By Russ and Tiña De Maris One fifth wheel owner we know refuses to set foot in her fiver unless the front end is “supported” with a king pin stabilizer. She knows it’s nuts, but she’s afraid the trailer will topple forward if she puts her weight up there without the support. Not everyone is quite so paranoid, but plenty of fifth wheel folks put a stabilizer under their king pin. Is it worth it?
The answer to that question is subjective: Some fiver owners wouldn’t do without, others simply scoff at them. Here are the facts and the fiction.
First, unless your DNA is related to Godzilla’s, there’s no way you’ll “tip over” a fifth wheel by crawling up above the king pin area. The laws of physics (and proper RV design) simply won’t allow it. So, why a stabilizer? Most supporters point to less “rolling” motion when walking in the trailer. But keep in mind that motion in a parked trailer isn’t just affected by a king pin stabilizer.
When you pull into camp and set up any rig, its own running gear, including tires, springs and occasional shock absorbers, are still going to give some bounce. Unless you get the tires out of contact with the ground, the running gear will still “give,” regardless of the number of stabilizers and their location. Most who use a pin stabilizer report reduced “bounce”—but we’ve never heard of one sitting still like a “sticks and bricks” home.
Drawbacks to king pin stabilizers
It comes down to how much bounce reduction is worth to you. King pin stabilizers have their drawbacks, among them:
• Weight: To really get bounce reduction, stabilizers built of steel seem to work best. Users report lighter-weight aluminum stabilizers just aren’t as solid as steel.
• Bulk: You have to store them when traveling. Mama isn’t going to put up with those big old clunkers in the fifth wheel—they’ll be in the back of your tow vehicle taking up space. And while most king pin stabilizers are like tripods, having three legs, many users report the “bipod” two-legged variety of stabilizer that takes less space is less supportive than its three-legged cousin.
• Not useful everywhere: Parked in a site not close to level, you may find the stabilizers won’t work unless they have adjustable legs. If the ground under the front end of the fifth wheel slopes down, they may not reach the pin box. If the ground slopes the other way, the legs may be too long to work.
On the other hand, there is an unexpected benefit of a king pin stabilizer that many have commented on: They no longer bang their heads on the king pin. Of course, they may not be telling us about banging their shins on their stabilizer legs!
If you’ve been on the road lately, you may have noticed that more and more Love’s Travel Stops are putting in accommodations for us RVers. In fact, many of you weighed in on a poll saying that you have already dipped your toes in staying at a Love’s.
The company has committed to RVers with a variety of things, including offering overnight accommodations with hookups at some of the company’s 670 locations in 42 states. These accommodations range from flat pads with water and electric to full RV parks with a number of amenities, including pickleball, dog parks, and laundry facilities.
Even at locations where they don’t offer paid overnight accommodations, many of their facilities offer larger parking spaces so RVers can go into their stores, which typically feature clean restrooms and an extensive number of food and beverage options. Many of these facilities include full fast food operations, but there are always aisles and aisles of snacks of all sorts, from fresh fruit to things I shouldn’t eat but love.
Among the reasons we seek out Love’s on our adventures are the fuel savings—with their free rewards program, they offer 10¢ off per gallon of gasoline and, currently, are offering 25¢ off per gallon of diesel fuel at the retail (not commercial truck) pumps.
What’s at a Love’s Travel Stop?
There isn’t just one format for Love’s. They range from smaller filling stations to enormous facilities that offer overnight parking and fueling for commercial trucks. The company is also growing its locations that offer specific RV-related services, including overnight spots for RVers.
The company has seen a good response to offering sites where RVers can spend the night for a fee. These can be just water and electric or even full-hookup sites. The placement of these is anywhere from in the main lot of the facility to a completely separate RV park with amenities in addition to the basic hookups.
There are often picnic tables, and some have covered areas, pickleball courts, dog parks (I saw someone exercising a horse at one once), and general grassy areas.
Easy to book a site
Something consistent in all of their RV facilities is how easy it is to book them. Using the Love’s app, you can simply find a Love’s Travel Stop and book the site right there in the app. The only other system that’s even close to as good as this is KOA, but the Love’s app is the best I’ve experienced.
When you get to your site, you simply check in with the app or a kiosk, and the water and electric are turned on for you. If there are sewer hookups, the sewer connection is unlocked automatically.
At spots where there aren’t sewer hookups at the site, most Love’s have a central dump station, and many of them also offer propane fills as well. I’ve loaded up on propane plenty of times at Love’s.
More locations with fast food
The company is also offering more and more locations with one or two fast food offerings. I’ve seen choices of just about every fast food joint out there at Loves.
Since many of these are also truck stops, they offer showers, and some even have laundry facilities. If you have this vision of a truck stop shower as something you’ll need to take a shower afterward, you haven’t seen how fancy these shower facilities are. They’re nice.
