Archived Issues
RV Travel Issue 162

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June 5 issue, Issue 163

Email alerts for this issue were mailed to more than 103,000 RVers.

Dear fellow RVer,

I hope you are enjoying the long Memorial Day weekend and are pausing to remember those who helped preserve our many freedoms. I suspect many of you won't read this issue until you return from your camping trips. In my hometown of Edmonds, the skies are deep blue and the temperature around 80. The vehicle line for the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry was heavily populated Friday with RVers on their way to campgrounds on the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas.

A new product announcement from Winnebago caught my eye this week — the new 2006 Class C View, a 23-foot motorhome with a 2.7 liter Mercedes-Benz diesel engine. The five-cylinder turbo-diesel is said to be quiet, delivering both consistent power and fuel efficiency. I will make a point to see one of these in the next few weeks and file a report. The Itasca Navion is almost identical. The base price on both is less than $79,000. See photos and learn more. I have a feeling this new model will give Class B manufacturers some stiff competition. Look for these two new rigs in campgrounds soon.

If you're headed to Alaska this summer via the Alaska Highway, you won't be alone. Sales of our Alaska RV travel guides at RVbookstore.com are triple what they were last year. Our theory: RVers held off making the trip last summer because of high prices, but decided this year that they couldn't hold off another year to make their "trip of a lifetime."

Okay. . . on with the issue.

P.S. And please be sure to read next week's edition. I will have an announcement you won't want to miss!

Look for a pop quiz or two with terrific prizes most weeks at RVbookstore.com.
Sign up to receive an email alert of quiz start times.

How many RVers bring along a pet on their trips? Find out.

Summer rig orientation
We met a disciplined boondocker who lives year round in the desert. Every spring as the weather warms, he re-orients his rig to prepare for hot temperatures. Pointing his RV so that either the tail or front end aims south, he offers the sun the least exposure to his rig's broad sides. When fall rolls around and heat is occasionally required, his rig sits with the broad areas pointed south. Where practical, you can take the same advantage. Of course if your solar panels tilt, you'll need to take into account their "aim" and plan accordingly.

Russ and Tiña Demaris are the authors of RV Boondocking Basics.

Books and videos about Boondocking

A monster catfish
Do you like to fish? Then you'll be interested in hearing that angler Tim Pruitt landed a world-record 124-pound blue catfish last week in the Mississippi River below the Melvin Price Lock and Dam at Alton. The whopper fish measured 58 inches long and 44 inches around. It took Pruitt a half-hour to land the monster. And the good news: The fish has been kept alive and is on display in a tank at the Cabela's Outfitter store in Kansas City, Kansas.

RV owners pay dog tax. Others don't!
In Indianapolis, Indiana, if you own an RV and a dog, you are required to pay a tax of $2 or $4 on the pooch. If you don't own an RV, you don't pay a penny to license Fido. State property assessment form 101 says that dog owners who own an RV must pay the dog tax. Proceeds go to farmers who lose livestock to wild canines. The law says that dogs can be captured and destroyed if their owners don't pay the tax. Ouch!

The following information was provided by visitors to FreeCampgrounds.com. The information has not been verified.

Grand Meadow City Park, Grand Meadow, Nebraska
Pleasant grassy area, playground equipment, small lake suitable for canoeing, pit toilets, no hookups. Go east nine miles from Dexter (I-90 exit 193. I-90 runs NE/SW at that point). The park is 1 1/2 miles past Grand Meadow. There are no big cities nearby. Exit 193 is between Rochester and Austin. Free.

10,000 Dollar Bar, Haugan, Montana
Take exit 16 north off I-90 at Haugan, just east of the Idaho border. Campground is located behind the restaurant & gift shop. Free.

Tamarack, Beckley, West Virginia
This is a truck stop rest area just north of Beckley on I-77. You can park on top at the gift shop and restaurant. Easy in and out for big rigs. Free.

