RV Consumer E-Magazine March Issue

The March issue of RV Consumer e-Magazine was just released by RV Education 101. In this issue the theme is “Getting Ready to Roll in 2012″ Mark Polk with RV Education tells you every thing you need to do to get your RV ready for another great camping seaon. This issue also includes aftermarket RV products, an interview with KOA’s Mike Gast, RV tire information and a look at some new RVs. All of this RV information and more is just a click away. If you haven’t heard of this new RV magazine it is a digital magazine, in a flip-book style format, delivered online by subscription. It is free of charge and your e-mail address will never be sold or used for anything other than delivering our RV e-newsletter and RV Consumer e-Magazine. For up to the minute RV news and information take a minute to subscribe and start receiving this information packed e-publication right now. RV Consumer e-Magazine is loaded with useful RV information on RV products, RV how-to topics, RV reviews, RV destinations, RV videos and other general RV information. Our goal is to be your premier provider for RV information and assistance through various RV educational outlets. RV101.TV We would also like to announce a brand new site of ours called RV101.TV. This site provides over 50 Free RV how-to videos to help educate RV owners on how-to use and maintain their RVs. Take a minute to visit this brand new site and just click on the video category you are interested in. If you are experience... Read more

Forest Service’s new Travel Management Plans restrict driving in national forests

By Bob Difley After five years of work with local authorities and recreational providers, the supervisors of the various national forests are finishing off their mandated Travel Management Plans (TMP) that will designate where you can drive in their forest. Many of the forests have already published and implemented their TMP and others are being added as their work is completed. Former Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth had named unregulated motor vehicle use as one of the four biggest threats to the national forest system and directed all forest supervisors to write new plans that lay out–in detail–where motor vehicles are permitted. The Wallowa-Whitman National forest in northeastern Oregon is one of the latest to announce the completion of their long-anticipated TMP which will be released to the public in the next couple of weeks. Forest supervisor, Monica Schwalbach, wrote in a letter to the Baker City Herald that the plan “creates a balance between providing motor vehicle-based recreation opportunities and reducing damaging effects to natural resources.” In most forests–including the Wallowa-Whitman–driving motor vehicles and boondocking was previously allowed on all forest roads. The TMP, however, will designate those roads where driving and boondocking is permitted. If it is not permitted, it will not be allowed and a fine could result. The TMR will also outline specific areas where boondocking (dispersed camping) is permitted. If not... Read more

MARDI GRAS 2012 WRAP-UP

By Barry Zander, edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers. Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans was perfect.  The weather was warm, mostly sunny, and revelers in the Downtown area and French Quarter were in good spirits – some drinking those spirits, but we saw no evidence of rowdiness during our eight hours of being part of the crowds. Monique was relieved. She, like many who have never been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, feared the crush of people to be suffocating, despite the assurances by acquaintances and me.  We walked down legendary Bourbon Street in the Quarter, looking at costumes and catching beads thrown from wrought –iron-framed balconies.  When the easy flow of costumed bodies began to get thicker, we veered off and found a corner restaurant which Monique Gets Ready for Her Share of Our Muffaletta provided us with 1) an excellent muffaleta (a New Orleans specialty – one sandwich is enough for a couple; 2) a tasty Bloody Mary; 3) reasonable prices, and 4) a table along the sidewalk where we could continue to ogle the passing parade of costumes. I haven’t heard of anyone in our group of 90 who was dissatisfied with their stay, and keep in mind that our rally was made up of folks primarily of retirement age.  Most elected to participate in French Quarter walks at every opportunity. You Never Know What You'll See on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans Now for a few random thoughts. First, lots of people — I among them — hoped the RV rally would include... Read more

