A Heartland Recreational Vehicles manufacturing plant in Sturgis, Michigan, is set to shut down in June, leading to the loss of 121 jobs. The plant opened a little more than a year ago in late 2023. The company specializes in towable RVs and travel trailers.
Heartland, based in Elkhart, Indiana, submitted a WARN notice on Tuesday to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, outlining the planned layoffs.
The WARN Act is a federal law passed in 1988 by Congress that requires employers with 100 or more employees to provide a 60-day notice of significant layoffs or plant closings.
According to Heartland, the closure of its Haines Boulevard facility in Sturgis is “due to business necessity.” The shutdown will impact six salaried employees and 115 non-union hourly workers, with layoffs taking effect on June 20.
In addition to the Sturgis closure, the company closed its manufacturing plant in Nampa, Idaho, in October 2024, laying off 70 people.
Heartland manufactures travel trailers, toy haulers and fifth wheel recreational vehicles.
Everyone has a different definition of “affordable” and, of course, that depends on many things. What’s affordable to you may not be affordable to someone else and vice versa. Affordable also means different things in campground terms.
Membership programs like Harvest Hosts and The Dyrt may seem affordable when you break it all down, but maybe it’s too much of an up-front cost. Maybe an RV resort with a bunch of amenities for the grandkids seems “affordable” for all that it offers.
Some RVers are perfectly content with a quiet boondocking spot off a forest road, where the cost is zero but the rewards are priceless. Others are looking for electric hookups, hot showers, and a level parking pad—things that often push the price up.
Then there’s the regional factor. A $60 site might seem outrageous in one part of the country, but in a high-demand area or during a special event weekend, that same price might be considered a steal. Your definition of affordability may shift depending on where you are, what you need, and how long you plan to stay.
And let’s not forget the hidden costs. Some campgrounds tack on extra fees for pets, additional people, or even using the dump station. A site advertised as $35 a night might end up closer to $50 after taxes and add-ons. That’s why so many travelers take a hard look at the full picture—not just the base rate—when deciding if a site feels worth the money.
For today’s poll question, we’d like to know how you’d define an “affordable” campsite for a 1-night stay. Do you stick to only free camping? Is less than $20 “affordable”? Less than $50″?
After you vote, please leave a comment and share your thoughts. Thank you!
In a local talk-radio news show on Tuesday, April 22, Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis let his feelings vent toward the city of Greenville, North Carolina. Or, more accurately, toward the city council thereof—that he holds the council responsible for Camping World closing a dealership.
It was one of the two RV dealerships that the company owns in Greenville. This was previously unpublished news. Indeed, Lemonis announced to the employees of the dealership only last Friday that the doors were closing that day. It’s just one more act in the low drama of Greenville versus Lemonis.
First news of Camping World closing a dealership came in talk show
Host Henry Hinton. Facebook.com
In an interview Tuesday on local radio station WTIB, CEO Marcus Lemonis made the closure announcement. We were able to listen to the back-and-forth between Lemonis and “Talk of the Town” host Henry Hinton that aired then. You can watch the interview on youtube.com, here.
The interview began largely in softball-mode as Hinton asked Lemonis about his background, and how he got into the RV business. As some know, Lemonis was born in Lebanon, was orphaned, and later taken in by a Florida family. These experiences deeply affected his life and outlook.
However, as the interview went on, Moderator Hinton began to chip away at Lemonis’ actions in the company dealings with the City of Greenville, as officials have formally begun to fine Camping World for violating both the flag and flag pole size ordinances at the dealership.
Local ordinance overreaching state law
Lemonis says his company views the issue as essentially an overreach of North Carolina law. Hinton asked if Lemonis really felt that North Carolina law trumped the city ordinance. “We believe so,” Lemonis responded, “And that is our interpretation. And I want to be careful not to provide any sort of legal guidance … and I don’t want to ruin the element of reveal.”
North Carolina flag protection laws
RVtravel.com staff did some research on North Carolina law relative to protecting U.S. flag displays. What we could come up with showed that there is, indeed, some protection.
§ 47F-3-121. American and State flags and political sign displays.
