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Issue 851 • Week of June 23-29, 2018
#rvtravel
Editor’s corner
With Chuck Woodbury
Chuck (at) RVtravel.com
It has been a busy week. It’s been an incredible week.
First, more than 300 of you voluntarily subscribed after my essay last weekend. I am happy, humbled and honored. Thank you! I am frustrated I cannot sit down personally with each of you and discuss the ideas spinning in my head about what I believe my staff and I can do to use your money wisely.
RVing, as I have said before, is no longer just camping. It’s more than that, which both intrigues me and motivates me to further study how this will change the future of both RVing and how Americans live. Yes, people still camp with RVs. But the significant change I see is not simply how RVing is changing but how RVs are changing society.
Visit an RV show. You will see a range of RVs from small, inexpensive “stick and tin” trailers (industry slang for cheap entry-level RVs produced for young buyers) to large, incredibly comfortable motorhomes and fifth wheels marketed to an older crowd who will live in them part- or full-time. RVs with two bedrooms, two baths, washer-dryers, dishwashers, wine coolers, built-in vacuums and fireplaces are more common than ever. What separates the RVers who opt for these latter mobile abodes from traditional home owners is they can, and do, move their homes with ease.
Present-day motorhomes and fifth wheel trailers are as comfortable as most luxury homes and are in many, if not most, cases far more affordable to live in. With 11,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 every day, this segment of society will only get larger, and in my opinion, quickly.
The idea of living comfortably and at the same time feeding our wanderlust is intoxicating. When, through the ages, has it been so easy to live and travel so utterly comfortably at the same time, and sleep in one’s own bed each night? The freedom is unparalleled in human history!
Yet as sales of RVs continue to set new records, my staff and I believe our wonderful mobile lifestyle is in peril. To me personally it’s much the same as if I had enjoyed living for years in a traditional home in a quiet small town then watched as one developer after another purchased land and turned the peaceful countryside into a sea of tract homes and strip malls.
To those of you who pledged your financial support here last week (and before), we promise to serve you in unique and meaningful ways. Just this week, thanks to your support, I hired a badly needed half-time employee to help manage our paid subscriber program and develop new ways to serve them.
If you have not voluntarily subscribed and wish to, please do so here (we had some problems last week with our payment gateway which we have now fixed).
To all of you who read this newsletter week after week, including those who don’t or who cannot afford to contribute financially (we do understand), thank you for allowing us into your life each week. Please tell your RVer friends about us and urge them to sign up for one or more of our newsletters at https://www.rvtravel.com/subscribe .
Because I am running out of space, I have continued this discussion on another page. If you are interested, click here.
P.S. Here is one reason why your financial support helps us.
STATISTICS:
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COMING SOON: Our new reader forum.
My Roadside Journal
(about whatever is on my mind, not necessarily RV-related)
• Today’s music stinks. This hit song from my past is a true musical masterpiece.
Readers speak out
• Homeless in RVs turn Texas Walmart parking lot into ghetto.
Odors that make special appearances in extreme heat? Say goodbye!
The Unique Tank Odor Eliminator is the leader in hot weather odor elimination. If you’re tired of those disgusting smells coming from your RV bathroom in hot weather, or when you’re off the grid, say no more! These drop-in tablets work in both gray and black tanks, and will completely remove, not just mask, odors. Perfect for dry-campers who are worried about using too much water. Drop in a tablet, and flush! Learn more or order here.
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The latest news about RVing from our newsroom
Our writers and editors have selected the most important, most interesting and helpful news about RVing from the past week and boiled it all down into a fast-paced digest. Click here to read it.
If you live in an RV, can you still be “homeless”?
What makes an “RV community”? Ten years ago, you might have said meeting fellow RVers, impromptu happy hour get-togethers with the new neighbors, maybe potlucks and outside games. Really, it seems like an RV community evolves anywhere a group of RVers share the same general space and common interests. These days, an “RV community” is no longer comprised of just one group of people; but the group getting the most media coverage is the homeless, which begs the question: If you live in an RV, are you really homeless? Learn more.
