Posted by Claire on Jun 22, 2011
One of the pleasures of RV travel is taking your pets on the road with you. Weekend trips and summer vacations can be tough on pets — and expensive for owners — if Fido and Fluffy have to be kenneled. RVing allows pet owners to keep the family together and bring their pets with them. RVing with pets is a pleasure but does require that pet owners do some advance planning and prepare their pets to be good RVers. If you plan to RV with your pet this summer, follow these tips from experienced RV owners:
1. Keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date and carry a copy of all vet records with you. This is critically important if your travels will take you across country borders. You may have trouble getting your pet back into the U.S. if you can’t provide appropriate documentation. Check the U.S. Customs website and customs departments of countries you’ll be traveling to.
2. For your peace of mind and your pet’s safety, have your pets microchipped before you leave home.
3. Before you start traveling, you and your pet should brush up on obedience training. A well-mannered pet will be welcome at sometimes crowded campsites and on walking paths frequented by other tourists.
4. When outside your RV, your pet will need to be leashed for his safety and the safety of others. Invest in a good leash that allows you to quickly and easily control your pet, and always carry a spare leash.
To be continued
Posted by Claire on Jun 20, 2011
Touring Alaska by RV is on the bucket list of most RV travelers. Considered the ultimate RV vacation destination, Alaska is huge — more than twice the size of Texas — and remote. If Alaska’s population density (number of people per square mile) were applied to Manhattan, the population of the country’s most populous city would plummet from nearly 2 million to just 14 individuals!
A thin population spread over such a vast land area means few towns and even fewer services. Travelers frequently encounter long stretches of highway completely devoid of services. The next gas station can be more than 100 miles down the road and a grocery even farther. Savvy RV travelers know to pick up The Milepost before heading north. The legendary Alaska travel guide and trip planner provides an invaluable mile-by-mile chronicle of sights, attractions, services and interesting information along each of Alaska’s major travel routes.
The Milepost’s only drawback is that it’s big and bulky. A new iPhone app puts the same information (and more) on your portable, light-weight smartphones. With Alaska App, RV travelers can quickly locate service stations, get directions to spectacular views, listen to a historical narrative while watching a video air tour of the glacier they are looking at, find the best local fishing spot or the best place to view eagles, and much more. If you’re planning an RV trip to Alaska this summer, you’ll want to download the free AlaskaApp onto your iPhone before you leave.
Posted by Nancy on May 30, 2011
Now that you have brought home your new “RV Baby” and are ready to show it off to your friends and family, don’t get off on the wrong foot with your neighbors. If you live in a neighborhood that has covenants and restrictions make sure before your close your RV deal to check what your homeowners association says about RV storage on your property.
If you park your RV in front of your home, or in your driveway, you may have neighbors who previously were quick to chat and wave hiding from you. These previously friendly neighbors may have already complained to the homeowner’s association about your new purchase and where you have chosen to park it. But, take heart, all is not lost, if you can’t park your new “RV Baby” in your driveway, there are many monthly rental lots or storage facilities that will allow you to park your RV there between trips.
If you do live in a covenant restricted community that prevents long term parking of your RV on your property, there may still be a clause in the restrictions that allow short term parking such as overnight or pack and unpack time. Some documents may even state that you can have your RV in your driveway or in front of your house for so many days a year with only a specific number being consecutive. Just ask your homeowners association to clarify what restrictions you may have in regards to parking your new RV home to keep the peace with your neighbors and community.
Posted by Claire on Apr 25, 2011
Before you hit the highways this spring, you should give your RV a thorough maintenance inspection and make any necessary repairs. To avoid trouble on the road, RV owners should re-inspect their RV periodically and before any extensive trip.
RV Pre-trip Checklist
> Belts and hoses (check for cracks and loose connections)
> Tow hitch and towing equipment
> Tire pressure and tread level
> Fire extinguishers fully charged and in place
> Smoke alarms working (change batteries in the spring and fall)
> Cooking vent hood clean to prevent grease fires
> LP gas connections (check for leaks)
> Headlights, tail lights and turn signals working
You can find helpful safety information, including tire inflation tables on the RV Safety & Education Foundation website. The foundation recommends that RV owners know the height of their vehicle and the clearance height of overpasses, bridges and tunnels on their travel route. Clearance heights are available on most state department of transportation (DOT) websites. Road atlases for RVs and semis also show clearance heights.
RVers should also know the loaded weight of their RV. The Foundation warns that exceeding the gross vehicle weight rating or gross axle weight rating can affect handling, travel trailer towing safety, braking ability, and contribute to suspension and tire failure. The Foundation offers free weighing service at rallys, shows and conferences across the country (click the link for 2011 schedule). You can also find truck scales at many RV service centers and truck stops.
