RV Weekly Round-Up (Nov. 12-20, 2009)

Check out these highlights of RV-related news, events and video from this past week. 1. Southwestern deserts: More than just a warm place: This is the time of year when RVers in the northern states and Canada can be divided into two groups: those that are or soon will be headed to the southwestern deserts for at least some part of the winter, and those that wish they were headed for the desert. Bob Difley recounts some of the significant events and scenery that make the Southwest such an interesting destination in the winter months. 2. Bicycle museum: Nick Russell recounts his visit to the Bicycle Museum of America, a wonderful attraction in the charming small town of New Bremen, Ohio. Located on New Bremen’s main street, the museum is a treasure trove of bicycles and bicycle memorabilia dating back to the early 1800s. Here you will see everything from primitive bikes with appropriate names like the Boneshaker, to high wheeled bicycles that the gentry of another age enjoyed, to modern carbon frame bicycles that one can lift with a single finger. 3. Thousands of POIs for Streets and Trips: New feature for Points of Interest (POIs) on 2010 Streets and Trips mapping program allows you to upload just ONE POI file with ALL your favorite stops, then just hide or show only the POIs you need at the moment. Chris Guld of Geeks on Tour shares more info about this new S&T feature. 4. Jayco hires 200 to fill order backlog: Jayco Inc. has added a couple hundred workers and is escalating... Read more

VIDEO: Is this tow vehicle SAFE?!

Recently, we saw a fellow towing a 31-foot Airstream Classic with a minivan. The Classic is the heaviest Airstream model. The 31-footer weighs about 10,000 pounds. Does this seem like a wise combination to you? On a similar note, a friend recently send me a photo of someone towing a 25-foot Airstream with a Saturn sedan. Wow, towing a 25-footer with a Saturn? I am impressed — and concerned. Without running a numerical analysis, I’m immediately concerned about the stability of that rig. I don’t know the exact wheelbase and weight of the Saturn, but one must wonder how the rig handles on a windy day. What about the braking distance? A secondary issue is the impact & wear upon the transmission of that tow vehicle. Would you want to buy that Saturn? I suspect the transmission is toast. This is why you should have an inspection performed when buying a used vehicle. But back to the more pressing issue of SAFETY… Towing recommendations factor in a margin of safety for adverse conditions. If you are MAXING OUT the capacity of your tow vehicle, there’s little to no margin of safety when things go wrong. Suppose the wind picks up, or you have to make a sudden emergency maneuver. That’s when the combo gets dangerous. Accidents happen. People get killed. There’s much gnashing of teeth! Just because something is possible, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Those old images of people towing Airstreams with bicycles are not meant to... Read more

Green Washing Podcast with Brian Brawdy & Thetford’s Mary Burrows

Do you ever get tired of the spin, of being lied to, or worse yet, of being misled in a strategic way? It is popular now for the media to talk Green. To that end, advertisers will do anything they can to jump on the Green bandwagon. In this episode you will learn how to spot Green spin and Green washing from a mile away. Join me in this hour long podcast as I speak with Mary Burrows, Head Chemist at Thetford Corporation. Read more  Read More →

RV Weekly Round-Up (Oct. 31 – Nov. 6, 2009)

Check out these highlights of RV-related news, events and video from this past week. 1. Carbon Monoxide Reminder: Mark Polk reminds us about the dangers of carbon monoxide gas. Whether in your home or your RV, when you fire up the furnace and bring out the portable heaters to help stay warm, there is the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide gas is invisible, odorless, and deadly! Take a moment to review Mark’s cautionary tips, and don’t forget to change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector! Read more  Read More →

RV Weekly Round-Up (Oct. 24-30, 2009)

