Professor Gets Down In His RV

We’ve been full time RVers for a few years now and, like most RVers we’re open to trying new things. We’ve been using an electric blanket in our motorhome and previously our 5th Wheel Trailer for warmth. This year the electric blanket finally retired itself. I can’t say that I blame it for checking out early, because we were always forgetting to turn it off when we got up in the morning. Many times we would go to bed only to find it already toasty warm. This is not the only problem we encountered while using the electric blanket in our RVs. Our biggest problem was when we stopped to dry camp overnight at WalMart or boondock for a few days. You don’t want to run your generator all night just to power up the electric blanket, so you have to carry extra blankets for this occasional use. I remember a cold snap last year when we were driving through Wyoming and we stopped at a Flying J parking lot for the night. It was snowing and blowing and the windows were all fogged up at the Flying J restaurant. We retrieved every sheet, blanket and throw we had to make the bed warm. The heater ran all night and we managed just fine, but, I remember thinking that a warmer blanket would have been nice. Last week we were in Costo and I spotted this nice down filled blanket and that cold night in Wyoming flashed through my mind as I pulled the blanket off the shelf. Some down filled blankets are just too hot, but this one strikes a perfect match for our type of RVing because we are snowbirds and are usually in more temperate climates. This particular blanket is designed for use in the Pacific Northwest and is light weight. We’ve been “field testing” this blanket all week and have found it keep us “snugly warm” on cold nights. It's over sized so you can tuck it under the mattress for a tidy appearance. This particular down blanket is manufactured by Pacific Coast Blankets and advertises that the down is “Hyperclean” for people who may have allergies to down products. This company has been making down bedding for more than 100 years and I can attest that they’ve got it right. Their products can be purchased at amazon.com, Carson Pirie Scott, Costco, jcpenney.com, Linens 'N' Things and Sears Canada. You can find their website online at Pacific Coast. Helping you think outside the box-springs - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Looking For Answers About RV Water Filter Systems

RVers encounter different water quality every time they change campgrounds. Since you don’t know what kind of water you have, you need to consider a water filter system for your rig. Some folks use a dual filter system that uses a first stage sediment filter followed by a second stage charcoal filter. Others, like me, just use a sediment filter. I recently turned on a water spigot at a fair ground RV site and a hand-full of sand came out with the first few spurts of water. This kind of sediment will quickly plug up your shower head and faucets. It’s always a good idea to run some water out of the spigot at a new campsite prior to actually hooking up to it. I’ve used many kinds of water filter systems for RVing and have settled on a personal preference of using a sediment filter in conjunction with the Brita counter top charcoal filter for drinking water. We find this arrangement works well for us. The big issue for me is that whole house inline filters drastically reduce water flow, and I personally like to have some water pressure when I take a shower. I use a light weight sediment filter and change it every few months. You may have to change your filters more frequently depending on how dirty the water is where you’re camping. Be aware that if you are using a charcoal filter and your water begins to have a foul smell, then your filter is past due for a change. If you are not sure about the quality of the water at your new campsite, don’t drink it. It’s always best to purify it first through a charcoal filtration system of some kind. If you do this you won’t run the risk of getting sick and spoiling your outing.

Keeping you informed - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Where Do You Camp When Your RV is HUGE ?

It seems like RVs are getting bigger, wider and longer each year. I took these photos this year at an RV park where we were staying. This rig is too long for the pull-through he was assigned. He only spent one night, which is good, because someone would have clobbered his trailer hanging out in the main thoroughfare. Even though his trailer is well marked with reflective tape it is still dangerous to leave it sticking out like that. Since he was just passing through he didn't want to take the trailer off and park it in the overflow trailer storage area. I don't blame him, but the RV park manager should have found a longer parking spot if one was available. The best resource for finding a camping space is Big Rigs Best Bets. I bought one this summer and have found it very helpful. You can pick one up at RVbookstore.com for $24.95. This directory is a 488 page spiral bound book that will help you avoid problems like this. Helping you with the best resources for RVing - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RV Instant Fare Doesn't Need To Be Bland

