Issue 187 of the world's largest email RV newsletter: Learn about RV camping, RV travel, RV news and much more.
An alert for this issue was emailed to 111,257 RVers
To ensure you continue to receive email alerts for this newsletter,
please place the email address below in your own email address book:
rvtraveler@topica.email-publisher.com
Truck Stops Love RVers!
The 2006 RVers Friend is HOT OFF THE PRESS. It lists every Travel Center in the U.S. and Canada and the services each provides RVers. Learn which offer overnight stays, dump stations, Internet access, propane, ATMs, or other services. Learn more or order for only $12.95
Editor's Corner
 |
| Don't worry, you don't have to pick your litter here. You don't, however, have to pick up "after your litter." A litter, by definition, is the offspring produced at one birth by a multiparous mammal. So if you have any multiparous mammals with you, be sure to pick up their trash. Okay? |
By Chuck Woodbury
Welcome to another information packed issue of the world's largest consumer RV e-newsletter, with readers throughout the USA, Canada and in dozens of other countries spanning the globe including Croatia, Japan, Australia, Finland and Russia and even tiny mountaintop country Andorra.
I believe you may feel the way that I do that everytime I turn around it's the holiday season. It's here, it's gone, it's back again. Yikes! Time is going much too fast for this former young man who is now witnessing a frightning transformation in his mirror every morning. "How is it that my father shows up there everytime I shave?" I ask before realizing that it's not Dad at all but me, a guy who once thought that anyone over 30 was old! Geez. . . we baby boomers didn't have a bloody clue back then, did we?
That said, my staff I would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. We hope you enjoy your feast and the companionship of friends and family. If you are well off and are able to share your bounty, please make a donation to your local food bank. Many are hurting this year after our catastrophic natural disasters. If you will be on the road, be sure to read Jo Shilling's advice about how she prepares her Thanksgiving meal in her small Class B motorhome kitchen.
I am thrilled to report a new feature on the RVtravel.com website, "Historic Roads," by full-time RVer Jerry (RiverGuy) Brown. Jerry will do practically anything to avoid an Interstate, which means he spends a lot of time on America's historic roads — many of them bypassed highways of yesteryear. Jerry is not the only RVer who travels these old roads — many of us do, knowing that what we find is a whole lot more interesting than what's along the Interstates. So please follow Jerry as he RVs these great old roads.
Next Sunday I'll be in Louisville, Kentucky for the annual national RV trade show. This is where manufacturers debut their new models. In addition, hundreds of other companies show off their own products. So I'll be roaming around seeking out information I can pass along to you here and in our family of websites.
Finally, a plug: If you're looking for a holiday gift for your favorite RVer, be sure to keep RVbookstore.com in mind. We even have a special section on books and DVDs we think make great gifts.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Visit the RV Travel Reader Forum to discuss everything to do with RVs and RVing with other RVers. Register to join in the discussion or just lurk and read what's there. Good stuff!
The Better Business Bureau DVD "Buying an RV" is now back in stock in our bookstore. RVtravel.com is the proud sponsor of this 50-minute video of which yours truly (Chuck) is the handsome host. If you are planning to purchase an RV, you must see this BBB video or risk paying too much, buying the wrong rig, financing it the wrong way, or being stuck with a lemon. Available in DVD and VHS.
There was no winner last week in our Pot of Gold Quiz. The cash prize now stands at $121. Be sure to visit RVbookstore.com every weekday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Pacific Time) to see if you live in that day's randomly selected Zip Code. If you do and you're the first to tell us, you win the cash, which increases every day there is no winner. So far, we have awarded $755 in prize money.
Okay. . . on with the issue.
2006 Mapquest RV & Campsites Guide & Atlas
Finally, a road atlas especially for RVers! This 2006 Mapquest Road Atlas and Campground Directory is outstanding! Complete with US state and Canadian province road maps, color photos and 3,700 campground listings. Read more or order,
This Week's Reader Survey
If you were a teacher, how would you grade this newsletter based on the issues you've read? Answer here.
Past reader surveys and results
How did RV Travel readers respond to this question:
"While camping, have you ever heard scary noises outside your RV in the night?"
Learn how more than 1,000 readers responded.
Saturday's Gasoline Prices
Highest price: Pukalani, Hawaii. $2.99
Lowest price: Indianapolis, Iindiana: $1.77
Average: $2.16
Las week's highest, average and lowest prices: $3.14/$1.79/$2.28
(Source: GasPriceWatch.com)
Locate Wal-Mart stores
Use this directory to plan free overnight stays.
