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News and information from RVtravel.com Issue 190

Issue 190 of the world's largest email RV newsletter: Learn about RV camping, RV travel, RV news and much more.

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So what will it be: Smarts or wisdom?

Several months ago my daughter and I were invited on a five-day trip in a rental RV. We were given the keys to a 28-foot Jayco Escapade Class C motorhome.

It had been a long time since I'd traveled in a motorhome that wasn't either my own or a friend's. This motorhome looked fine, as most RVs do when they are new. But I was soon reminded that beauty in an RV may, indeed, be only skin deep.

When it was time to settle in for the night, my daughter and I picked beds: she opted for the one above the cab, which left me with the queen bed in the rear.

Do you know the definition of an uncomfortable bed?" It's spelled "cheap mattress in a bargain-priced motorhome!" The bed felt like box springs with no mattress on top. It was awful. No, it was worse than awful: it was dreadful! I cannot fathom how an RV could be equipped with such an inferior mattress. Later, I asked an RV dealer friend, "Why don't they put in a better mattress?" He replied, "It's all about money. If they install a more expensive mattress, they have to raise the price of the RV." He said on "lowest end" RVs, a low price tag is critical to being competitive.

Yet even though the mattress was the ultimate in discomfort, I was so tired I fell right to sleep.

I was up first the next morning. First task: flip on the water pump and retreat to the small bathroom. My daughter was still sleeping soundly. That is. . . until I flushed. The water pump wailed like a jackhammer! I'm sure you could hear it two campsites away! It was so loud that my daughter shot up in bed, mumbling something like "Whaaaaat was that?"

There was apparently no insulation around the pump. Now, what would it have cost the manufacturer to include some padding to dull the noise?

Next stop: my morning shower. I carried my soap into the stall and shut the accordian-style door. That is, I attempted to shut it. It wouldn't latch. After a minute of struggling, I succeeded. Then I realized there was absolutely no place to put the soap -- no soap dish, no ledge, no nothing. Just the floor. So that's where it went. After showering, I opened the shower door. That is, I attempted to open the door! Nope. Wouldn't budge. Finally, after a prolonged struggle, I was free.

What I learned from my brief outing in this rental motorhome is that a would-be RV owner really must "test drive" everything on an RV before buying one -- particularly if the RV is an inexpensive entry-level one. Imagine that instead of renting that motorhome I had bought it, but without first turning on the water pump? Or lying on the bed? Or stepping into the shower stall? I would have been one very unhappy camper. If I had done all those things and still opted to buy the rig. . . no problem: I'd know what I was in for. But to buy such an RV without checking it out thoroughly would be begging disappointment.

We had another winner in our Pot Of Gold Zip Code contest last week. Richard Ford of Fountain Lake, Arkansas, took home a respectable $154. Be sure to visit RVbookstore.com every weekday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Pacific Time) to see if you live in that day's randomly selected Zip Code. So far, we have awarded $909 cash in this free and fun weekday contest.

Please take a few minutes to check out our RV-Links.com website. Editor Malia Lane has done a tremendous job locating some of the very best and most useful websites for RVers. You will find a ton of great information here because of her efforts. This website deserves a bookmark.

Your email address is worth money: We'll send $30 cash to the first two readers with an email address that includes 4, 9, or 15 characters before the @ symbol (letters and/or numbers) that includes any one of these letters and/or numbers: D, H, 7 or W (caps or lower case). It must be the same address where you received this issue's email notice. The first two qualified readers who notify us win the cash. Email us from your RVtravel.com subscriber address if that's you (NOTICE: Sunday 8:35 a.m.: WE HAVE OUR WINNERS. Contest is now closed).

. . . don't forget: RVbookstore.com is THE place to get a holiday gift for your favorite RVer. There is still plenty of time to order in time for delivery before Dec. 25.

Okay. . . on with the issue.

Last week's survey question:
"For veteran RVers: Do you enjoy RVing more now than five years ago?"
Learn how more than 900 readers responded.

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

You're not alone: Lots of people own RVs!
U.S. ownership of recreation vehicles has reached record levels, reveals a newly-released study by the University of Michigan's Survey Research Center. Today nearly 8 million U.S. households own at least one RV -- a 15 percent increase over the past four years and a stunning 58 percent rise since 1980, according to the study. One in 12 U.S. vehicle-owning households now own at least one RV. Read more.

Free motorhome
Looking for a fixer-upper? A New York fire department needs to say good-bye to a 1976 Dodge Travco Class A motorhome that it has used as a mobile office. It's free (or for a small donation). See a few pics and learn more.

This issue's secret sentence: Clams never tell lies.

