Have You Made Your RV Resolutions For 2008

Once again it's the end of another great RV year and time to bring on the next exciting chapters in your RV adventures. I want to share a few thoughts about your resolutions or lack of them. We know from experience that most people who make resolutions on New Year's Eve have difficulty achieving them (especially those involving weight loss). We also know that you can't be successful at anything in life unless you have a plan. Planning is essential to achieving success whether it's taking a trip, running a business or altering your lifestyle. If you don't have a plan, chances are you'll not be satisfied with the end result. During my working years I would lay out a plan for the new year and post my goals in my day planner. My goals were in several categories, financial, physical fitness, intellectual pursuits, spiritual development and family. I would not just write out what my goals were, I would also write out steps I would take to achieve my goals then I would check up on my progress monthly. RV goals were always included. What were my RV goals? They usually included upgrades to the RV and plans for family trips. We usually took one extended trip and several weekend trips with the family in the RV. It never occurred to me that I would one day become a "full-time RVer" until I began meeting full-timers more frequently on our trips. Once our last child went off to college, I began to seriously think about becoming a full time RVer. Becoming a "full-timer" or even a "half-timer" requires some serious planning. The transition from a stick house to wheel-estate is a big step. If you're thinking about putting more RV into your lifestyle, then I encourage you to write out your goals and then take the necessary steps to achieve them. There are so many things to consider before you hit the RV trail you can't afford to stumble along without a plan. Even at the pinnacle of our retirement years we make plans and set goals. There are so many things to see and do on the RV trail that you need a plan (a simple and flexible plan) to assist you in the pursuit of your dreams. I'm not suggesting that full-time RVers need a hard driving set of goals, rather have a simple plan that will keep you moving and experiencing new things. The mere fact of increased fuel costs mandates a more practical approach to our trip planning. So, get out pencil and paper and rough out where you want to go and where you want to be this time next year. Happy New Year! Helping you look down the road and over the horizon - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Fishermen, Keep Your Poles Safe in Your RV

On more than one occasion I’ve had my fishing rods damaged or broken because another piece of cargo crushed them. I stored them in a canvas bag in my 5th wheel, but it wasn't sufficient. Here's a solution for protecting your valuable fishing poles. The “AirLiner 4588” is a telescoping fishing rod case that looks more like it holds a bazooka.The three piece design extends from 48 to 88 inches (the next model up will extend out to 112 inches). It has a molded handle for easy carrying and is lockable. Constructed from heavy duty blown plastic this unit is tough and ready for the rigors of RV travel. With a five inch diameter it’ll hold eight fishing rods (without the reels) up to seven feet long. It costs around $40.00 dollars. This unit is well worth the price since it will save them from being crushed while stored in your RV compartments. Made by Plano (famous for tackle boxes) it’ll protect your expensive poles and help you stay organized. You can purchase these at Cabela’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Wal-Mart.com, and the Sport Chalet. Read more about it at Plano. Covering all the angles - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers Enjoy Eggceptionally Cooked Eggs

Eggs are a big part of the RV lifestyle, how do I know? I asked you and sure enough, you like eggs. You like them cooked dozens of ways. My brother-in-law has been using these Eggsact Eggtimers for a couple years with great success, so I decided to get one to use in our RV. It’s very simple to use, just put it in a pot of warm water along with your eggs and cook. The timer begins to change color as the eggs cook. The color ring starts at the outside and works its way into the middle. The indicator has several degrees of “doneness” to let you know when your eggs are just how you like them. Here it shows they are completely hard cooked. Once it cools down it changes back to its red color and it’s ready to use again. You can pick these up at Amazon.com, ACE Hardware or practically any cooking store. Use it with any quantity of eggs and at any altitude. You could just use the microwave clock timer, but if you’re like me, you’ve ruined many eggs because you forgot to set the timer. It's made from a hard resin and will take the rough and tumble ride in your RV’s utensil drawer. Serving it up how you like it - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.

