Issue 237 of RV Travel. 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.
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SUPER 'ALMOST GIVEAWAY' SPECIAL!
Boondocking On Public Lands, VHS Video
Visit the boondocking hotspots of the Southwest including Quartzsite, Ariz., Slab City the Salton Sea, and Long Term Visitor Areas where RVers can stay for pennies a day. Retail price $19.95: our price now only $3.99 Learn more or order.
Editor's Corner
By Chuck Woodbury
I told you last week that I would write more about what I learned on my recently completed, week-long car trip to Yellowstone National Park. A summer trip to America's first National Park begs to be taken with an RV, or at least a tent. It's meant for camping. It is not meant for renting a hotel room outside the park, and venturing in and out every day.
My Day's Inn "hotel" in West Yellowstone was $122 a night. It was a clean place, but not the Ritz. Every day, my daughter and I bought breakfast, lunch, dinner and usually a few snacks here and there. So we spent close to $200 a day. In addition, we had to drive in and out of the park every day in our car, which would have not been necessary had we camped in an RV.
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| A thermal pool and Old Faithful in the distance. |
We never saw a star-filled night sky. We never sat by a campfire. Emily and I both lamented that we would have been so much happier in an RV. Since she was three months old, that has been her preferred method of vacation transportation. And it's always been mine. Now, between rigs, I am learning how the other half travels.
When all was said and done, we could have driven an RV to Yellowstone and back and probably spent less. Yes, an RV would have burned a lot more gasoline, a substantial hit to my wallet. But we would have stayed in at least a few public campgrounds at probably $12-20 a night, and perhaps a KOA or other RV park at double that. That's a whole lot less than a motel room, which cost us on average about $100 every night. Yes, we could have opted for cheaper places, sure, but I have learned that the cheaper the room, the more likely you are to end up with a loud, obnoxious drunk in the room next door. I prefer to avoid that.
Yet with the world's fuel being in short supply, our speedy car trip probably made ecological sense: my little Honda gets about 35 miles per gallon. An RV trip, after all, is best taken at a more leisurely pace, when less driving is involved and more "camping."
I have always loved car road trips. I still take short ones with my car. But in the wide-open spaces, an RV is the way to go. Emily and I missed pulling into rest areas and making a tuna sandwich for lunch. She missed being able to ride in the back to read, play a game or even poke around on the computer at the table. We got stuck in a few highway construction zones and were forced to simply sit and wait. With an RV, we could have used the time to make a snack, grab a mini nap or played cards.
I believe that more and more North Americans will increasingly be attracted to road trips by RV instead of by car and motel. RVing, what my Baby Boomer generation once thought was "only what our grandparents did," is looking a whole lot better to many of my peers, who enjoy the excitement of a road trip, but are bored with chain motels (called hotels, but they are still motels), where everything is so predictable.
Next week I will tell you about my new way to hooking up the Internet that I tested on this trip. It will enable me to leave my office frequently in an RV while still being able to get online at fast or really fast speeds, even in the middle of nowhere (and with no satellite involved).
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RV music album is a hoot!
Cliff Rodman is a full-time RVer and country music performer. His new CD album of RV songs is hilarious. Anyone who loves RVing and country music. . . and who likes to laugh, will enjoy this CD of 17 songs, all about RVing and most written by Cliff. We love "Waltzing Through Wal-Mart," about staying the night in a Wal-Mart parking lot. You can learn more about Cliff's album and hear a 30-second excerpt from the Wal-Mart song here.
Wow! Great financing at Poulsbo RV!
Get your dream RV from one of America's biggest RV dealers, Poulsbo RV. You'll get super-low financing on every RV. No matter where you live, it's worth buying from Poulsbo RV where you always get a great price. Check out our website. Or call our Internet sales experts toll free at 1-888-538-9400.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Northwest RVers: Mark your calendars
Please join RVbookstore.com at the Seattle RV Show, Sept. 7-10 in the Qwest Events Center in downtown Seattle. RVtravel editor Chuck Woodbury will speak everyday at 2:15 p.m. on "Writing On The RV Road," about how to earn a full or part-time income as a writer while traveling with an RV. Save $2 on admission Thursday or Friday with this coupon.
The second issue of the printed RV Travel Magazine should reach subscribers mailboxes in late September. If you haven't subscribed, you can do so here.
Read Chuck Woodbury's new blog, Roadside Journal.
Did you miss last week's RV Travel newsletter? Read it here.
Wonder what there is to do along Hwy 95 in Nevada?
Horseback Riding- Air Shows- Outdoor Boxing- POW WOWS- Craft Shows- Community Picnics- Chili Cook-Offs- National Parks- Desert Wildflower Arrays- Sand Dunes- Prospecting- Antelope-Meteorite Hunting- Off-Roading- Star Gazing- Bicycling- Wild Burros- Rural Celebrations- Fine Dining- Gaming- Museums- ...and much, much more. Find all your options here!
This Week's Reader Survey
Do you carry a firearm along when traveling with your RV? Answer here.
Last week's survey question
When not working, what time of day do you prefer to rise and shine? Read the results.
Past reader surveys and results
Check out these great titles from RVbookstore.com
The Next Exit: Never take the wrong exit off an interstate highway.
Wal-Mart Locator: Learn where to plan free overnight stays in Wal-Mart parking lots.
Guide to Free Campgrounds: Get the scoop about where to stay for free or nearly free.
RVers Guide to Casino RV parks. Learn which ones offer free camping, RV parks and gaming bonuses.
RVers Friend: Find out what services truck stops provide to RVers: free camping, WiFi, RV repairs, diesel, etc.
Headed to a National Park? Head here first
Anyone who enjoys National Parks or National Monuments should bookmark this site. Simply click here, find the park you are interested in, click again, and you are instantly transported to its website.
Legislators want action on toxic trailers
Two Democratic legislators want the federal government to speed up testing for formaldehyde in FEMA travel trailers being used along the Gulf Coast. The legislators want to know what FEMA plans to do for thousands of hurricane evacuees in trailers with high levels of formaldehyde. In May, the Sierra Club reported that tests on 31 FEMA trailers in Mississippi revealed that 94 percent were above commonly accepted limits. More recent tests in Alabama and Louisiana showed 86 percent over the limit, perhaps caused by high formaldehyde levels in wood or glue.
Buying an RV?
Learn what you need to know from these excellent books and DVDs.
Buying a Recreational Vehicle DVD. Advice from the Better Business Bureau hosted by RV travel's Chuck Woodbury.
2006 RV Buying Guide from Trailer Life. Most 2006 RVs profiled.
How to Buy an RV Before You Buy it. eBook. Instant download to your computer. Read it in minutes.
How to Buy an RV and Save Thousands. Valuable advice for a bargain price.
All The Stuff You Need To Know About RVing. Covers all the bases.
Articles from the RV Travel family of websites
These dog owners were way out of line
The editors of RVingWithDogs.com have a lot of patience with the varying habits of other dog owners. But in one particular campground, in one instance, an RVing couple with dogs got their blood boiling. Learn why.
How to get your mail while on the road
Fulltime RVers Russ and Tina De Maris explain how they deal with receiving their postal mail while on the road.
Silicone cookware: the RVers dream!
Silicone cookware is safe up to various high temperatures. It will melt if heated above its safe range but doesn’t produce toxic vapors. Silicone cookware includes muffin pans, baking pans, spatulas, molds, whisks, and more. It is considered the only non-reactive, non-stick cooking material. Silicone cookware is great anywhere but is considered "The Answer" for RVers. Read more.
Stay free in Wal-Mart parking lots
Learn where to find Wal-Marts, most of which allow RVers to stay overnight for free in their parking lots. It's not "camping," but it's free. Get driving directions to every store in the USA. New in the 2006 edition: Stores that sell diesel fuel! Retail price $24.95. Order Now at our Everyday Low Price of only $19.83 -- the best price anywhere!
And pack along an inexpensive guide to Wal-Marts that do NOT allow you to stay overnight.
Check out our RV Travel Forum discussions
What price should you REALLY pay for an RV?
How much money can you expect to negotiate off the MSRP of an RV? This topic has received a lot of views and many RVers are telling of their experiences. "Our last RV was discounted more than 25 percent," one forum member wrote. If you plan to buy an RV soon, you may get some very valuable insights here.
Wrinkling rubber roof. RVer needs advice
A forum member asks: "The rubber roof on our two year-old coach is wrinkling at the radius corners. The manufacturer is telling us this is normal and they will not do any repairs at this time. Our warranty runs out in October. What should we do?
To overnight in rest areas or not, that is the question.
So what do you think? Is it okay to spend the night in the rest area? Or do you think it's a bad idea. Here is a lot of discussion on this hot topic.
WiFi Internet access on the RV road
Have you heard about WiFi and how you can access the Internet while on the road? But are you pretty much clueless about this technology and how to use it? Maybe this discussion will help.
And in the FreeCampgrounds.com forum:
Forum members discuss RV parks with "low, low prices." See what they're saying.
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. Click here.
Get better reception with your cell phone
Smoothtalker can help. Talk or get online in places you could never get online before. Learn more.
All the Stuff You Need to Know About RVing
Advice for new and novice RVers
Clean the bugs and road grime off the front of your RV as soon as possible after stopping so that the acids in the bugs do not eat into the finish. Your RV will look better -- plus the use of a good quality wax and protectant will provide increased shine and reduced effort in removing these bugs and grime in the future. This tip is one of more than 500 in All the Stuff You Need to Know About RVing by Ronald Jones and Robert Lowe.
Compact bike you just open and ride
The Dahon 7 speed folding bike combines exercise and convenient travel in just minutes. Whether it’s a quick trip to the store or a leisurely ride around camp, these lightweight yet strong bikes fit perfectly into your mobile lifestyle. On Sale Now!
Bill's Hint
About the RV toilet: "Keep the lid closed to prevent foreign objects from falling in. It is a major job to retrieve anything from the holding tank." From Motorhomes Made Easy
Tote 'n Boat Foldable Canoes and Kayaks
Pull them out of the trunk of your car and within minutes you can unfold your high quality fiberglass Canoe or Kayak, sturdy enough for 450 pounds and measures 10 feet when unfolded. This is really cool! Learn more or buy here.
K/M Resorts of America
Eight beautiful resort locations in Washington's favorite camping region. Truly great Northwestern getaways with all of the comforts of home. Learn more...
Bumper Snicker
"I'm not gaining weight. I'm retaining food."
Read other funny bumper stickers or buy them.
Earn income while you RV
The book Roadwork II has just about everything you need to know.
In the new DVD "Working on the RV Road" Jaimie Hall shows you the ins and outs of working while RVing. ON SALE!
Wal-Mart may sell "corn" fuel
More than five million "flex" vehicles in the USA can run on both gasoline and ethanol, a renewable fuel that comes from corn. But only about 800 service stations sell it. Wal-Mart may change that. It is considering selling E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, at a number of its Wal-Mart and Sam Club's stores and could expand its offering to all its stores. "That would be a complete game-changer," said Reid Detchon, the executive director of the Energy Future Coalition. "Everybody knows where the local Wal-Mart is. You would immediately know where to buy E85." Running motor vehicles on E85 could turn out to be a cost-effective way to reduce the carbon emissions that cause global warming and curb dependence on imported oil. GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler recently announced plans to double their annual production of so-called flex fuel vehicles to two million cars and trucks by 2010. A list of current service stations selling E85 is available here.
— SOURCE: Fortune Magazine.
Earnings dip at National RV
National R.V. Holdings, Inc., the owner of National RV, Inc. and Country Coach, Inc., announced Friday that net sales for the second quarter of 2006 declined 11% from the same quarter in 2005. Learn more.
Read the new 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, and edited by RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury. Wonderful reading! Only $9.95 for one year! Hear the editor talk about the new magazine or subscribe
Boondocking Tip
By Russ and Tina De Maris
Awing Precautions
While an awning is one of the boondocker's best tools in keeping cool without air conditioning, weather can raise a ruckus with your "shademaker." Use an awning tie-down strap that runs over the entire width of the awning and firmly stakes down into the ground. Twisting the strap where it goes over the fabric will cut down on strap flapping. If the awning is close to door height, a roller wheel mounted to the top of the door will keep from damaging the fabric. . -- Russ and Tina De Maris are the authors of RV Boondocking Basics.
Good Stuff from the Good Sam Club
RV Emergency Road Service. Special Low Rate! Join Today.
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
RVing to Mexico
Headed south of the border with your RV? Here is a wealth of information from Mexico RVing experts Dot and Bill Bell.
Guidebooks and DVDs about RVing in Mexico .
The Better way to own a luxury Coach!
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.
Free Used Vehicle Report from Carfax
Don't buy a used vehicle without checking its history. Get a free report from Carfax. Click here.
Trivia
In 1864, a posse calling itself the Montana Vigilantes, strung up more than 22 outlaws in and around the mining towns of Bannack and Virginia City. When tracking outlaws, the vigilantes were known to hang warning posters, displaying a skull and the numbers "3-7-77." Today, Montana Highway Patrol officers wear a "3-7-77" patch on their uniforms, and historians continue to debate the meaning of the mysterious numbers.
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.
RV Tech Tip by Mark Polk
How much LP gas does an RV hold?
Determining this can be a bit confusing. People often refer to LP gas in gallons and/or pounds. You may have heard somebody say that the gas cylinders on their travel trailer are 30 lb. cylinders, or they may say their cylinders hold seven gallons apiece. One gallon of LP gas weighs 4.26 pounds. The typical BBQ grill uses a 20 lb. cylinder, so at 80 percent full it would hold 3.75 gallons of LP gas. All LP gas cylinders and tanks are only filled to 80 percent of their capacity to allow for expansion when the temperature around the container rises. (Learn about Mark Polk's RV "How-to" DVDs and eBooks .)
RVing Resources. . .
Visit the RV Travel Reader Forum to discuss everything to do with RVing with other RVers.
Upcoming RV Shows
RV-Links
Loads of links to great websites about RVing.
RV Buying Tips: Spend five minutes here and help ensure you don't make classic RV buying mistakes.
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.
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
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." — Sir Winston Churchill
Read back issues of the RV Travel newsletter. Click here.
Random RV Thought
The single greatest moment on any RV trip is the instant you turn the key on the ignition of your motorhome or tow vehicle and hear the engine roar to life. You are about to untether yourself from your fixed-based life, and you feel a surge of energy from deep within your soul. Adventure, excitement and discovery await, and that's a feeling that nearly all RVers experience at each moment of departure.
RV Travel staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Contributors: Jerry (RiverGuy) Brown, Russ and Tina De Maris, Mark Polk, Bill and Dot Bell. Forum Administrator: Adrienne Kristine. Office Manager: Jody Allcott. Web Operations Director: Zoey Platt. Clapper Loader: Emily Woodbury.
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 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.