If you listen to the podcast interview I’ve included below, you’ll notice that I mention the coffee multiple times. Love’s has these coffee machines that grind the beans for your specific cup of coffee. Many of the facilities have two of these with three bean choices each. They make some great coffee, by my standards (I’m pretty picky), and the price is really fair. Plus, if you ruin your coffee with creams and flavors and sugars and all of that, they have plenty of choices.
Something I should stay away from, but don’t, are the roller foods. If you picture one of those hot dog rollers from convenience stores of yore, you’ll know the device. But Love’s has a number of things they cook on these, and I’m a fan of all of them. I’m sure they’re not healthy, but life is a terminal condition as it is.
Peggy is particularly fond of their chicken offering, which is a slightly spicy and very tender package of chicken wings and drumsticks. We’ve probably eaten our weight in these over all our travels.
More offerings
Lastly, the company is also expanding the offerings in their facilities, including now offering RV tires and other things we RVers might find ourselves in need of along the way at some locations. There are also some facilities with huge truck washes, and they’ll gladly spiff up your RV for you.
Loves RV Stop (from Love’s)
Who is Love’s?
Love’s is still a privately held company, much like Buc-ee’s, but the Love’s family actually likes RVers. Not that I’m casting aspersions on Buc-ee’s and their “F” rating from the BBB…
Something I’ve found is that it must be a positive experience to work at Love’s, as I’ve found the vast majority of their team members are really nice and polite, and can answer questions and such.
The good, the bad, and the noisy
Let’s be honest, first of all. These are not places I would choose as part of a vacation stay. In other words, they’re not some RV resort where you’re expecting some great peaceful setting along a lake.
What they are is a very, very convenient and well-maintained place to get off the road and rest in your RV.
Almost all the Love’s locations are very close to a highway, so, naturally, they’re as busy as the adjacent highways. For the most part, they are very brightly lit, and there is continuous truck traffic. Depending on where the RV sites are located, this can be at some distance from where the trucks come and go—or almost right in the path of where trucks come and go.
They’re also not cheap. I’ve paid from the mid-$40s to the mid-$60s. But something that’s always true: everything works very well, the sites are level, and the place is clean. Since this is a newer venture for the company, the equipment is newer, too.
The goal is really to find a place to rest on your way to wherever you’re going, rather than to seek out a place to share in photos with your friends on Instagram.
But something I haven’t found is that availability is limited. Any time I’ve decided it’s time to get off the road and rest for the night, and there’s a Love’s RV stop, there is a place for me.
The other thing is, if it’s late at night, I can book a reservation right then. If it’s early in the morning, same thing. The adjacent Love’s convenience store and, more importantly, the bathroom therein is going to be open, well-lit, and clean.
Love's RV Stop
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An overview of a Love's RV Stop (from Love's)
The Loves app has a specific area just for us RVers
Looking at the Love's app's map where several RV-specific options are listed
Loves RV Stop kiosk check-in (from Love's)
Dog parks and nicer landscaping are present at many of the Love's RV Stops
One of the larger RV campgrounds adjacent to a Love's Travel Stop
Staying at a Love's RV Stop
Learning more about Love’s
If you don’t know, my wife and I do a weekly RV podcast where we try to learn from people in the RV space. We had the chance to speak with Jim Wheeler, Director of RV Operations for Love’s. I’ve included the video interview here, but you can also listen to our audio-only interview with Love’s here. Heck, you could even subscribe to our weekly podcast! What a great way to while away the miles.
While I don’t think that the Love’s RV Stops are going to supplant traditional campgrounds any time soon, I do believe they offer something good. Many of us still don’t make plans before we leave, or don’t plan all the stops, and find ourselves weary after all those miles. With how easy it is to book at Love’s RV Stop and how dependable they are, there is definitely an appeal there. We’ve stayed a number of times and likely will do so again in the future.
My mother-in-law could tear a large Las Vegas phone book in half. Really! I wish I had her amazing hand strength!
Maybe you, too, struggle a bit while RVing because of poor grip strength or arthritis. If so, you should know that many devices and gadgets can help! Read on, and you’ll see!
Why assistive gadgets help
Medical experts who focus on hands and joints emphasize two simple principles. Reduce pinch/grip forces and use leverage or larger handles to shift work to your bigger muscles and joints.
Outdoor RV helpers
Here are some helpful items that may help with outdoor RV chores:
Shore power cords with handles
Choose shore-power cords or replacements that have molded pull handles. They make plugging and unplugging your RV power cord much easier than grabbing a small plastic connector. You’ll use much less force with a cord that features an easy-grab handle, like this one.
Quick-disconnect hose fittings
Quick-disconnect hose fittings let you snap your freshwater hose to a hookup without threading tiny threads by hand. Look for brass heavy-duty quick-connect sets made for RVs like this one.
An easy-grip sewer wrench
A sewer wrench can be a huge help when it comes to emptying tanks. The extended handle provides extra leverage to easily remove and/or tighten the sewer cap. There are many different kinds to choose from.