Check out these highlights of RV-related news, events and video from this past week. 1. Canadian RV dealer picks Riverside for first U.S. shop: Undeterred by a recession that has battered the RV industry and its presence in the Inland region, a multimillion-dollar Canadian RV dealer will open its first U.S. dealership in Riverside, CA, to be closer to a travel trailer manufacturer whose models have sold well in Canada. The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports that Bruce Urban of Western RV Country Group of Companies in Alberta has big plans for the vacant American All-Star RV dealership. 2. Innovative Class B+ Models Gaining in Popularity: Phoenix USA RV has emerged as one of the most popular manufacturers in recent months, as the RV market shifts toward smaller and more efficient models. The company’s Class B+ models are slightly larger than Class B campers, but include the major amenities typically only found in larger rigs, such as a slideout and a full dry bath with shower. The result is a lightweight, easy-to-maneuver motorhome with a surprisingly spacious interior. Take an online photo tour of all the Phoenix USA RV models to see for yourself. 3. At last, RVing is for the dogs: Los Angeles Times reporter Rosemary McClure recounts her camping trip to Northern California with a friend and their two dogs. She describes the canine facilities at each campground stop of the trip, demonstrating that many campgrounds have gone above and beyond to cater to the large percentage of... Read more

Does “Making It Fun” Change Behavior?

Okay, you’ve got me. This has nothing specifically to do with RVing. But it’s interesting and entertaining. And, of course, the concept could be stretched to apply to certain RVing tasks. Just think… what if someone could come up with a way to make dumping RV tanks fun? (In the video below the creators wanted to see if more people would take the stairs instead of the escalator if the act of using the stairs was made “fun”.)  Read More →

A Halloween Camp Fire Tale

With a change in pace, and in honor of Halloween, this week’s read will be a little different.  One of the things that many campers do, from tenters to million dollar coaches, is share a camp fire in the darkness of night.  Around the dancing flames many tales are told.   This camp fire story will take you to a lonely highway on a rain soaked night.  So sit back and enjoy this Halloween tale.     The music of the Warsaw Concerto echoed through the car as I drove south from Sudbury on a dark rainy night.  The frequent flashes of lightning seemed to eerily coincide with the music that cloaked the sound of the driving rain.  A shiny ribbon of black road surface twisting through the rolling hills was revealed with each flash.  The storm appeared to be worsening or perhaps I was getting closer to the center of it.  I slowed down as the visibility reduced in a heavy downfall.  The wipers were slapping wildly yet unable to move the water fast enough to provide adequate forward vision.  After about five minutes the rain eased somewhat, again allowing a glimpse of the harsh landscape during each lightning flash.  As I rounded a left hand curve I was startled by a dark rain soaked figure that was silhouetted in a distant flash.  The car lights soon caught the view of a rain drenched shadow.  It was a man in a dark coat.  He appeared in need of help, perhaps a ride.  I lightly applied the brakes on the slick surface of the highway and managed to come to a stop some... Read more

RV Weekly Round-Up (Oct. 17-23, 2009)

1. Tax deduction for ‘09 vehicle purchases: The Internal Revenue Service wants to remind you that buying a new motorhome this year may make you eligible for a state-level tax deduction. State and local sales & excise taxes on new vehicles may be reduced for taxpayers whose incomes meet a designated range. Watch the IRS tax break video for details. Read more  Read More →

The RV Trivia Challenge 7

The Lug_Nut RV Trivia Challenge 7 is a mixed bag of RV trivia. Some may have no idea as to the answer, but remember, it is RV trivia.  So, let’s see how you can handle a diversified topic field.   Get a pencil and paper so that you can record your answers as you go through it.  You will then be able to check your answers against those displayed at the very bottom.  Be sure to share your score and any other comments you may have in the comments section following the answers. Read more  Read More →

Start the Day Right: Eat Breakfast

“I don’t have the time or inclination to eat breakfast first thing in the morning. I’d rather get my walk in and some miles down the road before I eat. I figure it’s just that fewer calories I’ll eat in the day,” said a student in answer to my question, what did you eat for breakfast?” If you agree, and make a habit of skipping the first meal of the day I want you to reconsider and take into account the following. Read more  Read More →

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