favorite Wholesale Warranties. Ready to see what the ultimate in Peace of Mind might cost you? Get your FREE Quote for coverage today! Read more about this exclusive coverage.
RV Clubs Here are some RV clubs from our extensive directory which you may be interested in:
It’s getting expensive these days to dump your holding tanks — $20 at the Fallon (Nev.) RV Park, where we found this sign.
Heartland Owners Club.
“Chapters of the Heartland Owners Club continue to form all over the United States and Canada. Owners are meeting at camp-outs and rallies at great destinations, sharing experiences, making friends and making memories.” Also, Heartland owners share stories, recipes, photos, experiences, tips, tricks and knowledge on the Forum.
NAARVA — National African American RVers Association.
“The fastest growing RV organization in the country,” with numerous chapters throughout the U.S. “NAARVA is futuristic in its outlook, concerned about the environment, and a facilitator of family values.” Enjoy annual national rallies with an ethnic flavor, camping, social activities and much more.
Ramblin’ Pushers.
A Holiday Rambler Recreational Vehicle Club Chapter. The mission is “To provide information to our members to help them safely and properly operate and maintain their respective Holiday Rambler diesel motorhomes and to enhance their ownership experience.”
Unique RV overnight stops at wineries and farms With membership in Harvest Hosts® you can stay overnight at 500 wineries, farms and attractions across North America. Harvest Hosts offers an exciting alternative to traditional overnight stops where you can meet interesting people and learn about their lifestyle. Learn more at the Harvest Hosts website, or watch an interview with the founders by RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury.
Bumper sticker of the week If you object to logging, try using plastic toilet paper. Thanks (again) to Jennifer Hill, Mill Bay, B.C.!
Funny/clever business slogan
Edgar Kremer saw this on a TV service van in Annapolis, Md.: “Fly by night TV service.” Thanks, Edgar!
Have you seen a funny bumper sticker or business slogan? Send it to Diane(at)RVtravel.com
Upcoming RV Shows
See the Web’s best directory of upcoming RV shows for 2016.
Websites of the Week
We like these websites and we think you will, too. Check ’em out. More next week.
America’s Largest RV Consignment Dealer Buy or sell your used motorhome, diesel pusher, fifth wheel or travel trailer hassle free at PPL Motor Homes. And check our huge selection of parts! PPL is the largest RV consignment dealer in the USA, selling more than 24,000 consigned RVs since 1972. Visit the PPL website.
Good reading from RV123.com
• The Folding Cooler
• On the Road Again: Florida Caverns State Park
• Observation Knob County Park, TN
Essential equipment for many RVers! Camco TastePURE Water Filter with Flexible Hose Protector This best-selling product reduces bad taste, odor, chlorine and sediment in drinking water with a 100 micron fiber filter. Its durable in-line, exterior mount filter has a wider body to increase flow. Use it at your campsite to keep sediment out of your RV water tank and to improve the taste and smell of your drinking water for a whole season. Many RVers consider this essential equipment. Learn more or order at a big discount.
Ask the RV Shrink
How to shop online when on the road
Dear RV Shrink: We have started traveling part of the year and living in a fifth wheel. So far it is everything we thought it would be. We are slowly working out the kinks. One problem that drives us crazy is shopping online. Over the past few years a majority of our shopping is online. We miss the convenience now that we are on the road.
I noticed in last week’s RV Travel Newsletter that Amazon [article link] is beginning to sprout delivery lockers around the country. That’s great, but for now we are very frustrated with a lack of options for having our online purchases delivered to us. We spend more time and money driving around looking for items we want when they are right here on our screen yet unreachable. Can you deliver for us a few ideas? —Frustrated in Freeport
Essential for big RVs! 2016 Rand McNally Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas If you drive a big RV — extra long or extra tall — then this truck driver’s road atlas will be a huge help in knowing where you can drive without encountering a low bridge or getting stuck hanging over a cliff. This is an essential aid even if you have a GPS! Coverage: United States, Canada, and Mexico. Learn more or order.
RV Tech Tips from Mark Polk
Campground electricity safety
I have always been an advocate of monitoring the AC line voltage coming into your RV. Campground electricity can fluctuate a great deal. If you don’t know what the voltage is coming into your RV, you risk damaging thousands of dollars’ worth of electrical appliances and electronic equipment.
Doyle, Calif., is most famous for its annual Lizard Races, held each August. You may also see the reptiles racing at other times, too — across the street!
