RV Road Trips

How To Be Prepared For That Eventual RV Breakdown

Breaking down on the highway is every traveler's nightmare.  It’s that much worse when you're driving a 40-foot motorhome.  Having a good emergency roadside assistance plan or towing insurance can provide a level of security that’s priceless when things go bad.  

The next important step is knowing where to find a reliable repair service when the unexpected happens in unfamiliar territory.  Don’t forget, if you need a tow not every wrecker service can handle large RV motorhomes, and 5th wheel trailers.  Be specific when you describe what your vehicle is.

Snowbirds Flock To BLM Land To Roost For The Winter

Coyote camping (or RV boondocking) on Bureau of Land Management desert land is a popular way for snowbirds to stay roosted in warmer climates for longer periods at minimal expense. 

You can stay at a LTVA (long term visitor area) for a fee, or you can pick your own spot out in the open desert for free.

Either way, there are some preparations you need to make before heading out on a long term boondocking adventure.

How To Choose The Right Fulltime RV For You

Thinking of becoming a fulltime RVer?  There’s a lot to consider before you put money down on a new traveling home.  How to choose the right fulltime RV depends a lot on your lifestyle and how you intend to use your new portable residence.

One thing for sure though, if money is no object there are some great advantages to a bus conversion motorhome.  (Of course there are a few disadvantages too.)

The important thing is to take your time and thoroughly look at all options before you choose the right RV for your needs.
 

How Trailer Sway Can Ruin Your Trip

Trailer sway can often be eliminated by how you load your trailer. There is no worse feeling than having your out-of-control trailer dragging you back and forth across the highway.  Safely towing a trailer requires a whole different way of thinking and driving.  

Wind conditions can quickly escalate a poorly handling trailer into an unfortunate disaster.  Make sure the weight of your RV is properly distributed before you literally hit the highway.

This video shows how easily wind can catch a travel trailer and turn it over:

Save Money, Remodel A Used RV

There are many good reasons to remodel an RV.  It's a good way to save money on an RV purchase and it allows you to personalize your RV to your own tastes. 

If you're shopping for an RV with this in mind, be careful.  It's a whole lot cheaper to remodel the interior of a motorhome thsn it is to replace the drivetrain that carries it down the road!

RV Budget: Costs & Expenses Worth Considering Before You Buy An RV

With RVs costing anywhere from a few thousand dollars to a few million dollars, it's important to start with a budget in mind. 

That's true whether you're shopping for a pricey Class A motorhome, or a standard Class C RV.

Following are some typical RV expenses that you need to budget for ahead of time... before you buy an RV.

You should probably consider these things before you sign on the dotted line.

Continue reading: RV Budget: Costs & Expenses

How To Fix Leaking RV Toilets

The vacuum breaker assembly is a likely candidate on some older model toilets. Though It could also be the blade seal or even the rubber mounting gasket.  Bench testing is the sure way to isolate the leak and fortunately many parts are readily available to rebuild most RV toilets. 

Do consider that plastic RV toilets are not all that expensive new.  When the labor and parts are figured in you may be better off just replacing the whole toilet.  Yes, this is a do-it-yourself installation project that can save you $150 in labor if you don't mind getting your hands a little dirty.

RV Camping Accessories: Must-Haves For Your RV Campsite

 Like every other hobby or pastime, it’s often the accessories that make the experience enjoyable. 

Over the past 40 years, there have been a few items that I have found I won’t leave home without whenever I'm RVing. 

Many of these RV accessories have been with me for years and likely will last a lifetime -- well beyond the expected life of our current RV.  RV’s come and go, but certain accessories will be with me forever.

When I first started camping as a young man, the one-room tent was standard fare.  Economical though uncomfortable, it was a good way to get involved in overnight outdoor activities.  I got accustomed to cooking outdoors, and I have continued the practice to this day.  For me,  the rustic atmosphere of a campfire and outdoor food preparation is what camping is all about!

To accommodate outdoor cooking, a few accessories were added that have followed me throughout the years providing faithful service. 

The following RV camping accessories are must-haves for your RV campsite...

Continue reading: Must-Have RV Camping Accessories

RV Weight Issues - All That 'Stuff' Really Adds Up!

For my wife and I, our entry into full time RVing was an eye-opening lesson in weight reduction.

Just as you need to know your RV's height limitations and width limitations, you also need to know your RV's weight limitations.

However, the concept of minimizing our belongings took a number of years to get settled into our heads.  Thinking that there were certain items that we couldn’t possibly live without led us to keeping way too much STUFF.

Our initial plan was plainly ludicrous.  We thought we would live in our 25-foot Winnebago motorhome and pull a 16-foot cargo trailer containing all of those prized possessions we just couldn’t let go of. 

Lucky for us, we immediately realized the fallacy of our ways and started to sell things in order to get rid of the trailer load of stuff.

Continue reading: RV Weight Issues

RV Refrigerator Stop Working? Tips For Repairing vs Replacing It

The most important appliance in your RV is the refrigerator. 

When you gave up tent camping, putting the ice coolers away in the garage for good was a moment to enjoy. 

But what if the refrigerator in your RV seems to have lost its cool?  What are your options? 

RV refrigerators can fail for a number of reasons. See when to repair versus when to replace your RV refrigerator...

Continue reading: RV Refrigerator Troubleshooting