Posted by Claire on Apr 22, 2011
If you’ve just purchased your first RV online, you’re probably amazed by how much space it provides, particularly if you’re moving up from tent camping. But that space can fill up all too quickly if you’re not realistic about what to pack into your RV. It’s important to remember that a vehicle’s weight affects its fuel economy. Packing light will save you money at the pump.
Plan before you pack. Make a computerized list of what you think you’ll use, organized by room or activity. This will allow you to easily add and subtract from your master packing list as you fine tune your family’s needs. Taking a couple of weekend trial runs before setting off on a major trip will help you determine which items your family actually uses. Remember to note seasonal items on your list, particularly sports gear, clothing and outdoor equipment.
Once you’ve decided what to bring and where you’re going to put it, print out a packing list for each room and storage area and tape it where it’s handy. Check off items as you pack your RV. Keep these lists in place during your first few RV trips so you can add or delete items as you become comfortable with RV travel. Adjust your master list after each trip. One of the nice advantages of RV travel is that, with the exception of perishables, you only have to pack once, an easy chore when you keep a master list.
Posted by Claire on Apr 20, 2011
Getting used to the storage restrictions can be a challenge for new RV owners. People who are used to bulk buying at big box stores can find it difficult to pare down their buying habits and think about storage space before making a purchase. Big bottles of ketchup and super-size boxes of cereal may be great for your spacious home kitchen and full-size fridge, but in the more confined space of your new RV, they’ll take up too much room. In the space you devote to a single family-size jar of pickles, for example, you can squeeze a small pickle jar and small bottles of mustard and ketchup.
The key to stocking your RV without bursting the seams is to cover the essentials before adding in “nice to have” or “we might need” items. As you select items to load into your RV, ask yourself these two important questions:
> When did I use it last? If it’s been more than a month, leave it at home. You can probably do without it while you’re on the road.
> Will I really use it? There’s no point in bringing along flour and baking supplies if you rarely bake. If you don’t do it at home, you’re unlikely to do it while vacationing in your RV. Space is at a premium in an RV; don’t waste it on things you won’t use.
Posted by Claire on Apr 13, 2011
Today we continue our RV spring cleaning tips for maintaining the exterior of your RV in good condition. (See our previous post for more RV cleaning tips.) Maintaining the interior and exterior of your RV in good condition ensures that you’ll have a problem-free travel season and increases the resale value of your RV should you decide to sell it online down the road.
> To keep odors under control and dissolve residual solids, treat black water tanks with an enzyme-based product specifically formulated for RV maintenance. Flush the system well.
> End caps and sidewalls should be washed after you have cleaned the roof, tanks and engine. Use only automotive cleaning products and always rinse well to remove cleaning chemicals. If washing your rig at home, adding white vinegar to the wash water (1/2 cup per gallon of water) will prevent streaking and spotting as your RV dries.
> Use an automotive black streak remover to eliminate black streaks from sidewalls to prevent permanent discoloration.
> After cleaning, let your RV dry thoroughly. To protect your rig’s exterior finish from harmful oxidation, road grime and UV rays, apply a coat of liquid wax formulated for your vehicle’s particular exterior finish. Always follow manufacturer’s instructions and take extra care when waxing around decals and graphics as they can be easily damaged. Taking your RV to a truck wash takes the work out of washing and waxing chores.
Posted by Claire on Apr 08, 2011
Grab your favorite cleaning products; it’s time to tackle the kitchen of your RV as we continue our RV spring cleaning checklist (see our previous post). Remember to keep your to-do list handy for jotting down repair chores as you discover them. As you go through each cupboard, you’ll also want to make up a shopping list of items to be replaced or restocked.
> Empty and wipe out every cupboard and shelf. As you replace items, toss out any food that is past its expiration date, is stale or shows signs of bug infestation, particularly grain, flour and pasta products. Be realistic. If your family didn’t eat that can of beets last summer, they’re not going to eat it this summer. Donate it to the food pantry.
> Empty and wipe down every shelf and drawer in the refrigerator and freezer. If you’re a full-timer, check food items for expirations dates, toss questionable leftovers and get rid of things you don’t use. If you’re a part-time RVer, you should have emptied and cleaned your fridge last fall. Make a list of staples to restock.
> A note about restocking: Space is at a premium in an RV. Only stock staples you use regularly. Be selective about the condiments, spices, paper products and storage containers you keep on hand. To save space, only stock the items you use on a regular basis and buy smaller quantities. This will free up storage space and ensure that food items are fresh.
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