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OF THIS NEWSLETTER!
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 Weekend of April 4, 2009
Issue 372 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 sent this issue: 72,188.
 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.
To ensure you continue to receive email alerts for this newsletter, please place the following email address in your own email address book: rvtraveler@topica.email-publisher.com
Editor's corner
By Chuck Woodbury
 Dear reader,
 The results of last issue's reader survey surprised me. More than one out of four RVtravel.com readers owe more on their RV loans than what their vehicles are worth. It means that in order to sell their present RVs they would need to come up with cash to pay off their loan balances. I'm sure that in these tough economic times, some of these folks would like to get rid of their RVs and their monthly payments. But most can't do that without pulling thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars from their pockets.
Financing an RV was relatively easy the last few years. A lot of consumers got in over their heads by buying expensive rigs with little or no money down and extending their payments for 15 or 20 years. And now a lot of those RVers are stuck with loan payments on an RV they might not even want any more. It's not much different than what's happened in the housing market with the mortgage meltdown.
Read our story at NewRVer.com about why so many RVers have ended up "upside down" in their loans. Good luck if you are one of these folks!
Do you have a comment about RVers and their RV loans? Leave it at the RVtravel.com forum.
Problems with last issue
Our newsletter last week was issued late Saturday afternoon instead of it's regular time in the wee hours of the morning. We were doing some maintenance on our server that should have taken a few minutes (yeah, right!) but ended up taking hours -- Murphy's Law in action!
 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.
 Get the latest RV news headlines at Twitter
Keep up with the latest in RV news and information at our new RV Travel headline service at Twitter.com. Plus, you'll be the first to get an alert about each new issue of the weekly RVtravel.com newsletter. Go there now.
Other Twitters to follow
Julianne Crane, RV Wheel Life
RVtravel.com forum moderator Adrienne Kristine
RV Wal-Mart: Overnight RV parking news
RV Bookstore
RV Travel editor Chuck Woodbury
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.
Statistics
RVtravel.com Forum Update as of 4/3/09 at 5:30 pm:
9,465 registered members, 25,958 messages.
RVtravel.com Alexa ranking: 82,591*
*Rank in the world of tens of millions websites.
Number of RVtravel.com followers at Twitter: 1,229
 Number of free
and inexpensive campgrounds now profiled at FreeCampgrounds.com (as of 4-3-09): 1,750
Get an email alert for upcoming issues of this newsletter. It only takes 20 seconds to sign up. Your email address is never sold or shared with outsiders. No exceptions.
READ BACK ISSUES: Click here.
 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
The ABCs of renting an RV with Pauline Frommer
If you don't own an RV, but would like to learn what RVing is all about, you can't beat renting a recreational vehicle. Pauline Frommer and friends took a spin in a rented 32-foot Winnebago recently, and she talked with CNN about the experience. Did she like it? You bet! Watch the video.
Good Sam Club's magazine Highways goes digital-only in July
RVtravel.com has learned that the Good Sam Club will not publish a printed July issue of its monthly magazine Highways. The edition will be available only on the Good Sam website and to Good Sam members only. The club says it will resume its printed edition in August, but that's probably not a plan etched in stone. Highways Magazine has been thin lately with few ad pages.
How to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning in your RV
Mark Polk offers helpful advice to ensure you don't become a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning in your RV. Watch the video.
Bigger fifth wheel trailers coming soon
The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) has authorized its members to increase the maximum size of fifth-wheel trailers from 400 to 430 square feet. The new rule takes fact immediately. So keep your eyes open for more spacious fifth wheel trailers in the months ahead.
RVers sharing ownership of luxury RVs
Some RV enthusiasts who can't afford to own a luxury motorhome in these tough economic times are choosing to own one through fractional ownership. The concept is simple, multiple families each own a share in an RV and divide the use and costs associated with it. Read more.
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
Camper Jacks: Hydraulic versus Electric
It's a topic that comes up among truck camper folks: What's better--hydraulic jacks or electrics? Sometimes you wonder if this is one of those perennial "Ford versus Dodge" discussions. Here are some differences to be considered.
 Lost: Have you seen this RVer?
The Pierce County, Wash., sheriff's department is looking for this man, Gordon Smart. He was last seen leaving on a trip to Ocean Shores in his RV, but then disappeared. Smith is the primary caregiver to his elderly mother. He's 61 years old, 5' 8" and weighs 180 pounds. The sheriff's phone is (253) 798-4721.
