Three Tips for Being a Happier Casino Camper

After being in Tampa FL for 3 months we’ve finally hit the road and tonight we find ourselves at Miccosukee Resort and Gaming in South Florida on US-41, west of Miami.  We’ve driven by this casino a dozen times but this is the first time we’ve stopped in.  So here’s a story of me listening to my own advice:  Read more  Read More →

VIDEO: Florida’s AMAZING artist Justin Gaffrey

Long Long Honeymoon is now available on DVD. Here’s a short film we made about one of our favorite artists. Justin Gaffrey creates art in Blue Mountain Beach, Florida. His studio is located on scenic highway 30-A. We’ve camped in this area more times than we can count. We love it so much, we made it our home away from home. When our Walkabout Production Group isn’t roaming on a walkabout, we can often be found here along the Florida / Alabama Gulf Coast. We discovered Justin’s work a couple of years ago. While walking past an art store, Kristy stopped in her tracks. A painting hanging in the storefront window caught her eye. She was so smitten with Justin’s art, she immediately called me on the phone to tell me about it. “You have to come see this painting,” she said. “It’s looks 3D!” What’s more, the studio was closed! She could just see the art by peering through the storefront window. We later went back to the store. But alas! The art was gone. So we asked the store owner about the cool painting that Kristy saw. Who was the artist? Read more  Read More →

How to: Transition from hook-ups to boondocking

By Bob Difley I receive several questions from new RVers wanting to try boondocking and are looking for easy ways to get started. One asked for a map of boondocking locations, another for a tour guide that would take would-be boondockers on a boondocking camping trip.  To take the mystery out of boondocking for those who haven’t tried it, I would suggest another approach. First, consider the term boondocking itself. The difference between boondocking and dry-camping, is where you do it. You are dry-camping in a Wal-mart or Crackle Barrel parking lot, or any other location or event where hook-ups are not available. You are boondocking when you are dry-camping out in the boonies, away from civilization, services, walk-to resaturants, and probably cell phone service. So logically to practice boondocking, and to get your feet wet, try dry-camping first, in a location where if you have questions or problems, help is close by. As you gain confidence, you move further and further from services and help, into more remote, pristine, solitary, and wonderfully isolated private campsites you can give your own name to, with no neighbors except for the nighttime coyote serenade and a sky full of the undiminished Milky Way. These are the steps, from just feeling comfortable without hook-ups to “coyote camping”: Wal-mart, Crackle Barrel, K-Mart, parking lots. Primitive campgrounds with designated campsites, dump  and water fill stations, like the Forest Service, BLM, State... Read more

RV Weekly Round-Up (Feb. 20-26, 2010)

Check out these highlights of RV-related news and events from the previous week. 1. Lazydays Employees Raise $400,000 for Kids: The Lazydays Employee Foundation has made the final payment of a $400,000 pledge to build a shelter for abused children in Hillsborough County, Fla., according to the Tampa Business Journal. The foundation, a nonprofit corporation affiliated through the Lazydays RV dealership in Seffner, Fla., presented funds to the children’s charity A Kid’s Place, with whom the foundation partnered to build the shelter that opened in June. Read more  Read More →

Mercedes-Benz debuts Class-B RV sized all electric commercial van

By Bob Difley Mercedes-Benz this week debuted an electric battery-powered version of its Vito commercial van, stating that it will have an average range of more than 80 miles and a top speed of 50 mph. The van was unveiled at a meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council in Spain, where it was also announced that the German government is to provide funding towards a major trial of the new technology. Mercedes-Benz said that as part of the trial it plans to provide more than 100 electric vans to 20 customers, including fleet operators and public sector bodies. A spokesman for the company in the UK told BusinessGreen.com that the firm hoped to begin trialling the vehicle in the UK by the autumn. “We’ve had considerable interest from corporate customers who want to get involved in a trial,” he said, adding that the vehicle was on track for a commercial launch before 2012. Mercedes-Benz said it was planning to deliver 2,000 models during the first phase of production. It added that the electric motor would be powered by a Lithium-ion battery with a peak output of 90kW. This is another of those “delivery van” sized electric vehicles that is an incremental step toward a small Class B RV when the technology filters down to RV manufacturers. The success of electric vehicles of this type, and of those larger ones that follow, will be the further development of battteries to provide a longer range, andthe availability of charging stations with the frequency... Read more

RV.net Forum Featured Threads (Feb. 20-26)

