Looking at Full Wall Slides

Full wall slides are a relatively new concept being offered on class A coaches today.  These offer a big visual increase to the size of the interior when they are deployed, as they would be at a camping site.  Some makes have floor plans that offer these extended slides opposed, one on the driver side and one on the passenger side.  These certainly are impressive when you first walk in.  Their ability to “wow” you with a spacious feeling is immediately evident.  But, do they really provide much more interior living space?  Maybe not, if compared to a four slide model.  If you measure the length of each slide on some four slide units, you may find that the aggregate total length of either side not that much different from that of the full wall slide models.  Therefore, many full wall slides may not really be providing additional square footage of living space, just a different way of presenting it.  Sometime ago I posted a query on the forum looking for comments from members on their thoughts on full wall slides.  There was very good participation, including a few full wall slide owners, with many well thought out views and ideas.  Some of these were as follows. Pro’s  More interior living space, or at least the feeling of. Less slides to deal with. Most current owners have no issues and love them. Con Loss of some storage under slide due to lower basement ceiling. Access to basement storage more difficult beneath slide. Can not position tree or... Read more

A Williamsburg Christmas

The harvest is finished. Sheaves of corn and wheat fill the barn to feed the livestock and the larder is stocked with jars of preserves that will see the family through the long cold winter months. Days are at their shortest, the sun’s meager warmth never quite easing the biting chill that grips the air. Snow piles up around the house and buildings and fingers grow numb from the chores that can’t be forgotten: the farm equipment must be repaired, fences fixed, and livestock fed and cared for. As most Virginians in pre-revolutionary America were members of the Anglican Church, the arrival of Christmas meant the observation of Advent, of fasting and repentance, followed by a meal of celebration on Christmas Day. Certainly not the Christmas of today. Read more  Read More →

Some Thoughts on Camera Bags

As you collect more & more “Toys” to use with your camera, you will eventually need a bag (or two or three…) in which to store everything. Although owners of small point & shoot cameras can carry their cameras in a pocket, a camera bag still makes sense.  Even if you only carry extra batteries & a spare memory card or two (and if you don’t, sooner or later you will miss photo opportunities because of dead batteries or a full memory card), a camera bag puts everything together. For the photographer that builds a collection of lenses, flash units, filters, remote shutter releases, etc. camera bags are essential.  They are also probably the most frustrating piece of camera equipment you will own. They always seem either too big, too small, too difficult to organize, too difficult to quickly access gear, etc. Some considerations when choosing a bag: First, accept the fact that you are going to need more than one. Unless you only have a minimal amount of add on equipment, you quickly find that any bag that holds all of it is too large to carry everywhere you go. I suggest a minimum of two bags.  The first should be large enough to hold everything you own.  In fact, if you have plans to purchase additional equipment, plan for one large enough to hold that as well.  If you have a lot of equipment, this bag will probably be too large to shoot out of – it is really a method of organized storage that can be kept in your RV, or home. You will... Read more

My Thanksgiving Story

I know, this doesn’t have anything to do with RVs, or techy stuff, but it is the holiday season so please give me a little room to digress.  My middle son, Larry Jr., recently moved to Florida which put him close to my wife’s mom and dad.  Jr. decided he wanted to have grandma and grandpa over to his house for Thanksgiving dinner and placed poor Krista in charge of making certain the feast was fit for a king.  There was only one special request he made: “my mom has a very special family recipe for green bean casserole.  Krista dutifully contacted my darling wife to inquire as to the secret ingredients.  Linda responded that the only recipe she uses is the one on the side of the can of French’s french fried onions.  Well, Jr. wouldn’t accept this, obviously thinking his mom was holding out on him, and had Krista call grandma to ask her for the secret family recipe.  Certainly grandma would be willing to share since grandma was invited to Thanksgiving dinner.  Grandma’s response: “the only thing I do is use the recipe on the side of the french fried onion can”.  Yikes!!  Was this a conspiracy to deprive Jr. of his one, Thanksgiving wish?  It would seem that everyone was conspiring against a successful dinner at Jr.’s house.  Well, Krista came through, like the angel she is.  She got hold of a can of French’s french fried onions, actually found the recipe, cooked the secret recipe and Thanksgiving dinner with... Read more

BATTERIES

Deep cycle batteries are used for our coach; automotive batteries are used with our engines. The deep cycle battery is designed to give us better life, since we draw down the power more than we do with an engine battery. Use 6-volt batteries for your coach, replace in pairs, and maintain the distilled water level 3/8” above the plates. Also keep the connections corrosion free. Careful, if you remove a connection, turn off any loads and do not allow the connections to torch another object. Sparks, fire and explosions can happen while working on your battery. Wear gloves and goggles to be safe. Read more  Read More →

Giving Thanks

I have so much to be thankful for!  Today I’m giving thanks to Mother Ocean (and Jimmy Buffet’s song!)  I give thanks to my partner – my husband.  I give thanks for my good health and the beautiful weather in Fort Lauderdale, Florida today.  All of this is combining to allow me to do one of my very favorite things today … Kayak Diving! Oh yeah … and I give thanks to the Internet which allows me to share it with you!  Next week, I’ll show you the easiest way to share your videos online. Chris Guld www.GeeksonTour.com Computer Education for Travelers  Read More →

RV Show Season is Approaching

Each year, around this time, RV show season starts.  RV shows, like boat shows, are intended to introduce the new model year RV’s and to help disseminate RV related information to the consumer. These shows are usually scheduled during the slower time of the year, the winter months, to help jump start the selling season. RV dealers from miles away will bring their wares to these shows. For the buyer, RV shows put everything you need to see and learn about RV’s under one roof, making it the ideal forum to conduct research and make informed RV buying decisions. Read more  Read More →

Using Electronic Equipment on the Road – Part 1 – Bernice’s Tips

Traveling in an RV used to mean “getting away from it all.” These days, people are more likely to take it all with them: televisions, CD and DVD players, e-mail, computers, and more. Technology has made RV travel more enjoyable, convenient, and safe. Here are some ideas that RVers say work for them: If you like electronics, try these tips: RadioShack has a wall-mounted motion-detector infrared security system for which, when installed, many RV insurance companies will give you a discount on premiums. Installing a separate speaker for CB radios gives better sound quality. Use a 12-volt fan for ventilation (instead of running the air conditioner) when dry camping. (An example is Camping World’s Fan-Tastic Endless Breeze 12V Fan.) –Karl M. Green, M.D.,Westminster, MD Each brand of digital camera is different, so read the owner’s manual before taking a new camera on a trip. Many have found the quality of digital prints is as good as regular 35-millimeter photos. –Lt. Col. Virginia Dillon, Alexandria, VA If your children or other passengers like to play hand-held video games on the road, purchase an inexpensive headset for each game unit so the beeps and music don’t bother other people in the vehicle. (And don’t forget to pack extra, proper size batteries.) –Steve and Debra Draper, Yorba Linda, CA You’ll find all kinds of uses for two-way, hand-held radio communicators. (Camping World offers several powers, such as the Cobra 18 Mile Radio.) If unable to... Read more

Traveling with Pets for Thanksgiving?

Traveling with your pet this Thanksgiving holiday? Amid all of the get-togethers, food and celebration, don’t forget about your pet’s special needs that will help make the trip to — and once you get to your destination — safer and more enjoyable. Read more  Read More →

Giving Thanks, Plus “Moon of Honey in the Trailer!”

Thanksgiving offers the opportunity to reflect on life, liberty, and the pursuit of full hookup campgrounds. As we take a fond gaze in the proverbial rearview mirror, we see another action-packed year of whimsical RV antics, mind-expanding personal growth, and charming Walmart parking lots. ROUGH CUT – “Moon Of Honey in the Trailer!” from Sean Michael on TheLongLongHoneymoon.com. Read more  Read More →

Next Page »