Motorhome driving tips from Jim Twamley
RVtravel.com blogger Jim Twamley offers tips about how to drive a motorhome. Obey some simple rules and it's easy as pie.
 
BACKUP CAMERAS
Systems from only $149.99
 You'll always know what's behind you with a backup camera from RVtoyOutlet.com. We have a big choice of systems, beginning at only $149.99 -- that's right, not a typo -- and that's for an entire system! You'll find the lowest prices and best service at RVtoyOutlet. We appreciate you! Learn more or order.
 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.
Best way to deal with hole in RV's rubber roof?
Dear RV Doctor,
I have a two-inch round hole in my RV's EPDM rubber roof. The hole does go into the trailer. My problem is do I patch it or do I need a new roof? The trailer is only one year old. No one will guarantee the patch, and the cost for a new roof is expensive. Insurance should cover it but I cannot believe this is how it is done. Hole in roof means new roof. That's what I am told. Any ideas? --James Marley
Read Gary's response. Read previous RV Doctor columns
  Special discount: Save $500!
Come along with us on
THE OREGON TRAIL
Join Tracks as we follow the footsteps of the pioneers who traveled west on the Oregon Trail. See the old wagon ruts. Savor steaks over the campfire. Ride a real Conestoga Wagon! Form friendships you'll treasure forever on this 33-day RV tour from Missouri to Oregon. All arrangements including RV parks by Tracks RV Tours. Click here for your FREE full-color magazine covering this tour and all our others or call 800-351-6053.
This Week's Reader Survey
Do you have more or less confidence now than three months ago that the U.S. economy is the road to recovery? Answer here.
Last week's survey question
Do you owe more on your RV loan than what you could sell your RV for Read the answer here.
Past reader surveys and results
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
 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.
RV Boondocking Tips
Keeping Batteries Clean
By Russ and Tina De Maris
We know plenty of folks who swear by eliminating corrosion from battery connectors with a big splash of baking soda in water. It does neutralize battery acid, but if you get any of that solution down inside the battery cells, problems will surely follow. It's probably a better idea to put on a pair of stout rubber gloves and carefully "go at it" with a rag dampened with baking soda and water solution.
Russ and Tina De Maris are the authors of RV Boondocking Basics.
Books and DVDs about camping on public lands and RV boondocking.
 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.
 DVD: RVing Alaska
(with Joe and Vicki Kieva)
Learn everything you need to know about traveling by RV to and from Alaska via the Alaska Highway and the Alaska ferry. Essential viewing for Alaska-bound RVers. Learn more or order.
A Woman's Perspective
Anxious about going full-time
The following notice was posted in the RVtravel.com forum last fall from a 60-something woman who was planning to travel full-time in an RV. Many women RVers responded to her. You may find both the posting and the responses interesting: She wrote. "The last time I posted I was going to buy a 5th wheel. Well not anymore. I'm going with a class C 30'. Boy, am I scared about this. I will be going solo except for my little dog, Kimi, 7lbs. I will be 66 years old when I do this and plan to travel in it for around two years or so, and will be selling my house. I've got the "what ifs": I have a flat tire, car trouble or the like. Can I really do this? Then I think why not? I'm not stupid or half dead! I'm very independent but so scared. I would love to hear from all you women who are doing this."
Learn more about RVing as a woman.
 Buy or sell an RV!
Whether you are buying or selling an RV, RV Trader is the place to do it. Still in the early stage of the buying process? You won't find a better place to research your new vehicle. See photos of RVs and videos, too. Search by type of RV, location, price, new or used. . . Visit RVtraderOnline.com
 The RV Kitchen
Janet Groene's Cornbread-crowned pot pie
Yum. Here's a terrific recipe that will serve eight. Or, if you travel alone, it will serve one person eight times. Get the recipe.
Cookbooks for RVers: Big selection at RVbookstore.com
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.
NEWLY UPDATED
2009 RV Show Schedule
Learn about RV shows through the end of 2009. Check in here to learn when shows will be held in your area.
 Bella Terra RV Resort
Now Open for Rental Occupancy!
Your dream of five-star, luxury RV living is becoming a reality. At Bella Terra of Gulf Shores, we pride ourselves on creating unique travel experiences for our guests. Make a RV lot reservation now. Call toll free 1-866-475-7746 or complete our reservation form online.
Take a 3-minute
video tour of Bella Terra.