Security for your RV – Is it really needed?
Like all of you (unless you have a lemon!), Rich “The Wanderman” really likes his RV. But he has heard horror stories about RVs being stolen from storage lots and even from people’s driveways, as well as stolen equipment and belongings. It’s all possible, but how likely is it? Just like preventive maintenance, an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure. Or more to the point, “Better to have it and NOT need it, than to NEED it and not have it.” So, what to do? Find out here.
Video: Driving under the influence of illegal and prescription drugs
Driving “under the influence” doesn’t only mean driving under the influence of alcohol. It can also include drugs, including prescription drugs. In this interview, host Teresa Wippel, with My Edmonds News, discusses the subject of driving under the influence of drugs (legal or otherwise) with Officer Mark Brinkman, a drug recognition expert with the Lynnwood, Wash., Police Department. Watch the video.
Feds may penalize foreign LP cylinder manufacturers
More RV industry woes: If tariffs on imported steel and aluminum weren’t enough to keep RV manufacturing execs awake at night, now a new worry looms: propane containers. American RV manufacturers put thousands of imported LP tanks and cylinders into the rigs they build, and now two American LP container manufacturers are crying foul. Learn more.
This week’s Reader Poll
If you belong to a local RV club is membership growing, declining or staying the same?
Please let us know. After you click your response, you’ll see how others have responded. Feel free to leave a comment. We’ll post the final results in next week’s newsletter. CLICK HERE.
Read the up-to-the minute responses from last week’s poll:
How would you fare financially if the economy nosedived again soon like in 2008? Click here for the results.
Unique RV overnight stops at wineries and farms
With membership in Harvest Hosts® you can stay overnight at more than 590 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.
What we learned about you last week
Your 9,000 votes told us a lot about you this past week. We learned where you’d be financially if the economy took a dive, about what RV rallies you attended, if you carry a checkbook around with you, if you consider yourself “handy” around the RV or house, and what you think of U.S. highway conditions. Read the full article here, and learn how you can ask your fellow readers a question too!
Video: Thor Industries CEO talks about new tariffs, plunging stock prices
After riding high for years, Thor Industries has hit a bump in the road. In this eight-minute video from CNBC, Thor CEO Bob Martin talks with Mad Money host Jim Cramer about how the company is dealing with new Trump administration tariffs and the plunging price of its stock, which is off 39 percent from its highs. Watch the video.
Remember this: the Smokey Bear song? Hear it again
Summer is officially here and that means high fire danger. Here’s a little song to get stuck in your head that will remind you to be careful with fire, and about a firefighter’s best friend, Smokey Bear. Listen here.
The New TireTraker™ TT-500 with a Lifetime Warranty
The new TireTraker™ TT-500 is the most innovative & user-friendly TPMS on the market with an unprecedented “Lifetime Warranty”, the only TPMS company in the industry to do so. The TT-500 features a larger, easier to read display, continuous pressure & temperature monitoring, automatic update, & monitoring up to 22 tires on your motorhome, trailer & tow vehicle from 0-232 psi! Seven days per week sales & technical support & over 13 years of experience. List price (4 tires) $389. Our price only $289. SAVE $100! (Additional Sensors $35 each). Learn more or order. Read
Jack Sisemore’s RV Museum in Amarillo
Many of us are familiar with the RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana, but did you know there’s another great RV museum in Amarillo, Texas? The Jack Sisemore Traveland RV Museum is easy to find, right off I-27, a few miles south of I-40. The Museum showcases the Sisemore family’s 25-year collection of unusual and vintage RVs, as well as vintage camping gear, motorcycles, bicycles and boats. Best of all – it’s FREE! Read more.
MotoHome: The world’s first house on a motorcycle
You say you want to ride your motorcycle and take your RV with you but don’t want to tow it? Well, here’s the perfect solution. Designed by USC School of Architecture graduate Jeremy Carman, he claims that along with the shelter, sleeping area and storage, there’s a kitchen and dining space in this prototype pod. Click here for article, pictures and video at advpulse.com. Thanks to Greg Illes for calling this to our attention!
