Journey to Another World at Craters of the Moon

General Info: Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, in south-central Idaho, preserves 1100 square miles of volcanic landscape including almost all of the Great Rift area. Backyard geologists will delight at the three lava fields, more than 25 cones and 60 lava flows—ranging in age from 15,000 to 2,000 years old. Big Cinder Butte is one of the oldest basaltic cinder cones in the world. History buffs will enjoy seeing part of Goodale’s Cutoff—part of the Oregon Trail. Read more  Read More →

Desert Solitaire (Tribute to the original desert rat, Ed Abbey)

By Bob Difley Before my wife and I began fulltiming we took several week-end and Christmas holiday vacation trips wrapped in the chilly blanket of the Northern California winter. One particular trip we camped in a state park redwood grove and there was no one else there except for a ranger or two passing through. In fact, the ranger had to open the restrooms for us, since they didn’t expect any campers and had kept them locked. No heat either. We decided then that when we got to fulltiming we were going to spend our winters in the southwestern deserts, where it was warm and the sun shone most of the time. And when it infrequently rained, it didn’t last long. And so we did. Read more  Read More →

A Visit to Alcatraz Island

As discovered by the Rogers family while on vacation, the infamous Alcatraz Island has a lengthy and interesting history. After their visit there, they described their experiences in their trip journal, Rogers Adventure. Here is their wonderful Alcatraz posting. The island was originally named Alcatraz because of its sole inhabitants, the pelicans; the name is actually the Spanish word for the bird. While many people are familiar with the island as the famed maximum security prison, few realize that this island has been a fortress for California since the 1850’s. A protective measure for the harbor of San Francisco, Alcatraz served first as a military fortress early in history. Later, during the Spanish American War, the island was used to house prisoners captured during the war. It was the very prisoners held on the island first that fashioned the cold, stone walls that became the well known prison. The year 1934 saw the opening of the famed prison Alcatraz, which was recognized as being the final leg of a criminal’s journey. The island was used exclusively at the time for the prison, its guards and their families. Although separated from the prison element, family life went on in a traditional sense for the families of the guards; gardens were tended, children played, and school was attended by all children after traveling by a ten minute boat ride to the city of San Francisco. Records show that up to 80 children lived and played on Alcatraz at one point. Many... Read more

2010 Heartland North Country 26BH

2010 Heartland North Country 26BH Previously $21,553 – Now $18,142 North Country Bunkhouse Travel Trailer w/Rear Corner Bath Including Tub/Shower, Double Kitchen Sink, Sofa, Front Queen Bed w/TV Shelf, Pass-Thru Storage, Rear Corner Double Bed w/Bunk Above, Booth Dinette, and More! Offered from Bill Thomas Camper Sales in Wentzville, MO. Learn more about this 2010 Heartland North Country 26BH! As featured on  Read More →

RV Weekly Round-Up (Aug. 22-28, 2009)

Check out these highlights of RV-related news, events and video from this past week. 1. Traditional RVer Isn’t so Typical Anymore: Recreational vehicles are now a common sight all year round, but RV park owners agree that in some instances, the typical visitor has changed. There are still travelers who camp out in their motel on wheels for the fun of it or to save money on lodging, as well as people who live in a “permanent temporary” home as they follow their work or use the RV as a mobile home office. Others — like construction workers or people taking medical treatments — live in their RVs permanently but don’t live in any one park all year. Read more  Read More →

