It’s the little things that make a boondocking lifestyle

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our E-mail Digest or RSS Feed. We will then send you the stories that are posted each day in an e-mail digest. We use a service called Feedburner for delivery of these emails. You will receive an e-mail from Feedburner after you subscribe and you must click on that email to activate your subscription. Thanks for visiting and enjoy all the information! RV.Net Blog AdminBy Bob Difley I asked in one of my boondocking classes what was the biggest reason that kept them from not boondocking more. A woman responded that she  could  just not give up her electric blanket. How perceptions can differ from one person to another on what is necessary–her deterrent was something I didn’t even own. In reality, it is most likely not a technical item that is required to enjoy boondocking, but a perceived convenience item–the electric blanket–designed to keep one warm but required continuous 120-volt electrical current over an eight-hour period, something that a non-energy-requiring extra blanket or quilt would accomplish just as well. So when you begin setting up your rig for boondocking, it may be just as important to consider exactly what will make you comfortable and enhance your boondocking experience rather than just filling up your cart with boondocking “must have” items at Camping World. Spend just as much time on  how to achieve personal warmth, comfort, cleanliness, healthy meals, and enjoyment... Read more

THE not-so-good OF RVING PART 2

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers RVing is Great! I said that in my previous article, and I stand by that statement … despite the anti-RV list that follows.  I mentioned 11 good things about our infatuation with the recreational vehicle life; yet, I have to face the realities – the dark side! After reading this I welcome your negative (but, please, not cruel) comments. By the way, the response to the first part, The Good Side, was overwhelming.  Lots of interesting comments that added to the discussion. Now, in no particular order, here are what we consider to be the 11 Most Adverse Things about RVing: 1)    This whole topic occurred to me while we were in a coin-operated Laundromat.  In the sections of towns with more expensive homes, each house has a washer-dryer.  Those residents don’t go outside the home to do the No. 1 On the List -- Using Coin Laundries laundry. Where do we usually find the coin-op laundry?   In less desirable parts of town.  [There are many exceptions]  1a) Making it even worse, after an uncomfortable three hours watching shirts tumble, it’s time to return to the rig and sprawl out to make the bed.  Rarely an enjoyable day on the road.  [If you have a washer/dryer in your rig and you actually use it, you have a right to be thankful] 2)    Monique frequently trips over my shoes in the “grand salon” of our trailer.  “Where do you want me to put them?” I ask.  No. 2 on the list is definitely... Read more

Mark’s RV Garage Episode #13 RV Internet Show Released

RV Education 101 releases Episode #13 of the new Internet based RV How-To series titled “Mark’s RV Garage.” The new episode is available for viewing at www.rvconsumer.com and on You Tube            On this episode of Mark’s RV Garage: * Mark installs a new Dometcic refrigerator, Hamilton Beach Microwave and finishes wiring the vintage trailer with some GFCI outlets.  * Discover how to keep your RV battery topped off with a Sunforce solar battery charger.  * Get some preventive maintenance tips on how to increase the life of your tow vehicle or motorhome engine.  * All of this and more on this episode of Mark’s RV Garage.  If you missed previous episodes of Mark’s RV Garage they are archived at www.rvconsumer.com for easy retreival and viewing Episode # 14 will be available for viewing on 08 August 2011. Happy RV Learning, Mark Polk www.rvconsumer.com www.rveducation101.com  Read More →

THE GOOD and not-so-good OF RVING PART 1

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers RVing is Great! We all know that, but let’s face reality – there are plusses and minuses to it just like every other situation you encounter in life. Since I’m basically a positive kinda guy, I want to tell you what I think are the major good things about RVing.  In my next article, though, I’ll put on my black hat and give you a list of what I think are the biggest negatives to the RV life. Two ground rules, first.  No. 1 – These are the good things that we have enjoyed about the lifestyle over the past five years, so I encourage you to add your thoughts in the comments section below.  How else will those thinking about taking off in an RV know all the benefits? No. 2 – PLEASE do not write any negatives today.  Save that for the second part of this series, which will talk about the dark side of the RV life. RVing -- It's Definitely the Good Life! Now, in no particular order, here are what we consider to be the 11 Best Things about RVing: 1)    Freedom to roam.  You can set your sights on journeys or destinations and head off in that direction, or you can step on the accelerator with no direction and still get somewhere.  Go, stop, stay, go. You can roam to your heart’s content, with only the weather, budget and health concerns to factor into your travels.   Plus, grandparents can drop in on the kids for a while; then hit the road again when it’s time to go. 2)    The dogs in... Read more