Amazon Deals of the Day!
Here are more than 1,000 special deals, just for today. And the items just keep on changing. If you can’t find a great deal here on something you want, then, well, you must not need anything. If nothing else, it sure is fun to poke around here to see the incredible array of cool stuff that’s available at this very moment at bargain prices! Click here for today’s deals!
Popular articles from last week’s issue
• Update on Margaret B’s Thor Ace motorhome.
• Are you dumping your black tank correctly?
• Investigative journalism busts Quartzsite, Arizona?
• Why does our A/C unit freeze up?
• Reader’s Digest list of the top RV parks in every state.
• The big question: To tow or not to tow.
• Letter to editor: Protect Walmart overnight privilege.
Need mail forwarding? Choose the best!
Choose Americas Mailbox! It’s the best, endorsed by RVtravel.com which has toured its South Dakota facility and interviewed its very customer-oriented owner. Many plans available. Learn more. Or view the video interview RV Travel editor Chuck Woodbury conducted with Americas Mailbox owner Don Humes.
No overnight parking at these Walmarts
See which Walmarts in the USA do NOT allow overnight RV stays.
RV Clubs
Check out our Directory of RV Clubs and Organizations.
Guided RV Tours
Have you ever taken or considered taking a guided RV tour? Here’s our new directory of upcoming tours that may be of interest to you. Click here.
Readers’ comments on the poor quality of their new RVs
RVs today are being built fast, and in way too many cases poorly. Here are some horror stories.
• Did you buy a lemon RV? Here’s more about RV lemons and lawyers who will represent you if you need help.
Current wildfire information
To help with your travel planning, here is complete, up-to-the-minute wildfire information around the U.S., from Incident Information System (InciWeb), a U.S. government interagency. Click here.
RV Parts and Accessories
Give Dyers a try on your next purchase of RV parts or accessories. Large selection, great service, low prices and fast shipping. Visit our website.
Ask the RV Shrink
To tow or not to tow, Part 2
Dear RV Shrink:
Wow! I always read your column and the comments each week. Last week’s “To tow or not to tow” received plenty of comments – a lively discussion for sure. We are also getting ready to travel with this same rig configuration. We appreciate the feedback. We are still a bit confused but leaning toward pulling a small vehicle behind our new Class C motorhome. My only concern is looking like a train going down the road and constantly worrying about the toad trailing behind me. Am I just being paranoid? —Terrified of towing in Toledo
Read the RV Shrink’s response.
Can’t get enough of the Shrink? Read his new e-book: Dr. R.V. Shrink: Everything you ever wanted to know about the RV Lifestyle but were afraid to ask or check out his other e-books.
Camping with the Corps of Engineers
Many RVers consider Corps of Engineers campgrounds to be the best in the country. This guide is just for RVers — boat-in and tent-only sites are not included. Of all the public lands, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has some of the best parks and campgrounds available. In fact, it’s the largest federal provider of outdoor recreation in the nation. 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: $2.88 (on June 18). [Calif.: $3.59]
Change from week before: Down 3 cents; Change from year before: Up 56 cents.
Diesel: $3.24 (on June 18). [Calif.: $3.98]
Change from week before: Down 2 cents; Change from year before: Up 76 cents.
Best selling RV products at Amazon
We’re not sure about this, but our guess is that no other retailer has a larger selection of products and accessories for your RV than Amazon.com. In most cases, if a product is available anywhere, Amazon has it, and typically at a great price. Of all those products, click here to see the current best sellers.
The RV Vet
With Dr. Deanna Tolliver, M.S., DVM
Urgency emergency? When to call the vet
Dear Dr. Deanna,
If I think something is wrong with my pet, at what point should I take them to the vet? Read Dr. Deanna’s reply.