Working on the road
 Workamper Forums provide wealth of information
RVers who are already working as they travel with their RVs and others who plan to someday should visit the forum section of Workamper News. Virtually everything a current workamper or wannabe needs to know is here. No registration is required to browse the forum.
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
 Photo of the week
A tough choice!
So, which road do you take? Is Good Road good enough, or do you really, truly need to take the Best Road? Low-achievers might settle for "Good Enough Road," but our ace RVtravel.com staff photographers haven't spotted that one yet.
DVD shows how to drive a motorhome
Learn how to drive a motorhome the right way from RVer/tour bus driver Lorrin Walsh and host Mark Polk. This should be essential viewing for co-pilots and novice RV drivers. And experienced RVers, too! 67 minutes. Save 10% at RVbookstore.com. Learn more or order.
Why can't a motorhome be backed while towing a dinghy?
Dear Mark,
I have purchased several books and eBooks from RVbookstore.com, but I can't find the answer to my burning question. In your eBook "The Complete Guide to Dinghy Towing" you say to never back up a motorhome when pulling a dinghy. My question is: You see many motorhomes pulling boats. If you can't back up a toad, how do boaters back up to launch their boats? --Jim Walker
Read Mark's reply.
Find out about DVDs and eBooks by RV expert Mark Polk.
 The 2008-2009
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)
 The good ol' days. . .
In the early days, if you wanted an RV you built it.
By the end of World War I, Americans added tents, beds and cooking facilities to their family cars and hit the road. By the 1920s, campers who demanded more comfort built their own "RVs" -- simple wooden houses mounted on the chassis of Model 'T' Fords. Look closely at this picture and you'll see wheels, headlights, a rear view mirror and, gee, even what looks like a chimney.
New laws for 2009.
 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.
Check out these RV Travel Forum discussions
Good time for extended warranties?
With so many of the manufacturers going out of business, it's time to visit the topic of extended warranty coverages. Would love feedback on experiences/opinions with such programs as Good Sam CSP, Easycare, etc. Thanks.
English visitor RVing USA for first time
From a reader in England: In April we're embarking on our first RV trip but have some questions. We're planning on overnighting in various parking lots/truck stops/anything suitable along the way. I've read a ton of postings and articles on things (like Wal-Mart etiquette) so fully understand the good, bad and ugly of doing this!The question I have is about DAY parking. Can you park up in a nearby Wal-Mart or whatever and catch a bus into town? What's the general attitude to this? How do you guys generally visit a big city by RV? We'll be visiting the following cities: Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philly, and NYC. Any suggestions on parking locations (or even places to see!) would be greatly appreciated.
Confused about weight issue on his truck camper
Newbie here. We have a Travellite camper, 3300 lbs dry weight. The salesman said the truck can handle it (2004, 2500 Silverado HD diesel).
However, I now find by reading on this site that my insurance could be a problem because I think that I am over my GVWR and CWR. Could anyone confirm this for us?
Microwave is on the fritz. What to do?
My Sharp microwave convection built-in oven starts out at full power for about two seconds and then the light dims and the carousel slows down. Food takes about three times longer to cook now. I think there was a power surge in the RV park since I discovered a blown breaker -- not the one the microwave is on. Anyone have any ideas on what is wrong and can it be fixed? If I need to replace, is it a doable job for someone handy with tools? The oven is mounted over the stove and is not vented.
Couple with baby ready to hit the road
We're a young Canadian couple setting out across our country with our son. He'll be 6 months old when we leave. We plan on being on the road for 4 or 5 months. We read through a lot of the threads on RVing with children and we don't really have too many questions. We're just looking for suggestions if they cross your mind. We have him in cloth diapers and he's pretty good at going to the bathroom on the toilet while we're home during the day. So we're hoping the soiled diapers will be down to sleep time and while in the car. I guess we'll set up a drying line in the fifth wheel? Any common issues we wouldn't think of?
Dead automotive battery. Why?
Anyone out there have experience with a 2000 Damon Intruder? I bought one last month and have been on shore power. I discovered today that my automotive battery is dead. Shouldn't the converter charge both batteries? The manual says that the Ford chassis doesn't have the emergency start circuit, and that is true.
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
Interesting Forum
 RVer Veterans: Here is the place where RVtravel.com forum members gather to exchange information about affairs that are common to veterans who also love to travel by RV. There is a lot of good information passed along here, some of it can help vets save some dollars on programs they may not know about.
Read other Forum discussions
 Best seller!
Find Rest Areas, Welcome Centers & more
With the new 2008 Interstate Travel Guide you will quickly and easily locate rest areas, welcome centers, scenic turnouts, including a list of Flying J Travel Plaza locations popular with RVers. Learn more.
Trivia
Don't suck on a toad
 Sonoran Desert toads are big fellows -- to 7 1/2 inches long. They move slow and depend on a poison behind their eyes. The secretions can disrupt nerve and muscle function in a mammal. Dogs are often killed by the poison. Some stupid humans believe they will get high by licking the toads. They don't, but they will get sick and maybe even die. The toads are found in the Sonoran Desert of the Southwest, and are sometimes called Colorado River toads. Dogs can get sick when drinking from their water bowl after a Sonoran Desert Toad has rested in it overnight. Anyone who suspects their dog has been drinking toad tea should call a vet.
 Updated for 2009
Casino Camping: Guide to RV-Friendly Casinos
This 2009 directory is the best casino guide for RVers. Learn which casinos have RV parks or offer free overnight stays. Plus get tips and information about other casino benefits for RVers. Learn more or order.
Random RV Thought
Whenever you can, get off the Interstates and drive the back roads. You'll battle fewer big rig trucks and get up close and personal with scenery and the local population. Pause often along the main streets of small towns, have lunch, or maybe just a milkshake. Drop by the general store and buy the local paper. It's 10 times more fun taking a back road than speeding along a boring Interstate.
Best selling Directory of RV services at Truck Stops!
 Get your 2009 RVers Friend
This best-selling directory lists RV services at truck stops with free "camping," dumps, Internet, propane, repair services & more. Truck stops offer more to RVers than ever. Let this best selling book be your guide. Order the 2009 edition now -- just published! Learn more or order.
Bill's Hints
About hooking up to electricity in a campground: "If you use extension cords (always of the proper rating), make all connections to the RV before finally plugging into the campground power. Then you won't expose yourself to 'hot' connectors." --From Trailers and Fifth Wheels Made Easy.
 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 "RV Retirement." ON SALE NOW. Learn more or order.
Tourist Attraction Spotlight
 Climb a volcano at Lassen Volcanic National Park
Northern California's Lassen Volcanic National Park is a perfect destination for RVers, with several campgrounds, good roads, and many thermal areas (no geysers, though). For the adventurous, a trail leads to the top of 10,457-foot Mt. Lassen, a Cascade volcano that last erupted between 1915 and 1917. The hike begins at about 8,500 feet and switches back often on the way to the peak. No climbing gear is needed, just good hiking shoes. Anyone in moderate physical condition can make it (take it slow, if necessary). A scenic campground is at Manzanita Lake, but the sites are too small for big rigs. In this photo, hikers relax at the summit.
Do you know of a terrific tourist attraction? Share it with the readers of this newsletter in the RVtravel.com forum.
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
I Have A Convection Oven in My RV. Now What?
Complete Guide to Dinghy Towing
Deep Cycle Battery Care and Maintenance
The 3 Primary Systems of an RV: LP Gas, Water & Electricity
Trailer Towing, Weights, Hitchwork and Backing
RV NEWS HEADLINES: THE LATEST NEWS
Bumper Snicker
I started out with nothing and still have most of it left.
Books and DVDs about Full-time RVing
Largest selection in the World.
Worth Pondering
"Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities." --Aldous Huxley
READ BACK ISSUES of this newsletter: Click here.
 2009 Big Rigs Best Bets Campground Directory
If you drive a king-sized RV, this directory is for you. The authors provide details about 1,100 RV parks throughout the USA and six Canadian Provinces that welcome long motorhomes and towable RVs. This should be an essential resource for owners of large RVs. Learn more or order
About the editor
Chuck Woodbury has explored America by RV for nearly three decades. In the '90s he published a quirky travel newspaper about his adventures and was an "on the road" writer for the New York Times Syndicate. Nowadays, he lives near Seattle where he drinks massive amounts of coffee and travels often in his motorhome and sometimes by plane when vast expanses of saltwater would turn his RV into a leaky submarine. He is the host of the Better Business Bureau DVD "Buying a Recreational Vehicle," the definitive guide to purchasing an RV the right way.
RV Travel staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Contributing editors: Russ and Tina De Maris, Jim Twamley. Forum Administrator: Adrienne Kristine. Office Manager: Jody Allcott. 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 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!"
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