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

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

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.

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

It's an RV, it's a yacht, it's..... a lot of money!

The price will keep it exclusive - $850,000 is the base price. This vehicle doubles as a luxury RV and a yacht. The Terra Wind has features like custom teak wood cabinetry, marble floors and shower, 8 jet whirlpool tub and more. The back opens up to be a swim deck for your boating pleasure. And it has two slides.

This is probably the type of RV where you need to be pre-screened to even go in and look at it! With sales of luxury RVs and yachts dropping, it will be interesting to see if these is any demand for this vehicle/craft. 

To see more photos and all the features, check out their Web site. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Update on "Family of 11 lives in a 24-foot RV"

A link to a video showing this family has been added to this post. Go to "Family of 11 lives in a 24-foot RV.

Amazing! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

RV board game looks like fun!

"Rally Ho! The Travel Trivia Game for RVers" looks like fun!

Here's the description: Rev up your engines and embark on a rollicking road trip across America in an RV. The more you know about America, travel, the Great Outdoors and the RV lifestyle, the faster you’ll reach the rally destination...and win this fun game. The game is perfect to play in campgrounds, resorts and at RV rallies! The game includes 360 game cards (1,440 questions), Road Hazard and Road Rescue Cards, 4 mini-RV playing pieces, 2 dice, a timer, and ‘Rules of the Road’. For 2-4 players or teams.

Test your knowledge! Read more here. The price is $30.95. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

What sort of ID do you carry?

Tonight I took a walk. Though I had my cell phone, I had no identification with me. Not a good idea. If you are out walking, hiking or exploring, be sure to carry I.D. Your cell phone would help to identify you, but that could be taken from you, or, in case of an auto accident, thrown out of the vehicle or crushed. Even if you carry your identification, have information about where you are camped locally.

On your emergency card include your name, where your RV is parked and your spouse or travel partner's cell phone number. If you are a solo traveler, have an emergency number for a friend or relative with whom you regularly keep in touch.

There are two easy ways to carry your name and location. You can make a business card on your computer and then write the emergency number and your location on the back. Or, if you are staying in an RV park, take one of their business cards and write your name on it and your site number. Slip these in a pocket or wallet or purse when you go out.

If you are a pet owner who has left your pets should also make a note on your card that you have pets in your RV so someone makes sure if they are taken care of if you don't return. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

RVs - traveling motel rooms?

In the VailDaily.com, a short piece by Allen Best refers to RVs as traveling motel rooms! I've always thought of an RV as a house on wheels. I guess it is all about your perspective - are you a weekend RVer, part-timer or full-time RVer?

In his piece posted in Jackson Hole, WY - "RV Life Gets Expensive" - Best says that high fuel prices are affecting even the very richest. Jackson Hole Aviation reports sales of jet fuel are down 13 percent. The company has noticed reduced private and charter flights. And, of course, it costs a lot to fill an RV. The couple interviewed put $344 worth of gas in the fuel tank to top it off; a full tank would have cost nearly $600.

RVers are making adjustments, no matter what their status. Even if you have plenty of money for fuel, you have to think is this trip really worth that much? Would I rather spend that money on something else?

I can't go with the term "traveling motel rooms," though. In a motel, a maid comes in and changes the linens, makes the bed and cleans up. That certainly is not the case in our RV! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak