Issue 20 of the best email newsletter for full-time RV enthusiasts and others who want to be.
An alert for this issue was emailed to more than 30,000 RVers.
DVD tells what it's like to be a full-time RVer
Anyone who is thinking of traveling full-time with an RV will have his or her questions answered in this wonderful 90-minute DVD. Interviews with dozens of fulltimers as well as experts on the lifestyle. Learn more or order.
Editors at the Wheel
by Russ and Tina De Maris
It began with a slight smell in the o'dark hours. Shortly before sunrise it manifested itself in sound--a soft tapping that we weren't accustomed to.
When Russ bailed out of bed and struggled into shoes,
our neighbors across the desert were out wandering about, looking
heavenward. It was a strange phenomenon after all -- rain. Those in the
Sonoran Desert areas have gone a long while without it. In nearby
Phoenix, it had been 132 days since any measurable stuff fell.
It's funny how you can take things for granted. Up in
the Northwest where we spent many years, a week without rain would be
considered a real nice break. Down here on the desert, you'd have
thought the Good Humor man had driven into a neighborhood stricken with
an ice cream drought. Doors on RVs flew open and stayed open. Five
gallon buckets were pressed into service as catch basins at the
downwind edge of awnings. Equipment left out in the open was hastily
covered.
That's one thing about fulltiming. You have time to
travel the country and taste the diversity that the land provides. And
down here, as long as you can occasionally remember where your
windshield wiper switch is, you're doing well.
Don't miss this: In tomorrow's RVtravel.com newsletter:
-- An update on Laughlin, Nevada's decision to boot RVers from casino parking lots.
-- Do RVers really need another half price camping club?
THE DIGITAL RV
Learn
everything "digital" as it relates to an RVer: Connecting to the
Internet, setting up a mini stereo system, managing digital photos,
mastering GPS and more. Order or get more info.
DO YOU PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE? HOW ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE'S, TOO?
Last year California State Parks sponsored guided canoe tours of
the Brannan Island Delta area. The program caught on in a big way, and
now the state needs more volunteers to help with this year's program.
Volunteer canoe tour guides get training in canoeing, first aid, CPR,
resource interpretation, and in tour leading. If you have the urge and
ability, you'll need to be available to attend four training sessions
that begin March 12 and run through April 2. For more information, give
Ranger Mike Whelan a call at (916) 777-7705, extension 3.
2006 Campground Directories and other new RV guides
From Trailer Life, Woodalls and other publishers. Check 'em out.
Fulltime Feedback--The Fulltimer Survey
This issue's Survey Question
Many
of the RVers we've talked with have mentioned that it seems like the
"snowbird" populace just isn't "staying put" this year. We'd like to
know about your travel habits.
OUR QUESTION: If you traveled to the warmer areas of the country this year, will you leave, or have you left, the area earlier than usual? Answer here.
Fractional RV Ownership
CoachShare
is a better way to own a luxury motorcoach! Do you dream of owning a
luxurious motorcoach, but don't want the year-round expense and hassles
of private ownership? Why not "share" a luxury coach with CoachShare?
Pay only for the time you need and save up to 80 percent over full-time
ownership. Learn more.
SEWER HOSE REPLACEMENT TIME?
Buying the new hose isn't the problem--it's putting the fittings on. There's
more than one way to grease the way. First, try soaking the end of the
new hose in VERY HOT water for a few minutes before sliding in the
fitting. Be careful -- some wear their "holding tank dumping gloves"
while doing this process.
You can also purchase a device in many RV part stores
that slips inside the hose, then pries the end open. We like this handy
plastic tool and found the few dollars we spent on it well worth it.
2006 Guide to Dinghy Towing
If
you plan to pull a vehicle behind your motorhome, the 2006 Guide to
Dinghy Towing from Motorhome Magazine should be an essential resource
about how to do it. Learn more or order for only $2.98.
RV Fulltime Newsletter Mailbag
STATE PARK DISCOUNTS
A
lot of you faithful readers responded to our comments regarding state
parks that accept federal discount cards -- Golden Age/Golden Access.
Here are two responses:
"I started going through each state's website some
time ago, but it's a long and difficult process. I was interrupted and
haven't finished the project yet. * * * You really have to dig
for the information on some state's websites. It would probably be
easier to just send out 50 emails, one to each state. But that has
potential pitfalls as well -- your reply may come from some clueless
clerk who doesn't really know the answer and just says NO, like
the guy on the Capital One commercial. * * * I've a long way to go to
complete the list. I won’t be able to start the full-time life until I
retire in July 2008 (860 days to go)." -- FM
FM included a list of "does" and "does not," to which we added the information we've received from other readers as well.