Fridge Airator keeps fridge cooler in warm temps
This compact high-volume air circulator helps the food in your RV stay fresh longer, while also maintaining the temperature of your fridge. The airator runs on batteries, so you can put it in the fridge, leave it on, and forget it’s there. No hassle. If you’re going to be in hot temperatures this summer, you’ll want this to keep your fridge cool. Learn more or order.
RV Fire Safety Tip
Why one fire extinguisher is not enough
When using an extinguisher to put out the surface flames, make sure to totally penetrate the fuel so that it’s cooled; otherwise, the fire can flare up again. This is when having an additional fire extinguisher is important. If you use your only fire extinguisher to stop the fire and don’t have another one to cool the area down, the fire could restart and you won’t have anything to fight it with. Courtesy: Mac “The Fire Guy” McCoy
“The” guide to services at Interstate exits
Never take a wrong exit off an Interstate highway again. The 2018 Next Exit lists every exit along every Interstate and details exactly what you will find at each: gas stations (including if they offer diesel), campgrounds, truck stops, casinos, laundries, retail stores (by name), shopping malls, factory outlet malls, drug stores, hospitals, rest areas & more. Very helpful even if you have a GPS. Learn more or order.
RV Quick Tips
More on sliding towels on the towel bar
“Towels sliding on towel bar? Use Velcro on the towel bar? We did that and had pulled threads in our towels afterward. Now I use a chip clip to hold them in place. Can be used for any size towel in any location.” Thanks to Carol Love for the snappy suggestion!
Help! I put DEF in my diesel fuel tank!
With more and more fuel islands selling DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) from a pump, there’s a possibility you can get confused and put DEF in the wrong hole. This is an EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE MISTAKE! “If you suspect you have DEF in your diesel’s fuel system, do not drive the vehicle and do not attempt to start the engine. Don’t even turn the key on, as this will energize the fuel system and could pump DEF-contaminated fuel into the rest of the fuel system. If the error is caught before the key is turned, the fix may be as simple as dropping the fuel tank and flushing it out. Have the vehicle towed or flat-bedded to a repair facility, and if you need to unlock the steering column, be sure to disconnect the batteries before turning the key in the ignition. Make sure get your vehicle repaired right away, as DEF is corrosive and letting it sit in the fuel system can cause further damage.” Read more here.
Do you have a Quick Tip? Send it to Russ (at) RVtravel.com and you just might see it here!
Camco vent insulator keeps you warm…and cold!
Is your RV too hot in summer? Too cold in winter? Camco’s vent insulator and skylight cover features a thick layer of foam which helps stop heat transfer, keeping you warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Simply push the fitted foam into your skylight, reflective side up. The reflective surface blocks sunlight, preventing it from heating your RV in the heat. Designed to fit standard 14×14 RV vents. Learn more or order.
Gizmos and Gadgets
Mobileye Collision Avoidance System prevents accidents
There is no reason why you and your RV should be behind the curve on the advances made in accident avoidance on the road: What is available in new cars and trucks is now available for your RV. It’s been shown that nearly 80% of crashes involve some form of driver inattention three seconds prior to the crash. The Mobileye® Collision Avoidance System from Intel Corporation is an affordable solution to keep RVers safer on the road. Learn more.
Be sure to sign up for our monthly Great RV Accessories Newsletter. Click here.
The largest, tiniest blanket for all your outdoor needs
Pack your beach bags & park picnics! What’s one thing we always need for a relaxing day outdoors? A blanket! This tiny, super lightweight travel blanket is great for RVers, campers, hikers, concert-goers & travelers. In its pouch it fits in the palm of your hand. When unfolded, it’s a waterproof 55″x70″ two-person blanket. Be right back, we’re buying it here!
Ask the RV Doctor
The RV Doctor, Gary Bunzer, answers your questions
Are “maintenance-free” batteries really maintenance free?
Dear Gary,
How do I know if I have maintenance-free batteries in my motorhome or if I have to periodically check the water levels? —Kirk P.
Read more from Gary Bunzer at the RVdoctor.com. See Gary’s videos about RV repair and maintenance.
New & interesting finds at Amazon.com
See what really cool stuff Amazon is featuring today. It’s a whole lot of fun just browsing through all these great items. The selection changes every day, so check back often. You never know what you will find, which is part of the fun of visiting here. Check it out.
Ask BoondockBob
with Bob Difley
Boondocking (and non-campground) campsites that take reservations
Bob strays from the usual Ask BoondockBob Q&A to talk about something now that RVers will eventually be asking about … he’s just beating them to it. That “something” is a unique new concept that could turn out to be an effective – and adventuresome – way to camp/boondock, where owners of large chunks of land, such as farms, ranches or forest acreage, can offer a space on their land for a fee, and you can even book the space online. Imagine!
Do you have a question for Bob? Email him at bob.rvtravel (at) gmail.com .
You can find Bob Difley’s e-books on Amazon Kindle.
Power tools galore!
If it’s not at Amazon.com it’s probably not easily available anywhere! Check out this huge selection of power tools — drills, saws, air compressors, impact wrenches, car vacuums, sanders, polishers, tool boxes — the list goes on! See what’s available and maybe pick up a great deal!
RV Electricity
with Mike Sokol
What makes a generator “RV Ready”?
Dear Mike,
I’ve been thinking about buying a generator for my RV, but most of them have some sort of twist-lock plug that won’t connect to my RV shore power cord without an adapter plug. Is that adapter dangerous to use? And what about those RV Ready generators? Are they any better than a Honda generator that needs an adapter plug? They’re certainly a lot cheaper than a Honda. —Ralph
Mike Sokol is an electrical and professional sound expert with 40+ years in the industry. Visit NoShockZone.org for more electrical safety tips. His excellent book RV Electrical Safety is available at Amazon.com. For more info on Mike’s qualifications as an electrical expert, click here.
Keep insects and bird nests out of your RV furnace
Wasps, mud daubers, birds and rodents pose a serious threat to the furnace on your RV. They can enter through the furnace vents. Their nests can interfere with air flow and cause serious damage. This Flying Insect RV Furnace Screen fits Duo-therm and Suburban furnace vents. Camco offers several furnace screens so check that this screen will fit your vent. Learn more or order at Amazon.com.
RV Tire Safety
with RV tire expert Roger Marble
Preparing for and filing a tire failure complaint and claim
Roger lists the steps you need to take ahead of time to be prepared in case of tire failure, as well as how to file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a claim for possible compensation in the event of tire failure. Important to read, and do, before you need it. Learn more.
Endorsed by tire expert Roger Marble!
Outstanding 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 it off, it will do so automatically. The included lithium battery never needs to be recharged or replaced. Used by the RV Travel staff. Learn more or order.
Astronomy for RVers
with Chris Fellows
That’s a big hole! – Visit Meteor Crater
Will you be anywhere near Flagstaff, Arizona, this year? If so, you should make a stop at Meteor Crater, only about 37 miles east of the city. Located just minutes from Interstate 40 and the old Route 66 in northern Arizona, this meteorite impact crater is privately owned and was designated a National Natural Landmark in November 1967. This site is very well maintained and has an exhibit facility where you can learn all about this geological feature and even touch a large piece of the chunk of iron that created it more than 50,000 years ago. Read more.
Microwave cover collapses for easy storage
When heating your food you don’t want to spend 10 minutes later cleaning the splatters inside the microwave. Here’s the solution — and perfect for RVers: it pops down flat for easy storage. Lid perforations allow steam to escape to keep food moist. Doubles as a strainer, too! Learn more or order at Amazon.com
The RV Kitchen
with Janet Groene
Dan’l Boone Burgoo
Good eating with a pioneer potful. All the tastes of a pioneer dish are made easy with store-bought sausage and canned chunk chicken. Pioneers would have had sausage on hand in the spring house, wild onions and perhaps some morel mushrooms from the forest. They would have added stewed squirrel or rabbit. Make this simple dish over the fanciest RV stove or the most humble campfire. Get the recipe.
