| From RVbookstore.com Archived Issues Weekend of May 2, 2009 Issue 376 of RV Travel  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 TwitterDear reader,  I believe the Swine Flu scare is way overblown. Do you remember flesh eating bacteria, bird flu, mad cow disease, anthrax, killer bees? I know people who will still not eat hamburger because they believe they'll get Mad Cow disease.Newspaper publishers and TV news producers must love the Swine Flu: A scary headline is good for circulation.  "We consumer reporters should warn you about life's important risks, but instead, we mislead you about dubious risks," says consumer reporter John Stossel of ABC news. "My TV program, 20/20, has done frightening reports on the dangers of paper shredders, soccer goals, lawn chemicals, cell phones, garage-door openers, and more," he said. "There's always some truth behind the scares -- someone got hurt, or some study somewhere found a risk. But we rarely put the danger in perspective. We give you a breathless rush of alarm over every possibility, often delivered with a throbbing rock beat."AND NOW IT'S THE SWINE FLU: Only one person has died in the USA and Canada so far. Cases have been mild. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) every year in the United States, on average more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and about 36,000 die from flu-related causes. As of April 15, outpatient flu-related visits to U.S. hospitals were normal. "We know that the scarier and more bizarre the story, the more likely it is that our bosses will give us more air time or a front-page slot," said Stossel. "The scary story, justified or not, will get higher ratings and sell more papers. Fear sells. That's the reason for the insiders' joke about local newscasts: 'If it bleeds, it leads.' I came across a Twitter posting earlier this week. The woman was terrified she would die shortly of the flu. "Maybe I'll see you here tomorrow," she wrote to her followers, and she was serious! As the news broke about Swine Flu deaths in Mexico, I worried at first, based on a hundred scare headlines. But my nature is to be optimistic until I have good reason to be pessimistic. So I (selfishly) looked for the positives about Swine Flu: "It will probably be good for the RV business, just as 9-11 was," I told my associates. I figured people would be afraid to get on a plane so they'd hop in their RVs, maybe even buy one. Armed with a bottle of bacteria-killing hand sanitizer, they'd hit the road where the major bug threat is a mosquito. So here's my (unprofessional) advice: Don't overly fret about Swine Flu until it comes to your town and people die. Until then, wash your hands often, don't go to work or school if you are sick, eat healthy, don't kiss any pigs, and go on with your lives. The media will scare us with something new next month. Do you have a comment? Please leave it at the RVtravel.com Forum.  Most RV Travel readers would toss TVs in favor of Internet If choosing between giving up television or the Internet, 76 percent of RVtravel.com readers would give up their TVs according to the results of last week's reader survey. "You can always catch your favorite shows on the Web, so the TV would have to go," commented a reader named Cheri. See the complete results and reader comments. How did you learn about this week's newsletter? Would you please take 10 seconds to answer a survey question about how you learned about this issue of the RVtravel.com newsletter? Your input will help us a lot. Thanks a whole bunch!  GAIN FAME IN THIS NEWSLETTER: Beginning this issue we're introducing you to some of your fellow RVtravel.com readers. We'd love to introduce you, too! So have someone snap a pic of you at your computer -- at home, in the rig, at a picnic table -- wherever you normally read your issue or where you are today. We'll post some of the photos in upcoming issues, perhaps making you famous! Email to chuck(at)RVtravel.com. Be sure to include your hometown or where you are reading this issue. Other comments are welcome, too. Meet two readers to the right above. 2008 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! 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. Plus, you'll be the first to get an alert about each new issue of the weekly RVtravel.com newsletter. Go there now. DID YOU MISS last issue of this newsletter? If so, read it here. READ BACK ISSUES: Click here. RVtravel.com Forum Update as of 5/1/09 at 3:30 pm: 9,679 registered members, 26,521 messages. RVtravel.com Alexa ranking: 76,730* *Rank in the world among tens of millions of websites. Number of RVtravel.com followers at Twitter: 2,227  Number of free and inexpensive campgrounds now profiled at FreeCampgrounds.com (as of 5/1/09): 1,772  Essential for Fulltimers!2009 Selecting An RV Home Base For 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.  Good news for RV dealers and RVers, tooRV and car dealers, and auto industry suppliers can apply for federal loans to help pay for their showroom inventories, the Obama administration announced yesterday (May 1). As a result, more than 70,000 additional small businesses including auto and RV dealerships, auto industry suppliers and others could be eligible to apply. Read more.
 No fossil fuel required to tow this tiny RVWell, if this isn't about the "greenest" little travel trailer we have ever seen! No gasoline required to pull it. This tiny RV makes a teardrop trailer look huge. So what is it? Watch the video to find out. How to determine your RVs true wholesale value The first thing you need to know is that the online valuation guides for RVs are usually much higher than the values in the dealers copy of the NADA guide. In other words, what you think your RV is worth is probably much, much higher than what the dealer will actually allow for it. Read more.  Robin Williams tops list of RVers' favorite trip companionActor Robin Williams was the number one choice in a recent survey of RV owners by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) when they were asked, "What living, famous person would you like to take with you on an RV trip?" But guess who came in second? Find out. Spartan Chassis Class A diesel RV sales drop more than 90 percent Sales at Spartan Chassis, the largest subsidiary and operating unit of Spartan Motors, Inc, decreased 60 percent year-over year to $98.2 million for the current quarter. Spartan Chassis represented 85 percent of Spartan Motors' total consolidated sales in the 2009 first quarter. Learn more.  The ABCs of RVingThe editors of Beginners Guide to RVing (NewRV.com) answer more than 200 of the most-asked questions of beginning and novice RVers. Co-authored by RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury. Learn more or RV tax advantages explained With economic times tough, the benefits of owning a motorhome continue to increase with federal economic credit and stimulus packages as well as tax deductions. Even environmentally friendly solutions such as solar panels are rewarded with tax credits as well as costs saved on fueling generators. Read more.  A motorhome named FredA quick glance at this small RV wouldn't reveal its secret: underneath is a VW bus! The exterior was added later, Maybe by a guy named Fred (but that's just a guess). See a bigger pic. TrailManor travel trailers are a breed apartTrailManor lightweight travel trailers are unique. These fuel efficient RVs fold down like a popup trailer when being towed, but they have hard walls, a bathroom and plenty of room inside. And, as you will see in this one-minute promotional video, the interior is incredibly attractive. Because the trailers are so aerodynamic to tow, it only takes an extra gallon of gas to tow a TrailManor 100 miles over driving without it.  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 Bring your RV home to "factory boondocking" Swine flu: Is it safe to RV in Mexico?
 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 Reflections of fulltiming in a truck camper Can you fulltime in a truck camper? Well, it depends. Can one person fulltime in a truck camper? Taking a look around the country, the answer is "Pretty much." Can two people fulltime in a truck camper? The answer here is a question: "How well do you get along?" There isn't much room in a truck camper, that's for sure. Read more.  Actor Matthew McConaughey is an RV fanaticWatch this short video of actor Matthew McConaughey and you'll know the hype about him being an avid RVer is true. The guy loves his Airstream trailer! While he may be a Hollywood superstar, McConaughey has long enjoyed time traveling and camping in his RV. Recently he took his girlfriend Camila Alves and their nine-month-old son Levi on a 7,300-mile, 42-day RV road trip. On April 30, 2009, McConaughey shared some of his favorite memories of the trip on the TV show "Live with Regis and Kelly." Fix RV cabinet doors that don't stay closed The roads we travel with our RVs are often a bit on the bumpy side. Some of the nation's highways can best be described as "washboard" in nature, and it's a real discourager when you open the RV door and find your cabinet doors have popped open, snapping back and forth, damaging finishes and loosening hinges. How can you keep those RV cabinet doors shut? Here's how. RV makers: Which are gone, which are still with us Here is an updated list of status of RV manufacturers including those out of business.   Stansport Stainless Propane BBQ Grill! For RV Travel readers only! Reg. $69.99 -- ONLY $19.99  Sound too good to be true? Well, it really is true! This grill features durable stainless steel construction with 129 sq. inch of cooking surface and is perfect for RVers. 20,000 B.T.U. output grill burner with adjustable vent windows. Lightweight and transports easily with its wooden carry handle that doubles as a footrest when the lid is open. Uses either 16.4 oz. disposable propane cylinders or bulk tanks. Closed measures 15�-L x 17�-H x 10� in diameter. Weighs 8.82 lbs. Learn more or order, and see other specials exclusively for RVtravel.com readers. Follow RV Toy Outlet on Twitter
Keystone RV in Goshen, Ind., reports that because its sales are up, next week it may call back some of its 300 laid-off employees. Keystone dealers are increasing orders for more units after finding credit loosening. "Although it's not as good as we've experienced in the past, it's still very exciting for us out there," General Manager Chris Hermon told WBST-TV (see a TV news report above and right).
Hampton, Virginia might get rid of a tax on RVs to bring fairness to the city's lack of a boat tax. The rate of $1 per $100 of assessed value currently accounts for $106,592 in city revenue from taxing 622 travel trailers, 66 pop-up trailers and 337 motorhomes. Congress has given the Federal Highway Administration $170 million to repair roads in National Parks. Beginning today, you can reserve a campsite at your favorite Alberta, Canada, provincial park. View campsites before reserving. A super-avid golfer traveling in a Winnebago motorhome is nearing the halfway point in his quest to play 96 courses in 96 days in 48 states. Read more. RVtoyOutlet.com is now offering some truly outstanding bargains for readers of RV Travel. See the current offerings. RUMOR MILL: Blue Bird Corp., a pioneer in building luxury motorhomes, is no longer in the RV business, but is still making buses.
Dear RV Doc, I have a 1991, 26-foot Fleetwood Class C with a Dometic refrigerator. I've just noticed a strong ammonia odor when I opened the freezer door with the refrigerator in the off position. I expect that this is NOT normal. Can you tell me what's wrong and what repairs I face? --Gary Collier Read previous RV Doctor columns   Right now: Save $500!Still time to join our May 15th Oregon Trail Tour Join Tracks as we follow the footsteps of the pioneers who traveled west on the Oregon Trail. See the old wagon ruts. Savor steaks over the campfire. Ride a real Conestoga Wagon! Form friendships you'll treasure forever on this 33-day RV tour from Missouri to Oregon. All arrangements including RV parks by Tracks RV Tours. Click here for your FREE full-color magazine covering this tour and all our others or call 800-351-6053. This Week's Reader Survey How many books did you read in the last year? Answer here. Last week's survey question Past reader surveys and results  Best selling directory of RV services at truck stops!This 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. Order the 2009 edition now! 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
Mark your calendars: The 2009 national convention of RVing Women will be held Oct. 14-18 in San Antonio, Texas. Learn more about RVing as a woman.  American's largest RV Consignment DealerBuy or sell your used motorhome, diesel pusher, fifth wheel, or travel trailer hassle free at PPL Motor Homes. PPL is the largest RV consignment dealer in the USA, selling over 18,880 consigned RVs since 1972. Visit the PPL website.  The RV KitchenJanet Groene's Cookbooks for RVers: Big selection at RVbookstore.com  RV Buyers Survival Guide RV sales manager Bob Randall explains how to buy an RV including how to negotiate with a dealer, the most important part of the best-selling book. Now in its third edition, this book is one of RVbookstore.com's top best sellers. Learn more or order. NEWLY UPDATED
 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. Working on the RV road
What exactly do camp hosts do? Here is an overview of the subject by RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury Excellent book about Workamping: Support Your RV Lifestyle 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  Photo of the weekOkay, what to do? So here's the scene: You're tired of driving. You need a break. You need to park for some R&R. But here's where you are right now -- where this pic was snapped. So the question is, can you park? For those who stop, well, maybe they're just a bit too blind or stupid to be at the wheel in the first place, eh? Books and DVDs about Fulltime RVing  Tech Tips with Mark Polk Add valve stems if you have dual wheels Find out about DVDs and eBooks by RV expert Mark Polk.
 The good ol' days. . .How did the campers of the 1920s and '30s impact the nation? As auto-camping became more popular in the late teens and early 1920s, campers and their families began to demand safe and interesting places to go where they could camp with their tents or primitive RVs. The growth of the National Park system answered that need. Plus many towns, especially in the South, recognized this trend by establishing city-owned campgrounds to attract these travelers. Many such campgrounds still exist, most in the Midwest. Read about about the fascinating history of the RV industry in The Dumb Things Sold Just Like That, available at RVbookstore.com  DVD: Choosing An RV: A Logical Approach Now HALF PRICE -- just $9.95 If you plan to buy an RV, then you must see this! RV experts Joe and Vicki Kieva outline a game-plan that helps RV shoppers target an RV that's right for them. "Steal" this DVD for half its retail price of $19.95 -- only $9.95! Learn more, see a short video or order. Check out these RV Travel Forum discussions Sewer hose falls out during dumping. Nightmare! I was staying at Cedar Rail Campground in Raton, NM (near the CO border). It's a great campground. While dumping my black tank, my hose fell off! I was horrified! I started dousing water on it, dish soap, vinegar, baking soda, borax, even dumped some of my toilet chemical on it. I told the park owner that if he had to hire someone to clean it up, I would reimburse, etc. I tried to give him some money as a "sorry about that" offering. He wouldn't take it. Has this happened to you and how did you handle it? Military campgrounds Anyone here use FamCamps or have any recommendations on good ones or ones to stay away from? How about good boondocking locations near military services for retired members? Slideouts in windy conditions - In or Out? If it gets really really windy, do you leave your slides out or do you pull them in? Does it depend if you have slides on both sides or slides all on one side? I have had RVs with slides on one side and slides on both sides. Each time if the wind comes up, I pull the slides in. I'm not an engineer, but my "theory" is that if the slides are in, the weight from the slides is more "centered" and will prevent tip over. Showers on the road Aside from public shower facilities available at parks and RV camps, what other showers are available when 'boondocking'? Digital converter question Hopefully someone can help me. We have installed the converter so we can receive digital TV. The problem - at night it will be set and we will receive lots of channels; however, in the morning we may only receive one or two channels. We haven't moved the antenna - nothing changed. Why does this happen and why and how can we prevent it? Any thoughts on Big Sky fifth wheel? What's the word on the Montana Big Sky fifth wheel? We're looking at a 365 REQ for frequent trips and extended stays. I would like to know if it's a good rig and/or if there are some hidden things about it. We have a Chevy 454 crewcab DRW truck. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Interesting Forum  Communicating on the Road: How do you stay in touch with friends, family and business associates while on the road with your RV? Here is a terrific place to share information about cell phones, Internet access, PDA devices, laptop computers, email programs, and anything else related to staying in touch while traveling. Visit the forum.Read other Forum discussions  Best seller!Find Rest Areas, Welcome Centers & more With the 2008 Interstate Travel Guide you will quickly and easily locate rest areas, welcome centers, scenic turnouts, including a list of Flying J Travel Plaza locations popular with RVers. Learn more. Trivia Utah's Capitol Reef National Park has the largest historic orchards in the National Park System, with approximately 2,600 fruit and nut trees. You can pick fruit in quantity in orchards that are officially open for public harvest for a modest charge. A wonderful apricot orchard is next to the park campground. Fruit is typically ready to pick in late June.  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. Random RV Thought If you dream of spending all or a good part of your life traveling with an RV, but keep finding excuses why you can't do it, then quit making excuses. The time will never be right. Meanwhile, time is passing. You could get sick or your spouse could get sick, and "bye, bye dream." And don't listen to your kids if they say, "Stay home." Just tell them you will keep in contact and that you will swing by when you're in their neighborhood.  Dog Friendly's Campground and RV Park GuideThis is a jam-packed, well-researched directory of campgrounds, filled with detailed information, about where you can camp with a dog in the USA and Canada. Learn more or order. Bill's Hints "It is very easy to become careless about hitching up your travel trailer. You may do it more than once a day when traveling and you tend to 'look without seeing,' and that can be very dangerous. Problems that occur with the hitch/trailer may not be apparent until they become major. A lost wheel or an uncoupled hitch could easily total your trailer, as well as your tow vehicle." --From Trailers and Fifth Wheels Made Easy. 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.Tourist Attraction Spotlight
 See an atomic bomb at this New Mexico museumThe new National Museum of Nuclear Science & History opened its doors April 4 in Albuquerque. Formerly the National Atomic Museum, which opened in 1969 and was chartered by Congress in 1991, the new museum will continue to serve as a repository and steward of nuclear-related historical items and remain a Smithsonian affiliate. The new location at 601 Eubank Blvd. SE in Albuquerque includes a newly constructed 30,000-square-foot building and 12 acres of exterior space. For the first time in more than seven years, the public will be able to view the historic aircraft, nuclear missiles, and other large artifacts belonging to the museum, now moved from their location at Kirkland Air Force Base. Do you know of a terrific tourist attraction? Share it with the readers of this newsletter in the RVtravel.com forum. 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  Best book on the subjectThe Complete Book of Boondock RVing Yearn to camp in the wild beside a babbling mountain brook or with a remote panoramic vista? This is the complete guide to camping without hookups (aka "dry camping"). Learn more or order. Bumper Snicker
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. Learn more or order. Worth Pondering "As you get older, the pickings get slimmer, but the people don't." -- Carrie Fisher READ BACK ISSUES of this newsletter: Click here.  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 About the editor Chuck 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!" Looking for a used motorhome?  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.
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