Outdoor Relaxation and Gaming Fun at Feather Falls

Trailer Life Cream of the Crop Campsites: Feather Falls KOA & Casino—Oroville, CA Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills just 70 miles north of Sacramento off scenic Highway 70, this year-round campground is the first tribal-owned KOA in the country. The Concow-Maidu manage this family-friendly complex, which also includes a casino and lodge. The Feather Falls KOA campground has 43 paved, level RV campsites with full hookups (30/50 amp) and room for slideouts. Pull-thru sites measure 29 x 55 ft. and back-in sites measure 29 x 50 ft. Each RV campsite has a patio, picnic table, free WiFi Internet and cable TV service. Trash pickup at your site is provided for your convenience. You’ll enjoy on-site laundry facilities, a group meeting hall, rec room and gift shop in two beautiful round-house structures that reflect the native Concow-Maidu heritage. Private bathrooms with showers are located behind the general store, while another bathhouse with showers is next to the pool and spa area. Firewood and LP gas can be bought at the general store, in addition to a variety of camping and grocery items. You’ll enjoy tasty fare at the casino buffet or Village Café restaurant, or you can grab a quick bite at the on-site Taco Bell/Pizza Hut. Relax by the heated pool (open March 31 to October 31) or soak in the outdoor spa. Settle into a poolside deck chair to catch up on that book you’ve been meaning to finish. Challenge a neighbor to a friendly game of horseshoes, or watch the... Read more

Battery Voltage, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

This column is in reply to a question about the charging voltage being delivered to batteries while driving. The question from Bill is “I would like to know what the maximum battery charging voltage should be when the engine is running. My rig runs around 14.4 volts at anything over 1000 RPM. Is this voltage going to shorten the life of the battery? We usually drive 5 hours or so between camping stops. The coach battery is a group 24 deep cycle flooded cell type.” Read more  Read More →

Voltage The good, The Bad, and The Ugly

By Brad Sears This column is in reply to a question about the charging voltage being delivered to batteries while driving. The question from Bill is “I would like to know what the maximum battery charging voltage should be when the engine is running. My rig runs around 14.4 volts at anything over 1000 RPM. Is this voltage going to shorten the life of the battery? We usually drive 5 hours or so between camping stops. The coach battery is a group 24 deep cycle flooded cell type.” Well here’s the deal as I see it. The term 12 volt battery is a bit of a misnomer. We know that a battery is fully charged when the at rest voltage of the battery is 12.65 to12.7 volts depending on who is telling you what it should be. That means that when a battery has an at rest voltage of 12 volts that it is damned near dead. The definition of at rest is after the battery has been charged it is discharged a bit to remove what is called surface charge, and then allowed to rest, called recovery, a bit before the voltage is tested. Taking the voltage reading of the battery immediately after charging will give a false reading. In the charging process the battery will accumulate a surface charge that does not have deep reserve. The surface charge can be removed from a normal auto battery like a group 24 by turning the headlights on for three minutes. Then turn the lights off and let the battery recover for several minutes and read the voltage. That is when 12.65 to 12.7 volts indicates a full charge. A... Read more

RV Doctor – Question About RV Propane Tank Leakage

Dear Gary, I had my propane tank filled last a couple of months ago while leaving a campground. Two weeks later I went on another campout and noticed my propane level at a quarter tank on the inside gauge. I checked the tank gauge and had the same reading. I don’t smell a leak nor did the alarm go off so I was wondering if I got ripped off for a fill up or what else could have happened. All other propane appliances work fine. - Jerome Townsend, (Rockford, IL) Read more  Read More →

RV Vacation Savings Tip

Many times we see the word “Destination” when viewing listings or advertisements covering campgrounds.  So what exactly makes a park a destination?  I guess a campground is either a destination, a seasonal (also a destination, but usually has some permanent park type model trailers) or a transient park.  The later would be a site that offers a good stop over, perhaps located near a busy highway. Though these parks may well have campers that stay for extended stays, many do not.  A destination park is a property where people stay as their final destination, many times near popular attractions or high tourist areas.  There are properties that fall into both categories and, of course, park owners that believe their property is mainly a destination site whereas, it may not be. Destination parks generally are priced higher.  This price difference appears to be driven by the proximity to popular attractions, while the transient sites compete with the short overnight travelers expecting lower rates. Can you save money by staying a little further out in a lower priced transient campground?  Maybe, but not without some sacrifices.  First, you will probably have to drive a bit further from the site to the attractions.  Additionally you will find the early morning and late evening a little more disruptive as travelers arrive and depart at all hours.  So be prepared for the early diesel engine wakeup call.  Security may not be as good at some of these locations due to the type... Read more

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