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Sliding Trays Make RVing Much Easier

If you don’t have sliding trays in your RV you don’t know what you’re missing. With sliding trays you can easily access your stuff without having to take everything out. I have two half bay sliding trays in one compartment of my coach and I love them. The rest of my bays don’t have them and are filled with plastic tubs which work but require you to reshuffle everything when you need to get to that special item in the middle. This person is much more organized than I am. Some coaches have “pass through” sliding trays that can slide out on either side of the RV. These are nice because you may be parked too close to a pole or some other obstacle in a campground and being able to access the slide out tray from either side is a real plus. These sliding trays are not only for motorhomes, they work equally as well for 5th wheel basements. Here is an example of a slide out tray in a Mobile Suites 5er by Doubletree RV. The tray slides all the way up to the opposing door and locks in place to prevent shifting while towing. Some of the newer motorhomes like this Alpine are using full extension half bay sliding trays to get past the overhead slides. As you can see it would be difficult to access your stuff underneath the motorhome slides, so the Alpine was designed to compensate with full extension trays. These sort of remind me of drawers. Notice in this photo how far the tray is extended. The average RVer isn’t in much danger of overloading these storage trays, but you do need to use them in accordance with the manufacturer's weight limits. After market sliding storage/cargo trays are available for your RV. Most RV shows will have several vendors who carry them. Here is an online source for these after market trays. Helping make your RV life easier - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Speeding Bird Feeder Makes RVer Think Twice About Checklists

When I first started RVing I used an RV pre-flight checklist for both inside and outside. As a Navigator on the KC-135 I was required to use a checklist for everything - we called it our “plastic brains.” For a quick rundown on my military career I was first an Army Medic stationed at SHAPE Belgium where I worked in the ER and also drove an ambulance. I finished my Army tour and went to college (BA degree) then to seminary (MDiv). I attended Air Force ROTC while in my last two years of seminary and received my commission and went to Navigator school at Mather AFB in Sacramento, California. When I finished my hitch as an Air Force Officer, I was certified by my church to become a chaplain. I became a Navy chaplain and finished my career retiring from the Navy. During my time in the Navy I graduated from law school with a Juris Doctor degree. Moving around is in my blood and being a full time RVer helps satisfy that drive. The reason I tell you this is because my military career is full of interesting stories from which I draw from time to time to illustrate my articles. So, back to the checklist, I previously used them with military discipline until it became second nature and I felt comfortable not relying on them. Fortunately, I’ve only had minor blunders, but sooner or later Murphy will catch up to me and I’ll pay the price for not using a checklist. Here's a humorous example of what can go wrong when you don’t use one. Christmas Eve day we were driving to see our kids. We traveled about twenty miles when Mrs. Professor noticed that I had forgotten to retrieve the hummingbird feeder off the side window. “Those hummingbirds have to fly pretty fast to eat at this feeder.” she said. Amazingly the feeder remained attached even though it’s only held in position by one suction cup. So, if the feeder can stay put at 65 miles per hour, you know it’ll stay safely attached when you’re stationary. I pulled over, took some pictures and removed it for safe keeping. I’ll definitely use this feeder again! Using checklists and other reminders to help you prepare your RV for travel is good practice. I’m getting to the point where I think I’ll start using them again. Laughing at myself - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Prevent Your RV From Causing A Headache By Installing Some Edge Cushion

Our kids are not RVers (yet) but while visiting with them on Christmas I picked up a good tip for RVers. Our kids have a one year old and also have several pieces of furniture with sharp edges. To protect our precious grand-baby, my son purchased and installed “Kids’ Edge” on the hard edges of the furnature. These edge guards are easy to apply and will protect you from bumps and scratches caused by protruding edges in your RV. I’m thinking about putting some of this around my TV cabinet because I’m always bumping my head on it when I enter the coach. Kids’ Edge is made by Cardinal Gates Company and they have two types. One is metal backed designed for a brick hearth around a fireplace but would work well in RV applications. The other has adhesive on the back and adheres to wood, plastic and countertop surfaces. The self adhesive type comes in 12 foot rolls and will wrap around a straight or curved surface. To go around 90 degree corners you’ll need to order the pre-made corners. My son said he used Super Glue to attach the corners to the straight lengths. The edging and corners come in five colors, light brown, yellow, grey, white and charcoal. You can purchase these from many vendors on the internet. For more information on these products go here Cardinal Gates. On the edge of new technology - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Things that Help Keep RV Travel MERRY

We're on the road today headed south to spend Christmas with the kids. Here are some thoughts about things that bring cheer to RVers:

M map
E energy drink
R rest stops
R radio
Y your family

C cruise control
H hot coffee
R restaurants
I insurance
S spare key
T tourist information
M mirrors
A automatic transmission
S sunshine

Have a blessed and very Merry Christmas! Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