Here is a sampling of some of the more popular threads this past week (February 20-26, 2010) on the RV.net Open Roads Forum. Each is sure to either entertain or inform (or both): Will one tire hold on blowout? RV SHOW PRICES? (To buy or not to buy an RV at an RV Show) What’s your favorite song for hitting the road? RV Quality Expectations For non-retirees; how do you justify it? Drinking from fresh water tank… Outside shower enclosures Smart Car to tow? (Participation on the Open Roads Forums is completely free. Feel free to read at your leisure. Posting on the forums requires free registration and acknowledgement of forum rules.)  Read More →

HotSpot in your Pocket

by Chris Guld, www.geeksontour.com Just because you buy a computer with built-in ‘Wi-Fi’ doesn’t mean you can connect to the Internet from anywhere.  You need to have a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect TO.  Usually that means being in a Starbucks with a Wi-Fi hotspot, or a Hotel, or an RV park.  Your computer connects to their Wi-Fi hotspot.  Wouldn’t it be nice if you could carry your own Wi-Fi hotspot around with you?! I’m not talking about plugging something into your computer.  I’m talking about having a Wi-Fi hotspot in your pocket.  You computer can connect to it, just like you connect to Starbucks or the RV park. The Mi-Fi There is only one button on this little device.  It’s either on or off.  Stick it in your pocket and your computer can connect to your own private Wi-Fi hotspot whereever you are.  And 4 other people with Wi-Fi enabled devices can connect as well. Read more  Read More →

Brian Brawdy’s Latest Entry to the Boondocking World

In my opening two years I tremendously enjoyed boondocking and dry camping in my Lance Camper and learned first hand that once self-reliant camping gets in your blood, it’s hard to shake it. Inspired by a Bob Difley seminar at The Rally last year in Albuquerque, I decided to create my next generation RV. In creating this example of mobile independence, I relied on the cutting-edge engineering and expertise from the best manufacturers and suppliers in the alternative energy and RV industries who push the sustainable energy envelope. I have created a one-of-a-kind RV that exemplifies energy independence and self-reliance. The tandem rig is designed to go off road and off the grid. Engineered with eleven solar panels capable of collecting over 1250 watts of solar energy, three wind turbines generating over 450 watts of wind power and the ability to collect hundreds of gallons of rainwater every month that can be heated by the direct energies of the sun, the SRMR  is also equipped state-of-the-art suspension, towing, tires, bumper/winch, LED lighting and navigational equipment. A lot of people have home offices. For me, I now just tow my home with my office. Please join me on Facebook for exclusive photos and engineering mock-ups of the SRMR. Stay tuned to my Facebook page for details on the upcoming video on building the SRMR. Brian Brawdy's Tandem SRMR  Read More →

Metric? What Were They Thinking?

This week’s Lug_Nut view.  Many years ago, in the early 1970’s Canada used standard measurements for things like weight, area, distance, temperature, etc.  This, with the exception of the imperial gallon and similar liquid measures, matched that of the U.S.  Trade between both countries could be done using the same scale and measure.  Life was good. The Canadian government, led by Pierre Trudeau, started the transition to the metric system.  This took over 13 years to fully implement.  Living in Canada, I can tell you it was tough.  Business’s had to convert to these new measures in every aspect.  New equipment, new packaging, new advertising brochures, billing changes, and shipping changes, were just some of the challenges.  Consumers were equally confused.  Now meat in the grocery store was priced by the kilogram and more expensive product by the 100 grams.  There was absolutely no way to gauge whether you were getting a fair price or being ripped off, short of having a calculator and an accountant with you.  Oh, and what’s up with badges on cars saying “3.2″ etc.?  Is that a software wersion? Well, here we are 40 years later, Canada pretty well fully metric and the U.S. using the standard North American measure.  My only question is “What was Canada thinking?”  U.S., our best friends and neighbors, which we share thousands of miles of border, were using the same as we did.  Why did Canada change it?   What were they thinking? Personally,... Read more

On the Lighter Side, Buying an RV!

I thought a little humor in your day would be good. Here are some RV buying scenarios you should try to avoid! If you ever hear an RV salesperson say this…RUN! 10) I won’t even be able to buy my kid a new pair of shoes on this commission. 9) I can’t believe my sales manager agreed to this price. Uncle Sam will make more in taxes than I will in profit at this price. 7) This price is ONLY good for today. 6) Because I like you so much, we’re going to sell you this unit at our cost. 5) You’re truck can tow anything on this lot! 4) Sure the tires on this used RV are 9 years old, but look how much tread they have left. 3) If I can get your monthly payment where you want it, will you buy the RV today? 2) Trust me, everything on this used RV works. 1) Your trade-in is only worth $10,000, but we’re going to give you $20,000 for it. Happy Camping, Mark Polk RV Education 101 RV University Become a Fan on Facebook  Read More →

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