RV Road Trips

Banking Issues For The Full Time RVer

Being on the road means that pulling into your regular banking institution back home becomes a thing of the past. 

So, with your financial wellbeing requiring that you take care of business on a regular basis, how is it that full time RVers are able to take care of their debits and credits in a punctual manner?

Modern banking, including Internet banking makes managing your finances so easy and accessible that  you can travel on any schedule and know that everything is well taken care of. 

The first step is choosing what bank you want to use.   

Continue reading: Banking Issues For RVers

Homemade RVs: The Future Of RVing?

Every day, the news reiterates a doom and gloom picture of our current (and quite possibly our future) economic situation.

Credit has dried up and Americans have discovered that many of the luxuries and excessive habits they have enjoyed in the past are no longer an option.

Does this bleak forecast indicate the death of the RV lifestyle? Will the recreational vehicle industry disappear? I really don't think so. It may go through some dramatic changes, there may be some downsizing, and quite possibly some manufacturers will fall by the wayside, but if you ask me RVing will survive.

Yes, the drooping economy has already started to take its toll at the RV dealership level. With organizations such as Beaudry RV in Tucson filing for bankruptcy protection, the domino effect may already be in motion.

Let's explore some RV trends, which may give us a glimpse at the future of RVing...

Continue reading: Homegrown RVs: A Sign Of Changing Times

RV Clubs, Groups And Rallies - A Great Way To Meet People & Make Friends

The best way to get to know people that share the same interest as yourself is to join groups and participate in events where like-minded people get together.

Nowhere is this more common than in the RV lifestyle.

Whether it's a club designated for a particular brand of RV such as the Wally Byam Caravan Club International or the Vintage Airstream Club, or a more regional gathering of people who travel with their Teardrop trailers, like these Touring Tears, the fact is people often gather and travel in groups to enhance the experience of living the RV lifestyle.

The Airstreamers have descended on Duluth MN, my hometown, twice. There is nothing to compare to the site of 4,000 to 5,000 silver bullets parked in groups all around the city.

Continue reading: RV Clubs, Groups & Rallies

Voltage Adapters & Regulators Help RVers Avoid Electrical Problems

Every new RV usually comes off the lot with a "convenience package" or "welcome package" included to get you, the new RVer, off on the right foot. 

Beyond the 4-pack of special quick-dissolving toilet paper, a blue sewer hose that resembles a slinky dipped in plastic, and a 25-foot white garden hose to supply you with drinking water, there is almost always one other item: a small 3-pronged electrical adapter that seldom gets any explanation or warning as to its proper use.

Continue reading: RV Voltage Adapters & Regulators

Can Freezing Temperatures Harm The LCD TV In Your RV?

Every new motorhome and most new 5th wheel and travel trailers have at least one LCD TV. Many have 2 or more.  The bigger LCD TVs on board RVs and motorhomes have 40-inch screens (or larger).

Today's technology has come to the point where, for the most part, you will find LCD (or Liquid Crystal Display televisions) being installed almost exclusively in new recreational vehicles.

LCDs are a great choice inside RVs for a number of reasons.  For one, the picture quality is very good.  Plus, they're not big and bulky like the TVs of yesterday. In fact, some are so thin you can actually mount them on the wall like a picture. LCD flat-screen TVs are even being mounted on motorized bases that retract up flush to the ceiling when not in use.

The one big question for those of us living well into the frost belt is: Can LCD televisions handle the freezing temperatures?

Continue reading: LCD TVs in RVs: Safe In Winter Temps?

Winter Snow Load Can Seriously Damage Your RV

If your RV is parked for the winter, then it may be the last thing on your mind right now -- especially if it's buried in snow at the moment! It will be months before it sees sunlight again, right?

Even though you may be more concerned about keeping warm at home and tossing logs on the fire at this time of year, you should know that all the snow that's accumulating on your RV can easily do some serious damage.

With economy being a high priority today, many RVs are constructed very lightweight.  One of the areas where manufacturers can save some weight is the roof. In fact, a lot of the travel trailers built now are constructed with thin enough material that simply walking on the roof requires laying down some plywood to spread the weight, in order to prevent damaging the sheeting under the rubber membrane.

Imagine how much weight is involved when wet slushy snow is allowed to build up on this same roof about 12" to 18" deep.   With the levels of precipitation that have been falling this winter, you can see this amount after just a few weeks of snowfall. Something you can hardly afford to overlook.

Continue reading: Warning: Snow On Your RVs Roof

Montana Holding Company Helps RVers Bypass The Tax Man

Here's the scenario...

You’ve worked hard building a successful business and now it’s time to relax and reap the benefits. 

With a luxury motorhome purchase on your horizon, plans are underway for a new lifestyle.  This is the time you’ve been planning for, the wandering life of a full time RVer.

After months of shopping, you're ready to place your order for the perfect dream RV -- one complete with all the options.  Let's say the price tag for this beauty is $245,000; steep, but quality costs serious money. 

That’s all well and good; you can afford it.  But don’t forget the sales tax!  As an example, in Duluth Minnesota with a tax rate of 7.5%, the sales tax on this major purchase will be $18,375.  And that doesn’t include registration or insurance. With all the paperwork and additional fees, you could be out closer to $275,000 by the time it’s all said and done.

There’s one common trait among good business men that sets them apart from the Average Joe: they don’t pay any more taxes to the government than they are legally required to pay. 

Many lawyers have built their careers around finding loopholes, and manipulating the tax codes, to reduce the burden placed by taxes on their clients.

Now there’s another option that can help you keep more of your money in your pocket and out of the State Revenue Department...

Continue reading: Reasons To Register Your RV In Montana

The Tax-Deductible Lifestyle Of Self-Employed RVers

RVing, whether as a full time lifestyle or as a weekend or vacation activity, can actually save you money under the right circumstances. 

Uncle Sam, the tax man, gets a pretty good chunk of your paycheck every week.  Maybe as a retired RVer you're finding it harder and harder to manage the cost of fuel to travel as much as you had planned during your golden years.

You have options... ways to travel at a reduced cost to you and have an opportunity to actually make money out of the deal.

Continue reading: Tax Benefits For RVers

Downsizing Your RV Lifestyle - Smaller Can Be Better

The stock market has done some serious damage to peoples' retirement funds, altering the plans of many who had hoped to travel extensively during their later years. 

The automotive industry got the message and has begun making adjustments, and now the RV industry is making changes too.

They’re building smaller, lighter weight trailers that can be towed by more fuel-efficient and economical vehicles.  For example, smaller Class B motorhomes (like the Roadtrek) are more popular than ever these days. 

Many people are finding the super-large multi-slide motorhome or RV trailer are just overkill for their RV lifestyle -- especially when you take economic and environmental factors into consideration. 

When you tally up the cost of a large RV, combined with the higher operating expenses, going smaller is something you might be considering as well.

Here are the pros and cons of downsizing your RV lifestyle...

Continue reading: Downsizing Your RV Lifestyle

How To Prepare Your RV For Transport

While you may dream of driving the RV wherever the road may take you, the truth is that sometimes you might have to transport it.

Transporting an RV can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be.

If you are well prepared and do your research, you should be able to have a smooth move and save a lot of money.

Continue reading: Moving Or Transporting Your RV