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HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA!
 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 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 Twitter Dear reader,I'm "camped" at the Circus Circus KOA park right along the neon-drenched Strip in Las Vegas. Two blocks away, the 1,000-foot Stratosphere tower reaches high into the sky with its daredevil amusement park rides at the top. At night, you can hear the distant screams of riders. My daughter Emily and I arrived in Las Vegas yesterday after two glorious days camped in Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park. WHAT A DIFFERENCE a day makes. The National Park campground was in a pine forest, a short walk from the rim of Bryce Canyon and the trails that lead into its red rock wonderland. Emily and I hiked during the day, and then capped off the beautiful evenings under the stars roasting marshmallows by the campfire.  Now, in Las Vegas, at 10:30 a.m., the temperature is already a blistering 95 degrees and headed to 102. We are holed up in the motorhome, its air conditioner blasting. Two days ago, we were surrounded by forest. Now, we are surrounded by high rise hotels, casinos and the largest concentration of neon lights in the World.We have traded nature for neon and solitude for bizarre adventure, Vegas-style. My little home on wheels, just two days ago its windows wide open to invite in the sweet, cool air of the forest, is now shut tight to keep away Mother Nature's version of a blast furnace. These are the two extremes of RV camping -- one, when the RV is center stage amid nature's beauty and bounty, the other where the RV is a sanctuary from the elements. In both cases, the RV serves well -- a magic carpet that transports us to wonderful places, and then provides shelter once we are there. * * * Smells from the past Do you sometimes get a whiff of something that reminds you of a time from your past? Someone was smoking a pipe near me the other day, and for a split second I imagined it was my father, who smoked the same brand. The aroma of the forest in Bryce Canyon National Park brought to mind my summer firefighting days with the U.S. Forest Service in the California Sierra. The first time this trip I lit the stove, Emily told me the whiff of propane was a familiar one she remembered from her childhood.  A rock shop in a rockA few days ago, Emily and I stopped by a Utah rock shop that is inside a building that looks like a rock the size of a house. It's a great place to visit to look at rocks and fossils or if you really like what you see you can buy it. Plus, the soft serve ice cream is terrific. Read my short article. These DVDs will make you a better RVer  Get these popular DVDs and others at RVbookstore.comBetter Business Bureau Guide to Buying an RV Choosing an RV: A Logical Approach (with Joe & Vicki Kieva) Do It Yourself RV Care (with the RV Doctor) Drive Your Motorhome Like a Pro Guide to Class A Motorhomes Guide to Class C Motorhomes Towing Behind Your Motorhome Guide to Travel Trailers & Fifth Wheels Guide to Trailer Towing, Weights, Hitch Work & Backing Guide to Winterizing Your RV
Get the latest RV news headlines at Twitter. LEARN HOW TO USE TWITTER. Get Twitter Power Number of free & cheap campgrounds at FreeCampgrounds.com: 1,826 DID YOU MISS last issue of this newsletter? If so, read it hereREAD BACK ISSUES: Click here.  Wal-Mart Atlas & Bonus "No Overnight RV Parking" Directory Order the popular Wal-Mart Atlas and receive the "No Overnight Parking" Directory for FREE. SAVE $9.90! Most Wal-Marts permit a free overnight stay in RVs. The 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 "No Park" Directory lists more than 350 stores that DO NOT allow stays! Learn more or order. UPDATE: New Fleetwood owners to honor RV warranties A U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Court judge has approved the sale of Fleetwood's motorhome division to American Industrial Partners (AIP). Owners of Fleetwood-made motorhomes will see warranty service obligations honored by the new buyers. Read more. Don't let this happen to you when buying RV tires A short time after Russ and Tina DeMaris bought new tires for their RV, they noticed odd tread-wear patterns on some, but not all the tires. What was wrong? After a bit of research, they determined that the first tire company may have caused a problem when installing the tires. Don't let the same thing happen to you.  BEST SELLER!2009 RVers Friend  New Honda generator lighter, more economicalWhen campfire conversation makes its way to the subject of generators, it seems there's almost a universal lauding of those little red Honda generators. Indeed, they are quiet, dependable, and when you size them right for your needs, powerful. Now Honda says they have a new 3,000 watt model that improves on weight and fuel economy. Read more. Attending the Winter Olympics at Vancouver? Bring your RV If you're planning to take in the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver has a deal for you. Two of the city's big beach parking lots will open the gates for RVers to stay with their rigs. Washrooms, concession stands, showers, and easy access to public transportation will be right at hand. Why the big welcome? Find out.  Fulltimers: Where to make your 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 to you! The best-selling Choosing Your RV Home Base, published in 2009, is an essential planning tool. Learn more or order. Rules for successful camp hosting If you are considering taking a camp hosting position, there are some things you should know. Here's a list of rules by veteran camphost Adrienne Kristine.   Motorhome runs over power pole, goes up in flamesThis Class C motorhome caught fire in the campground at the Michigan International Speedway. The driver backed over a power pole creating sparks that started the fire. Watch the video.  Guide to FREE Campgrounds Western Edition! This is the most comprehensive guide to free and inexpensive campgrounds west of the Mississippi you will find -- a "must-have" directory for RVers who want to save money on camping. Learn more or order. State Park closures crunch RVers Across America, state parks are closing or are in danger of being closed. Many RVers may find a "closed" sign at their favorite park. Here is an update of the states where state park closures have already occurred or are threatened. Read more.  Coachmen Chaparral mid-profilefifth wheel trailer redesigned for 2010 The Chaparral mid-profile fifth wheel trailer from the Coachmen RV division of Forest River Inc. has been completely redesigned for the 2010 model year and now sports the tightest turning radius in the industry. Read more.
California officials are trying to avert the federal government's threat to seize six state parks. All six occupy former federal land that could revert to the U.S. government if the state doesn't keep the parks open. The sites are Angel Island, the top of Mount Diablo, Point Sur State Historic Park and three beaches -- Fort Ord Dunes, Point Mugu State Park and Border Fields. Beaudry RV, a large Arizona RV dealer with locations in Phoenix and Tucson, has obtained approval of its reorganization plan by its lenders and is soon expected to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
A young moose has been wandering around Custer State Park in South Dakota. Watch for it if you are in the area. Gas prices, after rising for nearly two months, began to ease down last week, according to AAA and other groups that track prices. In Minnesota a new law allows visitors to fish for free without a license in most state parks Duncan's Family Campground in Lothian, Maryland has opened a 4,500 square foot dog park with benches for people and fire hydrants for dogs. As of last Wednesday, it costs an average of $1 to $3 more to enter a Florida State Park (some parks will stay free), and an average $4 a night more to camp. It's the first fee update in five years. The U.S. Small Business Administration released a new loan program on Thursday to allow RV dealerships to borrow $500,000 to $2 million against their inventory. Fishing is free today (July 4) in North Carolina for residents and non-residents in any public lake, stream or coastal waters without a fishing license. In Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., owners of vehicles longer than 22 feet, including RVs and boats, must buy a $100 permit by Jan. 1 to park their vehicles on city streets in front of their own homes or a neighbor's or landlord's with permission. Staying in an RV park in New Hampshire will cost you more now because of a new nine percent state tax on campsites. About five percent of the country's 3,100 RV dealerships have closed during the current economic downturn, while about 10 percent of 105 U.S. RV manufacturers have stopped production.   Wow! High-Grade Foldable Hammock with Carrying Bag Low price for RV Travel readers only! List price: $99.99  ONLY $49.99 This portable folding hammock weighs only 20 pounds yet can support 400 pounds! Use it at home or on the RV road. It's easy to adjust with its Hamax Tension System. The hammock ends are very strong and durable, thanks to two hi-grade bearings that allow the hammock to swing effortlessly. The frame can be adjusted for everyone from children to adults. And it makes a great gift! Learn more or order, and see other specials exclusively for RVtravel.com readers.
