The Fun Times Guide to RV Road Trips

By Curtis on Nov 20, 9:00 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

Scooters & Bicycles Make Good RV Campground Transportation

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!

By Curtis on Nov 19, 9:00 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

When Buying A Portable Generator For Your RV, Size Matters

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.

By Curtis on Nov 18, 9:00 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

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

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.

By Curtis on Nov 17, 9:00 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

How To Build Your Own Teardrop Trailer

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?!

By Curtis on Nov 16, 9:00 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

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

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.)

By Curtis on Nov 15, 9:00 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

Roadtrek Adventurous: A New RV Based On The Dodge Sprinter

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.

By Curtis on Nov 14, 9:00 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

Fifth Wheel Trailers Are The Favorite For Full Time RVing

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.

By Curtis on Nov 13, 9:00 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

4 Reasons Teardrop Trailers Are Great For Winter Camping

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.

By Curtis on Nov 12, 9:00 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

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

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.

By Curtis on Nov 10, 11:41 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

Fun Ways To Use Toy Hauler Trailers When RVing

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?