Notwithstanding any provision in any declaration of covenants, no restriction on the use of land shall be construed to:
(1) Regulate or prohibit the display of the flag of the United States or North Carolina, of a size no greater than four feet by six feet, which is displayed in accordance with or in a manner consistent with the patriotic customs set forth in 4 U.S.C. §§ 5-10, as amended, governing the display and use of the flag of the United States…
The Camping World flag certainly exceeds the 4 x 6 foot limit. Another pertinent state law is this:
§ 144-7. Display of official governmental flags; public restrictions.
(a) A county, city, consolidated city-county, or unified government shall not prohibit an official governmental flag from being flown or displayed if the official governmental flag is flown or displayed:
(1) In accordance with the patriotic customs set forth in 4 U.S.C. §§ 5-10, as amended; and
(2) Upon private or public property with the consent of either the owner of the property or of any person having lawful control of the property.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, for the purpose of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare, reasonable restrictions on flag size, number of flags, location, and height of flagpoles are not prohibited, provided that such restrictions shall not discriminate against any official governmental flag in any manner.
The city may have arguments regarding “public health, safety, and welfare.”
Lemonis nettled by city council
Camping World’s Marcus Lemonis
As the interview progressed, it became clear that Marcus Lemonis is, indeed, nettled by the actions of the city council. Lemonis pointed out that Camping World has big flags and poles set up in nearly all cities where dealerships are located—with the exception of 22 cities where Federal Aviation Administration directives prohibit tall flag poles.
Nevertheless, his views “[don’t] give me permission to violate the [Greensville] ordinance,” Lemonis declared. “We think the ordinance is wrong. I think what’s also wrong: The city council members have been working very actively to disparage my business. And on Friday I had to consolidate one location. We own two dealerships in town, the main one that you were referring to, and another one called Forest River of Greenville. And we had to close that.”
Greenville dealership “uniquely damaged”
What’s behind Camping World closing a dealership? Lemonis declared, “Our business has been unfortunately negatively impacted. Uniquely in Greenville, North Carolina. The rest of our business is fine in North Carolina and in other parts of the country. And it’s been uniquely damaged. And we’ve had people—just as much as we’ve had people in support—we’ve had enough people saying that we don’t follow the rules, we’re bad people, we think we’re special, why do rich people think they can do what they want. And on Friday we had to close one of our locations and consolidate it.
“Now it’s becoming impactful. Now it’s becoming financially impactful to the business because of the comments that the council people have made about me being—using gimmicks and being a con-guy, and doing things. And you know, I’ve been very respectful with them on a personal level and they’ve been the opposite of that. And it’s now affecting people’s livelihoods.”
Would Camping World countersue?
Show host Henry Hinton suggests he’s hearing the sounds of a potential countersuit against the city. Lemonis says he doesn’t think it’s fair that the citizens should be held responsible for the actions of a few (the council).
Nevertheless, Lemonis declared, “It’s made me upset, and it’s made me more entrenched about the flag issue.”
Lemonis says he has no idea how the court might rule on it. “In the end, there is a possibility that we will lose.”
Lemonis wants to galvanize local residents to get involved. He continued, “And I’m here to tell you, again, and everybody else, that while I don’t hold the citizens of Greenville responsible for the impairment of my business—that’s my responsibility to solve—I do hold the citizens of Greenville responsible to communicate with their council members in a way that’s positive, in a way that’s persuasive, in a way that allows us to modify Greenville’s position about the American flag only, and its necessity to be compliant with the FAA.”
The situation in Greenville doesn’t appear to have any quick resolution. The show host worries that if something isn’t done to find some kind of middle ground, local residents could be on the hook for a huge legal bill. Even if the city were to prevail in a case against the RV giant, under North Carolina law, there’s no directive for them to recoup their legal fees.
Show host offers compromise
To that end, Henry Hinton made a suggestion to Marcus Lemonis. Make a generous contribution to a local children’s hospital. In return, the city council cancels all fines that Camping World is liable for in violating the local flag ordinance. And, rewrite the ordinance so that Camping World can continue with its 130-foot flagpole—legally.