Get easy driving directions to every Wal-Mart in America.
Learn more about the Wal-Mart Locator or order. 20% Off.
KNOWLEDGE QUIZ
FIVE Quizzes Today. Win a $125 shopping spree at RVbookstore.com (details below).
Look for a pop quiz or two with terrific prizes many weeks at RVbookstore.com.
Sign up to receive an email alert of quiz start times.
Want to travel full-time with an RV?
Anyone who is thinking of traveling full-time with an RV will have his or her questions answered in this wonderful 90-minute DVD. Interviews with dozens of fulltimers as well as experts on the lifestyle. Learn more or order.
Dry camping - extending your stay
One great thing about RVs is the freedom to spend time in special places while still enjoying our creature comforts. Frequently however, national forest camps, national, state and local parks and other areas may provide limited hookups or none at all. Dry camping (camping without hookups) allows us to enjoy these places in style. The downside is that our stay can be limited by our onboard resources. In this article learn tips and techniques for extending your dry camping by managing fresh water usage and waste water storage and disposal.
Free issue of Country Discoveries Magazine
Treat yourself to a FREE Issue of Country Discoveries! It's bursting with the best-kept travel secrets, moneysaving tips and unique locations RV enthusiasts like you want to know about! Explore scenic backroads, charming towns and off-the-beaten-path destinations in this one-of-a-kind AD-FREE travel magazine. Click here to claim your FREE Issue!
RV Boondocking Tips
By Russ and Tina Demaris
The dangers of heating with a stove top burner
We know some RVers who "take the chill off" the rig by lighting up a burner or two, or turning up the heat on the oven and opening the door. Think twice! Ovens and range tops are designed for heating food -- not people. Without sufficient flows of fresh air, you can snuff yourself out like a candle. Not withstanding, gas grates -- those black metal fellows you put your pans on -- are designed for heat to be distributed onto a pan bottom. Heat them up for long without a pan to take the heat and you can actually warp and damage them. Since range tops are one of the few gas appliances not equipped with a safety valve, if the pilot light should ever blow out or in some way become extinguished while gas is still flowing to the pilot burner, there is nothing to stop the gas flow. If you notice the smell of rotten eggs or a garlicky odor, turn the thermostat valve completely off, open doors and windows, and take a nice stroll outside for a few minutes until the air clears.
Russ and Tina Demaris are authors of RV Boondocking Basics and Boondocking Tips for RVers: More Fun Without Hookups
Books and videos about Boondocking
Southern Florida Campgrounds Not Ready for Winter Visitors
Broward County's campgrounds usually begin filling up this month but Hurricane Wilma changed that. Many campgrounds are closed while workers remove fallen trees and others areas are being used as sites for displaced Broward residents. "I expect we will have a camping season in Broward, but I just don't know when," said Bob Harbin, the county's parks and recreation director. RVers who have reservations with county parks should call for updates and site availabilities.
ABCs of RVing:
For absolute beginners and RV novices only.
QUESTION: We have the opportunity to buy a used motorhome at an excellent price. The RV has leaked in the past -- you can actually see the ceiling stain. Should we be concerned? ANSWER: Absolutely! What isn't visible in the frame could spell very bad news. Our advice is to have the rig carefully inspected by a qualified RV technican. It could be that the leak was fixed with little permanant damage. If not, it will likely cost you a bundle to get it repaired, probably erasing your "excellent price" savings and then some. In that case, pass on this "bargain."
So many motorhome choices - Class A, B and C pros and cons
If you are considering purchase of an RV, and you have decided that a motorized unit is more to your liking than a towable, you still have many options to evaluate before taking the plunge. Your choices are broadly categorized as Class A, Class B and Class C motor homes. Here is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you make your selection.
Beginners Guide to RVing: Articles and information for brand-new RVers. Learn the ropes.
New Additions to FreeCampgrounds.com
Free or inexpensive places to camp with your RV.
Itchetucknee Springs Campground: Fort White, Florida
Fifteen miles off I-75 next to Itchetucknee Springs State Park. Boondocking in a grass field with water and dump station available for $10. Sites with electric and showers $15.
Ashburn RV Park: Ashburn, Georgia
Campground adjacent to motel near I-75. Water, electric, rest rooms and dump station. $10.