Every RVer should invest in some type of digital voltmeter that plugs directly into a 120-volt outlet in your RV. There are several types available and they are inexpensive compared to the repair costs for damaged electrical equipment and appliances. I recommend one that can test campground polarity, measure AC line voltage and, if you have a generator, measure AC frequency.
You should always test the campground wiring for improperly wired circuits before you plug your RV in. Before you plug your RV power cord into the electrical supply make sure any breakers are turned off. Plug the RV in and turn the breaker on.
Editor: Here are some digital multimeters available at Amazon.
Mark Polk is the owner of RV Education 101, the premiere source of educational DVDs about buying, maintaining and using an RV. Learn more.
2016 Traveler’s Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States
Learn how to prepare, carry & transport your weapons during travel in all 50 states, Canada & Mexico. Includes state breakdowns of firearms ownership, semi-auto gun ownership, castle doctrine, right to protect, open carry, concealed carry, state and national parks, permit reciprocity, loaded vs. unloaded, interstate transport restrictions, traffic stops, universal restricted areas, motorhome and RV issues, preemptive local laws & more. Learn more or order.
Latest fuel prices Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel: Regular unleaded gasoline: $2.40 (on June 13). Change from week before: Up 2 cents; Change from year before: Down 44 cents. Diesel: $2.43 (on June 13). Change from week before: Up 2 cents; Change from year before: Down 44 cents.
Batteries last a long time! Motion detection nightlights can
last a year on a set of batteries When you need a nightlight when without hookups, these are great: they light only when they sense motion, shutting off after 30 seconds of no movement. They use no wires & install in less than 5 minutes. Use outdoors, too. Lights come in a 3-pack. Can last up to a year! Watch the short video for a demonstration or learn more (or order at a great price) at Amazon.com.
RV Travel Reader Pets
Do you travel with a pet? We’d love to introduce your pet(s) to fellow readers. Send a photo or two of Fido or Boots and a 150-200 word description of your furry friend(s), along with your name(s) and hometown to Diane(at)RVtravel.com .
Click here to see this week’s issue of RV Travel Reader Pets.
Keep your food cool with this RV fridge fan Every RV refrigerator should have one of these! This small refrigerator fan from Valterra Products will help keep the food in your RV fridge cool and from spoiling. It cuts down initial cool-down time by 50 percent. Runs for more than 30 days on 2 D batteries. Don’t leave home without this! Learn more or order from Amazon.com.
The RV Kitchen with Janet Groene
Tapioca Plum Pudding Plum wonderful for breakfast or dessert.
Quick-cooking tapioca is a useful thickener to keep in the RV pantry. It keeps forever and cooks into juicy little BB’s, adding an interesting texture to the finished dish. Serve with crisp toast for breakfast or with regular or whipped cream for dessert. Get the recipe.
Check out hundreds of other recipes by Janet … and her many books at Amazon.com, including “The Survival Food Handbook,” coming very soon!
Temperature gun is ‘essential equipment’ for many RVers! Just aim this non-contact IR temperature gun to measure the temperature of your refrigerator, tires, A/C output, or, heck, even your oven (and the list goes on). It turns on and begins reading the temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit with one press of the trigger. A laser light aids in aiming, and can be turned on or off. Many RVers consider this essential equipment. Learn more or order at a huge discount.
RV Fire Safety Tip
In case of fire when towing
Practice unhooking your tow vehicle as quickly as possible to avoid spreading the fire to other vehicles. Courtesy:MacTheFireGuy.com
Editor’s note: Choose from a wide selection of fire extinguishers at Amazon.
Updated for 2016 Locate services at Interstate exits
The 2016 Next Exit is the most complete USA Interstate highway exit directory ever published for every exit of major and most minor routes. Find what’s located at upcoming exits on your route — gas, food, lodging, camping, shopping, hospitals, Walmarts and much more. A best-seller year after year. Learn more or order.
RV Quick Tips
Recycle old awning arms Here’s a recycle use for old awning arms: They make great sewer hose supports. Just scope ’em out the length you need and put them “channel side” up. Don’t have one? Check with an RV dealer – they may have a couple of “junkers” you can have.
Easily clean and sanitize your plastic cutting board
RV kitchen plastic cutting board looking a bit tacky? A build-up of “organic” material can make it look dingy and harbor bugs. Soak it in a solution of one part bleach to 20 parts water for several hours. Rinse off well.