I’m Dreaming of the Desert in My RV

I’ve been making a desk for our motorhome using a relative’s workshop near Placerville, California. They also have full hook-us which makes it nice for us full-timers to be able to stay a few weeks and get some remodeling done. A nice thing about this lifestyle is it allows you to visit relatives and friends scattered all over the country. California is notorious for good weather, but Placerville is not San Diego and it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here. It was below freezing last night and I’ve been dreaming of the desert. We’ll be heading that direction after Christmas because it’s wonderful. Some folks don’t understand what’s so nice about the desert, it's a desolate place. The desert of the great South Western United States is teaming with life. I’ve seen huge bucks in this desert, birds galore and more than my share of cacti. If you go outside on a cloudless night you’ll be treated to the best light show in the universe. When I lived in snow country, I longed for warmer weather and dreamed of the desert. I didn’t mind playing in the snow (I enjoy snowboarding) but I certainly don’t want to live in it. So, when I retired, we headed straight for the desert and found it to be refreshingly warm and relaxing. Many of my readers are already in warmer climates and the rest of us are wishing we were there. For me, part of the fun of traveling is thinking about the next place you’ll be. I derive enjoyment just “pondering” what lies on the road ahead, even if I’ve been there a dozen times. Sometimes when I’m driving down a road I haven’t been on for quite some time, I suddenly realize that I’ve visualized the place just a few weeks prior. Sometimes I know I’ll see a certain landmark around the next corner even though I haven’t been there for years. Traveling is pleasurable, and seeing it in your mind before you get there is half the fun. Thinking warm thoughts - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Amusing Kids View of Florida Snobirds

I received this story from a friend and have no idea where it came from or whether it's even true, it doesn't matter, because it's amusing in and of itself. Enjoy - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

After Christmas, a teacher asked her young pupils how they spent their holiday away from school. One child wrote the following:

"We always used to spend the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa. They used to live in a big brick house but Grandpa got retarded and they moved to Florida. Now they live in a tin box and have rocks painted green to look like grass. They ride around on their bicycles and wear name tags because they don't know who they are anymore.

They go to a building called a wreck center, but they must have got it fixed because it is all okay now, they do exercises there, but they don't do them very well.

There is a swimming pool too, but they all jump up and down in it with hats on.

At their gate, there is a doll house with a little old man sitting in it. He watches all day so nobody can escape. Sometimes they sneak out, and go cruising in their golf carts. Nobody there cooks, they just eat out. And, they eat the same thing every night --- early birds. Some of
the people can't get out past the man in the doll house. The ones who do get out, bring food back to the wrecked center for pot luck.

My Grandma says that Grandpa worked all his life to earn his retardment and says I should work hard so I can be retarded someday too. When I earn my retardment, I want to be the man in the doll house. Then I will let people out, so they can visit their grandchildren."

Pros and Cons of Different RV Awnings

The RV lifestyle embraces outdoor living. Awnings are a big part of enjoying outside activities because they provide shade on hot days and keep things dry when it rains. RVers have a variety of awnings and colors to choose from. If you buy an RV off the lot or from a private party, chances are it already has a factory installed awning. You’re not stuck with the awning if you don’t like it, but plan on doling out some dough to replace it. If you’re purchasing a new RV, you can usually opt for a few different models of awnings. Your basic choices are manual, electric and electric with a wind sensor that closes the awning automatically when a big wind hits. The automatic awnings really do work. I was standing with a friend under his awning in Arizona when a huge dust devil came towards the campground. Before he could get inside to retract the awning, the sensor was already on the job. It was almost completely closed when the wind hit. The wind ravaged the awning of the RV parked next to him, breaking a pole and ripping the fabric. So, yes these awnings work well, but are not cheap. I don’t particularly care for these awnings when they have to extend over a slide because they come straight out at a 90 degree angle. I prefer the manual type because you have more flexibility for setting the angle. If you leave your awning out when it’s raining always tip one side down to prevent the water from pooling. Some weather sensor awnings will automatically dump pooled rain water or air conditioning run-off. Manufacturers of awnings like Carefree, A&E and ZipDee make very good products and are sure to have an awning to suit your specific recreational needs. You can also add sun shades, and screen rooms to some awnings.Many RVers use their awnings to hang festive lights, wind chimes and various other decorations. Our current motorhome also has window awnings which are terrific. I wasn’t sure I would like them at first, but they are very nice to have when sleeping with the windows open. If it rains, I don’t worry about getting out of bed to close the windows, because the shades keep the rain out. If you’re not sure whether to buy the window awning option, do it anyway, you’ll be glad you did. I’ve got you covered - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVers Take Navy Showers to Conserve Water