Wichita River Bend Municipal Park: Wichita Falls, Texas
Take the 300 Central Freeway Texas Tourist Information exit off I-44. City park along the Big Wichita River has water and electricity, about 25 spaces and can accommodate rigs up to about 35 feet. Wichita Falls is the summer home to the Dallas Cowboys. $10.
The information above was provided by visitors to FreeCampgrounds.com. The information has not been verified. Learn about more than 870 free and inexpensive campgrounds.
Bumper Snicker
Books & DVDs at RVbookstore.com
|
2005 Big Rig Best Bets Campground Directory:
Drive a king-sized RV? This directory is for you. Buy or get info.
RV Boondocking Basics
Learn how to RV without hookups in the best-selling book "RV Boondocking Basics." Live well without plugging in and hooking up, and save money in the process. Covers solar, wind power and more. Get more information or order
Manage Your RV's 12 Volt System
Learn all about your RVs 12-volt electrical system including how to upgrade and operate it and troubleshoot problems.
RVers Guide to Solar Battery Charging
Learn everything an RVer needs to know to enjoy the comforts of household power through the power of the sun.
RVing the Alaska Highway
Join Bob and Judy Howen as they drive the Alaska Highway in their motorhome. See the road through their front window. Visit campgrounds and other RVer attractions.
Quartzsite, Arizona. See it on DVD!
Visit the Boondocking Capital of the West on DVD. Like being there!
2005 Campground Directories
. . . from Trailer Life, Woodall's and Frommer's.
Headed to Alaska? The Milepost is the #1 guide to getting there.
DVDs show how to operate your RV
Learn how to use every system, how to set up, how to drive or pull your RV and more. Class A motorhome • Class C motorhome • Pop Up • Travel Trailer/Fifth Wheel
Camp at Casino RV Parks. . . (Sometimes for FREE)
Learn which casinos have RV parks and which ones offer free overnight stays in their parking lots. Learn more.
Next Exit Directory. . . Don't get lost!
Never take a wrong exit off an Interstate highway again. The 2005 Next Exit lists every exit along every Interstate and what's at each: campgrounds, fuel, truck stops, casinos, malls, rest areas, hospitals and more. A bargain at only $12.95.
Camping and RVing with Dogs
Get expert advice on traveling with a dog and learn about dog-friendly campgrounds and RV parks Learn more or order
2005 Guide to Free Campgrounds of the West
Tired of paying too much for campgrounds. How about staying for free (or nearly free). Learn more or order.
Traveler's Guide To The Firearm Laws of the 50 States
Don't carry a weapon across state lines without knowing the laws. Explains the specific gun laws of every U.S. state.
All The Stuff You Need To Know About RVing
The best book for beginning RVers. Order or get more information.
Books and DVDs about how to buy an RV
Books about earning an income on the road
RV books for less than $9.99
|
|
Super fast delivery. Nine out of ten orders (Mon.-Sat.) ship within 6 hours. "You need it, so we speed it!" |
"I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory."
Read other funny bumper stickers or buy them.
RVing to Mexico
Mexico RVing experts Dot and Bill Bell answer questions about travel in Mexico. Read their articles.
Guidebooks and DVDs about RVing in Mexico
Join the Good Sam Club. Only $19 a year. Save on campground fees.
Short Stops, by Jerry (RiverGuy) Brown
Cumberland Island, Georgia
Cumberland Island National Seashore is only a few miles from I-95 in south east Georgia, but it seems like a world away. Its miles of wide sandy beaches are never crowded because of visitor restrictions and ferry-only access. Trails wind through woods and marshes and past ruins of once grand homes. You are as likely to meet up with wild horses on the shore as with other visitors. The island is also home to abundant shore birds and other wildlife. Guided nature walks are available. The charming village of St. Marys is the gateway to the island. Nearby Crooked River State Park is a good place for RVers to stay, and the many RV parks and campgrounds in nearby Jacksonville, Florida, are also convenient. Allow a whole day for this outing and bring both lunch and drinking water.
Fractional RV Ownership
CoachShare is a better way to own a luxury motorcoach!
Do you dream of owning a luxurious motorcoach, but don't want the year-round expense and hassles of private ownership? Why not "share" a luxury coach with CoachShare? Pay only for the time you need and save up to 80 percent over full-time ownership. Learn more.
Bill's Hint
"Raise the front of your RV very slightly to minimize the collection of moisture on the roof of a slideout. Don't overdo it. Remember that the refrigerator needs to be as leval as possible." From Motorhomes Made Easy.
