RV Road Trips

Scooters & Bicycles Make Good RV Campground Transportation

2009-11-20T15:00:48Z

Life as an RVer is pretty soft. Sitting behind the wheel in that cushy captain's chair doesn't provide much in the way of exercise. (No, pushing the cruise control button doesn't count!)

Once you get parked and set up, it's time to explore your surroundings. You may want to get some exercise, too.

Many RVers prefer to carry bicycles on the back instead of towing a car behind their motorhome. Bicycling is good exercise, plus you don't have to be concerned about getting in a spot where you can't back up the RV because of the car on the tow bar.

Another alternative -- if you want motorized transportation but don't want the hassle of towing -- is to carry a small scooter on the back bumper.

Using a hitch extender, I both carried a motorcycle and towed a car when we were full time RVers. There are a lot of different ways you can carry a second mode of transportation. For sure, having a way to get around at the campground will come in handy!

When Buying A Portable Generator For Your RV, Size Matters

2009-11-19T15:00:20Z

Portable generators are a great way to civilize a camping spot that's out in the middle of nowhere.

While today's RVs come equipped with all the conveniences of home, sometimes you want to make use of everything you've got even when you're boondocking miles away from the nearest power pole.

Buying the right size portable RV generator takes a bit of mathematics -- because when it comes to having enough electricity to do the job, size does matter!

You want a generator with a high enough wattage to do the job, but not so large that it's excessively noisy or consumes too much fuel.

Keep in mind that if you want to keep your RV generator working properly, then you need to maintain it regularly.

This video will help answer all your questions as to what you should be looking for in portable RV generators.

Full Time RVers: How To Simplify Your Life & Declutter Your RV

2009-11-18T15:00:37Z

Are you giving some serious thought to becoming a full time RVer? Life on the road sounds fun doesn't it?

The biggest thing for new full time RVers to wrap their head around is how drastically you must downsize and reduce your lifelong addiction to "stuff."

Learning how to live simply within the confines of an RV doesn't come naturally. It takes making a few mistakes before you really get comfortable with the notion that less is more. I don't mean a little less, I mean 95% less -- or more!

There are other pitfalls to becoming a full time RVer, but rest assured as you go along you will be leaving more and more behind. As time goes by, you will further realize that you can get by just fine without it and the storage space is more valuable than the things.

How To Build Your Own Teardrop Trailer

2009-11-17T15:00:41Z

I saw the neatest little RV this summer. It was a teardrop trailer that the owners had built themselves. The advantages of such a small camper are obvious: efficiency, maneuverability, and they are so darn cost-effective!

Of course you can buy a teardrop trailer all ready to go, but you'll pay accordingly. Maybe building your own -- either from scratch or from a kit -- would be a better way.

The advantages of building your own teardrop trailer are:

You can reduce the cost of a teardrop trailer by 75% or more.
It can be a good father/child project for the winter months.
You can add or subtract as many bells and whistles as you like.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out.
Oh, and did I mention you can reduce the cost by 75%... or more?!

RV Temporary Housing - How To Turn Your RV Into Mobile Housing During Stressful Times

2009-11-16T15:00:18Z

When you need a place to stay -- no matter where that might be -- owning an RV makes it simple. RVs are the perfect temporary housing!

Does your job have you traveling from construction site to construction site? Maybe the construction site is your new home being built.

Why travel back and forth from a rental apartment or motel when you need to be there quite a bit while your home is being built? Living on-site in an RV makes it easier for the work crew, since any questions or problems that come up can be immediately resolved. Job site security will be better too -- which will keep vandalism down.

You can also use your RV as a disaster shelter in times of need. That might be during floods or hurricanes or maybe just when the relatives come to visit. (That can be a disaster too, you know.)

Roadtrek Adventurous: A New RV Based On The Dodge Sprinter

2009-11-15T15:00:31Z

Dodge Sprinter has become the base vehicle that many new Class B RVs are built from. By taking fuel economy to new heights while providing full stand up interior headroom, the Dodge Sprinter is likely to become a very popular RV.

RV companies like Roadtrek, a well-known Canadian manufacturer, now offer RVs that get as much as 24 mpg (imperial) while still maintaining a full range of amenities and comfort items.

