Send a photo of your RV and a 150 to 200 word description of it, how and where you use it, and what you like or don’t like about it, to Diane(at)RVtravel.com. Be sure to include your name(s) and hometown, or if you’re a full-timer. (These are posted in the order received.)
The RVs of RVtravel.com readers and how they use them
Issue 52; Posted Apr. 16, 2016
From Richard Forlani, Valatie, New York
This is my 28-foot Bullet trailer, which I tow with a Ford F-150 with EcoBoost engine (great engine for trailering). In the picture we were stuck in an unexpected snowstorm in Fort Stockton, Texas … after leaving New York to avoid the snow in January 2016. (After last winter in Valatie, N.Y., I promised never again!) We made it to Death Valley just fine … parked overnight at a Love’s truck stop.
I have 200+ watts of solar panels on the trailer. We were not plugged into any electric for eight weeks and did just fine with lights, heat, hot water, charging phone and computer, and listening to the radio.
My wife, Jackie, and I did much RVing, including hosting at Camden Hills State Park, Maine, and many cross-country trips. This was my first trip without her (she passed last February). My faithful traveling companion on this trip was a rescued lab mix named Sweet Emily. I was rather apprehensive before the trip, but once I hooked up the trailer and got behind the wheel I was fine. Of course, there were a few lonesome moments but Emily took care of most of them.
On this trip I was on my way to meet dear friends in Death Valley. Alex was the best man and wrote the ceremony at our wedding 44 years ago at Fallen Leaf Lake at South Lake Tahoe, California. Alex’s wife’s name is Suzanne. Yes, it was a hippie wedding and, yes, we wore flowers in our hair. My first trip out West was in a 1961 Volkswagen van. For many years Jackie and I had a blog: 2hippies2pups.blogspot.com. It still exists in cyberspace. I took the pictures and she did the writing and computer work, so now I just put the pictures on Facebook for others to enjoy.
My plans are to winter in California and Arizona, and summer in the Sierras and upstate New York and Canada. I’ll spend time in between with my grandchildren in Kingston, New York.
Life is what happens … while you’re making other plans.
From Mark and Kathy Hufstedler, Rochester Minnesota
We made a huge jump from tent camping to a 2004 36-foot class A Gulfstream Independence in 2011. We really enjoyed sitting up high and having the freedom of one of us being able to get up and get a beverage, make a sandwich, etc., all without having to stop. However, the noisy and fully taxed front engine V-10 coupled with the busy steering had us looking for a diesel pusher.
We found the perfect fit in our 2004 Itasca Horizon with a 350 HP Cummings. The TV is directly across from the couch, and all of the nice amenities have allowed us to really enjoy our travels.
MORE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS
thanks , nice job…kids and friends enjoyed the article
Hi, Richard. I’m glad you liked how your story turned out. It was a pleasure working on it. I’m working on Sweet Emily’s story and it will be published, hopefully, in the next week or two. We’re still working on setting up the new website and newsletter format, so things are going to be changing/improving regularly from here on out.
I hope you have lots of happy RVing miles with Emily in your future. Have a great day!
Diane
We have a 1965 Airstream Caravel and pull it with a 2004 Dodge Dakota 4 Door 4 x 4 pickup. it gets about 18 mpg and we are really pleased with the combo. We are both in our Seventies and the small space is ideal for my wife and I. We will celebrate our 52 anniversary in June of this year so I guess it is working.
Don Bishop