Boondocking 101: How to find those boondocking campsites you keep hearing about

By Bob Difley Camping comfortably without hookups was the subject of last week’s post, so today let’s look at ways to find the boondocking campsites you keep hearing about but whose actual locations remain vague and illusive. It’s not that boondockers are obsessively secretive about their favorite places and dueling with broadswords to secure possession, they mostly just don’t want to publicize them to the whole world. The point to keep in mind is that where there is a boondocking campsite  there will be others nearby–and there is always room for one more rig. That said, there are logical steps to follow to find boondocking areas (called “dispersed camping” areas by federal agencies) and campsites. Stop at visitor centers and chambers of commerce for area or state maps that show recreational lands, such as maps with colored shading to designate where the various public lands are located or check online at the forest service’s website (more on that below). Then visit the BLM, Forest Service, or other federal office or ranger station for more specific maps of dispersed camping areas. Ask for a list of the campgrounds in the area also, most of which will be dry-camping and can be quite nice, though not as private as boondocking on open land, and they will likely charge a fee, though modest compared to RV resorts. The office personnel or rangers (better) can give you more detail on the access road, terrain, size and number of sites,... Read more

Capture the Journey: New Camera for RVers

tti, a leading supplier of vehicle plug and play mobile video solutions, released a sporty camera, the tt-i EagleEye earlier this year. The tt-i EagleEye is a lightweight high definition video camera that comes with a mounting bracket that can be easily mounted to a helmet or headband. Night Vision, HD technology and motion detection. (Credit: tt-i.info) tti has now announced the addition of a new plug and play camera to its growing lineup. Called the tt-i Buddy NightOwl, this camera is designed for recreation vehicle owners who want to capture their journey in full HD quality video for playback on their PC or television. A benefit of plug and play solutions is they can be installed easily with a suction cup fixing and powered from the cigarette socket in the vehicle without incurring expensive installation costs. Attached to your windshield with a special mount that makes use of a suction cup, the NightOwl has no moving parts, which means that bumpy journeys aren’t going to dislodge anything while you’re traveling down the road. By fitting a two or three way power socket to the cigarette socket you can install multiple cameras on the same vehicle. The tt-i Buddy NightOwl has an SD card slot to support up to 64GB memory cards, has motion detection, night vision, a built in screen that can fold away, and a real-time stamp on video so you’ll know when the video was recorded. The NightOwl offers the highest resolution and frame rate combination in the mobile video market. Using... Read more

Which Internet Connection Works Better–Droid Smart Phone or Mi-Fi?

by Chris Guld of GeeksOnTour.com People have asked us this question and we give a stock answer because our personal experience has not pointed out a difference … until now.  The answer is a definite … “Yes!”  That’s right, Yes, sometimes the phone connects better and sometimes the Mi-Fi (mobile hostpot) connects better.  Using the Phone to Provide Internet to the Computer In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, we sometimes use our Droid Smartphone, with Verizon service, tethered to our computer to provide an Internet connection to our computer.  You can see more detail included in this ‘Gabbing with the Geeks’ video. Last week we were staying at the Thousand Trails park Kenisee Lakes in Northeast Ohio.  The Verizon signal wasn’t great, but it worked fine with our phones tethered to our computer.  Our mobile hotspot often couldn’t connect at all, and when it did it was abysmally slow.  So, our preferred method there was to use the phones. Using the Mobile Hotspot to Provide Internet to the Phone The most popular way to connect to the Internet on the road today is the ‘Mobile Hotspot’ – sometimes called a Mi-Fi.  Most major carriers offer them, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T.  Ours is a 4g Hotspot from Verizon.  This little device connects to the Internet and then broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal for up to 5 nearby devices to connect. We are currently in the Adirondacks of New York, and Verizon... Read more

Boondocking 101: How do you camp without hookups?