Don’t overdo it when pulling in the slideout
When pulling the slideout back in to travel position, you can “overdo” it. When the slide gets close to the retracted position, let up on the switch, then tap the switch and bring the slide in a bit at a time until your helper tells you the seals have made full contact.
Endorsed by Roger Marble of RVtireSafety.com! An excellent tire pressure gauge The Accutire MS-4021B digital tire pressure gauge has an easy-to-read LCD display that provides pressure readings from 5-150 PSI. It’s ergonomically designed with an angled head and a rubber-coated easy-grip handle. If you forget to turn off the gauge, don’t worry, it will automatically shut off. The included lithium battery never needs to be recharged or replaced. And all this for less than $12! Learn more or order.
Ask the RV Doctor The RV Doctor, Gary Bunzer, answers your questions
Reader asks about no DC in RV
Dear Gary,
I recently upgraded from our 1987 pop-up and purchased a 2003 Starcraft Travel Star. I used an adapter to power the camper at the house. When I first plugged it in, it appeared that everything was fine. After approximately 15 minutes, all of the lights went out. I purchased the unit from my brother and I camped in this unit last fall so I know that there were no previous issues. … —Mark W.
Protect your RV from damage from high water pressure! It’s hard to imagine any RVer not carrying one of these along on a trip to protect against damage from a high-pressure water hookup at an RV park. It happens often! And the damage can cost thousands to repair! This inexpensive, highly rated Valterra lead-free water regulator will allow 15 to 20 percent more flow than standard regulators. The orange plastic grip allows easy, screw-on installation and removal. Learn more or order.
Gizmos and Gadgets
Clean your dump hose the easy way Did you ever ask yourself why you store away your sewer hose after dumping your tanks without thoroughly cleaning it — not just a feeble rinse. Well, you don’t have to any more. The Camco RV Sewer Hose Rinser with Shut-Off Valve thoroughly rinses your sewer hose with jet cleaning action before storing, helping to reduce odors. And it can be left in place, serving as a hose cap while in storage. Learn more.
“Early morning black bears” spare tire cover
With Tire Cover Central you can choose from a large selection of horses, dolphins, eagles, camping scenes, cartoons and more. All spare tire covers are made from rugged marine grade vinyl and double stitched with heavy duty upholstery thread, and come with a one year warranty. All sizes are available, and they can be locked in place so envious passersby don’t help themselves. Read more.
No more leaky water faucet hookups! Camco’s Water Bandit connects your water hose to would-be-unattachable water sources. One end connects to a standard water hose via a male, standard water connection. The other end, a highly flexible, silicone-polymer sleeve, stretches to fit over the end of virtually any standard water source; those with damaged or stripped threads and even water sources with no threads at all. Every RVer needs one of these on occasion. Learn more or order.
RV Short Stop
Mt. Shasta by Julianne G. Crane
Mt. Shasta is a magnificent view almost any time of the year Siskiyou County, California
Depending on the amount of winter snowfall, the views of Mt. Shasta from I-5 can take your breath away — and you don’t even have to stop and get out of your rig — simply look out the window. Or you can pull off the highway at the many viewpoints along the way. If you do want to stop for longer, however, and are looking for a place to camp near I-5, consider the U. S. Forest Service Antlers Campground near Exit 702, open this year through September 12.
Eliminate gray water
tank odors for less than $8
Gray water tanks can produce nasty odors, too. Using the latest technology in quick-dissolving biodegradable tablets, Elemonate deodorizes your gray tank, freshens sink and drain lines and dissolves grease and organic sludge buildup in the drain lines of your sink and gray tank. Learn more or order.
The Dying Art of Proofreading
In an office (in England?):
AFTER TEA BREAK, STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT
AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD.
See this little icon near the top right of this page?
Click it and you will be taken to a random article on this website. Click again and you’ll go to another. It’s fun. It’s random. It’s cool. It’s educational. It’s simply … wonderful!
Videos you’ll like
RVer’s campsite model railroad keeps campers smiling
RVers who pass by this RVer’s campsite do a double take when they see his train layout! Watch the video.
Rubber RV roof maintenance
Bob Livingston and Bill Gehr walk you through the complete cleaning and maintenance of rubber RV. Watch the video.