RV TV Show to devote segment to Hurricane Katrina
The RV Today TV show will follow host Stew Oleson through New Orleans on its weekly episode to air November 19-25 on the Outdoor Life Network. Besides documenting the devastation, Oleson will show how the government has used RVs to house personnel and provide temporary offices.
RV Christmas cards
If you love RVing so much that you would like to send out holiday cards with an RV theme, then you will love these, created by artist Evanne Schmarder. Visit her website to view the cards.
Weird, Wacky and/or Wonderful Festivals
Festival of Light: Chickasha, Oklahoma
From November 22 through December 31, more than 3.5 million lights will shine on 90 lakeside displays, trees and walkways throughout Chickasha from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. One of America's largest Christmas trees -- 16 stories tall -- will be on display. Crystal Bridge has 75,000 lights. Carriage rides are available as well as drive-through or walk-through tours. Free. For information: 405-224-9627.
Do you camp in a Pop Up Trailer?
Then you will enjoy Pop Up Times, America’s only magazine devoted to camping with a pop up. Learn more.
Museum of the Week
Strong Museum: Rochester, New York
The Strong Museum, home to the National Toy Hall of Fame, is the second largest children's museum in the U.S. Its 500,000 objects include the world's largest and most historically significant collection of dolls and toys, and America’s most comprehensive collections of homecrafts and souvenirs. The 23-year-old museum contains more than 70,000 toys and dolls and features circus memorabilia, children's books, household furniture, miniatures and various objects of American culture dating from the 1820s. So far, 34 classic toys have been enshrined in the National Toy Hall of Fame, from Barbie to Mr. Potato Head, Legos to Lincoln Logs, Slinky to Play-Doh and Crayola crayons to marbles. For information: 585-263-2700.
Do you drive a really BIG RV?
RVers with big rigs will love the 2006 Rand McNally Motor Carriers' Road Atlas. Designed for truckers, this atlas shows where to travel to avoid low overpasses and narrow roads where a big RV could get into trouble. NEW! Learn more or order.
Trivia
One in three snakebite victims is drunk. One in five is tattooed.
Buying an RV? Get online prices
from dealers in your area & SAVE!
In less than 60 seconds, request quotes on new or used RVs from up to three dealers in your area. Compare quotes to find your best deal! No charge, no obligation. Learn more or get quotes.
This issue's
Knowledge Quiz
FIVE QUIZZES TODAY
with fabulous prizes!
The prizes:
--$125 in books and/or DVDs at RVbookstore.com! This will come in mighty handy for holiday gifts for your favorite RVer!
--The best selling book Trailer Life's RV Repair & Maintenance Manual -- THE resource about repairing and maintaining an RV.
-- A "Blood Thirsty" Psycho Shark. Pull the string on this awesome toy and then scream!
--The VHS video, Boondocking On Public Lands. Visit the best boondocking areas of Southern Calif. and Arizona!
--A RVbookstore.com coffee mug. Even rot-gut coffee tastes good in this fab mug!
Answer the Quizzes here on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 11 a.m., Noon., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., Pacific Time.
Knowledge Quiz official rules
Zany Business Slogan of the Week
"Hair Conditioned Premises" — Beauty shop sign
New Arrivals at RVbookstore.com
Wow! There are always lots of new books and DVDs at the world's largest RV bookstore. Check them out.
Women RVers
If you're a woman and you RV alone (or want to), then there is much good information for you here.
This issue's secret word: Tomato
DID YOU KNOW?
Marine Reservists, headed by Major Bill Hendricks in Los Angeles, distributed 5,000 toys to children in 1947. The campaign was so successful that the following year the Marines adopted the practice nationwide and formed the Toys for Tots organization. Walt Disney designed the Toys for Tots logo in 1948.
RV Tech Topics.
How to enjoy your RV in the winter
RVing in winter isn't the taboo thing today it was in years past. Some of today’s RVs are built to take the cooler weather in stride. For any RVer, here are a few tips to make winter RVing more enjoyable. Read more.
