What’s a Wallup?

The Wallup! ™ or “Wall-in-a-bag” is a collapsible 6-foot high x 12-foot wide framed flexible wall that fits in a small bag making storage and transportation a snap. Manufactured by Walluping Industries Inc. based in Spokane, Washington, The Wallup can be assembled in a matter of minutes. The Wallup takes minutes to install. Easily erected without the use of strings or other attachments, the Wall-in-a-bag has applications as a privacy barrier, wind protection, sun shelter, shower stall, lean-to, changing room, tent, shelter from the weather, temporary bathroom, as well as an unlimited number of other uses. In addition to being used by RVers and campers, this free-standing portable wall will appeal to hunters, golfers, sports teams, advertisers, vendors, and even equestrians as horse stalls and outdoor tack rooms. Invention of the Wallup The Inventor of the Wallup spent his younger days scrounging the Cascade forests for neat things, elusive trout, forgotten forest ponds, and secluded valleys. On one of his many outings with friends found them caught by the wind playing a game of cards. He swore revenge and on the next camping trip the Wallup! began life as a tarp braced with conduit poles. Many years of trial and error led to the present design. After many prototypes, material tests, and failures, the current Wallup! was created. In just a few minutes the Wallup assembles into a 6-foot-high by 12-foot-wide freestanding wall. The first of the prototypes were sewn out of the... Read more

Gr8LakesCamper: Gas prices are putting a serious dent in summer plans

UPDATE: I recently came across this excellent article by Marianne Lavelle for National Geographic News. Lavelle does a good job of explaining the history of gas gouging, and the reasons for it. In a nutshell, the lack of U.S. refineries means a handful of people/businesses can control the prices. I encourage you to read this article. The cost of gas at stations near my home are typically about 15-25 cents cheaper per gallon than those around my in-laws. So, of course, every time I fill up I call my father-in-law to gloat. But the price of gasoline is getting crazy, even around me. This morning it topped $3.50 per gallon. I realize it’s more expensive in other areas, but – as they say – it’s all relative. What’s worse, “experts” say the cost will only climb higher as the summer driving season approaches, turmoil in oil-producing countries escalates and any number of other reasons these people usually roll out at times like these. Regardless of the reasons why they’re on the way up, the price of gas is serious business for RVers. For most of us, this can’t help but affect our travel plans this summer. As for my family, we’ll either be heading out to campgrounds closer to home, or not camping as much as we’d like, or a combination of the both. Other circumstances will factor in for us – two kids are going to camp for a week or two, and the third will likely be playing baseball well into July – but the fact remains gas prices will be putting a serious... Read more

7 Steps to Enjoying a Big RV Rally`

We’ve attended RV rallies with 12 coaches and with 4,000!  Right now we are parked at the Georgia State Fairgrounds for the Family Motor Coach Ass’n convention and, we expect there to be nearly 3,000 RVs here this week.  These big rallies can be the most fun you’ve ever had, or they can be miserable … it’s up to you! Before you get there Empty holding tanks, fill water, gas/diesel and propane tanks.  For those of us who are accustomed to staying in RV parks with full hookups, this may be the only time we boondock.  You don’t want the hassle (or expense) of having the honey wagon come around during the rally, so make sure you dump your gray and black water tanks just before getting to the rally.  You’re going to be parked for 4 – 7 days so you’re going to need your fresh water.  You want your propane for heat, cooking, and running appliances while you don’t have electricity.  And, you want your gas/diesel full in order to run your generator.  Even if you paid for an electrical hookup during the rally, it won’t be as dependable as the full hookups in an RV park – it’s best to be prepared! Parking credentials These rallies have a big job getting everybody parked efficiently.  A lot of the work is done long before the rally by issuing ‘Parking Credentials.’  These are usually brightly colored cards that need to be prominently displayed in your window so the parking crew can properly direct you. ... Read more

Upgrade your RV water pump

A couple of years ago I decided to upgrade the water pump in my motorhome.  I did this for a couple of reasons.  First, I wanted to be able to take a nice, hot, shower with lots of water pressure.  Second, I can’t resist tinkering with the RV!  I did some research and decided on the Shurflo Extreme series, 5.7 because at the time, it was the state of the art in RV water pumps.  I was really looking forward to the increased water pressure and flow at my shower head. As with any RV project, this one was not simple.  And as with most RV projects, there wasn’t enough room to do the conversion.  However, with a lot of maneuvering and manipulating I was able to mount the new Shurflo into the same area as my old OEM pump.  One thing I did do was check out and upgrade my electrical supply system for the pump.  My original OEM pump was fused with a 10 amp fuse which was adequate for the OEM pump.  However, the new Shurflo is designed to do more work, and thus pulls more amps than the original one.  For this reason, Shurflo recommends a 15 amp fuse for the 5.7.  Before installing a larger fuse, I checked to verify that the wire feeding the new pump was large enough to carry the additional amps, which it was. The next problem was that the OEM Intellitec water pump controller, P/N 00-00145-100 was rated for a max of 10 amps and Shurflo recommends changing to the larger Part Number:00-00776-200 that is designed to handle 15 amps. After I got the new pump installed and plumbed,... Read more

The Zen of Boondocking Part VI: Water

By Bob Difley We finished with electricity in last week’s blog and now move on to potable (drinking) water, a natural resource that will limit your consecutive boondocking days unless you are Moses and can strike a stone with a rod and water gushes forth. If you run out of water you can’t make coffee, spaghetti, or jello,  brush your teeth, flush your toilet, wash and rinse dishes, shower,  or have a nice cold glass of it. In fact, you are probably so used to just turning the spigot that until nothing but a drop or two dribbles out do you realize how thirsty you are. That’s why boondockers have to plan, curbing the natural instinct (and wasteful habit) of unconsciously turning on the spigot without thought. It’s the same as flicking on the light switch and not considering the amps fleeing your batteries. You don’t have to be paranoid about it, but if you adopt the habit of thinking about the consequences of  your actions, it becomes much easier–almost second nature–to mentally monitor your resources. And, of course, there’s your water level gauge for you techies. There are basically two rules for managing your drinking water: carry more, use less. Carrying more is the easy part. There are a variety of ways to carry additional water and can be loaded into your tow or toad for a water run without having to move your rig: One gallon plastic jugs – cheap, disposable or refillable, stow several in nooks and crannies 2 1/2 gallon... Read more

Head for the Arkansas Ozarks

If you plan on just passing through Arkansas on your route north this spring, take a second look. The Ozarks begin its color makeover at the end of September and early October, with several trees implementing brilliant flush tones. Photo courtesy Ozark Mountain Region The true identity of Arkansas lies in the riches Mother Nature has endowed on the region. The self-proclaimed “Natural State,” Arkansas delivers with a real outdoor lovers’ paradise. Flanked by the Ouchita and the Ozark mountain ranges in the west and the Mississippi River to the east, The Natural State also spills with its famed natural hot springs, 600,000 acres of lakes, 9,700 miles of rivers and streams, and 2.4 million acres of national forests. Forests cover about half of the state, and there are about 300 hiking trails. Across Arkansas you’ll find a vast variety of trees including oaks, willows, maples, plums, elms, dogwoods, ashes, wild cherries, hickories, and magnolias. During autumn, the mountains and valleys turn a vivid palette of hues, while wildflowers bring color to the landscape in spring. The name Arkansas means south wind, or land of the downstream people, which was a term used to describe the Quapaws, an early Indian tribe that resided here. Arkansas is sectioned into five main regions: the Ozark Plateau, the Ouachita Mountains, the Arkansas Valley, the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, and the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The Ozarks The Ozarks are home to some of the state’s most popular... Read more

Are CNG fueled RVs and dinghys practical?

By Bob Difley While the national average price of gasoline is now reaching for $4.00, some residents of Utah are happily filling up on compressed natural gas (CNG) at $0.63 per gallon–the country’s lowest price for CNG. There are an estimated 150,000 Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) on America’s highways according to the Natural Gas Vehicle Assn. (NGVA) and only about 1500 CNG refueling stations–about as many as there are stations that carry E85 ethanol blends. Even in Utah there are only 20 open to the public. The NGVA also says there are 50 different manufacturers producing 150 models of light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles and engines that run on compressed natural gas, but, there is only one–the Honda Civic GX (photo)–that is available to individuals and it’s only offered in California and New York (although Utah could be next on the list). California ranks highest in number of CNG refueling stations, but fuel prices are also higher—closer to $2.50 per gallon. The good news–for Honda, anyway–is that there is so much demand in Utah for CNG-ready vehicles that Honda can’t make them fast enough. However, you don’t have to wait in line for a Honda. You can convert a used vehicle to run on natural gas, and for either used or new vehicles, the tax incentives are substantial. Combining state and federal tax credits in Utah can almost completely offset the approximately $7,000 difference in price between regular and CNG-ready vehicles. Compressed... Read more

