| From RVbookstore.com Archived Issues Weekend of May 30, 2009  2009 RVers FriendThis 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. 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  Follow me on TwitterDear reader,  I'm away from my home, office and RV this weekend, attending a family wedding in Cooperstown, New York. Thanks to all of you who emailed me tips about places to see and things to do in the area. I plan to follow up on some of those suggestions.The following weekend, June 6th and 7th, I will be camped at the Bellingham Scottish Highland Games at Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale, Washington. The park is a mile from Interstate 5 about 90 minutes north of Seattle and 45 minutes south of Vancouver, BC. If you know what I look like (I am the very handsome, pre-elderly man) please say hi if you spot me in the crowd. I'll be camped in the fairgrounds area in my View motorhome. Learn more about the Highland Games. Frankly, I need a break. As you all know, the RV industry has been hit especially hard by the recession. Many RV makers and dealers have closed up shop. While we are hanging in there -- RVbookstore.com and RVtravel.com -- we have had to tighten our belts, cutting back on both employees and freelance writers. This has meant a lot of extra work for me and the remaining staff. Our office manager Jody Allcott has been a superstar during this period, saving the day on many occasions. If you call our office, there's a good chance you will talk to Jody. If so, please tell her thanks for her incredible work and dedication. Sometime in mid-summer I hope to take a two-week motorhome roadtrip with my 17 year-old daughter Emily. She is a wonderful photographer at her young age, so our trip will include many stops for photos. She'll head off to college in 2011, so this may be our last major roadtrip together. She is an RV nut, and has been since she took her first long trip (four months and 37 states) when she was 3. I had to rush to get this issue done, so it's a little leaner on info than most weeks. Still, there is plenty of good stuff. So enjoy the issue, and I'll see you here again next week.
 2009 Choosing Your RV Home BaseFor 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. Get the latest RV news headlines at TwitterKeep up with the latest in RV news and information at our new RV Travel headline service at Twitter.com. Go there now. LEARN HOW TO USE TWITTER. "Twitter Power" is the best "how-to" book about Twitter. Order it from RVbookstore.com DID YOU MISS last issue of this newsletter? If so, read it here. READ BACK ISSUES: Click here.  2009 Next Exit DirectoryThis 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. Indiana town proposes ban on RV and truck parking The city council of Hobart, Indiana has passed the first vote of a proposal to prohibit trucks and RVs from parking in city parking lots. Violators could be fined up to $2,500. Learn more. RVing cross country? Watch out for motor vehicle law quirks You've got a state-issued driver's license, right? So you're "OK" to drive your rig in any state, right? The answer is a qualified, "Maybe." Each of the 50 states has an understanding with one another: Lawfully licensed drivers from other states may drive in everyone else's state. But there are quirks that can affect RVers and other motorists that you may not know about. Read more. Carefree RV Resorts offers half-price discount for active and retired military Active and retired military servicemen and women and their families can stay for half price Sunday through Thursday at 35 Carefree RV Resorts in Florida, Texas, New Jersey, North Carolina and California. Learn more.
 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! Both books for less than $20! Learn more or order. In the short video, Chuck Woodbury tells you more.
Brake fluid: Pay attention to avoid disaster If David Letterman could do a comedic "Top 10 Most Neglected RV Items" list, brake fluid would have to be near the top. At the same time, if you and the motorhome are headed down a steep grade and you suddenly find you've neglected your brake fluid, well, you maybe could die laughing. Read how to ensure this never happens to you. Discuss popup trailers at this Yahoo Group If you own a Pop Up trailer or plan to one day, you should sign up for the Pop Up Camper Group at Yahoo. Members exchange information and advice about camping with a pop up. To sign up or read message head here. Save money with federal recreation passes One way to make our RVing more affordable is to shave costs on camping and entrance fees to federal parks. The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual pass, at $80 a year, is a certain money saver for RVers who travel a lot and like to visit Federal lands. Other federal passes that can save money include those for disabled persons or for seniors 62 years and older. Learn about these passes and their benefits.   Electric flyswatter zaps bugs For RV Travel readers only!  Reg. $14.99 -- ONLY $3.95 The Electronic Fly Swatter kill flies and mosquitoes instantly -- zaps the critters with a simple wave of the clever device. There's no hazard to humans or pets. Electric Fly Swatter kills insects upon contact when activated and has no smell, no poison or harmful  materials. And it's safe for indoor or outdoor use -- and great at the campground! Electric Fly Swatter is praised as the most effective, convenient, and hygienic insect terminator, as it leaves no smudge, smear or mess to clean up afterwards. Learn more or order, and see other specials exclusively for RVtravel.com readers. 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. RV heater will not light in cold weather Dear RV Doc, I have a 2001 Suburban 17000 btu propane furnace in my popup camper that will not light when it is cold (45 degrees or less) outside. I have checked the battery and have sufficient power. The fan comes on but the ignitor never tries to ignite. When the outside temp is above 50, it will start right up. Also, once it starts once, it will re-start without fail as long as the unit is not allowed to cool. Could this be the sail switch or control board? Obviously the thermocouple works as it lights when warm. --Reed Meredith Read previous RV Doctor columns   Save $650 on this summer's Alaska tours! Limited time offer.Leaving on June 26 & July 17 Join Tracks to Adventure on RV tours around the globe or close to home. Tour with us to Alaska. Been to Copper Canyon in Mexico (what a trip!)? Join us in Canada, Australia, New Zealand -- or closer to home -- Branson or the Pacific Northwest. All arrangements including RV parks by Tracks RV Tours. Click here for your free full-color magazine or call us toll free at 800-351-6053. Check with us on the Web for last minute bargains! This Week's Reader Survey Approximately how many of the 13 weeks from June 1 to Aug. 31 do you plan to spend RVing? Answer here. Last week's survey question Past reader surveys and results  Save on these best sellers!Mountain Directories East & West Driving into the mountains with your RV? Be careful, there are some nasty grades. Here, in two volumes, are the premier guides to the mountain passes and steep grades of the American East and West -- more than 700 passes all together. You save $5 when buying both these guides together. Learn more or order.
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  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
RV Boondocking Tips Russ and Tina De Maris are the authors of RV Boondocking Basics.
 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. A Woman's Perspective By Adrienne Kristine
Around the time of the summer solstice (June 20), I have someone climb on my RV's roof, clear it of debris, wash it and inspect it. Washing and waxing the rest of the RV can be done by someone on the ground using a high-pressure hose and a brush with an extended handle. My RV is under a tree that drops pine cones, pine needles, small branches and sap. "Wendy" is older and has no ladder. I recommend finding an expert with the right equipment to take care of this annual requirement. If you haven't done so already, have the person on the roof help you measure the height of your rig. Write down the measurement and have it handy. You won't need to worry about whether you'll clear the next overpass or bridge. Learn more about RVing as a woman.  MORE POPULAR THAN EVER!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 RV KitchenJanet Groene's Goulash By Gosh! Cookbooks for RVers: Big selection at RVbookstore.com 2009 RV Show Schedule
Working on the RV road  Earn a free pass to federal parks and sitesOne way to earn some money in an indirect way (by saving money) is earn a free pass on many federal lands managed by five federal agencies: Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Park Service. Individuals who volunteer 500 hours in any of these areas, including campground hosts, are eligible for this free pass, which is good for 12 months. To learn more, click here. Excellent book about Workamping: Support Your RV Lifestyle
Tech Tips with Mark Polk Ozone is no friend of your tires There are basically two ways to protect your tires from these elements. Keep them covered with covers that will block out the sunlight when not in use, or for long-term storage, remove the tires and store them in a cool dry place away from the sunlight. I also recommend that you place something like a piece of wood between the ground and the tires. Be sure that whatever you use is larger than the footprint of the tire. Find out about DVDs and eBooks by RV expert Mark Polk.
The Good Ol' Days
Trailering in the 1950s with Lucy and Desi In 1953, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz took a break from their popular TV show "I Love Lucy" to film "The Long, Long Trailer." In it, Nicky and Tacy Collin buy a travel trailer to live in so that the two can travel comfortably wherever Nicky's job takes them. The plot is a series of vignettes which add up to one frustrating honeymoon which threatens to tear apart the new marriage. In this hilarious nine-minute segment, watch what happens when the couple's trailer gets stuck on a dirt road and they decide to stay there for the night -- despite the fact that the trailer is tilted way to one side. Click the video to play. Read about the fascinating history of the RV industry in The Dumb Things Sold Just Like That, available at RVbookstore.com  2009 Fuel Finder Pocket Edition -- ONLY $4.95Put this pocket-sized guidebook in your glove box and use it to find truck stops and other fueling locations that cater to RVers and truckers, and offer diesel fuel. More than 6,500 locations in the USA and Canada (mostly U.S.) are listed. Only $4.95. Learn more or order.  Mystery solvedJoe and Ed, both from Duluth, Minnesota, were standing in the shallow end of a swimming pool at the Fountain of Youth RV park at California's Salton Sea, discussing how happy they were to be in sunny California rather than being back in frigid Minnesota. As they were talking, Ed noticed something funny about his friend's ear. "Joe," he said, "do you know you've got a suppository in your left ear?" Startled, Joe replied, "I have a suppository in my ear???" "That's right," said Ed, "you have a suppository in your ear." Joe immediately pulled it out, then said, "Thanks, buddy. I'm glad you saw this thing. Now I know where I put my hearing aid." From RVjokes.com  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. Check out these RV Travel Forum discussions Watching TV while RV is moving Dumb question...Do you have to run the generator going down the road for passengers to be able to watch the TV? Generator won't start. Help! I recently bought a 97 Pace Arrow. When the owner was showing it to me, he started the engine, pushed the button for the generator and it started right up. A couple weeks later when I went to pick up the coach, the generator wouldn't start. The fridge wouldn't come on either. They plugged the coach into the house using an extension cord and then everything worked. The generator would start and the fridge worked. I asked him when he last topped off the water in the auxiliary batteries and he said, "They need water?" They are about three years old. The water was quite low, so they filled it up with tap water. Now it shows a full charge, but the generator still won't start. Just get click-click-click-click. Do you think it's just the auxiliary batteries that need to be replaced or something else wrong? They power the house lights fine. Thank you! Do Bounce dryer sheets keep mice away? We just bought our first RV, a used Class A motorhome. We will not be full-timing it. A friend of ours told us that in order to keep mice out of it, we should put Bounce dryer sheets all over the inside, but it has to be the "original" scent. Has anyone else ever heard of this? And what is the "original" scent? Where do I park while staying at Flying J? When staying at a Flying J truck stop, where do the RVs park for an overnight stay? I've seen these huge tall pipes I assume are for air conditioning, but I would think they would be too high up for an RV. Do you stay on the restaurant side? Advice needed about fixing leaky faucet Not being very handy, I did make an attempt to look at my RV's leaking faucet to see if I could replace a washer like I would at home. I got the handle off okay, but the working parts don't seem to screw out easily and I'm concerned that brute force will just break something (I'm good at breaking thing I'm trying to fix). Do the working parts actually screw out or do I need some kind of special tool? Does the faucet take a washer like my faucets at home? Respond. Where to stay in Brownsville, Texas area This is a little premature but in three years, we are planning on making the trek to the states for the winter. We were thinking of going into the Brownsville area, which would make it real easy for quick trips across the border to Mexico. What does everyone think of that plan? Any ideas on where to or not to stay? Financial considerations are always high up there. We love to fish also.  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
Interesting Forum  RVing with ChildrenDo you travel with children on your RV trips? If so, here is where to share information about how to do it, or how to do it better. If you're fulltiming with children, discuss homeschooling. And if you bring your grandkids with you, this is a good place to discuss any issues about that. This is a terrific resource. Read other Forum discussions
Trivia Dogs and cats are susceptible to the same dangers of secondhand smoke as humans. An online survey found that more than 28 percent of smokers would quit if they knew that their habit was endangering their pets, while about 16 percent of non-smokers would ask their partners to quit for a pet's sake. SOURCE: Bottom Line Health  The Digital RV -- only $11.99 Reg. $21.54. Limited supply at this price. Learn everything "digital" as it relates to an RVer: Connecting to the Internet, enjoying a stereo system that weighs ounces, managing digital photos and more. Retail price $21.54. Now only $11.99. Learn more or order. Random RV Thought The times you wish you had less wood paneling in your RV are when a mosquito is loose at night. It can drive you crazy trying to find the tiny creature on a dark surface. This is the time when you wish all your walls were white.  FREE SHIPPING at RVbookstore.com Order $49 or more and choose to pay absolutely no postage or handling fees (USA addresses only). Nearly ALL orders ship same day. Our motto is "You need it so we speed it." RVbookstore.com. Bill's Hints "When you check the roof seals on your trailer, don't forget to check the roof of your slideout, too." -- From Trailers and Fifth Wheels Made Easy.
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  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
Bumper Snicker
Worth Pondering "Mistakes are the portals of discovery." --James Joyce
READ BACK ISSUES of this newsletter: Click here. 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  About the editorChuck 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!" 
DON'T MISS AN ISSUE
OF THIS NEWSLETTER! Get a reminder notice for each new weekly issue of the RV Travel Newsletter
Every Saturday morning we post a new edition of the RVtravel.com newsletter. Sign up to receive a brief reminder notice of each new edition. Your email address stays private and its a snap to unsubscribe if you need to.
© Copyright 2007 by RVbookstore.com |
The 2008-2009 
