Issue 226
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
New Everyday Low Prices at RVbookstore.com
More than 90 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 savings to you! Weekday orders in by 3 p.m.
(Pacific Time) are shipped the same day! "You need it, so we speed it." Visit RVbookstore now.
Editor's Corner
By Chuck Woodbury
Did you answer our reader survey question last week about whether high gas prices had forced you to cut your spending
for nonessential items? Wow! Did readers ever respond! Nearly 3,000 of
you answered and about 100 left comments. I urge you to check out the
survey and read the fascinating responses, which show the many ways
RVers are coping with high fuel prices and the adverse impact they're
having on their day-to-day living and ability to travel with their RV.
While the RV industry continues to proclaim that RVers are traveling as
normal, someone there needs to take a look at
|
Almost here! |
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| The inaugural issue of RV Travel Magazine is almost ready to be mailed. Order your copy today. |
this survey's results, which tell a far different story. RVers are, in fact, cutting back! See the survey results and read the comments.
In the "Good News"
department, I was gassing up my car Friday afternoon at my favorite
station. As I was about to start, an employee walked up. "Sir, if you
wait just a few minutes, we're lowering the prices two cents a gallon,"
he said. . . It wasn't much, but at least the price was moving the
right direction.
See last week's five-second survey to learn how much RV Travel readers are paying for their fuel.
Our new printed RV Travel Magazine will
go into the mail next week. This is the first time I have published in
a printed format in almost five years, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. For
the last few issues of this newsletter, we offered a free inaugural
issue to readers. I wish you could have seen the results: our mailbox
was stuffed with more than 2,000 postcards and letters! The new
magazine is printed in a tabloid format on nice paper, with some full
color photos. In my opinion, it's the most interesting RV reading to
come along in a long time -- and I believe the most entertaining. To
ensure you don't miss this inaugural issue, go to RVbookstore.com
and take advantage of a special two-issue introductory subscription for
only $3.96. You really don't want to miss the first issue -- a "Keeper!"
Open House and Free Seminars
Our next RV Bookstore Open House and Seminar will be Saturday June 10. 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.
This is a great opportunity to learn about combining work with your
travels. In the second two-hour seminar, we will view Larry Wood's
90-minute documentary, "Fulltiming." Afterwards, we'll chat about full-time RVing. Learn more about the seminars and sign up online to attend.
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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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.
Read Saturday's issue of our Full Time RVer newsletter.
Arthritis in your driving hands?
Get swift, soothing pain relief with Arctic Spray. No rubbing! No mess!. Learn more.
This Week's Reader Survey
For husbands and wives: who made the final buying decision on your present RV? Answer here.
Last week's survey question
Are high gas prices forcing you to cut your spending for nonessential items? Read the results .
Past reader surveys and results
The #1 Online Source for RV Financing.
The
ORIGINAL and LARGEST RV Financing company on the Internet! Lowest RV
financing Rates Nationwide! Call Today: 1-888-929-4424 or visit our website .
What would you do if your front tire blew?
Yesterday
(Saturday) in Massachusetts, a 2001 Montana motorhome towing a 2006
Honda sports utility vehicle apparently blew a front tire on I-91 near
Northhampton, Mass., creating a massive seven-hour traffic jam. The
vehicles skidded from the left-hand lane through a guardrail on the
right side of the road and rolled down the embankment, coming to rest
in a pond, partially submerged. The six passengers escaped serious
injury. Another RV accident a week earlier snarled traffic, this time
in Tampa, Florida, when another motorhome blew its front tire, sending
sparks flying and engulfing the tire in flames. The fire spread, and
when the owner told the responding trooper that a propane tank was
inside the RV, traffic was halted on the Interstate. The RVer's wimpy
fire extinguisher (the type installed in most RVs) was about as useful
as a squirt gun against the flames.
. . . which brings up the question: How would you react to a blown front tire? Would you slow down? Speed up? No matter how you answer, please watch the informative online video "The Critical Factor"
from Michelin. If you can't view it on the Web, email for a free copy.
Truly, seeing this video could save your life. And by the way,
according to the video, slowing down is the WORST thing you could do!
Traveling to Alaska by Ferry on the Alaska Marine Highway?
Visit the official website. Check out summer deals plus save 20% now on Snowbird Specials. Get prices, plan your trip and make a reservation .
Articles from the RV family of websites
How to guard your awing from damage
According to some sources, the greatest number of RV insurance damage claims are related directly to awnings. Here are some tips from FulltimeRVer.com about how to keep yours from being a casualty of the elements.
Let’s Talk About Your RV's Weight
Correct
tire pressure in motorhomes must be calculated -- it cannot be "given
to you" nor is it some standard setting related to tire size.