Hose/cord cart/wheel
A small portable reel or wheeled water hose cart eliminates heavy bending and hand-twisting when you stow or remove the water hose from your RV. Lightweight retractable reels or wheeled reel carts may reduce strain.
You can also purchase a manual hose reel for your electrical cord. Or check with your RV manufacturer to see if they offer an after-market automatic electric cord reel for your RV model. While a bit pricey, these eliminate the hassle of lugging that heavy electrical cord!
Foldable hand trucks/wagons
Instead of handling 5-gallon water jugs, park chairs, or a bundle of firewood, use a fold-flat hand truck. A hand cart makes a single-person load much safer. Plus, it folds to store neatly in your RV’s basement or under-bed storage space. Check out the Magna Cart folding hand trucks.
Another item that saves your hands, arms, and back is a collapsible wagon. I like this one because it has wide tires that easily travel in sand or gravel and has a large carrying capacity, as well. You can use it to carry laundry to the wash house, wood to the campfire, or get your picnic, towels, and blanket down to the beach! Afterwards, the wagon collapses to be stored in your RV’s basement.
Bucket caddy
Another handy item is a bucket caddy. This one fits on a 5-gallon bucket to easily carry tools without schlepping them awkwardly in your arms. To make the caddy easier to carry, modify the handle with a short piece of electrical insulation or a small section of pool noodle, slit the long way. The larger modified handle will make carrying your load much easier.
Extra key grip
Just recently, I learned about keywings. These ingenious “wings” fit over the head of a key, giving you greater grip and leverage for opening RV storage locks and other locks, too.
Inside the RV
Jar openers
I’ve nearly come to tears trying to open a pickle jar (and other jars, as well). That’s where a compact manual jar opener with a nonslip base will remove lids without requiring a strong twisting force. Jar openers are simple, well-reviewed manual helpers.
Additionally, those who need help opening water bottle lids will find this gadget helpful, and those who have trouble opening their pill bottles will appreciate this.
Doorknob swap
You can make your life a bit easier by swapping round RV interior doorknobs for lever handles. They make entry and interior doors operable with a forearm or one-finger push. If cabinets and drawers are difficult to open, consider swapping them out for a different style.
Special adaptive tools
Utensils, screwdrivers, drawer pulls, and more that feature chunky, soft grips reduce gripping force. Larger diameter handles and lever tools will help protect small finger joints. Search online for “adaptive” or “arthritis” levers and more. Here are some to start your search.
Hand-strengthening moves
Most hand specialists and arthritis organizations recommend gentle, regular exercises that preserve the range of motion and slowly build strength. There are small hand and grip strength gadgets to help.
Start slowly and stop if you trigger a painful flare. Check with your clinician before beginning any new exercise program. Clinically recommended exercises include gentle fist/clench-and-release, finger bends and straightening (finger tendon glides), thumb stretches and squeezing a soft therapy ball for short holds. The Arthritis Foundation and Mayo Clinic offer step-by-step hand exercise guides and photos you can follow.
With a few gadgets, modifications, and perhaps a little exercise, your RV experience can be much less frustrating and so much more enjoyable!
Do you use any of the gadgets or modifications described in the article, or additional accommodations that were not mentioned? Tell me in the comments below.
If you travel the kinds of remote desert highways RVers know well, a desert highway crash isn’t something you expect to come upon—but it’s something you should be ready for.
We were still thinking about getting home when we drove into the dust.
It hung across the highway like a curtain—thick, tan, and sudden. Visibility dropped to almost nothing as we climbed into a sweeping grade. Then came the jolt. We hit something in the road. Not hard enough to lose control, but enough to make your hands tighten on the wheel and your brain start asking questions.
We cleared the dust and pulled over.
So did a handful of other drivers. People stood outside their vehicles, looking back into the haze. Nobody seemed quite sure what had happened—only that something had.
We turned around.
Coming back down the grade, the scene came into focus fast. The dust hadn’t come from the wind. It had come from the crash itself.
A motorcycle lay off the roadway. The rider—his helmet no longer on—was face down, motionless except for a rough, ragged breathing that carried farther than it should have in the open desert.
Two people were already there.
One, a young man who’d been driving a converted bus, had pulled off immediately and run back. He was on the phone with emergency dispatch, relaying what he could see. Another man stood nearby, helping keep an eye on things.
And then there were the rest.
A line of vehicles. People standing. Watching.
It wasn’t indifference. It felt more like uncertainty—like everyone was waiting for someone else to know what to do.
The moment you realize: This is on us
R&T De Maris photo.
Out there, about 30 miles from anything resembling a town, it hit hard: Help wasn’t going to arrive quickly.
The rider had come down the grade fast, lost control in the curve, crossed the median, and gone down hard beside the road. The impact had thrown up enough dust to obscure part of the highway—and had knocked his helmet free.
There was no ambulance already on the way from a nearby station. No quick response around the corner.
Just us. And a phone call.
The man on the line with dispatch was doing exactly what needed to be done—answering questions, staying calm, passing along instructions. It anchored the scene. Without that, things could have gone sideways fast.
