| From RVbookstore.com Archived Issues Weekend of September 6, 2008
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 In last week's reader survey we asked you to tell us the perfect size RV for you. Only about 20 percent of you favored an RV shorter than 25 feet. More than half of you said that 31 feet or longer is the right size. After my just-finished trip to Scotland, where nearly all of the trailers and motorhomes are shorter than 24 feet, I found your responses interesting and food for thought.  The Europeans have dealt with high fuel prices for decades. When you drive the roads in Great Britain or the European continent, you quickly notice that cars and most work vehicles are small and fuel efficient. It's the same with the RVs -- they are smaller and get far better mileage than we North Americans get with our gas guzzlers. The motorhome pictured to the right is about as large as you see in Europe, with rare exception.Because of historically low fuel prices in the USA, we have been lazy about our automotive habits. In 1990, the average price of a gallon of gas was $1.16. At that price, whether a vehicle got 12 or 22 miles per gallon didn't make a whole lot of difference. But at today's $4 a gallon, it makes a heap of difference! I was happy to receive a press release recently from Damon that promoted its new Class A motorhome that the company claims gets 70 percent better fuel mileage than a comparable-sized, more traditional coach. I hope that claim is true, and I hope other manufacturers are paying attention. American automakers who ignored the compact, fuel-efficient Volkswagen Bug when it appeared in the late '50s and kept building bigger gas guzzlers, paid a huge price in lost sales in the decades that followed -- leaving the door open for VW, Nissan, Toyota, Honda and other small car makers to sweep in and eventually dominate the market. There will always be a sizeable market for big motorhomes and large fifth wheels for full-timers and others who can afford the fuel to use them. But the future of RVing in America, I believe, will be with smaller, more fuel efficient units. Offerings from manufacturers have already begun to change, with more motorhomes built on the fuel-efficient Sprinter chassis, and more lightweight travel trailers designed to be towed with six- or even four-cylinder automobiles. Gas is not going back to $2 a gallon. If I were an RV manufacturer, I'd start cranking out small, lightweight RVs aimed at camping enthusiasts. My motorhomes would get at least 20 miles per gallon and my trailers could be pulled by a compact car that gets 30 mpg or better. After my visit to Scotland, where I saw more recreational vehicles in one day of driving than I see here in a week, I am convinced that the future of RVing in this country is in smaller motorhomes and trailers. RVing isn't dead by any means, but the gas-guzzler motorhome or tow vehicle has passed its prime. Do you have an opinion about this? Leave it in our RVtravel.com forum. MORE ABOUT RVing IN SCOTLAND Here is another letter I received from a reader about RVing in Scotland in response to my comments in the last two issues of this newsletter.  Pot of Gold returnsWin a $50 Shell fuel card You'll find ten U.S. Zip Codes in this issue, each randomly selected by computer. If your Zip Code is among this week's selection and you are the first to email us telling us so (deadline: Monday, Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. Pacific Time) -- at contests@rvtravel.comi-- you will win a $50 fuel card from Shell. Your email address must be in this newsletter's subscriber database in order for you to win. Proof of your Zip Code will be required. Only U.S. Zip codes are generated by our computer (we hope to add Canadian postal codes soon). Check next week for 10 more Zip Codes and another swell prize. This week's first five Zip Codes 99716, 06079, 91301, 26105, 50401 Five more Zip Codes are below.
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.  How to Buy an RV the Smart Way! ONLY $9.98 This eBook is delivered instantly to your email address. Learn how to buy an RV from RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury. Learn which RV is right for you, how negotiate the best deal, and about money-saving flat-rate buying services. Learn more about "Buying An RV the Smart Way," or order for $9.98 and be reading it in a few minutes.