Water conservation and RVing go hand in hand. Americans use 80 to 100 gallons of water per person every day. Conversely, RVers use much less water than residential homes. We use less water in the bathroom, less water to do dishes and less water to shower. When boondocking for long periods RVers become even more water conscious. This is where a Navy Shower comes in. For those of you who didn't have the privilege of serving in the U.S. Navy let me explain how we arrived at the term “Navy Shower.” Ships and submarines at sea use desalination plants to convert salty sea-water into potable water. Sometimes (too frequently if you ask me) these desalination plants would malfunction and the engineering department (Snipes) would tear it all apart, fix it, then reassemble it. This usually took a couple days (if we were lucky). In the meantime the crew was required to ration water which meant we could only use enough water to soap-up and rinse off. The procedure was to turn on the water, get wet then immediately turn it off (no luxury of waiting for hot water). Next you would soap-up your body and lather up your hair. Then you did a quick rinse and you were done. This way the ship’s company was able to conserve enough water for essentials like cooking and washing dishes. Hence the term “Navy shower” came into English usage. Like the Navy, RVers use this technique to ration fresh water. The shower-head pictured above is the typical RV shower-head. More efficient water saving shower-heads are available. Some “hard core” boondockers even recycle their shower water to flush the toilet. With the use of solar and wind power, water conservation practices and low impact camping, the RV lifestyle can be much friendlier to the environment than a typical residential home. Wishing you fair winds and following seas - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Microwave Lemon Magic in Your RV

Do you have “splatter matter” in your RV microwave? Crud build-up can be tough to remove especially if you’ve “cooked it” into your microwave/convection oven. The Professor found this tip at wikiHow to pass on to you. Cut a lemon in half. Squeeze the juice into a microwave safe container along with one cup of water. Put it in the microwave and cook it on max power for 10 minutes. Allow the steam to fill the microwave and enjoy the fresh lemon aroma while it cooks. Carefully open the door being careful not to burn yourself with the steam and remove the hot container (I recommend using a hot pad or oven mitt). I know this sounds elementary, but some bonehead may just reach in, take it out, burn themselves then complain about it or blame me for not giving them complete directions. Wipe down the inside microwave surfaces with a wet towel or sponge. Easy! To prevent small food explosions from splattering in your microwave keep your food covered or use a splatter guard like this.Helping citrus farmers stay gainfully employed - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Loose Those Awful Vegas Motel RV Mirrors

The RV industry uses mirrors extensively in RVs because they can make small spaces appear larger (smoke and mirrors). Unfortunately, they often go overboard in their application of mirrors and you may want to remove them. Most mirrors are affixed to the wall and wallpaper with an epoxy type glue. Removing these mirrors is a delicate task requiring a generous amount of patience which they don’t sell at the hardware store. One method is to use a solvent to dissolve the glue such as GooGone, WD-40, Goof-Off or other such products. These solvents when used in conjunction with a heat gun or blow dryer (set on high) will do the trick. You will also need a thin putty knife to help you pry off the mirror. Since you are working with glass there is a possibility you may break it. As a safety precaution I advise putting duct tape all over the mirror to contain the breakage should it occur. With any luck you’ll be able to remove the whole thing without breaking it. You may also want to use leather gloves to prevent cutting yourself. After you’ve removed the mirror you’ll have to decide on a wall treatment. You could use wallpaper, wood paneling, fabric, paint or be creative and glue up some art like that tire tread you found that looks like Elvis. Helping you RV in style - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Be Prepared for the RV Clubhouse Bathroom

I would just like to say “Thank You” to all the folks who left comments on the question of whether you prefer to shower in your RV or at the clubhouse. I enjoyed reading your take on this issue. For those of you who do use the public shower facilities, let me offer yet another idea. Toss one or two of these plastic hooks in your ditty bag because not all bathrooms have a hook. They are light weight and work great over the shower door or even on the shower curtain rod. I can’t even begin to tell you how frustrating it is to go into a shower facility with no hooks. It’s almost as bad as going into a bathroom with no TP. I mean seriously, how hard would it be to put some hooks up? Well, since the world of RVing is not perfect just be prepared and bring your own hooks. Those of you who use your own RV shower might want to throw a couple of these over the shower door for extra towels. Helping you with your hang-ups - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing