RV Home Yet?

Smaller Rigs: Back to the Future

Reports from RVIA (Recreation Vehicle Industry Association), the voice of the industry, indicate that customers are looking for smaller, lighter RVs with better mileage. Thor Industries, California, for example, was bought by three managers. Their first product will be a 26-foot travel trailer weighing 1000 to 2000 pounds less than other trailers, capable of being pulled by a half-ton truck. Customers are also looking for smaller used trailers. Even though the industry is hurting at this time, changes will take place.

This brings me back to 1993 when I started on the road with my husband in a 21.5-foot used Prowler Lynx fifth wheel and first met Jaimie and many of our other friends. Most had left the working world before retirement and were living on limited incomes. We all had smaller used rigs but still managed to have all the great experiences people have now. Because we were smaller, we could park in public campgrounds more easily, drive the "blue" roads ( two-lane highways) instead of the interstates, and fit into friends' and family's driveways.

When we had a large-group gathering, we looked for free public lands to convene. No cell phones at the time, we had calling cards and 800-message boards. We even wrote letters! Somehow we found each other. One year we thought about traveling to the Maritimes that summer. When we mentioned it to friends early in the year, they said they were thinking about it too. "Maybe we'll run into each other." That July we discovered through our 800 messages that we were ten miles away so of course we met at the nearest Wal-Mart and had a great reunion.

I apologize for sounding like the old generation caught up in the nostalgia of the moment, but perhaps in our rush to have the biggest and the best we could (or could not) afford, we've lost some of the spontaneity, one of the great attractions of the RV lifestyle. We didn't have to worry about space for three slideouts, trees that hindered the dish, or hookups to run all of our electronics. We never discussed it but my guess is that most of us had our old rigs paid for.

There's been a trend (me included) to park our larger rigs and buy a smaller one for part-time travel. As the RV industry readjusts its thinking, perhaps the rise in fuel and food costs will help us to re-think what RVing is all about.

Your thoughts?

Safe travels,

Alice

Hopi festival in Flagstaff

After visiting the Hopi reservation last month, I read about the Hopi Festival put on by the Museum of Northern Arizona. They would have dancers and artisans so we made plans to go. The museum also sponsors a Zuni festival earlier in the year and a Navajo festival in August.

On the way we stopped at Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff. The Homolovi Dance Group would be performing from 11 to noon. We enjoyed the young dancers. It turned out we were better able to see this group than the one at the festival. Not only were they out in the sun instead of under a canopy, but we had an unobstructed view. Elders chanted and shook gourd rattles as one drummed the beat.

At the museum grounds, booths were set up in various rooms of the museum and on the patio. There were some marvelous kachinas, jewelry, pottery and quilts. Ongoing talks and performances were held outside under a canopy. We watched a bit of a pup pet show, then got a fry bread Indian taco and returned to watch the Nuvatukya’ ovi Sinom Dance Group. We questioned the time for the dance group since one program said 1:00 and the other said 1:30. A couple of people hinted that the dancers would be late. In fact, they were early and started about 10 minutes before one. All the chairs were filled and it was rather difficult to actually see the dancers, but they were elaborately costumed and a pleasure to watch. In both groups there were a couple of very young dancers who were learning who were, of course, very cute.

On the Hopi reservation, photography was prohibited. George was able to get some photos here. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Get a real deal on a campground stay

The National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds ARVC  Foundation is auctioning off stays at campgrounds as a fund raiser. The auction opened today and runs through August 10. There are some excellent deals at the moment. For example, the Chicken Gold Camp in Chicken, AK has a two-night stay, which includes a day of gold mining has a value of $130 and a current bid of $43. Check out their site. You'll find campgrounds from Florida to Maine to Alaska included. When you enter the auction, click on "camping trips."

While many campgrounds are seeing fewer out of state travelers, locals are still coming, realizing that a campground stay can be an inexpensive way to vacation. ARVC hopes the auction will promote camping by allowing campers to obtain a package at a reduced price.

Check out the campgrounds and see if one is where you plan to travel. You might get a good deal. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

RV choice and fuel mpg

If you are in the market for a new (or at least new-to-you RV), which type of RV will give you the best fuel mileage? Class A motorhome, Class C motorhome, or a truck and 5th wheel or trailer?