Check out hundreds of other recipes by Janet . . . and her many books at Amazon.com, including the new “The Survival Food Handbook.”
BEST-SELLERS IN KITCHEN AND DINING AT AMAZON.COM
Heavy duty grill mats master the BBQ!
Been looking for perfect grill mats? Here you go! These mats are the ideal thickness, still allowing that chicken to get those beautiful grill marks, but thick enough to provide durability and heat resistance. Never worry about cleaning your grill again and never worry about veggies falling through those dang cracks. Hassle free grilling every time. Works with any type of grill or BBQ. Learn more or order.
RV Short stop
with Julianne G. Crane
Cheese Trails … What a yummy way to RV
What better way to spend your summer vacation … or retirement … than to eat your way across America. Here are seven great Cheese Trail destinations. And, for nearby public campgrounds, at the end of each posting look for links to the local state parks. If you like cheese, you should check these out. Yum! Read more.
Double refrigerator bars ensure nothing moves while driving
I know it’s happened to me many times – I’ve opened the fridge (even slowly) after driving down the road and a heavy jar has fallen on my toe, “OW!” because it shifted in the fridge. Never have that happen again with these easy to install double refrigerator bars. These spring-loaded bars can also be placed in cupboards or in closets. Order for a good price here.
Free and bargain camping
From OvernightRVparking.com
Cabela’s # 060, Bristol, VA
FREE! Overnight parking is allowed. Obtain permission from the store. Park in marked long-vehicle spaces between Cabela’s and adjacent Lowe’s. Large, level RV spaces. Well-lit, with likely traffic noise from adjacent I-81. Dump station on site (fee). Deli in store. Address: 321 Cabela Dr. GPS: 36.626454, -82.146322Port Hope (EB)
Service Centre, Newtonville, ON
FREE! RV parking is allowed. Maximum stay of 10 hours. RV spaces are level and well-lit; should be quiet, as trucks don’t pass this area (but buses do). Fuel available. Burger King, Extreme Pita, and Starbucks on site. Picnic tables. Free Wi-Fi. Address: EB Hwy 401, ~ Km Post 451-452. GPS: 43.941778, -78.432245
Overnight RV Parking, with more than 13,480 locations listed, is the largest and best resource for locating free and inexpensive places to spend a night in an RV. For membership information and a demo of the site, click here. A modest membership fee required, but try the free demo. Watch a video about OvernightRVparking.com.
Museum of the Week
Matchstick Marvels
Gladbrook, IA
If you want to be amazed, visit the Matchstick Marvels Museum in Gladbrook, IA. Wow! Artist Patrick Acton has glued nearly seven million matchsticks together to create 70 true-to-scale masterpieces. See the U.S. Capitol made from 478,000 matchsticks and Harry Potter’s famous Hogwarts castle built with 602,000 matchsticks. If you’re in Iowa, you’ll want to stop to admire these creations. Visit the museum website here.
‘Earthquake Putty’ keeps stuff in place
Do you have items in your RV you like to keep in place — on a table, bedstand or counter? You need this. Collectors Hold Museum Putty is designed to keep items secure in earthquakes! Hey, a moving RV is a constant earthquake! To use this, pull off what you need, roll until soft, apply to the base of the object then lightly press it to the surface. Later, it comes off clean. RVers love it! Cheap, too! Learn more or order.
Upcoming RV Shows
• Green Country RV Show, July 20-22, Tulsa, OK
• Midwest RV Super Show, August 9-12, Elkhart, IN
• Hampton Roads RV Super Sale, August 17-19, Hampton, VA
• America’s Largest RV Show, September 12-16, Hershey PA
See the complete list of all upcoming RV shows.
State, Regional,
City and U.S. maps
A GPS is great, but there’s nothing like a folded map to plan a trip or guide you where you’re going once you’re underway. Just about every folded map you would ever need is here. Most sell from about $2 to $6. Check ’em out or order.