Read about these and other free and inexpensive campgrounds at FreeCampgrounds.com

Last issue in our private survey I asked if you were a schoolteacher what grade you'd give me as the editor of this newsletter. Most of you thought I was doing a good job, but some didn't. Here's a sampling of your comments.

•I'm not a teacher, but I still give you an A.
•Enough with the Walmart thing. You're beating some topics to death.
•I look forward to RV Travel every week. I am a new RVer and have learned a lot.
•Your so-called "newsletter" is nothing more than a sales pitch. I find a very minimum of useable news in it.
•I love it. It's like reading a family letter. We always look forward to your interesting weekly comments.
•Lovely reading, however not informative regarding RV tips.
•I look forward to reading RV Travel every Sunday morning! It is very informative and enjoyable! I especially enjoy the weekly surveys. This informs me of what other RV people are doing.
•Too short and too many commercials. With so much advertising (necessary) we should get more information and tips!
•The RV travel newsletter is packed with information and levity. We love the quizzes. I really look forward to this letter each and every week.
•I am a teacher and I read your RV travel issues every week! You deserve an A+!
•The number of ads is ridiculous.
•Good balance of technical and travel, along with personal stories that are refreshing.
•I am not a teacher, but I will/would still rate this newsletter an "A". It is without a doubt the best of all newsletters on the Internet. I have been receiving this newsletter for quite some time and really enjoy it. You are doing a great job.

Haven't commented yet? Do so here.

And my thoughts about your comments:
•Yes, there are many ads. But without them, this free newsletter wouldn't exist. Publishing RV Travel and our other websites is my job, not my hobby (a job I love!) and sales from RVbookstore.com provide most of our profits. Eight people earn their livings from our family of websites, and this newsletter is a very important cog in the wheel that keeps us rolling along. But let me pose a question: Would you pay $15 a year to receive an ad-free, more in-depth version of RV Travel? Please let me know.

•About too much Walmart parking coverage. Good point. The fact is, there's more interest in this topic than any other single RV-related matter right now. But I'll do my best to limit my comments and let our RV Travel and FreeCampgrounds.com forums deal with the issue.

Thanks to those of you who answered my survey. You taught me a few things — much appreciated.

Guidebooks and DVDs about RVing in Mexico

Campground Directory for Big Rig RVs
If you drive a king-sized RV, this directory is for you.

Fluid Day
Once a month, I recommend fluid day for your vehicle(s). I started the monthly tradition years ago with some female friends so we could keep our cars in top shape. We would gather around our cars and check the oil, radiator, brake fluid, transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid and battery level. We added oil, antifreeze, fluids and distilled water as needed. We each had a tire gauge and checked the tires for proper inflation. When I purchased my motorhome, I had twice as many items to monitor on two different engines: a Ford and a Dodge 360. I repeat the same checkups with both vehicles. However, I use a small baseball bat to thump the tires on the motorhome. I’ve learned from the sound whether a tire needs air, especially one of the inside duallies. It doesn’t take long to inspect your vehicle(s) and it could prevent problems down the road.

RV TRAVELING TALES:
WOMEN'S JOURNEYS ON THE OPEN ROAD
Women who travel by RV tell about their lives. Superb!

Banana Split Festival
Okay, let's level with each other. What food is more satisfying than a banana split? Not many, right? Well, if you love banana splits, then you better point your RV toward Wilmington, Ohio, for the 11th annual Banana Split Festival. It's coming right up, too -- June 10 and 11. And this is no ordinary banana split festival because (in case you didn't know) Wilmington is the birthplace of the banana split. How about that!? This year's event includes crafters, vendors, great food, a "make your own banana split" booth, games, kids activities and a concert by none other than Phil Dirt and The Dozers along with the Van-Dells! For info call 1-877-4-A-VISIT.

RVers Guide to Solar Battery Charging
Learn everything an RVer needs to know to enjoy the
comforts of household power through the power of the sun.

National Park Service Camping Guide
Learn where to camp at America's National Parks.