What we could do—and what we couldn’t
For a while, there wasn’t much we could do.
He couldn’t respond. He couldn’t tell us what hurt or what didn’t. But the sounds he made—the labored, uneven breathing, the low moans—made it clear he was in serious pain.
So we did what we could.
We talked to him. Steady, simple words. Letting him know he wasn’t alone, even if we didn’t know whether he could hear us.
It was a hot desert day. No shade. No cover. So we made some—standing where we could to block the sun, using our own bodies to give him a little relief from the heat.
It didn’t feel like much.
But out there, in that moment, it was all we had to give.
When emotion collides with reality
At one point, a woman pulled up, jumped out of her vehicle, and hurried straight toward the rider.
She wanted to help. You could see it immediately.
But she also wanted to act—right now. She moved in to touch him.
The man on the phone raised his voice: “Don’t touch him.” Dispatch was concerned about possible spinal injuries. Moving him could make things worse.
That’s when it turned.
What started as urgency turned into confrontation. She pushed back. Voices rose. For a moment, it felt like the scene might fracture into chaos.
It didn’t—but only because a few people held their ground and kept things focused.
Eventually, she stepped away. But it was a sharp reminder: Good intentions don’t always lead to good outcomes in a crisis.
The long wait nobody plans for
It took nearly half an hour for a state trooper to arrive.
When he did, something else became clear.
Even the first responder was working within limits.
He brought his med kit. He took control of the scene. But he also admitted, plainly, that there wasn’t much he could do. There was no active bleeding to address. No obvious intervention beyond positioning and monitoring.
He had us help straighten the rider’s legs. Then we carefully rolled him onto his side—keeping his airway more protected—and one of the men stayed there, steadying him to keep him from rolling back onto his stomach.
And then we waited some more.
It was still another 15 minutes before help from a nearby military installation arrived—an EMT team and fire apparatus finally bringing the kind of support the situation really needed.
Out there, even when help shows up, it doesn’t always mean the problem is solved.
One more thing we hadn’t considered
By the time the rider was being stabilized in the medic unit, waiting for airlift, another piece of the response showed up.
An accident reconstructionist.
At first, it wasn’t obvious why that mattered. The scene already felt crowded with enough urgency. But then he began looking over the roadway—and it became clear just how much the details mattered.
Parts of the motorcycle were scattered across a wide area. Pieces of gear lay where they had landed. The path of the crash was written out across the pavement and shoulder.
He made a point of saying he appreciated that people hadn’t been moving things around.
And for the few items that had been moved—out of the roadway or out of immediate danger—we were able to show him where they had originally been.
It was one more reminder that even small decisions in those moments can carry weight later.
If you ever find yourself first on scene
R&T De Maris photo.
We’re not medical professionals. But after what we witnessed, a few basics stand out:
Call for help immediately. Give clear location details—mile markers, landmarks, direction of travel.
Protect the scene if you can do so safely. Slow traffic, use flashers, keep others from walking into danger.
Follow dispatcher instructions. They’re your lifeline to trained response.
Keep the area calm and controlled. Fewer people doing the right thing beats many people doing different things.
The hard truth
R&T De Maris photo.
We like to think help is always close.
On a desert highway, it isn’t.
Out there, for a while at least, help looks like whoever is willing to stop, stay steady, and do what they can—no more, no less—until something better arrives.
By Cheri Sicard
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia is known for hiking, climbing, paddling, and even base jumping. Until recently, it was called New River Gorge National River, which raises a question: Why do some places become national parks while others become national rivers, monuments, or something else?
Those names are not random. In many cases, a National Park Service designation hints at what a place protects, what visitors can do there, and how the land gets managed across its boundaries.
In the video at the end of this post, the team from National Park Diaries explains all.
The big nature designations: parks, preserves, and reserves
National parks are the best-known units in the National Park Service system. They often protect large areas with multiple resources, including natural, cultural, and historical features. Because the rules usually block activities like mining or hunting, national parks tend to be among the most protected public lands in the U.S. That’s why places like Yellowstone and Grand Canyon sit in this category, along with less-visited parks like North Cascades and Dry Tortugas.
National preserves look similar on a map, but the management rules shift. Preserves can allow extractive or consumptive activities such as hunting, mining, or oil exploration, depending on the law that created them. In Alaska, it’s common to see a national park paired with a preserve so that hunting can be allowed in the preserve portion.
National reserves also protect large, resource-rich areas. The National Park Service typically manages them with state or local partners, often through funding or technical help. Only two exist: City of Rocks National Reserve (Idaho) and Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve (Washington). New River Gorge’s recent change created a national park and preserve combination, and it was approved in the Lower 48 for only the second time. The other national park and preserve is Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado.
National monuments and the recreation-focused units
National monuments can confuse people because they cover a wide range of places. They’re also the only National Park Service units a president can establish using the Antiquities Act. (Congress can create them, too.)