Trivia
Lyme disease is named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where several cases were identified in 1975.
Bumper sticker of the week
So far, this is the oldest I’ve ever been.
Have you seen a funny bumper sticker? Send it to Gail (at) RVtravel.com
Joke of the Week
I heard that most accidents happen within two miles of home, so I moved.
Worth Pondering
“Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people – your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way.” —Barbara Bush
RV Travel staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Diane McGovern. Associate editor: Deanna Tolliver. Senior editor: Russ De Maris. Staff writer: Emily Woodbury. Contributing writers: Greg Illes, Bob Difley, Richard Miller, Richard Mallery, Dave Helgeson, Janet Groene, Gary Bunzer, Roger Marble, Mike Sokol, Chris Guld, Julianne Crane, Chris Fellows, J.M. Montigel and Andrew Robinson. Advertising coordinator: Gail Meyring.
ADVERTISE on RVtravel.com and/or in this newsletter. Contact Gail Meyring at Gail(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.
Mail us at 9792 Edmonds Way, #265, Edmonds, WA 98020.
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This newsletter is copyright 2018 by RVtravel.com
I saw an article on RV travel about the best RV parks in each state. In. Pennsylvania, it is in Hershey just down the road from my home.
I know that in Colorado it was on route 34 near Estes Park CO. I having been in Estes Park a month ago, we want to go back and take our time. But I can’t remember the campground mentioned. I would also like to keep the entire article as a reference. Please help me find that article
Hi, Jeffrey,
Here’s a link to that post on the Reader’s Digest list of the top RV parks in every state: https://www.rvtravel.com/readers-digest-list-of-the-top-rv-parks-in-every-state/
And to make it easy for you, here’s the link to that list: https://www.rd.com/advice/travel/best-rv-parks-every-state/
😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Thank you very much.
You’re very welcome, Jeffrey. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
I like the idea about having an overnight location with few or no hookups. I have seen a couple of KOA locations that offers a no hookup site but don’t know the cost. Personally I would be OK with no hookups or electric only for a minimum cost. If I am going from point a to point b and it takes a few days an overnight alternative to Walmart would be perfect.
Also a comment on what campgrounds charge (for length, number of people, or whatever) I have no problem with that. If I can afford to purchase a camper, truck to pull it with, and pay for fuel what is a couple of bucks per night worth to you. We are asking the campground for a site and if we don’t want to pay then we have the choice to go on down the road. Personally I think 40 to 50 bucks per night is very reasonable.
You must quite wealthy if you think 40 or 50 bucks a night is reasonable. I am 79 years old and have spent most of my savings traveling for 25 years and was blessed to do so. But now since the interest rates on savings have gone to nothing it is hard to pay those prices. Most people my age have used up their money by now even though I invested wisely and was frugal all my life. Besides most rv parks have things I no longer need, pools ,spa tennis courts etc. All I need is a place to stay over night or for several days to see the local sites, yes elec. water and sewer is nice, but I can go 12 days without either. If you full time and are a fixed income that is costly. Now I know your reply is going to be well (. if you cannot afford it stay home). I mean no offence but think about it. thanks
Camped now at NASCAR SONOMA CA next to 18-foot travel trailer with 7,000 watt generator. Like being in a machine shop with noise and fumes. My B-class Winnebago ERA has 260 watts solar, so I almost never use 2,000 watt generator. Having camped at all West Coast Swing NASCAR racetracks now, I am done. Noise, fumes, dust, needles, excrement, etc. Better to stay at private 10/10/10 campground and Uber/Lyft to raceway. Better yet, stay behind Bass Pro Shops or Cracker Barrel. Still get no hookups, but clean, safe, dining, bathrooms, and shopping for free.