Random RV Thought If you dream of spending all or a good part of your life traveling with an RV but keep finding excuses why you can’t do it, then quit making excuses. The time will never be right. Meanwhile, time is passing. You could get sick or your spouse could get sick, and “bye, bye dream.” And don’t listen to your kids if they say, “Stay home.” Just tell them you will keep in contact and that you will swing by when you’re in their neighborhood.
SAVE MONEY! Don’t toss away good batteries! Most RVers rely on battery-powered devices while on the road, whether flashlights, radios or cameras. But sometimes you just can’t tell how much life a battery has remaining so you toss it to “be sure.” This small tester, for less than $7, will alert you in an instant to the condition of your batteries, saving you money from needlessly tossing ones with plenty of life left! Works on AA, AAA, C, D and 9V batteries. Learn more or order.
Trivia
According to Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, a car steering wheel carries more than twice as many germs as a toilet seat.
Super clean your holding tanks! Extreme Cleaner by Happy Campers cleans, softens and helps dissolve and remove all types of sewer waste, toilet tissue, crud, sludge, light corrosion and scum buildup. Highest concentrated, most active (powerful) sewer tank and sensor cleaner on the market. Recommended for winterizing, annual clean out, and removing persistent odors caused by chemicals or medications obstructing your tank treatment. Often helps restore poor-working sensors. Learn more or order.
Worth Pondering “No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible.” —George Chakiris
TODAY’S DEALS ON RV PARTS & ACCESSORIES AT AMAZON.COM. Click.
Readers’ Birthday and Anniversary Greetings
Happy Birthday! • June 18: To Bonnie Seashore from Ken Stewart. Happy birthday to my sweetheart.
• June 19: To Allan from Carol.Happy birthday! Can’t wait for you to plan our next trip.
• June 20: To Linda from Jim. Happy 65th Birthday to my best friend and special camping and RVing buddy! • June 21: To to my wife, friend and lover, Cheryl, from Dale K. Curtis. Happy Birthday to my Bride. You are still the greatest. • June 21: To My Honey (Donna) from Her Hun.Happy Birthday to my honey. May we enjoy many more years of safe and happy travels. Love you the mostest! XO
Happy (belated) Birthday!
• June 9: To Leo from Grampa Ron. Happy Birthday, little Leo. This greeting is belated because … you were only born two days ago. (Welcome to a future RVer from the RV Travel staff!)
Happy Anniversary!
• June 21: To Pauline from Chuck D. You are forever My Dear Bride.
• June 22: To Karen from Tim. 25 years — and I’m even happier now than when we first met. Each year just gets better! • June 23: To Rita from John.Thank You for 50 wonderful years. Here’s to many more with you! • June 24: To Ruth from Roy. Happy 49th anniversary !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you ready for the next 49? Love always, Roy and our little muffin
Happy (belated)Anniversary! • June 11: To Georgeana from Michael.Happy 45 and many more.
• June 16: To Nor from Vonnie. Happy 44th anniversary and many more ahead .. Love u sweetie and love how you are always making me laugh .. I know this message is late but better late than never. Love and kisses forever.
RV Travel staff Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Assistant editor: Diane McGovern. Contributing editor: Russ De Maris. Contributing writers: Greg Illes, Bob Difley, Richard Miller, Richard Mallery, Janet Groene, Roger Marble and Julianne Crane.
ADVERTISE on RVtravel.com and/or in this newsletter. Contact Chuck Woodbury at Chuck(at)RVtravel.com.
About the RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury has explored America by RV for three decades. In the ’90s he published the quirky travel newspaper Out West, and was an “on the road” writer for the New York Times Syndicate. His book, “The Best from Out West” is available at Amazon.com. Woodbury’s RVing adventures have been profiled on ABC News, CNN, NBC’s Today Show, and in People Magazine, USA Today and in hundreds of newspapers. He is the host of the Better Business Bureau DVD “Buying a Recreational Vehicle,” the definitive guide to purchasing an RV the right way.
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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MIDDLEBURY, Indiana, June 17, 2016 — After a week of rumors, officials at EverGreen Recreational Vehicles officially announced the closing of the business.
The RV manufacturer, which touted itself as an environmentally friendly, cutting-edge firm, let workers go and closed its doors last week, former employees and Elkhart County government officials said. EverGreen officials, however, had remained quiet, not responding to media inquiries on developments until this week.
EverGreen’s Alfa Gold Fifth Wheel Trailer
In a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice, EverGreen Chief Financial Officer Joseph Katona said that about 270 workers were to be terminated, mostly by June 24. The letter cited failed attempts to secure financing to aid the company.