Though the Sprinter is priced well above the standard American-made cargo van, the longevity provided from the 154 hp diesel engine under the hood will offset much of that expense.

The Roadtrek Adventurous, sure beats living in a van down by the river.

Fifth Wheel Trailers Are The Favorite For Full Time RVing

2009-11-14T15:00:38Z

What type of RV leads the pack when it comes to full time RVing? The fifth wheel trailer is way out in front, in terms of popularity.

You just can't beat the livability of a large fifth wheel trailer when the slide outs are opened and the utilities are hooked up.

By far, a 5th wheel trailer is more like an apartment than a camper. I know from experience because I lived in one for a period of 3 years. We had all the amenities and comforts of a stationary home while retaining the ability to suck in the walls and leave in a very short amount of time.

Be sure to follow proper procedures when hitching up, or you may find yourself wondering what you did wrong when the trailer falls off the hitch and damages your truck! Yes, I dropped a trailer once because I took a shortcut and thought I could get away with it.

4 Reasons Teardrop Trailers Are Great For Winter Camping

2009-11-13T15:00:10Z

Aren't these little teardrop RV trailers the cutest thing? They're small, lightweight, and most of all affordable. Almost any vehicle can tow a teardrop trailer, and it won't drag your mileage down into the ditch either.

You might be thinking that camping season is winding down for the year as snow starts to become an issue, but have you ever considered winter camping? A teardrop trailer might be just the thing to get you interested!

Here are 4 reasons why teardrop trailers are great for winter camping:

Being small, you can get your RV trailer into just about any spot.
Being lightweight, if you get stuck you can push yourself out.
Keeping a small space warm is a lot easier than heating a larger RV.
No matter what, it sure beats sleeping in a tent on the cold ground!

Do pay attention to weather forecasts when you're winter camping. Getting snowed in while at a secluded spot could easily become life-threatening. Be sure to let people know where you plan to be before you go.

All-Terrain Camping With A 4x4 Vehicle And An Off-Road Survival Trailer

2009-11-12T15:00:04Z

Do you own a 4x4 Jeep or some other off-road vehicle? Do you want to get away from the crowds while still having fun in the great outdoors?

Staying at an organized RV campground has its pitfalls:

Other peoples' kids racing back and forth making noise
Over-exuberant partying going on right up until curfew or later
Unskilled drivers trying to maneuver large RVs uncomfortably close to yours
Neighboring RVs so close you can see what they're eating for breakfast

Maybe you should consider choosing a spot that's off the beaten path and away from the crowds. It's called boondocking. In this case it's call extreme boondocking!

Simply match a small RV survival trailer designed for extreme terrain with a 4x4 that's capable of pulling it way off the beaten path. Then pick your camping spot miles away from anybody.

Fun Ways To Use Toy Hauler Trailers When RVing

2009-11-10T17:41:02Z

One of the most versatile rigs on the road today is the toy hauler.

Built with the rear portion designed as a garage, a toy hauler allows you to bring along all the toys that will enable you to combine camping with your favorite hobby.

Whether it be an ATV, dune buggy, or motorcycle, whatever your favorite outdoor toy is a toy hauler can tote it safely!

This past weekend I saw a large triple axle 5th wheel toy hauler backed up to the water's edge. They were unloading a boat off the end of the dropdown ramp that made up the rear wall of the trailer.

Where is the camera when you need it?

Even owners of motorhomes have latched onto the toy hauler idea. While still maintaining the level of luxury expected in upper level motorhomes, you can step through a door going toward the rear and walk into a sizable garage space with a full rear wall dropdown ramp.

How cool is that?

]]> Types Of Toy Haulers

In the trailer market, toy haulers started as specially designed fifth wheel trailers.

With fold-up sofas and queen beds that raise up out of the way near the ceiling, the majority of the trailer is then open space for transporting your mechanized equipment.

Some are even equipped with a gas fueling station on the outside to top off your gas-powered toys before venturing out & about.

Even traditional bumper pull travel trailers for RVing are now being built as toy haulers.

There is one more class of toy hauler available: the utility cargo trailer with living quarters. Designed to be more rugged, these are popular with racing teams and other professions where the need to haul equipment and provide living space requires a dual-function portable residence.