JUST RV IT! Go Have Fun

Recently I began a campaign called JUST RV IT! My goal is to start a new movement among RV owners to get out and use their RVs. It doesn’t matter if you take a short weekend excursion 20 miles away from home, or a 1,000 mile week-long RV adventure, the important thing is you JUST RV IT! Watch Video Now We purchase RVs with thoughts and dreams of going on adventures, exploring the country, and building lasting memories with our family and friends. Too often these dreams get pushed aside because of busy schedules, work committments and a lack of planning. Sadly the enthusiasm and expectations we had for using the RV results in it sitting idle in the backyard. I contribute much of this to a lack of planning. Remember the 5 Ps? Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance! When you plan a trip you take a trip, even if it’s just a quick weekend getaway. Planning your RV trip in advance helps avoid all the reasons we come up with to not use the RV. When you pencil in a date on the calendar you set aside a block of time to use and enjoy the RV. Planning an RV trip in advance gives you time to budget money for the trip, and to make any necessary arrangements to go on the trip. Don’t give up on your dreams of exploring the country in your RV; plan to make your dreams come true. You worked hard to buy the RV, now you need to work on enjoying your RV. Plan your RV trip, load it up, hook it up, fuel it up and JUST RV IT! Enjoy the JUST RV IT Video Happy RV Learning, Mark... Read more

DOING THE BIG EASY UP RIGHT

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers Our stay in New Orleans has been a blast-and-a-half!  I’ve talked about what makes New Orleans seem like it’s a different country, and now it’s time to acquaint you with a few of the events that have kept us busy. I’ll start out with the three passive stops along the way.  First, the World War II museum, where our visit began with a stunning 4-D movie narrated by Tom In the World War II Museum, We Spent This Visit on Pacific Side Hanks. I don’t know if I’ve ever learned to appreciate the cost of our freedom in the lives and anguish of those involved as I did watching that stirring film. Our schedule made viewing even half of the museum impossible.  I’ve been there once before; Monique, twice, and there’s still lots that we haven’t gotten to see.  We’ve met people who spent almost their entire New Orleans visit in “the D-Day Museum,” as it is called. The previous day, Monique and I took advantage of a “free day” on our caravan’s rally to see progress being Cannons on the Chalmette Battlefield made in recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.  To sum it up quickly, let’s just say that while there are bright spots, there are still tracts of land littered with the rubble from the ravages of the 2005 flood.  Many of the very small cottages that people lived in before the storm have been replaced by brightly painted homes as small or even smaller than before There’s... Read more

10 DAYS BEFORE MARDI GRAS

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers Day 1 – Our group’s introduction to Mardi Gras was beautiful, a bit chilly, but when the sun smiled on us, it couldn’t have been much better. Before I continue, I want to clarify something.  Participating in the revelry in New Orleans is not dangerous.  Some places do get crowded, but most places are family-friendly. On Mardi Gras Tuesday (February 21, this year) and the weekend preceding it, the city swells to a million people.  It’s fun, and considering the number of people over-indulging, it’s unusually safe and fun. Crime?  Every city faces it, but none of them have the high level of crowd control and crime deterrence that New Orleans has and incidents are relatively rare.  THAT’S WHY THE MILLION PEOPLE RETURN. We are part of a rally.  That’s like a caravan, but we all put down levelers in one park (a state park this time) and are bused to events – and there are dozens on the schedule. Today, Sunday, we traveled across the Mississippi River from the park to “the Avenue,” which all N’Awlins natives know as St. Charles Avenue, one of thestately, mansion-lined residential streets in America.  We put down our folding chairs, got ready for the King of Carrollton’s float and were not disappointed when it rolled toward us a few minutes later. Mardi Gras parades are not like any others you’ve experienced.  There is the splendor, of course. Masses of folks line the streets … but... Read more

RV Consumer Magazine February 2012

The February issue of RV Consumer Magazine was just released by RV Education 101. In this issue we discuss RVing with pets, aftermarket RV products, RV owner maintenance mishaps, snowbirds and much more. All of this great RV information is just a click away. If you haven’t heard of the magazine it is a digital magazine, in a flip-book style format, delivered online by subscription. It is free of charge and your e-mail address will never be sold or used for anything other than delivering our RV e-newsletter and RV Consumer e-Magazine. For up to the minute RV news and information take a minute to subscribe and start receiving these information packed e-publications right now. Both “RV University this Week” e-newsletter and “RV Consumer e-Magazine” are loaded with useful RV information and knowledge on RV products, RV how-to topics, RV reviews, RV destinations, RV videos and other general RV information. Our goal is to be your premier provider for RV information and assistance through various RV educational outlets. If you are experience trouble with the CAPCHA code (prevents SPAM) while signing up for the newsletter please send an e-mail to Dawn with Newsletter sign-up in the subject line and we will get you signed up for the magazine: dawn@rveducation101.com Happy RV Learning. Mark Polk RV Education 101 RV University  Read More →