Monuments often focus on protecting a single key resource, rather than the broader mix common in national parks. Some monuments are not managed by the National Park Service at all, such as Bears Ears (U.S. Forest Service) and Grand Staircase Escalante (Bureau of Land Management). Within the park system, examples range from Devil’s Tower in Wyoming to the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
National recreation areas put recreation at the center. Boating, hunting, and fishing often show up directly in their enabling laws. Many started around reservoirs created by dams, but the label also fits urban places like Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco and Gateway National Recreation Area in New York City.
National lakeshores and national seashores also offer recreational opportunities, especially for water and beaches. They often include extensive facilities like roads and parking for access. All four national lakeshores sit on the Great Lakes, while national seashores stretch along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts.
Rivers, trails, and scenic drives
National rivers and wild and scenic rivers are closely related in purpose and management. Both come out of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which protects free-flowing rivers and nearby lands by avoiding dams and major obstructions. Paddling is the headline activity, but hiking is common, too. Hunting can be allowed in some places, depending on the enabling legislation.
National scenic trails protect long-distance footpaths under the National Trails System Act. Only three are managed as full units by the National Park Service, but the best-known example is the Appalachian Trail, which runs through 14 states from Georgia to Maine and draws millions of hikers each year.
National parkways are built for scenic driving. These roadway corridors and nearby parklands let people experience views from the car, including routes like the Blue Ridge Parkway, famous for overlooks and fall color.
Historic places, battlefields, and memorials
National historic sites usually protect specific buildings or smaller places tied to history. One unique example is an international historic site managed by Parks Canada: Saint Croix Island, near the Maine and New Brunswick border, tied to an early French settlement.
National historical parks work similarly, but they’re often bigger, with multiple structures or wider landscapes.
Four military designations cover war-related places: national battlefields, the single national battlefield site, national battlefield parks, and national military parks. Many are tied to the Revolutionary War or Civil War, including Antietam, Gettysburg, and Cowpens. Size varies, even within the same label.
National memorials are commemorative and honor people, places, or events. About one-third are in Washington, D.C., partly because a memorial does not have to sit where the event happened.
To go beyond these 19 labels, the National Park Service also uses 11 other Washington, D.C.-area designations, plus affiliated areas that are usually outside the formal system but may receive National Park Service support. For more background, the Congressional Research Service breaks it down in this report on National Park System designations.
Once the labels make sense, park names start to read like quick summaries of purpose and rules. New River Gorge’s shift shows how a designation can change what’s allowed without changing what people love about the place. With these 19 categories in mind, it gets easier to predict whether a site focuses on ecosystems, recreation, history, or remembrance. The next time someone plans a trip, the designation can help set expectations before they ever arrive.
We recently received this message from reader Susan L. Coincidentally, around the same time, we came across new research showing that solo travel is on the rise. Read Susan’s letter and our article below, then please consider leaving a comment to share your thoughts with her—we know she’ll appreciate it.
Scared to be a solo RVer
“I lost my husband not long ago, and with him went my favorite travel partner.
“We spent years RVing together, but he drove the long stretches, handled the setup, and always made me feel safe no matter where we were. Now it’s just me, and while I know I can keep traveling, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid.
“The idea of driving long distances alone, pulling into a quiet campground after dark, or spending the night in a remote spot—it all feels very different now. Before, it was a fun adventure; now it seems like a scary adventure.
“Part of me doesn’t want to give this up. RVing was such a big part of our life, and I don’t want to lose that, too. Plus, I love our RV and would be very sad to sell it. But taking that first solo trip feels like a big step.
“Have any of you been in a similar place? How did you build the confidence to go on your own?
“I’d truly appreciate hearing your experiences.” —Susan L.
Solo travel is on the rise
If Susan’s letter struck a chord, you’re far from alone.
Solo travel may be growing in popularity, but that doesn’t mean it comes easily. In fact, a recent survey from Talker Research found that while half of Americans have traveled solo, more than a quarter still find the idea daunting. And for many—especially women and older adults—the hesitation is very real.
Safety concerns top the list. About 26% of people say that’s their biggest worry, followed closely by cost (25%) and simply the fear of being alone (23%). Even specific situations feel intimidating: Walking at night, staying somewhere unfamiliar, and driving long distances all rank high among people’s concerns.
If you’ve lost a travel partner, those fears can feel even heavier.
What’s especially important to remember is this: The same study found that older adults are actually leading the solo travel trend. More Baby Boomers and members of the Silent Generation have traveled solo than younger generations. In other words, many people in the RV community are quietly doing exactly what might feel so difficult right now.
And here’s the encouraging part: Most say it’s worth it.
Among those who have traveled solo, 70% said they would do it again. Many reported feeling more independent, more confident, and even more connected to themselves afterward. Others said solo travel gave them the space to recharge and grow in ways they didn’t expect.
That doesn’t mean jumping straight into a cross-country solo trip. Many experienced travelers suggest easing into it: shorter drives, familiar campgrounds, arriving before dark, and staying connected with friends or family along the way. Some even mix in group experiences or caravan-style travel to build confidence without feeling completely alone. There’s no one right way to ease into it.
