RV parks filling fast for Vancouver Winter OlympicsRVers who plan to attend the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games may have trouble finding a place to stay with their motorhomes or trailers. Vancouver's only metro RV park, the Capilano RV Park in North Vancouver, British Columbia, is already booked solid. And so are others. Read more.
An RV trip for the adventure-minded
RVers who want something more exotic than the typical road trip might want to follow in the tracks of this adventurous couple. Be sure to read their advice first to avoid their mistakes. Click here.
FMCA: The best club for motorhome owners
If you drive a motorhome you should join the Family Motor Coaching Association, the largest and best club exclusively for motorhome owners. Many benefits including rallies, local chapters and thick monthly magazine. Special new member price of $35. Click here to learn more or join.
RV Performance with Eric Davis
Since 1972 Eric Davis has addressed RV engine performance. This week he answers this question:
Scary times as trailer sways
violently on downhill grade
An RVer asks Eric what he did wrong to cause his Airstream trailer to sway violently on a downhill mountain grade. "I had no problems with the trailer performance for the first 250 miles but when we got to the summit on Interstate 80 and started the downhill run I experienced a hair raising ordeal. I was traveling at 60 mph and had just activated my exhaust brake to get back to the speed limit when the trailer began a violent sway from side to side." He wonders if the weight of a new cargo carrier he mounted on the back of the trailer caused the problem. Read Eric's response at RVperformanceTips.com.
Convection Oven Bible
Most new RVs have convection ovens, which cook faster but can frustrate users. This book features 225 recipes designed specifically for convection ovens and includes information on converting your own recipes, menu suggestions, and cookware recommendations. Learn more or order.
A new RV company arises
These are volatile times in the RV industry, with shutdowns or mergers taking place practically every month. This post reports one of the latest changes, one that should result in some exciting new RV products. Click here.
Disney destination beckons to RVers
There are plenty of good reasons to make Disney's huge Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground a destination on your next RVing trip, and upgraded RV facilities are only the start. Details.
Look what you can find at RVbookstore.com!
Books and DVDs for beginning or aspiring RVers.
Books and DVDs about how to use everything on an RV.
Fulltime RVing: Living on the road books and DVDs.
DVDs and books about RV repair and maintenance.
Towing Guides: Books and DVDs that show you how to do it.
DVDs about RVing: See our huge selection!
The RVers guide to truck stops
2008 RVers Friend
This best-selling directory lists RV services at truck stops - free "camping," dumps, Internet, propane, repair services & more. Truck stops offer more to RVers than ever. Let this best selling book be your guide. Learn more or order.
This Week's Reader SurveyWho will be the next president of the United States? Answer here.
Last week's survey question
Do you subscribe to a daily newspaper (or read one daily from the newsstand?) Read the results here.
Past reader surveys and results.
NEW ARRIVALS at RVbookstore.com. Check them out
Camping in a store parking lot: the reality
If you have ever spent the night in your RV in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart, Sam's Club or other big box store, then you probably know the routine -- pull in, blend in, do a little shopping (optional), then get a good night's sleep. That's best case: but what about those noisy street sweepers that show up early in the morning? Or worse yet, how about the security guard who knocks on your door at 3 a.m. and orders you to vamoose! In this short video, captured in the wee hours of the morning, you can get an idea of how a camping experience at a big box store might be. Watch it.
Tips for solo RVers
Just because you live alone doesn't mean you can't go RVing. Lots of single people enjoy RVing, and several organizations exist to support them. Here are some tips to make your solo RV trips safe and enjoyable.
On the road, connect multiple computers
with only one Internet hookup!
One problem with having multiple computers when on the road is that both computers need Internet connectivity. Synet's Windy31 fixes that problem. Learn more here.
Bargains at RVbookstore.com
Low, low prices. Save up to 80% and even more!
Contest updates: Cash prizes now totals $129.
Our Pot of Gold Contest cash prize is now $68, and the pot at our Your Name is Money contest is now $61 after yet another cash winner. Check weekdays between 8-2 (Pacific time) to see if you're a winner.
Best book on the subject
The Complete Book of Boondock RVing
Yearn to camp in the wild beside a babbling mountain brook or with a remote panoramic vista? This is the complete guide to camping without hookups (aka "dry camping"). Learn more or order.
Confront the price of fuel with a smile
Every RVer is wincing because of the price of fuel, especially those who must travel on diesel. Well, we can't lower the prices, but we can lessen the pain with a little humor. Blogger Bess McBride demonstrates the right spirit in this post.
Make your Alaskan RV trip even more interesting
If you're thinking about an RV trip to Alaska this summer but are concerned about the cost, here's a great way to save money, have a fabulous experience and perform a valuable service. You can't lose! Click here.
eBooks: INSTANT READING!
With eBooks you don't have to wait to read your book. Just place your order and your eBook will be delivered almost instantly to your email inbox. These eBooks are written by RV experts and delivered instantly in PDF format.
Buying an RV the Smart Way
Complete Guide to Dinghy Towing
The Woman's Guide to Solo RVing
RV Care and Maintenance
Deep Cycle Battery Care and Maintenance
The 3 Primary Systems of an RV: LP Gas, Water & Electricity
Trailer Towing, Weights, Hitchwork and Backing
RV Check-List
Ask the RV Doctor
Gary Bunzer, The RV Doctor is a well known RV author and the host of RV Roadtrips, the DIY Network cable television show. He is one of the RV industry's most sought after speakers and the host of the popular DVD Do It Yourself RV Care.
Squirrel ate our RV screens! Help!
Dear RV Doctor: A squirrel took up residence in our motorhome. He didn't make it out and neither did our screens that he tried to chew through. My husband is having trouble removing the screens to repair them. Is there a secret to doing this?
Wiping tranny fluid on tires. Good or bad idea?
Dear RV Doctor: Another RVer told me that wiping the sidewalls with transmission fluid will help prevent sidewall cracks due to ultraviolet rays. He claims that the properties of transmission fluid and the tires are very similar and that's why it works. Is this true?
Over-the-Road Wireless For Dummies
Learn how to get connected on the road. Covers WiFi, choosing equipment and services, protecting data, managing your business and personal affairs, enjoying online entertainment and more. Learn more.
Try this slower-paced alternative to Las Vegas
Las Vegas may be the gaming and entertainment mecca for many RVers, but if you're turned off by the city atmosphere and spread-out casinos there, remember that you have other choices. For instance, this popular spot on the Colorado River offers Vegas-style casinos without the hassle. Take a look.
Explorer RV Insurance
Owners of motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels and medium duty tow vehicles save up to 15% over our largest competitors by tailoring their coverage from more than a dozen options. Get a quote now.
Trivia
According to the Scotch Whisky Association, 10 percent of all agriculture jobs in Scotland depend on the scotch industry, and scotch whisky accounts for nearly one-quarter of all the U.K.'s food and drink exports.
Bella Terra means "Beautiful Land"
and that's exactly what this RV Resort is! The Gulf Coast's first 5-star master planned RV Resort. Five minutes away from the beautiful sugar-white sands of the Gulf of Mexico, Bella Terra is poised to set the standard for outdoor RV resorts. See for yourself.
Think twice before using biodiesel in your rig
Biodiesel is gaining favor as an alternative fuel as the world focuses more and more on diminishing petroleum supplies and global warming. But is it really okay to use in your motorhome or tow vehicle? This report on biodiesel quality may surprise you. Click here.
A special place for RVer birding fans
Like birding on your RVing trips? Here's a location you really shouldn't miss, because it's the only area in the United States where you can see some species. Read more.
The 2008 Trailer Life RV Road Atlas
Besides showing highways and other roads, this large-format road atlas shows more than 10,000 campgrounds, plus RV service centers, tourist attractions and 1,600 state parks, plus a special Tech Tips section. Learn more or order for only $16.95. (Cover price, $29.95)
Fire Safety Tip from Mac McCoy
A pinhole-size leak in a radiator or heater hose can spray antifreeze on hot engine parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol concentrate and water. When the water boils off, the remaining ethylene glycol can self-ignite at 782 degrees F. During your monthly fire inspection, check all hoses for firmness, clamp tightness, and signs of leaking.
ROADTREK
MOTORHOMES
The Fuel Efficient Motorhomes You'll Love to Drive! Learn all about them here.
Great Reading in our RV Travel Blogs
FEATURED BLOGS:
RV Romance
Join romance writer Bess McBride as she travels by RV looking for the next setting for yet another romance novel.
Celebrity RVer
More famous people are taking up the RV lifestyle. Read about the stars and their RVing lifestyles in this blog.
The RV Kitchen
Recipes, tips and techniques to help you prepare healthy meals within the confines of a small space.
Eco RVing
Greener ways to hit the road.
RVs in the News
"Concentrated RV news." Practical, useful, and fun news on recreational vehicle issues. Always be up to date.
Wheel Life
Veteran RV reporter Julianne Crane keeps you up-to-date with news and information about RVing, RVers and the RV lifestyle. Always entertaining!