There were so many recalls in July on motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers and even folding campers in July you might wonder if there is an RV out there that IS NOT being recalled. Companies issuing recalls include Fleetwood, Winnebago, Airstream, Coach House, Damon, Thor, Four Winds, Foretravel, Country Coach, Monaco, Blue Bird, Jayco. . . whew! And there are more. Take a minute to see if your recreational vehicle is on the list. Click to RV-recalls.com. Recent RV recalls Each month we list the latest recalls of RVs at RVtravel.com. Here are the most recent ones: July -- June -- May -- April -- March -- February -- January  DVD: Stupid RVer tricks: Trailer "for sale" sign lands RVer in the slammer You may agree that this RVer deserved to be sent to jail after providing one of the totally stupidest answers anyone could give when asked "Is this trailer for sale?" Get ready to laugh. An arrest in your past? Canada may turn you away at the border U.S. citizens with a conviction for drunk driving or another offense -- even one considered minor in the USA and in their distant past -- may be turned away at the Canadian border when trying to enter the country. In recent years, with more sophisticated sharing of computer records, would-be visitors with criminal records have been turned away with greater frequency. Americans with a crime in their past who wish to visit Canada can apply for a special permit that may allow them entry. Learn more. One approach to the RV health insurance question How to pay for health insurance is a challenge that worries many working people who dream of retiring early for a fulltime life on the RV road. This post outlines one approach. It isn't for everyone, but it might work for you, depending on your circumstances. Click here. Treatment by Forest River RV leaves Aussie couple sad and frustrated An Australian family traveling on "the trip of a lifetime" in the USA had their Forest River fifth wheel trailer stolen right off the lot of the Forest River factory. The treatment they received from Forest River afterwards left them disappointed, disillusioned and sad. Read more at the RV Travel Reader Forum.
Stop that leak inside the water heater compartment Okay, your RV's water heater pressure relief valve is leaking into the water heater compartment, pooling and making a mess. You can drive to an RV maintenance shop and spend a lot of money getting the leak fixed, or you can make this simple home repair for a few dollars. Click here.
 Find Services at Interstate ExitsNever take a wrong exit off an Interstate highway again. The 2008 Next Exit lists every exit along every Interstate and details exactly what you will find at each: gas stations (including which brands and if they offer diesel), campgrounds, truck stops, casinos, laundries, retail stores, drug stores, hospitals, rest areas, and more! British museum lays claim to "100 year-old RV" The Motor Museum in England displays what it says is a 100 year-old "Caravan," which in North American lingo translates to a century-old travel trailer. Learn more, and see a pic of the trailer, which has been described as resembling a "garden shed on wheels." Colorado camp hosts have lots to do, some of it pretty fishy Camp hosts at one Colorado campground are handing out $20 to campers when they show up with a particular type of fish. And they have a lot of other duties, too. Read more. Motorhomes on Fire  Stay free overnight at Wal-Mart Save $3.35 by purchasing these popular directories together. Most Wal-Mart stores permit a free overnight stay in RVs. The thick 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 provides store GPS coordinates. The "Wal-Mart No Park" Directory lists more than 350 stores that DO NOT allow stays! Learn more or order. 2008 RV Show Schedule Learn about RV shows through the fall of 2008. Check in here to learn when shows will be held in your area.
 Next camping trip,camp with the Army! No, you don't have to join the Army to camp with it. Jim Twamley will fill you in on the details of this wonderful camping opportunity, available at locations across the USA, mostly by lakes. And the price is right, too! Read all about it. Beware using the wrong type of gas in your RV Of course you know that using diesel fuel in a gas-powered motorhome or tow truck is a guarantee for engine trouble and costly repairs. But the wrong type of gas can also lead to problems, as these two RVers discovered. Read their story and learn from their mistake. 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.
Keep your RV medicine cabinet from popping open How to install a user-friendly RV water heater thermostat It's not too early to start thinking of winterizing your RV 
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RV Performance 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. This Week's Reader Survey Last week's survey question Past reader surveys and results  National Park Service Camping Guide & RV Camping in State Parks - Save! Here are two best-selling guides to RV Camping in State and National Parks packaged together to save you $4.48 over purchasing them separately. Learn more or order. Don't let your RV's generator set the woods on fire RV window awnings typically have two positions - deployed or stowed. If the window awning is deployed it cuts the viewing area in half. See how Jim Twamley rigged his shade to provide partial shade while maintaining the view. Difficult situation: Caring for loved one, but still maintaining fulltime RV lifestyle For fulltimers this can be a heartbreak: A much loved relative with fragile health needs their care. What can be done to help and still maintain a semblance of the lifestyle? Read more.
Dear RV Doctor, Trivia New York City gained legislative approval in 1853 to seize land and create Central Park. The largely man-made landscape took approximately 20,000 workers 20 years to complete.  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. Advice to young fulltime RVers about health insurance on the road  Fulltime RVer Evanne Shumarder explains what she and her husband do about health insurance and other on-the-road health issues. The couple is too young for Medicare and has no paid health insurance from a corporate retirement. Still, they have found a way to find affordable insurance and have developed a routine for annual exams and medical emergencies wherever they are on the RV road. Watch the three-minute video. Broadband connection recommended. . . . and a wonderful blog by a young fulltime RVerDiana Tolerico has been fulltime RVing for nine years, primarily boondocking. Her blog, begun just recently, is fascinating -- lots of photos of where she has been what she has seen, with short, interesting commentary. It's a joy to read this very lively account of her life on the road. We especially enjoyed her account of visiting the Surf Ballroom, where Buddy Holly last appeared before dying in a plane crash. Read the blog. RV visits to Alaska dismal this year It was a lonely summer along the Alaska Highway. Far fewer visitors showed up, including those in RVs. The reason: high fuel prices. Read more. How to avoid overloading your RV Overloading an RV is dangerous and should be avoided. While it is almost impossible to overload a passenger vehicle because of space restrictions, that's not so with an RV where there's lots of room, and that can present a serious problem. Read more. Visit Arizona's Finest RV Resorts Leave the cold and enter the warmth and fun of sunny Arizona. Click here to view resorts. RV Boondocking Tips By Russ and Tina DeMaris This cooler does the trick For us, monthly shopping is a 200-mile round trip to the "big city." On hot days, keeping the frozen foods solid while getting back home was once a problem. We tried Styrofoam coolers with bags of ice from the store -- which works, but Styro chests get mauled easily. We finally found a "low voltage" cooler chest that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket. While it isn't actually a freezer, if we pack the frozen goods together and pre-cool the cooler, our stuff gets home just fine. It works great too, when you have "bring a dish" to a potluck and want to be sure nobody gets sick from the potato salad! Russ and Tina DeMaris are the authors of RV Boondocking Basics.  RVers Guide to Corps of Engineers Campgrounds This best-selling 2007 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 Great Reading in our RV Travel Blogs
FEATURED BLOGS: 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. 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! Great RV Stuff The latest neat RV stuff in this always fascinating blog. Gizmos and gadgets that might even make your RVing more enjoyable. Working on the RV Road Get up-to-date about 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. 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 DVD shows how to drive a motorhome RV Wheel Life explores Delaware RVwheelLife.com blogger Julianne Crane has been visiting Delaware. Read about what she has found. Floods at Arizona national monument blamed on border fence Flooding in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is being blamed on security measures to keep illegal immigrants out of the U.S. Learn more.  Rock and Roll legendNeil Sedaka to headline big RV rally He was once one of the biggest names in pop music. Today he's still popular but his crowd is a bit grayer. He's Neil Sedaka and he'll be the headline entertainer at The Rally, coming to Albuquerque, New Mexico April 17 through April 20, 2009.  How to cook with an RV's convection ovenIf you have a convection oven and would like to learn how to use it better -- and pick up some great new recipes, you will enjoy the eBook "I've Got A Convection Oven in My RV: Now What?"
Looking for new recipes?
FIVE MORE ZIP CODES (What is this about? See message near top of this issue) 56583, 17522, 07765, 80014, 28725 Looking for a job on the road? Workamper News is the #1 source for finding jobs while traveling by RV. Search for jobs or leave your resume for an employer to peruse. If you are serious about getting a job while traveling by RV -- part-time or full-time, Workamper News is THE SOURCE. Yuma RV parks filling fast for winter While fuel costs are causing many to stay close to home, RV parks owners in snowbird hotspot Yuma, Arizona say their upcoming winter season is looking very promising. Learn more. . . . and 3,500 miles away, officials at New York State Parks reported that reservations for their just completed summer season set a new record. The reason: RVers and other campers stayed closer to home.
 Wrinkle Free RV Laundry
Learn how to use your RV's Splendid washer to not only clean your clothes but dry them without wrinkles. If you have a washer-dryer on board your RV, you need this book! Learn more or order. Check out our RV Travel Forum discussions What should we bring along in our RV? RVbuyingTips.com. Get good advice here. Books and DVDs about Fulltime RVing Bill's Hints
Bumper Snicker  Recently releasedDVD: Do It Yourself RV Care The RV Doctor, Gary Bunzer, shows you step-by-step 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. Worth Pondering I look back on my life like a good day's work; it is done and I am satisfied with it. --Grandma Moses RV Links. Learn about the best RV websites at RV-links.com. RVs for sale at NewRVer.com. Check them out. READ BACK ISSUES OF THIS NEWSLETTER: Click here. Visit Camping World for RV supplies and accessories RV Travel staff Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Contributing editors: Russ and Tina De Maris, Jim Twamley. Contributing writers: Jaimie Hall, Gerry Bruder. 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. If you read this far, then we thank you very, very, very much. © Copyright 2007 by RVbookstore.com |
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