“Over the last several months, EverGreen … has been actively seeking capital or business to continue its operations,” Katona said in the WARN notice. But the push for financing and refinancing via creditors and lenders weren’t successful.
EverGreen’s demise comes as the RV sector, in general, is booming, with shipments expected to approach pre-recession peaks this year. And it comes after a quick rise for the company, formed in 2008 and identified in 2013 by Statistical Surveys Inc. of Michigan as the fastest-growing RV maker among 15 large RV companies.
SOURCE: Elkhart Truth.Read the complete story here.
Several years ago when I walked by a group of men gathered in a campground and heard things like, “She’s got a few years on her but she’s still a dream come true,” or “ Look at her lines, isn’t she a beauty” I admit that I thought they were discussing their wives.
I used to grin at the comments, giddy with wonder about what Jim must be saying about me. When I overheard comments about “stretching her legs” I thought they were being thoughtful of the wife who rode for 10 hours straight or the dog that whined with its legs crossed for 100 miles.
Silly me! That was in my naïve past! Now I understand that all these men are discussing the loves of their lives, their RVs! And they are all female! I have yet to hear a man —any man —refer to his RV as a male because, after all, they do cause a great deal of problems, my sweet but not so bright husband points out.
As soon as we arrive at a campground all the men get out and start lovingly wiping down their RVs with special soft cloths that can only be purchased for a small fortune from some rare but brilliant camping supply marketer. I foolishly told Jim I was going to purchase something and he said, “That’s the price of two super cloths or a half tank of fuel…are you sure you need shoes, Honey?”
Then those proud owners gather for a “top this” discussion where each one tries to brag about the greatness of his RV and then the disasters they have lived through. I have heard some amazing stories in this liars club from, “My old girl got 100 miles per gallon on our last trip” to “ We blew all six tires and still made it to the truck stop.”
And then there are the stories that really show where their hearts are…….”Phyllis fell into the cabinet and chipped off a piece of the counter with her front teeth and now I’ve got to find a counter guy to repair it.” And my personal favorite, “Jean didn’t hold on when I went around that sharp curve and fell into the shower, then bounced out and landed on the dog…….guess I will have to pick them up on my way back from getting the shower door replaced.”
With Tire Cover Central you can choose from a large selection of Horses, Dolphins, Eagles, camping scenes, cartoons, and more. All spare tire covers are made from rugged marine grade vinyl and double stitched with heavy duty upholstery thread and come with a one year warranty.
All spare tire covers are secured by a 90-pound test rope that is sewn in and can be pulled tightly and tied to install the tire cover. Once the tire cover is installed it can be secured by placing a small lock or wire tie through the wheel covers locking grommets.
Features:
Each cover is custom made to fit your individual tire size.
All products come with a one year warranty!
All images are printed using top of the line UV resistant solvent inks that actually etch into the vinyl.
Images will not flake off like air brushed or painted tire covers. Inks are rated up to five years.
Covers are secured with a 90 test pound rope that can be pulled as tightly as needed to obtain the desired fit. We don’t use elastic cords that stretch and let air under your cover that will blow your tire cover off the tire when traveling on the highway.
Every tire cover comes with a free set of locking security grommets installed and a heavy duty locking zip tie to help prevent theft.
You will find Tire Cover Central’s spare tire covers on Amazon.
You can find Bob Difley’s RVing ebooks onAmazon Kindle.
Did you ever ask yourself why you store away your sewer hose after dumping your tanks without cleaning it – thoroughly, not just a feeble rinse. Well, you don’t have to any more. The Camco RV Sewer Hose Rinser with Shut-Off Valve thoroughly rinses your sewer hose before storing.
Camco RV Sewer Hose Cleaner
This unique sewer hose rinser features jet cleaning action. It locks onto the bayonet fitting securely, then hooks to any standard water hose to create a powerful spray to clean the inside of the sewer hose. It helps to reduce odors when you leave the sewer hose clean of debris. The hose can be left in place serving as a hose cap while in storage.
Features:
Locks securely into bayonet fitting
Connects to any standard garden hose
Fits easy slip, RhinoFLEX, and standard sewer fittings
Do you travel with a pet? We’d love to introduce your pet(s) to fellow readers. Here’s what we need: a photo or two of Fido or Boots (or you with your pet) and a 150-200 word description of your furry friend(s) — name, breed, age, how long you have traveled together, what makes them special? Go ahead and brag about them if you wish! Do you have any tips for other RVing pet lovers about traveling with pets that you’ve learned along the way? Don’t forget to give us your name(s) and hometown. Send to Diane(at)RVtravel.com .