RVing is fun for many reasons, but one one the great things about RVing out in the sticks is the yummy chow you can prepare. There is nothing like a hearty meal after a day of hiking or sightseeing. The only problem is that you are usually too pooped-out to fix a big meal for that huge appetite so most of us resort to leftovers or something out of a can. Not the best, but it gets the job done. Fortunately you don't always have to resort to the can opener when you're in a hurry. I want to pass along a side dish that is sure to please and is quick and easy to fix. I'm talking about yummy mashed potatoes. I've never liked instant mashed potatoes until I tasted the Paradise Valley brand. These are, no kidding, the best instant mashed potatoes I've ever eaten. These All Natural Creamy Mash Potatoes are 100% pure russet potatoes with no chemical additives. The box comes stashed full of these little pouches that make enough to serve four hungry people a one and a half cup serving each. However long it takes you to boil water is how long it takes to make this delicious side dish. I buy mine at Costco stores and they are also available at some Safeway and Vons grocery stores. So, when you need to throw together a fast and nutritious meal, reach for these all natural mashed potatoes. Helping you with all aspects of RVing - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and Road Scholar

Installing a Handy Assist Device For RV Bathrooms

Many RVers need a little assistance in the bathroom like conveniently placed grab bars which are available at hardware stores. These are the bars you see in handicap bathrooms. Most hardware stores will stock grab bars in white or the silver brushed metal color and they can special order brass and beige. These come in handy when you're trying to keep your balance or steady yourself while entering or exiting the shower. They are also handy when placed by the toilet. Our motorhome has a pocket door where I wanted to place one of these grab bars, but the wall that houses the pocket door is too thin to support the weight. I solved this problem by installing half of a disability toilet hand rail. These can be purchased at many drug stores or at disability/mobility stores. Sometimes you may find one at a Thrift store. They’re easy to install by removing the toilet seat bolts, then inserting the aluminum holding plate under the toilet seat and reattaching the seat and bolts to the toilet. Next you insert the arm into the holding plate. You can adjust the height of the arm by moving the bottom leg up or down the peg holes. This application allows you to have support without having to drill any holes or make any other modifications to your bathroom. If you purchase a new RV it’s easy to move this nice feature with you. Keeping ideas rolling your way - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

If you Plan on Buying a New or Used RV in the Next 12 Months you Need this DVD Now

Listen up class, DO NOT buy another RV until you watch “The Better Business Bureau Buying a Recreational Vehicle” DVD. The Professor of RVing gives this 50 minute DVD his 5 sausages award! Whether it’s your first RV purchase or your 10th this is a “must see” DVD. Ok, why is it so important? Because it’s honest, down to earth and complete delivering wise advice from RV technicians and RV experts like the incomparable Gaylord Maxwell. Chuck Woodbury is the host narrator of this remarkable video bringing you the facts you’ll need to make a smart choice on your next RV purchase. You won’t find this information anywhere else and this could literally save you thousands of dollars. I guarantee that if you follow the advice given you’ll save yourself hours of second guessing and prevent the heart burn that accompanies buyers remorse. This DVD will help empower and prepare you to make the best possible choice on your next RV purchase. You can purchase the DVD here for $17.96 (which is 10% off the regular price) BBB Buying A Recreational Vehicle or if you prefer you can pick up a VHS copy here for $13.97 which is 30% off the regular price VHS Copy. Ok, class dismissed, go out and RV till next time. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Keeping Your TP Dry in RV Combo Bathrooms