Lemonis acknowledged that he’d love to make a donation toward the hospital. But he wouldn’t do so on a quid-pro-quo basis. Digging in his heels, the Camping World CEO declared this: “If we lose, I am not taking it down. If a court orders me to take it down, I’m not taking it down.”
We reached out to Marcus Lemonis for further comments. By deadline, we heard nothing back.
RVers in Washington state will have fewer places to camp this summer. Federal cutbacks are continuing to chew into recreational use and, this time, it’s the Army Corp of Engineers in the Walla Walla District that are announcing the hits. The Army Corps closures will hit multiple sites.
Army Corps closures due to “limited resources”
The Corps is chalking it up to “limited resources,” but regardless of the reason, RVers and others will feel the bite. The agency says it’s “making targeted adjustments to recreation operations, resulting in the closure of multiple recreation areas.”
This season, select areas will be closed to allow staff to focus on maintaining safe, high-quality service at priority locations. These adjustments are guided by the need to concentrate available resources, including personnel, where they are most impactful. Closures will remain in place until further notice.
Look for less maintenance, cleaning and trash collection
Additionally, all Walla Walla District project areas (Mill Creek, McNary, Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, Lower Granite, Lucky Peak and Dworshak) will experience reductions in services including maintenance, landscaping, trash collection and facility cleaning.
“Visitor well-being is our top priority,” said Lt. Col. Katie Werback, Commander of the Walla Walla District. “While these decisions were not made lightly, ensuring we continue to fulfill critical requirements for our land and wildlife management programs is necessary.”
Army Corps closures in detail
The following areas will be closed:
Ice Harbor Dam and Lock
Ice Harbor Visitor Center – School and VIP tour booking still available
Fishhook Park Class A Campground
Levey Park
Little Goose Dam and Lock
Lambi Creek Recreation Area
Willow Creek Recreation Area
Illia Dunes Recreation Area & Habitat Management Units
Lower Granite Dam and Lock
Visitor Center – Open Friday and Saturday – School and VIP tour booking still available
Blyton Landing
Confluence Park parking and restrooms
Lower Monumental
Riparia Recreation Area
Visitors are encouraged to “know before you go,” as many locations lack cell phone coverage. Before leaving home:
Check site status for closures, limited services, and safety advisories.
Pack water, food, weather-appropriate gear, first aid, and navigation tools.
If recreating on or near water, bring a life jacket and make a float plan.
Army Corps closures? For the latest information on recreation site availability and service updates, visit the USACE website or follow the Walla Walla District on Facebook and Instagram.
“No road is long with good company.” —Turkish Proverb
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Historic Marker Day! (More on that below.)
On this day in history:1901 – New York becomes the first U.S. state to require automobile license plates.
Tip of the day This app lets you read historical markers without even stopping
By Chris Guld, GeeksOnTour.com From the Oregon Trail in Wyoming, to George Washington’s boyhood home in the Chesapeake, we’ve driven by a lot of historical markers in our motorhome this summer. I’m always curious when I see the sign, but rarely enough to pull over.
So, I use the app called “Explore Here.” Just open it up to the homepage, and I see a category called “Nearby.” If we just passed a marker, it will show up in this section. I’ve been impressed with how complete it is. It uses the Historical Marker Database (HMdb.org) as its source. Continue reading to learn more.
Ask Dave How do I fix RV’s torn vinyl floor when I can’t find a match for it?
Dear Dave,
The grey wood-look linoleum ripped in the kitchen area. It can’t be repaired, and we are looking for the name of it or where we can purchase the same linoleum (in Canada) so we don’t have to replace the living room area as well. —Cheryl, 2018 Columbus 386FKRead Dave’s suggestions.
In the RV shop with Dustin Having a towing maintenance kit could save your trip
In the past, Dave Solberg and I met for a livestream called Talkin’ RV Tech. We not only answered technical questions, but we also shared what we like to call “cool tools.” These are tools and gadgets that we actually use! We also believe they will be helpful to you. This clip is from one of those videos where we discuss towing maintenance kits.
