CHAPTER ONE

Crusin'

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Crusin’ is the adventure part of RVing, whether its just a couple of days at a local park or full timers moving to a different location.  This is a time when you are more vulnerable to things going wrong.  With a little planning ahead you can increase your odds of having all your events to be good ones.

Are you a pack rat?  How many times have you returned from an RV trip to find you didn’t use half the stuff or wear half the clothes you took, and the worst part is when you return and have to put all that unused stuff away.  Because space is limited it is important that you have a planned and organized way to prepare for your trip.  The best way it to use checklists .  For this reason we have dedicated a chapter to checklists.  Just use your copy/paste function and create your own copy of the appropriate checklists in notepad or your favorite word processor and edit it for your unique requirements.  Then stick to it when preparing for your trip.  Besides checklists there are some things to consider for your trip.  Consider the following:

Power

Having electrical power is a convenience for some and a necessity for others, and always worth a little planning and thought of consequence.

Power adapters: 
Campsites vary in the types of power they will have available.  If your rig is 30 amps and the campsite only offers 50 amp service you will need an 50/30 adapter.  Visiting some relatives might require you to have a 30 amp to standard household 15 amp connection.  A 30/15 will allow you to hook up.  So for a 30amp rig two adapters are recommended, a 50 amp to 30 and a 30 to 20/15.

A 30 or 50 amp extension cord is an absolute must.  Many campsites seem to put the power pole just 2 inches further away than your RV can reach and still be hooked up to the sewer.

A power tester can save you a lot of pain and aggravation.  We can talk about this from personal experience.  After pulling into a park late at night we plugged in and everything went dead.  All the appliances in the rig were trashed and had to be replaced.  The reason was a wiring problem in the park supply caused two phases to be routed though our 30 amp rig.  A small inexpensive power testing device would have saved a few thousand dollars in this case.

Water and Sewer

It’s funny how we wouldn’t drop a sandwich on the floor and pick it up to eat it and yet we will plug into an unknown water supply and drink it without a thought.  The fact is bad water quality can make you very sick and there is more of it out there than you might think.

For the water supply: 
For fresh water hookups use only hoses made for that purpose.  They are usually white.  These special purpose white hoses prevent that “water from the hose” taste and are easy to identify quickly as being for your fresh water only.

When storing a fresh water hose be sure to connect the two ends together.  This will prevent bugs from getting into the hose when it’s not being used and also keeps any existing hose water from leaking out into your storage area. 

You also want to keep a standard garden hose available for rinsing sewer hoses and such.  Never touch your white fresh water hose, or anything else for that matter, without washing your hands with soap after dumping holding tanks.

Filter system:
All RV water supply systems are not equal.  We went to one campground that pulled their fresh water in from a nearby lake.  The same lake that some cabins were using to dump their septic systems.  For this reason it is recommended that you add an inline filter to the water supply.

Water restrictor:
Hooking directly to a campground water supply without a water restrictor is a real effective way to blow out your water pipes inside the RV.  RV piping just isn’t equipped to handle the pressures supplied at most parks.  This is a lesson many new RVers learn early on in the game.

Water source splitter:
For rinsing off after a dip in the pool, dowsing a campfire, or for watering the outdoor plants or grass, a two way faucet splitter may be useful so when you do need access to water outside you don’t have to unhook your fresh water connection.  Get the type of splitter that has individual shut-offs on both sides.  We use our split connection to power a misting system that runs along our awning.

Sewer: 
The same problem exists for sewer hoses as for the power cord.  Many times they are just about 2 inches too short to reach the sewer connection.  It is worth getting a long one.  Some states also require that the sewer hose not touch the ground.  You can get a fancy scissor action device for keeping it off the ground for about thirty bucks, or carry eight to ten short pieces of 2x4 wood sections to put under the sewer hose.

Remember any time you are working with the sewer hose you are working with hazardous waste.  Use disposable gloves and wash hands after any contact with the sewer hose.  Sure as anything skipping this step will make you sick.

Tools

Having the right tool for the job always makes the job easier but in the world of RVs you need to conserve space.  So you want to stock your toolbox with the most useful multi-purpose tools.

The tool box: 
Of course you will need to carry a variety of screw drivers, (plus and minus), standard size pliers (at least two), needle nose pliers, channel locks, vise grips, an adjustable wrench, hammer, hack saw, pvc glue, gray tape, electrical tape, plumber’s (Teflon) tape, a box cutter and extra blades, WD-40 and some silicone spray.

Tools for safety: 
Keep handy a long handle brush/squeegee, and a spray water bottle for the windshield.  Be sure to keep basic RV maintenance products handy such as radiator coolant, windshield washer fluid, and oil.

Traveling With Pets

For most of us, our pets are part of the family.  Being on the road puts them at risk but with some thought you can keep them safe.

Power outages can cook your pets: 
In hot areas of the country you must assume that power is going to go out at the campsite.  Not that heat causes power outages but rather if it should go out your RV will quickly become an oven.  Any pets trapped inside will not survive.  There are products on the market that can warn you by cell phone if the temperature goes higher than a point you set.  At the very least you might want to make arrangements with a neighbor or campground manager to let you know if there is a problem, but don’t assume that because power is available in the park that a breaker hasn’t tripped inside your RV.  The same problem exists in cold areas but not to the same degree.

Where is home?
Pets that get out may not be able to find their way home.  It is a good idea to not let any pet out of your sight.

Birds and Mexico: 
If you cross either border without proper documentation for your birds, you may not be allowed to bring them back into the USA with you. Smuggling is a common problem and border guards probably think everyone, including you, looks like a smuggler.  Taking birds across either border requires an import permit from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, their requirements and limitations are:  proof of origin of each bird, maximum of two birds per person.

You can run into problems even inside the US, for example when California was having its problem with Newcastle's Disease many of its counties were under quarantine. Without recent medical documentation from a vet proving your birds didn’t originate in one of those counties, you may not be allowed to leave the state.

Take your own water: 
Take enough water with you from “home” or buy sealed container water for you and your birds. Any water change can upset their systems worse than yours.

Vet listings: 
Get listings for appropriate vets in areas you intend to visit.  Check the On-Line Page for vet resources.

Smokin’ paws: 
If you have ever stepped onto concrete in Arizona in July you will quickly learn what it feels like for your dog.  I don’t know how many times I have seen people at rest areas walking their dog when the temperature is well over 100.  Dog footwear is available for those times, get your puppy used to wearing them prior to the trip.

Away from the RV and water: 
Take along a bottle of water and a collapsible dish for where water is not easily available.

Pet Records: 
Cats and dogs should be vet checked and immunizations brought up to date. Health records should be kept with you. The records will protect your pet and you if the pet bites someone. They will also help if your pet needs medical attention on the road. Neutering or spaying a pet before becoming a full-timer is recommended to keep the pet from wanting to wander or having other animals bother them and you while you are on the road.

Pick up the poop: 
Get your dog used to walking on a leash before you leave home and get yourself used to picking up any droppings left along the way.  Many areas have “pooper-scooper” laws for those inconsiderate owners who don’t take care of their messes.

Medicines and Vitamins: 
Take an adequate supply of medications and vitamins to cover the length of your trip plus extra in case something happens to delay your return home.

A stranger in a strange land:
If it’s not home it’s a strange place.  Whatever your habits are with your pets at home, remember it is much easier for them to get separated from you and become lost in unfamiliar surroundings. ID tags or ID implants can help relocate a lost pet. Take pictures of your pet to help identify them if necessary.

Where’s my Alpo?: 
You don’t want a sick puppy.  Take adequate familiar food with you for whatever type of pet you are traveling with.  Traveling to strange places will put stress on your animal, changing the food type your puppy is used to can upset the digestive tract resulting in a bad time for your puppy and you.  Pets are also more sensitive to changes in water so consider either carrying water just for them or seriously consider the water filtration systems available for RVs.

Stress can kill:
Keeping stress reduced is key to reducing pet problems.  Take along favorite toys, bedding and snacks will keep the pet happy and make the trip more comfortable.

Traveling with Birds: 
Birds should be vet checked if you are planning on traveling long term. Familiar foods, toys and snacks will make a trip less stressful.

Traveling to Canada or Mexico:
Leaving the country can be a problem if you have birds.  If you cross either border without proper documentation for your birds, you may not be allowed to bring them back into the USA with you. Smuggling is a common problem and border guards consider everyone, including you, as a potential smuggler.  Taking birds across either border requires an import permit from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.  Even with appropriate paperwork there are additional restrictions of two birds per person and proof of origin of each bird.  See the section on traveling in Mexico later in this chapter.

Take your own water:
Especially when traveling in Mexico.  Bottle up water from “home” or buy sealed container water for you and your animals. Any water change can upset their systems worse than yours.

Restrict pets when moving: 
To protect pets from becoming projectiles during a panic stop, consider crating them during driving periods. Birds should always travel inside their cage. In case of an accident, you wouldn’t want your bird loose in traffic.