By Bob Difley In last week’s post I suggested some reasons why you might want to try boondocking. This week we look at how to survive–and enjoy–camping without the appendages we call hookups–what seems to be the biggest concern for new boondockers. The length of time you can boondock is mostly developing habits of conservation. When you run out of water, you run out of boondocking days. Conserve your fresh water supply by taking Navy showers—rinsing down, turning off water, soaping up, rinsing off. Wash your hands the same way. And while you are warming up the water, run it into a plastic tub or bucket and use it to flush the toilet or rinse dishes. Rinse dishes in the tub of water, rather than under a running faucet. When washing dishes, use a small bowl of soapy water to wash with. Carry extra Jerry jugs or gallon containers of water to dump in your tank in case your pump starts sucking air. Wipe food off your dishes before washing–it will keep you dishwashing water cleaner and take less to do the job–then dump your wash and rinse water (but only if you use biodegradable soap) on a thirsty plant several yards outside your campsite. You can also dig a hole and pour the waste water in, then fill in the hole. Filling your gray water tank is one of the more limiting factors in how long you can boondock, so prevent as much waste water from entering the tank as you can. With a little practice you will be surprised at how little water it takes... Read more

MILITARY’S SALUTE TO RVING

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers Serving in today’s armed forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and other desolate combat zones takes on a different set of circumstances than what the military has experienced in the past.  In those regions it is unbearably hot and between mission activities, it is incredibly boring.  That, according to my son and members of his National Guard battalion who have served there. When they return to the states and rejoin their families and friends, many of them are eager for time away from the daily routine, specifically an RV get-away.  Providing on-base/post camping is a little-known benefit that the military provides.  I will use the term “base” here realizing that for the Army, the correct term is “post. The View from Davis-Monthan AFB's Agave Gulch FamCamp Monique and I were on the road in our travel trailer for almost a year before we first heard about “FamCamps,” the base and post version of an RV park.  We were far away from any of our usual public and private campgrounds when we pulled onto a base and asked for directions to the RV park.  The Air Policeman at the gate gave us intricate instructions to an isolated area of the base that serves as the FamCamp (short for “Family Campground”). In truth, this was not one of our favorite RVing stops.  We were crowded in among three lines of rigs and only a stone’s throw away was a much-used train track with a road crossing about 500 feet away. ... Read more

The Future Is Here: Escape the Earth

The future is officially with us. Well it is almost upon us. Another flying car attempts liftoff—alert the staff at Popular Mechanics. (Credit: extremetech.com) When pigs fly! That’s the conclusion you’d draw from 75 years of magazine covers promising that the flying car was just around the corner. But hope springs eternal. Welcome to the future our forefathers were dreaming about: the world’s first flying car is finally here! Well, you still need a runway, or at least, sort of. Flying Car Cleared for Highway Use The first flying car has come closer to lift-off after being granted road safety exemptions that will allow it to be used both on the road and in the air—and that brings delivery to the first customer closer to reality. That’s right—the only flying car you can buy today has just been approved for highway driving by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The organization granted a special exemption for the Terrafugia Transition, under the provision of “roadable aircraft.” Terrafugia (ter-ra-FOO-gee-ah), Inc., of Woburn, Massachusetts was founded in 2006 by award-winning MIT-trained aeronautical engineers and MBAs who also happen to be private pilots. Terrafugia is derived from the Latin for “Escape the Earth”. The company’s mission is to provide innovative solutions to the challenges facing personal aviation. The result is the Transition® Roadable Aircraft. Terrafugia flying car gets road-safety exemptions. (Credit:... Read more

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