RV Finance: Stimulus Plan Includes Tax Deduction for Motor Home Purchases

**The following post is not intended and should not be interpreted as giving specific financial advice.** On Tuesday, Feb. 17, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. If you are thinking about buying a new RV or motor home, you should pay attention. Part of this legislation includes a tax deduction for any state or local sales or excise tax imposed on the purchase of a qualified motor vehicle between Feb. 17, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2009. For this Act, the term ‘qualified motor vehicle’ includes “a motor home the original use of which commences with the taxpayer.” See item III of part D on page 204 of the PDF file for further information. Download the PDF to read the exact, final text of the bill to see for yourself if you qualify for this vehicle sales tax deduction. See pages 203-4 of the PDF file, starting with “SEC. 1008″. To download it yourself straight from the source, go to the White House Press Office web page and click on the final text link. For specific tax questions, consult a certified accounting firm in your area. They can review your financial situation and give you advice about which actions to take that would benefit you. The federal government has a dedicated website that the public can visit to learn more about the Act, its enactment and to share feedback about how the Act is affecting their lives. You can also visit the White House website to find out the latest news from the Executive Office... Read more

Nitrogen Filled Tires. Is It Worth The Bother & Cost?

One of the topics that come up often in the RV community is the use of dry nitrogen in tires. That is, using compressed dry nitrogen instead of regular air.  Is there an advantage to this that warrants the cost?  I think first we have to understand why, and if, nitrogen works better than normal compressed air in an RV tire application. Normal dry air contains mainly nitrogen to begin with, in fact about 78% by volume.  The balance is around 21% oxygen and 1% argon and mixed miscellaneous gases.  Moisture, however, is usually present in this air after it has been compressed.  For that purpose, air compressors generally employ a dryer in order to reduce this.  But, in normal service station tire fill-ups, you can expect an additional product, vapor or humidity, 1 to 5%.  The later being the worst case scenario. Though we can not see them, the air is made up of molecules.  Nitrogen molecules are much larger than those of oxygen.  This, in its self, serves as a benefit when used to inflate a tire.  More on this later. Over 99% of tires in use today are tubeless. Tubeless tires expose the rim to the gases that support the tire.  Over time these gases and vapor can oxidize or rust the rim surfaces.  While such internal damage is slight given the wheel’s life span, it can produce micro metallic pieces or dust.  There is a remote possibility that this debris may eventually end up in the tire valve seat.  This could occur when air is being expelled such... Read more

10 Terrific Things to Make on Your BBQ Grill (plus one bonus!)

Salmon in foil packets – no muss, no fuss…just good and good for you Rosemary and garlic shrimp – a taste sensation Marinated pork loin – use a meat thermometer to test doneness – about 145 -155 degrees Personal pizzas – easy, delicious, fun and fancy Shish-ka-bobs – chicken, beef, pork, firm fish, shellfish, veggies…mmm Read more  Read More →

RV.net is on Facebook!

Yes, we’ve gone and done it… joined the ranks of the Facebook fanatics. RV.net now has a page on Facebook! If you’re on Facebook already, please become a fan of RV.net, and interact with us and other RV.net fans. And if you’re not yet a member of Facebook, you may want to give it a try! It’s no longer just for college kids anymore; here’s a quote from eMarketer: “…women ages 55 and older are the fastest-growing demographic group on Facebook, with membership numbers up 175.3% since the end of September 2008. The number of males in that age group grew 137.8% in the same period.” So become a fan of RV.net on Facebook and connect with other RV.net fans across the country! (Note to become a fan of the RV.net page you must have or sign-up for a free Facebook account.) Read more  Read More →

RV Doctor – RV Black Water Holding Tank Not Draining Properly

Dear Doc, I am having a problem draining the black water holding tank on my coach. After opening the valve it drains normally until the tank is approximately half empty and then stops flowing altogether. However if I unhook the drain hose it will continue to drain until almost completely empty. I don’t understand why I have to unhook the drain hose to completely drain the tank or how to resolve the problem. Any ideas or suggestions? David Badger, (Falls Church, VA) Read more  Read More →