RVers enjoy a tremendous advantage over traditional campers, that being the RV bathroom. This important RV feature allows you to stop anywhere and relieve yourself. An informal survey revealed that women RVers appreciate this particular feature far more than men. Men tended to rank the refrigerator as a higher priority item, but overall the RV bathroom is a high priority item to both sexes. Our first two RV’s didn’t have a bathroom. Purchasing a port-a-potty for a pop-up trailer seemed a waste because you couldn’t get into the pop-up while you were traveling and once you were at the campground you had access to the camp bathroom facilities. So we just made due until we purchased our first RV with it’s own bathroom. It was a Komfort Lite travel trailer and we quickly discovered how great having a travel along bathroom could be. It’s so much more convenient to be able to pull off anywhere instead of having to wait until you come across a rest stop. The bathroom was a combo unit which means that you could sit on the toilet seat while you took a shower. These small RV bathrooms are a great use of space, especially when space is a big factor such as in truck campers and other smaller RVs. They were certainly easy to clean, because you could use the shower head to hose everything down once you were done, including the toilet. However there is one major drawback and that is the problem of keeping the toilet paper dry. We had a shower curtain that was supposed to “guard” the area where the TP hung but it didn’t work. If you’ve ever tried to use wet toilet paper you know it’s a complete waste of time. Several ideas have come along that attempt to alleviate this problem in the combo environment. This roll-down protector seeks to keep the TP dry using the "roll-top-desk" method. I’m not sure how well this works, so if you have one of these, please leave a comment and tell us. The next method is the “safe deposit box” method that locks the roll inside a dry cabinet. This seems like it would work well, but again I don’t own one, so if you do, let us know how it works by telling us in the light blue “comments” section below. The ultimate way to keep your TP dry is to remove it from the combo room or keep it in a zip-lock plastic bag. The problem with this is that it eliminates the convenience of having the roll ready to go. You may also forget to put the roll back and that would cause more problems than I care to contemplate. Regardless of how you keep your TP dry, isn’t it great to have an onboard bathroom? Too often I take things like this for granted, but it wasn’t that long ago we didn’t even have indoor plumbing. Helping you to keep rolling along - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RV Technology Greatly Improves Truck Campers

RVers have been using truck campers for many years. In fact, my great grandfather made a camper for his Ford Model T truck and drove it from Tennessee to California. My grandfather Earl, had a truck camper because he liked to camp and fish. With a camper he was able to pull his boat and do some camping in the same trip. Today the Professor takes a look at a 10 foot six inch “Taho” made by Host Campers in Bend, Oregon. These units have a nice "cab-over" sleeping area with a skylight so you can view the stars at night. The biggest improvement from the old school campers is the slide-out rooms. These make the living area much larger and makes camping more fun. This unit has a “dry bath” which means your shower has a curtain as opposed to having your entire bathroom convert to a shower area. There is a nice skylight in the shower. The gally has a stove and combo microwave/conversion oven. There is ample storage in these units and the refrigerator is eight cubic feet. Holding tank capacity has also been improved with 60 gallons fresh, 45 grey and 35 black, you’ll be able to dry camp for a few days. All these rigs are prewired for solar power. The low profile air conditioning unit and Fantastic Vent will keep you more than comfortable in the woods. An assortment of audio/video entertainment packages are available and to power all this equipment you have a 2.5 Onan generator powered by propane gas. I like the sewer hose storage in the bumper and the easy access through the back door. Slide-out awnings and a back porch awning make this truly an all weather rig. The roof is one piece and the structure is aluminum. It has solid block insulation and dual pane windows making it a all season RV. With two propane tanks and two batteries so you’ll be able to camp in style for a while. The price point on this unit is $42,000. All this new technology in materials and hardware tell me that this is not my grandfather’s camper.
Keeping you informed and up to date on RV innovations - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RV Table for Two With an Ocean View Please

RVing allows you to see and experience this country up close and personal. Last Saturday we were enjoying an RV adventure down the Oregon coast. The scenery here fills your senses with awe and delight at every turn. We’ve been frequent visitors to the Oregon coast for years and it never gets old but continues to delight us with it’s majesty. As a retired Naval Officer, I’ve seen a great deal of the world and in my opinion there are very few coastlines as spectacular as those of Oregon. Fall and winter are some of the best times to visit here because tourist traffic is down and winter rates for RV parks and hotels begin in October. As we drove down the coast we decided to pull off in one of the many “pull-outs” and have lunch. When we dine at a restaurant that overlooks the ocean, we always want a table next to the window for a better view and these restaurants are usually expensive. This Saturday, we had a fabulous view of the ocean and beaches as we enjoyed our lunch at our RV dining table. I slid open the window and was immediately rewarded with fresh ocean air. I watched a fisherman on the beach about 100 yards below the overlook as he reeled in fish from the surf. We observed sea birds negotiate delicate landings on a large and rugged rock fortress standing alone offshore. We had a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable lunch, not because of the menu, but because of the setting. We stopped at several more of these overlooks as we traveled down the coast because there is something new and different at each one. The comfort of our RV allows us to have these experiences in many places across our land. Whether it’s in the desert or the mountains, the prairie or the beach, next to a pristine lake or overlooking a dock in Maine stacked with lobster traps the RV is our front row seat. The RV is a land yacht taking you places you’ve never been making possible a panoply of new experiences. The ultimate appeal of the RV is that you can linger longer at places you love and squeeze more out of life.