Keeping bug free:
To combat fleas and ticks while traveling, consider boric acid powder. Many pest companies will sprinkle boric acid powder on carpets and furniture, then use a beater to work the powder off the surface. This method is non-toxic and dehydrates bugs. Protecting your pets from fleas and ticks will help you and them from contracting disease transmitted by these pests, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Heart worm to name a few.

Pet resources on the Internet. 
Different campgrounds and different rules when it comes to pets.  Call ahead to find out what their pet policies are and check the internet for info on pet friendly campsites.  One such web site is Pets Welcome.com.

Transportation

When you get to your campsite you might want to go visit some of the local attractions, so you need transportation.  Bicycles, Scooters, Motorcycles or cars, all have their problems and limitations.  Which method is right for you depends on how far you want to travel from the campsite, how much you want to invest in convenience, and how much extra weight and bulk you want to carry.

Cheap insurance: 
There isn’t much more frustrating than being stuck in the middle of the road in rush hour traffic in an RV that doesn’t run.  Road service for RVs is cheap and you don’t want to be without it.  Check out the Good Sam Club or your RV insurer for good rates.  Remember your car road service is not adequate to cover you for RV problems.

Transport & Transporting vehicles: 
One of the best thing about camping is being away from it all.  One of the problems of camping is being away from it all, that’s why you need some basic transportation.  Some like to tow a car around with them but there are alternatives.  We favor using a hitchhiker.

A hitchhiker:
A hitchhiker is a flat metal rack that fits into the trailer hitch.  Ours will hold up to 500 pounds so a small motorcycle or, as in our case, a couple of mopeds fit very nicely.  Most hitchhikers are simply a flat rack and do not have the uprights to hold mopeds but they just requires the talents of your local welder to add an upright T pole.

Scooters:
Scooters and powered bikes are an option for getting around.  They come In electric and gas models.  Electrics are quiet but limited in range and slow moving.  Gas powered scooters can get up to speeds of about 20 mph but are very noisy.  Some you have to stand up on and some have seats.  Some of them fold for easy storage.  Keep in mind that special laws apply to scooters, mopeds, and small motorcycles.  As far as registration the laws of your home state apply when operating them.  For example, in upstate New York a moped must be registered but if your home state is Georgia where no registration is required then you do not need to have the moped registered to ride it in New York.  Keep in mind that most states will not allow low powered vehicles to enter major highways, and scooters may be restricted to daylight hours.  Bicycles are great options for getting around, these also come in foldable models and you can even get an electric motor add-on. 

Towing a car or “toad”:
Taking a car along is convenient for getting around but comes with its own set of problems.  First of all you can’t tow all cars.  Typically the car has to have a standard transmission or have special provisions such as a transmission pump or automatic transmission disconnect feature.  Not all standard transmissions are towable, check with the car manufacture.  See the section towing a toad in the living on the road section.

Camp Sites and Going Camping

Is “roughing it” is when you can’t get cable TV?  Camp sites come in all shapes, sizes and comfort levels.  The more amenities you require the more it costs.  How you get there is also something to consider, picking the right route can save you a lot of money and reduce your risk of something going wrong.

Free camping:
First of all let’s have a big hand for the RVers friend Wal-Mart.  With the exception of restrictive laws of some unfriendly town councils most Wal-Marts have put out a welcome mat for the traveling RVer.  They will allow you to stay in their parking lot absolutely free of charge for a couple of nights.  They have had some problems with inconsiderate RVers doing thinks like dumping gray water in the parking lot and dumping trash, and in one case a law suit when someone tripped in the parking lot.  We almost lost the camping privileges because of that one.  Wal-mart deserves a big thank you for helping put freedom in RVing.  There are publications available from Wal-Mart that will tell you what the cities are that you can’t stay in, or at least say that there are places where you run into difficulty finding a parking space (at malls).

Dry camping is allowed on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. Length of stay varies from 14 days to months. There are no facilities available. This is also called Boon docking. Fees also vary from free to minimal for long term. To locate your local BLM. Call Washington DC 202-208-3100. Ask for a Recreation Guide to BLM Public Lands.

Free camping is best between fall and spring in the desert.  See the section resources for more info.  You will find that most rallies will only have “dry camping” available.  One of the most famous of these is the Quartzsite rally in Arizona.  You will find resources available for some of the necessities such as water and sewer trucks.

There are online resources to tell you about other free camping areas such as “Slab City,” an abandoned Camp Gilmore army base near Salton Sea in California.  See the On-line page for free campgrounds.  On-line Campground Websites.