The Truth About Truck Stops
Many RVers shun truck stops, thinking they must all be smelly, loud and not particularly welcoming toward RVers. In actuality, not all truck stops are akin to the Black Hole of Calcutta. Many now actively encourage RV traffic, particularly Flying J stops. Some have set aside special areas for RVers in order to reduce the noise level of constantly rumbling "reefer units." Flying J issues a special member card (free of charge) to RVers that gives a reduction on motor fuel and propane prices. Many have RV dump stations, often free. Truck stops often have Wi-Fi networking available in their parking areas for a fee, true, but if you really need internet access and don't want to go far from the freeway, it's a good option. If you've avoided truck stops in the past, here are some pointers: Follow the signs for RV fuel filling: some stops set aside special islands for RVers. If you do fuel up in the truck islands, fill up, then pull your rig far enough ahead that another rig can pull up behind you to fuel. After you've pulled ahead, then pay for your fuel -- a simple act of courtesy that will win RVers points with long haul drivers. If you do choose to park "out back" with the truckers, don't tie up a "pull through" spot unless you absolutely need to -- some trucks can't use "back it in" spots. Don't "drop" your trailer and take off with your tow rig unless you have permission from the fuel desk folks -- you might return and find your RV gone if you don't. The best guide to RVer services at truck stops is the RVers Friend annual directory.

Russ and Tina Demaris are authors of RV Boondocking Basics and Boondocking Tips for RVers: More Fun Without Hookups

Books and videos about Boondocking

QUESTION: Is emptying an RV's holding tank messy work? ANSWER: No, not normally. Both the black tank (toilet) and gray water tanks (sink, shower) can be emptied easily at any dump station (found at campgrounds, rest stops, etc.). It's a simple, straightforward process that typically involves no contact with the tank contents. Still, most RVers wear gloves when performing the chore: hoses and areas around dump stations are certainly far from germ-free. Be sure to dump the black tank first, then flush the hose by dumping the gray water.

Belle Starr's Silverado: Bisbee, Arizona
Between Bisbee and Douglas on Highway 80 (353 mile marker). Water and toilets available. Donation.

Big O Tire Store: Grants Pass, Oregon
On the same parking lot as Wal-Mart is Big O Tire at 142 NE Terry Lane. Ask a manager where to park. Wal-Mart does not allow overnight parking. Free.

Coffeyville Fairgrounds: Coffeyville, Kansas
Located on the east side of Coffeyville on Highway 166. 50 gravel/grass sites with water and 30-amp electricity. $4 per night.

The information above was provided by visitors to FreeCampgrounds.com. The information has not been verified. Learn about more than 900 free and inexpensive campgrounds.

Guidebooks and DVDs about RVing in Mexico

Free Wireless Internet Access Spreading
JiWire, a company that tracks Wi-Fi use, says Wi-Fi service is available at 32,000 U.S. locations. While nine out of ten places charge a fee, more free sites are popping up all the time. Today, places like Schlotzsky's Deli, Krystal restaurants and regional business like Southern California's 773-store Panera Bread chain offer free access, no strings attached. Add to that the thousands of independent cafes, libraries, parks and a growing number of cities and the freebie locations add up to lot of free Wi-Fi. As the number of Wi-Fi hot spots grows, consumers will become less willing to pay for it, JiWire CEO Kevin McKenzie told USA Today. "We'll see more free Wi-Fi popping up, becoming a public utility like electricity and water."

Ugly! Fire destroys motorhome.
Do you want to see what can happen when a tire goes flat on a dinghy without the driver noticing? In this case, the SUV a Texas couple was towing went flat, causing friction and the SUV's engine to catch fire, spreading quickly to the RV despite the owner's attempts to douse it with a fire extinguisher. See the pic and weep.

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If you're lucky you could win this swell Elmer Fudd Chia Pet! Water his hair and it grows!

This issue's
Knowledge Quiz

THREE QUIZZES TODAY
with fabulous prizes!

The prizes:
--$100 in books and/or DVDs from RVbookstore.com! This will come in mighty handy for holiday gifts for your favorite RVer!
--The DVD Crash Course: What to know before & after a collision. This Better Business Bureau DVD offers practical advice and info. Applies to RVers as well as other motorists.
-- An Elmer Fudd Chia Pet! Wow! Is this a great prize or what? (the answer is YES!)

Answer the Quizzes here on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. Noon and 2 p.m., Pacific Time.

Knowledge Quiz official rules

Don't ignore windshield wipers
Check the condition of your windshield wiper blades before you leave on a trip. This is one of those things we don't think about until the next time we need them.

Hitch Weight or Tongue Weight
Hitch Weight or Tongue Weight (TW) is the amount of weight pressing down on the vehicle’s hitch or 5th wheel connection when the trailer is fully loaded for travel. TW is a critical factor in how well the trailer will tow. Ideally for trailers that weigh over 2,000 pounds, TW should be 10 to 15 percent of the trailer weight. Take the Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), which is the actual weight of the loaded trailer, and multiply it by .10 and .15. This will give you the tongue load range you want to be in. Too much TW can cause poor steering, handling and braking. Too little TW can cause the tow vehicle's rear wheels to lose traction and contribute to trailer sway.-- Mark Polk (Learn about Mark Polk's RV "How-to" DVDs and eBooks.)

Visit the RV Travel Reader Forum to discuss
everything to do with RVing with other RVers.

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RV Travel staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Contributors: Russ and Tina Demaris, Chris Dougherty, Mark Polk, Jerry (RiverGuy) Brown, Bill and Dot Bell. Forum Administrator: Adrienne Kristine. Office Manager: Jody Allcott. Web Operations Director: Zoey Platt. Warehouse Administrator: Walter Cardwell. Phone Orders Supervisor: Martha Lamb. Clapper Loader: Emily Woodbury. Mascot: Georgie, the "give me food now or else!" Jack Russell terrier.

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