Issue 26; Posted June 18, 2016
From John and Terry Shemack, Babylon, New York
This is Bolo, a 4-year-old Boston terrier. We got her from the Alabama Boston Terrier Rescue when we were in Alabama in April 2016.
Bolo is a sweet little girl that loves people. We are very happy to have Bolo join our family.
GET YOUR PET SUPPLIES FROM AMAZON.COM Huge selection. Great prices. Click here.
From Matthew and Mary Colie
You got to meet Cadeau (French for “gift”) last year in the Reader Pets feature. Cadeau is a rescue dog that came to us when she was about a year old. She has lived with us for nine years. We believe she is a black Lab/rottweiler mix. Mary decided she needed a playmate so we looked at several and Cadeau picked Minnie. That means that now we travel with about 100 pounds of dog (75 + 25). They can’t be any relation, but they get on like siblings. Can you guess why we always leave the floor lights on?
The favorite dog-riding place is on the bed all the way in the back of the coach … until we slow down and put on a turn signal, then they are up front to see what is happening. The dinette becomes the den for both of them as soon as we are stopped and I unload the bicycles.
Both are wearing their red harnesses, and they both know what it means (“going with”) when we get those out. Both harnesses also have large tags with contact information. They are chipped, but when they make a new friend someone can call me. I suggest this to others as it has been a good thing when Miss C got loose and lost. One time we left Cadeau outside the coach (hot and dry camping) at a music festival and she broke her chain. Yes, broke the chain and came into the venue to find us. An event person saw the tag and rang my cell. “You forgot your dog!!” We were much relieved, as we had made it back to the coach to find no dog when the call came in.
Dear RV Shrink: We have started traveling part of the year and living in a fifth wheel. So far it is everything we thought it would be. We are slowly working out the kinks.
One problem that drives us crazy is shopping online. Over the past few years a majority of our shopping is online. We miss the convenience now that we are on the road.
I noticed in last week’s RV Travel Newsletter that Amazon [article link] is beginning to sprout delivery lockers around the country. That’s great, but for now we are very frustrated with a lack of options for having our online purchases delivered to us.
We spend more time and money driving around looking for items we want when they are right here on our screen yet unreachable. Can you deliver for us a few ideas? —Frustrated in Freeport
Dear Frustrated: It will get much easier real soon, but you don’t have to wait for lockers to appear. You would be surprised how many places are willing to let you ship your items to their address. You just need to plan ahead a bit and be willing to ask.
We have had items shipped to many state parks in our travels. The packages are delivered to the gate office and they let us know when they have arrived. The majority of commercial campgrounds will do the same.
With Amazon, you cannot specify which carrier you want, or can you? I was told if you use the words, “PO Box” in your address, Amazon automatically ships your package through the USPS. It just has to be within postal package sizes. So pick a small town post office (that’s important) and give Amazon your shipping address as “PO Box General Delivery.”
When I long-distance hike I ship myself boxes of food and my Amazon purchases this way, and the post office will hold it for up to 30 days.
One more nugget of info. You have to use the “Standard Shipping” option. This takes several days, so plan accordingly. Prime member packages go UPS or FedEx. Order ahead to give your package plenty of time to arrive. That way you know it will be there when you show up and not have to drop anchor too long waiting for your ship(ment) to come in.
Same with your mail. Pick a small town post office. They are less busy, more helpful, and less likely to lose your mail.
This works 70% of the time with Amazon. If the item is shipping from a vendor other than Amazon they may not agree to ship, but that should happen at checkout.
You could get ahead of the game and get your own drone. Amazon is not delivering with them yet, but you could go pick it up. —Keep Smilin’, RV Shrink
Chris Dougherty is a certified RV technician. Here is a letter he received from a reader while he was serving as RVtravel.com’s technical editor.
Motorhome with tow dolly.