If you’re feeling hesitant, that doesn’t mean you’re not capable; it just means you’re human. As one travel expert put it, solo travel “takes a lot of courage,” especially for women and older adults. But it can also be deeply empowering.
And perhaps most importantly, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
What’s your advice?
If you’ve been in this position before—especially after losing a partner—your voice could make all the difference to someone like Susan reading this right now. How did you take that first step? What helped you feel safe and confident again?
Think back. Did your car, truck, or motorhome ever feature a wackeldackel?
The German word wackeldackel translates to “wobbling dachshund.” This vehicle accessory originally featured a small dachshund pup with a cheerfully bobbing head.
Nodders, wackeldackels, and bobbleheads
The wackeldackel is linked to a much older idea. Versions of “nodder” figures go back centuries and have been linked to different cultures. In 17th-century Asia, for example, “temple nodders” featured Buddha and other religious figures. Germany produced bobbleheads as early as the 1920s and exported many to the U.S. By the 1950s, the popularity of nodders had risen in the States.
In the 1970s, German cars sported a wackeldackel on their car dashboards or rear window shelves. The dachshund dog’s spring-mounted head wobbled with every bump in the road, making it a distinctive accessory—and a great advertising tool.
Again, in the late 1990s, the bobbing heads sparked a major comeback in advertising. One ad campaign reportedly sold hundreds of thousands of the little dogs in a matter of months.
Wackeldackel design
A wackeldackel’s design is quite simple. It consists of a stationary dog base that supports a pup’s head, which is affixed to the base by a spring or hook. This enables the head to move in response to a light touch. Over time, this basic bobbing design has been used for sports giveaways, promotional items, and even novelty figures.
Bobbleheads have become highly collectible and feature sports stars, cartoon and movie icons, school mascots, and even politicians. There are dogs and other animals, as well.
Bobbers today
What started as a novelty has morphed into many different iterations. Manufacturers and artisans worldwide now offer nodding-dog figures, pet-portrait bobbleheads, and other “bobbing” novelties.
To mount your wackeldackel on the dashboard, follow the manufacturer’s directions. Choose a spot that doesn’t interfere with airbag deployment or sightlines.
Once you’ve decided on placement, clean the area with isopropyl alcohol before applying any adhesive pad. Check the placement from time to time to ensure it remains securely attached.
Do you (or did you ever) have a wackeldackel in your vehicle? Tell us in the comments below.
Oh, come on. Is camping even fun without a campfire? Right, right. I forgot. Some of us hardly “camp” anymore. Plus, who wants to take the time to make the fire and spend hours cooking over it… the smoke in your eyes, the “hangry” drooling family members…
Oh, wait… That’s part of “camping”! And guess what? It’s still fun! Well, we think so, at least.
For some of you, cooking over a campfire is a must. It’s part of the experience—the crackle of the wood, the smell of something sizzling, maybe a cast iron skillet doing its thing or a foil packet tucked into the coals. It doesn’t matter if it takes longer… that’s kind of the point. Mmm… that smells goooooood.
Others take a more practical approach. You’ve got a perfectly good kitchen inside your RV, maybe even a grill outside, so the campfire is more for ambiance than cooking. It’s nice to sit by, but when it comes to meals, convenience wins for you.
And then there are those of you who fall somewhere in between. Maybe you cook over the fire occasionally—when the weather’s right, when you’re not in a rush, or when you’re in the mood to slow things down and enjoy it.
When you’re RVing, how often do you cook over a campfire? Once a week? Once a month? Rarely? Never?
After you vote, please tell us in the comments what you most often cook over the campfire.
One of the best parts of RV travel is stumbling into places that feel like a win before you even walk through the door. Free museums definitely fall into that category.
USA TODAY readers recently ranked the best free museums in the country. One thing that stands out is how spread out they are. You can enjoy a top-notch museum almost anywhere you travel. For free!
Midwest pick: Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH
The Toledo Museum of Art consistently lands at or near the top of the rankings. Once you walk in, it’s easy to see why. The museum covers everything from classical works to modern art, and the Glass Pavilion adds a unique twist that feels more like a bonus attraction than part of the same stop. It’s spacious, easy to navigate, and perfect for a relaxed afternoon.
Nearby, you can wander the Glass Pavilion to see live glassblowing demonstrations, stroll through the Toledo Botanical Garden for some fresh air, or head down to the Maumee River waterfront for a scenic break.
Southeast pick: National Infantry Museum, Columbus, Georgia
The National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center tells the story of U.S. Army infantry soldiers through detailed exhibits and personal accounts. It’s much more than a quick walk-through. Even if you’re not a military history buff, it’s well worth the stop.
Close by, you can take a walk along the Chattahoochee RiverWalk, explore Uptown Columbus for shops and restaurants, or visit the National Civil War Naval Museum for another hit of history.
Northeast pick: Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Washington, D.C.