Dear RV Doc, I have heard of running the roof air conditioner off the generator while traveling. But is it safe to run the furnace off the generator? We travel to Florida every March and sometimes the first morning is quite cold, even after preheating the coach for several hours before leaving. The dash heater could not keep up with the heat loss while traveling. Riding in an over-sized icebox isn't much fun. Read previous RV Doctor columns   Check with us on the Web for last minute bargains!Send for FREE CATALOG Have fun, make friends! Drive the Alcan to America's Last Frontier, envision yourself on Nova Scotia's miles of coastal drives, cross the border to sunny Mexico, celebrate Mardi Gras, experience Grand Canyon, Glacier, Pacific NW, Great Lakes, Branson, South Africa, Australia. 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. This Week's Reader Survey Have you ever spent a night in your RV in a free casino parking lot? Answer here. Last week's survey question Past reader surveys and results.
 DVD: Learn to drive a motorhomeLearn how to drive a motorhome the right way -- essential viewing for co-pilots and novice RV drivers. Save 10% at RVbookstore.com. Learn more or order. TV viewing in RV snowbird capital Quartzsite now hit and miss Without the intervention of the TV Good Fairy, RVers returning to Quartzsite beware: If you have an addiction to a given TV program, better bring your own satellite system. Since the replacement of analog TV with digital broadcasts, off-air (antenna received) television in Quartzsite has become sporadic, at best. Read more. See polar bears up close in Alaska RV travelers and others can view Alaska's most treasured Arctic mammal, the polar bear. A new two-day tour takes guests on a scenic flight from Fairbanks to the Inupiat Eskimo village of Kaktovik, located 260 miles above the Arctic Circle. Read more.   Bella Terra RV Resort FREE Summer Stay Program Bella Terra of Gulf Shores is kicking the season into high gear with a promotion you won't want to miss! Call NOW and ask about our FREE STAY Summer Vacation Program (certain restrictions apply). Also inquire about price incentives on the few remaining Phase One lots! Be sure to mention promo code - RV Travel !!! Call (866) 475-7746 or visit us at BellaTerraRVresort.com.
RV Boondocking Tips Russ and Tina De Maris are the authors of RV Boondocking Basics.   Headed to Alaska?Check out these books and DVDs 2009 Milepost Directory DVD: RVing Alaska with Joe and Vicki Kieva Traveler's Guide to Alaska Camping Guide to the Alaska Highway The World Famous Alaska Highway DVD: Alaska By RV More Alaska Books & DVDs  The RV KitchenJanet Groene's Cram-berry Turkey Wraps Cookbooks for RVers: Big selection at RVbookstore.com.
Recent RV recalls
Some features on vacation. . . --Photo of the Week --The Good Ol' Days --Tourist Attraction Spotlights --A Woman's Perspective --Working on the RV Road . . . are taking a summer vacation break. They will return in the fall.  National Park Service Camping GuideThis best-selling guidebook is a helpful resource for anyone who enjoys camping in a National Park. Learn about nearly 450 campgrounds in 121 National Park Service areas -- home to more than 25,000 campsites. Learn more or order. 
Tech Tips Find out about DVDs and eBooks by RV expert Mark Polk.  How to Buy an RV the Smart Way! -- ONLY $11.95This 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 to negotiate the best deal, and about money-saving flat-rate buying services. Learn more about "Buying An RV the Smart Way," or order for $11.95 and be reading it in a few minutes.
Check out these RV Travel Forum discussions Overnight at Flying J When you pull in to a Flying J, do you have to go inside to pay or just go and park? Or is it free to park an RV overnight? Do they allow you to stay on the restaurant parking side? Thanks. How does a woman learn to drive an RV? My husband and I own a Class A RV. The vehicles I've driven have ranged from a pickup truck to a minivan to a small compact car. I'm antsy to drive our RV and take the load off my husband once in awhile. He does all the driving. He actually welcomes it. Also, God forbid should something happen to him! Any suggestions how I can start out so I can get comfortable driving it without having a wreck? And I don't feel comfortable just getting out onto a highway first time out. I wanna get comfortable driving behind the wheel, learning to figure out how far I should be over in a lane, etc. Then when I accomplish that, I can venture onto a highway. Is it safe to sleep over 75 gallons of gas? We are still planning our retirement in 18 months to two years and we thought we would be going for a 40-foot diesel pusher as we plan to run up a high mileage over the three years. We recently started to look at some of the 32- to 37-foot A class gas units, and we were suprised how much better the floor layouts were due to the center door. We don't want four slides on the basis of the more things there are, the more there are to go wrong(!) but I am not too sure about going to sleep each night over a 75-gallon tank of gas. Diesel is very hard to set fire to and I would not worry about it. Is there any information on fires in RVs and their causes? I know that when there is a fire, you can forget about trying to save the RV and just get out. Need "RV Satellite TV for Dummies" OK, I give up! I've gone about six months without TV. I love NetFlix but you can only watch so many old Quincy episodes. I need basic info and general prices for a satellite dish to pull in television stations around the country. I'm fulltime and travel all over. I don't want a roof top unit for now; would rather have a tripod set-up. I'm not a huge TV addict so I don't need the newest, biggest, or most expensive. Just something basic and some way to know if I am getting my money's worth. Can you get something workable on eBay? What Is usual mileage for a Class C motorhome? We just bought our first motorhome, a 2006 Fleetwood Jamboree 29-footer. It is in immaculate condition inside and out, with 68,000 miles. The owner bought it new and kept it for almost four years. We paid $26,000 for it which I thought was a great deal. Just curious about the mileage is all.  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 ForumWomen RVers: If you're a woman and travel by RV or want to, then here's where you can ask a question, answer one from another forum member, or just share information that you think would be helpful to other women who travel by RV or who would like to someday. G  uide To The Firearm Laws of the 50 StatesRVers who travel with a firearm may not know that what's legal in their home state may be a felony in another. This 2009 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. Trivia Soft serve ice cream, invented in 1938, has less fat than regular ice cream. It contains air introduced at the time of freezing which helps make the ice cream taste creamier, smoother and lighter, and appear whiter than other ice cream. Dairy Queen is the largest seller of the product.
Random RV Thought Traveling or even living full-time in an RV may make you realize that you can live comfortably in a much smaller space than in a traditional home. The thought may strike you that "I really don't need all the stuff back home because what is most important to me is right here." Face it, in an RV, you eat just as well, you sleep just as well, you dress just as well (if you choose) and you are just as warm or cool as you choose to be. And with an RV, when you get tired of the view out your window, you can easily move to a new one. Bill's Hints "Always carry a minimum of two 25-foot water hoses. Not all spigots are handy to your parking spot, but a 50-footer is a real nuisance when you are close to the faucet." -- 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
Bumper Snicker  The RV Kitchen: Fix It in Foil Worth Pondering "Perhaps the feelings that we experience when we are in love represent a normal state. Being in love shows a person who he should be." --Anton Checkov
G  ood Stuff from the Good Sam ClubJoin the Club: $19 a year. Save on camping fees. Free magazine. Continuing Service Plan: No More Major Repair Bills! Get a Fast Quote RV Emergency Road Service: Special Low Rate! Join Today. Good Sam VIP Insurance for RVs. Free Quote. 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. 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. Forum Administrator: Adrienne Kristine. Office Manager: Jody Allcott. Clapper/Loader: Emily Woodbury. Books and DVDs about Fulltime RVing 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!" Like to ride scenic railroads? Check out http://www.touristtrains.com© Copyright 2007 by RVbookstore.com |
Trailer Life RV Road Atlas 
Sixty-six people in Alabama have filed federal l
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2009 Big Rigs Best Bets Campground Directory 
