Courtesy Dicor Products Protecting your RV roof with a coating specially designed for the type of roof material you have is one of the best investments you can make in extending and refreshing the look of your RV roof. Your RV roof is exposed to many elements, including sun, rain, hail, snow and wind-blown debris, along with atmospheric conditions that…
Read MoreAuthor: RV Staff
Tricks for camping in National Parks without a reservation
By Bob Difley When campground usage is up, reservations become harder to nail down. It’s a real problem for those who procrastinate, make last-minute travel decisions, or find themselves wherever their RV leads — most of the time without campground reservations. But don’t let that discourage you from visiting the national parks. You just need to practice some tricks…
Read MoreRipped off by shady RV dealers — What can be done?
Dear RV Shrink: We were trapped at an RV dealership in New Mexico for two weeks because it was a cold winter and our heater would not stay running. The mechanic pulled it out once and said it worked fine after bench testing it. He then sold us a new propane regulator and filled our coach tank with a drying…
Read MoreShovel your way out of trouble
By Greg Illes Sure, the best way to get unstuck: “Don’t get stuck in the first place.” Ah, but despite the most honorable of intentions, sometimes that dang gas pedal just won’t make us go forward any more. We’re stuck. It’s almost always a case of having traveled into soft terrain. Mud, loose dirt, or sand have swallowed up the…
Read MoreNeed water? Get an extra bladder!
By Russ and Tiña De Maris No, this isn’t some kind of new prescription medication. RV water bladders are devices that allow you to fill up your RV’s fresh water tanks without having to transport your RV to a water station. A commercial water bladder is a plastic container resembling a water bed. Placed on the roof of your…
Read MoreThe ABCs of “camping” at Wal-Mart
By Chuck Woodbury, editor RVtravel.com For some reason, I have become a national authority on “camping at Wal-Mart.” If you look around you’ll find me quoted on National Public Radio and in Business Week, among others. The odd thing is, I have never done it myself. But I have heard a thousand stories from other RVers who routinely stay…
Read MoreIs age slowing your response time? Practice!
By Bob Difley Our response time slows as we age. We don’t think or process information as efficiently as when we were young. As much as you think you can perform certain functions as fast now as you ever could, it’s just not true. One area that it doesn’t pay to take chances or cling to old beliefs is…
Read MoreRVers happy than others, say anthropologists
People who travel via recreation vehicle claim to feel healthier, both physically and mentally, than they would be if they led more sedentary lives, according to the only known anthropological study of RV owners. Dorothy and David Counts “The RVers we interviewed during our study feel they are healthier than they would be if they didn’t RV. While not overly strenuous,…
Read MoreWhat to do about conflicting sleep schedules in “small” RV?
Dear RV Shrink: We live nine months of the year in a Class “C” motorhome. It is usually 27 feet of heaven. The only time I find it small is when my wife stays up late watching television. She is a night owl and I can’t sleep. Don’t tell me to buy ear plugs or earphones, I’ve tried both of…
Read MoreStretch your camping dollars with caretaking
By Bob Difley Caretaking takes many forms, from simply camping at a remote location to deter theft or vandalism, to staying on someone else’s property while they are away. This can often entail watering plants, feeding pets, or gardening. Usually you will stay in your own rig but have access to electrical and water connections and the use of…
Read MoreGuide to basic RV weight terms
Overloading an RV, whether a motorhome, travel trailer, fifth wheel trailer or other recreational vehicle, can spell big trouble. Here is advice from RV expert Mark Polk about how to understand basic RV weight terms. Make sure you understand these terms before buying an RV. Everyone should have a basic understanding of RV weight terms. Do your research to avoid…
Read MoreMove your TV for comfort
By Greg Illes Maybe you’re one of the lucky ones and your TV is perfectly situated in your RV for the best viewing comfort. But all too often, the TV is placed more for décor reasons and less for ergonomics. In our Class A motorhome, the TV placement is just plain horrible. It normally lives up high in the forward…
Read More