Article & video Visit America’s weirdest small towns on your next road trip
By Cheri Sicard
If a journey through the wonderfully weird side of the USA sounds appealing, then buckle up. Here, the team from Weird History has compiled a list of the weirdest small towns in the United States that you can schedule into your future travel. Have you been to any of these places?
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: Always know the specific location where you are camping. Write down important information on a post-it note and paste that onto your RV fridge. Include the address and phone number of your RV park or the specific name of a public campground with information on closest road, highway or GPS coordinates. You might need this information in a medical or police emergency.
Featured article Lemon law lawyer says, “You must be insane to buy an RV these days.”
Whatever you think about this advice from RV lemon law attorney Steve Lehto, what he tells you in this video (which went viral quickly) may save you a lot of money, frustration or even anger after your next RV purchase from an RV dealer (not all, of course). His words may, in fact, make your blood boil. Do not miss this important information.
Reader poll Do you spend more time in a year RVing on your own or as part of an RVing group?
Many RV parks require an air-tight seal around your sewer hose when connecting to the site’s sewer port. If not, don’t be tempted to shove your sewer hose as far down the hole as you can—it can impede the flow of sewage down the mainline. If you don’t have a hose that forms a seal with the sewer’s port, you should have a sewer donut along.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ? No way you won’t laugh at these! If you’re married or in a relationship, you’re going to relate!
Recipes of the day Holy Enchilada! 5 irresistible enchilada recipes
Oh, boy, we are drooling! Enchiladas? Say no more! These recipes are perfect for a special weeknight meal. The best part? You’ll have leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day. And we all know enchiladas taste just as good, if not better, as leftovers! Here are 5 delicious recipes. Enjoy!
Trivia
Ever since Amazon launched its “Alexa” in 2014-2015, the name for baby girls has been dropping. In 2022, only 574 baby girls were named Alexa in the U.S., the lowest since 1986. If you have a daughter named Alexa, whose attention do you get when you call “Alexa”?
Readers’ pet of the day
“Milo was my grand cat. Sadly, he recently crossed the rainbow bridge (age 15). My daughter adopted him at about 3 years old from a multi-cat home where he wasn’t happy, and gave him a great life. He loved to hop into anything you left open for him. We’re going to miss him greatly.” —Shelley Siemers
Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. No blurry photos and please do not submit your photo more than once. Thanks!
Leave here with a laugh
Today’s weather forecast across the nation THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
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Dear Dave,
The grey wood-look linoleum ripped in the kitchen area. It can’t be repaired, and we are looking for the name of it or where we can purchase the same linoleum (in Canada) so we don’t have to replace the living room area as well. —Cheryl, 2018 Palomino Columbus 386FK
Vinyl floor
Dear Cheryl,
The vinyl looks to be a one-piece designed with white grout lines, which makes it harder to find. I have seen several fake wood patterns available at RecPro and other sources, but all have the “no grout” design.
Find similar flooring “hidden” elsewhere in RV
Since you indicated the living room has the same vinyl, I would suggest looking for an area that is either covered by cabinetry or otherwise out of sight to cut a panel out of to replace the damaged one. Depending on the size of the damage, you can cut along the fake white grout line and then use that as a template to cut from a good piece and glue it into the damaged area. Then replace the cut out section with something close that nobody will see.
Your floorplan has the kitchen up in the overhead of the 5th wheel, and there might be additional vinyl under the cabinets.
Palomino Columbus floor plan
However, the same vinyl is used in the living room and it looks like the vinyl goes completely underneath the theater seating. This would be a good place to “snatch” a piece from underneath that nobody would see. It would require removing the seating first. The two slide rooms seem to have carpet.
Another option would be to take some from the bathroom, which also seems to have the same vinyl pattern. You could cut a line at the door, remove the vinyl, and install new vinyl there that would be close and use a transition piece of wood or trim between the two and it would look factory-installed.
You might also enjoy this from Dave
Can I install Luxury Vinyl Planks on top of my RV’s cracked ceramic tile floor?
