Small RV

Manatee Cams

2012-01-24T08:17:00.001-08:00

Live cams are now available for viewing manatees at Blue Spring State Park in Florida. Check out the Orlando Sentinel article for more details.

Dollar off Tampa RV Show Coupon

2012-01-10T13:51:00.001-08:00

Here's a direct link to the show's coupon:

Crazy bike stunts crossing Scotland in RV

2011-09-18T10:02:00.001-07:00

via youtube.com

He even jumps off an RV at 6:33 in the video. No crashes here so safe and fun to watch.

Monaco RV moving to Elkhart County with 400 jobs

2011-08-03T07:45:00.001-07:00

More signs of optimism in the RV industry with Monaco RV moving production from Oregon to the heart of RV land in Indiana. This is expected to create 400 jobs in the area, but some may be filled by Oregon employees who will make the move too. The parent company, Navistar, sees the RV market picking up and are anticipating an increase in sales and rentals. Monaco laid off 1400 workers in 2008 and later sought bankruptcy prior to Navistar acquiring them. While not back to previous levels, this move positions the company to prepare for their estimates that RVs are regaining popularity. They also note that some RVs have transformed into food trucks and retail outlets, and they plan to make use of what an RV can offer. This will be interesting to see what they come up with in the future.

http://articles.wsbt.com/2011-08-02/rv-market_29844806

Teardrop revival

2011-08-01T09:27:00.001-07:00

Cool little article about a couple who wanted more than a tent for camping and when they found it, turned the teardrop into a passion and a business.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110731/LIFESTYLE/110729372?p=1&tc=pg

Boy Wishes for Travel Trailer

2011-06-27T15:35:00.001-07:00

12-year-old Jacob Schlosser of Wyoming, who was born with a life-threatening heart condition, had an unusual 'Make-a-Wish' request...a travel trailer.
There's much to like about this story, and from strictly an RVer's perspective I was struck by the statement that, "...Jacob...has reached that part of a boy’s life when the great outdoors holds limitless potential, wished for a travel trailer".
This boy's wish captures the essence of RVing that is sometimes taken for granted - RVs provide us and our families with 'limitless potential' to partake in the wonderful world of nature around us.

Kudos to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wyoming and Sonny’s RV in Evansville for making it happen by presenting Jacob the keys to his 20-foot travel trailer.

Read the article here: http://trib.com/news/local/casper/article_0a4e7d78-d01d-5589-a150-0c7f0da7ad2...

Realities of Flying Your Pet

2011-05-18T14:25:00.001-07:00

NY Times article highlights the many reasons that people are willing to travel in an RV with their pets, rather than risk their lives and well-being with the airlines. http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/travel/what-to-know-when-traveling-with-...

Dry Camping is Green

2011-04-22T16:34:00.001-07:00

I admit this is a stretch for Earth Day, but had to come up with something...so here's a new post on free overnighting at the Miccosukee Casino in Miami. It's dry camping, right? Happy Earth Day all!

Kudos to Free Camping for Troops Org

2011-04-16T07:43:00.001-07:00

Well done Tents for Troops and participating campgrounds for taking care of our service members with free camping. Check out the list of nice campgrounds offering their own service at http://www.tentsfortroops.org/

Thor Acts Quick to Recall

2011-03-30T08:19:00.001-07:00

Kudos to Thor for acting quickly and recalling vehicles manufactured within the past 2 months! Only 126 units potentially affected. More here http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=11V178000&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=rss

RV Parking OK at Lake City Walmart

2011-02-10T07:09:00.001-08:00

Signs were removed that banned overnight parking at the Lake City, FL Walmart. For visitors making their way into Florida, this Walmart is located near I-75 and I-10 making it ideal for a quick refuel, and to recharge with a few hours sleep. After final interpretation of local ordinances meant to prevent someone from living in unauthorized areas, Lake City officials made it clear that there was never an intention to prohibit RVers from stopping at Walmart. The Lake City Reporter has a full article for more info.

Hit the Gas if a Tire Blowout

2011-01-24T15:04:00.001-08:00

A couple flipped their class A rig while pulling a truck last week after a tire blew out on a main Florida interstate. They are OK, but vehicles are a loss. Check out Michelin Tire's video on how to handle a blowout by accelerating and corrective steering.

http://www.smallrvlife.com/handling-tire-blowout

Plane Crashes Into SC RV Resort

2011-01-18T12:19:00.001-08:00

Very sad that two have lost their lives and another is severely injured at the Briarcliffe RV Resort in North Myrtle Beach. Life can change in an instant even if you haven't put yourself in harm's way. Best to live each day as if counts, a lot.

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/13862524/plane-crashes-at-rv-park-in-north-myrt...

