Vintage Trailer Restoration Project Captured on Video

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 Admin  Earlier this year video producer Mark Polk, of RV Education 101, decided to produce an online RV series, titled “Mark’s RV Garage.”  Polk explained the goal of the show was to help educate and entertain RV consumers and RV enthusiasts. When considering a feature segment for the new RV series Polk decided to tackle a vintage trailer restoration project. Little did he know at the time the scope the restoration project would entail.  Unforeseen damage, below the surface of the exterior metal, would result in dismantling the project trailer down to the bare frame and rebuilding it from the ground up. Adding to the complexity of an already daunting challenge Polk’s plans included upgrading the old trailer with modern day RV equipment and amenities. As season one of the new RV series progressed each step of the vintage restoration project was captured along the way. What initially began as a 10 episode season evolved into 17 episodes, culminating in the season finale where the finished product was revealed to viewers for the first time. When... Read more

Sealy Posturepedic Mattresses Now Available for RVs

Sealy Posturepedic mattresses are going on the road, thanks to an exclusive partnership with Dometic Corp. that will offer Posturepedic recreational vehicle mattresses for the first time, according to a recent news release. “With more than 60 years of designing and building Posturepedic mattresses with support in mind, we’ve realized that a good night sleep extends past the bedroom,” said Jodi Allen, chief marketing officer at Sealy. “Our new partnership with Dometic will bring quality mattresses to RVers no matter what their travel plans and type of RV while they enjoy the open road.” “This is a significant addition to our OEM product line. Sealy has the highest mattress brand awareness in the nation,” said Brad Sargent, vice president of marketing at Dometic. “There’s a lot of choice in the market for RV shoppers out there right now, so a Sealy Posturepedic mattress could easily be the deciding factor in making a purchase.” Founded in 1881, Sealy has been the top mattress brand since 1972 and was in the top ten recognized home product brands in a recent study alongside big names such as Rubbermaid, Tupperware, and La-Z-Boy. Sealy also has the highest customer loyalty and re-purchase rate, with the fastest growing specialty brands for the past three years. “Widespread poor RV mattress quality has long been a black eye on the industry, and RVers know it and talk about it. Too often you hear about people having to add mattress toppers or... Read more

A WAKE-UP CALL

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers Truck Driver Jeff Lincoln took this photo of the RV that started the fire near Yosemite last week. He said it began in the rig. The 70-year-old driver escaped injury. Used with permission of Jeff Lincoln The ton of comments about fire extinguishers lit a fire under me.  In my blog posted last Friday, I touched on the need to pay attention to fire extinguishers on board our rigs.  I didn’t realize there was so much I didn’t know –AND SHOULD KNOW. After all, it’s our happy lives that we risk when we aren’t ready for an RV (or home) fire. “Know when to go. Fire extinguishers are one element of a fire response plan, but the primary element is safe escape.” That’s a paragraph from the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), one of the websites I consulted for answers to your questions and thoughts about fire extinguishers.  It continues, “Every household should have a home fire escape plan and working smoke alarms.” I remember checking into the Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Atlanta almost 30 years ago and taking the elevator up to the 46th Floor.  As soon as the door opened, I saw a little tent card that said, “In case of fire…”  That was the last thing wanted to think about 500 feet above Atlanta’s sweltering pavement. What about our RV escape plan?  It’s a five-word plan that states: “Get the heck out fast.”  We have two exterior doors in our Bigfoot, so I imagine... Read more

OUR INFATUATION WITH CAMPING WORLD

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers Monique and I were waiting for our pizza while sitting in a restaurant in Aspen, Colorado, when I looked across the room and noticed a 75ish man was leaning over his table, obviously distraught.  He was staring down with his face between his hands.  He kept that position for the whole time we were eating. When we were ready to leave, Monique went over, sat across from him in the booth and asked if there is anything we could do to help.  He told her, “My wife fell when she was getting out of the motorhome.  The stool turned over and she went down.  She’s in the hospital now.” Obviously there was nothing we could do except express our sympathy.  A few days later while in a campground in Sedona, we saw a Casita with a strong-looking aluminum step.  “We got it at Camping World after our plastic one turned over,” the owner told us.  We soon bought one to make our travels safer. As we speed down the grey ribbon of interstate highways in America, I don’t think anything terrifies Monique more than when I say, “We just passed a Camping World.” “You don’t need anything.”   “I just want to get a 10-foot white hose.”   That conversation immediately precedes the cash register showing balance due of $246.58. This is not an advertisement for Camping World – it’s strictly my thoughts about why we always manage to run up long receipts when we just stop for one or two items. Over the years... Read more

Woodall’s FREE iPhone/iPad App is Available!