RVers Guide to Dump Stations
A state-by-state directory of most of the known public dump
stations in America. Learn more or order.

Learn how to operate everything on your RV
New, 72-minute DVD shows you step-by-step how to operate
everything on an RV. It's like getting a personal tour from
RV technician Tim Collard. Winterizing tips, too.

Quartzsite, Arizona. See it on DVD!
Visit the Boondocking Capital of the West on DVD. Like being there!

Buying an RV?
Don't buy one before reading The RV Buyers Survival Guide. Ex-RV
sales manager Bob Randall reveals how to get the best deal from
an RV dealer. Don't pay too much. Available as printed book
or instant eBook.

Books about earning an income on the road

RV books for less than $9.99

Books and videos from Trailer Life. Great prices!

When crossing the USA/Canada border, always drive through the CAR lanes, not the TRUCK lanes – unless there is a designated lane for RV’s. • Even if your RV is your fulltime home, while you are at the border it is considered a vehicle. During a search your RV is no different than a suitcase at the airport. If you are searched – expect to repack.

Save Big Money at RV Parks!
Join the Happy Camper Club for $49.95 and pay half-price at more than 1,000 RV parks. If you camp more than a few weeks a year, a membership can save you a bundle.

SamAlerts keep RVers informed of recalls
The Good Sam Club has established a free "SamAlert" program that automatically notifies members when there's a recall notice that applies to their RV. Members need only log into the club's member-only website to register. RVers who do not belong to the Good Sam who would like to join to participate in the program, may do so here for $19 a year.

Huge RV rally coming soon
The 2005 Great North American RV Rally is set for July 11-14 in Redmond, Oregon. More than 5,000 rigs will occupy the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center. It's still not too late to register by calling 877-749-7122.

Wyandot Popcorn Museum
See the world's largest collection of antique popping machines and peanut roasters. And if you can visit right after Labor Day, be sure to take in the annual Popcorn Festival. The museum is open through October between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at 169 E. Church St. Marion, Ohio. Admission is $3. And while you're in town, be sure to visit the home of President Warren Harding.

NO QUIZ THIS ISSUE

Last week's winners:
•David S. Barker, who won the book "Camping With the Corps of Engineers"
•Lucy Sampson, who won $100

See the results of previous quizzes

Knowledge Quiz official rules

March towable retail sales outpaced last year by 4.5%, according to Statistical Surveys Inc. For the first three months of 2005, towables are up 6.1 percent, while motorized sales are down 4.8 percent. • About 70 percent of 444 RV owners surveyed by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association in March — as gasoline prices were climbing — said they planned to use their vehicles more this year than in 2004. • La Mesa RV is setting up a regional service center in Portland, Oregon and will close the service department at its Coburg dealership May 31. Twenty four workers will be laid off. • Voters in Kennebunkport, Maine will be asked in June whether the town should limit the number of RVs that can park in a public parking lot that was originally designed for neighborhood cars. • A 24-foot motorhome went up in flames at the Cardinal Adult Mobile Home and RV Park in Yuma, Arizona last week. Nobody was injured. The fire's cause is unknown. Meanwhile, across the country in Chemung, NY, another motorhome was destroyed from a fire that may have been caused by someone burning trash in a nearby burn barrel. • In Cedar Falls, Iowa it's illegal to set up camp in an RV in a local park, but it's okay to do so on city streets. Now the city is looking to make street parking illegal, which would prohibit, among other things, residents allowing guests to park on the street in front of their homes. Some RVers have been using the city streets as campgrounds. • Some oil industry experts predict that this year, maybe next — almost certainly by the end of the decade — the world's oil production, having grown exuberantly for more than a century, will peak and begin to decline. Other experts disagree. • Washington State has raised its gasoline tax by three cents a gallon now and another 12 cents over the next 12 years.

Beginners Guide to RVing

RVing the Northwest

RVing in Mexico

Full Time RVing

RV Recalls

Workamping Information

Visit Camping World for RV supplies and accessories

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