Issue 225
of RV Travel, voted the best RV newsletter in America*: Learn about RV
camping, RV travel, RV news and much more. This newsletter is funded
through sales at RVbookstore.com, the World's Largest RV Bookstore
specializing in books and DVDs about RVs and the RV lifestyle.
This newsletter is posted early every Sunday morning.
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
2006 Wal-Mart Locator
Hundreds
of new stores. Use to plan free overnight stays. Get driving directions
to every Wal-Mart in America. New in this edition: Stores that sell
diesel fuel! Retail price $24.95. Order Now for our Everyday Low Discount Price of only $19.83
Editor's Corner
By Chuck Woodbury
I
live about a mile from my office on the waterfront of Edmonds, Wash.,
just north of Seattle. On nice days I walk to work. Friday was sunny
and warm, and the Friday before was, too. My route home is alongside
the vehicle holding line for the Washington State Ferry to the Kitsap
and Olympic Peninsulas. On Fridays, the line is typically a mile long
this time of year.
But something is
very different now -- the almost total absence of RVs. Last year, there
would have been a couple of dozen, most en route to campgrounds on the
Olympic Peninsula. Yet, last Friday none were in line when I walked
home at 4 p.m. Zero! The Friday before I counted one. The fares to
cross Puget Sound have gone up lately, but that alone cannot be
responsible for the dramatic decrease in RVs.
|
Coming June 1 |
 |
| The inaugural issue of RV Travel Magazine will be hot off the press in a week. Send for your free issue. |
Despite the glowing
stories the RV industry is feeding the media about how RVers are
continuing to travel as they always have. . . Well, I for one do not
believe it. Those ferry lines say a lot, and what they say is that
there are a lot of RVs back in driveways and not on the road. My guess
is that high gas prices are finally taking their toll, not only in how
much it costs to drive an RV, but how much money consumers have left in
their wallets at the end of the month for discretionary spending. What
do you think? Please take a minute to answer this week's reader survey.
Our new RV Travel Magazine rolls off the
press next week. I think it's just great and I believe you will, too. A
two issue introductory subscription is available at RVbookstore.com for $3.96.
Our RVbookstore.com open house May 13 was fun. People came from as far away as Arizona and Oregon to our Seattle-area warehouse. Our next event is set for June 10, when we will also kick off our monthly seminar series. Jaimie Hall will be with us to discuss working on the road. Jaimie is the editor of Workamper News and the author of Support Your RV Lifestyle. We will announce our other seminar speaker next week and provide information about how to sign up. The seminars are free.
New Everyday Low Prices at RVbookstore.com
Ninety percent of the books, DVDs and videos at the World's Largest RV Bookstore are now marked down to everyday low prices of 10 to 35 percent below retail
(with daily specials up to 80 percent off). We've grown, and we're
passing along our volume discounts to you! Weekday orders in by 4
(Pacific Time) are shipped the same day! "You need it, so we speed it." Visit RVbookstore now.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our new RV Travel Print Edition
We had a winner last week on our Pot Of Gold Zip Code Contest.
Judy Brija-Towery of Des Moines, Iowa pocketed a cool $279.
Congratulations! We're putting the contest on hold for now, but it will
be back, and we'll have the announcement of the start date in a future
newsletter.
If you are in the market for an RV, please check our new RVs for Sale department at NewRVer.com. You'll find hundreds of new and used rigs.
Due to popular demand, we now accept several additional credit cards at RVbookstore.com. Besides Visa and Mastercard, we now accept Discover, American Express and Diner's Club cards.
This Week's Reader Survey
Are high gas prices forcing you to cut your spending for nonessential items? Answer here.
Last week's survey question:
How many slideouts does your RV have? Read the results.
Past reader surveys and results
RV EZ Level -The latest product in electronic RV Leveling
Electronics makes leveling fast, accurate and easy. Say good-bye to old fashioned bubble levels. Available at RVtoyOutlet.com
Articles from the RV family of websites
New to RVing? This article is for you!