Woodall’s, a Camping World company and the leading brand in campground directories, today announced the launch of RV & Camping Copilot, the most comprehensive campground mobile application available for iPhone and iPad. The free app provides RVers and outdoor enthusiasts instant and convenient access to more than 12,000 private and public campgrounds and RV parks in the United States and Canada, plus Mexico. Woodall’s RV & Camping Copilot can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and provides complete campground information, including amenities, services, types of campsites, on-site recreation and identifies many camping discounts offered at parks. Private campgrounds also include Woodall’s 5W/5W Rating System, which is the most trusted consumer campground rating. “Woodall’s RV & Camping Copilot is a groundbreaking mobile application that provides RVers and family campers access to campground information from the comfort of home or their home on the road,” said Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World. “This mobile app is the first of its kind, and we are pleased to lead the industry into the mobile space. But more importantly, we are thrilled to offer this app to camping enthusiasts for free.” The Woodall’s mobile application interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. It will offer the ability to search campgrounds by city, state/province, nearest location or by campground name in an easy one-click search format. Users will... Read more

Mark’s RV Garage Episode #11 Internet Show Released

RV Education 101 releases Episode #11 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 EPDM rubber roof by Dicor and finishes wiring the power center in the Yellowstone restoration project.   * Learn how to rid your RV of holding tank odors by installing a simple 360 siphon odor extractor.  * Discover a neat product that will protect your valuables when you are home or traveling in your RV.    * 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 # 12 will be available for viewing on 11 July 2011. Happy RV Learning, Mark Polk www.rvconsumer.com www.rveducation101.com  Read More →

3 Days Left to Take Advantage of Woodall’s Free-Atlas Special

Hey folks! Don’t miss the chance to grab your FREE Atlas with the purchase of Woodall’s North American Directory. There are only 3 days left to take advantage of this great sale! Plus, we’ll even discount the North American Directory to only $14.95 -that’s way below the cover price of $25.95, to make the deal really sweet! Visit Woodall’s Website to Order Now! 2011 marks Woodall’s 75th year in print! Order the commemorative edition for Dad today – packed with over 310,003 updates from the 2010 edition. Plus… with the purchase of the 2011 North American Campground Directory you can find out how to enter to win a 7-day Hawaiian Cruise in our 75th Anniversary Sweepstakes. Plus, dad will feel safe on the road with Woodall’s North American Atlas. With extensive coverage of the United States plus Mexico & Canada including highway types, exit numbers, U.S. National Parks Guide, drive times & distances and so much more. It will become the travel essential dad will want to keep in the RV at all times. Or geez – this is such a deal, just buy it for yourself! (Again, we won’t tell dad, we promise!) Visit Woodall’s Website to Order Now! Happy Fathers Day, from Woodall’s!  Read More →

Mark’s RV Garage Episode #8 Released

RV Education 101 releases Episode #8 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 & Tyler start putting the interior of the Yellowstone restoration project back together. * See how convenient battery operated LED lights are for all those dark and dimly lit areas of your RV. * Get the answer to the question on mixing and matching different battery types and sizes on your RV. * Take a stroll down memory lane when Mark narrates who and what the Tin Can Tourists organization was back in the day, and how it has been revived. * 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 # 9 will be available for viewing on 30 May 2011. Happy RV Learning, Mark Polk www.rvconsumer.com www.rveducation101.com  Read More →

A GPS Designed For RVers

After extensive research and beta testing in the RVing community, Rand McNally has released the TripMaker® RVND™ 5510 sporting a name that’s almost as long as my motorhome. It’s the first navigation device designed specifically for RVers. Rand McNally's GPS for RVers (Credit: Rand McNally) It comes stocked with information that would make a car driver’s head spin. Routing isn’t just routing on the 5510. The GPS also includes height and weight restrictions and turning preferences that are tuned to the type of RV you’re driving. For example, you might not enjoy maneuvering your 43-foot-long motor home around a tight right corner into the Cracker Barrel parking lot. The 5510 will show you a left turn into your destination. There’s also the question of where to park your house-on-wheels. The points of interest on this GPS are expanded to include RV campgrounds, dealers, repair providers, and travel centers with dump stations. “We’ve listened carefully to members of the RVing community, who told us overwhelmingly that they would be interested in purchasing a GPS if it provided RV-specific routing, stops, and amenities that RVers need while on the road, and things to see and do along the way. Our new TripMaker® RVND™ line will solidly deliver on these expectations,” said Dave Muscatel, CEO of Rand McNally in a new release. RV-critical Information Fully operational in English, French, and Spanish, the TripMaker® RVND™ features more... Read more

Mark’s RV Garage Episode #5 Released

RV Education 101 releases Episode #5 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 & Tyler finish framing the vintage travel trailer and start the rough-in wiring. * Learn how to protect your RV from power surges and improper campground wiring * Get some great tips for extending the life of your RV holding tanks and controlling odors * Get some answers on how to protect your RV awnings * See what camping tip won the author a free copy of Microsoft Streets & Trips If you missed previous episodes of Mark’s RV Garage they are archived at www.rvconsumer.com for easy retreival and viewing Episode # 6 will be available for viewing on 18 April 2011. Happy RV Learning, Mark Polk www.rvconsumer.com  Read More →

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