Dear Chris, I’m just starting research on RVing but it seems like it would be a good idea to avoid the additional mileage put on the toad during towing by using a dolly. With what I know at this point, dollies seem easier to hook up and load than a flat-towing setup, and they take up little space. But if the campsite space is limited, the dolly can be easily unhitched and pushed partially under the rear of the RV to keep it out of the way. Or am I wrong? —Mark
Dear Mark, Flat towing, dinghy towing or trailer towing is really a personal preference. That said, here are a few thoughts:
• Some vehicles will accrue mileage and some will not depending on how they’re wired, etc. While I understand the concern for not accruing mileage on the toad, it is accruing mileage related wear even while being towed on a dolly. So, the maintenance based on mileage, especially for power train components after the engine, should still really be followed. Of course, this depends on the vehicle, front wheel drive versus rear wheel drive, etc., but at least you’re dealing with bearing and tire wear; but if the drive wheel is down, then certain components in the drive system will still be turning.
• A dolly is heavy, so you have to be comfortable pushing it around including in soft ground and up and down hill. I have been to campgrounds, albeit only a couple, that consider it a trailer and charge extra money for it, but for the most part it’s not an issue.
• If you have to back up the coach, it is easier, in my opinion, to disconnect a flat-towed car and move it than remove a car from a dolly and then disconnect the dolly from the coach and back it up. (Demco, for instance, prohibits backing up a dolly: “Caution the user not to attempt to back up the tow dolly as damage may be done to the tow dolly and/or the vehicle being towed.”) So, anytime you have to back up the unit everything must be disconnected, which is a pain.
As I have written in other articles, a dolly or trailer may allow you to take along a car that can’t be flat towed. Again the preference is up to you. I recommend going to shows or dealers and looking at the equipment firsthand so you can get a feel for what’s involved in connecting and disconnecting each. For my money, though, flat towing is preferable hands down.
If you tow, I suspect you — like most of us — have suffered through the stress that comes along with backing into your space in the campground with everyone watching. The yelling matches between spouses can reach divorce-pending proportions, and discussions about the best way to communicate between the person driving and the person directing have been going on for decades.
My wife and I are no different than many of you and although we’ve been RVing now since the early ’80s, I rate myself about average when it comes to backing into a space at the campground. Sometimes I do “really well,” other times I do “oh well”.
My wife and I have finally discovered something that really works well for us and thought it might be worth passing on. To do this, you will both need cell phones and also have either a radio in your tow vehicle that can receive phone calls via Bluetooth or a something like a Jabra that clips to the visor and does the same thing. For us it goes like this:
After we stop at the office and register, my wife calls my cell phone with hers and my radio answers her phone. Once that happens, we are linked and can talk hands-free when I back into the spot. Once we get to the spot, I get out of the truck one time to look over what I am trying to do. Then I get back into the truck and from then on, she is in control via her phone. She is the “quarterback,” so to speak.
Doing it this way it is very easy for her to move from side-to-side behind our fifth wheel and give me instructions. It also eliminates the driver getting in and out of the truck and makes it tons easier to get into a space after dark.
If you are already using walkie-talkies, think how much simpler it would be to talk hands-free while backing rather than having to “key” your mike, and how much easier it is use your mirrors for backing rather than trying to locate your assistant and interpret hand signals. Now, nothing I am suggesting here means you can’t use your mirrors just as you always did. It just makes it easier to communicate with the person helping you back in your spot when you can talk in “real time” instead of stopping to scream at each other.
That friend of yours who snaps photos of everything on a trip may be enjoying him or herself more than someone who just observes and doesn’t take photos. According to a new multi-university study, reported on Gizmag, taking snapshots can actually make your experiences more enjoyable.
The study was conducted by the University of Southern California, Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania. In all cases, participants were instructed to either take photos of what they were seeing and doing, or to take none. Almost invariably, when they subsequently rated their enjoyment of the activity, the picture-takers said they enjoyed it more.
According to the researchers, this is because taking photos increases a person’s engagement in an activity – they’re constantly looking for the most interesting aspects of it and then documenting those, instead of just being along for the ride. There are some situations, however, in which the opposite is true. For example, when test subjects went on a virtual safari and observed a water buffalo being attacked by lions, the people who had to take photos reported a more negative experience than those who simply observed.
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I am new to the RV world and have a question. Should our water filter go between the faucet and the hose, or between the hose and the RV? Or, does it not matter? Thanks, Debi (no city/state)
Summer is here. As I write this, it is 90+ degrees and we are in for at least a week of hot weather. And if you haven’t thought about it, the rays of that bright sun burning in your RV’s front windows are wreaking havoc on the materials that cover your seats and dash. You likely have put seat covers on your seats, but have you protected your dash?
