VIDEO: Is this tow vehicle SAFE?!
November 17, 2009 by Sean Michael · 24 Comments
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
VIDEO: 11AM Campground Checkout Times – ANNOYING?
October 5, 2009 by Sean Michael · 95 Comments
Today I’m filing a blog entry in the LongLongHoneymoon.com complaint box. Early campground checkout times are one of my chief annoyances with the camping industry. Read more Read More →
VIDEO: Niagara Falls – Tacky, Timeless, or a Little Bit of Both?
August 15, 2009 by Sean Michael · 9 Comments
It only makes sense that our “Long Long Honeymoon” should stop in the so-called “Honeymoon Capital of the World,” right? People often describe the town of Niagara as “touristy,” and indeed the description applies. The commercial district assaults your eyes and ears with a cacophony of visual and aural noise. The downside of this “louder is better” approach is obvious. The Clifton Hill area of Niagara is tackier than a grade school bulletin board. You’re surrounded by King Kong, Frankenstein, and wax dummies of Johnny Depp. At times you’ll stroll down a street and your jaw will drop for all the wrong reasons. Read more Read More →
Need an HDMI Cable? Don’t Get Ripped Off!
July 25, 2009 by Sean Michael · 13 Comments
Do NOT use HDMI cables as mental floss. With the recent switch to digital broadcast signals and the dropping price of HDTV sets, many of us are upgrading our RV media centers. The best cable connection for HDTV sets is called HDMI. If you walk into any electronics store, you’ll find HDMI cables are expensive, with some selling for $50 or more. Quite frankly, these high-priced HDMI cables are a RIP-OFF. Don’t get suckered into overpaying for an HDMI cable. Digital signals consist of ones and zeros – there’s no discernible difference in signal quality between a $50 cable and a $5 cable. It either works or it doesn’t. Read more Read More →
VIDEO: Free Overnight Parking in Canada
July 24, 2009 by Sean Michael · 6 Comments
When we took our Long Long Honeymoon across across Canada, we stayed in a number of private campgrounds. We love staying in nice wooded campgrounds with full hookup amenities. But we also did our share of “overnight parking” — stopping in places such as Wal-Mart, Flying J, and even a friend’s driveway. I’m grateful that we RV’ers have these options when traveling. Even though we prefer to stay in parks, there are times when doing so simply doesn’t make sense. My wife and I often travel during the evening; sometimes we don’t stop for the night until 9 or 10 o’clock. Checking into a campground would be a lot of hassle for a short stay. The beauty of “overnight parking” goes beyond the attractive (free) price tag. It’s also a matter of convenience. There’s no check in procedure, no check out time, and no site assignment. There’s no paperwork or red tape. It’s liberating. If you have ever undertaken a major RV trip across the United States, you know what I mean. But have you tried it in Canada? I’m happy to report that overnight parking works pretty much the same in Canada as it does in the United States. There’s no shortage of Wal-Marts in Canada, and they are generally quite welcoming to RV travelers. Just park in a remote corner, be a good citizen, and do a little shopping. You should also check for signs — some Wal-Marts have designated certain areas of parking lot for... Read more
VIDEO: Parlez-Vous RV? Long Long Honeymoon in QUEBEC!
June 30, 2009 by Sean Michael · 5 Comments
When visiting different places, travel “experts” tell us to visit museums, tour historic buildings, and generally behave like obedient fourth graders on a field trip. Our Long Long Honeymoon approach, for better or for worse, has always been a little different… Read more Read More →
VIDEO: “Long Long Honeymoon” in Maine!
June 16, 2009 by Sean Michael · 14 Comments
For the past six months, Maine has been an ethereal, theoretical destination for our Long Long Honeymoon. If we had a dollar for every time we exclaimed, “This spring, we’re taking our Airstream up to Maine!” our fuel expenses would be covered. So now that we finally made it, has Maine lived up to our expectations? No… Read more Read More →
VIDEO: Henry David Thoreau — The Original Fulltimer?!
June 7, 2009 by Sean Michael · 3 Comments
Is it possible to visit Boston without actually, um, visiting Boston? When we rolled into Beantown, we set up camp in a rural area some 30 miles outside the metropolis. Read more Read More →
VIDEO: RV Camping in NEW YORK CITY?!
May 31, 2009 by Sean Michael · 11 Comments
On our Long Long Honeymoon, we’ve enjoyed our share of rustic camping locations. Places like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and Glacier National Park come to mind. Getting back to nature is what camping’s all about, right? But what happens when we take our “condo on wheels” into an urban environment like NEW YORK CITY? Read more Read More →
VIDEO: Long Long Honeymoon hits D.C. & Philly!
May 23, 2009 by Sean Michael · 16 Comments
As a general rule, our “Long Long Honeymoon” is a lighthearted show. We focus more upon the fun stuff than the alternative. I figure there’s enough bad news in the world. Why add to it? Read more Read More →