Most Class A motorhomes get 5-8 mpg, with diesel-powered motohomes doing a little better. A Class C would be comparable, though a very small Class C would also better the mileage a larger one gets. With our 5th wheel and GMC Duramax, we get an average of 11 mpg towing, 18 mpg when not. A Class C and Class A motorhome can tow a small vehicle that gets excellent mileage. If you are willing to use a dolly, the Prius gets more than 50 mpg. You should be able to find a vehicle towable on the ground that gets 30 or better.

If you are aiming to lower your fuel costs with your RV choice, consider how you are traveling. If you travel a lot of miles with your RV in a year, the truck and 5th wheel could be the best choice. However, if you travel a few hundred miles and then stay there for two or three weeks before moving again and use your toad most of the time, you'll save with a motorhome and a toad with good fuel economy. At one time, diesel fuel was less expensive than gas. Now that is reversed so take that into account too.

Of course, driving habits also impact your mileage. The faster you drive, the lower your fuel economy. Driving against a headwind can decimate your fuel mileage. What until it dies down, if possible, even if you have to stay an extra day or so.

Who knows when the price of fuel will go down - if at all. Your choices, of RV, how much you travel and how you drive, will affect how much you spend on fuel in a year. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

RV burned, owner now owes IRS!

At TheLaw.com, a person wrote in because they just received a $900 plus interest bill from the IRS. In 1995, the RV burned to the ground. Rather than let the person make payments, the company wanted the loan paid in full. The owner declared bankruptcy. The company did not submit paperwork to be included in the bankruptcy settlement. Recently the owner received a letter saying the company was going to write off the RV, and then, two weeks later, a letter from the IRS stating he had not declared all his income for the previous year. The IRS considered the $7,000 the company wrote off as income!

The answer from TheLaw.com was that yes, this is legal. "They sent a 1099 stating they lost out on the 7k$ they would have received from you and since you did not pay for it, it becomes extra income for you during the year."

I certainly did not know things worked this way and that not paying a debt could be counted as income if the company that loaned you money wrote it off. If you do have problems making payments - on an RV or other property of value - be careful how you dispose of the property and don't just stop paying. It could come back to bite you. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Can you help?

  Choosing the RV lifestyle: Real people, real choices

Alice Zyetz and I (Jaimie Hall Bruzenak) have a new project. We are exploring the RV lifestyle and the decisions people have made about various aspects about RVing and how it compares to the reality. We’ll cover a variety of topics such as affording it, choosing a rig, life on the road and how you spend your time, insurance. We’ll also be discussing changing gears—going full time, getting a homebase, getting off the road, not traveling as much. We are looking for short pieces (around 250 words each) on a variety of topics. You can submit a piece on one or more of the topics. Our deadline is October 31, 2008.

We will credit your contribution unless you prefer we not do so. In the author’s bios you can mention your website or blog or published works, if applicable. Each contributor whose input is used will receive a copy of the book. We will also give a small payment after publication and some sales.

If you would be willing to share your knowledge or would like to read more, please go to our Web site for the guidelines. Once the guidelines are open, you can print them or save them to your hard drive. Or, if you have trouble, email Jaimie. Put "Choosing the RV Lifestyle" in the subject line.

We look forward to your submissions! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Special prize for sharing your volunteering experiences

Our good friend and former editor of our companion e-zine, RV Lifestyles, has donated three copies of RV Traveling Tales as prizes for the first three people to complete their own story about volunteering on the road. See directions at the end of this entry.

I also blog on another site, My Mobile Home Space. I did a column about volunteering and asked Stephanie for some photos. In lieu of the money that was due her from the site, she's offering it to some of our readers. Here's a reprint of what I wrote along with some of her photos:

Volunteering Can Save Money While Traveling

Many RVers feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to travel after a lifetime of working hard that they want to give back in some way. They choose to volunteer their services. An added bonus in these days of high fuel prices is that they can save money doing so.

Although they don't get paid, they often receive free or inexpensive sites to park their RVs. By staying in one place, they save money on fuel. Another by-product is the friendships they make working side by side with other volunteers. Stephanie and Paul Bernhagen volunteered many times with Habitat for Humanity, building homes with other volunteers and the needy families who were the recipients.

The volunteer RVers are called RV Care-A-Vanners. Stephanie kindly furnished photos from some of their builds. Many of them, especially the women, start out with no experience, but they learn on the job. By the end of the build they are empowered by the results of their work.

You too can volunteer as you travel. Tom and Nancy Vineski volunteer in public campgrounds. Tom (RV Lifestyles columnist) describes his reaction  this way: "We've had a very blessed life on the road and feel it is important to share wherever we can. We feel good about whatever we do, but the benefits go beyond ourselves. It takes many caring communities to build a world we can all be proud to live in."