Dear Dave,
My 2011 American Tradition has ceramic tile floors. Several of the tiles have cracks. Replacing a tile floor can be quite expensive as the old tile must first be removed. I’m wondering if I can install Luxury Vinyl Planks directly over the old tile. One concern is the added height (1/8″ – 3/16″) and if it would interfere with the slide-outs. They are made by Power Gear and, when extended, are level with the main floor. Also, would it be best to allow the LVP floor to “float” or glue all vinyl planks? I’m guessing they should float, especially considering the existing tile floors are heated. Thanks in advance! —Stephen, 2011 American Coach “Tradition”
By Chris Guld, GeeksOnTour.com From the Oregon Trail in Wyoming to George Washington’s boyhood home in the Chesapeake, we’ve driven by a lot of historical markers in our motorhome this summer. I’m always curious when I see the sign, but rarely enough to pull over.
So, I use the app called “Explore Here.” Just open it up to the homepage, and I see a category called “Nearby.” If we just passed a marker, it will show up in this section. I’ve been impressed with how complete it is. It uses the Historical Marker Database (HMdb.org) as its source.
Yesterday, we were driving on the Tidewater Trail in the Chesapeake area and saw a sign as we passed it. In order to read the sign, I pulled up my Explore Here app and looked at the Nearby section. I could see that sign on the map, so I clicked and read the text. Many of the signs also have photos.
There is also a setting you can turn on to get a notification when you are passing a historical marker.
• App: ExploreHere
• Cost: Free
• Available on: iOS, Android
• Founder: Wes Vance
Chris Guld is President and Teacher-in-Chief at GeeksOnTour.com. She and her husband, Jim, produce a free YouTube show called What Does This Button Do? They have been full-time RVers, popular seminar presenters at RV Rallies, and were regular contributors to RVTravel.com, for many years.
When you’re out on the road RVing, do you often go with a group or on your own (with partner, family, etc.)?
Some RVers love the freedom of solo or duo travel—setting their own schedule, choosing quiet campsites, and exploring at their own pace. For them, the RV lifestyle is all about independence and spontaneity.
Others enjoy the camaraderie of traveling with fellow RVers, whether through clubs, caravans, or meetups. Group RVing can offer built-in social events, safety in numbers, and shared experiences that build lasting friendships.
Then again, many RVers fall somewhere in between—traveling solo most of the time but occasionally joining up with a group for rallies, seasonal trips, or special events. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to life on the road.
Some RVers say their preference has changed over time—starting out in groups to learn the ropes, and then transitioning to more independent travel as their confidence grew (or vice versa). Your travel style might evolve from year to year, depending on your goals and lifestyle.
So what’s your style? Cast your vote and let us know how you usually RV. After you vote, please feel free to leave a comment and explain your answer. Thanks!
These chicken black bean enchiladas are a great comforting weeknight meal. Using a rotisserie chicken means it can be thrown together quickly. The chicken filling is stuffed with shredded chicken, black beans, green chiles, queso fresco and Colby Jack cheese. If you want a bit more seasoning, add some cumin and chili powder. Once baked in the enchilada sauce, it’s a filling dish. Get the recipe here.
Breakfast Enchiladas
by Gina Davis from Cedar Bluff, VA
A fantastic breakfast twist on enchiladas. The homemade cheese sauce is what makes these enchiladas so good. Thick and creamy, fire-roasted chiles add a little heat to it. Filled with cheesy eggs and hot sausage, the enchiladas are cooked in the cheese sauce and then topped with more cheese. We’d save this for a weekend or holiday brunch since there are a few steps to this breakfast recipe. We topped ours with extra cilantro, tomatoes, and green onions to bring the flavors together. A dollop of sour cream or salad would also be delicious. Here’s the recipe.
Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
by Sharon Colyer from Louisville, KY
These are flavorful chicken enchiladas with an easy-to-make homemade creamy sauce. The enchilada sauce is chunky and flavorful. Tortillas are dipped in the sauce, filled with a chicken mixture, and rolled. By doing it this way, after it’s baked, the filling is super tender. A hearty dinner that will be a crowd-pleaser. They heat up wonderfully the next day as well. Click here for the recipe.
Beef and Cheese Enchiladas
by Debbie W. from SW, LA
If you love Mexican food, these enchiladas are a must. The sauce is full of Mexican flavor and slightly spicy. It makes the whole house smell like a Mexican restaurant. Coating the corn tortillas in sauce not only softens them but allows them to soak up all the sauce flavor. What meat you use in this recipe is up to you (we used shredded beef since that’s what’s in the name). The sauce is where it’s at for this enchilada recipe. Here’s the recipe.
White Chicken Enchiladas w/ Green Chilies
by Elizabeth McCarthy from Miami, FL
Creamy, tangy, and cheesy, if you like chicken enchiladas, these need to be on your weekly menu. Green chiles in the sauce add just a hint of spice. Pick up a store-bought rotisserie chicken and these can be thrown together quickly. We think these chicken enchiladas will get gobbled up in no time. Click here for the recipe.
Planning on installing solar panels on your RV? You may want to do it now—and not put it off. The U.S. Commerce Department says it will soon be tacking huge tariffs on solar panel imports from several Southeast Asian countries. While the highest tariff rate could be more than 3,500%, other producers will still see big hits in the form of solar panel tariffs.
Finger points to China in solar panel tariffs
What’s behind the big hammer of tariffs? During the Biden administration, some U.S. solar panel manufacturers asked for protection against foreign imports. It seems that China, in response to earlier solar panel tariffs, began to subsidize solar panel manufacturing by Chinese-owned firms in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The U.S. manufacturers claimed that the foreign operations were unfairly dumping their panels on the U.S. market.
The Commerce Department started an investigation into the matter. Because some Cambodian exporters failed to “cooperate” in the investigation, the agency now says it’s considering hitting Cambodian solar imports with a whopping 3,521% tariff. On the low end of the scale, Jinko Solar, a Chinese-owned Malaysian firm, will face the low tariff level of 41%. But over in Thailand, Trina Solar, another Chinese-rooted producer, will get hit with 375% tariffs.
U.S. manufacturers claim victory—but not so fast
U.S. solar producers consider it good news. In a story carried by BBC News, the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee—the trade group that called out for the Commerce investigation—lauded the decision. “This is a decisive victory for American manufacturing and confirms what we’ve long known: that Chinese-headquartered solar companies have been cheating the system,” said Tim Brightbill, lead counsel to the Alliance. This, as reported by the BBC.
While U.S. manufacturers are crowing about the decision, it could still have a backfire effect. Another trade group, the Solar Energy Industries Association, points out that U.S. solar manufacturers import the actual solar cells that are then “built into” panels produced stateside. While the increased tariffs will jack up the cost of panels imported into the U.S., it will also pump up the price of the cells themselves.
In the end, solar panel consumers—including RVers looking to power up their rig’s self-sufficiency—will likely see a major hit in the wallet. Buy now—or pay more later.
Jimmy Buffett waxed poetic about “Stars on the Water.” Although the “parrot head” pleaser was singing about Louisiana, here’s an Oregon job where you’ll see those astronomical gifts on the water. Umatilla camp hosts are needed! The Umatilla National Forest is looking for volunteers to spend the summer as campground hosts at Olive Lake and Penland Lake campgrounds.
Umatilla camp hosts—Here are the job details
A campground host welcomes campers, provides information on the surrounding area, and generally makes campers feel at home. Hosts will visit with campers and day-use visitors, clean and maintain restrooms, restock supplies, occasionally clean up after camp, and carry out minor maintenance as needed. They keep an eye on things and set the example for others on the campground.
Individuals or couples can apply to be hosts. Retirees often apply to the campground host program, finding it the ideal way to spend the summer in a beautiful setting. Hosts need to be friendly, flexible, and responsible. Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check.
Those who apply will need to supply their own trailer, camper, or motorhome. Campground hosts will be provided a campsite, usually near the main entryway to the campground. Though the host program is a volunteer program, a food allowance and propane is offered, and personal vehicle mileage associated with hosting duties is reimbursed.
Two venues for Umatilla camp hosts
Olive Lake. Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife.
Olive Lake Campground is located 12 miles southwest of Granite and sits on the shore of a 90-acre high mountain lake. This campground is typically hosted from early-June through Labor Day. The campground features 28 campsites and seven accessible toilet facilities.
Other features include a two-mile accessible hiking trail around the lake with nearby access to wilderness and scenic area trails. There is a boat ramp and two docks. If you are interested in becoming a Forest Service Volunteer Campground Host at Olive Lake Campground, contact Christy Lawhead at (541) 427-5329 or christy.lawhead@usda.gov.
Penland Lake. Carlos Orozco on Google Maps.
Penland Lake Campground is located 20 miles southeast of Heppner. It abuts private land and land owned by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). The campground offers seven campsites and two vault toilets on the National Forest portion. More campsites are located on the adjacent ODFW property.
Penland is popular on summer weekends and offers access to fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities. There is also a boat ramp, fishing dock, and benches located on the dam. This campground is typically hosted from Memorial Day through mid-November. For more information on becoming a Umatilla camp host—Forest Service Volunteer Campground Host—at Penland Lake Campground, contact Jody Collins at (541) 676-2155 or jody.collins@usda.gov.
This issue we focus on the bathroom, one of the most important but least talked about parts of RVing and camping. Everything we discuss today will help improve your bathroom experiences, whether you are van or car camping, or you have a big, fancy motorhome. Read on!
Awesome RV and camping bathroom gadgets and upgrades
Evaluating RV sewer hoses and putting the best one to the test
By Cheri Sicard
Jared Gillis puts an RV sewer hose to the test to see if it can live up to its advertisement claims. The advertising made it seem like it was indestructible, so he wanted to see for himself if it could pass the test. Here are the results.
Gadgets help with hand strength, grip on sewer connections
New Dyrt feature lets you search for campgrounds by drive time
By Russ and Tiña De Maris There are plenty of apps RVers can use to find campgrounds. Trouble is, they’ll tell you “how far” it is to a campground, but when it comes to how long it takes to get there, forget it. If you’re nearing the end of your road-day, you may be more interested in the “getting there time.” Now, popular RV app The Dyrt says plug in how much time you want to spend on the road, and it will tell you all campgrounds inside that time frame. Learn more about The Dyrt app’s new upgrade here.
Water check valve prevents your fresh water from draining
How to choose the perfect power inverter for your needs
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Planning on boondocking away from shore power but still need that essential shore-power-driven equipment? You know you need an inverter. There’s a market full of power inverters available, and sifting through them can be difficult. Need some help with the options? Here is power inverter shopping made easy.
Our top 5 best-selling Amazon products for RVers this month:
This book is crammed with more than 100 fun and competitive games, from fast-paced, active games to play around the campsite to mind-boggling word games perfect for cozy campfire evenings. There are also camping-themed activities and challenges that you can use to test your fellow campers. All games are quick to learn and require little or no equipment. Learn more or order from Amazon.
New and improved Dump Buddy is a must-have gadget for RV dumping
Don’t miss Tony Barthel’s review of the new and improved Dump Buddy. What’s a Dump Buddy? It’s essentially a plastic collar that goes around a sewer pipe in the ground and then another one that goes around your sewer hose elbow. You simply use the knob to tighten the collar around the sewer pipe and then flip up the second collar and tighten that around the sewer hose. Read Tony’s review here or order on Amazon.
Gadget quick takes
• 5-pack EverBrite headlamps: Outfit the whole family at once! These LED headlamps have five lighting modes and three lighting colors. They have an adjustable elastic strap made from soft and comfortable material. These are perfect for both adults and kids.
• Rechargeable LED string lights: This unique camping gear combines camping light and string lights with two separate switches for control. Waterproof and rechargeable!
• Pocket Bellows fire starting tool: Lightweight, collapsible, award-winning stainless steel fire bellows tool compresses and focuses oxygen directly into the heart of a fire. Turns soaking wet or dry firewood into a rolling fire in moments.
MAKE SURE YOU READ today’s RV Daily Tips Newsletter before leaving. Lots of good stuff inside for RVers! Click here to read.
Gadget giggles
Shark onesie for cozy campfires
This silly outfit will spark conversations while keeping you warm around the campfire. Available in kids’ and adult sizes. Order from Amazon here.
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