From the USA TODAY rankings, Smithsonian museums remain some of the most beloved free attractions in the country. The National Museum of American History is a definite standout. It dives into everything from pop culture to presidential history. You could easily spend a full day here and still not see everything.
While you’re in the area, walk along the National Mall, pop into the National Air and Space Museum, or take in the monuments at sunset for a completely different experience.
RV camping near D.C. can be tricky. Cherry Hill Park is a favorite with RVers for its amenities and transit access. Greenbelt Park Campground offers a more natural setting just outside the city.
Southwest pick: New Mexico Museum of Space History, Alamogordo, NM
This museum often shows up in top free museum lists for good reason. Its space exploration themes are engaging without feeling overwhelming. The views of the surrounding desert add to the experience.
Nearby, you can visit White Sands National Parkfor those surreal gypsum dunes, check out the New Mexico Museum of Space History’s outdoor rocket garden, or explore the nearby town of Cloudcroftfor cooler mountain air.
West Coast pick: California Science Center, Los Angeles, CA
This is one of those places that surprises people with how much is included for free. The exhibits cover everything from ecosystems to space travel. The scale of the California Science Center alone makes it worth your time. It’s located in Exposition Park, so you get multiple attractions in one stop.
What makes this list especially appealing for RVers is the variety. You’re not just bouncing between similar stops. One day you’re immersed in fine art, the next you’re walking through military history, then science, then space, then American culture. And the best part is you’re doing it without paying admission fees. That leaves more room in the budget for fuel, campground upgrades, or that extra night stay when a place really grabs you.
Note: Many museums offer free days throughout the year. If you are interested in a particular one, check their calendar or call the museum directly for “free day” information.
Do you have a favorite free museum in the U.S.? Tell me about it in the comments below.
By Dustin Simpson
These “cool tools” are tools and gadgets that we actually use in the RV industry! We also believe they will be helpful to you. Today, we’re looking at the Spider Tool Holster BitGripper.
The Spider Tool Holster BitGripper
This is a great RV gadget for your drill gun or impact gun. It comes as a two-pack and has a high-strength 3M adhesive bit holder. This add-on is for easy access to six driver bits on the side of your power drill or driver gun.
The Spider Tool Holster BitGripper allows us to carry most of the common RV bits with us at all times. The last thing you want to do is be on an RV roof and find out that you forgot a bit to remove something.
Everyone in our RV shop uses these … probably because I bought them. Stay tuned for more cool RV tools and gadgets to come.
In the RV world, this argument never seems to go away: Is RVing really camping?
We recently were unintentionally drawn into the discussion: Are you really “camping” if you have TV, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a private toilet and shower, and all the comforts of home? When asked directly, I demurred. (I’ve witnessed this discussion before and know the potential intensity of the opinions on both sides.)
A lot of people would say that RVing sounds more like glamping, and dictionaries back that up. Merriam-Webster defines glampingas “outdoor camping with amenities and comforts (such as beds, electricity, and access to indoor plumbing) not usually used when camping.”
But in practice, that comparison doesn’t always hold up. In a recent report, older campers are traveling more than ever—but they’re choosing RVs over glamping by a wide margin.
Camping
Camping, on the other hand, is defined as the act of staying and sleeping in an outside area for one or more days and nights, usually in a tent.
In Facebook group snippets and forum posts, some commenters draw a hard line. They say camping means roughing it, staying close to nature, and living without the extra comforts.
What about our readers?
Skip writes, “Roughing it? Not close anymore, it’s like staying at a 5-star hotel and being my own tour guide. Back in the ’80s was roughing it with a tent, sleeping bag, and provisions packed on the horse and adventuring through the woods. But, those were the days of calm and fun.”
Dan jokes, “Absolutely roughing it. Our Class C only has two TVs, and the microwave is kinda small.”
Impavid adds, “We joke we haven’t roughed it since we put a blender in the RV.”
Roy says, “I don’t even consider what we do as camping. I tell people that we’re RVing, not camping. I think the closest we ever come to ‘roughing it’ is boondocking.”
Bryan N. agrees: “Roughing it? Heck no, I don’t even consider it ‘camping’. Seriously, we’re driving around in a small apartment on wheels. How rough can that be?”
Deena J. says, “We ‘roughed’ it for many years. Went from tent- sleeping bag, tent- blow up mattress, pop up camper forward to now we are unapologetic ‘glampers’ and proud of it. I like the comfort and don’t plan to give it up.”
Cottersay says, “If you’re ‘roughing it’ in an RV, then you are doing something MAJORLY wrong. Indeed, you’d have to be willfully clueless and not a little bit ‘slow’.”
RVing
Many RVers (like me) couldn’t care less about what label gets slapped on their experience. They are outside, away from their stix-n-brix house, and they enjoy camping in their own way.
Similarities, not differences
To me, the question “Is RVing really camping?” is symptomatic of today’s society. Folks look for, and seem eager to point out, the many differences between us. Once that line is drawn, it seems to me we are quick to loudly defend ourselves. (I’m embarrassed to admit that I get drawn in, too.)