It
doesn't cover everything a newbie might want to know, but it provides a
bucket-full of helpful suggestions about how to get started and where
to find more information. Read the article.
Just bought an RV? Take a shakedown cruise
Before
you take off on a two-week or longer trip in your new RV, it's a good
idea to start a little closer to home with a shakedown trip. Find
problems when you're close to home, so you can get them fixed
conveniently. Read all about it.
Pooch's potty habits have RVer perplexed
A
new RVer discovers that when she takes a break from the RV, her dog
takes that as a clue to use the carpet for potty-time. What should she
do? Our RVingWithDogs.com editor has suggestions.
The Keys to RVing
Keep track of your keys. Don't get locked out. And you might save yourself some big bucks. This is good advice.
DVDs show how to operate your motorhome or trailer
Learn, step-by-step, how to use every system, how to set up, how to drive or pull your RV and more.
Class A motorhome • Class C motorhome • Travel Trailer/Fifth Wheel • Pop Up Trailer
Campground directory for owners of big RVs!
Do
you drive a long motorhome or trailer/tow vehicle combination? Then you
know that not every RV park can accommodate you! Learn which ones can
and even which campsites are best! The editors of the 2006 Big Rigs
Best Bets Campground Directory have visited every campground in their
best-selling directory. Plus: extensive WiFi location directory. Learn more or order.
Check out our RV Travel Forum discussions
--Are gloves really necessary when dumping holding tanks? Lots of opinions, for sure.
--A reader suggests "brace bars" for keeping contents of a fridge in place. Others weigh in.
--A "wrinkling rubber roof" is this RVers problem. What should he do?
-"Why won't my RV refrigerator cool?" a forum member asks. She gets plenty of theories.
--A beginning RVer plans to rent an RV and travel the USA this summer. He's looking for advice.
-And in the FreeCampgrounds.com forum:
A member asks. Where would you NEVER boondock again? This discussion is just getting going. So where won't you return to?
How to get Internet access on the road
Full-time RVer Steven Fletcher has just released the second edition of his popular eBook,
"RVers Guide to Internet Access On The Road." Learn everything you need
to know about getting online on the road -- by cell phone, satellite,
WiFi and more. Get info or order for instant delivery by email.
2006 Next Exit Directory
Don't get lost! Never take a wrong exit off an Interstate highway again. The 2006 Next Exit
lists every exit along every Interstate and what's at each:
campgrounds, fuel, truck stops, casinos, malls, rest areas, hospitals
and more. Learn more or order.
Guide to Dump Stations: So, where ya goin' to lighten your load? Get THE guide at a discount price.
The ABCs of RVing
Adding extra air to tires. Good idea or not?
You
may hear talk about adding some extra air to RV tires for safety. Tire
manufacturers once recommended increasing the tire pressure by ten
percent above the amount required to carry the load you determined by
the weighing process. Theoretically, this provided a margin of safety
and allowed for the natural depletion of air pressure as time passed.
However, that ten percent recommendation is now built into the tire
ratings for the RV type tires. There is no need to add more. This tip is one of more than 500 in All the Stuff You Need to Know About RVing by Ronald Jones and Robert Lowe.
Explorer RV Insurance
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.
Visit Camping World
When you need something for your RV, big or small, make Camping World your first stop. Click here.
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.
Gas prices nearing $4 in rural Nevada
While
news reports in Las Vegas talked about the price of gas rising above $3
per gallon for regular unleaded gas at the start of May, the price of
premium at the Texaco and Shell stations in rural Tonopah along U.S.
95/6, needs only another 31 cents to reach $4 per gallon. What did you pay the last time you filled up your car or RV?
Planning to see the movie "RV?"
Of
the more than 800 RV Travel readers who answered our recent survey
about what they thought of the Robin Williams comedy "RV," more than
half thought it was "hilarious." Only about five percent did not like
it or thought it was a waste of their time. The film will be released
on DVD in July. Did you see "RV," but didn't answer our five-second
survey yet? What did you think?