Trailer Life Campground Review: McCall RV Resort, Idaho

Trailer Life Cream of the Crop Campsites: McCall RV Resort—McCall, Idaho If you’re searching for clean air, green forests, pristine waterways and jagged peaks away from the crowds, consider taking a camping vacation to Idaho! Yes, there is more to the Gem State than its famous potatoes. You’ll come for the scenic beauty and outdoor recreation and stay because of the friendly people. From historic sites and cultural events to year-round outdoor adventures, Idaho offers entertainment for everyone. Whether traveling as a couple, with the whole family, or as part of a large group, McCall RV Resort in McCall is a great spot to use as your “home base” while seeing the sites in the southwestern part of the state. Whether you’re on your way north to Coeur D’Alene or south to Boise and Pocatello, McCall is a good place to start. digg_url = 'http://digg.com/travel_places/Trailer_Life_Campground_Review_McCall_RV_Resort_Idaho';Idaho is a sparsely populated state with lots of beautiful open spaces, and McCall serves as a prime example of these characteristics. Traditionally a logging town, McCall now has the nickname Ski Town U.S.A. and is home to many winter Olympic athletes. The 1938 Hollywood film “Northwest Passage”, starring Spencer Tracy, Robert Young and Walter Brennan featured McCall and Payette Lake as scenic backdrops. McCall is also home to one of only four smokejumper training bases in the country. The McCall RV Resort is located along the banks... Read more

2010 Heartland EAGLE RIDGE 35DSRL

2010 Heartland EAGLE RIDGE 35DSRL Previously $36,795 – Now $35,295 New model fifth wheel with tons of living space: second room with upstairs sleeping loft & lower area with desk and folding couch, front master bedroom with side bathroom. With slideouts, LCD TV, surround sound and lots of extras! Offered from Terry Vaughn RV’s in Houston, TX. Learn More! As featured on  Read More →

RV.net Releases New RV Community Application

RV.net is proud to release today a new beta RV Community application that allows RVers everywhere to create a profile, upload photos and videos, and share them with their friends. Watch this helpful video (by Sean Michael – Thanks, Sean!) about joining the community today, or check it out for yourself at blog.rv.net/community! View Larger Version of Video P.S. You can access the community anytime by clicking the RV Community link on the upper navigation bar of this blog!  Read More →

Places of Interest – Willmore Lodge and the Eisenhower Center

During my travels, I’ve come across many places of interest that I would happily return to at any time. In this newest series of posts titled Places of Interest, I’d like to share with you some of the locations that attracted my husband Paul and me as we traveled from Maryland to California and back. The first place I’ll mention is Willmore Lodge. Willmore Lodge is a 29-room, historic pine log building now housing an interactive museum about the building of Bagnell Dam on the Osage River, which created the Lake of the Ozarks. It also houses the offices of the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. The lodge overlooks the Lake of the Ozarks. At Osage Beach, Missouri, travel on State Route 54 to Business 54 to Lake Ozark, cross the Bagnell Dam, turn left past a white and blue sign to Willmore Lodge. Park and walk up a roadway toward the rustic Adirondack-style rambling complex of Western pine logs on a foundation of local stone and concrete that is Willmore Lodge. Free admission. digg_url = 'http://digg.com/travel_places/Willmore_Lodge_and_the_Eisenhower_Center';Lake Area Chamber of Commerce 1000 City Parkway, Osage Beach, MO 65065 573-964-1008 Open 9am-4:30pm. M-F and 9am-3pm Sat/Sun, except special holidays ~~~~~~~~~ In the neighboring state of Kansas, two miles south of the Abilene exit off Interstate 70, is the Eisenhower Center. This 5-building complex includes the boyhood home of President Dwight David Eisenhower, the Eisenhower Museum with over 36,000 artifacts that include... Read more

Does Your Back Ache? Try This Swimming Pool Workout

By Lynn Difley Last week I received a question from one of our readers that I think might interest others as well. She said she has back problems, and access to a small pool, so what should she do? For starters, this is a great combination. If you have a bad back, or a back that acts naughty at times, one of the best treatment plans is to exercise in water. Depending on the nature of your problem, water exercise may be the best, or indeed the only option. The buoyancy of your body in water means that there is very little impact when your feet touch the ground, as opposed to a lot of impact during some other exercise options such as running, jumping, or even jogging. If you have spinal problems, find a pool you can work out in on a regular basis to incorporate both back strengthening moves and exercise, which increases blood flow and encourages healing. If you can, use a pool that is deeper than you are tall, and use a buoyancy belt so that you are suspended. Maintaining a vertical position in deep water requires core strength and challenges the whole torso section to find a balance that enables the body to maintain vertical positioning while current, ebb and flow of water, and body limbs serve to upset the balance. digg_url = 'http://digg.com/health/Swimming_Pool_Workout'; Let’s say, however, that the pool you have access to–whether in your own backyard or one in a campground–is fairly shallow, from four to six feet deep. Water has 12 times the density of air,... Read more

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