RV Performance Tips
Eric Davis tells you how to improve the performance of your RV or truck engine.
Working on the RV Road
Get up-to-date news and information about earning income while RVing.
Boondocking
Do you use your RV away from utilities? Here you'll pick up tips on how to do it, and learn about some great places to boondock.
RV Short Stops
Our RVtravel.com blogger's favorite places to visit in their RVs -- Great suggestions for places to visit on your own travels.
RVing Quartzsite
"RV Snowbird Central" for the winter season, home of huge gem shows and flea markets and the land of free camping on government lands.
Casino RV Camping
Learn about casino RV parks, freebie camping, and great deals on gaming and dining for RVers who visit.
Fulltime RVer
If you're a fulltime RVer or plan to be someday, then stop by for the latest news and information about fulltiming.
See the complete lineup of RV Travel blogs
Looking for new recipes? Check out www.RVcookBooks.com
Largest selection of RV Cookbooks anywhere!
RV Tech Corner
with Mark Polk
RV toilet paper: Make sure it's the right kind
RV toilet paper is biodegradable and designed for RV use. If you don't use RV toilet paper, buy a cheap single-ply brand from the store. Do not use the heavy double-ply type. You want it to break down and dissolve with the chemicals in the holding tank.
-- Mark Polk is the host of the RV Education 101 series of RV "how to" videos.
RV Camping
In State Parks
Learn about over 1,650 state parks and recreation areas in 49 states that have camping facilities suitable for RVs. A great resource!
Learn more.
Raw Information . . .
The RV industry in Elkhart, Indiana, has been hit hard by an ailing economy. The city now has the fifth highest unemployment rate in the state. -- Canada's largest manufacturer of Class A motorhomes, Triple E Canada Ltd., has purchased Leisure Travel Vans Ltd. of Morden, Manitoba, a builder of Class B coaches and B-plus style Class C motorhomes. -- Thor issued a sales report on Friday. RV sales were off, but bus sales set a record high. -- RV industry analysts predict that 2008 will end up being another down year for RV sales, the fourth consecutive year of declines. -- Fleetwood Enterprises is expected to sell its folding camper division any day now.
This issue's
Knowledge Quiz
Two Quizzes on Saturday
The prizes:
An Apple iPod and a portable pinball game
QUIZ QUESTIONS WILL NOT APPEAR until the actual start time of the Quiz. Prizes will not necessarily be awarded in the order shown above. Answers to quiz questions are either multiple choice or true-false.
Answer the first quiz here on Saturday, May 3 at 10:45 a.m, Pacific Time.
Answer the second quiz here on Saturday, May 3 at 11:15 a.m, Pacific Time.
Knowledge Quiz official rules
Boondocking Tip
By Russ and Tina De Maris
LP lighting Tips
If your RV is equipped with a gas light fixture, here are some ideas to help you get the most of it. First, keep your globe clean. It's amazing how much light can be absorbed by a dirty glass. Make sure the light fixture is cool before removing it, then carefully wash in dishwater, thoroughly drying before reinstalling. If the lamp has lost its brilliance, try changing the mantle -- they lose output with use. Periodically check the "bunsen" or that L-shaped tube that the burner hangs on. A stream of compressed air will remove dirt, cobwebs, and bugs that can obstruct the flow of gas.
--Russ and Tina De Maris are the authors of RV Boondocking Basics.
Recently released
DVD: Do It Yourself RV Care
The RV Doctor, Gary Bunzer, shows you how to maintain and care for your RV. This 63-minute DVD was produced in cooperation with the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. Learn more or order at a discount price.
This little trailer is for back-country fans
Do you like to RV off the beaten path, away from the confines of RV parks and campgrounds, but don't want to drag a large, damage-prone trailer behind you? This new little trailer may be just what you've been waiting for. Check it out.
Take an armchair tour of the Jayco factory
One of the best ways to help an RV buyer make a choice of the right RV is to visit a factory to see how the vehicles are made. In this video, you'll see how Jayco puts together its trailers and motorhomes.
Find Free RV Campgrounds
"Don't pay to stay!" Visit FreeCampgrounds.com and find more than 1,900 free and inexpensive places to stay in the USA in an RV.
Check out our RV Travel Forum discussions
Info about my situation: need advice, opinions, etc.
I now have a 1964 Ford F100 pickup ($800) along with a truck camper that needs some fixing but was free. This is a very low budget project and I will likely be using lots of recycled/reused products rescued before being taken to the landfill. Other parts may be purchased used or new if used is not available. I will still need to pay for title transfer, getting the truck registered, the tune-up and such. I want to know any ideas on where to get affordable/used items. I also need advice on a few things.
Replace the microwave?
In the vein of replacing items in our RVs, has anyone replaced a microwave with convection oven? It seems that it should be easy to switch them out, but what are the hidden factors? Can anyone (installer) do it or does it need to be an RV installer? How about counter tops? I would like to replace my slightly older counters with Corian or a Corian type. Anyone had any experience in this area?
Extending slide floor
I want to extend my slide floor to accommodate a love seat recliner. The recliner I have is 37" in depth and a wall hugger. The slide is 72"x 25," and I want to extend the depth out from the 25" to approximately 36" to 40". What would be the best way to extend the floor out? Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Help! How can I get a pain med Rx filled while traveling?
My husband is disabled and takes prescription narcotics for pain control. His doctor won't write a script for more than a 6-week supply without seeing him each time. I think this Doc may just want to get his regular office visit fee, but I also know these medications are strictly regulated and under FDA scrutiny. We want to travel for several months at a time without returning home, but can't figure out a way to do so. Does anyone have a similar situation and/or a suggestion or solution for this problem?
Under 30' high-end fifth wheel?
Does anyone know of any brands of fifth wheel that offer the build- and furniture-quality of high-end motorhomes? I live in a Lance camper at present and would love more space--plenty of brands offer that--but would also like to trade up in those other respects. From my research, it seems that one has to pull around a very large trailer if one wants to get the really high-quality interior, i.e. 33' or larger, which is more than I need or want to tow, and even then they don't have the feel of, e.g., a Prevost bus. Many thanks in advance for your thoughts/experience.
THE guide for Alaska-bound RVers!
The 2008 Milepost
is THE guide to visiting Alaska
This is THE mile-by-mile guidebook for RV or auto travelers headed to Alaska, the Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Alberta and the Northwest Territories. If you only take one guidebook to Alaska, take this! Learn more or order at a discount price.
Bill's Hints
"Your RVs internal water system is rated for about 50 pounds of water pressure. Unless you are certain that you have a pressure regulator built-in, always add one to your hose before connecting it to your pressure fitting. Install it on the water source end of your hose." --From Trailers and Fifth Wheels Made Easy
Senior Citizen Discounts Guide 2008-2009
This annual directory will save you a ton of money. Learn about thousands of senior discounts throughout the USA. Most are not publicized elsewhere. National and local businesses are listed. Learn more or order.
Get the right rock guard for your motorhome
A rock guard is a sound investment for RVers who tow a toad, or dinghy, behind their motorhome. Some guards are better than others, though. Read this article to make sure you buy the right type. Click here.
Calling all campground cooks: prove your stuff
Think you're a pretty good campground chef, eh? Well, put on your apron and prove it at this exciting contest in September. If the judges' taste buds approve, you'll win cash and prizes. Music, cooking demos and other fun activities make this a great RVing event for the whole family. Click here.
FREE SHIPPING
at RVbookstore.com
Order $49 or more and choose to pay absolutely no postage or handling fees (USA addresses only). Nearly ALL orders ship same day. Our motto is "You need it so we speed it." RVbookstore.com.
Bumper Snicker
"I'm sorry. Was it my job to fill your life with joy today?"
Read other funny bumper stickers or buy them.
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 2007 edition: Stores that sell diesel fuel! Retail price $24.95. Order Now at our Everyday Low Price of only $19.98 -- the best price anywhere!
How to maintain your RV's roof
You've heard the advice to maintain your RV's roof, but what does that mean? How often should you provide the maintenance, and what should you look for? Here are your answers.
Worth Pondering
The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. -- Eleanor Roosevelt
RVs for sale at NewRVer.com. See them here.
Read back issues of the RV Travel newsletter. Click here.
Visit Camping World for RV supplies and accessories
RV Travel staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Contributors: Russ and Tina De Maris, Gerry Bruder, Jim Twamley, Jaimie Hall. Forum Administrator: Adrienne Kristine. Office Manager: Jody Allcott. Fulfillment Manager: Erin Hanson. Web Operations Guru: Zoey Platt. Clapper/Loader: Emily Woodbury. Stress Relief: Mikey the slinky dog.
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 2008 Life On Wheels Conferences.
RV Travel is copyright 2008 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, Expanding Universe.
RV Owners Manual
Congratulations, Jim!
Amazing video of motorhome going up in flames
Lost Lake Resort 