Buying a used car or RV? Learn the vehicle's history. Get a free VIN report at Carfax.com
Don't pay high prices for campsites
With Passport America you pay half-price at more than 1,350 campgrounds. No contracts. Just $44 a year. Learn more.
Bill's Hint
"Don't permit anyone on a slideout when it is in motion" -- From Trailers and Fifth Wheels Made Easy.
Bubonic plague closes campground
A campground
at Utah's Natural Bridges National Monument has been closed because of
bubonic plague detected among field mice and chipmunks. Plague also has
been found this spring in rodent populations at Mesa Verde National
Park and Colorado National Monument. Several weeks ago, park rangers
noticed a large number of dead field mice at Natural Bridges, about 40
miles west of Blanding. Humans usually contract bubonic plague after
being bitten by fleas that have bitten infected rodents.
. . . Also, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
has temporarily closed the South Manistique Lake State Forest
Campground so it can address severe infestation of beech bark disease
and the hazards caused from dead and dying trees. The campground is
located in Mackinac County, six miles southwest of Curtis.
Letter to the editor
Dear Chuck,
Why don't you put a picture of yourself in the newsletter? -- Sue in Pueblo, Colorado
Sue,
People
ask me that all the time. I just say, "I'm handsome and I don't want to
make other guys feel bad." That's a lie, of course. Actually, I quit
publishing my photo after I got my last driver's license. Yipes, who is
that old guy in the picture? I used to walk into bars and women would
look at me. Still, sometimes they wave like they want me to join them.
I wave back and get excited. If I were a dog, my tail would be knocking
over chairs. Then I realize they're waving to the guy behind me who
looks like I did back in the third quarter of the 20th century. How
embarrassing! Geez! Anyway, I am publishing a photo of myself in our
new RV Travel Magazine
coming out June 1. It's really great how many years you can shave off
yourself with Photoshop. . . .Okay. . . what the heck, here's a photo
of me. It was taken a few years ago. It's me with my girlfriend at the time.
"How to buy an RV" from the Better Business Bureau
New
50-minute DVD from the BBB explains how to buy an RV. Learn how to get
the best deal, the best rig (for you) and how to avoid classic buying
mistakes. Hosted by RV Travel editor Chuck Woodbury. Introductory price: $19.95. Available in DVD and VHS.
Bumper Snicker
"Your village called. They are looking for their idiot."
Read other funny bumper stickers or buy them.
2006 Traveler's Guide To The Firearm Laws of the 50 States
RVers
who travel with a firearm may not know that what’s legal in their home
state may be a felony in another. This guide explains the specific gun
laws of every state. Learn more or order.
The following message was posted to the RV Travel.com forum.
Not a happy camper over AAA Emergency Road Service.
I
had the AAA Plus RV membership and thought I was all set until I blew a
tire, and then the spare blew after 60 miles. AAA would only tow me 100
miles to a place where I could get a tire; they would not bring a tire
out to me. Why take the risk of having my motorhome towed? It would
have been on a flatbed truck because my tire was blown, and I did not
like that idea, all for only a flat. So I paid out-of-pocket to have an
emergency tire service come out with a tire and a new spare. I now have
Good Sam Service,
which will bring out a tire. Yes, it could have been prevented by
having a good spare -- but that's why I have ERS to begin with, so if
something does happen I don't have to worry about it. Post a response.
Federal lands may go on auction block
The
Bush administration has announced two new proposals that would
liquidate federal lands to raise cash to cover budget shortfalls. The
first would auction off 300,000 acres of land in national forests
spanning 35 different states. Some of the lands are within the Alaskan
rainforest, the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, the Greater Cumberland
Plateau region and California's Sierra Nevada. A separate proposal
would reverse a long-standing law to allow
an estimated half-million acres of public wildlands overseen by the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to go on the auction block with 70
percent of the proceeds to cover the government's budget shortfall. All
together, 1,250 square miles could be auctioned off.