As long as taxpayer continue to subsidies the rv lifestyle everything is fine. Roadways, bridges, water, sewer, land for rv parks in public lands; and especially your beloved Wal-Mart, about the biggest reciever of corporate welfare in the world. Yes, your life will be without consequences. Until some enlightened city says, lets tax those rv spaces the same as we tax real property, say 25 dollars a night for city services provided. and not that it’s bad, public taxes should be used for the public, not empire building in the middle east…
I hope you can continue to expand on your idea of drive thru overnight rest stops. In 1985 as traveled down the Oregon coast and there where places like that. Electric water and dump $10.00 a night. Never saw anything like that again. I’d love to stop like that. We do stop at a place in Illinois that has that and also 2 fast food restaurants and a C store. Love it and no one coming to the door begging for gas so they can take their sick dying mother to church.
Didn’t appreciate the clip on reconditioning dead batteries. After sitting through the lengthy repetitious, boring video only to figure out they were selling a book on how to do this I turned it off. I should have known what this was leading up to. Kind of disappointed an ad like this would be in your newsletter.
John — Sorry for your bad experience. That’s not one of our usual advertisers. Some of the ads you see are delivered by Google, which generally delivers them based on an RVer’s interests, and most of the ads are related to RVing. It is impossible for us to see all those ads ourselves. They “cycle through” and can even be directed to different audiences throughout the U.S. But for anyone else who sees that ad and your comment, that will be a good heads-up for them. Thanks! —Diane at RVtravel.com
I used to stop by and give a cash donation now can’t find you. Where are I lived a block from old office. Bill Moore
Chuck,
I read your post about noisy generator and I agree with you. I have a 23 foot trailer with a normal Roof A/C. Needs about 18 amps to run. But about 25 to start. So, I could not buy a quiet 2000 Honda, but opted for a Champion Invertor 3100 watt that is almost as quiet as the Honda. The issue is, I have almost never used it to run the A/C. Only to charge the batteries when boondocking. Seems a waste, so I am going to put 400 watts of solar on the roof. My issue is Why don’t RV A/C units come with a soft start capacitor? Maybe have Mike Skoal address this.
I am indeed working on a solution, but I need an appropriately sized rooftop air conditioner for an experiment. Most of the aftermarket kits offer a “hard-start” capacitor which will make any reasonable sized generator trip. That’s the opposite of the soft-start capacitor you’re asking about. More to study…
I don’t have recall of generator noise in a campground. What I do recall is a camper with a Cummins diesel starting it at 6 AM and letting it idle while he packs everything up.
No sympathy here for Thor,or any other RV manufacturer,as they care more about corporate profits and their shareholders than they do for the final product they shove at unwitting consumers.
I tried to subscribe but got an error at the last step with multiple attempts with differing payment methods.
Gas prices $3.27 Chico, California at Costco.
Paid $3.09 the other day at Costco. The price for reg gas around here ranges from the $3.09 to $3.39 in Tri-Cities, WA
What gets to me is that these big rigs pay the same amount as we small rvs. 26fter compaired to 40fter, 2 bath, wash and dryer, endless hot water, 50 amp, etc
?
I have worked in RV parks. If you are monthly, there are differences in charges. If you are staying overnight, they usually charge the same price whether you are big or small. Parks get enough complaints when they charge for pets, pull-through costing more than back-in, etc. People complain you are ‘nickle and diming them’. You can never make all the people happy all the time. As the saying goes: if you don’t like the price go on down the road.
Mike, I have donated to RV Travel for many years in amounts that I feel comfortable with. These amounts are in the price point or below your suggestion and the staff has always responded and thanked me for my assistance. Just sayin!
Long time reader, first time responding. I just love reading your stuff Chuck. You write well and do it with passion.
I hope that you keep going the way you are their is nobody out there that’s trying to help tell the truth truth about the rv lifestyle and the rv themselves people keep buying rv but no new or expanding rv parks I deliver new rv and see all what you say all the time keep up the good work
You continue to ask for voluntary subscriptions but still haven’t set up reasonable subscription options. Most magazines run in the $12-16/year range but your subscription options run from $60 -$300/year!! *Please* set up some reasonable subscription options! I believe you may be surprised by the positive response you get.