Here are a few more opportunities:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Imagine being in a beautiful environment AND doing service to maintain it for current and future visitors.

National Parks VIPs. VIP stands for Volunteers in Parks. A volunteer can do almost any job except law enforcement.

American Red Cross Disaster Services. Since 9/11, Katrina, and other recent disasters, people have become more aware of the need for disaster workers. RVers go through training and volunteer for three-week stints three times a year.

One RV Red Cross volunteer says, "RVers are in the fortunate position of being mobile and self-sufficient, so we can be ready to respond a lot quicker than many people." Julia and Fred add, "Because RVers are used to driving large vehicles, the Red Cross entrusts its fully equipped motor pool to us."

Now it's YOUR turn. Share your volunteering experience with us. Write a piece (150 - 250 words) and send it directly to me at youshoulda @ aol.com (remove spaces). The first three entries will receive a FREE copy of RV Traveling Tales and be published in RV Lifestyles. All others will be considered for a special article on volunteering.

Happy volunteering,

Alice

The Verizon Aircard -- Reprise

Andy, one of our readers, has asked a pertinent question: Could you please give an update after 4 mos. of using the Verizon air card? What model of air card/modem, antenna & router?

You can read the original post where we made the decision to switch from satellite internet (Hughes) to the Verizon air card. There you will find the reasons we made the switch.

Since then, we have traveled extensively through the Four-Corners region of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. In only one place, Canyon de Chelle, did the air card not work. But, in that same place Internet satellite would also not have worked. That was due to the heavily-treed campground where we parked. To solve that problem, we carried our computers about 150 yards to the lodge where free, public WiFi was available. Problem solved.

Two of us use the air card system, usually simultaneously. Jaimie does extensive updating of this blog, and the associated web page, plus monitor and administer a Workamper forum. I have my own writing projects. Our usage has been running around 3.5 GBytes/month, well under the 5 GByte limit that Verizon imposes before charging extra. We have had few, if any problems with upload/download speeds. They are at least comparable, or faster than what we experienced with Hughes. And, the cost per month is the same.

We both connect to our system through a Cradlepoint 350 WiFi router. The air card is a Verizon USB727. Those two work in our home base without the need for an external antenna. In our trailer, I have a Wilson 3 amp amplifier with a Wilson Trucker antenna mounted externally. When we use the system in the trailer, we have noticed no decrease in throughput.

There is no doubt that we will find areas where there is no coverage for Internet access using this system. Maine would be a good example. We traveled there two years ago when we were still using the Hughes satellite system. But, we couldn't get a signal where we were parked, again because of the heavy trees. What we had to do then was drive to Damariscotta and sit in the local coffeehouse, buy a coffee and use their free WiFi. That, in itself, is one additional reason for our change to the Verizon air card. When we have had to leave the trailer to access the Internet, it is a relief and we get a break from sitting in the trailer.

In short, we are extremely pleased with the Verizon air card system.

New CA cellphone law takes effect

July 1 a law requiring drivers to use a hands-free device when making calls took effect. This applies to out-of-state drivers too. If your travels will be taking your through California, the only kind of call you can make (or receive) on your cell phone while holding it in your hand while driving is an emergency call.

Drivers younger than 18 cannot use any kind of mobile device while driving, hands-free or not except in emergencies. A funny aside: the law does not specifically mention texting! However an officer can pull over and cite driver of any age if, in the officer's opinion, the driver was distracted, and not operating the vehicle safely.

Drivers can be stopped for using a cellphone while driving even if they are not violating any other law. The base fine for conviction is $20 with $50 for subsequent violations. In addition, penalty assessments could triple the base fine.

Be fair warned! Get that Bluetooth device working or pull over to even answer your phone. One note - you could buy a toad that has a built-in hands-free system; it's the BMW M3 Coupe with a base price of $56,500!  Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Your RV has more toilets than a palace!

Yes, your RV is better than a palace- the immense Palace of Versailles, that is. Begun by Louis VIII and expanded by Louis XIV to house more than 6000 people, one room of the Versailles would dwarf an RV. The entire estate, including several palaces, formal gardens and grounds at one time covered 2,000 acres.

What the palace did not have, though, was a single toilet! Residents and visitors would relieve themselves in the stairwells and outside on the grounds. Today it still does not have a toilet inside the palace.

Even if your RV bathroom is small, doesn't knowing that King Louis XIV and his courtiers did not have a toilet at all make you feel like you are living in luxury?! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak