Category: Frugal RV living

Don’t let your RV wind deflector be so much hot air

Russ De Maris
  By Jim Twamley Just how effective are those RV wind deflectors you see on trucks pulling 5th wheels and travel trailers? Though somewhat technical (what you’d expect from a Professor of RVing), this information could save you some serious cash. Trucks pulling trailers lose a majority of their energy at highway speeds through aerodynamic drag. Using computational fluid dynamics,... Read More

RVers: Find TV signals easily with a free app

Russ De Maris
  By Russ and Tiña De Maris If you’re like us, you probably aren’t a satellite antenna user. Too much junk for too much money. But when you’re traveling and you still want to catch the news, or put your feet up for a little down-time, having the boob-tube is still something we call “a necessary evil.” But at the... Read More

Free RV spot? Try caretaking — trade skills, or your presence

Russ De Maris
  By Bob Difley Caretaking takes many forms, such as simply camping at a remote location to deter theft or vandalism or staying on someone else’s property while they are away. This could often entail watering plants, feeding pets or gardening. Usually you will stay in your own rig but have access to electrical and water connections and the use... Read More

Full-time RVing: Save on your top three expenses

Russ De Maris
By Bob Difley Three of the biggest expenses for full-time or near-full-time RVers are fuel, campgrounds, and eating out. But one of the great advantages of RVing is that you can easily change any one or all three of these expense categories to adjust to the changing economy or the fluctuation of your personal finances. To save on the fuel... Read More

How long can canned food last?

Russ De Maris
  By Bob Difley Do your food storage lockers hold hidden contents that were placed there shortly after your rig rolled off the showroom floor? And one day you’re boondocking mucho miles away from the nearest Safeway and have this enormous craving for artichoke hearts? So you dig through your food stores and voila! You discover a can of these... Read More

RVs and WD-40: Unusual combinations that work!

Russ De Maris
By Russ and Tiña De Maris Seems like every RV has at least a can or two of WD-40 for lubricating various parts. But there’s more use for old WD-40 than just the occasional thread loosening. Here are a few tips that may make for slicker RV trips. Galley and household tricks: Why on earth do RV manufacturers use light-colored... Read More

RVer attractions: Low advertising budget equals low costs

Russ De Maris
By Bob Difley Many RVers focus on the destination and forget the trip. Think of all the great attractions you pass when you have the blinders on barreling down the interstate. Many of these attractions, whether scenic, historic, or of unique interest, are free, and since they would therefore not have big advertising budgets, like large commercial attractions, you can... Read More