RV News & Newsletter : RVtravel Newsletter : Archived Issues

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RV Travel: Bankruptcy for two more big RV makers

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OF THIS NEWSLETTER!

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Weekend of March 7, 2009

Issue 368 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. Email alerts for this issue were sent to 71,655 readers.

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Most 2009 RV directories now available
Most of the year 2009 annual directories and other annual guides about RVing are now available at RVbookstore.com. These include the 2009 Trailer Life Directory (and the 2009 version on CD-ROM), the Big Rig Best Bets Campground Directory, 2009 Woodall's RV Buyers Guide, the (Alaska) Milepost, the Next Exit, RVers Friend, the 2009 Guide to Firearm Laws, and the new and improved 2009 Choosing Your RV Home Base. In addition, new editions of the Corps of Engineers Campground Guide and the Casino Camping Guide are also available. You will find information about all the new directories at RVbookstore.com by clicking here.

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Editor's corner

By Chuck Woodbury

Dear reader,
Jim Twamley, the most popular blogger at RVtravel.com, is accused by some of our readers of being Mr. Doom and Gloom about the state of the RV industry and its future.

Jim believes today's bad times in the RV industry will get worse before they get better, and he's not afraid to say so. He has been saying this for a year now, and in the process has angered some readers and executives in the RV industry. But, to those who doubt Jim, the fact is, almost everything he has predicted has come true. I urge you to read Jim's latest posting which is sure to stir the pot some more. Please leave a comment (there will be many, I'm sure).

PHOTO: I met a big reptile last summer on the Oregon coast. Lucky for me, I escaped alive.

Get RV news and learn about interesting RV websites and information
You can now keep up with the latest in RV news and information at our new RV Travel headline service at Twitter.com. You don't need to be a member of Twitter to read these short items, which are posted throughout the day by a team of RV journalists. You'll get breaking news almost as it happens, tips (with links) about interesting feature articles about RVing -- and about great blogs and websites by RVers. Plus, you'll be the first to get an alert about each new issue of this newsletter. I urge you to bookmark this site, or better yet sign up for Twitter (it's free and takes only one or two minutes). Go there now to get an idea of the enormous value in monitoring this new service.




DID YOU MISS last issue? If so, read it here.

RV Travel Sunday Chat
Please join RVtravel.com's Adrienne Kristine every Sunday at 6 p.m. (Pacific Time) for our weekly chat. Discuss anything to do with RVing.

RVtravel.com Forum Update as of 3/07/09 at 12:17 pm:
9,258 registered members, 25,367 messages.

Number of free
and inexpensive campgrounds now profiled at FreeCampgrounds.com (as of 3-06-09): 1,732

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Unemployment rate soars in
RV making capital
Public Television (PBS) reported last evening (Friday, March 6), that the unemployment rate in the RV making capital of the world, Elkhart, Ind., has risen to 18 percent, which is more than double the national average.

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2009 Next Exit Directory
This should be an essential guide for every road-tripping RVer! Learn what you will find at every Interstate highway exit: gas/diesel fuel, campgrounds, truck stops, casinos, stores, malls, hospitals, factory outlet stores, parks and more. Learn more.

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Popular articles from past issues
--Bad economy affects some Wal-Mart RV parking.
--Nifty device can help eliminate holding tank odors.
--Motor oil numbers, what do they mean?
--Camp in your RV on the beach in Los Angeles.
--Stay warm with alternative RV heaters.
--Getting "upside down" on an RV loan can cost you big!
--Using synthetic oil could void your warranty.
--How to calculate your boondocking power needs.

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UPDATED IN 2009
Corps Camping
Guide to Corps of Engineers Campgrounds
This best-selling guidebook describes more than 600 Corps-managed campgrounds suitable for RVs on nearly 200 lakes around the USA. Haven't camped at a Corps of Engineers' facility? Then you've missed out! Learn more or order

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Monaco, Country Coach now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Luxury RV makers Monaco and County Coach both entered into Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Thursday. Their plants have been idle this year and the companies have laid off nearly all their employees, a major blow to Lane County, Oregon. Monaco had tried unsuccessfully for 20 months to turn the company around. It says it owes creditors between $100 million to $500 million. Meanwhile. . . also in Lane County,  also on Thursday, a federal judge ordered Country Coach into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, one month after the RV maker's majority owner filed a petition to put the company into involuntary bankruptcy. Read more.
Photo: Monaco factory in better times.