For anyone who needs to get online dependably, there is one simple solution — sign up for phone and data service with Verizon Wireless. I have used the company for more than a decade, and most RVers I know who need dependable Internet access use it, too. Forget Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile and others: They do not have the wide coverage of Verizon, especially in rural areas where many of us travel.
Featured categories
RV accent lighting is all the rage! Just look around the RV park! Enter Boogey Lights®! These robust, super-bright, state-of-the-art LED lights with hi-tech controller technology represent the next generation in LED lighting for RVs. The AWNING & UNDER-GLOW LIGHT KITS are specifically designed to withstand harsh operating environments. Don’t waste your money on junk! Get Boogey Lights! You can even control them with your Smart Phone! 
The demand for RVs in North America just continues to grow. In 2014 the demand was worth $16 billion. Looking forward, estimates suggest the demand will hit more than $20 billion by 2020. Source: Market Research Store.
California’s high fire danger has already brought about recreational fire restrictions on all Bureau of Land Management lands in Tulare, Fresno, Kings, Kern, Madera, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. Counties encompassed by the Mother Load Field Office (Yuba County south to Mariposa County), 14 counties in all, are under the same restrictions. While portable stoves may be used, users must still possess a valid California campfire permit.
An Electric Bike is the perfect, simplest and most affordable way of sorting all the ‘challenges’ of RV’ing. Get around camp effortlessly, visit the sites or town nearby without unhooking or simply enjoy a fun ride with fellow campers! 
Longtime RVer and travel writer Gordon Groene died March 21, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Janet Groene, whose recipes appear weekly in this newsletter. In Gordon’s memory, Janet is donating their much-beloved and much-used 21-foot 1970 Fan-Hanomag diesel RV — still in complete and operating condition, thanks to Gordon — to the permanent collection at the Tallahassee Antique Car Museum. No other fully operating units are known to exist. 
Last week we reported on fleas carrying bubonic plague in Arizona. This week it turned up near Lake Tahoe, Calif. A flea taken from a squirrel at the Fallen Leaf Campground tested positive for plague, and authorities have posted caution signs at the campground. Cat lovers beware: Felines are extremely susceptible to the plague. If your cat gets sick after playing with rodents, get to the vet.
Keep up with RV Industry news
Why do men talk about their RVs as if they’re women?
No more roof leaks, for life, guaranteed!
Taking photos may enhance a trip experience
When lightning is striking all around, do you think your RV, riding atop rubber tires, will protect you from being struck? Well, hate to spoil your confidence, but the tires won’t. The fact is, in some RVs you will be heavily protected in your RV, but in others you might as well just stand outside. 
Don’t get stuck along the road
America’s Largest
Essential equipment for many RVers!
RV Travel Reader Pets
Keep your food cool
Temperature gun is ‘essential equipment’ for many RVers!
Endorsed by Roger Marble of RVtireSafety.com!
Protect your RV from damage
Camco’s Water Bandit connects your water hose to would-be-unattachable water sources. One end connects to a standard water hose via a male, standard water connection. The other end, a highly flexible, silicone-polymer sleeve, stretches to fit over the end of virtually any standard water source; those with damaged or stripped threads and even water sources with no threads at all. Every RVer needs one of these on occasion. 
SAVE MONEY!
Super clean your holding tanks!
The RV manufacturer, which touted itself as an environmentally friendly, cutting-edge firm, let workers go and closed its doors last week, former employees and Elkhart County government officials said. EverGreen officials, however, had remained quiet, not responding to media inquiries on developments until this week.
Several years ago when I walked by a group of men gathered in a campground and heard things like, “She’s got a few years on her but she’s still a dream come true,” or “ Look at her lines, isn’t she a beauty” I admit that I thought they were discussing their wives. 
You got to meet Cadeau (French for “gift”) last year in the Reader Pets feature. Cadeau is a rescue dog that came to us when she was about a year old. She has lived with us for nine years. We believe she is a black Lab/rottweiler mix. Mary decided she needed a playmate so we looked at several and Cadeau picked Minnie. That means that now we travel with about 100 pounds of dog (75 + 25). They can’t be any relation, but they get on like siblings. Can you guess why we always leave the floor lights on?
The favorite dog-riding place is on the bed all the way in the back of the coach … until we slow down and put on a turn signal, then they are up front to see what is happening. The dinette becomes the den for both of them as soon as we are stopped and I unload the bicycles.