States that DO provide a discount to federal pass holders:
Alabama (15% off entry fees)
Arkansas (50% camping discount)
California (50% off for disabled, but must apply for & have California disability pass)
Delaware (10%)
Louisiana (Some camping discount in all parks)
South Carolina (Discounts at four specific state parks)
States that DO NOT provide a discount to federal pass holders:
Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, Washington.
BP of Coral Springs Florida, adds: "Florida does not
recognize the federal Golden Access card; however, they still offer
disabled Florida residents a 50% discount off camping fees. It's a
great deal camping beach front in the Keys during high season for
$14/night. And the state parks are much nicer than the commercial parks
in this part of the state. Make reservations through ReserveAmerica."
Locate Wal-Mart stores
Use this directory to plan free overnight stays.
Get easy driving directions to every Wal-Mart in America.
Learn more about the Wal-Mart Locator or order. Lowest price anywhere: $19.95
. . . eBook lists Wal-Marts that DO NOT allow overnight stays. Only $4.39.
A KICK IN THE GLASS?
From a reader: "Just
finished reading Issue 19 of your great newsletter, but found one point
that needs to be cleared up. You spoke of replacing a window near a
door with plastic to keep someone from breaking in and reaching through
to open the door.
"I had to break a window out of our motorhome to gain
entry while in Montana one year. I was heading back home to central
Texas and stopped at several RV shops and glass shops to have it fixed.
Very expensive proposition. I asked about a temporary fix with plastic,
and every shop refused to even think about it. It is against the law in
at least Montana, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas to use anything but
tempered automotive glass in any window on a motorized vehicle." --JP
Representatives from the Recreation Vehicle Industry
Association (RVIA), the RV manufacturing trade group, confirm JP's
observations. Actually, federal standards only require approved glazing
in motorhomes. However, non-motorized RVs are a different matter.
According to the RVIA, plastics can be used in these in all but about
10 states which specifically rule out their use. Apparently this is
because passengers don't typically ride in a moving trailer. Owners who
retrofit their RVs should make themselves aware of local laws if
planning on using Lexan or any other non-auto glass material. -- Editor
2006 Mapquest RV & Campsites Guide & Atlas
Finally, a road atlas especially for RVers! This 2006 Mapquest Road Atlas and Campground Directory is outstanding! Complete with U.S. state and Canadian province road maps, color photos and 3,700 campground listings. Read more or order,
Focus on Fulltiming
More Room at the Inn
A
problem that some fulltimers face is getting used to living in a
smaller space than a "landlocked" home. This can be particularly true
if you're accustomed to entertaining friends and family, and now live
in your little house on the road. Answer? Take your indoors outdoors.
Many RVers have found they can "make up" for the lack
of interior space in their RV by taking advantage of space outside the
rig. Naturally, the weather has to cooperate if you're out in the open,
but there are ways to work around that. A surprising number of
fulltimers take advantage of "add-on rooms" of various designs.
Some add an "Arizona room" to their awning: By adding
walls to the space under their rolled out awning, they have a fairly
weather- resistant area close at hand. Others put up freestanding
structures. Think in terms of "vendor canopies," a 10 x 10 "tent" with
four walls and weather-tight roof. Others go even bigger, putting up 10
x 20 "portable garages" purchased at shopping clubs and hardware
stores.
There are many advantages to these outdoor spaces,
but perhaps the most attractive is the ability to rearrange space.
Today you may put up card tables and entertain a dinner group. Tomorrow
the tables may be put away, saw horses put up in their place, and
you'll have space for a special woodworking project that you wouldn't
want to perform in the RV -- well, you surely wouldn't want to perform
it in the RV if your wife knew about it, would you? One group we know
of used its "garage" space as an ersatz classroom, setting up several
rows of chairs for students. The flexibility is great.
If winter threatens a chill, some have been known to
set up catalytic heaters inside, leaving enough opening for
ventilation. Or by rolling up one side wall and putting a fire pit just
outside, a cozy space can be had even if a little drizzle threatens.
Fulltiming doesn't mean an ascetic way of life. You
can really take it with you -- you just need to give it a little clever
thought.
2006 Traveler's Guide to the FIREARM LAWS of the 50 States
Don't
carry a weapon across state lines without knowing the laws. What's
legal in one state may be a felony in another. Explains the specific
gun laws of every U.S. state. Many changes since last year. Still only
$12.95. Learn more or order.
COOKING ON A TIGHT BUDGET
The
frugal RVer can control costs in many areas. Keeping food costs down
can also result in keeping time spent in the galley reduced providing
more time for other pursuits. Here's a tip for the rolling chef: When
preparing meals, consider if your menu choices can be prepared in
larger portions and reprised at a later date. Can you make double or
triple portions, and put the "leftovers" in the freezer? You'll save on
time, often on ingredients, and later, after a long day on the road,
your "prepared" meals can be popped in the microwave or gently reheated
while left in the bag and warmed up in a pan of water.
