January 2018 - RV Travel

Why would you want a composting toilet?

January 31, 2018February 1, 2018 Greg Illes

By Greg Illes We’re now three years with a composting toilet. In that span of time, we’ve used the toilet continuously for anywhere from 3-4 weeks to 4-5 months. Total usage in three years was for a total of about 9-10 months, so I feel that we can speak reasonably authoritatively about it. Our original motivation was to “do without”... Read More

Coffee, tea and ads at a small town cafe

January 31, 2018January 31, 2018 Chuck Woodbury

By Chuck Woodbury I first posted this story in early 2013, after visiting this small town restaurant on a road trip to the Southwest. I love Mom and Pop places like this. Alas, you don’t see them much anymore. When I visited I wondered how long the business could survive, now that a McDonald’s had opened just down road. So it... Read More

Why vultures poop on their legs (and more)

January 31, 2018February 1, 2018 Chuck Woodbury

By Dr. Deanna Tolliver, DVM It’s something we’ve all seen. We’re cruising down the highway and see a dark speck ahead by the road. Closer, we see it’s a gathering of vultures dining on a bloated deer carcass. Yuk! They are SUCH disgusting birds, right? Well, yes, but vultures are Mother Nature’s clean-up crew. Hey, somebody’s got to do it!... Read More

Clear debris and water from slideout with RV Slideout Broom

January 31, 2018February 3, 2018 Bob

If you have slideouts you know the importance of cleaning the tops before retracting the slides. Otherwise, you get the outside inside. Not a good thing. Slideout toppers help to keep debris and water off the top of the slideout but are expensive and not always effective. And I’ll bet you aren’t especially fond of climbing the ladder to your... Read More

Not too late for California/Arizona LTVA boondocking

January 31, 2018February 1, 2018 Russ De Maris

By Bob Difley One of the most common and easiest ways to start boondocking in the desert is to head for one of the BLM’s Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVA), which are designated camping areas but do not have designated campsites, hookups or convenient amenities. Most will have a ranger that patrols and an onsite host that can answer questions,... Read More

It’s official: RV shipments in 2017 topped half-million

January 29, 2018January 29, 2018 Chuck Woodbury

The following is a news release from the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association RESTON, Va.–(January 29, 2018) — The comeback story of the U.S. RV industry began to be written in 2010 and, according to annual shipment statistics released today by the RV Industry Association (RVIA), another record-setting chapter was published in 2017. For the first time in more than four... Read More

RV stock prices plunge at market watcher warning

January 29, 2018February 1, 2018 Russ De Maris

By Russ and Tiña De Maris While RV industry cheerleaders are practically wearing themselves out flashing their pom-poms and losing their voices shouting about the huge number of RV sales, a small voice in the investment world is urging a bit of caution. On Thursday, January 25, stock prices for big RV builders Thor and Winnebago took a beating after... Read More

Construction workers on temp assignments choose RV living

January 29, 2018February 1, 2018 Chuck Woodbury

One of the reasons RV parks are so crowded these days is because many of the spaces are occupied by long-term residents. That includes Baby Boomers who live year-round in RVs, poor people in old or inexpensive RVs who can’t afford a traditional home or apartment, and construction workers who move from job to job with their own RVs rather... Read More

How to sanitize your RV’s fresh water system

January 28, 2018February 1, 2018 Chuck Woodbury

Most RVers treat their fresh water tank from time to time to keep the water tasting good and safe from germs. This short video from Trailer Life shows how easy it is to freshen your water supply to keep it in tip-top condition — and spend only pennies doing it! ##RVT831 Read More

Camping World repair turns into nightmare

January 27, 2018February 1, 2018 Chuck Woodbury

This video is pure amateur hour, but it’s hard to stop watching after this Camping World customer begins to show the incredibly shoddy work done on his fifth wheel trailer. He says he paid a total of $14,000 to have the RV fixed to have it be more functional and increase its value. As many of the commenters note, the... Read More

Winnebago, Thor stocks fall, dealer inventory “unsustainable”

January 27, 2018February 1, 2018 Chuck Woodbury

Stocks of Winnebago and Thor Industries plunged in heavy volume Friday, extending recent losses as an analyst raised concerns over dealer inventories. Northcoast Research lowered both stocks to a neutral rating from buy due to concerns that dealer inventory is at an “unsustainable level” for 2018. Winnebago fell 8.4 percent on the stock market Friday, preceded by an 8 percent... Read More

Forest River recalling some trailers for improper wiring

January 27, 2018January 27, 2018 Chuck Woodbury

Forest River is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forest River Cherokee travel trailers. On the affected RVs, a 14 gauge and a 12 gauge neutral wire for the 110V air conditioning were connected to the same lug in the 120V panel neutral bus bar. If both wires were connected to the same lug, the smaller wire may overheat and fail due to... Read More