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RVers Think Outside the Box When it Comes to Storage

Fellow RVer John Culver discovered some useful storage in his generator compartment that would have otherwise been wasted space. He used plastic coated wire shelving to make a utility storage box in the front section of his generator compartment on his Monaco motorhome. He didn’t stop there, but also added three PVC sewer hose storage tubes he purchased from an RV store. You can make these out of PVC pipe available at hardware stores. Pick up a couple of female couplers with a threaded end which allows you to screw a cap onto the end. Drill a hole in the caps and insert a “keeper cord” so you won’t loose them.These storage containers are great for things like extension handles, fishing poles and tent poles. John fastened them in place with long zip-ties. This kind of innovation keeps me asking you, “What new and interesting things have you done to your RV?” So, if you see me in your neighborhood and have an idea you want to show me, I’ll be there with my camera and notepad. Keeping you apprised of novel ideas - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RVers Head Out WIth a GPS and a Treasure Map

The geocaching craze has taken off in the last few years since the advent of the personal GPS system. These handheld navigation systems make it possible for people to hide “treasure” in a “cache” for others to find. Many geocaching enthusiasts are calling this a “sport” because it requires hiking in the great outdoors. But geocaching is also done using bicycles, motorcycles, ATV’s and off-road 4 wheel drive vehicles. Here is an example of containers you might find holding a cache. There are only three rules, first you must take something (like a Groundspeak Travel Bug) and move it to another cache. Second you must leave something there and thrid, you must make entries in the log book. You could leave a joke in the log book or a riddle or the coordinates to another cache. You could also drop off a Travel Bug. A Groundspeak Travel Bug is a trackable tag that you attach to an item like a keychain. This tag is registered with the official geocaching website Geocaching.com and you can track it on the internet. Many of these tags have traveled all over the world. Dawn and Tony Denyer have been geocaching for five years and have found over 600 caches. School teacher, Val Boggs has found 106 caches on here summer breaks and tells me she does it, “Just for the exercise.” You'd be surprised at the number of RVers who do this for a hobby. If you think about it, it's the perfect RV hobby because it gives you a “reason” to go hiking and it provides a lot of enjoyment along the way. Because you RV, you travel and are able to move tags all over the country. You probably don't know it, but there are several hundred caches withing 10 miles of you right now and over 423 thousand world-wide. Helping you find the hidden treasure in the universe of RVing - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Friendly RVers Are Thoughtful RVers

RVers who leave campfires unattended are thoughtless. Besides the fact that an unattended fire has the potential to burn down the camp, many people are allergic to the products in campfire smoke. Some may have mild reactions such as congestion or watering eyes. Others can have more severe reactions such as throat constriction and asthma attacks. Many RVers don’t realize this and allow their campfires to smolder until the campground looks like Los Angeles in the 60’s. If there is a constant breeze to carry the smoke away this isn’t usually a problem. However, when there is little or no breeze, and you insist on having a campfire, then please keep it a fire and not a smoke generator. By that I mean you need to keep feeding the fire so that you see flames. There will still be smoke, but flame indicates that you are achieving a more thorough burn dissipating less smoke into your neighbors RV. And PLEASE, when you are done with your campfire put it out completely! Drown it with water, stir the ashes, drown it again, stir the ashes and repeat. When you are finished, there should be no smoke coming out of your fire pit. Don’t worry, the fire pit will dry out for the next campfire. If, however you leave your fire pit smoldering, you could be causing a kid to have an asthma attack. Many kids (including one of my grandchildren) have asthma and carry inhalers. If you’ve never experienced an asthma attack yourself or seen someone have one, you have no idea how painful and dangerous this condition really is. So, please, when you have a campfire, use it responsibly, namely keep it fed and put it out when you’re done. Helping kids have a pleasurable camping experience is one of the joys of the RV lifestyle. Keeping it real -Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Don’t Leave Your Manners At Home When You Go RVing

RVers as a group are some of the nicest well mannered people you will meet. We recently met a nice Canadian couple who parked next to us at an RV park. One afternoon as dinner rolled around, these folks decided to BBQ hamburgers (which are notoriously smokey due to the fat content of the burgers). Because they were experienced RVers and very polite people, they made it a point to ensure that the smoke from their BBQ drifted away from surrounding RV’s. It’s a blessing when you have thoughtful neighbors! I’ll have more to say about this tomorrow. Helping to keep you out of trouble in the park - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Do It Yourself RV Storage Requires Some Carpentry Skill

RVers have long used barns, outbuildings and pole barns to store their RVs. This picture I snapped on a back road in Oregon, reminded me that in some parts of the country it’s time to start thinking about storing your RV. Keeping the sun, wind and rain (not to mention the snow and ice) off of your expensive RV is a good idea. If you were contemplating building a pole barn for this purpose, here are some ideas. Above is a pole barn that has two laminate beams on the sides. The problem with this design is that it also needs more support to keep it from shifting front and back. The next design does not have the side laminate beams, but incorporates a central beam, double truss (which is one contiguous double rafter/ceiling joist unit). This truss design is strong and is more than adequate to support a light weight metal roof. These trusses were custom made and delivered ready to “lay up”. This pole barn used 24 foot 6” by 8” posts. These posts were sunk four feet ten inches into the ground. Once the posts were cemented in place they were cut level at the top. This pole barn is 16 feet across and has about 15 feet of clearance for a tall motorhome, 5th wheel or travel trailer. You can also add a permanent awning with side poles like these nice pole barns. You can also just leave it as a stand alone unit. You can build these yourself from scratch or you can order them as a kit.

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Remembering Your First Encounter With An RV

The first RV I saw as a kid was a homemade Teardrop trailer. It was silver, had a door and a window and immediately gripped my five year old attention. To me it looked like something from another planet and it could have been, because it abducted my imagination and lured me onboard. Do you remember when you saw an RV for the first time? There’s something evocative about an RV in the eyes of a child. We've had several kids explore our motorhome always with a sense of wonder and adventure. When our boys were kids they started a piggy-bank account so they could save up and buy an RV. They even drew pictures of how it would look and talked about all the places it would take our family. An RV no matter how large or small draws the attention of the kid within us all. As a child we instinctively knew the promise the RV held. It was fuel for our imagination, a source of inspiration. Maybe that's why old men who drive huge motorhomes, smile and look fondly as they pass by a teardrop trailer or a tear-drop lookalike, like the T@B by Dutchmen pictured here. Though faded with time, a Teardrop trailer or one of the many copy cats still has the power to ignite our imagination once again. Perhaps this RV has become an archetype in our collective conscience, an icon of freedom in the industrial age. Even after all these years when I see a teardrop trailer it still grips my attention. I'm irresistibly drawn to it and I want to see it inside and out. I want to touch it, crawl under it, open the windows and compartments and experience it all over again. In fact, my wife and I recently did just that at a rest stop of all places. We pulled in next to a couple who just purchased a new red Teardrop. The couple was eager to show us as we were to see it. I hope you’ll enjoy this short video essay I put together on Teardrop Trailers:

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RV Raccoon Busts A Move At Fort Stevens Campground

Rvers will appreciate one of the largest and nicest state parks in the United States. Fort Stevens was formerly a US Army base and is now run by the State of Oregon. Truly magnificent in what it has to offer. Pacific Ocean beach access, Columbia River access, nine miles of bike trails, six miles of hiking trails, a fresh water lake, military museum with displays from the Civil War up to WWII. This park is also close to other attractions like Lewis and Clark National Park, the towns of Astoria and Seaside and to top it off, you can drive on the beach. Birdwatchers will be interested in the Brown Pelicans that hang out here in September. You can view these unique birds through the windshield of your car as you drive along the beach. That's right, you can drive on the beach here and I recommend you do it during low tide as the sand is firmer and driving conditions better. I parked the car in front of a flock of pelicans and gulls and enjoyed an ice cream bar. Now that's the way to go birdwatching! As you drive north along the beach you will encounter a ship wreck. The Peter Iredale was an iron sailing ship that ran aground here in 1906.
Fort Stevens State Park is so large because it was previously an Army base. The State took it over and made it into one of the finest state parks in the United States. You'll find old batteries that held huge "disappearing rifles" that would shoot over a wall then retract back behind the wall so an enemy ship would not be able to see it to return fire. The museum is restoring one of these and you'll enjoy these one-of-a-kind displays which are free if you are a registered camper, otherwise you must pay a day use fee. This is the only US soil on the mainland that was attacked by Japan during WWII. A Japanese sub surfaced here and fired several rounds that fell harmlessly on the base. This park also encompasses the jetty at the mouth of the Columbia River. Did I mention that this park is HUGE? The campground is excellent and they even have firewood sales that bring wood right to your campsite. I sat around the campfire with my grandkids making s'mores and thought about the times I did the same with my grandparents. RVing can bring a family together and create memories and doing it at Fort Stevens will be unforgettable.