This is really great for those times when you find a
great "sale" at the grocery store or at a produce stand. Our own
resident chef has gone so far as to "can" chickens when the price was
right and the facilities were available. Now we can "pop open" a quart
of chicken, add some noodles, veggies, and top off with "Bisquick" for
home style chicken 'n dumplings.
A resource book: Camping and RVing with Dogs
Boondocking Bonus
Plenty
of RVers live away from the RV park scene. Some do it for a short time,
others practically full time "in the boonies." We'll share tips and
places to go. This time around. . .
Wind Power Shows Its Muscle
An
increasingly popular energy alternative among the RV set are wind
turbines. Put aside visions of water-pumping "windmills" of the Old
West. Modern power generating wind turbines are compact and highly
efficient.
Perhaps the most popular wind turbine in use by RVers
is manufactured by Southwest Windpower. Its "Air 403" is a lightweight
unit, tipping the scales at less than 15 pounds. Don't let the size
deceive you, however: in a 28 mile-per-hour wind, the 403 puts out 400
watts of juice, and over 800 watts at 40 mph. "Bus nuts" can rejoice as
the turbine can be set to produce power at 24 volts; the rest of us
will be happy to get ours in the standard 12- volt variety.
How does the price factor stack up? A couple of years
ago prices ran in the $600 range; today street prices on an Air 403
have dropped to the mid $400s. That works out to a little over a dollar
a watt -- pretty terrific if you frequently dry camp in areas of
regular wind.
We've found a combination of wind and solar makes a
good combination for us. We winter on Arizona's Sonora desert and spend
a lot of summer in the Pacific Northwest. Even in Arizona, when the sun
doesn't shine -- albeit rare -- the wind often blows. In the Northwest,
coastal camping is often cloudy, but the offshore breezes keep the
batteries in good charge.
Wind power does call for greater creativity when it
comes to installation. Southwest Windpower's rigs are built to sit atop
a 1 1/4" piece of steel electrical conduit. Our first foray into
mounting our turbine had it on a six-foot mast, stepped directly onto
our rig's roof. A couple of guy wires were required to keep everything
steady. When we changed rigs we used a two-piece mast, the top part was
a 1 1/4" conduit, which telescoped into a larger piece of conduit,
stepped on our trailer's bumper. On arrival we'd lower the mast,
telescope it out, bolting the two pieces of mast together, then push it
back into position, locking it into a bracket just below roof level.
Some RVers have used similar systems; others have set
theirs up on really tall masts, guy-wiring them and catching winds 30
or more feet aloft. That's great if you stay in one place for a long
time, but impractical if you move around frequently. Today we use a
telescoping mast that allows us to crank up our turbine on arrival.
When we leave we crank the turbine down to roof level and secure the
blades.
Since power regulation is internally controlled,
wiring is fairly straightforward: Two wires from the turbine run to a
switch, which allows the thing to be shut down if desired. From the
switch the wiring runs up to a fuse and into the battery bank.
For more information on wind power and other boondocking subjects, read our book RV Boondocking Basics.
IS YOUR DOG AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE?
San
Francisco, long the leader in new trends, has got a new one up its
sleeve: Convert dog poop into energy. And why not? Since it comprises
nearly four percent of the "trash" destined for landfills produced in
the city by the bay, routing Rover's leftovers into energy production
could free up precious space for other more practical garbage -- credit
card offers, for example.
Lest you think this is some form of low (to the
ground) humor, hang on. City officials have actually contracted with
the local garbage company to test out a new system of collection carts
and bags in a park popular with pooches. Dog walkers simply scoop the
poop with a biodegradable bag. The whole works is later moved into a
special device called a methane digester. Inside the digester, little
microorganisms break down the canine castoffs, producing methane, a
flammable gas that will be used to fire an electrical producing
turbine. Puts a whole new spin on the thought of "solid waste
disposal."
Perhaps the RV industry could capitalize on this idea. Imagine burning your holding tank stack gasses as an adjunct to LP.
Do you travel with a dog? Read Christy Power's weekly column at RVtravel.com.
Fulltimers: Where should you select a home base?
Pick the wrong state and you may pay too much in licenses and taxes. Learn the best state for you.
Roadwork--Working While Living the RV Lifestyle
How does an inexperienced Workamper convey qualifications to an employer?
When applying, you need to showcase these qualifications in your
resume. If you have dealt with the public, through a job or volunteer
activity, you have a major component that employers are seeking.
If you don't have direct experience, use a functional
resume. List qualifications categories at the top instead of a
chronological listing of your jobs first. For example, if applying for
a front desk/reservations position in a campground, you could list
"Customer service," "Handling money," "Computer experience." Under each
you would briefly describe your capabilities and experience.
Below this section, list employment experience for
ten years plus any other applicable jobs, then in a "Remarks" section,
list relevant hobbies and organizations.