Towing a dinghy four wheels down
Some vehicles can be towed behind a motor home with all four wheels on the ground and don't require any modifications. Other vehicles require modifications to the drive train or transmission before they can be towed with all four wheels on the ground. Most vehicle manufacturers cover towing requirements in the vehicle owner's manual. If you still have doubts talk to an engineer from the automobile manufacturer. Another reliable source is www.motorhomemagazine.com each year they publish a list of vehicles that can be towed with all four wheels on the ground. You also need to be sure that the motor home and the receiver hitch on the motor home are rated for the amount of weight you will be towing. Be careful not to exceed the Gross Combined Weight Rating also. — Mark Polk (Learn about Mark Polk's RV "How-to" DVDs and eBooks.)
Bye, bye bumper sticker
Bumper stickers, like "I Survived Mickey's Burger Barn" can be squirted thoroughly with WD-40 and carefully scraped off with a plastic putty knife. — Russ Demaris
EXPLORER RV: Insurance to protect and save
Owners of motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels & medium-duty tow vehicles save up to 15% over our largest competitors by tailoring their coverage from over a dozen options. Learn more or get a quote.
Raw information
AAA estimates that 37.29 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving holiday, with two percent of them staying in RV parks. * * * The Cartoon Network will soon debut a new show where a young superhero named Ben travels the country by RV with his grandpa and female cousin. Ben's challenge is to find the best way to use his power for the good of mankind. * * * Officials in Fort Worth, Texas, are evaluating the city's policy of allowing RV parking in its neighborhoods Citizens have complained that some owners never move their rigs from their driveways, causing an eyesore. Officials in Portsmouth, Virginia are pondering the same situation. * * * Wal-Mart has opened a "energy efficient" super store in Aurora, Colo, that is complete with a 50-acre grass prairie plus an area for overnight parking for RVers traveling I-70. * * *
GET A FREE ISSUE OF TRAILER LIFE OR MOTORHOME MAGAZINE
RVing Resources. . .
Archives of early issues of RV Travel
Upcoming RV Shows
RV-Links
Loads of links to great websites about RVing
Investigate a company with the
Better Business Bureau before making a purchase.
Headed to Canada?
See entry regulations.
RV Travel Readers' Forum
Exchange ideas and information with other RVers.
Full Time RVing
RV Recalls
Workamping Information
Worth Pondering
"As you get older it is harder to have heroes, but it is sort of necessary." -- Ernest Hemingway
Products for $9.99 or less at RV Bookstore. Check them out.
Random RV Thought
Rest areas are like little cities with a constantly changing population. Most RVers love rest areas. They are good places to stretch one's legs, walk the dog, or to prepare a grilled cheese sandwich for dining at a picnic table. Sometimes a nap is in order, and they can be especially satisfying on a warm, lazy day. Some rest areas are simply parking lots with a restroom. Others are elaborate with a full-blown restaurant, store and gas station. Rest areas in National Forests and along rural highways are often in beautiful settings with trails to walk for exercise, where the aroma of the air can be as captivating as the scenery (sagebrush in the desert or pine in the mountains). Of course, some rest areas are noisy and smell of diesel exhaust, which is further evidence that in life we win some and we lose some.
Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We're just human! So don't go spending $10,000 on something we said was good just because we said so, or fixing something like we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. So be sure to check things out.
RV Travel is rated PG* by the St. Louis Organization of Plumbers. (SLOP)
Of all the websites known to man (and woman), only 1.27 percent are more popular than RVtravel.com.
RVbookstore.com is a proud member of the Better Business Bureau. We strive for excellence in all we do and that's the absolutely, 100 percent and honest truth. Our customers receive really, really fast service. We move so fast in sending out a customer's order that sometimes we move too fast to even see. Our motto is "You need it so we speed it," and no truer words were ever spoken! If you're in Edmonds, Wash., stop by to tour our offices and warehouse and meet our staff. We're a block from the fishing pier near the passenger terminal of the Kingston Ferry, gateway to the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas.
RV Travel staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Contributors: Russ and Tina Demaris, Chris Dougherty, Mark Polk, Jerry (RiverGuy) Brown, Bill and Dot Bell. Forum Administrator: Adrienne Kristine. Office Manager: Jody Allcott. Web Operations Director: Zoey Platt. Warehouse Administrator: Walter Cardwell. Clapper Loader: Emily Woodbury. Mascot: Georgie, the "give me food now or else!" Jack Russell terrier.
RV Travel is copyright 2005 by RVbookstore.com. Our International Headquarters: RVbookstore.com, 170 W. Dayton Street, Suite 103, Edmonds WA 98020, USA, Earth, Milky Way, Known Universe, Unknown Universe.
*Pretty good