Determining your RV tire pressure is very different than finding tire
pressures on any other vehicle. Just because you regularly check your
car’s tire pressures, don’t assume this is similar to motorhomes. Read more
How to organize your digital photos and keep them safe
Just
how do you file away those digital images, and come back to lovingly
review and caress them later? If you haven't got a system worked out
yet, stick around. We have a digital direction for your pictographic
puzzle, and it's right here .
Ten commandments to camping with dogs
Millions
of families take their dogs camping every year, yet few even take the
most basic preparations for their pet's safety and enjoyment. Learn the ten commandments to follow when camping or RVing with your dog.
Actimatic Power Washer
A
battery powered cordless power washer with a rotating brush, an
extending arm, and a soap dispenser . See it at RVToyOutlet.com Available at RVtoyOutlet.com
Check out our RV Travel Forum discussions
How do you find an RV technician? It's not always easy.
RVer wants to buy a used truck to pull a fifth wheel or trailer. Do you have a recommendation?
What cell phone is best? Have a suggestion for this forum member?
Did this RVer buy a lemon? Advice needed about what to do!
"How do I store dishes and glasses?" a new RVer asks. Can you help?
And in the FreeCampgrounds.com forum:
Wal-Marts that evicted RVers. You'll want to avoid these stores.
Closeouts at RVbookstore.com . Save up to 80%. Visit the store now .
The ABCs of RVing
Cleaning a big cooking pot
If
you occasionally cook with a pot too large to wash in the kitchen sink,
wash it in the bathtub. A plastic tub set in there works well without
filling the bathtub. This also prevents greasy residue in the bathtub.
This tip is one of more than 500 in All the Stuff You Need to Know About RVing by Ronald Jones and Robert Lowe.
E xplorer 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 .
Buy or Sell Used Motorhomes or other RVs
Huge
Texas consignment dealer provides a hassle-free way to buy or sell
diesel pushers, motorhomes, 5th wheels or travel trailers. Learn more.
18 million U.S. motorists may be unfit to drive!
Results
from the second annual GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test suggest
that licensed Americans lack basic driving knowledge and exhibit
alarming behaviors on the road. The study revealed that one in eleven
drivers - nearly 18 million people - would fail a state drivers test.
Roughly one in three drivers usually do not stop for pedestrians - even
if they're in a crosswalk or at a yellow light. The study unearthed a
growing trend in which Americans treat driving as a time to catch up on
activities they didn't get to in their hectic day. Results show that
while driving, American drivers engage in a variety of distracting
behaviors including chatting on a cell phone, sending text messages,
e-mailing friends, selecting songs on iPods, applying makeup, changing
clothes and reading.
New RV smell is called hazardous to health
The
"new" smell in travel trailers provided to hurricane victims by FEMA
has brought to light a health concern. According to the Sierra Club,
indoor quality tests in 32 trailers revealed that all but two had
aerial formaldehyde levels above safe levels for human health. Products
used in the production of travel trailers contain formaldehyde,
including glue, curtains, molded plastic and countertops. According to
the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, formaldehyde levels about
0.1 parts per million can cause allergic reactions, coughing and
wheezing. A new website in the RVtravel family will address hazards of
RVs and discuss "green ways to enjoy the RV lifestyle. EcoRVing.com is in its early stages but worth watching.
ON SALE NOW! Save!
FloJet RV Waste Pump Kit
Empty
your holding tanks through a garden hose into a portable tank, toilet,
sewer clean-out port or septic tank. Portable macerator pump connects
directly to RV waste outlet. Lets you dump over longer distances and
uphill. On sale now at Camping World.
Don't buy an RV without knowing its history
Learn the vehicle's history. Get a 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
"I
f your water pump runs a few strokes and then stops only to repeat the
sequence a few minutes later, you probably have a dripping faucet or a
leak. In addition to all faucets, check the pressure fitting for a drip
and the water heater drain plug for l eaks. If no leaks are found, you
probably have a malfunctioning pump pressure cutoff switch. " -- From Trailers and Fifth Wheels Made Easy.
Interstate 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.
"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 .
From the FulltimeRVer newsletter:
We just couldn't resist reprinting this item from our sister newsletter.
Supermodel Exits Luxury RV the Hard Way
Russian
supermodel Tatyana Simanava may not take to RVing after a recent
experience in New York. While aboard a luxury conversion bus RV, the
leggy blonde catwalker mistook the RV’s exterior door for the entrance
to the bathroom. Unfortunately, the RV was on a New York City
expressway, and Simanava hit the pavement at 40 miles per hour. Out of
hospital, the living mannequin is recuperating from a dislocated
shoulder, cuts and bruises to her head, and presumably a
supermodel-size case of embarrassment.
Bumper Snicker
"I don't needs kids. I married one ."
Read other funny bumper stickers or buy them .
Truck Stops Love RVers!
2006 RVers Friend
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
The following message s were posted to the RV Travel.com forum.
Will this RV fit in a public campground?