Oh, about the raccoon, well, you'll just have to watch this video:

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar and his faithful sidekick RV Raccoon

Follow the Professor as he Takes You to Fort Stevens

Most RVers think of the State of Oregon as a forested wonderland and home of Crater Lake National Park. Most don't know that Oregon was the only place in the USA that was attacked by the Japanese Navy during WWII. Fort Stevens is located at the mouth of the Columbia River and guarded this strategic port of entry dating back to the Civil War. This is the same neighborhood where the Lewis and Clark Expedition spent the winter in 1805. Follow the Professor as he takes you on a tour of Fort Stevens and the surrounding area:

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RV Professor Salutes Fuel Truck Drivers

RVers see fuel tanker trucks on the road all the time. Most of us don't think much about it until one overturns and dumps a load into a stream or catches on fire. Dramatic events aside, tanker fuel trucks are the lifeblood of over the road truckers and RVers. We depend on them to have fuel when and where we need it. Watch this video and you'll gain a new appreciation for what these fuel carriers do for us:

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RV Professor Tours Sunset Beach Oregon

RVers enjoy new destinations and this is one that is sure to please. Sunset Beach, Oregon is located near Astoria, Oregon at the mouth of the mighty Columbia River. This area is where the Lewis and Clark Expedition spent the winter back in 1805. I recommend staying at the Fort Stevens State Park. This is one of Oregon's best state parks offering beach and lake access, a historical military museum and spectacular scenery. Watch this video to see for yourself:

RVing Professor Tours Seaside Oregon

Today is September 11th. Because we Americans are freedom lovers we were attacked by terrorists. But, it is precisely BECAUSE we are Americans, that we choose not to let the wackos of the world stop us from enjoying our freedoms. So, in the spirit of freedom that was earned by the blood of of our servicemen I want the world to know that this American is having a GREAT time today. I'm out RVing and celebrating the freedom this GREAT country offers! Watch this video as the Professor of RVing (a veteran himself) takes you to Seaside, Oregon.

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RVers With Corian Counter Tops Watch This

Many RVs now have Corian counter tops. Sometimes these surfaces get scratched or gouged. The Professor of RVing shows you how to remedy this. Watch this video to learn how:

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RV Travel Trailers Watch For Speed Bumps

RV’ers need to be aware of tail dragging speed bumps at national and state parks. Here is an example of a speed bump installed by people who don’t have a clue about RVing. Fort Stevens State Park in Oregon is a prime example. This is a wonderful park but as you can see it has high speed bumps. Travel trailers suffer the most from these because when the tow vehicle’s rear tires go over the speed bump, the springs naturally move down and the tongue weight forces the hitch to it’s lowest point. Load levelers will help prevent this but will not eliminate it. That’s why you see so many gouges in these speed bumps that are too high to begin with. The best approach to these is to come to a complete stop after your rear tires have traveled over the speed bump. This gives the suspension time to level itself out and you should be able to clear the speed bumps using this approach. If you can’t clear it using this technique, then your hitch is too low, your tongue weight too heavy, your tow vehicle overloaded or any combination of these. I’ve pulled travel trailers thousands of miles, and I used load levelers. Load levelers and a sway control bar are very helpful and much safer than towing without them. Helping to keep your RVing safe and fun - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Why RVers Should Do Safety Walk-Arounds

RVers who do a safety walk-around inspection every time they stop at a rest area, fueling stop or for the night will catch problems before they become catastrophes. Check out this video to see why:


Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Traveling the American Highway is High Emotion