Yes, we may have different political opinions, different religious beliefs, and a host of other things we disagree upon.
However, there is quite a lot that people today do agree on. Like, family is important. Life is short. Nature is wondrous and worth seeing—even if you have to drive miles and miles to experience it for yourself.
Maybe if we spent more time finding the ways we are similar and considering the commonalities we share, this argument would finally fade away.
Wrong question
Is RVing really camping? It’s the wrong question, in my mind. Instead, I’d like the question to be: What parts of the country have you explored? Or, what do you like to do when out enjoying nature? Or, do you remember your favorite trip? What makes it your favorite?
Alternative questions like these bring out our similarities and offer a genuine opportunity to learn about other people and the places they’ve visited.
So, maybe the real question is not whether RVing “counts” as camping. Maybe the better question is what kind of experience you want.
If you want to snuggle down into a sleeping bag, fall asleep under the stars, and get a wake-up call from the birds, that is one kind of outdoor trip.
If you want to sit under the stars and then walk a few steps to your own shower, your own bed, and a cool RV at the end of the day, that is another kind of outdoor trip.
Both can be fun. Both experiences “count.” And both can still put you in the same campground, looking at the very same sunset.
The point
At the end of the day, the label only matters if you enjoy arguing about labels. For everybody else, the travel is the point. The experience is the point. The time in nature is the point.
On the highway, you are a “driver” no matter what you drive. In an RV, you may be camping, glamping, or simply RVing. It depends on who is talking and, honestly, I’m very happy to leave the well-worn debate back at the campfire.
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is Kentucky’s official distillery tourism network.
Built around member stops of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, the trail is designed so travelers can explore bourbon country by region instead of trying to drive the entire trail.
Not your typical trail
Many folks are surprised to find that Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail is not a simple loop. Instead, the approximately 4,000-mile-long trail stretches the length of the entire state and branches off into six distinct regions.
Yes, you can find itineraries that boast a “complete” three-day visit. In reality, it can take a month or more to see all of the distilleries. If you’d like to also experience local museums, scenic attractions, and local eateries, even a month-long trip may seem more like a frenzied marathon.
Image credit: Kentucky Distillers’ Association (Click to enlarge.)
“Wheel-and-spoke” travel plan
In my opinion, the smartest way for RVers to experience the Bourbon Trail is to pick a home base and tour one bourbon region at a time. This “wheel-and-spoke” type of itinerary will allow you to thoroughly explore each region. This plan shortens each day’s drive and enables you to relax and enjoy each region at a more comfortable pace.
Plan ahead
Spring is a great time to visit the Bourbon Trail areas. It’s best to book tours and tastings early and allow plenty of time between stops.
Note: Don’t forget that the Kentucky Derby is in May. Campgrounds may fill up around that weekend.
Weather
The weather in Kentucky during the spring is often changeable. Here are some things to take:
Light rain jacket
Layered shirts
Comfortable walking shoes (you may well encounter mud)
Note: One solid distillery tour may be enough for many RVers. That’s because the basic bourbon-making story can start to feel repetitive from stop to stop. The trail is more fun when you mix in other sights, meals, and scenic drives.
Northern Region (top of the state)
Positioned along the Ohio River near Cincinnati, the northern region is a smart choice if you want bourbon plus a little more city energy. This area blends craft distilling, shopping, bourbon-centric dining, arts, entertainment, and recreation.
Things to do in this area include the Newport Aquarium, Berhringer-Crawford Museum, Devou Park, Roebling Suspension Bridge & Purple People Bridge, Conington’s MainStrass Village, and Ark Encounter.
For RV parks, consider Elks Lodge #8 in Louisville (if you’re an Elks member) and Charlestown State Park in Indiana. Both enable easy city touring along with a relaxing break.
Western Region (Far West KY)
This area of the Bourbon Trail is the most widespread and the least crowded. You’ll want to plan ahead because you’ll have longer drives between distillery stops. The region offers a quieter experience, but you may discover some hidden gems.
Take time to explore Paducah, including the National Quilt Museum. You may also like the Jefferson Davis State Historic Site. There’s also fishing, boating, hiking, antique stores, and more.
Bardstown is the stop that feels most like classic Bourbon Country to me. Known as the Bourbon Capital of the World, it offers the densest collection of traditional bourbon distilleries.
Spread out across horse country, the Lexington Region of the Bourbon Trail offers relaxed travel, wonderful scenery, and photography opportunities. You’ll have longer drives between distillery stops, but the area’s beauty makes the drive quite pleasant.
A spring Bourbon Trail trip gets better when you treat it like a regional road trip instead of a checklist. Pick one section, book your tastings ahead of time, and leave room for lunch and slower afternoons.
Then spend the rest of your time experiencing the local history, food, music, museums, and scenery that make Kentucky feel like so much more than a whiskey stop.
Have you visited the Bourbon Trail? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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