Good Stuff from the Good Sam Club
Join the Club: $19 a year. Save on camping fees plus free RV magazine.
Continuing Service Plan: No More Major Repair Bills! Get a Fast Quote
RV Emergency Road Service. Special Low Rate! Join Today.
RVing to Mexico
Rig size and bringing a pet to Mexico
A
reader planning to travel to the Baja wants to know the right size rig
and another Mexico-bound traveler wants to know if she can bring her
dog along. Our Mexico RV experts have answers.
Guidebooks and DVDs about RVing in Mexico.
Cell phone won't work in out-of-the-way places?
Smoothtalker can help. Talk or get online in places you could never get online before. Learn more.
Trivia
Listerine
was invented in the 19th century as a powerful surgical antiseptic. It
was later sold, in distilled form, as a floor cleaner and cure for
gonorrhea. But it wasn't a big success until the 1920s, when it was
pitched as a solution for "chronic halitosis," -- a then-obscure
medical term for bad breath. In the next seven years, its annual sales
jumped from $115,000 to more than $8 million. --SOURCE: Freakonomics
This issue's
Knowledge Quiz
TWO
QUIZZES SUNDAY
The prizes:
--A box of prickly pear cactus candy (yummy!)
--A set of four Dale Evans cowgirl cork-backed beverage coasters. Really cool!
Answer the Quizzes here on Sunday, May 21. Start times: 11:10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. (Pacific Time)
Knowledge Quiz official rules
Beginners Guide to RVing: Articles and information for brand-new RVers. Learn the ropes.
RV Factory Tour
Western Recreational Vehicles manufactures
motor coaches, fifth wheel and travel trailers, and truck campers. Its
motto: "No matter where your journey takes you, trust our family to be
there for your family." Visit its facility in beautiful Yakima,
Washington to see quality in the making. The factory is at 3401 W.
Washington Ave., Yakima. Call (509) 457-4133. Tours are scheduled as
follows: Towables, Monday through Thursday at 1 p.m.; Motorized,
Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m.
NEED AN RV LOAN?
Learn if you qualify in only seconds
Financial Underwriters Network (F.U.N.) provides exceptional service and low loan rates. Learn if you qualify.
RV Tech Tip by Mark Polk
How to control trailer sway
Yaw,
more commonly known as sway, is a bad word for trailer owners. The
definition of yaw or trailer sway is a side-to-side fishtailing
movement. Nothing will ruin the way you feel about camping faster than
the first time you encounter this unpleasant situation. Read more.
(Learn about Mark Polk's RV "How-to" DVDs and eBooks.)
Do you know of an RV park or campground that loves dogs?
Tell other RVers about it.
RVing Resources. . .
Visit the RV Travel Reader Forum to discuss everything to do with RVing with other RVers.
Why We Need
English Teachers
(as witnessed along the highways of America) |
 |
Upcoming RV Shows
RV-Links
Loads of links to great websites about RVing.
RVing With Dogs: Got a pooch onboard? You'll love this website.
Life On Wheels
"Go to school" to learn about RVing. Five annual conferences. Next one: July 9 to 14, Moscow, Idaho.
Investigate a company with the
Better Business Bureau before making a purchase.
Full Time RVing
RV Recalls
Workamping Information: Workamper News is THE best place to find jobs on the RV road.
Worth Pondering
"Bad weather always looks worst through a window." -- Anon
Beginners Guide to RVing: Advice and information for newbies.
Random RV Thought
When
you are far from power and find your RV carpet is looking like it needs
a good vacuuming, you can do a halfway decent job of making it look
better by just sweeping it with a broom.
RV Travel staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Contributors: Russ and Tina De Maris, 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. Phone Operations Supervisor: Martha Lamb. New Guy in the Office: Vince Fesalbon. Clapper Loader: Emily Woodbury. Mascot: Georgie, the "If it even looks like food, I'll eat it," Jack Russell terrier.
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.
