DVD: Working On The RV Road Learn how to earn income while RVing. Author and work camping expert Jaimie Hall reveals what you need to know to gain employment or run your own business while traveling with a recreational vehicle.
Issue 230 of
RV Travel. Learn about RV
camping, RV travel, RV news and much more. This newsletter is funded
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specializing in books and DVDs about RVs and the RV lifestyle.
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Hot off the press: RV Travel Magazine! If you like this newsletter, you will love the new printed RV Travel Magazine.
It's packed with great articles, columns and photos by some of the best
known RV writers in America, and edited by RVtravel.com editor Chuck
Woodbury. Subscribe now and get the inaugural edition, a real keeper!
Money back if not satisfied (but you will be!). There is no other RV
publication like this one! And only $9.95 for one full year! Learn more or subscribe.Editor's Corner By Chuck Woodbury
Have
you visited the RV Travel Forum lately? If not, you have missed a great
resource. Last week, the membership reached 3,000, making it one of the
largest RV forums on the Web.
The best thing about a resource like this is that it allows readers to
share information. Here at RVtravel.com we receive inquiries all the
time asking about this or that. We simply don't know many of the
answers, so we routinely refer these folks to the forum: there, they
can pose their question and usually get a slew of valuable answers
within a day. I urge you to check out the forum, and join it so you can post questions and answers.
Our FreeCampgrounds.com forum
is also a valuable resource. The topic there is free and inexpensive RV
camping: you'll pick up many ideas about free places to stay, and about
techniques to trim your camping costs.
We
reported last issue about a scam in which RVers who run ads on popular
RV "classified" websites receive bogus offers that sound great, but are
really schemes to bilk them out of thousands of dollars. This is
apparently a more widespread practice than we thought, judging by the
letters from readers who have been approached with such offers. If you
advertise your rig online, be wary of anyone who contacts you with a
cashiers check as a deposit. Read our last issue for the news items where we described the scam in more detail.
Photo of the Week
Even in rural eastern Washington, a motorist is never very far from coffee!
Finally, a little information about RV Travel readers as gathered in recent reader surveys:
--41 percent of you traveled over the Memorial Day weekend. --40 percent of you never perform engine repairs on your rig. --27 percent of you have RVs with two slideouts. --28 percent of you have RVs with no slideouts. --55 percent of you own your RV outright with no monthly payments. --59 percent of you change your own oil. --49 percent of you plan to visit a National Park this summer. --25 percent of you have owned five or more RVs.
A reminder:
I'll be teaching a class on "Writing on the RV Road," at the upcoming
Life On Wheels Conference, July 9-14, in Moscow, Idaho. You can learn
more about the conference by visiting LifeOnWheels.com.
If you are in range of the event I urge you to attend. RV experts teach
classes at the University of Idaho campus about everything to do with
RVing. Both beginners and veterans will learn a lot.
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 85 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.com now.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Did you receive the inaugural issue of the print edition of the RV Travel Magazine? What do you think? Good? Bad? We welcome your comments.
Visit the RV Travel Reader Forum to discuss everything to do with RVing with other RVers.
This Week's Reader Survey In the last ten years, have you traveled internationally, beyond North America? Answer here.
Last week's survey question Do you change the oil yourself in your RV or tow vehicle or pay to have it done? Read the results .
Past reader surveys and resultsFree gas in Tennessee town Pigeon
Forge, Tenn., is giving away free gas to random visitors to the town's
shops, restaurants and attractions. If you happen to be in the area,
watch for the Great Gas Giveaway's roving patrols in their red
shirts. They'll be randomly handing out $30 gas coupons.
Winnebago's earnings drop RV manufacturer Winnebago Industries Inc. has
reported a third-quarter drop in earnings as slow demand for motor
homes and a trend toward lower-priced units continues to affect the
industry. The company reported a profit of $13.2 million compared with $17.6 million for the same period last year. CEO Bruce Hertzke said a weakness in the company's highest priced motor homes was partially
offset by higher demand for lower-cost smaller units, including the View and Navion models with their better fuel mileage.
RV park doubles as drive-in movie theater It's a scene straight out
of the 1950s, with a twist. Guests of the Hi-Way Haven RV Park in
Sutherlin, Oregon can relive their childhoods by watching classic films
from the
comfort of their RV on a drive-in theater screen. Read more.
Articles from the RV family of websites
Pass the know-how, please... A "potluck" of technical tips and ideas gleaned from fulltime RVers of every stripe. Camping, cleaning, driving and more -- check out these great suggestions.
Stay longer and stay free by boondocking (Dry Camping) Boondocking
does not mean living primitively. Your RV is self-contained -- that is,
you have all the necessary systems on board to live comfortably. Use them.
How to be "weight and space efficient" in your RV kitchen This
RVer is super efficient in her RV kitchen and is able to carry along a
two-month supply of food with a minimum of weight and space. Learn how she does it.
Don't be lazy, mix it up Is your pooch starting to act a little bored around the campground? Sometimes you have to get off your duff and do something different with your dogs.
Check out our RV Travel Forum discussions
Refrigerator problem: Member asks "Any suggestions before I call a repair shop?" Ideas?
And in the FreeCampgrounds.com forum: Traveling I-40 west of Albuquerque? Stay for free at this campground a few miles from Grants.
Save up to 90% on RV books and DVDs! We're
slashed prices on even more products at RVbookstore.com including 2006
guidebooks from major publishers. More than 150 titles of books, DVDs
and videos remain, some priced below $2 or even $1 each. Only one or
two of some items remain, so hurry. Visit our Closeout section now.