There is one more class of toy hauler: the horse trailer with living quarters. Being able to take your favorite horse with you on a weekend outing is mandatory for those involved in the equine hobby. And it's even more important if you make your living around horses.

Ways To Use Toy Haulers When RVing

Many people live on the road for extended periods, taking their job with them in these dual purpose RVs.

I met a young couple a few years back at a Provincial Campground in Banff Alberta, Canada. They were traveling throughout Canada selling handcrafted furniture.

They would take samples into a town, make the sale, then return to the campground. They had all the furniture disassembled to maximize the quantity that they could transport with them. After spending a few hours assembling the furniture they would make their delivery to the customer. Once they had saturated the market in one city, they simply hitched up and moved to another area and set up shop again.

Just think of all the ways you could make a living from one of these rigs! You could set up the garage space as a workshop for a number of project: woodworking, sign making, jewelry making, you get the idea You could make your living as a fulltime RVer working at flea markets, open air bazaars and festivals.

As a sales representative for a variety of products, you could carry a wide selection of samples, or even a complete inventory of products ready for delivery. How's that for service to the customer?

This aspect of the toy hauler’s flexibility is seldom mentioned in sales brochures. What better way to justify having a new trailer to haul your ATVs to the trailhead on the weekend than to say you bought it to make a living during the week?

The dual-purpose toy hauler trailers and motorhomes can definitely be a good thing for full-time and part-time RVers alike.

Toy haulers make your favorite recreational activities even more enjoyable when you can take them on the road with you and do them anytime... anywhere! They can also make your job a whole lot more flexible and fun, too.

Reasons To Remodel A Used RV Rather Than Buying New

2009-11-10T15:00:45Z

A new RV is nice, but is it really cost-effective?

The RV industry aims at satisfying the needs of most of the people most of the time. That said, no matter how many new RVs you look at, there will be something lacking or not to your liking in every single one.

Why not buy a used RV and remodel it to your specific tastes? The cost savings will be significant and the satisfaction that you have exactly what you want will make it even better!

Here are 10 reasons remodeling an RV makes sense (just in case the money savings alone didn't catch your attention).

Leaving Your RV In Arizona? Then It Must Be Registered There

2009-11-09T15:00:25Z

Quartzsite Arizona is a favorite winter RV spot for hundreds of thousands of snowbirds who are desperately seeking relief from the bad weather back home. At Quartzsite longterm friendships are made, annual reunions take place, and returning year after year is a common occurrence for RVers.

As these wandering fair weather flocks start to age, that annual trek to the southwest becomes more of a chore. The trip isn't nearly as fun as the time spent at Quartzsite, so many are finding it easier to leave their RVs parked in the desert sun year round. Then, they return when the festivities start back up in late fall, only to fly or drive north again by early spring.

However, Arizona is known for having some quirky laws that tend to trip people up now and then. One of them is if an RV stays in the state more than 6 months, the RV must be registered in the state of Arizona. There are financial repercussions if you try to ignore this bit of legislation. Oh, and yes they do actually come looking to make sure you have Arizona tags!

Warning: RV Waste Tanks Can Be Damaged When They're Pumped Out

2009-11-08T15:00:13Z

So your next boondocking expedition is all planned out. You're going to park in the desert, and once a week the honey wagon will come by and pump out your waste tanks. It's a pretty convenient way to handle the chore of emptying your black and gray water tanks.

Did you know that an inexperienced vacuum truck operator could apply too much suction and collapse your tanks?

Just to be safe, have the disposal service provide a written guarantee that they will pay for any repairs that may be the result of their services. Be sure to do this before they hook up to your RV!

RV Show Tips For First-Timers: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

2009-11-06T17:27:02Z

Living in Denton Texas for 6 years, the one event we never missed was the Dallas RV Show held at Market Hall. Whether we were actually in the market for a new RV, or just looking to see what new advances were being offered that year, the Dallas RV Supershow was always a fun experience for us.

RV shows are a great place to get acquainted with what’s available in the world of RVs.