Freightliner brand mark on wheel

2011-01-17T13:51:00.001-08:00

Did you know you can tell it's a Freightliner chassis by the star-like mark in the middle of the wheel? Found out from at dealer at the Florida SuperShow in Tampa yesterday.

Final 2 days of Florida RV SuperShow

2011-01-15T07:28:00.001-08:00

Don't miss the 2011 SuperShow in at the Tampa Florida Fairgrounds. The show is packed with awesome offerings from the manufacturers and even though it's crowded, everyone is super friendly. Make sure you check out the Galileo trailers with just the right mix of solid engineering, modern design, and eco-smart materials. They're not available at dealers, so this is the perfect opportunity to see one in person.

Free Entrance Days at National Parks

2011-01-06T08:35:00.001-08:00

The National Park Service announced the 2011 dates in which entrance fees to the parks are waived. Better plan ahead if you plan on camping at one of the parks during these free entrance days because they will probably be busier than normal. Don't forget that camping and other fees are not waived, just the entrance fees. Check out the dates here:

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm

Venice Moves to Ban RV Dwellers

2010-09-27T08:05:00.001-07:00

RV dwellers have worn out their welcome along several streets in Venice California. Residents have had enough of eyesore motorhomes that are parked outside their homes 24/7. They complain of losing parking spaces and allege that some RVer's dump waste illegally directly into the street. The city commission is in the process of creating a ban of large vehicles from 2am to 6am along specific streets. At the same time though, they acknowledge the need for an alternative with social services for these dwellers who have no where else to turn. This is a different approach to merely shooing people in need away, and it will be interesting to follow their progress to a solution for both residents and dwellers alike.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=7682237

Flying J Loyalty Card Fans

2010-09-08T09:30:00.001-07:00

The RV Real Value Club is now good at over 550 Pilot Flying J locations for discounts on fuel. RV dumps are 1/2 off. If you want to see the changes to all of the loyalty cards after the merger with Pilot, here is an excellent Quick Reference on their site.

Hershey RV Show $1 Off Coupon

2010-09-02T17:55:00.001-07:00

Head out to the Hershey RV Show to compare small RVs from the top RV manufacturers, where they showcase the upcoming 2011 models. The show runs from Sept. 15th through the 19th and you can print out the coupon at the Show's Website.

Small RV - In Case of Emergency

2009-08-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

Small RV or large, many buyers view their motorhome purchase as a smart backup in case of an emergency. Most of us believe emergencies happen seldom, if ever, however no one likes to be caught off guard. So feeling prepared for anything that might get thrown your way gives tremendous piece of mind. As a side benefit, it sounds like a good, grown up, reason to get an RV.

What is An Emergency?

Just what constitutes an emergency can mean something different to each of us. At its simplest form, it’s an unexpected situation that requires an immediate response. Perhaps it’s not a serious threat, or a dangerous situation, but it requires a response with a sense of urgency nonetheless. Here are a few situations and how a motorhome can help out:

Spare bedroom for unexpected guests
Escape vehicle from threatened fire or hurricane
Self contained vehicle/home if you need to rush to support an out-of town loved one
Comfort travel for ill or injured loved ones
Temporary housing

When an Emergency Strikes

It's surprising how many ‘emergencies’ strike. For example, just yesterday we experienced an unexpected power outage for several hours, and during the heat of the day. For those who work at home and rely extensively on the Internet, this is a critical situation indeed.

Fortunately, having convenient access to a Small RV saved the day. We just fired up the generator, turned on the A/C and brought the pets to keep cool. After plugging in the broadband card for Internet, the day continued without further interruptions.

When an act of nature threatens lives and property, a small motorhome can provide escape and confidence. I’ve known of people whose homes were threatened by brush fires, and were able to grab pets and important documents, and then head to the safety of a campground. A motorhome also provides a great escape when in the path of a hurricane. Once the threat has passed, if damage or power loss occurred, an RV provides a safe refuge until the situation is resolved.

Provides More Options

A motorhome provides more options to those facing an emergency. A small RV, such as a Class B RV or one of the many Class C RVs, is even more versatile than the big rigs. They are easier to store and many can sit in a side yard, or driveway if your area allows. Therefore it’s more convenient to access when needed.

If the need arises to be away from home unexpectedly, a small motor home creates more possibilities on how to get there, where to stay, and what you can bring. I know of one case, for example, where a gentleman’s father suffered a heart attack in another state.

Since he owned a small RV, he simply packed up what he needed, including food from the refrigerator, and both dogs, and was out the door very quickly. He arrived faster than if he had booked a flight. To be close, he stayed overnight in the hospital’s parking lot, and then later in his father’s driveway. His small RV lessened the stress of a difficult situation and, in his mind, allowed him to stay a month to assist with his father’s care and recovery.

Put Your Mind at Ease

I hope I never need my Small RV for another emergency. But as we all know, stuff happens, and now I have peace of mind to know I’m prepared to handle it.