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Bargains at RVbookstore.com
Low, low prices. Save up to 80% and even more!

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Lubricating RV and other locks
One area often overlooked for RV maintenance -- and pretty much every RV has one or more to overlook -- are locks. Door locks, compartment locks, locks on hitches, locks on toolboxes. So what should you use to lubricate those locks? Russ De Maris has some advice.

RVing in the desert? Keep some survival rules in mind
This time of year is just about perfect for boondocking adventures in the desert Southwest. Bring your RV and you'll soon be seeing some really great blooms. This spring will likely prove to be one of the more memorable on record, as the Southwest has had an unusually "wet" season. But while you're out enjoying the beauty, be sure to be prepared: Breakdowns can happen, and even in this day of the GPS, you can actually get lost. Here are some desert survival tips to follow when taking off to the wilderness.

Future solar panels could be thin as cling wrap
The big solar panel on your RV could soon be a thing of the past. A Washington state company is working to create inexpensive, portable solar cells that harness solar energy using thin polymer film about the width of cling wrap. Learn more.

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2008 Wal-Mart Atlas & FREE Bonus
"No Overnight RV Parking" Directory
Order the best-selling Wal-Mart Atlas and receive the "No Overnight Parking" Directory for FREE. SAVE $9.90! Most Wal-Mart stores permit a free overnight stay in RVs. The 2008 Wal-Mart Atlas provides driving directions to more than 4,000 Wal-Marts and Sam's Clubs. It lists which stores sell diesel, have pharmacies -- and it provides store GPS coordinates. The "No Park" Directory lists more than 350 stores that DO NOT allow stays! Learn more or order.

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Repairing your RV with putty tape
If you do much RV maintenance or repair, chances are good you've already encountered "putty tape." This sticky material is a regular performer between windows and walls, roof vents and roofs, and a host of other places where a gasket-like substance is needed to help seal out moisture. But which putty tape should you use? Here's some advice.

Couple build their own fifth wheel trailer!

Some people are really handy. Take Chad and Tricia Nicholls who built their own 31-foot fifth wheel trailer complete with centralized computer, six flat screen TVs and just about every other creature comfort. "It wasn't one main project but a thousand little ones," said Chad in this interview broadcast on RVTV.

Follow the RV Travel editor on Twitter
Twitter.com is where people write very short postings (about 20 words or less) about what they are doing right at the moment. To sign up follow RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury's Twitter comments click here.

Toyhauler show coming to SoCal dunes
Toyhauler magazine plans to stage an RV show next Nov. 27-28, the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving, in the desert dunes area in Glamis, Calif., where an estimated 70,000 rigs could be on hand.

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THE guide for Alaska-bound RVers!

The 2009 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.

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Futuristic VW Camper

Wow! This is something else! Watch this computer animation of what must be one of the most space-efficient camping designs ever imagined. In this day and age of smaller RVs. . . heck, maybe this little rig will end up on the production line. Watch the two-minute video at RVvideos.com.

Fender well space in truck campers: What do you use it for?
Nearly all truck camper folks have a little bit of storage space in front and behind the wheel wells, just outside your camper bed box. What do you use your space for? Here's how Russ and Tina De Maris use their space.

RVer's mistakes prove costly, but teach a lesson
RV author and publisher Don Wright made a few bad decisions lately, and he shares them with you -- an object lesson that other RVers might appreciate.