"I
currently do not own an RV, but my wife and I are looking at buying a
travel trailer. At this point, the ones that fit our needs are in the
30-33 foot range. I am worried that at that length, I won't be able to
fit in many of the public campgrounds in my area. Does anyone have any
experience as to what is the max length that will fit into most
campgrounds?" Respond or read how others responded. Or read the results of a recent RV Travel reader survey about towable RV lengths and public campgrounds.
"I want to bring my cats with me!" Advice needed
An
aspiring full-time RVer writes: We would like to go full time with our
three cats. We haven't taken them anywhere yet. so we don't know if it
will work or not. We have a 30 ' TT and an extended cab pickup. What do
you do with them while you are driving? Do you keep them in cages? What
if you stop for lunch where it's hot? Where do you put them?" Read this posting and respond if you wish .
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
Learn everything you need to know about RVing in Mexico from our Mexico RV experts Dot and Bill Bell .
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 .
Lost Lake Resort
Secluded
RV living in the Northwest. Beautiful lots. Private trout lake,
athletic club, clubhouse, park models, indoor/outdoor pool plus easy
drive to Tacoma and Seattle. See available lots and prices. Learn more.
Trivia
No only child has ever been elected President of the United States.
This issue's
Knowledge Quiz
TWO
QUIZZES SUNDAY
The prizes:
--The best-selling book Camping With the Corps of Engineers.
--An official RVbookstore.com coffee mug. This will be your favorite drinking mug, we are sure!
Answer the Quizzes here on Sunday, May 28. Start times: 10:5 7 a.m. and 11: 1 6 a .m. (Pacific Time)
Knowledge Quiz official rules
Beginners Guide to RVing: Articles and information for brand-new RVers. Learn the ropes.
Learn about where to camp for free
FreeCampgrounds.com lists more than 1,100 free and inexpensive campgrounds.
RV Factory Tour
Tiffin Motorhomes, Red Bay, Alabama
Tiffin
Motorhomes builds the Allegro, Allegro Bay, Phaeton, and Zephyr
motorized coaches. Tiffin's website states, "This is more than a
business venture -- we feel like it's our calling. At Tiffin, the
feeling of family and commitment extends all the way down the assembly
line." Bob Tiffin says, "Anytime you like, you're welcome to come visit
us and see for yourself firsthand the work and care we put into every
Tiffin motorhome." Tours are available daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Phone (256) 356-8661. Tiffin Motorhomes is located at 105 Second Street
NW, Red Bay, Alabama.
Save on camping fees at KOA
Get a free KOA Directory/road atlas, free issue of Camping Life and save 10% off daily registrations with a KOA Value Kard!
RV Tech Tip by Mark Polk
Water Weight
Water
weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon. A forty-gallon fresh water holding tank
full of water adds 332 pounds of weight to your RV. Depending on the
type and size of RV you have, the added weight and the movement of the
water, when you’re traveling, can be a concern. You should only take
the amount of water that will be required to get to your destination
and refill as required. Don’t forget your gray and black tanks too. Try
not to travel with full holding tanks if at all possible. (Learn about Mark Polk's RV "How-to" DVDs and eBooks .)
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
Raw information
Until a few days ago, it was legal in Montebello, Calif.,
to park an RV on the street for up to 72 hours. No more. A new
ordinance limits stays to only four hours. * * * June 10 and 11 is Free Fishing Day in New Jersey. No license or trout stamp is required. Have fun! * * * Dynamax
Corp. has formed an exclusive club for owners of the company’s
motorhomes. The first rally is set for August 28 to September 1 in
Elkhart, Indiana. * * * Planning a Glacier National Park trip? Check road conditions first. It's still snowing there, impacting road openings. * * *
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 .
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
"Happiness sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open." -- Jo hn Barrymore
Visit Camping World
When you need something for your RV, big or small, make Camping World your first stop. Click here.
Random RV Thought
If
you have ever wondered what it feels like to be in an earthquake, there
is an easy and safe way to simulate the experience. Drive your RV to a
place where you can expect some strong, gusty winds. Park the RV. Wait
for the winds to kick up . The sudden jolts and rocking of the RV
pretty well simulates the sensation of an earthquake.
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.
RV Travel is rated PG** by the A labama Warehousemen For Uniform Laws (AWFUL )
Of all the known websites only approximately 1.0 38 percent are more popular than RVtravel.com.
At RVbookstore.com
we strive for excellence in all we do and that's the honest truth (as
opposed to the dishonest truth). Our customers receive really, really
fast service. We move so fast in sending out a customer's order that
sometimes we pass through the sound barrier, which really upsets our
neighbors . Our motto is "You need it so we speed it," and no truer
words were ever spoken!
RVbookstore.com and
RVtravel.com are a members of the Better Business Bureau. We are proud
commercial members of the Escapees, the Family Motor Coaching
Association, and a sponsor of the 2006 Life On Wheels Conferences. We are also darn good people.
RV Travel is
copyright 2006 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.
*By its staff and their families
**Pretty good