The ABCs of RVing
Shoeboxes for storage
Use
shoeboxes (good sturdy ones with lids) for organizing stuff in the
smaller cabinets in the bedroom. Label the ends if necessary.
Beginners Guide to RVing:Articles and information for brand-new RVers. Learn the ropes.RV "addict" and author publishes new mystery "Maxie
McNabb" returns in Alaska novelist Sue Henry’s new mystery "The Tooth
of Time." Maxie is a gutsy, 60-something, widowed RVer who has appeared
in two previous Henry books. She travels the country in her Class C motorhome accompanied by her dachshund Stretch. In this
tale Maxie becomes involved with a mysterious woman in Taos, N.M. Along
the way she takes in the Great Sand Dunes National Monument
and "The Tooth of Time," an impressive landmark, near Cimarron, N.M. To
learn more about Henry, see Research trips create an RV addict.
"Lucky" man saves dog from RV fire A
Salem, Ore., man is lucky to to be alive after re-entering a burning
motorhome to save a family pet. Firefighters helped the owner and his
dog out of the engulfed RV. The man reportedly went inside the
motorhome to retrieve the family dog, which was not injured in the
fire. Firefighters warn everyone not to re-enter a fire. Get out and
stay out.
Actimatic Power Washer A battery powered cordless power washer with a rotating brush, an extending arm, and a soap dispensor. See it at RVToyOutlet.com
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!
Bill's Hint A
bad ground connection on an electric step will keep the step from
extending or retracting. The ground connection is usually immediately
adjacent to the step itself. -- From Trailers and Fifth Wheels Made Easy. Updated in 2006 Learn which Wal-Marts DO NOT allow overnight RV stays While
most Wal-Mart stores allow RVers to spend a night in their parking lots
for free, hundreds do not. RVbookstore.com has just updated its
best-selling guide to these "No park" Wal-Marts. The concise book is
$4.27. Learn more or order.From the FulltimeRVer newsletter:
Keep the cool -- maintain that A/C unit Summertime,
and the livin' is -- hot, sweaty, and icky -- unless you've maintained
your RV air conditioning unit. While the actual unit is in a shroud,
there's no need for the subject to be shrouded in mystery. Read the
article here.
Bumper Snicker The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. Read other funny bumper stickers or buy them. 2006 Wal-Mart Locator First
update in two years. 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 Price of only $19.83The following messages were posted to the RVTravel.com forum.
A 53 year-old woman who travels without the assistance of any DH (Dear Husband) offers advice for new women RVers.
Solar power alternatives?
More and more RVers are turning to another source of "green" energy:
Wind power. Costs for wind generators or "turbines," suitable for use
on RVs are now less than $500. After the initial purchase price, wind
power is free, relatively quiet, and nearly free of maintenance
worries. Wind power is especially useful if you camp in areas with
frequent wind such as the desert, near the ocean, or in plains areas.
Combining wind and solar power is a sure fire bet of nearly always
having free alternative power available when boondocking. -- Russ De Maris is the editor of FulltimeRVer.com. 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 This week our Mexico RV experts Dot and Bill Bell look at hooking up with experienced Mexico travelers and summer camping on the West Coast of Mexico. They also provide helpful hints on preparing for your Mexico RV trip.
Trivia Worldwide, 52 percent of all recreational vehicles are manufactured in Elkhart County, Indiana.
Learn about where to camp for free FreeCampgrounds.com lists 1,100 free and inexpensive campgrounds.RV Factory Tour Coachmen RV, Middlebury, Indiana Coachmen
Recreational Vehicle Company is one of the largest full–line
manufacturers of RVs in the world and cornerstone of Coachmen
Industries, Inc. It was founded in 1964 by the Corson brothers in
downtown Middlebury, Indiana. Tours are at 2:45 p.m. Monday through
Friday at 423 N. Main, Middlebury, 10 miles east of Elkhart. Phone
(888) 422-2582.
ON SALE NOW! Save! Large Wheel Chock Stop dangerous wheel movement and rolling. 7 3/4" W chock is sized right for larger truck, trailer and RV wheels. Learn more.RV Tech Tip by Mark Polk Ants RVs
and ants always seem to go together. Whether you’re at the campground
or the RV is in storage, ants are always where the RV is. The problem
is that they can quickly get in the RV by way of any part of the RV
that contacts the ground. To avoid this from happening take ant spray
or a granular product and spray or sprinkle the granules around any
part of the RV that makes contact with the ground i.e. tires,
stabilizer jacks, tongue jacks, hydraulic jacks, power cords, hoses or
anything that may be leaning against the RV. If you’re concerned about
pets I’ve been told that you can use cayenne in place of chemical
pesticides to keep ants out.
August 14-17, FMCA's 76th International Convention, Concord, NC
August 16-20, 23rd Annual Lake County RV & Camper Show, Grayslake, IL
August 17-20, 52nd Annual Midwest RV Super Show & Rally, Goshen, IN
Check RVTravel.com for future RV show schedules.* * *
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. . .
Random RV Thought In
the afternoon, as the end of the day nears, if you do not have a
campground reservation but will need a spot, begin searching for a
place at least an hour before your ideal stopping time. It is easier to
stop earlier than later, when darkness may make finding a campsite more
difficult.
RV Travel staff Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing Editor: Jerry (RiverGuy) Brown. Contributors: Russ and Tina De Maris, Mark Polk, Bill and Dot Bell. Forum Administrator: Adrienne Kristine. Office Manager: Jody Allcott. WebOperations 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.
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 members of the Better Business Bureau. We are
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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.
