By Bob Difley Those who lead an active RV lifestyle are indeed fortunate, but it does require some adjustment to become truly efficient, a requirement that enables us to have fun and avoid the stresses of life both on and off the road. Unlike living in a house, one of the dilemmas we have all had to face is…
Read MoreCategory: Bob Difley
Furnace gobbles electricity when boondocking: Try this instead
Here’s a question from a reader of RVtravel.com about boondocking. Hi Bob, Our RV’s furnace, though powerful and keeps us warm, uses a lot of electricity while booondocking. Is there a better way to stay warm? —Karen and Thelma Hi Karen and Thelma, I remember having the same question when I first started boondocking many years ago. Today, a lot…
Read MoreSecure your keys in HitchSafe receiver safe
By Bob Difley Do you ever fear that you may lose your keys during a hike? According to the best thieves, there is no perfect place to hide your keys in your campsite or on your RV that they can’t find. But now HitchSafe may have solved that problem. The HitchSafe HS7000 Key Vault slides into your hitch receiver…
Read MoreNuCam WR wireless camera assists backing into campsites
By Mike Richardson When you schedule a weekend camping trip in Oregon, you know you risk a rainy time. So it wasn’t a total surprise when we pulled in to find the coastal campsite we had reserved ahead was half submerged. A quick trip to the main office and we found one still available which was dry enough to use,…
Read MoreBureau of Reclamation camping — an RVing win-win
By Bob Difley The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s mission is to “manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American Public.” This mission encompasses 289 developed recreation areas on 6.5 million acres of land and water in 17 western states, mainly for water-based outdoor recreation including camping…
Read MoreBeyond Forest Service and BLM public lands for boondocking
Here’s a question from a reader of RVtravel.com about boondocking. Hi Bob, I’ve just begun boondocking on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands and enjoy it very much. But I’m wondering if there are other public or private lands where boondocking is permitted. —Oscar G. Hi Oscar, There sure are, though the BLM, with 247.3 million acres –…
Read MoreGet free, but valuable, RV info from the Forest Service
By Bob Difley Summer is almost here, and boondockers will soon be looking for campsites in the national forests. These tips may help make your camping trip more efficient and more pleasurable. Plan to reach the Forest Service (FS) office or visitor center before it closes, but also allow enough time to dump, fill water, and shop for food…
Read MoreMonitor/control RV functions with iN-Command Control Systems
By Bob Difley iN-Command® Control Systems is a multi-function RV controller that puts the user at the helm of their RV. With app control technology, a user can monitor and control many of their RV functions from their smart device in or around their vehicle. The system can also be controlled from the Display Commander (DC), a touch screen…
Read MoreBoondocking rules and permits on U.S. public lands explained
Here’s a question from a reader of RVtravel.com about boondocking. Hi Bob, As a new member and boondocker we are planning a long trip next summer in Utah and other states starting from Canada. I am wondering if we need to have a permit from the BLM office and if we need it from each state, to boondock on their…
Read MoreFree RV spot? Try caretaking — trade skills, or your presence
By Bob Difley Caretaking takes many forms, such as simply camping at a remote location to deter theft or vandalism or staying on someone else’s property while they are away. This could 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…
Read MorePerform your own diagnostics on your vehicles with CarMD
By Bob Difley Using CarMD is like having a crystal ball for your car or light truck. We’ve all had that dreaded “check engine” light suddenly cast its ominous red glow from our dashboard. “When your car’s ‘Check Engine’ light comes on,” says online automotive resource Edmunds.com, “it’s usually accompanied by a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach.…
Read MoreTry this Oregon Coast nesty forest service campground
Here’s a question from a reader of RVtravel.com about boondocking. Hi Bob, We will be traveling down the coast of Oregon this summer and though I know that lots of RVers want to have an ocean view, I thought there might be some interesting campgrounds/boondocking places along the route that don’t have an ocean view but are equally interesting. Can you…
Read More