RVers are free spirits because they love to travel the American highways and byways exploring, anticipating something new up ahead and feeding their souls with the freshness of life that traveling so easily births. RVers see many folks on the road with their thumbs out - the international request for a free ride. It’s most unfortunate that you can’t safely pick up hitchhikers anymore. There was once a time when hitchhiking was an acceptable means of getting around the country, especially for servicemen in uniform. So, when I saw Tree Rain (yes that’s the name he goes by) standing on the corner with his thumb out and his guitar strapped around his neck, I flipped a “U” and got a free concert. You might think that Tree is a vagrant or homeless, but in fact he is a hard working construction guy who frames houses. His hobby is hitchhiking around the country by thumb, like Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan once did. He’s been doing it for eight years and loves it. He carries his camping equipment in his backpack, it’s free and he meets great people and sees the country. Work has lightened up so he’s headed out once again to explore. He told me that he’s had hundreds of positive experiences doing this. On the road, he said, “You can loose your woman or meet your woman, anything can happen, it’s just high emotion.” He said that one time a hot chick in a red convertible picked him up and took him out to lunch, “You just never know what’s gonna happen out here.” So when you see someone with a thumb up it could be a dangerous criminal or perhaps it's a free spirit like Tree Rain out to experience this great country the old fashioned way.

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Broken RV Drawers Are An Easy Fix

If you are an RVer then you will become something of an RV technician if you aren't one already. Today Mrs. Professor showed me a kitchen drawer that broke. Turns out it was the Face Frame Drawer Socket. A simple piece of plastic that is cheap and easy to replace. Watch this video to find out how to do this simple repair.

Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

RVers Want Products that Fold Away

Because RVers live in confined spaces, any product that folds up for easy storage is highly valued. Check out this video of one such product.

RV TV Cabinet Turned into Usable Storage

RV interiors can often be modified to accommodate your particular RV lifestyle. Watch this video as the Professor shows you how to turn a bedroom TV cabinet into a storage cabinet.

RV Pet Lovers Have a New Way to Give their Pets Medication

Go to any RV park or campground and you will see lots of cats, dogs and other pets. You love your pet and their medical care is very important to you. I used to give my dog Barney his pills by inserting them into hot-dog pieces or cheese, however his pills have become larger and they would often fall out and then I would have to hold his mouth open and stick the pill in the back of his throat to get him to swallow them (always a hassle). Our veterinarian introduced us to a product called “Pill Pockets” and we haven’t had any trouble giving him medicine since. They come in small, medium and large, however you get more value for your money if you buy the large and just break off pieces large enough to envelop the pills. Watch this video to get a feel for how you do this. Helping you keep your pets happy and healthy - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing and ROAD Scholar

RVers Make More Time for Fun

The RV lifestyle is one of fun and leisure. Who wants to spend hours cooking when you can have a quick meal? I enjoy cooking, but I have to be in the mood to do it and I also have to be willing to clean up the mess. On driving days and when you just need a fast meal, prepared food items are the answer. When I was a kid you choices for fast weren’t that many because the microwave hadn’t come to our neck of the woods. Today you have thousands of ready made food choices. These are easy to fix and usually quick to prepare. I usually take these items out of their boxes and repackage them in an air tight plastic zip bag for more compact RV freezer storage. RVers are now free to spend more time doing what they like to do instead of cooking. Helping you get the most out of your RV lifestyle - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar

Pick Your Paper for the RV

RVers are huge consumers of paper products. In our coach we have over 15 kinds of paper that include toilet paper, boxes of tissue paper, wrapping paper, paper plates, boxes, paper bowls, paper towels, napkins, photo paper, printing paper, wax paper, stationary, scratch paper, news paper and paper bags. Face it, paper is here to stay and we are doing our part to help out the logging industry. But, you ask, do you really need that much paper? No, we don’t, but it makes RVing so much easier when we use disposable paper products. They decompose quickly in a landfill and are a major convenience. I would like to point out that the Professor has been using more paper towels than napkins as of late. They accomplish the same thing and are so much easier to grab off the roll than reaching up in the cupboard for the napkin basket. So, theoretically anyway, you could dispense with the napkins and rely on the roll instead. Helping to keep you on a roll - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing, Dr. of RVology and ROAD Scholar