The 14 day rule:
Most parks have a 14-day rule, where you can stay for a couple of weeks but then you must leave for a week before coming back for another two.

Finding and choosing a Campground:
The best campground guidebooks are the Trailer Life Campground/RV Park and Services Directory and Woodall’s Campground Directory.  When choosing a campground know about their restrictions.  Some you may find are: No pets, No slide outs, Maximum length, No campfires.

Reducing the costs of camping:
Golden Age discounts are offered at some parks.  AARP and Good Sam Club can get you a few dollars discounted.  Monthly discounts are available at some parks.  Rule of thumb is $300 to $400 per month for an extended stay at a campground including utilities.

Trading services for space:
At some parks you can trade some of your time for free rent.  We will talk more about this in the living on the road section of this book.

Supplies on the road:
Finding propane can sometimes be a challenge.  You can most often find some at RV repair facilities, truck stops, and some ACE hardware stores.  Trailer Life Camping Directory lists services available at campgrounds and some local surrounding areas.

Things to do places to go:
Entertainment on the road is as varied as the people seeking it.  One thing we enjoy is visiting the wineries. This is of course an activity that requires a designated driver.  Our favorite winery is Valley Vineyards in Ohio.  If you have been on the road for a while you might want to visit the local library.  You probably won’t be able to take out a book but it’s a great place to look at magazines and connect to the internet for a while.  Check out our On-line page for Internet sites on places to see. 

Following the rally circuit is fun:
You can hook up with other people on the same route.  This can also be quite profitable, check out the Living on the Road section of this book.  Be aware though that following the rallies may also mean not being able to hook up to electric and sewer sometimes.

Traveling in Mexico & Canada:
Crossing the boarder can have some very special problems.  You will be subject to search.  If you have guns or drugs you can be in big trouble.  You will need to purchase special insurance for RV coverage in these countries.  You should also take your birth certificate or passport.

Don’t drink the water: 
Campground managers in other countries may tell you the water is purified.  Purified doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t make you sick. When ordering bottled water in a restaurant, request that the bottle still be sealed when brought to you so you can break the seal yourself. It is common practice for bottles to be refilled with tap water and sold as “bottled” water, the waiter having courteously opened the bottle for you. This pertains to traveling in any foreign country.

If you need a doctor:
When traveling in Mexico you will find some good doctors in the bigger cities.  Do a little research before you go.  Check out the Mexican Government Tourism Office at:

-         70 East Lake St, Suite 1413 , Chicago, IL 60610 312-606-9252

-         10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 224, Los Angeles, CA 90067

-         405 Park Ave, Suite 1002, New York, NY 10022, 212-755-7261

The weather experience:
Be aware of the weather features of the areas you travel in.  In Arizona, for instance, they have phenomena called the monsoon season where within a very short period of time you can be accosted by hurricane force winds and a wall of dust. Then it may or may not start raining mud.  If you’re in a campground, watch your neighbors.  If they take in their awning and throw the chairs into the swimming pool, you better get prepared for something.

Traveling Tips:

There are many small things you can do to make your camping experience better.  Here are just a few.  If you know some more send us an email.

Mosquitoes:
So you don't like those pesky mosquitoes, especially now that they have the potential to carry the West Nile Virus?  Here's a tip that was given at a recent gardening forum. Put some water in a white dinner plate and add a couple drops of Lemon Fresh Joy dish detergent. Set the dish on your porch, patio, or other outdoor area. Not sure what attracts them, the lemon smell, the white plate color, or what, but mosquitoes flock to it, and drop dead shortly after drinking the Lemon Fresh Joy/water mixture, and usually within about 10 feet of the plate. May seem trivial, but it may help control mosquitoes around your rig.

Protecting the dinnerware:
Rubberized shelf liners can be purchased to keep dishes from shifting when you’re moving.  Using small bubble wrap or thin foam (or extra wash cloths) between plates can stop rattling or chipping.

Saving Gas:
Think about reducing weight to save gas.  Water and gas are very heavy.  By carrying less fresh water in the tanks you can increase your gas mileage.  Same goes for the amount of gasoline in your tanks.  Of course, do consider where the gas stations are going to be.  You don’t want to be low on gas going though the Yuma desert.

Mountain Driving:
Steep grades can be hard on an RV.  Consider carrying less fresh water and gasoline when mountain road driving.  Watch the temperature gauge closely and use lower gears if you are in danger of burning up your brakes.