The newcomer can wander in and out, inspecting and exploring without having a salesman hanging right over your shoulder. The salesmen at RV shows know that the crowd is more interested in looking than buying, and they will typically hang back until you go looking for them.

Here are some things you should know before you attend your first RV show...

]]> When To Go

Large RV shows can be a bit intimidating. The crowds become huge and noisy fairly quickly.

If you really want the opportunity to take a serious look at the RVs, the best time to go is early in the day.

Forget the stage entertainment, get there ahead of the crowds. That way, you can easily walk through the wide assortment of RVs and see for yourself the best features among all brands and types.

What About The Kids?

I would strongly encourage you to leave the kids at home. Get a sitter if necessary. They’ll just get lost in the crowd.

Yes, it really is that crazy at an RV show!

If You're In The Market For A New RV...

Since RV shows are held all over the country, you won’t have to travel far to shop where there's a huge selection of RVs to pick from.

RV dealers tend to offer some pretty good deals at RV shows. However, if you're in a position to buy, you can probably do just as well at their sales lot.

If you're going to an RV show prepared to buy an RV, then just make sure that you've done your homework ahead of time. Compare prices between dealers, and be aware the price on the window isn’t anywhere near what you can actually get it for!

Today’s market is definitely in your favor, RV dealers really want to sell their inventory. Don’t let pressure force you into making a poor decision.

Before You Buy An RV At The Show

A surprising amount of damage occurs during the course of these large RV shows. People unfamiliar with locking drawer latches or other security features will inevitably damage something on practically every RV that's on display. Everything from kids jumping on the beds, to sofa beds being opened and closed many times, this will all add wear and tear to those poor display RVs.

Of course, the dealer will take care of any damage if you choose to buy one of the models at the RV show. Just remember, an RV that just arrived from the factory will be fresh and new. The display models typically have high miles on them already, and they haven’t even gone anywhere!

If you do decide, on the spot, to buy an RV that you see on display, be aware it may be a week before you can actually take delivery of that RV. Once an RV is in place for display, it can’t be moved until the RV show closes and the whole process is reversed to get it out of the convention hall.

Visit RV Dealers Located Near The RV Show

Many RV dealers don’t follow the norm when it comes to participating in large convention center based sales shows. They’re usually limited to a handful of units, due to space limitations.

Plus, since RV shows don't help their sales that much, they typically prefer to hold large sales at their own lots during or near the same time that an RV show at the convention center takes place.

Here in Duluth Minnesota, Bullyan’s RV operates on that theory. Since they are the largest RV dealer for hundreds of miles, they have a huge inventory of RVs.

They've determined that their sales team is better served by providing a much larger variety of RVs on their own lot and available for inspection, rather than participating in the nearby RV show.

While we lived in Tucson AZ we enjoyed attending Beaudry RV’s annual Chicken Show. Twice each spring they made a carnival atmosphere by erecting big tents and opening a huge barbecue meal to the public. Everything, including apple pie for dessert, was "on the house" as a way to draw huge crowds onto their RV sales lot. Guess what? It worked! The place was always crowded during those shows.

Final RV Show Tips For Newbies

One thing's for sure, RV salesmen can be an aggressive lot. They’ll go most anywhere, and go to any lengths to close a deal on an RV. So keep your wits about you and be prepared. The whole process is just like buying a car. The more you know, the better deal you can work.

Yes, RV shows can be useful in helping you to become familiar with the newest options that are available in RVs. Plus, where else can you act like you just hit the lottery and you want to inspect that new 2 million dollar Country Coach that is sure to be on display?

Thinking Of Leasing An RV? Some RV Scams & Shady Deals To Watch For

2009-11-06T15:00:12Z

There's nothing like a poor economy to bring out the worst in business ethics. It has quickly become a survival of the fittest market with many businesses going to any length to swing a deal. They will use high pressure sales tactics, questionable financing, anything to get your signature on the dotted line.

Many on the financial banana peel are looking for ways to avoid having their RVs repossessed.

You may think that leasing your RV would be a way to stay solvent, but you could also be taken for an expensive ride. Unfortunately, many companies that are approaching owners with this leasing idea are simply looking to make a quick buck -- fully knowing that your RV will be in legal limbo once they've gained control of it.