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Travel with us!
FREE CATALOG
of our RV Tours!
Have you ever taken an RV tour? If not, you've missed out. Join Tracks RV Tours (est. in 1975) for the trip of your lifetime! Visit Alaska, the Yucatan, New Zealand, Nova Scotia, Baja -- or tour the National Parks of the American West. Form friendships you'll treasure forever. All arrangements including RV parks by Tracks RV Tours. Click here for your FREE full-color magazine of all our many adventures or call 800-351-6053.

ESCAPE TO BRANSON IN MAY: Details!

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Don't try to control temperature in fifth wheel when being towed
Should an RVer attempt to cool or heat a fifth wheel trailer (or other towable RV) while it is being towed? A member of the RVtravel.com reader forum says "no" and explains why.

New grocery store for Quartzsite visitors
RVers and residents of Snowbird capital Quartzsite, Ariz., now have a new place to shop for groceries. Read about it.

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NASCAR DVD: Only 99 cents! Retail price $29.99
Special Deals like this don't come around every day, so don't miss this one: Reg. $29.99. Relive the glory of NASCAR with over 6 decades of spectacular photos, audio and video footage of NASCAR's greatest driver, families and events. From the sands of Daytona to the Brickyard at Indy, "Great Moments in The History of NASCAR" documentary will fascinate fans of all ages.Learn more or order. Includes rare audio interview with Richard Petty with Gene Granger.

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RVTV not renewed on cable's Outdoor Channel
After five years, the RVTV show will no longer air on the Outdoor Channel, which chose to not renew the show for 2009. The cable channel will focus more on its core programming of hunting and fishing. Since RVTV was one of the few programs on the network that didn't kill anything, it no longer fit the network's format. Executive Producer and host Rob Engman is negotiating with another network and hopes to have a deal in place later this year.

Moderating the RVtravel.com forum not so easy
If you have spent much time on the RVtravel.com forum, then you know Adrienne Kristine, the moderator of the discussion board. But what you may not know is how long and hard she works to keep the postings free of spam and spammers. In this blog posting, she reflects on her job and feelings toward spammers.

RV park residents raise big money for charity
The residents of the Happy Wanderers RV Park in Indio, Calif. raised $27,000 for Relay for Life which benefits American Cancer Society. The residents raised the money through car washes, taco dinners and personal donations. What a wonderful project!

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RVs FOR SALE
Motorhomes, Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, Truck Campers, Pop ups and much more. See the big selection at NewRVer.com. Click here

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Recent RV recalls
Each month we list the latest recalls of RVs at RV-Recalls.com. Here are the most recent ones: 2009: January/February  2008: December -- November -- October -- September -- August -- July --  June -- May -- April -- March

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Essential for Fulltimers!
2009 'Choosing Your RV Home Base'
For would-be fulltimers, which state to establish an official home base is critical. Picking the wrong state can result in paying thousands of dollars extra each year in taxes or RV registration fees. Don't let that happen! This best selling guidebook is an essential planning tool. Learn more or order.

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2009 Fall RV Show Schedule
Learn about RV shows through the winter of 2009. Check in here to learn when shows will be held in your area.

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Dog Friendly's Campground and RV Park Guide
This is a jam-packed, well-researched directory of campgrounds, filled with detailed information, about where you can camp with a dog in the USA and Canada. Learn more or order.

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Photo of the week

Hospital camping?
Some RVers consider finding free places to stay overnight a sport, and occasionally hole up in a hospital parking lot. Nobody pays much attention because other RVers are commonly there while visiting patients. But a sign that points to "Hospital Camping?" Well, as you probably guessed, in this case, the hospital and campground are simply in the same direction.

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Finance your RV at RVfinancing.com
RVfinancing.com is THE largest online RV financing company. Lowest rates nationwide. Visit its website or call 1-888-929-4424. Toll-free 24-hour recorded RV financing tips at 877-905-0060. Endorsed by RVtravel.com

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A Woman's Perspective

Don't run out of propane
By Adrienne Kristine

Have you ever run out of propane while cooking dinner? Pick up a one-gallon propane bottle and an Extend-a-Stay kit to tide you over. Both can be purchased at Camping World or other RV supply stores. Many RVers use a five-gallon tank with the kit so they don't have to move the RV to fill the built-in tank. For me, the one-gallon tank is smaller and I use it indoors with my portable Mr. Buddy heater when I boondock. The extra tank and Extend-a-Stay will ensure you never run out of propane.