During your interview, rather than say "I worked
as...." say, "I have worked in customer service in several positions."
Emphasize your positive qualifications to get the job.
Jaimie Hall is the author of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road.
Books and DVDs about repairing and maintaining an RV
See the big selection of titles at RVbookstore.com
NEED A DUMP STATION?
In
years past, dump stations weren't all that hard to find. Many states
provided dump stations at highway rest areas. Some "service stations"
(remember those?) had one out back. Times have changed, and it's more
of a challenge to empty your tanks. Here are a few thoughts:
Sewage treatment plants: Many
municipal treatment plants allow RVers to dump their tanks at no
charge. Check out the municipal listings in the white pages, or call
the city clerk's office to ask for a phone number.
State parks: Nearly all state parks
have dump facilities, and while they’re primarily offered for those
staying at the park, some will allow you to dump your tanks for free,
or for a small charge. The same holds true for a lot of other
government campgrounds.
Truck stops: As truck stops are
becoming more and more RV friendly, dump stations are becoming more
common. Many Flying-J truck stops have dump stations near their RV
fueling islands.
County fairgrounds: Some of these have dump stations at the grounds or nearby. Once again, make a phone call first.
Fraternal clubs: Elks and Moose lodges sometimes have RV hookups for members.
Please! Wherever you use a dump station, use it
properly. Don't ever dump your tanks without using a sewer hose, and be
sure to hose down any spills. Many dump stations have been closed
because of knuckleheaded abuse. Let's keep them open!
RVers Guide to Dump Stations, $11.95 at RVbookstore.com
NEED AN RV LOAN?
Learn if you qualify in only seconds
Financial Underwriters Network (F.U.N.) provides exceptional service and low loan rates. Learn if you qualify.
Fulltimers' Websites
Not
out there yet? Want to get a taste of the fulltime road? Plenty of
fulltimers have websites where they share experiences and insight. Each
edition we'll focus on a website where you can learn more about the
fulltime lifestyle.
Howard and Linda Payne kicked away from the corporate
lifestyle last year and started fulltiming in their RV. Along the way
they built a tremendous website that's far more than a simple "RV
blog," but shares their philosophy of why they left the "big money"
behind. For full-time wannabees, there's a section on finances that
helps you analyze your needs and abilities to make the full-time
lifestyle your own. Personal campground reviews, recipes, and a photo
gallery round out their site. It's slick and has plenty of help for
those considering the lifestyle. Check out RV-Dreams.
Got a website you've found you think others ought to see? Drop us an e-mail and let us know at ftrveditor@yahoo.com.
Cell phone won't work in out-of-the-way places? Smoothtalker can help. Talk or get online in places you could never get online before. Learn more.
CASH ON THE RUN?
Sometimes
finding cash when on the road can be a bit of a challenge. Some small
towns don't have ATM machines, or if they do, they charge a huge amount
for their convenience. Here's an often overlooked source of cash for
debit card users: Uncle Sam.
That's right, your friendly neighborhood Post Office
stands ready to give you "cash back" for purchases at no extra charge.
Everybody needs postage stamps, so you're not really "paying" for your
cash -- you're just investing for your future mailing needs.
On a related note, many credit unions around the
country have "no fee" ATM machines. These are not limited to credit
union members, most anyone can use them. We have found a few that do
charge a fee, but information about those fees is posted on the machine
itself.
Books and DVDs about Full-time RVing. Big selection.
Petite Pursuits: Small Scale Hobbies for a Full Time Lifestyle
In
our last issue we surveyed readers about the use of Global Positioning
Satellite (GPS) systems for navigating their RVs. Almost half the
respondents told us they use a GPS to get from here to there (or is it
there from here?). Some RVers take their GPS unit a step farther: They
use it for recreation in pursuit of a high-tech hobby called
geocaching.
The idea behind geocaching is that someone will hide
a "cache," usually a small container with various trinkets inside. The
geographic coordinates of the cache are published on a website, along
with a few hints to help locate it. Players use their own GPS unit to
track down the cache, take a trinket, and leave one of their own. Most
geocaches also have a logbook inside that allows the finder to leave
"proof" of their find by signing in.
Geocaching is a lot of fun, and depending on the
location of the cache, can provide a bit of physical exercise. Since
GPS units are small, they take up very little space in the RV, and
"prizes" to be left in a cache likewise are small and lightweight. To learn more, check out "Geocache!"
Got an RV hobby you enjoy? Share it with us at ftrveditor@yahoo.com
"How to Buy An RV" from the Better Business Bureau
New
50-minute DVD from the BBB explains how to buy an RV. Learn how to get
the best deal, the best rig (for you) and how to avoid classic buying
mistakes. Hosted by RV Travel editor Chuck Woodbury. Introductory price: $19.95. Available in DVD and VHS.
Roadside Ruminations