Solving The RV Foggy Window Syndrome

Almost all motor homes have thermopane-type dual glazed windows that act as insulation and prevent interior condensation. Between these pieces of glass is a dry air that will not form moisture when subjected to temperature changes. However, all that changes when the seal between these two glass pieces become compromised and develops a leak. I use the term “When” in lieu of “If” because over time most, if not all, will suffer this failure. Over time it is subjected to movement, vibration, altitude pressure variances and of course, the harsh temperature changes and environment conditions. There are 4 or 5 glass manufacturers that all the RV builders use, so no matter which brand of RV you have, all will eventually fail. So, what do you do when foggy windows strike? You could replace them at the RV maker’s factory or authorized dealer. But that can be very costly. The preferred method, however, is to have them repaired or actually refurbished. There are several companies that offer this type of service and may well do a good job. One such company, located in Hudson, Florida, SunCoast Designers, specializes in this field. They offer a number of 50 amp, water equipped RV sites as well as an on-site dump station. The process is far more involved than I had imagined. They remove the window(s) from the coaches while they are sitting in the serviced lots and then plastic seal the hole(s) temporarily while the window refurbishing takes place. Inside the plant,... Read more

ENHANCING YOUR VISIT

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers If the title of this blog were really what it’s about, most people wouldn’t bother opening it, but I’ll try to make it worth your time to read on. Arriving at The Getty in L.A. A few days ago we visited the J.P. Getty Museum in Los Angeles.  In addition to being housed in a true work of modern art, and in addition to having free admission, this is a place to see if you’re in the area.  But that only touches on “the where,” not “the what” that this is about. “The What” is actually two-fold.  It’s about expanding any museum experience, and it’s about my wondering, “Why is the photographic art on the walls ‘art’ and my photography just photography?  Let’s take them one at a time. Whenever Monique and I visit a museum of any kind, whether it’s high art, classic cars or American natives history, I try to engage the docents or guards in conversation, asking, “What shouldn’t I miss in this room or in the museum?”  When I first started doing this, Monique was skeptical … until she heard the kinds of answers it elicited. “If you look closely, you’ll see the artist’s lover in the purple swirl.”  Or “It was Smith’s earliest work, so there are inconsistencies that show how her artistry developed,” or “It’s here because the curator wants it here.  Makes no sense to me.”   I laughed when I heard something close to that at the Getty. How DID Claude Monet See... Read more

New RV Consumer e-Magazine

There is a brand new digital magazine available for the RV consumer. RV Education 101 owner, Mark Polk explained, “I have been entertaining the thought of a consumer driven RV e-magazine for some time now. We published a trial issue last December to test the waters, and it was well received. At the time my thoughts were to publish the e-magazine quarterly, but with the level of interest the first issue received we made the decision to distribute the magazine monthly.” The new publication is titled RV Consumer e-Magazine. It is a digital magazine in a flip-book style format that is delivered online by subscription. It is free of charge and your e-mail address will never be sold or used for anything other than delivering our RV e-newsletter and RV Consumer e-Magazine. For up to the minute RV news and information take a minute to subscribe and start receiving these information packed e-publications. Both “RV University this Week” e-newsletter and “RV Consumer e-Magazine” are loaded with useful RV information and knowledge on RV products, RV how-to topics, RV Reviews, RV destinations, RV videos and other general RV information. Our goal is to be your premier provider for RV information and assistance through various educational outlets. If you are having trouble with the CAPCHA code (prevents SPAM) while signing up for the newsletter, send an e-mail to Dawn with Newsletter sign-up as the subject, and we will get you signed up: dawn@rveducation101.com... Read more

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