Learn more about RVing as a woman.

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The RV Kitchen: Fix It in Foil
Easy prep, great taste, good nutrition and quick clean-up - what more could you want from a meal? This cookbook combines the best of all worlds! Featuring 51 fantastic recipes that each include instructions for cooking in an oven, over a campfire, or on an outdoor grill. Learn more or order

Janet Groene's Mock Turtle Soup
The little turtles in this hearty soup-stew are tortellini. All ingredients carry in your ice chest and pantry. Throw them together in one pot and, minutes after the pot boils, your happy campers will be spooning up supper. Get the recipe.

RV Cookbooks: Big selection at RVbookstore.com

NEW!
On the Go! Microwave-Convection Cooking
This terrific spiral bound microwave-convection cookbook explains what combination modes mean, cooking utensils, racks, preheating and much more. The recipes are simple and have minimal ingredients making this the perfect cookbook for RVers and those at home who are also on-the-go.Learn more or order for only $9.98.

This Week's Reader Survey
Your best guess: How many of today's RV makers will still be in business in Jan., 2010? Answer here.

Last week's survey question
How often do you carry a computer with you on your RV travels?  Read the answer here.

Past reader surveys and results

JUST RELEASED FOR 2009
2009 Trailer Life RV Parks & Campground Navigator CD-ROM
America's most popular RV campground directory is now on 2 CD-ROM disks. The user friendly interface provides the ultimate RV travel planning software for the U.S. and Canada. This is the best CD-ROM RV park and campground directory. Retail price: $59.95. Now 38% off -- only $36.99. Learn more or order

Working on the road

Plenty of jobs for RVers who want to combine travel and work
It's easy to make enough money to live in an RV fulltime, travel, and enjoy life even without a hefty retirement income. Thousands of RVers take jobs as they go. Yet there are more jobs for RVers and workampers than there are RVers available to work. Some RVers don't take actual jobs, but earn income operating a business: the types of both jobs and self-employment opportunities are unlimited. The very best resource for finding jobs on the road -- or working on the road for yourself -- is Workamper.com. The best book on the subject is Support Your RV Lifestyle by Jaimie Hall, available at RVbookstore.com.

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.

Read Gary's response.

Read previous RV Doctor columns

What a life!
RV in your Retirement
Anyone who is close to retirement or who recently retired and is planning to spend all or part of their time traveling with an RV will find much useful information in "RV Retirement." ON SALE NOW. Learn more or order.

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.

Neglecting RV batteries is a bad thing
RV coach batteries are one of the most important and neglected components in the RV. The converter in an RV also has a battery charger. Whenever you are plugged in to electricity or the generator is running, the coach batteries are being charged. They are also being charged by the automotive alternator when you are driving the RV or in the case of a towable RV if you had a charge line wired into the light plug. This constant charging can deplete the electrolyte levels in the batteries cells. If a battery is not maintained properly it will fail much sooner than it should. Depending on how often a battery is being charged will determine how often the electrolyte level needs to be checked. Read more.

Find out about DVDs and eBooks by RV expert Mark Polk.

2009 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 current, specific gun laws for every state. Don't cross a state line with a gun without knowing the laws! Learn more or order.

RVing in Mexico

Find Free RV Campgrounds
"Don't pay to stay!" Visit FreeCampgrounds.com and find more than 1,700 free and inexpensive places to stay in the USA in an RV. Stretch your RVing budget by staying at these freebie locations.

Bumper Snicker
Your child may be an honor student, but you drive like an idiot!

RVbookstore.com and RVtravel.com are members of the Better Business Bureau. We are proud commercial members of the Escapees and the Family Motor Coaching Association. RV Travel is copyright 2009 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.

If you read this far, then "thanks a bunch!"