Is Boondocking Safe?

A concern of many first time boondockers–or those considering it–is the question of personal safety. There are many who claim that you are as safe if not safer out boondocking then you are in just about any other public place. I am one of them. Others would not venture out without a weapon, a firearm being weapon of choice. Neither side is 100% right or wrong. I suppose I would start carrying a handgun if I felt really and honestly threatened—not just imagined–with violence when boondocking. Or if it was that bad out there, I would probably find some other place to camp or instead go to a designated campground where others where nearby. But in my 35 years of RVing and 17 years of serious boondocking as a fulltimer, I have never had a problem. I imagined I had a problem a few times, but they turned out to be unwarranted fears. In contrast, others can tell story after story of how their possession of a gun has prevented robbery, holdup, breaking and entering, assault, mugging, and rape. When you hear these stories, consider the source, and check the facts. Then take whatever position that makes you comfortable. If there have been verifiable stories of assault on RVers when boondocking, they have been few, and there are certainly very long odds of it happening to you. Theft, maybe. But again, not a huge threat. Most thefts have resulted probably because of carelessness by the RVer. Nevertheless, to be prudent when boondocking, follow these guidelines whenever... Read more

2005 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager

2005 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager Previously $59,950 – Now $58,950 30 ft. gasoline coach features 3 Slide Outs, 2 Roof A/C Units, Backup Camera, Microwave, Convection, Table & Chair Dinette, Fridge w/Freezer & Ice Maker, Double Sink, Queen Bed and more! Offered from Roman Holiday Motor Homes in New Braunfels, TX. Learn more about this 2005 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager! As featured on  Read More →

Better Photos with Picasa

Our motorhome is currently parked in Salem, Massachusetts. A little city park called Winter Island. We’re using this home base to sightsee in the area, including Boston. For our day in Boston, we decided to take the ferry. Nothing better than a boat ride to start the day, and what a great way to see Boston for the first time! See our blog post on this wonderful day. Read more  Read More →

2008 K-Z ESCALADE 36KSB

2008 K-Z ESCALADE 36KSB Previously $86,495 – Now $75,638 WIRED FOR GENERATOR, LEATHER RECLINERS, CORIAN COUNTERTOPS, SOLID CHERRY WOOD THRU OUT, 2 FLAT SCREEN TVS, KING SIZE BED, SLIDE OUT COVERS, FRIDGE W/ ICEMAKER, AND MORE! Offered from Terry Vaughn RV’s in Alvin, TX. Learn more about this 2008 K-Z ESCALADE 36KSB! As featured on  Read More →

2006 Dutchmen 31P

2006 Dutchmen 31P Previously $45,995 – Now $42,995 32 ft. Class C sleeps 8. Features Chevy workhorse, roadside slideout, cab-over bunk, booth dinette, sofa, oven and microwave, 3-burner stove and more! Offered from Noble RV, Inc. in Owatonna, MN. Learn more about this 2006 Dutchmen 31P! As featured on  Read More →

Lake Norman Motor Coach Resort, NC

Trailer Life Cream of the Crop Campsites: Lake Norman Motor Coach Resort—Sherrills Ford, NC If you’re looking for a first-rate, pet-friendly RV Park near Charlotte, North Carolina, then Lake Norman Motor Coach Resort in Sherrills Ford is the place for you! This professionally-designed RV resort features three tiers of campsites on a hill along the shore of beautiful Lake Norman. You’ll enjoy paved roads (all 18-ft. wide) and a valet escort to your site to help with getting set up. A security gate and wrought-iron fence around the resort’s perimeter help to maintain a secure, family-friendly atmosphere. Security cameras placed around the resort offer extra peace-of-mind. Read more  Read More →

RV Weekly Round-Up (Aug. 8-21, 2009)

Check out these highlights of RV-related news, events and video from the past two weeks. 1. Fleetwood RV, Inc. Names Indiana New Headquarters: Officials with American Industrial Partners, the new owners of Fleetwood RV, announced the company is moving its headquarters to Decatur. The move will create 300 new jobs and retain more than 600 of the current workforce. Fleetwood officials said they plan to spend $7.4 million on building improvements, and re-tooling investments. Officials also said the high-caliber workforce and governor Mitch Daniels’ promise of up to $9 million in performance based credits and up to $100,000 in training grants made the decision to consolidate their California and Pennsylvania offices to the Hoosier state an easy decision. Read more  Read More →

RV Doctor – Can Water-Pump Bypass Valves Go Bad?

Dear RV Doc, I own a 36-foot motorhome. The day before we left on our last trip, the temperature here dipped to about 16-degrees so I kept the heater on in the coach and placed a small space heater in the bay where all the water lines are. The morning we left all was fine. I didn’t see any sign of freezing so away we went. We stopped about six hours into the trip where I noticed ice forming underneath the bay where the water lines are, (I have no way of heating down there while traveling). Also we had no water pressure inside the coach. When we stopped about three hours later the water pressure had returned and everything looked thawed. Upon our arrival at our destination, I did a more detailed inspection and found that the strainer basket part of the water pump had separated slightly from the water pump which caused a small leak. There was no damage to it so I simply reinstalled the part and there were no more leaks. The rest of the trip was uneventful. When we returned I began to re-winterize the RV using a non-toxic RV antifreeze by disconnecting the supply line from the pump and using a tube in the bottle of anti-freeze. I allow the pump to pull the antifreeze into the water lines of the coach, then I turn on each faucet until the pink stuff comes out. Before any of that, of course, the first thing I do is after draining the water from the system and water heater is put the water heater in the by-pass mode.After putting it in the by-pass mode I noticed that the pump... Read more

2008 Winnebago DESTINATION 39W

2008 Winnebago DESTINATION 39W Previously $195,939 – Now $145,752 NEW 39 FT. DIESEL WITH 2 SLIDEOUTS, SLEEPS 6, HOME THEATER SURROUND SYSTEM, REAR 20″ LCD TV, KING BED, SOFA SLEEPER COUCH, 4 DOOR FRIDGE, ULTRA LEATER CAB SEAT AND MORE! Offered from Wasatch Front Winnebago in Ogden, UT. Learn more about this 2008 Winnebago DESTINATION 39W! As featured on  Read More →

VIDEO: Wild Alaska from behind the scenes

VIDEO: Wild Alaska from behind the scenes with Brian Brawdy A few years back, and on assignment for a local CBS affiliate, I had the adventure of a lifetime in Denali National Park in Alaska. With a Lance Camper was my mobile base camp, I traveled throughout the park on a “photographers permit” and was able to experience some pretty, amazing terrains, wildlife and weather. This experience being my first in an RV, I was obviously hooked from that point forward. Photographer/videographer Michael Mauro shot the footage you are about to see. Although the audio/script is a bit dated, the video footage of flora and fauna is timeless. Be advised: These are wild animals, acting wild. Learn more about Brian Brawdy at BrianBrawdy.com  Read More →

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