EV update – China now has world’s most EV charging stations

China’s pilot project of electric vehicle charging and replacement facilities is now in full operation with nearly 90 standard charge and replacement power stations, almost 5,200 charger and 7,000 AC charge spots, covering 26 provinces, enabling China  to boast of the most extensive charging facilities in the word. You often hear that China is the world’s largest importer of foreign oil, and in fact they imported 240 million tons of crude oil in 2010, making it nearly 54% dependent on foreign sources. Cars accounted for 40% of national oil consumption. Globally, vehicle emissions of carbon dioxide accounted for 28% of the total. China’s National Grid has established a laboratory for electric vehicle battery characteristics, an essential component for the development of electric vehicle industry. In 2011, the National Grid will build an intercity cross-intelligent charge and replacement power service network in the Bohai Rim region and the Yangtze River Delta. The agency predicted China’s electric vehicles will grow to 500,000 by 2015. To meet the requirements of the development of electric vehicles, the State Grid will build 2,351 charge and replacement power stations and 220,000 charge spots during the Five-Year Plan period to initially complete the intelligent charge and replacement power service network covering the business area and vigorously continue to promote the development of electric vehicles in China. I wonder how long it will take the US... Read more

VEERING FROM THE PATH

 By Monique & Barry Zander, the Never-Bored RVers  This is literally off the beaten path, but I think it will have value to those of you considering full-timing and maybe to full-timers who stay on the road out of habit. Last month Monique and I veered slightly from our on-the-road existence.  That’s when we bought Monique’s ideal cabin in the woods, situated on a mountain high Looking up from the Creek © All photos by Barry Zander. All rights reserved above the deserts of Southern California.  We were blanketed with 40” of snow in our first three days here, which has delayed laying a pad for our RV. But don’t fear.  When we repack the trailer in May, we will be gone for eight to ten months traveling toward the Canadian Maritimes and then down to Florida.  We love our new home, but we have no intention of giving up our RV lifestyle. After four and a half years of being what normal folks would call “homeless,” we decided to explore the inevitable, having a base.  Things happened fast, owing to buyers’ market prices and the park-like property we found.  We have parked our travel trailer 363 times since August 2006.  We still appreciate the opportunity of having a different backyard every few days.  When we’re in the forests of North America, we love our campsite … and then we move on to a breath-taking ocean-side park.  When we’re on a mountain, we love our campsite … and yet, we are just as content a few days later when we pull into a lonely... Read more

Gr8LakesCamper: Detroit Camper & RV Show reports huge attendance

Thought I might pass along this bit of good news. The 45th Annual Detroit Camper & RV Show experienced its best show in 10 years. The show, which ran from Feb. 16-20 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, recorded 18,400 attendees — a 12 percent increase from the 2010 show. The show was sponsored by the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC). Saturday alone saw over 9,000 attendees, making it the busiest day in MARVAC RV show history. According to Bill Sheffer, director of MARVAC, show visitors lined up on Saturday before the show opened, with strong ticket sales continuing all day. I was able to attend the show on its opening day – more later on why I wasn’t able to go other days – and personally saw a ton of people going in and out of the 280 RVs on display. I was also able to talk to several of the RV dealers both that day and more recently, after the show was over and they had time to recuperate. Many reported customers looking for smaller, lightweight and more fuel-efficient RVs. “Buyers are back,” said Victoria Rokas of Vicars Trailer Sales in Taylor. “Customers were upbeat, positive and confident about purchasing an RV as they look for more value for their dollar.” “Overwhelming” was the word used by another dealer, Tim O’Brien of Circle ‘K’ RV in Lapeer. “All our salespeople were so busy.” O’Brien said the record number of people attending the show – and... Read more

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